What an architect does?

An architect can perform many jobs including design specification writing, construction observation and even in some cases, actual construction. According to the apple computer dictionary, an architect is “a person who responsible for inventing or realizing particular idea or project.” Another Other definition defines an architect as “a person who designs buildings and, in many cases, supervises construction. Finally, Wikipedia’s definition is an architect is a person who translates user’s requirements in to a built environment. To summarize, an architect invents, designs buildings and translates client specifications into physical reality. All three definitions fall under the category of design.

An architect invents, and an inventor creates something that does not exist already. Every building, every house, and every skyscraper is created by an architect in some way. If it’s original, it’s an invention. A building becomes an invention through a blueprint which is dictated by the client. Its general function depends on the clients purpose, but the architect may express his or her ideas in the building. Architects design with a specific purpose in mind. The design is thoughtfully conceived in light of the parameters set by the client.  All kinds’ things are design after they are invented, like chairs, printers and buildings. Architects designs the buildings after it is invented. Architects are also fundamental ‘translators’. They translate client specifications into physical reality. The architect talks to the clients about the blueprint. The blueprint is basically a description about the future building and the logistics of the process which creates the building. If it’s a home it includes how many rooms, how many cars, where the garage is located, etc. Basically the architect takes the blueprint and turns it into reality. All three definitions, invention, design and translation, fall under the category of design. Architects are inventors, designers, and translators.

Songs of the future: Canadian Industrial Photography

Canadian industrial photographers from 1858 to today. The practice of photography in Canada closely parallels the development of its industries. As railroad tracks were laid and bridges were built, photographers followed. The gallery documents Canadian industry through photography. The song “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” exhibits the name of the exhibits tittle is drawn from. 


Link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yzo6Otpgj-E

Industrial activities have undeniably shaped the Canadian landscape, for better worse. Photographs of these actives whether made on commission by those eager to document their contribution to national progress or for the photographers own personal interest continue to feed our imagination, shape our options and make us aware of what is at stake.

Featuring sites from the west coast to the Maritimes, this exhibition showcases the other landscape tradition in Canadian art and the Canadian photographers who have described, evoked, celebrated and cast a critical eye on our industrial landscapes for more than 150 years.

The exhibits the featuring work of William Notman, Alexander Henderson, Richard Maynard, J.C.M. Hayward, John Vanderpant, E. Haanel Cassidy, George Hunter, Bill Vazan, Ralph Greenhill, Geoffrey James, Edward Burtynsky, Peter MacCallum, Steven Evans, Jesse Boles, and Isabelle Hayeur. Songs of Future will interest photography fans and history lovers alike.

The Gallery is open in the AGO: Art Gallery of Ontario from August 20, 2011 to April 29, 2012. The Gallery is still open it is wise to go but you better hurry.

Link to video of George Hunter: An Industrial Photographer story of the Songs of the Future: Canadian Industrial Photographs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiLUS46LydI&feature=player_embedded#!

The Anglo Newfoundland development Company

In 1905, consturtion began on a pulp and paper mill along the Explits River at Grand Falls that transformed Newfoundland economy. Photographer John Charles Medley Howard was hired to document all aspects of the construction and operation of the mill. While some of his photographs have the quality of composed, emphasizing the scale and complexity to the operation, Hoyward pay keen attention to the transformed lands cape and the incongrous beauty of the penstocks, railway and piles of fened timber, all to celebrate the companys succes and efficency.

Four of the almums are on display at the AGO one of his alumus is online here at:

http://www.ago.net/hayward-album 

By: Joseph

Finger Painting

Let’s go back to the good old days, in the kindergarten classroom when we could use are fingers to paint and hung them up on our fridges.  Whatever happened to that? Those were great memories.  We were quite the artist’s back then, the ability to put our hands in the paint and really feel the colours.  Finger paint is defined as a kind of paint intended to be applied with fingers.  Small children usually use this technique, but recently adults have used it either to teach art to children or for personal use. 

In my opinion, we have over looked the importance of finger painting. It was one of the very first activities us children did when first starting kindergarten/school.   And I was interested in knowing why we don’t continue to expand our skills on finger painting.  I’m certain we would all find neat, new ways of painting, which would create great pieces.  Finger paint can be improved just like every other type of art.  Below are some examples I found in which finger painting is expressed differently to what we are use to.

So, art class!  What is your opinion on this topic?  Let me know what you think about finger painting by leaving a comment on the blog.  Thanks.

By: Yannick

Gericault

Théodore Géricault was born the 26 of September 1791 and died the 26 of January 1824 (age 32). Theodore Gericault is a French artist who helped initiate the Romantic movement. He is known as the founder of Romanticism in France. His life as a whole resembled Romanticism. For instance, he did not care for his personal safety, he always stood up for the poor, and dedicated himself to an emotional life. Gericault was influence by Michelangelo’s muscular and dynamic figures, but not his classical surroundings. His first major work, The Charging Chasseur, exhibited at the Paris Salon of 1812.

