ART: Chapter 13

Learning Objectives

  • 13.1 Identify the three general categories of clay and describe their characteristics.

  • 13.2 Discuss some of the techniques used by artists working with glass.

  • 13.3 Describe metalworking techniques used in the creation of functional objects.

  • 13.4 Identify directional forces in a work of art and explain how artists use them.

  • 13.5 Discuss how artists use repetition and rhythm in their designs.

Introduction

  • William Morris, Windrush

    • Notable for being a well-crafted, repeatable woodblock print

    • Usable as a textile or wallpaper pattern

    • Aims to enhance the public’s environment through art

  • Separation of Art and Craft

    • In Western culture, a distinction exists which classifies craft as related to “useful” objects

    • Artists are seen as challenging the traditional notion of artistic function

Clay

13.1 Identify the Three General Categories of Clay and Describe Their Characteristics

  • Definition of Ceramics

    • The art and science of creating objects from clay

    • Ceramists create any work with clay, while potters specialize in making dishes

    • Objects must be fired at high temperatures in a kiln

Types of Clay

  1. Earthenware

    • Properties:

      • Porous

      • Requires low-temperature firing

  2. Stoneware

    • Properties:

      • Heavier

      • Requires high-temperature firing

  3. Porcelain

    • Properties:

      • Rarest and most expensive of the three types

Clay Shaping Techniques

  • Throwing

    • The process of shaping clay on a revolving wheel

  • Main Process for Clay Objects

    • Shape clay on the potter’s wheel

    • Air dry the piece

    • Fire the piece in a kiln

Decorating Ceramics

  • Slip

    • A mixture of clay and water used for decorating

  • Glaze

    • A liquid paint that has a silica base, applied to ceramics and fired to create a glass-like surface

Historical Context

  • Ancient Greece as a Center for Pottery Production

    • Typically utilized terra cotta

    • A type of earthenware capable of low-temperature firing

    • Each stage of pottery making was usually handled by different artisans

  • Chinese Ceramics

    • Renowned for perfected blue decoration on white porcelain bodies

    • Global recognition in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries

    • The only color of glaze capable of withstanding high firing temperatures was blue

Contemporary Examples

  • Betty Woodman, Divided Vases: Cubist (2004)

    • Material: Glazed earthenware, epoxy resin, lacquer, and paint

    • Features a free-form look with flat perforated panels as handles

  • Grayson Perry, Quotes from the Internet (2005)

    • Material: Glazed ceramic

    • Ironic sensibility, resembling a whiskey jug

    • Utilized stoneware and a thrown-on-wheel technique

Glass

13.2 Discuss Some of the Techniques Used by Artists Working with Glass

  • Nature of Glass

    • Chemically related to ceramic glaze

    • Versatile manipulation possibilities, such as:

    • Stained glass

    • Blown glass

    • Inlays within various objects

    • Properties: Sensitive and amorphous when hot, solidifies upon cooling without crystallizing, offering fluid lines and volumes

Stained Glass

  • Historical Significance

    • Reached its peak during the Middle Ages

    • Techniques have seen little change since that period

    • Resurgence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly within Europe and the United States

  • Example: Mary Lowndes, Resurrection Window (1901)

    • Characteristics: Liberally painted and adventurous in design

Blown Glass Techniques

  • Example: Dale Chihuly, Citron Basket Set (2015)

    • Inspired by traditional Native American baskets

    • Techniques: Blowing a round piece of molten glass and spinning it to create an opening at one end, causing a slight slump

Conceptual Works

  • Mona Hatoum, Nature morte aux grenades (2006-2007)

    • Explores the concept of explosive devices recreated in colorful glass pieces

    • Described as “specimens” displayed on a gurney, representing beauty juxtaposed with lethal objects

Metal

13.3 Describe Metalworking Techniques Used in the Creation of Functional Objects

  • General Characteristics of Metal

    • Properties: Strong and formidable

    • Techniques: Hammering, cutting, inlaying, drawing out, welding, joining with rivets, or casting

  • Historical Context

    • Early metalsmiths crafted tools, vessels, armor, and weapons

Historical Example: Muslim Metalworking

  • Muslim Tradition in the 13th/14th Centuries

    • Noted for unparalleled sophistication exemplified through works like the d’Arenberg Basin

    • Constructed for the last ruler of the Ayyubid dynasty, crafted from brass and inlaid with silver pieces

  • Example: The d'Arenberg Basin (1247-1249)

    • Properties: Cast body in brass, inlaid silver, with highly detailed patterns

Modern Metal Design

  • Example: Margaret De Patta, Flatware Set (1936)

    • Material: Silver, copper, stainless steel

    • Philosophy: Daily objects should reflect innovations in modern art while maintaining simplicity and utility

Wood

13.4 Identify Directional Forces in a Work of Art and Explain How Artists Use Them

  • Qualities of Wood

    • Living spirit, vitality, warm texture, and abundant availability

  • Sustainability Movement

    • Artists increasingly focus on sustainable practices in their work

Marquetry Technique

  • Definition of Marquetry

    • Creation involving small pieces of wood placed without bounding edges, unlike traditional inlay techniques

    • Artists lay down a cartoon, prick holes, cut wood pieces, and glue them in place

Significant Woodwork

  • Example: Peter Glass, Marquetry Table (1868)

    • Notably ornate, comprising 30,000 pieces of wood

  • Example: Nina Bruun, Nest Chair (2010)

    • Designed from long, thin strips of flexed birch, with a central cushion that recalls birds' nests

    • Design achieved through a process of trial and error

Textiles

13.5 Discuss How Artists Use Repetition and Rhythm in Their Designs

  • Textile Design Categories

    • Two classes: Work made with a loom and work made off-loom

Weaving Process

  • Weaving Definition

    • Interlacing of fibers with specific roles for warp and weft:

    • Warp Fibers: Long fibers securing in place on a loom

    • Weft Fibers: Cross over warp fibers at a right angle

    • Can range from simple to highly complex structures

Contemporary Weaving Example

  • Example: Lara Baladi, Sandouk el Dounia (The World in a Box) (2007)

    • Large-scale tapestry constructed from a collage of approximately 900 photographs, using a digitally operated loom

Historic Textiles

  • Example: Ardabil Carpet (1540)

    • Features a sunburst surrounded by 16 oval shapes, originally used as a floor covering in a prayer chapel

    • Required approximately 25 million knots to complete

Embroidery and Quilt Making

  • Embroidery Definition

    • Artists stitch decorative colored threads into a base fabric

  • Peru’s Impressive Textiles

    • Example: Funerary cape from the Paracas Culture, c. 200 CE

  • African-American Quilt Tradition

    • Gees Bend, Alabama showcased quilt making traditions influenced by the region's heritage

    • Example: Jessie Pettway's Bars and String-Piece Columns (1950s) made from leftover fabric, reflecting some aspects of African textiles

Modern Story Quilts

  • Example: Faith Ringgold, Tar Beach (1988)

    • Integrates personal narratives from her life into the quilt designs

    • Story quilts are rooted in the traditions passed down through generations, highlighting African-American culture and experiences.