Laura Fernandez - Public Art Project

I think our presentation went pretty well. We did well on splitting up who talked and showing off our project in a concise and productive manner. If we did this project again I would change the tools that we used, aka I would use PowerPoint to be able to show our piece and idea more clearly. I like that some of the other groups used actual models for their presentation. It really showed the all around image. I was persuaded by some of the other groups' arguments. To be more persuasive we could have provided a model to give the audience a better feel for our idea.

Public Arts Project-Kyle Jordan

I thought our presentation went well. I wish we would have had a little more time to make our display come to life more but oh well. Our groups vision was awesome I thought. All of the groups were very persuasive and passionate about their projects. I don't want to say if one or the other was my favorite but I hope later down the road I will see some of these projects on Butler's campus.

Jenny Green-Pitching Public Art

I thought our groups presentation went well. I like how we found a place on campus that had history behind it and then we designed a piece around it. Our presentation could have gone better if our whole group knew what we were going to say. I liked how other groups found a variety of places to display their art. No one really had the same location or art piece that was similar. I did not really find myself persuaded by any group, but I liked the overall designs of their pieces. To be more persuasive, our group could have talked more about why it would be a good piece to put on campus. We did not really delve into that aspect as much.

Gabe Hulecki - Pitching Public Art

"Holcomb Lenses" turned into a great piece of public art and I consider it to be the perfect fit for Butler's campus. I believe our presentation went well and our group covered all the important details necessary for why our public art piece would be a good contribution to campus. I thought our idea of Holcomb's two loves in life being seen through spectacles showed the kind of great history Butler has. I also enjoyed a lot of the other group's presentations as they too had good ideas for Butler's campus. I thought the "Butler Bubble" would be a good piece of art to have on campus. Overall I enjoyed working on this project and look forward to more like this.

Ashleigh Schneckenberger-Art Project

I thought our presentation went very well and we said everything our paper said. We explained our project well, I just wish we had a distinct picture of what the fountains would actually look like. I liked that our group worked really well together, deciding what to do and than excuting it. I thought our project was very persuasive because there was a lot of meaning to it as well.

Stephanie Hodgin - Pitching Public Art

Our group presented the 'Of Treasures and Tunes' project in which we had basins of water in the shape of an 'X' on the Butler Mall, from which shot water to and from these basins. When the water hit the basins, a tune was played that could be heard from around campus. I thought we did a great job presenting and being persuasive. I think a little more preparation would have prevented repeating of information, or the forgetting of information (we left out the materials we would use to make our project), that may have added a persuasive appeal to our argument.

The other groups in class did a really great job presenting; all of them seemed to have at least one reason why I thought they should definitely have a spot on campus, which made it difficult to vote at the end for a single proposal. I was really excited about the bridge project because the group explained where they got their influence for their project, which was an interesting angle to see the background planning that it took to come up with the idea. I also thought the fountain outside of Clowes was a great presentation because they truly took time to plan the materials they were going to use and took into account the cost of the production. Overall, I was surprised to see the different ideas our class members came up with!

Rachel Heck - Pitching Public Art

I think my group's presentation went pretty well. We thoroughly explained the meaning of every aspect of our "X"-shaped, musical fountain, but we did forget to mention the materials we had considered using to make the structure. I think our group could have been more persuasive if we had created a more organized way of presenting our argument. This would have greatly diminished our repetition of persuasive points.

All of the groups did an outstanding job explaining their ideas to the class. Any of these projects would positively add to Butler's campus. However, I thought the groups who proposed the bridge project and the fountain that would go in front of Clowes Hall did a really good job presenting. They both had incredible and detailed visuals for their project. I was definitely persuaded by the group who proposed the bridge project because of where they got their idea for the structure of the bridge and the idea for the light show. That interesting background information from a personal visit to Europe added credibility to the project and greatly enhanced the presentation. All of these things considered persuaded me that they had a really neat idea that would not only be useful on the Butler campus, but also fun and exciting.

T.J. Sansone - Pitching Public Art

Our presentation went very well! Although we had not all met before this class, we really 'clicked' while working as a group and settled on an idea quite quickly. Using the cross-sections of a basketball to form a structure became the main theme after our initial brain-storming session, and from there, we moved on to discussing and settling on the features that the structure would contain, as well as the overall appearance. Looking back, we could have spent more time coming up with ideas before settling on a theme, although it all worked out great in the end!

As for the other groups, I like the range of ideas that the class came up with. Every group thought outside of the box and proposed interesting projects--any one of which would be an outstanding addition to Butler's campus. I was persuaded by the Bridge Project in particular, since I agreed that the Butler section of the canal was lacking in scenery and a glass bridge would really liven up the area. I believe that my group was persuasive as well, since every student needs a peaceful, scenic place to visit every now and then, which is exactly what our project offered, in addition to providing a social atmosphere.

Lili Kyurkchiyska- Art Proposals Reflection

Looking back on our presentation Tuesday, I thik we did well but we could have done better. We were not completely sure how to approach the project's presentation and in my opinion we were not very persuasive but our idea was very original. I really enjoyed being creative and coming up with ideas but we weren't very clear in presenting these ideas. In our group we all represented parts of our personalities in the project. I liked how all of the groups had many visual aids to help present their ideas. Overall, it was a fun project that I liked working on.

I think that our group, (holcomb lences), did really well on finding a new idea for our project. Ourt presentation could have been a little bit better but i think we did a good job doing our research and presenting it. i think we can do better on getting together more ideas to fall back on if our original idea does not work.

