Children's Art and Ecology Education Center of Milwaukee
graphite April 2018 |
Exhibition Text This infrastructure's purpose is to entertain and educate children about ecology, as well as art, in a fun, green, and child friendly environment. The architectural designs behind this building are rooted from Kieth Haring and Piet Mondrian.
|
Inspiration
Process
|
The materials I used for this project were a piece of drafting paper, a T square ruler, standard clear ruler, masking tape and a pencil and eraser. The first thing I was draw a horizon line and extend it to three inches off each side of the paper to create a vanishing point. Using the rulers, I began to draw the skeleton of my building with the t-ruler to create vertical lines, and the drawing ruler to connect to the vanishing points. I then proceeded to add detail with drawing windows, doors and more lines. I then proceeded to add color through different values of shading. I also added trees and tree stumps for added detail and context. I made sure that I measured out the spaced between these objects so that when finished, they would appear neat and orderly. I then drew Kieth Haring's Tree of Life to the left face of the structure and fashioned a sign in front of the building. After I had all the elements I darkened my lines and erased any excess graphite and smearing for the design look more put together and precise. |
Experimentation
One of the things I experimented with was the color placement of the tiles on the front face of the building. To do this I had to constantly think ahead and compare the squares and rectangles I was shading in to Mondrian's artwork. I wanted there to be a clear connection between this face of the building and Mondrian so trial and error and erasing and adding blocks were a major part of the experimentation process. I also experimented with the placement of the tree stumps. I wanted them to be makeshift seats for children and I wanted to draw them in an orderly arrangement. To do this accurately I thought drawing a grid then placing the stumps within the spaces of the grid would be easiest but the stumps still ended up being uneven distances from each other. Since this didn't work, I resulted to having to meticulously take measurements to make sure the stumps were the same size and distance apart from each other.
Reflection
I was inspired by the work of Piet Mondrian and Keith Haring. I used Tree of Life by Haring to be fashioned as a mural on one of the faces of my building. Haring created this piece to convey the message of unity and this ties into my theme. I chose this to be a mural so children can be inspired by this message as well as see a notable connection to the art world. This has a significance to the center specifically because the artwork contains a main focus of a tree. Since children learn about ecology as well as art at this center, the meaning of this piece in context of the building is that when united, we can help make a positive impact on the environment, which is a similar but yet different meaning than the original piece's intentions. I was inspired by Mondrian because of the architectural qualities his artwork has. I used the same color scheme as he did but started to differ from his artwork by the placement of blocks. I also chose these artists to include in the building's designs because bright colors and shapes are used which are attractive to children. I had trouble with the shading aspect of this design due to the uneveness of the values. This caused it to look somewhat messy and unorderly. I also had trouble with the graphite because it would easily smear and when dark values were erased to their full potential they were still visible.
ACT Questions
1. Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork.
The architecture of the building is heavily influenced by the artwork of Keith Haring and Piet Mondrian. The artwork on the west face of the structure is Tree of Life by Keith Haring. I chose this due to the significant connection to Milwaukee it has. I chose to incorporate Mondrian's concepts into the building because of the vibrant color scheme and architectural qualities add interest to the building's exterior.
2. What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
I researched the meaning behind Tree of Life by Keith Haring. The author stated that this piece is representative of unity between a group of people. This connects to the building because it is an inspirational message to children as well as it has a tree and this is an ecology and art center.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I generalized that bright colors and shapes would be a good addition the this infrastructure because children or drawn to this and have a higher chance of wanting to go into the building.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
I wanted my theme to be expressed through the symbolism I used. I wanted it to be centered around relationships and how children can interact and learn through art and nature. I also wanted the message of the pi
ece to be apparent through the elements of the building.
5. What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
After looking at the different styles and meaning's of Haring's artworks I researched I was able to envision to use Tree of Life for an added interesting visual as well as a metaphorical element.
The architecture of the building is heavily influenced by the artwork of Keith Haring and Piet Mondrian. The artwork on the west face of the structure is Tree of Life by Keith Haring. I chose this due to the significant connection to Milwaukee it has. I chose to incorporate Mondrian's concepts into the building because of the vibrant color scheme and architectural qualities add interest to the building's exterior.
2. What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
I researched the meaning behind Tree of Life by Keith Haring. The author stated that this piece is representative of unity between a group of people. This connects to the building because it is an inspirational message to children as well as it has a tree and this is an ecology and art center.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I generalized that bright colors and shapes would be a good addition the this infrastructure because children or drawn to this and have a higher chance of wanting to go into the building.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
I wanted my theme to be expressed through the symbolism I used. I wanted it to be centered around relationships and how children can interact and learn through art and nature. I also wanted the message of the pi
ece to be apparent through the elements of the building.
5. What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
After looking at the different styles and meaning's of Haring's artworks I researched I was able to envision to use Tree of Life for an added interesting visual as well as a metaphorical element.