Gabriella Jording
A native Arizonan, Gabriella is studying Art History at ASU in Phoenix. She hopes to become an art curator.
I have done art all my life, but in the last few years I have grown very in love with art. My work is inspired by what I learn in my Art History classes, ranging from the ancient arts all the way through modernism. I am inspired by everything I learn, so you will see my art embody many different periods and cultures. The goal of my art is to be playful and pleasing to look at, along with transferring everything I learn and see.
In this new year, I set my resolution to expand my art mediums and creative choices. I wanted to create more narratives with my work and to have my work read as playful and childlike. So, I began creating plates, vases, and cups with air dry clay and painting them with ancient narratives/ figures. I like the look and feel of something being handmade. The air dry clay creations also serve a practical purpose which allows my art to exist in my home in a more useful way.This scholarship would help me greatly with my pursuit and study of art.
I plan on studying abroad in Italy next summer for apart of my Art History credits, along with studying the statues and architecture. I am so passionate about the ancient arts, in addition to creating my own art. With this money I would apply it strictly for that trip to further my knowledge of art. Studying abroad would not only be an amazing learning opportunity, but I believe it will help me with my goal of becoming an Art Curator at one of the top museums in the world. I would like to become more cultured in my art and I believe this scholarship would help assist me in that. I believe it is one thing finding inspiration from Florence sculptures online, but to see it in person would be an incredible opportunity. Furthermore, I want to give back to the community and the younger generation by sharing my art and my learnings. I currently teach a few children art, so I would eventually love to share with them what I learn. I believe creating and learning are cycles and shouldn’t be kept to ourselves but shared with others.
GABRIELLA JORDING – ESSAY
Eileen Monaghan Whitaker’s “Legacy of Spain” and Frederic Whitaker’s “Facade” both share a similar mood with the grey tones that they use. They are both set on what seems to be gloomy, overcast days. They also share a similarity in the architecture they include. Spires, curves and intricate carvings in the buildings serve to highlight their cultured landscape, whether that be Guatamala or an unknown place. Touches of vegetation are added beside the buildings in both paintings. This adds a bit more life to the greyed down landscapes. Both paintings, as well, include a few people walking about, but where “Façade” portrays a more populated town area, “Legacy of Spain” portrays a more deserted landscape with fewer people. A women, seemingly a mother or an older sister, walks alongside with a little girl. They are placed in the foreground, divided by the building by a concrete wall. This wall creates the illusion of separation from the two girls and the city from behind. This could be a symbolism of oppression, poverty, or isolation. Contrasted to “Façade”, the people are dwelling within the city walls. They are not in isolation, but rather they are in company of the city and its people. This is one of the major differences within the two paintings. Another contrasting component is the spatial and perspective differences. Whereas the “Legacy of Spain” takes a more distant approach to the city, “Façade” provides a more zoomed in, ground-level view of city life. It may even be another perspective of the Spain from the other side of the concrete walls. “Façade” has more of a vertical orientation with the lines created by the cypresses and the ornamental door frame going upward. This allows the viewers’ eyes to move in an up and down motion throughout the piece. “Legacy of Spain” possesses more of a horizontal orientation with lines from the walls and clouds going left to right. This allows the viewers’ eyes to move in a more horizontal motion from both sides of the painting. The tops of the concrete and brick walls act as the horizon line.
Furthermore, both of the paintings share similar hues, besides the grey tones that they both possess. The grey from the dome building tops match the shade of the grey from the weathered wall patches. The red brick walls share similarity with the large arched door . The trees and bushes shares the same dark, forest green with the tall cypress of the other painting. The stained concrete walls go along with the intricate, golden doorframe. All of these subtle color similarities may represent the financial differences in each painting. Where the two girls in “Legacy of Spain” may be living in harsher living conditions with more financial need, the citizens in “Façade” may be living in better living conditions with other people and less of a need for money.
In comparison of these two paintings, they share a lot of the same colors, moods and architecture. However, these paintings also create a strong complimentary contrast with their orientation, lines, and possible symbolism.
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