Unit 4 Summary (light + color)

Through unit four, I have learned how much of a role light and color play into almost every design. Sometimes light and color are the biggest focal points of a design. Not only does this add interest making something visually beautiful, but often is has a deeper meaning behind it; for example, religion or cultural styles. A place we visited in this unit was the Newman Center. In this religious space, we see how light plays a role in setting the atmosphere of the room. The lights can go from fully bright for a mass or service, but they also had a dimmer setting, possibly for adoration, or to allow a more intimate experience while visiting. Although the layout of the furniture has been changed over time to a circular setup with the altar in the middle rather than the in the front, there was originally a sky light directly over the altar, placing emphasis on the piece and showing that it was an important factor of the space. This space was designed with a natural color scheme, consisting of mostly greens, and neutral colors. However, it also consists of a few burgundy walls, opposite of green on the color wheel. Another place that successfully represents light and color intertwined is the Singletary center. At the main entrance, there is not much color, and the color scheme of the brick and carpet is very plain. However, there are small artificial lights and very large windows which allow natural light to pour in. If you walk further into Singletary, you see a very large, polychromatic piece of art. There is a skylight above the focal point of this piece of art, placing even more emphasis on it and illuminating all the colors and patterns. This was probably my favorite space I physically encountered during this unit that greatly represented light and color.

In high school, i worked with creating designs through stained glass. While I don't have the opportunity to practice this hobby as much now that i am away from home, I always enjoyed seeing how light poured through the bright colors of my creations. Light and color help us to understand design as an integrated place while they can vastly harmonize an object, space, building, or place. On multiple scales color and light can become a very large focal part of a design, or even a small one, depending on the materials used and how the design is constructed. Light and color are principles and elements, so of course there is a link between them. I believe even if a design does not consist of bright colors or direct light, it can still be described and analyzed by understanding light and color. Materials used for a design can be understood through light, while light gives us a closer look at the texture and the shadows we see upon the color as well, whether it is bright or neutral. 

Case Study 4 (light + color)

Machu Picchu is an Incan citadel set high in the Andes Mountains in Peru, above the Urubamba River valley. Built in the 15th century and later abandoned, it’s renowned for its sophisticated dry-stone walls that fuse huge blocks without the use of mortar, intriguing buildings that play on astronomical alignments, and panoramic views. Its exact former use remains a mystery. Because this city is set high in the Andes Mountains, it has always been affected by natural sunlight. On brighter hours of the day, the sunlight hits each structure showing harsh and smooth textures and shadow. The structure contains of earthy tones, which I also represented through my model. I used multi colored stones for my model to show how the stones at Machu Picchu have changed in color over time due to time weather and nature. While artificial light is used to illuminate my model, I believe Machu Picchu experience little to no artificial light. The stacking of buildings and steps add room for many shadows, changing through a 24 hour cycle. I showed stacking in my model as well to show how light is affected. 

The mountain is bright

Thanks to all natural light

With colors of life

UK Art Museum Visual Essay

The museum consisted of white walls and a floor containing multiple shades of brown within its grain. The while walls prevent distraction from the art, and the flooring reflects the light, allowing the sculptures to cast shadows upon it. 

When first entering the museum, I observed each of the sculptures, admiring the use of materials and culture portrayed through each one. I found Shoonufu by Willie Cole to be extremely intriguing. In this piece, fetish-like qualities of high heels in contemporary culture are evoked, where they function as expensive status symbols and are associated with both sexual power and the objectification of women. This piece is also very abstract, causing you to analyze it even closer in order to discover it was constructed of high heel shoes. 

Chair Transformation by Lucas Samara shows a functional object rendered with a forward momentum and a fetish-like quality. Contrast is shown while half the chair is a set of psychedelic associations while the other half is covered in straight pins and painted black. The chair is also a great example of how we use our senses in order to analyze the use of materials and how we decide if we want to make use of an object. Here it is instantly clear we would not want to sit in the piece of furniture while it is aesthetically pleasing, the use of pins turns us off to the idea of using it as a functional piece.

Wayne Koestenbaum's Unfamiliar Grammar is exhibited in its own room due to mature content. This exhibit contains extremely bright canvas paintings, causing this exhibit to be very inviting from when spotting it from the doorway. When first entering this section, I was very pleased with the use of dense abstractions and riotous colors. However, as I moved through this exhibit I was disappointed with what I saw. I found this display of nude portraits completely lacked any sense of sophistication. 

The Sculptors on Paper exhibit shows how light plays a role in placing emphasis on each piece of artwork. I thought this exhibition was successful while they used the walls of a small hallway to show the interesting drawings and prints. 

In the Landscape exhibition, we see how Maurice, Denis, Leon Kroll, and William Zorach work in different modes of modernism, while also taking inspiration from the contours and colors of the land. We see how these artists have found inspiration in the landscape and how they have been challenged to represent the grandeur and complexity of nature in visual terms. 

After observing the downstairs exhibitions of the museum, I made my way upstairs where I found the Abstraction exhibit. Mid- to late twentieth-century abstract painting is one of the strengths of the museum's collection. Within these pieces we see the use of organic shapes, distinct geometries, scribbles, stains, and a range of painterly applications. I especially enjoy abstract paintings, while they may not seem like they have much meaning at times, there are many that do contain a deeper meaning while also being aesthetically pleasing. 

