Hispanic/Latinx History Month - Inclusivity in Instructor Activities
Jorge Costa
Carberry Conversation, October 1, 2021
Associate Professor and Gallery Coordinator Sondra Peron interviews visual artist and adjunct professor Jorge Costa. Costa is currently teaching right here at STCC, and his artwork explores a wide range of media, forms and content--from design inspired by nature to climate change and animal rights. Likewise our conversation touched on many issues; the Anthropocene, food politics, the importance of “going for it," and the takeaway that art is really for everyone.
Jorge Costa's Hyphae-Spitzenkörper, a painting of fungi.
Art/Science, Integrated activity
Science and art may seem on the surface to have little in common, but visual artists like Jorge Costa, Adjunct Professor of Art, at STCC, integrates a variety of elements like microbiology directly into some of his paintings and drawings, which is called “biomorphic design.” Simply put, these designs are inspired by nature, for example, Spitzenkörper, German for “pointed body.” This fungal growth is found in spore germination and can only be viewed by a microscope. Costa increases the scale of these microscopic organisms to wall-size paintings and drawings.
Think about words you would use to describe Costa’s artwork. What impact does scale, color, and texture play in illuminating microorganisms to the level of art? Why do you think Costa used fungi as a template in his artwork? How does looking at Costa’s paintings change the way you see these organisms? What is your opinion?
Approaching Art, A First Step for Everyone activity
A formal analysis of art can include different elements to better understand and appreciate the work of an artist. One way of doing a formal analysis is to start by thinking about words you would use to describe a work of art. What do you see? Consider what objects you may or may not recognize and what materials the artist used.
As you begin to analyze the artwork, what forms or lines do you see? Can you see different colors or texture? Is it abstract or representational? Why do you think the artist made these choices? It may be obvious or it may not be.
Next, begin to interpret. What do you think the purpose or meaning of the artwork is? Look for clues left by the artist in the title or wall text.
Last, but not least, begin to evaluate. What do you think about when you look at this work of art? Does it have any significant social or political meaning? This does not mean it has to have all these components. What ideas or concepts can a work of art communicate to a viewer? What is your opinion of this work of art? You can like or dislike anything, but you must have a reason to back that position.