Briana Vandivier, Student Work. Response to Touch Chapter, A Natural History of the Senses.

My Space

Balsa wood, masking tape, balloon, sand

8" x 3.5" x 2.5"

“The bubble is our skin. But the skin is also alive, breathing and excreting, shielding us from harmful rays and microbial attack, metabolizing vitamin D, insulating us from heat and cold, repairing itself when necessary, regulating blood flow, acting as a frame for our sense of touch, aiding us in sexual attraction, defining our individuality, holding all the thick red jams and jellies inside us where they belong.”  

- A Natural History of the Senses, Diane Ackerman, p. 67

Statement:

Daily life moves so fast. It is easy to forget to pay attention to mental and physical well being. My piece demonstrates the outside world that our skin protects us from. The balloon represents my own bubble. The balloon contains sand from a beach near my home. 

Kaylen Johnson, Student Work. Response to Touch Chapter, A Natural History of the Senses.

Shift

Photograph Series

"Shifting your attention to something else will distract 

you from pain; pain requires our full attention." 

-Diane Ackerman, A Natural History of The Senses

Statement:

Touch can sometimes allow us to ease pain. Different bad habits can help pain seem bearable. In order to create a photo, my friend Vic was smoking a cigar in a dreary bathroom alone. I wanted the mood to feel like this was her escape. Cigars and cigarettes can calm you or give you a buzz, which could maybe allow a person to shift their attention from something going on in their life or maybe some sort of pain. Her attention is elsewhere, she is hoping to mask her pain.

Miriam Reynolds, Student Work. Response to Touch Chapter, A Natural History of the Senses.

Hair Bow

Collaged Digital Photos

Approximately 6" x 2.5" x 1"

"Hair deeply affects people, can transfigure or repulse them. Symbolic of life, hair bolts from our head. Like the earth, it can be harvested, but it will rise again."- A Natural History of The Senses, Diane Ackerman

Artist Statement:

Diane Ackerman emphasizes the concept of hair as it relates to touch. Our hair plays a special role in our identity. For this reason, I took several photographs of my friend's hair in different lighting and on different days. The texture and color contribute to the overall sensory impression. 

In-Process Photo:

Jenna Davenport, Student Work. Response to Touch Chapter, A Natural History of the Senses.

The Feeling Bubble

Digital Photo Collage

"Our skin is a kind of space suit in which we maneuver through the atmosphere of harsh gases, cosmic rays, radiation from the sun, and obstacles of all sorts." 

- A Natural History of The Senses by Diane Ackerman

Statement: 

After reading the above excerpt from A Natural History of the Senses, I began to think about how incredible the body is. Not only does skin protect us and hold together our internal organs, but it also heals itself and adjusts to any natural changes we go through. With my work, I wanted to comment on the incredible abilities that everyone’s skin has. In order to accomplish this, I photographed the scars of a group of my friends and melded them all together in Photoshop. The skin is a fantastic organ and I wanted to show that with this piece.

Line Depping, Artist

linedepping.dk

Chris Weaver, Artist

chrisweaver.co.nz

Portia Munson, Artist

Pink Project: Table (1994/2016) by Portia Munson. Photograph by Linda Nylind. Courtesy of Linda Nylind/Frieze.

source link phiadon.com

portiamunson.com

Lenka Clayton, Artist

Blue Box

2014 / sculpture / steel box containing various found objects

lenkaclayton.com

Fluxus Box Assignment Guidelines

Note: 

• A Research Packet accompanies this assignment. 
• Print out Research Packet from CANVAS and bring to class.
• Resources needed to complete Research Packet located here on the class blog, in the right column, alphabetical order. 
• Fluxus Box Artists
• Fluxus Box Student Work
• Fluxus Box Semiotics
• Fluxus Box Reading Selections
• Fluxus Box Color Palettes
• Fluxus Box Movie Posters
• Fluxus Box Movie Genres

Assignment:
Design and construct a box that contains at least four (4) objects. A movie of your choice will serve as the theme so as to provide a narrative and color palette. Use the elements and principles of art and design as well as the perception of every day objects to visually communicate a non linear narrative.   

