Robert Smithson

Robert Smithson was a painter, writer, filmmaker and sculptor, although he was most known for his earthworks. The Spiral Jetty is perhaps Smithson's most popular piece of art, being entirely built of salt, crystals, water, earth, basalt rocks, and mus. This piece of art as built in Salt Lake City, Utah in the year 1970. During this time, water levels were low, but within a few years rose and the Spiral Jetty remained unseen for thirty years. It became revisible in 2004 and more recently in 2010. 

Sprial Jetty 1970

AI'm personally a big fan of earthwork. For some reason it represents purity, innocence, truth, evolution, life and beauty to me. Perhaps it is because there aren't many chemicals used and death isn't necessarily a popular theme, something I'm not a big fan of.. Anyway, I found the Spiral Getty to be a magnificent piece of earthwork because I have never seen anything like it. It looks so beautiful and I think what makes it more special is that it is not always visible and it only becomes visible during droughts; besides that, water is always covering it. I'd be thrilled to go examine this Spiral Jetty myself. 

Improv Everywhere!!!

Improv Everywhere is a prank group which causes comedic and mayhem in public places in New York . City. This group was initially created by Charlie Todd in 2001 and since then has had over one hundred pranks which involve thousands of undercover agents. Todd started this group in August 2001 after playing a prank in a bar in Manhattan along with some friends. Many of these "missions" are open to the public. The undercover agents are not allowed to break character or make it obvious they are acting. The point of these pranks is to give people a good laugh and experience. 

Had I known such a thing existed, I would have moved my ass to New York forever ago! Improv Everywhere is something I think we all need. People nowadays are far too serious and this is the perfect way to just forget about problems we may have going on and just have a good laugh. I watched a few "missions" and I was smirking the whole time! I find it funny how people (the ones who are being pranked) make weird faces and just don't know how to react. Also, it's so hilarious how these undercover agents keep a straight face, Lord knows I would be rolling on the ground laughing!

Stelarc

Stelarc is a performance artist whose work puts main focus on expanding the capabilities the human body has beyond what anyone could think of. Stelarc's  performances usually involve robotics or any new technology somehow amalgamated with his body. He has done various random performances, such as suspending himself in flesh hook suspension, or allowing his bofy to be controlled remotely by electronic muscle stimulators connected to the internet, a robotic third arm, etc.

In 2007, Stelarc had a cell cultivated ear attached to his arm.

Wow, this is by far the most interesting artist I've done research on, he's insane!! I feel like we all underestimate our capabilities as human, but Stelarc does the complete opposite. For example, I've noticed the majority of us are very delicate with our bodies, often panicking when something strange has happened, such as a cut. We get a cut and immediately start to get anxious and think about how "dangerous" this may turn out. Stelarc on the other hand, goes beyond taking "care" of himself and actually exposes himself to danger, perhaps with the intention of seeing how much his body can handle. Clearly, it can handle more than we thought.

Alexander McQueen

McQueen was a British fashion designer and courturier. He was born the youngest of six children and attended Carpenter Road Primary School soon followed by his attendance at Rokeby School.. He began making dresses for his sisters at a very young age, always knowing he wanted to pursue a fashion career and make a name for himself. McQueen's early runway collections developed his reputation for convtroversy and shock tactics, always bringing drama and extravagance to the catwalk. He always used new techonology in his shows with the intention of adding a twist to his shows.

McQueen had many accomplishments in his short life, earning the title  "British Designer of the Year." I was really impressed with McQueen's fashion sense and  also found a resemblance between his and Vivienna Westwood's styles. It is very unfortunate to have lost him so soon because I'm sure he would have left people with their jaws dropped with his new, fancy, elegant styles. Before knowing much about him, I knew Duchess Katherine Middleton's wedding dress was designed by the McQueen Team and it saddens me to know he was unable to live such an incredible moment in his life. I remember seeing Katy Perry and Lady Gaga wearing different outfits which caught my attention, but I never knew McQueen was behind these genius styles.

Donatella Versace

    Donatella Versace is an Italian fashion designer. She owns twenty percent of Versace, a company who was originally founded by Gianni Versace, Donatella's brother. Donatella followed brother Gio's involvement in fashion and planned to work for him as Public Relations. However, she was more valuable as his critic. After the murder of her brother, Donatella had her first couture show and since then has gained her reputation in the world of fashion. She now is in charge of the production of dozen collections each year. When Donatella took over Versace, the company moved beyond clothing and began including fashion, accessories, home furnishings, and hotels.

