Sweeter carrots and SHOW IT

Dont forget to drop by the gallery and see how things are going for "SHOW IT".  And make sure to attend the opening at 4-6pm.  NEXUS credit and a great talk from the juror.


When I was a student in undergraduate school I had a class that changed my life called WARP. (Many students and others have heard my stories of this class, if you are not one of these and want to hear some just ask. But this is not the venue for those stories.)  The professors I had in that class in combination with a printmaking professor (Robert Mueller) made me want to be a college professor.  Growing up in a military family where my whole life changed every two years I was scared to live somewhere for to long, but the idea of higher education with its constant reinvention and re-populous was something that appealed to be more like home. The thing I never took into account was that not only would my students faces and stories change but so would their desires and styles of learning.  To some degree I knew this but I always thought it would be like a bathtub changing temperature (slower) and could be changed by new water. But I have recently seen a rapid dramatic shift in student culture not only within our institution but in other art institutions and their students.
    I am often a challenge to my wife since my memory is not the best and I often repeat myself (usually I meet all new people every few years and I have known her for over 7 years so she had heard every story at least 3 times). The other challenge I present to her is the habit of having a revelation that I have had before and thinking it is something new.  This trait often comes in handy however since the motivation of try try again can wear, and the notion of trying for the first time (even if it is not) brings a different kind of energy and focus which brings up the social science study of motivation.
   I have always held the belief that grades can be a stumbling block for students if viewing incorrectly. So often in academia we are challenged with a struggle against "checking boxes".  How to create an

It's Turkey Day...How about a juicy, meaty book?

This comes from the resident vegetarian, of course. No turkey here, but books are certainly on the docket this Thanksgiving. And, what a selection we have from which to choose, compliments of the International Sculpture Center! The ISC has launched a web feature to focus on book reviews, essays, artists, and the profession of sculpture. What makes this site particularly rich (in terms of its potential) is that the intent is to have a new title reviewed every week. If you visit the site, you'll see recent (since 2008) publications on diversity, art, economics, and other topics. Right now, the site is very minimal, however, if it measures up to the other ISC projects (such as Sculpture Magazine and their hardcover anthologies), we'll be richly rewarded.

Perusing the site now, you'll see that each title has some relevance to the sculptural world, though not exclusively. Check it out and let me know what you think. Maybe you'd like to review a title for ISC? Or, you'd like to join the dialogue by posting comments? Instructions are here.

Happy reading!

The Nature and Aim of Writing

"Art is a word that immediately scares people off, as being a little too grand. But all I mean by art is writing something that is valuable in itself and that works in itself. The basis of art is truth, both in matter and mode. The person who aims after art in his work aims after truth, in an imaginative sense, no more and no less."

Flannery O'Connor, The Nature and Aim of Fiction, in Mystery and Manners

The question “what is art” can be answered in a thousand different ways, from many varying points of view. All such points all carry an element of weight, especially to the one who formulated the argument; however there must be some linking aspect that makes art art. In Flannery O’Connor’s essay “The Nature and Aim of Fiction”, she discusses the practice of writing and what explains the difference between works of writing that are works of art as opposed to those that are simply writings for monetary gain. Although Flannery O’Connor is speaking about writing, her ideals can also be applied to art. Art as she describes it is “something that is valuable in itself and that works in itself.” Truth must be at the core of art. More than fame or fortune, producing just what is popular for good reviews, the true artist aims solely after truth.

A true piece of art is not something calculated, and there exists no formula for creating a piece of artwork. Art must spring forth organically from its material; therefore it is impossible to create two works alike. A writer is able to place within their work symbols that lead the reader into many varying levels of understanding and comprehension of the work, just as the painter is able to place a deeper meaning and commentary of the surrounding world through their work. In both fields a deeper understanding of the nature of things surrounding us is first and foremost the goal of the artist. It is such passion and commitment to organic creation that gives artwork the life to live on long after the artist has accomplished the work.

Multiples of the Miniature

I have a fascination with things that are little; dollhouses and the things in them, model train sets, baby clothes, etc. BUT, when there are multiples of the miniatures, I get a little giddy and possibly hyperventilate a smidge. So you can imagine my excitement when I discovered Ai Weiwei’s current exhibit at the Tate Modern in London, Sunflower Seeds, open until May 2, 2011. The Turbine Hall’s floor covered in sunflower seeds? And I’m allowed to touch them?! What could be better! (Free admission, that’s what. And yes, I am aware that sunflowers seeds are not actually miniatures, but they are still tiny… And I also realize that London is very far away.) But enough about my strange obsessions, on to the art!

