In front of the entrance of the Dell Gates Complex lays a simple, yet compelling sculpture known as the Circle with Towers by Sol LeWitt. The sculpture is a short, circular wall that contains eight evenly-distanced rectangular towers composed of gray concrete blocks. Although the piece of work was made in 2005, it did not become a part of the University of Texas at Austin’s recognized landmarks until the opening of the Dell Gates Complex in September 2012. The history, design, and simplicity of the sculpture form the creative nature of the artwork which makes it stand out as a unique landmark on the university’s campus. An interesting fact about LeWitt is that he never referred to his 3D work as sculptures but as structures instead. As a result, he designed the Circle with Towers with the mindset that it was a structure relating to architecture rather than traditional sculptures. Moreover, LeWitt’s artwork is seen as radical because of the idea behind it. For example, he claimed that a concept could generate a work of art and stated that “the idea becomes the machine that makes the art” …show more content…
Each of the eight towers was designed four blocks wide while the gaps between them were eight blocks wide, forming a 1 to 2 ratio. Consequently, the circle wall and the towers were all symmetrical with each other. One could say that this piece of art has a similar look to Stonehenge since both are made from a gray blocks and display round symmetry. Additionally, the structure was placed in front of the entrance of the Dell Gates Complex, the complex for computer science students of the university. The position of the structure is in the middle of the front of the entrance, making it the centerpiece to students’ eyes when entering and exiting from the front doors. As a result, many university students are able to appreciate the architecture of the structure while passing it on their way to
“In conceptual art the idea or concept is the most important aspect of the work. When an artist uses a conceptual form of art, it means that all of the planning and decisions are made beforehand and the execution is a perfunctory affair. The idea becomes a machine that makes the art.” (Sol LeWitt - Artform, 1967)
... shapes but could not understand the point it was trying to convey. Now that I have read and learned about Meadmore, I can distinguish the three goals that Meadmore intended for. I see the flexibility of simple geometry and how it can express dynamic movement through this sculpture. Overall, it is interesting how Meadmore’s life and ideas relate to his artistic design, “Always.”
Many of Frank Gehry’s early works reflect a refined manipulation of shapes and structures, whereby many of his buildings present distorted shapes or apparent structures. From the Guggenheim museum to the Walt Disney concert hall, Frank Gehry’s architecture is close to none. He cleverly plays with shapes and geometries. In this essay, I shall start with a brief analysis of Gehry’s house and the influences in the design of the house. I shall then analyze the extent to which Frank Lloyd Wright has inspired and influenced Gehry in the design of his house through a comparison with Frank Lloyd Wright’s Jacob’s house.
Frank Lloyd Wright is widely known and is considered to be America’s greatest architect. He is considered, in the eyes of many, to be the most consequential American architect of the 20th century. “Strongly individualistic, flamboyant, and arrogant, Wright designed and built more than four hundred structures that reflect his architectural genius. Directly and indirectly, he heavily influenced twentieth century architecture with his diverse use of geometry in his designs” (Eisenman).
The Great Hall, constructed by architect Richard Hunt, serves as the lobby of the museum. It is one of the first pieces of artwork that visitors of the museum come across. The work presents a spacious atmosphere, not only on the ground floor but in the ceiling, through its usage of a dome-shaped glass ceiling. This in turn helps radiate natural-light throughout its lobby floor, which is important because it is the location of the information/welcome desk and is the first thing visitors see upon entrance. Furthermore, the artwork contains floral decoration pieces, ancient pillars and moldings, which are located throughout the walls. The Hall is mostly comprised of gray-color space which allows for the colorful floral decorations and other objections, become more noticeable. Ancient Pillars that are present throughout the floor serve not only an artistic-purpose but a structural purpose, in that they s...
Richard Serra, a known American sculptor, created an artwork called the “Tilted Arc” in the middle of Federal Plaza, in a downtown New York City business district. This curving wall of steel or CorTen steel was measured 120 feet long and 12 feet high made in 1981. Serra was commissioned to create this artwork for the Federal Plaza space; however, the public was against his art and was a target for criticism. Although the “Tilted Arc” was seemed as worthless and the “ugliest work of outdoor art”, people who opposed needed to understand that the point of art is not the “traditional” beauty, but the true meaning and the purpose of it. Many are narrowed minded when it comes to viewing and perceiving art, when it should be viewed by trying to understand
The main entrance and exit for the school sits directly in front of the sculpture. You can straight through Lutgert Hall’s windows and see the sculpture. Various palm trees and other foliage align the other restraints of the area. The sculpture is placed symmetrically between the foliage and is also fairly symmetrical with respect to Lutgert Hall.
