WP3: Final

Author's Note

This project was especially difficult for me. It started out hard, but now that its all done, I think it actually might be my best piece of work in this class. The challenge made me strive to do my best. When we first started it out, I struggled with just spending time with my sculpture. I thought it was impossible to figure anything out from just staring at a sculpture. But as we went on, we learned different approaches to view our sculpture through, such as through a silent attack and as an intensification. Throughout the semester, I have enjoyed the freedom to be able to come up with our own argument as far as what the art object, whether it be a picture, comic, or sculpture, means to us. In my first draft of this essay, I left out the argument. I still wasn't sure of it. My essay was more of a description of the process I went through, but now it is complete with an argument relating to what the sculpture meant to me. Another thing I altered from my first draft to my second was changing a lot of my sentences in the beginning from starting with "I". For example, in my introduction, almost every sentence began with I because I was expressing my opinion so much. After alterations, it now reads more smoothly. Another slight addition was my works cited which I forgot to include in my first draft. I feel like after revising my essay, I know have a solid rhetorical analysis grasping an argument on my particular sculpture. I feel like it was a strong ending to my semester for this class, reflecting on and expressing all that I have learned. Although it started out the hardest, it ended up being my best piece of work in this class.

Writing Project #3- Rough Draft
Writing Project #3- Statement of Purpose



A sculpture is just another form of expression. There are so many means of expression, but what makes sculptures so interesting is the fact that they express themselves without words or movement. Therefore, we as an audience are given the opportunity to create our own argument and explanation of what each sculpture is portraying. When we do this, we also are sure to keep in mind the intentions of the author, which we vaguely know from the title. The argument this sculpture is giving off as far as I think is that it is defining life in a sense of free falling. It is telling you to go with the flow and it is symbolizing it through the image of a waterfall.

The sculpture that I have been working with is titled “Arch Falls” and it was sculpted by Bryan Hunt. Bryan Hunt is known as an artist that tends to sculpt “waterfalls that convey effects of rippling, fluid surfaces in solid bronze.” (Sheldon Art Gallery Pamphlet) This sculpture was formed in 1980-81. This sculpture was first originally modeled in plaster. You are able to see how the artist worked the surface with his fingers while the substance was wet.

Some of my initial observations helped me to get started on analyzing this sculpture. The first day of meeting with my sculpture was a bit difficult. I was able to make general observations, but I didn’t feel a deep connection with it. Although they seemed pity at the time, all observations played a part in my analysis. Of course I thought it was a waterfall due to the title and overall look, but I wasn’t sure on why there was a separation between the two parts of the sculpture. The substance showed the curves that the artist worked on to portray water. I also thought that it was located in the right sort of context by being placed outside. I questioned if the bottom of the sculpture was the end of the waterfall or if it indeed continued. The bottom looked kind of clumpy like rocks at the end. Then I thought about the title and if the “arch” was referring to the curve of the waterfall. I then of course assumed that the “falls” was talking about the waterfall but also considered an alternative meaning, such as free falling or the freedom of falling that a waterfall peacefully gives off.

Then, we had an interesting class that focused on silence. After attending this class and returning back to our sculptures, I started thinking in a different mindset. When something is silent, it still speaks volumes. Obviously our sculptures are silent figures that can’t explain themselves, but yet they are not left unexplainable. We then took time to view our sculptures in a silent way. What are they trying to express that they can’t without words or movement? This was particularly crucial to analyze with my sculpture because of the fact that a waterfall is a movement.

Next, we looked at our sculptures as an object of intensification. As an object, this sculpture intensifies a waterfall because you are viewing it as a stand still. You are able to look at one snap shot second of a waterfall not moving, which would not be possible in real life. The imprints that create the rippling effect are intensified in this case because you also would not be able to see that as a waterfall would be falling. The sculpture also intensifies the fact that it is an art object. When you are looking at something outside of its complete context (being in a waterfall location, moving, being water colored, etc.) you have to praise the work of art to be able to still visualize the sculpture as an object.

During our next class session, I took my observations to a couple different levels. On this particular day, the sculpture was covered by a shadow from the Sheldon building behind it. The sculpture in a darker light became a lot darker itself and you also were unable to see the details within the sculpture. It really changed the overall look. Without details, it didn’t really resemble a waterfall at all, but rather just some chunks of bronze. The visual hierarchy in this new light was definitely focused on the slit and the middle opening between the two chunks because the light was shining through the dark pieces at that time. One this day of observing, I also thought about how different the sculpture would be if it were in more of a waterfall location? Would it be viewed differently? Would it represent something different? Another aspect I touched on with my observations was that the sculpture has a bumpy sort of feel to it, but yet water is smooth. Visually, this looks correct because it truly does look like water, but texturally with touching it, it is not accurate in the sense that water is smooth. Although, I feel like this is ok because really, sculptures aren’t meant to be touched, but rather observed.

