Sophie Meadowcroft - Museum Visit

I went to the Grand Rapids Art Museum for this project. I was drawn to one piece in particular by Mark Sheinkman.  At first, one would think that Sheinkman simply used white chalk and a black chalkboard. But actually, he used oil, alkyd, and graphite to create a swift pattern. The piece looked like it could be depicting the pattern of smoke. It looks like he was trying to show what smoke looks like right after a match has burnt out. Since there was a dark background, the piece portrayed very clear contrast between the white and the black. There are parts of the pattern that were emphasized and parts of the pattern that were underemphasized. This was actually made by removing parts of the overlayer in order to see the underlayer; this also goes to show how many layers were involved in making the piece. His work has been known to have a mysterious depth to it and to have investigated in drawing within space. His work and style is known under the category of linear abstraction. He is using lines in wave-like motions to create an art form. The lines twist and turn to portray movement. Your eyes automatically follow all of the lines throughout the entire piece because of the movement that the artist has created. The movement throughout the piece creates a rhythm and a harmony.

            What is enjoyable about this is how abstract it was. It looks like it could have been the pattern of smoke. But it could be many other things. It can also let you, as the person viewing it, to determine the meaning of the piece. However, I interpreted it as emphasizing things we cannot explain in life or things that are often overlooked. Initially, I thought the artist was depicting the pattern of smoke, so my interpretation of the piece was that he was emphasizing beauty within how things naturally happen. For example, we often do not look at the pattern of smoke and think anything of it. But when you look at how the smoke travels through the air particles, it creates a new kind of art form. This is what I envisioned the artist trying to depict. Of course, he may or may not have been actually depicting a pattern like smoke. I think Sheinkman was simply emphasizing different kinds of patterns that are abstract to create a mystery of both what the piece is and what it actually means.

            I was intrigued by the piece, as I had always been a fan of abstract art. The piece goes to show that there could be many ways to interpret it. But one meaning might stand out to you more; and when this does happen, one meaning might resonate more with you than other meanings to it. The piece is visually intriguing and definitely stands out because of its abstract quality.

            I decided to replicate the kind of linear abstraction through my initial interpretation of the piece, which was smoke. I managed to capture the pattern of smoke by using a flashlight. My photo and the piece are similar in the ways of how it visually looks; both have the kind of linear abstraction. My photo and the piece are not similar in the ways of interpretation. It is more evident in my photo that I’m demonstrating the beauty in the simple things of life like how smoke is carried in the air to create artistic patterns. The piece is more abstract in terms of meaning and that is what the artist had intended for it to do.