Although I chose to make my chair out of wood, one of the more common 'green' options is cardboard. This makes the chairs light-weight, flexable, and easily managed. There are a few drawbacks however. When cardboard gets wet it stays wet for a long time and produces a not so pleasant odor; therefore, furniture made out this material would have to be kept inside away from potentially harmful weather. These are a few videos from YouTube to show examples of cardboard furniture.



Flexable Love Chair 1 & 2

Proposal

Many interior design firms are having to create new ways to stay in the business. With global warming on everyone’s mind and people constantly talking about the Earth dying, ‘green’ products became the style. One of the challenges that comes along with designing eco-friendly furnishings and home décor is that ‘green’ products are not always aesthetically pleasing. This is because it takes more energy, time, and quantities of unnecessary materials to add a chic look to a product. I believe that the aesthetic value of products, especially furniture, should not be compromised simply to reduce the impact on the environment.
In my project I am hoping to show that it is possible to retain style while helping the environment. Every house has at least one chair, whether it be a fancy cushioned armchair or a dining room chair, they can be a pivotal feature in a room. The packaging that chairs come in is usually just shrink-wrap that is promptly thrown away. This is a waste of material that ends up in the landfills. I have designed a chair that completely does away with packaging. The wooden box that is delivered to your house is taken apart and put back together as the chair. It will not require any hardware; all the pieces will slide together. Inside the box will be a set of pillows to use with your chair. These pillows will be made out of polyester. The type of polyester used is made of recycled plastic bottles. As an incentive for customers to buy the product, as well as recycle, a one dollar discount will be given for every six bottles you return to the company. The total price of the chair will be $59.99, in order to continue making a prophet, there will be a limit of a $30 discount. If a person drinks one soda, or water, a day then it will take them about 4.5 months to receive the maximum discount.

Seperating color

One way that light creates color is by passing through things. During the day the sun's light passing through the sky is perceived as blue, but at sunrise and sunset the color changes. When the sun is that close to the horizon, the light passes through the atmosphere, dispersing the light. Colors of red and orange are often seen.

A similar effect occurs when light passes through a prism or water. Instead of a solid color appearing however, the light separates into seven colors; red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. The separation of the colors is sometimes more prevalent than other times.

Lowering Energy Bills Through Color

In the summer air-conditioners work all the time to try and keep interiors cool. Most roofs are made of dark shingles, making it even harder on the air-conditioner. Through studies it has been shown that roofs that are white or reflective do a much better job of reducing the amount of heat that is absorbed into the house. This is because the color white reflects light whereas black absorbs the light and the heat that comes with it. By reflecting the light, energy bills are reduced because the air does not have to work as hard to keep the house cool.

When trying to reduce energy prices inside a house the same principle exists. Lighter colored walls will reflect more of the artificial light used. This allows a lower wattage of light bulb to be used, decreasing the energy used. It has been proven that "white reflects 80% of the light, black 5% (Morton)." The color used can also affect the temperature people perceive in the room.

Works Cited:

Morton, Jill. "Color and Energy Matters." Color Matters. 2007. 11 Apr 2008

Medication Color

Medicines used to be plain and bland when it came to color. Through the years color has been introduced to soft gel tablets, liquid medicine, and even regular pills. This experimentation started in the 1960’s, and then boomed again in 1975 (Morton). A big question that people ask is why it is necessary or beneficial to color medication?

By changing the color of pills, it is easier for people to distinguish between different medications. It has also been observed during a study that certain colorings on certain types of medication make it more appealing to the consumer. Blues tend to symbolize sleep and restfulness, when a person is in pain they gravitate towards red pills to relieve the pain (Morton).

Companies also use color on their medical products to entice the consumer to buy it. Now that many drugs are available over the counter consumers need help deciding which product to choose (Morton). Since “80% of visual information is related to color (Morton)” companies try to use colors that will make their clients want to take the medicine and let them know what the medicine is for.

Works Cited:

Morton, Jill. "Taking the Color of Medications Seriously: Pharmaceutical Color – A New Frontier!." Color Matters. 2006. 11 Apr 2008 .

