Project Description

Project Name: Urban Ansel

Project Description/ Conceptual Concerns:
The main idea of this project is to take classic black and white photographs that have been taken by Ansel Adams and blow them up to sizes of good sized walls and paste them to those walls, more or less graffiti art. The idea is a continuation of a project that was started last semester. The reason why it is being continued is because the one was that was finished did not seem to say and embrace the whole scope in which was to be portrayed though the work. To achieve this, the picture will be more tied into the land in which it was taken it and when the picture was put up. How each picture will be constructed is an Ansel Adams picture will be scanned and then blown up to the correct size. Then if no other better methods that can be found for printing out the picture the method that was used on the first project will be used again. The main picture will be divided up into smaller pieces and printed out on 11x17 paper and then pieced back together later to create the image as a whole. Before any of the pasting of the picture can be achieved locations have to be scouted out measured for size so that the picture can be printed out to fit the desired space. Conceptual ideas where always the main focus of the piece; not only was it trying to find a location and put up this work but to see how long the work would stay up. Even though the image itself is not offensive in anyway and is considered a fine work of art if it was not approved to be there it will be taken down on private property. Last time the work stayed up for one and a half days, because it was put up at a school. Continuing on that idea of putting art where it more or less doesn’t belong these up coming pieces will expand on the idea by taking the landscape of what is in the picture and where it is being put into consideration, and the idea of what was on the land before it was taken over by man more or less.

Technical Skills:
The main focus that would liked to be learned on and improved on is the color correction using Photoshop by using curves correctly, masking areas out for different levels. To make cleaner selections is also a goal so that the work can seem more flawless in its construction. So that when printing the final pictures come out more consistent and have more of a cohesive flow to them. Then there is the construction of the piece that should have a better way to be put together, which will be attempted to find a more efficient way to be constructed.

Formal Guidelines:
The basic form of the project will be the actual work that exists out in the public space but what the actual piece are the photographs that will be taken of each work. The total number of works that will be put up will hopefully be 4-5 pieces which will then be photographed. From those photographs that have been taken 3 photos from each location will be printed out. Size of the photographs will be at least 15x10; if the photograph feels it would be better served if it was larger then some of the prints will be larger. The project for mid-term will be done by 10/19 and the final project will be presented 12/7. The hope is to have at least 2 of the works done by mid-term if not one more, two at worst three at best.

Artist References:
Banksy, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Scribe aka D. Ross, Keith Haring, Shepard Fariey, Armsrock, Christian Paine, Graffiti Research Lab, Robots Will Kill, Zevs

Readings:
Reading up on California landscape before the land was colonized. By reading history books and such things of that nature, I can figure out what was on the land before buildings took there place to see if I can match Ansel Adams pictures to the land.

Grade:
The project should be graded on if the goals that were set where meet, and that a higher grade should be given if the project meet and surpasses the goals that where set technically and conceptually.

Goals List:
To become more a depth in color correction on Photoshop, to figure out how to mange the funding for this project so all 5 pieces will be made, and in turn to learn more about California’s landscape so that it can reflect in the work. At the same time to test the public’s view of public art, to see how long an image that is not offensive can last in a place where it does not belong; even though it is just improving on the space itself.