The last few months were blurry and bleary-eyed. Not much energy at the end of the day for 'notices' or 'announcements', so this blog feels like a dry and desolate land. But alas, here is a recap of some art and life haps.
1. My thesis exhibit (a group show of all MFA candidates) was a great finality. My concluding work was a sideswipe, much different than I had anticipated upon entering graduate school, yet spot on. One phrase artist statement: Highly contrived performative, and mythical photographs of my family engaged in play and ritual.
2. The show was bashed by a local critic - headline - "BRAND NEW AND TIRED ALREADY". Ouch! A photo of my work was included in massacre....is that a good thing?
3. I offically graduated college for the 3rd time - Master of Fine Arts - University of Washington. Thesis is available for the scholarly interested...ha!
4. I missed commencement to live in this Crawl Space Gallery for a week. It was a 24 hour lock-in. All materials and survival stuff had to come with me on day one. No works in process were permitted. It was like camping in a basement. Alone with raw materials and powertools = bliss.
5. My family- Gala, Ezra, and Solomon- joined me midweek. Ezra turned 3 while in the hole.
6. We made a covered wagon thing and slept in it and acted the part modern pioneers. Lots of quick videos. Super tight timeline - one week of work and install the next day for the opening that night!!
7. Better luck in the papers this time: Seattle PI and The Stranger. I was particularly stoked by Regina Hackett's description of our images - "He and his family seem barely anchored to the Earth. On some fine day when the sun is shining, they'll sail away." This is my forever art/life objective!
8. Shows come down and Gala and I crawl to Mexico for our first vacation from the kiddos in a loooong time. Lots of siestas and cervezas.
"The three greatest tasks for film in the 20th century are (1) To make the epic, that is to tell the tales of the tribes of the world. (2) To keep it personal, because only in the eccentricities of our personal lives do we have any chances at the truth. (3) To do the dream work, that is, to illuminate the borders of the unconscious. The only film maker I know that does all these three things equally in every film he makes is Andrei Tarkovsky, and that's why I think he's the greatest living narrative film maker." - Stan Brakhage
The long winter.
Seriously...not any any environmental sense. The weather in Seattle has been bearable. But my family has been sick...over and over again. We just got out of our latest.... a 6 week bout of 2 rounds of flu...first the dreadful gastro nastro and then a respiratory chills and thrills thing. That apex of the gastro number was my oldest son Ezra going to the hospital IV style for 3 days on an severe dehydration mission. I feel like I have talked with most people at length on this, but alas I am still in awe.
Somehow, in the midst of my lil' man being hospitalized, I flew to Denver to speak at the Society for Photographic Education national conference. I barely made it to the podium (my own sick), but it happened and it felt good to verbalize my MFA experience. I did an interview with Todd Wemmer for his blog Lost and Found Photos after my talk that resulted in this podcast. Lots of photo speak, but it may be interesting to some. After words I sat on a bed and watched college basketball all weekend which became an image of subsequent weekends.
What the hell happened to Memphis??? I have had a nagging worry for the last week after they handed over the National Championship to Kansas. I will be driving and think, what am I worrying about,...oh, Memphis. Kansas wins in a apparent underdog run, the kind you always root for. But seriously, Memphis gave a up a 9 point lead with 1:30 left. I am still baffled. I have this deep aching sorrow for them. I need to quit watching sports...I get too emotionally involved...
Seriously...not any any environmental sense. The weather in Seattle has been bearable. But my family has been sick...over and over again. We just got out of our latest.... a 6 week bout of 2 rounds of flu...first the dreadful gastro nastro and then a respiratory chills and thrills thing. That apex of the gastro number was my oldest son Ezra going to the hospital IV style for 3 days on an severe dehydration mission. I feel like I have talked with most people at length on this, but alas I am still in awe.
Somehow, in the midst of my lil' man being hospitalized, I flew to Denver to speak at the Society for Photographic Education national conference. I barely made it to the podium (my own sick), but it happened and it felt good to verbalize my MFA experience. I did an interview with Todd Wemmer for his blog Lost and Found Photos after my talk that resulted in this podcast. Lots of photo speak, but it may be interesting to some. After words I sat on a bed and watched college basketball all weekend which became an image of subsequent weekends.
What the hell happened to Memphis??? I have had a nagging worry for the last week after they handed over the National Championship to Kansas. I will be driving and think, what am I worrying about,...oh, Memphis. Kansas wins in a apparent underdog run, the kind you always root for. But seriously, Memphis gave a up a 9 point lead with 1:30 left. I am still baffled. I have this deep aching sorrow for them. I need to quit watching sports...I get too emotionally involved...
I keep reading this blog. It makes me laugh and it makes me mad. Nothing like something that both repels and compels you.
Seattle peeps...come out for the Crawlspace exhibit that I am in next Month. The video collaboration that I did with Debra Baxter (a few posts ago) will be on display. The opening is February 23 from 6-9. Crawlspace info here.
