David Hockney inspiration

In class we watched a film about the artist David Hockney. He has worked with photomontage (mapping time and space through a collage) for many years and his work really jump started this project for me. Before watching this video there were many questions and issues that I came about while making the initial prototypes. I was confused and lost about exactly what I wanted to map and the style I wanted to follow. I was initially drawn to the grid style because of the simplicity and organization of the grid. However, I was also drawn to the abstract of the collage. After watching the film about David Hockney, it was finally clear to me the direction that I wanted to head.

I really loved the way he mapped a movement through many photos, some zoomed in and some zoomed out. This was a detail that I really wanted to show throughout my own project.

Spencer Art Museum visit: thoughts

Our trip to the Spencer Art Museum helped in many ways. Seeing a greater interpretation of mapping time and space through photography really helped put our objective into perspective. There were many pieces that I drew inspiration from after going to the museum. The piece with the many different drive-in movie screens brought to life a whole new outlook on the possibilities of using a grid; which at first I was determined to achieve. I left the museum determined to use the organization of the grid to my advantage. However, there was a piece by an artists whose name I can’t recall that was documenting the movement of the subject flipping through the air. The movement within one area of the picture frame also really spoke to me. How the artist layered the photos to make this movement so understandable was incredible.

The flow and movement of this artist really inspired me for my final piece. I wanted to capture movement and time, and establish a very clear understanding of what the movement and object was exactly. 

The art museum trip really help clear the air about what the possibilities were, because before that my ideas and interpretation of what the project entailed was very unclear and uneasy.

"Errol Morris On Photography" reflection

Errol Morris comments on photography and photographers in a very interesting way. He says that, we often forget that photographs are connected with the physical world. They often appear to be standing on their own, separate from the world around us. However, the are the world as seen by an artist.

He also says that it’s not true that pictures can be so deceptive and untrue. I however disagree with this statement because of how easy it has become to manipulate and change a photograph into anything you could possible imagine. Computer programs have completely changed the validity and truth behind a photograph. 

Ways of seeing, Episode 1" reflection

This video presented some very interesting outlooks on the way that we as humans see art, especially those that have been manipulated or reproduced. Even though this video was a little dated, made in 1972, the content still hold true today; because of photo manipulations growth over the past years. 

I believe that the mass reproduction and manipulation of art has presented both positive and negative effects of society and how we view art and what is art. Manipulating a piece of art changes it completely, but also creates something completely new. This changes the way that the viewer understands and sees the image/object. 

There are both positive and negatives involved within this new age of reproduction and manipulation. Without these, art wouldn’t be anything near what it is today, and who is to say that is good or bad. We now are able to have very famous prints painting, and sculptures around us and in our possession, without having to drop thousands for the original. We are evolving with technology, just like our art is evolving with technology and the times. 

"Photography Changes Everything" reflection

The definition of photography has always been somewhat elusive. Heiferman talks about how only a small array of photos are considered art and are truly talked about. This presents many problems because of the digital and technological advances of our day and age. Photo manipulation has caused the art of photography to become and agent of change. It’s an art form that changes to exactly what and how we desire. It’s influenced by our needs and changes how and what we choose to see. How and what we choose to document changes what we remember and how we see/understand the world around us. 

"Masters of Illusion" reflection

Special effects is just another area of problems faced by artists of todays world. How to make a flat object believably 3D used to not even be a thought in the mind of artists. Because of technological advances optics, visual perceptions, and illusions are a whole new field of availability. 

Da Vinci made discoveries in his day about the characteristics of light and shadows and how they influence how we understand and perceive and object. This is often thought of as the start to techniques about mimicking highlights, contours and the perspective of an art piece. Da Vinci is just one of the artists that first explored techniques to created illusions of depth and space in a understandably life like way.

"On Photography" reflection and thoughts

Susan Sontag presents many valid and useful points throughout her article about the current use of photography in todays world, and how it has changed and evolved from past times. We now have the option to choose what we pay attention to and notice, considering everything has been photographed by someone, somehow. There are hundreds of millions of random photos taken of everything you could possible think of, and we are able to find them at a click of a mouse. 

Sontag believes that photographs are one of the most truthful pieces of our world that we are able to process. However, I don’t completely agree with this. In many ways, and even more in the past, this is true. However, photographs are so easily manipulated nowadays, it is almost impossible to be able to determine if a photo has been manipulated or not. 

