Mixed Media
Back Yard
30 cm x 30 cm
Canvas, Photo Frame.
April 2017
Exhibition Text:
The intention for this piece was to show animal cruelty in the entertainment industry, specifically the circus. I was inspired thematically by Kara Walker, as she focuses on topics that people generally don't speak about, and used Joseph Cornell's shadow boxes as inspiration for how to create my piece. Back Yard is a circus term for where all the performers and animals are prepared before a show.
30 cm x 30 cm
Canvas, Photo Frame.
April 2017
Exhibition Text:
The intention for this piece was to show animal cruelty in the entertainment industry, specifically the circus. I was inspired thematically by Kara Walker, as she focuses on topics that people generally don't speak about, and used Joseph Cornell's shadow boxes as inspiration for how to create my piece. Back Yard is a circus term for where all the performers and animals are prepared before a show.
Artistic Inspiration
After the critique that we had, I was introduced to a different artist by the name of Kara Walker. Her works seemed to relate a lot more to my original ideas. Her work covers topics like racism and stereotypes, conflicts and violence, and things that people don't generally want to talk about. Her pieces are usually large black and white silhouettes. I thought this would be a better inspiration for the idea I had, and it would keep the piece simple. I don't want it to look like a mess with too many colors, and I felt that keeping it black and white would not take away from the meaning I had intended.
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Process and Planning
Planning
Critique 2.22.17
When the project was introduced, I already had a pretty clear idea of what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to do. After seeing Joseph Cornell's work, I was really intrigued by shadow boxes, and I thought it would be a good way to preserve a project because it will already be safe in a box. Like other projects that I have done this year, I want to continue on with the theme of animal abuse. In the shadow box, I want to create a circus tent, and inside put bones, to represent the animals that are abused in the circus, and just in general for entertainment like dog fighting.
I will be using a piece of scrap canvas as he actual circus tent. I also bought two frames that are about an inch deep, which I will be putting together to get more space. I was also going to just use screws I found as bones because they're ridged, however during the critique, a recommendation was to use chicken bones because they're small enough, and easy to get, and is a lot better than using screws. Another recommendation was to use newspaper articles about animal abuse in entertainment as the back panel of the frames.
One of the main elements that my piece will use is color. I plan on making the tent and surrounding space of the frame cool colors, and inside the tent, have it painted warm colors, and while it could also make sense the other way around, having the cool colors be on the inside to symbolize the bad things that go on, and the warm colors show the love and happiness that happens regardless of what animals go through. I thought it would be better to have the warm colors on the inside, as well as put flickering lights inside the tent, to represent in a way hell, because the animals are abused, and being entertainment for other is horrible for them.
Critique 2.22.17
When the project was introduced, I already had a pretty clear idea of what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to do. After seeing Joseph Cornell's work, I was really intrigued by shadow boxes, and I thought it would be a good way to preserve a project because it will already be safe in a box. Like other projects that I have done this year, I want to continue on with the theme of animal abuse. In the shadow box, I want to create a circus tent, and inside put bones, to represent the animals that are abused in the circus, and just in general for entertainment like dog fighting.
I will be using a piece of scrap canvas as he actual circus tent. I also bought two frames that are about an inch deep, which I will be putting together to get more space. I was also going to just use screws I found as bones because they're ridged, however during the critique, a recommendation was to use chicken bones because they're small enough, and easy to get, and is a lot better than using screws. Another recommendation was to use newspaper articles about animal abuse in entertainment as the back panel of the frames.
One of the main elements that my piece will use is color. I plan on making the tent and surrounding space of the frame cool colors, and inside the tent, have it painted warm colors, and while it could also make sense the other way around, having the cool colors be on the inside to symbolize the bad things that go on, and the warm colors show the love and happiness that happens regardless of what animals go through. I thought it would be better to have the warm colors on the inside, as well as put flickering lights inside the tent, to represent in a way hell, because the animals are abused, and being entertainment for other is horrible for them.
