Today I decided I was going to be a completely negative person. I'm usually neither really positive nor negative, so I thought this was going to be interesting to everyone that is around me. I woke up, and said good morning to my roommate. We usually eat breakfast together and talk about our daily events. She had told me she was starting her first day at a flower shop that afternoon. My response was 'that sucks.' she kind of just looked at me and didn't say anything. She kept talking and then asked me what my plan was. I gave her a list of my errands for the day, and said them in a very monotone way, as if I didn't care either way. She raised her eyebrows and said 'sounds like fun' and I gave a sarcastic reply and went into my room. I immediately felt like an asshole, but tried to brush it off.
I went to my first errand, the bank. The teller was being unusually slow and I was getting irritated so after I made my deposit, I said thanks hastily with a dirty look and walked away. I could feel people looking at me as I turned so I ran out as much as possible. The rest of the day went about just like that. The fun comes around 5 when I met up with friends for dinner. Usually when we have our monthly outings, we all dress up for an excuse to dress up. I decided to wear ripped jeans and a T-shirt. My friend Randi looked at me and asked if I had been working on an art project before I arrived. I made an offended face and asked her what the point was of dressing up. She just looked at me shocked and didn't talk to me for the rest of dinner. As everyone shared stories about their week, I just kept looking off, not saying anything, or being completely negative. I could feel that all of my friends were getting really irritated with me. I found that it was easier to be negative this time because my mood had taken a dive from being rude all day and getting looked at funny.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Tuesday Walk 5/31/2011 - I walk in your name
2 Februaries ago, My friend of only 25, died of cancer. It started out in her ovaries and traveled to her lungs. I remember when I first heard about the cancer, they thought it was just a cyst of some sort, she had let the tumor grow into a basketball shape in her body before she realized something horrible was going on, and she wasn't pregnant. It was summer when she first went in to the doctor and they told her that she had cancer. Month after month, it was a constant see-saw. One minute, the chemo seemed to be working, and she was able to get up and move, the next minute, she was in bed for days unable to even eat by herself. Watching her waste away to 85 pounds was the most horrible thing I'd ever have to witness.
I knew I had to do this walk (or in this case run) for her, whether anyone had asked me to or not. Being out of shape, I decided to run as fast as I could in order to feel that instant pain and struggle and forcing myself to get through it. I found a really hilly area that i try to ignore usually, but I thought it was perfect because it represented the see-saw her body went through. (Uphill/Downhill days)
As I started my run, I thought of how much I had ahead of me, and I became mentally exhausted. I had to keep telling myself to keep going and be strong, that I'd make it. I had a steep hill up first, and my pace immediately slowed down while going up it. At first I was doing okay, but by the time I made it up, I could feel my legs start to ache a bit. The downhill was a nice easy recovery, but mentally I was strained because I knew I was heading back up again. By the time i ended my run, I had to lay on the ground because of exhaustion. I could feel my heart pulsing through my body, I thought it was going to explode. I was exhausted but happy that I had done it. I pushed through when I was about to seriously give up, physically and mentally.
I knew I had to do this walk (or in this case run) for her, whether anyone had asked me to or not. Being out of shape, I decided to run as fast as I could in order to feel that instant pain and struggle and forcing myself to get through it. I found a really hilly area that i try to ignore usually, but I thought it was perfect because it represented the see-saw her body went through. (Uphill/Downhill days)
As I started my run, I thought of how much I had ahead of me, and I became mentally exhausted. I had to keep telling myself to keep going and be strong, that I'd make it. I had a steep hill up first, and my pace immediately slowed down while going up it. At first I was doing okay, but by the time I made it up, I could feel my legs start to ache a bit. The downhill was a nice easy recovery, but mentally I was strained because I knew I was heading back up again. By the time i ended my run, I had to lay on the ground because of exhaustion. I could feel my heart pulsing through my body, I thought it was going to explode. I was exhausted but happy that I had done it. I pushed through when I was about to seriously give up, physically and mentally.
Thursday Walk 5/26/2011 - Cocooned VS Engaged
I took a walk today and I had both an Ipod and sunglasses on. As I started my walk, I almost felt like I was in my own bubble. A song that I liked was on and my sunglasses shielded me from anything except for my walking path. I almost felt like I was in control and owned the area, like I was an important person and nothing/no one else mattered.
When a song came on that I didn't really care for, my first immediate response was to shut it off. Instead though, I walked through it. I noticed that I started walking faster and kept thinking about when the song would end rather than let my own mind wander. Some songs that came on that had some sort of sentimental memory with it completely took my brain away from where I was walking, and back to that memory. My mind got lost in it and when I turned around, I noticed how much walking space I had covered even though it didnt seem like I had walked for very long.
