Progress

My last few blogs have been about my thoughts so I think it is time to share a bit of my process. This blog post will be dedicated to the making process as opposed to the thought process. Since returning from the January residency I have be going through a learning process...again. I purchased an inexpensive small loom and have been working on weaving fabric. It is time consuming and a steep learning curve. I decided to start with my most simple ribbon, the Navy Commendation Ribbon. Here is what I have so far:

The cream colored yarn at the bottom is my header or weft waste.

I have been working this weave in a manner called grosgrain. It is primarily used in ribbon making with satin to create a stiff ribbed appearance. Since I am working with yarn and making a larger fabric it has a softness to it, but at the same time the ribbed affect is coming through nicely. For my first attempt at weaving I think things are going well. I have a book on how to weave as well as a brief history of the loom. I may hang these pieces as individuals or I may decide to cross stitch names onto them. I will make that decision as they progress.

I am also working on painting surfaces. I've had some wood blocks made, and I am testing painting enamel on wood. Here is my first layer attempt.

It's not as glossy as I had hoped it would be. I will also need to tape it off to get the lines perfect. I made the ribbon bigger, but I'm not sure if this is the direction I want to go as far as size. I like the smaller size as a relic, souvenir or memento. This feels a little clunky. I am going to experiment with aging the white layer as well to give a sense of time passing. Right now it feels very sterile and I'm not sure if I want to make that comment in my work. I'm also going to attempt a ribbon with acrylic and possibly a watercolor. I have a lot of directions to work right now and I'm trying to not go too overboard.

On top of that I am fighting with my molding capabilities. I created a two part gel flex silicone mold. Last semester I worked one sided so it was very simple. This semester I want to get both sides of the object as exact as possible. Through a process of trial and error over the last three weeks the below two part mold is finally complete. I decided to pump up the thickness of the ribbons and medals because their actual thickness would have been too fragile to work with in clay or plaster.  I started with a clay slip injection. It has been setting for 24 hours and I'm not sure it is going to dry fast enough for my process. A plaster mold would suck the moisture out of the clay so this mold may have to be for plaster and wax molds. This is still in the baby stage.

It's not a complete failure at this point, but I think it may be heading in that direction. If it isn't dry by the end of the holiday weekend I'm going to attempt plaster injection. If that doesn't work I may have to call an expert :/ (that's my frustrated face).

 

Why do you want to be an artist?

This is the first question my new mentor asked me at our first meeting on Monday. I was having an off day so all I can remember is fumbling for words and struggling with the why. She also told me she sees a very inward person and my art is very personal. She does not see me interacting in the art world in any way. I've since taken a few days to really think about everything she told me. At first, I was upset and slightly angry at myself, but I'm now ready to apply her information to what I am doing. After all, the mentor is there as an objective viewer to help us grow right?

Things my mentor said about my current work:

It's too didactic. Stop teaching the viewer and let them have their own experience.

I need to navigate my thoughts more fluidly.

I need to bring more depth to my subject not just my own emotions. Really research my subject and get involved in my interest.

Find a way to make other people interested in the work. Make them want to care about it.

Study artists that are working in war and military.

Above all, expand my thinking. The sky is the limit and try new avenues.

With all of this information it really made me stop and think about what I am doing.  I am using the trace, an insignificant object and imbuing it with identities and memories. I need to find a way to make this information come across in an interesting way. I need the viewer to have an experience without having me there to explain the deeper meaning. Maybe I need to draw on my graphic design background to make these objects speak for themselves. She was not interested in the small images and objects, but I think I've come to realize from the residency that that is a personal opinion, and I have to decide on the size for myself.  She recommended I work with just the color field aspect of the ribbons in a larger format. 

