Mod 6 Video Blog

1. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

Through the Eyes of a Sculptor:

The most important concepts of this video are the process of becoming a sculptor and the process of producing a sculpture from marble.  Emmanuel Fillion started sculpting as a child.  When he was 15 years old he was awarded a scholarship and became a stone carver.  His first work was done on restoration projects.  Today he is a master sculptor and lives in California.  It takes a long time to gain the skills than Emmanuel has.  The process of creating a sculpture was also a key concept of this video.  Emmanuel makes sculptures by selecting the perfect stone.  Bad stone will ruin the sculpture and pieces will break off especially marble with lots of veins.  He usually works from a model.  The model can be small or can be full size.  He makes it in clay and then creates a plaster model.  He uses the plaster model to work off of to create the final marble piece.   He must also take care not to carve the marble in a way that could weaken it.  He also used marble bridges to strengthen the sculpture during transportation.  The statue must also be smoothed and refined for the details.         

Glass and Ceramics:

The key concepts for this video are the creation and applications of glass and ceramic.  Glass is made from sand.  The sand or silicon dioxide and fluxes are heated to 1500 degrees Celsius.  The sand essentially melts and fuses.  The glass can then be shaped into just about anything.   Once the object is created it is reheated to harden it.  Variations of the glass making process can be used to create items for architecture such as stained glass windows.  Ceramics are made by using clay.  The clay is composed of aluminum silicates.  When these silicates are heated they harden.  The clay is molded into the desired shape.  It is then heated in a kiln.  The quality of the clay and the temperature it is heated to determine the product.  Quality clay heated to 1400 degrees makes fine china while conventional clay heated to 1100 degrees makes bricks.  Ceramics are widely used and can be stronger than steel.  They are used for medical implants, aircraft, blades, seals, and automobile parts.  

Installation Art:

The main concept of this video are the definition of installation art and examples of the style.  According to the video installation art works are three dimensional art works that occupy a space.  There are different types on installation art.  Some utilize objects.  Some utilize sounds.  Some utilize lights.  Installation art can really use almost any material in any space.  It is intended to get the viewer thinking about the space.  Entire buildings have been turned into installations such as Richard Wilson's work with the Ark Art Building.  This type of art makes the viewer contemplate the size and shape of the room they are in.  It also makes the viewer think about how they fit into the room as a person in the space.    

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

The video called Installation Art relates to chapter 11 in the text while the video called Glass and Ceramics relates to chapter 12 in the text.  The examples of installation art in the video are similar to the examples in the text.  Specifically the Louise Bourgeois installation piece titled Red Room is conceptually like the Yayoi Kusama work called The Driving Image.  They are both rooms with items, colors, shapes, and spaces arranged in particular ways.  The video on glass and ceramics touches on material presented in chapter 12.  Specifically the first two sections in chapter 12 of the text deal with clay and glass.  The text discusses the artistic and cultural identities of these materials while the video gives a lot of information on the process of creating with these media types.    

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the topics: Sculpture, Installation, and Craft?

Through the Eyes of a Sculptor:

This was my favorite video.  The life story of Emmanuel Fillion and how he progressed into a master sculptor is presented.  I like to know the stories of the artists and not just the story of the art work.  I feel it is important to understand the artist to also gain perspective on their works.  This video added information on the process of sculpting that the text did not. 

Glass and Ceramics:

This video was dated but the information presented was valid.  I liked the information on the technical process for creating glass and ceramic product.  I did not know the specifics on the chemical make up of glass until I watched the video.  I did not know that the temperatures at which clay is fired can change the end product to such a degree.  This video added information on the process of creating clay and glass items that was not presented in the text.

Installation Art:

This video was informational and provided many examples on installation art that were also presented in the text.  The video also provided examples that were not cover in the text.  This video rounded out the concept of installation art by providing information on installation artists and the process they used.