Creative Impulse: In Depth Project - Fiesta Popular!

"Fiesta Popular"
Characters from Ecuadorian Cultural Tradition

For the In Depth Project since it was related to folk art I inspired on the Ecuadorian tradition, I feel the need to embrace my culture. Since I left Ecuador I realize the beauty of my roots and how that little detail impact my life, making me who I am. This project brought me memories of these unique characters in Ecuadorian tradition and make wanna explore my culture with these non common representation. 

My first idea include seven characters:

1. Diablo Huma

2. Cucurucho

3. Mama Negra 

4. Angel de la Estrella

5. Inti

6. Mama Quilla

7. Payaso del Inca

I start my research with these characters, trying to find a common thread  and thinking in the way they impact me. After this research I decide to discard Inti and Mama Quilla; even though these Inca siblings are important in the Ecuadorian Andean culture they are seen as the sun and the moon and they do not relate to the popular parades (fiesta popular) theme. Also, I decide to get rid of Mama Negra and Angel de la Estrella because I felt  I did not had a strong connection with these characters because I never had the opportunity to go to Latacunga during the Mama Negra Festival. Diablo Huma, the Cucuruchos and Payaso del Inca are linked to my traditions and closer to my memories. 

Construction of "Diablo Huma"
(felt, thread & fiber fill)

1. Diablo Huma is a traditional character from the indigenous province of Imbabura. Huma is a good devil that appears dancing during the Inti-Raymi festival, celebrating the sun.

Diablo Huma made with felt & thread 

2. The Cucurucho is a character that appears every year during Good Friday on the parade in honor of Jesus del Gran Poder. A wooden sculpture of Jesus from the 17th century is carried around old town Quito by pilgrimages as symbol of faith. The cucuruchos are penitents wearing purple robes that accompanied this march paying for their sins sometimes carrying a cross or chains in order to clean their souls.

Cucurucho ready to be sew

Cucurucho getting fill with fiber

Cucurucho

Payaso del Inca in Progress

3. Payaso del Inca is a character that originated on 

New Years Eve. The tradition start with people wearing masks asking money for the year that goes away  in a neighborhood called El Inca in Quito. Payaso means clown and the mask gives permission to break the rules. This character evolve during the years becoming an important presence in every fiesta popular around the city.

Payaso del Inca before being fill

Payaso del Inca

For the presentation of my in depth project I decided to use Otavalenean table runners as a background  to complement  the memories that attach my childhood to the largest indigenous street market, where usually the women are the ones selling handmade folkloric crafts. I used to visit the market several times during the year and still is my favorite trip every time I have the opportunity to go back to Ecuador. These crafts are part of my roots, they are unique and celebrate Andean culture.

Diablo Huma, Payaso del Inca & Cucurucho

I feel I evolve from the small works to the in depth project because working with the orgonite skull for the small works gave me the hint of what should I do for the in depth project. I started with the idea of skull but then I attached to the candy skull . The idea of the candy skull made me realize of how important this skulls is for Mexicans and how they represent Dia de Muertos with this symbol. This symbolism was an eye opener; turning a light bulb on my brain making me think of how Ecuadorians have beautiful folk culture that usually goes unnoticed, feeling the need to embrace my roots.  The process of the small works also help me choose what type of medium I wanted to use for the in depth  and had an evolution process as well. I jump from the photography, to the drawing , to the mask until I had to used the restricted materials opening a new world of possibilities. My first idea was the banner but then I thought my work was to flat until I did the pillow with the jute fabric, this experience make me wanna do the cushions for "fiesta popular" using more suitable materials. 

Creative Impulse: Small Works- Orgonite Skull

Orgonite Skull made by :HoodXHippie

 For the small works project I decide to pick this orgonite skull because it combines two things that I enjoy a lot:

                      1. Crystals

                      2. Skulls 

This Skull is special because it came to me in a difficult time of my life. I find this piece thanks to social media. On Instagram I start following crystal pages and I discover this Etsy store called HoodXHippie, that makes orgonite on Hernando- Mississippi. I had no idea what orgonite mean, I knew about the meaning or power of certain crystals but I never heard about this term until I found this piece. Orgonite is a energy healing device made from resin, metal and crystals that protects against electromagnetic pollution. 

