Festival submissions

I've submitted three pieces to festivals this semester:

Solos to the Your Indie Film festival

I'm Glad We Are Going to Talk About This to the Kansas City Jubilee

Restless to the SHORTSNONSTOP festival

Restless was accepted and did well in the Withoutabox Festival this fall. It didn't win anything, but from submitting it I learned a lot.

Research Through the End

With my last piece being incredibly concept based (as many of mine are), the research I did on the bases of it kept me on track and gave me a solid discussion point as it was showing, as well as in critique. I'm going to add some more formal responses to how the research inspired me and what it did for my concept.

Response to research on Cymatics:

This topic was originally brought to light by Dwight during my sounds class, but almost immediately afterwards, I started looking at things on my own. There is a lot out there that is theoretical on the meaning of cymatics, some of which is very valid and I will discuss, but I'd like to start off with the main facts: cymatics centers around the study of visual figures created by transduction of waveforms into generally a liquid or powder. These figures are directly linked to the waveform that is played through them and seem to reference many different well known symbols. Some see the signs of chakra, while others draw references to crop circles and other unexplained phenomena. I draw connections to creation and pure representation of the natural, seeing as though its a direct visualization through transduction. I also was interested in this topic, because it is possibly the oldest form of sound visualization known to exist. It's always great to start at the roots, because it is generally more simple there and leave a lot of room to build upon.

Response to research on Fractals.

Fractals pretty much blew my mind. I look at many things completely different now, thinking about fractals and the theory behind them. Although the representation of fractals is a lot newer than cymatics, the theory behind them is pretty old. Fractals speak to me because of their vast power to explain through simplicity along with their commonality in sound. It fit together well with water and cymatics as well, considering I see fractal imagery within cymatics. Many systems of composition are actually also fractal in nature which led me ever further down the rabbit hole as far as concept went. Just the whole idea of self referencing into infinity is really interesting to me and leads me to many conclusions within my piece and in the world in general. Finding common threads between ideas and executions has turned out to be a very valid way to start a concept for me, especially with installation. Complexity theory as a whole is something that fractals has really opened up to me, and Patrick has led me in new directions with it as well, hoping to further my work and make it more effective. These theories have given me an incredibly strong base to start building a possible thesis upon utilizing sound and who knows what else.

The future holds much more research within complexity theory, installation work, and composition/sound work. I feel like zeroing down and honing a concept and aesthetic is the next step for me, and I've made huge strides towards that goal this semester.

What I've learned from the final

This last project has given me a jumping off point as well as a great base for the future. I worked really hard and through that, my effort showed. I'll rethink how to present my later installations in the hopes that there will be less issues with it being disrupted. The critique structure worked very well, and the feedback I've received will really help me refine my ideas on installation as well as composition. My midterm also taught me a lot about how I can use my art to deal with issues that arise in my life, and that reworking a project 4 times will pay off in the end. This last semester has been one of growth and learning which has left me with a somewhat positive outlook, considering I was thinking about dropping out in August. I just need to keep taking what I learn and utilizing it in the future.

Finals

Finals have crept up and taken hold. I just need to buckle down and finish strong. I also need an SD card reader. I'm excited to start playing music more here in a bit. Just keep workin.

Thanksgiving Break

I worked really hard on my final, and I think it payed off. It was almost ruined by someone, but everything dried out fine, and stuff is good. Now it's just time to relax and enjoy some things for a while.

Final

Buildin, composin, and solvin problems. A video on fractals pretty well changed my life today. Just need to keep working as hard as I can. Difficulties are only opportunities for learning.

Fleshing Stuff Out

I have a fairly stable plan of what I want the installation to look like. I just have some size questions to ask and I'll be ready to buy and build. I'm basically finished with my paper for Digital Society, and I'm ready to start research for my multimedia presentation so it can be completed soon.

Startin da Final

I'm pretty excited and nervous about this semester's final. If it comes together the way I want it to, I think it'll be well received. I'm hoping work doesn't start to walk all over my time, but I think I managed it pretty well, having received a 99% on my art history final. Just hafta keep busy and schedule stuff out. I've already started getting sounds, so now I just need to finalize the design for the "speaker", that'll happen this weekend at the latest. Nothin like making art.

Research Sites

For cymatics, Dwight has been a huge help, and pointed me in some directions, but self discovery is also great. There's a book in the library that's pretty great, and then Dwight has a few videos and writings that really help.

