Happy Holidays!

Greetings IBers! How is your vacation? What fun things have you done? How is your studio project progressing? Is there anything I can help with? Do you have a work in progress picture to share?

IB Media by Month

Mondays Demo Day

Tuesdays Artists Day

January/Drawing Materials- Charcoal, Chalk Pastels,Oil Pastels © Marissa L. Swinghammer February/Printing- Monoblock, Linoleum block, Stencil and Spray-paint March/Plaster- Gauze, Carve, Mold Jun Kaneko April/Clay-Throwing I, Throwing II, Molds Lisa Kokin May/Book Making-Altered, Binding, TBA

Bamboo and Quill Pens

Cool Ink Drawings

I thought you might enjoy this blog.

LIFE photo archive hosted by Google

Search millions of photographs from the LIFE photo archive, stretching from the 1750s to today. Most were never published and are now available for the first time through the joint work of LIFE and Google.

Earth Album

This site is AWESOME!!! You can click on any where in the world and get beautiful images from that culture. Try it out!

Laura Tangusso

This sculpture by Laura Tangusso combine handmade paper and wire. Check out more of her work at http://www.lauratangusso.com/

Fun PAPER Facts

Paper, by definition, is a complex matted web of cellulose fibers. Genuine parchment, authentic vellum, or papyrus are not true papers by this definition. Paper is made by gathering the plant of choice, and beating it into a pulp. Water is then added, until the pulp becomes a slurry. The slurry is then sifted against a screen until it forms an even layer. Once it dries, a sheet of paper is formed. Most paper contains sizing. Sizing is any glutinous material used to fill pores in surfaces that helps to make a stronger sheet of paper. The United States and Canada are one of the world's largest producers of paper and paper products. The U.S. consumption of paper and paperboard in 1999 was approximately 354 kilograms (about 800 pounds) per person. Recycling one ton of paper saves 17 trees and 3000 gallons of water. Recycling paper uses 60% less energy than manufacturing paper from virgin timber. One tree can filter upto 60 pounds of pollutants from the air each year. Good papers are rated as pH neutral. Better papers are called "acid free", based on the materials they were manufactured from. The best papers are "archival". Paper products use up at least 35 percent of the world's annual commercial wood harvest. Handmade paper are still made today with the same process as used earlier. Handmade Paper is made by gathering the plant of choice, and beating it into a pulp. Water is then added, until the pulp becomes a slurry. The slurry is then sifted against a screen until it forms an even layer. Hot Press is the term used to describe the smoothest surface of watercolor paper, as if it had been ironed using a hot iron to make it perfectly smooth. Soft Press paper has slightly more texture, but is still smooth, as if the hot ironing had been done, but using less pressure. Cold Press paper has even more texture than the previous two, as if it had been ironed using a colder iron, leaving more bumps. Rice paper is not really made from rice.

