Conceptual Art: Installation Art

 

 REVIEW

 

• dopamine
• convergent thinking
• divergent thinking 
• conceptual art
  

 

 

I

 

Unit: Conceptual Art

Theme: Installation Art

 

Introduction

 

Installation art could be considered a sub-set of conceptual art. As such, it is a genre that also allows teachers to expose children to a creative environment with little to no budget at all. The conceptual nature of installation art makes it also a great medium to expand an art lesson into an academic one. The term is used interchangeably with art installation. The former seems to be used to name the overall discipline whereas the latter seems to be use to name the actual piece.

-------------------

II

 

Learning Objectives

 

• Understand the importance of creativity in the learning process 
• Explain the concept of  installation art
  
• Gain an awareness of the versatility of installation art when used to teach other subjects
• Experience the creation of a n installation art piece
  

 

-----------------------------

III

 

Main Lesson 

 

1

The therapeutic Encounter / The Therapeutic Presence

Dr. Aditi Nerurkar is a Harvard physician nationally recognized stressed expert and modern day burnout.

 

 

 

1. (17:00 - 22:45)

2. (35:00 - 41:10)

3. (48:00 - 54:04)

4. (56:44 - 57:58)

5. (-1:40:00 -1:43:26)

6.(1:43:29 - 1:44:59)

7.(1:45:00 - 1.49:35)

8. (1:50-1:51:44)

9. ( 1:51:51-)

 

 

1. Professor's Reflection on true resilience vs. toxic resilience:

I think that the artistic process, specifically within the frame of modern education, can offer students the space and time necessary to recharge and become truly resilient as opposed to toxicly so.

 

2. Professor's Reflection on therapeutic encounter:

I think the therapeutic encounter is enhanced when using a holistic approach to teaching. It depends, of course, on the therapeutic presence of the teacher. Dr. Nerurkar mentions eye to eye level, mirroring and being authentic as key elements in the development of therapeutic presence and subsequently the therapeutic encounter. The circle provides an environment in which the therapeutic encounter can take place within the context of teaching and learning.

 

3. Professor's Reflection on acronym MOST (Motivating, Objective, Small and Timely):

"What matters most to me" as opposed to "what's the matter with me" is a way to re-frame one's internal dialogue to find out what is one's most goal and create a road-map to find out the best way to get there. This gives one something to look forward to, a measurable goal, that may surface, in regards to teaching and learning, during  class.

 

4. Professor's Reflection on moving:

Dr. Nerurkar says that movement can decrease your stress. When one feels stressed one wants to be still, yet sitting can increase one's sense of anxiety. Thus, sitting can have a great impact on one's mental health, whereas movement is the antidote to that. For instance, a simple walk can help. Thus, movement is key in decreasing our students' stress. Also, mindfulness and walking meditation can be introduced as part of the holistic approach to teaching.

5.Professor's reflection on Six areas that make a long and meaningful life. 

Dr. Nerukar's prescription is to bring those 6 areas into one day even if it is for a minute or two to have a sense of meaning and purpose. The six areas are a) childhood (spend a few mi. everyday in a sense of wonder and play), b) work (doing something whether is payed or not that provides you with a sense of accomplishment, c) solitude (spending some time alone), d) vacation (spend some time during the day doing something you love), e. family (spend time in community with people you love), f) retirement (spend some time during the day thinking about what worked and what did not. These are recommendations teachers can implement in the classroom to enhance learning in a meaningful way.

6. Professor's Reflection of What we have missed and Media Diet:

In reference to popcorn-brain and brain-drain, Nerukar advises to have a media diet. There are 3 ways to instill this media diet into one's life to help with scanning and scrolling. First, limit the time you spend on the phone engaging and consuming bad news, 20 min. a day, set a timer if you have to. Second, create geographical limits, keep you phone 10 feet away from your work station, if you can, 10 feet out of reach and at night, off your night stand. Third, create some logistical limits in terms of organization and planning of your day. Creating this digital boundaries in regards to one's use of one's iPhone will improve our stress and mental health. These are also recommendation teachers can give students as part of the holistic approach.

7. Professor's Reflection on the Cycle of Trauma:

Nerukar cites Roxane Cohen Silver, a psychologist in California, to say that one's risk of PTSD increases when you consume graphic images even if what one is consuming is happening elsewhere. Any conflict, any climate disaster consumed via graphic images and videos increases one's own risk of PTSD even if one has not have any direct trauma. It stimulates one's primal urge to scroll more, because one does not feel safe. This is a common response because of out own biology of stress, click bait and doom scrolling are powered by the same biology that governs the fight or flight response. Data shows that this increases your PTSD and mental conditions later in life. Thus, when your student shows up in classf, the teacher has to take into consideration that the cycle of trauma has other ramifications often ignored by teachers.

