Museum Visit : Action/Reaction

i found the theme of this exhibit, action/reaction, to be very relevant to this time period, especially in the ways that the artists interpreted the theme. although it is very broad and could be completely lost on our generation, the approach that the artiststook made it current and very accessible. for example i really thought that the reusable bags made out of billboards were really innovative and presented such a creative way to react to the issue of shopping bags. the prius billboards made of plants, in my opinion, captured the theme the best. the design is something that is visible to a vast amount of people, and the way that the designers took the purpose of the object they were promoting into consideration whileconsidering the materials i found to be crucial in the representation of the prius. the most interesting design was the house built with the retired airplane wing as a roof. although it proved to be extremely impractical, the product was visually striking and perhaps will inspire other artists, architects, and designers to take a more practical approach to this idea. i really did not enjoy the crystal designs, which were showcased as futuristic suits for strange alien-like woman. honestly i dont understand the artist's vision, nor did i find it visually stimulating. it was pretty ugly, but not in a good way.

Cuties

So I had originally done my observation on pennies even though I know they are all minted to be exactly the same except for the years they were made. But since I am posting this far after my first observations, I decided to do another on the differences between Cuties California Clemetines. I found the following 25 similarities and differences between them:

(1) They all had a round structure but none had an exactly similar circumference

(2) Several had indentions on the sides which varied in location from

(3) directly on the side

(4) on the top enclosing the stem

(5) or in multiple locations on the clemantine

(6) Some of them had white marks on them where it looked like they were scuffed

(7) Others had black marks I am uncertain of what they were exactly

(8) Some had spots covered in mold

(9) Some we cracked open already.

(10) Some had interiors that had turned to mush

(11) Some had completely solid interiors that looked like they hadn't aged a bit

(12) Most lied some where in between the extremes in terms of interior consistency

(13) Some of the stems were level with the rest of the of the Clementine

(14) Others had stems that seemed sucked into themselves

(15) But most of them had a bulge where the stem connected

(16) the bulge on some had ridges

(17) one had a circle around it

(18) some were perfectly smooth

(19) some still had the actual stem

(20) one still had some of the actual leaves

In terms of colors

(19) Some of them were perfectly orange

(20) Some of them were faded yellow

(21) Some of them had green tinted spots

(22) All of them had stickers on them

(23) But each of these were different

(24) All of them had the same citrus smell though each of them had varied in how rancid that smell was

(25) But the one thing that never varied was the fact that none had seeds

California Design Biennial @ PMCA

The California Design Biennial is held every year to showcase artists in product design, transportation design, architecture, graphic design, and fashion. Each of these artists has found a new and innovative way of expressing their ideas under an overarching theme of Sustainability bringing together our attention on Action/Reaction.

Rose Apodoca who was one of the 5 curators and also a local professional, explained that each of the artist formulated their projects as a new way of handling the problems we are facing today. And going throughout the museum it was easy to see that the majority of these designs were meant to form a response to the ecological problem that our world is facing today but more than just the going green sense. It was the problem our country but more specifically our people as an American society of are facing today.

Under fashion design Kai Suwannagate who's women's wear was among the most elegant I consider to have ever seen and yet they were handcrated in North Hollywood out of recycled wood, leathers, and local-materials. Rose Apodaca's purse fashion was meant to instill quality over quantity of her set of clutches handmade in Italy from feathers and gold rings which were set up in the showcase to resemble a bird flying from a cage. The oddest design in the I saw as Michel Berendi's First Earth Battalion. He normally makes menswear but in the show he had women's wear which i find difficult even to explain as it is made of leather, fur, a helmet, stalactite heals, and a lot of hair.

Under transportation design my favorite was the Model S designed by Tesla. Another was the Virgin Galactic Space Shuttle which currently takes passengers to the edge of our atmosphere to view the stars. But the design in the show was of a model space ship they will use to take passengers into space.

In architecture the Charlie Sava Swimming Pool stuck to the theme most specifically in my opinion because of its use of concrete and its positioning in a park.

