I have my Cake and I'm Eating it Too!

Life has it's moments. At this busy time of year I find more things have been calling me away from what I thought I needed to get done, and then I accomplish more that I had intended in the first place.

For instance, I needed to spend some time in Alaska to grieve the loss of a family member and spend time with those still around. Death is one of those things that you just can't avoid and it never comes at a good time. It interrupted plans to visit a university in SF that I am seriously considering. It also put me behind schedule as far as the projects I'm working on which would serious compromise my time management if I was selected for the residency in January I have applied to that I really, really want!

But...

The airlines suddenly came out with amazing winter deals which would make it so financially easy for me to fly to California for a few days for the university appointments. As I was struggling with the moral dilemma of: can I afford even more time away from my responsibilities?- I got a call from the residency folks who said I was not selected (therefore not committed to living and working on Vashon for a full month or two) but that they still want to invite me to do my project I had proposed for them- sometime in the next four to six months!

So I get my cake and I can eat it too!

Now I'm in SF exploring, learning a lot about the CCA program, spending time with my best friend (what a good sanity check!) and I'll still be able to come home and finish my obligations to the Flower and Garden show coming up!

Look for progress on that soon.

Re-evaluating Resolutions

In the year 2010, my New Year's Resolution was to put out at least ten applications. It didn't matter what they were for, grants, scholarships, fellowships, calls for art etc. as long as it pertained to my art career. I think I got to six.

This year, 2011, I started out with the Resolution of developing my portfolio to be presentable to grad schools, and then apply. So far, so good. I think I'll make my goal this time! But the funny thing is, in this year alone I've now totaled eleven applications for those other things!

Going by this measure, I may have better success at applying to grad schools next year, when my New Year's Resolution will be something different, something like...

getting a residency in France!

Just updated my online portfolio for one of those eleven applications this year. You can see all that and a proposed project I have in mind for the next installation here.

Pangur Ban

Well, the sweet thing has taken the name of Pangur Ban, even though "Ban" means "white" in old irish, it still suits her. She also sometimes goes by Butter Bean.

A distraction, a nusince, and endless inspiration, much like the original Pangur who was written about by a 9th century Irish monk.

I and Pangur Ban, my cat,
'Tis a like task we are at;
Hunting mice is his delight,
Hunting words I sit all night.

Better far than praise of men
'Tis to sit with book and pen;
Pangur bears me no ill will;
He, too, plies his simple skill.

'Tis a merry thing to see
At our task how glad are we,
When at home we sit and find
Entertainment to our mind.

Oftentimes a mouse will stray
Into the hero Pangur's way;
Oftentimes my keen thought set
Takes a meaning in its net.

'Gainst the wall he sets his eye
Full and fierce and sharp and sly;
'Gainst the wall of knowledge I
All my little wisdom try.

When a mouse darts from its den.
O how glad is Pangur then!
O what gladness do I prove
When I solve the doubts I love!

So in peace our tasks we ply,
Pangur Ban, my cat and I;
In our arts we find our bliss,
I have mine, and he has his.

Practice every day has made
Pangur perfect in his trade ;
I get wisdom day and night,
Turning Darkness into light.'

Feeling Monkish

With a day off, and the morning light coming through the window, a large cup of hot tea and monastic celtic music playing on the Thistle and Shamrock, it was hard not to imagine being a medieval scribe as I took to creating the pages of my own personal calender and notebook.

Here are the steps I took to making a personalized planner which I hope will help me to better manage my time in the coming years:

Making the pages,

Binding them,

And then collaging pretty papers to make the front and back covers.

Oh yeah, and now we have a cat.

Experiments and Inspiration

I think it always valuable to take time to visit museums and galleries. There is always something to learn or something that might spark an idea for my next creation. That's why when I visited my family in LA I made it a point to see the Getty Villa and also hit up the Huntington Library. I love those intimate little museums of private collections put in an idealistic setting! And yes, I did get inspired for some good ideas I'll put toward a show I have in mind.

