MIAD Architecture
The Urban Farmhouse
Size: 49 cm x 62 cm Medium: Pencil on Paper Date: April, 2018 The Urban Farmhouse replicates the Urban Ecology Center in Menomonee Valley. It is a community center that helps grow many organic crops for the community while encouraging and teaching how to live in an eco-friendly way. Nearby, the Potawatomi Casino is located which promotes gambling and other unhealthy practices that can harm the environment. The Urban Farmhouse suggests how humanity should rather use architecture in a sustainable way, especially considering the condition of the environment. |
Critical Investigation
Shropshire, Tom. Hoan Bridge. 2016. Oil on Canvas. Private Collection.
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Vliet, Sue. Urban Ecology Center Menomonee Valley. 2012. Private Collection. Photography. Accessed Mar. 23, 2018.
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Paulik, Phillip. Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, Exterior. 2018. Private Collection. Phillip Paulik Creative. Photography. Accessed Feb. 19, 2018.
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My inspirations for this piece include Hoan Bridge by Tom Shropshire, Potawatomi Hotel & Casino by Phillip Paulik, and the structure of the Urban Ecology Center- Menomonee Valley. Before starting, I knew I wanted to do something that included the Potawatomi Hotel and Casino and the smokestacks seen in Milwaukee. I thought this was a perfect way to communicate my theme with a local touch. This is because the Potawatomi Hotel and Casino and the smokestacks are perfect examples of how industrialization in Milwaukee is causing pollution while also encouraging unhealthy activities. This made me begin by researching art that included the Potawatomi Hotel and Casino and the smokestacks of Milwaukee. This is where I came across the oil painting Hoan Bridge by Tom Shropshire and the photograph Potawatomi Hotel & Casino by Phillip Paulik. Tom Shropshire is a Milwaukee artist whose art often includes unexpected elements of dreams or fantasy. His work includes vivid impressionistic paintings of city nocturnes and emotional landscapes. Hoan Bridge is a perfect example of this emotional city nocturne, it portrays a somber night in Milwaukee with smokestacks in the background. I knew I wanted to have this sort of somber element given by the grotesque scene of the smokestacks within my piece. Phillip Paulik is a multidisciplinary designer where his work spans from motion & video design, 2D/3D animation, 3D modeling, art direction, and photography, to graphic design, and digital media. After viewing the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino by Phillip Paulik, I knew I wanted to emulate the structure of this building in a neighborhood area to communicate how industrialization in Milwaukee is causing pollution and disrupting neighborhoods while also encouraging unhealthy habits or activities. After doing some sketches, I decided I should have a positive aspect to show how architecture can also help the environment. This immediately drew me to the Urban Ecology Center in Menomonee Valley, which is near the Potawatomi Hotel and Casino. I decided I could show how architecture can be helpful and sustainable, while having Potawatomi Hotel and Casino in the background to set the context of the piece and show how architecture can cause pollution and disrupt neighborhoods while encouraging unhealthy habits or activities. Rather than having smokestacks in the background, I decided to keep it simple with just including the Potawatomi Hotel and Casino and I could have smoke coming out of a chimney to depict that somber element given by the grotesque scene of the smokestacks. In addition, I wanted to create a building similar to that of the Urban Ecology Center, because I didn’t know much about eco-architecture and because it would be a great way to show the neighborhood as this building would be similar to the Menomonee Valley Urban Ecology Center.
Process
1. Planning/Sketching
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I began by researching art that included the Potawatomi Hotel and Casino and the smokestacks of Milwaukee. This is where I came across the oil painting Hoan Bridge by Tom Shropshire and the photograph Potawatomi Hotel & Casino by Phillip Paulik. Hoan Bridge is a perfect example of this emotional city nocturne, it portrays a somber night in Milwaukee with smokestacks in the background. I knew I wanted to have this sort of somber element given by the grotesque scene of the smokestacks within my piece. The Potawatomi Hotel & Casino by Phillip Paulik inspired me to emulate the structure of this building in a neighborhood area to communicate how industrialization in Milwaukee is causing pollution and disrupting neighborhoods while also encouraging unhealthy habits or activities.