My favorite piece in the show was a music video done by OK GO and created by OK Go and Syyn Labs it was called This Too Shall Pass. They used an intricate set up which I can only describe as a path of destruction of a trail of art. Another piece in the back exhibit that I thought was awesome because I had just based one of my designs on his work was done by Gajin Fujita though I have no idea how it tied to the exhibit as a whole I thought the exhibit was amazing and made me realize how wasteful our society is and what we should be doing to overcome the mess we've put ourself in among our consumer culture.

Sandeep Mukherjee

Sandeep Mukherjee is another artist whose work I am loving right now. It is along a similar abstract vein as Angeline Rivas'. He often employs marker on mylar, which allows light to shine through the work. He is a Los Angeles artist and UCLA grad whose work was reccommended to me by my drawing teacher. Definitely check out his website:

http://www.brennangriffin.com/artists/view/43

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Katharine Glasheen

Artists I like!

Here are some links to some AWESOME artists/designers that I discovered during my last project!

Florence Manlik

http://www.florencemanlik.com/

http://www.mrahayes.co.uk/

Kimber Berry

http://kimberberry.com/

Kyle Pierce

http://kylepierceillustration.com/

Stuart Lyle

http://www.stuartlyle.name/

Amy Martino

http://www.yellowbirdmachine.com/

Maija Louekari

http://www.maijalouekari.com/

Miina Akkijyrkka

http://www.akkijyrkka.com/

Sanna Annukka

http://www.sanna-annukka.com/

Kevin Lyons

http://www.naturalborn.com/

Mike Perry

http://www.mikeperrystudio.com/

Angeline Rivas

I am really loving this artist right now. I found her work on the Beautiful/Decay website, a site I found out about when the founder of the magazine visited our class to give a talk. I really enjoyed his talk so I've been following the blog since then...

http://www.angelinerivas.com/

These are ballpoint ink drawings. So beautifully detailed.


Katharine Glasheen

The PMCA

The Pasadena Museum of California Art was an enlightening experience. I have never been to a museum as contemporary as this one, and it sure brought me up to speed with the contemporary art world. The theme of the Museum's Biennial was sustainability. I found the theme quite relevant to our present world, due to climate change, renewable energy, and global warming (amongst other issues) being important concerns of our times. By far I thought that the designs which dealt with transportation embraced the theme the best. Most of us use some form of transportation everyday, and it tends to be expensive and/or rather industrial. The designs for transportation were sleek, innovative, and best of all, took account for the transportation's environmental impact. I found the purses made of beetles and/or feathers to be the least compelling. I though that in comparison to transportation and other designs, that they were the least useful and wouldn't appeal or effect on a grand scale that efficient technologies would.

Pasadena Museum of California Art by Luis Villanueva

A small museum nestled in the middle of downtown Pasadena, the Pasadena Museum of California Art was an experience to remember. At first glance I didn’t expect much form an exhibition floor that seemed no bigger than a house. However, I found the pieces in this museum to quite interesting and innovative. Never fully seeing the extent to which fashion has become an art form, I was particularly intrigued by the clothing. Its variety ranged from psychedelic jump suits, to razor blade dresses to sustainable clothing made up of recyclable materials, everything in this museum said; “funky-funky-fresh!” Remarkably the trip was worthwhile and I definitely believe I have found a new art venue that interests me.

ART WALK by Luis Villanueva

A few weeks ago I found out about this event that happens here in downtown once every month. It’s called ART WALK. When I first went to this event last month, I seriously didn’t know what to expect. But as I saw the open galleries, the free orderves, and the artwork I was hooked. Beautifully set up and remarkably well-organized, ART WALK has become the place to see and be seen. What is ART WALK you ask?

ART WALK is an event held in downtown’s Gallery Row (Main St.) when art venues are open to the public. At no charge for admission, this event has certainly drawn in local Los Angelinos who never would have considered themselves ‘artsy.’ To me it is remarkable to see the exchange of ideas that goes on in this short-lived event both among artist and non-artist. Seriously, CHECK IT OUT if you haven’t already. The next one is tomorrow Dec. 9^th!

