Miranda+Perez

Superimposed photography, to me, is one of the most interesting art forms, both past and present. The process of taking two or more negatives and laying them over one another to produce one image is both painstaking and exhilarating. Superimposed imaging is done today with the help of Photoshop. In the 70’s Jerry N. Uelsmann made his name known by producing super imposed images such as ‘Symbolic Mutation’ and many others, mostly untitled. Superimposed images often give the viewer a surreal look at life. It leaves a person in a fantasy state of mind, wondering why the artist made this image this way. What is the purpose?
 * Super Imposed Photography (Images)**
 * 1/29/10 11:12 PM http://pdngallery.com/legends/uelsmann/**

Pin up art began to evolve around the early 1930’s but it wasn’t until the 1940’s and the start of WWII that pin up art blossomed. Pin up art paved way for such stars as Rita Hayworth and Betty Grable. Pin-up girls were all over, on planes, in footlockers, stashed under mattresses, and what started as drawings and sketches evolved into photography. I admire antique pin up art because of its ideals. Pin-up girls in this era were fleshy, had curves, and were not afraid of weight on their bodies. Society today has adopted this notion that a woman should be super slim and tan, where as Rita and Bettie were fair skinned, full figured and admired for their bodies in their time and in ours, though we cannot seem to bring that ideology back.
 * Pin-up Art 12:09 1/30/10**
 * http://www.arthistoryarchive.com/arthistory/pinupart/**

Recycling is no doubt a form of art. Recycling itself is taking one thing and turning it into something else. It may be the simplest form of art. I admire recycling today for trying to preserve our ecosystem and environment. Environmental artistry isn’t really my favorite form of art, though some pieces are breathtaking. It’s unbelievable to look at a pile of plastic bottles and cardboard and watch as artists turn it into a sculpture of David or multi colored chandeliers using different tinted bottles. I would never have looked at this ‘chandelier’ and thought that it used to be bottles pulled from landfills.
 * Recycling (Environmental Artistry) 12:21AM 1/301/10**
 * http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/16/eco-art-aurora-robson/ecoart_aurorarobson3/**

Subliminal messaging and advertising I consider an art form merely for its creativity. The idea behind subliminal messaging and advertising is that ideas are perceived by either the conscious or unconscious mind and if we don’t have enough time to process these messages we might easily accept the idea given to us. This has got to be one of the most creative forms of art and the most chilling. Advertising is a common art form and so is subliminal though not widely known, hence the name. For example in the children’s movie The Lion King, the word ‘SEX’ appears as clouds and in The Little Mermaid, Prince Eric’s castle foyer is shaped like a penis. What the hell, right? Who came up with this? This scares me because it makes me wonder what other ideas and pictures are advertisers putting in my head without me knowing.
 * Subliminal Advertising 12:39AM 1/30/10**
 * http://www.skepdic.com/subliminal.html**

Infrared images are produced using a red lens cover and monochrome film which gives pictures a very surreal and dream like look. The pictures tend to look softer and whimsical. You can make color infrared images, although I prefer black and white mostly.
 * Infrared Photography 9:11AM 1/30/10 See Andy Finney**

This would be something really fun to try on someone and to have done to yourself I think. Body painting is taking a live human and using their body as a canvas. Most body artists use a non-toxic latex paint to prevent cracking while the subject is moving, and many artists say that the pressure is more intense because you have limited time to work before your subject tires. One of the reasons we clothe ourselves is so that we feel comfortable, we need something covering us to avoid shame and embarrassment. I wonder if having a very thin layer of paint covering your most private parts of your body would feel the same as being clothed. Would you be as comfortable or feel even more awkward. Both body hair and scars are used by artists and they find ways to incorporate them into their work. I have found many links through google.com, some are very graphic and very interesting, please be aware before you view them. You can definitely see the detail and the time that went into some of these walking pieces of art. The most interesting body art is where the artist incorporates the body into a piece of wood or furniture or building, in the link above the woman is painted to blend into a window sill.
 * Body Painting 11:54AM 1/30/10 []**
 * []**