When I took my glasses and Ipod off, I immediately got bored. I forced myself to engage into my surroundings. I think my unconscious paranoia came out. Suddenly I felt like everyone I walked past was staring at me, which is a very common thing for me. I started feeling anxious and walking faster, to make myself a blur to others and to reach home faster. The walk wasn't as desirable without music, which kind of made me upset when I really thought about it. The fact that I needed something to keep me entertained even though a walk outside somewhere new should be entertaining enough.
When a song came on that I didn't really care for, my first immediate response was to shut it off. Instead though, I walked through it. I noticed that I started walking faster and kept thinking about when the song would end rather than let my own mind wander. Some songs that came on that had some sort of sentimental memory with it completely took my brain away from where I was walking, and back to that memory. My mind got lost in it and when I turned around, I noticed how much walking space I had covered even though it didnt seem like I had walked for very long.
When I took my glasses and Ipod off, I immediately got bored. I forced myself to engage into my surroundings. I think my unconscious paranoia came out. Suddenly I felt like everyone I walked past was staring at me, which is a very common thing for me. I started feeling anxious and walking faster, to make myself a blur to others and to reach home faster. The walk wasn't as desirable without music, which kind of made me upset when I really thought about it. The fact that I needed something to keep me entertained even though a walk outside somewhere new should be entertaining enough.
Tuesday Walk 5/24/2011 - Mapping Territory
In terms of environment, Hart, Michigan is very different. In Arizona, I expect to see cactus everywhere, dead plants, thin trees, and lots of dirt and rock. The first thing I noticed when stepping off of the plane at Grand Rapids was GREEN. Everywhere I looked it was green and lush and full and the air smelled different. It was heavy and humid, but it smelled fresh.
The house I was staying at was right in the middle of the country. Acres and Acres of land, a neighbor not to be found. I decided to map the 'Country' while walking around and exploring. As i walked, I realized how self-sustaining the people of this town were. With only 2 grocery stores in the entire city, it was almost expected that you grow your own crop. Gardens frequent the area. I saw a greenhouse, also a gardening method. There was a line where clothes could be dried outside. My first thought was, many people in Arizona just put their clothes in a dryer... Though it would make sense if they hung their clothes outside because of how hot it is.
Many people owned Chickens, of course to lay eggs and own those. My friends that I stayed with had their own bee hive to have their own fresh organic honey. At first I thought to myself, WHEN do these people have time to do all of this? Then I remembered, they are not city folk. Internet, nightlife, CITYLIFE in general did not exist to them. If I took the 5+ hours a day I spent on a computer, and put it towards something non-electronic, I could definitely have my own prospering garden.
The house I was staying at was right in the middle of the country. Acres and Acres of land, a neighbor not to be found. I decided to map the 'Country' while walking around and exploring. As i walked, I realized how self-sustaining the people of this town were. With only 2 grocery stores in the entire city, it was almost expected that you grow your own crop. Gardens frequent the area. I saw a greenhouse, also a gardening method. There was a line where clothes could be dried outside. My first thought was, many people in Arizona just put their clothes in a dryer... Though it would make sense if they hung their clothes outside because of how hot it is.
Many people owned Chickens, of course to lay eggs and own those. My friends that I stayed with had their own bee hive to have their own fresh organic honey. At first I thought to myself, WHEN do these people have time to do all of this? Then I remembered, they are not city folk. Internet, nightlife, CITYLIFE in general did not exist to them. If I took the 5+ hours a day I spent on a computer, and put it towards something non-electronic, I could definitely have my own prospering garden.
Thursday Walk 5/19/2011 - Desire Lines
I recently went to Michigan, and decided that would be a great place for this walk. Within the Woods, there were many 'desire lines' to follow rather than follow a paved path. I took one out, a hiking trail, and noticed that it went around a river. Finding this line was easy and evidence was also simple to find. Most of the leaves had been cleared out, as if stomped on. You could see the dirt underneath clearly and sometimes, there were animal tracks. It was interesting that I found a desire line that animals also use. It almost makes me wonder whether humans made this desire line, or just found it and decided to follow it, hoping it would lead them to food or just following to see where it took them.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Infernal Noise Brigade
Never hearing of the Infernal Noise Brigade, I was very interested in hearing what type of ‘music’ this band played and that they are using themselves more as a device for art performance and political rallying. The fact that they stepped out of the norm and played all kinds of music rather than just typical band songs was great to me. After more research, I found that the Infernal Noise Brigade is notorious for rallies and uplifting spirits when you could typically expect a tense atmosphere. I think this is very important because good moods tend to allow people to open up and be more thoughtful or open-minded. It can also allow for a more cohesive protest.
