ACA Artist Presentation

Erin Seickel

ARE 5454

6/18/2009

Artists

Janet Goldner Juan R. Fuentes Renee Green Robin Holder Andy Goldsworthy

Janet Goldner

“Janet Goldner creates sculptures which bring together art and poetry by cutting images and text into steel sculptures using a

welding torch as a drawing instrument. She combines the tactile, spatial forms of sculpture with elegant, succinct comments on

contemporary social issues. A thirty-year cultural journey began when Goldner first traveled to West Africa in 1973. She has

returned to Africa many times, notably as a Fulbright scholar in 1995 to work with artisans and contemporary artists. Images and

ideas from Africa and the West continue to appear in her work influenced in part by her ongoing dialogue with Malian artists as

well as a response to her own layered American cultural identity.” (Goldner, 2001)

Janet Goldner, Have We Met?, 2006, Installation

Janet Goldner, Garden Gate, 2004, Steel

Janet Goldner, Can We Heal?, 2000, Steel

Janet Goldner, People Book, 1996

Janet Goldner

Criticism: Goldner’s work use strong solid materials, but approaches them in a delicate manner. This illustrates something very interesting about her subject matter. It is sensitive and emotional, but not to be taken lightly. Her use of text and book format reminds us that everyone has a story to tell and that it is important to listen.

Application: I plan to incorporate text in both of my pieces, but will use Goldner’s narrative style extensively in my free-standing piece, which will be a personal narrative.

Juan R. FuentesJuan R. Fuentes received his BFA in Painting and Drawing

from San Francisco State University. He has spent much of his artistic career as a poster maker and silkscreen artist, influenced by the social realist tradition of printmaking in Latin America. He has branched out into various kinds of printmaking and uses his content to tell stories that elaborate on the human condition, good or bad (Fuentes, 2008).

“The prints that I have produced in the last two years are of people carrying objects or in the process of work. This carrying of things

has been a metaphor for the heavy load on one’s shoulders through experiences of living.” (Fuentes, 2008)

Juan R. Fuentes, Children Die in Stupid Grownups War, 2004

Juan R. Fuentes, Made in the USA, 2000

Juan R. Fuentes, US Aid?, 2002

Juan R. Fuentes

Criticism: Fuentes stays true to his own tradition of printmaking, using straightforward images to represent meaning in his work. He often times juxtaposes two images with contrasting ideas to illuminate ideas and feelings on the life and plight of his subject.

Application: I plan to use Fuentes’ influence in my extended relief by working with the subject matter of non-violence, as well as using recognizable symbols to get my message across.

Renee Green

Renee Green studied art at Wesleyan University and participated in an independent study program at the Whitney Museum of American Art. She works as an artist, writer, and filmmaker constructing diverse installations involving all three.

Endless Dreams and the Water Between This project was originally commissioned by the National Maritime

Museum in Greenwich and it incorporates all of Green’s artistic talents. She created an environment through drawings, sound, banners and films. She explored the idea of islands, both of this world and in our minds, and

the things that connect them. Throughout the project she includes personal narrative on all of the ideas and themes through spoken word and

recorded image.(Green, 2008)

Renee Green, Endless Dreams and the Water Between, 2008

Renee Green, Endless Dreams and the Water Between (Film Still), 2008

Renee Green, Endless Dreams and the Water Between, 2008

Renee Green, Endless Dreams and the Water Between (Film Still), 2008

Renee Green, United Space of Conditioned Becoming, 2008

Renee GreenCriticism: Green uses various forms of media intertwined to reveal

narrative connections between objects and ideas. She immerses you into an atmosphere of understanding, listening to personal narrative, seeing striking visual representation of her ideas. Her banners in particular make a strong statement about her work. They are each bold, and represent strong messages on their own, but you cannot ignore the fact that they are part of a greater whole, and that their meaning can change depending on their context.

Application: I plan to use Green’s influence in my free-standing sculpture. In telling my own personal narrative I will use individual images strung together so that the viewer can contemplate their individual meaning, and well as their importance to the whole piece.

Robin HolderRobin Holder is a fine artist who works out of

Brooklyn, NY. Her work has a range of content from the natural world, to social issues, to personal expression. She has been exhibited nationally and internationally in galleries and museums.

“My work is motivated by my multi-cultural background in which layers upon layers of various racial, economic, and

spiritual worlds exists within one family.” Robin Holder (Farrington, 2005)

Robin Holder, Keep in Touch, 2007

Robin Holder, They Damaged Us More Than Katrina, 2007

Robin Holder, Nina’s Choice, 2007

Robin Holder, Negotiating a Complex, 2007

Robin HolderCriticism: Holder uses vivid colors and bold shapes in

creating her emotive figures. She addresses both her colors and shapes in layers, adding new meaning to her pieces with every layer she puts down. This technique gives a literal and emotional depth to her work. It takes you in and forces you to see beyond representation to pure emotional expression.

Application: For my extended relief I am planning on creating a fabric collage. I hope to implement Holder’s use of bold shapes, layering, and color to bring depth and emotion to my work.

Andy GoldsworthyAndy Goldsworthy studied at the Bradford College of

Art and at Preston Polytechnic. He is a environmentalist, sculptor and photographer. He creates sculptures and land-art in specific settings and heavily relies on the use of natural and found objects. (Papadakis, 1991).

“A stone is ingrained with geological and historical memories.”- Andy Goldsworthy (Chandler, 2007)

“Ideas must be put to the test. That’s why we make things, otherwise they would be no more than ideas. There is often a huge difference between an idea and its realization. I’ve had what I thought were great ideas that just didn’t work.”- Andy

Goldsworthy (Chandler, 2007)

Andy Goldsworthy, Pebble Circle

Andy Goldsworthy, Castres and London Plane Leaves, 1988

Andy Goldsworthy, Two Oak Stacks, 2003

Andy Goldsworthy, Drumlanrig Sweet Chesnut, 1988

Andy Goldsworthy, Yorkshire Sculpture Sweet Chestnut, 1988

Andy GoldsworthyCriticism: Goldsworthy uses natural materials in elaborate

formal compositions. He weaves leaves as if they were fabric, and he builds with organic logs and sticks as easily as if they were cut perfectly for him. While his formal compositions are striking in their own right his use a materials brings a larger commentary on the environment into the mix.

Application: I plan on largely using found natural objects in my free-standing sculpture. I hope to use a similar cyclical design to use as a vessel for portraying my own personal narrative.

References Beckett, W. (1988). Contemporary woman artists. New York City, NY: Universe Publishing Chandler, R. (2007). Andy Goldsworthy quotes. Retrieved June 16, 2009, from Famous Quotes Page Web site:

http://famousquoteshomepage.com/Andy_Godsworthy_British_Sculptor_Photographer_Artist_Environmentalist.htm Farrington, L.E. (2005). Creating their own image: The history of African-American women artists. New York City, NY:

Oxford University Press Fuentes, J.R. (2008). Pajaro Editions. Retrieved June 16, 2009, from Juan R. Fuentes Web site:

http://juanrfuentes.com/index.html Fuentes, J.R. (2004) Children die in stupid grownup wars. Retrieved on June 16, 2009 from Juan R. Fuentes Web site:

http://juanrfuentes.com/linocut-children-die.html Fuentes, J.R. (2000) Made in the USA. Retrieved on June 16, 2009 from Juan R. Fuentes Web site:

http://juanrfuentes.com/linocut-made.html Fuentes, J.R. (2002) U.S. Aid? Retrieved on June 16, 2009 from Juan R. Fuentes Web site: http://juanrfuentes.com/linocut-

us-aid.html Goldsworthy, A Artist image Retrieved on June 16, 2009 from Web site:

http://www.coredmonthly.com/Archives/creation/images/RiversandTidesAndyGoldsworthyWorkingWithTime-photo_04_hires.jpg

Goldsworthy, A. Pebble Circle. Retrieved on June 16, 2009 from DTSD Website: https://dtsdcomm.hershey.k12.pa.us/users/jettinger/

Goldsworthy, A. (2003) Two Oak Stacks. Retrieved on June 16, 2009 from Art Net Web site: http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/e/earthart.html

More References Goldner, J. (2001). Janet Goldner. Retrieved June 16, 2009, Web site: http://www.janetgoldner.com/ Goldner, J. (1996) People Book. Retrieved June 16, 2009 from Janet Goldner Web site:

http://www.janetgoldner.com/books/books6.html Goldner, J. (2006). Have we Met? Retrieved on June 5, 2009 from Art in Context Web site:

http://www.artincontext.org/image/image_main.aspx?id=5082 Goldner, J. (2004) Garden Gate. Retrieved on June 5, 2009 from Art in Context Web site:

http://www.artincontext.org/image/image_main.aspx?id=4095 Goldner, J. (2000) Can We Heal? Retrieved on June 6, 2009 from Art in Context Web site:

http://www.artincontext.org/image/image_main.aspx?id=4111 Green, R. (2008) Endless Dreams and the Water Between. Retrieved on June 16, 2009 from Nation Maritime Museum Web

site: http://www.nmm.ac.uk/explore/art/new-visions/renee-green-exhibition/62840 Holder, R. (2007)Keep in touch. Retrieved on June 16, 2009 from Fine Art America Website:

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/keep-in-touch-robin-holder.html Holder, R. (2007) They Damaged Us More Than Katrina. Retrieved on June 16, 2009 from Fine Art America Web site:

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/they-damaged-us-more-than-katrina-robin-holder.html Holder, R. (2007) Nina’s Choice. Retrieved on June 16, 2009 from Fine Art America Web site:

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/ninas-choice-ii-robin-holder.html Holder, R. (2007) Negotiating a complex. Retrieved on June 16, 2009 from Fine Art America Web site:

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/negotiating-a-complex-world-vii-robin-holder.html Papadakis, A., Farrow, C., & Hodges, N. (Eds.). (1991). New art.New York City, NY: Rizzoli International Publications.