tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17305109571236824882024-03-12T23:26:39.184-05:00Art That Circles The EarthDocumenting a collaborative series that crosses physical boundaries and beyond...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730510957123682488.post-27064322197747941522012-06-27T11:29:00.001-05:002012-06-27T17:18:15.271-05:00Artist Talk and an Introduction<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We have a <3 Heartland: Artist Talk video. SCORE! This has been kindly edited to just my portion of speaking, but as you'll soon see, many others chimed in so it was more of a discussion, in the end. More than half of this video is in reference to the recent <i>Art That Circles The Earth Exhibition </i>at MICA PLACE. <br />
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I would also like to introduce you to Paula, who was one of the artists that showed with us, but whom I have not yet introduced<i> to you</i>. I was trying to figure out an appropriate way to do it without having an image of her personal art. But you know what? Paula has been my mentor for the past two years and if I know her at all, I know her through her speech, her conversation, her patterns of communication. SO, when you watch the video, Paula will pop in at some point and speak for awhile. There, whew, I feel so much better about sharing "Paula" before I share our mandala with you....which should be my next post, coming up soon.<br />
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Until then, please enjoy this video of me talking about art...the first half is the<i> ATCTE</i> exhibition and the second is my personal work, <i>The Psychology of One. </i><br />
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<b>Please enjoy and SHARE! </b><b>And let me know what you think!</b><i></i><br />
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(it's technically unlisted, so you'll need this link to share)<i> </i><span class="watch-page-link"><a href="http://youtu.be/LFwVwW0g7UQ">http://youtu.be/LFwVwW0g7UQ </a></span><br />
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730510957123682488.post-69486797064740087322012-05-23T11:30:00.026-05:002012-05-29T13:42:59.476-05:00Turning the Tables with Alexis and Richard<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hello again, I have something very awesome that I have been saving for a short time. Within the last few months, I asked Alexis Iammarino and her father, Richard Iammarino some questions. Here they are in all their interesting glory...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Knowing that you and your father are both practicing artists, had you ever worked with him on a visual art piece before? (If so, can you describe or link it for us?)</b></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_2_0_7_1337774090180680" style="font-size: large;">We used to play a game of <i>I draw you draw </i>when I was a kid. Dad says, "Sometimes we'd just start with a mark on the paper and take from there. See what it would become." I have a few journal pages from when I'm 5 years old or so and you can see that we often drew together. But we have not worked together in this way, through the mail and with the intent of making a collaborative art piece as adults. We spend a lot of our weekly phone calls discussing and checking up on what each other are up to. We talk about art a lot. But as far as executing a piece together, this is our <span style="color: black;">first time. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">*Side note: We have worked together on decorative painting projects in private residences. We once did a HUGE floor painting, it was faux marquetry to restore this massive Russian medallion (Geometrically a massive mandala in a way! HA!). That was a beast of a project and what I remember most about that process was how seamless our problem solving was. We figured it out with more or less total confidence in each other we pulled it off. It was such a feat in it's scale. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What is the difference between working with your father, side-by-side and working by yourself in the studio on these mandala pieces (I know that you worked in both ways)? </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Certainly it's a big surprise when it comes through the mail...Dad never knew what to expect. And he knows me well, so I guess he could expect that he would be surprised. I'd handle the progression in bolder less incremental ways. I'm more spontaneous and he's a bit of thinker about it. We're sitting here thinking this over and we're saying that he'd unpack them and think for days about what to do next, whereas I'd open and take a look and respond pretty immediately.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The difference between working on it side-by-side, which was just a week when he's been visiting, from working on it in our own space for months. The difference is, we can field each others opinions and collaborate when we're together in the same room. Dad just said that maybe we're responding and doing what we want when it arrives in the mail, sorta like the balls in your court, you respond and do what you want. Then I asked, do you think we're not collaborating when we're apart? He answers, "Of course we're collaborating, but it's not the same - we're trying to pull the different approaches. We certainly have different approaches. We come from entirely different background in terms of our age, simply and also information/training and influences. But the same time we understand what we're doing, our thought process is very similar." </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Process wise for me, it was different in that I was working more slowly on our piece when Dad and I were working together in the same space. We've just exchanged thoughts about how he can be more critical about the minute decisions (self critical in terms of what would effect what, BUT this really has not so much to with this piece it self, but instead it has to do with how he's been tackling his current paintings in E. Cambridge) and I was just playful and felt that whatever we did could be figured out, or resolvable. He's just reminded me that this was all a very playful process between us and that it wasn't as natural to work such boldly with colors. He thinks that was a challenge in unifying the composition and the wholeness of it because our color sensibilities differ so much.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">He became very invested in 'tying it all together' to create a 'unified design'. And towards the end the last few days he made a bold suggestion to pick up some colored vellum/acetate to introduce color to the black and white areas. He thought of it as a glaze from his own painting practices....neat-O huh?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>You tend to work very collaboratively being a community artist and arts/dance facilitator, but do you have any new insights into the collaborative process, in working with him?</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Shana, this could be a shocker - wait for it, </span>wait for it......<br />
We're sitting here and we're asking ourselves <i>did we do a mandala? </i>Oh my. We've been sharing drawings in the mail and responding to one another. We've both introduced circles, spherical motifs, but in the sense that we've not been working from a center and building out concentrically. Shana, this actually feeling sorta wild, he just said to me "Oooo, making a mandala would have been fun!". I mentioned that other folks were making mandalas with the ATCTE, but now as we sit here, I have this feeling if only initially like I've misguided us in a way, at least in that we didn't make this piece as a Mandala. <br />
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Actually feel a little flabbergasted - anyway we're gonna finish what we've been working on and see if it seems to resonate with the work you've been collecting. I'll have to write back to you. Tell me, is it possible that we did this wrong? I don't think we've being playing my the rules here...seems silly, like a curve ball to throw your way. Wow.<br />
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Meanwhile, dad wants to do a Mandala with me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I always think of you foremost as a dancer because of your physical energy. and constant movement. If you were tasked to 'illustrate' the concept of the mandala with the human body as your medium, what do you think it would look like? Is it possible to describe it or sketch it?<span style="color: black;"> </span></b></span><br />
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The strongest example from my personal experience that would best illustrate a the concept of a mandala is<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK_DDGqH4Oo&feature=BFa&list=UUgLwMGiqjAPnPmEgXA1NnVw&lf=plcp"> this excerpt of a piece </a> I collaborated on with my dearest and nearest dance collaborator Lindsay Levesque. I am in the pink and she wears the white shirt.</div>
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Why I share this is that what you see here is a choreographic structure based on our own respective movement phrases, done with no counts and phrased only using the similarities of our body's frames - literally the length of our legs and so on. We are proportionately similar and we allowed our timing to be determinant of the speed and ease that we both have moving in and out of the floor or from low to high - The material you see here is material we've rehearsed and rehearsed countless times for each other witnessing the differences and making minute changes to make the material meld into a seamless set of movements that have been sequenced in such a way that we always realign in perfect unison even when we can't see each other.</div>
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This is like the collaborative mandala in that sense that the participants/performers seek a certain unity even as they pursue separate formal trajectories in the same space and time. Also our choice of how to integrate the sound for this piece was mandala-like.</div>
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We both selected pieces of music and they were played simultaneously as a single track in stereo, from their own speakers to create a unique piece unintended by the composers. One was an instrumental composed by Arvo Part and the chant was early European/Georgian a cappella chants. The length, the finality of the piece was determined by playing both songs on repeat until they ended on the same note...that was over 15 mins. </div>
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There are two more dancers in this section. Although there were four performers we really conceived of <b>each pair as a solo</b> because of the level of specificity and how the unison was achieved by deep team work and <b>physical listening. </b>For instance in the sections of the piece when all four of us were out there we were a duet.</div>
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This piece was the final section in an evening length work that she and I set for our senior project at Goucher College. It was the first and most profound and most instructive of any collaboration I've participated in to date. Really.</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_Km4j36khA&feature=related"><b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1337784299_3">Whirling Dervishes</span></b></a></div>
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Wow right? This of course comes to mind. </div>
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<b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhM8PsEYX0M&feature=related">Korean Dance</a><br />