The Infernal Noise Brigade is such an interesting concept that I don’t think anyone that has seen them would forget about them, even if the memory was positive or not. I know of many people, at times myself included that would find them annoying in certain circumstances though. While I do believe that the band should exercise their art to the world, I think the Infernal Noise Brigade works because they seek out public rallies where there are many people involved. If it were to be at a more intimate setting they would definitely be inappropriate. During events such as the New Year parade in New York, marching bands are important because they direct attention and call for a celebration. During a school football game they are appropriate for the same reason. If they were in a conference hall, that would be too close and loud for comfort.
When I read that they entered a Starbucks I was shocked. I frequent the coffee shop often and always notice the quiet atmosphere they try to keep. Most people go in to enjoy coffee, meet up with others, read, do work on laptops, etc. It is not the correct vibe for a coffee shop. It is great that they play for a cause and not necessarily to get feedback but I still think there is a time and place for that and a quiet coffee shop is not the right location.
One thing that is really inspirational about the Infernal Noise Brigade, as well as other marching bands is their unity. They are not about having a standout performer but standing out as a whole. After watching the videos about the band, you can tell that they really wanted to work together to be a strong team to inspire and not one of them was trying to get a solo on their own. Their main goal was to be creative and show the world what they can do. The fact that they do not play on stages is very important. They need to interact and be close to their audience so that the audience can feel like they are a part of them and be equally inspired.
Something I enjoyed learning about them is the fact that they aren’t a band that sells tickets at arenas to get people to go. They surprise people by unexpectedly showing up. I think this element is important and allows the audience to wonder when they are going to come back and sometimes, feel as though it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. They do not segregate themselves into a particular venue or area but go everywhere allowing people of all demographics to come and enjoy the show.
The Infernal Noise Brigade is such an interesting concept that I don’t think anyone that has seen them would forget about them, even if the memory was positive or not. I know of many people, at times myself included that would find them annoying in certain circumstances though. While I do believe that the band should exercise their art to the world, I think the Infernal Noise Brigade works because they seek out public rallies where there are many people involved. If it were to be at a more intimate setting they would definitely be inappropriate. During events such as the New Year parade in New York, marching bands are important because they direct attention and call for a celebration. During a school football game they are appropriate for the same reason. If they were in a conference hall, that would be too close and loud for comfort.
When I read that they entered a Starbucks I was shocked. I frequent the coffee shop often and always notice the quiet atmosphere they try to keep. Most people go in to enjoy coffee, meet up with others, read, do work on laptops, etc. It is not the correct vibe for a coffee shop. It is great that they play for a cause and not necessarily to get feedback but I still think there is a time and place for that and a quiet coffee shop is not the right location.
One thing that is really inspirational about the Infernal Noise Brigade, as well as other marching bands is their unity. They are not about having a standout performer but standing out as a whole. After watching the videos about the band, you can tell that they really wanted to work together to be a strong team to inspire and not one of them was trying to get a solo on their own. Their main goal was to be creative and show the world what they can do. The fact that they do not play on stages is very important. They need to interact and be close to their audience so that the audience can feel like they are a part of them and be equally inspired.
Something I enjoyed learning about them is the fact that they aren’t a band that sells tickets at arenas to get people to go. They surprise people by unexpectedly showing up. I think this element is important and allows the audience to wonder when they are going to come back and sometimes, feel as though it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. They do not segregate themselves into a particular venue or area but go everywhere allowing people of all demographics to come and enjoy the show.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Sounding Out the City
"The world of personal-stereo users" was a very interesting and engaging segment for me. It was about using personal technologies (in this case walkmans or stereos) to help manage their daily life. The commenters were interesting in the way that they cared about their walkmans. I remember when I first got my own CD player. It was constantly plugged into my ears. My selection of music was just as important as the CD player itself. The music had a personal emotive nature to me and if it wasn't fitting (mood or otherwise) it was changed or turned off. I, as well as others I'm sure, think that life would be more interesting if there was a soundtrack that went along with it. Whenever I get ready to go out at night, I put appropriate-to-the-mood music, and I swear I already feel more pumped. The 'zone out' period Bull talks about is definitely something I am familiar with.
