Gothic Art, Architecture, and Gargoyles, Oh My! Ethnic Art Motifs Graham School October 22, 2008

Rules of Engagement Each student must attend each two-part class. You must attend the first lecture class in order to come to the art-creation class. All students must listen, participate, and create. Treat the art supplies, the library, each other, and me with respect. Help clean up.

Each student must attend each two-part class. You must attend the first lecture class in order to come to the art-creation class.

All students must listen, participate, and create.

Treat the art supplies, the library, each other, and me with respect.

Help clean up.

Where did Gothic art and architecture begin? Gothic architecture flourished during the high and late medieval period . Starting in 12th-century France and lasting into the 16th century. Its characteristic features include the pointed arch , the ribbed vault and the flying buttress . Gothic architecture is most familiar as the architecture of many of the great cathedrals of Europe.

Gothic architecture flourished during the high and late medieval period .

Starting in 12th-century France and lasting into the 16th century. Its characteristic features include the pointed arch , the ribbed vault and the flying buttress .

Gothic architecture is most familiar as the architecture of many of the great cathedrals of Europe.

Vault A Vault is an arched form used to provide a space with a ceiling

A Vault is an arched form used to provide a space with a ceiling

Gothic Pointed Arches An arch is a structure that spans a space while supporting weight (that is, a doorway in a stone wall ). Arches appeared as early as the 2nd millennium BC in Mesopotamian brick architecture, but their systematic use started with the Ancient Romans who were the first to apply the technique to a wide range of structures.

An arch is a structure that spans a space while supporting weight (that is, a doorway in a stone wall ). Arches appeared as early as the 2nd millennium BC in Mesopotamian brick architecture, but their systematic use started with the Ancient Romans who were the first to apply the technique to a wide range of structures.

Other Arches Roman Arches Arch in St. Louis Missouri

Arches used in Construction Today

Other Arches

Flying Buttresses—no jokes, please! A buttress is an architectural structure built against a counterfort or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall. Buttresses are fairly common on more ancient buildings, as a means of providing support to act against the lateral (sideways) forces arising out of the roof structures that lack adequate bracing.

A buttress is an architectural structure built against a counterfort or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall. Buttresses are fairly common on more ancient buildings, as a means of providing support to act against the lateral (sideways) forces arising out of the roof structures that lack adequate bracing.

More Flying Buttresses

Gargoyles began as a Waterspout Here is a gargoyle on the Parthenon, the Acropolis, Athens, 5th century BC. The gargoyle diverts water from the room away from the walls and prevents water from staining the building.

Here is a gargoyle on the Parthenon, the Acropolis, Athens, 5th century BC. The gargoyle diverts water from the room away from the walls and prevents water from staining the building.

Origins of Gargoyles Waterspouts Building cornices Decorative elements Protective figures

Waterspouts

Building cornices

Decorative elements

Protective figures

Gargoyles Gargoyles have been found throughout history. They are found often in Gothic architecture. People added gargoyles to buildings for beauty, protection, and water diversion. Some people believe that gargoyles keep evil spirits from buildings by scaring them way.

Gargoyles have been found throughout history. They are found often in Gothic architecture.

People added gargoyles to buildings for beauty, protection, and water diversion.

Some people believe that gargoyles keep evil spirits from buildings by scaring them way.

Some people think that gargoyles were inspired by dinosaur fossils

Dragon Gargoyles in Rhodes

More Dragons in Rhodes

Lion Gargoyles in Rhodes

Gargoyles Gargoyles were inspired by imagination and produced in many forms.

Gargoyles were inspired by imagination and produced in many forms.

Gargoyles Gargoyles are mythological beings. They adorn countless cathedrals around the world. Early references date back to 600 A.D. The word gargoyles is derived from an old French word gargouille , meaning throat. The English words gargle, gurgle and gargoyle are derived from gargouille . Some believe that gargoyles - sometimes called grotesques - are inspired by the skeletal remains of prehistoric dinosaurs and other fossils.

Gargoyles are mythological beings. They adorn countless cathedrals around the world. Early references date back to 600 A.D.

The word gargoyles is derived from an old French word gargouille , meaning throat. The English words gargle, gurgle and gargoyle are derived from gargouille .

Some believe that gargoyles - sometimes called grotesques - are inspired by the skeletal remains of prehistoric dinosaurs and other fossils.

Gargoyle’s Original Purposes Many people believe that gargoyles were created by medieval architects and stone carvers to ward off evil in an imperfect world. France has over 100 cathedrals, most built in the middle ages, with Notre Dame being the most famous. Churches used awesome visual images to spread the scriptures, which included gargoyles, stained glass, and sculpture. Some believe that gargoyles were inspired directly via a passage in the bible. Others believe that gargoyles and grotesques do not come from the bible, but are inspired by the skeletal remains of prehistoric beasts such as dinosaurs and giant reptiles. Some people feel that gargoyles are the expression of man's subconscious fears Some gargoyles are half-human, half-beast. What features would you want in gargoyle?