8. Professor's Reflection on hyperconnectivity and loneliness:

Feeling a sense of connection and community is different from being hyperconnected.  One can be hyperconnected via electronic devices and disconnected from others. Loneliness is an pandemic according to Nerukar. It decreases your life-span. It is essential to be connected to a community to in avoid stress.

9. Professor's Reflection on internal experience and external presentation:

Narukar talks about what she used to think was true; that internal experience and external presentation were supposed to match up. This however, based on her own experience, is not true since people look a certain way (happy, smiley) while struggling inside. Thus, she is kinder than necessary since everybody is fighting a battle one may not now about.

 

 Question 1

After watching the interview with Dr. Narukar, what doe you think is her overall message?

 2

Installation Art

 a)

 

b)

Installation Art: How it Transforms Our Perception

 

Question 2

After watching the video and reading Bob Lansroth's article:

a)  what are the main characteristics of installation art?

b) how it affects our perception?

 

3

Art Installation

 

 

 

                                   

Question 3

According to Stephen the Visual Artist, what three things one should keep in mind when creating an art installation?

 

 4

 

Concept: Installation Art

 

Installation art is a term generally used to describe artwork located in three-dimensional interior space as the word "install" means putting something inside of something else. The term is used to describe large-scale, mixed-media constructions, often designed for a specific place or for a temporary period of time. Installation art pieces are designed to transform the perception of a space.

In our class we adapt this  concept to arrange readymades and found-objects from outside the classroom in order to create an installation that has meaning.

 

 Question 4

Explain in your own words what is an installation art piece and does it stimulate creativity?

5

Concept: Readymades

 

The readymades of Marcel Duchamp are ordinary manufactured objects that the artist selected and modified, as an antidote to what he called "retinal art". By simply choosing the object and repositioning or joining, titling and signing it, the found object became art.

 

 

 Question 5

Based on Marcel Duchamp's ideas, what is the difference between retinal art and conceptual art ? Which one of the two enhances creativity?

------------------------

 IV

 

A Note to Remember

 

Creativity is an important aspect of learning any subject. The arts are a great medium to stimulate creativity in the classroom. A very affordable way of creating learning projects is using an installation art piece. There are three things to remember when creating an installation: a) Make the familiar strange, b) Interrupt the body, c) Consider all 5 senses. Installation art is a type of conceptual art that uses readymades and found-objects. Its conceptual nature allows teachers to design instruction that can include other subjects as well.

 

 

--------------------

V

 

Case Studies

 

1

How a Small-Town Art Installation Became an Unlikely TikTok Sensation

 

 

2

 

Brian Petro

 

Found object originates from the French objet trouvé, describing art created from undisguised, but often modified, objects or products that are not normally considered materials from which art is made, often because they already have a non-art function.

 

 

 Question 5

Based on Brain Petro's work, what is the importance of readymades and found-objects when making art?

--------------------

VI

Activity

 

Installation Art

 

• Gather found objects and readymades.
• Arrange them in a way that makes sense to you.
• Look at it and find the meaning of it.
• Write a short synopsis of what it means.
• Give it a title
• Take a picture or several pictures of your installation piece.
• Post your pictures, your title and your synopsis on Discussion Board. 

 

 

 --------------------------

 

VII

 

Glossary 

 

• ready-mades: a mass-produced article selected by an artist and displayed as a work of art
• installation art: a unique type of sculpture  that is site specific, transforms the space and is temporary.
  
• objet trouvé (found object): a natural or man-made object, or fragment of an object, that is found (or sometimes bought) by an artist and kept because of some intrinsic interest the artist sees in it.

 

 

--------------------

VIII

 

Students' Work 

 

Class Notes

 

Noah Gaudet

• Toxic Resilience occurs when someone pushes through the challenges with little to no concern for the emotional and mental well being. Often sacrificing other priorities like sleep. This Can lead to burn out and an explosive outburst due to the immense amount of pressure. True Resilience occurs when someone pushes through adversity but also takes into account their emotional and mental well-being, striving  for maintaining balance.
• A teacher can develop a therapeutic presence by prioritizing the student's emotional well-being rather than focusing on their education needs. There are many ways for a teacher to do so such as, forming a circle in class for introductions, taking the time to personally talk and interact with the students (not focused on course material), and finally by managing to remove themselves from the typical teacher student relationship and allowing the student to feel open to talk to them as if they were a pier or guardian, as long as respect is still given.
• Reset is when you allow yourself to focus on what truly matters, prioritizing health.
• What I can do to implement the 6 points (Childhood, work, creativity, vacation, family, retirement) Is plan it out first thing in the morning and try my best to spend. a few minutes on each. For example, if I wanted to focus on vacation/ retirement, I can try to take the boat out in the afternoon, or spend a few minutes near the water.