So, after all my observations, the big question is, how can this be viewed as a waterfall, when it is technically everything a waterfall is not? How do all these aspects make this sculpture become the object that it is? With this sculpture, there are a lot of pieces that are opposite of a waterfall, but in the end this sculpture still represents a waterfall. One example being that water is a movement and this sculpture is a stand still. But we think water still. Is it because of the title? Or the contours that for the visual design of water? Or a combination of both? Another piece is that there is no source, it just becomes. Obviously no source is necessary for the sculpture because it is not really water, but visually it just starts out of nowhere. Also, there are two parts to this sculpture. In a waterfall, you usually think of just one heavy flow. But this sculpture is split into two. It could be for the simple reason that it needs to be able to stand up, but you are literally able to walk through this space. With a real waterfall, there are usually rocks that separate the direct path down of a waterfall, but nothing like this space show here in “Arch Falls”. The contrast of the white building behind the dark bronze sculpture really highlights its being. It makes it stand out more than a waterfall would stand out on a mountain or wherever it may be.

Earlier this semester we also examined photographs and comics. I feel like comics had more of an argument and message to them because of the fact that they are able to show more emotion and most include words or a message. I feel like the examination process of photographs and sculptures were most similar because they both are usually without words and neither have a movement to them. I personally felt the sculptures were the hardest to figure out but that was also kind of fun because it was really left up to me and how I saw the sculpture and what I felt it was giving off.

So what's the point of this statue? Isn't that the big question after all? The argument for this sculpture is to go with the flow. In life, that is one piece of advice that can be given to everyone. Buy viewing that advice through a sculpture, you are able to visually connect something with the statement. I feel like the two separate parts of the sculpture are related to the different paths you can take in life. With one being larger and one being smaller, it reflects on how much success you can gain from picking the right path (the bigger chunk) versus the wrong path (the smaller chunk). The last part of the argument would be that it kind of defines a free falling feeling. You are free to pick your path and I feel like all of this is represented through this sculpture.

By taking the chance to spend some time with my sculpture, I was able to understand it a little more each time. When I first saw it I was clueless how I was going to be able to make anything of it. I thought everyone else’s sculptures were a lot more detailed and easier to understand, but now I see that my sculpture can do that also. After viewing it blankly, through a silent approach, and as an intensification, I feel I have attacked it at all levels and really came to see that although it may be made up of everything a waterfall is not, it is a waterfall none the less.


Works Cited
"Bryan Hunt." Bryan Hunt. Web. 13 Dec. 2009. .
Crowley, John M. "Rough Water, Smooth Water: A Comprehensive Classification of Water-Flow Characteristics." Questia. 2002. Web. 13 Dec. 2009. .
Ford, Paul. "Forms of Expression." Ftrain.com. 2007. Web. 13 Dec. 2009. .
"Formation of a Waterfall." Web. 13 Dec. 2009. .
"John Cage." Wikipedia. 14 Dec. 2009. Web. 13 Dec. 2009. .
Sheldon Art Gallery. Web. 13 Dec. 2009. .
"Visual Hierarchy." Visual Paths + Learning. Web. 13 Dec. 2009. .
"Waterfall." Wikipedia. 14 Dec. 2009. Web. 13 Dec. 2009. .

WP3: First Draft

A sculpture is just another form of expression. There are so many means of expression, but what makes sculptures so interesting is the fact that they express themselves without words or movement. Therefore, we as an audience are given the opportunity to create our own argument and explanation of what each sculpture is portraying. When we do this, we also are sure to keep in mind the intentions of the author, which we vaguely know from the title.

The sculpture that I have been working with is titled “Arch Falls” and it was sculpted by Bryan Hunt. Bryan Hunt is known as an artist that tends to sculpt “waterfalls that convey effects of rippling, fluid surfaces in solid bronze.” (Sheldon Art Gallery Pamphlet) This sculpture was formed in 1980-81. This sculpture was first originally modeled in plaster. You are able to see how the artist worked the surface with his fingers while the substance was wet.

Some of my initial observations helped me to get started on analyzing this sculpture. The first day of meeting with my sculpture was a bit difficult. I was able to make general observations, but I didn’t feel a deep connection with it. Although they seemed pity at the time, all observations played a part in my analysis. I of course thought it was a waterfall due to the title and overall look. I wasn’t sure on why there was a separation between the two parts of the sculpture though. I thought that the substance showed the curves that the artist worked on to portray water. I also thought that it was located in the right sort of context by being placed outside. I questioned if the bottom of the sculpture was the end of the waterfall or if it indeed continued. I thought the bottom looked kind of clumpy like rocks at the end. Then I thought about the title. I wondered if the “arch” was referring to the curve of the waterfall. I then of course assumed that the “falls” was talking about the waterfall but I also considered an alternative meaning, such as free falling or the freedom of falling that a waterfall peacefully gives off.

