THROUGHLINES:
1. Artists have a way of seeing things from different perspectives. So when one decides to make a piece on an important global subject, they offer a way to see things in a new light. Many people and politicians get caught up in lies and self-image and then don’t take a black and white stance. Artists are not afraid to say [write, draw, paint, etc.] exactly what they think, the bottom line, the moral of the problem. In my opinion, when artists make a piece about a global issue, such as homelessness or poverty, they remind us that we are all humans.
4. Traditionally, art is considered as a pretty picture on canvas. But today, artists are trying to break free from that generalization in all ways possible. Many artists are using the world as their canvas, making their art controversial and bold. We are redefining what art is, art is whatever we want it to be.
UNDERSTANDING GOALS:
1. When we were first asked what site-specific art was, I was clueless. But looking back at it now, it’s really self explanitory. Site-specific art is an art piece that is made or constructed specifically to fit into a location. Installation art overlaps site-specific art in that it is build for a specific location, or installed; there was a plan and reason behind the piece. Conceptual art focuses more on the reason behind the art piece, the reason for building it to that location and what it’s purpose will be.
2. As an artist, we are responsible for making people SEE things. By making a powerful art piece, we are stating our opinion or feelings that others can relate to, we’re saying something. Whether what we say relates to one person or to a mass makes no difference. Art can change lives, and I think that was one of the underlying focuses of the shelter project. As artists, we can change the world :]
3. I think we as students define “shelter” the same way– a four-walled room with a floor and a ceiling. When you build your own shelter [which is much harder than it looks] complications come into effect, such as weather and wildlife and authority telling you have to move here and then there…etc. I think our shelters we made communicate our ideas of what a shelter is, to the best of our abilities in the time allowed and with the materials we had.
4. Using recycled materials wasn’t too hard to work with, however, breaking up the wooden crates was a challenge, to say the least. Our original design was completely different to what we actually built. Envisioning our goal and then actually building it were very different. My group ended up joining up with another group and making one shelter, combining our ideas into one. Individually, our shelters were somewhat pathedic, but when we worked together it really wasn’t too bad.
5. A shelter is a place where someone can feel safe, in my opinion. I think that since houses have become part of our lives, we take their shelter for granted. Although I’m proud of the “sculpture” we made, I couldn’t imagine what it’d be like to actually live there, or even just to sleep there. I think this project has made us all think about what we have and how lucky we are compared to what others do not have and work really hard to get.
6. A suprisingly high number of people live in shantytowns [and the like] and in poverty. It’s funny how people tend to think that everyone lives the same way that they do, probebly because we are surrounded by people with the same lifestyles. But, when you get out of your comfort zone and really see what is going on, it’s crazy. We are so lucky to have what we have, this is surreal.
7. As an artist, you try to connect your lifestyle with the rest of the outside world. So when you make a personal piece, your background comes out in it– your lifestyle and values, who you really are. Your attitudes and opinions relate back to how you grew up and what you have made yourself to be. Others see things differently from eachother due to these socioeconomic/enviormental/political/family/religious differences. No one is the same, after all. But if we can empathize to eachother, then the artists has done their job in making their art in the first place.
