Patin, Thomas, 1958-, authorDietemann, David L., advisorYust, Dave, 1939-, committee memberVoss, Gary Wayne, committee memberCoronel, Patricia D., committee memberMcKee, Patrick L., committee member2007-01-032007-01-031987http://hdl.handle.net/10217/86876In my work of the past few years two of my major concerns have been the perception of wholes and the role of art as a means to understanding the world. Gestalt theories of perception present several principles describing how perceptual wholes are formed. However, Gestaltists see a whole only as perceptual and ignore that a whole is theoretical as well as perceptual. Also, Gestaltists do not consider a perceptual whole as changing and diverse. Our experience, however, is a buzzing confusion upon which we impose order in an attempt to see and understand our world. We are our own most intriguing example of theoretical and perceptual wholes. Despite tremendously varying experiences and changes in time we nevertheless view ourselves as whole and continuous. In my work I create a situation in which a person experiences the disparate elements within it over time as well as space, and inter-relates those elements both through a perception of them as well as through an attempt to understand them as being together. It is my aim for my work to be a part of a history of art and ideas which serves as an instrument in an attempt to understand our world.masters thesesengCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.Psychology and artText