Charles Ray

Charles Ray

Oh! Charley, Charley, Charley... 

Mixed-media, 1992

Hinoki

Cyprus wood, 2007

Father Figure

Painted steel, 2007

The Examination 

Painted steel and human body, 1984

Family Romance

Mixed Media, 1993

Charles Ray was born in 1953 in Chicago, and works out of Los Angeles today. He uses a wide variety of mediums to create his sculpture, and his subjects are also diverse. However, they are all enigmatic and engage the viewer in personal and physical ways. Many of his sculptures make reference to toys, such as plastic model tractors, cars, or fire trucks, and also make use of the human form as a sculptural element. 

I chose to write about Charles Ray because his work inspires me. He uses the human body in ways that beg thought from the viewer, rather than presenting a body as a created object. His sculptures, in their scale and complexity, engage viewers in a way that many other sculptures don't. His work is also intensely personal, which is something I hope to achieve with my work. 

All photos/information taken from Charles Ray's website.

Peter Anton (Nina's first artist)

These are Nina's first 1 artist 

Artist 1: Peter Anton

Peter Anton in his studio surrounded by sculptures for an upcoming exhibition in New York  City. By: Robert Wilde

Peter Anton, born in 1963 in New Haven, Connecticut, is a sculptor who makes gigantic life-like sculptures of food products. At his first solo exhibition in New York in 1995 he showed 70 larger-than-life fruits and vegetables, but has more recently been working with the foods that people really crave—sweets. He is best known for his chocolate boxes, but also builds massive popsicles, donuts, and candy hearts using a wide array of mediums to replicate their textures.

            By creating works that convincingly portray sweet treats, Anton is able to capture his audience quickly. He is interested in people’s affection for food, and the way that food can bring people together and spread joy.  In his artist statement, Anton says, “I like to create art that can lure, charm, tease, disarm and surprise. My sculptures put viewers in a vulnerable state so that I can communicate with their inner selves in a more honest and direct way. I activate the hunger people have for the things that give them pleasure and force them to surrender.”

            I love the symbolism that Anton finds in food. The need for sustenance and the craving for pleasure are things that every person can instantly relate to. His work forces his audience to feel something and to re-think the nature of needs and desires within themselves. Plus, OH MY GOD THEY’RE SO BEAUTIFUL!

DARK CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM BAR, 65 x 23 x 9 inches, mixed media, 2007

DARK CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM BAR, 65 x 23 x 9 inches, mixed media, 2007

BOXED DONUTS, 27 x 36 x 5.5 inches, mixed media, 2012

PINK CONFETTI CAKE, 51 x 40 x 40 inches, mixed media, 2012

SPILLED SUNDAE 15 x 40 x 24 inches, mixed media, 2009

Sites used: http://www.thankyou-verymuch.com/eng/peteranton_bio.html

                    www.peteranton.com

 (*SEE ABOVE)

Artist Six: Nagi Noda

Nagi Noda was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1798, and passed away in 2008 due to surgical complications from injuries caused by a traffic accident. She is known for being a pop artist and director. Her work includes music videos, short films, and commercials. In addition to Noda’s video work, she was involved in fashion and created a series of “hair hats.” These consisted of animal-shaped sculptures, made by hair weaves, real hair, and wire. 

It is a tragedy, that Nagi Noda’s life was cut so short; she had much potential and was successful in various art fields. Although, a lot of her focus was on video work, I found her series of “hair hats,” to be both extraordinary and creative. I am left in awe and am fascinated with Noda’s accomplishment of constructing detailed animals out of an unconventional material such as hair.

Sites Used: http://www.pondly.com/2012/05/animals-hair-sculptures-by-nagi-noda/

                   http://www.naginoda.com/top_en.html
                   http://rcc.recruit.co.jp/g8/exhibition/g8_exh_201110/g8_exh_201110_en.html

Nagi Noda created this series from hair weaves, real hair, and wire before her death in 2008.  

Fractiles as Art

This is the work of a senior this year (Fall, 2012) Ben,

Artist Five: Mark Dion

Mark Dion was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1961. He is an artist who creates installations through scientific methods of collecting and organizing objects. Dion focuses on knowledge about nature, and questions science’s role in society today. He has given himself the title, “Artist and amateur naturalist.”

Through attending Mark Dion’s lecture, I learned that his projects focus on nature and science. However they vary from mobile clubs to green houses. His intent is to showcase nature, preservation, death, and decay. I appreciate that he makes it his goal to engage all of the senses in his pieces, (this was made most evident in the Seattle Nurse Log.)

Site Used: http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/mark-dion

 "Neukom Vivarium." 2006, Installation. 

http://blog.art21.org/2008/05/22/mark-dion-“neukom-vivarium”/

"Library for the Birds of Antwerp." 1993, Installation, 18 African Finches, Tree, Ceramic Tiles, Books, Photographs, Bird Cages, and Assorted Objects. 

http://www.tanyabonakdargallery.com/artist.php?art_name=Mark%20Dion

"Urban Wildlife Observation Unit." 2002, Multimedia Installation Unit. 

http://www.tanyabonakdargallery.com/artist.php?art_name=Mark%20Dion

"Alexander-Wilson-Studio." 1999, Wooden Structure, Mixed Media. 

http://www.cmoa.org/international/html/art/dion.htm

"The Museum of Poison, (Biocide Hall)." 2002, Wood and Glass Display Cabinets, Wooden Pedestals, Pesticide, and Assorted Objects.

http://www.tanyabonakdargallery.com/artist.php?art_name=Mark%20Dion