Blog Post # 8- Chelsea Galleries

Yesterday we visited a LOT of galleries in Chelsea and saw many types of work by living artists. (list below.)
For this blog post, write about our trip yesterday. What was your experience of the galleries we visited, the types of art we saw, and which artist or show or specific works stood out to you and why. Remember to use the course terms in writing about the work- forms of art, formal elements, context, content, etc. Post a picture if you took some.
Due Tuesday, June 3 by 11:59 pm

Sterling Ruby at Hauser and Wirth Gallery 511 w 18th
Oscar Murillo at David Zwirner Gallery 519 W 19th st
Claudia Hart at bitforms Gallery 529 W 20th St
Juxtapoz Group Show show at Jonathan Levine Gallery 529 W 20th St
Patrick Hughes at Flowers Gallery 529 W 20th St
Adrian Piper at Elizabeth Dee Gallery 545 W 20th
Kay Rosen Sikkema Jenkins Gallery 530 w 22
Suzanne Opton Sikkema Jenkins Gallery 530 w 22
Tara Donovan at Pace Gallery

Blog #7 Assignment

Contemporary society's value of an artwork, can be both fair yet unfair. Fair, for the ancient artwork, unfair for the random or dull paintings that can cost millions of dollars. I agree that ancient artwork does deserve it's given price however, the newer and strange artwork doesn't deserve to have a price so high, and honestly some of the works don't even deserve to be in a museum. I feel like the amount of notable effort and uniqueness that a painting has or if it's an artwork from long ago, those deserve the highest prices. I've seen artwork of a some canvas and a big dot in the center and a curved line passing by it, costing up to 3 million dollars, and that's sheer insanity.

Neo-Surrealism. Expiatory Temple.This is modern art. THIS is artwork I'd pay thousands, if I have to, for. If I could choose an appropriate price I'd go for 2-9 thousand, or maybe even 10 thousand, course if I had the money for it, I'd pay that price for something so perfect to me. It'd look perfect for my home and it just feels like something I would never get my eyes off of. It gives off a cooling and peaceful sensation.

online assignment

Based on the reading I feel that the more money you got the more you don’t really connect to a art piece. I say this because I believe that rich people only by pieces of art only because they feel is modern and unique. But in my eyes I believe that you should buy an art piece because you can connect to it and it created an aesthetic emotion. In my opinion the value of an art work should be determined by how rare it is. I also believe that the value should be determined by the how big the piece of art is and how it’s created, such as technique, the use of different colors, and the type of art it is. The piece of art I chose is really interesting to me because it looks like different people intertwined together and the use of warm and cool colors make it hard for you not to look at it. How much I would pay for it? It all depends on how economically stabled I am. If I am economically stabled I would pay at most $1,500 because it really catches my eye and I feel connected to it. But if I don’t have a lot of money I would pay $300-$600. I feel that anybody can relate to any piece of art and if you do that should be what determines how much you should pay for it. Everybody will experience a different emotion to a piece of art and some may experience the same one that’s why some works of art are auctioned and sold for a lot of money.

Online Class answers 2 questions

1.            Media impacts the art industries today by over pricing tags on specific art of an artist. Filthy and or Rich millionaires to billionaires will defiantly buy a $100,000 painting. History of an artist also molds contemporary society’s value of an artwork by him or her producing what appeals to the bidder or buyer with lots of pocket money. I agree in the fact that an artist must make a living by selling it’s own genuine and personal art work. But I question the business industries’ methods of how it sells art and how it influence the art industry into an informal art commodity.

2.            Does it matter who made it? Yes it does, but is it the artist’s name that gives an art its true value? Personally art should not just be admired but also value it’s significant forms. The perception that evokes aesthetic emotions are the true value of a painting, sculpture, and drawing. These elements should determine the value of an art work.

On a rare occasion, with the money I have now I would buy a painting around $150 by some underground artist or even a friend's painting if it was significant enough to me. I would buy this painting for $50 Designed by JR

How much do you think the value of this painting?

