Matching Items (16)
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- All Subjects: art
- Creators: Button, Melissa
- Member of: Barrett, The Honors College Thesis/Creative Project Collection
Description
The aim of this creative project was to explore the ideas of impermanence and transience through the lens of different, largely non-western cultural backgrounds, and to incorporate what I learned into my own work as a painter. As part of this, I focused on the materials, techniques, visual strategies, and philosophies that guided the creation of these works. The project consisted of a discrete research phase, during which time I gathered information and materials related to my topic, and a creation phase, when I focused largely on the production of oil paintings and ink paintings whose technique and/or subject matter pertained to impermanence. Research for the most part was conducted by utilizing online and physical collections of work to analyze the formal elements of the work along with the cultural context in which it was created. Ultimately the creative project resulted in a product of three oil paintings and five ink paintings.
ContributorsLewis, Evan G (Author) / Button, Melissa (Thesis director) / Schoebel, Henry (Committee member) / School of Art (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2021-05
Description
How do we visualize environments outside our solar system? I have researched two very alien planets and their compositions with the goal of finding out how those differences would affect the way a planet appears on its surface. The first is a planet orbiting the nearby G type star Tau Ceti. This star has Mg/Si ratio of 1.78, compared to 1.2 found on the Earth. A planet formed around this star could have a very active surface, covered in volcanoes. The other planet is a hypothetical carbon planet that could orbit the star HD 144899. This star has a C/O ratio of 0.8, compared to 0.5 in the Sun. A planet formed here might be comprised mostly of carbides, with a hydrocarbon atmosphere. It would likely be geologically dead, the main forces shaping its surface being meteorites. Both planets, due to their extremes, would likely be barren and lifeless. The results of this project are two digital paintings showcasing my vision of these planets.
ContributorsGonzales, Joshua Michael (Author) / Young, Patrick (Thesis director) / Patience, Jennifer (Committee member) / Button, Melissa (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor) / School of Art (Contributor)
Created2015-05
Description
Virans is a book comprised of illustrations, hand-written text, and digital elements The book was conceived as an encapsulation of the broad social changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. With a unique art style utilizing distorted human forms, complex line patterns, pointillism, and flat compositions, each of the book's 15 spreads represent an issue observed during the pandemic. These issues include isolation, political concerns, conspiracy theories, and the overall human toll of the pandemic.
ContributorsSomers, Frank Joseph (Author) / Green, Heather (Thesis director) / Jenik, Adriene (Committee member) / Department of Management and Entrepreneurship (Contributor) / School of Art (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2021-05
DescriptionThrough artist book, printed photographs, paintings, writing, and web design, August Tang deconstructed their identity as a nonbinary person. Both educational and expressive, the creative project was a manifestation of a coming out journey, affirmation of gender identity, and experiences relating to gender with friends, family, and strangers.
ContributorsTang, August B (Author) / Button, Melissa (Thesis director) / Sanft, Alfred (Committee member) / School of Art (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / The Design School (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
ART VR LLC is a virtual reality art gallery software company. The company was founded by Phillips Andrew Koss IV in 2018. The goal of the company is to give art galleries the opportunity to exhibit their artwork in a virtual reality headset. This is achieved through the development of the industry changing Virtual Reality application called Viewing Room. The very nature of art and its personal connection to the buyer makes it difficult for both the consumer and the seller to properly showcase the artwork without seeing it in person. In the increasingly online world of fine art there exists a disconnect between the art seen available online and the actual feel of the artwork in a space. The dimensions of an artwork can never be fully captured by a photograph as well as the colors and beauty of a piece of art depend entirely on how it is viewed. This creates an issue for galleries who deal with clients from all over the world as they have the issue of trying to sell a piece of artwork whose size cannot be fully grasped. The current solution is to have either the clients come into the gallery to view the work, ship it to them to see for themselves, or even attempt to show them a picture of it through the internet or mail relying on their sense of space and imagination to see how it would look. These ways cost time, money, and most of all potential sales. The Viewing Room application is positioned to become one of the few virtual reality applications tailored towards fine art galleries. The Viewing Room once used in a gallery setting allows the gallery to upload their artwork into the headset and the user can view the art and change various setting from frame, to mat color, to distance away to properly view the artwork without having to see it in person. The timing of this endeavor is well suited for success as VR technology has become affordable for use in commercial stores and the art world is moving more towards a digital presence.
