Unofficial Manifesto

I must say that this is a pretty deep handout. It makes you think more about the quality of art and goes into detail about how public art is more than just a display of one's emotions and/or feelings of what they think out of life.
My two favorites are number 11 and 14.
No. 11 speaks that art isn't something you'll see and then shouldn't be concerned about due to the fact that it won't be there again. "Art is always worth worrying about." I believe that quote is true because it takes a lot of work and thought behind one's piece to display the message they are trying to get out into the audience. If the viewer sees your piece as nothing but an everyday thing, then it's like no one cares for what you put your heart and soul into. No one really gives a damn about what it is you are putting out there for them to see.

No. 14 is speaking of the quality of one's public art.
"Quality may mean many things in many different contexts, but it certainly means something in the end: you should be willing to fight for it."
I love that quote to the max because it's simply saying that regardless of what it is, if it means something to you then you should do what you can to stand up and fight for it; whether it's an item, a piece of land, a belief, a thought, anything. People may not see the value or quality of it but it doesn't matter on their part. The important thing is how much it matters to you. So regardless of what others will think, still fight for what it is you are after and succeed no matter what.

Keep Me in Your Memories...

Memories…

so fragile to the point where they can make you or break you. I’ve heard many things come from different people. A lot of them were happy or random, very few were sad and/or tragic. Perhaps people never wish to discuss such painful thoughts of the past. Then again, who would?

At the very first thought of me collecting memories I was happy to no ends. For one, I had finally found something to collect. Two, this was something I would enjoy collecting. Anyway, the memories were collected from people online, as well as people around me. I had wanted to have most the work hand-written to make it more realistic as I post them on the bulletin board but typed was fine as well. The board itself was 24” X 36” and would have been presented on a wall in a gallery at eye level for the viewer to be able to walk up to it and read all the memories displayed. I would also have a small table with a stack of paper, note cards, or sticky notes where they can also write something they remember and add to the collection. This would be an experience the viewer would have as being apart of an art piece for at least one moment in time. Also, if they did not wish to write something, I would have an old-fashion Polaroid camera that they can take a picture of themselves and post the picture onto the board. Why not a digital camera? To make it more like an old photo album you would find in the back of a closet as you are cleaning it out one day.

I had it where the ones that weren’t handwritten by the person themselves, I had typed up and posted it onto the board. The names at the end of each one were real or made up by how I know the person. Each index card was 3” x 5”. Each colorful post-it sticky was 3 7/8” x 5 7/8”. And the typed paper varied in sized depending on the length of the memory. They were posted on there by push pins and perhaps taped to make it just a bit messy in a sense. I want this to appear like an office board where everyone has posted work wherever there was a space possible. This reminds me of the boards I’ve seen around campus with different advertising on them in different angles, directions, and even stacked one over the other.

Why Assigned this Project

Why have we been assigned something like this? At first i would suggest it would be because it was required for us to do. But after all the many projects, the speakers, and the many artists we've seen, i realized that it's more than just a simple project. It's a way for us to tie together all the elements we've learned so far and how to present them in a more meaningful fashion that would go well with our piece.
To me this final project is a way to see how far we've come as artists and how much we will put more thought into how we wish for things to be done the next time we work on something. It's like putting your skills to the test in a sense. Then again, it may not be Ms. Malena's intentions at all.
She may just wish to see what ideas we can come up with in the end of the semester after so many others have been done.
Either way i see a benefit to this piece for it's as if we are collecting something that matters to us the most. And/or something that could have a symbolic meaning in our lives.

5/2/08 Collecting

Woo! Meh b-day! Today was..well...interesting. Trying to collect memories from people was a lot more difficult than i thought. Everyone mostly responded "uhh...." "well...." or "i don't remember anything". Eh... i suppose it was because i asked them on the spot. However giving them a bit more time they was able to come up with something. However it wasn't a variety of things. Most of them were random memories which i don't mind at all, just wishing i could get more.
I decided to do it as a bulletin board posting. I was going to do a video but why do that and make it technical? I want this to be somewhat old-fashion in a sense and make it more of the past instead of present. ^_^

Garden of Stones

Great approach in how he plans for the plants to grow, then die, and then grow in an endless cycle. Who would have thought of having a garden of stones though. That's what i like in this piece he does. It seems that certain people were unhappy with the piece due to the fact that they thought it didn't represent the holocaust victims. Of course their opinions changed after explanation, but surely one doesn't have to get an explanation at all times.
I like to let the mind wonder. It gives people a chance to come up with ideas of how the art piece is trying to give out the message. And after they see that it's giving a message, they can try to figure out what it is exactly the message is trying to say from the artist.

