Internet Artist Research Worksheet

Name: Alaina Ferkovich Hour: 7

Artists Full Name: Sandy Skoglund Date of Birth: September 5, 1946 Place of birth: Quincy, Massachusetts Date of and age at death: Living Place of death: Living Cause of death: Living Education: Smith College in Northampton, Sorbonne and cole du Louvre in Paris, France, University of Iowa Primary type of artwork (ex: painting? drawing? sculpture? printmaking? Ceramics) Still life photographs involving various sculptures she created Media (what materials are used?): Clay, photography Style or period of art? Phot artist, Photor/sculptor, Surrealism Short definition of that style or period (see Artlex or Artcyclopedia): Using sculptures one creates as the medium for photographs Interesting/Personal information on the artist: She only delved into photography in order to document her art in sculptures

Art Criticism:
Title of the art:

Radioactive Cats
Date of art: 1980

Location of the art: (museum or collection) Smith College Museum of Art What is the subject matter (Describe the objects in the art)? Clay cat figurines in a kitchen setting with two people, a man and a woman. 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)? A realistic subject in an abstract setting How was it made?: The subject was sculpted using clay.

Interpretation:
What do you think the artist was trying to say in the artwork? Cats that are fed human food will get sick and turn radioactive? Why do you think he or she chose this subject? Its visually appealing and different What feeling does this artwork give you and why? It seems like the background is very dull monochromatic style of living. But the cats are so vibrant that it breaks through the gloomy existence of its owners. What part of the artwork is your favorite and why? The woman and the man are so realistic looking, and the chair tipped over in the foreground thats all scratched up, the cats are investigating it. What events in history took place during the time of the artwork that may have influenced this artist (a war, etc) Pac-man was actually release, which is a very vibrant game. This may have influenced the bright cats. Mt. St. Helens erupted so that might lead to the radioactive in a way.