ONE TO REMEMBER by Luis

Taking a trip downtown is never short of amazing. It seems like every time I go there a new adventure is to be found; a new art venue to be discovered. A few months ago I found a small shop in the corner of Main and Winston with a series of colorful posters. Upon taking a look inside, I discovered that it was a graffiti shop owned by local street artist ‘Man One’ as he is commonly referred to as among his peers.

It was just mere luck that I stumbled upon such a recognized artist. I took this unique opportunity to ask him a few questions about how his shop came about. At one point during this brief conversation, we came the topic of Los Angeles’ existence as a cultural art center. Friendly, but always in a hurry, Man One hastily told me to check out Gallery Row while I was in the downtown area. As it turns out Gallery Row is one block away from Man One’s shop. Not surprisingly, he has had many exhibitions

throughout the Gallery Row and the greater Los Angeles Area

(as I later discovered). Upon researching Man One’s career further, I found that his artwork is not limited to museums and gallery exhibitions but rather displayed throughout the city’s streets. His work has been featured on billboards, murals, executive events, concerts and even construction sites.

Which got me thinking: Isn’t all art public? Isn’t the exhibition of artwork the purpose behind creating it in the first place? Taking this into account, I came to the conclusion that art should have no boundary. Art should be free and public. Understanding what was briefly described by Man One during my visit, it is the purpose of an artist to communicate to the masses a message in a clear eye-catching way. It is always useful to understand the existence of street art as a form of free expression, something that cannot and should not be oppressed.

Point exercice

I- Point between the cats' eyes.
1- It looks straight at us.
2- It intersects with the diagonal of the image.
3- its the highest point of intersection between white and gray on the cat's head.
4- It's elusive.
5- I can't quite see it.
6- It's the darkest part on the cats' head.
7- It's making me think about it.
8- It wish it was bigger.
9- The point with the point between the cats feet cut its in equal halves.
10- the points looks down below the cat.





II- Point at the end on the classroom door top right corner.
1- The point is pointing to the rising sun in the morning before class.
2- I can hand a coat on the point.
3- The point is sharp.
4- The point is pointy.
5- The point falls in front of the white wall area.
6- The point with the top of the tower and the lower left corner of the frame form what appears to the naked eye to be a straight line.
7- The point narrow the door slightly in comparison with its bottom.
8- The point forms a straight line with the other point on the top of the door.
9- The point is a dark edge.
10- The point points downs to the student's head and in a straight line towards the right edge of the white brick elevation.


III - Point at the edge of the table in the top left corner.
1- It's pointing towards the entrance of the classroom.
2- I can use it to cut paper.
3- it's not the only point in the image
4- it's the sharpest point in the image
5- It's the meeting of 2 lines that divide the image in two parts.
6- the point feels to drop into the gray.
7- the point is the furthest point North West.
8- The point touches the darkest gray in the gray zone.
9- The point with the mushed white of piece paper cut the angle into two equal halves.
10- The point inwardly points to the paint mix.

LACMA visit

This past weekend I visited the LACMA museum, and I was surprised to see many paintings and pieces of artwork that related to our design class. First, I saw Rothko, who creates large canvases with smooth colors layered on top of each other. The color schemes are very abstract and usually it tends one's eyes to look in a certain area (due to the contrasting colors), like this painting I took a picture of. There is a lighter orange surrounding a darker orange and in the middle a white that looks like it was layered over a few different colors. He gives the viewer a sense that he is layering because it almost looks as though the darker orange and the white in the center are popping out of the picture more. In addition, even though his art is quite primitive, the warm and sophisticated colors he chooses gives a certain mood to the viewer.

Eric Tan

I stumbled upon this artist when I was looking for A.M. Cassandre posters. I really like how some of his art is so simple and lovely and then other times so detailed! He does posters for Disney.

