Art History

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What I learned this quarter

Ok, so I wasn’t planning on any great learning happening this quarter… 5 classes, several of which I have either had or even taught before.  However, it ended up providing more learning opportunities than expected!

  • Typography is a pretty cool subject! (Thanks Kevin! Great teacher!)
  • 30 hours working a job while carrying a full class load is too much (how do people do it?)
  • Syncretism in Christianity is still going on today (look at the attempt by Christian leaders to balance just how much the faithful should embrace current culture and bring it into our lives including the splits over lifestyles to the music such as Christian rock.)
  • I love history! 
  • Sculpture and architecture is much more interesting than I thought.
  • Sometimes you have to jump through hoops and spend a lot of unnecessary money to get a degree and I am working at not resenting that.
  • Web Design was the right choice after all.
  • I love writing (oh…I knew that)
  • I still do not like marketing even though I had fun with my topic.
  • Whatever made me get an Associates in Business anyway?  What was I thinking?
  • I don’t like writing scripts or much of anything to do with advertising.
  • I do love the learning experience!
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Painting with Light

This one, according to the instructor, was a pleasure to view (which was my intent) but was a bit light on written content, so I took a small hit for that.  There is a lot of reading and, yes, learning that goes into these presentations.  I just need to spend more time sharing that learning.

That’s ok… I really enjoyed putting it together and have a new-found appreciation of the great medieval cathedrals! 

Click the link to view:  Painting with Light: Medieval Cathedrals

Spanish Cathedral

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A Nun in Medieval Times?

We had to write up what a typical day would be like for us in the Medieval times.  All the women were writing about typical farm life and I wanted to do something different (of course!)  When I got to thinking about it, I really doubted that I would be a typical farmer’s wife.  Sooo… what do you think???  Plausible?  How well do you know me?  <big grin>

Continue reading →

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Early Christian Art – The Pagan Influence

The Good Shepherd slide

My Powerpoint tour for this week covers the first 5 centuries after Christ.  The only problem with Art History online is that we have to read a lot and assimilate the information for thousands of years in the span of 5 weeks.   This whirlwind schedule makes it harder to create a guided tour of the years we are covering each week!

This particular study was as fascinating as the Egyptian tour last week, but there was not enough time to delve deep into it.  I love history!  We get to choose our own topics.  The premise for this week’s tour is to look at how ancient mythology and cultural beliefs impacted early Christian art.  The term for that blending is “syncretism”.

You can access the full tour through the link below:

Garvin_Sheri_W3A3_Tour

I usually tell you when a teacher gives me feedback for correcting things; however, can I put the teacher’s response in here without sounding “full of it”?  This was the most gracious feedback I think I have ever received on something I have worked hard on.  It was a thrill to read it and made the hours of research worth it!  I am humbled because I did not think it was quite that good (it was such a rush job) but I loved his appreciation!

“AWESOME WORK!  This is one of the most original tours I’ve ever gotten, and using the theme of the pagan influences on Early Christian art is simply brilliant.  What a fantastic exploration of the syncretism occurring in this early period of Christian art!  Thoroughly enjoyable read.”  Jeremy Hockett, Instructor, The Art Institute

Thank you, Mr. Hockett!!!

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The Fascinating Monastery at Sinai

One of my history assignments was to choose an Early Christian art piece or architecture and discuss the impact of having a patron.  The Monastery of St. Catherine in Egypt was quite intesting and has a rich history.

Something I found funny was the fact that it was built where they believe the original burning bush is located.  There is no other bush like this in all the world, from what I could gather, so that makes it a prime suspect for people.  Some photos show a fire extinguisher next to it… people are so funny.

The link below will pull up my overview of the patronism over the past 2000 years (don’t worry, it is not detailed and I only hit the highlights):

W3A2_Monastery

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Egypt and the Bible

As you recall, I am working 30 hours a week, so I am learning how to balance the whole work/life/homework “thing”.  Three weeks into it and I am loving the job, though!!! 

I am also loving my art history online course. There is a lot of writing involved, however, so I am only going to upload the projects that I think my audience (that is you!) would find interesting.

The New Kingdom Slide - Abraham-Joseph

Each week we have to write a Guided Tour covering 8 pieces of art with a definable theme in the era we are studying.  This week covered the ages before Christ.  I decided to explore Egyptian culture and coorelate it to what was going on in the Old Testament.

Clicking the link below will access my Powerpoint (in PDF form).

Garvin_Sheri_W2A3_EgyptTour

Added later:  During Spring break I found a very interesting writeup of the time of the Exodus, who was reigning, and what was going on in politics and the changes in religion in Egypt.

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Jacob Dobson – Sculptor

I admit, I chose to take my Art History class online in the second half of this quarter (starting 2/19) because I was sure it would be a boring course (totally forgetting that being in an art college would make a huge difference…duh!)  Unfortunately, the school would not allow my previous art credits to roll over, so this will be my second or third time through.  Let me correct that… it will now be my third or fourth time through.  No complaints though… repetition is needed with my brain!

However, I am a note taker for a student at the Art Institute (through the Work Study program).  This quarter I am taking notes in Jacob Dobson’s Art History class and am finding the note taking a mesmerizing task.  I get so caught up in his lectures, which are fascinating, that I have apologized to the student for the massive amounts of notes I am taking.   [Let me also mention that the online course and the ground courses are very different.  They are even studying different periods in time, so I am going to get a broad art history education this quarter!]

NOTE: Below is a photo of Jacob Dobson.  I snagged this off of a photo I found online at http://www.jacobdobson.com/

His outlook on life is also amusing and, I admit, I am in agreement with it so far.  (He has a very dim view of our current pop culture and it’s effects upon youthful minds.  I really get into his diatribes on the subject, but often wonder what the youthful minds around me are thinking.)  Up to now they (and me too… I just don’t have to take the tests) are studying the 1300s-1500s.  We sort of side tripped on the whole Rome-during-Michelangelo’s-time, which was quite delightful, in part because he went to Italy last year and gave us first hand experiences with the art pieces.  He gets excited about what we are studying and brings a new perspective to things I have seen in books for years.

In addition to being trained in painting, he is also a scuptor. Being more of a 2D artist, I find that intriguing.   Last week he showed us the steps taken in creating this life sized statue of a child that was commissioned from him, and it gave me a new appreciation of bronze sculptures.

Check out his blog and the huge doorway called “Articles of Faith” that he is in the beginning stages of creating!  It is already creating a stir and 2 of the panels are in a traveling art exhibit.

Needless to say, in the 3 quarters I have been here at this school, I have been quite pleased with the overall level of instructors!  A totally different experience than IUPUI in that the training is relevant, current, and personal, in addition to having teachers who are “doing” as well as teaching.