WP3: Pre-Write 4

Fragment X-O was created by Juan Hamilton, who was born in 1945. He began his career as a potter and worked largely with clay. His career was furthered by his interaction with Georgia O’Keefe. As a classic American artist, she painted masterpieces that have a simple, yet sensuous feel to them and she used bold shapes and colors. Hamilton actually lived with her as a confidant and caretaker in the later years of her life after the death of her husband until her own death in 1986. His close interaction with O’Keefe and his origins as a potter likely influenced the creation of Fragment in the fluid lines and smooth construction. It seems as though he took the same approach to working with the bronze of this sculpture as to working with clay when potting. The influence of O’Keefe is reflected in the boldness of the shape and the soft, simple lines created within the “O”.

Hamilton’s art was also influenced by Zen Buddhism. He first encountered this fresh world view on a trip to Japan in 1970. He worked to capture the philosophy and aesthetics of this religion in his sculptures. His abstract forms developed out of this fascination and he has said that “they come from inside me. I feel them three-dimensionally in the center of my chest.” This sculpture is also perhaps a representation of the innermost portions of the body from Hamilton’s perspective.

Much of Hamilton’s art is also related to Fragment. His sculptures tend to be created from the same bronze metal and have similar smooth edges. He also has a trend of creating circular forms similar to Fragment. These purely abstract forms all share smooth, dark forms that reflect light and interact with their environment in specific yet very different ways, whether it be in the outside world or inside a museum filled with artificial light. However, despite these similarities the most distinct difference that is in the titling of Fragment. This title captures the audience and makes them take a closer look at the seemingly simple form before them. While the other titles of his pieces are descriptive and informative, like Portrait #2 or Curve and Shadow #2, the title of this large circle is not necessarily informative but thought provoking and beckons as many questions as the sculpture is large.

This piece, Fragment, stands out among Hamilton’s sculptures not only in shape and size, but also in the name. However, this piece also shares many similarities to these other pieces that helps to further the understanding of the origins of this piece in relationship to the artist.

WP3: Pre-Write 3

A few of the most interesting aspects of Fragment X-O by Juan Hamilton are its overall structure and placement in the world. This sculpture is located among many other sculptures in a garden purely meant for display, but there is something different about how this sculpture is situated that pulls the viewer in to examine it further.

This piece of art is most interesting because it can be viewed from many different angles and how this creates a sense of logos. Its location in an open environment in which the audience can move around and get as close to or far away from the sculpture as possible is what makes this viewing experience unique. Fragment looks different depending on which angle you are viewing it from. The front looks completely different from the back in the sharpness of the angles and the physical shape. The other interesting part about this piece is that the angle you are viewing the piece from alters what slice of life that you view through the center. The frame that is created by the sculpture highlights different aspects of the world around it and the placement of the viewer’s body in relationship to the sculpture alters how much is framed by the piece.

Also intertwined with the aspect of the sculpture that controls what you see through the hole, or what pieces that you see within it, is defined by its location within the sculpture garden. It is placed above the common viewing area separated from the sidewalk by grass. If the piece is viewed from the front, it partially frames Architecture Hall behind it, but when viewed from the backside it perfectly frames Sheldon Museum of Art. This intentional placement alters how the pathos of the viewer is affected as they look at the piece because of what they are also seeing behind it. As well, the sculpture is anchored to a large concrete slab that peaks above ground level. This slab gives an illusion of distance and creates a space in which the viewer is not allowed to get closer to the sculpture. This distance between the audience and the sculpture creates a lack of audience interaction that is contradicted by the piece’s life size and welcoming empty center. This works to create a sense of ethos so that the piece is respected as art and should not be touched or climbed on.

Another aspect of the sculpture that relates to visual pathos is the coloration of the art object. This piece is altered by the weather and as it is made of bronze this weathering alters the coloration. A gradient of color is created by this weathered effect that works to create an emotional response by the audience. The top of the sculpture has been weathered to create a greenish, matte patina, while on the other hand the bottom of the sculpture has retained its dark, shiny bronze coloration. The inside of the sculpture has taken on a red, rusty look very different from the outside of the piece. These colors work together to create a natural feeling that the piece is being incorporated by nature into its outside environment. This feeling invites the audience to touch and feel the material that is not felt in a museum environment. This interaction is not seen in many pieces because they are always viewed indoors and have a hands-off look about them, such as Curve and Shadow No. 2 also created by Hamilton.

Fragment X-O is full of contradictions and never looks the same from any angle. It is almost like looking at four different sculptures in one. This irregularity is created by its imperfections and natural-made feel.

WP3: Pre-Write 2

The sculpture Fragment X-O by Juan Hamilton appeals to an audience in a variety of ways. First of all, this piece of art appeals to a person’s pathos through its fluid structure and coloration to pull in the emotions of the viewer. This piece also uses logos and ethos to work with the audience to create an argument.

Pathos is the main rhetorical appeal at work. The fluid shape and soft edges of this object evoke a feeling of calmness. However, the dark hues of the bronze also works to induce questioning and mystery among the viewers. The interaction of this piece with the environment in which it is placed is also important to the overall feeling that it creates. The weather creates a distinct look to the piece. When the sun is shining off the bronze, the piece feels much more tranquil and at ease. On the other hand, when Fragment is shrouded in overcast skies or shadows it seems much more ominous and mysterious. These contradictions within the simplicity of the piece are also at work when looking at how it appeals to an audience’s logos.

The logos of the piece is mostly seen in its overall simplicity of shape and placement. It is placed within a simple patch of grass, free from the distractions of any other sculptures. Its large, oversize and dark shape makes it noticeable but also seemingly easy to comprehend. A visual hierarchy is also created by how the fluidity of Fragment contrasts with the sharp edges of the buildings and tree trunks surrounding it. It draws attention to itself by being one of the more circular shapes in the sculpture garden among the sharp edges of the other sculptures. As well, how the title of the piece interacts with the physical portion is important to logos. The title, Fragment X-O, directs the audience towards the emotional side of the piece due to their cultural background of associating X’s and O’s with kisses and hugs, respectively. The word “fragment” makes the audience wonder where the X is to this O, or if there even is one. This title works with the piece to explain what the artist was thinking about when he was creating the piece.

This consideration of what the artist was thinking about plays into how the ethos of the piece is portrayed to the audience. First of all, the polished look of the piece and its official placement in the sculpture garden among other famous pieces gives it credibility. Both of these aspects of the sculpture shows that the artist has experience with the material and allows the audience to trust the artist and what he is working to portray with the piece. The other feature of the piece that works to appeal to the audience’s ethos is how the sculpture focuses the attention beyond the piece itself into the world beyond. It works to frame life within the hole in the center. This focus tells us what the artist (and the installer) wanted us to see besides the piece itself.

All of these aspects of Fragment X-O work to portray an argument to its viewers and allows the piece to work beyond just being art, but also working as a communicator.