[|offbeatink.com/scarification/] I’m sure you’ve heard of cows being branded and wonder why any person would be willing to allow a person stick a hot iron on them, and pay hundreds and hundreds of dollars for permanent burns. This form of body modification has been slowly increasing in popularity in recent years. Scarification, mutilation, among many other body-ations, is also gaining popularity. It’s hard to think of someone allowing a hot iron on their body or allowing a person to slit their body very small to make a design. Some of the outcomes are amazing; you can see the texture and the designs just pop out as if I 3-D. It’s also weird to see how skin color plays a role in how the scar will develop both in color and in texture. This is definitely something to glance at, you’ll be amazed.
 * Branding (Body Modification) 12:05PM 1/30/10**
 * Headandfacedesign.wordpress.com**

Food art is simply taking pieces of food and molding them, placing them, sticking them together to make sculptures, paintings, and anything else you can imagine. It’s fun to see what kind of textures different foods give. Lettuce and other greens are very textured, almost feathery looking. The type of food you use also gives you a certain consistency to your materials. Its fun to see where playing with your food can get you at.
 * Food Art 12:17PM 1/30/10 http://weburbanist.com/2009/01/08/food-art-and-food-artists/**

Although cake is food I would consider cake art and food art different. When I think of cake art I tend to think more of sculpture and architecture. In a way I think some of the cakes shown have more craftsman ship and are harder to work with the reason being you mainly have only frosting and sugar to work with. In food art you have so many different kinds of food to use. It’s interesting to see the colors used on the cakes and it’s weird to see the more realistic looking cakes. You wouldn’t be bale to tell that it’s food at first glance.
 * Cake Art 12:26PM 1/30/10**
 * http://www.hemmy.net/2007/07/07/awesome-cake-art/**

When I was younger I hated the sound of opera singing because I thought they sounded so out of tune. As I’ve grown older I’ve taken the time to pay attention to the notes that they hit and the melody that they carry. Opera singers, especially women, have the ability to hit the highest notes; it amazes me how a person can train their voice to do such things. Most operas tend to be sung in languages other than English and you have to pay attention to the emotion on the singers face as they’re on stage to really comprehend what they’re singing about. Facial expression is key as well as body movement.
 * Opera 12:35PM 1/30/10**

Woodstock is known throughout history as the festival of music and free love. I think many would consider this as one of the greatest pieces of artwork in that particular era. At a time when war was tearing many apart a three day jam session with some of music’s most iconic artists brought people together. This festival joined together two of God’s greatest creations; man and music.
 * Woodstock**
 * 1/29/10 11:29PM []**
 * http://www.history.com/content/woodstock/photo-galleries**

Burlesque is often confused with stripping, when in fact it is far from it. Burlesque is a form of dancing which in the past few decades has gained respect, even more in Europe but also in America. You may have heard of Dita Von Teese; a female burlesque dancer who has risen to fame for her body and style of dance. The human body especially that of a female is something that should be celebrated. A woman’s body is both sensual and powerful and modern day burlesque allows a woman to showcase that power and beauty in a provocative art form, complete with costume, dance, and music.
 * Burlesque 1/29/10 11:45PM []**
 * http://www.burlesquehistory.com/**

A Geisha is an artist, but what they accomplish throughout their career should also be considered an art form. A Geisha is neither a prostitute nor an escort, nor is being a Geisha no longer practiced. In fact, in Tokyo today achieving the status of a Geisha is a high form of respect. Modern Geisha still preserve the ways of their ancestor Geisha by serving the male, keeping their tongue in check, their mind sharp, and their music skill refined. A Geisha to me is an example of something that has been lost throughout time. That is the idea that women are admired, a mind is the sharpest tool, chivalry should never die, and tradition is meant to be carried on.
 * Geisha 1/29/10 11:57PM []**
 * www.japaneselifestyle.com.**

