Christo Wraps the Ordinary World

CHRISTO & JEANNE CLAUDE(died November 18, 2009)

June 13, 1935-both born on the same day-different countries

Christo was born in Bulgaria and Jeanne Claude in Morocco.

Environmental works of art.  They first met in Paris in l958. 

 

CHRISTO SELF-PORTRAITS

 

 

 

CHRISTO WRAPPED CANS

 

DRAWINGS OF WRAPPED CANS

 

CHRISTO WRAPPED VW

 

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CHRISTO DRAWING OF VW

 

 

WRAPPED PACKAGE IN RED WAGON DRAWING

WAGONS ARE USED FOR CARRYIN PACKAGES?

 

OPERA HOUSE IN AUSTRALIA (DRAWING)

 

 

WRAPPED MUSEUM

(Reichstag in Berlin)

 

 

WRAPPED BRIDGE

(Pont-Neuf bridge Paris)

 

 

THE RUNNING FENCE (Sonoma-Marin Counties)

 

WRAPPED ISLANDS FLORIDA KEYS

GATES FOR NOTHING COLORADO

THE GATES CENTRAL PARK NY

 

BEADE WRAPPED GOURDS-SANDRA VISTA

BEADED WRAPPED ALTOID BOX-SANDRA VISTA

WRAPPED PILL BOX-PINK THREAD-SANDRA VISTA

CHRISTO INFLUENCED WORK

 

 

"That could stay, not forever, because we believe that nothing exists that is forever, not even the dinosaurs, but if well maintained, it could remain for four to five thousand years.  And that is definitely not forever."

 

1. One commentary about Christo's work is it's ephemeral qualities (lasting a very short time), how does the quote explain the "time" element in his work? (hint: think about the discovery of Egyptian mummies in relationship to Christo's work)

 

 

 

 

"The work of art is a scream of freedom."  "Our work is a scream of freedom."

"The freedom of every artist is essential." "To keep absolute freedom we cannot be obliged to anyone."





 

2. Christo came from East Europe where freedom was at a premium.  How would his need to maintain his personal freedom be a focal point in his work?

 

 

WRAPPED TREES

 

PLASTIC BAGS ON TREES

"It appears to be monumental only because it's art."

 

3. Christo makes us look at everyday objects in an amplified way? How do you react when you see plastic bags wrapped around tree branches? How will you view plastic bags after studying Christo's art?

 

 

 

 

 

"But the drawings are not created only to be sold."

 

4. Christo creates drawings and collages to begin the birth of an idea.  These drawings are also part of the proposals to get permits for his work.  What ideas do you think were the inspiration for the umbrellas? (The umbrellas series was installed in Los Angeles and in Tokyo)

 

Christo's  Shoes

 

5. What kind of experiences have you had with packages-gifts, online orders of clothing and practical things? Do you consider Christo materialistic or non-materialistic or something else?









 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



M. C. Escher- Negative Positive Space-It's all an Illusion.

 

M. C. Escher

 

 

 

 

1. "Order is the repetition of units.  Chaos is multiplicity without rhythmn.

 

Question 1: What does Escher mean how repetition can create order?  Why would there not be rhythmn in chaos? 

 

 

 

"There has to be a certain enigma in it, which does not immediately catch your eye."

Question 2: An enigma can mean : a hidden meaning, something puzzling, inexplicable situation or person who is hard to figure out.   What kind of mystery and hidden meanings do you think are occurring in this images.  How is there a transition between negative and positive shapes? (the white shapes in the background could be considered negative space?

 

Question 3: Escher was compelled (forced) by what he called "a hopeless mania" to create pictures of objects that were both perfect and impossible but also scenes that were fantastic and believable.  What images seem "believable" in this picture and what images seem "fantastic"?

(hint: architecture, gravity, anti-gravity)

 

 

Question 4: Escher uses the theme of "metamorphosis" (a complete change of form-biology-a change in form from one stage to the next in the life of an organism-caterpillar -pupa-butterfly)

in many of his artworks.  Describe your impression of how the creatures change from the illusion of three dimensional forms to flat drawings? How many transformations are occurring in this drawing? What does the mirror form in the center create reflections and metamorphosis?

 

Question 5 : How does this drawing challenge our senses and our intellect?

(senses: sight, hearing, seeing, tasting, ...)

 

M.C. Escher  ( June 17, 1898-March 27, 1972) A Dutch graphic artists.  He is known for his detailed drawings, prints, and paintings.  His artwork focuses on impossible constructions, explorations of infinity, architecture and tessellations (symetrical designs and jig-saw puzzle works). Eschers artistic expression was created from images  in his mind rather that directly from observations and travels.

Escher was a sickly child who did poorly in school but always excelled in drawing.  He briefly attended the Haarlem School of Architecture and Decorative Arts.  His persistent skin infection caused him to fail classes so he decided to switch exclusively to decorative arts to focus on drawing and making woodcuts.

 

 

Hair As An Art Form (Meret Oppenheim & Jane Castillo) Surrealism

Fur Lined Tea Cup l936 Meret Oppenheim

 

 

Hair Portrait- Meret Oppenheim

 

 

Meret Oppenheim Portrait

1913-1985 German born Swiss, Surrealist artist photographer.  Part of the Surrealist movement of the l920's founded by Andre Breton along with Marcel Duchamp and Man Ray. 

*Surrealism- deals with interpretation of dreams and dealing with symbolism of the subconscious.  The art created exists without intention of logical comprehensibility.

 

*The movement began primarily in Europe and centered in Paris.  It was influenced by psychoanalytical work of Freud and Jung.  There is also influence of the Symbolist movement of the late l9th century.

 

* Dadaism an art  movement occuring similtaneously dealt with similar ideas.  It focused on the conceptual approach to art.  The idea is more important than the visual art produced.  They were also responding to the changes of the early 20th century.

 

*Many of Oppenheims pieces consisted of everyday objects arranged to

to allude to female sexuality and feminine expolitation by the opposite sex.

 

 

Man Ray

 

 

Man Ray- Indestructible Object (l923) (l933)

 

 

Man Ray

 

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Duchamp- Readymade Bicycle Wheel

 

 

Duchamp-Readymade

 

 

Jane Castillo

 

 



Jane Castillo Hair Ball

 

 

Jane Castillo

Los Angeles based artist born to Columbian immigrants.  Her art is influenced by her culture and family history.  Castillo enjoys the exploration of materials and their identity.  Also the materials are presented in a new way.  One of the associations with Castillo's use of hair is influenced by her memories of her grandmother.  Clumps of hair can be associated with memories of loved ones.  Hair is also a symbolism of a feminist declaration.

 

 



Salvador Dail- Surrealist artist

 

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Dali

 

 

 

 

Man Ray (Kitty)

 

Regarding Surrealism's basic characteristics of:

 

1. Interpretation of dreams

 

2. Focus of the subconscious and symbolism

 

3. intentional incomprehensibility and lack of logic

 

A. How can you describe Man Ray's photo as an example of Surrealism by using the three traits ?

 

B. How is hair and "feminism" and important element in this photo?

 

1896-1966 poet France

 

C. "The truth can only be seen when you close your eyes to reason and surrender yourself to dreams. " What does Breton mean by surrendering to dreams to find your personal truth? What kind of truths are ignored during someone's waking life?

 

 

Drawing with cross-hatching

 

 

close up 1

 

 

close up 2

 

 

 

 

close up 3

 

D.  What was your first impression of this cross hatching drawing? What kind of movement and sense of reality exist in the drawing for you?