Chapter 14

 Andy Warhol was born in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania on August 6, 1928 and died February 22, 1987. He was a leading figure in the 1960s pop art movement. During his education as an artist Warhol attended Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. His work provoked mass media and high culture as well as low culture. Such as household products, musicians, and movie stars. Nothing and no one was safe. He worked in several mediums including film, screen printing, photography, and painting etc. He is best known for his silk screen prints of celebrities including Elvis and Madonna, The velvet underground’s album cover, and probably his most famous the Campbell’s tomato soup can, and just to name a few. Warhol took Henry Ford’s assembly line idea, and turned it towards the art world. Warhol would create an idea and have a team of artists he employed at his factory to produce his artworks in mass productions.

Chapter 13

Wharton Esherick was born July 15, 1887 and died May 6, 1970. He was a sculptor that work primarily and in wood. Esherick is known most commonly for his sculptural furniture and other furnishings. He was born in Philadelphia and attended the Philadelphia Museum school of industrial arts and the Pennsylvania Academy of fine arts.  He moved to Paoli Pennsylvania, to pursue a painting career after graduating. During his new career he started carving frames for his paintings which eventually led to woodcarvings and other etchings, which led to his work in the sculpture arts. His home studio outside Valley Forge Pennsylvania, became his largest work of art. Utilizing his sculptural skills he designed an architectural layout for a house. Not only did he design the architecture be designed every aspect of the home. Including furniture, and floors ceilings, Windows, and doors etc. After his death his home studio and architectural work of art became a museum for the public.

While attending high school I was fortunate enough to live the town next to Paoli. I was given the chance to go on a field trip with our class to the Wharton Esherick Museum. Words can begin to describe the magnificent sculptural feats achieved throughout the house. Everything flows together so Seamlessly it’s as if it was all carved from the same  block of wood. This museum is such a hidden treasure, and should be sought out by all who appreciate art.

Chapter 12

 

During World War II, women redefine themselves in the workplace. Yet once the war was over the ideals of gender roles became more prominent. Sprawling suburban neighborhoods sprouted up all over the US. Within these suburban communities everything was the same. Conformity became of a way of life. With some help from the media, and Hollywood movie ideals the nuclear family redefined itself. Within these communities everything was same. Every house had a white picket fence freshly cut lawn, and a beautiful garden. After the war men reclaimed their position as in the main breadwinner within families. Women pulled out of the workplace and became housewives. Taking care of the children and making sure there was food on the table for when the husband came home.  Malvina Reynolds a folk singer during this time of conformity. Mocked these perfect neighborhoods, by calling the houses little boxes made from ticky tacky.

While the majority of society was conforming, and ever-growing counterculture was emerging. Including musicians, writers, celebrities, and the nations youth. This is known as the beats movement. The beats are built against conformity striving to cause a little chaos amongst the popular cookie cutter lifestyle.

Chapter 11

  Earl Silas Tupper invented Tupperware in the mid-1940s. Using pieces of plastic given to him by DuPont, Tupper created lightweight non-breakable containers, cups, bowls, plates, even gas masks that were used in World War II their tight lids. He later went on to design liquid proof and airtight lids. Tupperware got its big break once Brownie Wise a former sales representative of Stanley home products developed the strategy of a Tupperware party. During 1950s sprawling suburban neighborhoods sprouted up all over the US. Women and other housewives held Tupperware parties, where they would all baked separate dishes and takes some of each dish home in their Tupperware.

Chapter 10

 Norman Percevel Rockwell was born in New York City on february 3, 1894 and died November 8, 1978. He was an American painter and illustrator. Rockwell’s work reflected the American culture, he was most famous for his cover illustrations of everyday life scenarios. Rockwell begin art school at the age of 14. Rockwell tried enlisting in the U.S. Navy during World War I. He was rejected because he was too tall and didn’t weigh enough. After eating a lot he was able to pass the test but he was enlisted as the military artist and didn’t see any action. During rockwell’s later years he eventually married 3 different times and then died at the age of 84 from emphysema.

Chapter 9

Constructivism was an artistic movement, as well as an art architectural movement. This new form of art originated in Russia, in 1919. It was created as a rebuttal of the idea of autonomous art. Constructivism influenced modern art movements such as Bauhaus and de stijl. These influences carried major impacts upon architecture, graphic and industrial design, theater, film, dance and fashion. The movement’s name was coined after a criticism of Alexander RodChenko work, calling it construction art. Constructivism was a post-World War I development of Russian futurism. After the Russian Revolution constructivism turned its attentions to new social demands for industrial tasks creating a new form of architectural design. This new design created by the movement can be seen in Vladimir Tat Linz, Tower.