AYSK # 3

I may be late (as usual), but the third installment of the "Artists You Should Know" weekly is here! I have chosen the following artist because he proves that street art is a viable and important art form that sometimes, just sometimes, gets noticed by the mainstream.

AYSK #3 is...

Shepard Fairey

Mini-Bio: Born in 1970. Attended RISD (Hellz yeah RI!). Became famous for his "Obey Giant" campaign. Now resides in Los Angeles.

What kind of art? Street art. Graphic Design. Illustrations.

Examples of his work:

The original sticker/design from the "Andre the Giant Has a Posse" sticker campaign in 1989. The campaign that later became known as the "Obey Giant" campaign.

Shepard Fairey's work in action.

Another Fairey graphic design. If you couldn't tell, he has strong political and social views.

Betcha didn't know this! That's right! Shepard Fairey painted this...which became the design for Obama's "Hope" campaign. It is beautiful and amazing and I am so happy it became a campaign poster.

If you want to know more about Shepard Fairey, check these websites out:

Wikipedia...Yep, Wikipedia--Deal with it!

His personal "Obey Giant" Website

Hope you like his stuff because I LOVE it! Enjoy!

AYSK #2

A little late, but still keeping up with the Artist You Should Know weekly edition.

And the AYSK #2 award goes to...

Olafur Eliasson

Mini-Bio: Born in 1967 in Copenhagen. Lives in Copenhagen and Berlin. Scandinavian break-dancing champion. (And I did not even make that up.)

What kind of art? Public and site-specific art. Scientific art (art and science combined.) Large-scale sculpture/architecture and installation.

Examples of his work:

The Weather Project, Tate Modern, 2004
For more information: The Weather Project

Green River, Moss, Norway, 1999
For more information: The Green River Project

Two images from his Waterfall Project, New York City, 2008
For more information: NYC Waterfalls Project

As you can probably tell, Olafur Eliasson's work has a great deal to do with nature--or, more specifically, human perception of and relationship to nature. He has been considered a "relational artist", which means that his work's purpose is centered around its relationship to the viewer, the relationship to its surroundings and the new relationship it creates through its existence. The theory of "relational art" is complicated one, but Olafur Eliasson is the best artist to demonstrate the practice of that theory. I find his work particuarly important because through his artworks he creates a dialogue about reality, manufactured reality, the fear that stems from the altering of realities and the importance of nature.

If you want to learn more about Olafur and his work, his own personal website is a great place to start.

Enjoy!

When you've got coffee breath...

So my initial research topic for my American Visual Cultures class was on coffee advertising and tin design prior to the 1940s. BUT--since there is hardly any information/images on this topic, I decided to switch (quite sequentially) from coffee, which give you stinky breath, to advertising for a mouthwash, which improves bad breath!

I did not have this connection in mind when I decided on switching topics. I mostly wanted to cover Listerine advertisements because--as you can see below--they are AMAZING, and by AMAZING I mean they are full of ridiculous claims, spectacular photographs and overwhelming sexism.

I will keep you (blogosphere) posted on this research, but here are two Listerine advertisements to hold you over for now.

Listerine Advertisement, 1928

Listerine Advertisement, 1929

AMAZING!

I have attached a link that everyone should look at. It is unbelievable. It shows how so little can go so far--how ingenuity and creativity can come from anywhere and exist everywhere--how dedication is the backbone of great artwork. Please take a look. Hopefully it will inspire you as it has inspired me.

AYSK (Number 1)

Or "Artist You Should Know" (in case you're not hip to the lingo quite yet.) I have chosen this particular artist because she is one my absolute favorites. So much of contemporary art seems to exist only to cause a stir--to be "avant-garde." This artist, on the other hand, actually thinks about her art and her cause is to examine much more that current political, social, or personal issues. Without further ado...AYSK #1 is... (drum roll please...)

Janine Antoni

Mini-Bio: Born in the Bahamas in 1964. BA from Sarah Lawrence and MFA from RISD.
What Kind of Art?: Process art. Performance art. Body art. Sculpture. Installation.
Examples of her Work:

"Slumber"
2000

"Loving Care"
1993

"Lick and Lather," detail
1993
7 soap and 7 chocolate self-portrait busts, 24 x 16 x 13 inches each

Each of these artworks deals with the body, the process of creation, and the cyclical nature of life. It also deals with many issues relating to women and contemporary standards of beauty. Every piece that Antoni creates is unique--with intricate details and choices--yet somehow related to her greater body of work--work dedicated to examining human existence, human relationship to the outside world and vice versa.

For more on her and her work, please visit:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janine_Antoni
• http://www.luhringaugustine.com/index.php?mode=artists&object_id=64
• http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/antoni/index.html

Hope you begin to enjoy Janine Antoni's work as much as me!

WEEKLY INSTALLMENT--ARTIST YOU SHOULD KNOW

I've decided that in order for me to actually keep up with this whole blogging habit, I'm going to have to impose upon myself some obligatory daily/weekly/monthly posts. I am really bad at keeping this sort of thing going, but I figure if I set up various "Weekly Installments" I will have a greater chance of succeeding. So here is the first idea...

WEEKLY INSTALLMENT #1: Artist(s) You Should Know

As the title suggests, this topic is meant to enlighten the masses on the various artists that are living/working/still relevant today. The person(s) chosen could be a visual artist, a musician, a writer, etc. If they make what I believe to be art, they could be an "Artist You Should Know" (or AYSK).

I will strive to provide some biographical information, info about their influences, their artistic style and links/images of their most important work.

Here goes! [Fingers Crossed]

Research in Progress...

It seems fitting that my first post on this blog is one that is a "work in progress"--since that is exactly what this blog is and forever will be. Art may be frozen zen, but there is nothing frozen about it. It is fluid, constantly changing and shifting. The definition of art is updated, negated, and reprocessed so often that defining it at all is a pointless endeavor. Art--and its endless motion--is frozen zen.

Currently, I am researching advertising as art--specifically, advertising and package design for various coffee companies in the US prior to the 1940s. If it seems obscure, that's because it is! Very little research has been done on advertising as art--and an even smaller amount on coffee advertising. What can I say? I guess I like a challenge. Below are some interesting advertisements/package designs that I have found. More on how this formulates any kind of thesis will hopefully come in time...

My Favorite Ad So Far...

A Coffee Tin Belonging to Mark...

As I'm sure you can tell, there is a certain theme I am trying to follow in my research--however, these two items are the only ones I've been able to dig up with clearly sexist tones. The search continues...