The Taj Mahal was built by Emperor ** Shah Jahan in memory of his loving wife **queen ** Mumtaz Mahal. It took twenty two years and over twenty thousand workers to build this monument. When you look at the Taj Mahal you see the intricate detail carved into the marble and the fact that it still stands shows the craftsmanship that went into it. It showcases the element of line very well. When looking at the very front of the Taj Mahal your eye travels alone each door way to the very top steeples letting the viewer take in its beauty. The very large doorway is the focus of the Taj Mahal, at least that’s what my eye travels to first. **
 * Taj Mahal 12:55AM 1/30/10 http://www.islamicity.com/culture/Taj/default.htm**
 * Arlington** **National Cemetery** **1:05AM 1/30/10 http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/index.htm**
 * I have personally visited the Arlington National Cemetery and was moved when I toured the grounds. Most would find a cemetery depressing and saddening, I found Arlington the same way. When you stand on the green and look out at the rows and rows of white headstones you really grasp the vast number of people buried there and would be amazed at the influential people the cemetery holds. At the same time it gives you pride to know the United States still honors and appreciates them even after so many years have passed. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is beautiful. Armed soldiers guard the tomb and it hurts your heart to know that the remains of some young soldiers are there and no one knows who they were. **

I’m choosing to highlight both Andy Finney and Infrared photography together as one piece to present to the class. Andy Finney is an infrared photographer who takes infrared images in both color and black and white. This artist tends to lean mostly towards landscapes which I think look amazing in infrared. His pictures often have very soft edges and borders, there doesn’t seem to be any real sharpness to them. The landscapes especially remind me of Alice In Wonderland, they seem dreamy and eerie. I really love how soft the pictures look particularly in black and white, though his color film makes you feel as if you’re high on you’re perception is off.
 * Joe Rosenthal 1:21AM 1/30/10 http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAProsenthal.htm**
 * Joe Rosenthal was responsible for the picture ‘The Raising of the Flag on Iwo Jima’. February 3, 1945 Rosenthal captured six soldiers who raised the American flag atop Mount Suribachi after a very devastating invasion. The picture he took became immortalized and was criticized. This picture shows courage and strength, and American men struggling to raise the flag after a battle. It gives you a sense of pride to see that happening. I love this picture not only for its content but because of the grainy look, due to the quality of film and camera at the time. I think it has an awesome use of value throughout the picture. The flagpole really draws your eye in and makes you follow that pole through the top of the picture taking the whole scene in. **
 * Andy Finney 9:14AM 1/30/10 []**

Walt Whitman was a famous poet who passed in 1892. The poem I like most by him is titled ‘O Captain! My Captain!’. I think this poem talks about losing a loved one, I also think that by him referring to that person as captain that they guided Whitman and was someone who told Whitman what to do. Whitman looked to that person for direction and now that that persons gone ‘Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells! But I, with mournful tread, Walk the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dead.” He has no purpose, the prize won is not worth as much now that it can’t be shared. Whitman addresses war in many of his poems which would make sense considering that the civil war was taking place when he was still writing. He talks of soldiers and commending them for their bravery.
 * Walt Whitman 10:20AM 1/30/10 http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/walt_whitman**

I don’t particularly care for Bob Dylan’s voice but I can’t argue that he has a way with words. His earlier music circa 1969, when Dylan was at his peak, was especially moving because he sang about peace, love for your fellow man, and what man was doing to itself by engaging in the Vietnam War. When you first listen to Dylan sing, he sounds as if he is always strung out, which most of the time he was. His lyrics at first don’t seem to make much sense. But if you pay attention you’ll notice he makes a lot of comparisons. He too addresses war in his songs, at his prime the Vietnam War was taking place, and he was very much anti-war. A great song of his is ‘Masters of War’. He talks of men who control the war sitting behind a desk while those who have no say are off being killed for reasons they’re not sure of.
 * Bob Dylan 10:38AM 1/30/10 []**
 * http://www.elyrics.net/read/b/bob-dylan-lyrics/masters-of-war-lyrics.html**

= Catherine de Saugy 11:19AM 1/30/10 [] http://www.catherine-de-saugy.com/ = = Catherine de Saugy is a swiss born artist who uses oil and acrylic paintings and transforms them digitally. The four prints that I viewed on the-artists.org reminded me a lot of water, autumn, a hurricane and a distorted banana. If you look closely you can see pieces of the painting in tact and you can try and guess at what the picture actually is and you can see how she distorted them. The pictures have subtle contrast and to me they almost look as if they’re being pulled down a drain, they look as if they’re swirling. = = = = =

Type in the content of your page here.