How Creativity is Killing the Culture

.....wow.... creative people are to be stopped eh?
Well, i suppose i get his point in reasons why he feels the way he does. He mostly looks at facts, and logic. I think that instead of looking at things in different perspectives, he looks at something and sees it for what it is. No extra fancy words, just plain and straight to the point. Then again i could be wrong all together.
But what i do know is that I don't think that creative people should be stopped at all. I mean if it wasn't for creativity, the world would suck ass. Do you understand just how plain and boring life would be? Shit, i'd probably would snap if I hadn't found my creative side in things i love to do the most. "Creative people"...what are they exactly? People who do things that are "odd"? "wierd"? or people that look at things in different perspectives? What about those who do in fact try out for American Idol or the other shows he mentioned in the text? Singers, dancers, performers in general, poets, people with dreams.
Dreams...that's where it all begins. Once you have a dream or set goal you should do what it takes to strive for it. I think that's where all the creativity takes place. You work hard and put yourself out there for the world to see and hear about. Yes you will be judged but you keep going no matter what the costs. That's where the creativity lies in my opinion.

He should realize that even he dreams sometimes and if so, does he not try to do what he can to reach his goals? Then again, some people don't try due to certain situations. Or they see that if they can't accomplish their dream, then they just toss away all emotions towards it and look at the facts in life. I hate it when this happens because they give up too easily. Yes it may take time or yes you are unable to reach that goal at the moment but it doesn't hurt to have hope does it?

I've come to realize the good and bad sides of having hope. The good thing is that it keeps you going even when all around u is falling apart. The only bad thing is when your hope shatters due to something someone said, or something that's been done, etc. Either way, still keep going and dreaming for one day as they all say, all of your dreams will come true. You just can't see it at the moment because something is blocking your path.

To make all of this come together and to have a random quote, if a friend of mine read this, she would say "he's upset at the world because he has no sex life".

Nan Goldin

I see that the artist tries to cope with the loss of her loved ones through her films. To be completely torn away from someone dear to you really can cause an impact on your life. Sure her friends have passed, but it seems that no matter who dies around her, her's sister's suicide will stick out the most even if it happened decades ago.
I've come to realize that many people cope with death differently. Some it takes a few days, others it can stay with them the rest of their lives. Sure they will try to get past it, but sometimes they don't want to get past it. They rather live or stay in the past rather than move on. For if they do move on, i suppose to them it's like erasing something dear to them when really they are just moving on to enjoy the days that remain for them on this earth. That's why i try to get people to realize that they can't stay in the past for too long. Sure it's going to hurt for a while, and that's understandable, but over time it's best to move on or else your past will become your present and future if you're not careful.

I like how she does her work. She takes shots of events as they are happening. She isn't trying to focus on the past, or what's in store for the future. It's all about here and now. For we are to live the moment and think nothing of tomorrow. That's something i tend to do at times. Instead of worrying about what's ahead of us, enjoy what you have now for it may not be there tomorrow.

I think I understand now as to why her sister's death sticks out the most. They were extremely close and all of a sudden, her sister is gone. Dead. No longer apart of her life. Something like her sister committing suicide didn't even cross her mind and when it happened...she had no chance to see her sister ever again. So now she does what she can to capture every moment of life on camera as it happens. So that once the people around her are gone, she can look back and see how she was able to at least have a moment in time with them through the photos.

A quote that the artist said which stood out to me in the text. "Memory allows the endless flow of connections."

Will Schade

Will is known for odd additions in his art pieces. He spells like a third grader, has odd humor in adding irreverence often directed towrds biblical prophets and saints, and leads the viewers to acknowledge the mastery of draftmanship. He finds ways to humor by sinking to low points in his work.

This text was one that i couldn't really get into for some reason. It could be that I just don't have much interest in it. Not trying to say that he isn't an interesting artist, but it could be how the text talks about him. It's not holding out some certain hook that i can grasp and hold onto in order to get full understanding of his work.
Then again, it could be how I'm feeling at the moment which isn't very good.

