Art Analysis

 

This piece of art is actually an album cover for Down in the Weeds Where the World Once Was by Bright Eyes. The creator is graphic designer Zack Nipper who works for Saddle Creek Records and is a Grammy award-winning artist for another Bright Eyes album cover. This artwork was designed in Omaha, Nebraska (Flavorwire, 2011) in 2017.

I have always loved art in relation to music. Bright Eyes is a very artistic and unique band, and their album art typically reflects the mood of the music. I chose this work because I've read many interpretations of it, and it has made me feel different emotions almost every time I look at it. The art elements which stand out to me the most in this piece are lines, pattern, and color.

All of the lines in this artwork are curved, which suggests comfort. The body silhouettes floating down into the circle are curved and arranged in a somewhat wispy manner, which to me pulls an easy, drifting feeling. The thin upward shooting lines also have a curved, and free-hand style to them. They remind me of thin hair, soft and protective. The circular lines in which the bodies seem to be floating into are a little jagged as well as curved and this gives me a contrasting emotion, like nervousness or uncertainty of what that circle actually represents. Is it the end or the beginning? Could it possibly be both?

The patterns of the bodies and lines are repetitive. I wrote earlier that the hair had a protective quality to it, and I see that reflective in the pattern as well. The lines shoot up from the bottom to meet with the sky and guide the bodies into the circle. The bodies themselves, while not identical, all have the same relaxed positioning to them. This elicits a feeling of acceptance and calmness. In an interview with the band, the lead singer Connor Oberst describes how the album artist Zack Nipper cut the paper figures, or bodies, out and placed them on a metal spinner to achieve the tornado-like pattern (Lemmon, 2020). Nipper prefers to work with his hands, foregoing computer software for design which I think makes his work more tangible.

The colors are bold and contrast against the black background. I have been told the circle reminds some people of the circles of hell, and the bodies are being sucked into it. While I can see with the color choices that this is similar to fire, I do not necessarily feel the same way. To me, the bodies look like souls, blue representing purer in spirit, while red represents sinners. The title of the album though sparks the idea that they are not being pulled into hell, but rather back to the beginning of life, or "...where the world once was". All of them, regardless of color, are being pulled into the same fate. The bright white center of the circle is reminiscent of "going into the light" when death is upon you.  What happens next is what is feared, and I believe the artist did a good job of keeping the tone warm and inviting while also adding in those small nervous lines within the circle to suggest even he doesn't know what is coming next.

Bibliography:

Flavorwire Staff, September 2011, 10 Album Cover Artists You Should Know (flavorwire.com)

Kyle Lemmon, August 2020, Interview: Bright Eyes on Down in the Weeds, Their Omaha Memories, & Mentorship - Slant Magazine

Introduction

      Hello there! My name is Kayla Yanez, and I am so excited to be blogging for my Art F200X class this semester. I am a non-traditional student, returning to obtain my bachelor's after a long break from school and work. In 2010 I graduated from a surgical technology program, and I worked in that career field until 2015, at which time I became a stay-at-home mom. I recently decided to return to school and expand on my medical career by majoring in Biological Sciences, though I am still uncertain where I may end up career-wise. Last March, I moved to Alaska with my family and have fallen in love with its beauty. I feel incredibly lucky to return to school here and call the Fairbanks area my temporary home. 

I chose to showcase a painting that is truly Alaskan and shows the sense of community I felt immediately after moving here.

This piece of art is a watercolor by Rie Munoz, Unloading Walrus Meat 1986. The painting depicts a group of men working together to hunt walrus as food for their families. I especially love the warm colors against the icy water. This artist's pieces are typically not realistic, but instead, capture the spirit.

       I enjoy painting as well as photography, though I will never claim to be any good at either. I believe art is more about the feelings you have, or release while creating the art and less about the finished project itself. I frequently visit museums of all kinds, but my favorite was the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum in Seattle. I love seeing different art mediums used like glass, metal, fabrics, etc., and am always in awe of the talent behind creating such beautiful works from these materials.

Here is a link to view a short video of the Chihuly exhibit.

Chihuly Garden and Glass