I've always been a fan of Donatella and the Versace clothing line. I absolutely love how this clothing line is always so sophisticated in its styles. I'm very amazed at how Donatella's empire is only getting bigger as the years progress. She seems to know her fashion very well and I'm curious to see her home furnishings and hotels. I wonder what Gio would say about his sister's success. ;)

Vivienne Westwood

Dame Vivienne Westwood is a fashion designer who is highly regarded for bringing punk and new wave fashions into mainstream. Vivienne attended the Harrow School of Art at age 17, taking fashion and silversmithing, but left after her first term, claiming to be unable to make a living out of art due to her middle class status. However, after becoming a teacher, Westwood continued making her own fashion creations which she would also sell. She had an immense interest for punk fashion, saying:
     "I was messianic about punk, seeing if one could put a spoke in the system in some way."
 Her punk fashion style included safety pins, bondage gear, razor blades, lavatory chains, spiked dog collars for jewelry, and crazy make up and hair. Her first catwalk show was in 1981, featuring the theme of pirates.

Vivienne Westwood's fashion lines are worn by many celebrities, specifically Gwen Stefani.

After looking at Vivienne Westwood's various fashion designs, I can see what Gwen Stefani loves about her. It seems like Westwood avoids being ordinary with her fashion sense, but somehow still manages to remain classy and come up with the edgiest designs. Also, I think the designs are very unique, especially the stripes and patterns she uses.

Yoko Ono

Yoko Ono is a Japanese artist, peace activist, and musician who is well known for pushing the boundaries of art, film, music and threatre media. When Yoko was 18, she attended the prestigious College of Sarah Lawrence and this was when she discovered the world of avant garde artists. Ono was deeply absorbed in the scene and began her lifelong association with art. She was a misunderstood artist and for years, her work was ignored or misjudged. However, after starting her relationship with film producer, Jazz musician Anthony Cox, people's perspective on Yoko Ono changed.

"cut piece" 1964

Ono's most famous piece where she invited audience to cut off pieces of her clothing until she was fully naked, which got rid of the theme of materialism for the theme of nature. Yoko's art usually demanded audience's participation in her art.

I'm very obsessed with Yoko Ono's involvment as a peace activist. I respect her more for her charity work over her art, although I do think her imagination is a one of a kind. She came up with very random ideas and I loved how she was very inviting with her audience, making them participate in her artwork and pushing them to think outside the box.

Burning Man

Burning Man, a week long annual event organized by Block Rock City, is held in the Black Rock Desert om Nevada. It is mainly described as an experiment of radical self reliance, self expression, and community. Every year this event gains more popularity, having 51,400 people attend in 2010. Burning man does not focus on one single area, instead there are several main themes to this event, which are: gifting, inclusion, decommodification, radical self reliance, radical self expression, communal effort, civic responsibility, leaving no trace, participation, and immediacy.  Once the a ticket is purchased, there are no prerequisites for the attendee, besides participating in a potlatch, bartering, and doing "favors."

I've actually watched a video based on Burning Man and I think it's interesting. It's not the sort of environment I'd like to be in (desert, drugs, nudity), but I do think it is a neat way to allow people to express themselves without being judged. It's sort of like a utopian society.. Only one where many participate in illegal activities. The reason why I approve of this event is because I feel it's an outlet for those people who would appear to be behaving deviantly in our everyday society; that's what Burning Man is there for, nobody judges and it's just like a world of hippies!

Joseph Beuys

      Joseph Beuys was a contemporary, sculptor, installation artist, and art theorist born on May 12th, 1921 in Krefield Germany. He acted as a modern shaman and as a catalyst encouraging social change as well as putting emphasis on art using actions, opinions, and personality.


Born on May 12th, 1921 in Krefield Germany, Beuys was the only child of merchant Joseph Jakob Beuys and Johana Maria Margarete Beuys, who were strict Catholics. During Beuys primary school years, his teachers noticed his talent for drawing, as well as musical talents in piano and cello. He also pursued interest in science and chose a career in medicine. In 1940, he joined the military voluntarily, in order to avoid being drafted. He was trained as a combat pilot and aircraft radio operator. During these years of active duty, he was seriously injured various times. As his last years of school approached, rather than pursuing a career in medicine, Joseph Bueys decided to become a sculptor instead. He graduated from school in the Spring of 1941.
         Joseph Beuys said much of his interest in fat and felt as sculptural materials developed from his wartime experience, specifically a crash in the Crimea. Although many have reported this story as false, Beuys claimed:


