Module Six - Blog: Video Review

Through the Eyes of the Sculptor

1. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

Sculpture is a very long and involved process.  From the harvesting of the raw stone the sculptor checks the stone to make sure it is sound.  Too keep fresh sculptors also work in marble, stone or bronze.  Artists must also know the strengths and weaknesses structurally of the stone they're working with as well as the effects of weather, if the sculpture will be outside, or other potential elements.  From an initial sketch the sculpture comes to life in clay and is reborn again in marble.  For many weeks the clay is worked and reworked again and when the sculptor believes his model is complete it is cast in plaster after a silicon impression is made.  Plaster is the temporary stage between the clay and marble.

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

This video relates to the text very much so.  Sculpture gives us the ability to give life to a solid form.  Through planning a block of stone can become a lifelike depiction of the human form.  The human figure is a common form of sculpture, one that was almost remotely explored in the video.

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the topics: Sculpture, Installation, and Craft?

This film helped to add depth and understanding to the knowledge gained from the reading.  Having a personal account and following the sculptor through his career and process allows you to realize how much of an involved process sculpture truly is.  There are many, many steps form sketches to clay models to casting and finally the long process of carving the marble can begin.  You realize that even before carving can begin and prior to installation you need to assure that the marble or granite is of good quality and you need to think of how the piece will be transported and installed if not already.  Sculptures can be delicate. 

Glass and Ceramics

1. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

I was unaware that glass blowing involved reheating and reworking the glass.  It was interesting to see the glass formed and manipulated with everything from snips to a damp newspaper while it was hot and to learn that cold glass can be engraved with different acids or tools.  I also never thought about how labor intensive making any size stained glass window is.  There is so much room for human error and you are working with a very fragile, unforgiving medium.
Dry pressed ceramics allow for multiple pieces to be made identically and then to be fired in a kiln to create long lasting, durable pieces which are then glazed for added durability and to add color.  I also learned that ceramics are used in a multitude of ways from automobile engines to medical uses depending upon which materials are used in the ceramic powder.

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

The video relates to the text because glass and ceramics began as crafts to create bowls, places, vessels, etc but now both have blurred the lines of fine art and craft.  Today ceramics can be made as strong as steel and are used as medical implements but they are also used in sculpture as well.
 
3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the topics: Sculpture, Installation, and Craft?
The films helped me to understand the medium better. It was much easier to realize how fragile glass and ceramic could be and how difficult it is to work with.  You could understand how creating a glass sculpture would be a challenge as glass needs to be reheated constantly to be reworked.  You also realized that glass is heavy and installing or connecting a sculpture to other sculpture pieces becomes very difficult on a large scale.  You also lean that created utilitarian craft objects out of glass and ceramics can be just as difficult as create sculptures and to create multiple pieces of glassware is a challenge.