Above and Below -Maya Lin

In this Maya Lin succeeds in creating a tangible, nearly overwhelming three dimensional space.  The technique she used to achieve this is similar to that used in her other pieces that examined topography and mapping.  The altitude lines of both rocky and smooth formations seem to fascinate her. In Above and Below she uses this same method to create a shockingly realistic portrayal of solid, organic, natural space with a minimal use of materials.  The great amount of negative space in this sculpture is one of its strongest attributes.  The contrast between the almost airy, ephemeral quality of the pattern up close and the massive, rough, weighted nature of the piece from afar is quite striking.  

2x4 Landscape by Maya Lin

In this work Maya Lin plays with texture and, to some extent, pattern to create an object that is both accessible and interesting. She uses upright blocks to create a curvilinear landscape which the viewer can walk through and climb on. Unlike some artwork, which may call out to be touched but shouldn't be, Lin's work thrives off the notion that it's something that people see and want to interact with. When I first saw some of Lin's work, I thought it seemed somewhat boring, but looking closer into it and realizing that people could do more than just look at it gave me a deeper appreciation for/interest in her work.

Helen Mirra

This piece by Helen Mirra, entitled "Wolkendecke" or "Cloud Cover", is made of military surplus hospital blankets. I enjoy the fact that the work is particularly large, but besides the title of the piece, it lacks creativity and craftsmanship.

Pattern and Texture: Jane Master's Nature/Nurture

As a pattern/texture artist, Jane Master seeks to create the illusion of texture using different media. In this case, The illusion of a knit fabric is made, even though this piece is made with laser-cut aluminum. The patterns cut out of the aluminum fool us into thinking this is knit because that it a pattern we usually see used in knit objects. Even the lettering is common of that sort of media. The most convincing part though is the bottom of the piece, where the shapes are cut in such way to give the illusion of the fluffiness of a bundle of thread. It even appears as if these bundles were pulling the piece down. Even though the piece is shiny and flat, we still are fooled at first into thinking that it is a knit object.

Maya Lin: Water Lines

This installation by Maya Lin is an example of texture on a large scale. With what look like suspended wires, Lin creates a composition reminiscent of a topographical map, creating the bumpy texture of a landscape. Although Lin uses the sculpture to create a real tactile texture, there is also a great deal that is suggested, because of the implied "surface" of the landscape. My favorite aspect of this piece is the point of view of the observer, which gives the viewer the impression of being inside the earth looking out, and of being able to see through the ground and make out the form of the imaginary ground.