Mona Hatoum February 20, 2010
Posted by leskanturek in 3-D work, Student Blog posts, Surreal.Tags: Conceptual Art, installation art, Lebanese artist, Leila Ehtesham, Mona Hatoum
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Post by Leila Ehtesham
Mona Hatoum is a Lebanese artist of Palestinian origin. She has spent much of her career living in London and, more recently, Berlin. Hatoum works primarily with installations and video.
I first came across the work of Mona Hatoum about three years ago. I didn’t know what to think of this artist who weaved Palestinian keffieh scarves from human hair, constructed welcome mats from needles or privacy screens from giant cheese graters. Hatoum’s work made me a little uncomfortable, it also made me curious. What is it about her pieces that make them seem all at once familiar yet foreign, personal yet clinical and minimalist, somber but still humorous? She takes the everyday and transforms it into a surrealist dream. In a interview with the BBC’s John Tusa, Hatoum said of her own work: “I’m trying to make people question what they’re looking at, walk away with more questions than answers, complicate things so that it becomes a kind of one, challenging one’s assumptions about the world” (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/johntusainterview/hatoum_transcript.shtml). I would agree that Mona Hatoum does just that: generates questions. You want to comprehend on an intellectual level what you already sense on an emotional one.
Although I found no overt mention of politics in my research, I do get the impression that Hatoum’s work reflects something of the Middle East, particularly Palestinian solidarity. The Kufiya has become a symbol of this in the Arab world, and the fact that she chose to weave the scarf from human hair seems to represent a personal sense of loss. The objects she uses in her pieces are largely household ones, and that she takes something like a sharp kitchen appliance or needle and juxtaposes it with something typically comforting like a bed implies a hostel force within day to day life. This is what I imagine when I think of people living in areas that are rocked by political and social divide, as is the case with the Israelis and Palestinians. Other artists have created or altered objects into conceptual art, Marcel Duchamp’s readymades for example. Because I get the impression of socio-political aim in Hatoum’s work, I don’t see too many ties with Duchamp’s Fountain/Urinal for instance, which I view more as having a comic motive rather than political.
Love it or hate it, the one thing I can say about Hatoum’s work with absolute conviction is that it’s memorable.
Web Bed (2002)
Pull (1995)
Keffieh (1993-1999)
The Grater Divide (2002)
Traffic (2002)
All work © Mona Hatoum
“I Got Those Illustration Blues…” February 20, 2010
Posted by leskanturek in Class Discussions, Class Topics, Music, Visually Cool & Relevant.Tags: Blues Musican names, Illustration and Music
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Who says you have to suffer to sing the blues? All you really need is the appropriate angst ridden name. Preferably your blues name has a physical ailment attached to it ie: Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Blake (a fantastic ragtime guitarist by the way) or Cripple Clarence Lofton to name a few.
Stop! You don’t have to grab a straight razor and rush into that fight over color theory to earn street cred. All you really have to do is use the Blues Name Calculator (as our class did) in the safety of your own home.
Replace your existing non-dangerous sounding blues name of “Couch Potato Jackson” or “Bent Crow Quill Davis” with a more authentic, nasty sounding moniker. The art world loves bad boys and gals.
