Group Critique Response February 4th

I couldn't wait for the people in our group to post an group critique blog entry, so I am putting all my responses in this post, along with the names of my peers who presented this past Friday.

Kelly McGovern:
As one of my good friends and a roommate, I of course enjoy all her work and enjoy watching her grow as a designer and a good person. Her thesis project is a great reflection of the kind of person she is...She is very observant and interested in the intricacies and complexities of the human condition, specifically how memory and the past shapes who we are today and who we will be in the future.
I was asked to be one of the participants in her thesis project, where I filled out 2 paper forms, the first asking to draw a memory and the second asking to describe who I am. My important memory was of course sports, specifically basketball. I was extremely dedicated since 3rd grade, and it helped shaped the kind of hard working and efficient person I am today.
I used many adjectives, both good and bad, to describe myself. I am excited to see how Kelly's book will turn out. I suggested during the critique to consider sound and lighting as an accessory aspect, perhaps to amplify the experience of the viewer interaction.
Since a book is not exactly the most attention grabbing thing in a room, I am thinking maybe the sound or lighting can attract the viewers to the area. Maybe Kelly can design some kind of signage, like arrows or footprints or flyers as well.

Tika Prospere: Tika presented photos and video footage of her trip to The Caribbean...She explained her ancestral connections as well as her experience with Rastafarian culture and food. Being that I am extremely interested in learning about other cultures, I really like her documentary and informal record of her experiences. I do not know much about the work put into editing, but I agree with Derek when he said to clean up and edit out the extra noise. Since Tika is not as exposed to contemporary artists as others, we suggested alot of artists to research. I suggested Kara Walker, a successful African American artist. She was featured on an episode of Art 21 called "Stories" which I feel is a direction Tika is working towards. She addresses issues of incest, rape, discrimination, slavery, discrimination, and racism all through a fairy tale like art form. She makes black silhouette drawings and cuts them out to stick on the gallery wall. They are twisted and horrible subject matter but the imagery and presentation is very playful and Disney-like. I feel Tika can find inspiration through her gallery installations with bright and colorful lighting and direct gallery wall interaction.


Katherine Meyerink- Katherine presented her photographs of her ill father. I am captivated by the emotion and tenderness of the imagery, and find myself feeling compassionate and heartbroken. I would like to see the pictures on a larger scale, and perhaps a sound feature to add another sensory experience. Perhaps her father talking, his favorite kind of music, or Katherine herself narrating. I do not think an installation of home and heirloom objects will be too necessary, since the home interior is a strong presence in her photography.


Pavol Olsavsky- Pavol presented 3 paintings dealing with irony. One was of naked people in times square, one was of people wrestling by the Eiffel tower, and other was of a group of people in a subway station. I enjoy his lively and impressionistic brushwork, as well as his skilled color palette. We discussed the possibility of pushing the irony even further, and amplifying the color and contrast of his palette. I have never had a class with Pavol, but from what I have seen, he seems interested in landscapes, cityscapes, and architecture. Perhaps he could investigate the effect time has on landscapes and outdoor monuments.