           

Blog post #7/ Online assignment

Today's art society has taken an obvious discourse. Today the value of an artwork is shaped by the artist popularity. The price of the piece of art has absolutely nothing to do with its actual artistic quality. editor and critiques have the common goal of increasing the market of specific types of art and artists. This phenomenon surely makes many artist question their own ability. I imagine them asking themselves, Why Francis Bacon and not me? This is a very good question. Does Francis Bacon put more effort? Is his work better quality? Does it represent something of more significance? In my opinion, it doesn't. I solely believe that an artworks price should depend of amount of evident effort, the value of mediums, overall quality. I believe that during an auction, the artist's name should only be given to the buyer after the purchase has been made. This would prevent buyers from purchasing a work solely due to the artist's popularity, and make them appreciate the style and quality.

Here is a work by Ramon Peralta, a Dominican born artist and close family friend. The monochromatic oil painting was brought about by Peralta's interest in paper and the way breeze effects it. Personally I don't know if any artwork is worth more than 5k. Then again if Francis Bacon got 142.4 million for his work of art, there is no reason why this one can't in my opinion. 

online class

lauren melendez
may 27-2014

The way i understanding these two articles are I believe that art has lost its true meaning. Now a days people can just claim that there an artist because the made something that they think is a work of art. I found both of these articles interesting. from what i understand our  generation well is the 1% who basically decided the value of art. i feel know a days with social media and everyone no longer wanting to truly original once someone say that this work of art is amazing even joins the ban wagon and agree without even truly looking at it too see if it's a good piece of art. I feel we should determine the value of a piece art, even though we all don't have the same option on art. the amount of money id pay for a piece of art if it was done by my favorite artist Bansky id pay a good amount of money for one of his art works.  

final drawing of the creativity presentation

 lauren melendez
blog presentation
may-27-2014

 

I didn't want to show it until it was completed... sorry for the mess around it 

Online Assignment

     The value of artworks are primarily based on who painted it and how much someone is willing to buy it for. Francis Bacon's work is worth so much because he is on the list of artists who are considered important in the 20th century and have a limited selection. How does an artist get on that list? That is decided by the art industry & society and their love for the artist's work. Taking into consideration that to the wealthy community, the price they pay for expensive paintings are probably like pocket change to them. It just seems a lot to us, but not to billionaires, which is why they don't mind spending a few of their bucks on something valuable. I don't agree however, that ridiculous paintings and art pieces should be priced at such a high amount. I'd say if anyone can do that, it shouldn't be worth much because it can easily be duplicated.

     Artists that work on art pieces with significant amount of detail and they put their heart and soul and leave a valuable message in it should get more money than the crap that the wealthy buy today. The value of an artwork should be determined by difficulty of creating it, and how powerful the message is.

Subway by Sam Carlson

I would pay a good amount to own this piece of work because the way the artist constructed it is absolutely brilliant. The use of the paint strokes make it seem like the train is in movement. The colors used are a perfect fit. It is also relative to me, and everybody living in New York, displaying a message of isolation in society, how people always seem lonely while riding the train, or feel lonely.

Blog Post #7

Ben Weiner: Paintings of Paint

Throughout the trips I have taken through this course I’ve somehow always had the same question in the back of my head…”What makes the work of art so important and expensive?” Yes there are some painting that when one takes a look at you can tell it is one of a kind, but then their are those that look like something you yourself can create. So why that work of art? Maureen Callahan makes a point in saying that the reason why such works of art are so expensive is because of the name that goes attached to the work of art. Todays buyers only look at the artist name and not the actual work of art. Art seems to have become a game of “popularity”. Buyers only want what is popular and modern and in return popular museums like the MoMa and the Guggenheim mostly display what is “popular”. Some artist are even using their staff to produce their artwork but then end up taking the credit and millions of dollars for it, which I find completely unfair. If collectors are spending millions of dollars on these works of art shouldn’t they come directly from the artist, but in a way is it just bad karma to the millionaires who spent all these dollars on those pieces for absolutely no reason? Whatever the case is, when it comes to art I personally believe art collectors have become passive consumers, they will just follow the current trend. If you see a piece of work you like and it captivates your attention I believe it has value. Buyers should buy what they like not what others tell them they should buy. If a person is going to spend a large amount of money on something it should be spent on something that they will enjoy and something they value. 