Hey Les, looks like I’m “Pretty Bones Smith” ha ha, I don’t even want to know how I got that nickname…
-Lyejm Kallas-Lewis
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Jailhouse Bones Washington -ahhahahahahahhahahahahaha – Masuko Jo
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I’m Sleepy Back Lee, but I like to think of myself more as a Ptera Dac Toasty. I’m not sure if that’s a blues names though……or just five syllables I like that I put together. -Pratima Mani
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From now on I will be called Boney Gumbo Rivers – Joseph Herrington
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“Pretty Gumbo Green“…I like it! -Leila Ehtesham
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In the blues world I’m known as “Boney Bones Jones” – John Garcia
Ugly Eyes Lee 😀 – Grace Moon
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HAHA!!!! My blues name is “Old Eyes Lee” I’m really not sure how my initials gave the calculator that answer but it’s cool! -Debo Mouloudji
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Mine is “Crippled Bones Jones” How awesome is THAT???!! -Ciara Gay
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“Skinny Fingers Dupree” = me -Rosemary Davis
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“Crippled Back Bradley” …haha – Chelsey Pettyjohn
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I’m “Pretty Badboy Smith” hmmmm….I wonder if that could be Prof. Badboy-Smith? I always thought of myself as a “Ox neck Johnson“, “Weak bladder Philips” or even Blind # 2 Pencil Russell? -Les
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My Blues name: “Crippled Legs Bailey”. OMG! I hope that isn’t foreshadowing.. – Christine Westrich
Su Blackwell-the Other Life of Books February 11, 2010
Posted by leskanturek in 3-D work, Books, Handmade, Student Blog posts.Tags: Altered books, Brianne Bowers, Cut Paper, Paper Sculpture, Su Blackwell
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Post by Brianne Bowers:
(Above) Pandora Opens Box 2009 (all photos and work from http://www.sublackwell.co.uk/ and © Su Blackwell)
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If you’ve walked past the windows in Kate’s Paperie on 13th Street a few months ago 
you will have noticed works by artist Su Blackwell. I discovered this London based artist a few years ago when researching paper cut artists. Her altered book/pop-up style book sculptures have garnered a lot of notice, leading to magazine and other commissions, such as The Times Magazine, Waitrose, Food Illustrated, Vogue, Cartier Store (Paris) and Beringer Wine.
(above) Chatsworth Derbyshire’ A Guide
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Su attended Royal College or Art in London and majored in Textiles. What makes her work appealing is how delicate and precise her cuts are all while keeping them within the pages of an old book. These cut-outs can take up to a month to complete.
(above) Alice – A Mad Tea Party
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(above) Alice Through the Looking Glass
(above) The Wizard of Oz photographed by Irene CooperS
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As seen above, Blackwell has cut Illustrations for stories such as Alice in Wonderland and the Wizard of Oz. Su has also made her creations come to life in various stop motion commercials which you can view on her website. http://www.sublackwell.co.uk/
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-Brianne Bowers
Inkstuds: The Radio Show about Comics December 31, 2009
Posted by leskanturek in Art History, Artists, Comics, Graphic Novels, Visual Narrative, Visually Cool & Relevant.Tags: comic artist interviews, Inkstuds
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Despite the porn sounding name if you go to the Inkstuds site you will not find pictures of Jack Kirby giving you the full monty. What you will find is a radio show out of Vancouver hosted by Robin McConnell thoughtfully discussing the art, creators, the industry, inspiration, history and influence of comics.
McConnell’s show which has been “on the air” for the past 4 years offers an incredible range of interviewees including ; Ralph Steadman, Seth, Tony Millionaire, Joe Sacco, James Jean, Barron Storey, Rutu Modan, Scott McCloud, Art Spiegleman on Chris Ware, Rick Geary…the list goes on. I highly recommend tuning in to the show and hearing the intelligent discussion that takes place.
Artfully Unforgotten/Afghanistan Auction December 15, 2009
Posted by leskanturek in Events, Political and Social Art, Student Blog posts, Student Post.Tags: Afghan Art Auction, Artfully Unforgotten, Samantha Perlman
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Post by Samantha Perlman
December 3rd was the Artfully Unforgotten auction to raise funds for voices of Afghanistan. Artfully Unforgotten, a non-profit organization that focuses on advocacy through the arts focuses on many different areas, this time it’s women in Afghanistan. A portion of the funds raised will be donated to the Business Council of Peace (which supports women entrepreneurs in Afghanistan) and the Mashale Noor School . Afghan women are rebuilding their country as the Taliban are working to ruin it, and they greatly appreciate our efforts to help. The event was held at the Best Buy Loft in Soho, the space is owned by Best Buy, who is a sponsor. The loft was large and the artwork hung along an exposed brick wall with corresponding bidding papers below.
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(Above) Pieces being bid on, far Right Heather Metcalf and family (photo taken by Wendy Popp)
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(Above) left art up for auction by Allison Mehner, Right art by Lyejm Kallas-Lewis
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(Above) Tryptich by Evan Goodman
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Immediately when my mother and I walked in, we were ushered over to the check-in table where we were checked off the guest list and then pointed in the direction of the raffle table, we filled out tickets and moved towards the snack table, there was wine and cheese, and RED VELVET CUPCAKES!