Ai Weiwei, a Chinese artist, has created an installation that, upon first glance, appears to be very simple and slightly predictable- millions of sunflower husks on the floor. However, after a closer look, the viewer discovers that the sunflower seeds are not what they appear, but are in fact, handcrafted porcelain replicas of sunflower seed husks. Weiwei’s work addresses the mass-production that China is known for and also the idea of the loss of identity amidst the masses. Weiwei idea of lost identity comes from Chairman Mao Zedong’s media propaganda which depicted him as the sun and the masses as sunflowers upturned toward him. Related to Sunflower Seeds, is also Weiwei’s previous exhibit at the Groninger Museum in 2007, Water Melon. This exhibit features fifteen porcelain replicas of watermelons placed on the ground.

Weiwei’s Sunflower Seeds appeals to me because of the idea of mass production becoming more personal and intricate. I use mainly crayons and yarn in my work, both mass produced items, and turn them into unique and individual works. While not the same as Weiwei’s handcrafted sunflower seed husks, with my work- especially the crayon/wax works- I take something mass produced and make it into something that requires a second look and a little thought.

(Yes, I realize that this has already been discussed on the blog, courtesy of Professor Graham, however, I feel that I can relate to Weiwei’s work and some of his conceptual ideas, and I find his work relevant to me as an artist.)

For more information, see http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/unileverseries2010/room1.shtm

SODAH Shirts

Come and get 'em the first batch of SODAH shirts are done.
They will be available at the Opening for SHOW IT on Nov29th.
As well as a whole new batch of buttons.

11/22/10 • 7:20 AM

Technology Turkey

Is the digital revolution comparable to the industrial revolution?  Will the current "go green" emphasis repeat itself in the coming decades with a similar "going luddite" type of backlash?  Last week's ArtsJournal "Mind the Gap" book club blog concerned Kevin Kelly's What Technology Wants.  All of the exchanges caught my eye, especially Matthew Guerrieri's entry, "What Technology Wants: It's All How You Look At It".   This November 17 discussion contained a fascinating look at a couple of late-18th, early-19th century paintings as well as a quote both hilarious and sobering.  According to Guerrieri, when commenting on the World Wide Web as early as 1994, Edward Tenner stated:

'Any future information network will help unhappy people secede, at least mentally, from institutions they do not like, much as the interstate highway system allowed the affluent to flee the cities for the suburbs and exurbs. Prescribing mobility, whether automotive or electronic, as an antidote to society's fragmentation is like recommending champagne as a hangover remedy.'

I tend to agree with Mr. Tenner as I cannot yet seem to grasp how being electronically in touch with multiple "friends" offers me the same sense of connectedness as having an old-fashioned, face-to-face, get-together with my gal pals.  I am looking forward to such experiences this weekend, as I hope all of you GC::VA readers are as well.  Thanks to the holiday weekend for giving us an excuse to turn off the cell phones and computers and spend some time with friends and family, even if football and/or turkeys are involved.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Beautiful video

Silestone -- 'Above Everything Else' from Alex Roman on Vimeo.

Please watch the video then read below after the jump.


The video you just watched was 100 CGI (computer generated)
Whole production was 2 and a half months for the initial concept to the final editing; two people worked on it total.  Quite amazing. Beautifully designed as well.

Diane Arbus

Arbus was a photographer from the 1940’s to the 60’s.

She came to be known as “The Photographer of Freaks” due to her, sometimes controversial, subject matter of dwarfs, giants, transvestites,nudist, and circus performers.

Her work inspires me because not only do I love her portraits, but also I’m attracted to the sense of honesty and truth in her images. The subjects are not acting like something they aren’t, they are not shown in an unrealistic way, they are portrayed as honest portraits and come across as somewhat shocking, and abrupt imagery. I enjoy the truth that comes through, especially when I have to look twice at the image, or when the image instantly conveys an emotion.

Arbus chose to use black and white photography for her work. I really feel like this takes them a step away from reality while still being understood as the truth. If they were in color some of the images might be to shocking to look at, and the black and white takes us away from the bluntness of some of the subject matter. (for example see image 1)

Sadly Arbus took her own life due to struggles with depression in 1971.* The next year she became the first photographer to have photographs displayed in Venice Biennale*. (Fun fact: There is a fictional movie about Arbus titled Fur, and Nic

ole Kidman played Arbus.)

Arbus’ work now sells at auction for hundreds of thousands of dollars. For example her image Child with Toy Hand Grenade in Central Park sold for $408,000* in 2005. Her work continues to be an inspiration to me, and I can only hope that one day maybe my work will sell for that much. Wouldn’t that be great… I could get another MINI. :)

Image 1: "leafed" see original work

· some information taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diane_Arbus#Death

· Images taken from: http://diane-arbus-photography.com/