When I got back I immediately got to work on a different project: art for a garden to display at this year's Flower and Garden show. What you see here are experiments for cattails and roses.

Thinker at the Beach

The funny thing about the whole process of this artwork is that it was intended to reflect how Nature will always have her final say, and yet she hardly ever did. Each piece that I replicated throughout history was put on the tideline to be disolved slowly, and yet almost every time I retuned to photograph it's progress I came upon a trampled and destroyed mess. I think this outcome is more faithful to the true reason of the impermenance of things: our own destructiveness.
Here's the video I made of the final piece in the series, with an appropriate ending.

Well, there he is. The last temporary sculpture at the beach this summer. I got to say it's been a lot of fun and thank you all who made it out on such a fine day to participate.

I chose to sculpt Rodin's Thinker to represent the 20th century in my parade of art history. I also thought it a fitting subject to honor the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

I have lots of pictures of the creation and destruction of this piece which I will sew together into a time lapse video file and post soon so stay tuned!

Three Hours Until High Tide

Hi Everybody! This is Greg with some last minute updates. Eden's beachfront project is from 3pm to 6pm this afternoon at Shilshole Beach. Here's the map.

I think it's legal to park in the Shilshole Beach Club Parking Lot. Then you head towards the beach by passing the Beach Club building on the left side (as you face it). Look for the sandy end of the parking lot. It is a private beach, so no alcohol and no pets.

Eden will have plenty of clay for you to play with. Bring a lunch. We will have some snacks available.

I'll be leaving in about 30 minutes, if anyone in the area wants to be picked up on the way.

See you there!

greg

Save the Date! Sun. Sept. 11th 2011

As the end of this project draws to a close I plan to have a picnic at the beach to celebrate! Everyone is welcome! Bring a picnic for you and your friends or snacks to share. Bring beach blankets and toys, cameras, or whatever you like to take to the beach (sunscreen and clothes that can get dirty are a good idea.)

I will be sculpting my last piece at Shilshole Bay Beach, Sunday, September 11, between 3 and 6 pm and photographing it as the tide comes in (high tide will be at 5:30.) I'll also provide lots of extra clay for anyone who wants to make their own sculptures.

This will be so much fun! so I hope to meet you there.

WARNING: this is a private beach with public access so please mind their rules which are: no dogs, no alcohol, and no fires. You can park in the Shilshole Bay Beach Club parking lot, there is a beach access trail to the left of that building.

If you have any questions just ask in the 'comments' section. I check it regularly and now you don't have to sign up for anything to do it! Yay!

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M's David.

Possibly the single best piece of artwork in the world, maybe ever created. I felt humbled trying to copy him. I don't think I need to explain what sculpture I'm imitating here since it's image has been reproduced endlessly in our culture. But I will say that unlike some other famous artworks that have been copied over and over (for instance, Mona Lisa) David is still impressive when you see him in person. If there is nothing else you do in life, go to Florence and see him.

2nd Intermission

Well, there has not been activity at the beach recently because I've been busy creating art! And also participating in the EDGE program for professional artists put on by Artist' Trust. I spent a week in Port Townsend in the old army barraks of Fort Warden with 14 other artists and completed almost 60hrs of professional training. What an experience!

And when i came home some new works were waiting for me that had just come out of the kiln.

Life is good.

The Sacred and Profane, but mostly Profane

At the turn of the 13th Century, most of Europe's artisans was focused on building and decorating Cathedrals, so that is where I draw my next sculptural reference: from the grostesques of Notre Dame de Paris. Le Stryge is the name of this most recognizable of grotesques- I never knew some of them had names, and I also never knew the difference between a grotesque and a gargoyle (gargoyles serve the function of a drainage spout, a grotesque is simply ornament.) I got a lot of good comments at the beach while building it today- I don't know why but these ugly creatures that were meant to ward off evil spirits have an incredible allure about them.

and here is what happened to my last sculpture. It seems someone wanted the pieces to remain together, and somehow thought it necessary that Buddah have a hat out of a piece of broken pot. Strange what people do.