One piece of artwork that I would love to purchase is by artist Ben Weiner's, “Painting of Paint”. I find this work of art to be different than anything I have ever seen, the vibrant colors and the realistic overall feel on the painting makes it all the more mesmerizing.

From my understanding of these two articles, I believe art has lost its true value. Now a days people can just throw a label on anything an call it "Art". Also we let ourselves be influenced by what is popular , and by who has it. Wealthy people spend ridiculous amounts of money on ridiculous art work. I personally believe that they don't even appreciate the art, they just compete for who can pay the most. I think that for something to be art, it would have to have meaning ,and depict a certain feeling or connection to the viewer. Also things that are part of history I would call art. They carry so much worth because they take us back in time. What I've come to conclude is that's when it comes to art there are infinite amounts of interpretations. Whether arts is beautiful and has has meaning or if art means many 0's . We all have different interpretations.  The type of art I would by would be something that intrigues me and makes me question what it is? What is means? But most of all that is full of colors and forms and that I instantly find it amazing.

Daniel Ambia
Blog Post 7
The Value of Contemporary Art

            I found both of these articles interesting and a little aggravating. Cotter discusses the bitter truths about the art industry vs. the art world and Callahan discusses essentially the .00001% obsession with being cool by consumption. In philosophy we read an essay about the philosopher Adorno's theory concerning the commodification of popular music but I believe his theory can also be transferred to the visual art world. In a capitalist society art has become a commodity. Apparently what decides the monetary value of art has not changed over the centuries except it's no longer Emperors and Kings art collections but collections of the contemporary ruling class, the uber wealthy. It appears the wealthy are still able to decide the monetary value of art based on their personal preferences.
             In my opinion there are some artifacts that should retain a relatively high value, historical pieces perhaps that have been refined and serve as a time capsule for our past as human beings. On the other hand, if a billionaire wishes to spend millions of dollars on a sculpture of a balloon animal or a dead tree then I suppose more power to the artist for convincing the billionaire to write the check. The value of art should ultimately be decided by the artist. If the artist has put in the work and time on a piece, then naturally they should be able to demand what they see a fitting price once the piece goes on the market. If the consumer is touched by the piece and wants to purchase it then hopefully the artist and the consumer can come to some type of agreement. I don't know enough about the art world to say whether or not a piece should be worth $50,000,000. Maybe the artist who uprooted and made the dead tree theirs has every right to demand what they will.
               I like to look at art, I like going to museums and I definitely have a few reproductions hanging in my apartment which I may have paid at the most 25.00 for. But as far as purchasing an original piece I would have to say my favorite artist is my son Romero. He creates original work almost daily and I put most of it up on the refrigerator. To me his artwork is priceless ;).

Online Assignment Blog

William Powhida

From what I understood from the readings, or at least the first part, it is this generation’s one percent, who basically decided the value of artwork. It sort of works full circle in a way, where people with money, believe they know what modern art is; they pay ridiculous amounts of money for mediocre pieces of art. This in turn effects the art market by making popular what many don’t find esthetically pleasing but however do find “artsy”. This then affects galleries, where the majority of art pieces in galleries are aimed towards those same upper class individuals, where the priority of these galleries is to sell. The idea here is to buy pieces that are selling, popular mainstream pieces, overpricing the bad art at times and centering the rest of your gallery on that idea.

This affects many artists, especially in a city like New York, where artist now have to succumb and produce mainstream art in order to survive in the artwork and pay the rent. My initial impression was that, the artist themselves set the prices of artwork, which I believe is true, but it is still dictated by the current art market. The process being that the artist has a piece of art that he feels should sell for one thousand dollars. However the current upper class values it at a much lower price, because the piece isn’t popular right now; mainstream. Or that same wealthy class doesn’t classify that piece under their standard of “modern” or “artsy”.  It’s definitely hard to say that I fully disagree, because can you really blame them for trying to make money; everyone in the end is trying to make a buck. It all comes down to who takes advantage of the current situation, however it does suck that I have to go to pay sometimes sixteen dollars for galleries and museums to have to see crap art. Not that all the artwork is bad but some pieces now look as if a six year old could have made it, but to each it’s own. When it comes to determining the value [price] of artwork, there are many factors; I don’t believe there is one overall deciding factor. Also with the current idea of what is “hot in the market”, I don’t see any other way to price art rather then the current system. For me it’s hard to stray away from the idea of supply and demand, the more popular the item [idea of art], the higher the price. I do think the message of the art should play a role, somewhere, messages of awareness, topic along those lines, referring to the projects we did, I’d pay good money for pieces like those.

