The Journey by Mary Oliver
One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and you began
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice---
though the whole house
began to tremble
you felt the old tug
at your ankles
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations---
though their melancholy
was terrible. It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the clouds,
and there was a new voice,
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do---determined to save
the only life you could save.
http://www.english.illinois.edu/MAPS/poets/m_r/oliver/online_poems.htm
The book I will create to illustrate this poem will have a path throughout the book. A triangular shape to add the the topic of 'direction' as this poem. The Journey path on each page will be expressed differently and will 'move' with the poem. The type will be manipulated using style, size, placement with sometimes following the path and other times not. The book will begin at the end and will end at the beginning (with type). A ribbon will tie the book closed which will reiterate the idea of a path.
Class Presentations of Digital Artists
The 'Sci-Fi Nightclub' Exhibit on Erwin Redl and Leo Villareal was an interesting combination of 2 digital artists who work primarily with LED lights and music installations worldwide. Redl's background in music led him into musically themed digital light shows such as his Matrix series and Villareal's sculpture background influenced his work in creating 'lightistic' moving sculptures like his piece Hive.
'Independence' exhibit was a combined effort of QS Serafijn who uses people's reactions to his art to recreate his art as in 'The Mouse Hole' with Gerhard Mantz working in large manipulated photos of nature where he starts with nature, changes it as in 'The Left Hand of Darkness'.
'Define Structure' was the most interesting exhibit because Hani Rashid and Erwin Redl together create amazing creations with computers/lighting/and architecture where light really makes structure which is opposite what structure traditionally has been. They begin their designs on the computer and bring them into our real world in installations. They are digital architects in a very real sense.
'Mechanical Creations' exhibit of Ken Renaldo and Ken Feingold both tranfer human abilities, into a mechanical type of installation as in 'Autopoiesis' with the mechanical 'kinex' robotic arms and the very bizarre If/Then 2001 installation of the talking heads.
'Perceptions' was a combo of Oliver Waslow and Gregory Scott's work in playing on distorting our visual perceptions in art. This too was a very cohesive exhibit.
Finally, 'Future Shock Love Sounds' exhibit was an unbelievable tribute to 2 up and coming loud sounds artists who I assumed attract the young who do not mind permanent hearing loss. Their installations include sound as loud as possible and digital video displays of Dan Deacon and Danny Perez's work as in Wham City and their ideas of Future Shock. Where does love sounds come in I guess it's just that...love the sound or not. In all, the presentations were all very informative as I knew nothing of any of these modern digital artists before. I think the success in all the exhibits were the videos and pictures that showed more clearly than any words tried.
Collaborative Project "Living Computers"
In the collaborative presentation by Stephanie Byster and I, an artist exhibit titled "Living Computers" was created by combining the works of Laurent Mignonneau & Christa Sommerer with Rafael Lozano Hemmer. The overall theme of the exhibit was to establish the similarities of the artist's use of creating art that resembles something living. This was illustrated by the works selected for the show. Laurent and Christa's Interactive Plant Growing, The Living Web, Wissengewachs, and A-Volve exemplify their use of human interaction combined with natural yet intuitive interfaces to create living moving digital installations. Rafael's work's Sitestepper, Displaced Emperors, Wavefunction, and Pulse Park are pieces from his collection that also show his technique of including human interaction, sound and sensors, and architecture to create an organic, life like, movement in his art.
The art as an exhibit brings an invitation to the viewers to become an active part in the making and remaking of the work as a means of experiencing the pieces. For example, Pulse Park utilizes viewers heart beats that are recorded in order to pulse his lighting to the beat of 200 heartbeats similtaneously. This large installation located in the heart of New York City was the artists attempt to unite the city in the wake of 911.
Websites:
www.rafaellozanohemmer.com
www.laurentmignonneauandchristasommerer.com
Triptych- Self Visualization
My concept for my self visualization is to create the left panel to represent my past, twisted and confused, when I was younger and before I became a Christian, and the right panel to represent my present life, with my 3 children as my focus. My hands are in the process of sculpting, molding, forming my children as I am doing in not quite a literal fashion. The center and most important panel is the symbolic representation of God and His love for me, this is the bridge that unites the panels to tell my own personal story. The tree, solid, strong, and old, represents God. I also chose the tree because the cross was made of wood. The red tulips, represent the blood that was shed for me. The final mounting had its importance as the branches were indicative of God holding me up, I am leaning on His everlasting arms.
Abramovic, Kahlo, and Xuiwen, Self Portraits/ Female Portrayals
The artistic contributions from three portrait artists of the 21st century are insightful, emotional, and at times even painful. Marina Abramovic, Frida Kahlo, and Cui Xiuwen share many similarities in their work and yet very unique, standing on their own conceptual approach and techniques. These artists offer various expressions of self and interpretations of their own personal world of struggles, pain, and passion.
Marina as a pioneer in performance art, and withstands pain, exhaustion, and even jeopardizes her safety for the sake of art! She creates to become the art and is literally present in her work. Each piece is alive and her modern performances physically test her body as in the installation of "The Artist is Present" at the Moma in March 2010. She will perform eight hours a day for three months straight. She generously offers herself in her work as a means to express her ideas and document her own reality. In her sad piece, Happy Christmas,
Marina documents her pain of seperation from her husband in a way that all women can relate. Larger than life black and white, which adds a timelessness documenting an experience any woman at any time may have gone through. Her work tells of the dichotomy of women, life's reality of pain and joy.
Frida Kahlo was most influenced by her own life and struggles. As to why she painted self portraits, she said, "I paint myself because I am alone, I know myself best". Most of her paintings told the story of her own reality. She shares her self-image with us in a realistic way. She does not pretend to be beautiful; blood, sickness, and her unattractive, frowning face. This is realism, and her great use of imagery symbolizes her country through her vivid colors and mexican images like monkeys, flowers, and birds. Ridden with pain, illness, and a tragic accident that left her bedridden for a year, she said of her work, "I never paint dreams, I paint my own reality". Her pieces 'Without Hope', A Few Small Nips', and 'Henry Ford Hospital' depict bloody, painful scenes that exemplify her life. Near death, she said, "I hope to never come back". Much like Marina, Frida expressed herself through her work as an artist documenting on a mission. Her art seemed to be theraputic for her as she dealt with her pain, we can feel her pain deeply. I do not think she dwells on her problems as much as her art is like an autobiography.
Cui Xiuwen, from China, began as a painter but has now changed to video installations as a means to express her views and represent the struggles of women. Cui's 'One Day in 2004' series depicts the struggles of a girl growing up in Beijing. Her work is surreal with a fantasy like quality, yet realistic in the way she portrays the same girl (possibly herself or someone she knows) in various struggles and situations. Her 'Angel' series deals with social and personal issues of a lonely pregnant girl. The concept of maternity in China, much like Marina and Frida's work deals with inner struggles of women in various moments of their lives. Interestingly, Cui decided to stop painting and began her controversial video installations depicting the personal and social struggles of various women. Her video documents women's gender struggles, in a way that we can all relate. Cui feels very strongly about the issues she exemplifies in her pieces, and as we view her pieces we too can feel passionate about these ideas.
In conclusion, all three artists are in some recognizable way, portrait artists who mostly thread themselves through their work as well as real issues for all women. Marina and Frida document their own lives and Cui's subject seems to be that of the social concerns of the woman all three in a very understandable way. Although they are expressing themselves differently through various media, they share the common ground of pain and struggles. This unites women of all cultures creating a sense of comradery, empathy, understanding, and determination for woman. Men may view and attempt to learn much.
A dream can become a goal if we aspire for greatness! Renoir's painting here depicts the great Monet living his dream of painting his gardens that were intricately designed by the great master for that very purpose. Planning and scheming each detail of every square inch of his garden for the sole pleasure of the artist about to create. Even the amazing Renoir knew this was greatness in the making. Can we possibly plan each venue of our lives to be in perfect formation of the artist budding within?
No comments:
Post a Comment