You and That Thing That Happens To All of Us

The new blog project that I recently started is moving along very slowly.  Alot of people I talk to who are considering adding their sentiments say things like “It’s alot to think about”, or “I haven’t actually known anyone that’s died”.  I’m not sure how to remedy this, or if I need too.  Perhaps this is exactly my interest in this conversation, and my projects may need to revolve around figuring out ways to ‘break the ice’ so to speak.  It is a serious, and often heavy-handed subject which is what makes is so challenging to tackle in terms of artistic content.  While I do want to lighten the conversation, I’m not interested in trivializing or devaluing the experiences people do have with death.  I’m always open to suggestions.

Art Collectives

In a recent visit to Art of This gallery, I realized how much I like the people that run that place and the space itself.  After talking to Daniel Palahniuk, it seemed that I was at the top of their list for people to recruit as collective members (not to toot my own horn).   I think I’ve made the decision to become a member there (apparently they’ve opened up their membership to anyone and everyone who wants to help pay the rent), and now it’s just a matter of when and how.  I think I would be more capable of that kind of commitment after my thesis work.  In fact, I would be really excited about it.  At the same time, it seems like they need to fill in some gaps since other members are leaving, and I start to wonder if they will be around next year.  I generally like to seize opportunities like this, but I also like to seize them wholeheartedly.  What to do, what to do…

The New Blog Project

I have started a new project that I’m hoping will gain some momentum, even if only for a short time.  Since blogs have recently been included as part of my research practice (they’re a great place to catalogue and store ideas), I decided to create one that others can be part of, and hopefully start a conversation.  Surprisingly, there isn’t alot of blog software that is designed the way I would like it to be, where users can sign up directly.  So, instead, they have to email me and then I create an account for them.  So far no one has signed up, so SIGN UP.   It’s called You and That Thing That Happens to All of Us. It’s about opening a conversation about death and dying.  I hope to learn some things about how people deal with the subject, provided people use it.

Back to the Scarecrow, or A Klopotec?

Chris Baker and I have settled upon most of an idea for our Scarecrow Project. After some research on the subject, we have decided to make something referred to as, among other things, a Klopotec. It’s a windpowered kinetic device designed in such a way that when its blades turn, some kind of noise is produced, either through wooden blocks hitting one another, or cams rattling an old, leafy tree-branch. I’m very excited about this, and hopefully we can get going on it ASAP.

Thesis…

So my mind is starting down the course that ends in a thesis – a required academic project that could be viewed as representative of all seven years of my art education, or, as I like to think about it, a report on where I happen to be in my creative process when I’m showing said thesis. I’m struggling with what this is going to be.

A year or two ago I was sure I wanted to make a film, but I don’t think I ever knew what for, or what about. Now I have a ton of questions about art, about what to do with myself, about what kind of time I should actually put into this project, and about all the bureaucracy that spirals around it in academia. This blog is supposed to help me figure this out, and perhaps it is in its own, subtle way. So far I’ve got some very broad ideas and a bunch of projects that need to be re-visited. Here are a couple of kernels I’ve been working with: