Narrative: Outside Visits- Book Fair "Destination Comics Response #2 (Play to Win: GN Games with authors Ryan North, Gene Yang and Box Brown)"

The books and authors from this panel

Play To Win : GN Games

What I liked from this talk was the fact that the authors made their books interactive. These books include puzzles to be solved within their chapters. Gene Yang book Secret Coders:Paths and Portals is about computer science and I found very interesting how kids reading this type of books might get inspired on studying coding and computer technologies while learning the fundamentals of game theory. Other interesting approach  is Ryan North way of writing, were the reader choose the destiny of the story. Personally I enjoy the idea  of the authors of teaching young readers thru their books. 

Extracts from books Tetris, Romeo and/or Juliet, Secret Coders:Paths  and Portals

Other important thing that the authors of these books mention was the "struggle of the making process". This comment make me feel better because I realize everyone trying to make art goes thru frustration and doubt, believing your art or creation is not worth it is part of this process. During this semester, especially in WARP I've been debating if grades define your talent or how the audience will love or hate your artwork. As well as if  working hard, experimenting, trying something completely new and building work ethics to become a better artist really matters? Other useful comment from these authors is how they use comics to tell a narrative and the tip of using computer software to make the organization of the narrative more tangible. I found these suggestions might be useful on the moment of putting together the zine. 

Reflection on Building 8

Narrative: Outside Visits- Book Fair "Destination Comics Response #1 (Teenage Riot: YA Reality with a Comics Kick with authors Margaret Stohl, Jessica Abel and Maggie Thrash)"

Maggie Thrash, Jessica Abel and Margaret Stohl

 Teenage Riot: YA Reality with a Comics Kick

This conference make me very happy, I was glad to hear that now days authors are starting to put female powerful characters in their novels. I was surprised with the background of the authors: from someone very known in the comics world going to a young writer that is self-taught. Also, I was very interesting with how Maggie Thrash, Margaret Stohl and Jessica Abel have a deep connection within the characters of their novels, the  hidden secrets, the way they to come out  and their own personal lives. How they write because they want to see themselves through their novels and the way they used  writing to reflect on their own situation. I love how Maggie Thrash used her book We Know it was You to reveal her sexual orientation to her parents even when her parents did not realize at the first moment what her daughter was trying to say. Also, I enjoy the fact that not  all the writers in this panel had the same interest in comics and the fact that they like different genres of literature. I am glad authors are portraying minorities  in a positive way, acknowledging us on their books.

Presentation before the start of the panel

Other interesting aspect from this talk was the way teenage oriented books are actually more read by adults. Personally I am part of this group, by some weird reason I am more attracted to teenage or kids literature. Authors like Roald Dahl, Dr. Seuss, Beverly Cleary, Judy Blum or John Green are in my top list and sometimes I prefer to re-read one of these books from my childhood than reading something new and more related to my age.  Also, authors agree with comics as a successful way to communicate non-verbally and to introduce more people into the lost hobby of reading. I felt very inspired by the ways writing as art are a tool to take power back and to make a change in our community. Also, how literature give us strength to be proud of ourselves and to empower who we are. 

On the street fair

Landscapes: Outside Visits - Visionary Metropolis (Tony Garnier's - Une Cite Industrielle) at the Wolfsonian Miami

Plate 164 :Blast Furnaces

Visionary Metropolis make me realize of how industrial revolution change the world and the way people live. Tony Garnier's was a French architect native of Lyon that imagine a perfect city in the 1900's. In his ideal industrialize city he plan health facilities, recreation facilities, civic centers, residential zones and industrial zones. Garnier's lithographs are so beautiful realistic that transports the viewer to the vision of his perfect city. He thought of ways of improving life qualities for Parisians. He tried to enhance public facilities, services, parks, etc,  to improve the life of the citizens from the city.

I believe it is important to plan and to visualize what you want to create. I am going to take that advice as  the lesson from this exhibit. It is interesting to see that people from the 1900's wanted the same commodities like us,  people living in the 2000's. Population and industry during these years had increase pollution opposing to Garnier's ideals. As well as "healthy" sunlight to promote vitamin D and happiness has become our enemy causing skin cancer and other diseases because we humans destroy nature in our road to "progress".  It is sad to break Garnier's dream city, his  perfect city, the fantasy city, the  place everyone will love to live.

