Park your bike where?

So I am sure you have all thought that bike racks are kind of boring.  What that thought has never crossed your mind?  You seriously have never thought that a bike rack should be an interesting piece of functional art??

Don't worry, I never really had thought of that either, but I am glad that someone or several someones have.  Here are some examples of really cool bike racks that are in some major US cities.

Which one is your favorite?  Which one would you love to see in front of the school?  If it was in front of the school would you ride your bike all the way here just to park it at that bike rack?

Can you think of a fun bike rack that someone should make?  What shape would you like to see?

How'd they do that?

So I am usually trying to help you push the envelope on what is art.  So I am wondering what you think of the images below.  This was an art installation piece by Leandro Erlich called "Swimming Pool."

So my first question is, "How'd they do that?"  And then what do you think of it?  Is it art or is it playing?  If it's art, what makes it art to you?

Irony

So the definition of irony is "the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect."  So it is taking something and changing it.  I found this image and I have no idea who the artist is or what the sculpture is made from, but the irony of it struck me as very funny.  Which is the second part of the irony definition.

Do you get the irony of this image?  What do you think of it?  Can you come up with another idea that would make a great ironic sculpture?

Guess the medium

I always love when art is made from the simplest of mediums.  It just proves that you don't have to spend a fortune to make great art.

I couldn't find the artist that created these, but can you guess what they are made from?

Sorry if they can't go bigger. I was having a hard time moving the pictures into this post.  That being said, can you guess the medium?

Impress me Mr. Monet

My hope with these blog posts and this class is that you will find a love for not only art but for an artist.  Today I am going to introduce you to my favorite artist of all time, Claude Monet.

He was born in Paris, but did most of his work from the small acerage he bought and lived on near Giverny France.  He was the first to create a style called Impressionism.  Impressionism was basically the study of light and color mixing.  The artists at this time didn't really focus on details, they just focused on the color and let that create the needed details to form a cohesive painting.

I am a huge fan of Monet's colors and styles.  He created such complex looking works of art with such a simple looking style.

San Giorgio Maggior at dusk

Haystacks at sunset

Waterlilies

What do you think of his paintings?  Do they inspire you in some way?  Is this something that you would be willing to try to do, or does it not appeal to you?

Body Art

Body painting is not necessarily a new form of art, but it is amazing what artists like Shannon Holt from Florida can do with paint on the human body.  She has created a series of paintings on humans called the "Florida Wildlife Series."  Each painting takes anywhere from 6-12 hours each.

So what are your thoughts about this type of art?  Can you find the human form in each picture?  Could you do this as an artist and be okay with the fact that it will be washed off?  Or better yet, could you be the model that would have to sit in that position for 6-12 hours?

Guess the medium??

So it has been awhile since I have put a challenge out there.  I found these amazing portraits that were created in all blue, but not with a normal medium.  I will give the first person who figures out the medium double credit for their post, and triple points if they can figure out the name of the artist.

Remember, double points if you can get the medium or the artist.  Good Luck.