Today's art work..

Todays art work can be considered as anything that is has to be viewed or interacted with to be understood.

Issue 17: Mathematics of Paper Folding

As I read my chosen article about mathematics of paper folding, I found it was very interesting.  Robert Lang is known as a "pioneer" in origami folding.  Robert is also a physicist and is very good with math and its properties.  He has a very unique technique in folding origami.  He uses mathematical equations to help make his intricate paper folds.  He likes to call it "technical folding".  "Technical folding" means you are using specific techniques for designing specific features.  This folding really started to grow around the early 1990's when artists started to develop mathematical principles for folding.  He is so good with origami folding that the Jet Propulsion Laboratory asked him to do designs for medical packaging for transportation.  The Lawrence Livermore Lab also asked Robert to develop a space based telescope.  Not only does he just fold paper with precise measurements but with that, and his combined knowledge of physics, can help scientific advancements. He has always had a love for origami and makes origami art for a living and the physicist positions as side jobs.  

I think what Robert Lang does is amazing.  He is able to make creases in the paper that with traditional origami would be impossible.  He really shows us that something so simple can be turned into something so amazing.  I think it is really fascinating how math equations can

even be used to make origami.  I remember when I used to go to church and I would sit there and try to make different objects by folding the attendance cards.  I understand how hard it is to make good creases or even make something look like anything at all.  I think its awesome how he makes his animals almost look realistic.  The only thing I don't like about "Technical Folding" is that it takes the hard technique of traditional folding out of it.  Yes, he does very beautiful artwork but it is a scientific art.  Actual handmade origami almost as good as his creations is way more interesting because it was much more difficult to complete.  I think we all can agree that taking the tradition out of things isn't always a good thing.  Overall I thought his artwork was great and very interesting.  

Blog #3

The two pieces that I found much interest in was Mircea Cantor's "Deeparture" and Amy Globus' "Electric Sheep".  "Deeparture" caught my attention because of how it keeps you your toes and because I find interest in wildlife.  In this piece there is a wold and a deer in a plain white room.  Without having sound it almost left room for interpretation on what was actually going to happen.  If there was music it would almost give the video away.  You would get an idea from its tune if something peaceful or suspenseful was going to happen.  Upon first viewing this piece the I anxiously waited for the wolf to attack the deer.  The more I waited the less I was convinced that the wolf was even going to attack it.  They just kept walking around the room.  Silence overtook me and built the suspense.  I then realized that the two mammals were focused more on their new environment rather than each other.  It seemed as though they were confused and interested into where they actually were.  Like they were almost comforted by each others presence being in their weird, new, and unknown surroundings.  

Amy Globus' "Electric Sheep" was a very fascinating piece.  It was a video of an octopus making its way through a bunch of glass tubes.  The audio to this piece made this piece my favorite.  The song being played was called "Wrecking Ball" by Emmylou Harris.  The lyrics made the piece almost alien like and gave it a very creepy tone as it squeezed through the tiniest tubes, holes, and cracks in the glass maze.  One of the lines that stood out to me, and to others I accompanied this exhibit with, who had viewed the piece was the line "We've got no where to hide, we got no where to go."  It was almost as if the octopus was signing to the viewer and telling us about its current situation.  I think this piece goes well with Glenn Bach's presentation of Aaron Ximm's work.  Glenn showed us audio of wilderness, wildlife, and even the noises of a city that Aaron had recorded from all over the world.  By hearing this music we form a picture in our mind of what is happening.  Artists who record audio mean for us to picture scenes in our head, this is what makes the audio art-world open for much interpretation.  If I had just listened to the audio I would have pictured someone or something trying to escape from somewhere.  I think the video is a great complement to the audio.  

I think both of these pieces work well together.  They work well together because it shows that film doesn't need sound to be interesting.  It all depends on the way the film is made whether it needs sound or not.  Sound can be an accent for some pieces or the main focus.  Silence raises questions and leaves for interpretation.  It also gives a sense of suspense as you are left with no clue to how the film will turn out.  Both these pieces are great examples of good work with and without the use of audio.