January Exhibitions

This semester I am attempting to visit more art.  It is a bit of a challenge due to my location and life happening bu so far I've been to two shows. While still in Boston I managed to catch the MFA's Mario Testino: In Your Face exhibit. I questioned some of the choices considered fine art. At what point in advertising does a photo cross the border between artistic and just old hat, and who exactly makes those calls. The printing, framing and lighting choices in the gallery were all important in framing the work as different forms of art, but I found myself leaving skeptical.

Upon my return home from Boston my new Mentor invited me to her collaborative exhibit Onn/Of Light Festival. The entrance to the exhibit was through a shady back door entrance with black and white drippy 8ft plywood signs.  Again, I was skeptical of the entire event based on first impression. Once inside the show took on a different tone. It felt sort of like a night club art opening.

 
There were free standing sculptures, paintings, crafting centers, holograms, filmography and even a prison style tattoo station.

The theme of every piece was supposed to be light in the gloom of winter. I think some of the pieces were very successful on their own, but I felt a lot of the work needed some form of explanation. It got me thinking about what is too much and too little information for the common viewer. At what point as a conceptual artist do you give more, and is it even necessary? Is the confusion of the art itself part of the entire project?

Feeling Overwhelmed

 This was my setup for my second residency at AIB in Boston. There was a section with my photo series as well, but since it wasn't really discussed I decided not to post it here.

On return from Boston I have found myself swimming in thoughts. I have little manic notes all over the house with half finished lists of things I need to do, or ideas I want to try.  I want to jump into work again, but I have to wait for my body to recover from my Boston visit, as well as, maintain a social family life.

I have been sketching and absorbing the critiques I received during my time in Boston.  I have a loom purchased and a few books on my reading list downloaded to my kindle (SWEET!). I've done some research on wood paneling, enamel, and plaster casting.  This is going to be a very labor intensive semester with a lot of tears from botched experiments, but I think I am ready to take it on. Right now though I am focusing on organizing my thoughts and repairing my body.

So instead of producing work right now I am synthesizing my notes so I can write my residency summary. I think once I get this paper written, my readings in order, and artists I want to pursue all in one spot I will feel more whelmed instead of overwhelmed.