Here are some links to things that I've found interesting (there's a lot of repetition of info out there, but these sites seem pretty encompassing):

http://Cymatica.net/

http://www.cymascope.com/cyma_research/history.html

I know that my theoretical finished work will not look like cymatic designs, but I think there will still be interesting patterns in the chaos that results from my composition effecting the water.

Fractals in nature are a lot more new to me, so theres a lot more to learn.

This link dives deep into the fractal nature of some sounds as well as composition. It will be useful when thinking about composing.

http://www.tursiops.cc/fm/

This one has some pretty great theory to think about.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/11501198/Fractal-Sound

I really find this picture interesting.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ladysafety/3189730876/

It's clear that theres a lot to read on the subjects, and people have already showed interest in both, but this next step in my visualization of sound could form some interesting endpoints that can inform other works on down the road.

Busy

The surgery is over and everything is going well, but its required a lot of time away from my work. I feel like I'm playing catch up, and its not alright. Everything will work out in the end. I think for my project I'm going to compose an ambient sound piece out of different recordings of water and then build a water speaker that will visualize the sound. I could then research cymatics, and fractal sounds since they reflect the nature of water in some of its sounds.

Midterm

After reshooting twice and thinking a ton, my midterm crit is over. I feel as though it went pretty well and I learned a lot more about how to present my work. I think that changing my title helped a lot, as well as all of the things that were mentioned in my preliminary class critique. Dad's surgery is on Friday. At least there's less on my plate.

Project Update

Shooting and reshooting went well. Editing is doing the same. I think I'll have a few different versions of the piece. Not too far off till my dad's surgery. Work work work work work.

Response- By Design

I find the use of digital technology that exists outside of the feature to be more influential to my artwork because of my interests in performance, projection, and other less standard mediums. The ability of digital technology to mold our representations around our ideas makes it incredibly strong, and the reading is rich with examples of such. The history of the music video and its influence on the growth of digital mediums is incredibly interesting and integral to more fully understanding the medium. DV was well suited for adapting to music, which hints to me that it is also well suited for adapting to other mediums as well. The ability to edit the image plane more easily makes DV an outstanding tool when working with projections. A projected image can be matched almost effortlessly to the desired surface, which allows a greater utilization of both mediums to represent the ideas they set forward with. Going along further with the reading, I also find the ability to tailor the image in any way seen fit like those in the "Kaleidoscopic Images" and "Hybrid Spaces" to be an incredibly useful representative tool, even though I personally don't prefer to utilize the more extreme possibilities that exist. "Morphing" an image to meet the artist's vision is a great concept because it opens up limitless possibilities for unbridled creativity. When an artist feels as though he/she has no obstacles in representing their ideas, those ideas flow more freely and more interesting art is made. The utilization of the internet to distribute the media has grown even more since this article was written. Youtube has exploded with content both artistic, and entertainment. the "vlogger" has become widely popular and opened up doors for artists and musicians to be exposed in that light. It seems to have veered a little more towards promoting narcissism than promoting the work, but there are great places where video exists online, and the vast groupings will only continue. This subject is again one that I'm not all that interested in when referencing my studio work. I want me screenings to stay more or less mine, and more installations to never exist in video documented form, because that would take away from the purpose of the installation. It seems as though that want will fade with the impending facts concerning how work is propagated currently. Video performances like VJing are very interesting to me and I'd like to look into how that could transfer into a more directed representational use. I think that it could open up new ways for the viewers to interact with the pieces as well as the artist during a "performance". The musical aspect of the VJ doesn't interest me as much, because of the seemingly one to one nature of the comparisons and views. The whole article was fairly rich in inspiration for furthering my studio work. Every little piece helps shape a work when I begin conceptualizing and looking for bases. Although it is sometimes hard to find concrete inspiration for the representations, the continuous addition of these small modifiers make it easier for me to form a language around the way I like to create.

Ideas/shoot.

I've come up with an idea, which is assuring and have a plan to shoot it. Along with my project, I'm going to start documenting my dad's surgery and how everything goes with it. I'm still unsure how I feel. Excited to shoot though, as always. I hope everything goes well.

Projects

Projects are hard to think of. There's a lot that I want to do, but I'm not sure how much would be considered valid by others. I should probably do them anyway. It's also pretty scary to watch the seniors do their thesis then and think that I'll be there in a year. I just want to keep experimenting and pushing. I'm not sure if I'm ready for a thesis. I guess that's why I have another year, huh?