Susan Sontag brings to life the idea that photographs “furnish evidence.” Which at one time would hold very true. However, with out ability to so easily manipulate photos, the photographers validity is called into questions. This curse and blessing of photo manipulation has given a whole new outlook of photographs and photographers. It has almost become that painting and drawings are the truest interpretation of the world 

around us.

"A Viewer's guide to looking at Photography" reflection

This article presented many important steps in helping the view understand a photograph fully. Coming to a greater understanding of photographs was the main focus. Many have probably used some of the techniques talked about within this article when evaluating paintings, but not as often with photographs. We often tend to subconsciously think that photographs need less evaluating because they are an exact capture of time and space, unlike paintings which often depict scenes in an abstract way.

The article talks about how most views start at the stage of evaluation, which actually comes last. All factors and situations must be considered when viewing and understanding a photograph.

This article is relevant to this project because of our goal to map time and/or space in a coherent and interesting way, while still trying to make sense of a situation.

The FINAL!

Location: Woodridge Park, Clinton Lake

Concept Statement: The purpose of the collage is to document the change in time from beginning to end through a panoramic view point. I took advantage of the zoom in and zoom out abilities to truly capture the movement in specific motions. I also incorporated images of myself within the panorama in order to present the viewer a different perspective. I wanted the audience to feel as if they were looking upon this scene from a distance as it played out in front of them. 

Final collage in the making

For the final I choose to document the testing of a foam raft that I helped design and construct. Inspired by David Hockneys work with photomontage I was able to successfully document time in a panorama style. 

The first steps: arranging and figuring out what even fit together. I printed a total of 300 photos, so just organizing them took a significant amount of time. 

Making sense and mounting on white foamcore. I cut two large boards in half to allow for more length. 

Refining ideas and starting over

1. Clinton Lake sunset

Concept Statement: To document a change in time over the course of a sunset. 

For this idea, I went to one of my favorite spots overlooking Clinton Lake to document the change in colors throughout the sunset. 

2. Decaying Banana

Concept Statement: To show the change in appearance while decaying. (time)

For this idea my goal was to show the time change of a decaying banana kept in the same position for many days. I arranged the photos to follow the shape of the banana enlarged. 

Initial locations and statements

1. The Kaw River

Concept Statement: To map the change in time as the season changes from winter to spring.

2. Concert/Show

Concept Statement: To map time and also space as a show goes from set up, beginning, end, and tear down. I was initially thinking I could document my boyfriend Bens band and even get images of practice and the aftermath of a show. 

3. Person

Concept Statement: Through multiple days and situations, document change in time through mapping out a full image of a person. (Many sections of zoomed in and zoomed out photos. Different days, outfits, places, situations.)

4. Ku Campanile

Concept Statement: To collage change in time over just one day. From sunup to sundown. 

I did it! I built a box..

It may not be perfect, but for my first time ever using a band-saw and even a saw in general. I'm pretty pleased.

Sketches on Sketches

Symmetry is going to be the challenge

My Band-saw experience (cardboard)

The first cut was.. terrifying!


Why did I decide on something so round?



Not too bad I'd say. Although terrifying the cardboard really helped.

Objects for the vessel

Too many rings, not enough storage


A habit too many people need help with. Smokers know, lighters disappear everyday!


Again with the lighter issues. How to keep these guys safe and accessible.

David Pye Reading reflection

This reading made me realize how many people consider “cheaper” as “better”. We are always trying to get the most for our money to put us ahead in life. This reading by Pye also re-opened my eyes to how the standards of society are shaping/manipulation our entire world. Throughout most of the reading Pye had a negative tone towards the manipulation that society has on ever aspect of our world. 

It wasn’t until the end that the authors tone changed by saying that design can create happiness through beautifying the environment. For me this brought to life a new outlook on the uncontrollable manipulation of society.

Vessel project ideas

Idea sketching

Holder for cigarettes and a lighter

Jewelry holder in the String Cheese Incident logo (String Cheese is a band for all of you that didn't know)

Crazy ideas for jewelry holder

Googling "bandsaw box ideas" gave me some insanely complex ideas. Are these even possible?

Three possible ideas. Not content with any of them yet.