The Grand Buddha of Shilshole

What I tried to do for this project was to select historical references from different times as well as cultures, as well as symbolic meaning. I started with the beginning where the first sculptures from early Cycladic societies represent little more than the statement that they existed. The nomadic peoples of ice-age Europe idealized the feminine form (Venus of Willendorf.) Later, the Egyptians codified symbols into meaningful artforms that went unchanged for roughly three thousand years. The statue of Ramesses II represents a specific man and the symbols associated with him allowed the people of that culture to understand that he was a King, a God, a great warlord of many deeds, etc. etc. The Greek and Roman cultures used gods as allegories to represent not just the might of individuals but of their city-states. Nike was built to stand for the victorious navy of Samothrace and so glorified everyone in that town.

Now I'm going East, to other cultures that existed during these ages but had no contact with the previous societies I've borrowed from. I think it interesting that the highly sophisticated Nike was created a few hundred years before the common era, and the Great Buddha of Leshan, (although still impressive is quite simplified) was made between six and nine hundred years after. It was being built around the same time as Europe was entering the Middle Ages from which I do not have a significant source of sculptural material to draw upon.

But back to Buddha: although I wanted to stay away from religious icons, I couldn't help choosing to replicate this. It is not just the figurehead of a religion, but like Nike, it represents a virtue. Unlike Nike or anything else I've shown so far, it is not about self glorification or military prowess, it is a testement to the higher ideals of philosophy and peaceful living which the Chinese of this time chose to carve into their mountain.

My Nike

check it out- i was photographed by the AP!

Anyway, I finally got around to finishing Nike of Samothrace. She was a difficult one with all of her wings and arms just hanging out there. I had to build most of her parts separately beforehand and allow them to dry before assembling at the beach, otherwise it would not have worked.

She must be one of my all-time favorite sculptures in history. You can see a better study of her form in an earlier post when I was applying for this exhibition. At that time I was hoping to be able to make these sculptures as large as any person, but I'm glad now I have to make do with the amount of clay I have! It's good practice for future endevors, but man is it a lot of work!

Here I have interpreted how she must have looked before loosing her arms and wings, although I think I like what time and archeology have done to the original statue. This is a fabulous site from the Louvre about the story of the winged Victory and her reconstruction.

Here she is at sunset the day of her creation, and already she's falling apart (I suspect much like the original did.)

and finally, the day after.

Intermission

Since I was gone camping last weekend I planned to work at the beach again on Monday, but that morning I was awakened by thunder and decided against it. Considering the next sculpture will be one of my most structurally challenging pieces I'm glad I'm taking a week to prepare for it. And in the meantime I've been working on this little sculpture, trying to figure out how plaster works so I can get a wax replica of it and eventually cast it in glass. It's such a time consuming process!

And here is what is left of Ramesses after a week on the beach. Although I don't know to what extent this was natural destruction, because were once he was perched on a mound of sand, there is now a large ditch obviously created by human hands. Very curious.

I decided not to work on Sunday since it was raining, but Monday turned out great! And the other thing about working on a weekday is that there were very few naughty children around. Someone even rescued Venus and put her on a piling as you can see and the new piece was actually left standing the next day. But how long will he last? Check out this cool site on the colossus of Ramesses II that I based this piece on. More info here about that ruler.

It was amazing to me, of the people that walked by, that not many were very familiar with the ancient Egyptian look. It's not a perfect replica, but am I that bad, or do people really need better art education? I hope you the reader use this chance to brush up on some of these references, you never know when it could come in handy at the next trivia night at the bar!

This Time, Above the Tideline

I don't think I've mentioned the title of this project yet, I'm calling it "This Too Shall Pass." The sculptures are made of a sand/clay mixture and are meant to be temporary. It is a comment on how humanity has attempted to make lasting monuments to either achievements or values (as we can assume the virtue of fecundity was valued around the 2nd millenium BCE when the Venus of Willendorf was created.) But the truth is none of the monuments we build will last forever. Eventually everything will succumb to Nature's changes just as these sculptures must fall and be taken out by the tide.

