Art Thought

New York Based Artist / MFA Photography from Parsons at The New School / Research Blog

[shannonsartthought]

Camille Henrot “Grosse Fatigue”

Density.  Aligning moments together that seem personal moments that feel like they have been witnessed by a singular person conclusions like evidence of a swirling mind. 

[shannonsartthought]

Muybridge

Many people have mentioned Muybridge while looking at my work in the past week. Yes, maybe it’s because this is in my studio:

Either way, this by Muybridge definitely resembles the repetitious idea of photographs and movement. The fact that Muybridge and his discovery of fast speed photography/technology that was able to capture movement in a faster way to then be able to study nature more accurately (all for a bet lol yas), is definitely important to recognize.

However, I don’t think it actually does relate to my work beyond the visual aesthetic. I’d rather relate Robin Rhodes (who I will be processing next). Honestly, I’m tired of having old as fuck artists thrown at me. Yeah, I know that classical photographers like Muybridge are important to know and see. Same with Martha Graham (no disrespect but if one more person asks if I know Martha Graham I’m gonna scream). I need contemporary references. I want new material. I want people who are also working through complex ideas of feminism and women and equality and how to disrupt oppressive structures within their art. Give me that and I’m all ears.

[shannonsartthought]

Dana Hoey

An American Photographer from California, now based in New York. 

Her work, like my own deals with movement and bodies. Specifically in her series “Love Your Enemy”, she uses women (and some men, but I find the fights between women more interesting) and directs them to fight. The photographs themselves feel strange and uncomfortable. Not only are they not glamorous photographs of fighting, but they are unusually aggressive from what we normally associate with women. They are tough, the women’s faces are in stressful expressions and evidence of real exertion. What I really love of about Dana Hoeys’ work with fighters is that she actually went on to become one herself. Some critiques to apply to my own work: I find the scenery that she places the fighters in an unusual one and ultimately not successful. The background is a corner wall with alternating brick and metal textures. They are in the snow (something that I would be interested in investigating) but I don’t think in these photographs the snow plays an important roll. Many of the fighters don’t interact with the snow and the photographs themselves don’t frame the snow as important - often excluding the snow entirely. The only quality is the snow flakes in the hair which is a quality that is usually associated with a peaceful winter day or calmness in the weather, even beauty. All qualities that are opposite of fighting. I LOVE the idea of women performing aggressive body movements. Shattering the structure that women need to be gentile and full of grace. However, I wish they were framed in a more classical/directed way. As someone who has come into this problem in my own work, I understand the struggle of capturing movement while also getting perfect composition. Is it actually important to have good composition in these photographs? Perhaps not, but I think better composition would improve the photographs, giving them a structured look but having the subjects break the structure.

In a critique this week, this concept was talked about where the photographs that had more compositional elements polished looked like photographs in themselves and separate pieces of work rather than simple documentation of a dance or an event. These photographs by Hoey perhaps are more about the performance, but as photographs they don’t feel as works but as documentation.

[shannonsartthought]

Hello from 2017

Beginning this blog again.  In it’s new form, it will be an artist research blog.  Since 2012, I have grown from a girl with a dream to an artist in NYC.  I want art to be my life. I want to live in a world that is full of beauty and creativity. 

Currently in graduate school and finding a bit of a roadblock while I start my second year. Needing a place to post research more quickly - a way to eliminate excuses to not work.  Here on the internet, I can constantly save artists and work I see and learn about.  Hope you enjoy. I know I will. 

[shannonsartthought]

Art Thought: Romance

What has happened to the romance of life in art? It seems as I study more artists and see how the art world is moving today that people only want to see weird quirky deep meaning imagery.  What happened to the light touch of romance? As it been belittled by tumblr where poetic sorrow and longing and skinny love lives in abundance? Or did it die long ago when people stopped wanting the romantics of life and wanted the harsh reality?  Is art meaningless if it is simply about love? About wistful moments and the stars and beautiful words put together? Or is this an amateurs arena?  Perhaps I am just missing what romance is out there because I miss it too much. 

[shannonsartthought]

I haven't posted in a while on this

It's been an interesting transition from being abroad to being back on a small campus.  I find that I don't walk to as many places. I'm not in the middle of the city anymore which I guess makes walking seem impossible.  I don't have as much free time as I did when I was abroad. At first I was fine with it. I welcomed the busy schedule and the fact that my days were me running on and on and on....  But now the sun is coming up and all I want to do is lay on the grass with a good book and some good company. I want to drink iced coffees and write poetry and smoke hookah. I want to laugh with my friends while whispering stories and watching youtube videos.  I guess that's what summer is for? One month more.

xoxo Lost in Maryland 

[shannonsartthought]

A New Chapter

It's always scary to think about what may be your future. When do we become young adults to real adults with real situations? When should you take that leap of faith and start following your scary and possibly unsuccessful dream?  I think the new chapter in my life starts with these questions. Stay tuned for my new life changing adventures and struggles that happen in Baltimore, Maryland. Hopefully we'll all make it out alright.

xx Lost in Maryland 

[shannonsartthought]

The end of my travels have come

I am finally done with my travels as I sit here in my mothers new house uploading the pictures I forgot to upload or never had the time to look at after they were captured.  These pictures range from broken glow stick stars, friends, and flatmates with soap on their faces to travels in Spain and the highlands. It makes me realize that this blog may never end, really. In truth, this blog will probably go on for years if I wanted to. I am always adventuring, always traveling, always learning new things. At this point in my life, the new things won't be about a new country, but about my schooling or my friends and adventures we have. So stay tuned because this blog isn't going anywhere. I may be back in the states, but I am still learning and growing no matter where I am.  

[shannonsartthought]

My life is due in t-6 hours and 23 minutes....