Then, we had an interesting class of silence. After attending this class and returning back to our sculptures, I started thinking in a different mindset. When something is silent, it still speaks volumes. Obviously our sculptures are silent figures that can’t explain themselves, but yet they are not left unexplainable. We then took time to view our sculptures in a silent way. What are they trying to express that they can’t without words or movement? This was particularly crucial to analyze with my sculpture because of the fact that a waterfall is a movement.

Next, we looked at our sculptures as an object of intensification. As an object, this sculpture intensifies a waterfall because you are viewing it as a stand still. You are able to look at one snap shot second of a waterfall not moving, which would not be possible in real life. The imprints that create the rippling effect are intensified in this case because you also would not be able to see that as a waterfall would be falling. The sculpture also intensifies the fact that it is an art object. When you are looking at something outside of its complete context (being in a waterfall location, moving, being water colored, etc.) you have to praise the work of art to be able to still visualize the sculpture as an object.

During our next class session, I took my observations to a couple different levels. On this particular day, the sculpture was covered by a shadow from the Sheldon building behind it. The sculpture in a darker light became a lot darker itself and you also were unable to see the details within the sculpture. It really changed the overall look. Without details, it didn’t really resemble a waterfall at all, but rather just some chunks of bronze. The visual hierarchy in this new light was definitely focused on the slit and the middle opening between the two chunks because the light was shining through the dark pieces at that time. One this day of observing, I also thought about how different the sculpture would be if it were in more of a waterfall location? Would it be viewed differently? Would it represent something different? Another aspect I touched on with my observations was that the sculpture has a bumpy sort of feel to it, but yet water is smooth. Visually, this looks correct because it truly does look like water, but texturally with touching it, it is not accurate in the sense that water is smooth. Although, I feel like this is ok because really, sculptures aren’t meant to be touched, but rather observed.

So, after all my observations, the big question is, how can this be viewed as a waterfall, when it is technically everything a waterfall is not? How do all these aspects make this sculpture become the object that it is? With this sculpture, there are a lot of pieces that are opposite of a waterfall, but in the end this sculpture still represents a waterfall. One example being that water is a movement and this sculpture is a stand still. But we think water still. Is it because of the title? Or the contours that for the visual design of water? Or a combination of both? Another piece is that there is no source, it just becomes. Obviously no source is necessary for the sculpture because it is not really water, but visually it just starts out of nowhere. Also, there are two parts to this sculpture. In a waterfall, you usually think of just one heavy flow. But this sculpture is split into two. It could be for the simple reason that it needs to be able to stand up, but you are literally able to walk through this space. With a real waterfall, there are usually rocks that separate the direct path down of a waterfall, but nothing like this space show here in “Arch Falls”. The contrast of the white building behind the dark bronze sculpture really highlights its being. It makes it stand out more than a waterfall would stand out on a mountain or wherever it may be.

Earlier this semester we also examined photographs and comics. I feel like comics had more of an argument and message to them because of the fact that they are able to show more emotion and most include words or a message. I feel like the examination process of photographs and sculptures were most similar because they both are usually without words and neither have a movement to them. I personally felt the sculptures were the hardest to figure out but that was also kind of fun because it was really left up to me and how I saw the sculpture and what I felt it was giving off.

By taking the chance to spend some time with my sculpture, I was able to understand it a little more each time. When I first saw it I was clueless how I was going to be able to make anything of it. I thought everyone else’s sculptures were a lot more detailed and easier to understand, but now I see that my sculpture can do that also. After viewing it blankly, through a silent approach, and as an intensification, I feel I have attacked it at all levels and really came to see that although it may be made up of everything a waterfall is not, it is a waterfall none the less.

WP3: Statement of Purpose

When you have something that is representing an object through means that it is not, its purpose is served in a different way. The sculpture I have been working with is titled "Arch Falls" and it is of a waterfall by Bryan Hunt. The twist about it though is that it is made and portrayed through everything that it is not.