The auction featured the artwork of teachers, students, and group projects from the Parsons School of Design Illustration department. We slowly walked along the wall of art and quickly realized that if you wanted to bid on a piece, you wrote your name and contact information on the pieces of paper below. Of course my mother bid on mine artwork. The pieces ranged from $15 minimum all the way to $80 min. for a set of three paintings.
(Above) Piece by Deborah Mouloudji being (photo by Sam Perlman), Right art by Sam Perlman
There was a big turn out of guests and most of the pieces of art sold. I saw some fellow students and teachers, also friends and family of event planners, everyone was there to support this good cause, for instance the guest list-checkers were two young boys, who must have been the sons of one of the staff.
There was time for schmoozing, bidding, and roaming the refreshment table, the head of the event spoke about the Afghan women the auction was benefiting, (a trailer of the video we watched in class was played). Heather thanked everyone for coming and donating, Immediately after that was the drawing for the raffle, I didn’t win but there were gift baskets and CDs and women’s clothing as prizes, following that was another period of bidding and schmoozing. Another thank you from the head of events which concluded the bidding. Winning bidders were directed to pay for their pieces at the end of the evening.
(Above) left art by Nadilyn Beato, Right art by Masuko Jo
Ye Olde Terminator December 15, 2009
Posted by leskanturek in Folk Art, Printmaking, Steampunk, Visually Cool & Relevant.Tags: Folk Prints, Illustration Concepts, Re-interpretation as a old woodcut, Woodcuts
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I don’t have a lot of info on this, (okay none) it’s in Russian but I came across this on the web and it was too clever for me to pass up. Modern movies re-interpreted as old wood cuts. at : http://ziza.ru/2006/06/16/rastamanskie-narodnye-skazki.html
If anyone can shed some light on where this is from or who did it please let me know.
Follow up:
Bibliodyssey which is a wonderful, wonderful site displaying “eclectic and rare book illustrations derived from many digital repositories, accompanied by some background commentary”, has an older post for these prints (Sunday, June 18, 2006) They identify this style/genre of print as “Russian lubok” here is a copy of their link to an explanation by Alexander Boguslawski.
From http://tars.rollins.edu/Foreign_Lang/Russian/Lubok/lubintro.html (Copyright Alexander Boguslawski 1999)
“The lubki (sing. lubok), simple printed pictures colored by hand and often called broadsides, popular prints, folk prints…”
Film & Graphic Novels, Twin Sons of Different Mothers December 8, 2009
Posted by leskanturek in Books, Comics, Film, Story Boards, Visual Narrative.Tags: FIlm books, Graphic narrative and film, Graphic Novel book suggestions, storyboards, Visual narrative books, Will Eisner
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Since the advent of photography there has been a cross fertilization between the camera and the canvas. Early silent filmmakers were inspired by Gustave Dorés book illustrations (L’inferno 1911 by Francesco Bertolini). Film pioneer George Melies was influenced by illustrator Henri de Montaut’s work for Jules Verne’s From the Earth to the Moon, inspiration has see-sawed back and forth many times. Film noir influenced pulp images and early comics. Presently we’re seeing the trend of graphic novels being adapted to film. it makes perfect sense, The mediums are closely related and share a common visual vocabulary. Animation has long bridged (and blurred) the line between film and drawing.
Any one interested in visual story telling; Comic books, graphic novels, story boards should include in their education a critical eye on film and a reading of books that describe the visual narrative tools of film. How to compose shots, visual sequence and how it affects a narrative, point of view, this is all the common vocabulary of telling a story visually whether it be in print or film.
Below are a few film books that I think bear looking at for your narrative education. Especially for those of you interested in storyboards. It then becomes extremely important to understand and speak in the language of film photography.
Setting Up Your Shots: Great Camera Moves Every Filmmaker Should Know By Jeremy Vineyard
This is a basic book that describes different shots in film with an accompanying illustration and a suggestion of a film that employs an example of the shot. It’s written by a non-professional which has strengths and weaknesses.
I like the book because it is so basic and written for someone who knows nothing about film. It will get you thinking along film lines very quickly. I have read criticism of the book that the names of shots in some cases is inaccurate and some of the examples of where you can see the shot are general which can be frustrating.
(Above) Film Directing Shot by Shot: Visualizing from Concept to Screen: by Stephen Katz
(Above) Master Shots: 100 Advanced Camera Techniques to Get an Expensive Look on Your Low-Budget Movie by Christopher Kenworthy. Master Shots has an example of the shot in a film and different views of the shot using poser figures.
