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!

Kings of Leon's sex is SO on fire

Well it finally happened, I saw KINGS OF LEON!!!!!! And it was every bit of amazing as I thought it would be and then some. They walked out of the pitch-black hall to a classical requiem that haunted the venue with anxious screams from the Warfield in San Francisco, CA. Then one by one we could catch glimpses of them as the ushers led them in with flashlights and fans flashed their digital cameras; as the screams elevated the lights flooded the stage as they opened with “Crawl” off their new album “Only by the Night”. Their drummer Nathan Followhill commands your body to feel him through every pounding he’s that talented. Then Caleb Followhill lead (yes if you didn’t know they’re familia) lends his raspy southern vocals to the sweet guitar and bass of Matthew and Jared Followhill. Every member has such a specific roll that you can hear in the sound of each song. There are only a few artists that I can listen to their entire discography and not either play out or get bored. These favorites ranging from Led Zeppelin, to Tom Petty, Faithless to Bjork or Radiohead to Andrew bird. The genre of each artist is irrelevant it is their ability to transcend time and grow as musicians. Kings of Leon has done that through their career. There concert was a reflection of that growth, they played their hit songs from their earlier albums such as “Four Kicks”, “Knocked Up” and “King of the Rodeo”. As amazing as they were on CD they mixed it in with their newer gems like “Manhattan”, “Revelry” and “Milk”. Caleb was phenomenal despite the fact he said he was sick which I didn’t notice when he belted “Cold Desert” however when he back tracked and wailed in “Charmer” the sexy high howls weren’t achieved but it didn’t matter because the audience filled in for him (for the worse), which I think he appreciated because he gave us a little smile for each scream we attempted. When ever I see videos of them playing overseas you can barely hear them because the sea of fans over power them almost Beatle status, I think KOL was proud to finally be respected for their music and be able to see it here in their USA. In every article/interview you hear the guys talk about their struggles with respect, the personal battles and the relentless limelight; I hate to break it to them but after this album I’m not sure those are going away anytime soon. I can go on and on about the songs they played but let’s not forget their new single “Sex on Fire” (also one of my new ringtones) which gets every girl I talk to hot and bothered. As if their physical attraction wasn’t enough they’ve grown as longhaired young kids in skinny jeans and anorexic vibes into hot men with tones muscles and (sadly) shorter hair but the skinny jeans still stand. With their southern rockin sexiness Jared’s bass lines strummed inside “hot as fever rattling bones”. I was attempting to video them as they sang but the crowd was jumping and I decided to drop the camera and belt out with the rest of the maniacal fans who came to see KOL’s sex on fire…. literally. My only disappointments would be 1. That they didn’t play an everlasting set including their discography and 2. That I didn’t get to meet them in person and 3. That I didn’t see them in the UK who seems to love them almost as much! I know all of these requests are out of the question and asking a lot so I will keep my pictures, videos, and memories of this kick ass show letting me smile at the thought that I WAS THERE!

I'm back

I have been swept in a tsunami in this sea of life..... yet have lived to tell the tale. I survived surgery, a dysfunctional family and numerous loveless jobs/relationships. It's all of these that make me the jaded yet positively peaceful character I am today. So Instead of neglecting my blog,.... which I now realize no one reads (and i still don't care), I've decided to make a solid effort in making daily if not weekly blogs. Of course that's today... who know what will really happen. But regardless, the effort stands in effect. First order of business is to catch up on where I've been venturing. Starting with SF Outside Lands, the past three shows and museum visits.
Go... live... experience... be...

The Wonderful World of Disney

Well, been a while since I wrote bout the beauty of anything artistic. I am mostly a photography commentator or mixed media because it is what I do. However I extremely enjoy architecture. It has always been a passion of mine. Ever since I was little I was always found starring out the window at various edifices. I love the materials, the hands on process, and just the brilliance of the finished product. It doesn't matter if it’s a quaint cottage or magnificent performance space. Speaking on the subject I recently was visiting family in socal and was able to visit Disney's own piece of art; the Walt Disney's Concert Hall. Designed by Frank Gehry, its brilliance lies in the form and material. It is extraordinary presence. You could stare at any piece of the structure and just be in awe of how it changes as shades of the day pass each hour. I believe that to be the most beautiful aspect of this piece of wonder. I remember watching a PBS special in one of my art classes’ ages ago. Anyhow I found it amazing how this maddening artist came up with unstructured piece of art that in the end had a complete sense of structure.