 

Steven Hardee

Toxic Resilience

1. Toxic resilience: I think that toxic resilience is the basic ability to stop when you don't need to do anymore. When you have toxic resilience you are being pushed to continue on when it is not good for your mental health or sociological state. I think that it is pushed a lot by social media. 

2. Therapeutic presence: Better health and good outcomes, How to approach someone with a problem and how they become reassured and become better mentally. A teacher can develop a therapeutic presence by not assuming anything by the student and coming with a holistic approach when addressing the student. Being compassionate but reasonable in making a solution. 

3. Reset: This becomes a away of having a helicopter moment. Basically take your situation and start to not thinking about it all. Reset your mind and develop your thinking towards your needs as a individual and focus on what becomes important to and not what everyone wants you to do. 

4. Popcorn brain: Too much time online. 

5. "Live a lifetime in a day". 

6 elements: childhood, work, solitude, vacation, family, retirement

The 6 elements put in to place: I think that for me when I travel because of sailing just enjoying the time after the event. I don't do the Olympic campaign for the money but I do it for myself because I love it. Solitude I think that there is time that I just need with myself without technology and in my room. I also think that it is done well with mediation and stretching = yoga. Vacation I think that it is vising a place with my family and the people that I love. When I was younger my parents took me on a lot of vacations ( I have been to all 7 continents). I enjoyed that and that gave me a bigger eye to the world. Now though I see vacation as spending time with loved ones rather than learning about new culture. I think that also intertwines family as well. Retirement is a place where I think reflection on the past becomes a big state of mind about the past and what we have done in meaning. 

Installation art: A unique form a sculupture. It is sight specific. It transforms the space into something new. It is temporary and does not last forever. Helps people reorient their mind to see other ideas. You become self aware. 

Ready made: 

Flower made

Pat Heaney 

 

Toxic Resilience

Toxic resilience is the idea that someone could easily mentally rebound after extreme circumstances or mental pressure without showing stress or needing to take a break. Being resilient allows you to overcome stress by allowing you to show emotions.

A teacher can gain more therapeutic presence by being there for the student and regularly checking them as much as possibly both inside and outside the classroom.

Resetting could help you to recenter by taking time to relieve stress and realize whats most important in life. You should step back take time for yourself and try to calm your mind.

We experience popcorn Brian after the use of too much technology and we mustiness ourselves to take a break.

I would segment certain times of the day just dedicated to relaxing and meditating and try to bring some peace to my life by getting into a routine.

 

 Installation Art: Readymades and Found Objects

 

1

Steven, Tatum, Cici, Lauren, Liam

 

What is missing here? 

2

Julian Dallas, Will Hammer, Cristobal Calvanese

 What is missing here?

3

Almost There 

 

Jacob Helsel (Who else was in this group?)

This piece shows peoples unwillingness to take the extra effort to put their recyclable trash into the proper can, contributing to the ever-present issue of waste piling up and tarnishing our planet.

 

 4

 

“The UM Student”

 

Alexa Graham, Jacob Helsel, Noah Gaudet, Tim Savage

Our installation portrays the typical life of a UM student. To symbolize the hard work and effort classes at UM take we arranged the computers with the natural leaves found on the campus. Additionally our campus is extremely consumerist which is why we included the water bottle holder and sunglasses as a part of the installation. We feel the use of nature and man made objects portrays the dichotomy of the typically UM student who is surrounded by the natural beauty the campus offers.

 

 

 

5

 

 

  TreeBoat

 

Grace Mineo, Zach Davidson, Ben Mattera, Evan Gottlieb, Pat Heaney 

The Tree signifies life and someone's state of being. The Boat signifies life's journey. There is a green healthy leaf and a brown, withered leaf on the "boat",  signifying that life can take you in all types of directions.

6

 

Rock, Paper, Life 

 

Jesminder Pongnon, Amari McNair, Leo Brandt, Aaron Kahn, Ryan Newitz

 

The rocks hold the paper down, keeping it grounded. Sometimes you need weight in order to keep you down on your path of life. It doesn’t have to be heavy to keep you stable.

 

Make Up Work