Rochester Institute of Technology
RIT Scholar Works
Theses
Thesis/Dissertation Collections
5-1-1989
Interactions and answers
Philip Murray
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ROCHESTERINSTITUTEOFTECHNOLOGY
A Thesis Submittedto the
Faculty
ofThe CollegeofFineandAppliedArts
in
Candidacy
fortheDegreeofMASTER OF FINEARTS
INTERACTIONS & ANSWERS
BY
Philip Murray
Advisor: David C. Dickinson/
Date:
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-Ass
Advisor: Robert Heishman!
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Date:
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Special Assistant to the Dean forvCWaduate Affrrs:.
Philip Bornarthl,...---,...--,,...-
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Dean, College of Fine and AppliedArts.:
Dr.
Robef H.lohn-tn! --",
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I
I
I,
, Hereby grant permission to the Wallace Memorial
Library of RIT, to reproduce my thesis in whole or in part. Any reproduction will not be
for commercial use or profit.
I WISH TO DEDICATE THIS THESIS
TO
INTRODUCTION
This
thesis report was written on the basisofaddressing that which describes what Ihave come to believe to be the personal process, thatresults in theproduction of an art
work. Thethesis hasservedthispurpose, clarifing,and
justifing
some personalbeliefs asINTERACTIONS
Interaction is an activity, an occurrence, observed and understood
by
a sensitiveindividual,
an artist. It is a process resulting in: a comparison, a confrontation, or anassimilation ofevents, visual conditions or activities that may
be
described as life. Theinteraction
ofman with his natural environment, and its elements, may be defined as acommunication ordialoguewithnature, a continuousactivity
PAUL KLEE
"Communicationwith nature remainsthemost essentialcondition. The artistis
human,
himselfnature,part of naturewithin naturalspace."
(1)
Selecting
materials providedby
theenvironment establishes aphysicalcommitmentby
theartisttointeractwithnature. This interactionisreinforcedthrough adirectobservation,
andcontinued to
develop
through aresponsetosociety,or a particularhumancondition.Theindividual's interaction withnatureis a
dialogue,
which determinesquestions,thatinspire and serve asthebasis foraninquiry. The
inquiry
isaprocessor means ofsortingout the manyquestions that occur through the dialogue. Thisprocess will work, on the
basisthat theartistknowsand understandshisorherown
individuality,
and whatheor sheis
mostsensitive to,and respondsto, throughthe interaction.ROBERTMOTHERWELL
"Asubject emerges out ofan interactionbetweenmyself,my I, andmy medium."
QUESTIONS
Inorderfortheindividualtofeela sense of completecommitment,an anunderstanding
mustbemade.
HERBERT READ
"Thewilltobean artist emergesfromtremendousinnerconflicts..., and it is only when all these have been resolved (and it is a problem which involves theindividual'srelationshiptosocietyas awholeaswell as tohis immediate
family
environment) only then can he face the considerablehazards of an artistic
career."
(3)
Once theartisthascometo thisunderstanding, theinteraction anddialoguearefreeto
continue, withasearch or investigation.
PAUL KLEE
"The father ofthe arrow is the thought; how do I expand my reach? Over this river? This lake? That mountain? The contrast between man's ideological capacity tomove atrandomthroughmaterial andmetaphysical spaces andhisphysical
limitations,
istheoriginof alltragedy."
(4)
Thearrow,or sense of motivation to
interact,
creates ideas tosearch forthe responseto particular questions.
Questions and decisions continue, contributing to making more decisions as the
JASPER JOHNS
"I
wasinterested
in what was seen, and what was not seen. Onewanted to avoid the
idea
of aninterpretation,
and I know how simpleminded
it is
-but
never the
less
those sorts ofimages
gave a sense ofobjectivity
ratherthan ofsubjectivity. Andthen one could deal with the question of when you seeit,
when youdon't
seeit,
whatdoyou see, what do you thinkitis,
howdoyou change what you see, and whatdifferencesdothesechanges maketo what you see and what youthink. It'sarich area fornuance there. Itsaprettylimitedareaifyou aregoingto make a strong
point. ButIwasinterested inthekindofnuance,modulation,playbetween thinking,seeing, saying and
nothing."
(5)
Thesearchfora responsetoa question travelsa circular route.
Returning
to thebasisof: observing one's environment, responding to a particular human condition, and an
application of a material or media. Question: Shall Imirror whatIsee,or changeit ?
GERTRUDE STEINonPABLO PICASSO "
His drawingswere notofthings seenbutofthings expressed.
"(6)
The interaction continues and ideas make themselves visible as questions to be
resolved.
