Did I say once a week? I guess that I meant once in a while…
December 9, 2009
I am going to go a head and make a number of posts…one for each of my larger projects. So, first things first.
My second piece for my installations and environments class was a more personal examination. This piece was inspired by reading ”Art and Fear” by David Bayles and Ted Orland. One of the main points of the book was the fact that – the ways that we struggle in life are the ways that we struggle in art making. It is important for me to continuously fight against and move through these things and make the most powerful work that I can…to move closer and closer to working at my full potential (a loaded word for sure).
I have been very interested in layers in my work as well as literal and psychological barriers. This piece says “There is a barrier between me and making work at my potential” over and over again, layered up multiple times. The piece is approximately 5 1/2 feet x 13 feet. It was installed in one of the main entry ways to the art lofts building at the University of Wisconsin.
There were a number of things that I was thinking of when designing this piece. I installed it as an actual barrier for the most popular entrance of the building as a way of effecting other artists that are inevitably dealing with their own barriers and struggles in their work. I chose the thick plastic that is used in construction for two reasons: the first is that it is typically a temporary material (as hopefully struggles are temporary), the second is because it is translucent so you can mostly see through it to what is beyond. I chose to write in sharpie with multiple layers over and over to represent the way that the negative speak in ones head (and in society) tends to act as an undercurrent within everyday life. Acknowledging this undercurrent while pushing through challenges feels like a vital element for truly reaching for ones potential. Comfort is unfortunately never a part of making great work.
I dedicate this piece to all of my ex-students at SGS that I pushed to work outside of their comfort zone. I’m right there with ya ladies!
