So far, this semester has been off to a rocky start. Material struggle, lots of failure in construction, and whatever else.
Since last critique in the fall, a lot has gone right, however. I’ve moved away from simply making objects out of 2x4s. One of the biggest criticisms I had of myself, and received from my crits/thesis committee was that the objects I was making were simply that- cool looking objects. They didn’t go any farther than a visual inspection, maybe some appreciation of the form, and that was it. As Michael put it, they went up, and then just dropped off. I was worried that this bending technique I’d worked so hard to perfect (and am still working at) was just becoming a gimmick, and turning my work into a bunch of one-liners. Not what I want.
After having a meeting with my thesis committee, I was tasked with pushing that type of wood working into an installation format for the end of the semester. Needless to say, I was rather nervous, and stumped as to how it could manifest. After researching and watching artists talk about their work, and with the help of Tim and Danielle, I began to think of my work in a different way.
One of the things that has been driving my work since last spring is the idea of creating art out of space. Too often I feel that paintings are made to be hung on walls, and sculptures are made to be put on the floors or on pedestals on the floor. The space itself, whether it’s a white-box gallery space, or a home space, is simply a container that goes untouched and unchanged. So I began to think of the space as an object. How could I make art not in a space, but out of a space?
What makes up a space? Walls, a floor, and a ceiling. And what makes up the walls of a space? Studs. In a home setting, more specifically wooden 2x4 studs. And so came the beginnings of my installation, which you can see images of in a following post.
I began to think of the wall as an object, and in turn started to warp that wall, which would in turn warp the space in which it contained. The element of absurdity that I was exploring last spring has returned, and the spaces are starting to get weird.
As of today, I’m in a weird limbo state in terms of my studio work. I had success with my installation at the end of last semester, but that driving force that was pushing me forward seems to have died off. Until my most recent piece, I was not making with any true intent; rather, I was making to make, more than anything to try and get that drive back. That translated into struggles and failures, which has hindered my progress.
In my critique, I have some requests of my classmates and faculty. One would obviously be a critique of the work itself. However, one of the biggest things I’m struggling with at the moment is continuing my research, in both studio and thesis prep. I need a fresh dose of work to look at, and my personal efforts have so far come up short. Artists, shows, articles, whatever comes up would be greatly appreciated from anyone who might have something.
That’s all I got. Prepare for photo spam.
