LESSONS:

Learning about symbols and making them my own.

Cover of Symbols Booklet 1 and pages from future Booklet 2

Inside of Symbols Booklet 1 with pages of Booklet 2

Symbols Booklet 1


These are exercises that represent just the beginning of this investigation into commonly used symbols from various sources including mapping, electrical diagramming, graphing, hobo signs, etc. Currently I am collecting symbols and finding the ones that resonate most for me. I will be working toward a personal glossary of that group of symbols with the intention of using them as a language, a form of communication with which to create a narrative in my work.

CREATIONS: Deeper practice

This is a continuation of the work found in the previous post. The following are more or less doodles, in this case inspired by graphics that accompany scientific journal articles ...

8'x10"

or inspired by my own photographs of unidentifiable objects...

14"x22"

17"x22"

14"x22"

17"x22"

or interpretations of images of my hair from the back ...

17"x22"   Includes image # and weather data for the day of the photo, the thumbnail of the photo, a drawn interpretation and a journal entry.

11"x17"    This is a series of doodled interpretations of hair photographs with image # and a journal entry.

UNDERPINNINGS: Studio practice

In Search of Further Understanding:

Some studio experimentation

8.5"x11"  Digital doodles of barnacles from proof sheet

8.5" x 11"  Digital doodles inspired by photos of the hair on the back of my head. Work in progress.

1.5"x9" strips. Pen doodles on clear acetate inspired by photos of hair.

The following are doodles inspired by graphics that accompany articles published in scientific journals.

This last one is a more 'finished' inspired by a photograph of mine from a series of unidentifiable objects.

15"x22" ink and graphite on dura-lar

CREATIONS (con't):

More of the responses to Vicki's blocks.

 

 

CREATIONS:

In collaboration with fellow group-oner, Vicki Putz, we have made the following pieces. They start with her 6 sided abstract paintings on wood blocks. The pieces are meant to be handled and viewed from all sides (see her blog for pictures of the paintings in their element okayjustgo@blogger.com ). I have then reinterpreted these paintings in ways that reflect subconscious responses to the work.

Shifting Focus

DISCOVERIES: 
Beginning an investigation of information graphics, mapping, graphing, diagramming, etc. Playing around with something close to my experience. My actual studio practice in relation to what my post residency plan stated. Hmm. It's nice to see we not even at the halfway point.

AN ADVENTURE: The end of the circles (for now)

ADVENTURES:
Okay so maybe this is not a grand adventure, merely a small one. The time has come to exorcise the sphere/circle experiment from my thinking. I'm being called to move on to other things. So I spent a couple of days playing one last time with these shapes, to give them one last chance to take me somewhere new. They didn't but it was fun playing. And to honor the end as well as hope for the future of this work (yes a contradiction there) I created a mock up of a gallery installation of the whole Clark U/Sphere/Circle project in part as an exercise in positive visualization and as a true representation of how I believe the work could be shown in a meaningful way.

The small box on the floor is representative of the original research tool that the work was inspired by. The explanatory animation is on the left, the back wall pieces are interactive and demonstrate how the overlapping circle patterns are found and the right wall has the culminating "art" piece that is driven by the concept. This is designed for a 22' space. It's always good to dream.



Some of the experimental pieces:

 

LESSONS:

I'm trying to come to the end of my experimentation with the rings, probably only a week or so left in me. Currently using them to explore papers and media. These three are collage. More "finished" than some of the other experiments. Those I will post when I have a good collection of them. I used a Do It kind of randomizing method for placing each ring on top of the next. That was really the point of this exercise, to take some of the control away from me. I would have avoided the areas of density which turned out to be, at least in my thinking, very important to the ultimate composition. So the lesson: I'm not as smart as I think,  let some decisions come from elsewhere, either through a system or a collaboration.

These are a few shots of the installation of my work at the Center at Eagle Hill in Hardwick, MA. It is an impressive facility in pretty much the middle of beautiful nowhere. I'm quite happy with how the show looks and it is fun to see so many pieces up at one time in one place (and out of my studio). The show is up through the end of April.  For more info go to: http://centerateaglehill.org/ai1ec_event/art-opening-beyond-the-horizon/?instance_id=1678.

LESSONS:One of the frequent comments about the 18 circle piece was that it was cold, dry, missing the hand of the artist. All of which I agree with and so I was curious to see what would happen if I painted them by hand. Here is the first phase....I'm undecided. I think it might work if the painting gets a little bit better.  The top row are the hand worked pieces. The bottom row are the machine printed ones. The next two are close ups of two circles.

UNDERPINNINGS: The "wall" is starting to take shape. Over the course of the semester this mind map will surely evolve.

This is the flash animation I was having such a difficult time showing people during the residency. It tells the story of the work that came out of the Physics lab residency.

Crit room wall for 1st residency (Jan'14). This is the starting point. I can only imagine where the end point will be.