Design in Our Lives

Field Trip #2

 

For our second trip to the MOMA, we had to look for pieces involving functionality. By functionality I mean if the object is practical.We had to look at four pieces of functionality, two that are considered high functionality and two that are low functionality. High functionality meaning it can be useful and low meaning it's not too practical.

 

For high functionality I chose "Truck: Utility 1/4 Ton 4 x 4 (M38A1) Jeep" manufactured by Willys-Overland Motors,Inc., Toledo, Ohio. The Jeep was used by the Army during World War 2. It's considered the best military jeep ever built due to the lack of doors making it easy to jump out or rush back in the jeep. The jeep's parts are designed for quick assembly and replacement; the top and the wheels can be removed and stacked, and the cars can be arranged like boxes for easy transport. The overall height is low, and the windshield can be folded down on the hood. This piece is still very ergonomic but was more useful when it first came out. The second piece I chose is "Tuttuno" (All-in-one-living system) made by Carlo Bimbi, Gianni Ferrerara, and Nilo Giocchini.It contains a pull out bed, table, drawers, and shelves below an elevated pit. This piece is perfect for a small apartment, studio, loft, or for a kids bedroom. It's useful because, you have a sleeping,eating,and entertainment setup all in one and it saves space.Both pieces serve a purpose for people and are beneficial.They also are helpful with time or space. With "Truck: Utility 1/4 Ton 4 x 4 (M38A1) Jeep" the components of the parts can easily be removed and put in boxes and the non-existent doors make it faster to jump out or in. As for "Tuttuno" you save space because instead of having a separate bedroom,eating,and entertainment center you have it together. It also saves time because, you don't have to walk around your living area since everything is together.

 

 

"Stars and Doves" by Antoni Gaudi and produced by Amigos de Gaudi personally is low functionality.It cannot be used to help you with a daily activity, it cannot physically be useful. It was used for Church for the people to admire."Paper Folding" by Fannie E. Kachline is another example of low functionality. I consider this low because, it doesn't serve a purpose that can help people. It's only pretty to the eye it doesn't serve as a useful object. Both pieces don't have a physical purpose and they can't be useful, which is why I chose them as low functionality. For "Stars and Doves" I would make it more ergonomic by putting a bird bath on it since it would be outside where animal life is. That way instead of it being there to be admired it can be used by birds. As for "Paper Folding" I don't think there is much you can do that would make it ergonomic.

 

In conclusion,I think art and design are two separate ideas. Just because you design something doesn't necessarily mean it's 'art'. For example a regular plate or cup would be considered just a design but, a fancy plate with designs on it can be considered art. To be a good design I think the design needs to be highly functional. It's a design therefor it has a purpose so it should be very useful.

 

HIGH FUNCTIONALITY

 

Willys-Overland Motors Inc.

"Truck:: Utility 1/4 Ton 4 x 4 (M38A1) Jeep"

Steel body

Established in 1909

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carlo Bimbi, Gianni Ferrerara,Nilo Giocchini

"Tuttuno"

Plywood covered with plastic laminate

1971

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOW FUNCTIONALITY

 Antoni Gaudi

"Stars and Doves"

 Plaster

1958

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fannie E. Kachline

"Paper Folding"

Various materials

1890

 

 

 

 



 



“Art and Identity: The Museum of Modern Art

Field Trip #1

       On October 3rd as a class we visited the MOMA in the city. We had to look for pieces that involved
either personal identity, cultural identity, or historical identity. Personal identity, meaning an art work that relates to the artist or an experience in his life. Cultural identity means an art work based on ethnicity, religion, or even gender. And historical identity, art work pertaining to a certain time period.

For individual identity I chose "Nan and Brian in Bed" by Nan Goldin. In the picture Goldin is seen gazing at Brian while he is smoking a cigarette. This picture is personal for many reasons, one being that the artist is in the picture and so is her lover Brian. This notion of identity differs from the other pieces because, it's a photograph instead of a painting or figure, it's more personal and easier to interpret the meaning for the art piece. This piece doesn't really overlap or have anything in common with the other pieces.

"Suited for Subversion" by Ralph Borland is an example of cultural identity, which was apart of the exhibition for Contemporary Galleries:1980's-Now. It was created as a protest tool that could provide protection from police batons during protest events, and at the same time serve to creatively disarm any baton wielders that protesters might confront. Borland was inspired by the work of other activists and demonstrators who wear protective clothing and make creative use of tools and technologies for protest. This is a form of cultural identity because, it involves a special interest group such as the activists and protesters. This piece differs from the others because, it's more of  a sculpture or a figure instead of a picture or painting. This art work however could be considered individual identity because, it's referring to the artists' subject and an experience he went through in his life.

And lastly, "Three Woman at the Spring" by Pablo Picasso is form of historical identity. The piece was created in the Summer of 1921, the idea was that after World War I, French society wanted to reestablish its roots with the grand tradition and sculptural vision of the human figure. You estimate the time of the painting being made because, of what the women are wearing, the vases they are holding, and by the technique of the painting. This painting differs from the other artworks because, it's an abstract piece of art rather than a piece that looks realistic. As for overlapping, this piece can also be personal or cultural. Personal because, the artist painted a picture of what he saw during his lifetime which would be considered an experience. As for cultural, what they are wearing and the vases they are holding show the lifestyle of people back in the 1920's.

In conclusion, these pieces that I chose seem to have more differences with each other than in common. Also, all three works have meanings that we can relate to; for example the photograph "Nan and Brian in Bed" is relate-able because, it involves loves and romance which a lot of people have experienced and can understand the reasoning for Nan gazing at Brian. Although these pieces are different from each other their meaning is quite understanding. Especially when it comes to abstract art it's not always easy to interpret the meaning for the piece but with "Three Woman at the Spring" you can distinguish that there is three women who don't look too modern.

Three Artworks:

                                                                 -Nan Goldin

                                                                 -"Nan and Brian in Bed"

                                                                 -Silver Dye Bleach Print

                                                                 -1983

-

-Ralph Borland

-"Suited for Subversion"

-Nylon-reinforced PVC,padding,speaker,pulse reader

-2002

-Pablo Picasso

-"Three Woman at the Spring"

-Oil on canvas

-1921