REALITY
Reality
and somethingaboutit can serve as a source ofideas,
initiating
responsestothe questions. How reality and nature are
interpreted,
is what the art may become.Revealing
arealityaboutnature, thatisnot visibletoall, isa responsetoa question. Theonlyberecognized
by
himself.PAUL KLEE
"
Art does not reproducethe visible;rather,itmakesvisible."(7)
"Torevealtherealitythatis behindvisiblethings,"(8)
Based upon what is observed, the artist is free to make changes in his or her
observations ofnature, anditsappearance.
MEDIA
Theapplication ofones materialsormedium,isan
interaction;
andits relationshipto thequestionsuncovered
by
theartist,revealmore questions. WhatcanIuse, andhow ? An answerto thequestion ofwhat,andhow,
willonlycomefrom aninteractionwith a media.A direction is
found,
questions are resolved, and the artist's sensitivity to what media isbeing
used, developsand growswiththeinteraction.JIM DINE
"
Like Giacometti not in his drawings somuchas inthe sculpture, in the way itwascorrectedandcorrected, that'sabout
drawing
to"
(9)
ARTHUR DOVE
"Then there was the search for a meansof expression... There was a
long
period of searching for a something in color which I then called a "conditionoflight."
Itappliedtoallobjects.
evaluation and review occurs. A process that will reveal additional questions. What is
considered as mistaketoonemayserve as creative process to another,acondition resolved
by
theindividual.MARY FRANK
accidents are your accidents... to some degree you can feel them
coming, so you harnessthemorthrow themout."
(11)
Theresultof anapplicationofthemedia serves as ananswerthatfacilitates a response
towhat was questionedorneededresolution, through theinteraction.
DAVID HOCKNEY
"
I uselineandIthinkalinecan somehow tell a
story."
(12)
SOCIETY
A sensitivityto theenvironment, andmedia, hasarelationship toan understandingof
society, or aparticular society. Attitudes from aculture, create an influence and
help
determine a direction. Forexample, a sense of confusion and
disorder,
a contrast tostructureand order, may serve as the basis for communicatingwhatthe artistis sensitive
to. A response may be one of rejecting the ideas held in common with a group of
THE METAPHOR
MARGEGOLDWATERonJENNIFER BARTLETT
"
interestedinthe
big
obviousfactsofnaturalexistence,facts familiarto everyone andeasilyreducedtosigns andsystems."
(13)
The metaphor is determined
by
the artist, and is used as a tool to facilitate the interaction with nature and media. It may begeneral and non specific to many. Fortheindividual,
it is an integral part of theinteraction,
describing
his or herresponse to thequestions found.
The artist determines the descriptive qualities ofthemetaphor with activity, through
observation, andmaterials.
Determining
whatthemetaphorwillbe,
before theartactivityoccurs, is fruitless. One maynotdeterminethemetaphor or whatis
being
questioned andrespondedtountiltheinteraction evolves.
PABLOPICASSO
"Itsneverbeen likethisbefore. This isthemostdifficultthingI'veever
done. Idon't know ifit's any good. Perhaps it's terrible. But I'm going
todo it anyhow. I'll dothousandsof
them."
(14)
A number of works viewed collectively can determine the nature of the artist's
metaphor, developed through an immediate response, one without consideration of
directionormeaning.
basisforthenaturaldevelopment ofthemetaphor. A sensitivity tooneselfisessential,
andunderstandinghowone
interacts,
provides apathforthedevelopmentofthatpersonalmetaphor.
MARY FRANK
"The handhas itsownlife. It makes marks and gestures whicharenot
deliberate. Ioften thinkofthemas tracksofanimals. Thereis adialogue between materials and the original intention that is both pleasure and a warfare.
"(15)
The artist's interactions produce work, as a response to questions, serving the
individualwitha sense of
identity,
facilatating
thedevelopementofhisorhermetaphor.ROBERTMOTHERWELL
"I thinkone's art is justone's effortto wed oneselfto theuniverse. To
unify oneselfthrough
union."
(16)
ANSWERS
To aparticular artist, a printmaker, an interaction persists with his environment, his
culture,andhismaterial.
Hemaintainsabondwith thethingsor objectshe
finds; leaves, branches,
vines,bladesofgrass, integralparts,or elements. Thesecommon elementsoften takenforgranted are
of interest because they are
important,
and contribute to making our environmentbeableto walkinthewoods, tocollect and observe.