The portion on 'Mandy' was very relatable to me. She listens to her walkman as she rides the bus for 4 hours habitually. I believe that humans are very impatient and always need some sort of stimulation throughout 'waiting-periods' be it auditory, visual, etc. Sometimes, letting that sense take over and creating a new world is what people subconsciously crave. Her personal insights were really interesting to me because it is something I can relate to though I never really thought about it before. Often people walk around and do things, and the more routine they become the less you notice around you. Sometimes people are so self conscious they would rather interact with a machine than a human, for example Mandy wears headphones on her ride rather than making conversation with a fellow passenger.
"The interpersonal relationships of people in big cities are characterized by a markedly greater emphasis on the use of the eyes than of the ears" was a very profound statement for me. The bigger the area, the smaller you feel and therefore the less important you feel you are. You see everything, yet you feel you are not heard.
The portion on 'Mandy' was very relatable to me. She listens to her walkman as she rides the bus for 4 hours habitually. I believe that humans are very impatient and always need some sort of stimulation throughout 'waiting-periods' be it auditory, visual, etc. Sometimes, letting that sense take over and creating a new world is what people subconsciously crave. Her personal insights were really interesting to me because it is something I can relate to though I never really thought about it before. Often people walk around and do things, and the more routine they become the less you notice around you. Sometimes people are so self conscious they would rather interact with a machine than a human, for example Mandy wears headphones on her ride rather than making conversation with a fellow passenger.
"The interpersonal relationships of people in big cities are characterized by a markedly greater emphasis on the use of the eyes than of the ears" was a very profound statement for me. The bigger the area, the smaller you feel and therefore the less important you feel you are. You see everything, yet you feel you are not heard.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Project 2: Inside/Outside
This project was inspired by Style Wars. I created my own "tag" that i think would be particularly interesting to all Tucsonians and residents of Arizona. It features a drawing of a squid, holding a sign that says "NEED H20". Squids live in water, without it they would cease to exist. Humans need water too and living in Arizona's harsh heat can sometimes be fatal (heat exhaustion etc.) I taped this sign on a random house in my neighborhood. This "artwork" wasn't necessarily a mark of my name but rather a statement I think our state would appreciate.
Style Wars
The Hip Hop subculture of NYC is spoken about in this documentary. The Hip Hop kids are reimaging and reconstructing New York City by tagging the tunnels under the city. They are physically manipulating city property to make a statement or to show who was there. They deface to represent their ideas and culture. Graffiti is everywhere in New York and now has become a part of it. A tourist claims that many tourists come just to see the graffiti.
The Hip Hop culture “bombs” the city by taking ownership of the things tagged around the city. They do it for recognition so that people will remember who did it. I think bombing for them is a way they can have a voice and show that they matter within New York City, especially in areas where their demographic might lack power. Break dancing is also a way for them to freely express themselves. Graffiti has a permanent mark unlike break dance, but break dancing has the power to lure people in to watch while you are in your own space. Self expression is one of the most powerful tools these kids have to be influential.
The mother claims her son does not own anything on the subway. Though that is true, he doesn’t physically own the subway, he did make a mark on it that will permanently state some ownership or “I was here” title. He has imprinted on it and I believe that as long as that is there, his ideas will remain as well. I don’t believe the boy was trying to have ownership over anything by tagging it, but rather as a tool to show that he does exist and has a voice and opinion. I think he chose to graffiti a train because it travels all over and his main point of why he did it was so that his name would be seen.
Banksy has a very conceptual way of thinking when it comes to his graffiti. He is not just using the graffiti itself as a statement but rather as a catalyst towards a bigger meaning. The one thing I can think of that the hip hop kids have over Banksy is that they sign their name. Unless you follow art, many people would not recognize the political artwork to be Banksys. However, Banksy might not be interested in who knows his name but rather what issues he is trying to talk about. He thinks about his locations before he tags, and makes sure they are in the public eye where people can walk through and see. He exercises his freedom of speech through graffiti. I definitely think tagging private property is a means for exercising power. It doesn’t necessarily mean the tagger owns the property, but it does mean that they had some sort of influence on it and use it to portray their identity.
Hip-hop culture defies societal expectations and stereotypes of social scales because it does not follow the rules of class and race. People from every race are involved. When the white kid spoke about how easy it is for him to steal paint cans, it upset me. Of course, store owners would look at him and not expect him to be a thief, although they are very much a part of the hip hop culture as well. Kids always want to be a part of pop-culture and if the trend happens to be hip-hop culture, everyone from every race is sure to be interested.
