Overview of the Op Art Movement

Overview of the Op Art Movement Op Art (short for Optical Art) is an art movement that emerged in the 1960s. It is a distinct style of art that creates the illusion of movement. Through the use of precision and mathematics, stark contrast, and abstract shapes, these sharp  pieces of artwork have a three-dimensional quality that is not seen in other styles of art. Op Art Emerges in the 1960s Flashback to 1964. In the United States, we were still reeling from the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, encapsulated in the Civil Rights movement, and being invaded by British pop/rock music. Many people were also over the notion of achieving the idyllic lifestyles that were so prevalent in the 1950s. It was a perfect time for a new artistic movement to burst on the scene.   In October of 1964, in an article describing this new style of art, Time Magazine coined the phrase Optical Art (or Op Art, as its more commonly known). The term referenced the fact that Op Art is comprised of illusion and often appears to the human eye to be moving or breathing due to its precise, mathematically-based composition. After (and because of) a major 1965 exhibition of Op Art entitled The Responsive Eye, the public became enraptured with the movement. As a result, one began to see Op Art everywhere: in print and television advertising, as LP album art, and as a fashion motif in clothing and interior design. Although the term was coined and the exhibition held in the mid-1960s, most people who have studied these things agree that Victor Vasarely pioneered the movement with his 1938 painting Zebra. M. C. Eschers style has sometimes caused him to be listed as an Op artist as well, though they dont quite fit the definition. Many of his best-known works were created in the 1930s and include amazing perspectives and use of tessellations (shapes in close arrangements). These two certainly helped point the way for others. It can also be argued that none of Op Art would have been possible- let alone embraced by the public- without the prior Abstract and Expressionist movements. These led the way by de-emphasizing (or, in many cases, eliminating) representational subject matter. Op Art Remains Popular As an official movement, Op Art has been given a lifespan of around three years. This doesnt mean, however, that every artist ceased employing Op Art as their style by 1969. Bridget Riley is one noteworthy artist who has moved from achromatic to chromatic pieces but has steadfastly created Op Art from its beginning to the present day. Additionally, anyone who has gone through a post-secondary fine arts program probably has a tale or two of Op-ish projects created during color theory studies. Its also worth mentioning that, in the digital age, Op Art is sometimes viewed with bemusement. Perhaps you, too, have heard the (rather snide, some would say) comment, A child with the proper graphic design software could produce this stuff. Quite true, a gifted child with a computer and the proper software at her disposal could certainly create Op Art in the 21st century. This certainly wasnt the case in the early 1960s, and the 1938 date of Vasarelys Zebra speaks for itself in this regard. Op Art represents a great deal of math, planning and technical skill, as none of it came freshly-inked out of a computer peripheral. Original, hand-created Op Art deserves respect, at the very least. What Are the Characteristics of Op Art? Op Art exists to fool the eye. Op compositions create a sort of visual tension in the viewers mind that gives works the illusion of movement. For example, concentrate on Bridget Rileys Dominance Portfolio, Blue (1977) for even a few seconds and it begins to dance and wave in front of your eyes. Realistically, you know  that any Op Art piece is flat, static, and two-dimensional. Your eye, however, begins sending your brain the message that what its seeing has begun to oscillate, flicker, throb and any other verb one can employ to mean, Yikes! This painting is moving! Op Art is not meant to  represent reality.  Due to its geometrically-based nature, Op Art is, almost without exception, non-representational. Artists do not attempt to depict anything we know in real life. Instead, it is more like abstract art in which composition, movement, and shape dominate. Op Art is not created by chance. The elements employed in a piece of Op Art are carefully chosen to achieve maximum effect. In order for the illusion to work, each color,  line,  and shape must contribute to the overall composition. It takes a great deal of forethought to successfully create artwork in the Op Art style. Op Art relies on two specific techniques. The critical techniques used in Op Art are perspective and careful juxtaposition of color. The color may be chromatic (identifiable hues) or achromatic (black, white, or gray). Even when color is used, they tend to be very bold and can be either complementary or high-contrast.   Op Art typically does not include the blending of colors. The lines and shapes of this style are very well defined. Artists do not use shading when transitioning from one color to the next and quite often two high-contrast colors are placed next to each other. This harsh shift is a key part of what disturbs and tricks your eye into seeing movement where there is none. Op Art embraces negative space. In Op Art- as in perhaps no other artistic school- positive and negative spaces in a composition are of equal importance. The illusion could not be created without both, so Op artists tend to focus just as much on the negative space as they do the positive.

