Art Practice Commons^™

El Vínculo Entre El Arte, La Política Y El Espacio Público: Una Investigación De Colectivo El Muro Cusco Y Su Resistencia Contra Poder Estatal Y La Censura Del Espacio, Stella Gould

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

El Colectivo El Muro Cusco es un colectivo libertario y autogestionado dedicado al apoyo a las luchas sociales y al intercambio de información alternativa. Activo durante los últimos 20 años, El Muro,1 como se le conoce coloquialmente, ha sido un proveedor de la verdad en Cusco, utilizando el arte y la protesta para expresar descontento con las injusticias perpetuadas por el gobierno peruano. Utilizando el muro del Paraninfo Universitario de la UNSAAC ubicado en la Plaza de Armas de Cusco como su centro focal, el Colectivo utiliza el espacio como galería de arte y lugar de exposición, pero también como …

Políticas Visuales Y Acción Colectiva: Un Investigación Sobre Las Articulaciones Estético-Políticas En Manifestaciones De Arte Público En Ushuaia Y El Bolsón / Visual Politics And Collective Action: An Investigation Of Aesthetic-Political Articulations In Manifestations Of Public Art In Ushuaia And El Bolsón, Laura Woodhouse

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Art in the public sphere is an integral tool of communication that transcends the vertical hierarchies of social organization by infiltrating the popular consciousness with disruptive mediums and reclamations of visual space. Because of the specific accessibility of a variety of forms of public art, for both creators and observers, manifestations of public art have become a popular method through which counter-hegemonic social narratives can be constructed and mediated; in Argentina, a profound history of disruptive art has has been intricately intertwined with an equally rich history of popular activism. With a focus in El Bolsón and Ushuaia, two localities …

Socio-Political Criticism In Contemporary Indonesian Art, Isabel Betsill

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The objective of this paper is to understand the connections between contemporary art and politics in Indonesia both in terms of how politics has shaped art practices, and in terms of how art influences politics. Questions I was interested in exploring include how contemporary art practices have changed considering the political changes over the past 30 years; if and how contemporary art is being used to facilitate political dialogues in the country; if and how contemporary art is being used to criticize and invoke change regarding social issues; and what the role of art spaces, collectives and foundations is in …

Z4, A Slow Puncture: An Autoethnographic Exploration Of Language, Embodiment, And Meaning-Making, Charlotte Rose Samuels

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In my ISP, I explored language as it relates to the ways in which people living in Cato Manor make sense of HIV/AIDS in their community. With 7.1-7.2 million people living with HIV (PLWHIV) in South Africa, individuals across the country are either infected or affected by illness. KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), the province with the highest rate of HIV, is also the province that was surveyed with the disproportionately highest internal stigma rates for PLWHIV. High prevalence of HIV, particularly in KZN, calls for a constant contextualization of life in the presence of illness.

Throughout the world, metaphor and symbolism is …

B-Boy And Buuz: A Study Of Mongolian Hip-Hop Culture, Quinn Graham Wallace

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

When walking down the streets of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, passersby will find countless material traits of hip-hop culture surrounding them, including snapback hats, skateboards, and tattoos. A powerful combination of urban growth, democracy, and a booming market economy has invited and stimulated contemporary forms of hip-hop, creating an active but unorganized Mongolian hip-hop sub-culture and community. In this explorative and analytical paper, I examine what Mongolian hiphop artists express about present-day Mongolia through hip-hop mediums and why they are a unique critical voice. While there are several facets of hip-hop, I focus on three modes of traditional hip-hop culture: oral (rapping), …

He Creators A Look At The Changing Work Of Potters And The Future Of Their Craft In Thimi, Nepal, Natalie Silver

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The Newari sur-name Prajapati has been associated with those who are of the potter caste in the Kathmandu valley. In the past 30 years ceramics in the historic pottery town of Thimi has changed drastically from being an essential and necessary craft and the only occupation for Prajapatis, to a struggling population of visually aging potters. This paper examines the workshop Everest Pottery in Thimi nepal as a case study for the state of ceramics in Thimi today. The author traces the origins of the workshop's founder Shiva Prajapati and examines the shift that Shiva made from traditional Newari pottery …

La Brigada Ramona Parra; Muralismo Y Cambio Social En Chile / La Brigada Ramona Parra ; Muralismo And Social Change In Chile, Sarah Baumann

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Mi motivación para esta proyecto era mi interés en el poder de murales en Chile, y los cambias sociales que arte callejero pueden iniciar. Arte callejero he tenido un efecto muy grande en la historia y políticos de Chile. Yo quería descubrir más sobre esta historia, y también cómo los organizaciones que hacen murales, cómo la Brigada de Ramona Parra, funciona hoy. Para mi proyecto, yo usé entrevista, guías de arte callejero, observaciones en escuelas de Bellas Artes, y un exposición de murales. En mis resultas, yo encontré que la Brigada de Ramona Parra ha cambiado la escena política en …

Trafačka: Young Artists In An Alternative Space (Life Of D.I.Y.), Dora Novey-Buttfield

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper documents the functions and internal structure of Trafačka, an experimental arts space located in the Prague 9 district. There is very little research on the presence and significance of alternative culture in Prague today, and the term itself is difficult to define. Using personal interviews conducted by the author and some background research on Czech alternative culture and spaces, the study highlights the stories of the residents and artists of Trafačka in light of the debate on alternative culture.

