Ursula von Ursula von RydingsvardRydingsvard

By: Amy WuBy: Amy WuArt History Art History 44thth period period

Basic InfoBasic Info Born in Deensen, Germany in 1942 Born in Deensen, Germany in 1942 Spent her childhood in Nazi slave Spent her childhood in Nazi slave

labor and post-war refugee camps labor and post-war refugee camps Honorary doctorate from the Honorary doctorate from the

Maryland Institute College of Art, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore (1991). Baltimore (1991).

Lives and works in New York.Lives and works in New York.

Information on WorksInformation on Works►Medium: Wood Medium: Wood

(cedar) and (cedar) and graphitegraphite

►Style: AbstractStyle: Abstract

"My whole cedar studio is loaded with pieces that are unfinished and I need all of those things in my environment to feed me, to give me always options."

““Where manmade Where manmade meets nature.”meets nature.”

Cultural InfluencesCultural Influences

►““We stayed in barracks with raw We stayed in barracks with raw wooden floors, walls, and ceilings. I wooden floors, walls, and ceilings. I have a feeling that fed into my have a feeling that fed into my working with wood.” working with wood.”

►““I learned from things that I never I learned from things that I never saw.”saw.”

►Parents: “This is what you have to do Parents: “This is what you have to do and this is what has to be done.”and this is what has to be done.”

““Dla Gienka (For Gene)”Dla Gienka (For Gene)”► Influenced Influenced

from cultural from cultural background.background.

►Stacks of Stacks of cedar.cedar.

►One of the One of the first pieces. first pieces.

1991-93Cedar and graphite, 88 x 53 1/4 x 31 3/4 inches.

““Mama, your legs”Mama, your legs”►Her first moving Her first moving

piecepiece►Ursula likes the Ursula likes the

awkward way it awkward way it moves and looksmoves and looks

2000Cedar, graphite, and steel, 114 x 186 x 142 inches.

““Wall Pocket”Wall Pocket”►Looks like Looks like

cascading cascading waterfallwaterfall

►Would be great Would be great representation representation of manmade of manmade meets nature if meets nature if it was usedit was used

2003-04Cedar and graphite, 162 x 72 x 65 inches.

““Berwici Pici Pa”Berwici Pici Pa”►Procession look Procession look

once you enter once you enter the buildingthe building

►Looks like lips Looks like lips stated by stated by UrsulaUrsula

►A look of A look of “primitive “primitive voluptuous voluptuous wandering”wandering”

2004Cedar and graphite, 8 x 86 2/3 x 5 1/2 feet.

"Czara z Babelkami""Czara z Babelkami"►located at Madison located at Madison

Square Park, New Square Park, New York. York.

►Influenced by a Influenced by a handknit handknit unbleached wool unbleached wool sweatersweater

►Hollow on the Hollow on the inside inside

►Stacked like Stacked like pineapple ringspineapple rings

2006Cedar, 202 x 125 x 74 inches.

"Damski "Damski Czepek“/DescriptionCzepek“/Description►Polyurethane Polyurethane

resin and resin and cedar cedar

►Located in Located in Madison Madison SquareSquare

►7 marriages7 marriages►Agitated linesAgitated lines►Location in Location in

park makes park makes the piece the piece stand outstand out

143 x 406 x 400 inches.2006

AnalysisAnalysis►Definitely wanted Definitely wanted

porch effect under porch effect under bonnet bonnet

►Scattered light Scattered light from the from the surrounding surrounding trees/transparent trees/transparent looklook

►Texture has always Texture has always been agitatedbeen agitated

InterpretationInterpretation►Ursula feels the Ursula feels the

marriages show the marriages show the success of the piecesuccess of the piece

►Shows lifestyle of Shows lifestyle of the pastthe past

►Sit, relax, and enjoy Sit, relax, and enjoy nature meeting nature meeting manmademanmade

►Feelings are mutualFeelings are mutual

JudgmentJudgment►Communicates an Communicates an

idea of togetherness idea of togetherness and that shows and that shows importance because importance because she has seen racism she has seen racism and beating as a childand beating as a child

►Like that the focus is Like that the focus is on the bonnet on the bonnet

►Original but not Original but not imaginative enoughimaginative enough

►Look: primitive and Look: primitive and crudecrude

►Not just utilitarian Not just utilitarian objectsobjects

►Ursula learns from Ursula learns from them- calls them them- calls them vernacularvernacular

"Plate with Dots"2006Cedar, 115 x 89 x 3 1/2 inches.

““Exploding Bowl”Exploding Bowl”►““Exploding Bowl Exploding Bowl

is an extension is an extension of me and where of me and where I want to wander I want to wander visually.”visually.”

►Looks like a Looks like a modern version modern version of a sink bowl or of a sink bowl or toilet bowltoilet bowl

2005-06Cedar, 32 x 56 x 55 inches.

““Luna”Luna”

►Location: same as Location: same as LubaLuba

►Agitated surface Agitated surface because of the because of the urethane resinurethane resin

Urethane Resin6'3" x 3'5" x 3'2006

““Luba”Luba”

►Location: New Location: New York on a 500 York on a 500 acres of rolling acres of rolling hillshills

►Looks like a Looks like a bunch of Lego bunch of Lego pieces pieces

Cedar, Graphite, Bronze17'8" x 11'7" x 7'4"2010

BibliographyBibliography►"Art21 . Slideshow | PBS." "Art21 . Slideshow | PBS." PBS: Public PBS: Public

Broadcasting ServiceBroadcasting Service. Web. 04 . Web. 04 May 2011. May 2011. <http://www.pbs.org/art21/slideshow/?<http://www.pbs.org/art21/slideshow/?slsl ide=1380>.ide=1380>.

►Ursula Von RydingsvardUrsula Von Rydingsvard. Web. 04 May . Web. 04 May 2011. 2011.

<http://www.ursulavonrydingsvard.net/<http://www.ursulavonrydingsvard.net/..

Question 1:Question 1:►How did Ursula’s background influence How did Ursula’s background influence

her artwork?her artwork? ►A. She was beaten as a child►B. She lived through the Holocaust►C. She studied religion and religion

becomes her main focus►D. She’s influenced by her brother

Question 2:Question 2:►How would you describe Ursula’s work How would you describe Ursula’s work

methods? What did she work with?methods? What did she work with?

►A. AbstractA. Abstract►B. Bronze workB. Bronze work►C. Contemporary C. Contemporary ►D. All of the aboveD. All of the above

Question 3:Question 3:►What medium does Ursula work with?What medium does Ursula work with?

►A. CedarA. Cedar►B. Polyurethane ResinB. Polyurethane Resin►C. GraphiteC. Graphite►D. All of the AboveD. All of the Above

Question 4:Question 4:Describe Ursula’s most notable Describe Ursula’s most notable work work “Damski Czepek”.“Damski Czepek”.

A. Looks like a BonnetA. Looks like a BonnetB. Located in IsraelB. Located in IsraelC. Is not located in a Madison C. Is not located in a Madison

Square ParkSquare ParkD. Made out of ear waxD. Made out of ear wax

Question 5:Question 5:►Was Ursula’s pieces mostly movable or Was Ursula’s pieces mostly movable or

non-movable? Which are the non-movable? Which are the movables?movables?

►A. Movable; “Mama, your legs”A. Movable; “Mama, your legs”►B. Movable; “Damski Czepek”B. Movable; “Damski Czepek”►C. Non-Movable; “Mama, your legs”C. Non-Movable; “Mama, your legs”►D.D. Non-Movable; “Damski Czepek”