Reflections

I knew quite a bit about computers before taking the digital art class since I have a web design certificate, but there is always something more that I can learn. I had written a blog for another class last semester and posted photos on flickr.  I did not experience cell phone photography with the rest of the class since the cell phone I had at the time did not take pictures. Since then I got a new phone which does take pictures. I took my first pictures with it a couple days ago at Tribute park. I wanted to photograph the sculpture there for my blog. I went to the park after work and when I got there I realized that I didn’t have the camera that I usually keep in my purse. I forgot to put it back in after taking some other photos, so I thought back to earlier in the semester – the best camera is the one you have on you. I took a few photos with my new cell phone.  After getting home, I realized that I had no way to get the photos out of the phone so I could use them in time to post before the end of class. I ordered a cable so I will be able to take the photos off the phone to use once it arrives. I went back to the park the next day and took more pictures with the camera that I didn’t have before. So I am still looking forward to seeing my pictures on a larger screen and experimenting with cell phone photography.

I had also worked with both raster and vector based programs before. What I didn’t know is that there are programs for free on the web. I’d ripped CDs before, but was not aware of the different formats that songs could be ripped to. I had never made a slide show with music or a mashup before.  Generative art and typographic art was new to me, other than old style Ascii art. I found the programs on line for making these to be fun and made more than required. I may actually want to go back and play around with those some more. While I made things with Illustrator, I never got to be an expert with the pen tool. Seeing some of the Vector art out there like the Vector portraits makes me want to learn to be better at this. I’d like to be able to create such awesome art using computer methods.

I’ve written websites before. I first learned when the web was new and you could learn just being viewing the source. Now so much is generated by programs that you need a much better understanding to be able to tell what the source code even does. Also, some things you can’t even view by looking at the source anymore. I have since learned to make websites using Dreamweaver, Microsoft Expression web and can now add Google sites as another way that I can put up a website. I still think I can improve on making my sites look more visually appealing. View my website that I started for this class.

What I’d like to learn now is how to make better vector art. I’d also like to learn about some other types of art like printmaking, painting, ceramics, etc. Although my current interest is in photography and digital art, I want to explore as many types of art as I can. I’d also like to improve my communication and people skills. Since this is an online course I probably seem better at communication than what I feel I am. As an online course it relies on written communication without all of the additional facial expressions, gestures, tone of voice and other aspects of communication in person. I am not as good at picking up on a lot of those nuances as most other people. I know many people find it harder to understand when the communication is only written. For me, I feel it puts me on a more level field as everyone else without all the aspects of communication that can confuse me.

Workers' Memorial Day and the Veterans' Glass City Skyway

Workers' Memorial Day is April 28. It was started by the Canadian Union of Public Employees in 1984. It was recognized by the United States in 1989. It recognizes workers who have died or sustained serious injuries or illness related to their work. Five people died here in Toledo during the construction of the Veterans' Glass City Skyway. Four workers from Ironworkers' Union Local 55 died on Feb 16, 2004 when a two million pound launching truss collapsed . Their names are Arden Clark II, Robert Lipinski Jr, Michael Moreau and Michael Phillips. The fifth worker, Andrew Burris died on April 19, 2007. He was a member of the Carpenters' Union Local 1138. The platform on which he was working detached from the bridge and he fell to his death.

Veterans' Glass City Skyway

This sculpture was built as a memorial to these men. It is called Tribute Memorial. It was designed by a Chicago Artist named Evan Lewis. It is 40 feet high and has kinetic elements at it's top. Centered underneath the sculpture is a plaque with the name of the sculpture and artist and the names of all of the workers who died creating the nearby bridge. According to the artist, the kinetic elements represent the constant effort of the workers who built the bridge. 

I had never visited this sculpture before and although it was a couple days later than Workers' Memorial day, it was an  appropriate time to reflect on the loss of life creating the bridge just a few years ago. I didn't know exactly where the park was just that it was somewhere on the east side near the bridge. I drove by it a couple of times without realizing it because I was looking on the river side of Front street. Then I saw it on the opposite side of the street from where I had been looking. Tributes to the dead have always been a use for art. It helps us to remember their lives and sometimes what they gave their lives to acheive.
For more information about this sculpture visit the Veterans' Glass City Skyway Tribute Memorial page on the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo website.