Why I pick a skull rather than other form? I have to admit that when I was a little girl I was scared of skulls just because the symbolism associating this figure with dead and cemeteries. On my late teens my perception of skulls change when I discover candy skulls. Actually I see skulls as a symbol of transformation and non-conformity. 

First three versions of small works

The first three versions of small works are based on how I perceive or see skulls. 

1. Skull in Altar Photograph=Believes/ Mysticism 

2. Candy Skull Mask = Art

3. Mexican Skull Drawing = Tradition/Culture

"Skull in Altar": Digital Photography
(Photoshop to Black & White)

"Mexican Skull": Drawing - Mix Media
(Pastels, thread & Fabric Paint)

"Candy Skull": Mix Media
(Markers,Paper, Duck Tape, Wood Stick)

The second part of the small works was a little tougher because I had to switch my first ideas in order to fit the given materials. My list of materials include jute fabric, thread, markers, construction paper and printing ink.

My first piece is a Candy Skull Banner: this version includes the construction paper, the printing ink, the markers and the thread. 

Construction Paper Painted with Printing Ink in form of Skull

Faces of  Candy Skulls Draw with Markers

"Candy Skull Banner": Mix Media
(Construction Paper, Printing Ink, Markers & Thread)

My second piece is a Candy Skull Pillow: for this version I used the jute fabric and the thread to build a cushion. 

Jute Fabric cutout to form Skull

Jute Skull in Progress, Adding details with thread

"Candy Skull Pillow": Fabrics
(Jute Fabric & Thread)

The purpose of both pieces is to serve as items of decoration inspired by candy skulls.

Five Versions of Small Works Based on the Orgonite Skull

*Published on Monday September 5, 2016- Last Edited on Thursday September 8, 2016. 

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)

                                                  

                              

Creative Impulse: Reading - Jerry Saltz on the Outsider Art Fair

Jerry Saltz article opened a whole new world, just because I had no idea  that the art business was full of discrimination. Of course I knew there was a difference between artists that had the opportunity to go to art school and those that are natural talented without formal education. The necessity of the outsiders of creating their own art space remind me of the impressionist in 1863 and The Salon des Refuses. Why is so difficult for museums and galleries to accept great quality artworks from uknowns? Maybe the artists have to sell their souls to the devil or to the gallery owner to be included on an exhibition? Who decides if the artist qualify to show their pieces in galleries or museums?

This article brought more doubts and questions rather than answers. In a way I agree with Saltz when he said that the institutions need to change their old policies of who is entitled for an exhibition. We live in the 21th century and many things had change; technology and social media can make an unknown artist famous and  keep it evolving. On the other side,  now in art school I am starting to feel and understand the sacrifices educated artists went thru to pursue their dream career. Having your work exposed in an art space sounds more like a reward for the hard work and a symbol of success.

Creative Impulse: Reading - The White Bird by John Berger

While reading "The White Bird" by John Berger I found very interesting how Berger used the symbolism of a wooden bird to refer to aesthetics. This reading describes the way artists required some type of skills in order to construct their artwork using the bird as a metaphor. Do you believe you can create something without at least a little bit of craftsmanship? I agree with Berger on that point; even though skills might not be the most important characteristic to become an artist and practice will always make perfect, craftsmanship is required as a starting point. Other important feature that Berger mention on his essay is simplicity, less is more like the popular saying adding masterpiece value to every artwork. Berger used the object to outline the vital characteristics artists usually follow to complete a piece. 

Other fascinating comparison Berger used in relation to aesthetics is nature. How nature is a significant component when you need to understand the concept of beauty  and the relationship with an artwork. Human perception is changing, you and me might differ in what we consider beauty but at the same time those juxtaposed opinions is what makes art and nature captivating. Not only describing the artist point of view, but the way the viewer feels and sees your artwork. Aesthetics is a method to organize and settle standards for art. Also, art needs purpose and emotion in the creation process to make it valuable not only for the viewer but for the artist itself.  Personally I consider my art a weapon, a tool, a way of communicating and producing change; I agree with Berger opinion of art having the energy of perception and creation.

Creative Impulse: Exercise-Paper Folding

Origami 

First Class Assignment !!!! I wanted to make an origami fish but I suddenly forgot how to fold the paper so this fox/rabbit hybrid was the final result :)

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.