ART 211: Art And Technology

Artist Statement: As a descendent of Guatemalan heritage, my lineage traces back to the ancient Mayan civilization. That said, I thought it would be a cool opportunity to showcase the ruins - specifically Tikal - that were built in Guatemala. While this is not a traditional project - having to use my own body to recreate the structure - I thought it was pretty beautiful that I could use my own body to recreate a structure built by my people. Through the use of my arms, hands, and even face - along with the help of my roommate who wanted to be part of the project - each served their own purpose in the ruins. The arms served as the outline and base to the pyramid. The hands served as the steps/stairway for the pyramid. And, the faces served as comedic relief because they didn't accomplish anything with regards to the construction of the pyramid. Inspiration: Progress: Step 1: The arms and middle fingers use to create the outline and stairs.  Step 2: Hands were used to...

Artist Statement: My favorite childhood movie is Monsters Inc. There was always something about Mike Kazowski that I related to when I was younger - maybe it was his smiley disposition to make up for his lack of confidence, maybe it was his drive to prove people wrong, or the relationship between him and Randall was reminiscent of my oldest brother and I. But, Mike Kazowski as far as this project is concerned, his eye is the main attraction in my piece. I saw wiggly eyes in the store and I knew immediately what I was going to create. With over 900 wiggly eyes, Mike's eye is the focal point. I think it was a great opportunity to make his eye to standout in the sea of smaller eyes. Also, wiggly eyes perfectly complement the goofy personality Mike Kazowski displays throughout the film. Inspiration:  Progress: Around 300 wiggly eyes. Officially 900 wiggly eyes. Added some giant wiggly eyes.  Added some color to it. It's coming along! Does it look l...

Artist Statement:        In the age of the internet, information is readily available. As we've seen in the recent political and social climate, the information found on the web is not always to be trusted; however, it's become the norm that people believe whatever is put in front of them. While this flipbook is not intended to be serious - rather whimsical and light hearted - its purpose is to convey this idea of questioning the information given to us. This was communicated by asking the age old question, which came first: the chicken or the egg? While there is no scientifically proven answer, the answer does not matter; what matters is that people will believe what they want and will believe what is told to them without verifying it - no matter how important the matter. This is the progress throughout the creation of the flipbook. Let's walk through what's going on in each frame.  This frame is the egg uploading its contents.  Th...

Wires are such a bother. Nobody has time to navigate through metal and plastic lines that most of the time act as a hinderance in not only aesthetic appeal, but functional appeal. That is why the technology of Bluetooth - wireless connection between devices - was invented. However, it would not exist without the inventions that cam before it - namely radio. “Bluetooth uses what is now known as short-link radio technology. It operates at the unlicensed (but regulated) 2.4 to 2.485 GHz band and it uses radios to communicate and establish connections between two or more devices” (Pothitos). Without the radio, we would not have the all-so-valuable Bluetooth that at this point is almost a requirement on any new electronic device that comes out for consumers.   “It was 1999 when we launched the entire Bluetooth system to the world. And then we had the internet bubble [crash] in 2000, 2001, so it really didn't catch on until 2003, 2004” (Hardawar). Though the rollout of Bluetooth hap...

         I don't exactly have a favorite broadway show; actually, I'm not really a fan of musicals whatsoever. I have a passion for film - and I'm able to enjoy a wide array of genres - but once singing and dancing enter the picture, I find myself completely disinterested. However, the one and only broadway show I've attended - The Lion King - shifted my perspective a bit. Although, I still won't go out of my way to watch a musical at any time, I gained a substantial appreciation for everything that goes into the creation of the show. Specifically, for The Lion King, the costuming and technology used stood out to me the most. In terms of costuming: the colors were so vibrant, the materials looked so authentic, and just felt like it represented Africa to the best of its ability. In terms of the technology, the characters Timon and Pumba - the meerkat and boar - were mechanical beings controlled by actors/singers, but the designs were so intricate that they deser...

Kenny Najarro             2-10-18 ART 211 - Roundtree       Don Giovanni Opera Assignment   Opera is a medium that encompasses various aspects of art - costuming, singing, set design, music, and lighting - in an attempt to build an immersive world that the audience can sink into. And that is the case for Mozart’s Don Giovanni; the show originally premiered at the National Theatre in Prague in 1787 (Fairman). While the production differs drastically than the 2010 production at the Glyndebourne opera house in the United Kingdom, the story that audiences adored over 200 years ago still resonates. However, more than a couple of centuries removed from its inception, Don Giovanni’s themes and characters articulate today’s society in what can only be classified as an eerie premonition. That said, what is hailed as one of Mozart’s most impressive works has gained newfound momentum for its implementation of technology wit...

The word that kept popping into my head while watching the animation is “primal”. There could be one use of it, but in this animation the word primal kept changing definitions. At the beginning, the word primal could be used to describe the landscape - mountains, ocean, beautiful sky - and the sexual acts being performed. The lack of clothing, aside from a sailor’s hat and a lanky robe, added to this very minimal set up. However, even the technology included in the animation - the record player, the car, the yacht - could not take away from the primal feeling throughout the video. The tenderness of the sex scene echoed this sentiment of primality as they were very in-tune with each other’s bodies - almost being in sync with the nature surrounding them. However, it is the moment the protagonist gives birth that drives the feeling home.   When the protagonist gives birth, she gives birth to what seems like a fetus - more like a fish - that begins to grow in her arms from new bor...