Studio 23

 

Studio 23

The Arts Center

This was my first visit to Studio 23 in Bay City and I can definitely see myself going again. During my visit they were displaying local artist. The faculty and students that enjoy the classes offered at Studio 23 also had work on display. Going into this visit I was not sure what to expect, I knew what the gallery was going to consist of but was I going to enjoy the experience. I am not a huge critic of art, I feel like I  can look at something and appreciate it just because I know the time and thought that goes into these pieces and the courage it would take to submit your work for people to see and admire, and sometimes critique. I was so pleasantly surprised to see so many pieces for sale and so many great pieces. There was much to see and enjoy but there were two pieces that really stuck out to me and I am going to share those. 

Silver and Yellow Roses

    This piece is an oil painted created by an Artist named Jim Todd. This piece stood out to me because I am a sucker for realism and the yellow roses were so eye catching. The blending in this piece is so well done, it feels like you are looking at a tea pot on the table with yellow roses surrounding it. It feels like a picture. The highlighted areas and the shading, work so well together that this looks three dimensional. They depth and proportions are also well done. there is not an angle that feels out of proportion. To me this piece is a beauty pieces and is going to be admired. It makes me feel happy, and I just enjoy this piece. From afar and up close it just feels genuine. 

Message Received

    This piece was created by an artist named Emily Rivard, this is also an oil painting. I chose this piece because I felt like it was something that could have been found in our text book. It feel like a piece that is meant to be interpreted. Without the title of the painting I feel like you could some to the conclusion that this piece is about receiving or coming to understand a message that has been sent to you. Whether that message is written down or verbal, it is coming to understand what that message means. In this case, I feel like the "message" will be different depending on the viewer. The paining itself gives no indication what kind of message the artist is referring to, an emotional message, a hurtful message, one of sadness. They facial expression seems pretty blank to me so I feel like the viewer can connect in a way that whatever is going on in their life will be the message they think of. I enjoy a piece that makes you think and reflect. 

    The visual side of this pieces the elements of shape, lines, color, and space can be easily seen. Shape, with the mailbox itself giving a specific shape, the face you can find circles and triangles that blend to make the shape of the face. This colors are mostly neutral, except for the red mailbox flag, that indicates something is inside the mailbox, is a vibrant red. The route the message has taken, in the form of a white paper airplane, is also a vibrant red to draw attention and made with lines. 

The space in the background is mostly dark which allows the attention to be drawn to focal point in the center. I stood and enjoyed this piece for a few minutes, thinking about what message I have resonantly received, that I am coming to understand. I thought about what the artist might have been thinking, if they wanted a viewer like myself to come to a realization while looking at this piece. Knowing this is a recently made piece by someone I could have passed in the street was also a very cool realization, not just something I saw in a history book about art. For me this pieces was more emotional to me than visual. I enjoyed the visual but it made me think more than anything. Thank you Emily.