A physical interaction continues with materials. He describes them as tools, that
provide a meanstoan end. Thisphysicalinteraction has alwaysbeen with
him,
having
apersistentdesiretosolve a mechanical or visual problem. Aproblem,wheretheapplication
of some particulartool orimplementis needed. Theprintmakerinvolves himselfwith a
widerange ofinteractions:
by
drawing,
usingtheburin,
alinoleumblock,
alithographicstone,acopperetchingplate, an aluminumlithoplate,etchingneedles, mezzotintrockers,
zinc, acids, and a printing press. An applicationoftools, will always persist, searching
fora responseto a question.
He hasa concernforthoseand thatwhichsooftenare takenforgranted. In his work,
makingan efforttorecognize
individuals,
andtheir nature,is important. Personalitiesare afundamental element, a compliment to a whole, so often
ignored,
or pushed aside, asleavesorbladesofgrass andbranches. Forthis artisttherealityof
having
tointeractwithawide rangeofpersonalities, isan aspectofsocietythatis unavoidable.
Being
selectiveisnot realistic,
interacting
with a variety of conditions, related to society, and theenvironment,isreality. Hehas foundan unansweredquestion; is ourculture
ignoring,
orin theprocess ofadjusting andreplacingthe conditions thatprovideus with our sense of
individuality
?By
responding to thisquestion he hasmadea choicetointeractwithwhathe believes issomethingthatiscommontoall, natureandit'selements.
Selecting
theparts fromnature,and
dealing
with them asindividuals,
exploring their potential in terms of visualDecisions continue to
develop
toward how. The only way to determine this, is torespond with the aspects of one's personality that come naturally . As an artist this
printmaker hasmaintained a sketchbookwith drawingsandphotos, serving as themeans
for recording: an
instant,
a moment, or visual condition.Drawing
is theinteraction,
helping
toredefine qualities oftheoriginals. In turn,thesedrawingsareredrawn,in brushand
ink,
thenagaintranslated toaprintingplate.The initial conditionsthatdescribedthe subjectsoftheprints areenhanced, somemay
have been leftout in orderto convey aparticular something about that
leaf,
or branch.Theseconditions maygo unnoticedbecauseofthecontinuedinteractionsthatareoccurring
all aroundthesubjectsinnature, often wemayrecognize somethingspecial inaperson or
thing
by
a very briefglance, and wish we hadremembered. Itis his beliefthatnothingremainsthesame.
Change is continuous, an on going activity thatis asmuch aboutreality as its literal
appearance. Hisprintsmayappearverydifferent fromhowtheobjectsmay look inreality.
Colors are selected onthe basis ofhowthey interactwith themselves. The printmaker's
intentionsare maintained
by interacting
withqualitiesthatretainprimaryimpressionsoftheobjects . His intent is forthe observertorespond toavariety ofconditionsthatdescribe
theobjectasart,through itscharacteror
individuality
asanobjectfound innature.The artist has come into contact with: questions, reality, materials, society, and the
THEPRINTS
Thesubjects ofthe
following
prints were chosenthrough aninteraction,
begining
with observations ofobjects in their natural environment.Finding
blades of grass, twigs,branches,
orleaves,
andinteracting
with them throughdrawing,
anddetermining
an interpretationoftheobject'sindividuality,
orcharacter. The process, in turn,contributedtoresolving thequestion astowhy theobjectwaschosen. This
interaction,
ofobserving,choosing, and
drawing,
provided visual information thatserved as anapplication, ofthesubject,toa print medium.
THE LITHOGRAPHS
Visual interactions such as: spatial relationships between blades ofgrass, the
long
flowing
almost fluid like stroke of a brush suggesting theblade,
and onebending
orcurving in frontofanother, werethreeconditions foundas answersin
drawing,
providinginformationtobetranslated toan aluminumplate lithograph. Additionalplates,orcolors
fortheprints, were developed through
taking
advantage ofthenegative spaces, andtheirrelationshipto theinitial forms. These spaces suggestedaformorshape, interpretedas a
mass ofvisual activity, surroundingoneofthe original objects. In nature, thisessential
form may distract fromthe original,
leaving
itunnoticed. Thismassin reality is somethingreducing its complexity, and strengthening theinitial visual
interaction, transforming
anoverwhelmingcondition intoonewhichcomplements or completestheprints.
The printingoftheseplates developed intoan interactionwithcolor. A seriesprinted
onone
day,
resulted in the question: what color should be printedon the next ? Atthispoint the conditions determined at the onset have been resolved with another set of
conditions thatbecamequestions tobe answeredthroughcontinued
interaction,
printing,and color applications.