The author explains how Trafačka is an example alternative space and describes the complexities of being separated from other …

"Après Dieu, C’Est L’Artisan": A Study Of Bamikéké Woodcarving In Dschang, Cameroon, Rebecca Potts

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Wood sculpture among the Bamilékés is a political, spiritual and economic endeavor. Sculptural artwork is ultimately at the service of the community and is used in the daily and ceremonial life of the chefferie. Though the sculptor must create according to the needs of his society, he is himself responsible for the very formation of his community’s values and ideology.

Over the course of one month in Dschang I worked with wood sculptors in an artisanat, learning the technical aspects of the craft as well as their philosophies behind their profession. I created two wooden chairs and conducted seven interviews. …

尼西黑陶: A Study Of Tibetan Black Pottery, Catherine Elliott

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper addresses the contemporary production of traditional crafts through a close study of Tibetan black pottery. By considering the traditional process, materials, and techniques of Nixi pottery alongside contemporary changes in markets, resource availability, and production methods, this paper suggests possible directions for the development of traditional crafts. Ultimately, the paper challenges traditional distinctions between “arts” and “crafts,” suggesting the inherent mobility of crafts as their makers respond to changes in the social, political, and economic contexts of production.

El Muralismo: El Papel De Los Murales En La Lucha De Los Organismos Sociales En La Ciudad De Buenos Aires = Muralism: The Role Of Murals In Social Organizations, Loren Crosier

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

There are an ever-growing number of social movements in the city of Buenos Aires, and a number of these groups are using art in the streets in an attempt to “recuperate” urban neighborhoods. Muralism is an art form and a concept that has a long legacy of militancy and vanguardism. This paper will address the breach between art as a product and a social reality by analyzing the meaning of muralism. What is the role of the muralist and what is the social function of the mural? Or more importantly, what is the social function a social organization or movement …

Visualizing Tagore: A Visual Study Of Rabindranth Tagore's Writings And Philosophies, Galen Koch

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper describes my experience "Visualizing Tagore. " It presents the objective of my study, to create a series of art pieces inspired by Tagore's writing and philosophies, and relates the project to Tagore's theories about the nature of art and the creative ideal. In order to conduct this study, I traveled from Kolkata to Santiniketan and then to Darjeeling, creating artwork and researching Tagore 's personal history and accomplishments. This paper gives a brief description of Tag ore 's lifo in relationship to his world view and philosophies. It presents his philosophies of art and education, and relates these …

Lost Wax: An Exploration Of Bronze Sculpture In Senegal, Kevin Bell

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The goal of this Independent Study Project was for the researcher to develop an in-depth understanding of the techniques involved in the production of bronze sculpture via a short apprenticeship at the foundry at the Village des Arts in Dakar, Senegal. The researcher also sought to gain an understanding of the cultural context of the medium, including its history and social and economic significance through formal and informal interviews with artists and visits to various art galleries and workshops. Over the course of the ISP period, five works of art were produced by the researcher at the foundry. The researcher …

Chinese Painting: Philosophy, Theory, And The Pursuit Of Cultivation Through The Dao, Elizabeth Reynolds

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Chinese painting and painting theory have roots within China’s major philosophies significantly including Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism. Chinese painting while not exclusively adherent to the beliefs and practices of a single belief system instead reveals to overlap these beliefs in the thought process and execution of painting. There is a strong precedent of Chinese painters and their styles embodying Daoist philosophy in not only the appearance and practice of painting but in painting theory as well. Searching for the truth, or the Dao, was a key goal of many artists who through cultivation of one’s intellect or artistic skill could …

Graffiti En Managua: Una Expresión Democrática De La Juventud Nicaragüense, Katie Laroque

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Semiotics, or the philosophical study of signs and symbols, makes us rethink the familiar and the things we take for granted. If someone walks to work everyday on the same street, after time he will probably stop thinking about the graffiti on the corner. Graffiti is probably something that most of us take for granted, or hardly see anymore, but I argue that its role in society must be rethought. What does graffiti on the wall represent? It is a manifestation of the ideas and beliefs of the artist, as well as a reflection of his artistic talent. When several …

Redrawing The Walls: Street Art In Belgrade, Emily Levitt

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This research examines street art in Belgrade as a means of changing the political, social, and cultural atmosphere of Belgrade, Serbia. Street art is examined as a means of breaking down consumer/producer binaries, an alternative to dominant culture, as part of the contemporary city, and as a transformative use of and re-appropriation of imagery. The research data was collected through semi-structured interviews in the Spring of 2009. Students, artists, and former artists were interviewed in order to collect data. In addition, participant observation and visual analysis contributed to and gave context to the interview based data. Ultimately, it was discovered …

The Beauty Of Arabic Script: Tracing The Artistic Significance Of The Arabic Letter In Morocco, Sarah C. Malin

