Friday, November 12, 2010

Another artist to research

I came across an artist, Kimsooja on Art21 that I need to look at more when I get a chance.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Visual and Informative References

When I was in grad school I did some research on an artist I find interesting. His name is Osamu James Nakagawa. Nakagawa has done work based on Identity. One if his series of works is called Kai: Following the Cycle of Life http://osamujamesnakagawa.com/?images=kai&i=statement, and another is called Ma: Between the Past http://osamujamesnakagawa.com/?images=ma&i=statement. Both series focus on connections between past, present, and future. In his Ma series, he appropriates images and momentos from the past. I found the use of repetition and the nostalgic feeling of the works very compelling. It kind of reminds me of a work that I created in high school using some old family photos that belonged to my dad, who was adopted. The work was about how he came from one family, coinesdently with the name Holiday, and adopted by the Holliday's. I used repetition of text and old photos that I altered using photographic processes such as cyanotype and lith prints.
I want to reference Nakagawa's works in order to inform my own working process. Here are a few of the images that stood out to me most. These are all from his website: http://osamujamesnakagawa.com/?p=images









Wednesday, November 10, 2010

The busier I am...

It seems like two things happen when I'm very busy:
1. I feel a little frazzled and unorganized.
2. I start thinking of more things to do.
So I have recently started thinking about a new series of artworks. This series is mostly inspired by the arrival of my daughter. When I was pregnant, even very early on, I some how knew I would have a girl. I had a dream about her, but I also felt this strong connection that ties to an important generational connection between the women in my family. Family is very important to me. Connections between generations, being inspired by accomplishments by people I look up to, and the importance of relationships is something that motivates me. I was lucky enough to be close to my paternal grandmother, Aenid before she passed away. I also grew up close to my maternal grandparents, Wilma and Buell. And my mom, Denise, is one of my best friends. I am very proud of Aenid, Wilma, and Denise...and I can go on and on about that. I also admire my mother-in-law a lot. I'm lucky again, my in-laws, Miek and Mary are great. Anyways, as it relates to my work, I also hope that Lyla is very proud of me one day. So I keep thinking about these connections. I have done a couple of photo sessions with Lyla. One at 3 months and one at 5 months. In both shoots, I used a rocking chair. The first was a child's rocking chair that belonged to my dad, Joe, when he was very young. Grandma Aenid had kept this chair and when she moved to FL, before she passed, she let me have it. The other photo shoot with Lyla was in a rocking chair that was 1 of a pair that sit on our front porch. Ben and I got these chairs as an engagement gift from Mike and Mary. I also used an old quilt that I believe was my Great-Grandma Pearl's. Yes, I also grew up with my great-grandmothers around, Pearl and Irene. More family connections through generations.
I've started to think about how rocking chairs and quilts are often passed down through generations. I have 2 other rocking chairs in my house that were passed down to me. One, Grandma Wilma bought for my mom when she was pregnant with me, the other was Grandma Aenid's. To me, rocking chairs represent the bond of relationships. When we rock in a rocking chair, most people are doing one of the following things:
1. rocking a child for comfort and bond
2. rocking alone to reflect on life
3. rocking side-by-side with someone else to bond
Quilts are also passed down through generations. They represent:
1. a historical craft
2. comfort
3. patterns of life
So my ideas for artworks will relate to rocking chairs and quilts as symbols for relationships, bonds, where I come from, and how I wish to be in the future.
More soon...

Monday, November 8, 2010

Checking student Concentrations

Students in my AP Studio & Portfolio classes are in the process of developing and beginning their ideas for the Concentration Section of their portfolios. They will create a series of at least 12 works that connect visually as well as thematically. So far, here are the blogs I have links for. I look forward to seeing the work that comes out of these creative ideas!
Abby Friend

Keyci Hiratsuka

Paige Siler

Marissa Watson