I do know that i like his route of putting childlike qualities into adult-like work. For example he could have a complex drawing, but a child's handwriting talking about something simple. Or he could have a child-like drawing, but text that speaks through the mind of a 30 yr old.
I like the contrast that tends to have an affect of how you see people. When you think you have your view of them, something else completely throws you off of what you thought of them in the first place.

Presenting Projects 3/28/08

WOO! Today was a great success for me. I was glad to see some of the projects displayed. The first thing i said when i saw Joseph's piece was "...he's naked." lol.
But it's all good. I didn't get to see his piece from the beginning but i did like how he build a fort in the woods using sticks and earthly elements around the area. To be honest the picture with him face down in the dirt is the strongest one in my opinion. If he had to choose out of all of them, i think that one picture is all that he needs.
As for my happiness, i was able to present my piece well today! yay! Finally some accomplishment! lol. It's good for me to see that people were able to talk about it and ask a few questions. I was glad that i had a specific view of how i wanted it presented and that i was able to relate it to the few sources i had so that they can understand where i got the idea from.
It seems Ms. Malena really liked it. Especially when we talked after class I was surprised to find that she was doing something so similar. Sugoi! ^o^

Thomas Kinkade

Kinkade's goal seems to be not focused on individuals, but everyone as a whole. He wants to spread his vision of peace and harmony throughout the culture. He's also creating art that appeals the the majority, not just a certain specific area of people.
He is known as the "Painter of Light" yet can be called the Sun King of Art since people are captivated by his pieces of cozy Cottages, blossoming gardens, picturesque waterfalls, and many more that seems to have the theme with nature.

Personally i think my mother would love his pieces. They have a way of making you want to escape reality for a bit and enter that little dreamworld of his inside the panel. Would i love to sit by the lake on a sunny evening outside of a warm cottage waiting for me to enter.
His paintings are like a stress reliever for all to just be able to take time from our busy schedule to sit back and daydream as long as we please. I know i already do. Lol XD

Mathew Ritchie

Ritchie's work offers more information that the human mind can comprehend at times. He tends to ignore space and time and focus on the third part which is expansion. To me expansion tends to mean that he goes outside one's knowledge, their perspective of things. He wants to make you think about what it is that you are seeing and try to wrap your mind around the idea itself.

His art is mainly material for you to learn and take into your own understanding for he is basically the teacher and the viewer becomes the student. To the fact that his work isn't sophisticated nor easy to understand, he just shows a complex art scheme and expect the viewer to get it. Think of it as a video game where he tells you the rules and you are to learn them then play.

To him a baffled audience means a failed endeavor. If the people did not get the message at all nor if they understand what it is that he is showing, then I suppose in his eyes he did not teach the material well and must go back to re-teach what it is that the viewer did not understand.

Alix Lambert

Alix bases her work on real-life experiences. To be more specific it's focused on life-transforming situations. Whether it is seeing someone in the hospital getting surgery, encountering death, seeing an accident take place, etc.
It doesn't have to all be tragic or drastic. She goes off of the emotions of love, commitment, jealousy, trust, compassion, and others.
The artist designs activities that take place each day. It's her way o f making up for all she's missed in her life since she grew up in a quiet, sheltered, calm neighborhood where one wouldn't really experience such events as shooting, sex before marriage, drugs, and so on.

This factor right here makes me wonder how is it she felt when she actually got out of her neighborhood and into the real world. To think that one was able to grow up with no major issues of worry such as alcohol, being raped, death, and ect. It's funny how those that grow up in rough areas wish that they can live in easier, safer places. And that those who grow up in safe, quiet areas want to be around the danger/excitement of the world. So for her to step out of that comfort zone and see the world for what it is must have made quite an impact on how she wants to go back and experience all that she's seen aka missed out on.

