Understanding Contemporary Art

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1 Unit 5 Name Date Objective In this lesson, you will consider new roles for art in the contemporary world. Links Judy Pfaff Brian Mc Sweeney Frank O. Gehry fine artist (painter, sculptor, printmaker) art director desktop publisher illustrator, graphic designer multimedia designer Web designer cartoonist, animator craftsperson (jeweler, ceramic artist, etc.) photographer fashion designer cartographer Introduction The world around us is changing rapidly. Technology and science are the two key drivers of this change. In just a few years, mobile phones, laptops, and high-speed Internet have become part of our daily lives. Imagine a world without these things! In this ever-changing contemporary world, the role of art and artists is changing too. Art is no longer limited to canvas or paper. Instead, artists have mastered new media, such as computers, to express themselves. New technology has allowed digital art to become more refined, more realistic, and more expressive. New high-tech materials have allowed artists to push beyond preexisting boundaries. Art careers that did not exist several years ago Web design, 3-D animation, and game design, for example are common today. 1 of 10 Copyright 2009 PLATO Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. PLATO, Straight Curve, and Academic Systems are registered trademarks of PLATO Learning, Inc. PLATO Learning is a trademark of PLATO Learning, Inc. PLATO, Inc. is a PLATO Learning, Inc. company.

2 Guggenheim Museum: Bilbao, Spain 3-D Art: Strawberry Inside Ice Computer-aided 3-D Design: Office Computer-Aided Abstract Art Computer-Aided 3-D Design: Living Room Computer-Aided Design: Earth and Space 2 of 10

3 These are some of the contemporary art careers available today: painter illustrator animator jeweler art teacher sculptor graphic designer 2-D animator ceramic artist art historian printmaker game designer 3-D animator photographer art critic art director Web designer multimedia designer fashion designer gallery director desktop publisher cartoonist craftsperson cartographer museum curator Section 1: The Role of Contemporary Art and the Artist Contemporary artists express their creative vision in many ways. Apart from paintings, drawings, and sculptures, many contemporary artists create artworks known as installations. By using sculptural materials and other media, artists attempt to modify the way you experience a particular space. They use media ranging from everyday, natural materials to photography, video, sound, performance, computers, and the Internet. In this section, you will explore the works of three contemporary artists: Judy Pfaff, Brian Mc Sweeny, and Frank O. Gehry. Try to understand what makes these artists and their new forms of art relevant to the world today. 3 of 10

4 Activity 1: Exploring the Work of Contemporary Artist Judy Pfaff Contemporary Painter and Sculpture Judy Pfaff Judy Pfaff combines painting, sculpture, and architecture in new and innovative ways to create installations that express her unique vision of the contemporary world. Her installation art surrounds you. You can walk through it and under it. You can explore it like a landscape and a building all at the same time. She uses building materials such steel I-beams, colored aluminum, blown glass, and florescent and neon lighting, as well as branches, roots, and driftwood. Directions Visit this website to read more about Judy Pfaff and look at her works. Study the combination of different elements in her artworks. Then answer the following questions. 1. Is this artist s work contemporary? Why or why not? 2. Explain how the artist has used materials or technology in new ways to express her vision. 3. How is Judy Pfaff s installation art different from traditional paintings or sculptures? 4 of 10

5 Activity 2: Exploring the Work of Contemporary 3-D Animator Brian Mc Sweeney Contemporary 3-D animator Brian Mc Sweeney Brian Mc Sweeney is a 2-D and 3-D animator and digital artist. He began his career as a traditional 2-D cel painter, painting animation cels frame-by-frame. A cel is a transparent drawing sheet. Mc Sweeney has created visual effects (VFX) for many feature films and video games. He has worked on animated films such as An American Tale, The Land Before Time, Thumbelina, Rock-a-Doodle, and All Dogs Go to Heaven. His video-game credits include "Space Ace" and "Dragons Lair." He uses computer software such as Maya, Photoshop, 3-D Studio Max, and others to create beautifully expressive, computer-generated animation. Directions Explore this website to read more about Brian Mc Sweeney and see samples of his work. When you finish reading, answer these questions. 1. Is this artist s work contemporary? Why or why not? 2. Explain how the artist has used material or technology in new ways to express his contemporary vision. 5 of 10

6 Activity 3: Exploring the Work of Contemporary Architect Frank O. Gehry Contemporary architect Frank O. Gehry Although he is primarily known as an architect, Gehry has exhibited sculptures made from unexpected materials such as cardboard and Formica. His most famous building design to date is the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. Gehry is inspired by unexpected combinations of curves, angles, and lines in nature and by the frantic vigor of city life. His architectural designs are more fluid and irregular than the straight horizontal and vertical lines of most traditional architecture. To realize his designs, he uses innovative technology and materials. He has used computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) programs to assist his design process. He used titanium to create the shimmering, wave-like surfaces of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. Directions Visit this website to learn more about Frank O. Gehry. Explore all three areas: Interview, Work, and About. When you finish reading, answer these questions. 1. Is this artist s work contemporary? Why or why not? 2. Explain how the artist has used material or technology in new ways to express his contemporary vision. 6 of 10

7 Section 2: Careers in the Field of Contemporary Art If you want to be an artist in the contemporary world, you can choose from a wide variety of art careers. Remember, each career requires unique skills, talent, education, and experience, so you must prepare well. A good starting point is to recognize your aptitude and talents. You can put a single talent to use in several art careers. For example, if you have a talent for drawing, you could choose from painting, animation, or illustration. Activity 1 Directions Click the links below to explore the job descriptions of these contemporary art careers. Focus on the description of the work, education or training required, career opportunities and advancement, and salary range. When you finish reading, answer the questions below. fine artist (painter, sculptor, printmaker) art director desktop publisher illustrator, graphic designer multimedia designer Web designer cartoonist, animator craftsperson (jeweler, ceramic artist, etc.) photographer fashion designer cartographer 1. Ideally, fine artists make their living by selling their artwork. However, they often supplement their income through other means. List three ways in which they can supplement their incomes. 2. What is the average salary of an art director? 7 of 10

8 3. What education and training do you need to become a desktop publisher? 4. What does an illustrator do? 5. How can multimedia designers advance in their careers? 6. A Web designer isn't required to have a college degree or advanced schooling. What skills must a Web designer have? 8 of 10

9 7. Cartooning is a very competitive field. Apart from education and training, what do you need to be a successful cartoonist? 8. How can craftspeople advance in their careers? 9. What should a photographer do to get a job? 10. How does computer-aided design help fashion designers? 11. What training and education do you need to become a cartographer? 9 of 10

10 Activity 2 Directions Choose the art career from the list of links above that you find most interesting. Write about that career. Your answer should include the job title, a brief description of the job, the education or training required, the experience required, and the average salary. Summary The field of contemporary art continues to change because of developments in technology and science. Artists now experiment with different media and materials to create new art forms. Contemporary artists are applying their skills and talent in new ways. As a result, prospective artists can choose from a wide variety of new art careers. 10 of 10

Local Artists in Yuma, AZ

Local Artists in Yuma, AZ Yuma Art Center The Yuma Art Center is located in the heart of Downtown Yuma on Main street. It offers a wide variety of special events and classes for adults, children, and families.