Garnier's Litographs

"The City of To-morrow and its Planning"

Reflection at the Elevator at The Wolfsonian

Landscapes: Outside Visit - The Discipline of Nature: Architect Alfred Browning Parker in Florida at History Miami

Exhibition Wall Text

As soon as I went into this exhibition the wall text with the title of the exhibit call so much my attention. It make me think of how now days there is a conflict between nature and architecture. Honestly, I usually do not put too much attention to architecture, is not that interesting for me. In the recent years this has change a little bit because some close friends are focusing in constructing Eco- friendly, on a communion with nature. I like how this exhibit was divided on the different stages of his life and how his architectural designs evolve during his career. He was a Browning Parker was a celebrity on his days and is sad how today he is barely acknowledge. Probably only architecture students from Florida may reference to his works when he was one of the pioneers of the "single-family" home.

Architectural Photography Wall

Its interesting how construction had change in the course of the years. This exhibition makes me realize that construction has change for bad and we should focus on using local materials and reducing waste. It is amazing how Parker not only work in private projects but he was responsible of iconic buildings in our city such as the Flagler Federal Savings & Loans or the Hope Lutheran Church Sanctuary. I grew up in a house and is sad to see how overpopulation and urban development are replacing cozy houses with cold apartments in buildings and condos. Other interesting aspect of this exhibition was the material use. Parker really thought his materials were a value for his constructions, he mostly use mohogamy, cypress, travertine and limestone. Good materials are key for a successful building and  make history. 

Architect Alfred Browning Parker

This exhibition make me realize how Florida landscape is slowly changing and not necessary for the good. We humans need to respect nature and be conscious about our surroundings. Parker worried about alternative energy and the environment. It's interesting how he was not only an architect but he practice painting and sculpture as well. Also, he pass his knowledge to aspiring architects. 

Works from Alfred Browning Parker

Flagler Federal Savings & Loan

Hope Lutheran Church Santuary

At History Miami

Rhinoceros: Outside Visit- A Universe of Fragile Mirrors by Beatriz Santiago Munoz at PAMM

Selfie at Beatriz Santiago Munoz Exhibit

I found really interesting how Beatriz Santiago Munoz portraits the politics, identity and environment of the Caribbean through powerful videos. The viewer gets an insider feeling with the imagery of her films. I wanted to explore those Haiti streets, the rituals from the girl, the ocean landscapes and the forest. Also, I love "Malascopios"and how the triangular mirrors make patterns on the walls.

"Malascopios", 2014

Some over- expose images make the videos more visually appealing. As well as the vinyl player with the nature sounds, transporting the viewer to the jungle/forest location.

"Otros Usos" 2014
Favorite video collection = Visually Appealing

This exhibition is visually attractive, the space between the videos is divided enough for the viewer to understand that each video is a separate piece, a separate story.

I enjoy "Otros Usos" video compilation because I transport myself  inside of the images and it really inspire me to explore different visual approaches to make my work successful. 

Clip from "Otros Usos"

I have to say that "La cabeza mato a todos" was very  intriguing; I felt engage watching the movement of the girl on the screen, putting me into a trance. 

"La Cabeza Mato a Todos" 2014

In the theater box was  difficult to identify which film I was watching, but the two I experience were captivating in different ways. The first one was an intimate conversation while the second one was a visual description of the city. 

Theater Box 

The images from A Universe of Fragile Mirrors  gave me ideas and suggestions in the ways I might want to approach my upcoming visual projects. 

Pattern & Ornament: Outside Visit - Art and Design in the Modern Age at the Wolfsonian Miami

Selfie at the Wolfsonian

As soon as I enter this exhibition I felt in other era and all I wanted was to take the majority of these objects home. I love how the exhibit was divided in 10 different sections such as:

Stained Glass Window 

• Forces of Modernity
• Political Persuasion
• The Irish Free State
• All the World's Fair
• Clean, Sanitary, Efficient: Improving the Modern Home
• Living with Modernity
• Modern Decorative Arts
• Portraiture and Person hood
• Constructing the Modern World
• Americans All

My favorite part of the exhibition was "all the world's a fair", "clean, sanitary, efficient: improving the modern home", and "living with modernity" because they show  objects such as cameras, souvenirs from art fairs, radios, kitchens, TV, coffee pots, etc, with such a beautiful design. 

Radios, Film Projector and Telephones

All these objects seem to have a fine material selection, handcraft manufacturing, uniqueness (few's of the same object), completely different from today house ware; mass produce, copy one from another and using the cheapest made in china industry. Also, I was impressed of how brands that we commonly see in our household like General Electric or WestingHouse had been producing, changing their designs and their process. I was engage with mostly the majority of the objects in this exhibition. I was specially excited with the electronics. I really wanted to be the owner of these treasure objects. Also, I was intrigued by some of the artwork included in the exhibition like "Doppelakt": a nude painting of two ladies embracing Nazi ideals of fertility and female body. 