Hubert Dupret

This artist focuses on the history of art: the different inventions that expanded the art world, the new ideas that developed over time, how everyone's view of art started to change as people began to branch out more and try "daring" pieces not knowing whether they are going to be hated or loved.
To be honest i'd be kind of afraid to be one of the firsts to branch out. Back in time i'd probably make a piece but never really display it due to some of the negative feedback that I'm sure many artists have recieved. However in today's time one mustn't be afraid to try something new. For now, just about anything is accepted. Sure there are going to be a few that dislike it, but at least you made your step in putting your piece out there for the world to see. I'ts like "hey! look what i made!!" lol

A lot of technology got a change in the art world as well.
Photography invention added a lot to still life images representing a moment in time. Computers are now made to where you can modify just about anything. Whether it's a still image, a sound, a video, even words on a document. All you have to do is know the skills behind the technique and there you go. Interesting how far the art history has changed throughout the decades of time itself.
Dupret was also trying to get into the resurrecting of art history to be more specific. He mentions how an artist is to seek inspiration whether it's through themes, images, forms that compromise annals of art, etc.
However, his one main goal in many of this pieces is to provide an emotion, a surprise, or even a wonder to the viewer. Surely we all try to get a message out there to the viewers as artists. We want them to be able to understand what it is that we are thinking, trying to say, or see the idea through our point of view. If we can get that message across w/o actually having to say it, then i say that's an accomplishment all on it's own. However it's always going to be the few that never get it.

An Incomplete Manifesto for Growth

I love this piece. It basically says “fuck it. I’m going to do what I damn well please to become a better artist.” Lol

I really enjoyed reading this text. It really does motivate you to go out there into the world and not be afraid to achieve something. It explains that even though something may not work out, keep going anyway. This is something I needed to hear because at times I feel like I’m just not cut out for this class or art as my field. But I know that I must stand strong and use my mistakes or failures to my advantage. I have to think where did I go wrong? How is it that I can make it better? Should I start over or work something out? These are the questions that I need to ask myself more often and take time to think over as I continue on with the next step in success.

The Art World Expands

The artwork expanding at such a rapid rate can be challenging for artists of today’s time and artists of the past. It’s hard for one who is used to the old way to adapt when the world tends to prefer a different route to things. Also as for the ones who are working in more modern technology, it’s hard to get them to try to get involved with the more traditional, basic, or old fashion ways of working in the art world.

As soon as something new is developed, its like “I have to have it now!” That’s how the media seems to display things on the television and the internet. They market the new device and as soon as you buy it, another comes out just as good and it’s as if you wasted your time getting the first one.

To me it’s best to be patient and slowly work your way up in the art world or whatever it is you are doing. Because if you try to keep up with everyone else, you’ll pass by all the little details that make everything much better than what people put out for it to be.

The Happiest Day of My Life

Wow, for one to be able to destroy every single item that one owns is like…insane as some would think. To me I’m wondering what it is that made him want to do this? Must it be every item? What about the things that are special or important to you?

But he does have a point in us being bound to the things that we possess. It’s interesting how he wishes to “free” himself from all of this belongings. And I am glad that he was able to achieve his goal. However I know that I wouldn’t be able to destroy every little thing. It took time and hard work to get all that I have today. Most of it thanks to friends and family. Can I really throw away all that I own so that I can be free from it? After knowing what it took to get it in the first place?

The Stories They Tell

One thing about this story is that it teaches you how to keep an open mind. I would have never really thought of things the way I do now if I hadn’t took the time to read and understand the text. It seems that we are to be aware of exactly what’s going on around us at this day and age. How are we to become better artists if we stay within close-minded spaces? Do not be afraid to branch out and dare to be different from the world. One must learn to take that risk in life and not look back on it as regret, but as a chance to try something new.

Site Specific Piece

Just a close then far perspective of the piece. I prefer it to be in a corner because spirits usually are silent but want to be heard from some of the past info i learned. If they ever do show themselves it's just basically letting you know that it's there and most likely isn't trying to scare you. Of course this doesn't go for all spirits.
It's by a window on a cloudy day which is exactly how i had wanted it to be. If it was too sunny then the piece would be easily seen and the room would be less darkened. If it was night time then i would have no light coming into the room at all then i would have to wait. So rainy days are the best for me.

Site Specific Piece

A better close up perspective at how i wrapped the pieces around each string after sliding the string through a hole in the center of each sheet of normal white paper. I then slide them up the string at a certain point and secure them in place with a small piece of tape. But i only had to do this for a few. The rest of them was able to stay on the string w/o tape.

Site Specific Piece

A close up of the piece and a little farther away. I had wanted it to be a presence in the room that one would probably notice if they walk in. As you get closer you see that it's not just one but many in a group. A small cluster of "orbs" to be more specific.