Goin on

Stuff's going well. Excited to hear back from my job possibility. Having an online class now is kinda weird, but it allows for a lot of other stuff on top of the work I'm assigned with it. Some of the readings are a little cryptic, but I'm getting them figured out, and they make me consider things with my artwork. I don't know how to feel about having a review on Monday. I usually don't like them.

Back in the Swing of Things

I'm settling into the routine I need to have to be efficient in life. Studio stuff has gone well, and I've began recording sounds, music, and anything that seems to interest me. I'm pretty excited for my first productions and to see how they'll go over. I definitely need to put some thought into an internship and what I want to so with it. All of my classes are going pretty well, and they all relate together one way or another which is great. My current job isn't too hot, so hopefully I can land the other one.

Future of the Feature

Digital video has without question brought change to the film making world. The article does a great job of explaining its goals through a brief history and catalogue of works. I fully agree that the greatness in DV is what can be done with the medium versus the number of technical advantages. The amount of adaptation it allows the artist to obtain is vast, and when paired with other digital mediums its range of options as a device for great explorations in representation. Newer technology has caught up though, bringing formats high definition and stereoscopic video which have added a new dimension to the media and complicates things. Where as the article references DV as the current, HDV is now the current, and DV is seen as "consumer" and is becoming a "dead media". High definition video fits under the category of "DV", but in this context there is a defining line in visual quality and feel of the video information that separates the two, so I feel that I can justify the DV talked about in the article as something entirely different than the HD that is shot now. Everything is high definition now, and the utilization of the DV in other formats of work or for a feeling of more "real" as it once was is starting to dwindle. Movies like Paranormal Activity are still in an HD format, because to an extent, a consumer can shoot HD as well. The technology has come on huge in the market and traditional DV has been somewhat swept away fairly quickly. Maybe that's why I have a need to create pieces involving the DV tape the way I do; to represent with it in a way that hard drive based HD cannot. Either way, digital video has a strong foothold in cinema, especially lately because of its ability for special effects and editing of that sort. It's what sells, and so the mainstream will keep on producing with it. I don't feel as though I've seen enough current non-mainstream work to comment on the use of HD there, but it seems as though the visual appeal of it lures most in. In an age of rapidly evolving technology, video and cinema moves just as fast. Some still do use analog, and I find that interesting and somewhat inspiring, but the masses are digital. My reaction to the tendencies is one of interest in the choice and its meaning. Traditional DV isn't quite dead, and I think that it still has something valid in its use, even if that means the actual tape its self, I still find it intriguing.

Futurist Sound

I just read a small article on the sound concepts of the futurists, and it's fairly exciting. Their ideas on noise and its use compositionally are intriguing and I feel as though some more research is need. There are some definite possibilities here.

Hittin the ground

My job interview went pretty good, and I'm hoping to move through it fairly quickly. Brainstorming is pretty fun as well. All of my classes seem like they're going to be pretty great, but I'm going to need to stay on top of it. I should probably centralize stuff on a calendar. I'm pretty anxious to see how stuff's going to pan out.

Starting Up

Stuff's back in full swing. It's kinda intimidating, as well as exciting. All of my classes so far seem pretty cool. We'll see how stuff goes. I need to start paying more attention to things here lately. This online class will take focus too. I need to focus more.

New Semester

As with the coming of this next semester, I'm back to start this blog of my education and it's dealings with art. My job took up a lot of time this summer, and I learned a lot about many different aspects of life. This semester I've decided to look into sound, because my love for aural forms of expression has been forwarded by a few occurrences. This does not mean that I'm abandoning visual representation and expression though. I believe that the two will find a common ground even when they are polar. I know these next few months are going to be tough, but challenges are what mold me the most. I need to find an internship, need to find a spark, and need to find happiness. Hopefully working and school will gel. I have a better job opportunity possibly presenting its self, which is exciting.

The End

I learned a ton this semester. I did end up getting a job, so this summer I can start making money again. I'm also going to start trying to boil down my art into some sort of concept and refine it. The reading suggestions I received in Sophomore review will more than likely guide me through that process. The biggest thing I learned was about myself and how I need to handle my schedule and my mind to make sure and not have breakdowns. All of my finals went fine and my final papers did too. I'd consider the way I wrapped up the year a lot more successful that I thought I was going to be about half way through. I'm excited to see what's in store for my art next.

