What Dimension Are You Living In?

It is not often if ever, that one stops to think about all the work the human brain is doing, during normal everyday tasks. Stop for a second and think about what your brain is doing now: reading letters on a computer screen, realizing that it is seeing a computer screen, grouping letters into words, reading and comprehending words, and all simultaneously within a given time.

Now think about when you look at a two dimensional picture. What do you see? How does your brain organize lines, shapes, and scribbles? One way to describe the phenomenon is Gestalt’s theory of Visual Psychology. The way the mind makes sense of what other wise is a mess of ink or graphite on paper is through perception of scale and proportion. Two-dimensional drawings help to aid the eye to discover its true meaning. A Two-dimensional drawing has depth, which means that the viewer can see that the object is not just flat, but has features with texture. It is not the same as a three-dimensional object, where it actually jumps out of the page at you, a two-dimensional drawing is a very good way to understand the relationship between what you are seeing on the page, and how your brain perceives it.

Above is two pictures the first being a one-dimensional picture. In this picture you cannot see any depth. Are the dots in front or behind the circle? Now take a look at the second picture. You can see depth, you see trees, a cottage, and water, and all these elements combined with color and contrast help the eye to develop a sense of dimension. You know that the path leads up to the cottage. You know all of this because your brain is a powerful tool. So the next time you look at a picture, or read a book, think about all the hard work your brains is doing, and then say to your self “Well done brain!”

Painting (above) by:

Fly Art Co., Ltd.

Market Greedy for 3-D?

Over the summer of 2009, the box offices experienced a boost in ticket sales when it came to the 3-D movie market. It was almost difficult to find an animated movie that was not offered in 3-D. This prevalence in 3-D films has continued through the fall as a result of its great success. The box office is not the only industry that is being affected in this 3-D boom, it seems the computer market will soon be giving them a run for their money.

In a recent issue of Investors Business Daily, an article was featured, that discussed the rising market for other 3-D items: 3-D PCs and TVs. According to the article the technology for 3-D computers should be available as soon as 2010, while 3-D televisions are still in the process of being developed and perfected. It certainly will not be long before this new technology will be in households across the United States. With that in mind, a question arises: What next?

As a society we are constantly in search of the next bigger and better thing. We can only infer that technology will continue at such a fast pace to branch out and make our lives easier and more enjoyable. Whether 3-D PCs and TVs will be successful on the market is still unknown, but what is known is a products success is based on the consumers’ wants and needs. So now one must ask themselves, is 3-D in their future?...Only time will tell.

I’m sorry the person you are trying to reach has been disconnected

A woman talking loudly through the grocery isles, the teenager sitting next to you texting on the bus, or even someone checking their e-mail in the airport, it seems as if you cannot go anywhere without being in the presence of a cell phone. Not only is this technology inescapable, but it has also become one of societies biggest problems. With the speedy and continual changes in technology, it has opened up the possibility to totally disconnect from the world as we know it.

Do you remember life before text messaging? A time before cell phones even? It is hard to think back, and try to figure out how we ever got along without them. A day without a cell phone is like a day without oxygen, for some, but it seems that as though our society has evolved into one that has learned to be dependent upon cell phones and messaging devices.

When asked why text messaging in particular is so important, a group of college students gave the following answers: 1) making a phone call is not always appropriate (ex. when you need to communicate covertly) 2) text messaging is more effective for certain messages (ex. easier to communicate short messages) 3) text messaging can help to eliminate digression (ex. texts are short, simple, and to the point). When the same group of students were asked where they most commonly text messaged they answered “in class” unanimously, followed by while eating, or studying.

It is this very trend of where and when text messaging is being used, which causes this disconnect in society. We have become a world where disconnect is accepted and even encouraged through the media. So next time you get the urge to update your mobile Twitter, or text message while your driving, think about the effect you are placing upon society and the result of your disconnectedness. You just might find you might be filled in on the happenings of the rest of the world, while missing out on all of your surroundings.