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After doing some sketches, I decided I should have a positive aspect to show how architecture can also help the environment. This immediately drew me to the Urban Ecology Center in Menomonee Valley, which is near the Potawatomi Hotel and Casino. I decided I could show how architecture can be helpful and sustainable, while having Potawatomi Hotel and Casino in the background to set the context of the piece and show how architecture can cause pollution and disrupt neighborhoods while encouraging unhealthy habits or activities. Rather than having smokestacks in the background, I decided to keep it simple with just including the Potawatomi Hotel and Casino and I could have smoke coming out of a chimney to depict that somber element given by the grotesque scene of the smokestacks. In addition, I wanted to create a building similar to that of the Urban Ecology Center, because I didn’t know much about eco-architecture and because it would be a great way to show the neighborhood as this building would be similar to the Menomonee Valley Urban Ecology Center. This idea I then sketched out, which is seen in the last photo.
2. Drawing
I began by creating a 1-inch border around my piece of paper. Then, while referencing my sketch, I started to sketch out the basic outline of my structure that would replicate the Urban Ecology Center. I later decided to call this “The Urban Farmhouse.” This building includes a rooftop farm, solar panels, and a rain barrel at the side to show that collects rainwater. I also decided to include a pond in the front to make it look more inviting and lively. Once I had my general structure drawn, I began to draw in the details to show the certain textures of the building in order to indicate what materials the building is made out of. For example, I created a rocky texture by drawing a varying pattern of circles. I wanted variety in my building, so I created other textures and included other details. I created a brick pattern and I tried to create a wooden texture by drawing panels with various degrees of shading. I then began to draw the rooftop farm, which I wasn't exactly sure how to draw. So I did what I could buy drawing trees and I drew these half-dome rods, which would serve the purpose of a plant pergola. Once the detail of this building was finished, I drew the Potawatomi building in the background. I decided to have smoke coming out of a chimney to depict the somber element I wanted to have. Then I began drawing the pond and since I could only use pencil, I drew lily pads to help depict that it was a pond.
Experimentation
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I first began experimenting with ideas. I originally I wanted to emulate the structure of the Potawatomi Hotel and Casino with smokestacks in the background and other structures of the sort. This is because I wanted to communicate how industrialization is causing pollution and disrupting neighborhoods. But after some consultation, I decided that I should include how architecture can also be used positively and how it can benefit the community and the environment as well. This led me to my final sketch of emulating the structure of the Urban Ecology Center while having the Potawatomi Hotel and Casino in the background for context. I also experimented with different textures that I wanted to include. For example, some textures I created I did not like and I had to erase and create something else. Lastly, I had to experiment with certain tools since this is one of the few times I drew a two point perspective drawing. I had to experiment with using different rulers, erasers, etc.
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Reflection
Overall, I am mostly pleased with my final piece. I not only like how the drawing turned out, but I also like the message. I think it's a great way to show how architecture can be used in a positive and sustainable way that is beneficial for the environment and the community. I like how the Potawatomi Casino is located behind the main building as it serves as a reminder of how industrialization is causing pollution and destroying neighborhoods. On the contrary, I think this piece could benefit from more detail and a better drawn rooftop farm.
My inspirations for this piece include Hoan Bridge by Tom Shropshire, Potawatomi Hotel & Casino by Phillip Paulik, and the structure of the Urban Ecology Center- Menomonee Valley. Hoan Bridge inspired me to have a somber element, as given by the grotesque scene of the smokestacks within Hoan Bridge. This inspired me to use value and texture in a similar way by having smoke coming out of the Potawatomi Casino to depict the disgusting element of pollution, which communicates the harm pollution has on the environment. I use contrast in a similar way, as the beauty of the foreground contrasts the pollution in the background. This makes the smoke stand out and emphasizes it, which can communicate how it is a problem. The Potawatomi Hotel & Casino by Phillip Paulik, inspired me to use shape and form in a similar way as I wanted to emulate the structure of this building in a neighborhood area. This was to communicate how industrialization in Milwaukee is causing pollution and disrupting neighborhoods while also encouraging unhealthy habits or activities. Lastly, I also use shape and form similarly to that of the Urban Ecology Center. This is because I wanted it to resemble the Urban Ecology center and because it would be a great way to show the neighborhood as this building would be similar to the Menomonee Valley Urban Ecology Center.