Public Art Relection - Caitlyn Carmony

I think my group's presentation went well. We weren't amazing, but for the first time working together I think we did a good job. I felt that during the presentation we split up who talked about what according to strengths. One of our members was the one that was in Europe, so it made sense for her to talk about the inspiration. If I were to change something it would be that maybe we could have practiced, or worked on it before. When we presented it was the first time that we had done it and we didn't know exactly how it was going to go. I liked how most groups had some sort of model to show. That really helped me visualize what the final product might look like. I was persuaded by a few groups. I really liked the Butler Bubbles, the mirror group, and the Watering Hole. I felt each of them showed me what their final product would be like and why it would be a good idea for Butler's campus. I think my group could have been more persuasive if maybe we were better artists. I really liked how our model came out, but I'm not the best photo shop artist. Some of the pictures were kind of iffy. I feel that overall, my group did a good job and we learned about how we work together which will be helpful in the projects to come.

Mike Park- Public Artwork Reflection

I think our presentation went great. We all worked well as a team and did our respective parts. What made our group flow was the similarities in our ideas. Basketball was the main theme we wanted to incorporate into our public artwork proposal. So in the end, one idea was enough to elaborate on and create a great structure. If there was anything I would want to change, it would be the variety of ideas we brainstormed. Although our original idea worked well, I still think we could have gone beyond and listed many other possibilites. In this aspect, I believe we were limited and could have even made a better structure. All in all I am pleased with what we came up with. It's location in the Holcomb Gardens perfectly went along with our theme of peace and tranquility which is also associated with basketball as we explained. In terms of the other groups, I think they did a great job not caring about the budget and going way beyond. They made incredible structures which makes our project look miniscule. I think we could have exploited the limitless budget aspect of the project and could have made an extraordinary structure as well. What also impressed me was the detail the other groups had with their structure's functions. For example, the music fountain one was truly fascinating. It looks simple, but incorporating the musical notes with the fountain jets was really cool. All in all, this was good project and I am proud of our project as well.

Parker Sheppard-Art Proposal Reflection

I had a great time completing this project and i owe much of that to Courtney and Trent. They worked hard on the project and completed everything on time. I liked the idea of coming up with something unique and about self reflection. I though the bell tower was a perfect place for our art piece and i feel as if it would add more contrast to the Holcomb Garden area by the bell tower. All in all, this project was a fun way to get creative and artsy at the same time.

Cam THompson- Reflection on Public Art Proposal

Personally, I feel my group made a strong presentation for our Bridge Project proposal because we supported our pitch using various mediums including pictures, drawings, a slide show and a model. We should have slowed down, however, and taken more time to walk the class through our work- I know that I definitely rushed through the slides and pictures more than I had liked, so the audience probably did not get the sense of what the bridge had to offer entirely. Although we had a good presentation and it was clear that we had spent a lot of time on our art proposal, the biggest area of improvement for my group would be selling our idea- taking more time to persuade the audience why our piece offered the most functional and aesthetic elements.

I particularly admired the way the Butler Bubbles, Holcomb Glasses, The Watering Hole and Of Treasures and Tunes conveyed their visions of their group's art proposals. The Butler Bubbles group did a great job of using humor to personally connect the audience to their idea; while the other groups really utilized their time to explain and help paint a mental image for the audience. Their presentations were very persuasive. The Watering Hole group also did an excellent job in factoring in the cost of their structure, which most everyone else ignored, including my group. Humor, along with personal connection/relevance and cost efficiency are two very persuasive strategies that my group maybe could work on for future proposals.

Aisha Townsend - Art Proposal Reflection

Looking back on Tuesday's class, I most definitely think we could've done more with our presentation. I think our group had good communication about our individual tasks but not a clear understanding about how far we could or wanted to go with our presentation. I would've suggested a model and PowerPoint to better engage our audience as well as display our piece better. I think we knew why our piece was unique and it's purpose but we could've put a lot more thought into the actual piece (i.e. what its made of, size, etc.) Yet I enjoyed the project, and would do it again.

Katie Clark - Art Proposal Reflection

Looking back on Tuesday's class, i think our presentation went reasonably well however, there is room for improvemnet. I think we communicated fairly well with the audience and made a good effort on our props, on the other hand i also think we could have done better in structuring and organizing our presentation to make it more clear and concise, i felt asthough we had ore things to say but missed out due to feeling a bit rushed. If we were to do it again, i would like to suggest a powerpoint presentation and maybe even spend more time rehearsing. As for the other groups, i think the first group (Tunes and Treasures) did a great job in terms of persuading us and organising their presentation well. I was realy impressed with the variety of ideas we managed to come up with as a class on the whole! In order to make our presentation more persuasive, i think we could have had more visual aids, perhaps photos and pictures of other established artworks which used the same materials as ours or resembled our design in some way, to try and give the audience more of a 'feel' for how it would look.

JoJo Ciancio- Art Proposal Reflection

Overall I thought our presentation was a success. We were able to present our art proposal to the entire class. The presentation consisted of what the idea was, "Butler Bubbles", the reason behind why we choose this idea, and what was the logic behind choosing Holcomb Gardens. I thought our speech was organized well and each person did their part to contribute to the speech. Not one person said everything, everyone contributed equally. I think we did a good job with presenting our topic and giving all the important details. We figured in how Holcomb Gardens was the appropriate area for our idea. However, for next time I think we need to be a little more persuasive. We need to really push them and put more effort into selling them into our idea. We did a good job of how this product could relate to any audience, boys or girls, but we just need to use more persuasive vocabulary in our speech.

All the groups did a fantastic job with their art proposals. The visual aids were impressive. Some of those 3-D models were really good. The visual aid along with what they were saying really tied everything together. One could not exist without the other.

The one group that sold me was the "Watering Hole". I really like how they incorporated cost into their speech. The idea that the water supply was going to be coming from the sewers and that the university wasn't going to have to pay for water was really interesting. They did their research and the more knowledge they had about their topic the more I was convinced. I think if our group talked about cost and other economic factors it would have been more persuasive because cost is a big deal. The less expensive you can make it the more people are going to be willing to support your product.

