This lecture with Tiffany Singh and Tessa Laird has given me a insight to the use of colour in art and the effect colour has on people. Tiffanys main and most frequent use of colour refers to a spiritual context as her work is heavily influenced with a Indian culture which she is ¼ Indian her self. Many of the religions in India use bright colours to express a ceremony I cant remember the name of this particular ceremony but by throwing coloured powder at each other which is a very ‘joyous occasion and represents two gods making love. Singh context also lays in the audience participation as she says her interest are not her own work but what people do with it. She has coloured wax sculptures that she exchanges with the audience the colours represent the colours of the chakra ‘the 7 energy points in a persons body. These colours continue through out her works.

Tiffanys wax sculptures set in a rainbow or colours of the Chakra form

Tessa and Tiffany with there temple

Tessa Laird approach to colour in art is more of a quest for why modern gallery art is usually dark or white rather then packed with bright colour. From the age of 4 she fell in love with bright colour living next door to a artist who also love bright colours. Lairds art reflects the vibrant psychedelic posters from the 70. Laird also talks about how people will embrace a particular colour and are recognised through a colour like Chine-red, Islam-green, Ireland-green and so on which makes me think how colour plays a big part in our lives from gangs as a lot of them have a significant colour that represents them, to a countries flag.

Xavier Meade also uses colour to make his posters stand out as he says’ the posters have to jump out and grab you strait away’ the colours he uses come across more like power, to fight and freedom as most of his posters represent the under dogs.

My favourite colour is red. I think its because from when I was a child I remember seeing the mongrel mob from time to time and thought they looked cool and tough I guess I admired them ‘silly I know’ but even now I still like that colour because it reminds me of a strong and powerful visual.

Fran Allison, William Hsu

In this lecture we had two artists who are both lecturers at M,I,T and both are recently collaborating with other artists. The two collaborations are sprit from each other with Fran Allison collaborating with 4 other artist who work apart from each other getting together every now and then to critique each others work over a cup of tea and cake. Also bouncing ideas off each other in the same way as Deon, James, and bill do as Deon likes to call it whiriwhiri korero.

The group have exhibition or outing as they like to call them were they exhibit there work in a unnamed and combined fashion.

the group setting up for one of there outings

The materials Allison uses seem to be unlimited as she has developed a wide range of skills through out her career working in several different jobs and mediums like constructing metal swards in England, making fake plastic ice cream for advertisements and scrap jewellery for the movie ‘Bridge to Tearabithia,. With these skills under her belt her work in as a collaborative is often changing still designing and sculpting but with different materials.

Xavier, James Ormsby and Fran Allison all say to not be afraid, fearless and to take risks which I find very empowering an inspiring. It’s interesting how they have all worked in collaborative or are now working in that form. I think its all part of becoming successful ‘to take risks because failing is a learning process.

Williams Hsu collaborative is with four other artists, but takes a different form. They all work together bouncing ideas off each other ‘but it’s the RM “room” that is different. The group has all worked together to seek out a space for there art. So they all pay rent at this location to make it more affordable. The way they use this space is interesting as it functions as a studio and gallery and invite people in to either take part in the art or lecture

lectures

studio work

Another interesting approach to there art is when they improvised not being able to afford artists or art from around the world so they emailed artists from across the globe for instructions in how to create this show.
Artist from round the world gave instruction and this it’s self is art.

throw mud at a flag instruction

The approach the two collaborative groups have are different as one gets together on accession to brief there work and exhibit work elsewhere and the other work in more of a studio fashion. But both groups take advantage of bouncing ideas off each other and growing pushing there art further and that’s what I like about art. Constantly evolving and flexible

Deborah Crowe and Filipe Tohi

In the lecture with Deborah Crowe and our visit to the Mangere art centre with Filipe Tohi we were given a lot of useful information for proceeding a career as a artist as Crowe talks about her process, works, influences, experiments, and the use of building relationships for business then the corm attitude of Tohi as he talked about his influences, works and processes. The two artists both work with sculpture as well as other arts and both relate a lot of there work to weaving.

As Crowe loves things like a grid form, large overwhelming space, and weaving like scaffolding, fabric, the frame structure of a building or bridge. She has had this interest of these things since childhood with her mother being a big influence as she was very good sewer and weaver as she made and repaired there clothes. Through out Crowes career she has incorporated grid, line and weaving in all her area’s of art like fashion, design, sculpture, photography and moving image and she often regenerate her work to create her next piece pushing and adding more each time.

I like that through her work she will create something that accidently reflecting things or moment from her life like her sculpture …… which reflects the view of the city an motorway outside her window which weaves in an out of its self

. ‘The subconscious mind at work’ lol.