What is Fluxus? 
Fluxus began as a small but international network of artists and composers, and was characterised as a shared attitude rather than a movement. The movement lasted until the end of the 1970's. 

The Latin word Fluxus means flowing, in English a flux is a flowing out. Fluxus founder Maciunas said that the purpose of Fluxus was to ‘promote a revolutionary flood and tide in art, promote living art, anti-art’. This has strong echoes of dada, the early twentieth century art movement.

Although Fluxus is mainly known for performances and organized events, Fluxus artists also created more plastic forms of art, such as boxes filled with various items (often called Fluxkits), prints, and Fluxus films. Sometimes these works were not signed, as per belief that the ego of the artist should be removed from the artwork, meaning all pieces should be signed as simply, "Fluxus."

Fluxus boxes were a peculiar form of expression in which the artist gathered a series of objects, cards, materials and components and assembled them in boxes, suitcases or other containers. The assemblage was created with multiple purposes in mind: creating suggestions and tangible poetics by juxtaposing things was something that the cinematographic montage had learned since the beginning of the century, and it was also explored by musicians where the sounds of known objects acted on levels that are simultaneously physical, symbolic and referring to memory and cultures.

Fluxus boxes were intended as non linear narratives to be handled, touched, performed, disseminated, destroyed, reassembled, counted and reconfigured.

Just as cinema montage and music had learned, the orchestration of symbols, visions and other sensorial components was able to create novel scenarios. Interactivity and tangibility created a state of continuous recombination, multiplying interpretation and cognitively activating people, who became part of the artwork while handling, imagining and communicating. The connection with the ordinary flow of life created new dimensions in the world: stratified, recombinant and engaging. Source link here. 
Additional info at Flux Museum. Link here. 

Objective:

• Conduct research of a historical movement so as to gain awareness of how art and design documents a culture as well as contributes to cultural ideas. 
• Use research and personal perceptions of contemporary culture to develop and create a visual narrative. 
• Gain experience designing and constructing a "box" with the intention to "hold" items (package design). 
• Apply concepts of semiotics to design decisions. 

Materials:

• The Box
• Materials for the box can be paper, wood, foam board, cardboard or wood. The design of the box will visually communicate your selected theme/narrative. Keep in mind, no matter what material you choose, your craft has to be clean. I will show the class tips and tricks on how to use these materials to make a basic container with clean lines. When designing the box, keep in mind the box will function as a container to hold at least four (4) objects. 
• The Objects 
• Create at least four (4) objects that visually communicate your selected theme/narrative. Do not use existing/pre-fabricated objects. Materials are your choice. 
• A Note of on Color
• Color is a unifying theme for this assignment. The color palette is derived from the movie you selected. Consider how color can visually  create a focal point, communicate emotions, represent a culture. See right side bar category "Fluxus Box Color Palettes".

Need to know:

• Box to measure at least 12 inches in one direction. 
• Box to contain at least four (4) objects. 
• Keep in mind, if making your box from paper, objects will have to be lightweight. 
• Design an organization system for the objects in the box. A few ideas; create dividers, include clips or secure with elastic binding, create a fabric pouch for objects or create individual boxes for objects.
• Design a color palette for the sculpture (includes box and items inside) based off the movie you selected. I included examples here on the blog. Go to the right column, "Fluxus Box Color Palettes" category. 

Color Palette for Wes Anderson's film Moonrise Kingdom

The following information is required for your blog:

• Photographs
• At least one in process photo. 
• A professional image of the box open. 
• A professional image of the box closed.
• A professional image of the 6 objects arranged outside the box. 
• As many detail shots as needed.
• Title, materials, size (width" x height" x depth")
• Inspiration 
•  Images of artist inspiration with sources. At least three different pieces of inspiration. The term artist is not limited to the visual arts. Music, poetry, dance, literature are also acceptable. 
• Artist Statement
• Writing must demonstrate collegiate writing skills. Writing demonstrates time and effort. Writing demonstrates content, reflective thought and intellect. Writing is free of grammar, punctuation and spelling errors
• Optional
• Sketches and/or notes from Research Packet or your own sketchbook. 

Lenka Clayton, Artist

Box Containing 352 Things

2015 / sculpture / lentils, ink / photo: Tom Little