Social Distortion

I captured Social Distortion while holding down the front and center at their show in San Diego at the very eclectic Street Scene. It was an amazing show. Some bands will transcend not only genres but time itself. This fact enabled this amazing punk band to have a following likened, to TOOL, Led Zeppelin, Tom Petty, U2... etc etc. Some bands have these fans that take the term die hard with the utmost passion. It was sadly my first Social D concert and I heard it wasn't their best. Since I have no comparison I am biased when I say they rocked because he sings with such an like summer's breeze, just chill kick back as if he was just singing and having a beer with some friends. Friends of say over a good thousand! The singing every line, belting as if they were on stage fans know how to rock. And I am proud to say not only I am a fan but I held it down.

JENNIFER STEINKAMP

JENNIFER STEINKAMP is one of the current artists at San Jose Museum of Art. She was featured in this years first zero one art festival showcasing the digital artists of today. The question everyone had in critiquing this new art was whether or not it was in fact considered to be art. Just because something is new does that warrant authentic "art". The festival along with two of the newest exhibitions were all digital media based, somehow done with computer programs in any way. Many visitors felt that this diluted its credibility as art. In JENNIFER STEINKAMP's art she uses digital projections on to a blank white wall. The images are moving and consist of things ranging from flowers to just color. The images are meant to exemplify space, time and movement. In its first encounter you get a feel for a bit of surrealism and impressionism. But as you walk through these digital paintings you can't help, as one viewer put it, that it is "a sick hippy trip". Is technology the new tool for art or merely just a form of media eye candy? JENNIFER STEINKAMP has been featured both nationally and internationally so her art is no parlor trick. She is well respected in her craft...Whether you deem it art or not.

Liars-Drums not dead

My most inspiring instrument to listen to is the drum. It evokes something spiritual, savage, human. Something so tribal and raw creates a mood so tangible compared to the screaming and pounding of say death metal. (nothing against) The liars have captured the eerie melodic sound to perfection. I could listen to one of their strongest songs "A visit from a drum" endlessly. The whole CD has great beats and Angus' vocals are reminiscent of Thom Yorke with a more raw quality. The newly released album like all of theirs prior are original and utterly addiction!

Monsters are Waiting

Shows are great and I consider them the greatest form of art. Its a great combination of music and performance art. I enjoy going to be apart of shows because it gives me a chance to join in the art. I am a part of the movement. The movement this weekend came in the form of a plethora of shows, Monsters are waiting , amazed me. They are still young in the game opening for the Editors and Stellastarr but they still put on an amazing show nonetheless. I was actually impressed.

J luvs illuminated glass

J luvs illuminated glass
Originally uploaded by photokitten.

Its amazing how talented arists are. I sometimes wallow in self pity for at least the first 5 minutes or so just in awe of the creaitvity and original talent that some people have. I went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium recently and was amazed at the jelly inspired art by Dale Chiuly. The most incredible to me was the glass blown creatures. They weren't meant to be replicas but yet interpretations and omages to the wonderous form, shape, illumination, and movement that these translucent cratures evoke. We should all be inspired to create if not through imagination through the everyday wonders that surround us.

J the photo phoenix

Everyone in life would like to consider themselves great at whatever craft they have chosen in life. Against my parents wishes and my own personal lack of skill I had decided to go into photography. I have had a personal trial I have been under going which has hindered my personal and artistic life. I consider myself a phoenix as defined as: A person or thing of unsurpassed excellence or beauty in some respect; a paragon. Like the mythological creature we know so well , when something tragic happens it burns us inside and we either die like so many people or like the beautiful bird are reborn into something great. I am on fire transitioning every day. This blog is hopefully is an expression and appreciation of all things beautiful and horrible in art ; may it inspire.