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05:39:53 pm on November 7, 2008 |
I briefly interviewed one of my friends who had decided not to go down to Grant Park on election night.
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03:38:01 pm on November 1, 2008 |
Car Art. Is it aesthetically pleasing or incredibly garish?
Would You add 'Modern Hero' by the artist, MAD to your car?
Recently, I read an article from the Chicago Tribune website about a San Fransisco-based company called Infectious Art.
According to the article, Infectious Art allows its customers to choose a design for their car, order it from the website, and then install the product themselves. Furthermore, the site says that the art will stay intact through the harshest of weather conditions for two years.
For those who are easily bored with having one design, the site even offers a video with simple instructions on how to remove the art.
But, why stop there? According to the sites’ offical blog , In addition to cars, one can also add art to his/or her walls, and laptop computers. I wonder what they’ll think of next!
'Flight To Rythm' by Eric Otto
You can read the full story Car Art story.
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10:06:29 pm on October 28, 2008 |
Side note: Ok, I know this doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with Chicago, but it still pertains to art. I just wanted to share something interesting and strange that I saw when I went home this weekend.
One of many hidden 'fairy doors' in Ann Arbor.
The pint-sized doors are so small, that at first glance, one might fail to notice them. However, a closer look will reveal an elaborately-decorated work of art known simply as a ‘Fairy door.’
Yes, I know what you’re thinking. Fairy…what?!
Truth be told, little is known about these mysterious doors. Located in downtown Ann Arbor Michigan, someone (No one I have talked to knows who the artist is) has been hiding these miniature pieces of art throughout the city for a number of years.
Whether positioned on the side of someone’s building, or inside of a local cafe, over 15 doors have been spotted in Ann Arbor. Each door has a unique shape and appearance. And according to one woman that I spoke with, sometimes the doors vanish from their original locations and reappear somewhere else.
Poster Display in Sweetwater's Cafe
Inside of a cafe called ‘Sweetwater’s,’ someone has posted a map, displaying all of the known locations for the doors, so that one may go on a scavenger hunt.
Why, you wonder; are they called ‘fairy doors’? According to one source, the name originates from an Urban legend about the existence of…fairies. Again, I know what you’re thinking. I was just as perplexed (as you probably are) when I first heard about them this weekend.
A 'Fairy Door' located outside 'The Ark' building.
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11:22:58 am on October 25, 2008 |
Here’s the second half of my interview with Chicago artist, Emily Bentrup. I apologize in advance for the lack of personal photos. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to meet up, due to our schedules.
(continued from last post)
A photograph 'Ghost' by one of Bentrup's favorite artists, Sam Taylor-Wood
JB: Who is an artist that inspires you?
EB: I have focused on not only Graphic Design as a student, but also photography, video, and painting. While I have several artists that have inspired me in different aspects of my art (fine artists like photographer Sam Taylor Wood or the cubist-era work ofPicasso), it’s really hard for me to pinpoint a specific artist that has inspired my Design work. Design is really crazy that way. It’s probably the main field in art that doesn’t always give recognition to the artist. Because it takes shape in packaging or identity (logos) or billboards, you will know what it’s selling or calling attention to; but you can always look on the back to see the designer’s name. Therefore, I can be truly inspired by something I see (when I walk into a store or log onto a website) and never know who specifically is responsible. And while the field may be a little thankless in that way, it’s also amazing because it means that inspiration is everywhere.
JB: How do you see the Art scene in Chicago?
EB: I think Chicago has one of the more vibrant art scenes in the country. There is so much going on all the time (always a gallery opening or a concert going on) but because it’s in a Midwest, I feel like it may be more accessible than some other cities likeNew York. There are more opportunities for all kinds of people to express themselves.
JB: What is the best thing about being an artist?
EB: The best and probably more frustrating thing about being an artist is that it’s not a profession that you can leave at the office. It’s something I can’t turn off because everything around me drives me to find some creative way to respond. I can find inspiration in anything and everything. It’s a constant in my life. Coming up with a great piece of work is like a puzzle that consumes you. It’s something that you can’t stop thinking about (sometimes I even dream about Photoshop). But when you find the right answer, it’s one of the most rewarding feelings.
