Tom Green's work in the FAB

Another artist to check out is: Tom Green, which is featured in the Fine Arts Gallery on the main floor of the GMU Fine Arts Building. His work entitled, "Inventory: Paintings from 1997-2006" feature large scale paintings based on sketchbook drawings. However, once you walk into the gallery, the images will seem like bizarre cave paintings or alien symbols. His work is detailed and vivid in color, which appeals to the eye and causes an overwhelming emotion. The image to the left is entitled, "FIRST ONE," 2001, 17" x 122," acrylic on canvas.

Green is a professor at the Corcoran School of Art. Walter Kravitz, who is the gallery director for the department of Art and Visual Technology, wrote a section on Green. He has known Green for 25 years and said, "For many years he has been inspiring his students to gain a fuller and clearer understanding of their own personal prosody in visual form; but aslo what it means to be an artist inlery director for the today's complex landscape." The other work on the right is entitled, "TRICKSTER VIBE," 1998, 71" x 62," acrylic on canvas.

If you look closely at this painting, you notice the two rectangular comparisons. Both sides feature windows looking out, possibly to the sky meeting at the horizon line with the ocean. The left side displays a stone frame while the right side displays a create with animorphic parts. It is a review of the opening and closing actions we face.

I thought it was cool when I walked into the gallery just for a look during a break in my sculpture class. The work is definitely worth a second look so try to catch a glimpse of Green's work, which will be featured until Wednesday, February 21. Other gallery spaces on campus are the 123 Gallery in the Johnson Center, the Fine Arts Building Alcove, the PhotoSpace area in Innovation Hall and the Mason Hall Atrium.

Analyzing issues and art

So far, the online journalism class has been exciting because of the guest speakers. I enjoyed Rick Barton and Helen Thomas for the reality check they give on the situation in Iraq. Barton and Thomas are two people who are devoted to asking answers and hopefully getting answers.

Also, I've gone to two Photoshop workshops, which have been great. The instructor is helpful and he even ends the class early if we've covered everything. It makes a difference in my busy schedule especially when I dart from there to my babysitting job. The workshops have also helped in my graphic design classes since I know how to alter images better for a crisp look.

Last night, I was able to attend part of a lecture on John Moore, who is a Gutman Professor of Fine Arts from the University of Pennsylvania. He discussed his work entitled, “Here and There,” which featured paintings based on observations. Most of the paintings were drawn from his studio, looking out the large window into the city. Sometimes the painting displayed furniture in the studio, the window, and another completely different city like Paris and Barcelona. Moore's work was able to compare reality against synthetic situations. It was great work due to its scale and intricate architectural details.

In one painting, Moore discussed a painting he saw at the Whitney museum in New York City. It was a painting of an old steel mill, telephone line and fence. Moore decided to find that location, which was 45 minutes away from Philadelphia, which was created in the painting in 1936.

Thirty years later, Moore discovered how that location remained exactly the same. I wished I could have stayed for the entire lecture, but Thursdays are my busy days with three classes. I had already spent 12 hours at that point at school and it was time to go home.