Review and such

Sophomore review went great. Now I'm just studying like mad for these two tests. So close, but I still have work to do. It's hard to stay focused, but I'm forcing it on myself. I'm excited to hopefully get a job, so I can work and play racquetball. Buzz is being placed on Sunday. It seems like forever ago that he passed.

Sophomore Review

Tomorrow is my Sophomore Review, and I'm fairly nervous. I don't know what to expect, so I guess I should be. Have two tests to study for and I'm pretty much hitting that the hardest from now on out. I have a job interview on Tuesday, hopefully it'll all work out.

Ending

Critiques are over and a weight has lifted. The show this weekend will be fun, with my "Suns" piece being on the dual monitors. I have sophomore talks on monday, and I'm pretty nervous because I don't know exactly what to do or expect. All I can do is try my best and work hard at it. I'm submitting to a video contest this weekend I think. I'm also turning in a job application at a restaurant tomorrow. I've been hitting about a place a day asking if they need help and all. I'm going to find one if it is the end of me.

Crit

I'm pretty nervous for my crit. Hopefully it'll go well. I'm applying for jobs like mad and can't find a single one. This is depressing.

The Endish

I'm excited to see how stuff goes over in final crit. I planned everything out, kept it organized on here, and seemed to not encounter any major freakouts. Maybe this is a strategy I need to use in life in general.

Installation

I'm pretty much installed minus a few tweaking aspects. Gotten some good feedback already. Playsafe is a good line to watch. I feel good that I have a week to fine tune. I'll probably finish up my African Art paper 100% tonight so I'll have tomorrow to work on the installation.

The Shoot

Everything went pretty well with the shoot, the video is exporting right now actually. I've finished typing my art history paper as well and I'm pretty much done with the cold war paper too. I've applied for a job at a few places and they're moving forward well. Tomorrow I'm going to install my piece I think. I'll at least make the measurements and sink the anchor. Either way, I need to know how everything is going to work before its going to be shown. It would be nice to know when I was showing so I could work something out with Bonnie.

Getting Ready

All is prepared for my shoot. The gallery space is measured out and the projector has been set up so it will work. All that's left is to shoot and install. I'm still nervous.

Both of my papers are in their final stages as well. The African Art one due on Wednesday will more than likely be completed by the end of this weekend. Now I just need to start building a study guide.

School is coming to a close for this semester. I can't believe I'm already half way through it. I need to go find a job.

FinalFInal

My final is going to be the before mentioned piece for Buzz, but It will be shot strait on with the sheet of wood and then projected back on it. I've got everything planned out and I'm going to start practicing this week. I've decided to number the nails. I'll secure a gallery ASAP. The email has already gone out to check the openings. I'll probably talk to Patrick too.

Liberal arts is going well too. Reading is basically done for Cold War, and the paper is in progress, and Research is underway for African art history.

Planning will make all of this go through a lot easier.

Oh, I might have found a summer job. I'm kind of excited, but also timid that if I get too expectant, it will not end up happening.

Oh well.

I need to figure out how to not let things pile up on me and how not to get scared when they do.

Final Ideas

This new media business has left me pretty in awe. I've been having a rough week and it added to the formulations of finals is really stretching me thin. I'm thinking of doing the hammering piece for my final. It feels like the right thing to do. I don't want to wait to do it. Now I just have to plan it and all my exams and papers. Fun.

Well,

I have no clue what to do from now.

Easter Thinkin'

Researching has made me think about new media even more and in different ways. I don't know if I can classify what I want to do in one genre that was assigned. I know I don't have to, but it feels odd not doing so. Nam June Piak is really inspiring me because of his deconstruction of video and what he felt about it. I should probably look at deconstructionism as well.