Pitching Public Art- Grant Lewis

I really enjoyed working on the pitch project with my group and feel like we worked great together. I think that we did a great job presenting our idea for the Butler Bubbles and made it an idea everyone could visualize. Josh, Jojo and I all did a great job of working as a team to come up with a common idea as well as finding ways to split up the work load evenly. I really enjoyed seeing everyone else's views on this project and it really inspired me to think more about public art ideas for Butlers campus. I think a piece of public art like some of the ones mentioned in class would be a great addition to Butler and is an idea that Bobby Fong should consider.

Courtney Reynolds- Pitching Public Art

The pitch that Parker, Trent, and I presented to the class went well; we all worked together to create a project worth presenting. Each of us put forth equal effort and felt good about our finished product. Our presentation could have ran a little smoother however; I don't think we were as persuasive as we could have been. I know that I get a little nervous with public speaking so I was a little scattered with the thoughts I presented making it more difficult for my other team members. I was impressed with the presentation of the "Treasures and Tunes" group as well as the "Butler Bubbles," I thought each group worked collectively to demonstrate the key points of their project very persuasively. "Butler Bubbles" persuaded me the most because of their visual aids and the way in which they described the piece; they gave me the clearest picture of what the piece would look like if actually installed (and the idea was really cool too!).

Reflection -Trent Miller

Parker, Courtney, and my project's presentation went well, because we worked well as a team and each person contributed. The only thing that I would change about our project is the location of the piece we designed. The one group that stood out in my mind was "Butler Bubbles". The reason for this is because their pitch and their creatively unique design of Holcomb Gardens.

Public Art Project Reflection

I feel our presentation went very well. Our model was really creative and everyone had input on the construction process. Overall, as a group we all meshed well; for example if one person had an idea then the rest of us would build off that idea and make it even better. There was another group that persuaded me as well. What caught my attention was their sharp looking design and how it related to that of Butler and its athletics. All in all, I feel things went as planned and I think everyone had really innovative and interesting designs/ideas.

The Watering Hole by Katie, Kyle and Sheila

The Watering Hole
Our group first came up with the idea of ‘The Watering Hole’ when we got together as a group and verbally projected our individual ideas with the intention that we would eventually land on something which struck a chord with all three of us. Initially we played with the concept of a water feature of some sort, and went on to develop thoughts and ideas of ways in which we could link the art piece to Butler. The location of East Mall just outside Clowes Hall was almost a given as we all thought that this was one of the areas on the Butler Campus most in need of some visual appeal, while it was Sheila’s drawing of the piece which triggered the excitement and enthusiasm amongst the group.
Once we had the picture of our Sculpture we could really get to grips with the mechanics of the art piece and the ideas of how it could function and be self sustainable and what materials it could be constructed with really started to flow. The ‘arms’ of the sculpture would be made of a smooth combination of solar panels and silver metal plating to create a certain sleekness and reflective effect which would complement the water feature. At the base of each of the four arms would be a wishing well, the walls of which would be made of high quality dark, kind of erratic looking rock, the idea being that people will throw their coins into the wells as they make a wish and the metallic reflection of the coins will compliment the appearance of the arms. From the wells, a discreet tube would run up the underside of the metal arms as they project from the wells in an arch-like form and become intertwined at the top where the water will spurt out and run down the outside of the arms back into the well.
Aside from the water feature of the sculpture, its appearance would be sophisticated and grand to tie in with the Liberal Arts theme of the University. The intertwining of the ‘arms’ is also symbolic of the crossing of paths and cultures, a theme which is of growing importance while at Butler. It’s location outside of Clowes Hall serves as a convenient gateway to the Butler Campus and therefore it would be the first object visitors would see. First Impressions are of great importance and we think that our sculpture would provide a great talking point and impress future Butler students and alumni.

Courtney, Parker, and Trent- Public Art Proposal

“REFLECTION”
The public art piece we would like to propose for the Butler University campus is entitled “Reflection.” The location for “Reflection” is proposed to be on the steps of the bell tower on the north end of the campus. This location was chosen as a prime spot for an art piece that will encourage personal reflection. The area is surrounded by nature promoting peace and tranquility and the bell towers, which sound at the passing of every hour symbolically representing the passing of time throughout one’s journey of reflection. Out of respect for the tradition and history of the bell tower, this piece would be a temporary public art piece put on display during the month of May which is generally fair-weathered. The art piece itself would be composed of four mirror frames and one large cylindrical mirror. Each mirror frame would rest upon each of the four platforms on the steps leading up to the bell tower culminating with the cylindrical mirror directly underneath the bell tower. The proposed materials of the mirrors are black-coated wooden frames with stainless steel pieces to serve as a mirror, for safety purposes. Attaching the mirrors to the stairs would be done much in the same manner as a free-standing mirror is held upright; the mirror frames would be attached to another wood stand.
The four mirrors represent the path of discovery of self throughout one’s four-year, or more, journey at Butler. The unfinished mirrors represent the “pieces of the puzzle” to one’s life as well as the increasingly more difficult stages of each school year. The round mirror underneath the bell tower symbolizes the culmination of discovery of oneself, career path, purpose, et cetera or at least seeing oneself in a different manner.
Adding this piece to the Butler campus for the proposed month of May would add interest to the area and increase its value as a place for reflection and thought. The bell tower is already a visitor attraction; “Reflection” would be another point of interest and conversation piece. “Reflection” being installed in May, the month of commencement, could also symbolize and help celebrate the journey of Butler in students in their path of self-discovery past, present, and future.

Public Art Proposal - Cam, Caitlyn, Katie

Public Art Proposal

For our public art project, we propose an aesthetically pleasing and functional bridge over the canal behind Gallahue Hall. Such a bridge would attract people down to the canal, which is technically a part of Butler campus, though unfortunately a seldom used part.

The bridge would be a completely covered bridge, to provide shelter from inclement weather, heat, and cold. The structure would be made of steel or any other supportive material. The majority of the bridge would be plate glass, so as to allow pedestrians to see what is around them and down into the canal. The bridge would also be illuminated, and at night would provide a light show for visitors using color wheels in the lighting fixtures. There will be an observation area so as to allow pedestrians to stop and sightsee without blocking others trying to cross.