I think white kids, who may be the more privileged, are attracted to graffiti because it is not something they have seen before. They are not raised around it. I have been sheltered most of my life, and near my house there is no graffiti to be found within miles. Whenever I come across it, I think two things: 1. That it is really cool/interesting & 2. I know I am in not in suburbia anymore. It is a stereotype that has existed for quite some while although it is not always right. Every culture has its own class level.
Hip Hop artists use their own body to shift and activate the political space of the city not only by tagging their names, but also break dancing among many other things to exercise their freedom of space. Their bodies become their own medium just like a can of spray paint. “Make your own mark in society, not ON society” was created to try and stop graffiti from happening. They see it as vandalism not art.
“Yeah, I vandalism (sic), but I did something to make your eyes open up, right? So what are you talking about it for?” This reminds me of online blogs. Sometimes people spend hours on the computer writing hate messages to people. If you hate them, why are you giving them any attention? By wasting your own precious time, you are giving them fuel. I think he is explaining that even though he vandalized, the point is what he wrote or is trying to say. He is explaining that most taggers like him don’t tag to vandalize but instead, to give out a bigger message.
The war between “Burners” and “Bombers” is probably one of the most interesting things I learned about while watching this documentary. Bombers, such as one in the video named “Cat”, sprayed his name all over graffiti, so that not only would people see his name, but the artists he bombed over. A “Burner” is someone who sprays over graffiti. “More v.s Quality” has been an idea thought about forever, yet it is interesting to me that it includes graffiti. (My mom used to always tell me it was better to buy one item of quality rather than 5 cheap items that wouldn’t last.) I have noticed that some graffiti looks like it took more time than others, and maybe what I am seeing is the hierarchy of these artists.
In the gallery scene, graffiti was shown on canvas. Even though it is physically the same, spray paint on some medium, it was not the same. Graffiti is more than just the spray paint. The medium it is on becomes a part of it. I honestly don’t think graffiti is considered true graffiti unless it is on some sort of property, public or personal. Although it is still art, graffiti on canvas gives it a kind of elegance that doesn’t work and therefore takes away the power graffiti has.
The Hip Hop culture “bombs” the city by taking ownership of the things tagged around the city. They do it for recognition so that people will remember who did it. I think bombing for them is a way they can have a voice and show that they matter within New York City, especially in areas where their demographic might lack power. Break dancing is also a way for them to freely express themselves. Graffiti has a permanent mark unlike break dance, but break dancing has the power to lure people in to watch while you are in your own space. Self expression is one of the most powerful tools these kids have to be influential.
The mother claims her son does not own anything on the subway. Though that is true, he doesn’t physically own the subway, he did make a mark on it that will permanently state some ownership or “I was here” title. He has imprinted on it and I believe that as long as that is there, his ideas will remain as well. I don’t believe the boy was trying to have ownership over anything by tagging it, but rather as a tool to show that he does exist and has a voice and opinion. I think he chose to graffiti a train because it travels all over and his main point of why he did it was so that his name would be seen.
Banksy has a very conceptual way of thinking when it comes to his graffiti. He is not just using the graffiti itself as a statement but rather as a catalyst towards a bigger meaning. The one thing I can think of that the hip hop kids have over Banksy is that they sign their name. Unless you follow art, many people would not recognize the political artwork to be Banksys. However, Banksy might not be interested in who knows his name but rather what issues he is trying to talk about. He thinks about his locations before he tags, and makes sure they are in the public eye where people can walk through and see. He exercises his freedom of speech through graffiti. I definitely think tagging private property is a means for exercising power. It doesn’t necessarily mean the tagger owns the property, but it does mean that they had some sort of influence on it and use it to portray their identity.
Hip-hop culture defies societal expectations and stereotypes of social scales because it does not follow the rules of class and race. People from every race are involved. When the white kid spoke about how easy it is for him to steal paint cans, it upset me. Of course, store owners would look at him and not expect him to be a thief, although they are very much a part of the hip hop culture as well. Kids always want to be a part of pop-culture and if the trend happens to be hip-hop culture, everyone from every race is sure to be interested.
I think white kids, who may be the more privileged, are attracted to graffiti because it is not something they have seen before. They are not raised around it. I have been sheltered most of my life, and near my house there is no graffiti to be found within miles. Whenever I come across it, I think two things: 1. That it is really cool/interesting & 2. I know I am in not in suburbia anymore. It is a stereotype that has existed for quite some while although it is not always right. Every culture has its own class level.
