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:

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.