We proposed the idea to attract people to the canal more often. As it stands, the Canal is seldom used by anyone except student athletes running during practice or trying to access the Butler Athletic fields on the west side of the canal. We thought that a structure which allowed students to cross and also provided shelter would make a visit to the canal more pleasant. We chose the location behind Gallahue Hall because that particular area of the canal lacks this kind of bridge. There are 2 wooden bridges on or near Butler campus, neither of which provides shelter or serves any purpose other than as a crossing point on the canal. We thought that a “different” kind of bridge would be more pleasing to look at—it would attract people if for no other reason than to see it. The addition of the light show adds the element of “play” to the bridge. The bridge would be constructed so as to not invade the space of the wildlife in the canal.

We drew inspiration from Katie’s recent trip to Strasbourg, France. Europeans place a higher value on art, so most of their structures are functional as well as artistic. Also, the city of Strasbourg invested in providing light shows nightly at two different locations, projected against two already-standing structures, the Cathédrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg as well as the side of a movie theater along the Rhine River. On its own, these two locations attract people maybe only once. But with the lightshow, they attracted both locals and tourists, and got them talking about the structures as well as the particular areas of the city, bringing more people out to explore and experience everything that Strasbourg has to offer. That is the goal behind the Bridge Project—to get people to come out to the canal, see the bridge and the light show, and explore, wondering “what else does Butler have to offer?”

Proposal - Phil, Michael, and TJ

We proposed our artwork to be placed in Butler’s Holcomb Gardens. The structure that we created is a basketball shaped arch with benches in the center of it. It is called the Athletes Haven. The arches from an above view form the cross-section of a basketball and they are made of metal. Also, it has gravel paths and flower beds that decorate the interior space. Also, there are small mini-ponds in there with fish swimming around. It is basically a place where people can relax and enjoy the scenery around them.

Our artwork was called the Athletes Haven because it resembles a getaway from society that athletes have when they play their respective sports. When the general public thinks of sports, they most commonly think about rough, cut throat competition and loud noises. However, for athletes, sports can be simply taking a break from their everyday lives as well. For example, let’s say a freshman student in high school has had a long day in school. He failed his math test and just broke up with his girlfriend. When he finally goes to basketball practice and starts shooting some hoops, he can take his mind off his miserable day. Also, basketball is something he enjoys so it is like taking a vacation from everyday life. This is one way sports can be a relaxing getaway. Just like how athletes can play sports to relieve their stress and relax, ordinary people can take time away from their lives and enjoy some moments in the Athletes Haven. That is why this structure should be put in Holcomb. The garden is secluded from the rest of the campus andrepresents a peaceful and lively place.

Aisha Townsend, Laura Fernandez, Lili Kyurkchiyska - Public Art Project

"Play Time"



We chose to place our art on the lawn in front of Clowes Memorial Hall because that is the well known representative of art not only to the Butler University student body but also to the surrounding Indianapolis community. There are three pieces (one that incorporates two art forms) that contribute to our public art work because each represents a branch of the arts: theatre, dance, music, and visual art. These pieces are designed with a playful perspective creating a fun atmosphere. The pieces are meant to be played on and around and hopefully draw a more lighthearted side into the hard work and seriousness that is put forth by the artists that perform in Clowes Memorial Hall and Lilly Hall. The incorporate a childish aspect being created with puzzle pieces of all different colors, evoking the onlooker and those playing on it with a sense of their inner child. The paintbrush is the used as a ladder to the slide, which represents how being involved in one art form can bring you to another. The pointe shoe is used as the slide and represents a very difficult area in dance. That can represent bringing a playful activity to a difficult craft. Also, a huge part of the art is music. The swing represents the beat and the rhythm of music that would be created by the person swinging. In a way music contributes to pacing oneself and living life by the rhythm and beat of it. The pieces represent the bigger picture of being actively involved in the arts will bring a greater appreciation to the arts.

Ashleigh, Rachel, and Stephanie - Public Art Proposal Project

Our public art piece, entitled "Of Treasures and Tunes," will be located on the Butler Mall between Star Fountain and Norris Plaza. We have designed a giant "X"-shaped, jumping-water fountain that creates a delightful melody upon the contact of the jumping water with a progression of specific, spherical basins. Although there are already seven fountains on campus, we decided to make the number an even eight. The structure we have designed is unlike the normal fountains around campus due to the aspect of the jumping water to and from many colored basins primarily made of recycled plastic material. The "X"-structure of the fountain is formed by a large center basin with four rows of four consecutive basins branching out from it. The basins within each row decrease in both height and circumference as their position away from the center basin increases. Each row of basins corresponds to a natural-tone color: blue, yellow, green, and black. The main basin will be equipped with four water jets while each of the smaller basins will have one bidirectional jet.
Furthermore, this fountain is interactive by means of allowing passersby to publically express their musical creativity. Visitors to the fountain are able to create their own tune by determining the specific orientation of switches that are located on the center water basin and correspond to the direction and timing of water flow to and from the other basins. During times when the human powered changing of switches is nil, the fountain will play a preprogrammed tune. This way there is never a dull moment with the fountain.
We chose to place our fountain on the Mall due to its openness and relatively central location on campus. There are benches around the center basin of the fountain to add another place for students to sit in the wide open area of the Mall; as well as to sit within the limits of the stucture and watch the jumping water. The benches will be constucted out of Polywood, a new-age lumber made from recycled plastic. The significance of the "X" shape of the fountain corresponds with the significance of an X on a treasure map. "X" marks the spot where the treasure can be cound. In the case of our public art piece, the "X" in the center of the Butler campus marks the spot where one will find his/her treasure map of life: at Butler. With a Butler experience, a student will graduate with all the tools he/she needs to successfully uncover the secrets life has locked away especially for him/her. In short, Butler is the graduate's map to the future; to uncovering life's great treasures.
Not only does the shape of the fountain have significance, but the sound it generates as well as the color of the basins and the jumping of the water has a purpose. The musical aspect of the fountain is initially representative of finding one's life son, one's grand purpose. However, the music is also supposed to symbolize the possible harmonious connection between nature and urbanization. The water itself is directly expressive of the basic foundation of life. The jumping of the water serves as a further connection between nature (the water in the air) and urban development (the man-made basins). The colors of teh basins also contain important meanings. The "yellow" sun crosses the "blue" sky and causes all things "green" to grow. Nevertheless, there comes a time for the sun to set on life and for death (black) to take its place.
We believe that our fountain should be chosen as the public art piece for Butler's campus because of its interactive capabilities, aesthetic uniqueness, and deep, underlying meaning to life and to finding one's place among the chaos by using the tools Butler provides.