Hip Hop artists use their own body to shift and activate the political space of the city not only by tagging their names, but also break dancing among many other things to exercise their freedom of space. Their bodies become their own medium just like a can of spray paint. “Make your own mark in society, not ON society” was created to try and stop graffiti from happening. They see it as vandalism not art.
“Yeah, I vandalism (sic), but I did something to make your eyes open up, right? So what are you talking about it for?” This reminds me of online blogs. Sometimes people spend hours on the computer writing hate messages to people. If you hate them, why are you giving them any attention? By wasting your own precious time, you are giving them fuel. I think he is explaining that even though he vandalized, the point is what he wrote or is trying to say. He is explaining that most taggers like him don’t tag to vandalize but instead, to give out a bigger message.
The war between “Burners” and “Bombers” is probably one of the most interesting things I learned about while watching this documentary. Bombers, such as one in the video named “Cat”, sprayed his name all over graffiti, so that not only would people see his name, but the artists he bombed over. A “Burner” is someone who sprays over graffiti. “More v.s Quality” has been an idea thought about forever, yet it is interesting to me that it includes graffiti. (My mom used to always tell me it was better to buy one item of quality rather than 5 cheap items that wouldn’t last.) I have noticed that some graffiti looks like it took more time than others, and maybe what I am seeing is the hierarchy of these artists.
In the gallery scene, graffiti was shown on canvas. Even though it is physically the same, spray paint on some medium, it was not the same. Graffiti is more than just the spray paint. The medium it is on becomes a part of it. I honestly don’t think graffiti is considered true graffiti unless it is on some sort of property, public or personal. Although it is still art, graffiti on canvas gives it a kind of elegance that doesn’t work and therefore takes away the power graffiti has.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Mapping: This American Life
The Chicago Public Media program, This American Life, was extremely engaging. Within the first 5 minutes I already learned something I never knew about. Maps aren't necessarily just visual representations of the world, but it can be a documentation of the places, things, etc. that you encounter. It was fascinating enough to listen to the people that mapped by visual drawings, but even more so from the people who mapped based on the other senses. I would love to incorporate this into a project, especially using the challenge that photography is a visual medium.
I came across this video and it is so perfect for this. Stephen Wiltshire draws Rome completely from memory. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVqRT_kCOLI
The idea of using your own body as a map is very intriguing. I remember being a child and trying to count every freckle that ever happened to appear on my body. The body can be a very powerful landscape in photography yes, but not to the obsessive point where some of these people take it. Deb Monroe mapped through sense of touch. She compulsively checked for lumps in her breasts. When first hearing this, I would think she suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder, or something similar.
After hearing "Mapping", I understand her thought process. I do kind of think she is a hypochondriac (because on stressful days she says she checks for lumps up to 5 times) , but also interested in mapping her body day by day and recording changes. She says that when you start mapping your own body, it seems inaccurate. You might start to see things that don't exist, or things that do suddenly become bigger. This might be body dysmorphic disorder (which i also think she suffers from) or just the fact that you have lived with your body your entire life, and mapping makes you take a closer look and not oversee things you might have before.
Jonathan Gold mapped his life through taste. He decided to go to every restaurant on Pico Blvd. where he lives. He had a set of rules, he had to try every place, in order. He started mapping the street through food. I definitely think that we all do this. Maybe not in the same manner than Jonathan did, but we definitely create assumptions about a restaurant based on what we ate. I recently decided that I would stop writing off restaurants just because I had one bad meal. It doesn't mean the place has nothing else to offer.
After hearing "Mapping", I understand her thought process. I do kind of think she is a hypochondriac (because on stressful days she says she checks for lumps up to 5 times) , but also interested in mapping her body day by day and recording changes. She says that when you start mapping your own body, it seems inaccurate. You might start to see things that don't exist, or things that do suddenly become bigger. This might be body dysmorphic disorder (which i also think she suffers from) or just the fact that you have lived with your body your entire life, and mapping makes you take a closer look and not oversee things you might have before.
