THROWBACK: PROCESS PICTURES & CREATING THE ZOETROPE

 

  

Process Pictures

While building the zoetrope, I had to find a good material to make the cylinder out of. After trying different solid objects, such as a plastic bucket, metal sheet, card stock, and a large can, I found poster board to be the best solution. In order to enforce the poster board and have it keep its shape, I applied black duct tape to both sides. The black background was also good for making the photos stand out/easy to see. I then measured, cut, and glued the photos to the black strip in sequential order, which I then taped down to the base. The base was made of a wooden stool top from Mrs. Burwell's old stools! I gessoed it and then layered paint on it to achieve a bright, neon color for the 1980s side and used pen and ink for the 1880s side for a simpler, black and white look. I screwed in a metal lazy-susan under the base to make it spin. 

Connections to Artists at the NCMA

North Carolina Museum of Art, Frank Stella

DEVELOPING THE IDEA: TEENS INSPIRED

Concept board

Planning pages

                                                                           http://courses.ncssm.edu/gallery/collections/toys/html/exhibit10.htm

For my final project, I'm making a zoetrope (above). Zoetropes were invented in 1834 by William Horner. It is an optical toy, very similar to a flip book. A sequence of images is placed inside the cylinder, then the viewer spins the base and looks through the small slits. Spinning the pictures creates the illusion of a moving image. 

For my images, I will be using pictures from the 1880s and 1980s themed photo shoots. The sequence will start out with my female model wearing clothes from the 1880s, and the pictures will be treated to look like old tin-type photos. Then they will evolve into a 1980s look, with the model wearing bright colors and makeup. Above is my concept board and planning page. The sequence will show storytelling, and how much a culture can change in 100 years. The concept board was helpful because it allowed me to play with shapes, textures, patterns, and colors, which I used to create the designs on the base of my zoetrope.

Final Prints

My personal voice shows through the style and medium I am using. I love pop art and surrealism, which I am incorporating in my 1980’s concept. I am using photography because I wanted to create a sense of history and “memories”, which are often seen through old family photos. I also love the ability to capture one moment in time, which you can do with photography. I hope my project shows people how cultures can change and evolve over time.

Skill Building

STEP 1: Trace design

STEP 2: Start carving!

STEP 3: Done carving

I chose to create a linoleum block print frame to put around my photos. While working on my block print, I have found that it is really important to plan everything out. I tend to get too excited to start carving and begin before I'm ready. 

I have also learned a couple cool tricks to make carving easier:

- Heat up the linoleum with a hair dryer to make it softer to carve

- Carve out the edges of small shapes with a thin blade, then use a wider one to carve out the center

This was not the first time I used linoleum. I made a print last year as well, but this one was different because it's a frame and printing it with ink will also be different. We'll see how that goes....

My Inspiration & Connection to Contemporary and Historical Artists

Sally Mann, The New Mothers, silver print, 1989

Richard Avedon, Stephanie Seymour in Chanel, 1994

I chose these artists because I like the styles of their photography and plan on using these types of poses for my photos. I am going to be using the old tintype style like Sally Mann uses for my 1880’s era concept, and Richard Avedon’s modern, high-fashion photography for my 1980’s concept. I love how these two styles, while completely different and contrasting, are still beautiful and interesting. 

Sally Mann is very inspired by her family and uses her children as models in a lot of her pictures. This is what a lot of the photos from the 1880's looked like, with people going throughout their everyday lives. Families were often in photos together as well.

Richard Avedon's style is very different from Mann's. His photos are high fashion, modern, and clean. A lot of his photos show models posing by themselves, which differs from Mann's more traditional style. 

ART III 2016 PROJECT: THROWBACK

messy planning pages!

My senior year project, titled "Throwback", will be comparing the cultural stye of American 
teens from the 1880's to the 1980's. I am working on three main projects within this theme, 
and my basic medium will be photography. 

The culture in the 1880's was very family-oriented. Fashion choices were limited, conservative, and neutral. Teens worked hard in order to help support their families.

The culture of the 1980's was very different. Bright, bolder colors were incorporated in fashion. Teens were influenced by the music and artists of this time. Overall, the 1980's were the complete opposite of the 1880's.

I am studying these two decades because I think it's interesting to see how much humans can change and evolve. The 1880's were simpler times, when teens lived in the moment and took life slow, whereas the 1980's were fast-paced and more focused on money and consumerism.