Many people believe that gargoyles were created by medieval architects and stone carvers to ward off evil in an imperfect world.

France has over 100 cathedrals, most built in the middle ages, with Notre Dame being the most famous. Churches used awesome visual images to spread the scriptures, which included gargoyles, stained glass, and sculpture. Some believe that gargoyles were inspired directly via a passage in the bible. Others believe that gargoyles and grotesques do not come from the bible, but are inspired by the skeletal remains of prehistoric beasts such as dinosaurs and giant reptiles.

Some people feel that gargoyles are the expression of man's subconscious fears

Some gargoyles are half-human, half-beast.

What features would you want in gargoyle?

Gargoyles in Churches

Gargoyles in China

Gargoyles in the Forbidden City

Gargoyles in Popular Culture

Bat Gargoyles

Gargoyles and Games In a game called Gargoyles , gargoyles are a race of winged stone creatures that come alive as the sun disappears into the night.

In a game called Gargoyles , gargoyles are a race of winged stone creatures that come alive as the sun disappears into the night.

Gargoyles, the TV Series The series features a clan of six nocturnal creatures known as Gargoyles that turn to stone during the day. They glide using large wings and age twice as slowly as humans, living twice as long because they are stone during daylight hours, even when not directly exposed to sunlight.

The series features a clan of six nocturnal creatures known as Gargoyles that turn to stone during the day. They glide using large wings and age twice as slowly as humans, living twice as long because they are stone during daylight hours, even when not directly exposed to sunlight.

Gargoyles in Buildings Today

Gargoyles in India India

India

Notre Dame in Paris

Gargoyle in Prague, Czech Republic

Winged Gargoyles

Patina Patina is a coating of various chemical compounds such as oxides or carbonates formed on the surface of metal during exposure to weathering . The green patina that forms naturally on copper and bronze is known as verdigris and consists of copper carbonate. Patina also refers to accumulated changes in surface texture and color that result from normal use of an object such as a coin or a piece of furniture. Artists and metalworkers often deliberately add patinas as a part of the original design and decoration of art and furniture, or to simulate antiquity in newly-made objects. What do you think the original gargoyles looked like when they were first made?

Patina is a coating of various chemical compounds such as oxides or carbonates formed on the surface of metal during exposure to weathering . The green patina that forms naturally on copper and bronze is known as verdigris and consists of copper carbonate. Patina also refers to accumulated changes in surface texture and color that result from normal use of an object such as a coin or a piece of furniture. Artists and metalworkers often deliberately add patinas as a part of the original design and decoration of art and furniture, or to simulate antiquity in newly-made objects.

What do you think the original gargoyles looked like when they were first made?

Pattern A pattern is a theme of recurring events or objects, sometimes referred to as elements of a set. These elements repeat in a predictable manner.

A pattern is a theme of recurring events or objects, sometimes referred to as elements of a set. These elements repeat in a predictable manner.

Where do we see patterns in Gargoyles?

Gargoyles in San Francisco

UC Berkeley Gargoyles

Imaginary Creatures—Real Purposes Gargoyles were believed to protect buildings and the people inside them from evil. How do gargoyles exaggerate ordinary animals’ and people’s features? If you were creating a protective imaginary creature, what features would you include for protection? Why?

Gargoyles were believed to protect buildings and the people inside them from evil.

How do gargoyles exaggerate ordinary animals’ and people’s features? If you were creating a protective imaginary creature, what features would you include for protection? Why?

Walter S. Arnold, Gargoyle creator “ Many cultures throughout history have created sculptures of fantastic creatures. These gargoyles and grotesques stir our imaginations, as they stirred the imaginations of the sculptors and carvers who created them. We try to understand them, to explain them. The most common belief is that they are protectors, keeping evil away from the buildings and their occupants. But is this really why they are there? We really don't know. “

“ Many cultures throughout history have created sculptures of fantastic creatures. These gargoyles and grotesques stir our imaginations, as they stirred the imaginations of the sculptors and carvers who created them. We try to understand them, to explain them. The most common belief is that they are protectors, keeping evil away from the buildings and their occupants. But is this really why they are there? We really don't know. “

More thoughts by Walter Arnold Gargoyles and grotesques have always given carvers and sculptors a chance to use their creativity, to explore the possibilities of stone and imagination. They free us from the limits imposed by most other types of carving, and this was especially true in the Middle Ages. Carvers love creating these pieces, and viewers love seeing them. This may be the real reason why they exist. A bestiary was a book with illustrations of imaginary animals, with an explanation of the powers and symbolism of each animal. Medieval sculptors may have looked at these books for ideas. Symbolism was more important than scientific accuracy in depicting these creatures.