JB: Why did you decide to pursue a career as an artist?
EB: I have always been obsessed with finding creative outlets… redecorating my room, playing guitar and singing, writing poetry…. so it was natural that I would try to pursue it as a career. It was never a question. My parents are both artists, my dad is actually a graphic designer too; and they always supported my interest in art. Sometimes when I would feel uninspired (like a writer with writer’s block) or nervous that I wouldn’t be able to support myself as an artist, I would wonder what if I decided to start a career in science instead. But I just know that nothing would fulfill me the way that design does. It’s something I will always need to make my fulltime interest; and now that I work fulltime in the field and am able to make it a living, I know it was definitely the right decision for me.
JB: What is something that you hope to accomplish as an artist?
EB: My biggest goal is to open my own design studio someday and create work that will really be appreciated on a large scale. But more immediately, I just want to absorb every experience while working in the field in order to become a better designer. Furthermore, my biggest hope for right now is to get something published in a design magazine like Print or HOW.
One of Bentrup's goals is to be featured in top design magazine 'HOW'
One of Bentrup's favorite Design magazines, 'Print' Magazine
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10:19:44 pm on October 21, 2008 |
Emily Bentrup, a graphic design major who graduated from DePaul last March, was nice enough to take time out of her busy schedule to talk about her experiences at DePaul and the creative methods she used to discourage students from illegal downloading.
JB: Can you describe your experience at DePaul University? What were some of your favorite classes?
EB: I think DePaul gave me an awesome balance between art and more academic experiences. In order to be a great artist, you need to be aware of the world around you… all aspects of it, not only art. I was able to gain a well-rounded education and experience some amazing professors. I was in the Honors Program, so I was able to take really challenging and rewarding classes for my general requirements and decided to fill all of my other classes with art classes. I was able to take almost every design class offer as well as a number of fine art and media classes. Advanced Imaging, ADIII: Client and Community, as well as the Honors Philosophy class I took my freshman year were the ones that really had a lasting affect on me. And while the design program is small and growing, I really feel like I was able to get the absolute most out of what DePaul and my professors had to offer.
JB: On your AIGA profile, you mention that you have worked on a number of client projects for DePaul. I was wondering what was you favorite or most memorable experience that you had working on these projects?
EB: my favorite and more valuable experience was working as the Art Director of DePaul’s literary, art, and audio book Threshold for two years. As a senior, I was responsible for designing the entire book design and helping choose the art pieces featured within. Although it was stressful, I learned more from that project than any other; and it has really given me the real-life experience that was needed for my current job (I’m at Art Director at a branding and advertising agency downtown). Working on Threshold, I got to create something that really celebrated and showcased the amazingly talented students we have at DePaul.
JB: How do you get the ideas for your art work?
EB: I do a lot of research and brainstorm sketching where I just jot down any idea I have because it will lead somewhere beyond the initial, and usually clichéd, ideas what come to mind at the start of a project. Additionally, for design especially it’s important to check out what’s going on in order to create contemporary design or maybe start the next trend. Magazines like Print, HOW, and Communication Arts are amazing starting points to get your mind thinking about design.
JB: I love the creativity and the colors that you used for your ‘design in Action project.’ How did the idea for this project come about?
EB: This project was for a design class at DePaul where real clients came to our classes and asked us to offer our services to their cause. I decided to work on this project brought to us by the Dean of Students and Residential Education. They were concerned about the huge effect that illegal downloading was having one campuses across and country, including DePaul. Rather than lecture students about the moral issues surrounding illegal downloading, we wanted to really make them aware about how it could directly effect them because students at DePaul campus were being targeted. I came up with the idea of showing each of the nine dorms and having specific call-outs so that students who lived in those dorms would feel a real connection to the message, as well as interact by maybe trying to find their own dorm room or name. The colors had to be bold and bright in order to grab attention right away when the students were constantly given messages on dorm walls… this one needed to stand out so they would actually get the important message.