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<span id="yui_3_2_0_54_1337774086298110">I am not familiar with this company or their cause, I came across it watching other whirling dervish footage on youtube. What I observe here also relates to the idea of mandala: there is centered focal point/individual that generates energy or engine for peripheral agents that feed back and compliment it with minute, coordinated gestures and subtle shifts of weight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Turning the Tables: Now it's your turn to ask me a question! Anything you like, and you'll find my answer on the blog, along with your interview...Alexis asks...</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_13377740901801114" style="border-collapse: collapse;">What is the most pervasive self-reflexive observation participants make about their role as a collaborator in this project?</span></b></i></span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_2_0_1_13377740901801114" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: large;">Hmm, like meta-art? You know, I don't think I would have been able to answer this question until I curated the actual show and saw them all together in one cohesive group....and it really was surprisingly cohesive. But I think I've found that the references within the pieces are all very elemental. True, everyone brought their own meaning to the mandala, and it seems to tie in with where their interest are as artists and human beings. </span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_2_0_1_13377740901801114" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: large;">Heather is part Native American, so she referenced birds and wings in both of her pieces with me. There were quite a few other natural elements involved with animals and or myth: a turtle, snake, eagle, spider, scarab beetle, raven, nymph. Danielle and Brian both do math based art, so a bit of "sacred geometry" was reflected...there were also a few pieces that involved the idea of space/the universe/galaxies. One that stunned me when I opened it was Wes and his two year old daughter's piece. What they created bore a striking resemblance to the "tree of life", it actually took my breath away upon first glance...she created something so elemental. Stunning.</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_2_0_1_13377740901801114" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: large;">We had some flower motifs, quite a few sticks and branches, which were collected by me and Elbee, and Paula mentioned drawing with a pecan branch into the earth when she was young. Her statement actually encapsulated a lot for me, and when I read it aloud at the artist talk I had a hard time of it...just because it meant <i>everything </i>and it was so powerful for me to read to others. I thought, "<b><i>This</i></b> is what the project is all about." It was so simple and gorgeous, it got to the heart of <i>creating</i>...so I think it speaks to some universal principles about the mandala and my hopes for the project.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_13377740901801114" style="border-collapse: collapse;">“I can remember making art at three years old. My first paintbrush was a twig from my grandfather’s pecan tree; my first canvas was the earth itself. I remember being five year old, swinging by my knees from a low-hung, makeshift trapeze, etching into the soil spirals and circles that had meaning only for me. The act of drawing was beautiful to me and gave me peace of mind. It still does..."</span></i></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_2_0_1_13377740901801114" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: large;">-Paula Phillips <i><br />
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<span id="yui_3_2_0_1_13377740901801114" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: large;">So yeah, the short answer is: people used what they knew and were familiar with, they leaned on and borrowed from their natural environment, myth, science, math, dreams and the universe. PERFECTLY self reflexive, if you ask me.</span><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_13377740901801114" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: large;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730510957123682488.post-33299927232683207562012-05-20T07:03:00.003-05:002012-05-20T07:45:39.087-05:00Updates on ATCTE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X9pIhg2mriA/T7jm_kKl-zI/AAAAAAAADI8/s8V6XzCh1Hc/s1600/IMG_0595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X9pIhg2mriA/T7jm_kKl-zI/AAAAAAAADI8/s8V6XzCh1Hc/s400/IMG_0595.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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If anyone has not seen the ATCTE Exhibition photos, I have some here of the artist talk:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/artinshanaty/sets/72157629567942768/"> http://www.flickr.com/photos/artinshanaty/sets/72157629567942768/</a><br />
AND a few images of the reception as well as some really good photos of the layout of the exhibition here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/artinshanaty/sets/72157629932165777/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/artinshanaty/sets/72157629932165777/</a><br />
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There are some finished pieces in this project that you may not have seen yet...and I will be going through those for you throughout this summer. In the meantime, there has been a new collaboration (with Paula Phillips and me), and I realize that many of you in the exhibition may have thought...."who is that?" I was hesitant to blog about it until she gave me a statement about herself. Well, I do have her statement now, so I'll be going through that soon enough, as well. Look for more postings soon!<br />
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Happy, happy summer everyone!<br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730510957123682488.post-42700656968066289222012-03-16T12:36:00.001-05:002012-03-17T22:25:37.749-05:00Ah, Whitney-Anne<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">How much did I love working with her? SO MUCH. And she's cheeky, just like a "proper" English woman, in my mind, should be. I loved reading her updates and conversing with her on facebook throughout these months. Little things here and there, the time we had the mail sent and received and no photos to speak of between the two of us. That was an episode of dimmed excitement for me, as both of our cameras were not working. <br />
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All this is to say, that I was thinking earlier about how I actually converse the most with my fellow artists in ATCTE. And you know, the vast majority is on facebook or on their various blogs, where I try to keep up, and at least read about them when I see them pop up on my google reader. I had an idea in regards to that, and it may show up in the final exhibition as the literature / statement aspect. The idea just floated in but it's still formulating.<br />
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Anyway, you should check out <i><a href="http://whitneysweirdstuff.blogspot.com/2012/03/mandala-collaboration-art-that-circles.html">Whitney's Weird Stuff</a> </i>where she wrote the nicest recap on her end, of what transpired this year with the one mandala. I loved reading it and looking at the photos, and you will too. Go there now and see what happened to the piece I started!<br />
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Just after I wrote the above passage, I got up from where I was sitting...I was having this nagging feeling yesterday that my portion of the other mandala wasn't finished, even though I had acted like it was finished, shot and edited the photos, saved them in the appropriate desktop folder....but no, it wasn't finished...So I just got up, and walked past an unopened box of Sweethearts candy from this Valentine's Day. They're not my favorite candies, but I always liked the little stamped words. So I walked by the box, and then promptly reversed my walk, picked up the candy and went to work immediately<i> finishing the mandala</i>, just now. Yep, it's done now. I felt like this was such a "sweet" little piece. I always loved the markings in the background, the stitching, the texture; it has a whimsical and eccentric quality to it. I can only imagine that it was a bit of Whitney-Anne's personality sneaking through. This finished product is bright and very fun!<br />
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So here us our little mandala, from start to finish, <b>Cycle 7, Round 4:</b><br />
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Round 1:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> <b>Whitney-Anne Baker to Shana R. Goetsch</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Brixham, Devon, England/UK to Baltimore, MD, USA</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Shana R. Goetsch to Whitney-Anne Baker</b> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> Baltimore, MD, USA to Brixham, Devon, England/UK </div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Whitney-Anne Baker to Shana R. Goetsch</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Brixham, Devon, England/UK to Baltimore, MD, USA</div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> And now for the final mandala!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Mandala (with candy) finished by Whitney-Anne Baker and Shana R. Goetsch in Baltimore, MD, U.S.A.</b></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730510957123682488.post-87710980389068127842012-03-16T11:22:00.001-05:002013-03-16T21:20:14.427-05:00Layers - One on Top of Another<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have updates from Alexis and her father, Richard Iammarino. They are working on an interview that I submitted to them a few weeks ago as well, so look for that coming soon. In the meantime, we can look at this layered triptych imagery that they sent to me, and I received just a few days ago. It's always very exciting to see what Alexis has been up to, and this was no exception. I can see definite elements of both Alexis and her father in these three pieces. Their two styles merged together really seamlessly and effortlessly, in my opinion. I am very excited to see these go up on the wall for the exhibition!<br />
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Here they are:<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730510957123682488.post-88432396668194617212012-03-14T14:30:00.001-05:002012-03-14T14:31:53.363-05:00Within the Family II<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I received the mandala back from my dad, Robert Goetsch, just this week. If you'll remember, he insists he is not an artist. Oh why are the non-artists always so creative and artistic then? He has typified this very symptom in his portion of this piece, and I'm not entirely surprised. He created a very "Wisconsin" themed mandala for me to work on. He depicted the cow jumping over the moon from the nursery rhyme, <i>The Cat and the Fiddle</i> (or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hey_Diddle_Diddle#Lyrics"><i>Hey, Diddle Diddle</i></a> as it is often known)...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LB3qOmfWWLQ/T2DxAcP7HwI/AAAAAAAAC-Y/GP7Cy_OCNwI/s1600/IMG_0181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LB3qOmfWWLQ/T2DxAcP7HwI/AAAAAAAAC-Y/GP7Cy_OCNwI/s320/IMG_0181.JPG" width="305" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DkpPWwBDIyY/T2DxJh_HEaI/AAAAAAAAC-g/Vs8Kyfl_MZ8/s1600/IMG_0183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DkpPWwBDIyY/T2DxJh_HEaI/AAAAAAAAC-g/Vs8Kyfl_MZ8/s320/IMG_0183.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Perhaps I'll make some dishes and spoons to go along with this cheese wedge...?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730510957123682488.post-59470543805880232262012-03-10T14:41:00.002-06:002012-03-14T23:33:02.930-05:00The ATCTE Exhibition<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Hey, hey. Guess what time it is...it's exhibition time! Here is the poster image I created for our first ever event...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-87-UMFwn4ZQ/T1u6vI81DEI/AAAAAAAAC-Q/2HpFq74ih_o/s1600/ATCTEpromo2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-87-UMFwn4ZQ/T1u6vI81DEI/AAAAAAAAC-Q/2HpFq74ih_o/s640/ATCTEpromo2012.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><br />
If you are in the Baltimore area, please join us! It will take place in conjunction with the 2012 MFA in Community Arts Thesis Exhibition, "Heartland". This exhibition will run April 25 - May 16, 2012 with a reception open to the public on May 12 from 5 - 7 pm. Be there, or be square, Bmore (and really, who needs squares when we have all of these lovely circles).<br />
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Hope to see you!<br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730510957123682488.post-85207851559390314702012-03-03T15:25:00.003-06:002012-03-14T14:38:12.799-05:00Within the Family<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Hey all, a few things...<br />
I am getting us all ready in the ATCTE project for our first exhibition, this spring (more information on that to follow)! I have also started a mandala with my father, a "non-artist". He couldn't escape me though, because I used to see his doodling when I was younger. Very accurate, tiny doodling involving three point perspective. Not an artist, my foot. Those with talent always say that, don't they?<br />
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Here is the start of it, I began with something small that wouldn't overwhelm him. This is a pre-fabbed cardboard something or other that I believe came with some sort of dishes. The outside had a shiny coating on it, so I thought it might create a nice texture if I sanded it down with sandpaper. I then put several aqua blue watercolor coats over it, which then clung to the sanded marks. The inside is acrylic, because it had no shiny coating, and it was therefor easier to paint over and soak in. I used several shades of blue because it's both my dad's and my favorite color...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ik7IQXyrYx8/T1KI_88dvlI/AAAAAAAAC-A/4ct3dsU-VlU/s1600/IMG_0160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ik7IQXyrYx8/T1KI_88dvlI/AAAAAAAAC-A/4ct3dsU-VlU/s400/IMG_0160.JPG" width="386" /></a></div><br />
