[RE]ACTION [week ten: the opus project]

The alter at King's University is a great example of a space rotating 

around a central axis, the alter. (Above)

Rotation. The act of rotating around an axis or center. Rotation allows you to see things from all sides and every angle. When you rotate your body, you can see everything around you. When you're drawing, rotating the paper can help you draw at better angles (at least for me it does). In architecture, some people focus their entire structure on one main axis and rotate the rest of the building along that axis. "... in the Gothic cathedral the emphatic axis directs movement toward the single focus - the alter" (Roth, 51). This quotation explains that the main axis of the cathedral is the alter and every other part rotates around that center.

A room design for Suzanne's class. Movement is shown 

through the three hanging gold light fixtures. They move your 

eye from one side of the space to the other. (Above)

Movement. An act of changing physical location or position or of having this changed. Movement in a drawing directs your eyes from one side of the page to the other. In architecture, movement has the same effect. It can make your eye steadily move from one room to the other, or make you eyes jump from one exciting detail to the next. "But the line that most strongly conveys dynamic action and movement is the diagonal. This phenomenon was exploited in numerous compositions in Baroque ... " (Roth, 61).

My light fixture I designed for my studio class was all 

about reflecting light in a colorful and energetic way. 

How I got a "C" on it .... I DON'T KNOW? (Above)

Reflection. The throwing back by a body or surface of light, heat, or sound without absorbing it. Reflection can obviously mean the reflecting of light but it can also mean to think deeply and carefully about something. "So the laboratory spaces were separated into two parts, large spaces to work and small private spaces for reflection" (Roth, 16).  I find that this quote is a great example of explaining that every person needs their own environment to review and contemplate their ideas. It also confirms that reflection isn't always about a mirror.

Vitruvius' plan for the Roman theater is a

 great source for all theaters built today. (Above)

Source. A place, person, or thing from which something comes or can be obtained. "Once again Virtuvius is the source of ancient advice, for he observed that oikonomia, the Greek term he used, is essential to good architecture, suggesting that this would result from selection of a good building site, use of good materials, and wise control of expenses" (Roth, 135). Information is learned through the knowledge and experiences of ourselves and others. When we get any idea from another person we considered them to be a source.

My friend ambuLAAAR took this picture of me at the arboretum. 

It is expressed through the illumination of the beaming sun. (Above)

Illuminate. Help to clarify or explain, to bring light to. "Painters of the Baroque period, such as Rubens and Rembrant, did much the same, similarly creating areas of strong illumination to direct our attention" (Roth, 75).  Illumination allows designers and artist to decide where they want people to focus on their work. It demonstrates the most important part of a scene and can beautifully highlight everything around.