August 25, 2015 · 6:52 pm

FACE YOURSELF: The Programmable Portrait Portal

Have you ever been inspired to do something far beyond your comfort zone? Like taking a wild chance or using your body in a way that is just not common for you?
I have.
Lately, I have been curious about human communication and connectedness and all that stuff that makes up the way we interact and the way we feel about interacting. You know, like our interpersonal intelligence.

I am also deeply intrigued by the idea of the mask. The way a disguise can offer you a special power that your body just can’t fulfill on its own. I am convinced that if we walked around being aware of our best selves, we would all be superheroes. Everyday.

cubist in red

I want to feel more comfortable in my own skin. I want others to see themselves as beautiful. So, I decided to bring myself out of my comfort zone and draw people who are willing to sit with me. This would force me to be myself and talk to strangers. This would allow me to create art that will, hopefully, help you SEE your natural beauty.

My friend, Joy, introduced me to videos of the Face-O-Mat. It was built by artist, Tobias Gutmann as a portrait making machine. Tobias’ machine was created to comment on how we are obsessed with machines. The videos on his website inspired me to do something with my own twist.

photo 4 (1)

With Tobias’ blessing: “Go for it and Go WILD!”, I built one. A programmable portrait portal, that is.
We named it: FACE YOURSELF.

Here are some photos of Day One:
IMG_8875

That’s me, drawing with my glasses on so I see everyone’s face with clarity.

IMG_8876

Gabriella

Here are a few goddesses who accepted fame on this post. Thank you to all who shared their beauty with me and were open to a new experience.

warm cubist goddess

Are you intrigued about how it works? Well, then you will need to stop by Stony Brook University on Wednesday, August 26. Visit again to find out where FACE YOURSELF with be in the future.

Stay Tuned.
Artfully,
MJ

1 Comment

Filed under Creating Art

Tagged as ,

March 22, 2015 · 6:37 pm

What is the role of the Art Display?

Each year the National Art Educators Association holds a conference for educators from around the country to come together and share great ideas. This year’s theme is The Art of Design. 

The conference, this year held in New Orleans, will take place over 3 days and include thousands of opportunities for shared dialogue and meaning making.

IMG_2173

I have a passion to share: It involves the role of the art display. You know, the stunning masterpieces that live on the walls of schools, dress up art galleries and also share space on your refrigerator.

My question is grounded in the choices we make when curating an art exhibition and the message we are communicating through what we choose to display. I like to include process photos:

IMG_2364

So much magic happens in the art studio everyday, and I want the world to know it. Every picture tells a story and, along with written summaries and student anecdotes, adding these to our art exhibitions will help educate the public about the powerful role the arts play in the development of the whole child.

This year, at NAEA 2015, I will be presenting on this topic. If you are at all curious, feel free to download PDF: TheInteractiveArtDisplay2015

Hang your child’s art with pride,
xoxo -MJ

1 Comment

Filed under Inspiration, Teaching Art to Children

Tagged as , ,

March 3, 2015 · 6:12 pm

Zooming In

image

Artist Georgia O’Keefe once said “Nobody sees a flower really; it is so small. We haven’t time, and to see takes time – like to have a friend takes time.” Her most famous works are large scale flower portraits. Georgia zoomed in on each flower and illustrated their form to help us witness the fine detail and beauty in this tiny living thing.

IMG_2468

While observing the life of a paperwhite for a three week period of time, students documented the growth through time-lapse photography as well as observational drawing. Students looked closely and created a contour line drawing each week for three weeks in an accordion-style book and wrote about their observations.

IMG_2458

We were careful to place the table line and jar in the same place on each page so that the viewer had context of size and growth from a baby bulb to a 2. 5 foot tall blossom (yes, we are scientists and recorded measurements too).

IMG_2524

Enter IMAGINATION. We observed Georgia’s flower portraits and noted on her zoomed-in approach. Using our knowledge of flower petals and our imagination, we developed our own petal and created a personal flower portrait that illustrated our understanding of cropping and zooming in.

IMG_2532

IMG_2525

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
We used ink to make our drawing more defined. We work slow and practice mindfulness when using this permanent material.

IMG_2534

We noticed how Georgia had knowledge of warm and cool color families. We choose one family to incorporate into our petal spaces and our blossom was born.

IMG_2543

We explored mixing the colors that Crayola manufactured for us to invent our own warm and cool creations. If we didn’t like a shade, we changed it. We practice perseverance.

photo (10)

We take pride in our creations.

The next time you spot a blossom, prove Georgia wrong and STOP and see the flower. Feel it, smell it. Savor it. Life is beautiful.

Artfully,
MJ

 

 

Leave a comment

Filed under Teaching Art to Children

Tagged as , ,