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I know that he at least has glue, scissors, pencils and pens and markers at his house, so we'll see what transpires. I sent it in the mail yesterday along with my third round with Brian Sylvester. Stay tuned for the update on that cycle, as I'm just waiting for his to get to me first. I am working on a "Turning the Tables" post with Alexis, I will be generating the questions for her this weekend. So, keep an eye out, more exciting updates are coming soon! </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730510957123682488.post-50462937981110213182012-01-26T11:32:00.001-06:002012-01-26T11:36:37.526-06:00Stitching it Together<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">We have an update (Whitney-Anne and me). It took us what seemed like forever to get this round together. And it was me holding things up, she's very prompt. But between the two of us, two cameras were dropped and one computer crashed. So they were both finished at a certain point last week, but I was unable to make a post with the results until now - no photos.<br />
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<b>Cycle 7, Round 3:</b><br />
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What Whitney-Anne did here was to paint the outside edge with a nice cherry red color. Then she did some very fine stitching, with (I'm guessing) embroidery floss. She has given me a great geometric pattern to work with in the last round, in addition to the chaotic/loose background.<b> </b>I enjoy the juxtaposition.<b></b><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Whitney-Anne Baker to Shana R. Goetsch</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Brixham, Devon, England/UK to Baltimore, MD, USA</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GPCeKkDVqD8/TyGKMU2EX4I/AAAAAAAAC8M/49bN1O0pTU4/s1600/IMG_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GPCeKkDVqD8/TyGKMU2EX4I/AAAAAAAAC8M/49bN1O0pTU4/s400/IMG_0008.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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What I did here was to take the movable center portion and attach it to a different "base". This was something that was previously made that I had lying around because I had no idea what to do with it, so I saved it and used it here. I originally created this base, quasi-mosaic piece with magazine papers. However, I did paint a wash of China Orange over the whole thing before I attached it to the movable portion. I also selectively painted over some of the gold in the center that Whitney-Anne had laid down in the last round. A little extra *pop*.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Shana R. Goetsch to Whitney-Anne Baker</b> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> Baltimore, MD, USA to Brixham, Devon, England/UK </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">So there ya have it! (so far) </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730510957123682488.post-2226857251052187052012-01-23T08:56:00.003-06:002012-01-23T12:18:08.628-06:00From the Artistic Iammarino Family...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I just received a few updates from Alexis on the progress of the mandala created with her father. She says, "Both my dad and I are appreciating this process so much. It's exciting to see what has evolved since the other had it last!" Alexis and Richard are working on three pieces total, that's right <i>three</i>. Here are some images she sent me of their progress so far...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yGCIzggruEU/Tx1yxNjzu7I/AAAAAAAAC7E/bU4SDFXfG9c/s1600/Alexis_Richard_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yGCIzggruEU/Tx1yxNjzu7I/AAAAAAAAC7E/bU4SDFXfG9c/s400/Alexis_Richard_1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fJfiwE0CRq8/Tx1y4i1HYFI/AAAAAAAAC7M/p_mD9VRq9w0/s1600/Alexis_Richard_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fJfiwE0CRq8/Tx1y4i1HYFI/AAAAAAAAC7M/p_mD9VRq9w0/s400/Alexis_Richard_2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D3fAe-Bhgzw/Tx1zPTvvhbI/AAAAAAAAC7c/9eas8ZcFhec/s1600/Alexis_Richard_4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D3fAe-Bhgzw/Tx1zPTvvhbI/AAAAAAAAC7c/9eas8ZcFhec/s400/Alexis_Richard_4.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZCjQW1yfuZQ/Tx1zcfHVxTI/AAAAAAAAC7k/0LNhYIJI3bI/s1600/Alexis_Richard_8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZCjQW1yfuZQ/Tx1zcfHVxTI/AAAAAAAAC7k/0LNhYIJI3bI/s400/Alexis_Richard_8.JPG" width="331" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wHzONAdhs-c/Tx1zpHmvIfI/AAAAAAAAC7s/LKHvqGv0MyM/s1600/Alexis_Richard_5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wHzONAdhs-c/Tx1zpHmvIfI/AAAAAAAAC7s/LKHvqGv0MyM/s400/Alexis_Richard_5.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UJ3xDZH3XgQ/Tx1z44QjITI/AAAAAAAAC78/ndn9dsqJ4ZQ/s1600/Alexis_Richard_7_detail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UJ3xDZH3XgQ/Tx1z44QjITI/AAAAAAAAC78/ndn9dsqJ4ZQ/s400/Alexis_Richard_7_detail.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am really enjoying all of these, especially the colored piece at the top.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>ETA: Alexis just told me in an email that the materials they used so far are: pen and ink and colored pencil!</i><br />
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The next update from Whitney-Anne and me will be coming soon!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730510957123682488.post-26683073805545243052012-01-06T11:22:00.017-06:002012-01-06T12:32:36.144-06:00"Monad", by Guest Blogger, D. Garzelloni<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b id="yiv215893810internal-source-marker_0.45705061219632626" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our own <i><a href="http://sevenhare.blogspot.com/">D. Garzelloni</a></i> will be taking us through a few interesting concepts with her first guest blog post for ATCTE!</span></b><b id="yiv215893810internal-source-marker_0.45705061219632626" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b><b id="yiv215893810internal-source-marker_0.45705061219632626" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Thanks so much, D! </span></b><br />
<b id="yiv215893810internal-source-marker_0.45705061219632626" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">______________________________________________________________<br />
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<div style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><u><i><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1325866173_0"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1325866173_0">MONAD</span></span></b></i></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><b id="yiv215893810internal-source-marker_0.45705061219632626" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b id="yiv215893810internal-source-marker_0.45705061219632626" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“One principle must make the universe a single complex living creature, one from all.”</span></b><b id="yiv215893810internal-source-marker_0.45705061219632626" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plotinus" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plotinus</span></a></b></div><b id="yiv215893810internal-source-marker_0.45705061219632626" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I was a kid, my neighborhood friend Vicki and I invented a game. Separated from most of the neighborhood by age and gender, Vicki and I compensated by creating our own unique activities. One afternoon, while drawing in the dirt with sticks, we came up with the circle game and it quickly became our go-to game for filling time and space. First, we would draw a huge circle in the dirt and then we took turns drawing circles within the circle. We could make them any size we wanted, anywhere within the circle we wanted, eventually filling all the of the space and the game would be done. No winner, no loser. There was only one rule: in the process of drawing our circle, we could not upset any of the other circles or the main circle. Making our own marks, while maintaining the integrity of the whole; we were becoming individuals separate from each other, but still connected, connected to each other and the whole of nature. </span></b></div><div style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px;"><b id="yiv215893810internal-source-marker_0.45705061219632626" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b id="yiv215893810internal-source-marker_0.45705061219632626" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"There is geometry in the humming of the strings, there is music in the spacing of the spheres"</span></b><b id="yiv215893810internal-source-marker_0.45705061219632626" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagoras" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-Pythagoras</span></a></b></div><b id="yiv215893810internal-source-marker_0.45705061219632626" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div><div style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px;"><b id="yiv215893810internal-source-marker_0.45705061219632626" style="font-weight: normal;"></b></div><div style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px;"><b id="yiv215893810internal-source-marker_0.45705061219632626" style="font-weight: normal;"></b></div><div style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px;"><b id="yiv215893810internal-source-marker_0.45705061219632626" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b></div><div style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px;"><b id="yiv215893810internal-source-marker_0.45705061219632626" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Math is a difficult subject for most people to discuss even casually. Most of us struggle with math and the realization that we suck at it was, for most of us, a watershed event in our childhood. It was the first concrete limit placed on our potential and intelligence, it changed the way we were taught in school and the way we looked at the future. The few kids fortunate enough to excel at math were rewarded by being shouldered with additional academic responsibilities, the unrealistic expectations of parents and teachers and the prospect of a formal education that never ends. The math we were expected to master in school had little to do with real mathematics, and good or bad at it, we all had math ruined for us at an early age.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Imagine a time in human history when mathematics were regarded with awe, steeped in magic and mystery, rendering the secrets of the universe equally knowable to all mankind and then consider how our modern world is structured to create a sense of dread and inferiority at the mere mention of math. Most of us would claim not to know or understand mathematics and yet, we are captivated by its principles clearly visible in nature in flowers, shells, crystals, plants, and insects. Our fear of math is a facet of our alienation from nature and ourselves, the Monad promises us reconciliation by reconnecting us with the language of the universe; Mathematics.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The ancient Greek mathematician, philosopher, and mystic, Pythagoras (c.570 - c.495BC), believed mathematical principles were the principles of all things and that all things can be known through numbers. Pythagoras, a mysterious figure who inspired messianic-like awe in his followers including Plato, was hugely influential in Western thought and philosophy as well as esoteric traditions such as Alchemy, Numerology, Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Symbolizing perfection, unity, wholeness, divine nature, and design excellence, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Monad </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is the Greek term for the principles represented by the circle. From the root word </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">‘menein’ </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">which means ‘to be stable’ and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">monas</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or ‘oneness’ we get ‘Monad’. The Monad was known to the Pythagoreans as The First, the Seed, the Essence, the Builder, the Foundation, the Immutable Truth and Destiny.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Assigning a numerical value to the circle takes it out of the realm of the symbolic and brings it into the material world, where we can see concrete examples of how it works. The mathematical meaning simply reiterates the symbolic meaning.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The circle symbolizes wholeness and, as wholeness preserves the identity of all it encounters, the philosophers gave it a numerical value of 1. The number one, sometimes referred to as ‘unity’, preserves wholeness, any number multiplied or divided by 1 equals the number. As a result, 1 is its own factorial, its own square, its own cube and so on.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5 ÷ 1 = 5 (5 remains itself)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5 × 1 = 5 (5 remains itself)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The circle is, quite literally, the mother of all geometric shapes. As all subsequent numbers proceed in single increments from the number one, all geometric shapes are inscribed within the Monad. All pattern and symmetry proceed from one shape. </span></b><br />
