While looking at the photos I took of our paper structures I could not help myself and continue to play even more. Tinker Bell must have snuck in and sprinkled fairy dust on me because I started playing around 8pm and when I finished It was 10:30 and I was shocked how much time had passed without my realizing it. Most artists that loose themselves in the process of art making call this being 'in the zone', 'getting in the groove', or entering the 'flow'. I guess it is the same as flying off to never never land for a visit.
Below is the succession of photos from a wide angle shot to abstracted close ups. I have included some original shots paired next to their digitally enhanced, cropped and/or rotated twin.
Please scroll down to read the answers to the Questions posted in relation to our "Play" time and these photos.
(CLICK ON A PHOTO TO ENLARGE AND VIEW IN A SLIDE SHOW)
{You have created a photograph of a section of your paper structure...
How are the 2 artifacts ( structure and photo) different? similar?}
I am sorry I could not and can not choose just one section of our paper structure. This playful idea and experiment has expanded beyond the stated perimeters and evolved into a new experiment and entity of it's own. While editing photos that I took of the paper structure, I was overwhelmed with all the different combinations, configurations, color saturations and abstractions that presented themselves to me as unique sections that asked to be represented and admired for their contribution.
{How are the 2 artifacts ( structure and photo) different? similar?}
The structure was several parts constructed separately that came together in collaboration to form a whole. The photo, or in my case, photos were intentional, manipulated images of the form with specific attention to it's representations of light, shadow and color.
The structure was created out of game like rules, with a set goal and set time limit. Quick critical thinking along side improvisation had to be used to accomplish the given task.
The process of capturing a photo was less about problem solving and imagination and more about observation and framing.
Similarly the element of surprise, happy accidents and unexpected outcomes applied to both the creation of the structure and the viewing of the photographic images. Having time constrains or not, both products of exploration and creative play had their own agenda and therefore created themselves with the aid of our hands or eyes to be the conduits to translate and give form to inspired thoughts.
{How does your vision translate from 3D to 2D?}
The 3D form is tangible and flexible, it can be reconfigured, deconstructed and then reconstructed again into a new form.
This too is true of the 2D image, yet it is only a representation and a single angel or slice of the whole.
{Does this process change the way you SEE the structure?}
Yes, the structure becomes a modle, or a prop, something that can be used for creating art.
Therefore the 2D photographic image becomes an art piece by selecting what view, angle and abstracted area of the 3D form to highlight and present.
{Synthesis of PLAY experience (Symphony) Why do artists play?}
Artist play to liberate themselves from expected common, constraining movement, speech, behavior and thinking processes. Playfulness is part of improvisation and improvisation is part of exploration and exploration is part of discovery and discovery is part of trusting our senesces to lead us into uncharted territory to experience the unexpected. The unexpected can be an intangible, inspired spark or a tangible material creation. Just as a symphony has many separate instruments with different arranged notes so does art making. The artis needs to play so that they can try different instruments and listen to different notes before they can choose the right ones to arrange into one harmonic piece.
{How has playing with paper reinforced the importance of play? What did you learn about play in this class?}
Playing with paper reminded me of how a child can be content and stay interested in a simple material or object such as a box. It reminded me of those days when I did not have anything but a sheet to create a fort or paper bags to make moon boots. I can see how taking time to play builds creative muscle. If I let my imagination have the stage, without putting any restrictions on it, then my imagination becomes the performer and the material or medium becomes the interactive audience or participant which is needed in the symphonic exchange. The fule and the oxygen, the teacher and the student. It must be an open, fluid, symbiotic relationship for real meaning making to take place.
{I attached a presentation by Olivia Gude about the PostModern Principle of PLAYING. View and respond on your blog.}
Olivia Gude mentions how..."Every man and every woman deserves the personal conviction that they themselves can, by right, have resource at will to this language which is not in any way supernatural, and is the vehicle, for each and every one of us, of revelation."
"Awe, surrender, gaming, and collaboration" These are important for allowing the 'Principles of Playing' to engage in any combinations of possibilities of manifestation.
This weekend I saw an amazing documentary on Marina Abromovic, an original performance artist. the movie was called, Marina Abramocic: The Artist is Present.
She is quoted as saying:"Through performance, I found the possibility of establishing a dialogue with the audience through an exchange of energy, which tended to transform the energy itself. I could not produce a single work without the presence of the audience, because the audience gave me the energy to be able, through a specific action, to assimilate it and return it, to create a genuine field of energy."
She is quoted as saying:"Through performance, I found the possibility of establishing a dialogue with the audience through an exchange of energy, which tended to transform the energy itself. I could not produce a single work without the presence of the audience, because the audience gave me the energy to be able, through a specific action, to assimilate it and return it, to create a genuine field of energy."
She also says "The Artist must be a warrior" To me I think that translates as...warriors are fearless, yet prepared to confront what they encounter on their journeys. They must be sensitive, and alert, ready to accept that which may present itself to them.