( you can view the above project here
JB: I like the way you incorporated the statistics about illegal downloading at DePaul in your project. How did you obtain them? Did you get to talk with any of the students who were mentioned in these statistics?
EB: I did a lot of research about illegal downloading and the RIAA’s attempt to stop it by heavily fining as many people as they could to make a point; and college campuses were there number one target. Statistics that effected DePaul’s campus were available from the Dean of Students, but the ones shown are the poster were exaggerated in order to get students aware of how much they could be effected. I didn’t speak to specific students that had been charged, but DePaul had over 30 students sued for thousands of dollars in just one year. After the posters went up, that number dropped to 12 students. So I see the project as a big success and was happy to save a lot of students from having to deal with legal issues and huge fines.
(To be continued…)
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08:31:49 pm on October 17, 2008 |
JB: Who is an artist that you admire/ or an artist that has influenced you?
MI: As a young designer, I very much respect the work and accomplishments of Carlos Segura. His means of creatively connecting fine art to commercial art is incredibly interesting to me and something that I relate to, as with my own background as a fine artist turned graphic designer. As a fine artist, I have been influenced by Vincent Van Gogh, Salvador Dali, and Rene Magrite. During my early years in high school, I was exposed to Surrealistic Art and Impressionism and shared a deep connection with the unconventional thinking of these artists. More recently in the past few years, I’ve come to greatly admire and respect the work of Chicago artist, Ivan Albright and his fascinating obsession with death and decay. I tend to be quite a bit of a perfectionist myself but Albright’s meticulous attention to detail is more than stunning. It is absolutely beautiful and breathtaking.
JB: Do you have a favorite piece of art work that you have done? Why is it your favorite?
MI: My favorite design pieces are “Culture Clash” {further details in Question 10} and the Sharper Image print ad series titled, “Grandma Jean” and “Cigarette Battle”. Those are just some of the pieces that I very much enjoyed working on and connected with greatly. I felt that I was able to convey the concept efficiently and successfully into an appealing, creative result. As for my favorite fine art pieces, it would be “Glass” and “Direct Observation: Skull”. “Glass” was a direct study exercise using graphite pencils to draw a random arrangement of glass vases, some containing water. It is extremely challenging to draw the illusion of glass. I felt that this piece gave me some worthwhile challenges and taught me some valuable lessons. “Direct Observation: Skull” is a charcoal piece of another still-life challenge. I felt the biggest challenge was to manipulate the medium so as to create an illusion of flowing fabric with soft, delicate folds. This was also a great exercise in strengthening my artistic abilities. Due to the challenges of this piece and being able to overcome these challenges are what makes it one of my favorite pieces.
JB: Your work has been featured in a number of different art shows. Can you describe that experience?
MI: I have been submitting and exhibiting my art work since the fourth grade and the same excitement, astonishment, and fulfillment still comes over me every time. There is something very satisfying and rewarding in having the opportunity to expose my art to an audience who then may appreciate it, connect with it, or simply enjoy it.
JB: Do you plan to stay in Chicago?
MI: Yes, I do plan to stay in Chicago at this point in my life. I am originally from Schaumburg, a Northwest suburb, but I much prefer living in the city. Again, my inspiration is influenced heavily from my everyday surroundings and Chicago is much more interesting visually. I currently work as an in-house/corporate graphic designer for a well-established company downtown and also work as a freelance designer for my own personal business when time permits.
JB: I love all of the attention to details that you include in your art work. I was wondering what is the most time-consuming type of design or art project that you’ve been asked to do?
MI:I can think of 2 off the top of my head…
In an advanced studio class, I completed a large-scale drawing on illustration board in layers after layers of colored pencils. This piece is titled, “Siblings” and it has been featured in a variety of art shows and literary magazine. The project was rather freeform in that I was able to use a medium of my choice as well as the dimension and materials. The purpose of this project was to communicate nostalgia and reminiscence. I am a person who needs to challenge myself constantly and this is why I went for such a large scale for a colored pencil piece. The project took me a solid 2 months to complete which included working on it for a few hours daily.
