Cynthia Freeland Chapter 1 Summary

Art might not be viewed the same way as another individual could. Some people could “see” or “look” at a painting, distinguishing their perspective or interpretation of an artwork. When I “look” at Alma Thomas’ Gray Night Phenomenon, it’s with a goal to identify what the art depicts. I would probably glance at the painting, not taking my time to analyze its different features. At first glance, I register the painting as simply a piece of artwork with a blue background and yellow specks in a pattern, however I don’t take much thoughtful processes to take place and bring emotions into viewing the piece. When one “looks” at something, it is more routine-like and to figure its function, without much appreciation of the artwork. In contrast to “looking”

Since the beginning of time, artists have labored extensively to find innovative ways to convey sentiment, passion, and feeling. Telling stories and trying to unlock the minds of people through different avenues of artistic labors. Art touches and affects people in unique ways; it can have special or unusual meaning on the person depending on how one views it. Artists’ rendering of their art is interpreted in numerous ways by others who view it unless it is explained by the artist on its meaning giving a clear example of what they are portraying. Two people looking at the same painting, sculpture, portrait, or photo may come to different views on the arts meaning even though they are looking

“This is where you can find your soul, if you dare.” (Anderson, pg 10) This belief comes from the mind of the Melinda, the progantists, art teacher, Mr. Freeman. Art is truly a door to the mind of an individual, showing things that people aren’t able to say. It shows through images and colors what many people aren’t able to express in words, events and thoughts speaking through the medium. Art is growing as a use of therapy to heal and tell. Psychologists analyze their patients art at a psychological level, interpreting the image into words. One of the theories in art therapy, which is seen throughout “Speak”, is the idea that unconscious thoughts are expressed in an image. (Irvings)These images then can be explained rationally. Melinda’s three major art images, the half dead trees, turkey bone, and cubism represent this theory.

Many artist when writing, drawing, sculpting or whichever art he or she is practicing, has a purpose and meaning behind the artwork. Whether the art is just to simply inspire other artist to take up an art, or to send an unseen message to the people of society. Artist such as NF who wrote the song “Remember This” also had a message behind his artwork. His message was to inform others that not everyone is who they seem to be. He informs listeners that people will betray others and that staying true to oneself is the most important thing.

When people create art, it does not only have to be drawing or painting, it can be acting, dancing, music, or writing. When artists create art they have a purpose for example, it can reflect on their surroundings or what they are feeling. Some key components that artists need to achieve great art is having knowledge and empathy.

I believe that the artist is expressing himself when he is creating a painting, sculpture, drawing, etc. I also believe that art can be interpreted in many ways. One way that I thought an artist was able to express the way he thinks was through a drawing that was created by Otto Dix’s drawing Krigeskruppel (War Cripples). The time that Dix created this piece was the time of World War 1 (pg 40.) Dix was able to first see the effect that the war was having on soldiers. The drawing contains four men walking, to what seems to be downtown. The leader of the four men is smoking a large cigar and is needed the support of a cane because he is missing an arm and both of his legs, the next is man is also missing a leg and supporting himself by a cane.

The idea of art being a unique interpretation of what an artist’s feels towards a particular thing has always been a given when talking about art. However, where is the line drawn on what art truly is and what it means to its audience? To do this, the idea of what art means must be applied to the idea of what art is. In Dorothy Allison’s This is Our World, the author touches on points of what art is and what it means to its viewers. These points and supporting stories point to the idea that art is subjective, personal, and provocative. This allows Allison to draw her conclusion that arts purpose is to depict the deeper meaning into situations and incidents that occur in our world. In Dorothy Allison’s journal, one can see how the author effectively conveys the ideas of art being personal and subjective, but fails at detailing how art can be subjective.

When you go to an art show do you understand the symbolic interpretation of the pieces? Don’t feel bad, most people don’t. What’s so upsetting about that is that you really miss out on the experience. When I think about interpretation of art I think of Andy Warhol. Andy Warhol’s use of iconography changed not only the art world but the people who came into contact with his art. Once you understand his life and art, you will understand his art as a symbolic representation.

She was crying hard. The worry of death bursting through her tears. She didn’t know what was going to happen. Was she dying? Or was she already dead? Cynthia Ann was seriously injured in a crash. 4 cars were involved. 18 people were among the vehicles. 15 of them dead, the rest in critical condition. Cynthia Ann was in a coma she was a front seat passenger in a ford escape that was red. She had been in the coma for 18 days.

“Painting today is pure intuition and luck and taking advantage of what happens when you splash the stuff down. “- Francis Bacon. However when I learnt more about history of art and the way each movement and happenings in the world inspired artist to make new works, I was able to see much more than just a canvas with random paints and sketches. The interesting part about this concept is that each piece of art could be interpreted in many different ways. In contemporary art there isn’t right and wrong, each of us view and find different meanings and connections with artworks.

“All worthy work is open to interpretations the author did not intend. Art isn't your pet -- it's your kid. It grows up and talks back to you.”

An artist 's psyche can 't be placated by the ordinary or carried on by business as usual; it is parched to search out the human condition and to look profound into individuals ' characters.

Surrealism is not the only movement that influences expressive arts therapy. Other movements have made important contributions to both the philosophical foundations of art in psychology and the development of expressive arts therapy as a formal discipline. Wassaly Kadinsky, a German abstract expressionist, explored color, shape, and form as an expression of spirituality. He developed theories regarding the nature of art and the role of the artist as a “prophet”. His theories are based on inner experiences and art as the soul of nature and humanity. Joseph Beuys explored the role of artist as shaman. In his performance art, like How to Explain Pictures to a Dead Hare, he chose materials and actions for their symbolic value and manipulated them to affect the viewer. Spontaneous creativity is the focus of the beat generation. Writers, like Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac, worked

By interpreting an artwork you are only taking into account certain characteristics of the piece, instead of considering the whole project as the work of art. Interpreting art is merely trying to find the meaning of the work when in actuality, there may not even be meaning there to begin with.

Art has evolved and regenerated itself many times during our human existence. These differences are defined through changes in styles under various theories. During the nineteenth and early twentieth century, a style known as Expressionism became popular. During this movement the artists were trying to use their artwork as a tool of expression toward life. It was mainly dominant in the nonrepresentational arts, such as abstract visual arts and music. It also was probably one of the most difficult movements to understand because the whole point of the piece lay within the artist. Not only was it a movement, it defined the act of art as a whole. From the beginning of time, each work of art, excluding replicas, show a way of expressing