(Above) Storyboard Design Course: Principles, Practice, and Techniques by Giuseppe Cristiano
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The above is by no means all the books out there just a couple to start you thinking from the film side vs. the graphic novel/comic book side.
(Above) Comics and Sequential Art by Will Eisner is a fantastic book my a master story teller. One of the things that impresses me about this book is that Eisner addresses the concept of time in the narrative. How to depict a finite amount of time passing which i think is very much akin to film.
In the above panel Eisner has linked 2 simultaneous actions, the dripping faucet in the extreme foreground and the character entering. The slow drip is the reference point for time. Looking at only 3 panels you can tell it has taken the character a long time to enter. That’s an understanding of visual narrative. There is a wonderful Hamlet soliloquy drawn by Eisner in the book as well as other gems that really show why he is considered a master storyteller. The book I’d say is an absolute to pick up.
A covering Worn on the Face to Conceal One’s Identity November 10, 2009
Posted by leskanturek in 3-D work, Handmade, Surreal.Tags: mask collection, Masks
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A mask…got your attention…that’s what they do.
(above) a carved wooden Greenman or Wild Man mask from Germany(Austria?) . For “Fasnacht” a carnival held in Bavaria, Switzerland and Austria similar to Mardi-gras.
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A great gallery collection of masks amassed by someone over the last 20 years.
The Maskatorium,
Artfully Unforgotten: Voices of Afghanistan October 20, 2009
Posted by leskanturek in Political and Social Art, Public art.Tags: Artfully Unforgotten, social advocacy through the arts, Voices of Afghanistan
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Last year, Parsons Illustration students collaborated with Artfully Unforgotten , a non-profit that stresses social advocacy through the arts. Parsons illustration students donated their art and raised $5000 for an orphanage in Kigali, Rwanda. This semester, we are collaborating again, now to raise funds for women entrepreneurs in Afghanistan and generate awareness of the realities and possibilities in aiding this region and people in crisis. To start our partnering a short film, “Voices of Afghanistan” was presented in Kellen auditorium (66 5th ave.) today by Heather Metcalfe, founder and Executive Director of Artfully Unforgotten, and Kirsten Larvick the film’s editor and assoc. producer.
(Above) left Heather Metcalfe Founder/Executive Director of Artfully Unforgotten), middle Kirsten Larvick the film’s editor and assoc. producer, right Assoc. Prof. Nora Krug from the illustration dept.
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The film was followed by a panel discussion on the situation in Afghanistan with Heather, Nora and Adrianne Dicker Kadzinski, an army reserve officer who served in Afghanistan in 2002 and who is now involved in humanitarian projects for Afghanistan as a civilian.
(Above) Heather and Adrianne Dicker Kadzinski taking audience questions.
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A number of aspects of the situation in Afghanistan were discussed and highlighted. Adrianne began by explaining the many forces playing a part in the politics of the country: the Taliban, native tribes , the Afghan government, the U.S., gender politics, corruption, and the drug trade. Afghan women have taken on the role of rebuilders of the the country but many obstacles stand in their way. Both Heather and Adrianne remarked that through this turmoil and war the Afghan people remain hopeful and proud of their country. There is a pitfall in portraying the Afghan women and people as victims which would be a dis-service to them. It is a complicated and many sided issue as evidenced when Wendy Popp (Soph concepts instructor) asked about the meaning of the burqa to Afghan woman. The answer was not as clear cut as it would appear.
Peter Hamlin, sophomore concepts instructor, illustrator and photo journalist brought along images shot in Afghanistan by Associated Press photographers and brought up the issue of a personal opinion and journalistic neutrality in art. Nora Krug also spoke about the role of artists and illustrators throughout history in creating social responsible work ( or at times irresponsible work and propaganda).
The book ” The Photographer ” with photographs by Didier Lefevre and illustrations and story by Emmanuel Guibert was brought in for attendees to look through. Didier Lefevre is a French photojournalist who documented a Doctors Without Borders mission to Afghanistan. The book is excellent.
