HUMA205-1201A-11 Art Appreciation
January 8, 2012
American Intercontinental University Online

Abstract
This document formed on behalf of the requester shows the various forms of art as surmised by the author and attempts to define and relate the contents in a meaningful way. The art used in example is well known and has been exhibited or under exhibit in national museums currently.

HUMA205-1201A-11 Art Appreciation Dictionary.com defines Art as “the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance.” Similarly the course material states “Within this book a work of art is the visual expression of an idea or experience, formed with skill, through ones use of a medium.” (Frank, P. 2011) It should be noted that a medium could be any medium or media being multiple mediums. The Internet Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the adjective form of Art as “produced as an artistic effort or for decorative purposes.” or the noun as “the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects; also : works so produced.”
Painting
A fine example of a recognized painting which currently is housed in the Museum of Modern Arts in New York is Salvador Dali, The Persistence of Memory, 1931, painted oil on canvas represented below. This painting has been a favorite of the authors for many years.

(Dali, S. 1931)
Dali used creative imagination and applied artistic skills to product the above two dimensional imagery that has three dimensional incantations by the varied use of overlays within the painting. The successful application of lines, colors, and organic methods create an abstract thought provoking concept of time that makes the viewer questions the sanity of and concept of time. The painting is a time captured work of art to be enjoyed.
Sculpture
Many know and understand what a sculpture is however it is defined as the art of making two- or three-dimensional representative or abstract forms, especially by carving stone or wood or by casting metal or plaster. Some of the most famous sculptures represent people, deities, or creatures. When sculptures come to mind a myriad of Greek Gods and ancient dragons come to mind however sculptures come in many forms. Yet other sculptures and one of the most famous statues in the United States capture an idea. The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886, designated as a National Monument in 1924 and restored for her centennial on July 4, 1986. (National Park Services, 2011) Architecture The Taj Mahal (1632–1650), at Agra, India, built by Shah Jahan as a tomb for his departed wife may be considered by some as the best example of the Mogul style Architecture and by others as the most beautiful building in the world. (Dr. Zahoor and Dr. Haq 1990). The four slim white minarets flank the building, which is topped by an expansive white dome; the entire structure is made of marble and is beautiful to behold. This piece is an outpouring of soul and skill by its creator and exemplifies the artistic properties that can be embellished though architecture. (Dr. A. Zahoor and Dr. Z. Haq, 1990)
Photography
Photography is the capturing of two dimensional images via a photographic medium. In today’s world this usually is done via a digital method however some traditional photographers still used film media and prefer to develop their own photographs. Many different methods, lenses, styles, and developing techniques can be used by the photographer as a form of expression during the process. Content is often considered a defining factor for the artists. One such exceptional photographer was Ansel Adams. Adams is best known for his black and white photographs of sweeping landscapes, however he also did portraits. See Photograph left (Adam, A. 1932)
Printmaking
A definition of "printmaking" according to the Encyclopedia Britannica is the production of images normally on paper and exceptionally on fabric, parchment, plastic or other supported by various processes of multiplication; more narrowly, the making and printing of graphic works by hand or under the supervision of the artist. Essentially printmaking allows the body of art to be reproduced in a uniform manner that creates a limited release of original works. One such type of this art form is expressed above and known as The Great Wave at Kanagawa (from the series Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji), c.1830-32 by print artist Katsushika Hokusai, and it is currently house at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Conceptual Art Conceptual art is probably the most fantastic and confusing form of art. A significant precedent for Conceptual art was the work of Dada artist Marcel Duchamp, who in the early 20th century established the idea of the "readymade" or the found object that is nominated by the artist to be a work of art. Simply defining the concept of art found versus created could be considered revolutionary breaking the boundaries of traditional art forms. Conceptual art was conceived as a style without those traditional boundaries and as such is can be difficult to comprehend. The adjacent picture exemplifies the art form and is by Paul Kos. [Sound of Ice Melting] [still] , from Sound Sculpture , 1970. This piece is part of the Museum of Conceptual Art in San Francisco.
Installation Art Installation art is difficult to describe. In principal, it means taking a large interior (the exterior can be part of an installation, too) and loading it with disparate items that evoke complex and multiple associations and thoughts, longings, and moods. It's a huge three-dimensional painting, sculpture, poem, and prose work. (Hoving, T. 2010). The various examples of this art form are fascinating. After reviewing the search results the author noted that this form takes shape only by significant effort and imagination. An idea embellished upon over a period of time is a prerequisite in this art form. Installation art takes either significant planning, patience, or more often times both. Cold Dark Matter is both installation and sculpture art. It depicts the remains of a garden shed which was blown to pieces. Thousands of fragments are suspended from the ceiling by invisible threads, frozen in space, as the contents of the shed attract personal recognition from the viewer. A single light source at their center casts strange shadows on the walls that expand the scope and presence of this piece of art. (Parker, C. 1991) Performance Art
Performance art is just that. Artists use their body to create art. It is a performance for the observer and can include any methods that capture the attention of the observer. Performance art can be exemplified in many ways. Weather it is on stage or on the street Performance artists will capture your imagination. The Blue man group as seen below are performance artist with exceptional talent.