THE ETCHINGS
Questionsevolved through examining the twisting, curving, wrap aroundtexturesof
wood,
branches,
or limbs. Drawings ofbrush andwash, with additions madeby
pencil,crayonand
ink,
transformedthequestionsintoaninteraction.Identifying
theindividuality
oftheobjects through
drawing,
resultedinamultimediaapplication, transfered to a printmedia, one that could respond with similar interactions. Etchings using a lift ground
process were developed
facilitating
the brushdrawing
application, allowing for acontinuation.
These prints were developed with a number of facets that contributed to each as
individuals. Once images wereestablished withthe
lifting,
interactionscontinuedwithaprintmakershand tools,theburinandrollette. Additionalplates weredeveloped inorderto
contributeto the
individuality
oftheinitial lift groundprints. The contributions rangedfrom flat rolled colors, to a few suggestions ofred line. The additional plates were
developedinordertoaccept something thatalreadyexisted, and to takeadvantage ofits valueas an
individual,
resolvingtheprint, withoutbeing
destructive. Thisprocess created aninteraction between printingplates,by
printing two togetheror
doing
whatisdescribed as adoubleprinting. Oneparticular print resultedin its printingwitha pieceof paper madefromthe fibersof cat tail stalk, a process described as a china
colle'
print (see 23 & 24).
Theprintmakerselected a materialfromnature,
interacting
withasubjectfromnature, andprintingwitha piece of zinc.
Anunansweredquestion,found inanotheretchingwasresolvedthrough an interaction
with the ideas ofthe previously discussedprints. Unlike the others, thisprint originated
from anotherpoint ofview, an observation of naturethatis confusingandchaotic, theprint
wasdevelopedtoa pointwhere onemay describe
it,
as that. Theprintis animage full ofactivity, orconfusion, a collection ofindividuals fromnature:
leaves,
textures, lines and forms asthey
may be found. Often it is difficulttoidentify
thecharacter ofobjects, anditrequiresaninvestigationto understand,orappreciatethem.
Thequestionpersisting inrelation to theprintwas: whatmorecanbe donetocomplete
theinteractionandimage? Throughthedevelopementofthepreviously discussed
images,
an answer was found.
By introducing
a broad generalform,
simply stated, reducing itsindividuality
or character to a flat tone, resolved the lithograph. The solution for thisetching was found
by
reversing the descriptive nature of two areas, the positive andnegative spaces. In contrastto the flattonesofthelitho's negative areas, theprintmaker
took advantage oftheexsistingareaas it was. Thatarea in theprint described anatural
an
understanding
ofthe character of certain leafand vine forms was established, and asimply
described
flattonewas applied, as a positiveform,
tointeractwiththeactive,fully
involved,
or negative areas of the etching.By
taking
advantage of something as itexsisted,a solution was found (see 21 & 22).
APPEARANCES
For the observer one may have the impression that these prints were concluded,
resolved,orpreconcieved,andthoughtout
by
theprintmaker. Thequalitiesthatdescribedthecharacter ofeachoftheprints weredeterminedthrougha periodoftime, with littleor
no pre-determined notions abouttheircompleted appearance.
Thesolutionsto theprints,wasfound through the
interaction,
oftheprintmaker withhis environment, and his media. The solutions could not have been found without a
commitment
by
theprintmakerto theinteractions,
accepting,andunderstandingthatwhichheismost sensitiveto.
Theinteractiveprocess, identified
by
thatindividual,
providedhimwiththeinformationthatwill leadtocontinuedinteractions. He has gainedan understanding ofhimselfas he
relatestoart andhismedia.
LIST OF PRINTS
LITHOGRAPHS
1. BLADES IN BLACK 27 1/4"
X 40" Aluminum Plate
2. GRAY
W/
BLUE 27 1/4"X 40" Aluminum Plate
3. GRAY&PALE BLUE 27 1/4 X 40"
Aluminum Plate
4. GRAY AND GREEN 27 1/4"
X 40"
Aluminum Plate
5. BLUE
W/
BLACK 27 1/4 X 40"Aluminium Plate
6. GRAYW/ GREEN
27 1/4"
X 40" Aluminum Plate
7. THREEIN A ROW
40"
X 82" Aluminum Plate
8. AND PURPLE 27 1/4" X 40"
9. BLACK
W/
GREEN27 1/4"
X 40" Aluminum Plate
10. GREEN &RED
27 1/4"
X 40" on white paper
Aluminum Plate
11. GREEN& RED
27 1/4"
X 40"
ontanpaper
Aluminum Plate
12. BLADES OF GRASS
W/
ORANGE 27 1/4" X 20Aluminum Plate
13. THE RED LEAF 27 1/4"
X 20" Aluminum Plate
14. BLADES
W/
SOME RED 27 1/4"X 20" Aluminum Plate
ETCHINGS
15. BRANCH
9 7/8 " X 67/8" Lift Ground- Zinc Plate
16. BRANCH
W/
MAGENTA &YELLOW9 7/8"
X 67/8"
Lift
Ground,
Rolled Color- Zinc Plate17. BRANCH
W/
RED LINES 97/8"X 67/8"
Lift
Ground,
Soft Ground Zinc Plate18. BRANCH
W/
RED & YELLOW 97/8"X 67/8"
Lift
Ground,
Rolled Color- Zinc Plate19. A FOURTH
5 1/2" X 75/8" Lift Ground
-Zinc Plate
20. THREE WITH ATRUNK
8"
X 12"
Lift
Ground,
Soft Ground-Zinc Plate
21.