Jenny Green-100 Acres Reflection

Comparing the video to my experience to the 100 Acres, I would say I had a similar experience. I have gone to the IMA a few times since I first started at Butler, so it was nice to see them extend their museum with the 100 Acres. I think it is a way for them to attract more people to the museum, as well as allow people to see art work out in the beauty of nature. The piece which raised the most question for me was the Indianapolis Island. It raised question to me because when I found out people resided in it, I wanted to do it immediately. I think it would be fun to live away from the world for a little while and just experience nature at its best. The piece I least understood was Eden II. I didn't understand the meaning behind it until I watched the video, which helped cleared up my lack of understanding.

Michael Park- 100 acres reflection

The IMA official in the video claimed that the park makes art a more physical and an engaging experience that broadens up our minds. From my personal experience, I think the "engaging" aspect of it was true because these art works were of a greater magnitude as opposed to a simple painting or a sculpture. "Free Basket" raised the most questions for me. It was a very unique and cool way to create a basketball court. However, I didn't really understand all the arches and the placement of the basketball hoops. I was unaware of what the authors intentions were. The piece that I least understood was probably "Indianapolis Island." In my perspective, it was just a round white mass floating in the middle of the lake. It just seemed to simple and dull to have any meaning which raised the question why it was even made. That I do not know. As for the questions it raised for me, it made me think about me and my creative self. For example, I thought about how I could implement some of the ideas these artists did in my own works so I can improve my artistic mind.

Cam Thompson- 100 Acres Reflection

I enjoyed our visit to the 100 Acres Park, but my eencounter was not as interactive as the video made the experience out to be. My favorite piece was Free Basket because the beams were so dynamic, colorful and playful. It was unfortunate that we could not climb or play on them because the display begged for us to do so, like many of the other pieces. Similarly, the video showed children jumping, climbing and playing on the Funky Bones piece, but the sign that I read asked visitors to refrain from doing so. The presentation conflicted with the warning signs- why would an artist create a work of art that is so physically playful if its purpose was other than interative? While looking at Free Basket, and seeing the basketball board and hoop, I imagined bouncing a basketball off the beams, or jumping off the side of a pole while trying to score a basket. There were an unlimited possibility of playing basketball with the structure. It was a shame that most visitors like myself, probably paid too much attention to the sign asking us to refraijn from playing with the art.
The piece that most confused me was the Indianpolis Island. Not only did I find it an eye sore, but I couldn't imagine what the point of growing hydroproduce if one couldn't eat it, due to the unsafe water and environmental waste. Aslo, how did students get from the island to the shore- by boat, surely? Who got to live in the island and more importantly, who would choose to do so?

Rachel Heck - 100 Acres Park Reflection

The PBS video about the 100 Acres Park does not do justice to the actual experience one gathers from physically visiting the park. Being completely immersed in the art work and nature fills the visitor up with the kind of joy and exhilaration one cannot experience through a television special even with the most extensive and descriptive commentary. Although the video lasted seven minutes, it rushed through the park entirely too quickly and allowed the viewers scarce enough time to even realize the wonder they have stumbled upon. For lack of a better comparison, the 100 Acres Park in the middle of the bustling city of Indianapolis is like an oasis in the desert. It is a peaceful yet exhilarating break from the dry and hardly changing routines of city dwellers.
My favorite piece of the 100 Acres Park exhibit is Eden II. The connectivity between nature, environmental issues, art, and religious history is phenomenal. It is as though the artist threw all of my passions into a single project and displayed it exactly where I'd be most moved by the piece: on a boat, on a lake. Simply put, Eden II is awe inspiring.
The art piece I found the least attractive was the Indianapolis Island. Although I think the concept is quite an interesting one, the white island on the dark lake sticks out like a sore thumb. In my opinion, it needs to be almost invisible on the lake, except for at one specific angle. This would give the piece more of a mysterious air that would better combine the art work with the nature in which it is fully immersed. When visitors walk around the lake, it would be as though the island simply pops up out of nowhere and then vanishes just as quickly as it appeared.

Caitlyn Carmony - 100 Acres Reflection

I feel that the park wasn't as great at the video made it sound. I enjoyed being out in the wooded area because it reminded me of home, but I don't really like all of the art pieces. One of the pieces that raised a question for me was the Park of Laments. I didn't actually go into it. I didn't know that we could. I wish I would have gone in now, I think I would have liked it after seeing it in the video. The Indianapolis Island also raised a lot of questions for me. I really want to know what it's like to live in there. I think it's really interesting that they'll put a flag up and allow people to come in. I hope one day I could maybe go back and do that. My favorite piece was Type A. I like the way it contrasted with the trees it was hung in. Overall I feel this was a good exposure to public art even if I didn't understand or like all of it.

Sheila Tomasbi-100 Acres Reflection

I felt my experience was somewhat similar to that of the video. It was very interesting to see all the different things that 100 acres had to offer. My experience was definitely a positive one while the various objects were both unique and impressive. As I watched the video, I didn't realize that this museum was as notable as it was which made it cool to have the opportunity to go there. The piece that raised the most questions to me was the igloo out in the middle of the lake. I was very curious about the experiment I heard roomers of and then learned more about from the video. When I looked at the Team Building piece I got a little confused about it's purpose. I guess I was just questioning whether it moved or had a certain type of function. Lastly, I thought the skeleton piece was very interactive; I really liked that they encouraged you to walk and play on it.