Synaesthesia

Experiencing flashes of color while looking at numbers or letters may seem strange to you, but it is actually the most common form of synaesthesia. Synaesthesia is a nuerological condition that occurs when the senses intertwine in the brain (Morton). If you are one of the people who sees colors or shapes when you eat a certain food, or see letters, or hear musice, then you are what is known as a synesthete. Due to the lack of reporting, it is unkown how many synesthetes there are in the world.

Many artists that experience synesthesia incorporate it into their artwork. Some, who see whole scenes instead of simple color and shapes, draw from what they saw in their mind. Ocassionally artists will depict what they believe synesthetes see and experience because they temselves are not synesthetes.

Synesthetes do not necessarily see the colors that most people would think. Angry music does not evoke a red color in the mind off all synesthetes; however, red is often a color associated with anger. The colors that they do see do stay the same throughout their lifetime though. For instance, if someone sees the letter S as yellow, they will almost always see S as yellow, it is not common for the S to change to red or green.

Camouflage

Many animals protect themselves through camouflage. Their colorings blend into their natural habitat. This helps them to either hide from their predator or prey. Lions hide in the dried grass in order to sneak up on their anticipated meal. The coat of lions matches the color of the dead grass; the grass is also high enough to cover the lions.

Each environment causes camouflage to appear differently. Where most of the land is covered in snow and ice, the animals tend to be white or gray. Deserts have animals with a more sandy color, light brown. Grasslands and trees that are home to species lend their green color to the camouflage of the animals. Some animals make themselves look like other objects instead of blending in with the surrounding color. There are animals that look like leafs, sticks, even rocks.

The changing of seasons usually means that animals are no longer camouflaged. If an animal lives in a green grassland, there is a good chance that the animal will have a green or brown coloring. During the winter it may snow and cover all of the green. The animal would then stick out from the snow if he was still brown. The only way to really blend in with the changing scenery is to grow a new coat of fur since animals fur is composed of dead cells. This new coat would camouflage them in the snow, but when spring comes along, they lose their white, winter fur and grow back the brown fur.

It has often been debated as to whether black and white are colors. Depending on which color theory you explore, the answer changes. The additive color theory states that light is used to create colors. In this case white is a color because by mixing all the colors of light, you get white light. The absence of light, and color, results in black.



The opposite is true with the subtractive color theory. This theory uses three primary pigments to generate all other colors. You cannot get white by mixing any of the three colors together in any varying amounts. Mixing all three colors together, however, can make black.
People have always debated over whether white and black are colors are not. Each side has evidence to support their theory. You will just have to decide for yourself who you agree with. Your choice will depend on the medium you choose to refer to and many other decisions.

Works Consulted:
Morton, J.L.. "Is Black a Color? Is White a Color?." Color Matters. 2007. 8 Feb 2008 .

Image Citations:
Morton, J.L.. "Is Black a Color? Is White a Color?." Color Matters. 2007. 8 Feb 2008 .

Color

All the colors that our eyes detect are made up of three primary colors, red, blue, and yellow. By mixing these three colors a whole new range of colors appear. Then by adding black or white, the entire color can change its meaning. Red is a common color to have numerous feelings associated with it. Starting with just the hue, red can mean anger, caution, or passion. By adding white you get a pink color, usually having a more romantic feeling to go along with it. However, adding black to red at different degrees can convey different emotions. Adding just a little bit of black can make it look more like blood, causing people to relive some horrid experience of their past. An even darker red makes me think of royalty and respect. For every person the meanings of colors might differ depending on our previous experiences.
Seeing different colors next to one another also changes the emotion felt. When I see plaid, of any kind, I think of sailboats and the ocean. Red and green, brings to mind Christmas, orange and black signify Halloween in my mind. I cannot help but think of these holidays when I see those combinations of colors. Pastel colors remind me of springtime. Stores change what they sell each year as well based on the trends. The public can even change their minds about colors depending on what it is on.

Do objects have the right color?

People perceive colors differently; however, it cannot be denied that colors influence your mood and thoughts. When painting a house, the color chosen for specific rooms helps to set the mood and function of the room. Living rooms, where most families entertain their guests, are usually painted in more neutral colors. Beige, pastel colors, and lighter earthy tones are all common color choices in this type of room. These colors make me feel relaxed and do not bring forth emotions that brighter colors do. Kitchens on the other hand depend on colors to set the style and time frame of the kitchen. A more modern kitchen tends to be a simple white, letting the silver of the stainless steel appliances provide the atmosphere. The image of the coffee maker shows the luminosity of the stainless steel. In my mind, the silver color reminds me of more modern times and cleanliness; therefore I feel that the silver goes well with the appliance it adorns.



