Follow Up on the 5th of November {Everything Tomorrow}

First of all, chatting with Bea Nettles was really wonderful. I was nervous, but the conversation ended up being so helpful and essential for my research of her life. She walked me through all of the books that I am including in the exhibition and although a lot of the processes are still a bit over my head, her descriptions of the content were thorough and extremely useful. I'm so very glad that I chose her to research this semester. Her  career is remarkable and I feel connected to many themes that continually appear in her work.


The "Everything In Time" opening reception was a hit as well. The Siskind gallery was hoppin' with "First Friday"ers. The exhibition will be up until December 19th, so there is still time to stop in and feast your eyes on some maximalist artwork before the exhibition moves to The Center for Book Arts in NYC. Here are some pics from the opening.

Also, I DID end up watching V for Vendetta, but it didn't end up being until AFTER the 5th, technically. There were no fireworks either. Only in my mind. It's weird, I'm writing all of this and it has been well over one month ago. I'm constantly playing catch up. Whatevs, it will happen some day. :)

Book Binding & Josh Ritter

Now that the semester is over I can finally catch up on some blog posts. I wanted to include some info about this one weekend a while back. (I love the vagueness of that sentence). A weekend full of friends, music and learning. I attended a "four needle coptic with cloth covered boards" book binding workshop with VSW alum and current student at University of Iowa's Center for the Book, Heather Wetzel. The workshop was INCREDIBLE. I learned the coptic binding technique and created a wonderful, functional, notebook. The majority of my classmates attended the workshop as well and we all had a book to show for it in the end. Brian made a bright red dream journal. Ha ha ha. 

Heather instructing Alicia and Megan.

The spine of my book. 

The next day I went to Ithaca to see Josh Ritter with Katie Brennan and John Brennan! It was truly magical. What a show! I'm so thankful that I was there amongst good people. 

I've got a great life. 

EVERYTHING tomorrow

Tomorrow is going to be a pretty fantastic day for a few reasons...


1. Remember, remember, the 5th of November...I look forward to watching V for Vendetta at some point and making some eggs in a basket and shooting off some fireworks...the usual. 


2. Most likely I will be having a phone conversation with Bea Nettles. For those of you who don't know who she is, well, she's a pretty big deal. Photographer and book artist. I've been researching her work and life this semester as part of an online exhibition curated by my Contemporary Photo and Imaging Survey class. I plan on doing an entire entry about this exhibition and the process eventually, so...stay tuned! 


3. "Everything in Time" opens in the Siskind Gallery at the Visual Studies Workshop! The opening reception is from 6 - 9. As MFA students we helped during the installation process. I'm excited to be there when the exhibit opens to the public. 

Here are some photos of the gallery "in process".

If you find yourself in the Rochester area between tomorrow and December 19th, it will definitely be worth checking out!

There's a light, what light?

Throughout the semester I have been periodically taking photos of natural light patterns. I have also been capturing on video the movement of exterior lighting through blinds and windows. I am interested in light, both aesthetically and metaphorically as it interacts with familiar interior spaces. Here are a few photos revealing both patterns of light and images where I feel light plays an important role. 

The inspiration for my title - Wilco! =)

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!   

books!

Here are some more images of books that I've been working on this semester. They are bound in non traditional ways, using the materials to more fully reinforce the content. The first is a book exploring the use of sound. I created an mp3 recording to go along with it, however, I can't upload the file (so you won't be experiencing it to the fullest). This book is enclosed in an envelope and consists of seven pages - the imagery on the pages includes scanned and manipulated correspondences I have received from Compassion International throughout the span of time I've been sponsoring a little girl from Thailand. Throughout the years I've been sending money to Ban, I feel as though I've become severely jaded to the act. I'm also conflicted by the fact that I never write back to her. And I don't really plan on it. I have no words for her. It's a pretty strange compartment of my life...

Mail art anyone??

For this second book I definitely feel like I got back to my roots. About one year ago in a monotype printmaking class I utilized this form, but on a much larger scale as an installation piece. The similarities between this book and my older project include a household/row of houses constructed into an accordion book, as well as using thread to make marks and hold the piece together. In the more recent exercise I decided to incorporate images of the 1950s housewife lifestyle. 

That's it for now, folks! Here's another beautiful song and video for you to enjoy! My new favorite...Mumford and Sons! 

the NEW stomping grounds

All in all, I really like the city of Rochester so far. There is a really great energy. Still getting used to the whole locking doors and cars thing, but you know...it is a necessary evil. Liz and I are living in the South Wedge area of the city. Our street has a very neighborhood-y feel to it and we are still within walking distance to a few local hot spots and city essentials. I'm really starting to love our apartment. At the moment it is freezing, but other than that it is super cute. Here are some interior shots of the new pad. 

*We love our owl salt and pepper shakers and our checkered floor!*

VSW is also my new "stomping ground". I'd say I'm there as much as I'm at the apartment. Two super old buildings, filled with dark rooms, empty spaces, a couple galleries, offices, kitchens, research center, library, auditorium, etc.

Yup. New spaces. Here's a great video/song I've become recently obsessed with. LCD Soundsystem - "Home". Makes me want to boogie.