Stephanie Hodgin-100 Acres Reflection

I would say that my experience at the 100 Acres Park was somewhat similar to that in the video. I appreciated all of the works of art at the exhibit and found myself climbing on the skeleton 'benches' and yellow spiral benches. However, I do realize that I didn't find the park as whimsical as some other people because I still tend to look at everything in a practical way instead of in a more playful way. My favorite sculpture at the park was the first one that we saw, the basketball one at the entrance of the park. It had the brightest colors, and I liked the movement that it created and it was something that I never would have thought of. The artwork that I had the most questions about was the Indianapolis Island that art students live in for a portion of the year as part of the study. I wonder what the inside looks like, what the living conditions are like, and I would like to hear from a student that has experienced the Island and ask them why they were inclined to participate in the art project.

100 Acres Park - Phil Schroeder

I believe that my experience at the 100 Acres Park was very similar to those in the video. I was able to see all of these works of art in person and many of them I was even able to touch and experience physically instead of just looking at them. The piece that raised the most questions for me was Indianapolis Island because there are actually people living inside it. The questions I have are what the inside of the island looks like and how was it made to serve as a functional home for two people. Also team building really stood out to me because of its simplicity and also its meaning.

Kyle Jordan-100 Acres

My experience was not like the video. I was more busy trying to figure out what each piece meant than just taking them in as a whole. I think that is one thing I have to work on in order to take a different approach to art. The exhibit that I least understood was Align. It seemed like a complete waste of space to me. Maybe because I didn't get to see it on the solstice, but it doesn't make sense to me to make one piece of art for one specific day a year. I feel like the artist could have done more with it and still made it comply with the solstice alignment as well.

Katie Clark - 100 Acres Reflection

Whilst watching the video, i couldn't help feeling that the camera didn't do 100 acres much justice, the feel of the place just wasn't captured on screen. My favourite thing about 100 Acres is the sense of escapism that it creates, particularly the pier looking out onto the lake and the hidden garden, walking through the tunnel into Alfredo Jaar's Park of the Laments felt like i had just stumbled upon a hidden pocket of land which had never been encountered by anyone before...it was unspoiled and pure. The piece of art which i felt i connected with the least was probably the two hovering rings (Team Building), there was something extra terrestrial about them but i couldn't really grasp what the artist was trying to say.

Aisha Townsend- 100 Acres Reflection

As I watch that video, I did think back to before I knew what 100 Acres was. I remember riding on the highway and seeing the Jungle Gym resembling basketball court and not knowing what it was. I look at 100 Acres as a hidden Indianapolis treasure because you don't know what else is back there until you go check it out your self. If you played on these items of public art, I guess you would have even felt like the children in the video. The Stratum Pier would've had to be my favorite piece. The different levels that the piece offered allowed you to see the lake and the nature around you from different levels and angles as well. I wondered what it was made of, what I was standing on, and what it was used for from many others who've stood on it as well; proposals, fishing, or just to relax. I least understood the Team Building (align). Was it a spaceship? What did it represent? I think that 100 Acres is apart of the IMA that everyone in Indianapolis can take advantage of.

Gabe Hulecki - 100 Acres Reflection

My experience at 100 Acres was very interesting and I enjoyed each piece of artwork. I appreciated all the different styles and designs that went into constructing each piece. It was cool to see them in this sort of environment and I agree with the video in the fact this brings many people together to get a feel for this type of artwork. Each piece is very interactive and brings out the theme of "Play", which I really enjoyed. I got to stand up on the bones of the skeleton and jump from piece to piece to get the full experience. I found the Indianapolis Island to be the most interesting because of he obvious fact that there were art students living in it. It must be an amazing experience for them. They get the full effect of the meaning of art by actually living in the artwork. The piece I least understood was Funky Bones. I like the idea of it, but I did not know exactly what message the artist was trying to send. Overall I thought 100 Acres was a great place to visit and I plan on returning in the future.

Grant Lewis- 100 Acres Reflection

My experience at 100 Acres was a lot like the ones that were exhibited in the PBS video. I usually wouldn't be caught dead in an art museum simply because they bore me, however the artwork in 100 acres was extremely interesting and fun for me to look at. I think that since engineering and artwork were combined to make these pieces that it is much more appealing to many people. The one piece that raised the most questions for me was also the one that I liked the most. That piece of artwork was the two giant circles suspended in the air known as Team Building(Align). I found it interesting because i found myself wondering how they built it and how they positioned it so during the summer solstice the shadows would combine as one. I thought the piece of artwork was an eye catcher and would interest and raise many questions from future visitors to 100 Acres.

Lili Kyurkchiyska- 100 Acres Reflection

My experience at the 100 Acres was quite different than the one the little kids had when they were playing around the park. I guess I had my own way of appreciating the art. Just by looking at it I created mental understanding of the pieces and what they really meant to me. The art project that I liked the most was the Stratum Pier by Kendall Buster. I liked the way the object was set up; I liked the layers and the curvature of the shape. It created a peaceful feeling when you stood on the platform and watched the water slowly moving. The color also contributed to the peacefulness, green was a great pick for a nature piece such as this one. The project that I least understood was the Team Building (Align). The meaning of it was just unclear to me. The artist’s intention of what he wanted the viewer to get from the piece was a little confusing.

JoJo Ciancio- 100 Acres Reflection

I felt my experience at 100 Acres was different than what was experiened by the kids in the video. I was not really able to climb and jump around on the art sculptures because of my torn acl. But nevertheless I still really enjoyed my experience. While I wasn't physically able to interact with the art, I instead interacted with the art mentally. My favorite piece was the Park of the Laments by Alfredo Jaar. I felt this was the most interesting piece in the park. I found it so peaceful and relaxing up there because you were isolated from the rest of the world. You were hidden from everyone else. You could go up there and just relax and completely indulge yourself in the outdoors. The piece I least understood was the artwork that had the two circular rings that hung in the trees. What was the artist thinking? What was the artist trying to get out of the viewer? What did he or she want us to think when we saw this piece?