I like that through her work she will create something that accidently reflecting images or moment from her life like her sculpture …… which reflects the view of the city an motorway outside her window which weaves in an out of its self

. ‘The subconscious mind at work’ lol.

Filipe Tohi in some pieces uses weaving in a similar way as he uses it for grid and structure in his art. His sculptures Mata Tangaroa and Mataki Moana’ court my eye strait away when I walked into his exhibition as I noticed a weaving pattern knowing that we had to compeer the two artists through there weaving influence.

Matataki MoanaMata Tangaroa

Mataki Moana is probably my favourite piece of his because of the size as it is large rock and very detailed. I like the shape how it wasn’t perfectly circle and kind of looks as if it there’s movement inside it. I also liked the way the light hits the sculpture as the patterns are solid squares with hard edges creating shadows which gives the sculpture life and flexibility. When I was told that it represents a net it made sense to me as there would be fish inside it moving, altering the shape.

In my opinion it is his Pacific influence where his weaving pattern reflects in his work from tapa cloth, Halamoana sculpture to wood carvings, drawings and the making of bounding thread. The two artists are both intrigued by weaving patterns but approach the form from a different angles as Crowe’s has more of an architectural structural form and Tohi looks more Pacific influenced that carries symbols and tells a story.

Grant lecture ‘form follows function’

In this lecture Grant talks to us about ‘does form follows function’ in nature and human invention. Function or form what come first? They say in nature if something does not have a function it will disappear for there is no longer any use for it. How ever in man made creation this is not always the case like the Japanese tea bowl which at the start was created as a rice bowl in Chine Yanagi,S come across this rice bowl and loved the imperfection of the shape and seen beauty in it and started using it for his tea ,this style court on an it was adapted in to the culture. So I guess sometime in man made things form can come first and a function is developed or found.

The Auckland art gallery has been re built and designed to engage and invite the public. My first impression was the outside of the building at the front was very beautiful with class walls that open up the gallery to the out side. At first entry I was a slight intimidated by the guards the rules no bags and no pens but it seems logical now and I think is fear as there are valuables on display. Every staff member was very approachable and polite and was egger to talk with me which I liked. I also liked the café earlier as it was level with park as if it was part of the park. There is also plenty of interesting benches for seating. Inside the building I liked how sometimes you can see through up to three rooms as the doors are big and open ,which it will be a important part in moving or installing large art pieces.

The building was comfortable and easy to walk though, interesting and beautiful the only thing I would find a problem with was outside the building which is car parking but other then that in my opinion the building does achieve the inviting feel that they have aimed for I have not been to many art galleries before but I thought the art was displayed appropriately. I liked the trip there and wish to visit again in the future because I never seen in the gallery and am curious to see what else they hold

Emma McLellan, Xavier Meade

In this lecture we had two speakers Emma McLettan and Xavier Meade these two artists both collect things like Frances. Emma collects antique wallpaper, intricate patterns and fabrics she finds and Xavier collects old political Mexican poster. Both artists focus on printing making or screen printing how ever their approach to the art form is different. McLettan has worked with screen printing for 10 years and is influenced by animals, genetically engineered nature and mutations printing on paper and panels she says she like to work on panel because if she chooses to change the print she can wipe it off with a wet cloth. McLettans images are focused on animals and pattern. She plays with the idea of cutting up and rearrangement of nature, g.e animals and incorrect description of a animal. Creating mutated or cross breads animals which many look interesting and amusing.

mutation with animal

Xavier Meade direction heads towards revolution posters prints. He says that “posters have to hit you strait away they are like the warriors of the street” as they are out sending a message and telling a story to all viewers. In my opinion Meade is intrigued with stories of the under dog as he travels the world sorting after powerful prints of revolutionary stories ‘I like that about him as he seems to respect the history of our country and has even learnt how to do his whakapapa in maori. The difference in Emma McLettan and Xavier Meade approuch to printing are the context and material. McLettan body of works combines the idea of human playing god by controling nature and re-apropriated antique wallpaer designs and acrylic paint. Were as Meades work is of revolutional or religious figures on posters.

political poster

religious poster

Melanie Cervantes political posters

Cervantes art work are prints and in the same context as Xavier Meades as her art is of powerfull images about resistence or the “small people” fighting the “man” here is one work of hers posters


”A solidarity piece with the young Palestinian children who must use slingshots to defend their lives and their from the Israeli tanks, “Apache” helicopters and machine gun toting soldiers who continue to invade, “settle” and colonize Palestine.” there is a big difference in color between McLellans work and the political posters as as the posters are bright and bold in contrast as if they are trying to grab the attention of the viewer immediately were as McLellans work is quite detailed and delicate having you look twice at what the image is of.