But then after a quick paper turn in the next day I am a free woman in Glasgow which to me is the best part of the photography department. My plans for the next two weeks? Traveling. This weekend I'm going to Malaga, Spain with Kiki. Then there are a few things I have to do like assessment meetings and such... But thennnn Monica comes from Italy to visit on Wednesday. And then there's a Christmas party on Thursday. And then Monica, Kate, and I go to Ireland on Friday. And then we go to Manchester, England on Sunday. And then we go our separate ways on Monday

And then I fly back to the US of A on Tuesday... I think these next 2 weeks are going to flyyy by as long as I can make it through these next 6 hours and now 20 minutes. xx Lost in Scotland

[shannonsartthought]

The semester is winding down at the moment.

I have to write a paper, finish up projects, finish up my sketch book pages, and present them all by Monday and Tuesday.

It's an interesting time of year. It's a time of reflection, of being thankful for the family and friends who support you, and the time to share your love for the people you hold dear. Recently I have reflected on what I've learned about myself since I've been here.

I've learned that I am more of a solid individual than I thought, that I love to socialize and being in a quiet moment, that I love to be at peace with myself. There are still things that I feel like I might have run away from back home, things that are unfinished, friendships that are at a tipping point that I want to strengthen again... but I feel like I have had the time to strengthen my own character that I can face these challenges that the holidays will bring and what next semester will bring. Glasgow is a place that people are just people. They are made up fake with make up, they are grungey, they drink too much, they eat too much starch, they live in a rainy cold place that is unpleasant at times but they are still here and proud to be who they are. I have been accepted for who I am, and all I gave them is exactly that. Through the nights at clubs, friends at bars, and even through my art. I gave them only what I am and that is completely healing. So bring it on end of term. Bring on the struggles and the hard times. All I know is that I have people who will forever laugh with me no matter what. xx Lost in Scotland

[shannonsartthought]

There has been a lull in my daily activities...

And I along with it getting extremely dark super early, I have become very homesick. Perhaps it's because its the time of the year when people get bogged down in work and things they wish they could change about themselves. Or perhaps that's just me, but I wish I was home so I could be there for the people I love. It's so hard to not be there for the important people in your life when they're having a hard time. Usually it's not so bad because I'm only an hour away or at most 2 hour time zone difference. Now I'm a whole ocean away and all I can do is facebook and skype them. I know I'm having a life changing adventure here and I know that this has always been a dream of mine, but sometimes I wish I could take everyone I love and put it all into one place which is right next to me. That's the dream anyways. xx Lost in Scotland

[shannonsartthought]

The darkness here in Scotland

So the hours when the sun is out and shining is slowly disappearing. I didn't realize it at first, but we now have daylight from 7:40 to 4:20.... That's insane. I feel like it's bed time around 4:00 every day but really it's only early evening. This is why I could not actually live here. I depend so much on sunlight and being outside in the warm bright sun. I would just get depressed if I lived here for too long! So now that I'm aware of it, I just have to keep in mind that I must not cuddle up in my bed at 4:00.... I have to wait until at least 6:00 to do that. xx Lost in Scotland

[shannonsartthought]

3 weeks until my crit for the new project...

I know exactly what I want to do for the project. I know what I need to do to make it happen. The only thing preventing me from doing all of this is the fact that I can't get a stinking workshop induction into the lighting studio and this frustrates me to no end. I need to start taking pictures. I need to put my ideas to work and see what happens but I can't because no one will teach me how to use the studio. Hopefully in the next few days that will happen, but so far no luck. xx Lost in Scotland

[shannonsartthought]

Paris: Day Three

The past two days have been a very French filled. Yesterday we saw the Eiffel Tower, drank French coffee and had lots of French food. We even ended up in a restaurant where the woman taking our order told me I couldn't have ice cream and told me I wanted the soup instead. When I asked what it was, she responded "delicious" and brought me a bowl. It was delicious but I still have no idea what it was. Today we met up with a friend of kiki's. With her we got delicious felafels and coffee as we walked around the Gardens at Luxembourg. After that we saw Notre Dame and the Moulin Rouge at night. Paris at night is beautiful and incredibly fun to take pictures of. When we were with a French speaker today, it was so much less stressful. It reminds me how important the ability to communicate is. I think I may want to take a beginning class in French just so I have some sort of basic knowledge to make communicating easier. Tomorrow Versailles is on the menu! Till next time, xx Lost in Paris

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Lost in Paris: Day One

I'm going to try my best to "live blog" this whole trip so here it goes... Kiki and I have finally found wifi at the hostel that we're stayin at. So far we have made it to the airport in Glasgow where we were surprised by how strong martinis can be, made it off the plane in Paris onto a train and then made it to our hostel starving. We then wandered around in the rain looking for food until a bar tender wave to us to come in and then threw coasters at us while we ate our Tex Mex food. It's been quite a first day and it was only a half day. Stay tuned for more crazy French adventures to be had! xx Lost in Paris

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I'm Going To Paris Tomorrow!!!!

Yes, going to Paris for a week and I'm so incredibly excited. I just have a few things I need to do and then everything will be awesome. So today I need to: 1. Do laundry 2. Buy wax for my Barbour jacket so it'll be water proof 3. Get Euros 4. Print off my boarding passes 5. Print off an acceptance letter to GSA 6. Pack my tiny backpack that I'm taking. And then I'll be ready to go to Paris and eat lots of yummy food and see crazy sights. It's going to be amazing. xx Lost in Scotland

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I finally got one of these wonderful things that they call a hot water bottle. Basically, you fill it up with boiling water, and then you take it to bed and it warms your feet up. And it doesn't burn you because it's a rubber container with a sweater on. Brilliant!! And of course I had to get some sort of British themed one... especially because it was the cheapest one at the store. xx Lost in Scotland