Laura Fernandez - 100 Acres Reflection

The Experience I had at 100 acres was a lot different than what the video showed. The video showed more of a playful aspect then what I experienced. I had a more peaceful attitude while browsing through 100 acres. I enjoyed the most was the Park of the Laments because it created a peaceful space that was calming. The structure that raised the most questions for me was the Team Building (Align). I was unsure what the artists wanted to create from the two circles and to me it looked like some sort of "alien" landing pad. The shapes carried no meaning for me unlike the rest of the pieces in the park and that in itself confused me. Why circles? What are they doing there? What is the point?

Ashleigh Schneckenberger-100 Acres Reflection

I think that my experience in 100 Acres was a lot different than what the PBS station posted. When I was at 100 Acres, I was not really sure if you could get on the sculptures and play around so I just stood and looked at the art instead of really embracing it. I thought the most interesting piece of art was the Indianapolis Island. The igloo looking piece of artwork was not just an igloo in a pond but it was actually a home for the two artists. This shows that art is more than just a visual thing it can have uses as well. I didn't understand the two rings that were raised in the trees. This one I felt didn't have another purpose is was just strictly artwork. It made me wonder what the artist was thinking because it almost resembled a space ship to me.

Trent Miller - 100 Acres Reflection

My experiences where different then the videos in several ways. The main way is that it was the first time that I have experienced any type of artwork like that. The one piece that I least understood would have to be Type A (free building). I'm not sure what the artist was trying to achieve with the duel rings. They were kind of confusing. On the other hand the one I enjoyed the most was funky bones. As Dr. Skinner suggested climbing on the bones reminded me of my recess days.

Jenny Green-Play-Doh and Creativity

The moment I smelled the brand new Play-Doh, so many childhood memories came back into my thoughts. I remember making all sorts of objects and creations; it was a great flash-back. My favorite items to make were foods. Playing with the Play-Doh reminded me about how I haven't used my creativity in a while. This relates to the article in the aspect about how when people get older, they use creativity less often. Also, as we discussed in class, people don't want to be judged or laughed at by others, so we tend to shut our creativity out.

T.J. Sansone - Play-Doh and Creativity

In class on Tuesday when I saw that we would be playing with Play-Doh, I was pretty skeptical. I had not even touched Play-Doh since before I was a teenager, which was a little off-putting for a college-level course. However, as soon as I got the Play-Doh in my hands, it took me right back to the mindset that I had the last time I played with it, all those years ago. Seeing, smelling, and touching the Play-Doh also helped to provoke the creativity in me, especially the second time we were asked to make something, without using the objects listed on the board.

I feel that this activity relates to the article we read on the decline of creativity in the United States, in that people can sometimes forget about their own creativity, as it becomes bogged down in the torrent of media that is constantly fighting for our attention in this modern day and age. Sometimes all it takes to spark that creativity in a person can be something as simple as Play-Doh, to take that person back to the days when being creative and using one's imagination came naturally.

Courtney Reynolds- Playdoh and Creativity

The article on creativity suggests that students our age have a much more difficult of a time connecting to our "creative side," which was illustrated in our "bus" exercise earlier in class on Tuesday. Once that Playdoh was in our hands however, all of that seemed to change; we came back a place where we could think and create and it was fun! Class on Tuesday demonstrated how we all have the capacity of meeting challenges creatively if our creativity is nurtured; our creativity seemed to hide somewhere until we were given a task that forced it out of the depths of our brain. I think more classes should put an emphasis on activities that stimulate the creativity in students' minds even in ways that seem juvenile, like Playdoh :).

Josh Lembke - Play-Doh and Creativity

At first I have to admit I was not overly excited about playing with play-doh in a college course. Being an engineer a lot of my classes are difficult problem solving black and white classes, so for me to have a class that involves just playing is different. Once I started thinking about it, maybe that's the point. All of my classes have taught me to think inside of a structure, always looking for the one correct answer. Maybe a class that is more relaxed and fluid will help work out the other side of my brain just like the article.

Aisha Townsend- Play Doh & Creativity

Quish. Quish. I wouldn't have thought when I walked into class that I'd be playing with one of my favorite things as a child, Play Doh. As it oozed through my fingers, all I thought about was all the ice cream, hamburgers, and people I used to make with it. My imagination would run wild to the point I'd think it really was ice cream, hamburgers, and people. I remember tasting it once, and telling myself to never taste it again. My friends often call me "The Big Kid" out of all of us because I still enjoy playing like I did as a child. I'm sure my creativity will never die but only enhance with age and life.

Kyle Jordan- Play-Doh and Creativity

Having attended multiple colleges in my life, I can honestly say that this was the first college level class that I was instructed to play with Play-Doh. The fact of this is that many people get to college, and are too focused on growing up and making a grade that in actuality, doesn't mean anything in the real world. The exercise with Play-Doh was meant to get us back to the time when learning was fun, and focusing on creation, not wondering if we could break down a problem into analytical fact and solving it. This relates to the article we read in that many people today have lost the spark that pushed us into wanting to learn and create in the first place. It is proven that the creativity quotient has been on the decline, and maybe more people should start playing with Play-Doh, or any other type of creating something, and the trend will start to reverse itself.

Parker Sheppard-Play-Doh and Creativity

I would never in a million years expect to play with Play Doh in a college class. This experience really opened up my eyes and taught me that everyone has creativity somewhere in their brain. The ability to come up with ideas and thoughts to achieve things is what i think will stay with you forever and bring success in future years. The article says that there is no time for creativity in the schools curriculum. I feel there is always room for creativity and changing up the guidelines to fit in a simple creative thinking time is a wise thing to do.