The best college towns for student to live

The best college towns for student to live Top 20 college towns for students While choosing a university, it is very important to pay a great attention on its location. You should really enjoy living in your chosen place. We have written a list of the best towns and cities across the USA for a student to live and study. Athens, Georgia Athens is a great place for students, who really enjoy music, arts and theatre. It is known as the ‘Live Music Central’ and it is a native city for many famous artists and actors. The University of Georgia is the first state university in this state.   Athens hosts the annual summer Arts Festival, which attracts a lot of visitors. Moreover, it is not very expensive to live here. Malibu, California Malibu is a favorite place among the students of Pepperdine University. This university always does its best to cater to all the religious needs of the Christian students. Moreover, it is highly ranked in law and business programs. Malibu is famous for its tourism and hospitality industry, so it is not a problem for the college graduates to find a good job here. St. Augustine, Florida St. Augustine is a home of Flagler College, which originally was founded for the women. Students can enjoy living in the wonderful dormitories, which are located in Ponce de Leon Hotel. This city is the oldest in Florida and is famous for its rich Spanish history. You will be impressed with Spanish Military Hospital Museum and Castille de San Marco. Athens, Ohio Athens is a wonderful college town, which is surrounded by hills. It is interesting, that this town was named after Athens, which is situated in Greece. It is also known as a Tree City due to a great amount of trees. Students of Ohio University can go hiking here and enjoy beautiful scenery. The economy of Athens depends mainly on Ohio University. South Bend, Indiana South Bend is located on the St. Joseph river and is the biggest cultural and economic center of Northern Indiana. The famous University of Notre Dame is situated here. It has a superior medical system and a rich business community. South Bend is the headquarters of The Bosch Corporation and The Honeywell Corporation. Oxford, Mississippi Oxford boasts its historic sites, restaurants, specialty boutiques, bookstores and music venues. This city is a wonderful place for the music lovers, as many famous musicians have recorded their albums here. The famous writer William Faulkner was born here. The University of Mississippi is one of the Top 20 on Forbes Best Value Colleges List. Madison, Wisconsin Madison is a wonderful college town, which is situated between four lakes. It is the capital city of the state of Wisconsin, which is notable for its continued economic growth. It is a great place for all the students to start a successful career and find intellectual stimulation. Syracuse, New York Syracuse has two research universities: Upstate Medical University and Syracuse University. University Hill is the main educational and business district in this city. It is famous for being the city with the most snowfall in the whole country! Syracuse can also impress its students with wonderful performing arts. Santa Cruz, California Santa Cruz is a home to the University of California, which offers its students both graduate and undergraduate research opportunities. It is a picturesque, sunny and warm city by Pacific Ocean, which definitely has a lot to offer!   Logan, Utah Logan is a wonderful city for the students of Utah State University. It is extremely picturesque due to the astonishing Rocky Mountain Range. It is famous for its community parks and the Bear Lake. Every student can hike, ski, bike or fish here. Utah State University offers its students excellent extracurricular and curricular activities. State College, Pennsylvania State College is famous for Pennsylvania State University, which is famous among the students. Both graduate and undergraduate students always have the opportunities of employment. The campus of the university is often called ‘Happy Valley†. Panama City, Florida Panama City is a home to Gulf Coast State College, which can boast its high job placement rate. This city attracts a lot of students, because it overlooks the Gulf of Mexico. Students can enjoy amazing restaurants, parks, shopping and a thriving nightlife. Panama City is also a popular holiday destination during Spring Break. Auburn, Alabama Auburn University is the largest university in Alabama. Auburn is a wonderful college town with its film festivals, art museums and theater venues. The best study programs At the university are counseling, pharmacy, and engineering. The East Alabama Medical Center and the Walmart Distribution Center are situated in Auburn. Ithaca, New York Ithaca attracts students with its beautiful landscapes and high-quality education. Cornell University is one of the top 20 colleges in the country. It is prestigious to study English, law, business, computer science, engineering, and medicine here. Long Beach, California Long Beach is considered to be one of the most culturally diverse cities in the country. It is famous for the California State University in Long Beach, where students can choose among the best academic disciplines. This university is very diverse ethically. Long Beach is a host to several theater and music festivals. Gainesville, Florida Gainesville has a strong educational value. It is a home to Sante Fe College. It is considered to be the best college town in the whole North America. It also has one of the largest campuses in the USA. It is interesting, that the popular drink Gatorade was invented here. Boulder, Colorado Boulder impresses its students with Great Plains the Rocky Mountains. You will be definitely amazed by its beautiful views! This place is perfect for those students, who are outdoor activists and nature enthusiasts. The University of Colorado is famous for its programs in engineering and business. Brunswick, Georgia Brunswick is a magnificent coastal city, which can offer students a lot of activities to do. It is a home of the four-year College of Coastal Georgia, which can boast its programs at education, coastal ecology, business, nursing, and biology. Wellesley, Massachusetts Wellesley is notable for its Wellesley College, which offers students excellent programs in the liberal arts. The employers of some large businesses are always willing to welcome its graduates. You will be definitely impressed by its charming streets and historic houses. Durham, North Carolina Durham is a home of Duke University, which is one of the top 10 universities in the whole country. It can boast its programs at clinical psychology, medicine, and law. Durham has the definitive support for the arts, so students can enjoy various art, music, film, and dance festivals.