A Rough Edit of My Ideas

Below is a somewhat lengthy summary of the ideas swarming around my current projects. The next few entries will have summaries of the recent projects.

Andre Bazin suggested that “…at the origin of painting and sculpture there lies a mummy complex. The religion of ancient Egypt, aimed against death, saw survival as dependent on the continued existence of the corporeal body” (Trachtenberg 237). Bazin explains death as something that conquers time, but preservation of the body is something that removes an individual from the persistence of time. Art is one way in which this mummy complex manifests itself, a way for artists and culture alike to have an existence beyond the life of their own body.

Thanatology

I picked up an interesting book called Thanatology: A Liberal Arts Approach, Edited by Mary Ann Morgan, B.N., M.Ed., and John D. Morgan Ph.D from King’s College in Ontario. I read one of the beginning sections called “Living Our Dying”, which was written by John Morgan, the editor. It definitely was written from a slightly skewed religious standpoint, with God being mentioned too many times in a factual sense. However, it was full of good insights into death and culture, and I will list a few ideas I found provacative in the work:

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.

Scarecrows, Gardens, and the Digital

Being a student of the Time and Interactivity program at the University of Minnesota, I am certainly interested in digital/new media (the name of which, as you can see, is still poorly defined). One of the reasons I have been so drawn to this area, and interactive media in particular, is it’s ability to thoroughly engage the viewer, in a way that counters the more popular trend of disinterested contemplation, a concept made famous by Clement Greenberg.

Art/Death Blog

After a recent project I did concerning my father's death, I had alot of conversations with alot of people about their experiences with the passing of relatives. These discussions became the most provocative part of the project for me. It seemed that because I was so open about the entire story of my father's death, people felt more open to talk about their own experiences and perspectives.

The 48 our film and North Country Film Night

I recently directed a short for the 48 Hour Film Project. This is my second time doing a festival like this. I'm not sure where this fits into my artistic sensibilities. It is certainly more about the incredible process of getting a group of people together, some of whom don't know each other, and producing something in such a compressed amount of time. It's also a way for me to get my hands on some fun equipment and some footage for editing. I enjoy the process of film-making, and in this case, almost more than the product.

The first post

This is blog about my relationship with the arts. It will include general ideas, research theories, and stuff I'm interested in. I thought that Chris Baker's blog was such a good idea that I would make one for myself. It will be a way for me to keep track of all aspects of art that I am interested in, and hopefully find my place in the art world as a result. Read the Background page to get an idea of where I'm coming from.