Gabe Hulecki - Play-Doh and Creativity

To be quite honest, I knew we were in an art class but I had no idea our first exercise would involve Play-Doh. We all grew up with Play-Doh but never really realized how much imagination we had to use in order to construct our flower pots, red Radio Flyer wagons, or even our frying pans with pancakes in them! We quickly forget and take for granted the imaginative side we had as children due to the way school systems are run nowadays. One of my best friends grew up in Argentina and they dedicated 2-3 hours a day to "creativity time". Our culture is more strict and believes we need set rules with all these regulations in order to lead productive lives. I definitely appreciated and enjoyed our time spent in class constructing our objects with Play-Doh.

Gabe Hulecki - My Favorite Toy

My favorite toy growing up, and still to this day for that matter, is a good old fashion, worn down football. It is one of the simplest toys one can have, but it brings enjoyment to all who join the circle. You can have as many people as you want in a circle and just pass it to one another seeing who can through it the hardest or who can launch it the furthest. A football will always be my favorite toy.

Michael Park - Play-doh and Creativity

I believe the play-doh activity was meant for us to think about our creative selves in relation to our analytical self. In relation to the article, this activity was one way in which we were able to turn on the right side of our brain and exercise it. The article stated that the younger generation of children today were much more prone to be less creative and more intelligent. Although being intelligent is a good thing, without the creative aspect, it is not as strong. Thus, through the play-doh activity, we were able to incorporate the creative side of our minds into the intellectual part.

Caitlyn Carmony - Play-Doh and Creativity

I remember reading somewhere in the article about a test they used to measure creativity. This test involved a child being given a toy firetruck and they had to name ways to improve the truck. The children came up with many answers, some that were a bit abstract. In class we were asked to create something that can hold something and then an item or items to put into that holder. I feel there was a connection between coming up with new holders and items and a child coming up with ideas to improve the firetruck. We came up with a holder and items, then a new holder and new items. I think we could have continued to do this for quite a while and still have came up with new holders and items each time. Some of our answers repeated, but some were very creative and sometimes abstract. I feel as a whole we are a creative class.

Michael Park - My Favorite Toy

My favorite toy was my Nintendo 64. It was very fun playing it when I was little.

Stephanie Hodgin - Play-Doh and Creativity

This week's introduction of Play-Doh in the classroom was something that I was not expecting. It is such a simple concept; bringing back a childhood favorite but in the point of view of a college student. But for some reason, it was a difficult exercise for me to accomplish because I can honestly admit that I overthought my expectations. Creativity does not have to be a complex process with multiple steps and extensive thinking, it can be as simple as starting with a small ball of malleable dough, similar to that of a blank canvas in which art can be created. This is the problem with today's schooling system; administrators believe that there has to be some sort of complex answer to the creativity decline in the United States, when reality the answer is quite simple: let children use their imaginations in the classrooms to solve problems.

Cam Thompson-Play-Doh and Creativity

Bronson and Merrman's article stated that children have the highest capacity for creativity, which unfortunately declines with age because eyars of conventional education and countless rules sqeeze out time to nurture or improve our creative sides. This was evident during our class play-doh demonstration because the majority of us, when toled to make anything that can hold another object, could only come up with the typtical basket, bucket or bowl. It was not until given a second chance to try making something unique that no one else in the room would think of, that we began using both our left and right hemispheres to push ourselves beyond the first things that popped into our minds. It was difficult at first, however, to go beyond and break free of the play-doh color's limits. Even though we were able to come up with more original creations the second time around, I was disturbed after leaving class- it took way too long and too much effort to do something that used to be extremely easy when we were 5 years old. I found myself carrying around and playing my play-doh the next day. I made jewelry, a princess crown, a bowl os spaghetti, a cell phone case, tennis racquets and reading glasses. Bronson adn Merryman were correct0 creativity does improve with practice. Clearly, we need to push ourselves to nurture this creativity in everyday tasks and not just in art class.

Katie Clark - Play Doh Creativity

One of the issues raised in the article we read earlier this week, centred around the somewhat sad fact that creativity amongst children in the US is on the decline; i felt asthough when we were (re)introduced to play-doh in this weeks class, each if not most individulas became locked into the activity and genuinely seemed to enjoy the freedom if nothing else, of being able to use their imagination in a way that had been left dormant for some time. Today’s education system is predominantly driven towards academics and as we progress through the chronological order of school years, creativity in its simplist, most pure form is suppressed and pushed aside as it is considered less than a neccessity in most areas of the school curriculum. When we were encouaged to be creative in the classroom with the play doh this week, the activity had reminicent value not only in bringing back sentimental memories but encouaging us to adapt a different perspective from a creative point of view.

Lili Kyurkchiyska- Play-Doh and Creativity

The article "The Creativity Crisis" really makes a valid point that is seen around us every day. The more one grows up the less creative one becomes. It is hard to keep being creative when you have to live by rules and standards set by the current school systems. The Play- Doh activity we did in class shows how we have also kind of lost our creativity. The first time we did the activity we were barely creative; many of the things that we created repeated themselves when we went around the room to see what everyone did. But the second time when we did the activity it showed more creativity and thought put into our "creations". So it really kind of takes time to go back to being creative.

Play-Doh and Creativity Article Connection

I wanted to take the time now to reflect and make a connection between the creativity article and playing with Play-Doh. At first I was excited to play with the Play-Doh in class, but when I held it in my hands and squeezed it it was like I was squeezing a foreign object. It has been so long since I have played with Play-Doh that I didn't know what to do with it. This is the connection I wanted to make with the article. The article stated that the less we do that it is creative the less creative we become. That is how I felt in class on Tuesday. I found it hard to use the right side of my brain and really open up my creative side. I found it hard to build objects out of the Play-Doh, something a 4 year old could do way better than me. It was sad. I feel I only use the left-side of my brain and that is something I want to change.