History of Paper

Handmade Paper has a rich, colorful history which has spanned the world's geography and its cultures. Paper is defined by Noah Webster as "a substance made in the form of thin sheets or leaves from rags, straw, bark, wood, or other fibrous material, for various uses." Handmade paper is widely used for its eco friendly nature and the traces of history are left in different cultures. Handmade Paper in Egyptian Culture- If we wander our mindsback over 5000 years ago to the Nile river valley in Egypt, we will find the traces of thin strips that were cut from the grass Cyperous Papyrus flourishing in those days. These strips were softened in muddy waters of the Nile. These strips were layered and pounded into a thin sheet and left to dry. The resulting sheets were ideal for writing and was then used by Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks. The word paper was derived from the "papyrus". The Father of Handmade Paper- T'sai Lun is said to be the father of handmade paper who was a court official in China. In 105 AD, during the Han Dynasty T'sai Lun experimented with several materials. He then took the inner bark of mulberry tree and bamboo fibers. He mixed them with water and pounded with a wooden tool. He poured this mixture onto a flat piece of coarsely woven cloth and let the water drain through. He allowed it to dry and later he realized that he had created a quality writing surface called the paper. T'sui Lun then became the patron of paper invention.The art of handmade paper making then crept out of China. It was first spread to Vietnam and Tibet. It eventually spread to Korea, where production of paper began as early as the 6th century AD. According to tradition, a Korean monk named Don-cho brought papermaking to Japan by sharing his knowledge at the Imperial Palace in about AD 610, sixty years after Buddhism was introduced in Japan. In Japan a million prayers- dharani was printed on sheets of paper. Paper making later opened its wings across Central Asia and Persia, from which it was later introduced into India by trade. It then spread out to Europe and after that the birth of modern paper and paper industry was marked. Handmade Paper in Korea- Handmade paper in Korea was imported from China during the reign of Sosurim, when there was lot of trading between China and ancient Korea. The first official record of paper in Korea was viewed in 610 AD. The paper was first brought to Korea by a monk named 'Damjing' of the Kokuryo Kingdom, located in the area of North Korea and parts of China. As the craft of papermaking was developing, our sensible and wise ancestors created a large amount of artwork with paper. The most popular art form of that time was Jisung Craft, Jiho Craft and Color Junji Craft. Among these, Color Junji Craft, which involves the pasting of colored paper layer upon layer, was the most popular. The earliest art form was Hanji from the Chosun Dynasty, a art form that is still in existence today. Handmade Paper in Indian Culture- Indians hold the credit of having used paper from cellulose fibers during third century BC. Khanzadas were the traditional paper makers who started the art of handmade paper making at Tizara in Alwar district of Rajasthan. They were a significant force at the time of Syed dynasty of Delhi Sultanate. The Khanzadas were then brought to Amer at the end of 16th century by Mirza Man Singh who was a great connoisseur of art, craft and literature. They were settled in Brahamipuri near Amer but because of the shortage of water they were shifted to Sanganer situated on the bank of the river Saraswati. Sanganer emerged as one of the biggest paper making center in western India.During the British rule the art of paper making had declined, it was alive only in few of the traditional families of that area. At the time of Arab, this art was again boosted. Later, the art of handmade papermaking was revived under the inspiration of Mahatma Gandhi. He demonstrated the art of papermaking at Haripura congress in 1938. http://www.theearthpaper.net/history-of-handmade-paper.html

Paper Fire Balloons

Yee Peng Lanna festival

Balloon Festival in Taunggyi

In light of our paper making experience I want to share paper fire balloons with you. Many Asian cultures celebrate with paper fire balloons. This tradition is absolutely beautiful!

Paper Making Prep

Bring to class on Monday...

Paper torn in small pieces (inchish)

• food can labels
• junk mail
• magazine pages
• old school work
• tissue paper
• used wrapping paper
• etc/be creative/recycle

Tips:

• Separate by color IF time allows
• Place torn paper in zip lock baggies
• Drop off in The Academy Studio Monday AM and add water to your baggy
• Spread the word to your fellow IB Buds!

Add a comment if you have any questions!

BANKSY

Alli, this is a Banksy for you!!

Here is a great article on Banksy from The New Yorker. It is long but worth the read. For more about Banksy visit http://www.banksy.co.uk/ Banksy is part of the Guerrilla art movement. Guerrilla art is often politically charged and created in unauthorized public spaces.

Dreamcatcher?!?!?

This is by Jessica Stockholder. Bianca I thought of you when I came across this image. Kind of dreamcatcherish! They sky is the limit when it comes to materials you could use!

Hey Satta!

I thought of you when I saw these two artists. Mrs. Ellen Gallagher alters vintage ad images! I particularly enjoy her use of repetition resulting in an intense viewing experience. Think about how different her work would be if she only exhibited one. Also Mr. Oliver Herring combined coll aged photos and mannequins. Just something to think about! Happy creating!

Krzysztof Wodiczko

Sam and Amy I thought of you when I saw this artist. Think about non traditional angles of the face for your studio work. The most exciting aspect of this artist is where he exhibits his works, such as on national monuments and buildings. Where and how will you exhibit your studio piece? Click on the title of this post to visit the PBS website for their Art:21 series in which they explore the work of Krzysztof Wodiczko. We also have the book from this PBS's Art:21 series in the Academy Studio.

Gallery of the Month

Welcome to our new Gallery of the Month series. I hope you find this helpful in fulling your monthly gallery visit. I thought we could start off with one of our own (by marriage)! Mr. Lyddon Hatten work is currently showing at Olson Larsen Gallery in West Des Moines. The SHELTER show runs through January 3rd. Olson Larsen Gallery is located at 203 Fifth Street, West Des Moines, Iowa 50265. Gallery Hours are Tuesday - Friday - 11:00 to 5:00 Saturday - 11:00 to 4:00.