Gericault most famous painting was Raft of the Medusa (date 1818-1819). For the first time an artist had depicted an event from contemporary history without having received a commission. The compisition was filled up with anonymous figures. The painting is a scathing statement on the government then in power. The history behind this painting that that in 1816 a ship named Medusa sank because of the stupidity of the captain. There was a shortage of life boats so 149 people were cramped on a raft and drifted for 12 days. There was only 15 survivors and they survived off cannibalism.   In the corner of the painting we see the ship that rescued the called “The Argus”. The dark clouds and choppy waves create the feeling of uselessness and hope. The expression of the peoples faces on the raft create a fearful vibe. The composition has two pyramids made up of the people on the raft. One of the dead slowly deteriorating and dying and another of tragic heros. 


By: Amanda

Monet

Claude Monet was a founder of French impressionist painter. His parents didn’t approve of him wanting to be a painter. His father wanted him to go into the family grocery business, but Monet wanted to become a painter. He was well known for his charcoal caricatures, which he would sell for ten to twenty francs.

Monet met Eugene Boudin in 1857, and Boudin became Monet’s mentor and taught him how to use oil paints. He then went on to create hundreds of famous pieces of art.

Artist	Claude Monet
Year	1872
Type	Oil on canvas
Dimensions	48 cm × 63 cm (18.9 in × 24.8 in)
Location	Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris

Artist

Claude Monet

Year

1872

Type

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

48 cm × 63 cm (18.9 in × 24.8 in)

Location

Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris

The subject of this painting is the harbor of Le Havre in France.

“ Landscape is nothing but an impression, and an instantaneous one, hence this label that was given us, by the way because of me. I had sent a thing done in Le Havre, from my window, sun in the mist and a few masts of boats sticking up in the foreground....They asked me for a title for the catalogue, it couldn't really be taken for a view of Le Havre, and I said: 'Put Impression.”

By Shaini

Scotiabank Nuit Blanche

Nuit Blanche, an annual autumn event held in downtown Toronto, originally began in Paris, France during the year of 2002. This exhibit was developed in order to bring contemporary art to publicized ample spaces. Nuit Blanche annually brings over one million people to this event in the streets of Paris. In 2005, the Parisian organizers of the event contacted Toronto and a number of European countries hoping to expand this successful event. They effectively expanded into Toronto, Brussels, Rome, Bucharest, Riga, Madrid, La Valette, Portugal, Tokyo, Montreal, and Leeds – each city presenting their own all-night art exhibit.

Pierrick Sorin – Building Artist in Paris, France

For one single night only during each year, hundreds of artists and hundreds of thousands art-lovers come together to experience the heart of downtown Toronto being transformed into a sunset-to-sunrise celebration of modern art. Everywhere you look there is a different piece of art. From the subway and storefronts, to churches and parks, you are able to create your own path to view the many different pieces of contemporary art. Whether the individual piece of art takes up an entire building, or just a small portion of the middle of the street, it is all bound to wow you with pure creativity.

Kim Adams – Auto Lamp in Toronto, Canada

17Unreal Body Paintings Artist: Alexa Meade

In art classes, we draw something on canvas from 3D to 2D. But Alexa Meade, 24-year-old artist, paints portraits reversely. This installation artist applies acrylic paints directly on her subjects, mostly real standing people, and makes the scene look a part of the 2D painting.  An art technique Trompe L’Oeil means ‘deceive the eye’ which involve exceedingly realistic effort to create the optical illusion; for instance, some pictures from Kyle’s street art are good examples of Trompe L’Oeil.

Trompe L'Oeil

Escaping Criticism-by Pere Borrell del Caso

Paris Eiffel Tower and a gap by Julian Beever

So, back to the discussion about Alexa Meade, her artworks are considered reverse Trompe L’Oeil. When we look at the photo, it seems as if the objects are optically compressed into two dimensional planes. 

This clip demonstrates her process: video clip

Alexa Meade has her B.A in political science from Vassar College, NY (2009).Yet she has never attended art school. In 2008, she started experimental art painting on people.

It was very difficult for me to choose just one subject to talk about art. Thinking what would be the most interesting to share about, I came across the idea of optical illusion. And I had to admit that the entire transformation of Meade’s process is remarkably impressing. In fact, Tromp L’Oeil technique is quite closely connected to our real life. (I guess at least one people from our class has seen a white t-shirt with a tie print.) Not only the images are quizzical and exciting, they are worthwhile producing if you are the one who likes to deceive the audience’s eyes like myself. For my fellow grade twelve art students, playing with art shouldn’t be remote within traditional framed styles.

You can check her out more on her website:

Alexa Meade

By: SoHee