Exhibition Post

Looking at Cecelia Condit's piece, Within a Stone's Throw at the Nevada Museum of Art was really neat. I had never seen a piece in this tryptic video format. The magnitude of the video really transformed the space and gave me a good basis to start my own tryptic video.

I really appreciated how she used all three sections to draw the viewer in and make them turn their head and move their eyes. She had the stone on the left screen and the viewer became transfixed (or at least I was) when she throws it and it arcs to land on the right screen. I thought her use of space was incredible. In addition, the colors she used throughout the piece seemed to help convey her message. The message I perceived was one of an interaction with nature. She was an adult, sort of longing to "play" in nature and reminisce about where she grew up. I think so many people can identify with this message — THAT is what makes this piece so mesmerizing and powerful.

A screen grab from Within a Stone's Throw, the color palate is striking. 

My only criticism of this piece was the slightly over edited sections. The moon, for instance, part way thorough the pieced looked like it was just plopped down. I'm not sure if this was her intention, I'm guessing not — as the rest of the piece looked consistent and polished.

Here is a portion of the piece: http://vimeo.com/44030303

Paul Baker Prindle Lecture

I stopped by the Paul Baker Prindle lecture, expecting to see some beautiful and intriguing photos from his current work, Mementi Mori, a collection of photos from where people have been murdered based on their sexual preference. I definitely found much more than that. 

His work in this piece reminded me of the Midtown audio tour walking from the two childhood friend's homes to the park where they used to play. The photographs, and the audio tour, made me look at buildings and the memories surrounding them (even if they weren't my memories) in a totally different way. In both pieces, death was the main, sort of hidden sorrow. 

A photo from Mementi Mori. 

    Prindle described having experimented with photographing friends in their youth and truly capturing certain moments in their life. This again reminded me of the audio tour with the two friend's letters, reminiscing about times past and their childhood memories. Each had different moments that stood out to them — much like a photograph captures a moment in time, where endless thoughts can arise just be looking at it. Photos can also become a way of creating memory, as Prindle described when he wasn't able to remember his car accident. 

Lecture #1

Tony Allard and the Pesky Heckety 

During the Tony Allard lecture, I noticed several things. I really appreciated his speech on his alter-ego, Heckey, because it showed how important and often grueling art can be. When he goes out as Heckety, he, like much any good art, is seriously questioned and sometimes looked down upon by authority figures or simple on-goers because they're unaware of how to react to something so raw and uncontrollable. It really takes guts to continually stand up for your art and in Tony's experience — truly be your art. I thought it was great that he brought the mask in to show and represent this non speaking character that can communicate so much. For example, Tony as Heckety is pesky. He is the trickster as an artist and the artist as a trickster.  

Another major component of Tony's lecture was sampling bits and pieces of his past and current art. One piece that really stood out to me was his "Drawing in the Media Stream." This appealed to me probably because I'm a journalism major and am particularly sensitive and curiously receptive to how people view the media, what is remembered and what is picked out for projects like this from what journalists produce and inform on daily. Unfortunately I didn't have a chance to participate in the version he did on campus, but I did see the results. I think it's a great idea to incorporate this sort of thing into art. Reacting to the media is a huge thing. It's a great way to express one's self. 

Overall, I found Tony to be refreshing in the sense that he was able to communicate his process and motives well. I find that many artists are phenomenal at actually producing art but maybe not the best as explaining it. Tony seemed open about his work which made me appreciate it more. I also loved that he was able to draw on quotes for inspiration. 

In my opinion, the most compelling quote he shared was:  

"Minds like beds, all made up." — William Carlos Williams

I liked that this made me think about changing my mind and being open to new things. I think part of an artist's job is to introduce people or at least invite people to come along with them to question ideas, practices and thoughts. 

Below is addition information concerning the lecture and his website. 

Holiday Party Projection Video

I decided to go with the holiday classic and literally my favorite movie, "It's a Wonderful Life" as a basis for my video installation. I took the entire movie but cropped and reproduced some of my favorite, significant scenes. When I copied certain sections of the movie, I added different effects. For example in the first part of the movie, where the stars are speaking, are reproduced and the top star gets larger and more dominant in each reproduction. Then midway through the film, the portion where George Bailey first stands up to Mr. Potter, is duplicated many times to show it's significance to George's later actions in the film.

Some portions, I repeated and messed with the audio, made it louder or quieter.

There are a bunch of scenes I messed with, just to give them more significance and praise or spunk - even though many may be iconic pieces of the film already! Because in a room with 20 plus projections, it's obviously easy to miss something. I partly chose this film because it's to recognizable, and used in so many other films (just for its pure awesomeness and joy), and because it really is my favorite holiday movie... I would bring it to any holiday party to watch.

Here is a portion:

Final for Tinguely/Marclay Project

I really wanted to capture both artists by honoring the record and depicting sound in a unique, untraditional way.

I used two 45 vinyl records to encompass bells in the middle. They're supported by a balsa wood base and round outside edge to house placed needles. I used bells both because of the sound they produce and the sense of holiday spirit they bring about. I know only the projection had to have "holiday" tied to it, but I really wanted to connect each of my projects in that way. The projection (see individual post) uses "It's a Wonderful Life." The pieced together record uses Bing Crosby, Hawaiian Hits and Reader's Digest records to symbolize the travel, classicness and integrity in "It's a Wonderful Life."And lastly, the Tinguely/Marclay Project uses bells to allude to holiday.

Really, it takes aspects of an old record player: spinning motion, needles, records, wood and screws to create a new kind of experience. The mechanical part is the person spinning the records, making the bells sound and the tab hit the needles (both for added sound and for a mesmerizing visual). I was happy how finished it looks and will keep it for something fun in my own home!

Photos:

Record Project Ideas

1) Cut Up Playing Record - I got Bing Crosby and a Hawaiian themed record. My goal is to go with a similar theme to "It's a Wonderful Life" because I know I want to base my projection off of that. Bing Crosby, to me represents Christmas, the time and all things wonderful, romantic and sort of classic. A huge theme in "It's a Wonderful Life" is traveling and escaping one's current situation. I want to break  up the two records (one representing the classic, traditional, pleasing to the ear music - BING) and the other representing travel and fantasy (the Hawaiian themed music). 

2) Given away already, I want to use the movie and Christmas classic, "It's a Wonderful Life." I do want to edit bits and pieces. I may play the entire movie but edit the sound significantly and have that play as a separate entity! I'll have to experiment. 

3) For my larger project, the mechanic piece, I want to create a sort of wind chime or mobile. I think it would be neat to made a wind chime, completely independent of forced mechanics. I want to use cut and formed records, along with bells, and other (probably) found gadgets. The noise will be created by various pieces put onto the structure and I definitely want each piece to have its own sense of movement, able to spin, go up and down, etc. The piece should look simple and clean in the end. 

Taste Not Midtown Restaurant Tour

This is my brief sample of flourishing restaurants in Midtown. I'm extremely interested in the local food movement and love diving into it. The piece evolved into an experience more than a simple description solely on taste.

The portions in between visiting the restaurant are meant to be both fun and contemplative, replicating a walk to your favorite restaurant.

If you haven't tried some of these restaurants - I highly consider it.

Hope you enjoy - now go eat!

Reminder:
Restaurants were: