I find myself a bit ambitious when it comes to the summer break. I think of all the projects I want to get done whether it be on the house, my art, my physical self......it doesn't take much to put together a substantial list. Most recently, I participated in a group exhibition that was in conjunction with the Bemis Center's Creativity Festival. It was the first time Bemis put together such an event and I think for the most part it was successful. There were lots of things going on from visual exhibitions (Midwest Voices and Visions, The Nest Egg), panel discussions/presentations topped off with DJ parties. I created a work that was part of a group exhibit called The Labyrinth. The curator of the exhibit, playright Susann Suprenant, invited some artists to create individual pieces that were to be installed at different stations of the labyrinth. Participants walking the labyrinth would be lead to each station and encouraged to interact with whatever was there in some way. An important aspect of the pieces were that each artist was given a word from which their piece would be inspired from. I was one of the last artists to get their word so mine ended up being 'loss'. My solution was to create a panel with cartoon-like flowers stuck to it. Participants were invited to remove the flowers via a sign stating 'Take Some'. Once removed, the negative space behind the flower was revealed. Overall, I think it worked pretty well. I did something like this similar while in graduate school. I like how the piece started to evolve with some of the flowers gone.
I often thought most artist go through a plant phase of some sort. I definitely am in one now. It must be do to all the flowers and plants in and around my house.
I have a couple of small patches of dirt in my front yard that look like a bit of a jungle after the midwest's torrential spring rains. This was the first year I used the lovely, rich compost my little microbial friends have been crafting for me in the back of my house. It's pretty amazing that garbage can nourish new life. Looking at my house, a similar process is underway; restoring and remodeling to ensure another century for a place called home. Likewise, I respond to my proofs, my make ready's, as similar opportunities. Subjecting these pages to the process of composting-with pencil, pen, and stencils- imbues the images with a raw sensibility, they are playful in a way that my other more compulsively planned prints do not allow. Saving the earth, one print at a time!
So, how does one spend an entire summer? The obvious answer is making work . However, I like to do a few things at the same time. Being a new home owner has really been a lesson in patience and balance. Currently, I have to hang a piece that I am constructing for an exhibition that opens this weekend. In between getting that ready, I've been thinking of the other shows that are coming down the pipe - a group show featuring 88 artists at the Omaha Hot Shops, a Muny show being put on at the Bemis Underground, curated by a new friend and relatively new transplant to the city, Alice KIm......The thing that has been at the forefront and has demanded all my attention, though, is trying to lay down a new kitchen floor. I mean really, how hard can it be? I was soon to find out! Of couse, being an artist, I had a brilliant idea for it. I bought 5 boxes of vinyl tile, each a different color. I then cut each tile in half and would lay them down in a brick pattern. In my head, it was wonderful. Unfortunately, when you are laying things in a pattern, things have to line up correctly. If you are off slightly, you ruin the whole thing. Well, that's exactly what happened. I had lain 75% of it and it looked so awful, I ripped the entire thing out and tried it again. This time laying them in a much easier configuration. Sure there are still some mistakes, but for a first-timer, I'm pretty pleased.
After living in Kansas City for a few years, the treasures and secrets of the town still cease to amaze. Our monthly art magazine, Review, considers a theme each month. For the upcoming June issue, science and art abound. I was introduced to the Linda Hall Library's History of Science Collection over a year ago, and took the June Review theme as an opportunity to further explore the contents of the Linda Hall Library's collection. I arranged a meeting with Bruce Bradley, the librarian. I didn't have much in the way of specific texts I wanted to see, I was curious what his take on science and art might cull from the collection. From the vault he brought me a gamut of impressive texts. Then left me to peruse at my leisure- without those annoying white gloves! I was touching astonishing, beautiful books illustrated by intricate woodcuts, hand-colored engravings, and lithographs with my bare hands!
I've been thinking since then about the hierarchy that I unconsciously imposed upon my visual consumption. Were the works I was enchanted with at the Linda Hall Library art? Scientific observation and illustration, and the necessary technology to reproduce such images yes, but art? Maybe artistically rendered, but did they inform culture in some way? I realized that yes, duh, in fact they did. That's why they are collected and maintained by such institutions as the Linda Hall Library. I think that's what I find so fascinating with the work hidden between the pages of those antiquated texts- that they actually serve a vital cultural, historic purpose.
I had a strange critique with a group of students last semester. One student wanted to make "well-crafted" toys as his work. Most of his colleagues were fine with that. Would it succeed in a gallery setting? "It doesn't have to be shown in a gallery to be art," said one. Of course not. But we have to engage in a dialogue about the concept of the piece. Craft is important, but is it paramount? I'm beginning to think that I like the term "function" more than "concept." Less what is the work about, and more what is the work doing.
Have you ever had a day where you did absolutely nothing? I mean the sun rose and set as you pretty much watched it from the same spot on your comfy couch? Classes have been over for a week and I have definitely settled into the break. It's been cloudy and rainy today in my lovely hometown of Omaha. I woke up rather late and felt really - well, uninspired. There is a lot to do and yet I didn't feel like doing anything. I did manage to put some collages together. They are studies for one of the many projects I have lined up for myself. It took all of 1 1/2 hours to do. Afterwards, I ran some errands that I had put off for too long (i.e. grocery shopping). I found though, that the day would be best spent on the internet playing my friend Mark at Chess. While I was awaiting his move, I turned on the television. The Butterfly Effect, starring Ashton Kutcher was playing. I liked the idea behind the film. The main character constantly goes back in time via his diaries in order to change events that happened in order to make the future better or right. For those of us that have never heard of the "butterfly effect", it is a theory that a change in something seemingly innocuous, such as a flap of a butterfly's wings, may cause unexpected larger changes in the future, such as a tornado.
Perhaps my little collages will lead to something bigger.
Or not.
