Module 13/14: Art Curation Project Reflection

I don't really have a "process" so much as I either have an instant idea in my head or I struggle to come up with anything. Since I rather enjoy artwork and I happen to have a host of it, in various forms, in my home, I decided to think of the things I enjoy looking at. Which art books do I enjoy the most? Which captivate my attention the best? My husband and I both love the pin-up; everything from the subject, to the postures, to the wide array of artistic styles. I had first thought of my favorite artists (Frank Frazetta, Bernie Wrightson, Tim Vigil, Olivia Beradinis) and I realized they all worked extensively with the female form, which lead me to the genre of the pin-up. I already had names in mind (we've had 4 different Gil Elvgren pin-up calendars) so knew it would make finding the works I wanted relatively simple. I browsed through my own art books and prints for inspiration, picking a couple of my works right from there. I was lucky to find the site I did; good quality images, listed by artist, with mini biographies of each artist. It really helped me delve into the different artists throughout the decades and expose me to some I had never known before; which was great because I really wanted to use all different artists. When it came to organizing what I was going to display, I decided the best way would be to aim for a semi-chronological concept. I split my artists up into two categories; Vintage and Contemporary. I used six works for each category, and then ordered the works by year to give a sense of progression and evolution of the genre. I really wanted to use works that were a little unexpected in the contemporary half; really emphasizing the change to a less traditional woman and image of her.

When it came t designing the slideshow, I went very minimalist, hoping to emphasize the beauty and worthiness of the works themselves. I don't think these are the kind of works you'd see in a high art gallery. Maybe the Albright Knox, but that is because they embrace many different forms of art, in all its stages. I really wanted to pick something off the beaten path to show that not all art worthy of attention is found in big galleries. My slideshow design is a little reminiscent of a large warehouse gallery, maybe a converted building; the floor could be gray marble, it could also be concrete. I like juxtaposing the beauty of the women's forms against the bland industrial location, I hope it makes people rethink their standards of beauty; a woman working a power saw can be just as glamorous and attractive as a woman dressing or cleaning.

Module 13/14: Video Review

1.) The Lowbrow video was interesting; I did not know much of the art I own and enjoy would fall under that category. Then again, it is kind of a catch-all term. I love pin-up art and did not really think of it as Lowbrow, I kind of categorized it on it's own as "pin-up art". I've been fascinated by album covers my whole life, especially the fantasy worlds of Roger Dean for the band Yes. I recently bought my husband an art book called "The Art of Metal"; it covers the art of the Metal music scene and has quite an extensive collection of art and artists in it for many different bands. I'm very aware of the music scene as a propellant for art careers; my husband made at least one Death Metal band's logo in the 90's.

The Modern Art Video was also interesting, though I don't like Modern Art as well as other genres. I suppose I just don't get Modern Art as well; it doesn't appeal to my senses as much as other forms. Some of it is pretty cool, and I really liked the description and explanation of the Tate and its renovations; since I'm probably never going to go see it myself, I like getting the opportunity for an inside scoop.

 The Met video had a lot in it. I liked the final exhibition because it mashed things together that normally wouldn't have been shown in the same wing much less the same room. The works and the process they go through is remarkable; the stacked stained glass restoration was ingenious! I liked getting to hear about the bureaucratic system involved in purchasing and displaying a work; glad to know there's red tape everywhere, even in the museums.

2.) The videos kind of relate to the project; the different genres of styles and the different ways they are displayed I suppose. I don't really feel like it is going to really influence my decisions in the project because there is no physical to the exhibition; the most I have to figure out is what order to list them, and which ones to pick. It loses a sense of importance when you remove it from the physical space of the gallery, there is less restriction because there are no walls.

3.) They were entertaining and showed neat things, but I don't feel like they really gave me more in the way of understanding the material. I don't feel like they expanded on my knowledge so much as gave me different information in another form.