ART 100 - Art Exhibit Critique
Featured Museum: Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (aka MAC)
Spokane, WA
Spokane, WA
Assignment Instructions:
1. Wander around the museum. Observe the exhibition and spend some time with each piece within the exhibition to get a sense of the overall themes. Think about what the museum curators were trying to accomplish by their arrangement of the paintings. Look for a specific art piece that stands out to you. Take some notes. Feel free to write about something you like or dislike.
2. Get some information on the gallery. Usually, art galleries or museums carry a certain type of work. More conceptual galleries usually organize exhibitions around certain important issues often topical or contemporary ones. Other galleries or museums that specialize in certain mediums generally are more interested in specific technical features of the work.
3. Position the artist within the context of other artists working within their day (present or past).
4. Don't be afraid to have an opinion, but make sure your opinions are realistic. If you don't like the work,
use details from the work itself to explain your views and contrast this artist with another who might have been more successful at a similar project.
5. As you come across any artworks that interest you, make brief sketches of them. Try to imitate the artist’s style, and pay specific attention to the artist’s approach to composition, as well as his/her use of value and line. Be sure to write down the artist’s name and the artwork’s title and date. Later, use the internet to look up other works by the artists you sketched. (Most museums don’t mind sketchbooks, but do not allow messy charcoal, liquid ink, or paint, so pencil is recommended for this exercise.)
1. Wander around the museum. Observe the exhibition and spend some time with each piece within the exhibition to get a sense of the overall themes. Think about what the museum curators were trying to accomplish by their arrangement of the paintings. Look for a specific art piece that stands out to you. Take some notes. Feel free to write about something you like or dislike.
2. Get some information on the gallery. Usually, art galleries or museums carry a certain type of work. More conceptual galleries usually organize exhibitions around certain important issues often topical or contemporary ones. Other galleries or museums that specialize in certain mediums generally are more interested in specific technical features of the work.
3. Position the artist within the context of other artists working within their day (present or past).
4. Don't be afraid to have an opinion, but make sure your opinions are realistic. If you don't like the work,
use details from the work itself to explain your views and contrast this artist with another who might have been more successful at a similar project.
5. As you come across any artworks that interest you, make brief sketches of them. Try to imitate the artist’s style, and pay specific attention to the artist’s approach to composition, as well as his/her use of value and line. Be sure to write down the artist’s name and the artwork’s title and date. Later, use the internet to look up other works by the artists you sketched. (Most museums don’t mind sketchbooks, but do not allow messy charcoal, liquid ink, or paint, so pencil is recommended for this exercise.)
MAC is a regional museum of arts, antiques, and unique collectibles native to Spokane, WA and its surrounding area. Unlike many museums, it takes a backward approach to showcasing the history of the area. In a section all its own, a gallery of art is on display in the middle of the building that is placed (perhaps strategically) in a manner that serves as an intermission between the recent history and the earlier history of the region. Although the majority of work in the art gallery is made by local artists, this room is the only section in the museum that includes material that was produced outside of the region.
When entering into the gallery, the left section is a diverse collection of paintings with diverse subject matter and paint mediums. On the right, a collection of paintings showcasing color for its intrinsic value are on display: a painting of a tray of pastells, painting of paint buckets, etc.
When entering into the gallery, the left section is a diverse collection of paintings with diverse subject matter and paint mediums. On the right, a collection of paintings showcasing color for its intrinsic value are on display: a painting of a tray of pastells, painting of paint buckets, etc.
Sketch of museum photo of a sculpture:
Pallette
- Photo by Dean Davis
- Sculpture by John Buck
Date unspecified
Photo of sculpture
Pallette
- Photo by Dean Davis
- Sculpture by John Buck
Date unspecified
Photo of sculpture
John Buck's sculpture was the most gripping piece in this gallery. Af first I expected it to be a painting until closer inspection when I realized it was a photograph of a sculpture. The unexpected composition was the first element that caught my eye and the creativity speaks volumes. In the photo, we can see the 3-dimensional element that is incorporated into this sculpture. It illustrates the vision of the artist when looking at their pallette - possiblities galore! Interestingly, Buck left out any carving or added hint of paint globs. Perhaps he considered them distracting. In any case, the center of attention is the framed composition that gives the impression of a brainstorm.
John Buck has varying mediums of that he works with, primarlly in sculputure. Undoubtedly, his gift with wood stands out the most. You can visit his site here:
John Buck has varying mediums of that he works with, primarlly in sculputure. Undoubtedly, his gift with wood stands out the most. You can visit his site here:
Before concluding this section, we should note that the anchor to the region is the photographer who brought us this portrait. Dean Davis is a Spokane photographer with a refined craft. His work is found in magazines and he is a go-to source for corporate photography in the region. Please pay his site a visit - you won't regret it:
Sketch of museum painting:
Untitled
- Dan Spalding
2000
Oil On Canvas
Untitled
- Dan Spalding
2000
Oil On Canvas
Dan Spalding grew up in Spokane, WA. His parents owned the largest wrecking yard in Eastern WA and he attened Gonzaga University. With deep roots in the area, he showcases the city through the lens of urbanscapes and figures typically found painted against a brick backdrop. His untitled portrait of a woman seated on a wooden chair is simplistic in posture, but incredibly detailed in brush strokes. The sketch above falls short in showcasing this feature. However, my attempt in the gesture drawing was to capture a haste likeness to the style that is somewhere between painterly and impressionistic of a common scene with vivid colors and strokes.
Sketch of museum painting:
Mr. Birdy
- Jere Smith
1999
Acrylic on Canvas
Mr. Birdy
- Jere Smith
1999
Acrylic on Canvas
Mr. Birdy was another piece that caught my attention. How could it not!?!? The creature appears to be built mechanically, yet have a distinct personality. Although it cannot be distinguished from this image, the colors are rich. The shading in the original is strong and the lines are crisp. After visiting Smith's website, I discovered a playground of art similar to the image above. I was inspired to learn that he has an eclectic background in various art and multimedia disciplines. The overlap between them is revealing of his unique style and talent. His site is another that you won't want to miss: