Event 5 (Extra Credit)

For event 5 I went to the exhibit called "Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop" at the Annenberg Space for Photography. It documented the rise of hip-hop and how it was able to spread through technology. The exhibit displayed old hip-hop photographers unedited contact sheets as well as photographs of hip-hop artists today. There was also a 30 minute documentary explaining how hip-hop disseminated. I was surprised to discover the impact that technology and art had upon hip-hop.


Hip-hop originated in the Bronx.  Without photography and digital technology, it would not have had the same influence. Before social media, in order to get people to listen to your music, you would need to have a vehicle to attract their attention, which were record covers. Young people would run to newsstands to view the artwork on the record albums. This was a way that they were first introduced to the artists. Subsequently, the images started circulating to other cities. Hip-hop eventually spread throughout the country and different cities started adding their own twist on hip-hop to make it more original. 

Over time Hip-hop music has established itself as a genre and now artists see the importance of imagery. Instagram is currently one of the most vital tools used to market artists. Without photography and now social media, hip-hop would not have globalized. The visual aspect of hip-hop is so crucial. Hip-hop is not just popular in the U.S., but is worldwide due to advancements in technology. 

Overall, I would highly suggest visiting this exhibit as it affords a completely new perspective on hip-hop. The gallery revealed many significant unknown facts as to how hip-hop popularized. Not only does the exhibit display many rare pictures, but is also very interactive and informative. I had no realization as to how important photography is in hip-hop, as well as the visual aspects behind it. I have now come to understand how technology and art  go hand in hand and play a major role in our everyday lives.

Sources:

“CONTACT HIGH: A Visual History of Hip-Hop.” Annenberg Space for Photography, www.annenbergphotospace.org/exhibits/contact-high/.

Fourquet, Laure. “Tracing Hip-Hop's Phenomenal Rise.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 23 July 2015, www.nytimes.com/2015/07/24/arts/international/tracing-hip-hops-phenomenal-rise.html.

Rowley, Glenn. “'Contact High' Photography Exhibit in LA to Showcase Intimate Visual History of Hip-Hop.” Billboard, 21 Mar. 2019, www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8503248/contact-high-photography-exhibit-la-visual-hip-hop-history.

Staff, DX. “Digitally Divided: Technology's Impact On Hip Hop Music & Culture.” HipHopDX, HipHopDX, 17 May 2013, hiphopdx.com/editorials/id.2109/title.digitally-divided-technologys-impact-on-hip-hop-music-culture.

“The Emergence of Hip-Hop.” The Paley Center for Media, www.paleycenter.org/the-emergence-of-hip-hop/.

Event 4 (Extra Credit)

On May 18th for event 4 I went to the "Dirty Protest" exhibit at The Hammer Museum. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the Hammer Museum is affiliated with UCLA. The exhibition "highlights a lively mix of painting, sculpture, and media installations by more than 30 international artists"(Hammer Museum) and shows the wide array of mediums used by contemporary artists.

 I found Petra Cortright's sickhands quite interesting as they highlighted how "for this generation the internet is a fertile ground for inspiration". The internet is currently what is most commonly used for research and creating new ideas and images. In the videos displayed, Cortright demonstrates how now there is no distinction in the line between high and low culture, as she reveals that there are no boundaries with what the internet can be used for. The piece "Capitalizes and comments on the ubiquity of homemade videos" (Kadist).

Another art piece that utilized different techniques is Analia Saban's Cherry Wood Circuit Board #1. The piece "explores a relationship between the analog and the digital, with an emphasis on materiality"(Blay). She used a laser to sculpt the cherrywood. The piece was multidimensional and was very unique. 

Overall, I would highly recommend this exhibit to everyone, as it shows that art does not have boundaries. All the pieces in the exhibit were so diverse and highlighted how technology is a perfect tool for art. It was very modern and symbolic, which appealed to me. 




Sources:

“Dirty Protest: Selections from the Hammer Contemporary Collection - Hammer Museum.” The Hammer Museum, 22 Feb. 2019, hammer.ucla.edu/exhibitions/2019/dirty-protest-selections-from-the-hammer-contemporary-collection/.

Artinfo, Blouin. “‘Dirty Protest: Selections from the Hammer Contemporary Collection’ at Hammer Museum, Los Angeles.” Artinfo, 28 Jan. 2019, www.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/3510657/dirty-protest-selections-from-the-hammer-contemporary.

UCLA Arts: School of the Arts and Architecture, arts.ucla.edu/single/dirty-protest-selections-from-the-hammer-contemporary-collection/.

“Tapestry as Semiconductor: A Chat with Analia Saban.” Glasstire, 11 Apr. 2019, glasstire.com/2019/04/08/tapestry-as-semiconductor-a-chat-with-analia-saban/.

“Petra Cortright Sickhands.” Sickhands – Kadist, kadist.org/work/sickhands/.

Event 3

For event 3, I went to the UCLA Meteorite Collection. Meteor refers to "a variety of pieces of debris—made up of either rock, metal, or a mix of the two—that enter the atmosphere from outer space. Before doing so, they’re called meteoroids."(Stromberg).  There is a vast array of meteorites on display at the exhibit. Each one has its own unique characteristics. My personal favorite meteorite shown was the Esquel-pallasite, because of its striking contrast between the gold and black, which was found in Argentina in 1951. I would have never thought it was a meteorite. I also enjoyed seeing the second largest meteorite from the USA called the "Old Woman" iron meteorite that is 177.4 lbs. I was shocked to learn that this is only a piece of the whole meteorite, as it is massive. This is an amazing exhibit to visit, as you are able to see how the meteorites are natural pieces of art, as well as being provided with the scientific background as to how they were formed.

                           

Esquel-pallasite

Old Woman Iron Meteorite

Very informative information board

It was cool to learn about the process that takes place where rocks change texture and phases called thermal metamorphism. I found it fascinating how about "500 meteorites reach Earth's surface, but only 5 or 6 make it to the scientists to study" (Meteorite Collection).

Overall, I have a new found appreciation for meteorites. I had never seen them up close, nor such a vast variety of them. They are all so unique and it is great how UCLA has also incorporated a scientific foundation in the exhibit. It is important to learn about the formation of meteorites, as they are more than just beautiful rocks.

 Sources:

“Meteorite Collection.” UCLA, meteorites.ucla.edu/.

“Meteoritical Bulletin: Entry for Old Woman.” Meteoritical Bulletin RSS, www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/metbull.php?code=18007.

“Couple Loans Unexpected Find to UCLA Meteorite Gallery.” Daily Bruin, dailybruin.com/2016/06/27/couple-loans-unexpected-find-to-ucla-meteorite-gallery/.

Dorminey, Bruce. “Rare Meteorites Are Now Sought After By The Art Crowd.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 20 Dec. 2015, www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2015/11/30/high-end-meteorites-as-holiday-stocking-stuffers/#4e0649395e50.

Stromberg, Joseph. “A Smithsonian Expert Breaks Down the Science of Meteors.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 15 Feb. 2013, www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/a-smithsonian-expert-breaks-down-the-science-of-meteors-18847526/.

Week 9: Space + Art

Collision II by Richard Clar

It is amazing how space can actually be a vehicle for merging Nanotechnology, mathematics, biotechnology and robotics together (Vesna). The artist Richard Clar is well known for his art in space projects, which include "environmental issues, such as orbital debris, war and peace, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), and water management on earth" (Clar). I found his piece from 2003 titled 'COLLISION II', fascinating as it focuses "on the serious problem of orbital debris" (Clar). It is a video simulation that "views the orbiting constellation sculpture from the vantage points of low-earth orbit and geosynchronous orbit during a twelve hour period that is reduced to twelve minutes" (Clar).

Space Flight Dolphin by Richard Clar

Cosmic Sculpture by Arthur Woods

Another interesting collaboration of art and space is the Cosmic Sculpture by Arthur Woods from 1993. The purpose of the project "was to investigate the properties of sculpture in weightlessness and to evaluate the integration of art into the human space program" (Woods).  The painted geometric sculpture made out of aluminum tubes "was the first three-dimensional artwork to be specifically conceived for and officially realized in a space habitat" (Woods). When the sculpture was freed from gravity it moved around in a similar fashion to dancing, as it was floating freely to the music being played.

Overall, it was intriguing to learn about artists who are stepping outside of the box (into space) and are making scientific discoveries. These artists are using many mediums and are using new techniques to conquer space. It is evident that space is the perfect canvas for art and technology.

Image sources: 

COLLISION II, www.arttechnologies.com/collision2.html.

“Richard Clar.” Free Enterprise, sites.artsblock.ucr.edu/free-enterprise/richard-clar-3/.

“Cosmic Dancer - a Space Art Intervention by Arthur Woods.” Introduction: News : Arthur Woods : Cosmic Dancer, www.cosmicdancer.com/introduction.php.

Works Cited: 

Vesna , Victoria, dir. Space Part 1. 2012. Film. 30 Nov 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2O5C0Iv6ROo>.

COLLISION II, www.arttechnologies.com/collision2.html.

“Cosmic Dancer - a Space Art Intervention by Arthur Woods.” Introduction: News : Arthur Woods : Cosmic Dancer, www.cosmicdancer.com/introduction.php.

NASA, NASA, history.nasa.gov/alsj/RichardClar.html.

Earth, Greater. “Cosmic Dancer on the Mir Space Station - Space Art in Earth Orbit.” YouTube, YouTube, 30 Jan. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RsBoftdVLc.