Arts District

When adventuring downtown, you usually find yourself in one random district or cultural center or another. Most recently I stumbled upon the arts district, which is close enough to the toy district to have the aesthetic of bleak warehouses, but just gentrified enough to be a serious attraction, as opposed to terrifying like the toy district.. There is an art supply store and a few restaurants and stores in the area and is just a few blocks away from Little Tokyo as well.

The real attraction here is the street art. Instead of it just being destructive it's more of a competition amongst the artists to see who can make the most subversive, beautiful design. Posters don't get taken down because they're vandalism, but rather because they're not well designed or are simply trying to imitate Banksy. There is also an original Shepard Fairey piece on the side of one of the buildings.

It's located just off traction an Alameda, just type in 800 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, California 90013 on your gps and you should get there. Or take the 10E from campus, get off at the Alameda exit, and turn right on 3rd street or on traction. Bring a friend, get some lunch in Little Tokyo, and go to the arts district and look at the scenery. There was some talk of extra credit for this if you go and make a blog post!

Good night, and good luck

Love,

Madeline

TypeCraft FieldTrip Extra Credit

Over the weekend, I went with AIGA on the Typecraft Inc. Fieldtrip. Since I initially do not know much about the printing and what goes into creating artwork through print and the business aspects that comes with it, I was not expecting the process to be so complicated.

After the brief overview introduction, I realized that the printing business is very competitive and that only way to survive within the industry is to have loyal, targeted customers. The owner showed us some of their finished products and USC related works. One thing that I thought was really interesting was the FOLDING booklet, teaching how to achieve folding techniques.

Working with designers and their specific demands was also a big issue that the printers have to be aware of and address. Since printing already has high input costs, having mistakes within the final draft of the design has to be addressed early on in the process.

A new "technology" called the Laser Printer prints out smoother looking pieces. Like this event planning pamphlet.

BLT TOUR

BLT TOUR

I toured the BLT design studio this afternoon with AIGA, and I'd have to say it was an INCREDIBLE experience. I really didn't know how the design industry worked on a behind-the-scenes basis until I saw their studios. We got to tour the facilities and see how all the different aspects of marketing and poster production- photography, design, illustrators, etc.- are all housed in the same building. Although they still keep a few traditional illustrators employed, I was really surprised at how digital the whole process is. I was inspired by the level of dedication and love that the designers have for their industry and their work- it takes so many sketches and paintings before a finished product can ever be decided on. I'm not including any photos or detailed descriptions, because the BLT studio allowed us to see a lot of confidential procedures and information behind the scenes, but I will definitely say that it was an eye-opening and inspiring experience. In fact, for my Drawing homework this weekend I'm thinking about making movie posters for some of my favorite classic films.

The Star Trek poster at the top was designed by BLT for the recent JJ Abrams film- it was my favorite poster I saw during the tour. So elegant.

An alternative to ripping your Barbie's head off

Do you remember that first Barbie you owned? If you're a guy, then probably not. But ladies, I'm sure, remember how we combed their hair and dressed them up?

Artist Daena Title explores the idealized beauty that these childhood dolls represent in her upcoming exhibit "Drown the Dolls" at the Koplin Del Rio in Culver City. The exhibit, which opens Jan. 8 and will run until Feb. 19, features paintings that attempts to drown away the unrealistic expectations for the female figure.

Title is a figurative painter whose work centers mainly around women's issues and contemporary social dynamics. After seeing the last show we went to in Pasadena, I thought she would've been a good fit for the "Action/Reaction" theme.

For more information, click here.

Action/Reaction: The 2010 Design Biennial

The Pasadena Museum of California Art recently hosted the 2010 California Design Biennial, titled "Action/Reaction." The exhibition attempted to display "how California's established and emerging designers are responding to and finding inspiration in today's economic, political, and environmental challenges and uncertainties." The objects curated into the exhibition focused on themes such as environmental sustainability, consumerism, and urbanization. The featured artists were chosen for their work's ability to "challenge the notion that design is just aesthetics by showing it as a vital cultural force that shapes and responds to our changing world."