Body Worlds

A conversation came up today about the BODY WORLDS exhibit. Visit You Tube for a brief viewing of the exhibit. Seeing it in real life is a must! It is a truly amazing experience!

Tony Corner, Watercolor Artist

Tony Corner's blog has a great example of the process of creating a sketch in watercolor and in pencil and how that translates into the final work. He is also very descriptive in his writing! Mr. Corner writes " Although winter was not on my mind as I began to work, the contours were suggesting a peaceful and calm winter day. The notion of calm led to the selection of green as the local color of the barn buildings, since both color and value contrast would need to be minimized in order to convey “peace”."

Signs of IB

What does your IB student look like? If you want to blow off some steam this holiday weekend create your own IB student in your IWB. I think it would be fun to see what you come up with!

Themes!

Here are the themes. If you see something that might be helpful for someone's theme pass it along! It might take a village to raise a child but it takes an army to survive IB! Samantha - Identity

Susan - Legends

Claire - Journeys

Bianca - Patterns in Culture

Eliza - Patterns in Nature

Liza- Emotion

Minh- Modern Cultures

Satta- Contributions

Brenna – Illustration Imagination

Adele - Evolution

Mirza - Connectivity

Amy- Graphic

Emily - Risks

Melody - Celebration

Matt - Seasons

Alec - Singularity

Allison - Change

Noah- Games

Green- Signs

Pennies for Peace

I saw this on Channel 12 and thought I would share. How did you all decide on doing Pennies for Peace as a service project? Perhaps you could see about getting The Academy to show it on our flat screens in the common areas to help support your cause.

Mike Murphy ~ Shelter

I am loving Mr. Murphy's work! Check him out. I also was entertained that he talks about how viewers bring their own experiences to a piece of art like we discussed in are critique last week. Artists are often thinking about and discussing similar themes.

Jun Kaneko

Mr. Kaneko is an amazing ceramic artist. Check out this video! Can you imagine slipping and scoring those pieces? FYI Jun Kaneko's studio in only two hours from us in Omaha, NE! He is a super star in the art world. When learning about him in art school and being that I am from Omaha I tried to stalk him when returning to Omaha for winter break. I just wanted to see such a famous ceramic artist in the flesh! Well come to find out he was out of the country so I never saw him though I have seen his work and it is simply wonderful.

Velcro Song and History

Complements of Mel! Thanks!

He still chooses bright colors

MICHAEL MORAIN / REPORTOR MARY CHIND / REGISTER PHOTOS

Amer Saleh al-Obaidi, 65, is settling into an apartment on Des Moines' north side after he and his family arrived in Iowa in August. The artist, who established a successful career in his native Iraq, hopes to find a market for his work here in the United States. One of his paintings recently sold at auction for $43,750. (click on title for link)

Innovated People Change the World

I have been doing a little research on Velcro. It is seriously a world changing invention!!! It reminded me of an article I read this week about how big business is looking for creative, innovative people and how such qualities are what art education is all about. Well here is the story. Read for yourself! Any who.... back to Velcro. It rocks! Check out their website. Oh and do not be fooled by imitators. There is only one Velcro!!! HOW WILL YOU CHANGE THE WORLD?

Themes! Themes! Themes!

Share your theme ideas! Think broad!

Wallace's Beginnings

Here is the link for the rest of the photos. www.photobucket.com/wallacehomestead ENJOY!

What will we look like a hundred years from now? Post your reply in the comments!

IB WIKI

What is a WIKI?!?!?

Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English

Main Entry: wiki Part of Speech: n Definition: a collaborative Web site set up to allow user editing and adding of content Etymology: 1995; <>

IB WIKI-

"This wiki is a central meeting place for all IB Art students of the world to share their ideas and collaborate. Please feel free to add your latest studio piece to the gallery for all to see or post a question in the art talk page(and even answer some!). Add helpful links or check out the latest news going on in the art world!" -from http://ibart.wetpaint.com/

Join and bookmark this wiki!!! This is a great way for you to communicate with other IB students from your small IB island, population 18. Ask questions, post and view IWBs and studio work, comment on others artwork and keep up on the lasted art news. This site is a dream come true!