A main element of a waterfall is its movement. But hello, a sculpture can't move! So how then do we still understand that it is representing a waterfall when it is the opposite of water, meaning no movement? We need to take a step back and think about why we consider this a waterfall and how that came to be our perception of the sculpture. There are contours in the sculpture's format showing the techniques the artist used to make the bronze appear as water. With knowing the title and taking a first glance at the sculpture, it is evident that it is a waterfall. Another part is that this waterfall is separated in two parts, when we know that a real life waterfall is one continuation. The only reasoning I have for this doing is that there needs to be two parts for the sculpture to be able to stand up. We know that if a normal waterfall is having any separation it is usually due to a rock in the middle, not an open air space like this sculpture has that you can literally walk through. Another element to this sculpture is that it has been placed outside and against a white marble building. It is outdoors in a natural setting which is where a waterfall would be, but not on a grassy lawn. Also, a white building is not usually behind a moving waterfall to highlight its contours and design, but rather a blended in mountain or some similar scenery.

Every waterfall has a source, except for if its a sculpture. This waterfall starts in the middle of the air. It just becomes. It is crazy that all these things that are making up the sculpture are the exact opposites of what a waterfall really is, but yet everyone that looks at this after knowing the title and everything, considers it to be a waterfall. This whole concept connects us to the John Cage videos. A performance of music was made out of silence. This is similar in that a waterfall is made out of stillness.

I think all of this follows yet contradicts my original thought or purpose of this sculpture representing the idea of "free falling". It is free falling in the sense that it is free to be what it wants in this situation and it is coming from nowhere so there is no source it is meant to follow. To say it is falling is where it gets tricky. It is technically not moving but we can see from the arch the movement it would have if it were actually water falling down a mountain.

When working with this sculpture, we are able to figure it out through everything that it is not.

WP3: Pre Write 3

The sculpture I have been working with is titled "Arch Falls". The sculptor is Bryan Hunt, who was born in 1947. This sculpture came around in 1980-81. The substance used is bronze, which is the most common substance used in the sculptures around Sheldon Art Gallery.

Bryan Hunt is known for "gestural" bronze sculptures. Gestural meaning that it is able to communication without words. I would think that word would be common for most sculptors techniques because of the fact that sculptures don't commonly have words. He is found doing lots of waterfalls that convey the "ephemeral" effects of rippling, fluid surfaces in solid bronze. The word ephemeral means lasting only a short time which makes complete sense for this sculpture. Like stated in a previous blog, this sculpture catches one snapshot of a waterfall, reiterating Hunt techniques with his waterfall sculptures. This piece of art was originally modeled in plaster. We are able to see how Bryan Hunt worked the surface with his fingers while it was still wet in order to form the details of the water.

After knowing a little bit more information about the sculpture and its artist, not much has been altered for me. I was able to see the details and techniques before hand, but didn't know that it was previously done in plaster and all those details. It is interesting that this artist focuses his work on waterfalls. I would be interested to know if there is a particular reason for his doing so.

3rd Writing Post

Intensification. The most basic definition for the word intensification outlines exactly what it means, it make something more intense. When you think of a sculpture, it is kind of hard to think of it as intense. We would normally relate sculptures to the type of class period we had on Tuesday. I was out of town, therefore not in class on Thursday, but from what I understand the class was polar opposite from Tuesday. Therefore, we need to take time to think of our sculptures in a more intense way rather than subdued.

The first step is to think through our sculpture as an intensification of the object it represents. My sculpture is a waterfall, therefore, it intensifies a waterfall because you are viewing it as a stand still. There is no motion which is what a waterfall does, so it is a whole different kind of viewing when it is still. This sculpture also intensifies the movement and "fall" of a waterfall. It does the same for the "arch" of a waterfall. The imprints in the stone of the sculpture through the lines formed represent the rippling of the water. You wouldn't necessarily be able to see those lines when watching a live waterfall. The sculpture is almost a snapshot of a waterfall because it catches it just in one single second or movement.

The second step is to think through our sculpture as an intensification of an art object. This sculpture really allows you to view a waterfall as an art object because of a few things. One thing being, the substance used, bronze. That makes us focus even harder because it is not like we are looking at a blue painting- we don't automatically think of water when we see the bronze color. If it indeed were blue, or whatever color you consider water to be, we would be more prone to assuming it is a waterfall right away than we are when we look at a bronze stone. Also the fact that we can see the finger imprint that make it a water design ties in with the fact that it is an art object. You know that it took skill and technique to form the material so that it turns out representing a waterfall.

The third and final step is to think through our sculpture as an intensification of the natural environment in which it is found. Just the bare fact that this sculpture is outside intensifies that it is a waterfall because it is in a natural environment. Although not the precise environment it typically would be found in. I think it would still be able to be a waterfall sculpture if located inside of Sheldon or any art gallery for that matter, but it just makes it a little more realistic being placed outside.

It is interesting to be able to look and reflect on our sculptures in two complete opposite approaches, but I think that is all the better for making sure we are looking at every possible aspect of our sculptures and really digging deep with them.