I think art by William Powhida, would be art I would pay good money for, of course I’m not trying to spend thousands of dollars but I would pay a fair amount. In fact I don’t think I would ever pay over one thousand for a piece of art unless it was for charity or had to do with animals. The reason I would pay for work by Powhida is because I’ve heard him speak, heard the genuineness of his art. His art is so blunt and he shows no fear, and he becomes even more empowered with all the criticism that he gets. He makes some difference, starts some controversy in the art world, when he’s attacking the upper class or people in important positions. Besides, his work makes me laugh, which is awesome, especially if I’m going to hang these pieces up.

Minimum wage

Amongst today's manny controversial  issues, minimum wage increase has been a very popular topic. Society is demanding a fair minimum wage increase from big industries. I strongly support this issue because with out their employees they wouldn't be where they are. The perfect Monument/artwork would be a sculpture. Made up of real items collected from different jobs to represent all. The sculpture will depict , the employee as the support system of all these wealthy but low paying jobs.
My sculpture will consist of a person
Holding up a bunch of items from different types of jobs like, brooms, mops, pans , utensils , cups, papers, gloves , and many more items. My sculpture will represent the strength, support, and hard work that the employees  do. These industries don't value their workers and don't realize they are the reason their businesses are up and running.  I personally have worked for some of the widely  popular  industries and for the amount of work they expect they don't pay enough. For example i was put to do the work of a manager while being paid for my position as a cashier. My sculpture will be located everywhere, I would like it to be move around spreading the message through out society. This monument is meant for society and for the BIG INDUSTRIES.

                            

ONLINE ASSIGNMENT

Our online assignment is in preparation for our class trip next week to Chelsea Galleries.

You must read the two readings, then answer the related questions on the blog.

First read this:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/19/arts/design/holland-cotter-looks-at-money-in-art.html?_r=0

Then read this:

http://nypost.com/2014/04/27/inside-the-mad-world-of-modern-art/

Then answer these questions on the blog due on 5/27 by 11:59pm:

• Some paintings cost $100. Some paintings cost $100,000. Based on the readings and you own thoughts, what do you think shapes contemporary society’s value of an artwork?  Do you agree with this? 
• What should determine the value of an artwork?
• Post an image of an artwork that you would love to buy. 
• How much would you pay for it and why?

THE TORCH OF EQUALITY

An issue that I see in this world is that there isn't equality. There isn't equality in race, politics, and especially in sexual orientation. That’s why my cause is equal rights and to stop stereotypes. As my monument I want it to be a torch made out of black and white arms and instead of flames I want it to be a flamboyant rainbow of different arms as you see in the image. The message that I am trying to portray is that we all come from the same roots it’s just that people adapted better to different things and no matter what we like we should be free to express our thoughts. This is why I replaced the flames with a rainbow because a flame burns freely and beautifully and I believe that our minds as human beings should burn like the flame and not be contained by society. I would like my monument to be huge so that people can admire it and stand under it, so they can feel a connection to it. The torch itself I would like it to be made out of metal but the rainbow arms which represent the flame I would like them to be made of  different colors of glass and a special fabric that would make the flames look like they are lit up when the wind blows. I would also like to put a light beam so that in the night time it looks like a rainbow in the sky. I want my monument to be for all those teens that committed suicide just because they felt neglected by society, I want it to be for the people that embrace who they are, and most importantly I want it to be for the ignorant people that just don’t understand the struggles that certain human beings have to face just to try to fit in. I would like to open people’s eyes with a beautiful monument that illustrates the beautiful colors that we all have, but in order to see it we need to get out of this fog we call society and look for the light we call acceptance and equality.

The Torch of Equality 

Blog #5, 6? Idk

The literacy rate in America has not raised in a decade. The ability to read and write is paramount and surprisingly elusive to many Americans in an age when new information is steadily fed to the masses.  I have very deep roots in this issue because I love to write, I feel writing has a power to sway the soul if put together well. But how can we advance as people when proficiency in writing, reading, and essentially conveying ideals is become increasingly rare?

