Andy Goldsworthy: the artist of nature

Pablo Picasso said, “There is no abstract art. You must always start with something. Afterward you can remove all traces of reality.” Scottish artist, Andy Goldsworthy’s art has been described as abstract because his work has many dimensions. However he’s an artist in the full sense of the word; a conceptual artist, a sculptor, and still life photographer. His work is created using sculpture as the dominant component and is then matched with the tool of photography to capture his temporary pieces. This is an artist who is compelled by the way light falls on elements of nature such as stone, water and leaves. Landscape is the materials he uses to capture and create temporary pieces made of nature. These structures made from nature would collapse with the wind or incoming tide or any other aspects of the environment’s hand; as fleeting as Mother Nature herself. His art illustrates aspect of the natural world by the use of rhythm and repetition, the interdependence of all parts of his compositions and lastly by being able to communicate his ideas through form color and surface without resorting to the use of clichéd symbols or text.
Andy Goldsworthy’s use of rhythm and repetition are the primary characteristics of his work. Some of his first pieces were that of large objects made of a variety of flat rocks that once built resembled a stone egg. They are very large in scale and beautiful pieces that reminded me of the large Japanese prayer stones. In these pieces for example he would start with a circular pattern of flat stones in similar dark hue and slowly stack the flat rocks on top of one another in a repeating circular motion.

To reiterate, his art illustrates aspect of the natural world by the use of rhythm and repetition, the interdependence of all parts of his compositions and lastly by being able to communicate his ideas through form color and surface without resorting to the use of clichéd symbols or text. I believe that Andy Goldsworthy is an artist who illustrates aspects of the natural world, and knows that all things are ephemeral. He creates his concepts with this thought in mind, and takes great passion when creating the sculptures and greater caring photographing them so that he can share these natural moments of beauty with others. He believes "Nature can be harsh - difficult and brutal, as well as beautiful".

Mass Media and Advertising Imagery

Malcom X once said, “The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses.” Although one of the most controversial militant iconic figures his words ring true today with one exception. The media may control the minds of the masses but the masses desires are reflected in the media. Many things throughout history contributed to this idea; things such as the war propaganda movies that inspired people to join the military, to the industrial revolution and household consumerism. The media has been present since we have been present. Americans are known as the consumerist country and sometimes the media inspiring consumers helps the economy. However sometimes the media pushes boundaries to the extreme. The media used to help out nice Stepford wives of the 1950’s pick out the perfect kitchen aide, now advertisers use cryptic suggestively scandalized images to sell everything from butter to clothing. Today everyone knows “sex sells”. Guess photographer Wayne Maser stated he tried to depict life, people’s desires, needs and dreams. The desires come from us and the media uses that to create images to make us think if we own those knee high boots or designer tie that we too will achieve our desires.
These sexualized ads that prey on consumer desires are now distorting them. Advertisements have abundantly evolved into misrepresented desires that sometimes do not even showcase the product. As much as they prey on desires they prey on insecurities. Jordache jeans had tv spots that showcased adolescent girls crying about how un-pretty they are, Calvin Kline jeans had skinny girls talking about horses and irrelevant things, basically the ads were about anything but the jeans, ignoring the product completely. This affects self image directly attacking or provoking the things consumers really don’t have but want. However it attracts controversy and has parental groups and women’s rights organizations criticizing the use of highly sexualized under aged kids. It changes women’s views of what is feminine or sexy and consumer’s views as to what are life’s necessities. Consumers spend so much money on purchasing the perfect jeans that will attract the perfect guy thus giving them the perfect life that was depicted for them in the advertisement. Some critic’s feel that those funds people are squandering on the next great jean should be better spent on social capital such as education, nutrition, housing etc. Comedian George Carlin said it best in his routine “ That’s all you need in life, a little place for your stuff. That’s all your house is: a place to keep your stuff. If you didn’t have so much stuff, you wouldn’t need a house.” That I think is the main negative aspect of consumerism, people spending their assets on stuff they feel they need based on advertising, and get little value or social rewards. The media perpetuates the idea of our self-image pressuring consumers until they’ve attained this skewed version of the perfect life.
Advertising and the media in general is hard to escape even if a person doesn’t own a magazine or watch tv you are still subjected to billboards and other images on your daily commute. The idea beauty and what men see as sexy thus contributing to eating disorders or an altered idea of self accost every female and I’m no exception. Another way the media has affected myself is it gave me a negative idea of what success is. I come from a financially unstable broken home. My idea of success thanks to sitcoms, commercials and print were that of a perfect family sitting down together for dinner, being young, educated wealthy and having the perfect wardrobe. Since I have learned that everyone is on a different path. I didn’t graduate in four years, I’ve worked and paid my way through school and don’t have the prefect car. My idea of success now is having good health, doing what needs to be done to be educated and being not only satisfied with what I have but being happy in life. Laughter and art are my greatest joys.