My inspirations for this piece include Hoan Bridge by Tom Shropshire, Potawatomi Hotel & Casino by Phillip Paulik, and the structure of the Urban Ecology Center- Menomonee Valley. Hoan Bridge inspired me to have a somber element, as given by the grotesque scene of the smokestacks within Hoan Bridge. This inspired me to use value and texture in a similar way by having smoke coming out of the Potawatomi Casino to depict the disgusting element of pollution, which communicates the harm pollution has on the environment. I use contrast in a similar way, as the beauty of the foreground contrasts the pollution in the background. This makes the smoke stand out and emphasizes it, which can communicate how it is a problem. The Potawatomi Hotel & Casino by Phillip Paulik, inspired me to use shape and form in a similar way as I wanted to emulate the structure of this building in a neighborhood area. This was to communicate how industrialization in Milwaukee is causing pollution and disrupting neighborhoods while also encouraging unhealthy habits or activities. Lastly, I also use shape and form similarly to that of the Urban Ecology Center. This is because I wanted it to resemble the Urban Ecology center and because it would be a great way to show the neighborhood as this building would be similar to the Menomonee Valley Urban Ecology Center.
Connecting to the ACT
1. Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork.
Hoan Bridge inspired me to have a somber element, since I used value and texture in a similar way by having smoke coming out of the Potawatomi Casino to depict the disgusting element of pollution. The Potawatomi Hotel & Casino by Phillip Paulik, inspired me to use shape and form in a similar way as I wanted to emulate the structure of this building in a neighborhood area. Lastly, I also use shape and form similarly to that of the Urban Ecology Center because I wanted it to emulate the structure of the Urban Ecology center.
2. What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
Tom Shropshire includes unexpected elements of dreams or fantasy to create a vivid impressionistic paintings of city nocturnes and emotional landscapes, as he has a love for Milwaukee. Phillip Paulik captured the Potawatomi Hotel and Casino depict the beauty of the building. And the Urban Ecology Center was constructed in a sustainable and eco-friendly way to help the environment and encourage the public to me more conserving of the environment.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I discovered that artists use their surroundings and passions as inspirations for their own works. This is what inspires Tom Shropshire to paint and is what inspired the construction of the Urban Ecology Center.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The Potawatomi Casino helps communicate how society promotes gambling and other unhealthy practices that can harm the environment, and how industrialization causes pollution and destroys neighborhoods. The Urban Farmhouse suggests a positive note by how humanity should rather use architecture in a sustainable way considering the condition of the environment.
5. What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
I can infer that artists obviously use their surroundings as inspiration for their work. For example, this is what inspires Tom Shropshire to paint as most of his paintings are scenes of Milwaukee.
Bibliography
“About PP.” Phillip Paulik, www.phillippaulik.com/about-pp/
“About the Artist.” Tom Shropshire - About the Artist, shropshireart.com/about.
Brooks, Alec. “Neighbors Eager for New Ecology Center to Open.” Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, 27 June 2012, milwaukeenns.org/2012/06/27/neighbors-eager-for-new-ecology-center-to-open/.
Paulik, Phillip. Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, Exterior. 2018. Private Collection. Phillip Paulik Creative. Photography. Accessed Feb. 19, 2018.
Shropshire, Tom. Hoan Bridge. 2016. Oil on Canvas. Private Collection.
“About the Artist.” Tom Shropshire - About the Artist, shropshireart.com/about.
Brooks, Alec. “Neighbors Eager for New Ecology Center to Open.” Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, 27 June 2012, milwaukeenns.org/2012/06/27/neighbors-eager-for-new-ecology-center-to-open/.
Paulik, Phillip. Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, Exterior. 2018. Private Collection. Phillip Paulik Creative. Photography. Accessed Feb. 19, 2018.
Shropshire, Tom. Hoan Bridge. 2016. Oil on Canvas. Private Collection.