The Earth Body: Ana Mendieta
Review
Ideas About Art
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Based on Plato's philosophical reflection on the arts and beauty, the artist copies the experienced object, or uses it as a model for his work. For the philosopher, on the other hand, beauty resides in the idea and not in sensible things.
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For Aristotle beauty is contained in symmetry, which he considers the symbol of perfection, linked to the classic concept of beauty: harmony, order and proportion.
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Baumgarten, reaffirmed that the essence of beauty could not occur without the discovery of aesthetic sensible pleasure. The beautiful and the aesthetic are not alien to the sensitive. What comprises the artistic is given through sensibility.
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Baumgarten proposes aesthetics as a science of sensible knowledge, which deals with beauty. "The end of aesthetics is the perfection of sensible knowledge as such and this is beauty."
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Kant is interested in art for its connection with beauty, not for art itself. Beauty, according to Kant, is not a quality typical of beautiful things produced by artists, but rather a feeling of pleasure of the subject who judges things as beautiful, whether they are works of art or of nature.
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Hegel established that aesthetics was a science that deals not with sensations but with the philosophy of art. For Hegel, art is the highest platform for spiritual elevation. For Hegel, art is the perfect sensuous expression of the freedom of spirit. It is in classical art, therefore—above all in ancient Greek sculpture (and drama)—that true beauty is to be found.
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In the 19th century, however, avant-garde concepts applied to aesthetics began to question traditional approaches. The change was very evident in painting with the French Impressionists, Post-Impressionists, Cubists and Expressionists through the artist's emotions and feelings.
Terms
Marcel Duchamp
Retinal Art
Readymades
Found Objects
Installation Art
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I
Unit: Environmental Art
Theme: Earth-Body Art
Introduction
Today we come full circle to the idea the art should exist for art's sake. The term "environmental art," for instance, often encompasses "ecological" concerns but is not specific to them. It primarily celebrates an artist's connection with nature using natural materials. The concept is best understood in relationship to historic earth/Land art and the evolving field of ecological art.
Another form of art inspired by nature is Ephemeral art. Artistic creations are made from items found in nature including leaves, sticks, bark, pebbles, seedpod, nuts, berries, petals, sand or shells. Options are endless, anything in nature can be used to create art for art's sake.
A third form of art that uses nature as its medium is Earth Body Art.
This form allows artists to use their bodies in relation to nature to
make a personal statement. The term was coined by Ana Mendieta who is
our case study for today's class. Mendieta's art is the ultimate example of what art for art's sake can look like.
II
Learning Objectives
- Understand the significance of earth-body art
- Explain the elements used in the creation of earth-body art
- Gain an awareness of the importance of nature's classical elements in Mendieta's work
- Experience the creation of an individual and collective earth-body piece
III
Main Lesson
Question 1
What is Earth body art?
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- Explore your chosen location. ...
- Choose a site to create your art. ...
- Find an interesting idea to make your art.
- Let your imagination run free. ...
- Create earth-body art combining your body with the elements of site.
- Take pictures to record your creations.
Question 2
Summarize in your own words the instructions given above.
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IV
A Note to Remember
Earth art is art that is made directly in the landscape, sculpting the land itself into earthworks or making structures in the landscape using natural materials such as rocks or twigs. Earth art, also referred to as Land art or Earthworks, is largely an American movement that uses the natural landscape to create art. Land art, variously known as Earth art, environmental art, and Earthworks, is an art movement that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, largely associated with Great Britain and the United States but that also includes examples from many countries.
V
Case Study
Ana Mendieta
Ana Mendieta (November 18, 1948 – September 8, 1985) was a Cuban-American performance artist, sculptor, painter and video artist. She was best known for her "earth-body" artwork. She was born in Havana and left for the United States in 1961 through the Peter Pan Exodus. In a brief yet prolific career, Mendieta created groundbreaking work in photography, film, video, drawing, sculpture and performance art.
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VIDEO
Question 3
Raquel Cecilia Mendieta on Ana Mendieta at Galerie Lelong
Question 6
In which way was Mendieta's work experimental?
Question 7
After watching these videos, why is Mendieta's art work considered conceptual?
I think that Ana Mendieta's work is beautiful. It is not meant to entertain the audience. Rather, it is meant to convey something deeper - It is a physical manifestation of Ana's emotions/thoughts. I think that more people should be exposed to Ana Mendieta's work because it challenges the traditional meaning of "beautiful" art. Art does not have to be aesthetically pleasing to be beautiful. If it means something to the creator, audience, or both, then it is beautiful.
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Art Displacement
David Wyler
Ana Mendieta was an artist best known for her feminist art. Her art displayed themes on feminism, art, displacement and connection.
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The Only source
Carlota Cardenal Kuhl
I've never been one to understand/interpret art in a way deeper than its physical form, but Ana Mendieta's art pieces did have an impact on me. They were very powerful and filled with a lot of strong emotions. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I am now aware of her background, thus understand that her art was probably the only source she had to get her perspective of the world out, which in turn made her feel safe.