The overarching theme of the exhibition was broad enough to encompass a number of smaller subjects. For example, the work of Tanya Aguiniga responds to the modern feeling of isolation. The modern person finds him/herself struggling to accept globalization while at the same time maintaining a sense of individuality. Aguiniga reacts against this sense of loneliness and lostness, claiming that her woven rope necklaces speaks to the "interconnectedness of societies, the beauty in struggle and the celebration of culture."



Michel Berandi's First Earth Battalion (2009) struck me as one of the most extreme representations of the exhibition's theme. His sculpture takes the form of a women clad in a black leather jacket and heels constructed of antelope horns while a shock of hair resembling "a compressed billow of smoke" erupts from the back of the biker helmet. His vision is brooding, characterized by a "darkly romantic aesthetic colored by an apocalyptic reaction to modern life." Though many of the designs featured in the biennial displayed bright colors and hopeful themes, Berandi's work sat at the head of the opposite end of the spectrum. He represented a more pessimistic view of the future, where people must turn inward to protect themselves, rather than opening out to embrace tomorrow.




I found Raven Kauffman's work the most interesting of the exhibition. Her designs were, first and foremost, aesthetically beautiful (and also gloriously curated -- the suspended objects projected eerie, gorgeous organic patterns upon the wall that added an additional dimension to the display), which I have always considered the primary purpose of both art and design. But not only that, but her work was conceptually fascinating as well as functional. She designs purses and handbags in the image of objects in nature. Each of her accessories are painstakingly intricate and one of a kind. Her work challenges the conformity of modern materialism, responding with consumer goods that are unique instead of mass-produced, crafted by hand rather than machine.

Meanwhile, I found the work of Koi Suwanngate to be the least compelling. Her fashion designs, while constructed of recycled materials, struck me as very conventional. Floral influences, feminine ruffles, traditional silhouettes -- classically beautiful motifs, but also very common tricks. Perhaps this aesthetic is her intent. While fashion pretends to move forward, it often falls back upon tradition for tried and true molds of success. Nevertheless, I did not see her work as particularly innovative, merely pretty.




As a whole, I found the exhibition to be fascinating. It encouraged me to consider Design in ways I tend to neglect. I habitually think of "design" in terms of graphics, ad campaigns, and other such obviously aesthetic objects. I forget to also consider the beauty in functionality. Product design is as vital a branch of Design as a flashy iPod commercial. "Action/Reaction" reminded me that the best designers are those that adapt their work to remain beautiful and useful in an ever-changing world.

PMCA filed trip

PMCA exhibit:

The theme of this Fall art exhibit at the PMCA was sustainability in design.
I found many creations very appealing esthetically and functionally. I was very impressed by the Toyota Prius initiative. Not only we can lower green gas emitions in our outdoors, we can also contribute in making it a prettier place to look at, especially on city freeways.
The second thing that attracted my attention was the Icon A5 aircraft. With the capability to be flown out of ground, grass, water, it represents a possible future option for human commute.

Click to enlarge


Other designs geared towards outdoor activities were on display such as the Inflatable Kayak which allows for easy handling and storage in small transportation vehicles, and offers the same
advantages of traditional kayaks.

Click to enlarge


I also found the AR Bicycle really cool. With its scientifically studied aerodynamics and carbon fiber make, it is an example of modern technology and how it used to optimize human athletics and physical activities.

Click to enlarge



And finally the wing house, a house that was completed using real jet wings to serve as a roof. A prime example of how recycling can work in new environment and architecture in particular. While it is an attractive idea, it in fact quite costly to achieve such a result, as was experienced by the owner if the house during the building stage. Transportation cost for the jet wings and the logistics of keeping the wings intact, were particularly challenging especially considering the rural location of the house.

Click to enlarge

25 Differences: Blueberries

The first time I did this assignment I used a carton of blueberries that proceeded to be eaten the following night. After learning that I actually needed those guys to create a composition, I bought another. Unfortunately, that poor carton was fated to grow moldy with neglect -- but in my defense, what kind of ethical supermarket sells berries that go bad in three days? Anyway. Here I am. Take three. Better late than never, eh?