Truth, Fabrication and Manipulation in Photography

Searching for photographers that dealt with traditional manipulation process was interesting because digital manipulation has becoming the dominant definition. Jerry Uselman and Starn twins for example are the reigning champions for describing this type of media. I enjoyed the articles we read because it shed light on the people who are using straight photography to manipulate. Webster’s dictionary defines manipulation as “to treat or operate with or as if with the hands or by mechanical means especially in a skillful manner, to manage or utilize skillfully”. One a photograph is taken the viewer manipulates it as well, they don’t see the artists’ intent, and all they have to work with is their perception that could also manipulate the photo. The Artnews article was very interesting because it talked about staged photography, the idea of fabrication. The photographer doesn’t have to wait for the perfect moment to arise say like Bresson; they can create their moment. One artist who does this that I appreciated is Anna Gaskell, who used Alice in Wonderland imagery to show female adolescence. Photographers are artists’ now more than ever using movie stills books as examples to help them express their ideas. Fabrication is merely using the tool of photography, to capture this staged idea whether it is like capturing the meticulous Sandy Skoklund’s brilliant ceramics or Cindy Sherman’s feminism in her movie stills. Joel Peter-Witkin and Duane Michaels are two brilliantly twisted on, opposite ends of the spectrum, directors of photography. I appreciated that Michaels never went to art school; he did what he needed to do in the most natural form. He understands what art is. When describing Joel Peter-Witkin’s work he says, “It scares me but I’d much rather be frightened than bored. Until you find your own truth you have nothing.” I think that is what makes them so interesting because they are putting their own ideas of truth out in the world and regardless of the “beauty” its truth in the purest sense of the word. Witkin makes another interesting quote in saying that “ we have to solve the things that make us unclear, the forbidden things, the things we’re told to love and trust and respect. We have to see them for what they are through our own true eyes.” I really think this statement is beautiful. Michael’s makes an early comment about a Mapplethorpe print and he said it was decoration, beautiful artful but not art. As much as I enjoy Mapplethorpe I understand what he means because Michaels and Duane are searching for something, their art comes from a universal idea of truth whether it be in life, death, sex, and personal memories. The artist has to question what exists, and once create

Favorite Photographer?

I don’t have a favorite photographer; I look at every artist regardless of medium for inspiration. I recently took a fashion photography course and was re-inspired by Richard Avedon. I admire his work because he blurs the line between fashion and art. Most critics receive commercial photography as something separate from “real art”. But I think regardless of the purpose anything can be done artistically well. I admire his conceptual ideas, creativity and tonality especially in his black and white photography. He had an amazing talent of being able to direct. Maggie Taylor is one who I have come to learn of. She is an amazing talented artist who I had the fortune of meeting at Modern Book gallery. Her illustrated Alice in Wonderland book, one of my favorite childhood stories, first intrigued me. I then was amazed at the type of photographer she was; one who used found images, scanning them, digitalizing manipulating them. To create these surreal beautifully animated pieces of art. The girl in the bee dress was one of my favorites. It is also interesting to compare her husband Jerry Ulesman, who does traditional photo manipulation – the old school way using enlargers to blend his images. Traditional meets digital. I’m not really sure where I want my art to go. I always considered photography a tool to express myself. I really admire mixed media artists who use a variety of artistic approaches to bring their ideas to life. I always said I wanted to do it all however to make a name for yourself you do have to have a type of work that is specific to you. Everyone knows who David Lachappelle or Ansel Adams or Sally Mann are because they have a specific style. I currently have been trying to figure out what my style is. I enjoy traditional black and white photography but at the same time love painting and manipulating and cyanotype photographs. I also equally enjoy the street photographer capturing the essence in the moment with staging photographs and creating a scene. I want to have an idea, a concept that drives my work. I want people to walk away feeling something whether it is positive or negative I want to evoke some sort of raw human emotion. How do I intend to do that? I have no idea… but I hope this class along with my own personal research helps me define this as I evolve as an artist.

Vampire Weekend

Apparently i have no desire to work on my digital project. Photoshop and I aren't getting along however that means two posts in one day! Who knew I could be unproductively productive! I saw Vampire Weekend at the Mezzanine in San Francisco, one of my favorite venues. Medium in size makes for good standing view all around. I believe this was Live 105's pre- NSSN which was a first for them. I was surprised and ecstatic to have VW play! (Tangent: Mezzanine ...for reals.... you check my old ass ID with eagle eyes, how then did SO many babies get in and score MORE alcohol they obviously did not need.... Really.) I was surprised at how good they sounded as they pretty much performed their whole album! They walked out to hip-hops own Jay-Z which was pretty cute considering it was unexpected. I love when artists surround themselves in all genres. These guys have such a unique sound it was so fun to watch them. I know they are young but it was nice to see them so into the music. Ezra's foot I don't believe stopped taping once. They CD in my opinion was 5 stars hands down! It was great to see the quality hold live as well. There is nothing worse then finding out a great band can't perform. Enjoy a NEW Vampire Weekend Song "White Sky" they previewed for us... let your anticipation for the new album begin!

Ting Tings

Well I'm sorry to say it has been so long since my last post for those that actually read this thing..... I don't have to tell you how the economy has dwindled my concert list. However luckily I'm a procrastinator which means I can catch up on all that I have done... including the Ting Tings which I caught at 330 Ritch in San Francisco. It was a pretty fun show, although a rather short set. 330 Ritch has its pros and cons. Its great for being such a small venue I like the positioning of the bars, always a factor in a venue. However it is an 18 and up establishment so that being said there are too many babies who can't hold their liquor and just don't respect common concert etiquette. That being said these UK popsters have some battery powered energy. They can rock like there is no tomorrow. Ms. Katie White is flawlessly fabulously beautiful in person. Jules De Martino is just so witty, he was taking video of every one photographing them. Another plus of 330 Ritch, CAMERAS galore! no power zealous bouncers regulating. When video is rocking they are out of the way, but when drunk girls are trying to mosh during pop music they step in and lay the smack down. It was a packed show but the video still holds some memory enjoy!