Internet Artist Research Worksheet

Name: Nicole Deacon Hour: 2

Artists Full Name : Sandy Skoglund Date of Birth: 1946 Place of birth: Quincy, Massachusetts Date of and age at death: ________________________________________ Place of death: _________________________________________________ Cause of death: ________________________________________________ Education: University of Iowa, Smith College, and University of Paris. Primary type of artwork (ex: painting? drawing? sculpture? printmaking? ceramics): photography and installation/multi-media Media (what materials are used?): Chicken wire, plaster, live models Style or period of art?: surrealist pictures Short definition of that style or period (see Artlex or Artcyclopedia): Influenced by psychoanalysis and Sigmund Freud. It takes a realistic idea and changed it to make it sort of dream like or like something out of a fantasy. Interesting/Personal information on the artist: Recieved the Smith College Medal. This is an award given to certain alumnae of Smith College who really exemplify the use of liberal arts in their everyday lives.

Art Criticism:
Title of the art:

Radioactive Cats
Date of art: 1980 Location of the art: (museum or collection) Many museums have Radioactive Cats on display.

What is the subject matter (Describe the objects in the art)?: Sculpted, neon green cats in a gray room, with real people. Genre: Is it a still life (group of things), a portrait (of a person) or a landscape, seascape or a cityscape or other (explain)?: still life Style/form: Is this artwork realistic (as real as possible) or abstract (distorted reality)?: abstract How was it made?:___Sculpted cats and a sculpted room, with real people. So she made a

sculpture, and then photographed it.

Interpretation:
What do you think the artist was trying to say in the artwork? ___People can be oblivious to things around them and the consequences that come about from certain things. Why do you think he or she chose this subject? ___To showcase the negative things that could come from messing around with nuclear power. What feeling does this artwork give you and why? ______It makes me feel kind of confused. I want to understand what her motivation was behind making such an abstract piece of work. What part of the artwork is your favorite and why? ____I like the colors she used. I think the gray background and clothing that the people are wearing really make the bright green pop out. What events in history took place during the time of the artwork that may have influenced this artist (a war, etc) ____The Cold War with Russia was happening when this was made. I think that that really influenced it because it was the time where we were trying to out-do Russia and create bigger and more dangerous weapons. Radioactive Cats was probably a statement warning people what could happen with all of the nuclear power around and the negative consequences.