Shape:
1. Spherical
vs.
2. Disc-shaped, flatter
3. Symmetry of form: "star" on top aligned with "bellybutton" on bottom
4. Round
vs.
5. Oblong

Size:
6. Disc-shaped berries tend to be larger, wider
vs.
7. Rounder berries tend to be smaller
8. Varying heights of raised edges of "star"
9. Size of "bellybutton" not always proportional to size of berry

Color:
10. Blue skins all over
vs.
11. Red skins on bottom surrounding "bellybutton" of the berry
12. Darker, saturated skin shades
vs.
13. Lighter, desaturated skin shades
14. Yellow stains when squished
vs.
15. Purple stains
16. Yellow flesh inside
vs.
17. Green flesh inside

Texture:
18. Wrinkles of the skin
vs.
19. Smoothness of the skin
20. Speckles in the skin
vs.
21. Uniformity of color and shade throughout single berry
22. Dents in the berry
23. Squishiness
vs.
24. Firmness
25. Juiciness when squished

t-shirt differences

1) comprised of different material
2) different sizes
3) one is more wrinkled than the others
4) one looks more used than the others
5) one stands out more (brighter)
6) some sleeves are rolled up
7) some are hung perfectly, some are not
8) some droop lower than others
9) one takes more space than the others
10) one looks like it belongs in another column of t-shirts
11) one looks better maintained than the others
12) one fits into a different category of styles
13) one sticks to the other t-shirts
14) one is corduroy
15) one overlaps 3 other shirts
16) one is trying to hide amidst the other shirts
17) one looks like it was never worn
18) one needs to be washed
19 ) one looks like the material is thinner
20) one looks warmer than the others

Design Biennial

(Images are coming... having trouble uploading. I'll edit the post once I figgur' it out.)

The theme of the Design Biennial was Action/Reaction caused by the problems facing society today. Each piece of art was a response to how our world is quickly developing and changing, centered mainly on the need for more eco/green products friendly to our Earth and the environment it creates. Although the works fell into widely different "categories" of art (graphic design, fashion design, transportation design, etc.), the main theme was to take what we have in society today and develop a safer, more sustainable version for the future. This theme is extremely relevant because of the problems we face and solutions we seek in the world today. Listening to the news or looking at the newest ad campaigns for environmental/social/political problems has become more common throughout the past ten years, reaching the peak of its popularity now more than ever.

The theme was clearly expressed through many of the objects on display. The idea of "eco-friendly" was very obvious throughout the exhibit, as well as the process of recycling, reusing, and rethinking. One object that caught my eye was the Tom's Shoe cloth doormat/pot-holders. I'm not sure if it was the use of a brand name or the fact it was on the floor, but it caught my eye because of the way the designer took one familiar, already socially beneficial object and turned it into two more things, both of which were environmentally beneficial.

The idea that captured the theme most clearly, for me, was the Toyota Prius landscape ads. Aside from taking the idea of going green quite literally, the piece effectively communicated its purpose through the materials and the design. It assessed a current issue (the excessive use of fuels, a cars impact on the environment) and communicated the way of rethinking the idea in general as well as the idea of how to advertise it.

I found the majority of the fashion design pieces the most interesting, probably because I used to work in a fashion boutique. Although, I did really find the way of designing and using natural materials to create unique pieces of jewelry very intriguing. Looking at how carefully crafted the pieces were, I couldn't help but realize how much more I would appreciate accessories if they weren't mass-produced like many are today. I find that my eyes are constantly drawn to favor something different and foreign than something familiar and popular.