The true greatness of the building is in the main room, the atrium is a huge open area in a radial style with a central point being in the center of the room. The room is filled with a combination of circles and squares which illustrates the Romans fascination with geometric shapes. Along with geometric shapes the inside of this building full of brilliant shades of oranges, blues and purples. There are ionic style pillars around the base of the room as well as sculptures of different gods. Just above the main room there is a frieze of false windows that make a band around the midlevel of the room. Although the windows are false there ar...
Three dimensional art is defined as media which “occupies space, defined through the dimensions of height, width and depth” (SAYLOR). These art works can be geometric or organic in nature (NORTON). Three dimensional art forms include sculptures, crafts and architecture. Three dimensional art form is fascinating to me because of the amount of realism and beauty it embodies, as well as for its functional and aesthetic value. For this assignment, I chose two beautiful pieces that illustrated the characteristic of three dimensional art and the processes it took to produce them. The first art work I want to analyze is a sculpture done by an Iraqi artist from Kalhu (modern day Nimrud) entitled, “Assurnasirpal II Killing Lions” (Sayre, 420).
For much of the last millennia many great architects have looked upon the Pantheon as a staple of classical architecture, as well as a model for many modern day buildings. Created by the Romans, the Pantheon would use many elements better than any other works of architecture to that time. No further than Columbia Missouri is this evident in the construction of what used to be known as the First Academic Building on the University of Missouri campus. The Architects Bell and Binder headed the creation of the new building after the First Academic Building burnt down in 1892. Known today as Jesse Hall, this modern day work of architecture pulls many elements from the Pantheon to create a unique work of public space. The most glaring comparison of both comes from the domes that top both buildings. Each building also shares similar characteristics in their front facades. Yet, while there are many similarities to both works, each contain unique differences in their layout and construction.
Though the interiors he designed were created to be useful spaces, his focus was more on aesthetic than function . Within his individual objects of art such as chairs, tables, drawers, staircases and many others he focused more on the form of the object than on its intended use. Instead, Kuramata appeared to want the presence of the piece to surpass its function, something that is only possible when there is a symbolic value . One of the best examples of a work of art fitting these stipulations was his design of the Miss Blanche armchair (fig. 3) in 1988 . The chair is made of acrylic resin and embedded with artificial roses and aluminum . Kuramata’s title of the work, choice of materials, color contrast, process of creation and simple aesthetic combine to create a piece of work that forces the viewer to question whether or not it can even be considered a chair. This work of art allows the functionality to disapp...
There are parts of the walls that seem to be missing, which creates a flow between the two main spaces. The pavilion’s thin, sweeping roof is supported by eight cruciform columns clad in chrome. This created an open and free space where he lined the outside of the building with glass. He then carefully placed a thin slab of onyx in the middle of the open volume. Mies created established characteristics that became essential for modern architecture.
S.R. Crown Hall, which is the home of the College of Architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology is one of the most beautiful, modern pieces of architecture that the City of Chicago has to offer its residents. This simple, steel and glass structure is the perfect representation of the modernist era of architecture and really creates an atmosphere that is extremely captivating to its viewers. As you look at it during the day, the panes of glass reflect the sky surrounding it and creates an almost seamless transition between its sleek, rectangular steel frame and the vast area around it, making a gem to the campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology and also to the City of Chicago.
The piece of artwork that American sculptor, Alexander Calder, has created is considered kinetic art. More specifically, this untitled piece is a mobile which relies on the surrounding air to move. Calder designed this kinetic sculpture in the most intricate way in order to achieve perfect balance of the massive aluminum and steel components. This kinetic sculpture directly relates to a mechanical engineering technology (MET) major. The primary MET courses this sculpture correlates to are Applied Statics, Applied Strength of Materials, and lastly Materials & Processes.
The pavilion is significant figure in the history of modern architecture, regarded to be influential with its open plan and use of exotic material. There is a blurred spatial demarcation where the interior becomes an exterior and exterior becomes the interior. The structure constantly offers new perspectives and experiences, as visitors discover and rediscover in the progress of moving throughout the in’s and out’s, a non directional conforming circulating movement pattern. To facilitate this movement, even though it is a visually simplistic plan, its complexity is derived from the strategic layout of walls with its intimation of an infinite freedom of