Art Gallery Visit # 2

Albright Knox Art Gallery

Visited on 11/8/2012

Step 1: The Exhibition

Questions about the exhibit:
1. What is the title of the exhibit?
2. What is the theme of the exhibition?

1.      The title of the exhibition is Decade: Contemporary Collecting 2002-2012.

2.      The theme of the exhibition is characterized into ten themes which are Insidius Humor, Language is a Virus from Outer Space, Film/Photography/Fiction, L.A. Angels, Psychology of Space, Shape of Space, Sculpture in the Expanded Field, Social Space/Private Ritual, What happened to the paining?, and the Wayward line.

Step 2: The Gallery

Questions about the physical space:
1. What type of lighting is used?

The pictures at the gallery had recessed lighting at the top of them.  The lighting brought attention to the work of art being observed.  The gallery also had recessed lighting throughout the halls of the gallery that I noticed while walking around.

2. What colors are used on the walls?

The color used on the wall is a creamy white color.  The color of the wall really helps the painting to pop out.  There are no bright colors on the walls so your eyes don’t get distracted when looking at the work of art.

3. What materials are used in the interior architecture of the space?

The floor of the gallery is kind of a marble type floor it is a very shiny hard surface.  It is a very light colored floor kind of like tope color.  It is very plain.  The walls at the bottom have black trim from the bottom of the wall to the floor.  The ceiling is white with many recessed lights along the ceiling.

4. How is the movement of the viewer through the gallery space?

There were many halls in the gallery.  The works were all very spaced out from each other.  The paintings being so spaced out made me feel if it was to help to clear your mind along the way.  The paintings being so spaced out also helped to not have any interference when concentrating on one work.  The halls were spacious and didn’t have any unnecessary objects in the way.  Everything appeared white except for the works.

Step 3: The Artwork

 Questions about the artwork:
1. How are the artworks organized?

The works are well organized.  They are perfectly spaced apart so your eyes don’t start wander away from the artwork you are looking at.  The artworks that related to one another tended to be around each other.  Such as the works with the nude paintings, there were other nude paintings in the same area.  The paintings were also the perfect height which was about eye level.  If they would have been lower it would have been difficult to keep looking down.  The lighting above each work also helped the work to pop out at you.

2. How are the artworks similar?

They are similar because they all neatly laid out.  The works that require a require a frame have a frame and they are about the same height.  They all have a white mount next to the artwork that describes the work.

3. How are the artworks different?

They are different because they are all created in different ways.  Artwork is different from work to work, that is what makes it so special.  No work of art is the same.

4. How are the artworks framed?

They artworks are framed with silver, bronze, gold, and white frames.  I even noticed some works were framed with wood frames.  The frames were heavy looking and classy. 

5. How are the artworks identified and labeled?

They are identified by the title, artist, media, and year.  There is a little white mounted card to the right of the work.  The card provides the details of the work.

6. What is the proximity of the artwork to each other?

The artworks are spaced out from one another.  There is enough space between the artworks so they don’t interfere when looking at a particular piece of art.  It is the perfect amount of space apart when looking at art.

Step 4: Art Criticism Exercise 

Artist: Giacomo Balla

Title: Dynamism of a Dog on a Leash

Year: 1912

Media: Oil on canvas

The artwork portrays a small dog being walked.  It shows the leash swinging to let the viewer know someone is holding the leash that is attached to the small dog’s collar.  The use of line shown in this work as the ground the dog is walking upon has lines all over it.  The use of a gray scale is used in the picture.  The dog and the owner’s bottom of its body are black while the ground is a gray along with the leash being a light gray.  The emphasis of the work appears to be on the dog.  When looking at this particular piece of artwork it reminds me of walking my dog on cold dark day.  That is why I was so drawn to this particular piece because it reminded me of myself.   I believe the artist was trying to make people relate to this work.  Many people have animals or have seen a dog being walked.  It gives off a feeling of knowing the dog or had seen this dog before.  I believe the artist wanted the viewers to have an emotional connection with the dog and the dog walker. 

 

Title: Peasants in the Fields, Eragny

Artist: Camille Pissarro

Year: 1890

Media: Oil on canvas

The artwork depicts a man and woman working in a field or on a farm.  The man is shoveling the ground while the woman stands and watches while holding a basket.  There is a little girl sitting in the field.  There is green grass behind them and many clouds in the sky.  The artist used color in this painting such as brown, blue, tan, green, and white.  Texture was used to give the ground a rough look to it.  The emphasis of the painting is to the left side where the man and woman are.  While everything to the right and behind appears to be in the background.   The work reminds me of a hard working family on a farm.  It looks as if it is a man and his wife with their child in the background.  It makes me feel that they work hard every day in that field.  I think the artist wanted viewers feel the effect of a hard working family.  I think the artist wanted people to relate to the feeling of working hard day after day.  The artist titled the work Peasants in the Fields which means these people are peasants working to get by in life.  It is kind of just like people today.  We are all just working to get by in life.  We are all peasants working in the field of life.

Title: The Marina Piccola, Capri

Artist: Albert Bierstadt

Year: 1859

Media: Oil on Canvas

The painting portrays a marina.  There is a small boat on the sand with a mountain to the left.   There is water with the sun coming down on it.  There are clouds in the sky.  There are boats in the water and large waves.  There are also people on the shore.  The painting depicts texture on the mountains to give that rough look to them.  Color is also used for the mountain, water, sky, and boats.  There appears to be emphasis on the left side of the painting where the mountain is.  Shape is also portrayed through the boats, mountains, clouds in the sky, and people.  Movement is also used as your eyes move from the shore, to the water, over to the hills, and up to the sky.  The painting keeps your eyes constantly moving.  The painting reminds me of a boats arriving to an island whether they meant to or had to.  It makes me feel as if they had to stop there because of the waves being so high.  I think the artist wanted to viewers to use their imagination when looking at this painting.  I also feel though as if it gives a sort of hanging out by the water feel.  I believe viewers may be able to relate to it, such as spending a day with their family.  I believe he wanted to give an emotional feel to it but also shed light on the beauty of nature.  The hills, the water, they sky, the shore; it is all very beautiful and tranquil.

5.

 

I definitely thought it was different going to the art gallery and not completely focusing on the pictures but on the surrounding space.  I thought it was helpful because it made me think as to why the gallery looked the way it did.  It made me ponder what the purpose behind it.  It was fun to look around and think of and document the different aspects of the Albright Knox Art gallery.