In the city

Like I've said previously, I'm trying to backtrack on all of the wonderful things that I've been exposed to since moving to the grand (and it REALLY IS grand) city of Rochester. Firstly, let me note that VSW is a really small program. There are only seven first year students. Because of its size, we have a lot of opportunity when it comes to flexibility and with that comes field trips. Woo! 

On a couple of occasions we have gone to the George Eastman House: International Museum of Photography and Film. Once to learn about the library and research center resources and another time to view a selection of unique photos for our advanced photography class. Our professor was able to choose a selection from the Eastman House collection in order for us to get an up close and personal look at some incredible works by the likes of Ralph Eugene Meatyard, Danny Lyon and John Pfahl. Woo!

October 1st - 3rd brought the Black Mountain North Symposium to Rochester. I was able to sit in on a panel discussion and get a good overview of the history of Black Mountain College. Brooklyn artist, Jen Bervin was a participant in this panel and for two weeks around this time was also an artist in residence at VSW. She and her cute little puppy Buttons were a delight to have in the studio and classroom. I learned so much from hearing her talk about her own work on a couple of occasions as well as her input during our book critique. Her own work is so INCREDIBLE. She is a poet and often works with textiles. Be sure to check out her website, HERE!               

Jen is also a weaver and during her time in Rochester developed a relationship with the Weaver's Guild of Rochester. On the morning before she left she took me and a couple other students over to the weaving school and introduced us to the instructor. Hopefully before the year is over I will be able to squeeze a weaving class into my schedule. There were great vibes in that place. I think weaving would be a lovely, therapeutic practice to learn.

Another noteworthy moment of the semester thus far includes the short residency of Dutch artists Theo Baart and Cary Markerink. They traveled to Rochester to photograph the city. Their interest is primarily in urban planning and design. During their stay they interviewed and photographed different inhabitants of the city of Rochester and were interested in hearing different perspectives on the city itself. 

Back in September I attended the world premier screening of a film created by two local Rochester filmmakers. The film was screened at the George Eastman House's Dryden Theatre. The Beast Pageant was delightful to watch - full of humor, mystery, complexity, and music! The hands of the filmmakers are present in every costume, prop and set. 

That is all I can muster for now. Much more to come!   

Photography is art.

One of the main ideas that I am having to grapple with this semester is the notion that photography is an art form. I totally believe that it is. I think I have always considered the potential of a photographic image to be a work of art. However, I am completely struggling with whether or not I consider MYSELF a photographic artist. I have always created still images as a way to document my life - paying attention to formal qualities and composition along the way, but when considering a photographic body of work, I am experiencing difficulty. After expressing my frustrations with my really terrific professor, Ahndraya Parlato, whose work I find to be truly remarkable, she has encouraged me to take photos of what excites me. She also reassured me that as a first semester grad student in a new program, it is okay to be freaking out and confused. Woo!
Here is a selection of images that I photographed for my first critique in Advanced Photo. About a year ago I drew an image of cutlery growing out of the ground in my sketch book, so I thought I would see what happened if I translated that into still photographs. 

I like the idea of recognizing objects and I also wanted to see what I could do with the house that I built for a video installation project last year.

I'm completely unsure if anything will come out of these images in the future, but these are what I'm playing with for now. All in all, when it comes to a photographic image and my personal work I feel like there needs to be something more. Whether it be printing onto the photo, incorporating collage, cutting the images up and sewing them back together, combining them in a book or incorporating sound. Maybe this struggle has to do with the fact that I am only using digital images. Perhaps I need to branch out, use film and get down and dirty in the dark room?      

mmmmMMMIX disc!

A couple of weekends ago (March 27th, to be exact) I went to the Buffalo Small Press Book Fair, held in Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum. There was an amazing showcase of artists, writers, poets, musicians and publishers. I enjoyed chatting with individuals about their work and lives. There were many precious hand made items. I was truly encouraged to see the vast amount of people working in the arts in the Western NY area. Needless to say, I came home incredibly inspired to MAKE things! 


One of my favorite pastimes is making "mix tapes" for people. I absolutely LOVE sharing music with people that I find wonderful and moving! When the melodies give me goose bumps or the beats make me DANCE. It's good. :)


My good friend Lizzie made a lovely CD case out of Bristol board for a mutual friend of ours and it has always been in the back of my mind to do something similar. Here are some pictures of some of the personalized mix disc cases I have been making!

I've been using tracing paper, ink, and thread. The transparencies of the tracing paper create an interesting effect while layering ink drawn imagery. I've mostly been just doodling on the paper and laying the pieces on top of each other - It has been great! I hope to start working with some different materials and possibly coming up with some more unified and specific imagery. Crafts!

      
  

Welcome Home, Son [Daughter?]

What I have been working on lately. With the help of my carpenter/father. An independent studio project - experimental video. Video installations are becoming a large area of interest for me. This piece is still in the intermediate stages. Outlining the process of a house structure being built. This miniature structure is primitive, but is still able to communicate the imagery of a dwelling place. 


Ideas I am exploring - residing in buildings/houses that were not built by our own hands, our attempts to adapt to these spaces and make them comfortable and cozy - and the memories that we bring with us from previous homes to these new spaces that will always be present. Attached. 

I'm really excited about this project, because I think that the end result will have a lot of visual interest. However, at the same time I am worried that these themes have been explored too often and I question whether my means are communicating anything unique. 


Do most artists feel this way about their work? Or is it just my ever-so-common lack of confidence?  


With this piece I am incorporating many elements from my personal life. Will it be compelling enough to catch a viewers interest? Or might they simply walk by without giving it a second glance? 


I want people to connect with my work. I need to learn to articulate my ideas both verbally and visually. 


I am still excited about this project. With the end of the semester drawing near, time is of the essence! May I get my act together and may my final projects as an undergrad be works that I am proud to call my own!   


Also, the song Welcome Home, Son by Radical Face has been a reoccurring melody in my life these past two semesters. The imagery! The harmonies! The rhythm! The build up! Oh Glory! And the themes it (and other songs on the album Ghost) explore, tend to deal with the notions of "home" that I find so engaging.  

the FIRST and the LAST

This semester. My last semester as an undergrad - is technically the perfect semester of wonder and glory! Fracturing my foot was a setback, I got off to a bit of a frustrated and rocky start, but life is finally starting to smooth out. I am off the crutches...thus am able to carry things, walk up stairs (slowly), and move around in general without relying on my arms for support. 

The foot isn't healed completely, but it is on its way. 

I am taking a relief printing course this semester with Tim Frerichs. Our second assignment required us to appropriate imagery from an historical black and white, wood carved print. I gathered inspiration from the work of Albrecht Durer - more specifically his work St. John Beholding the Seven Candelabra. This piece is an illustration of the passage in Revelation describing John's vision.    

Here are some images of the beginning stages of my piece. (My first wood carving!)

 I carved into an 8 x 10 block of poplar using Speed Ball lino cutting tools. 
AND made a big splintery mess! Woops!

 











Above is a proof of the final carving. I entitled it The First and the Last, because in the Biblical passage that is being referenced Jesus tells John not to be afraid because He is "the first and the last." It is an important reassurance of the unmoving presence of God.