So with all of this information I am now soldiering forward. As for why I want to be an artist...I still don't have an answer for her that is anything other than a selfish egotistical reason. I can't physically work. Some days I can't physically make art or take care of the house. I live in chaos with my boyfriend and he is very understanding. I will never be the artist that is physically capable of installing massive projects and jet setting around the country. I will probably never be able to physically participate in an artist residency. My body may be hard to work with now, and in the future I may not have control over it, but for now I do. I know I want to create beautiful things for people to enjoy. I want to teach people that are eager to learn artistic skills. I want to share this knowledge I currently have. I don't need to be famous. I need art because I need purpose in my own life. I can't teach without my degree. So I am getting my degree. That does not mean I don't want to grow and learn personally. Does all of this mean I am not and never will be an artist? Some would say yes. Those people are down the path of fame though...so why does their opinion matter?

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.

My Artist Statement

Below is my artist statement for this semester. I've thought long and hard about this and I'm ready for the upcoming residency in January.

Artist Statement

The military trained me to look and act in a certain fashion, and compliance brought me rewards. Time spent in the service has had a lasting effect on me and I want my art to communicate this experience and my perception of the military. My experience in the Navy has created a great sense of pride, but also bitterness towards military requirements stifling my individuality through subservience. I translate the pride and enjoyment found in the structured military lifestyle, but at the same time I juggle with the bitterness and resentment I feel towards the military by employing fragile and inedible mediums and exaggerated, misleading color palettes. I emphasize the idea of the individual and the cherished medals and ribbons through the deliberately introduced imperfections.

My paintings, sculptures, installations and photographs have similarities through size, color and repetition. I create a commentary on the removal of an individual’s identity by incorporating mass-produced readymade items. The conclusion of military service returns the individual’s identity, and I represent this in my work through rugged hand-made objects. My paintings, ceramics, wax and enamel allude to the notion of non-conformity within the military system through blemishes and a child-like quality that realistically identifies the people in our military. By focusing on symbology through small military accessories, I experiment with the playful and memorable moments during one’s time in service.

Flags

I've been wrapping up a few projects that I have yet to show on my blog. They both revolve around the American Flag.

 The first idea continues the use of homemade inedible insignia candy individually wrapped. They are piled in the center of an American flag which is cleanly laid out on the floor. The act of laying the flag on the floor is a form or resentment in my work because it is such a dishonor to our flag, and on the other hand it is used as a blanket or table cloth to keep the candies clean and free from the floor.

The second idea deals with images I collected from other military members. The images are of different ways each person stores their medals and ribbons when not in use or after service is complete. They are Photoshopped and altered to emphasize the ribbons. They are then lined up as an archive would be and generically labeled. I am also working on a project that contains a miniature flag hung from the ceiling with these photos hung evenly on each side. The ribbons have been cut out of the images to emphasize the idea that our flag and country leaves a lasting memory in service members through their routine achievements in the military.

Jeffrey Mitchell Exhibit

My house had a break down while I was away on Halloween night.  Now I am trying to deal with the damage repairs and a cold/allergies (not sure which it is).  I'm wrapping up my work by the end of November so it has time to dry and cure prior to shipping so at this point most of what I am working on will be wrapping up ideas from this residency and working up new ideas for the second residency.

Last Tuesday I met with my mentor.  I surfaced from the session with a new determination.  She recommended I visit the new exhibit at the Henri; Like a Valentine: The Art of Jeffrey Mitchell and think about it in relation to my work.  When I first arrived I did not quite understand why she wanted me to see his work.  It took some walking around to glean what ideas his work was inspiring and steering me towards.

Jeffrey Mitchell is a ceramist.  His work is based on sex, love, death and spirituality.  He creates these crazy sculptures, pickle jars and whimsical animals that at first seem innocent, but upon further inspection are comments based on his personal experiences.

  

The longer I spent with the pieces the more I picked up on the social cues being projected.  This is what my work is missing in some areas.  Specifically my candy dish idea and my photo project.  I have decided to go two different ways with my candy dish due to Mitchell's work.  My work with enamel, wax and ceramic insignia can be used in a different expressive piece.  They are objects given out in abundance.  My photo project has developed into an installation piece that represents the patriotism imbued in each ribbon a military member collects.  

Right now my concentration is short, but my determination is great.  Just working on being prepared for January at this point.