Culture Shock: Evolve or Dissolve

It is assumed that in America every little girl plays with dolls, and to be more exact the (disputably) most American doll you can find: Barbie. The Barbie doll got its start in the 1950’s when it was originally designed and was prepared to be marketed. The doll was made to resemble to perfect woman with just the right proportions, a reflection of society and beliefs of the time. The Barbie became a household item in the 1960’s, which was crucial because of the events of that time period. During the sixties the Civil Rights Movement was going on and it seemed that the Barbie wasn’t a true representation of what America was really like.

As history progressed and the American culture evolved so did the design of the Barbie. Segregation was outlawed and in the 1980’s the first African American Barbie made it’s way to market, and not long to follow was the Hispanic Barbie. Not only did the culture move in a way where this type of doll would be acceptable, but it became the expectation of society to have such representation of the true American culture. Caucasian America was no longer the image, which represented this country, but instead a juxtaposition of many races, cultures, and religions.

The history of the Barbie not only shows us the changes that can be made to a product or design, but how necessary it is to adapt to a changing world. It is a demanding market, and only the designs that are flexible enough to change to meet the demands of the consumer will survive.

Striving to be Different When Great Minds Think Alike

Today artists use many tools to accomplish their masterpieces. These tools make art more accessible and more importantly more elaborate or “Hi-tech”, but what is left when the tools are stripped away? It is almost hard to imagine a world without our sewing machines, and our airbrush cans, and even our nifty stick-to-anything adhesive, but before all those items there was art.

Basket weaving dates back 8000 years and has had a fascinating effect on most of the world. The baskets are handmade using materials like pine needles, tree bark, and long grasses. There were and still are many tribes throughout the world who have the tradition of basket-weaving, and what is more interesting is that although tribes have never been in contact with one another the designs are still standard and similar. Patterns found in baskets in one area of the world, can also be found in a completely different tribe and culture.

The fact that these designs are able to appear and reappear in different cultures without any special tools or technology is quite astonishing. This fact really shows the crutch we fall on when it comes to modern artistry and technology. The human mind works relatively the same no matter the background. Our technology has helped to improve on our methods and the time it takes to make art, but it also seems that we have lost something in the technology. We have lost the connection with the natural world, and the phenomenon of natural human tendency. We have strayed away from common thought, in a constant battle to be the most inventive, new, and abstract.

In the hit Bravo show, Project Runway, aspiring designers are asked to think outside their realm of what one would think of as normal fashion, and instead be resourceful and challenge themselves to new ideas and concepts. Project Runway is now in it’s 6^th season, but the demands being asked of the designers are still just as challenging. The designers have been asked to make clothing out of anything from basic fabric to garbage, and some very interesting variations in between. Although some may say that being told to make something out of garbage or grocery store supplies may not seem to be what a designer would be inspired to create, this applied inspiration has created some unusually beautiful end products.

In Season 1, the designers were asked to create a dress out of items they picked up in a floral market. The challenge was to make a dress that was unique yet beautiful. As the designers began to work they struggled with working within their constraints in their budget, and the limited materials, as well as a foreign material that they had never used before. While some simply threw together some leaves with a needle and thread, others forced themselves to think outside the box and crate something that was really beautiful and really wearable.

The winner of the challenge was the designer Daniel who not only thought about what would be pretty, but what would also be practical and at the same time aesthetic. He showed the judges that he could work outside of his comfort zone, and be inspired by new material, and he did something no other person had done.

Often times it seems boundaries keep an artist from creating something new, and the only product which results is no doubt innovative, but not new. When one finds inspiration outside of oneself, the options are limitless creating a whole new realm of possibilities.

The Winning Dress(top left):

http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/realitytv/media/pic_eps_rate_daniel_v_ep9.jpg

Warm, Rainy, and Winter Weather...Resource/Icon Now and Forever

The morning after a tropical storm in New Orleans, Louisiana, one can find the streets and sidewalks flooded with two items. The first is old Marti Gras beads, which have dropped out of trees and washed out of storm drains, and the other is a broken, inside-out umbrella.