However, I think it an interesting development in this project to note that Nature can't possibly keep up with us humans. Even her inevitable destruction is not given a chance. As you can see, the very next morning I returned to photograph the progress of erosion and was surprised to find that destruction had been aided by what appeared to be many tiny little feet.

Sometimes I fear for the future of art.

The Tidelands Project begins

For the Heaven and Earth Exhibition this year I was selected to make work at a new site- Shilshole Bay Beach. What I intend to do is go out each weekend and sculpt another piece based on famous works though out history. These pieces will be in chronological order, beginning here with one of the earliest known examples of sculpture, and eventually I'll replicate my way up through art history as I work my way up the beach. As these sculptures are made of sand and clay I intend them to be gradually washed away by the tide, just as time gradually washes away all of mankind's endeavors. Here you see the first of my installation: a Cycladic figure. There have been many of these figures found in the Cyclades isles and are dated from the third millennium BCE.

The very next day I went back to see what was left of it after a full tide cycle and a night of hard rain. You can see that I'll have to adjust my building strategy if I want to have these "gradually" erode. But learning better methods and techniques of preservation was a challenge for our ancestors as it is for me today.

GAS

The Glass Art Society just had their annual conference here in Seattle, so of course I had to go. I wasn't sure at first if it would be worth the money, but a full three days of inspiration and wonder has changed me for the better!

I also recently finished my first class in kiln casting and here are the results- beautiful things. I think I'll stick with this for a while. So many ideas, so much art to make, I love it!

Kiln casting glass is taking over all my workspace! and my life. I'm currently enrolled in a class at Pratt and tonight we are loading the kiln for the second firing. Here you see the three stages of creating a cast piece: the wax positive (dark thing on the white binder) the plaster cast (this piece will be an open faced mold) and the final cast glass piece (round grey thing in front of stainless bowl)

getting ready for more installations this year- just imagine if these sculptures were 6ft tall and in a public park setting! i'll be applying to the project soon, so wish me luck.

Fun with Stencils

This weekend has been home improvement time. It must be the warmer weather, I'm starting to want to clean, organize, and stencil the walls! So I made this design by stylizing the dandelion into a very nouveau motif and I had hoped the repetition would make it look like wallpaper. I think it worked. Now I no longer notice all the cracks, holes and shoddy paint job underneath. YaY!

An Experience

Our journey started when a friend recommended Greg and I watch a documentary called The Art of the Steal. It tells the story of an art collector, his collection (one of the best post-impressionist collections in the world), and how a man's last will and testament can be systematically picked apart and discarded for personal, political and/or capital gain. At the end of this film we were warned that the collection would be moved to a new location at the end of 2012. So this meant that we booked a ticket to Philadelphia as soon as the opportunity presented itself.

Jet lagged and sleep deprived, our plane reached the airport in time for a major snow storm, so we were rerouted to Baltimore to wait for an hour and a half. When we finally touched down at our intended destination, unloaded baggage at the hotel and found transportation to the suburb where the art currently is located, we were three hours behind our original appointment time. (You have to make a reservation for this place.) The staff of the Barnes Foundation was very welcoming, I was pleased to note. They all seemed very happy with thier jobs and I was sad to think that they were soon to be disbanded.

The museum was amazing, to put it mildly. Mr. Barnes had an incredible discerning eye for art at a time when the European impressionists were not appreciated in the states. He built this beautiful building to house his vast collection and used it to educate artists and art lovers. He even wrote a few books on his theories of art appreciation (I got one) and I was amazed to learn that he was close friends with John Dewey, the art critic and philosopher who wrote Art as Experience (also a book I own).

We did not have much of a chance to see any more of Philly in that trip, for the next day we were off to visit relatives on the east coast. But even for a few hours of looking, the whole trip was worth it! Art is an experience, especially when those who understand this are rich philanthropists devoted to making the experience accessible to the common man.