(Porto, J. 2011) Art involved
Art is not just in the eye but truly in the mind of the beholder. What could be conceived of; is art, and what is art, has already been conceived but must be discovered. When you close your eyes and bring into your mind the art you have noticed, or admired you will begin to develop your own conception of what it is and how it matters to you. Some art will be good, others may be bad, and even then some more will have no internal meaning that can be ascertained whatsoever but pleasant to contemplate. Arts appeal to the individual and to the artist is what makes the impressions of art everlasting on those that take the time to appreciate it. Art is everywhere!

References
Adams, A. (Photographer). (1932). Oak Tree Sunset City [Photo], Retrieved January 8, 2012, from: http://art.jerryandmartha.com/2007_06_01_archive.html
Dali, S. (Painter). (1913). The Persistence of Memory [Oil Painting], Retrieved January 8, 2012, from: http://www.conservapedia.com/File:Dal%C3%AD_The_Persistence_of_Memory.j pg
Dictionary Online (2012) Definition of Art, Retrieved January 8, 2012, from: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/art
Dr. Zahoor and Dr. Haq (2012). Taj Mahal history, Retrieved January 8, 2012, from: http://www.islamicity.com/culture/taj/default.htm
Frank, P. (2011, Prebles’ artforms: an introduction to the visual arts, 10th Edition, Prentice Hall,
Hoving, T. (2010) Installation Art, Retrieved January 8, 2012 from: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/understanding-installation-art.html
Jahan, S (Builder). (1666). Taj Mahal [Monument], Retrieved January 8, 2012, from: http://www.islamicity.com/culture/taj/default.htm
Kos, P (Artist). (1970). Sound of Ice Melting [Still Photo], Museum of Conceptual Art, San Francisco. Retrieved January 8, 2012, from: http://www.artpractical.com/feature/ the_museum_of_conceptual_art_a_prolegomena_to_hip/
Merriem-Webster Online Dictionary (2012) Definition of Art, Retrieved January 8, 2012, from: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/art
National Park Service (2012). Status of Liberty [Digital Image], Retrieved January 8, 2012, from: http://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm
Parker, C. (Installation Artist), (1991) Cold Dark Matter and Exploded View, [Sculpture] Retrieved January 8, 2012 from: http://www.tate.org.uk/colddarkmatter/
Porto, J. (Photographer), (2011) Blue Man Group [Photo] Retrieved January 8, 2012 from: http://www.universalorlando.com/Shows/Blue-Man-Group.aspx
Tate Museum, (1991), Cold Dark Matter, Exploded [Photo] Retrieved January 8, 2012 from: http://www.tate.org.uk/colddarkmatter/