Kendall Buster Reflection

After exploring Buster’s work, I take from all of her pieces a sort of awe because of how delicate her pieces look. The projects she has suspended from steel rods from the ceiling look like fragile paper lamps, when in reality are very strong and intricate designs. At first I thought Buster only worked with white paper lamp looking materials but as I continued to explore her work, realized her latest projects were done with stainless steel rods which is extremely admirable knowing how difficult steel is to work with. I would love to walk through one of her exhibits because they seem very interactive, as you can see in her Long Pierce skeletal frame sculpture, there are people inside which would be a fascinating point of view. 

 Long Pierce

 Double Chalice (1996)

I love her work and would adore having one of her pieces hanging from the ceiling in my future home, I know it would be admired every time a new person would step foot inside because of her intricacy and attention to detail.

 

Martin Puryear Reflection

After looking through Martin Puryear’s website, my take on his work is that it is very simplistic but so thought-provoking because you just think of how many things one piece could be inspired by. Although most of Puryear’s pieces allude to recognizable forms and subjects, he intends for every piece to remain independent of specific interpretations; which I think is wonderful. I think that his gallery of pieces allows any person or audience to take away a different feeling or emotion from each of his works because every person can interpret for themselves what they think a piece means. He uses form and material in a very frugal way, constantly using minimal material and thin lines within his sculpture; adding to the minimalistic qualities of his work. Overall I would love to be able to see all of his pieces in person, I specifically have spent quite a bit of time looking at his pieces entitled Desire (from 1981), Ladder for Booker T. Washington (from 1996) and C. F. A. O (from 2006-07) because his woodwork is incredible.

Cardboard Seat Project: Duality Chair inspired by Irene Martindell

Cardboard Seat Project: preliminary photos

 first design

 second design

Essay on Duality

Assignment:

Write a one page essay on your relationship to another person.  What is the nature of your relationship?  How did you meet? Is there a place or time that relates to your "connection"?   What are the details about this person?  What are the significant factors in your relationship? Describe your feelings about this person.  Does this person have to be real?  Does this person have to be alive? 

Essay: 

I have chosen to write about my 90-year-old grandmother, Forrest Irene Martindell. There is not a certain time or place that relates to our “connection” because we have been very close every since I was born but in recent years the majority of the time spent with her is at her home in Hutchinson, KS. Her house is still decorated in 60s and 70s style décor, shag carpets, floral wallpapers, dark yellows and greens of multiple shades, wood paneling, etc. In detail I would describe my grandmother as dainty and elegant, she stand about 5 feet tall and is very petite with the warmest smile and curly white hair. When I think of my grandma I think of happy memories and can hear her laughter echoing through my thoughts.

I admire my grandmother very much because she is an incredible role model and has led a very full life. She has traveled to every continent except Antarctica and has been to over 50 countries. She is very adventurous but so humble. At the age of 90 she is still very active and cooks wonderful meals every time my family and I go to visit her. I would think that with this duality essay/project the person you were basing it on would have to be real because that connection and personal relationship is what is going to help someone make the most out of this project. I believe that they could have passed away because memories and emotions still remain but having my grandma still with me makes this even more of an exciting task because she has always inspired me so much with life in general; now I get to channel all of that inspiration into a specific project. Some ideas that come to mind of my potential cardboard seat: something intricate but small, something elegant and well crafted.

'Errol Morris on Photography' Response

I thought Errol Morris' outlook on photography was very interesting. When he questioned, "What makes an honest or true photograph?" it caused me to think about that idea for awhile. He said that photos shouldn't be posed and the photographer should only observe and not touch, which is very different from the types of photography (like portrait and wedding) that I have been involved in so far. He also said, a photo is neither true or false, language is but not photographs. He said all photos are posed, a photographer decontextualizes everything. I thought it was wonderful how he said, "...you only see a swatch of reality that has been put into a 2D format." Towards the end of the video Errol discussed how iconic photography can be for people when he said that powerful images like ones of the raised American flag, or soldiers, can evoke so many emotions from a wide range of people. Its fascinating how one image alone can cause so many different thoughts over a wide variety of people. He says that no matter how much background information people know about a powerful image, they will make judgments because that is what people do and I think he is very correct in this statement.

Summary of the IDEO Movie

Watching the IDEO movie sparked a lot of our imaginations as we started this redesign project. The process in which the IDEO designers create a product is fascinating, they are so much more relaxed and unconventional then you think they would be. They all completely unleash their creativity and that is what helps them come up with designs that none of us have thought of yet. I would love to work for the IDEO firm; it looks like a job I would be excited to wake up for every morning. I am very envious of all who work for Tim Brown (the CEO for IDEO).