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February 17, 2011

as inspired by Fluxus

Extend our attentions, let us sit and listen-
where is the time to appreciate?
or will you depreciate?
The time to focus in, and in this rushing world, will you win?
No time, no reason,
just consumption-
execution.
The senses have been obliterated, lets revive the standard, the race for knowledge,
to be an expert in certainty-
that confidence fluidity.
Smell the flowers, no more self-diagnosed A.D.D.
Its not as easy as 1-2-3.
Like quitting a bad habit, you must rearrange yourself.
Prioritize, re contextualize, rewind, back-up, start over -
LIFE.

February 6, 2011

an experience

In attempts to get more in touch with the art world, I have been in contact with Jasmine Moorhead, owner and director, of Krowswork, a gallery in Oakland dedicated to digital and photographic work (though not limited to).
This First Friday I was able to participate in the Art Murmur taking place in dowtown Oakland. I was suppose to be watching over an installation by Karen Seneferu, originally from Richmond, making sure the viewers were to respect the space, in hopes of no mistakable alterations to the art created. It was a refreshing experience, as later in the night Karen arrived, to take place in her own space. Here she burnt sage, and elegantly stood among her installation, welcoming viewers to kneel on the pillows provided, to peer into the vessels, African-influenced sculptures with attached digital elements, and shrine-esque areas she created. She was very open to speaking about her findings, and how objects became a part of her work. Many objects she said "spoke to her" which is a something I feel many can relate to, in that, people have there interests and don't seem to know why. After experiencing this, I came to a conclusion that her work was very subjective, on a conscious and unconscious level. This lead me to the conclusion that people experiencing this space were also viewing it subjectively. It seems that her intention was to provide a space, and then allow the viewer to take away what it is they felt reached out to them.
This process of thought may be similar in the way that people interested in art view art.
(I speak of this, because in my attempts to be a part of a functioning gallery, I felt I had no effect to the surrounding.)
After much thought, and reflection of my own art viewing experience, I realized that I did not need to be completely present in the viewing of these artworks. Most people tend to look, appreciate, think, think a little bit more, and then move on. There is only the few that have questions, and for those that did I would of been there to answer.
On another note, Ron M. Saunders, a San Francisco rooted artist, showed his beautiful, one- of-a-kind photograms, which served a subjective purpose as well. He inserted his own body (i.e. head , hands) into the photograms, bringing a personal perspective to the work.
Overall, this experienced delighted me, and as someone in the process of learning, discovered a perspective on the art gallery that I had yet to know.

February 1, 2011

Links for some of my work

I enjoy many forms of art. I began as a doodler in the crack of my notepad, and when my Physics teacher told my sister and I to stop drawing in the middle of class (we were notorious for passing markers and pencils back and forth, busting out swirly wirly drawings) I knew it was my calling. It also helps when you know that Art is the one class you will succeed in while loving it all at the same time.
Drawing and sketching has always been a hobby. I have taken many "drawing" courses in the midst of my art schooling in order to learn the dynamic of realism. Life drawing came to be my favorite "serious" drawing style, but the good old doodle has always been there for me.
Photography was my next love. It began in High School as well, when my photography teacher would allow us to check out those fancy digital cameras on the weekends. This quickly became a hobby, and eventually new forms of photography swayed me. Starting with digital, then receiving our Fathers old Olympus 35 mm, started a whole new revolution of art. Film quickly became a necessity, and eventually a black & white course brought me to the dark room. Here is where I learned the value of using lighting correctly. From there is was dabble in this and dabble in that - alternative processing led to printing of digital negatives with litho film, and the creation of pin hole cameras. This fascination of the cameras ability to distort and change the image gave birth to the fascination of Polaroid and Toy Cameras which I continually use to this day.

My favorite point and shoot is a bright yellow Lomography fisheye camera that I compulsively keep at my side. I love it when people ask shockingly, "That's a camera?" So much fun.

My developed interest in the image gave way to an interest in the moving image as well. This is where video entered my life, in my later years at the community college, when we were asked to appropriate imagery from the public domain or stock photo sites and create an animation in Photoshop. From there on I was fully in love with making short movies, and decided to pursue it in my later studies.

Studying at San Jose State University in the Digital Media Arts Program allowed me to get a feel for many different ways of making art. Digital Media was not so much about an expression, but about organization and intent. Challenges always came about whether it was the tedious duty of waiting for a rendering video file, or starring at a line of code for too long to figure out what was next.

My skills vary in many areas, but I am capable of many processes on the computer or even the good old tactile way. I enjoy all kinds of work, and love a challenge. Brainstorming is a key factor in the creation of many things, which I fully enjoy, especially among others.

Take a look at some of my work below!

Welcome

This will be my personal blog for posting art and art experiences, for the art appreciating world.
Thanks you and please enjoy.