In Her Eyes: Jessica Stockholder

     Art 21 portrays a feeling and creativity of the contemporary artists. For instance, one could think of plastic as simple and cheap, settled inside freezers and refrigerators trying to keep our foods fresh while saving space. However, in the eyes of artist Jessica Stockholder, this object is the most valuable material that helps her develop her sculptures.
   
     Jessica Stockholder appreciates the most simple materials and has a deep sensitivity in creating her art. She loves the easy access to plastic, like finding it in Walmart. She likes the vibrant colors which she relates to culture. This extraordinary artist breaks barriers by easily incorporating new materials, like paper, and giving her imagination form.

     When Stockholder talks about the attraction of freezers and refrigerators, this gives us two view points. She loves them because they hold food, which to her forms a sense of love and family. The other explanation is that she thinks freezer and refrigerators have the negative reflection of absence of love. Thus, she appreciates the beauty offered by nature and throughout a thinking process mixed with colors of plastic she gives life to awesome sculptures which make unpredictable results.

     In 2009, the New York Times cited "for more than 25 years Ms.Stockholder has been celebrated for site-specific sculptures and installations that challenge boundaries, blurring the distinctions among painting. Sculptures and environment, and even breaching gallery walls by extending beyond windows and doors."

     One of her famous sculptures, Father Backyard sculpture, is an art work that shows how she used nature, architecture, and a mattress with bright colors. This sculpture is located in her father's backyard.

Two Artists, Two Worlds: Mark Pauline and Chris Burden

     When I saw the video of Mark Pauline in class, I did not see the art. However, after

reading a little more about his life and career, now I can understand his art. He had his first encounter

with the police when he was 10 years-old, and during his young age, he went into different situations that made him rebellious. Imagination, challenge and courage identify this man. He founded the Survival Research Lab where he develops his ideas, which are giant robots that make noise and fight. He makes public

presentations in open places, like public parking and gas stations, to call peoples' attention. In each presentation he tells a story, specially against power. He often breaks the rules because he does not

get the corresponding permission from authorities. His passion for his job cost him to lose his right hand while he was preparing a rocket motor for a show. Nevertheless, he continues creating and exibiting his rough art.

     Chris Burden is an artist, physicist and architect. He is a kind of inventor that causes controversy because he puts himself in danger. Just like the famous "shoot" given to him by his assistant. However, his sculptures are simple and beautiful. For example, one of my favorite "The Urban Lights", installed in Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). The visual of this piece of art shows the simpleness and elegance of the entire piece and the clear and dim light that illuminates them all. I feel wrapped and transported to another place that makes me feel  in peace and spiritual.

     Mark Pauline's art is rough. He breaks the rules, like using chemicals in his presentations. He put in risk the spectators, his team, and himself.

     Chris Burden's sculpture is clean with a meaning. He applies the light, color, passion and creativity from his engineering to his art. 

Timeless

It is something that is not affected by the passage of time. For example, David, which is a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture. The piece of art was created by the Italian Michelangelo between 1501-1504. Nowadays, is a piece admired around the world .

Sister Wendy

     Sister Wendy is a passionate art critic. She uses her knowledge to describe and transmit all the beauty found in paintings. Discovering the mystery in each line and drawing, giving the form of art to abstract work or reading among the colors a meaning of love. She has the capacity of make you
feel, touch, see and undress a whole story behind a masterpiece. She can interpret from Pablo Picasso's paintings to modern art. Even though she is a nun, she has an enormous and ample understanding of what art is.

What art is to me

Art is an aesthetic and meaningful way that people express their life experiences. There are many kinds of art. For example, music, writing, painting, etc. Art is everywhere in our daily life. However, I believe a painting is one of the most expressive forms of art. Thru the art the artist can transmit their biggest emotion, their deepest feeling and a romantic or tortuous love. Art is creativity and imagination.