Jonathan Gold mapped his life through taste. He decided to go to every restaurant on Pico Blvd. where he lives. He had a set of rules, he had to try every place, in order. He started mapping the street through food. I definitely think that we all do this. Maybe not in the same manner than Jonathan did, but we definitely create assumptions about a restaurant based on what we ate. I recently decided that I would stop writing off restaurants just because I had one bad meal. It doesn't mean the place has nothing else to offer.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Project 1 : Ephemeral
Thinking of River and Tides, I thought of doing something natural and temporary, something the environment would eventually destroy. I decided to take flowers from my yard, and put them in one of the many potholes that frequent my neighborhood. I also tried to incorporate putting something beautiful and fresh in someplace old and cracked. I made sure that I placed them in a location where incoming traffic would drive over.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
River and Tides
Andy Goldsworthy is a very interesting and devoted artist. He talks about how he wakes up early to do hard work to try and do something effortless. That is a complicated conundrum in itself. He could very easily sleep in and choose somewhere simpler to work, but his love for it truly shows. He speaks about how sometimes he is uncertain if his art will actually work, because of the fact that nature plays a catalyst in it, and sometimes nature is unpredictable.
I think that time is a major part of Goldsworthy’s work. I think his created structures are just one part of the work but to fully see it manifest, time must take place. Goldsworthy was on the beach making stone sculptures. It was important that he got there early before the tide came in and ruined it. The first time it collapsed I felt anxious and disappointed. It was very chilling though to see how calm he was, how much of a tolerance he has for his type of work and realization that what he was doing took a lot of patience. The second time around, he definitely reached higher to success than the first time, but it also tumbled down. It reminded me of art projects throughout the year that take a couple times to work out. Of course, I am not building sculptures through trial and error, but patience is a key to succeeding. I think if Goldsworthy had succeeded his very first time in creating the sculpture, he would not be as devoted to it.
“There are always these obsessive forms…” speaking about mountains, lakes, trees, rivers, etc. He is familiar with them but at the same time, he is “uprooted” traveling to a new place and must adjust to it, which I can personally understand. There will always be repetitions within nature, yet it will never quite be the same as the last place. It is easy to feel displaced in a new area, even if common “forms” are there. It’s not just the landscape, but the environment and people that also factor in.
Goldsworthy is excited about his ice-sculpture and anticipates what nature’s mystery will do. He expected the sun to rise and hit one side of the sculpture rather than both sides. These little surprises excite Goldsworthy and give him inspiration for his current and future projects.
“The very thing that brings it to life, causes its death.” Goldsworthy’s ice sculpture begins to melt under the hot sun and turns it into water, destroying it. He is not upset though because nature is a process of constant repetition. As humans, we must nourish ourselves to stay alive. We eat and drink to fill ourselves, but will have to eventually continue to do so to stay alive.
Ephemeral works can be expected to mutate, shift, and evolve, and eventually destruct. This is a natural part of life. My cats brought in a dead bird the other day, and I became very emotional for the life of that bird. My cats couldn’t help it though; it is a natural part of animals to hunt for prey. I would consider it a natural occurrence rather than destruction. With ephemeral works, time is a huge subject. It will never stop, it will always consume and change. So it is a large variable that must be worked with, not against.
Something that hit home for me was when he spoke about his uncertainty after Art College. I could not speak for everyone, but at least for me Art College is a safe haven where you grow and learn within an institution, where sometimes it is okay to make mistakes. Goldsworthy experiences the same thing and says that if he were not secure within, he would have nothing. I have not seen an artist make art such as he does so I would definitely be wary of hearing the concept before seeing it.
I think that time is a major part of Goldsworthy’s work. I think his created structures are just one part of the work but to fully see it manifest, time must take place. Goldsworthy was on the beach making stone sculptures. It was important that he got there early before the tide came in and ruined it. The first time it collapsed I felt anxious and disappointed. It was very chilling though to see how calm he was, how much of a tolerance he has for his type of work and realization that what he was doing took a lot of patience. The second time around, he definitely reached higher to success than the first time, but it also tumbled down. It reminded me of art projects throughout the year that take a couple times to work out. Of course, I am not building sculptures through trial and error, but patience is a key to succeeding. I think if Goldsworthy had succeeded his very first time in creating the sculpture, he would not be as devoted to it.
“There are always these obsessive forms…” speaking about mountains, lakes, trees, rivers, etc. He is familiar with them but at the same time, he is “uprooted” traveling to a new place and must adjust to it, which I can personally understand. There will always be repetitions within nature, yet it will never quite be the same as the last place. It is easy to feel displaced in a new area, even if common “forms” are there. It’s not just the landscape, but the environment and people that also factor in.
Goldsworthy is excited about his ice-sculpture and anticipates what nature’s mystery will do. He expected the sun to rise and hit one side of the sculpture rather than both sides. These little surprises excite Goldsworthy and give him inspiration for his current and future projects.
“The very thing that brings it to life, causes its death.” Goldsworthy’s ice sculpture begins to melt under the hot sun and turns it into water, destroying it. He is not upset though because nature is a process of constant repetition. As humans, we must nourish ourselves to stay alive. We eat and drink to fill ourselves, but will have to eventually continue to do so to stay alive.
