Collaborative Projects

There seems to be a lot of collaborative things happening on the internet.  I was looking at a CNN tech article about 50,000 animators divying work up with amateur videographers for a project call Live Music.  The article pointed out that the traditional ideas of ownership for artistic is changing.  When I started my grad seminar I thought that the collaboration idea was somewhat of a isolated thing but it appears it is unavoidable.  The good news is that it makes the creative mind work harder and hopefully have better results.  The bad news is that there are lots of amateurs and there is a lot of poor quality out there or just a limited audience that follows these things.  Sometimes, too many people being involved makes things chaotic.  

Aesthetics

The definition of aesthetics according to wikipedia is a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty art, taste and with the creation and appreciation of beauty.   "critical reflection on art, culture, and nature"  Since society changes, it is reasonable to expect the definition to become broader in society. Aesthetics "studies new ways of seeing and of perceiving the world".  Not just the old look at my work and what do you see idea.  Art evolves.  Each viewer perceives or senses what they see and feel.  So art is sensory. Art is in the eye of the beholder seems relevant.  I have had to rethink how people look at my work since I came to PSU.  This semester has changed me.  I am more open to others and my own work.  Never thought of some things.  Constant reexamination is necessary.

Completed Paintings

I just completed my first commission this past week.  The customer wonted five paintings of a summer  cabin.  Here is the finished product:

("Cabin" 10" X 22" Watercolor)

Completed Paintings

When I was exploring this one old factory I walked into this huge room with only one piece of equipment in it. I was immediately taken back by the isolation of ladder in such a vacant room. So I thought that it would be interesting to single something out as well with the process I go through when painting. Basically what this meant is that I decided that I would leave out all neutrals (browns) from my pallet. 

(Side Note: In this piece I continued to leave the paper show through in some areas.)

("Untitled" 30" X 20" Watercolor)

Completed Paintings

When exploring one of the old factories I stumbled across a room with an old cabinet that still had different medicines in it.  In doing some research to find a title for this painting I found strange word.  I was looking for something that meant "small box"and I came across the word "pyxis".  Curious to find its meaning I checked a few online dictionaries. According to the online website thefreedictionary.com, Pyxis is a Latin word which means a small box used to hold medicines.

("Pyxis" 30" X 20" Watercolor)

Work In Progress

Here is an updated photo of the 180 view of a basement that has partially collapsed.  (Size 30" X 123") 

(Left and Center Panel)

(Center and Right Panel)

Blue-Print Collaborative Project

OBJECT OF THE PROJECT

To help students use dialogue and brainstorming to come up with ideas on how to make objects that are laying around outside and would typically be looked at as trash or not useful and make them into something useful

TARGET GROUP

High School Juniors and Seniors from Coatesville School District (ages 16-18)

Type of school: Suburban/urban large public school

Type of class:  Art Class

PROCESS

1. Contact Ms. Worth at Coatesville Area School District to discuss setting up a schedule to present the project to the group
2. Suggest various objects disposed of that they may want to collect 
3. Have the group start to dialogue
4. Group will brainstorm to see what direction they want to go in.
5. Documentation of ideas placed on index cards for easy reference
6. Give students deadline to collect objects that will be used in project
7. Have objects photographed as they appear, continuing to create and record dialogue
8. Document the process through video recordings and digital photos
9. The group will decide on the results they are seeking and map it out
10. Throughout the process the students will have a written record of the steps they are taking
11. A binder will be kept with the written record and photographs
12. The students will use Home Access Discussion Board to discuss ideas while away from class.  This will become a blog.
13. The class will work as a group on  making the objects into useful items
14. An exhibition will be planned at the school for students and teachers from other classes to participate in dialogue about what they are viewing

NOTE: The project will develop according to the direction the students take it in 

MEDIA USED

I am planning on using video recordings of the process as well as written documentation that will be displayed.  Photographs will be used to show before and after as well as the actual display of the finished objects.

READINGS REFERENCED

Grant Kester’s book Conversation Pieces was used to guide me through the process.  I looked at some of the ideas discussed in his book in which groups were used.  I wanted to use a group that could benefit from looking at things differently and finding creative ways to reinvent things.  The idea was to impact on this target group in order to help them look at the items and be creative in recycling them into something useful or aesthetic and to create dialogue that was evident throughout the process.