ContributorsKoss, Phillips Andrew (Author) / Filley, Richard (Thesis director) / Cho, Steve (Committee member) / Department of Management and Entrepreneurship (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Human nature drives us to focus primarily on the present or near-future, instead of considering what consequences our actions may have many years from now. However, in a new era that is increasingly dominated by humans and their ambitions, this tendency has destructive repercussions on the very environment that once supported and nurtured humankind. Wild animals are highly susceptible to human activities that damage ecosystems, and a loss of animal diversity can have unforeseen consequences on future human populations. In the research, I examine the avoidable reasons for the severe decline in population of four animal species, and through my art, imagine the losses associated with their disappearance. The artwork created evokes an emotional response in the viewer through dramatic, contrasting imagery, making them reassess the relationship between humans, animals and the environment.
ContributorsJudge, Nicole (Author) / Button, Melissa (Thesis director) / Hogden, Heidi (Committee member) / School of Art (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
To many, South Phoenix has a negative reputation of being an area full of crime, drugs and poverty. Throughout its foundation, South Phoenix has experienced many changes that have affected the quality of life of its people. The purpose of this creative project was to portray the history of South Phoenix through mural paintings. This thesis, explores a creative proposal to bring history-based murals on the streets of South Phoenix. Three large-scale paintings were created during this creative project, all corresponding with a segment of history of South Phoenix that has been forgotten by the community and the greater Phoenix area. Through this thesis, the author aims to instill a positive image of hope and determination that this community has demonstrated despite the many challenges they faced. Consequently, the author's intent is to one day carry out these projects on the streets of South Phoenix.
ContributorsTorres, Adrian (Author) / Pomilio, Mark (Thesis director) / Button, Melissa (Committee member) / School of Art (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05
Description
I saw a Dove ad called "Real Beauty Sketches" where a group of women described themselves to a sketch artist, and then a complete stranger described them to the same artist. By the end of the ad, it's apparent that the women, when describing themselves, were very critical of all their features. When total strangers described them the resulting portrait was more beautiful to the women. The take-away from the campaign was that others see more beauty in you than you do in yourself. I explored that idea through my thesis. My aim in this project was to learn to see the beauty in myself through personal artistic expression. I completed a series of self-portraits; for about four months straight I drew one portrait of myself every single day. I also recorded my thoughts in a diary entry as I drew my portrait, hoping to capture my emotions and moods during that day. The resulting outcome of my creative project is twofold. The physical outcome is about 100 self-portraits and daily diary entries that represent the creative thesis project I pursued. The second outcome cannot be physically seen. I have discovered more about myself in four months than I have in twenty years. I have begun to see myself differently, and positively. This thesis project turned into a journey of self-exploration, and I'm looking forward to what the future holds for me.
ContributorsRao, Rachana Sai (Author) / Hood, Mary (Thesis director) / Button, Melissa (Committee member) / School of Art (Contributor) / W. P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
Description
Curative arts and art therapy have been increasingly implicated in promoting health and well-being for patients, but little research has been done for the benefits of drawing therapy for stress management or individuals in a non-diseased state. College students and healthcare professionals are particularly susceptible to high levels of stress, as I experienced firsthand as a medical scribe in the Emergency Room during my undergraduate experience. For this reason, I wanted to focus on using curative arts as a mediator for high-stress situations. My creative project is therefore a portable framework for curative drawing. The framework is designed to help people process complex emotional states in a more effective way using mark-making and color. Specifically, the framework is designed for those who have limited experience with art making but can be used by anyone who feels a need for curative drawing. I used this framework in both individual and group settings, culminating in a final gallery show in which viewers were able to participate in the framework and take home a booklet with the framework printed inside. In conjunction with outside research, the help of my thesis committee, and the students of Drawing and Painting as Seeing and Thinking, the final project can be viewed as one part of the intersection between art and medicine in our ever-changing healthcare environment.
ContributorsCadigan, Megan Sierra (Author) / Button, Melissa (Thesis director) / Belgrave, Melita (Committee member) / School of Art (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
Every day, the earth’s oceans are being destroyed. Pollution, fishing, sonar, and many other man-made factors have caused detrimental effects to the most crucial of the ocean’s ecosystems. While more individuals are becoming aware of these problems, additional support is needed to help protect the ocean’s many unique creatures. The purpose of this honors thesis exhibition is to continue to shine light on human negligence towards threatened ocean creatures. The three artworks in this thesis show the descent of diversity and life of these marine creatures over time. By showcasing the different ways in which whales, rays, and corals have been affected by human impact, this thesis and subsequent art pieces will help to continue to enhance one’s understanding of the importance of marine conservation.
ContributorsChristmas, Samantha (Author) / Button, Melissa (Thesis director) / Hogden, Heidi (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Art (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor)
Created2021-12