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper explores the reference to traditional Moroccan craftwork in contemporary art, specifically in the microcosm of the incorporation of Arabic letters in contemporary painting. The line between craft and art, calligraphy and symbols is examined. What is the purpose of these designs and what meaning do they carry? Through interviews with five artists that employ this technique as well as conversations with other members of the art community, it was found that the artistic significance of these letters has changed throughout history. In the past, calligraphy, although containing some embellishing flair, emphasized the literal linguistic and religious meaning in …

Kilombo Do Kioiô: The Use Of An Artesanato Program As A Program Of Social Justice, Anna Losacano

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The women’s artisan group, Kilombo do Kioiô, part of the Ação Social da Paróquia Sao Bras (Sao Bras Parochial Social Action Group) in the neighborhood of Plataforma, Salvador, Bahia, works to insert poor Afro-Brazilian women into the economic market and wider society. This community of women is struggling to survive in a society in which they are marginalized by their gender, race and socio-economic position. They are also struggling to survive two types of violence that are pervasive in Plataforma: domestic violence and violence related to drug trafficking.

This research project studies how working as artisans affects the participants’ social …

A Portrait Of Perseverance: A Glimpse Into The Life Of One Family In Edehara, Tunisia, Kathryn Graves Tindell

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Excerpt from Introduction:

What follows is a short story providing a glimpse into the life of Naïma and her family. The entire story is based on fact, each person is real in every detail and each event described occurred; however, the sequence of events is fictionalized. For example, I did not see the pottery made from beginning to end, but rather saw different steps of the process throughout the course of my seven days. In total, I did view every step except for retrieving the clay from the mountains, but as they told many stories about this, I have a …

“Art As Direct Political Action:” An Investigation Through Case Studies And Interviews, Emily Meinhardt

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In 1970, Artforum, an international magazine of contemporary art, conducted a survey of various important artists asking the following question: what is your position regarding the kinds of direct political action that should be taken by artists? The question was asked in relation to the “deepening political crisis in America,” the Vietnam War. The development of television brought images of war into American homes more dramatically and immediately than any previous conflict. Though the war was taking place abroad, the violence was made real to audiences, including artists, many of whom felt pressure to respond to the political situation. Around …

Contemporary Art In Samoa: The Role Of Personal Expression, Christina Cioffari

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Contemporary art is a means of creating and recreating the self, a means of self reflection and defining ones identity. Conceptual art that expresses personal ideas and emotions plays a small role in the arts of Samoa, however it does exist in the minds and galleries of a few individuals. The intention of this study is to examine the role that personal expression plays in Samoan society and the artwork created here. The attitudes and approaches to contemporary art was explored, in addition to the underlying causes of those perceptions.

The foundation of this paper evolved out of statements from …

Arte En Las Calles, Graffiti En Granada: Un Movimiento En Cambio, Alyson Virginia Visser

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

¿Qué significa arte? Esta es la pregunta más popular en todas las clases básicas de historia del arte del mundo. ¿Cómo podemos definir el fenómeno de arte? Hay miles de argumentos de lo que puede ser arte, de lo que deberían enseñar en los museos de bellas artes. A lo largo de historia, ha habido artistas de todas las formas cambiando las “reglas” de lo que es aceptado como arte en la sociedad. Ahora mismo, en el siglo XXI, la mayoría de la sociedad puede comprender el arte como una expresión con un mensaje del artista, hecho sobre algún material …

Arte Y Pobreza: Integración Social A Través De Movimientos Culturales, Betsy Mccormick

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This aim of this paper is to explore the relationship between artistic and cultural movements as a means of integration for socially excluded populations in Buenos Aires following the economic crisis of 2001. Art in a traditional sense, that is, art found in museums, is most frequently an expression of the dominant classes and is an object of contemplation rather than a form of intervention with the social reality of the masses. Two prominent and “opposing” theories are presented as a possible framework for understanding the relation between art and the societies that produce it: Liberalism and Marxism. The specific …

Art And Democracy In Environmental Decision Making, Audrey Stewart

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Global doctrines on sustainable development emphasize public participation as a tenet of environmentally responsible development. Given the Czech government’s tepid stance towards implementing sustainability measures, much impetus for realizing them will have to come from other facets of Czech society, including the public. In spite of the nearly populist feel of a mounting environmental movement in the late 1980s, after the Velvet Revolution the Czech public remained relatively disengaged from environmental involvement. Traditional decision-making venues within the Czech Republic now actively exclude the public from participating, while other pressures stemming from history and present also diminish the public impetus for …

The Depoliticization Of Czech Female Art, Roya Amirsoleymani

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Contemporary Czech art is heavily influenced by a history of Communism, the 1989 transition to capitalism, and the impact had on visual culture by the political and economic changes after the Velvet Revolution. Czech female art, defined as art made by women that is informed by themes of female identity, image, the body, sexuality, feminism, sexual identity, and gender theory, responds to how female identity has been affected by these social changes. This essay argues that Czech female art is depoliticized by its artists, through either neglect or resistance to political connotations and ramifications, but that it is simultaneously engaged …