Floor piece suite : a re-examination of three historical visual devices

Transcription

1 Floor piece suite : a re-examination of three historical visual devices by Winferd Gilbert Bruhl A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF APPLIED ART Montana State University Copyright by Winferd Gilbert Bruhl (1978) Abstract: no abstract found in this volume

2 FLOOR PIECE SUITE: A RE-EXAMINATION OF THREE HISTORICAL VISUAL DEVICES by WINFERD GILBERT BRUHL A thesis submitted in p a rtia l fu lfillm e n t of the requirements fo r the degree of MASTER OF APPLIED ART Approved: Chai p e rso n, ttjfacpz^te Committee Head, Major "Department Graduate Efean MONTANA STATE UNI VERS ITY Bozeman,. Montana A ugust, 1978

3 STATEMENT OF PERMISSION TO COPY In.presenting th is thesis in p a rtia l fu lfillm e n t of the requirements fo r an advanced degree at Montana State U n iversity, I agree that the Library shall make i t fre e ly availab le fo r inspection. I fu rth er agree that permission fo r extensive, copying of th is thesis fo r scholarly purposes may be granted by my major professor, or, in his absence, by the D irector o f. L ib ra rie s. I t is understood th at any copying or publication of th is thesis fo r fin a n c ia l gain shall not be allowed without my w ritte n permission. Signature Date Q ' I \ Ato

4 ARTIST'S STATEMENT - This suite of p rin ts is the re su lt of an in tu itiv e extraction o f three p rin c ip le s. At one time each had been considered revolutio n a ry, but now they contribute to the wealth of information supporting a ll contemporary visual experiences: Objective R e a lity, Mathematical Systems and Abstract Expressionism.. The creation of an illu s io n of form, that is, an im itatio n of appearance, is among the oldest motivations fo r visual expression. I t is seen here in combination with a systemic application of rules of measure and a spontaneous gestural exp ressio n.' Objective R eality refers s p e c ific a lly to.those elements in each composition which most accurately im itate a recognizable form. Through the use o f lig h t and shadow the egg forms as well as the ceramic t i l e surface convincingly allude to the r e a lity o f both. The measured interval of the grid serves to fu rth er the illu s io n of a real t i l e surface. I t also establishes a rational order which moves v e r tic a lly, horizontal Iy and diagonally, but has im plications o f movement spreading beyond the edges of the picture plane. This mathematical system, re p e titio n o f.a four-inch by four-inch g rid, is also in contrast with the personal gesture o f the a r t is t.,a n element of Abstract Expressionism is seen in these gestures of the a r t is t in the random marks, paint can messes and squeegee tracks. Although conceptually opposed to Mathematical Systems and

5 Objective Reality,it establishes here a completeness of structure and meaning. Within each composition both rational and in tu itiv e processes are brought, together. The result is. a synthesis of realism (Objective R eality) with in te lle c t (Mathematical Systems) and emotion (Abstract Expressionism).

6 iv SLIDES T it le Size F loor Piece S uite #1 23 x 16 F loor PI ece Sui te #2 23 x 16 F lo o r Piece Sui te #3 23 x 16 Floor Piece S uite #4 23 x 16 Floor Piece S uite #5 23 x 16 F loor Piece S uite #6 23 x 16 F loor Piece S uite #7 23 x 16 Floor Piece Su i te #8 23 x 16 F lo o r Piece Sui te #9 23 x 16 F loor Piece S uite #10 23 x 16 F lo o r Piece Su i te #11 23 x 16 Floor Piece S u ite # x 16 F lo o r Piece Sui te #13 23 x 16 F lo o r Piece Su i te #14 23 x 16 Floor Piece S uite #15 23 x 16 Progressive Proofs of Floor Piece Suite #15 23 x 16

7 J W J U L JUL 78C6 "*W J U L 7SC6 JU L 78Ce J U L 78C6 J U L 78Ce -387 inr I i. J U L 78C6 + 7 J U L 7gCI J U L 78CL 31 J U L 7 8 C e J U L 78C1 J U L 78C6

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