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</div><div style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QJZB03Go3EQ/Twcpg0AA9HI/AAAAAAAAC6w/qXVNkiqGnF4/s1600/i0VUnAstlnFJEZ5zsqqkemaasDdHUZf2PdvaW8QXGDRTZfYuo8hLlu4Jpm1JGwulZarmMCL1tQsidNyckF1Q2gMino5waXz5sFD5GzJ5uSWTVCvI4wY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QJZB03Go3EQ/Twcpg0AA9HI/AAAAAAAAC6w/qXVNkiqGnF4/s400/i0VUnAstlnFJEZ5zsqqkemaasDdHUZf2PdvaW8QXGDRTZfYuo8hLlu4Jpm1JGwulZarmMCL1tQsidNyckF1Q2gMino5waXz5sFD5GzJ5uSWTVCvI4wY.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b id="yiv215893810internal-source-marker_0.45705061219632626" style="clear: left; float: left; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b id="yiv215893810internal-source-marker_0.45705061219632626" style="clear: left; float: left; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The circle is the cradle of our symbolic and mathematical universe, it embodies the characteristics of unity, everywhere the same and all circles are equal. It is the womb of our creative universe as well. The circle makes a mate for itself by contemplating itself, reflecting itself, casting its own shadow, by dividing and therefore multiplying itself. This process is mirrored though geometry in an ancient geometric construction called the vesica piscis, the Birth of the Other. </span></b><b id="yiv215893810internal-source-marker_0.45705061219632626" style="clear: left; float: left; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p5X3Iz1DJ5w/Twcpt8n2ZDI/AAAAAAAAC64/JqJ-YeertSo/s1600/JbKcH3ufAvA-V6HzRrMocAP0976tGqd017W4ca0Jbmn6su2Z9W0FZ52uHdunwoj0p9FsC2vvDTs5YodN4Fkyo9MaIUh8ETP4YnXwB1FHTDW24CJzORY.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p5X3Iz1DJ5w/Twcpt8n2ZDI/AAAAAAAAC64/JqJ-YeertSo/s400/JbKcH3ufAvA-V6HzRrMocAP0976tGqd017W4ca0Jbmn6su2Z9W0FZ52uHdunwoj0p9FsC2vvDTs5YodN4Fkyo9MaIUh8ETP4YnXwB1FHTDW24CJzORY.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b id="yiv215893810internal-source-marker_0.45705061219632626" style="clear: left; float: left; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</b><b id="yiv215893810internal-source-marker_0.45705061219632626" style="font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2e2f1b; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b id="yiv215893810internal-source-marker_0.45705061219632626" style="font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #2e2f1b; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Life is born only of the spark of opposites." - </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_jung" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carl Jung</span></a></b></div><br />
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<b id="yiv215893810internal-source-marker_0.45705061219632626" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The ancients called the principal of ‘two-ness’ or ‘otherness’ the Dyad. They considered it with suspicion as it seemed to revolt from unity, distancing itself from the Monad. They referred to it as ‘audacity’ for its boldness and ‘anguish’ because of its separation from the whole. The Dyad </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> polarity; it is at the root of our notion of separateness, separateness from each other and from nature. The paradox of the Dyad is that while it appears to be separate, its opposite poles remember, and attract one another, which is why the ancients also called the Dyad ‘illusion’. The Dyad is at the basis for every creative process, as creativity allows us to discover and return to ourselves, in our deepest selves, we are beyond all polarity.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Discovery of the Circle is the discovery of the Self separate from the Other, an inside separate and distinct from the outside. It is our first glimpse into the perfection, polarity, unity and order inborn in ourselves and Nature. Everywhere wholeness and unity exist, yet remain unapparent, as in a seemingly simple yet profound children’s game.</span></b><br />
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<b id="yiv215893810internal-source-marker_0.45705061219632626" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730510957123682488.post-76332913105809113102011-12-11T11:14:00.006-06:002012-01-23T12:08:27.363-06:00Fathers and Daughters<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I have some new pieces...with a twist! A few of my artist friends have taken this collaboration to a new level. It all started with Wes Way and his young daughter, they worked on a few mandalas together. This was such a delightful idea, that I decided to expand on it and ask my artist friend, Alexis Iammarino to join the project with her artist father, Richard. I will also be joining with my non-artist father in making a mandala soon! This is adding another dimension of community that I had not considered before. So, thanks Wes, truly, for your art of being a good father, and to all fathers involved for encouraging creativity and independence in your daughters.<br />
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On with the show. Wes's daughter is a very young artist, around 2 years of age. Daddy and daughter worked on two pieces, but he was not happy with the first...the separation between the two-the imagery was too vast. So for the second piece (below) they worked together at the same time and in the same space...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-psqVtibjKeE/TuTg_GfGhXI/AAAAAAAAC0s/EAeq4gn8JG4/s1600/IMG_1429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="377" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-psqVtibjKeE/TuTg_GfGhXI/AAAAAAAAC0s/EAeq4gn8JG4/s400/IMG_1429.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">I think it looks like<i> </i>the<i> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_of_life">Tree of Life.</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Leave it to a two year old to subconsciously pick up that bit of universal, archetypal brilliance.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">The next piece is courtesy of Richard and Alexis Iammarino. They are both prolific artists, Alexis works in many mediums, including dance, painting, film and all types of community and participatory arts, and she has quite the extensive journaling <i>and</i> reading practice. Richard Iammarino makes crow-quill pen and silver point drawings, he is also a painter, and a sculpture. The two started working on a piece together and I have images of their first round!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2P8W0xahlQ8/TuTi_0BIoRI/AAAAAAAAC08/GcFNYkSe7FY/s1600/IMG_1252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2P8W0xahlQ8/TuTi_0BIoRI/AAAAAAAAC08/GcFNYkSe7FY/s400/IMG_1252.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is Alexis showing me the piece her father started in pen and ink </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YIu1qSYcQiE/TuTjH0VUHiI/AAAAAAAAC1E/v8X_HIgAyJI/s1600/IMG_1255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YIu1qSYcQiE/TuTjH0VUHiI/AAAAAAAAC1E/v8X_HIgAyJI/s400/IMG_1255.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">This piece promises to be very intricate, I can't wait for them to work on it more, AND I can't wait to start a piece with my dad over winter break from school. Happily, community comes in many forms, my friends!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730510957123682488.post-14962904011865358722011-11-22T10:56:00.002-06:002011-11-22T11:02:15.865-06:00Turning the Tables with Elbee<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Very insightful! A great new artist interview with Elbee from Tallahassee, Florida y'all! <br />
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1. Thinking back, I might have pressured you into it, that being said, what interested you in joining this collaboration?<br />
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<i>I'm not easily pressured into doing things I don't want to do, the pressure I felt was more of an artistic, loving nudge from someone who has faith in me, my talents and potentials; things I typically underestimate about myself. What interested me was tapping into that silent side of myself and watching what came to pass!</i><br />
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2. You've described yourself in the past as a "non-artist", but I was wondering what being an "artist" really means to you.<br />
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<i>To me, an artist is someone who has, for a better lack of understanding, found their innerchild. When we are children, we are not afraid of our creativity; we shine in it, we thrive in it. When we become adults, that child tends to become muted and hidden and many times locked away forever. A true artist is someone who not only feels that innerchild, but embraces it and reflects it back to the world. </i></div><br />
3. Was the artmaking more of an intimidating process for you, or did you enjoy yourself? <br />
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<i>As a non-artist, many times the process felt intimidating, usually when I would question how my piece would compare to the other participants. I would find myself wondering if they would ask just what the heck this ridiculous piece of glued items was doing in an art series. However with that being said, I would remind myself to hush and let the art speak for itself. </i><br />
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4. Is there a specific part of this project, beyond your direct involvement, that is interesting to you?<br />
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<i>I am very excited to see the series completed, displayed and presented to the art world. I am honored to be a part of such amazing creations.</i><br />
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5. What does the mandala mean to you in your life? Does it apply?<br />
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<i>The mandala means a few things to me--it sparked some real creative juices for me so in a sense, it was a rebirth. I have been making collages since the series started and came to the conclusion that even a non-artist can create something thought-provoking and beautiful.</i></div><div><br />
</div>***Now we'll turn the tables, wherein you may also ask me a question. I'll post my answer on the blog with your interview...it can be whatever you want!<br />
<i><br />
What was the most satisfying part of the series? Most frustrating?<br />
Why are you so smart?</i><br />
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...I think the most satisfying part of the series has been getting mail/packages, honestly. I <i>do</i> enjoy making things work and marrying two divergent styles together. That gives me a certain sense of "thinking" satisfaction. But I really like getting mail. I don't get enough packages or mail that aren't bills, I rarely get presents, and if I do they are usually not wrapped, so I love opening packages! It's more of an inner child response I suppose, but my gut still tells me that I LOVE GETTING MAIL.<br />
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If I am smart at all, it is because I have phenomenally intelligent parents and their genes naturally elevated my mediocrity a teensy bit. ;) Thanks for being open and willing to take a chance on this project with me!<br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i><br />
</i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730510957123682488.post-50133227887294159372011-11-13T10:18:00.001-06:002011-11-13T10:28:35.804-06:00Movable<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I have another update from Whitney-Anne Baker. Whitney, much like Heather Gordy, works fast. I am used to holding onto these things for months...but not with Whitney-Anne. She receives it, works on it and sends it...and <i>then</i> lets me know it's sent. My reaction is always akin to, "Oh crap, better get moving!" So, I did send hers out, and she received it again. The mail (or "the post" as Whitney-Anne says) seems to work pretty fast between here and there, which is fantastic. Now onto the show!<br />
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Cycle 7, Round 2:<br />