The piece that I found the least compelling, although beautiful, was the cut paper decoration hanging from the corner. I was very intrigued by how large and carefully constructed the layers were, but I didn't get the point of what it had to do with the theme of Action and Reaction. It was a captivating piece, but almost seemed of a waste of paper thinking about the green aspect to the exhibit.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the exhibition for many reasons. I never had much time before I came to college to seek out exhibitions and museums like these, so getting the chance to finally see artwork in Los Angeles was a nice break from campus life. Also, I'm very interested in the Green Movement, so I appreciated seeing how many different ideas centered around Earth's environmental crisis. The artists could have reacted to many different things, but the focus on Earth was encouraging.

b i e n n i a l : a c t i o n / r e a c t i o n

the biennial theme confused me at first... i understood the concept of action - reaction, but for some reason didn't put that into context with sustainability and green design. this was a pleasant surprise for me. i was really inspired by the simplicity and clean lines of all the designs. when put in context of products, architecture, clothing, etc... it really reads well, and shows how we can still make beautiful (if not more beautiful) designs using sustainable materials.

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

i loved the combination of shapes in the following design. there's a really nice balance of randomness and consistency, and the color combination works really well.


juliette bellocq's "celebration" designs were really amazing. they evoked so much joy and happiness, and the fact that she combined inspirational phrases with such ecstatic designs was very effective.


tanya aguiniga's designs were breathtaking. i loved the felt chairs that she did, but I was most inspired by the images of the fabric. there's such texture and movement to them - it's as if they're 3-dimensional.


i also really liked the concept of redesigning signs in la. it's not that the current signs aren't successful in communicating what they need to, but there's no creativity, design, or even thought to them. by redesigning street signs in los angeles, it will not only make our city more visually appealing, but it will also modernize it greatly.


overall, the museum was very inspiring. i saw that simplicity is key, and less is more.

PCMA 2010.10.16

1. The theme of the biennial was consciousness of the world's fast-approaching limits and a call to designers to creatively address the issue. It's relevant because it's no longer about what's Green and what isn't. It's about what the philosophy of the designer is, and what pushes our understanding of their topic into society's mainstream.

2. Even if most all of the objects were design first, philosophy next, the theme of the collection ran strongly, even through the clever OKGO music video.

3. If we're talking not just environmental consciousness but Global Consciousness, I would have to credit Willem Henri Lucas, with his books and poster project "The Culture and Globalization Series 1". It was a well of information filtered and designed for easy translation. I saw it as a guide to interpreting the world facts we never see. Fascinating and necessary and enlightening.

4. It is not a coincidence that the most interesting thing I found was the design piece mentioned above. It was arresting. I literally started to walk away from the posters, thinking I had read them all, when a new angle in it popped out and I had to get a closer look. (This happened, really, like 3 times)

5. I found them hilarious and wonderful, but I don't think the designs of the Pirate and Victorian-Age problem solvers by Dave Eggers' group did the best job fitting the theme. Were they well designed? OhMyGoshYes. I loved them and wanted to steal each and every one. But I felt that they were a little out of place when the philosophy's communication came through.

6. The field trip was enlightening and impactful, especially because there was something for every young designer there to attach to. They did a fine job of covering all of the bases with design carefully considered enough to display. Also, the poster design for the exhibit was amazing.

Field Trip

The exhibition at the PMCA was very eye-opening and perfectly themed around problems we are facing on a daily basis, such as environmental sustainability. The art gave examples of things that were “action/reaction”. Nothing portrayed the theme better than the music video where they set up a huge domino effect; everything preceding the action that was taken (whether it was a ball, a domino, a switch, or water) affected the following action. It was the most literal way to define the theme, in addition to it being environmentally friendly as well, since mostly all the appliances they used in the music video were recycled trash.

What least fit the theme, in my opinion, were the fashion artworks. I did not understand, metaphorically how it fell under the “action/reaction” category. I thought it could be an emphasis on women’s stance in society, since one of the figures was a woman with a motorcyclist’s helmet on, showing a more masculine and dark side of the slim woman.

Architecture really captures my eye wherever I go, so the models in the exhibition were very intriguing. I really appreciate architecture that revolves around and coexists (not affecting) with the environment. All of the models looked beautiful, complex, and environmentally friendly. The action is taking the initiative and creating a building that contains less unnatural resources inside of it to save energy and keep the environment around it cleaner, and plant resources in the building that are natural. In addition, the buildings are filled full with plants and sunlight, to give it a more natural appearance. The reaction of this amazing action is beneficial to the people, the environment, and ultimately the decision of other architects to follow the same mentality when creating a building.