In Senior Design Capstone, one of my last design classes that I took at DePaul, we were assigned a large-scale poster piece that took the entire quarter to complete. The poster piece was based off of a 10-page research paper that we first had to write. The topic assigned was, “The intersection of public and private space: my space / your space / our space / their space”. Due to the topic involved, this was another piece that heavily involved my culture, identity crisis and the impact it had on me as an artist as well as an individual. The final result of this poster combines various photographic images with a creative play in typography as a means of communication. The piece is titled, “Deteriorating” and was chosen to be featured on the Integrated Arts Initiative website.
JB: What advice would you give to other aspiring artists?MI: As cliché as this may sound, follow your passion and don’t give up if you really love it. You will probably come across many obstacles that may make you doubt your talents and even yourself but I found that it takes a great deal of practice, persistence, and patience to be an artist. Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself and aim for continuous development in your knowledge and abilities.
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06:44:38 pm on October 14, 2008 |
Chicago artist Miku Ishii is a graduate from DePaul University who specializes in Graphic Design and fine art. I found her work to be particularly interesting, and beautiful. Along with careful attention to details, Miku’s unique cultural background (Miku is Japanese-American) is often incorporated into her work.
I have posted the first part of my interview with her.
Two of Miku’s favorite works of art, which she created, can be viewed at her official website.cultureclash.jpg and
glass.jpgJB: Why did you decide to pursue a career as an artist?
MI:I feel as if it had picked me! I started drawing very early in my childhood and have been exercising my artistic abilities for as long as I can remember! I honestly don’t know what I would do if I wasn’t an artist or how I would be able to control the constant creative thoughts that seem to flow through my mind at all odd times of the day. I chose to stay true to myself and follow my dreams in pursuing a career in the visual arts because it is the one thing that I am very passionate about. It is my first love and I think it will always be a part of who I am. In many ways, my art defines me. No one can ever take away my deep fascination with the visual arts and the skills and knowledge that I have gained over the years.
JB: How do you feel when you’re painting?
MI: Complete serenity. It’s as if I’m in a trance. Time suddenly stops, and better yet, stops mattering. Many a nights have I experienced being so deeply focused in my work that I hadn’t realized that the night had already passed. It’s an amazing feeling to be completely alone in my own world, yet be so indescribably therapeutic and soothing to be there
JB: I was wondering if you could describe your experience at DePaul University? What classes did you most enjoy taking?
MI: My experience at DePaul University was challenging, memorable, stressful, and invigorating all at once. Oddly enough, I came to DePaul intending to pursue a major in Pre-Pharmacy. I have always been a quiet, secretly creative individual from a very young age, yet due to the pressures of being raised within a Japanese culture and to please my family, I was being dishonest with myself. I was miserable not being able to channel my creativity. I soon focused my attention back to the visual arts and started taking beginning art courses. My most memorable classes were Intermediate Drawing and Beginning Painting from being fortunate enough to have such a reputable teacher, Matthew Girson. My favorite class was Electronic Toolbox and Advertising Design with Ray Lee, another great professor that never stopped pushing my skills and conceptual thinking. The most provocative class I took was Honors Junior Seminar on Diversity with Dr. Richard Schaefer, a respectable man who graciously accepted my bi-cultural background and published my story in 2 of his books.
JB: How do you get your ideas for your projects? How does your heritage influence your art work?
MI: Growing up as a fine artist, my ideas frequently developed from emotional and personal experiences. I found it therapeutic and peaceful, as well as a way of escape from the culture clash and identity crisis that seem to be my constant battles as a teenager and young adult. As a graphic designer, I feel that there is more conceptual and technical thinking involved. For the most part, I look for inspiration from my daily surroundings. My heritage has influenced my art work greatly, both in fine art and in design. My bi-cultural identity has forced me to experience rare difficulties and challenges that have in return made me a stronger, more refined individual. I struggle a lot with the fact that I am an alien in my country of birth as well as in the country that I’ve learned to adapt to. When I first came to the U.S. as a 6-year old, I was unable to speak a word of English and faced a harsh degree of racism. I never quite fit in anywhere or was fully accepted by anyone outside my family, which lead me to channel my inner feelings to the visual arts. The extent of emotion that I have encountered is much too powerful to express in one piece of art form, which is why so much of my work stem from my heritage
JB: ‘Culture Clash’ immediately caught my attention. I was wondering if you could talk about how you came up for the idea of the project, and the process of creating it.