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Whitney made the mandala movable! How awesome is that? It looks like she took the mandala, cut out the center, sparingly applied some gold paint, mounted it all on some bright, aqua painted cardboard, and then <i>made it move </i>by clipping it to the back. Genius! I would never, in a million years, think of that, but it seems to be the most natural state for a mandala - changeable.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QU3GbaOBs5k/Tr_mUj7oYQI/AAAAAAAACzE/NXLQLTdtpUA/s1600/IMG_1276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QU3GbaOBs5k/Tr_mUj7oYQI/AAAAAAAACzE/NXLQLTdtpUA/s400/IMG_1276.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Whitney-Anne Baker to Shana R. Goetsch</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Brixham, Devon, England/UK to Baltimore, MD, USA</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cUqIKumnsVI/Tr_mclRHEII/AAAAAAAACzM/y09IEx6S414/s1600/IMG_1279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cUqIKumnsVI/Tr_mclRHEII/AAAAAAAACzM/y09IEx6S414/s400/IMG_1279.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here I am moving it around with the tabs provided. Right now, it reminds me of a compass.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">For my round, I again utilized some recyclables. I had been saving the playing card I used (for the red/white portion) for quite a few years. I originally saved it because it has cute little winged creatures on the back. Beyond that, I ripped some of the cloth off of the mandala that Whitney-Anne sent to me. I did this because I knew that the glue she used would leave a nice residue and create another pattern. Then I literally just covered the whole thing in my dirty watercolor water. The remnants of my watercoloring were a nice purpley-red color this time. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VRhboTRUyWw/Tr_mlAKUtdI/AAAAAAAACzU/y6oVm4mycCI/s1600/IMG_1248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VRhboTRUyWw/Tr_mlAKUtdI/AAAAAAAACzU/y6oVm4mycCI/s400/IMG_1248.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> <b>Shana R. Goetsch to Whitney-Anne Baker</b> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> Baltimore, MD, USA to Brixham, Devon, England/UK </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G6oCrd6XFb8/Tr_mvM8B9aI/AAAAAAAACzc/ogc_M87jS88/s1600/IMG_1251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G6oCrd6XFb8/Tr_mvM8B9aI/AAAAAAAACzc/ogc_M87jS88/s400/IMG_1251.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Sssshhh, don't tell anyone my watercolor water is that dirty. I am the worst about using actual clean water. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">BTW, Whitney-Anne also sent along this postcard which gives us a visual of the town she lives in...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-scoe3Bh6QRU/Tr_q7OER4YI/AAAAAAAACzk/YrekeJxQj70/s1600/IMG_1275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-scoe3Bh6QRU/Tr_q7OER4YI/AAAAAAAACzk/YrekeJxQj70/s400/IMG_1275.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now we all know about how quaint Brixham is, thanks Whitney-Anne!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730510957123682488.post-1727360291725322312011-11-13T09:33:00.002-06:002011-11-13T11:44:59.544-06:00Mayans and Crop Circles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I found and watched another film about crop circles. I must admit that this is one of the most fascinating phenomena for me. Our class recently took a trip to the American Visionary Art Museum here in Baltimore to see, <i><a href="http://www.avam.org/exhibitions/all-things-round.shtml">"All Things Round"</a></i>, and included in that <b>amazing</b> exhibition were some photos of crop circles as well. I think crop circles are beautiful, very mysterious and exciting. Not so secretly, I'm hoping their creation is due to aliens. Anyway, this film really made a lot of sense to me, judge me if you must, but it really did...<br />
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Free on Hulu right now: <a href="http://www.hulu.com/watch/295709/mayan-prophecies-and-crop-circles"><i>Mayan Prophecies and Crop Circles</i></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730510957123682488.post-64353579452141360302011-10-28T10:04:00.001-05:002011-10-29T08:42:27.595-05:00Tricksters<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I had to laugh when I opened the package from Whitney-Anne, just because it was the very antithesis of what I had expected from her. Never underestimate...her note even said she had some tricks up her sleeve. I believe it. Based on her past work, what I expected was something digital, with high color. What I got was paper, fabric and stitching, in a cream on white color scheme!<br />
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This brings me to a little anecdote about my philosophy and pedagogy class--it's a class about teaching art in college--we have to design a curriculum for two classes, complete with sources and references, and reading material for them, whatever we want. One book I chose to have as required reading for the students in my class, "Not Your Grandma's Watercolor" (for real, I named the class that) is<i> <a href="http://www.davidbatchelor.co.uk/books/chromophobia/"><u>Chromophobia</u> by David Batchelor.</a></i> "Chromophobia" is "a fear of corruption or contamination through color". It just makes me laugh when things are so topical and linked together; real life and art life. The Universe is such a trickster.<br />
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So needless to say, I'm going to get craaaazy with this, because I ain't afraid of color...watch out Whitney-Anne! This is her stitched canvas and paper piece...<br />
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Cycle 7, Round 1<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k4q_TN_4iio/Tqq9Sw4wlQI/AAAAAAAACuE/9NEhb9aRSsU/s1600/IMG_1221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k4q_TN_4iio/Tqq9Sw4wlQI/AAAAAAAACuE/9NEhb9aRSsU/s400/IMG_1221.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b> Whitney-Anne Baker to Shana R. Goetsch</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Brixham, Devon, England/UK to Baltimore, MD, USA</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sqt7pnqxi6g/Tqq9bCL8PzI/AAAAAAAACuM/mN_HZCdIdSc/s1600/IMG_1222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sqt7pnqxi6g/Tqq9bCL8PzI/AAAAAAAACuM/mN_HZCdIdSc/s400/IMG_1222.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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I liked the stitching on the back as well as the front, so if I decide to use the back I will have to take a photo of it first (mental note). On to me and what I sent to England, which was something very colorful and simple, it's made of yarn on cardboard! I made quite a few of these during the months of August and September and this is one of them. This was used as a technique in an art workshop I facilitated with the kids and adults at the domestic violence shelter. It's somewhat about concentration and creating order, subconsciously. That aside, I hope Whitney-Anne rips this thing apart!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DtLv7pIyz8Y/TqrAuCWUPbI/AAAAAAAACuU/Je14rRW7wlc/s1600/IMG_1103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DtLv7pIyz8Y/TqrAuCWUPbI/AAAAAAAACuU/Je14rRW7wlc/s320/IMG_1103.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b> Shana R. Goetsch to Whitney-Anne Baker</b> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> Baltimore, MD, USA to Brixham, Devon, England/UK </div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Next up, Artist Paula Phillips, also from Baltimore (I'm mixing it up).</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730510957123682488.post-79841290194391724262011-10-25T07:11:00.009-05:002011-11-13T10:50:09.038-06:00Elemental<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Recently, I was invited by my friend Jessica Wyatt to be a guest artist in her GTI class, Elements of Visual Thinking. Jessica is the GTI or Graduate Teaching Intern for one for these classes at MICA. I was graciously welcomed by the professor of the class, Colette Veasey-Cullors and all of the freshman students. The theme of the class was, you guessed it, mandalas!<br />
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Jessica and I essentially created a two day curriculum. We utilized the knowledge of one of our MFACA professors, Cinder Hypki, who gave a presentation on the background and symbology of mandala the first day. The second day, after a short, for lack of a better phrase, "artist talk" from me, Jess and I broke the class into pairs/groups. We then asked them to work together to create a finished mandala during class time. This was a workshop that was designed to get them in touch with other ways of working, and a way of managing an archetypal symbol.<br />
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Since the mandala is such a broad, universal topic, we really used a "top-down" approach to the lesson. Cinder's presentation revealed the universal - macro to micro - use of the mandala. Jess and I then brought it into the collective realm of this very blog project. We recreated a variation of the Art That Circles The Earth Project, the catch being, that the participants had to decide amongst themselves, HOW to work together.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HB5enfCBua8/TqbPVMjKsSI/AAAAAAAACtc/uCmBWKOcoCY/s1600/IMG_1086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HB5enfCBua8/TqbPVMjKsSI/AAAAAAAACtc/uCmBWKOcoCY/s400/IMG_1086.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Many of the students worked in tandem on the mandala, but several pairs took a different approach by taking turns, working on the collective mandala piece separately. Two of the students were quite radical, in that they used coding for the project. They created code on their computers for sound and the mandala. Their manner of working was interesting to me, in that they sat right next to each other, and worked on separate parts of the whole, while focusing almost exclusively on their respective computers. Their efforts came together well for their critique, in the form of a participatory piece, which we all had a hand in.<br />
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Since I consider the mandalas more of a "sacred space" and we really wanted them to inevitably create personal art, their assignment (working on a personal mandala piece) was not critiqued, but the group work was. After the collaborative mandala critique, one of the students rightly noted that it was difficult to critique the collaborative pieces, which I completely understood.<br />
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But this lesson was really to make them understand that artmaking, critique, being an artist, might take many different forms throughout their career. Their role as artist may be expanded, or conversely, contracted, depending on the manner in which they work, the challenges they meet, or their own intent for each piece of art. So, we presented them with a challenge or two, and they made it through their collaborations with flying colors, and not much grumbling.<br />
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Some of their personal work was shown, but the students were not pushed to show it or speak about it. Everything was voluntary as far as their personal mandala assignment was concerned. I am glad that many still took this assignment to heart, even though they were not obligated to speak about it or expected to share it with the class. My time with them showed me that they are willing to try new things, are thoughtful about their artmaking, and really "got" the idea of "personal art" through these explorations with the mandala.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">More photos of the students working together in class are below...</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-71wfEgObabE/TqWkHW3ow4I/AAAAAAAACr0/Xd1SQ87HIww/s1600/IMG_1059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-71wfEgObabE/TqWkHW3ow4I/AAAAAAAACr0/Xd1SQ87HIww/s400/IMG_1059.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">FOOD!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YxM8OhOcN3Y/TqWkIfJgsDI/AAAAAAAACr8/dIIvQ2Jop9Y/s1600/IMG_1060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YxM8OhOcN3Y/TqWkIfJgsDI/AAAAAAAACr8/dIIvQ2Jop9Y/s400/IMG_1060.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jpoNMi6jfbw/TqWkJTsUAvI/AAAAAAAACsE/HRI403jyEDY/s1600/IMG_1062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jpoNMi6jfbw/TqWkJTsUAvI/AAAAAAAACsE/HRI403jyEDY/s400/IMG_1062.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-63KCr6PFL1A/TqWkK9WbuHI/AAAAAAAACsM/Mm0Y3RXuFR0/s1600/IMG_1069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-63KCr6PFL1A/TqWkK9WbuHI/AAAAAAAACsM/Mm0Y3RXuFR0/s400/IMG_1069.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fCJEKPFTkHs/TqWkMIK3L3I/AAAAAAAACsU/nZ-xTU_VHy8/s1600/IMG_1079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fCJEKPFTkHs/TqWkMIK3L3I/AAAAAAAACsU/nZ-xTU_VHy8/s400/IMG_1079.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r4Q24bxFudg/TqWkNe_cd0I/AAAAAAAACsc/lklf-XceFec/s1600/IMG_1082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r4Q24bxFudg/TqWkNe_cd0I/AAAAAAAACsc/lklf-XceFec/s400/IMG_1082.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f9krzD8GcUo/TqWkPPpu7JI/AAAAAAAACsk/kLGqZD7eXnI/s1600/IMG_1087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f9krzD8GcUo/TqWkPPpu7JI/AAAAAAAACsk/kLGqZD7eXnI/s400/IMG_1087.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The mandala that Jess and I made together...