My painting would consist of two equal halves, the top half consisting of men, women, and children of all ages, creeds and colors trampling on books. Pencils askew and broken with blank sheets of paper tattered and thrown away. However, they would be upside down. The bottom half would consist of improvised men, women, and children of all ages, creeds, and colors reaching for the books Americans have laid to waste.

My message is simple and oft told. There are nations that truly understand the value of education and the options it brings. We take for granted the comfort of our situations, whatever they are. The housing projects in America would be heaven sent for the genocide ravaged countries of the Sudan. The books we discard for simpler iPhone pleasures and Facebook interactions are worth their weight in gold in other countries. We have to take back a sense of pride in bettering our minds because they are infinitely the most powerful weapons one can conceive.

My painting would be placed in the doorway of every public school in America to be seen by all the minds still capable of molding, hopefully it lights a spark in the leader that will light a fire in their generation.

Blog post

In 2012, the NYPD took over the duties of the ASPCA humane law enforcement unit. Any and every NYPD police office must respond to any animal related call.  Many NYPD officers were totally unaware of this, and some simply didn’t care. Many officers are upset that taxpayer’s dollars are being spent on the enforcement of humane (animal) laws. Some feel that they have better things to do than rescuing sick and neglected animals. My question is if the NYPD doesn’t want to do it, who will?

If I could make artwork representing my cause I would make a sculpture of a NYPD officer riding a horse. My sculpture would be located in Wall Street. I would remove the bronze bull from Wall Street and replace it with my horse. The artwork would be also made of bronze. The sculpture would have text carved into its base, stating, “Well horsey, now that the NYPD is taking over for the ASPCA we gotta go save some animals. So now we’ll just work you guys twice as hard.” The sculpture would have an NYPD officer riding a thin emaciated horse. The horse would have a tight harness around its head used to lead it in the right direction. The officer would have sharp spurs used to stab the horse in the side to speed it up.

This sculpture would directly represent the NYPD’s lack of interest in taking over for the ASPCA. My sculpture would be a slightly humorous and hypocritical artwork. This NYPD officer would be hypocritical because he would be committing animal cruelty by overworking the horse, in his battle of animal cruelty. The officer’s use of a harness and spurs shows the officer who taxpayers pay to protect animals, committing animal cruelty.

This artwork would be for the people who don’t believe in using tax dollar to effectively fight animal cruelty and inform pet owner on how to properly care for their pets. This artwork would also be for the police officers who believe they have more important things to do. This monument would have a simple message. Its message would be that the people/officers who should be in charge of fighting animal cruelty, should be people/officer who want to help animals. 

Cruel Slaughter Practices

My Two Statues; Draft 

 

I believe that the topic of cruel animal slaughter practices would make a really great statue, or if the idea could be depicted in statue form that would be great. Monuments of common inhumanely slaughtered animals would be a great reminder to the general public that it is not okay to do that. I am already completely opposed to the idea of depending on animals as a food source. My message is simple, that if people have to depend on animal meat, at least do right by it, the animals have emotions that you can see in their eyes. I feel that if people find this necessary then there are better ways of practicing the slaughtering of animals. They’re many humane ways of doing this, rather then hanging cows upside down and cutting their throats. Cows and all animals have minds; they are cognate of what is happening. They suffer what must feel like hours to them, for what? So a family can digest the meat in three days. The current practices that take place are cruel and inhumane. There are many solutions to this problem, as well as many arguments to these practices. One of the more common counter arguments is money; the more humane approach is the most expensive approach as well.

        My statue(s) are about fifty feet tall, big enough to notice but not overly outdone, to avoid cost and looking ridiculous. I’ve noticed through some research that some statues in different cultures are colored, but I would like to stick with the idea of keeping my statue(s) bronze. This keeps the serious tone of the topic; I don’t want people distracted by the color. My statue design is of a cow and/or animals with a look of fear. The plaque would information about better ways to approach cruel slaughter practices and quotes from Temple Grandin: “Grandin explains that going through life as an autistic person —feeling anxious and threatened by unfamiliar surroundings—is not unlike what cows feel when passing through handling facilities” Temple Grandin is a animal welfare advocate who arrived to standardize humane slaughter practices in the United States. I feel with quotes and backed up research from a highly respected advocate, the monuments can make a difference and grab the attention of people, perhaps enforcing more Humane Slaughter Acts, the goal being what Grandin advocates, helping the animals we can’t save.  My monument(s) would be located in states or cities that ignore these laws, so that the attention can be shined upon these companies.