While looking at the Portraiture exhibition, I immediately recognized Kentucky Statesman Henry Clay because of the multiple portraits I observed of him while visiting Ashland. This exhibition included well-known figures alongside those of anonymous men, women, and children. 

These extremely bright and polychromatic glass pieces are exhibited through a glass display case. Light is used in this case to illuminate each individual piece and enhances the color of each one. 

Overall, I found the UK art museum to be a great example of how light and color is used not only to to place emphasis on pieces of art, but how it plays a role within the actual art itself. I had a very positive experience here, while I was given the opportunity to see the interaction of principles and elements within each piece. 

Newman, Singletary, SAVS

Newman

While visiting Newman, I observed how light and color combine to create an aesthetically pleasing and peaceful place. Not only does it have many artificial light sources, which can be adjusted to fully lighten the space or be dimmed, but it has natural light sources as well. before the alter was placed in the center of the room with the pews surrounding it, it was at the front of the room with a skylight directly above it, placing emphasis on it and marking it as a sacred piece. The space was designed with a natural color scheme, consisting of mostly greens, and neutral colors. However it also consists of a few burgundy walls, opposite of green on the color wheel.

Singletary

Singletary is an excellent example of light and color intertwined. At the main entrance, there is not much color, and the color scheme of the brick and carpet is very plain. However, there are small artificial lights and very large windows which allow natural light to pour in. If you walk further into Singletary, you see a very large, polychromatic piece of art. There is a skylight above the focal point of this piece of art, placing even more emphasis on it and illuminating all the colors and patterns.

SAVS

I enjoyed visiting this building very much not only to see the inside, but the outside as well. The outside of this building looks much older than its very modern interior. While most of the interior is neutral colors, (mostly white), it also has unexpected pops of color in many parts of it. Not only were the bright sections of the wall contrasting with the rest of the white interior, but it also contained very modern, bright furniture. Along with the brights and white, there are many skylights throughout above the very modern fans. Along with this natural light, there is artificial light as well. This building is very harmonious in terms of light and color. 

Loudon House Exploration

Loudon House Exploration

Keith Barker

Lengthening

I believe Lengthening by Keith Barker best represents the combination of light and color out of the art work displayed in Here and Now. Here we see forty consecutive days of winter and spring 2015, one image for each day. We see how natural light and color comes together to create this piece of art. The change of the seasons plays a large role in the variation of color throughout. Although each image is the same tree, there is still contrast due to light and color, while some images are more dull in the winter months or on a rainy day, and others are much brighter on a sunny day. Keith captured multiple colors by taking photos of the tree at various angles, giving a different background scenary for each. I believe light and color is portrayed so successfully in Lengthening because it is shown through nature and natural light. These small forty images come together to create one harmonious and balanced image. 

In each room served as an exhibition space, there were very large windows. This allows natural light to completely fill each room, enhancing the artwork displayed. Not only did each room consist of natural lighting, but also spotlights hanging from the ceiling, proving even more focus on the artwork displayed. I noticed in each exhibit room the walls were painted white. I would assume this is to prevent distractions from the artwork. Although the house consists of only white walls, I believe it this allows natural and artificial light to illuminate the artwork even further. An interesting source of artificial light hangs in the foyer, a glass chandelier that consists of multiple shapes. The windows on each side of the front door also allow natural light in, while these windows consist of multiple colors allowing the white space to feel more bright. The overall interior space is open and bright.

I believe the park and surrounding neighborhood contrasts with the building’s design. While this building is considered one of the largest and finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the state, the surrounding neighborhood is a more different style. I find the exterior building to be one of the most fascinating I have visited, while the Hunt-Morgan House, Pope Villa, and Ashland didn’t capture my interest as much from the exterior. However, Ashland caught my eye the most on the inside, giving much to look at with busy wallpaper, furniture, etc. These building are signify history in Lexington, making them places of interest to many. I consider Ashland to be the most successful as a designed artifact reflective of the time and place in which it was constructed. It successfully portrays the time period it is meant to because of how it has been decorated and filled.  Overall, the four houses give off a very strong sense of place and time. I believe the design of each reflect values of those who designed, built, and occupied them. Each designer generally has a certain style, and this is shown through each. The Hunt Morgan and Ashland house greatly reflect who occupied them, showing history throughout each.  Color, light, and materials can tell a lot about each building, while they unite to create an aesthetically pleasing and historical place.

Overall, I had a very positive experience while visiting the Loudoun house. I was very excited when I first witnessed this Gothic style castle, and felt very calm and peaceful while touring the house. It’s very bright and open, and contains very diverse artwork throughout each room. I wasn’t sure what to expect when walking into the house, but I was pleased with what I saw. One of my favorite designs throughout the house was the fireplace and mantle. I thought it was interesting how the mantle went into a point rather than just being flat. My favorite painting throughout was The Ultimate Family by David Wischer. I enjoyed seeing his twisted take on the exaggerated personalities of WWF wrestlers in the 1980’s. I found this one the most interesting but each piece of art was unique in its own way. I hope to visit the Loudoun house again in the near future.