Category Archives for Art

Professional Development

Well, hello. I made it to June in one piece. So much happening at once, I was wondering how I’d make it through. That’s why there hasn’t been a post in almost a month. No recovery time for me. I’ve got a work meeting to attend and paperwork to turn in. Painters, landscapers, an electrician and real estate agents will all be at my house sometime today. Then – I become a Feng Shui Master for a couple of days as I make this place look arranged.

Regardless. It’s time for me to reset the dial and get fully back on track. In this profession, that’s just one of the millions of things that get done over Summer Break, which is only really a break from the classroom and grades.

summer break

Trash As Inspiration

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Regardless of what you do with your day, you have to stop to connect the dots and have a laugh, because life is hilarious.

One of my favorite things about being an artist is having the ability to be inspired by anything at anytime. Yesterday while doing some overdue yard work I ran across a few bits of trash amongst the pile of old leaves (see photo above).

Life is a metaphor for art. The moment and the meaning I have taken from finding the trash is now stuck in my consciousness. Why? Because of my opinions on the Valentine’s Day holiday. Also, especially now because of my divorce. Yes, word is out, slowly and quickly the news has gotten around. Catherine and I have gotten divorced.

You can bet this photo will be used in my art at some point in the future. It’s appropriate for appropriation. Art is a metaphor for life.

Another Summer Project

I decided I am going to write my own Design 1 text for my classes. One of my many projects for the summer. I’ve been thinking about this for a long time. This morning I had a breakthrough in terms of how I want to present the lessons in my text. I thought of it in the shower (of course) and threw down this thumbnail immediately afterward. It’ll go a long way in helping me remember the nuances of my concept when the time comes to put it all together later this year.

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This Is What A Stupid Idea Looks Like

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This statue of Kurt Cobain is a stupid idea for dozens of reasons. However, I’d like to focus on three of them in particular.
1. Why would the city of Aberdeen, WA choose to honor it’s most famous citizen (and most famous critic) in this manner?
2. Why would the city of Aberdeen, WA think that fans of Nirvana would flock to their city for something like this. Especially because its very existence is completely in contrast to the mission of the band and the struggles with fame that Cobain experienced.
3. Why is he crying and playing an acoustic guitar?
My answer to all three questions is the same. It’s because there were not any Nirvana fans or anyone with a significant knowledge on the life of Kurt Cobain involved with the project. This is an assumption, but I feel safe in making it.

My First Rock & Roll Record

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“I Shot The Sherriff” by Eric Clapton was my first rock & roll record. The first record I ever owned. I was 5 or 6 years old. It happened when Mom let me pick out a record at the store. I don’t even think it was a record store. I was 5 or 6 years old. At the time I had no idea who Eric Clapton was and I certainly did not know who Bob Marley was either. This song was one that I was familiar with from the radio in Mom’s car. Clapton’s version of the Bob Marley song was a #1 hit in 1974 and still all over the radio a year or two later when I chose it to be my first rock & roll record.

This record ended up being quite a prolific choice. It is a rock legend covering the king of reggae. It’s a number one hit. Over time, this record turned out to be merely the first purchase of thousands made over the last 40 years. Even after all this time, I can say with confidence that my first was certainly not my worst.

What was your first rock & roll record?

Milwaukee, WI: Home Of Universal Knowledge?

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One of the men arrested in this case was named Universal Knowledge Allah. Who knew the home of Universal Knowledge was Milwaukee, Wisconsin?!? This world is strange, tragic and amazing.

The linked article is about how, just recently, a 299 year old violin was stolen from the owner as he carried it in it’s case. A tazer was used to commit the crime and the microprinted pieces of discharge helped like the weapon to the criminal. Nice. Let’s see if anyone adapts that technology to other weapons like guns. Doubt it. Because in that instance, the will does not equal the way.

Lionel Stitchie

I’m just giving some credit where credit is due. I was browsing the headlines and discovered this story about an artist that stitched Lionel Ritchie lyrics into abandoned furniture. Well, it turns out I know this artists! It was the work of my friend Molly Evans, a college radio buddy from back in the day. Molly was also a DJ at SCAD Radio in Savannah years ago.

This art made me smile. Thanks Molly!

http://www.ignant.de/2013/12/10/lionel-stitchie-by-molly-evans/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/16/lionel-stitchie_n_4442299.html?utm_hp_ref=arts