Forest Fire Prevention Service Department (F.F.P.S.D)

   
       The cause of forest fires in dry lands are very dangerous to the ecosystem of animals and humans. Forest fires should be taken into serious duty the fact it can happen in spontaneous times. The longer the fire catches something to burn the faster it spreads. The key is preventing forest fires and using safe and efficient methods to extinguish a forest fire. However to initiate this plan, recruiting team members are important for a trusted and knowledgeable forest fire prevention service. Bringing awareness to people using novelties is one of the first process by acquiring students, technicians, Doctors of earth science and biology, and other required members to start. The novelty I’m creating will be sculpted as an icon of a simple ground sprinkler as it sprinkles blue water droplets. The natural flow of the sprinkles arch’s like a flower’s curvy petal. This will be constructed out of non- hardening clay. The ground will be realistic in away as if the portion of the land where the sprinkler was on has been perfectly pulled out in a square shape. In addition the ground will have grass and pebbles and more realistic features to signify the serious effort the Forest Fire Prevention service can offer. When these novelty are photographed and mass manufactured as novelty products, may be then people will care enough to take action.

Urban Cycling Awareness

Urban Cycling is growing more and more everyday.

Bicycle awareness and fair bike laws should be emitted to everyone who live in populated city areas. Ridiculous ticketing from NYPD should come to a sensible decline. The road should be for everyone to share. Drivers need to become more aware of cyclists around them. Constant dooring incidents, cut-offs (I experienced one of these, the driver did not use turn signals and made a sharp turn right into me), and cars parking in bike lines occur much too often. A protest on smoother roads with no potholes or cracks can make cyclists feel a lot safer riding around NYC. I will propose a monument to ensure bicycle safety, and to give other pedestrians and drivers more awareness of non-motored vehicles on the road.

Here is a link of a man who got ticketed for not riding his bike on the bike lane, and this is how he responded. http://thefreethoughtproject.com/nypd-gave-wrong-guy-ticket-this-awesome-response/

A monument idea would be a cyclist and a driver on top of a big apple shaped like a heart and the message is to propose peace to one another, and not the constant taxi vs cyclist war. (they are true enemies for decades).

It would be made out of gold to show that it should stand out and to show the importance because it will save lives (bicyclist deaths grow every year) and would be about 20 feet high preferably in union square. (cyclist central)

This monument would be for all the cyclists and drivers that had their deep hatred for one another and will remind each other that we should share the road, keep our cools, and avoid being enemies.

(something like this, tried my best lol)

Pacification in Rio

Gabriela Caceres

Art & Society

                 The pacification occurring in Rio de Janeiro’s favelas in Brazil is a risky event happening right now. The purpose of pacification is the Brazilian government’s attempt to remove the drug lords, armed drug traffickers and murderers from the slums to make it a safe place for Brazilian people. They’re also working on reducing crime rates before the world cup begins in June. Although it seems that the government is trying to replenish Rio, they’re using a controversial technique. If the Brazilian military catches you selling drugs in the favelas, or if they see you with a leader they’ll instantly kill you. I chose this particular event because I was recently watching a documentary on it and I have a lot of family and friends attending the world cup next month so it instantly concerned me. The corrupt part about this issue is that drug traffickers have been controlling favelas for years now and the government decided to deal with this ongoing problem recently. The government is spending so much money on new roads, the stadiums, clubs to attract tourists for the world cup but they’re barely helping the residents of the favelas, thus they feel neglected. The message of my drawing is to make people realize especially tourists visiting Brazil in June that drug traffickers are still controlling favelas and that pacification isn’t really effective and instead of the government focusing on spending money on buildings and on the world cup they should focus on doing that for the favelas. The location of this drawing would be in the entrance of the airport in Brazil or before entering the world cup stadium in Rio to capture peoples attention and to make them aware of what’s going on.