Webquest Idea

My webquest idea is to have students combine science and art by making 3-D images. You need to know how the eyes work in order to properly make a 3-D image students will learn this and will also learn how to make 3-D glasses. These 3-D glasses will be used as a tool to make their 3-D artwork. I want student to explore the difference between 2-D and 3-D and how to bridge the gap between these two different dimensions of art. Students will be asked to use net art applications like neave.com and flikr.com and also computer programs such as photoshop.
In my teaching philosophy I mention I want students to think about art and functionality and how they can be interchanged, these 3-D images function as both art and science. I also mention in my philosophy that I want students to find beauty in unexpected places and with this project students have to take photos of things that represent them which may make them think a little bit deeper about the world around them.

3 Real World Examples of Net Art

1. Rotoball (Rotoball is a website that involves a group of students. One student is given they have 15 seconds to transform the ball into anything then it is passed to the next person.)
                 The technology that is used is used to get students creative and quick thinking since they only have 15 seconds to change the ball.
                 The technology helps students to loosen up and help to get their brains thinking creatively.
                In the future i would use this website as an exercise before class to help students thinking fast and creatively.


2. Diigo.com (We used this sticky note website in Art Ed 322 to help keep everyone connnected even when we were out of class)
                 This technology helps to keep students connected and organized.
                 In the future I would use this website to help students keep up with deadline and perhaps artwork critiques that we do not have time to cover in class.

3. Using Webquests in Art Ed by Samantha Melvin
       Samantha just took a PBS class, where she discovered a new way to approach a lesson. She has connected her big ideas in the Art Education classroom with an online webquest called Freedom Thoughout the Ages. This webquest focuses on artists that demonstrate freedom through their art work.
www.freedomthroughtheages.weebly.com
               This technology can be used to help teach students in a more exciting, more accessible way and lessen the authority teacher vs submissive student dynamic that is sometimes present in the classroom.
                    I would use this technology in the future to help my students learn more outside of the classrooom or in a technology based classroom.

Artwork in Response to Uganda

The Long Reach, Tiffany Henchenski, 2010

The above image represents America, how I see it. I think America is beautiful and ecletic but I think Americans sometimes focus on the wrong things. The Ipod represents America infatuation with luxury items and the "good" things in life. The words "it is greener here" represents the state of mind that Americans have, many think if I have this new gadget, if I have this, if I have that my life will be better. The human hand that says lost is in between two hands that read want and need. The hand represents Americans. We strive for this better technology, this better life, and sometimes ignore the natural beauty around us

Response To Uganda

The following was my response to one of the Ugandan students we are collaborating with:



 Tusasirane Ambrose,

America has alot of positives and negatives. There are alot of talented people in the USA but I would not say we are all geniuses. Most Americans try very hard not to be discriminative but there are alot of examples of discrimination not just towards race but towards gender, age, body size, sexual orientation, and alternative lifestyles. I would not say that blacks are not appreciated unless talented, Americans work on a basis of proving yourself, if you want to be recognized you have to do something that merits that. If I want to be recognized as an artist I have to present myself as one, I must do art and maybe sell my work or study art or try and get my work into a gallery/ museum. No one is automatically deemed important until they prove that they are. No one is barred from doing what they want to do here, if you want to ride a train you pay your fare and go. There are opportunities for artists here but there is alot of competition to get you work recognized and put into a gallery or to get funding for projects. If you love art and want to be and artist then America can't hurt your chances in any way. I love living in America and i would suggest a visit to everyone. Like all countries there are bad points and good points to America. The US is definitely not Utopia but its not a horrible place either.

Uganda: Perceptions and Questions

I do not know much about Uganda. I know it is located in Africa but other than that I am not familiar with its history or its culture.  I'd love to know more about Uganda and I'm really excited to be working with you all. What is Uganda like culturally? Is there any food or music that is unique to Uganda? What do you do for fun?

Objects that Represent

     My object is a culmination of two ring-like objects. The first is smaller and is worn around my waist. It is a nice dark pink. I choose dark pink because it is one of my favorite colors. This first ring represents myself; it represents my actions and my beliefs, the things I know and the things I say. The second ring represents my students it is much larger than myself, it glows brightly and surrounds me. The ring is a reflection of myself and yet it could stand on its own it does not need me to wear it. They are both rings because similarities, my students and I will share innate things like where we live, where we go to school, the fact that we are living, thinking and breathing. They however differ in size and color because of the differences we will have, like things we think and life choices we make.

                               A snapshot of my object on Second Life. Courtesy of Kimberly Kerchusky

World of Female Avatars: Net Art and its Perks

            The Net art that I will be interpreting and critiquing is titled “World of Female Avatars”. This particular piece of artwork deals with thoughts that women have about their body, whether that be about how beautiful they feel or how much control they feel they have in everyday life. When you first arrive at the site,  “World of Female Avatars” is spelled out at the top of the page in caps and the color pink. Next you see floating pink circles drifting slowly downward. These circles represent a woman’s thoughts. If you click on one it will display a thought written by a women about her body.

            The use of the Internet is powerful with this particular piece of work because of the secret nature of the Internet. Women can view this work from their homes and not worry about who is viewing them while they view the work. They can relate to the thoughts that other women have written down and are sharing anonymously about their bodies. Also the Internet is available to many people at once. A larger audience is able to view the work at one time rather than a select few at a gallery. If this site was projected up on a wall in a gallery however, it may have a very different feel than it does when you view it here on the internet. When projected on an entire wall it may give these women more of a voice because it is more of a statement than the online counterpart.

            What is interesting about this work is that it is dynamic and interactive. Women from around the world can submit a statement about how they feel about themselves and if you choose the right pink circle you can see these statements. The site is always changing and being updated by newcomers making it dynamic. The fact that you yourself can submit a thought and the fact that you can click on the pink circles makes it very interactive and collaborative.

            Since the artwork is constantly moving and not static, I would have to note that it is a nonlinear piece of net art. The circles and text are defined by lines but the piece as a whole I would consider to be nonlinear.

            This artwork is based on the concepts of women, sexuality, objectification, body image and self esteem. The use of pink for the title “World of Female Avatars” and the circles on which you click is very symbolic of the female gender. The images that come up with the statement from those who have contributed also have to do with the female in today’s society; some of these images include dolls, females with wings, artworks with the female body, etc.

            I personally think this website is great for what it brings to the table socially.. Perhaps this website will help a woman to start a dialogue with herself about why she does not feel comfortable in her own body or why she loves her body so much. I like the fact that this is women relating to other women. A woman can view this and find comfort in it. I think it works well as a therapy, revealing how you feel to yourself and maybe having the courage to change if you are unhappy.