Delving into Art A day spent at the harn museum of art

Introduction

Outside the Museum, artist of sculpture unknown

My visit to the Harn Museum of Art taught me to delve deeper into art in order to find a deeper meaning under the surface. Before my visit, I never felt like I understood art. I would simply look at a painting or sculpture and think "that's neat" or "that must have taken a long time". Now, after being forced to dig deeper into the meaning of each piece to complete this project, I have gained a better appreciation for art and what it stands for. Art is a beautiful expression of feelings and values. It is a tool used by artists to translate their emotions to others and make them think about the issues that were presented.

Technique of the Artist

"Tokyo Street with Pachinko Parlor II", by Yvonne Jacquette

I found "Tokyo Street with Pachinko Parlor II" very striking because of the technique that was used to paint it. Jacquette used oil paints on a canvas to create this masterpiece. She utilized impressionistic strokes to add texture to her painting and capture the vibrant essence of the city. I tried to take close up pictures of the intricate strokes of the paintbrush, but it was best seen and appreciated in person. As you can see in the picture of me standing next to the work, it is very large. I was able to stand in front of the huge painting and simply take it all in. I admired the "cross thatched" strokes on the cars that gave them a three-dimensional quality. The glob-like strokes of paint added detail to the pachinko parlor and brought it to life. A pachinko parlor is a type of arcade found in many Japanese cities. The bright colors communicated the liveliness, loudness, and bustling nature that a pachinko parlor entails. By reading the description of the painting, I learned about the nature of a pachinko parlor and I feel that the painting perfectly encompassed it. The painting reminded me of the time I visited New York City. It ignited a sense of nostalgia in me as I gazed excitedly at the warm strokes "popping" out of the canvas.

Design of the Museum

The Paula and Marshall Criser Garden, designed by Aaron Lee Wiener

I found the Paula and Marshall Criser Garden to be very pleasing to look at. I enjoyed the design of it, because it displayed the statue in an interesting way. Instead of simply placing it on a pedestal like every other sculpture, the designer decided to display it in its own miniature garden with windows to peer at it through. The display was complete with chairs placed in front of the window in which individuals could sit and enjoy the artwork. The designer of this exhibit successfully came up with an unconventional way to display this sculpture. I believe that this design enhanced my enjoyment of the work. Overall, the entire museum was laid out very nicely. Different wings of the museum were set aside for each theme, various gardens were utilized, and the placement of the pieces was pleasing. If the Harn were not laid out as it is, I would not have enjoyed it as much as I had.

Art and Core Values

"Islandia, Goddess of the Healing Waters", by Audrey Flack

At first glance, it may be hard to understand how this piece portrays the values it does. I didn't completely understand this sculpture until I read the informational card below it. Flack draws from classical sculptures and ideals in order to restore the balance of power between the sexes. Now when I examine the sculpture, I see a strong, powerful, and beautiful woman who is standing up for social injustice. Flack incorporated her core values into the piece she sculpted, and because of this, her sculpture gains so much more meaning. Knowing the ideas Flack had in mind when creating this invokes an emotional response when viewing this sculpture. Equality is something I hold close to my heart and after viewing this piece, I feel as though I better understand and appreciate this value. By viewing someone else's perspective on the issue, I now feel as though I have a more wholistic view of equality. Viewing this piece instilled passion in me to fight for equality of the sexes. The Goddess in the sculpture reaches her arms out, seemingly gesturing towards social change and summoning others to fight alongside her.

Art and the Good Life

"Scenographer's Mind VIII", by Eija-Liisa Ahtila

"Scenographer's Mind VIII" made me think about the Good Life by depicting a woman who I believe has achieved it. This photograph pictures a woman who is both a new mother and an architect. We see her happily tending to her baby as she works on an architectural model of a house. I believe this woman has found balance in her life between doing the work she loves and raising a family. The woman and the baby both look very happy and content. The baby seems healthy and peaceful and the project seems well done. I find it very impressive that this woman is able to balance these two things so effectively. These photographs inspire me to achieve this aspect of the Good Life. When I grow up and obtain a career and have a family of my own, I want to have the same balance in my life as this woman. This picture perfectly exemplifies what I want in life and puts it into one visual. I think it is a beautiful depiction of a modern woman who is no longer confined to the household, but is both a mother and architect.

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