... ..... .. .... . ... .. . ... ..... .. ... . Sculplady.. .

All I can say for now is... creating an armature of a life-sized torso, out of chicken wire, is NOT what I call fun. 

Finally got settled into my home studio. Much, MUCH smaller, but at least it's not in my living room or kitchen.  Just wish the room had a window. :(   

    Anyway, got started on piece number 3  of the series for my next project titled 'Lady of the Yahara'.  I am not going to divulge too much info here before I get more research done on it, but, I want it to be part of an outdoor event, incorporating performance and public interaction.   I'm psyched about it, just have to get my butt motivated to get moving on the pieces. This will be the first time I've said this, but, I'm somewhat looking forward to winter, so I have no excuse not to work on it when I'm snowed in day after day. Hopefully I don't get cabin fever and lose my mind before spring.  I sure was on the verge last year.

Well, it's final. The end of September marks the end of my current studio space.  I am trying to remain optimistic about moving my studio to my apartment.and working from home. The new space is small. Really Small...and dark. The old studio was at least 3 times as large and had huge, south-facing windows covering an entire wall that overlooked downtown's busiest street. <sigh>  BUT, unfortunately, the economy and my limited free time has won this round. I am hoping that having my studio readily available to pop in and out at my whim whenever I choose, will be just what I need to push me forward with my production. Also, just because it's a temporary setback, doesn't mean it will be this way forever. Trying...to...remain...positive... 

  Having an extra $220 a month will hopefully help boost that positive outlook too. 

  In other news, the current work in progress has taken a new turn for its final exhibit concept. No longer do I want to have it hanging in a gallery.  I am planning on applying for a mini grant from the city arts commission for a temporary arts exhibit in the spring or early summer of next year.  That should be enough time to both finish all the pieces and have worked through a lot of the preliminary planning of the final show.  I'm really excited about it now. It will involve community participation and interaction with the pieces in an outdoor, public setting. For one evening.   Much more research is needed before it can happen and I am psyched to get it underway, as well as moving forward with the construction of the pieces. It feels really good to be excited about my work again. Just hope the studio downsizing doesn't interfere with that.

    Wish me luck.

 

umm...not sure how to finish that sentence.  Fortunately, the wax cast released in one piece. Was a little challenging getting it out of the mold, but, any damage was minor and I've got it resting comfortably. Problem is, I think I may have overheated/burned the last coat of wax on the exterior...it's very yellow - not the nice milky off-white color I'd been expecting & hoping it would be. :(         I am considering buying some more wax just to coat over it a few times to cover it. 

  Now, on to figuring out what materials I am going to use for the remaining seven casts. I think I may need to make another mold of myself first - the original is getting pretty flimsy/decrepit. I don't think I reinforced it with enough plaster to be honest.  Man, this project is going to take a while.  I'm looking forward to doing it though. So often I get grandiose ideas for projects and never follow through with them. This time, I'm doing it!

  Though, I'm also worried about maintaining paying rent on the studio. While it is a great deal for the space and location, these days with such a sucky economy, it's hard to spare $200 a month when the extra income I used to have isn't coming in. I dread the thought of giving it up. I'd have to figure out how to work from home - where I don't have space. Cold, dark, damp basements are not conducive to making art. At least, not the stuff that I choose to do.  I definitely don't want to turn to doing 2-d stuff just because of lack of space.  I dunno. Maybe I'll just have to re-figure how to express myself without giving up what's important to me.

After FINALLY getting the paper cast removed from the mold (thankfully it turned out AWESOME, even if it did take 3-4 tries), I have moved on to the wax cast.  I have only done a wax casting once, a long time ago in college, for a bronze piece.  The wax was dark  brown and smelled awful. I guess it didn't need to be high-quality because it was going to get burned away when the bronze filled the mold...but that being said, I was worried the wax I have now was going to be similar. Thankfully, it doesn't smell at all and it's a nice, pale, milky, yellow-white color (which is why I chose it).  While I do enjoy painting the melted wax into the mold, I don't enjoy the stiff shoulders from doing it for 3-4 hours at a time.  I just really, really, REALLY hope it releases well and that I don't have to do too much repair work on it.  Still struggling with ideas for white, organic, or at least, organic-looking, materials for the remaining 7 casts. I may have to re-think how they will be suspended.

  I recently downloaded a Burning Man screen saver from the 2005 event. My 2nd time. I'm not going this year - last year was a biyotch...but I am definitely having big pangs of missing it for sure. I hope (as I usually do), to try and bring some art of my own to the playa next year. Aside from the enormous cost of a trip out there, I didn't want to put aside my current project (and most everything else in my life) again to plan for 6 months. While all the planning is definitely worth it, it's an 'all or nothing' kind of undertaking. If you do it half-assed, don't even bother doing it at all.