Calling All Bloggers

Hey IB Studs! I know you have been working on really cool IWB pages. I would love to feature them on our blog. Write up a little shout out and let me take a picture of your page/layout and let's get it posted!

316 OPEN HOUSE

316 Art is having their Annual Open House Friday November 7th and YOU ARE INVITED!!! This is a super cool event! Did you know there are working artist studios blocks from Central Academy? 316 Art @ 316 SW 5th Street, houses about 30 artist studios ranging from cartoonist, furniture makers, jewelers, potters, painters, you name it!!! Feel free to extend this invitation to your family and friends.

Yan Pei-Ming: Life Souvenir

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 20TH @ 2:30 WE WILL MEET AT THE ART CENTER FOR A GUIDED TOUR OF THIS SHOW. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN RIDES. PLAN ON A HOUR FOR THE TOUR AND TIME TO SKETCH AND REFLECT. BRING YOUR IWB. COST PER PERSON IS $2 DUE TO ME ON NOVEMBER 13TH.

September 19, 2008 – January 4, 2009- Art Center on Grand "Yan Pei-Ming’s large-scale, monochromatic paintings demand notice. Like boisterous children, they engage audiences with their energy, impact, and size. Yan’s vibrant and fluid canvases and watercolors merge traditional Chinese visual traditions with elements of Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art. Twenty paintings comprise Life Souvenir, continuing Yan Pei-Ming’s career-long interest in memory, incorruptibility, and, above all else, human emotion. Large canvases presenting nameless soldiers face sizeable watercolors on the opposite wall depicting anonymous infants. The soldiers are painted in black and shades of grey, while the infants are painted in red. Each of these colors holds symbolic meaning in Chinese tradition: white is the color of death and dying, while black celebrates life and symbolizes “real innocence” to the artist. Red is the color of purity and virtue, a fitting parallel to the depiction of children. This exhibition is accompanied by a full-color catalogue with essays by Art Center Director Jeff Fleming and Mami Kataoka, senior curator, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan." Above article from The Art Center website Gallery Talk @ The Art Center Thursday, December 4, 6:30 pmJeff Fleming, directorFREE admission More stories... Artzine Artcadja

Shoe Layout Due 10.20.08

GUIDING QUESTION- What can a pair of shoes say about a culture? Research anything and everything SHOE and create a IWB layout of an interesting aspect of shoes you discovered in your research. To get started check out the Beta Shoe Museum, hanging shoes on electrical wires, boots on fence posts, shoes in trees, shoes as sculpture , shoes as function, shoes as fashion, the symbolism of shoes, indoor shoes vs. outdoor shoes, shoes of war, shoes of peace, etc. This IWB layout will serve as your theme for October's studio work.

The Shoes on the Danube Promade

The Shoes on the Danube Promade was created by a man named Gyula Pauer and is a memorial on the bank of the Danube in Budapest. It is a memorial to the people who fell victim to the Arrow Cross Militiamen in Budapest and depicts their shoes left behind as they were cast into the river after having just been shot during WWII. There were shoes of men, women and children, including the shoes of a toddler posted above. I was struck by the little shoes. I could not imagine holding a gun up to a toddling toddlers little head for the beliefs he is too young to possess. This made me think about this story and want to know more about what happened. So I researched the history of this instillation piece. During WWII between 250 and 400 workers worked around the clock to prevent its Jewish population from being sent to the many concentrations camps that marked the war. They were housed at the Swedish Embassy and other buildings in the area. On January 8, 1945 all of the inhabitants were rounded up and taken away to the banks of the river by the Arrow Cross Execution Brigade. Still wanting to prevent a massacre, 20 policemen armed with bayonets rescued them all, and helped them to flee the country. The survivors remember how they were lucky to escape the fate that their loved ones endured the Christmas the year before, being shot and thrown into the cold Danube river. This is the site where Jewish men, women, and children lost their lives. The place where they were shot for their beliefs and thrown into the icy winter waters as a means of extermination only after they removed their ever so valuable shoes. They may have lost their lives, but the memory and their shoes remain forever.

Shoes Studies