My professor invited me this semester to loosen up, not edit myself so much. Make the stuff I am drawn to make and let the chips fall. I have never been able to do this in photography, painting sure, but not photography. It is usually an art of cool calculation. I arrange a situation as a sort of providential inspiration directs and put together the parts in my mind. There might be a short shift along the way in process, but for the most part the idea becomes flesh.
When I started employing an approach of less editing of myself (I am too much of a control freak/perfectionist to totally release) it was exciting to think of putting together these books stripped of titles because I wanted to see language move from the title of my works which always is so important to implanting text inside the image. The interesting thing about text is that it is amazingly powerful and though I don't think it is more powerful than the image it somehow brings us closer to a definition. Images do this all the time too, yet it is easier for people to talk about the meaning of words because we speak in words. Maybe this is why images that change our thinking are so powerful in that we can't necessarily verbalize what they have done to us so we tend to think feelings at the point. The painting made me feel...thus and such.
I don't know where I am going with this. I am just reflecting on the reality that images and language combined are terribly potent.
On the note of death being both natural and unnatural, I would recommend The Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers. The album Psalterie & Redux, a free download on their website, was given to me by my pal Matt for my birthday a few weeks ago. It is great Seattle music as it fits the rain, hills, and autumn. And when I say fits; its tone is melodic, dour, melancholic, and emotive which is autumn in my book. I would recommend reading Perry Wright's album commentary, also on the download, after you listen to the album 5-8 times. He is a sharp, opinionated, and emotional guy which helps me understand why the music sifts its way perfectly into the November air.
When I started employing an approach of less editing of myself (I am too much of a control freak/perfectionist to totally release) it was exciting to think of putting together these books stripped of titles because I wanted to see language move from the title of my works which always is so important to implanting text inside the image. The interesting thing about text is that it is amazingly powerful and though I don't think it is more powerful than the image it somehow brings us closer to a definition. Images do this all the time too, yet it is easier for people to talk about the meaning of words because we speak in words. Maybe this is why images that change our thinking are so powerful in that we can't necessarily verbalize what they have done to us so we tend to think feelings at the point. The painting made me feel...thus and such.
I don't know where I am going with this. I am just reflecting on the reality that images and language combined are terribly potent.
On the note of death being both natural and unnatural, I would recommend The Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers. The album Psalterie & Redux, a free download on their website, was given to me by my pal Matt for my birthday a few weeks ago. It is great Seattle music as it fits the rain, hills, and autumn. And when I say fits; its tone is melodic, dour, melancholic, and emotive which is autumn in my book. I would recommend reading Perry Wright's album commentary, also on the download, after you listen to the album 5-8 times. He is a sharp, opinionated, and emotional guy which helps me understand why the music sifts its way perfectly into the November air.
thanks for the heads up on the free EP Download, brother! I've got it all uploaded, art and all, in my itunes. Good stuff. I miss you man....
brother Josh
Yo. my man.
I like certain parts of the e.p. other parts not so much, but if you put the b-sides download Redux on a CD after the Psalterie it seems to flush it out well. Particularly this song on redux, Concerning the End of the World.
'I am too much of a control freak/perfectionist to totally release'
You really pegged it right there.
Thanks.