Term of Award
Spring 2018
Degree Name
Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)
Document Type and Release Option
Thesis (open access)
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Department
Department of Art
Committee Chair
Marc Moulton
Committee Member 1
Robert Farber
Committee Member 2
Kelly Boehmer
Abstract
ABSTRACT
My objective for creating this body of work is to explore the complexity and beauty of the human brain. What inspired these works is my research on cognitive psychology and neuroscience. Cognitive psychology involves the study of internal mental processes, while neuroscience deals with nerves and nervous tissue that relate to behavior and learning. Neuroscience is where psychology meets biology. The series of paintings in Resilience, were created with the intent to connect these two fields of study, while charting my exploration and discoveries found linked with science and psychology. The brain and its components are portrayed in an abstract way to show human emotions, while experiencing complex behaviors.
These works illustrate the emotions experienced while personally undergoing a variety of physical, emotional, social and financial transformations. Through these experiences, some traumatic and some exhilarating, my resilience surpassed. My art transcends to others because it is relevant on an emotional level. The ability to over setbacks is a part of life that everyone can relate to.
Through these labor intensive works I express not only the resilience of the human mind, but the vulnerabilities and beauty of it as well. It is my desire to create dialogue about the emotional and psychological issues many humans face today. I feel the more we discover about the brain and how it works the better we will understand these various concerns.
Recommended Citation
WORKS CITED 1. Stoler , Diane Roberts Ed.D. “The Resilient Brain.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, LLC, “Find a Therapist”, 29, Oct. 2015, https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-resilient-brain/201510/resilience. Accessed 8 Jan. 2018. 2. “Resilience”. Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, LLC, “Find a Therapist”, https://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/resilience. Accessed 5 Feb. 2018. 3. McLeod, Saul, “Information Processing”, Cognitive Psychology. Simply Psychology, 2008, www.simplypsychology.org/information-processing.html. Accessed 15 Jan. 2018. 4. “Neuroscience”, Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, LLC, https://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/neuroscience, 22, Nov. 2018. 5. Saravanan, M.s.,“What is the study of the brain called?”, Quora, 31, Jan. 2016, https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-study-of-the-brain-called, 6, Dec. 2018. 6. Legesse, B.T. Price, B.H. and Murray, E, D. “Brain and Behavior Relationships”, Science Direct, 20, Sept.2016, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123750006000732. , 5, Dec. 2018. 7. Healthline Medical Team. “Frontal Lobe”, Healthline, 02, March 2015, https://www.healthline.com/human-body-maps/frontal-lobe/male, 21, Nov. 2018. 8. Holmes, Pernilla, “Process-Based Art’s Rise”, Art & Philanthropy/ Art, How to Spend It, 06, Dec. 2014, https://howtospendit.ft.com/art/71231-process-based-arts-rise, 24,Sept. 2018. 9. “Process Art”, Tate, http://Www.Tate.Org.Uk/Art/Art-Terms/P/Process-Art, 4, Jan. 2018. 10. Abrams, Loney Editor-in-Chief, “Michaela Eichwald”, Artspace, A Phaidon Global Company, https://www.artspace.com/michaela-eichwald, 2, Feb. 2018. 11. Meneguzzo, Marco., “Kasper Sonne”, Artforum International, Cengage Learning, https://www.questia.com/magazine/1G1-389725263/kasper-sonne, 3, Jan. 2018. 12. Barrett, Terry, “Principles of Interpreting Art”. Art Education, Vol. 47, No. 5, Interpretation, Sept. 1991, p.12, http://terrybarrettosu.com/wpcontent/uploads/2017/08/Barrett-1994-Principles for-Interpreting-Art.pdf, 10, Nov. 2018. 13. DiscoveryHealth.com writers, “The Brain and Mental Health”. HowStuffWorks. 10, Sept. 2008, https://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/nervous system/brain-and-mental-health.htm, 20, Jan. 2018. 14. Forrest, Lynne, “What does it mean to set boundaries?”, Lynn Forrest Transforming Victim Consciousness, 27, Sept. 2012, https://www.lynneforrest.com/clearing story/dealing-with-strife-hardship-coping-with-life/2012/09/what-does-it-mean to-set-boundaries/, 3, Feb. 2018. 15. Cherry, Kendra Reviewed by Steven Gans, MD. “A Guide to the Anatomy of the Brain”. Very Well Mind, 05, Nov. 2017, https://www.verywellmind.com/the-anatomy-of the-brain-2794895, 22, Feb. 2018.
Research Data and Supplementary Material
Yes