Ephemeral works can be expected to mutate, shift, and evolve, and eventually destruct. This is a natural part of life. My cats brought in a dead bird the other day, and I became very emotional for the life of that bird. My cats couldn’t help it though; it is a natural part of animals to hunt for prey. I would consider it a natural occurrence rather than destruction. With ephemeral works, time is a huge subject. It will never stop, it will always consume and change. So it is a large variable that must be worked with, not against.
Something that hit home for me was when he spoke about his uncertainty after Art College. I could not speak for everyone, but at least for me Art College is a safe haven where you grow and learn within an institution, where sometimes it is okay to make mistakes. Goldsworthy experiences the same thing and says that if he were not secure within, he would have nothing. I have not seen an artist make art such as he does so I would definitely be wary of hearing the concept before seeing it.
“You are only as strong as your weakest image”. Life’s successes in my opinion are shaped by our failures. If we didn’t have them, we would never know the complete potential we have to grow and become better. This is with life in general, not just art. Sometimes they help us realize that something we may be doing is not working, and to change. These alterations may do wonders in the long run. Last semester, I trained for a half marathon. I was so determined to run no matter the circumstance, and I became ill 3 weeks before the race. I couldn’t keep training let alone get out of bed, and thus didn’t attend the race. I learned that because of my failure to take care of my body, I held myself back. When I retrain this summer, I will know to listen to my body when it is telling me it needs to rest.
I think that Goldsworthy’s works being outside rather than in a museum really mark more of a journey for me. His works will never be permanent outside versus a museum, and a journey is about moving forward and not looking back. His subjects include natural environment and I do not think they could reach their full potential in a museum.
Although stereotypes often exist for some reason or another, it is a shame that it can sometimes impact an opinion or experience. If everyone experienced something without a preconceived notion, it would be interesting to see how different life would be. The sheep is a major factor in the landscape. The landscape changes and thrives because of the sheep. Both subjects are important in the grand scheme of things.
The “absence” of what once was, can often be recorded in landscape through visuals or emotion. If you visit a historical landmark, it can give off a certain emotion. I think photographer, Joel Sternfels’s work, “On This Site” speaks about this. He went to different areas throughout America where tragedies took place and photographed them. He would write captions next to the images describing what took place there. It is interesting how violent unhappy times can gather people together to grieve or think.
Seeing those stone ‘eggs’ in different environments was really interesting to me. When he made them, they were so fragile. Nature takes its course and things fall and grow yet it seemed that his stone sculptures were holding up pretty well. Goldsworthy philosophized about his connections with nature and had he understood from the beginning, he would have had more successes than failures. He doesn’t believe that nature takes his art and ruins it, he thinks of it as a gift to nature, especially the sea and that it can do more than he has ever hoped for. His time lapses were beautiful watch. The stone being covered by water, and then all of a sudden vanished and became just a mere memory, was one of my favorite parts of the film.
I think that Goldsworthy’s works being outside rather than in a museum really mark more of a journey for me. His works will never be permanent outside versus a museum, and a journey is about moving forward and not looking back. His subjects include natural environment and I do not think they could reach their full potential in a museum.
Although stereotypes often exist for some reason or another, it is a shame that it can sometimes impact an opinion or experience. If everyone experienced something without a preconceived notion, it would be interesting to see how different life would be. The sheep is a major factor in the landscape. The landscape changes and thrives because of the sheep. Both subjects are important in the grand scheme of things.
The “absence” of what once was, can often be recorded in landscape through visuals or emotion. If you visit a historical landmark, it can give off a certain emotion. I think photographer, Joel Sternfels’s work, “On This Site” speaks about this. He went to different areas throughout America where tragedies took place and photographed them. He would write captions next to the images describing what took place there. It is interesting how violent unhappy times can gather people together to grieve or think.
Seeing those stone ‘eggs’ in different environments was really interesting to me. When he made them, they were so fragile. Nature takes its course and things fall and grow yet it seemed that his stone sculptures were holding up pretty well. Goldsworthy philosophized about his connections with nature and had he understood from the beginning, he would have had more successes than failures. He doesn’t believe that nature takes his art and ruins it, he thinks of it as a gift to nature, especially the sea and that it can do more than he has ever hoped for. His time lapses were beautiful watch. The stone being covered by water, and then all of a sudden vanished and became just a mere memory, was one of my favorite parts of the film.
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