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Joseph
Cornell - Assemblage Art
Joseph Cornell (1903-73) was an American artist; born
in Nyack, N.Y. He is best known for his shadow boxes made of found objects,
maps, photographs, engravings, and other materials. Influenced by SURREALISM, these constructions are
personally symbolic and evocative. (Biographical information
copied from Ask
Jeeves Encyclopedia 2001 - no longer online)
He had no formal training in art and his most characteristic works are his highly distinctive `boxes'. These are simple boxes,
usually glass-fronted, in which he arranged surprising collections of photographs or Victorian bric-à-brac in a way that has
been said to combine the formal austerity of Constructivism with the lively fantasy of Surrealism. Like Kurt Schwitters he
could create poetry from the commonplace. Unlike Schwitters, however, he was fascinated not by refuse, garbage, and the
discarded, but by fragments of once beautiful and precious objects, relying on the Surrealist technique of irrational
juxtaposition and on the evocation of nostalgia for his appeal (he befriended several members of the Surrealist movement who
settled in the USA during the Second World War). Cornell also painted and made Surrealist films.
(This information copied from WebMuseum)
Preserved in Cornell's
boxes are items as divergent as drinking glasses and a cork ball; a clay
pipe and a diagram of the orbits of earth and the moon; images of a
Medici Princess, each accompanied by a wooden sphere; and a translucent
marble in a cascade of blue sand. Cornell fuses his work with poetic
intensity, and a private and enigmatic sentiment, which together affect
the viewer as if these very objects formed a recording of a burst of
Cornell's sense of joy, or wonder, or love, or sadness.
Though now highly sought
after by Museums and private collections, Cornell's signature
"boxes", which he began to make in the 1930s were not
originally conceived as being for such a wide audience. Rather, they
were made as "gifts" for individuals sometimes living,
sometimes dead, often people the artist had never met, but who in some
way had touched his life. (This information copied from Norton
Museum of Art) . Read
more in this Artist's Profile.
Check some of the
Internet sources for images of Cornell's work
Joseph
Cornell: Navigating the Imagination - Slide show from
Smithsonian American Art Museum. 21 images. Learn
more - include Cornell biography.
WebMuseum:
Joseph Cornell- click on thumbnail images to see larger
views
Joseph
Cornell- the
National Gallery of Art. Seven works from the collection
Joseph
Cornell - Mark
Harden's Artchive - Essay and links to images - click on name of work to see image.
Joseph
Cornell - Guggenheim Museum Biography and four shadow boxes
(Guggenheim server was down last I checked this link).
Joseph
Cornell
- Biography/essay and three images of Cornell's shadowboxes
Joseph
Cornell: Art Minimal and Conceptual Only - fours works shown.
Tiger
Tail Virtual Museum - Joseph Cornell - Nine Shadow Boxes (Tiger Tail
is now subscription service)
Joseph
Cornell -Online For more information --Try
Artcylcopedia
Artworks of Rebecca
Bailey: American artist who makes wonderful boxes and
assemblages
See
Mrs. Decker's example inspired by Joseph Cornell
Collage
and Assemblage Artists of Interest
Mercier,
Jason - http://www.jasonmecier.com/
Using materials such as beans, yarn, candy, pencils, food and anything
else he finds (or you send to him) Jason will produce intricate
portraits. He may fall more into the "outsider" art
category.... I can guarantee you all will find at least one work you
will like. I did like the pencils and a couple of the portraits that had
elaborate frames.....Worth taking a look.
Meltzer, Bonnie - http://www.bonniemeltzer.com/
Creates artworks made from recycled computer parts, crocheted wire, and
digital photography transferred onto metal. Some of the items exhibited
are for sale. Loved her work! and her pins are very
affordable. See
Trojan Horse (scroll) Bonnie's
Totem - Check
out the pins! These will definitely inspire a lesson.
Marion Martinez -
Here is an Hispanic Artist who works in a similar way:
http://www.MarionMartinez.com
Ron
Robertson - Mixed Media Assemblage - Shadow boxes and more.
Artist now living in California.
Hines, Roger - http://www.roomsofthemind.com/
Surreal "rooms" that contain enigmatic elements of time and
space. Great inspiration for mini "shrines"/alters....I wish I
had this artist when I did my ceramic personal shrines project. Love
this work! Lots of possibilities for students.... Tie in Betye Saar, too.
Brady, David - http://www.bradyart.com
Explore the figure through assemblage and mixed media paintings.
Expressionistic - abstract. Tie in Rauschenberg - Jaune Quick to See
Smith and others. I didn't look at all galleries to make sure they were
OK for kids (if you are worried - check thoroughly before showing to
students)
Jackson, Jerry - http://www.jerryjackson.com/
Works constructed with found objects seeking to capture elements of
family, friendship and simplicity of lifestyle which are being changed
forever by modern life. Check the attic for some treasures to use -- Hit
the garage sales!
Copeland, Dale - http://outofsight.co.nz/Dale/
Assemblage art from New Zealand in the tradition of Joseph Cornell.
Anderson,
Lois - http://www.artnetwork.com/sculpture/loisanderson/index.html
Opulent over-the-top sculpture created from found forms and embellished
with paint, beads and small objects.
Dolan, Ariel
- http://www.aridolan.com/ofiles/dolls.aspx
Assemblages composed of small plastic dolls. An exhibition of 3D
assemblages of small plastic dolls. Each picture represents a specific
thought or a personal experience. Almost all were lost
by an Iraqi Scud missile in the Gulf War.
Carman, Chris
- http://christophercarman.homestead.com/
Contains a gallery of assemblage art, and prints. Be sure to check the
Blues Art too. (might be inspiration for an AP concentration - 3D art
with a theme)
Teesha
Moore - http://www.teeshamoore.com/gallery.htm
Journal pages, collages, altered dolls, original stamps personal
shrines/triptychs and more (check the 3-D art for shrines and
triptychs).
Claudine
Hellmuth http://www.collageartist.com/ (alternate
URL) Some
"how tos"
Karen's
Whimsy http://karenswhimsy.com/
Karen Hatzigeorgiou creates original
contemporary art in the form of altered books and collage art. A must
see site (especially the
Reliquaries). See Public
domain images
Also
see Altered Books
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