How I Review The Arts

How do I review the arts? Well I must say I have learned not only a lot about myself as a writer but also as a review during the course Reviewing the Arts. Reviewing is in everyone’s life. From reading movie reviews in major publications to having friends give there opinion’s about a new restaurant that just opened. Reviewing is every where. But in till you actually sit down and write a review about something that you just observed is not as easy as you think. When I first started to write reviews for this class, I had hardly written them before. Therefore I had no structure. I soon learned that there is a structure to writing reviews like any other things that you write about. The structure includes your basics like who, what, were, when, and why? But it also includes three more main questions. The first main question is “what is this is exhibit trying to do?” That question is very important when reviewing. Everything that you review is going to have a reason for what it is doing. For instance, take the exhibit If the Artist Ran the World. This exhibits was trying to do is to give the viewer the opportunity to assess the truth in the world dominated by corporate-run, gossip-laden, partisan-heavy, and politically based media outlets. If you can’t discover or learn what that is that your reviewing is trying to do, there isn’t really a point to reviewing it. The second question that you have to ask is “to what extent does it succeed?’ This is a very important question because this is when your opinion comes into play. Take the Southern Graphics Council traveling Exhibit. With many prints displayed this exhibition succeeded in presenting work that embodies the continually evolving practice of printmaking and its role in contemporary art. By showing many different types of prints and contemporary techniques, this exhibit definitely secedes in its statement. As you can see, that exhibit succeeded in what it was trying to do. Unlike The Southern Graphic’s Council exhibit, some exhibits don’t succeed. Take Globalization that was a collaboration of Columbia’s students and faculty’s work. Although it taught you a lot about globalization, it made you question “What is Art?” more than learning about globalization. The last question you have to ask it “what examples are shown that can back up what that exhibit is trying to do. If you don’t have examples, who ever is going to read your review isn’t going to take your review into consideration. Some of my examples I used well reviewing exhibits include pieces I really loved and pieces I could care less for. How ever you answered the first two main questions, it will determine what examples you will be giving. As you can see I did not only became a better writer but I have became a better reviewer. By becoming a better reviewer you can see how I review the arts.

623 S. Wabash

One of the main central buildings that any Columbia student will have classes in is the 623 South Wabash building. This building I believe is a key to understanding to Columbia College’s art scene. You can tell a lot about Columbia’s art scene because it is one of the central locations were all students come to create. When you first arrive at the building you will come across many students outside of the building. No matter what season it is, you will find many smoking their cigarettes and drinking their coffee. Once you enter the building you will come across a few unique aspects of Columbia College. First you will come across on the right the Hookin Gallery. This is main gallery that many Columbia College students work is put on display. When you walk into the gallery you will come across not only many walls that students work is displayed on but also a stage which students work can be performed on. What makes this space so unique isn’t only because of the gallery space but also is holds a café in the right hand corner of the gallery. This gives the viewing experience of the gallery a unique one. Not only will visitors of the gallery see the students work which is on display but also the every day students who come in to utilize the café. You won’t find that situation in many galleries. This bring the average day person into an experience that they probably won’t come in contact with often.
While you enter the 623 South Wabash building, you will come across on your left the Shop Columbia store. This is a recent addition to the 623 South Wabash building. This store is a collaboration with student artist’s work. It gives the opportunity for students to sell some of their work before graduating form Columbia. Any day you go in to visit, you will find numerous students work. From unique one of a kind garments made by fashion students to colorful graphic prints, you will find an array of items. Not only does it give them the experience but it provides them with an understanding on how it might be when you graduate. It gives the students an insight of how what to expect after they graduate.