This week I was looking at an artist that does things a little differently than the works that we have been looking at. Unlike the artist this week, Martin John Callanan, who is working with digital art as a way to produce new media work, this artist moves away from that to experiment with something completely different. Michele Brody works with a different type of media to create her installations. Most of the time Brody is working within nature which is something we may not typically relate to new media art. She uses her installations to demonstrate constant change and illusion. A common theme you may notice when looking at her work is her use of grass. You can see it is present in a lot of her outdoor installations.
One of my favorite series that Brody has created is the "Elusive Walkways; Hilltop Path." I think this work is so intuitive. She creates intricate pathway designs in the most unlikely of places. Making the actual walk the way that the audience can interact with the artwork. The artwork becomes part of the landscape and the two work together in order to create the comprehensive piece.
Also, after viewing most of her work it was interesting then to look at her photography. Brody definitely has a developed style and clear message that is carried throughout all of her work. A lot of her work plays with what the audience perceives as real in order to create illusions. It's also refreshing to look at a new media artists who may not be using the newest technology but is still creating relevant and interesting work.
The “Elusive Walkways” series reminds me a lot of an artist I learned about back in my entry-level, art classes. Unfortunately, I can’t remember for the life of me who he was, but the artist would create these lines in nature and then document them with a photograph. The method that this artist would create these “lines,” however, was by walking over that particular area over and over until he wore away whatever was on top surface. A distinct record of this was a particular line of dirt he had created in a grass field after pacing over it until he killed off that areas grass.
ReplyDeleteBrody’s approach to art certainly is very unique and beautiful. Viewing some of the works she has created, I can’t help but think about what it would be like to see the world through her eyes, seeing such artistic manifestations twisted into the most unexpected environments. Compared to the videos about how technology is advancing, it’s extremely refreshing the way Brody redefines the coexistence of nature. One particular installation that stuck with me was the piece titled “Garden Forest” where a black room filled with Plexiglas tubes illuminated like candles housed 35 living plants.
ReplyDeleteMichele’s work is very interesting to look at and would be interesting to see in person. I really wish I could see her bus station stained glass piece in real life. It would be really pretty to see as the sun was setting and the light was reflecting through the glass. I feel that her work on the manhole covers are my favorite piece overall. Everyone passes by the ugly manhole covers during their commute to class or to work. If the covers were a more interesting design, it would add so much more culture and richness to our environment. Thanks for sharing this artist with the class.
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