In this lecture with Dion Hitchens(sculpture), Bill Riley(painter) and James Ormsby(drawer) we learnt about their works and work SEEK a collaborative art project. In the lecture I found many things interesting but the first thing that grabbed me was the logo symbol or art piece James had created which had this Z=Z²₊C mathematical equation with it. I tried to google it but all I kept getting for answers was more mathematical numbers and symbols like this 1+^/1₂(-4C- ; 1₂(-4C- which I do not understand but James said it meant something like ciaos which reflects the three artists and the work they produce. I like the logo because it look modern and like something that they could put on to t-shirts. I also like the fact that they do not want to limit them selves to a particular style or way of art and to be branded to soon .As Hitchens says their work is constantly changing as they bounce ideas off each other letting their work be flexible and free to grow were ever it wants. The whole collaborative idea is interesting to me I would like to do something like that one day to see what art I could come up with and to see how much it might change? But yes I could imagine it being difficult if one was to not get along with each other! How ever with their different points of views on things it works as they help each other manipulate thing they see around them into something new and authentic. Hitchens said he and James unintentionally reflect each other’s work but in these images I can’t see the resemblance. Maybe its more the way Dion has been drawing through instillation using copper wire and a sound track. Bill Rileys work for me was the most interesting because of the time consuming and amount of pieces he had to make. 1200 paper origami penguins and his recycled cardboard with over 4000 pieces painted and displayed in stacks which is more in the form of a sculpture.Bill Riley stacks
James Ormsby ( Ko wai te waka e kau mai nei)


Dragon Kings Kingdom Dion Hitchens

The Museum

The thing that grabbed me fist at the museum was the enthusiasm and passion the curator Finn Ferrier had for his job at the museum, which I liked because it kept me engaged on topics. He also made me realise and see another side to a museum like the fact that some one has to stack the shelves, make sure things don’t get broken and the mountings of objects are all hand made pacifically for each individual item. I enjoyed having him as a curator he explained every think with detail and clearly. The gold wall surprised me in how it would’ve taken so long to make. It’s made out of gold leaf hand painted with real gold paint, each being carefully placed on the wall by hand.

the gold wall

Eldon Booth is film director, writer and producer who has made such films as Withdrawal, Five Good Reasons and most recent Finding Honk which has not been released yet for it is still being worked and tidied up. His work is a documental drama and experimental drama style. He like experiment and push the boundaries of fact and fiction like in his first film Withdrawal. By following a character in the film in the form of an armature documentary. With characters being free to look directly at the camera, long takes and quick pans creating a feeling that it is real and all unfolding in front of you. He also plays with time as were he used split screen showing the two family members dealing with there problems in separate ways with the grandfather being medicated in the hospital and the teenaged grandson medicating himself with drugs. The film was shot over a long period of time so the characters aged and the landscape changed which mach the theme of the film. Some scenes were reality like the hospital scene and the landscape change as farm was being turned into suburban land.

The movie Elephant also played with fact and fiction how it was baste on a true story and the camera angels were in a way that makes you feel as if you are following the character through their day. By using long takes, usually one camera angel, close ups to long shots on a character and shallow depth of field creates a sense of being present. They also plays with time as it will follow one character through their day then will cut back to another characters path for that day.

The program that comes to mind when thinking of fact and fiction is a t.v series Trailer Park Boys it’s a comedy and is filmed in the style of a documentary as they will have sense were the characters talk to the camera explaining things about what happening and the rest of the show is filled with their stupidity and life in their trailer park. It seems as if the whole community is involved as there are many characters in the program.

Lailani Kake is a lecturer at M.I.T her area of art is in video instillation. Her art can contain a very long process from start till finish as in some of her work it was over a year before she started to film. In my opinion Kake is a very passionate artist she also says that she does what she does for the love of it and not for the money.

some of her influences come from such artist as Merata mita, Ron Crocombe, Epeli Hau,ofo, and Sir Peter Buck-Te Rangi Hiroa

Kake art mainly revolves around documentation and experimentation. In my opinion Her first art piece 'Ariki' as experimental. The idea for Ariki was created from Kakes thoughts of the Maori word (tamariki) as it mean children or can be translated as god-child. As she looked at her son she thought about the word and wondered what god-child he would be. She come to the conclusion Tangaroa- god of the sea. She used her son as the character in the film having him move around and spinning around in water gracefully and with a maori karakia and a cookisland waiata being played in the background which created a ambients, spiritual and god like feeling and visual.

Kake has a strong sense of being maori with her whanau being very in touch with maori tikanga and her dad being a strong maori figure in her whanau. She is very in touch with her cookIsland side with her mum being cookIsland American. Her film Tinorangatiratanga is a very deep and emotional film about her dad were she documents him receiving his moko which is a very special and proud moment. Then it goes on to her dad fulling ill with a stroke and then passing away.