</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-afRF5TP4abs/TqWkQDJW5vI/AAAAAAAACss/6_t-iY7iT_k/s1600/IMG_1091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-afRF5TP4abs/TqWkQDJW5vI/AAAAAAAACss/6_t-iY7iT_k/s400/IMG_1091.JPG" width="397" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yXimeGo80lA/TqWkRWfR0fI/AAAAAAAACs0/fyYWc6cpv0o/s1600/IMG_1092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yXimeGo80lA/TqWkRWfR0fI/AAAAAAAACs0/fyYWc6cpv0o/s400/IMG_1092.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">On the day of the critique there were a few unique surprises. A piece that glowed...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MQdH433AzKQ/TqWkSE04YeI/AAAAAAAACs8/MOMb2Lkc7Dk/s1600/IMG_1139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MQdH433AzKQ/TqWkSE04YeI/AAAAAAAACs8/MOMb2Lkc7Dk/s400/IMG_1139.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And a piece that was generated by participants...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5uZZJdIK_4E/TqWkVU8TQlI/AAAAAAAACtE/K73YT8GfbtI/s1600/IMG_1141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5uZZJdIK_4E/TqWkVU8TQlI/AAAAAAAACtE/K73YT8GfbtI/s400/IMG_1141.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XPHtYf-wFY4/TqWkYFGhgFI/AAAAAAAACtM/f4YluxZgzc8/s1600/IMG_1142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XPHtYf-wFY4/TqWkYFGhgFI/AAAAAAAACtM/f4YluxZgzc8/s400/IMG_1142.JPG" width="300" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Although this is a screen capture (below), it does not, in fact, "capture" what was going on here, nor the movement of the whole when it was finished. Both of these pieces, along with an audio piece generated from the sounds of us all talking in the workshop session, were very transitory. They existed only under certain conditions; in the dark, or upon audience participation. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7542uTcLpOg/TqXGr_XxXZI/AAAAAAAACtU/Ifac3yWLY3o/s1600/Screen+Shot+2011-10-14+at+11.19.45+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7542uTcLpOg/TqXGr_XxXZI/AAAAAAAACtU/Ifac3yWLY3o/s320/Screen+Shot+2011-10-14+at+11.19.45+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>"The idea of mandala seems extraordinarily abstract. We see it as a metaphysical or philosophical principle. We cannot learn anything about it unless we see how the mandala principle is connected with a learning process or a practicing process. The Sanksrit word mandala literally means “association” or “society.” The Tibetan word khilkhor means “center and fringe.” Mandala is a way of looking at situations in terms of relativity: if that exists, this exists. If this exists, that exists." </i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">-“The Razor’s Edge,” in Orderly Chaos: The Mandala Principle, Chogyan Trungpa</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Thanks again to Jessica, Colette and the students in "Elements" for letting me share the mandala with you, it has really informed my own thought process regarding my ensuing thesis work, as well.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730510957123682488.post-56527006933487124302011-10-18T13:03:00.000-05:002011-10-18T13:03:22.690-05:00Strength<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Did I ever tell you that I've known Elbee since I was 14 and we were both very silly and little and got into a lot of silly little trouble? Well, I have, and she's been very kind to me over the years; one time, she even took a spirit possession for me (! for reals). She's still one of the strongest and wisest and oddest people I know. Also, she made this mandala with me... :) I think this piece speaks to all of her aforementioned qualities. This has the weirdest "ingredient" list of any of the mandalas so far: a bubble wrap envelope, watercolor paint, coffee, an unused heating filter, acrylic paint, random plastic objects, metal, lace and wood (and a little something pink, because that's just who Elbee is). Whew. You can view the entire process here, and then the finished piece is at the end. YAY!<br />
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Cycle 4, Round 4:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hn_edNETWno/Tp29EPzwTfI/AAAAAAAACqQ/3S-cd1kLYcc/s1600/shanatoelbee1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hn_edNETWno/Tp29EPzwTfI/AAAAAAAACqQ/3S-cd1kLYcc/s400/shanatoelbee1.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shana R. Goetsch to Elbee</span><br />
Milwaukee, WI to Tallahassee, FL </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uRZhcF1M0nE/Tp29Ig2PR6I/AAAAAAAACqY/hgKcGb1CgVM/s1600/elbeetoshana2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uRZhcF1M0nE/Tp29Ig2PR6I/AAAAAAAACqY/hgKcGb1CgVM/s400/elbeetoshana2.jpg" width="313" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Elbee to Shana R. Goetsch</span><br />
Tallahassee, FL to Milwaukee, WI</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v-EaioFFsYg/Tp29PSoM2oI/AAAAAAAACqg/_VXniLUbRoI/s1600/DSC04438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v-EaioFFsYg/Tp29PSoM2oI/AAAAAAAACqg/_VXniLUbRoI/s400/DSC04438.JPG" width="386" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shana R. Goetsch to Elbee</span><br />
Baltimore, MD to Tallahassee, FL </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SHirZKQjB6Y/Tp29VIOr_4I/AAAAAAAACqo/Fz02TKZQsVE/s1600/elbeetoshanafinish.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SHirZKQjB6Y/Tp29VIOr_4I/AAAAAAAACqo/Fz02TKZQsVE/s400/elbeetoshanafinish.JPG" width="396" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Elbee and Shana R. Goetsch</span><br />
Mandala completed in Tallahassee, FL </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aYenNVF5qjQ/Tp29fF5nLwI/AAAAAAAACqw/7WKDrUqb3_I/s1600/elbeetoshanafinish.dtl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aYenNVF5qjQ/Tp29fF5nLwI/AAAAAAAACqw/7WKDrUqb3_I/s400/elbeetoshanafinish.dtl.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730510957123682488.post-24534346397506381222011-10-10T12:59:00.003-05:002011-10-10T13:19:15.369-05:00Boomerang<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I have just finished the piece between Momo Luna and me! This one is bright and glossy and pretty, specifically, it reminds me of candy mints. To finish this piece, I did a little painting and a small amount of printmaking. There were a few objects on this piece in the last round, which I removed and then printed directly on the paper in the spot where they were originally (they are the aqua spirals). I also put a light wash over the pieces, creating less of a white background for the faces. Then I painted some solid colors in designated areas, and added some bright red strips along the edges. I struggled a bit with resolving this piece, but I think it's really "there" now.<br />
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Now, let's take a trip down memory lane for the completion of this mandala, Cycle 5, Round 4...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jKg81mEk6u4/TpMvr-Bo-0I/AAAAAAAACo0/sLbCtCrLmIQ/s1600/momolunatoshana1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jKg81mEk6u4/TpMvr-Bo-0I/AAAAAAAACo0/sLbCtCrLmIQ/s400/momolunatoshana1.jpg" width="396" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b> Moma Luna to Shana R. Goetsch</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Arnhem, Gelderland, Holland to Milwaukee, WI, USA</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CC7r8VNNmaY/TpMzzB9A3vI/AAAAAAAACpM/olC3C5hDZKI/s1600/shanatomomoluna2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CC7r8VNNmaY/TpMzzB9A3vI/AAAAAAAACpM/olC3C5hDZKI/s400/shanatomomoluna2.JPG" width="397" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Shana R. Goetsch to Moma Luna</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Baltimore, MD, USA to Arnhem, Gelderland, Holland</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hfP9oWFoCDU/TpMv3-c_jdI/AAAAAAAACo8/Xmmn2acZTfE/s1600/momolunatoshana3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hfP9oWFoCDU/TpMv3-c_jdI/AAAAAAAACo8/Xmmn2acZTfE/s400/momolunatoshana3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Moma Luna to Shana R. Goetsch</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Arnhem, Gelderland, Holland to Baltimore, MD, USA</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jlz4tioJN7w/TpMv9VzDb5I/AAAAAAAACpA/sTk-eS_v0I8/s1600/shanatomomolunafinish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="345" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jlz4tioJN7w/TpMv9VzDb5I/AAAAAAAACpA/sTk-eS_v0I8/s400/shanatomomolunafinish.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b> Shana R. Goetsch and Momo Luna</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Mandala completed in Baltimore, MD, USA</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q1clB8mF5zs/TpMwBn9SezI/AAAAAAAACpE/1LMZFwddDIQ/s1600/shanatomomolunafinish.detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q1clB8mF5zs/TpMwBn9SezI/AAAAAAAACpE/1LMZFwddDIQ/s400/shanatomomolunafinish.detail.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was great working with Momo Luna on this piece, and it still retains her distinct flavor, despite my working on it as well. Good show! I'll have another post in the works soon, because I have just received Elbee's last round in the mail today!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730510957123682488.post-37653648714279494752011-10-06T11:35:00.003-05:002011-10-06T16:52:11.467-05:00Over Land and Over Sea<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Please help me welcome our newest contributor, artist Whitney-Anne Baker! Whitney-Anne is from Devon, United Kingdom. I must admit that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devon"><i>I had to go look up exactly where that was.</i></a> Now we all know. As you may have guessed, I know Whitney-Anne through the blogging world. She has two of her own blogs, <a href="http://whitneysweirdstuff.blogspot.com/"><i>Whitney's Weird Stuff</i></a> and <a href="http://whatwhitneymadenext.blogspot.com/"><i>What Whitney Made Next</i></a>. She also has a few thriving Etsy shops, <i><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Everygirlsstory?ref=si_shop">Every Girl's Story</a></i> and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/scribbledomain?ref=pr_shop"><i>Scribble Domain</i></a> which has THE COOLEST THINGS EVER. I'm sorry for shouting, but I think it's true, and that she should make these designs into wallpaper....so that I can hang them on<i> my </i>wall. Whitney-Anne seems to be versed in a lot of different media as well as digital, She sent along images of some paper pieces, which she described as being in her "old style".<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zGB3ztmHQwc/To3VrGqc0DI/AAAAAAAACog/RCgH5prix0s/s1600/papers+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zGB3ztmHQwc/To3VrGqc0DI/AAAAAAAACog/RCgH5prix0s/s400/papers+6.jpg" width="242" /></a></div> <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i> Paper Experiment No.1</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Whitney-Anne Baker<i> </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OMaPVXD5-CY/To3VvPh4C_I/AAAAAAAACok/lzeMa-FN_3w/s1600/papers+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OMaPVXD5-CY/To3VvPh4C_I/AAAAAAAACok/lzeMa-FN_3w/s400/papers+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i> Paper Experiment No. 2</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Whitney-Anne Baker</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
In her own words,<i> "I began making art about 15 years ago although I had always made things as a child ( lego, lots of lego ). Over the years I have tried lots of different things; hand-made paper, artist's books, textiles, collage, abstract art, experimenting with as many different techniques and mediums as I could. Being self taught gave me a lot of freedom! I loved it all but Photoshop is where everything came together for me. For my digital pieces I take lots of photographs, scan in found images and text, cut out shapes, use papers that I've painted to create texture, scribble with the mouse and generally mash it all up."</i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PzDKbIhRoyw/To3WKTSEj_I/AAAAAAAACoo/9c6ncZbdvXY/s1600/while+my+guitar+gently+weeps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PzDKbIhRoyw/To3WKTSEj_I/AAAAAAAACoo/9c6ncZbdvXY/s400/while+my+guitar+gently+weeps.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>While My Guitar Gently Weeps</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Whitney-Anne Baker</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wBzk1OmjmGo/To3WNsA4hJI/AAAAAAAACos/ljvofLJC5oA/s1600/Blue+Collage+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wBzk1OmjmGo/To3WNsA4hJI/AAAAAAAACos/ljvofLJC5oA/s400/Blue+Collage+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Blue Collage 2</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Whitney-Anne Baker<i><br />
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I really relate to this statement, especially the last little bit of it, "and generally mash it all up". I used to be more of a purist, in terms of technique and use of media, but over the years I've grown to really love mixed media work, and now couldn't imagine myself not mashing it all up!<br />