LEAVES, TEXTURES,
LINES &FORMS117/8"
X 161/4"
Lift
Ground, Engraving,
Soft Ground- Copper Plate22.
LEAVES,
&TEXTURES,
WITH A VINE117/8"
X 16 1/4"
Lift
Ground, Engraving,
SoftGround,
Open Bite- Copper Plate
23. A TWIST
93/4" X 13 1/2"
Lift
Ground,
Engraving
- ZincPlate
24. BRANCH
W/
CAT TAIL PAPER93/4"X 13 1/2"
FOOTNOTES
o
A
xPauul,K!fTe'
^dagQeicnl
Sketchbook,
Introduction
and Translation
by
rwn
?.
?
y;Su^y'lVndon'
E1" Faber andFaberLimited>
WhitstableKent,
Great Britain:
Whitstable
LithoLimited, 1953),
p.7.d
1*
??relAshton
and JackD-FIam
with anintroduction
by
RobertT. Buckfte^
1983)
TJ
(Buffal'NY-:
AlbriSht Knox ArtGallery> NY-
NY" Abbevillev
Hfn^
R^' A
Lger to a
Young
Painter, (N.Y.,
N.Y.: HorizonPress,
FirstJbdition,
1962),
p.195.4.
PaulKlee,
Pedagogical
SketchbookIntroduction
andTranslation
by
SibylMoholy-Nagy,(London,
El.: Faber and FaberLimited,
Whitstable
Kent,
GreatBritain: Whitstable
LithoLimited,
1953),
p.7.5. Riva
Castleman,
JasperJohns aPrintRetrospective (N.Y..N.Y.: The Museumof Modern
Art, Boston,
Mass.: GraphicSociety
Books/Little,
BrownandCo., 1986),
p.19.6.
Gertrude
Stein,
Gertrude Stein on Picasso.(N.Y.,
N.Y.: publishedin cooperation withtheMuseumofModernArt,
andLiverightPublishing
Co., 1970),
p.4.7. Paul
Klee,
Watercolors. Drawings. Writings.(N.Y.,
N.Y.:Harry
N.Abrams,
Inc.,
secondedition,
1969),
p.48. Ibid.
9.
Constance
W.Glenn,
Jim Dine Drawings.(N.Y.,
N.Y.:Harry
N.Abrams,
Inc.,
1985),
p.35.10.
DoreAshton,
20th Century Artists on Art.(N.Y.,
N.Y.:PantheonBooks, 1985),
p.
41.
1 1. Hayden Herreraand Stella
Kramrisch,
Natural Histories. MaryFrank'sSculpture-Prints, and Drawings.
(Lincoln,
Mass.: DeCordova andDana Museum andPark, 1988),
p.13.
12. Mark
Glazebrook,
DavidHockney
Paintings. Prints, and Drawings 1960-1970. (WhitechapelHighSt.,
London El,: WhitechapelArtGallery,
London andBradford,
El.: LundHumphries, 1970),
p. 8.13. Marge
Goldwater;
RobertaSmith;
CalvinTompkins,
Jennifer Bartlett.(Minneapolis,
Minn.:WalkerArtCenter,
N.Y.,
N.Y.: AbbevillePress, 1985),
p.83.14. Klaus
Gallwitz,
Picasso the Heroic Years.( N.Y..N.Y.: AbbevillePress,
1985),
15. Hayden Herreraand Stella
Kramrisch,
Natural Histories.Mary
Frank'sSculpture. Prints, and Drawings.(Lincoln,
Mass.: DeCordova andDana Museum andPark,
1988),
p. 12,13.16. DoreAshton andJack D. Flamwithan introduction
by
RobertT.Buck,
Robert Motherwell.
(
Buffalo,
N.Y.: Albright Knox ArtGallery, N.Y.,
N.Y.: AbbevilleBIBLIOGRAPHY
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Ashton,
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