MI: “Culture Clash” is a piece that I created in one of the more advanced design classes at DePaul. The topic was open to whatever the designer wanted as well as the dimension. The only guideline was to make it into a 20 page saddle-stitched book. “Culture Clash” is a book based on a range of emotion. The range of emotion represented goes in order from the start of my journey as a 6-year old moving overseas to a completely foreign country and ends with the person that I am today. I used and credited the text to “The Book of Qualities” by J. Ruth Gendler, as I was inspired by her writing and her way of expression on various human emotion. All of the images included are from my own personal collection or were shot by myself in order to best convey my thoughts. The early stages of this piece started as a series of sketches with both hand-drawn and written details encompassing each page. The sketches then went into a series of mock-ups where the intended images and text were included. These successions of ideas were then executed on the computer using a combination of Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. During the process of putting it together graphically, it went through an initial one-on-one critique with the Professor and then a group critique, with a third and final critique upon completion of the project. There was some hands-on production skills involved as well as I printed the pages myself in the correct sequence on heavy matter paper and cut the borders with an exacto knife. I then scored, folded, and bound the pages together as a saddle-stitch (staples down the middle). “Culture Clash” was featured in the juried exhibition of the DePaul Student Gallery Art Show 2006-2007 and won an award for “Excellence in Graphic Design”.
(To be continued)
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10:18:39 pm on October 10, 2008 |
Has the economic crisis affected Chicago artists and the industry for which they work? I pondered this question after reading an article from an online publication The Art Newspaper. The article titled ‘Sign of things to come?’ by Melanie Gerlis, details the recent decrease in profits at New York art auctions, as well as auctions in France and Korea. According to the article, with stocks falling, a great number of art buyers are expected to stop purchasing.
If this trend continues will Chicago be one of the next markets to be affected? From what I’ve gathered so far, it seems only time will tell.
I recently had the chance to interview Chicago artist and DePaul graduate Miku Ishii (full interview to come next time, so keep an eye out) about her thoughts on the art scene in Chicago. She said:
“I find the Chicago art scene to be limitless and liberating. I take advantage of my favorite places like the Art Institute and the Museum of Contemporary Arts. I’ve also experienced Around the Coyote Art Festivals and gallery-hopping in River North. There’s not a day that I drive around the neighborhood or downtown around my work and not see a cool billboard or a clever bus shelter advertisement. I think Chicago has some great art resources for inspiration and innovative ideas. “
You can read the full article from The Art Newspaper here
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02:26:30 pm on October 2, 2008 |
I am excited to report that I just received an email from a Chicago artist named Miku Ishii. Miku graduated from the art program at DePaul University last winter with a major in graphic design. According to her official website, Miku’s work has been featured in several art shows and literary publications. Two of Miku’s art works were featured in DePaul University’s art gallery. Miku said she currently works as an in-house/corporate graphic designer for a real estate agency. In addition, Miku said that she is also a freelancer. Since this was my first exchange with Miku, hopefully I’ll be able to do a more extensive interview with her in order to find out more about her background as an artist.
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04:46:09 pm on September 27, 2008 |
I am a curious person by nature. Whenever I pass a small store that I’ve never heard of, I want to stop by and check it out.
Additionally, I have always had a fascination with visual art and the artists who create it. When I heard about the class project, I decided to combine my curiosity with my interest in art. Thus, this blog aims to explore Lincoln Park’s art galleries, gift shops, and boutiques.
Not only do I want to discuss the fascinating shops and the artwork that I hope to find, but I want to profile the artists, their stories, and their experiences. Above all, I want to get an idea of what it’s like to be an artist in Lincoln Park, IL.