"New Media" response

These articles were very engaging to me based more on the thought produced. Two seemed more historical, which were interesting and engaging at the same time, while the third (soft cinema) made me think of how a system resembling theirs could aide the presentation of my ideas. When looking to question my media form, the medium is fairly evident as are the ideas, but the presentation of the two have been my biggest thinking point. I'm not really interested in "narrative" or any statements on it currently, but the strength in presentation might lend its self to the explorations I'm interested in. The two articles from the same source helped me even think de constructively about not only video, but the platform of arrival of the video and how those could be commented on. I'm not quite sure if networking lends its self to my concept currently, but it still poses interesting avenues of were either the work or me personally could exist and how that existence could be controlled. This makes me question weather or not my views are "new media" or what they fall under. The articles really make me question the validity of my deconstruction of the video media, but at the same time make me want to keep going to make my views on the medium seen and hopefully cause though. I guess overall this first push of real in depth influence has somewhat made me starstruck. The technology involved is intimidating and I'm not sure what or how to integrate into anything. These articles have opened the door and now it's my job to navigate these new ideas and bring forth my ideas out of them.

Well folks, nothing is really new. I've been trying to find somewhere to do an internship. If anyone knows a good place for an internship that pertains to new media art, I'll love you forever.

Spring break

Well, spring break is over and I can safely say that I needed it. Some family came into town and my uncle, dad, and I watched basketball and ate a ton of BBQ. It was probably the most fun I've had in a long time. The snow put me under though, I'll be ok in the end. This last leg of my sophomore year is really intimidating, but I'm ready I think. I really want to strive to explore myself through art. I'm sure going to need some support for this one.

What I learned from interviewing

After interviewing Lynn for my documentary I can look back and say that I have experienced one of the biggest learning experiences of my life. I came into the interview with a somewhat clear vision of what I wanted out of the documentary, but I didn't factor in the variable of what Lynn would give me. It was definitely partially my fault in the questioning, but even when asking questions that were seeking a response that would be beneficial to my finished product, he would give me something completely different. He was emotionally guarded in front of the camera most of the time and spent most of his effort talking about miniscule details of the work he had done. These details did reveal something about him, but not in the way that I wanted. I'm a fairly guarded person, so I should have seen it coming, but I think my romantic preconceptions of the finished product got in my way. Looking back, I should have spent more time with Lynn before hand so I could have conditioned him to talking more openly. He rarely talks about his feelings as it is, so it would naturally be more work getting him to say anything deep on camera. I also think that he had the idea that the piece was more about the house than him. Even though they do parallel each other, they needed to be balanced in the piece, and that didn't come through. I think another factor in my difficulties was that I was not fully confident in myself. There are a lot of demon that I still need to face when it comes to that side of the family, and that inadvertently interfered with my ability to fully create.

There were some positive things that I learned also. Letting Lynn continue talking after he answered my initial question yielded some really good material. It seemed to be the only way for him to sometimes drop his guard and talk about how he felt. Taking frequent smoke breaks and talking about completely off topic subjects also helped too. It just made him feel like less of a performer after and gave him a break from his guise. Letting him tell me what he wanted me to know also brought out a more genuine him, which was useful in the final edit.

The whole experience wasn't negative, but I feel like I learned more from those aspects. The whole process was exhausting, but when I finished, I felt as though I had really done something. It completely consumed me for two and a half weeks, and at the end, it was worth it. Through interviewing Lynn, I also learned a lot about my own strengths and weaknesses. I now know that I need to prepare even more and keep my self esteem up through the whole thing. As always, self doubt was a large obstacle the whole time. Altogether, I feel much closer to my art as my life after now. I brought them closer together than I ever had, and I think it payed off. I guess it will be more evident in the future.

Spring break thinking

I've been thinking about doing a piece soon to help me in thinking about how I feel about the recent loss of my uncle. It's going to be performance. I'm thinking about nailing 55 nails (one for every year of his life) into a board one by one (size of both pending) and then pulling them all out all one by one. I'm hoping to learn something about my views on living or at least have some sort of final resolution to this ordeal.

The "other"

Speaking for others has always been a fairly This article was really interesting in a sense of looking at misrepresentation in other parts of the world than just in the United States. It is important to me to be educated on the subject so if or when the issue comes up in my work, I can deal with it appropriately. It actually has come up in an idea and I ended up ruling it out because of my discomfort.

Being a middle class white male, I know that I carry more of a burden with representation. In some situations there will be the statement "You're just a white kid, what do you know (or what do you have to say) about that". I do not believe my cultural standing negates my voice in society or the value of my input on certain issues. I just have a responsibility to the viewer to be educated, informed , and fair in my statements. Some things just are what they are as well and that is the beauty of art.

First....

Hey, I exist here now.

I'm going to try to make this a place for my art and art related thoughts to inhabit.

Who knows what else might happen.

I'll make this thing look presentable too sometime.