The colors red and pink are often thought to symbolize love, passion, and admiration. Red and pink roses are given to loved one to show the above emotions. Tis is another object that the color and object share the same meaning.

Iconography

People see icons every day; as they walk down the street, driving, even just looking at other people's clothing they are seeing logos. I feel that one of the most recognizable logos was created for the pharmacy. Everyone knows that the symbol Rx means that the store itself is a pharmacy, or it contains a pharmacy. This symbol has been reduced to two simple letters, R and X. These are just letters separately, but when seen together they become something entirely different. Without having to see a picture or a complete word, people know what it means. That is what makes this a successful logo.

Image Citation:
http://toyvax.glendale.ca.us/~tts/ (7 December 2007)

A sign conveys a message through objects, actions, events, or patterns. Prominent signs are traffic signs, warning us to slow down or stop. Another type of sign that some people acknowledge is an action that makes a person believe that certain things happen to certain people at certain times. A symbol is usually a tangible object that is meant to represent something that cannot be seen. A heart or a Cupid’s arrows have become symbols for love, a smiley face for happiness, etc. A logo is a symbol that has been made specifically for a company, or organization. Logos try to describe the business in the simplest way. An icon uses only images, no words, to represent objects and feelings. All of these words, sign, symbol, logo, and icon, all work with one another to be successful.

Works Consulted:
"icon." Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 07 Dec. 2007. .

"logo." Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 07 Dec. 2007. .

"symbol." Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 07 Dec. 2007. .

"sign." Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 07 Dec. 2007. .

First Day of Performance Art

Performance art is suppose to involve the audience, capturing their reactions and expressions. When each set of partners went outside, an audience was drawn in immediately. It was raining, and four to six students were holding mirrors and making faces. The few people that were outside were underneath umbrellas, but we were not; rain was falling on our mirrors, making it harder for us to see one another and us. When we switched pieces, the strange looks and laughs continued from the small audience. The reactions would have been different if the weather was more pleasant, bring more people outside, and if the number of groups was larger.
I do not really understand performance art. I realize that it is supposed to get the reaction of the audience, but is that not the point of most art? For the most part, works of art can be interpreted several ways, depending on who is viewing it. In my mind, performance art is theatre, not two people doing something ridiculous in a crowded place. Even though this is the way I feel, I can still appreciate performance art, just not necessarily as much as “traditional” art.

Performance Art

My performance art piece.

Marcel Duchamp

Marcel Duchamp worked on this piece, The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even, for eight years. After all that time that he spent on it, he did not feel it was complete. The materials used in this piece are two glass panels, fuse wire, dust, lead foil, paint, and mirror plating. During a move, the glass panels were dropped, causing them to break. Duchamp liked the breaks and decided to keep them as part of the work. The abstract installation makes viewers become entranced, unable to see enough. First, you see the entire object as one. Then at a second look, each individual component is examined. Interpretations are made and changed several times. It is hard to be satisfied with your first thoughts of this piece. Even the title of the piece makes the viewers think differently about it then their own instincts urge them to.

Works Consulted:

Stafford, Andrew. "1923: The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even - Also known as The Large Glass." Making Sense of Marcel Duchamp. 2006. 11 Nov 2007 .

What is Happening to Museums?

Going to museums was a major part of my childhood. Every summer my mother would take us around to the different museums and historical sights. My sister and I were raised to respect the artwork and history that we experienced. I cannot imagine having done all of that exploring solely on the computer. Getting to take part in the reenactments in Williamsburg, Jamestown, and battlefields is what made the experience exciting. Therefore, even if museums were to put a majority of their exhibits on-line, I would want to have to opportunity to see the pieces in real life. Being able to stand in front of a painting allows the viewer to decide how they should look at it. The distance, point of view and lighting effects all determine the beauty of a piece. The same is true with all works of art. They were made to be seen with the naked eye, not on a computer screen. When it comes to the artifacts displayed in museums such as the Museum of American History, a viewer would have no feeling or sense of size and age if they were to view them through a computer screen. I feel that zoos are probably the only type of museum that could not be affected by on-line exhibits. Sure you could see pictures of the animals and read facts about them but you would not get to watch their individual attitudes or watch them being fed and played with.
Building larger museums will not help to save the personal experience of visiting museums that the internet is attempting to take away. As the museums grow in number and in size, more works of art are shown. This, however, does not solve the problem of over population. The only way to help that problem would be to expand the museum but not add more pieces. Spreading out the existing exhibits would allow more people to view them in a more pleasant atmosphere. It is more important to take care of the pieces of art that the museums have already acquired then to simply want to have the largest number of acquisitions. I also feel that museums should not put their staff’s employment at risk just to expand their buildings. Museums lose much of their appeal if they do not have a proper staff to manage it.

