Spring Review: May 9, 2012

Artist Statement:

One definition for execution is “to produce in accordance with a plan or design.” For the past two semesters, I have been focusing my work on execution. For this work, I focused on mapping and connections, specifically between Troy Davis, Reggie Clemons, and myself. I used map lines as an element of design, rather than a directional tool.

This is the first time I am putting myself into my work in arts activism. I wanted to connect myself and my work with these cases, as well as connect them to each other.

Art Event: All School Show

This year, I participated in the All School Show. Art Education and Art History shared the Arnheim Gallery for a week long show that represented each department. I have always enjoyed seeing work from Art Ed and Art History, because of the wide variety of concepts and media choices. There was a range of paintings, prints, cut paper, ink, sculpture, glass, drawings, writing, masks, collage, plastic bag pods, etc. I had two pieces (from my For Troy show) in the show.

Art event: John Thompson at the Design Center

One art event I went to was a reception for John Thompson's work at the Boston Design Center. I have John as a professor for Intro to Printmaking this semester, and I went on MassArt's China trip with him last summer. I always love to see my professor's work, because they are working artists and educators. The Design Center was an interesting place for an art reception. The set up reminded me of a home design store, like Ikea. There was living room and lounge type settings all around the space. John's work was the framed pieces around the room. It was hard to see some of the prints at first, because my friends and I weren't sure if we could walk on the rugs. The set ups seemed almost too nice and expensive to walk on. We eventually realized we could an got a closer look. We were able to talk with John about his work at the show. I love the use of color, shape, and repetition within his work. I enjoy hearing about how he makes his work. He seems to not be afraid to make mistakes. He works with what he has, and if it doesn't work out, he'll recycle it or cover over it. He seems fearless in mark-making. This is something I would like to work on. As John often tells me, I'm too precious about my work. I need to take more risks and make more without worrying about messing it up. If I do make mistakes, as long as I learn from it and keep working, it is worth it.

For more of John Thompson' work, visit  http://johnthompsonart.com/

Writing, in progress

 I have been having trouble writing an artist statement, so I started looking up definitions for words like death, doubt, execute, execution, innocent, guilty, evidence, proof, and map. The best lines that I found are:

“To lie still in death”; “To produce in accordance with a plan or design: a painting executed by an unknown artist”; and the definition of map in slang is “the face”.  

Locating My Work at the MFA

(This is not the exact work that I saw. I have a few pictures on my phone, and I can upload those in place of this image. This is a sample of work similar to the piece I am discussing.)

Artist: John McQueen, American, born in 1943
Title: Manuel Training, 1999
Materials: Interwoven willow sticks and waxed string

This piece displays a "network of willow sticks" which represent patterns within each body. The two figures are in conversation with each other, gesturing towards each other.
I was drawn to this piece because of its impressive line quality. The interconnecting lines build up the form of these two figures. I found this relating to my work, because I want to work similarly on a two dimensional aspect. I want to create a drawing of a portrait without the contour lines of the face. I want the face to be built entirely with lines of the maps that I have been working with.

Artist: Piet Mondrian, Dutch, 1872-1944

Title: Composition with Blue, Yellow, and Red, 1927

Materials: oil on canvas

Mondrian's original focus and training was in landscape painting. As he developed his skill, he created his own representational imagery of landscapes. I choose this piece because line is a dominant element here. Mondrian uses line to divide the spaces. This reminds me of an aerial view of a city based on square blocks. Using line as a dominant aspect of his pieces is similar to my process, but what he represents and his final product is different than my process. I want line to be a dominant element, but I want there to be a lot more to my work than just a basic mapping of something. I want the line to represent the map, but I don't want that as the only aesthetic element. 

(This is not the exact Mondrian at the MFA. I will upload another picture from my phone. The set up is the same, but the Yellow, Blue, and Red are in different places.)

Talk/Event: Death Penalty Abolition at the AGM

This past weekend, March 30-April 1, I attended Amnesty International's Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Denver, CO. I learned a lot at the AGM, and I was greatly inspired. I was able to attend three workshops/speakers panels on Death Penalty Abolition. The first was a info and planning session at the Youth Mosaic Training session on Friday. The second was a speaker's panel and discussion on Saturday. Sunday's session was a speaker's panel.

Laura Moye and Pete, student from California, pointing out the injustices in Reggie Clemons' case.

I was especially inspired by Saturday's workshop on Death Penalty Abolition called From Troy Davis to Reggie Clemons to Abolition. The speakers for this workshop were Laura Moye, Campaign Director, Abolish the Death Penalty; De'Juan Correia, Troy Davis' nephew; Pastor Warnock; Diann Rust-Tierney, Executive Director of National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty; Stacy, student from California; and Vera Thomas, Reggie Clemons' mother.

Laura Moye, De'Juan Correia, Pastor Warnock, Diann Rust-Tierney, Stacy, Vera (left to right)

De'Juan speaking about his uncle Troy's case

Vera Thomas speaking about her son Reggie's case

Pastor Warnock speaking

Reggie's father modeling the Justice for Reggie tshirt

Injustices listed on the back of the Justice for Reggie tshirt

Laura and De'Juan leading a chant: When I say ABOLITION..You say NOW! ABOLITION! NOW! ABOLITION! NOW!

Progress 6, (Boston to Missouri, Missouri to Savannah)

Progress 5, (Savannah to Missouri)

Progress, 4 (Boston to Savannah)

What am I doing?

Similar to the beginning of Phase II in last semester, I am somewhat stuck in actually making work. Although this semester, it is not because I am researching too much, it is more because I'm not overly interested in what I am looking into. I definitely want to continue on the idea of mapping and bookmaking. I also plan to continue to explore ideas involving Troy Davis. I tried moving away from the work I did last semester, but at the same time, I really want to continue to work on this. So my goal now is to incorporate books, maps, and Troy's story.

Progress, 3

Some map images

Progress, 2

Trying out watercolor on tracing paper

Atlas book pages

Atlas book covers

Map, water color and micron on tracing paper

Map, micron on tracing paper

Discard library books, with micron on tracing paper

Discard library books, with micron on tracing paper

Discard library books, with micron on tracing paper

Discard library books, with micron on tracing paper