Filming some very power and unique moments in the process of the tangi, through this she learnt and realized how many others have a piece of her farther with them and the importance of waiata in his life. With every part of his life being fulled with waiata the last piece of the film has images of him through his life with himself singing Tangi a te ruru which is a song about bringing or wishing someone back which to me was deep and created even more emotion to the film.

Kake also experiments with language using text in amongst patterns.

Ad in her piece Nga hau e wha she works on the female perspective of there body. she talks to many women about getting check ups also about being naked and encountering nude people in a non sexual sense. Each women represents 4 different life and life style. the hole instillation was shot in 1 day.

On display at Te Tuhi was a large scale size photo by Gregory Holm and Matthew Radune of a house completely covered in ice. For the photo there was a lot of work that went into it before taking the photograph. they used Hollywood set up lighting even in the far ground. the context behind the art was a series of things from global change, urban planing, mortgage problems and increase of empty houses in Detroit due to these changes in the area. The house in the photo was covered in water continuously for 30 days in winter to create this effect.

Mary, collecting, jewlery

Mary collects materials like everyday house hold items and objects like broaches, drawings of small toys, photos of insects displays, Tupperware and small objects with holes in them like some kitchen cutlery.

She uses the materials in her art work, mixing some of the materials together in the jewellery and sculptures. By using these objects in a visual response to other artists work she admires and respects.

Mary used the Tupperware she had collected to make art work in a response to a beautiful broach she had researched. She was wanting to experiment with colour and different materials. Mary has also used wool and fabric in her jewellery sculptures.

Mary has collected glass cases over a period of 6-7 months for an exhibition she was working on. Using the glass cases she played and experimented with space and presentation, placing small wire objects inside a large glass case.

With her jewellery she also experiments with positioning and presentation on the body. By using the same necklace she places in different positions on the models bodies which creates a feel of stature in the character.

I have two experiences that come to mind with displayed art work. My experience at Te Tuhi gallery was good looking at large scale photography. It then led onto a part of the gallery which was being used exhibit the artist exploration of space. I guess my thoughts are slightly negative on this piece because i didn't understand the idea, context or achievement behind the art. To me it looked like parts from a incomplete building site. I couldn't understand what the artist was trying to achieve. Maybe I will one day?

Another experience I have is every time I go to a Marae. ever since i was little iv been fascinated with the carvings, paintings and tukutuku panels on the inside and out of the marae and some times want to climeb them lol. Now that i am older i still fascinated if not more' looking and touching the art cearfuly, but now iv started wundering why the carver had chosen those poticular designs or who could a poticular figure be of? Iv just become more cuerious on the context behind the art because i want to know the history of the marae ,which ever it might be. Im interesed in what designs mean and think the carver must hold information of our history. Im glad i like these things because i feel by learning these things ,will make my art stronger.

Throughout Frances's life she has collected or gleamed such things as 'old headboards, hardboard, cardboard packaging - packaging, oven mitts, wicker trays, reciepes, photos, and various fabric. By using house hold object she collages, crafts and paints to create her art. Her art portrays a homely feeling with recognizable everyday items incorporated.

In my own gleaming experiences I have found myself collecting different pens for several years. By experimenting with them I have become familiar with there capabilities. I will use certain pens for particular styles of drawings to get the effect i want. Using several different pens in the same drawing, for thier different textures and effects it creates depth and adds more dimension to the piece. I will usually use a pigment liner pen for the out lines and a ballpoint for shading and sometimes a felt tip for the outer boarder of the main image. When i draw onto skin I will use pens that don't run, smear and get clogged up from the oil on the skin. I wil use a yellow or light felt tips for the grid or format of the base image, in the same manner as you would with a pencil on paper, for when the image is complete the light felt tip is hard to see.

I still keep certain pens from years ago that i do not use because I beleave they will come in handy one day. I feel as if pens are like tool to me and I try to find what a pens capabilities are.

Dwayne Bulla is a junk metal artist, his art evolves from the visual he sees in a piece of junk in any given day. Some days he sees nothing in the junk other days he sees birds, insect, or even flowers.
By collecting scrap metal or peoples junk he has material for artwork. bulla says "Rescuing junk metal tool an steel from scrap yards, flea markets, etc makes me feel that I am doin my part in saving the enviroment. turning that junk metl into treasure is exciting"

Through his work it has taught him to look at things in a new and different persrective. "Is a trowel realy just a trowel? Or is it a birds wing or a flower, petal? Bulla Has always had a passion or grate interest in black smith so when he tok courses in welding his love fore scrap metal sculpture was formed. "Turn one mans junk into another mans treasure" (www.artistites.org,Bulla,Dwayne,2011,Artistsites)