Process
The first thing that I did was go to Goodwill to find frames that were deep enough to use as a shadow box. If I didn't find any there, I was just going to make one. I found two of the same frames. The frames were white, and so I painted them black. The canvas is going to be white, and the background is going to be black as well. So the bones and canvas will stand out the most. The next thing I did after that was get the chicken. One all the meat had been used, I cleaned the bones just using soap and water. I later soaked them in peroxide and water for about three days. They still smelled really bad, so I soaked them in bleach and water for about a day and a half. I rinsed them again, and they were clean and white. I originally thought I would have to paint them, but I ended up not having to do that. What I did after that was cut the canvas, and sew it together. I used a staple gun to connect the canvas to the frame. I used wire and attached the bones to the wire so some would hang. Some of the smaller bones that fell apart while I was soaking them (mostly spine pieces) are resting on the bottom of the canvas. |
Reflection
Overall, I was not impressed with this piece. I'll be honest and say that I feel a lot better with painting and printing and not sculpture. I was not uncomfortable making this, but it was certainly something that I don't think I'll find myself doing any time again soon, or at least often. I think I had a strong idea, but I feel like this project was kind of juvenile. When I think of arts and crafts, I would imagine doing something like this, but when I was much younger. I do think it was an interesting project, I just didn't get as involved with it as I have with other projects.
I think the idea I had for this piece was strong, and probably the most successful thing. Also having the idea to use real bones was really good. Before I cleaned them, they were brown and kind of gross. But after I put them in bleach they looked so good. They feel almost like foam now, because of how fragile they got, but they're white, and they look amazing. I would for sure use bones again in another piece, it was a really interesting process. The final product was not what I envisioned, and I would go back and maybe make it bigger to get more details. Or I would just not do it, because this piece was really difficult for me.
I think the idea I had for this piece was strong, and probably the most successful thing. Also having the idea to use real bones was really good. Before I cleaned them, they were brown and kind of gross. But after I put them in bleach they looked so good. They feel almost like foam now, because of how fragile they got, but they're white, and they look amazing. I would for sure use bones again in another piece, it was a really interesting process. The final product was not what I envisioned, and I would go back and maybe make it bigger to get more details. Or I would just not do it, because this piece was really difficult for me.
ACT Questions
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork.
I can identify the cause and effect relationship between my work and my inspiration because like Kara Walkers work, I kept my piece black and white, using silhouettes, however the colors are reversed. Walkers subjects are usually black with a white background, while my work is the opposite.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
Overall, the author regards Walkers works as pieces that force you to think about what your looking at, because at fist, they look like simple silhouettes, but as you get closer you'll realize that there's a story behind them, whether it be about racism or stereotypes.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Through my research, I discovered that Walkers goal is to make people think and force them to acknowledge the atrocities and violence that has happened in the U.S.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central theme around my research was to find an artist that created seemingly simple pieces, but pieces that held a deeper meaning.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
Through my research, I inferred that Kara Walker made her pieces simple. By making many of her pieces in black and white, nothing would distract from the meaning of her piece.
I can identify the cause and effect relationship between my work and my inspiration because like Kara Walkers work, I kept my piece black and white, using silhouettes, however the colors are reversed. Walkers subjects are usually black with a white background, while my work is the opposite.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
Overall, the author regards Walkers works as pieces that force you to think about what your looking at, because at fist, they look like simple silhouettes, but as you get closer you'll realize that there's a story behind them, whether it be about racism or stereotypes.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
Through my research, I discovered that Walkers goal is to make people think and force them to acknowledge the atrocities and violence that has happened in the U.S.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central theme around my research was to find an artist that created seemingly simple pieces, but pieces that held a deeper meaning.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
Through my research, I inferred that Kara Walker made her pieces simple. By making many of her pieces in black and white, nothing would distract from the meaning of her piece.