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I'm very excited about working with another artist outside of the United States. I'm hoping that Whitney is able to incorporate her digital imagery into this somehow. I may need help if it's on a digital file, but it's been far too long a time since I have said I wanted to learn how to use my Photoshop. The program is just sitting here on my computer, its power only used for re-sizing images and the most menial of tasks...maybe we'll get a work out, who knows!<br />
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In the meantime, Whitney and I are both mailing our first rounds this weekend/Monday-ish. I know that it might take a few weeks for them to arrive in the mail since they are going overseas and that stuff can be expensive to mail, shoot y'all....but please check back to see the results!<br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730510957123682488.post-17614617442937302312011-09-30T19:03:00.002-05:002011-09-30T19:13:30.907-05:00Oh, Universe...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">You and me, we are so 'right on'...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-54ejgE_1Seo/ToZao3laFOI/AAAAAAAACnI/HudyGpjyUh4/s1600/IMG_0996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-54ejgE_1Seo/ToZao3laFOI/AAAAAAAACnI/HudyGpjyUh4/s400/IMG_0996.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<br />
This is a photo of the ceiling of my home studio. It was like this when I first saw the place, but I must admit I paid little attention to it until I actually moved in and looked up. How perfect is that, especially for my studio?<br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730510957123682488.post-86417100988966493992011-09-30T14:19:00.040-05:002011-09-30T18:34:54.805-05:00Turning the Tables, with Wes Way<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I recently conducted my first ATCTE interview with one of our very first artists, Wes Way. You'll notice at the end that I had him turn the interview around on me and he was able to ask me a question. This concept was not without its hitches. There was a misunderstanding about this between us which I will include below. The interview starts now!</span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><blockquote class="yiv1276304129gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div><div style="background-color: white; color: black;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>1. Wes, what is your background in artmaking and in what manner do you normally work?</b></span></div></div></div></blockquote><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I've always made art. I've always been interested in art. I taught myself to draw when I was little, copying the comics from the daily paper. My family was poor and art supplies were out of reach, so I drew on brown paper grocery bags. We had a Norman Rockwell coffee-table book which I studied, marveling at Rockwell's realism. I did well in art classes through high school and was accepted into the art program at </span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317403986_0" style="font-size: large;">Virginia Commonwealth University</span><span style="font-size: large;">. During my first semester at VCU, I began to question whether a formal art education was what I wanted. I decided that I would rather be self-taught and withdrew from classes. I think this might have slowed my development as an artist somewhat, but I've never doubted that it was the right decision for me. I spent a decade or so having chemical adventures and that probably didn't help, but since I got straight, it's been all progress.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I've worked sporadically over the years, sometimes banging out lots of art, sometimes doing very little. I'm also a musician and sometimes I focus more on the music than the visual art. In recent years, I've become much more confident in my art. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Most of what I've done over the years has been collage. In the past year, I've opened out and now use any media that comes to hand or seems most appropriate to whatever I'm working on.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div></div><blockquote class="yiv1276304129gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div><div style="background-color: white; color: black;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. If you can, take us back to the time when we started, what interested you about joining this collaboration?</b> </span></div></div></div></blockquote><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">At that point, I hadn't been working on art much. I was really focused on the music and on my daughter. I wanted to get back into the art and saw this collaboration as a challenge. I try to occasionally take on something that will force me out of my comfort zone. </span></div><blockquote class="yiv1276304129gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div><div style="background-color: white; color: black;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>3. How was the experience for you, working with another visual artist, versus working with other musicians?</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div></div></div></blockquote><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I wasn't really ready to do this project. I thought I'd be able to jump right into it, but it didn't work out that way. It was really hard to work on the mandala. I see now that I thought it would be easy, that I'd be able to just jump right into a collaborative project. I'd been doing music almost exclusively for a few years and had reached a point where I could just plug and improvise with other musicians easily, whether I'd ever played with them or not. So, I expected it would be like that. The reality was that I wasn't really able to get my brain around it. Months would go by and then I'd suddenly have an idea and then I'd have to carve a few hours out of my schedule to execute it. Since we finished the mandala, I've been doing more and more visual art and have put the music on hold. It would be very different if we did a mandala now.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The difference between working with an artist and improvising with another musician is that art happens in space and music happens in time. With art, you're there alone, thinking, daydreaming, making marks, erasing, painting over, musing, dozing off, drinking coffee...it's a slow, contemplative process. Music is instant. You can't go back and paint over a sloppy chord change. It's done and all you can do is go on. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I switch back and forth from art to music, but they're really totally different worlds. I don't want to give the false impression that I switch back and forth easily. There's usually some awkwardness. The mandala was part of that awkwardness. I'm glad I did it because it helped me get from where I was to where I am, but I think I'd do better if we did another.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><blockquote class="yiv1276304129gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div><div style="background-color: white; color: black;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>4. I know that you recently expanded on the concept of these collaborations to include working on a new mandala with your young daughter, can you tell us about that artmaking experience, and what it meant to you, both as an artist and a father?</b></span></div></div></div></blockquote><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My kid is awesome. I'm so glad I get to do stuff with her.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I proposed the idea of me doing a mandala with her as an offhand comment. Then it started to seem like a great idea. I didn't explain the project to her - she's two-and-a-half - I just asked her if she wanted to make a picture with paint. She did, so I put some paper on the easel and gave her a brush. I drew a circle on the paper and coached her a little, but I don't think that compromises her input. Guidance and instruction are appropriate at this point. She covered much more of the surface with this piece than she usually does. I think the fact that I was making suggestions made her get more into it. She really likes interacting and doing things with another person right now. Maybe I should give her more guidance and instruction....I'm figuring parenting out as I go. Of course, I think my kid is an amazing artist right now and of course, I have some hope that she'll be interested in the things I'm interested in. I really love her paintings and when she smacks the strings of a guitar to hear the sound, I think "She'll be a musician like her old man", but I'm really conscious of all that and try to encourage her to follow any and all interests. She's also really into baseball right now. I've never been into sports, but I think it could be really fun to coach a girls' baseball team in a couple years if that's what she's into. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I haven't sat down with her painting to do my part yet. </span></div><blockquote class="yiv1276304129gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div><div style="background-color: white; color: black;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>5. What does the mandala mean to you?</b></span></div></div></div></blockquote><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I think I know what my part will be. Actually, I know exactly what my part will be, I just have to do it. I'm going to go over her big colorful blobs and smears with a really fine, black line, traditional Hindu mandala design, a </span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317403986_1" style="font-size: large;">Kali</span><span style="font-size: large;"> mandala. I'm really interested in the images of female deities right now. I'm doing yonis, crones, goddesses. Kali is usually misunderstood in the West, as a destructive force. She can be that, but she's also a maternal figure. She's a strict mother who doesn't put up with any crap. If you're doing something that prevents you from growing or developing, something that hinders you, she will take it away from you. That can seem awful and painful and in that scenario, Kali will seem like a big, ugly, black daemon with a lot of arms destroying you, but it's for your own good. As a student of mythology, I appreciate that and as an old punk, I really dig the Kali imagery, with the necklace of skulls, skirt of severed arms, dripping blood, all that fun, gory stuff. It's raw and ugly and visceral and that's necessary - if your religion is going to be at all helpful, it's going to have to have those elements, to enable you to make it through the really nasty things that can and will happen to you as you struggle through your life. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, I'm going to put that element on top of the bright, colorful, spontaneous smears my daughter did. My girl is a bouncy, squealing little blue-eyed blonde. She charges right into situations, wide-open, knowing everything is going to be okay. She'll climb up on something and jump off, assuming I'll be there to catch her. So far, I have been. I love juxtaposing opposites, especially when they only seem to be opposites. The scary, old, wicked witch and the sweet, innocent, young girl are two aspects of the goddess, just as winter and spring are aspects of the year - and that is exactly what they represent. So they go together. My role in this is that of some creepy old trickster - Coyote or Raven or Loki - jamming these things together in a way that hopefully looks skewed or somehow off, but has internal logic and makes sense below the surface.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> <b><br />
</b></span></div><blockquote class="yiv1276304129gmail_quote" id="yui_3_2_0_1_1317405082276325" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1317405082276324"><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1317405082276323" style="background-color: white; color: black;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>***Now we'll turn the table, wherein you may also ask me a question. I'll post my answer on the blog with your interview...it can be whatever you want!</b></i></span></div></div></div></blockquote><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have no idea. I don't question art. Or artists. Show me a piece of art and I accept it exactly as it is. If it's got a paint-splattered goat or a dead shark in it, I might love it (R.R.) or hate it (D.H.), but I don't need to analyze it. I don't mean that art doesn't cause me to think about things - it does, but that happens in a slow, gradual, free-association sorta way. I might be staring at a piece that's been on my wall for years and notice something or have a thought that I never had before. I was at my mom's house the other day, looking at a Rockwell print and saw something that struck me. Some tiny detail. I love that art can do that, that a piece of art can grow and change with you. I also think art is totally subjective. It doesn't matter at all to me what Pollack thought of "Lavender Mist" or what Warhol was feeling when he did the Campbell's soup cans. It's the same with my own art - I don't consider myself the authority on what any of my pieces mean, if they mean anything at all. It just is.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I guess I assume, possibly incorrectly, that other artists work the way I do - that they have some kind of idea and start following through on it and later on figure out what it's about. Maybe a formal education causes people to know what they're doing. I don't know.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, I don't know what to ask. I definitely love the mandala project.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>This is the email string: </b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317403988_3" style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317403988_3" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317403988_3">On Mon, Sep 26, 2011 at 9:52 AM</span>, Shana Goetsch <span dir="ltr">&lt;<a href="mailto:shanagoetsch@yahoo.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">shanagoetsch@yahoo.com</a>></span> wrote:</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br />