          “Had it not been for the Tartars I would not be alive today. They were the nomads of the Crimea, in what was then no man’s land between the Russian and German fronts, and favoured neither side. I had already struck up a good relationship with them, and often wandered off to sit with them. ‘Du nix njemcky’ they would say, ‘du Tartar,’ and try to persuade me to join their clan. Their nomadic ways attracted me of course, although by that time their movements had been restricted. Yet it was they who discovered me in the snow after the crash, when the German search parties had given up. I was still unconscious then and only came round completely after twelve days or so, and by then I was back in a German field hospital. So the memories I have of that time are images that penetrated my consciousness. The last thing I remember was that it was too late to jump, too late for the parachutes to open. That must have been a couple of seconds before hitting the ground. Luckily I was not strapped in – I always preferred free movement to safety belts… My friend was strapped in and he was atomized on impact – there was almost nothing to be found of him afterwards. But I must have shot through the windscreen as it flew back at the same speed as the plane hit the ground and that saved me, though I had bad skull and jaw injuries. Then the tail flipped over and I was completely buried in the snow. That’s how the Tartars found me days later. I remember voices saying ‘Voda’ (Water), then the felt of their tents, and the dense pungent smell of cheese, fat and milk. They covered my body in fat to help it regenerate warmth, and wrapped it in felt as an insulator to keep warmth in."
           In other words, during this crash, he was rubbed with fat and wrapped into animal felt by the nomadic tartars who came to his rescue in order to warm his body.

"The Pack" 1969

The Pack consists of a Volkswagen bus with 20 wooden sleds, each with a rolled-up felt, leather belt, fat, rope and flashlight. The Story, as it came to be known, wasn't just an inspiration for much of his work, but a statement of his optimistic belief in humanity's ability to survive if only we cared for one another.

          Upon his return from the war, Beuys dropped his plans to pursue a career in medicine and enrolled in the Dusseldorf Academy of Art to study sculpture. He graduated in 1953 and focused on drawing  (producing thousands in 1950's only), reading, philosophy, science, poetry, literature, etc. During this time, Beuys struggled with the the trauma of his experiences during the war. He explored a large range of unconventional materials and developed his own artistic ideas, leading to the exploration of metaphorical and symbolic connections between natural phenomena and philosophical systems. He was concerned with the representation of animals, which according to him were untouched by civilization and technology. In 1956, Beuys artistic self doubt and material impoverishment led to physical and psychological crisis and he fell into a serious depression. Soon after recuperating from his illness, his work was deeply mysterious and poetic.

How to Explain Paintings to Dead Hare (1965)

In this piece, Beuys covered his head with honey and gold leaf, wearing a felt sole on his left foot and iron on his right. He held a dear hare in his arms and carried it from picture to picture at an exhibition in a gallery. He spoke to the hare and let it touch each item with its paw, mumbling noises as well as explanations of the drawings on the walls. The materials used by Beuys each held a specific symbolic value (honey representing society of warm, iron symbolizing strength and connection to Earth). However, even though this may have been Beuys most compelling performance, he did not allow people inside; Instead, they could only watch from a glass door. 

"I Like America and American Likes Me" 1974
In May of 1974, Beuys flew to New York and was taken by ambulance to the site of performance. He lay in the performance room, sharing it with a coyote for eight hours. There he stood, sat, and slept in a blanket made of felt and engaged in symbolic gestures and interaction with the coyote. During these 3 days, the coyote grew tolerant of Beuys and Beuys explained: "I waned to isolate myself, insulate myself, and see nothing of America other than the coyote."

"7000 Oaks" 1982 Beuys's project 7000 Oaks was begun in 1982 at Documenta 7, the large international art exhibition in Kassel, Germany. His plan called for the planting of seven thousand trees, each paired with a columnar basalt stone approximately four feet high above ground, throughout the greater city of Kassel. With major support from Dia Art Foundation, the project was carried forward under the auspices of the Free International University (FIU) and took five years to complete, the last tree having been planted at the opening of Documenta 8 in 1987. Beuys intended the Kassel project to be the first stage in an ongoing scheme of tree planting to be extended throughout the world as part of a global mission to effect environmental and social change; locally, the action was a gesture towards urban renewal.

"Homogeneous Infiltration for Grand Piano" 1966

 Through this artwork, Beuys is telling us (through the title) that the piano is the same functional piano we have seen before, only under this felt (it is homogeneous). Communication for the piano is not currently possible under the felt. If we look at the piano like it’s a person, it becomes easier to understand: when people look into themselves (infiltrate ourselves) we can begin to heal. The healing will release us from the things that restrict our voices and let our creativity and thoughts come into the world unmuffled.

"Felt Suit" 1970

This suit is not only made out of felt, it also implies human presence in its shape. Unlike any ordinary suit on a hanger, this suit appears to have hunched shoulders. To exaggerate its expressiveness, Beuys custom made it with elongated arms, no buttons or button holes, and unpadded shoulders.

Beuys referred to his art as his most effective therapy. He received national and international recognition and there was an exhibition opened in 1979. It has been described and a lightning rod for Americans. Joseph Beuys died of heart failure on January 23rd, 1986. His career was described as passionate and controversial; however, he is now regarded as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.