Appropriation

I have appropriated this photo. And turned it to a gif. I find particular discomfort and offense when the name Westboro Baptist Church. Yes, they of the "God Hates (Pretty Much Everyone." I wanted a Biblical response to something that I find to be in opposition to Christianity, and at it's best extremely perverted, and inappropriate use of speech. So I was able to visually and rhetorically "wipe" the messages off using actual quotes from God's word; rather than flat out lying, and misrepresenting God's word as these signs do. The verses and what they disprove are as follows: Disproving "You're Going to Hell": Jas 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Disproving "Dont Pray for USA": 1Ti 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 1Ti 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;" Disproving "Thank God for Dead Soldiers": Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Just Doodle It

I originally pursued this as a project using a medium I love to elevate or explore something I love. I began with the campus, but I was dissatisfied with my results. I found myself going back to the drawing board, only quite literally. While exploring mediums, I found a set of brilliantly colorful permanent markers. I was attracted to the fullness of life and vibrancy that they represent to me. I have recently been turning to bright colors and white backgrounds as a way to work through some more challenging and dark times in my own life. I like to draw, but only in a very simple, cartoon-esque style. I love it when my work is able to capture a fun, light, yet somewhat substantive element to it. One of my favorite hobbies is to work out specific projects and ideas onto a blank notebook. Right now I cycle through about five. I used one to map out a doodle info graphic about doodling. I chose one blank piece of foam board, took my markers, and went to work. So I made a project that was about my project. One might call it meta-art. It is art that comments on art's ability to enter other fields. I have long struggled with attention issues in many environments. After seeing Sunni Brown reveal research onto the academic and realistic merit of doodling and learning combined, I was inspired to work it into my own life. Author and corporate trainer, Dan Roam encourages companies to use it to problem solve. Many stop short because it seems to frivolous. To me, both offered brilliant, simple solutions to a variety of problems. Epiphanies all around for me. In short, doodling (and many other art forms) can be also be described as external processing. What goes on as partial abstracts in portions of our brain can be made concrete and further developed through art. In terms of education, communication, and perhaps even innovation, this is a largely unknown frontier. It seems so fraught with frivolity that no one dares enter into the terrifying world of doodling. Now that's ridiculous to read, write, or say; but that's how I see the world acting. And that, in turn, corresponds to art. Art has the potential to be a frivolous act or serious endeavor. Or it can be both. I believe one of the largest obstacles in our cultures progress in art is our inability to recognize the validity of frivolity, and to expand the bounds of "serious" art. However, not all folks are assured or confident that they can be "creative," or true artists. I wanted to challenge these very things. Doodling is a common, ordinary way to express oneself. Turning it into a time based art form, gave it an interactive quality that I think would be lost in other mediums. Approachability was paramount to this project, because I want someone to look at this, say "Hey! I could do that!" and then go out and doodle, draw, or express through some other medium. The world is at a loss because of unrecorded, un-captured, and lost ideas. I would like to change that.

Final Project WIP Part 2

This is the video version of my project. Enjoy!

Final Project WIP Pt. 1

This is a still from my whole project. I will eventually bring the board in and use it as a permanent fixture.

Final Project Proposal

For my final project I would like to record a doodle of me drawing a sort of Infographic. I am hoping that by recording marker stroke by marker stroke as I apply it to either marker board or paper. I want the piece to be art about art, or use art as a communication tool. It will be versatile and meant to be shared across social media platforms and hopefully be something that I can further develop.

Performance Piece

For my performance art piece, I chose to place a blank sheet of paper beside my collage of brush strokes, and encourage my audience to join in my piece. My project deviated from my anticipation of what it would be. I was hoping that individuals would embrace the idea of making abstract marks and joining in continuing the project. However, what I have thus far is a combination of abstract marks and acrylic brush graffiti. I observed that my audience was also more interested in observing and participating than they were reading the statement. What I believe the project informed me is that individuals are interested in communicating things literally. Symbols and marks are, as of now, an even spread across the page. While not literal some of my marks are, in fact, representations of specific emotions, movements, and gestures themselves. Also, I observed some fear about violating a clean canvas. Then I encouraged mark making, as did Kate, and John, and people joined right in. When given unrestricted freedom it was interesting to see what came about, and how quickly individuals actually joined in. I had a filled page within an hour. As the project continues I am still hoping for more abstract marks. I may very well hide the graffiti marks and put up a half sheet of abstract lines and patches. Where the audience takes it will be interesting to see.

Participation & Performance

For my performance piece, I will be setting up an easel near my exhibit "Untitled-1." The existing piece has roughly 100 patches made from digital and paint brushes. I made the patches along with my siblings and grandma. I gave them a blank sheet of drawing paper, brushes, and black acrylic; and said "Make whatever you want." I then took those brushes and scanned them into photoshop. Using photoshop I also made digital patches using simulated brushes (the digital version of what I used in the originals). Finally, in full color, I made collages of those are central to the piece. Folks will be asked to approach the easel and make their own patch of paint. By joining in something so simple and freeing, I hope that negative perceptions and attitudes toward art will be broken down. The action is so primitive in the simple making of marks, but so freeing in the unrestrained expression of self. I hope that the piece grows with completely random additions from artists, professors, students, the public, and possibly E. Gordon Gee, himself.