</i></span> </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>hey, everything looks REALLY good with the interview....but i think you misunderstood my reasoning for having you ask a question of me at the end....1. i was trying to put a spin on the typical artist interview, and i tentatively pre-named the interviewing posts "Turning the Tables", as in you turn the interview on me at the end (it's all circular) 2. it's a community-building exercise, wherein people learn a little bit about our relationship from the question/interview.</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>so, i can definitely post it as is, but maybe you want to ask me something that is non-art/mandala related? it was just meant to be a fun thing because there are artist interviews up the whazoo on the net, so I was trying to differentiate a bit. just think about it and get back to me.</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>coolcoolcool, </i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #888888;"><div>-shana</div></span></i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">From:</span></b> Wes Way<br />
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> Shana Goetsch <shanagoetsch@yahoo.com></shanagoetsch@yahoo.com></i></span> </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>well, okay then, but since it's a conversation, you should include my misunderstanding, your clarification and my question which is....</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> Does the gender/race/identity of the artist matter?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b> Should it?</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">(Shana's answer) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Ah, in a perfect world, no it should not. Unfortunately or fortunately--I'm sort of on the fence about that--right now, artists, humans, I don't think we have reached the point where labels do not matter or happen. I know that you and I have spoken about this several times before, in reference to typically "feminine" subject matter being rendered by male artists. In relation to this, I can see it both ways. A part of me, as a female, with the body parts in question, wants a man to tread lightly, or at least be knowledgeable enough to explain his intent when depicting female imagery (I'm really talking about bodies, or body parts). I also know that I find women to be much more aesthetically pleasing, so I can't say that I blame anyone for recognizing that.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">No it shouldn't matter, but it still does....and I really think that that comes down to the fact that there are still insensitive douchebags all over the place, who like to exploit other groups of people. Knowingly or unknowingly, it happens all the time, still. One, single d-bag has the capacity to ruin everything for everyone. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So my sticking point then <i>has to be</i>: What is the intent of the artist, and how transparent is that intent to their audience? I can rarely fault someone for anything when I can see that their intent is honest and transparent, and open, regardless of their message. When dealing with issues of gender, race or class, having knowledge, experience and transparency really are the best options. And as an artist who is continually struggling with the creation of strong, social justice/issue-based art, I am really just trying not to be one of the aforementioned douchebags.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Of course I am taking the context of your question in entirely one way, is that what you meant, by "matter"? My answer was really contingent upon me thinking of this in relation to an emotionally charged piece of issue-based, or political art. I guess if the art has nothing to say about anything...then, no it doesn't matter who or what the artist is; "silent" art is boring art. There's no controversy over who made it, at the very least. Art that says something, that's another story, depending on who it's talking about, and who's receiving the message. In those cases, it might matter very much who the artist is, identity-wise, and it might be a very warranted response. </span><br />
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</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>*Please leave a comment - feel free to jump right into this discussion... </i></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730510957123682488.post-13734388291897004762011-09-24T14:46:00.000-05:002011-09-24T14:46:11.472-05:00Born<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I don't think I posted the beginning to end of this cycle! I believe I promised it in the summer, and never followed through. I apologize for the huge oversight. But at least we can get to know Wes' work again before I post a new feature on the blog for this project, it's a little something I'm going to call "Turning the Tables" which will be featured artist interviews. In the future the format of these interviews may morph a bit, but Wes and Elbee's interviews will be in written form, just to kick things off. Look for that coming to this blog very very soon!<br />
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In the meantime, I have the whole of Cycle 1 for you here, so you can see how it changed throughout the year. This is actually my personal favorite piece so far, and it was the first. I like the energy of this mandala and I think the two of us worked really well together. It was the basis for expanding the project, and I'm really happy that the collaboration happened at all. Wes and I actually met on myspace, and we kept up a correspondence through email after I later abandoned it for facebook. I have since met Wes in person several times, co-exhibited with him in Virginia, and he actually helped me move into my Baltimore apartment. He carried all the heavy stuff, but beyond that, he really is one of the coolest people I have ever met. I am honored to have shared the creation of this first piece with him...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dLdBcFlUvYc/Tn4uFg6htuI/AAAAAAAACmw/9dII0cnAUh4/s1600/shanatowes1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dLdBcFlUvYc/Tn4uFg6htuI/AAAAAAAACmw/9dII0cnAUh4/s400/shanatowes1.JPG" width="322" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shana R. Goetsch to Wes Way</span><br />
Milwaukee, WI to Harrisonburg, VA</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SGZoDm3alK0/Tn4uunBhppI/AAAAAAAACnA/jnZgDWWaW8A/s1600/westoshana2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SGZoDm3alK0/Tn4uunBhppI/AAAAAAAACnA/jnZgDWWaW8A/s400/westoshana2.jpg" width="356" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wes Way to Shana R. Goetsch</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Harrisonburg, VA to Milwaukee, WI</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KaZf3Arw7rk/Tn4uSedUx1I/AAAAAAAACm4/LzSuWlErLUI/s1600/shanatowes3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KaZf3Arw7rk/Tn4uSedUx1I/AAAAAAAACm4/LzSuWlErLUI/s400/shanatowes3.jpg" width="337" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shana R. Goetsch to Wes Way</span><br />
Milwaukee, WI to Harrisonburg, VA</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0jDPSvQQOpg/Tn4uUA7z2GI/AAAAAAAACm8/D7aUk2EhvVg/s1600/westoshanafinish.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0jDPSvQQOpg/Tn4uUA7z2GI/AAAAAAAACm8/D7aUk2EhvVg/s400/westoshanafinish.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wes Way and Shana R. Goetsch</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Mandala completed in Harrisonburg, Virginia </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Remember to stay tuned for the new, "Turning the Tables" interview feature!</i> </div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730510957123682488.post-74518967447582326422011-09-17T11:05:00.000-05:002011-09-17T11:05:51.238-05:00Seeking Collaborative Artists<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">If you an artist (or a non-artist) interested in working on this project with me (or with someone else-why not?), please let me know. You'll have at least one guaranteed exhibit at MICA in Baltimore, being that this will be my thesis project for this year.<br />
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If you want in on this, please let me know: shanagoetsch@yahoo.com (or my profile on blogger will just link you directly to my email too) I'm very excited for a new year!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1730510957123682488.post-21414404592081555852011-09-15T10:57:00.009-05:002011-09-15T15:35:10.865-05:00The Sixth Cycle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Well, I feel as if we're chugging right along. I have the update here between Brian and me and I was very excited to get this package, as I am with all packages. I'm always at school when I get the mail, so I'm opening them in front of others to triumphant and impressive effect. I should mention before I start the unveiling, that Brian and Momo Luna always send nice little notes and cards and brochures (!) These two are the fanciest, I always feel as if I'm completely lame and disheveled in comparison. Especially after I know I just sent something with no extra bling, and it's way too late to remedy my lack of it. So I'll have to say now, I really appreciate and am thoroughly impressed by the bling. I'll just have to strive to be more motivated...and get more print material. Speaking of, I'll have to make new postcards for the ATCTE project too.<br />
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Now on to the show. If you'll remember, I presented Brian with a bunch of recyclables, all stuck together. And he presented me with a very nice primed canvas with a geometric pattern. Well, here's what happened next! Brian painted over the corrugated material very neatly and applied a similar element, tiny outlined circles, which corresponds to our other piece...continuity! With the piece I worked on this round, I also used acrylics, and created more of a loose wash rather than a thick coat. Some of the colors I used blended with what he used originally, creating new colors and shades. Right now, these two are the antithesis of each other, while still retaining a semblance of unity; mine being a chaotic well of a whirlpool, his being very orderly, crisp and business-like.<br />
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This round was fun, wanna see the photos?...<br />
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<b>Cycle 6, Round 2: </b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mIZR-J7ToB4/TnIdSioMlRI/AAAAAAAACiY/ux_VcgE6uZ8/s1600/IMG_0981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mIZR-J7ToB4/TnIdSioMlRI/AAAAAAAACiY/ux_VcgE6uZ8/s400/IMG_0981.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<b>Brian Sylvester to Shana R. Goetsch</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Somerville, MA to Baltimore, MD<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FGyJyIQu9xE/TnIdiwJe_YI/AAAAAAAACig/-4_uN-T6ow8/s1600/IMG_0888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="377" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FGyJyIQu9xE/TnIdiwJe_YI/AAAAAAAACig/-4_uN-T6ow8/s400/IMG_0888.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Shana R. Goetsch to Brian Sylvester</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Baltimore, MD to Somerville, MA<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H3v6kYL_Ihs/TnIdtyD466I/AAAAAAAACik/FP8xVVYJjKI/s1600/IMG_0890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H3v6kYL_Ihs/TnIdtyD466I/AAAAAAAACik/FP8xVVYJjKI/s400/IMG_0890.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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ETA: I also just noticed that we chose the same color palette this round. It is really, very strange that this keeps happening unknowingly between many of us, especially since it's not always the same color palette. Very interesting. <br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2