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The Source of Life
Xinyi Nong
I think her work is autobiographical, dealing extensively with feminism, violence, death and belonging. Her artistic vision has had a profound impact on generations of artists. She covers herself with soil and leaves. Her work clearly defines the role of women. She seems to praise the body as the source of life.
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Unique
Ben Feuer
I thought the videos were very interesting. They showed Ana Mendieta's unique way to potray artwork. The thing about art is that the public can percieve it in a different way than the way the artist was trying to get it across. Regardless, this story is very interesting and showed the creativity and uniqueness of her artwork throughout her life.
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True & Primal
Alex Fishbone
Ana Medita's artwork is so interesting because it displays the real beauty of the earth. It features both the elements found in earth and her naked body, a true and primal image. Her art was an inspiration for feminists around the world and while her death was tragic, her work has left an imprint on the world.
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Human Connection
Brady Wisdom
Ana Mendieta was a pioneering artist known for her powerful contributions to Earth Body art. Her work often explored the intersection of the human body with nature and the environment. Notable exhibits showcasing her art include the 2018 retrospective "Ana Mendieta: Thinking About Children's Thinking" at the Martin-Gropius-Bau in Berlin, as well as her iconic "Silueta" series, which features her body as a canvas merged with the natural world. Mendieta's work continues to resonate with audiences, challenging perceptions and inspiring dialogue about the human connection to the Earth.
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The Context Behind
Logan Bright
Ana Mendieta is certainly a unique brand of artist and clearly was ahead of her time. It was hard for her art to be appreciated while she was alive. While I'm not familiar with all her work it seems like the kind of art I would appreciate. Even the difference between someone drawing or painting nature versus using the real elements to express their creativity is a stark proposition. I think that not only were her actual content and message a learning process, but the context behind it is the biggest takeaway as it relates to education. In an unfair system where much of education is underfunded, we must use what we have to exhaust our creativity and not always remain within the traditional rules of doing things.
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Linked to the Earth
Sebastian Chin
When you look at Mendieta's "earth body art," you might feel a bunch of different emotions like amazement, deep thinking, and a newfound respect for the world around us. Mendieta's art makes us think about our own connection to nature and how we're really linked to the earth. Her work also makes us think about issues like who we are, change, and how life and death are kind of like a cycle. It shows that art can make us think and feel a lot, and it can even make us question the rules society has set for us.
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Her Own Art
Meghan Warshauer
Mendieta's art was very interesting to me. I thought the use of her body in her own art and how she connected herself with nature was unique and creative. It seems like it would be a little gruesome for my liking but the rituals she performed in her art are also very interesting to learn about. I liked her "butterfly" work and how her niece described the way it had to be created to show all the colors.
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Brave & Ahead
Lana Nesheiwat
I find Mendieta to be brave and ahead of her time with her art pieces, especially as a woman. While she never claimed to be a feminist, it can be empowering for women who are artists that create conceptual art that may be deemed "hard to swallow" for some, and seeing Mendieta make pieces she believed in even if she were going to be judged for it helps these artists feel they can too.
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Mendieta's Type of Art
Garrett Francis
This to me is a very different way that art is being portrayed. From someone who is not super knowledgeable about the world of arts and who is more used to art being the typical paintings and sculptures, this is very interesting. I saw a similar thing online recently that reminded me of Mendieta's work. It was this women who stood in an art gallery perfectly still with a table of objects ranging from a feather to a hammer and needles. At first the spectators started by tickling her nose with the feather. Eventually the spectators used the more intense objects to try to hurt and poke her. She said that afterwards she was mentally unstable and traumatized by this experience and that she was treated like an object. Ana Mendieta's type of art reminded me of that.
The reaction that I have from the videos is a feeling of inspiration and curiosity. Based on the things that were said about the thoughts that she had, I am very curious what it was like inside her mind and what pushed her to capture these ideas on film. I am also thinking about how these videos are mostly an interpretation of her work rather than her own explanation of her work and this makes me wonder if they are explaining it correctly, or if she would have something different to say about her work now that it has been shown to the public.
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Enduring Beauty
Luke Tegan
Ana Mendieta's "The Earth Body" is a profound exploration of the connection between the human body and the natural world. Through her art, Mendieta challenges us to reconsider our relationship with the environment, highlighting the ephemeral and fragile nature of both the human form and the earth itself. Her work serves as a reminder of our disconnectedness with nature and the need to protect and preserve our planet. It's a compelling and evocative reflection on the impermanence of life and the enduring beauty of the natural world.
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The woman in the river/stream
Alexandra Trombley
After watching the videos about Ana Mendieta's life, it was super inspiring and was different than a lot of art I have seen. I really liked her piece of the woman in the river/stream. From seeing how her work is traveling to different museums globally, it really demonstrates the impact of how her life's works impacts society, feminism, and culture all around the world. Her art makes a statement.
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Wild Ideas
Jake Irrgang
Ana Mendieta's art is extremely unique. It makes the viewer feel curious. I believe her wild ideas were only half of what made her work so special. The other half was her incredible attention to detail.