Gargoyles and grotesques have always given carvers and sculptors a chance to use their creativity, to explore the possibilities of stone and imagination. They free us from the limits imposed by most other types of carving, and this was especially true in the Middle Ages. Carvers love creating these pieces, and viewers love seeing them. This may be the real reason why they exist.

A bestiary was a book with illustrations of imaginary animals, with an explanation of the powers and symbolism of each animal. Medieval sculptors may have looked at these books for ideas. Symbolism was more important than scientific accuracy in depicting these creatures.

At Mission San Luis Rey, water gushed through the mouth of this gargoyle into the laundry

Lion Gargoyle in Lompoc, CA

Gargoyles in Corona, CA

Comic Book: Gargoyle in Santa Cruz

Gargoyles in Books

Turtle Gargoyle

Art Deco Gargoyle in NYC Chrysler Building

Making Your Gargoyle Some people believe that gargoyles protect. Gargoyles exaggerate features and expressions. What features should your gargoyle have to protect you? Teeth Claws Wings Gargoyles can be: Part animal part human part imaginary or whatever you can imagine

Some people believe that gargoyles protect. Gargoyles exaggerate features and expressions.

What features should your gargoyle have to protect you?

Teeth

Claws

Wings

Gargoyles can be:

Part animal

part human

part imaginary

or whatever you can imagine

Gargoyle-creation Logistics Make a gargoyle from Sculpey: Size: about the size of your fist Tools: toothpicks, scissors, pencils, or others? Colors: limited pallet of colors because: Traditional gargoyles are made from architectural materials: stone, clay, or metal Emphasize form over color Support your gargoyle: use aluminum foil to support wings and for the inside. Sculpey clay should only be ¼ inch thick. I will bake the gargoyles. You can get them from the library after school on Halloween

Make a gargoyle from Sculpey:

Size: about the size of your fist

Tools: toothpicks, scissors, pencils, or others?

Colors: limited pallet of colors because:

Traditional gargoyles are made from architectural materials: stone, clay, or metal

Emphasize form over color

Support your gargoyle: use aluminum foil to support wings and for the inside. Sculpey clay should only be ¼ inch thick.

I will bake the gargoyles. You can get them from the library after school on Halloween

For More Information Gargoyle Information Some Gargoyle Sites for the Aspiring Gargoyle Hunter A Love of Monsters: Gargoyles & Architectural Details in NYC A Guide to Gargoyles at Washington University The Gargoyles of Princeton University: A grotesque tour of the campus Walter S. Arnold's site details how he carved gargoyles for the National Cathedral in Washington D.C.: Cathedral & Gargoyle Index Some good books on the subject: Holy Terrors : Gargoyles on Medieval Buildings Janetta Benton; Abbeville Press, April 1997 The Medieval Menagerie: Animals in the Art of the Middle Ages Janetta Benton, Abbeville Press, 1992 American Gargoyles : Spirits in Stone Darlene Trew Crist, Potter Books, NY 2001 Gothic Gargoyles Bill Yenne, First Glance Books, 1998 Nightmares in the Sky Photos: F-Stop Fitzgerald Text: Steven King Viking Studio Books, New York, 1988 Green Man - The Archetype of our Oneness with the Earth William Anderson Photos: Clive Hicks. Harper Collins, London and San Francisco, 1990 A Cloisters Bestiary Richard H. Randall, Jr. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1960 A Little Book of Gargoyles Mike Harding Aurum Press, London, 1998

Gargoyle Information Some Gargoyle Sites for the Aspiring Gargoyle Hunter A Love of Monsters: Gargoyles & Architectural Details in NYC

A Guide to Gargoyles at Washington University

The Gargoyles of Princeton University: A grotesque tour of the campus Walter S. Arnold's site details how he carved gargoyles for the National Cathedral in Washington D.C.: Cathedral & Gargoyle Index Some good books on the subject: Holy Terrors : Gargoyles on Medieval Buildings Janetta Benton; Abbeville Press, April 1997

The Medieval Menagerie: Animals in the Art of the Middle Ages Janetta Benton, Abbeville Press, 1992

American Gargoyles : Spirits in Stone Darlene Trew Crist, Potter Books, NY 2001

Gothic Gargoyles Bill Yenne, First Glance Books, 1998

Nightmares in the Sky Photos: F-Stop Fitzgerald Text: Steven King Viking Studio Books, New York, 1988

Green Man - The Archetype of our Oneness with the Earth William Anderson Photos: Clive Hicks. Harper Collins, London and San Francisco, 1990

A Cloisters Bestiary Richard H. Randall, Jr. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1960

A Little Book of Gargoyles Mike Harding Aurum Press, London, 1998