Lego Art

AND ONE DAY I THOUGHT, WELL WHAT ABOUT THIS TOY FROM MY CHILDHOOD?

Nathan Sawaya, 

The Most Famous LEGO 

Artist in the World

This artist gave up being a lawyer to be an artist.

https://www.thrillist.com/gear/interview-with-lego-artist-nathan-sawaya

https://www.insider.com/nathan-sawaya-lego-artist-2016-6

"Ideas." 

Courtesy The Art of the Brick
Checkout more of his lego art at:https://fortune.com/longform/lego-sculptures-the-art-of-the-brick-nathan-sawaya/

Sumi-e Painting

Sumi-e Painting

 

SUMI-E is the Japanese word for Black Ink Painting. East Asian Painting and writing developed together in ancient China using the same materials —brush and ink on paper. Emphasis is placed on the beauty of each individual stroke of the brush. The Chinese speak of “writing a painting” and “painting a poem.”

Saying a lot with a little.

Link to sumi-e art examples

https://jdhuskey-beinspired.blogspot.com/2016/04/sumi-e-painting-sumi-e-is-japanese-word.html

Koi Fish -Japanese Art

Koi Fish

Association with the Japanese Culture

You’ll find that the Koi fish meaning has quickly become that of a beautiful and colorful fish that happens to be associated with all things Japanese. This is now the view of this fish around the world. Seeing this fish makes people think of beauty and serenity, which is also tied into the culture of the Japanese. Not only has this cultural tie and Koi fish meaning made it a popular choice for decorative ponds all over the world, but it has made these fish very popular with tattoo artists too. Since they have a message and meaning of friendship and love, that along with their beautiful colors have made them a tattoo subject.

Meaning in China

While the Koi fish definitely have huge ties to Japan, it’s a good idea to look at the Koi fish meaning in China as well. In the country of china, they happen to be associated with having good fortune. The idea that they’ll bring good fortune comes from the Dragon Gate legend. This legend is about a Koi that was able to swim up a waterfall vertically, and then it turned into a dragon. This definitely gives these lovely fish a sense of value within the Chinese culture as well.

information obtained from:

http://www.koifishinformation.org/koi-fish-meaning/

Thirteen students and academics from the Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science’s (LKC FES) Department of Architecture and Sustainable Design (DASD) painted a mural titled “The Swimming Koi Fish” over a period of 14 non-consecutive days from November 2016 to March 2017


http://lkcfes.utar.edu.my/2017/07/13/the-swimming-koi-fish-mural/

What types of lines are used to paint the koi fish mural?  Straight?  Curved?  What colors do you see?  Why are there cogs included in this mural? What do you think we should include in our mural?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ihwa_Mural_Village

Ihwa Mural Village (Korean: 이화 벽화마을), is an area of Ihwa-dong, Seoul near Naksan Park that was revitalized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's public art "Ihwa-dong Naksan Project" in 2006, with paintings and installation art of about 70 artists.^[1] It is a popular destination for both locals and international tourists for its murals and scenic setting

This mural is a mosaic instead of a painting.



Koi fish come in many different colors and patterns.
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/a0/12/fb/a012fb26f94fbbf3bf8f170a8d359d6d.jpg

Romero Britto

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4TjEhDbnOA

#whatliftsyou Artist Kelsey Montague

images courtesy of https://kelseymontagueart.com/whatliftsyou/

#whatliftsyou   What do you think this question means?  How can we lift one another?

Kelsey Montague is a street artist that creates art that can be seen by anyone walking down the street.  Many people are able to see this type of art.  She came up with the idea of giving her paintings hashtags.  Hashtags helped to promote her art through photographs on social media,like Instagram and Twitter.  For example, when someone takes a photo in front of one of her large paintings, they can post the photo on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram with the hashtag #whatliftsyou.  Social media helps more people to find and recognize her work, making it popular.

"I started the What Lifts You campaign last year to provide people with the opportunity to share more about what inspires them in their life...After just a week in NYC my first set of What Lifts You wings had a line down the street of people wanting to take a picture with the piece and post about what inspires them in their life.  I realized that people love the opportunity to become a ‘living work of art’ by stepping into the wings and they love getting the chance to talk about what inspires them in their lives!"

Patterned wings are signature to Kelsey's art. Her work  is inspirational and asks 'what lifts you?' New designs and motifs like butterflies and balloons are variations of her uplifting work.  Still they ask you the inspirational question #whatliftsyou.  Artists expand their ideas.  What are some other uplifting images Kelsey might consider?  (objects that float, fly, soar, etc.)

On 4.25.19, Taylor Swift commissioned Kelsey’s large butterfly mural in The Gulch, Nashville.  Why? Because Taylor loved the first piece Kelsey ever did in NYC and wanted to create a piece that hid clues to her new song for her fans.  



https://cassiestephens.blogspot.com/2016/09/in-art-room-what-lifts-you-mural.html

Now it's time for us to create wings to lift one another!  We will each decorate a feather to create wings to be displayed in our front hallway at Hillsboro Primary School similar to the one described in the link above!  Perhaps those that finish early can design other symbols that may "hide" within the feathers of our design!

Construction 

Sculpture Studio Opened!

Artists plan their sculptures!

https://sites.google.com/a/msad54.org/sams-art/cardboard-sculpture-gallery


This artist created a hinge to allow his art to open and close.



https://kaylaszott.wordpress.com/2014/04/11/11-x-5-nintendo-ds-cardboard-sculpture/


This artist used slots to attach her pieces.
\

created by Megan18312 in Grade 10 at North Judson-San Pierre High School




How might this artist hide the tape that we can see?  Is this art finished or does it need to have color?

"Ball hop"

created by Elijah6901 in Grade 5 at Carver Elementary School


You can create a sculpture with just 3 sides so that the audience can see inside.  How are the sides staying up?  Is there a way to add more strength to this sculpture?

"Penguin family "

created by Alice1856 in Grade 1 at Carver Elementary School

An Art Experience

During our school winter break, I had the opportunity to visit a special art gallery in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  It was in the Ahha gallery. 

Photo from Ahha facebook page.

This was a very unique interactive gallery comprised of three floors.  This first floor contains contemporary art installations.  The second floor is an art installation called "The Experience."  I haven't experienced anything quite like it before. You entered into a maze of strobe light effects, fluorescent painted structures, and undulating projected graphics.  There were cockpit doors that opened up in which you climbed into a space designed to fit a theme and a video playing to support the artistic idea.  

In my artistic development class for my masters in art education program, we had studied the idea of art experiences.  One of these was Rikrit Tiravanija's art installation called "Free."  In the experience, the artist set up a kitchen in the art museum and served rice and Thai curry for free, blurring the line between art and viewer, where the viewer becomes a part of the art.  

Rirkrit Tiravanija

untitled (free/still)

1992/1995/2007/2011-

https://www.moma.org/collection/works/147206

At the Ahha gallery, my daughter and I experienced THE GUM LAB.  In this art installation, you are invited to take a piece of gum from the gumball machine, chew it and stick it to the bottom of an old-fashioned school desk.  The desk is placed upside down to make this task a bit easier to accomplish.  

During my studies, many graduate students argued that these experiences aren't really art and that we have become a society that can do just about anything and call it art.  What do you think?  Is this art?  Food (or gum) for thought! 

On the third floor was an art studio set up with all types of art tools and recycled materials.  Anyone can create here at this inspiring venue!  

Now, it's time to let your creativity shine in our art studios here at Hillsboro Primary!