Student Work
Images and writings generated from ART 334 course assignments. Students created postcards and statements to further explore the concept of the place and community using Photoshop as an artmaking tool that could be integrated into a K-12 educational setting.
Kevin Becker, GVSU, 2010.
Kevin Becker, GVSU, 2010.
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| Kevin Becker, GVSU, 2010. When I was taking pictures I wanted to show parts of Grand Valley’s campus that first attracted me to it. So I took pictures of the pond and the fish sculpture next to it. I wanted to give the postcard a feeling of imagination and show the fish coming off its stand and jumping into the water as if it was alive. I did this by showing multiples of the fish as if it was jumping in and out of the water. I made the copies of the fish transparent to give it that dreaming illusion. (Kevin Becker, 2010) |
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| Mitch Moore, Barn, 2010. When seeing a dilapidated barn there are many ideas to work with, the first that I was interested in discussing was that of opposition. In this first photo it is plain to see that this barn is far from its former glory, it is faded and scarred from the ravages of time. Time is a natural element; nature seems to flourish in response to this man-made structures demise. There is an element of nature attacking the aged building overtly, as the large conifer pushes its way through the silo walls. Despite the darkness that looms within the structure confines nature has found a way to thrive in the absence of man, deconstructing the building with an abnormally furious pace. It is these elements that work together that I created to impact the viewer to understand that nature is not idle. Society may expand and contract from its city centers but if we are to abandon history then it will be no more. (Mitch Moore, Barn, 2010) |
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| Mitch Moore, Barn, 2010. Over the last century there has been a consistent change from rural society to urban society in America. This change has been seen in many ways, one of particular interest is the agricultural base in Michigan. With growing societal norm of living in the city or its suburbs this change has largely escaped the public eye. It is the uneducated populace that I I sought to impact with my project in Photoshop. My approach was to explore the issue of the flock to the city and what it leaves behind. Also a natural aspect of this is the eventual encroachment of the city back on these abandoned lands of agriculture. (Mitch Moore, 2010) |
Lindsay Rose, Abandoned Train Station, 2010
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| Lindsay Rose, Abandoned, 2010. In a derivé of an abandoned train station five minutes from my hometown, I took an hour or so to wander around, take pictures and explore. I found this process to be curious and self-reflective, and worked to incorporate these elements into my postcards. In my postcard, I played with effects and colors to change the viewer’s perception of the piece. As I wandered around this area, I felt a sense of anxiety at being somewhere I shouldn’t. Hoping to share this sense, I used a “No Parking” sign on the seat to convey the idea of being somewhere one shouldn’t. (Lindsay Rose, 2010) |
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| Lindsay Rose, Abandoned, 2010. In my final postcard, I continued the reflective process by voicing a philosophy I live by and my problem with separating my life into compartments. To me, “Not All Who Wander Are Lost.” means the idea that whatever path we are on in life, we are all leading somewhere greater and should work our hardest to be the best people we can be. I try to carry this out by letting these separate compartments flow into one another and find it easier to maintain a happier, more balanced life. (Lindsay Rose, 2010) |
