Topic #2- Ornament Reading Response

      Ornament is an art form. Many people define it as a way of decorating something, which yes that is an aspect of it. Ornament is not defined as whatever object it may be on. It is another complex system on its own that lends to other art objects and works. There is an extensive development process as well as acceptable uses for specific designs. You can’t just slap any ornament on something and expect it to be a successful use of décor. There is logic, pattern, rhythm, and mathematics that are involved. As a designer of such things, planning is highly important. It is communication with symbols alone. The way that the work becomes authentic is when it is not the overused form of symbolism. Within art Nouveau works for example, there are beautiful uses or ornament and pattern that give the viewer a sense of tone within the work. The way that shapes look translate differently depending on what they are. Whether they are rounded or more angular to say the least.

     Within this article, Ivins’ spoke about the relationship and differences between designers and crafts persons. Both are great in their own way. But one is even more skilled because they are the backbone/ basis of the craft. Craftsman can produce the work. But not all craftsman have the natural eye and education for the design. The Designers are the ones creating the original designs and symbols which puts them at a higher level. Originality needs to be spoken for, because some people are misinformed and believe that ideas are just coming to artist from within themselves, but this is not fully the case. In order to create something original we need to see something else, possibly from a fellow artist. We can then work towards something more authentic and personal. But in some sense the work circulates, so nothing is completely original. Unlike a designer, the crafts person’s job at the bare minimum is to produce a design. They are the ones that can more openly copy a design. They are not claiming that it is their original design. Everyone would call bluff. They are in the world of multiples and mass production. It is all a system and we need both. Technology as evolved and so has the ornamental art world.

-Alicia Betancourt