Since environmental studies is my minor in college, overall a lot of the art gave me hope and determination, knowing that even artists are fighting through an era where hope for our world is becoming slim to none. This exhibition made me realize that art is one of the most powerful means of, indeed finding an influential reaction from an even more influential action.

Field trip

Initially, I had a difficult time understanding the exhibit's theme of "action/reaction." It seemed far too vague and vast of an idea to be a theme, as every action we as humans do is a reaction to something, and art especially is more or less defined as a reaction to an idea, emotion, or happening. But even though the theme was so nebulous, it was very interesting to see a secondary theme surface, a cohesive thread of sustainability through many of the works. Sustainability is incredibly relevant and can be considered a theme of humanity right now, something to which the entire world is being affected and reacting.

It's hard to say who captured the theme most clearly because all of the objects on display expressed action/reaction in some way, and often two given responses were of two entirely different species. To compare them would be like comparing apples to oranges.

For example, as explained by our docent, the way in which architects respond to action is a world apart from how the graphic designers respond. Francis Anderton responded to the daily struggle of the gallery architect: How do you bring architecture to life for your gallery viewers?

This task is just as relevant as The Social Awareness Project's mission of promoting literacy for elementary schools, and both artists expressed action/reaction.

As far as clarity, I thought the Toyota Prius campaign captured their theme of sustainability most clearly by making their ads (the Harmony Floralscapes) out of plants. It was very effective to compose their ads out of the idea they were trying to advertise. Very different from the "do as I say but not as I do" mentality of many other sustainability ads that create a contradictory amount of non-biodegradable waste in the process of expressing their campaign idea.

For me, the most compelling objects on display were pieces that I could actually incorporate into my everyday life. In my opinion, it's all very well to build houses that are constructed out of old airplanes, but that isn't exactly attainable by the general public; there's no intimacy in an idea like that, no real world application.

The two pieces I really appreciated and will hopefully get to use one day were the Home Garden Registrar and The Better Bikeways Project.

The Home Garden Registrar, featuring Victory Garden Registry & Victory Seed Envelopes, is a project that promotes sustainability by creating an exchange network. If you grow tomatoes at home but always have way to many every year and not nearly enough carrots, you can find a local gardener in the registrar that has carrots to spare and one that needs some tomatoes, and exchange seeds. I will totally use this one day!

Also, I absolutely loved Joseph Prichard's Better Bikeways Project, which is so simple and yet can have such an impact on the community and the world if it picks up. As defined by the project, Better Bikeways "aims to provide more useful navigational information for cyclists," but the sustainability idea is much more encompassing than that. Approaching transportation not from the angle of automobile efficiency, but rather biking as a reasonable and more accessible form of everyday transit is a step in the right direction for global sustainability. (The signage also has a lovely element of graphic design, which is important in getting people to look at and use the signs).

I will also use this one day.

The least compelling ideas, in my opinion, were the fashion-oriented pieces. In particular, the costume design collection by Michael Schmidt on the far back wall. Although the artists of the exhibit were in no way obligated to incorporate sustainability in their works, I didn't even see how his expensive, flashy costumes fit in with the action/reaction theme. Many of the other fashion artists reacted to the problem of decreased quality and individuality of industrial design by hand-making unique items out of recycled fabric or other atypical materials that were still attainable for the general public. These costume pieces, however, cost a fortune and were of use to one performer for one tour. So, not only did I fail to see their relevance to the exhibit, I also didn't sense a global purpose for the designer's work except as transitory eye candy.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the exhibit. Being a die-hard environmentalist myself, I'm thrilled to see how artists are reacting and taking action to the sustainability issue at hand, and I can't wait to see the pieces in the exhibit take to the real world. I took note of a few of the projects on display and will be incorporating them into my everyday life; the field trip was definitely a positive experience!