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I would add to the above book Illustrator/graphic novelist Joe Sacco who has a number of fantastic artist/journalist books : Palestine, Stories from Bosnia , Safe Area: Gorazde, The Fixer. He has traveled to Yugoslavia and the middle east and brought back in graphic novel form the personal stories of these war torn areas.
The four sophomore classes in the illustration dept. will be creating art pieces based upon their research and the presentation. The pieces will ultimately be displayed and auctioned off as part of a silent auction with the proceeds being donated to the Business Council for Peace, which works with women business owners in Afghanistan and the Mashale Noor School, located in Mazar-e Sharif. The benefit and auction will be held on December 4th at the Best Buy Loft in Soho. The auction is of course open to any artist who wants to donate work.
Wendy had remarked that this is a unique opportunity to experience a feeling of unity and purpose that extends beyond our private classes and and to see the passion and dedication given to a social cause. It’s important to discuss and experience how art can be a powerful catalyst for social change.
It has been mentioned that the work created by Parsons students is their own reaction to the material presented . A great aspect of this project and art with a social conscience for me in a class room is that it stimulates discussion. This is a complicated topic with many valid viewpoints. In fact Nora, during the course of the presentation conveyed how difficult it would be try and some up the whole Afghan conflict within a single piece. I’ll be posting some work done by students as the project progresses.
-Les
Below are a few links to learn more about Afghanistan and the project:
Visit Artfully Unforgotten for more info on Voices of Afghanistan and other projects.
Here is a new PBS documentary on the current situation in Afghanistan
www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/obamaswar/view/
www.pbs.org/itvs/globalvoices/afghanistanunveiled.html
www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/afghanistan/women.html
About Afghanistan/Pakistan.
www.hulu.com/watch/101088/al-qaeda-family
Afghanistan Wikipedia is of course a place to start for basic info with a number of interesting links in the reference section.
From Peter Hamlin:
Opium in Afghanistan: Cultivation, addiction, and eradication
This interactive includes video reporting and infographics showing opium cultivation statistics.
hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/_international/afghanistan_opium/index.html?SITE=AP
Depth of Field:The War in Afghanistan
An AP photographers visual essay of a US military outpost in Afghanistan.
hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/photographers_gallery/depth_afghan_guttenfelder/index.html?SITE=AP
Afghanistan election: Casting votes in a troubled country
Video reporting and infographics about the candidates and the election in Afghanistan.
hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/_international/afghanistan_election/index.html?SITE=AP
From Nora, examples for politically motivated illustration:
http://comicsworthreading.com/2006/03/20/persepolis/
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1611731
http://www.old-coconino.com/sites_auteurs/simplicissimus/index.html
http://www.palestineonlinestore.com/books/palestine.htm
http://www.moca-la.org/emorydouglas/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grave_of_the_Fireflies
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barefoot_Gen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EbsrJuAoQo
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/eresources/exhibitions/children/
http://www.washington.edu/uwpress/search/books/OKUCIT.html
http://terezinmusical.com/drawings.htm
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/07/27/arts/0727-KENNEDY_7.html
http://www.blackshipsandsamurai.com/HiroshimaDrawingsSelects/index.htm
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/2WWweberP.htm
http://daddytypes.com/2007/06/11/heil_struwwelhitler.php
http://library.thinkquest.org/C0111500/ww2/american/amerprop.htm
http://calitreview.com/875
http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/10/view/2985/anton-kannemeyer-at-jack-s
hainman-gallery-new-york.html
http://williamkentridge.net/
Steamnocchio by Fabricio Moraes September 9, 2009
Posted by leskanturek in Pinocchio, Steampunk, Summer Reading Project.Tags: Fabricio Moraes, Gepetto, Pinocchio, Steam punk Pinocchio, Steampunk
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Fabricio Moraes’ wonderful entry to CGSociety: Society of Digital artists Steampunk challenge.
Steamnocchio. As Moraes has captioned it “ This is an adaptation of the Pinocchio story.
In this version, Geppetto is a mad and lonely old man. Since he has no friends at all, he decided to make one. With no magic or abracadabra stuff, he makes his creation alive with the power of steam”.
If you go to the cgsociety challenge page you’ll see a great breakdown of the illustration. Fabricio’s initial sketch, the steps in modeling the figures digitally, earlier version of the color and details. I’d highly reccomend it as well as seeing the other great entries on the site.
Les' Illustration Concepts Class 
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