As the weather begins to change into the fall and winter seasons, a resource that becomes useful is none other than the umbrella. This unique invention has helped humans to adapt and evolve to the harsh conditions of rain, sun, snow, and sleet, becoming a necessary need in society today.

In order to know why it is still important today, we must first understand the history of its invention. The umbrella was first used as a portable roof to keep the sun off of the most elite Chinese and Egyptians about 4,000 years ago as a status symbol. More recently the umbrella became more popular as wax was added and the “portable roof” became a waterproof roof. In the 19^th century these became popular in Europe and the umbrella became a fashion accessory popular with women.

As time has progressed humans have come to rely on this very object for everyday use. Umbrellas are used on patio’s for pool parties, on stormy days to stay dry and as accessories.

Not only has the umbrella helped humans to evolve, but umbrellas themselves have evolved. From the original portable shade, to rain-repellant roofs, and now to decorative everyday objects. Umbrella’s come in simple plain colors, to polka dots, and Burberry. They have preceded their purpose and turned into something so much more: an everyday icon: a household item.

Photo on the left from: http://mulberrystreet.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/umbrella-on- 125th.jpg

Photo in middle from: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3104/2890574360_715c544587_b.jpg

Photo on the right from:http://hijabtrendz.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/picture-101.png

History of Umbrella: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/26690/the_history_of_the_umbrella.html

Window Displays

During the holiday season the world turns into a glowing, jingling, white wonderland, and it is no wonder that it is the time where people spend the most money. Window displays range from simple to ornate, but no matter the level, they seem to have a very strong effect on whether one will buy a product or not.
In large cities like New York and Los Angeles people like Simon Doonan, who is the creative director of Barney’s New York, make their bread and butter from constructing elaborate displays such as the one displayed on the left. These professionals must have knowledge of lighting and exhibition techniques and have to compete to claim the title of the best in order to achieve positions of such high status. Knowing that information, it is amazing to think that the power of window displays were ever overlooked, although it happens all the time.
These displays have helped to materialize the world today, and create a more competitive fight for business during the holidays. It is the reason the phrase “window shopping” was invented, although it is hard to take the term literally when the displays create such desire for the products being advertised. Window displays work with one’s emotionals to market to them in an irrational manner. As a result one is very vulnerable to cave into this scheme which makes window dressing a very smart technique to sell, sell, sell!
So next time you see a very well dressed window, think about the hard work that goes into the overall masterpiece, the product it is selling, and the effect it is supposed to have on your emotions. Do this and you might find you can appreciate the display for all it is, and maybe without spending irrationally.

Gil Draper Exhibit

The Salinas Art Gallery, located in Salinas, California and home to Salinas Valley local artists, is a one of a kind gallery. It is artist run and owned and includes much of the rich history of it’s geographical. The gallery features many artists with varying mediums and techniques creating one very special experience for the art enthusiast or anyone that can enjoy the beauty of the natural world. One specific exhibit on display at this time is the Archival Pigment collection created by Gil Draper a photographer. This specific medium of printing is also known as Giclee and has not been around for very long at all, having originated in 1991. This specific method of printing using pigments creates an interesting type of photograph which appears to be ambiguous to whether one’s eyes are seeing a photograph or a painting.
This trickery of the eye creates an unusual fascination, that draws the viewer to the print taking away any desire to look away. This particular artist Gil Draper used the theme of the Monterey Bay to create fantastical prints where lines are indefinite between sky, sea, and sand. This particular subject is one that all can enjoy and is able to manipulate the human eye effortlessly. It is this combination of interesting subject that the viewer can relate to, with exploitation of the eye which makes this art form come to life, and important to the world today.

To view more of Gil Draper's work visit: www.pbase.com/gildra