My day was spent in exploration of DIA: Beacon and Storm King Art Park in what my local Long Island 'family' call the North country. Both of these parks were filled to the brim with interesting pieces, many of which I did not understand, but all I was intrigued by. However, as an optimist I try not to focus on what I do not know, but what I can learn and what I do know. Today's trip taught me that I am now at a point in my life to appreciate what I do not understand, and may never understand. On the other hand, the fundamental principles ingrained in me in this last year, my first year of design, aided me in understanding both the process and goal of the majority of the pieces I observed. While I believe that art is a topic that is fluid, and that all will have a different opinion on a piece, the powerful idea I have taken from this day trip is this: art is not about making someone understand what you are saying so much as to making a person understand a piece in a way that applies to them. In other words, maybe art is about handing the viewer a pen and paper and only controlling the color they draw in versus handing a person a paint by number.
This morning I awoke well rested mentally, physically, and eager to attack the day. This evening I rode home 2 hours with drenched socks, a sore ankle, stains on my shirt, mentally tired, physically worn, and a new understanding on art. In the past I have visited the Smithsonian's Art museum and several other smaller art museums, but with the perspective of a Pre-Med Bio major whose experience in art branched no further than watching Van Gogh's biography and two art classes in high school. Today I attacked the works with a slight knowledge of general design principles and a heck of a lot more appreciation for that which I was examining.
This morning I awoke well rested mentally, physically, and eager to attack the day. This evening I rode home 2 hours with drenched socks, a sore ankle, stains on my shirt, mentally tired, physically worn, and a new understanding on art. In the past I have visited the Smithsonian's Art museum and several other smaller art museums, but with the perspective of a Pre-Med Bio major whose experience in art branched no further than watching Van Gogh's biography and two art classes in high school. Today I attacked the works with a slight knowledge of general design principles and a heck of a lot more appreciation for that which I was examining.
Running through Maya Lin's Wavefield. I'm a lil tiny in the video, but hopefully it explains the scale and form of the space.