MOMA Summer school

I was at the Museum of Modern Art PS1 summer school yesterday. What an amazing day! I performed in Satisfyin' Lover and State, the seminal choreography of postmodern dance theater founder Steve Paxton. MOMA has really got some extraordinary curation going on there now-a-days! In addition, I got to meet Industrial music pioneer Genesis P-Orridge and I took a class with renowned performance artist Marina Abramovic. I had so much inspiration going that day. It inspired me with ideas of how to work sculpture into performance. More on this later!

Still life collage

Still life collage.
Household paint tiles glued on foam.

3D Collage

Household paint tile samples with mixed images.

Reach

            ‘Reach’ is a 3D object built around the idea of an arm in kinetic motion. 
 

When I first began the building process  I thought that I would build with wood pieces; toothpicks gorilla glued into squares of different sizes. I thought that the fragility of the thin wood would read well and give a different sensibility to the human form. During the process I decided to create other shapes, diamond and triangle shapes as well. The gorilla glue expanded into the side of the squares which enhanced the expression of the basic shape by distorting it. 

 I started to agree more with this distortion as I continued in my process. I trimmed the shapes to give a clean exterior but left the gorilla glue as is. I painted the shapes with a stark yellow color that gave an unnatural effect; this choice became a part of the journey, it helped define where I would go to next. The yellow also seemed to add a clear definition so, there seemed to be a visual contrast of distortion and clarity. The color was a beautiful bright red which alludes to the idea of veins inside an arm.

 This version of an arm is conceptual and abstract. There is a picture located at the very top of a hand in motion. Its abstract shape is intended to refer to an arm in motion rather than the exterior shape of an arm. It will bend easily without breaking and is mobile, it can move with a wind source. Its shape can be changed at any time. It is mounted on a slanted black foam board to enhance the idea of mobility. The piece could be placed on the floor or mounted on a wall or ceiling.

 I am inspired to create many versions of these arms since there are so many variables of outcome. Even through this process has been time consuming the end product was exciting and rewarding.

Passion: One Minute Drawings

It was challenging today in drawing class. I ended up discovering a-lot when we were asked to do a series of one minute drawings. Not having to add any extras, to adjust only to the contour of the model's frame was liberating! This taught me how the simplicity of a single line could be so expressive. Like dancing, during this exploration, these lines felt utterly kinetic. I have never done a one minute drawing but I think I will be doing more of them now!

I am taking a drawing class. This is my first drawing. I chose the hardest thing on the object table to draw. Skulls have always held a fascination for me. Human or animal. They remind me of how strong a body really is; of its strength and permanence. With our other parts, it seems as if we are so frail. It takes bones years upon years to disappear long after death. Skulls are a powerful symbol of physiological strength.