play reflection

How are the 2 artifacts ( structure and photo) different? similar? &
How does your vision translate from 3D to 2D?
For me, sculpture is always a very tactile, trial-and-error experience, even when I think that I can see what the structure will look like in my head, I have to build, look at the result, and either modify, remove, or continue, and this was my experience with the paper sculptures as well.  Photography also involves a lot of trial and error but it's not additive--or, at least, not in the literal way of sculpture.  So, as maker of the two artifacts, these different making experiences influences my viewing experience: the sculpture--despite being the result of collaboration--seems more controlled: whimsical where we wanted it to be whimsical, sturdy where we needed it to be; meanwhile, the photo was chosen deliberately for its formal elements (contrast, rhythm, emphasis) which give it sturdiness and structure, but paradoxically, represents the fortuitous, less controlled circumstances of its making.


Does this process change the way you SEE the structure?
Yes and no.  I think that I mentioned in class that with sculpture I tend to think a lot of about areas of light and shadow and those elements came very strongly into play in the photo.  On the other hand, I hadn't been thinking about the play of different colored lights and the opportunities that the different plains would offer for contrasting those colors and that became very important in the photo.

Synthesis of PLAY experience (Symphony) 
Why do artists play?
To see things in new ways and to explore new possibilities.  In this experience, my photo does not describe the initial structure but instead uses that structure as a canvas to record the play of color and light.

How has playing with paper reinforced the importance of play?
Often, when we're making art, paper is just a surface on which we record our creativity, so it was in the spirit of play that we cast aside our pencils, pens, markers, crayons and let the paper speak for itself.

What did you learn about play in this class?
Sometimes, to really get into the spirit of play, we have to be willing to let go of our creations repeatedly and be ready to turn them into something new.