Islamic Art

Islamic art and architecture have impressed historians and onlookers for many centuries. Islamic art does not include human figures because they do not believe in idolatry. By creating patterns, the Muslims stay clear of incorrect symbolism. It is believed that the patterns also show the “unchanging laws of God (Islamic Patterns).” Most Islamic patterns begin with a circle, symbolizing one God. The most prevalent shapes in Islamic art are the circle, square, rectangle, hexagon, and the star. Their ability to create works of art out of repeating simple shapes over and over is a spectacular feat in my mind.

Works Cited:
"Islamic Patterns & Geometry." Salaam. 2004. Salaam. 28 Sep 2007. http://www.salaam.co.uk/themeofthemonth/march02_index.php?l=3.
Works Consulted:
"Patterns & Symbols." Salaam. 2004. Salaam. 28 Sep 2007. http://www.salaam.co.uk/themeofthemonth/march02_index.php?l=3.

Gestalt

Gestalt is a German word that means many parts making a whole. The parts on their own do not make an image, but when they are put together the image appears.




IMAGE CITATION:
Kator, Andrew. "Quick Tips in Design." About This Particular Macintosh. 2003. 27 Sep 2007 .

Composition Image

What is value?

Everyone has their own idea of what value is, and even what their own value is. Some people believe that they deserve to be treated as professional artists as soon as they start, while others realize that they have to work to earn a title. My dream is to be a free-lance photographer and have my own studio, but I know that in order to make my dream a reality I have to strive in some jobs that I may not want. Majorities of people, no matter their profession, have to start at the lowest position and earn promotions. As you work your way through the field, you have to be able to show that you can make even the most boring jobs interesting and maybe even enjoyable. For artists, some of the jobs may not even have anything to do with art, but in society today everyone has to have a steady income to survive. However, when the jobs are in the art field, a true artist should be able to take any project given to them and make it their own. They should be able to add their own soul into a project, even if they are not excited about it. At the same time you should be keeping a portfolio, making contacts in other organizations, maybe even other fields of study.
Connections that are made throughout your life are of great value. Many of my own personal work opportunities have come from either connections I have made on my own, or connections my parents have introduced me to. I have jobs lined up for when I am home for breaks from college. I would not have these chances if it were not for the people I have met throughout my life. The old saying that who you know is more important then what you know can be true at certain times. Knowing the right people can get you a job, but being able to thrive in that position is what helps you retain that position or even raise you higher.
The value of everything changes over time. You have to be willing to change in order to keep your own value at its peak.

Assignment 3 - String Project

The string project that we completed showed us that lines could go in any direction and by mixing several lines together, shapes are created. We also saw how adding in other objects such as stools, chairs, computers, and tables allowed us to vary the shapes much more easily.
During the string project, we all worked separately and did not necessarily explain what we were doing to each other. Had we all worked together and communicated more, our strings would have been more united instead of extremely chaotic. Our project would have been more creative as well if we had worked together. Emilia created a man on the floor using the string, but had we talked to each other more we would have been able to incorporate the design into the entirety of the project.
Once our project was completed we were shown images of the same project finished by three other classes. As we were viewing these photographs, we began saying how much more creative their string designs were. Other classes used people in their design and stacked chairs on top of one another to give more height to their design. We made these comments without having seen our own design from above. Most of us did not stand on the tables and see all of the strings from a higher perspective. From the other classes' images, we saw many ways that we could improve our own design. We also kept in mind that we had to clean everything up, so we tried to make it not as complicated. Had we not cared so much about the cleaning up aspect, our project could have been much more elaborate.