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Pushed the Envelope
Nydia Kyriakopoulos
This type of art definitely pushed the envelope and was a bigger risk than "normal art." The use of blood in her work on the street is especially interesting because you would think this would trigger others to calling for help but it did not. Her themes involved violence which is a big risk and shows she was a brave artist.
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Intense
Ryan Steinberg
The concept of these videos were heavy subjects that related back to experiences that the artist faced in her past life. I found it interesting how she merged multiple ideas into her work such as ritual, history and culture. Her art was very moving, yet intense to grasp.
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Taken Back
Olivia Miller
After viewing art and history from Ana Mendieta, I am inspired but also taken back. She defiantly uses the human body as a centerpiece for art. It was very intense when it was highlighted that she did a piece based on sexual assault. This made me think she must have a lot of push back/controversy on the art she put out.
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Her Two Worlds
Nick Diambrosio
Ana Mendieta was an artist known for her different conceptual style of art. She used natural materials like the earth and her own body in her pieces, exploring themes of cultural displacement and feminism. Her work also highlighted the connection between the human body and nature. As a Cuban-American artist, she examined her own identity through immigration as her two worlds. Her take on contemporary art was unconventional as she opposed the ideas of those in her same field.
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A Range of Emotions
In reacting to "The Earth Body," one might feel a range of emotions, including awe, introspection, and a renewed appreciation for the natural world. It encourages us to reflect on our own relationship with the environment and the ways in which we are intrinsically linked to the earth. Mendieta's work invites us to contemplate themes of identity, transformation, and the cyclical nature of life and death. It's a testament to the enduring power of art to provoke thought and emotion while challenging societal norms.
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Leaning against others requires stability that not everyone has.
In this picture, I am tearing apart a leaf. This is a metaphor for being separated from a loved one - It feels as though you are being torn apart.
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Finding a greater purpose in life than just being.
This is piece serves as a reminder to stay grounded as I find my way through life.
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Meghan's Piece
Meghan Warshauer
My piece is taking care of nature. All nature deserves to be treated with care and gentleness. This leaf shows how i carefully hold it in my hand without being damaging to it.
Ellie Karofsky
The picture that I would have created would have involved my hair and
them blending into some part of nature outside. My hair is a big part
of who I am and looks different every day that I do it which can make it
blend in with different parts of nature each day. I both love and
struggle with the way that my hair can be affected by the elements
outside.
Hiding the most but you can see what I want you to see in small portions.
Component: Connecting Creativity to Nature (For Middle School)
Objectives: Using not man-made objects to interpret their personal feelings and experiences
Competency: The child can express themselves comfortably through the use of nature
Assessment:
Grade Level: High School
Title: Exploring Your Identity through Nature
Component: Critical Inquiry
Objective: Learning how to express your unique self by combining art and nature using the creative process
Competency: Student can explain the relationship between their art piece, nature and themself
Assessment:Alex Fishbone
Grade Level:
Component:
Objective: a) Students will learnt that there is life and nature that lives on our earth b) They will appreciate nature rather than damage it.
Competency:
Assessment:
Component: Nature's Beauty of the Arts
Objectives: Introducing students to the natural world through hands-on activities, fostering a deep connection to the environment, and using materials like clay, leaves, and mud to create body art projects that celebrate our planet's beauty and diversity.
Competency: Students will not only develop their artistic skills but also begin to appreciate Earth's wonders and its beauty.
Component: Art, Nature, and Education
Objectives: a) Students will learn to use the resources available to them to express creativity. b) Students will learn to create meaning from existing nature. c) Students will learn that there are more forms of art than strictly digital or canvas.
Competency: Through this process students will start to think about other ways to use the world around them and find more than one way to express themselves.
Assessment: Students will create an image connecting with nature, be able to give it a title and explain in words what the image they created meant to them and/or why they chose to create it the way they did.
Component: Exploring the world through nature
Objective: Through the creative process describe the relationship between them and their artwork.
Competency:
Assessment:
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Marina Tischenkel & Ellie Karofsky
Grade Level: Elementary School (Mid)
Component: Exploring Art that you can see
Objective: Sparking creativity and connection to nature in an artistic way
Competency: Through the creativity process they will take away a new sense of appreciation for nature in the arts.
Assessment: Create a drawing, a project, something that shows they have related art to nature and can connect it to themselves. Explain that their artwork has a meaning to them and to nature.
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Jake Irrgang, Olivia Miller, Ryan Steinberg.
Grade Level: Kindergarten
Component:Self-expression
Objective:
Competency:
Assessment:
10
Nick DiAmbrosio
Grade Level:
Component
Objective: Learning that art is not just on a canvas, that you can use the resources around you to form a art piece.
Competency: Create a scene rather than a frame in time. An ever evolving concept that has multiple vantage points.
Assessment: Relate to personable topic through the use of earthly resources.
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Rudy Stonisch
Grade Level: Elementary School
Component: Exploring the world through nature
Objective: Interprets personal ideas, feelings, and experiences
Competency
Assessment:
Make Up
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