Art at Kleis Park

Besides having art in Downtown, at the Toledo Zoo and at the University of Toledo campus, there is also art scattered around town. The area of town I live in is known as Shoreland, which is near Point Place. Most people even from Toledo don't know where Shoreland is, but if I say Point Place they know where that is. Near the Point Place Branch of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library is a park called Kleis Park. This is where some of the closest public art to me is.
This piece is called Mud Life and is made of brass and concrete. It is the work of Mags Harries and Lajos Heder and depicts creatures of the water. There are five life forms in the sidewalks - the Mayfly, Polychaete, Sludge Worm, Larva and Clams.

Also, along the Summit Street side of the park is one of the frogs that was part of a 2001 public art project in Toledo. This frog is called Handsome Prints. (or Hansom Prints according to the current sign) I photographed all of the frogs on display that year and put them on a website, where they have been ever since. To see all of the frogs go to my Toledo's Frogs page. The pictures there seem small now because screen resolutions have changed from what they were in 2001.

If you live in Toledo, look at the Arts Commision of Greater Toledo website to find the closest public art to you.

Art in Ottawa Hills-just off campus

I had talked in a previous post about the art on the campus of The University of Toledo and how we are lucky to have some pieces that change from year to year, which is pretty unique among college campuses. Well we are also lucky to have a changing sculpture exhibit just off campus. If you go to the corner of Bancroft and Secor, which is walking distance if you live on campus or in the student apartments in the areas around campus, you can see even more art in the park area in Ottawa Hills that is bordered by Bancroft St, Indian Rd and Orchard Rd.  There are 10 more sculptures over there, so take a walk and look around. It doesn't even need to be a 5 or 10K walk. There is lots of art both on campus and nearby. Here's my photos of selected works.

Mimic by DW Martin

Homage to Matisse Detail by Mike Sohikian

Trinity by Douglas Gruizenga

Ruffian by Amy Havens

To see more photos of art in Ottawa Hills visit the Midwest Sculpture Initiative. To see real art and not just a picture of it visit the park.

The Toledo Zoo is full of Animals ... and Art

On Monday April 16, I took a day off of work and I went to the zoo. I had not been there for quite a long time and lots things have changed. There are exhibits I had never seen before. Some areas were closed because of renovation or making a new exhibit. One thing had not changed--there is still lots of art at the zoo. There are still the older stone statues like the triceratops, and many metal sculptures of animals.

Triceratops

Panda

Lion

There are murals on the walls of the Carnivore Cafe, where people eat in the cages.

Tiger from the mural in the Carnivore Cafe

A large dragonfly is on the outside of the Zoo Museum.

Dragonfly on the wall

A metal sculpture is near the area where new construction is being done.

Elephant sculpture

A new sculture of a kite with string is in Nature's Neighborhood, the children's area.

I enjoyed looking at the art and animals at the Toledo Zoo.

Waterville, OH art

I went out to Waterville for a walk. I did the 5K since it was raining when I started and it was my first walk of the season.  The walk started at a place called Peddlers' Alley. I never knew about this place since I'd driven by Waterville many times, but never stopped before. Inside were a number of shops. There also were murals on the walls. Here's a couple of my photos of Peddlers' Alley.

Inside Peddlers' Alley

Mural which includes an actual bird nest

Another mural inside Peddlers' Alley

The actual walk was along the river from Farnsworth metropark heading west. I walked along past a couple shelter houses and picnic spots and enjoyed the views of the river and redbud trees. 

Nature=Art

After completing my walk, I decided to stop in the Garden Smiles gallery. I enjoyed looking at not only George Carruth's art, but art by several other artists including pottery, glass and cards.

George Carruth's Garden Smiles gallery



Student Curators Present: African Art

One of my current projects is helping with an exhibition curated by the students in the African Art class I am taking this term.  The Exhibition is being held April 27 - July 24, 2012 in the Hitchcock Gallery on the lower level of the Toledo Museum of Art.  The topic chosen for our exhibition is Leadership and Spirituality in African Art.  Please come out to see it.

Each student in the class researched a work of art and wrote a paper about it. The sculpture above is the work that I wrote about.  It is a woman devotee of the cult of Shango. Shango was an early king of the town of Oyo in Yoruba (which is in the same area as modern day Nigeria). Shango was an impulsive man who was interested in magic. He is said to have created a storm with lightening which killed many of his subjects including some of his wives and children. After that he committed suicide. When another storm came to the area, his supporters claimed that it was Shango. He had not died, but became a god. Shango is the god of thunder. His worshippers hold a festival in his honor and figures such as this one are in the Shango shrine along with items of Shango worship.