Doppelakt ( double nude) c.1940
Ivo Saliger

I was impressed by the stained glass window as well; the details and the colors, plus the narrative on each panel make a really interesting piece. My favorite object from the exhibition was the "Kodak Bantam Special Camera" from 1936 designed by Walter Dorwin Teague.

Other interesting aspect of this exhibition was how in "improving the modern life" designers consider the material, the innovation and the form for these beautiful pieces. In the other hand, is sad to realize how before designers and industries seem to invest more time into their products while now days seem to only worry for their own popularity completely separating art from design.

clock selfie

Kodak Bantam Special Camera designed by:
Walter Dorwin Teague

Creative Impulse: Outside Museum Visit- Susan Te Kanurangi King & Ida Applebroog Exhibitions at ICA Miami

Selfie at ICA Miami

 If I can use only one word to describe these two artists and their work will be inspiration. Both of them where in a complicated state of their lives, but art was their way to speak up. They not only have the disadvantage of their genre but also share a disability. Simply looking into their artworks you see colorful patterns, different mediums, exploration of techniques. Once you start to look deeper into the pieces you start to realize about the possible purpose of these works; a form of communication. Personally these exhibitions open my perception as an artist to be, sending me a message of never give up and keep working hard against my limitations in order to succeed.  A particular series that motivate me and made me reflect about my past, present and future was Applebroog "A Performance" pieces.

What I love about these exhibitions was the use of different mediums; how simply they look at first sight but how elaborated and deep they really are. What I like from King pieces was the way she used bright colors and combine them with zentangles forms especially on the "untitled" series (2012-2014). Other interesting aspect from King work was the multiplication of iconic cartoons and the hidden details such as animals combined with people wearing masks. What I like from Applebroog artworks were the little notes she embedded on her pieces from the series "Mercy Hospital" (1969-70).  Other engaging aspect was the three series of lithographs from “A Performance”, how she mails these books to friends and acquaintances innovating on the way of distributing art and ideas. What I did not like about both exhibitions was the arrangement of the artwork inside the gallery space; making hard to follow the chronological dates from the pieces, as well as a little arc between Applebroog “A Performance” pieces and King “Untitled” (2008) (2009) (2011) that join both exhibitions confusing the artists works for the viewer. Both artists used colors and forms to express and communicate their feelings towards the world they live in.

Susan Te Kahurangi King "Untitled" (c. 2012-2014)

Ida Applebroog " A Performance"
-GALILEO WORKS (Black Cover,1977)

 

Ida Applebroog "Catastrophes" (2012)

                                                  

                              

WARP First Post

Labels Help You Organize

All blog posts must be labeled with two keywords, which blogger calls Labels. When faculty visits your blog for evaluation purposes, we will use the labels to quickly find your work. If you do not use the keywords properly, we will not be able to find your work. Proper set-up and maintenance of your blog falls under the Research and Participation part of your grade which counts for 30% of the overall semester grade. 

Topical Keywords

The first set of keywords correspond to the module we are working in. We will refer to these as topical keywords since they correspond to the topic we are exploring over the two-week periods. Your first group of posts will be labeled under Topic: Creative Impulse since this is the first topic (Topic #1). Here are the topical keywords you will use through out the semester:

Topic: Creative Impulse

Topic: Pattern and Ornament

Topic: Rhinoceros

Topic: Narrative

Topic: Landscape

Topic: Zine

Categorical Keywords

The second set of keywords will organize your posts according to kind. Here are the Keywords you will use for Labels:

Exercises - tag for posts documenting all assigned exercises. The first one will be the paper folding exercise from the first class. 

Readings - tag for posts containing your two paragraph responses to the assigned readings. The first ones will be for "The White Bird" and the Jerry Saltz article from Vulture.com. 

Small Works - tag for posts documenting all assigned small works. The first blog post labeled Small Works will contain images and accompanying descriptions of the three small works you complete for the Creative Impulse Module (Topic #1). 

In-Depth Projects - tag for posts documenting all assigned In-Depth projects. The first blog post labeled In-Depth Projects will contain images (or video if appropriate) and accompanying descriptions of the more robust work you produce in response to the Creative Impulse Module (Topic #1).

Outside Visits - tag for posts containing your two paragraph responses to all required visits outside of the classroom. These include visits we do together as a class [during class time] or individually outside of class time. 

Please be sure to use both a topical and categorical keyword when labeling your posts.