Art And Design Series.

A Continuum

Examining visual models where both fields and field-event relationships exist you will find “conceptual polarities on a theoretical design continuum.” What does this mean exactly? The meaning is found in the following words. “The continuum itself graphically symbolizes unity.”. A central principle of the field-event theory is that designs typically establish visible orientation with either the field polarity or the field-event polarity of the resulting continuum.” The examples given in “Art and Design” by Phil Paratore are of Monet and Rembrandt’s paintings as comparisons of field and field-event. These work well, look up Claude Monet’s Water Lillies, and examine the artwork of Rembrandt. Claude Monet would be considered a fine example of a field-oriented design. Think of how the lilies lay on the water, where the islands of lilies are, and think of how you travel as the view through this painting. You care lead by its continuum into the work. Rembrandt’s paintings on the other hand would be seen as being field-event oriented. There is unity in both, Monet and Rembrandt’s paintings. A field supports an event.

I do find that the field and field event theory holds true to a polar juxtaposition as being components of a continuum. This theory is a good model for the organization of information. When we create art, it is laying out information for whoever views it, as well as the self. A painting is full of information! Critiques are where we layout this information, it is what gets noticed or broken down into a process. It requires questions of us.

Monet’s Lillies are a fine example. How he painted them, there is a beautiful chosen composition.

Phil Paratore points out that “the organization found in such work goes beyond design, beyond perception, conceptual meaning, and beyond learning, language, behavior, and structure in both animal and human societies.”

I find that design alone does not make an image work. Nor does its conceptual meaning give it credence by itself. Continuum in artworks to create the whole and give the order, its end game unity.