(7/2) Sound Reflection

Sound is so much a part of our daily lives that I think we forget to notice it. When I swam my favorite thing was hearing the rhythm of the stroke, while you were doing your laps. If you made it to a nice smooth pace you could hear it. If I could have recorded that I would have.

In my daily life, I am constantly regulating sound around me at work. The students in the class room I work in have sensory issues. And we are constantly trying to find new ways to cope from morning announcements to other children in the hall. Sound in this respect in the classroom is so important. I think as a teacher I will make sure my future students are comfortable with the classroom volume as much as I can.

In regards to curriculum, sound could be an interesting avenue to discuss observation. In art there is so much observation, drawing from observation, observing the world and interpreting it, etc. If a project could be based on students observing through listening they could have a greater understanding of the world around them. It could be called Sound Landscapes.

I do not see sound enough as a medium and I think given the chance students would be truly drawn to it.

(7/1) Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen

Sound Cloud

Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen

This week I have been listening for repetitive sounds. I had not truly heard any until I was cooking in the kitchen with my mom and she was scraping a metal bowl with a whisk. And in that moment I knew what I wanted to listen to. I wanted to hear the sounds of the kitchen. So I sat and listened for different sounds and then recorded the ones I liked and had a similar rhythm. I also created my own sounds by chomping on a veggie stick and tapping my fingers on the counter waiting for a pot to boil.

Impact 25

Avery and I posted out project on a Tumblr, so that people could see the collective result of the project, and so it can continue.
http://postcardsforpoliticians.tumblr.com/

(6/3) Video in the Classroom

Video as a media has so much potential in the classroom. From recording process to using it to create art, the opportunities are endless. Teachers are always looking for ways to explain information. A unique solution could be making their own how to videos. Students could even take this further and record experimentation, to then look back on how to replicate a happy accident.

Students can also use video as an art medium. It is a great way to tell stories, and express their vision. Many mediums can tell stories but video might be the most direct. Changing the color can instantly change the mood, and express a whole new idea.

IMovie was easy to use and it is great that it is a free tool. It makes it more accessible to a classroom, as the school does not need to purchase any more software.

(6/2) Lake Mist - Long Lake

(6/1) Lake Mist Inspiration

I like how the mist looks like is walking across the lake, and I wanted to create something similar.

(5/4) Hair - Edited

After you suggested editing my work I went back and played in Photoshop. I liked the darkness but thought again to see if I would like it any other way. When I was playing around in the Levels I found that you could see evidence of the scanner and I was able to make it look like an early digital photograph and I liked it even more. It gave it a more etherial look.

In any media I like to be able to see the mark making, if it is painting I love paint texture, in drawing I love hatching. It only makes sense that I also like the scan lines in Scanography.

(5/3) Takeaways

I have always interpreted remixing in a audio format particularly in music. When I was reading the first article it was discussing Photoshop as a form of Digital Remixing in Photoshop. I have never heard that before but it is an interesting way to describe the in-depth change of an image. 

We have been spending so much time thinking about Technology and Visual Art, I have yet to stop and think about Technology and Preforming Art, such as dance. In the "New Digital Arts" Section, it describes DDR, and other dance based video games as a way that technology has changed dance. I have tried various forms of these times of games and never considered them as a continuation of the art form but next time I will think differently.

Lastly, it is great to see all the fantastic free software that is described in the final article. I am looking forward to trying them out and making them available in my future classroom. 

(5/2) Scanography in the Classroom

Scanography has great potential in the classroom. It is a completely new media to me, and I found it really engaging and easy, that is once I got my scanner working again after probably two years.

It could be interesting to explore self portraiture through different media, including scanography. It is a quick way to include a different media. They could even draw the scanned image in color pencil and just use the scan for composition. It could be used as well as an alternative still life project.

The process is so instantaneous and trial and error, since you cannot truly see what the image will look like until you try it. I believe that students will easily engage with the process and having the opportunity to try and try again without the fear of doing something wrong.

(5/1) Scanography

(4/4) Thoughts on Digital Photography and Art Education

1. As a medium digital photography can be very immediate but you can also put a lot of time into it. It is conducive to the classroom because it can reach a large number of students, and their extent of interest.

2. There are tools they can use to create a photograph. This can make it more accessible to more people. The DSLR is no longer the most necessary piece of equipment for digital photography.

3. Many of them may be familiar with photo editing apps. It could be interesting to teach them how to create their own filters on photoshop or other computer based editing programs.

(4/3) Impact 25 Update

This is one of our first pieces.

Avery and I are working together to create postcards to send to political representatives. We are asking people to send us a piece of art work, three issues they are passionate about, and an address to one of their senators, or congress people. We will be mailing all these original pieces and showing people that it does not have to be complicated to make an impact.

Our idea started with the fact that we wanted to use the laser cutter.  Later on I was buying blank postcards to send to my brother and I thought it would be an easy way to connect people through art and mail. The idea evolved further to focus on what kind of message we wanted to spread. Last week we realized we both wanted to be more politically active and did not know how, so somehow with out talking first we both created political art work. We have sent emails out to 37 people, our goal is that 13 people respond to each of us. If we get enough individual addresses of politicians we could be close to reaching 50 people with this project.

This is an example of the email we sent out:

Dear _____,

I am working on a project where we have to impact people in a way that spreads a message about something we care about. My project partner and I came up with the idea of sending laser engraved post cards to your local senators and congress people about issues you care about. If you would like to participate in the project, please send us the following information:

1. A drawing you made, or image you would like on the front of the postcard

2. Fill in the blanks of this sentence "I am a voter, and I care about __________, _________, and ___________."

3. The address of your local senator or congressperson.

Find out your senators address at http://www.senate.gov/senators/contact/senators_cfm.cfm

Find out your congressperson's address at http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/

Thank you for your time and for getting involved with your political system!

Sincerely,

Avery and Sophia

We have already received a few responses.

If anyone else would like to participate please let one of us know!

(4/2.2) Adapted Image from Two Ideas

I discussed the two options with Ned and we decided on the overlaying of new structural elements.

(4/2.1) Two Ideas

This is my original image from class. 

Idea number 1:

Create an octagon pattern to repeat and fade in and out of the image to contrast old and new geometry. 

Idea number 2:

Overlay one of the ceilings from my PDF, possibly one of the industrial bridges to contrast new and old structural architectural elements. 

(4/1) PDF EBook

Oreo