Step 1
I went to the Burchfield Penny Art museum where they currently have an
exhibition entitled “Biological Regionalism” by Alberto Rey.
Alberto Rey is a scientist who visualizes biological
science, and presents it in a way that impacts people on an emotional level. If
there was a function of biology called “Visual Biology,” this would be a good
representation. This is very similar to my work in Visual Sociology, where I
use images as data to represent social life in various forms and theoretical frameworks.
Step 2
The lighting for the presentation varies depending on the
medium. For some paintings, individual lighting is used. Some paintings are
groups onto a large wall, and track lighting is used to illuminate the entire
wall. There are items in cases that represent a type of “archeology” to the
Scadjaquada River and its pollutants. There were also paintings with cases
underneath them, where each garnered its own lighting.
The walls were plain, off white. In one instance, in a large
gallery area, the upper portion of the wall was painted with a map of the
creek, with corresponding paintings displayed under the map (see photo).
Movement through the gallery space was confusing. There was
no consistent flow between this exhibition and others. There were side rooms
with displays for this exhibition, but they were unknown, and not labeled. I
only discovered them by wandering.
Step 3
The artworks were organized in a very linear pattern, with
each painting either occupying its own space, or set directly next to each
other from a left to right pattern. There was no originality in organization.
While the exhibition may have been intended to be viewed in a linear pattern, I
could find no requirement to do so. Also, the other exhibitions were organized
in the same linear manner.
The artwork that was different from the pollution aspect was
separated by space, being placed across the room. There were paintings of fish
and other water animals, while the pollution aspect had its own area. There
were other areas where video images were being displayed showing current photos
of polluted waterways in Western New York.
Each artwork was labeled with a placard next to the painting
on the right. Each placard was informative, including a science summary of
chemicals found in the water, with corresponding water sample with pollutants
in it.
Steps 4 &5
As there was no Art Criticism Worksheet in any of the
modules on Blackboard that I could find, my description of the art is off the
cuff.
The presentation was unique in the sense that it combined
art with science. The texture of the paintings was largely oil on canvass. The
colors were largely aqua and green, with elements of reds mixed in, as in the
case of the fish and dead animal in the water. While diagonal lines were used
in two of the paintings, it is clear that there is no movement intended – the animals
are dead. Dead animals cannot move. The diagonal lines are thus representative
of special significance.
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