 Anyway, in other news, I have recently submitted an application for consideration in a bid for purchase for a few of my pieces to go in a new office building in Milwaukee in Oct. of 2008.  Would be nice to be chosen so I can either move some of my pieces looking for owners, or be commissioned to make a few new ones. 

  I'm also looking forward to summer to just be spending more time in the studio. It has nice big windows that face a busy downtown street, so it's almost like being outside.

   That's it for now...

A few weeks ago I made a short weekend trip out to NYC to visit some friends and check out the Whitney Biennial. This was my third biennial. The first one I went to, 6 years ago, blew me away. The last one 4 years ago, I was pretty nonplussed. This year's, unfortunately, held about the same sentiment.

  I only found one or maybe 2 sculptures/installations that I 'somewhat' liked. LOTS of video this time around. I have nothing against video mind you, but it got to be kind of overwhelming after a while. The one that stuck out the most was a documentary done by Spike Lee about the treatment of the residents of New Orleans after hurricane Katrina. (can't remember the name off the top of my head). I didn't realize it had been out on dvd for a while already. I sat down to watch it for a few minutes, and woah. Some of those images will haunt me for the rest of my life.

  I can't even begin to conceive of how the people who experienced it live coped with that. Dead floating, bloated bodies of people and animals, complete and utter destruction of communities. Families scattered across the country with no way to contact each other. I get ill just thinking about the way the government treated this crisis. (and still is/isn't).  I guess I am thankful for Mr. Lee's video, because it was the only piece from the Biennial that stuck with me. I just wish it hadn't been the FIRST piece I saw. 

Well, the movie shoot was a combination of one of the most hellish, physically demanding as well as fun and eye-opening experiences (in regards to an art form that is not my medium/genre), that I have ever had. While I did learn quite a bit just from observation of the shooting process, I also learned that (if most shoots/crew/directors are like that) then the movie biz is DEFINITELY not for me.  It was cool to get a glimpse at a new art form (new to me), and how much work is put into making everything come together for a shot, and when it does, it's almost magical. (especially when it's on site and you're dealing with the unpredictability of nature).  Anyway, suffice to say, I was able to appreciate the different artists in their fields...but I think I'll stick to visual art thanks. 

   Anyhoo....speaking of which, I finally got the body cast made of the front of my torso, from the neck down to just below the hips. I gave up dreaming for the expensive liquid silicone stuff and bought plaster tape (the kind they use for making casts for broken bones).   While I DEFINITELY didn't get the fine detail I was hoping for, at least I got a halfway decent shape out of it.  After it dried, it seemed pretty thin/ flimsy so I coated it in a few layers of liquid plaster that I painted on. Turned out ok. At least it's smoother and not as fragile anymore.

  Last week I tried making my first cast with torn up pieces of sheets of paper pulp. I smoothed on a v-e-r-y thin layer of vaseline on the inside of the mold as a release so the paper wouldn't stick to it upon drying. I shouldn't have worried about it though. It completely crumbled once I removed it. I only used water to soften the pieces and pressed them into the mold, hoping that when it dried and I removed it, I could then coat it with something to strengthen it.  Tried it again this weekend, but also lined the mold with a plastic garbage bag. There is so much texture to the paper pulp that I wasn't concerned anymore about getting fine body detail from the mold. I also used a diluted glue/water mixture which I sprayed on the pieces until they were saturated. Once the mold was filled, I set it in front of a fan to dry.  Unfortunately, what I thought was 'dry' actually wasn't 100%. The top part of the cast crumbled after I removed it from the mold.

   SO, attempt #3 involved me completely saturating each piece of paper pulp in the glue/water mixture, then pressing it firmly into the mold. I tore up more paper and made 2 full layers into the mold, firmly pressing them all together while they were wet & squishy.  It was kind of like sculpting with soggy corn flakes. I set it in front of a fan for an hour today, and am going to let it dry fully for 3 more days before I take a peek at it.  I also purchased some matte spray varnish to coat it inside and out, once it's dry. This time better freaking work, dammit. Wish me luck.

   I'm also itching to get this paper cast finished, so I can move on to my next material, which I'm excited to work with. Wax.

   I'd like to try and make all 9 casts out organic (or at least, organic-looking) materials of some sort, that are white.  I thought of sugar, but how the hell do you cast with granulated sugar? and how viable is that?

  Lots to think about....

Well, I have been making a little progress with my current project. Though, it's been taking a while because the body casting materials I need are kind of expensive.  I'm allergic to latex and the other stuff (alginate) that many use is only good for one casting.  I found what I think I need, but it will cost about $350. Ugh. BUT it's a silicone based medium and I can make multiple casts with it.  I also have finally made the decision NOT to use video as I had originally planned. I had done some consulting with other video artists and came to the conclusion that what I want to express would be more effective using actual 3-dimensional objects rather than a video.  I'm very inspired by the artist Rebecca Horn, who makes installations that are motorized and have lives of their own even while nobody is watching.  Now, if only I knew how to  make things motorized... 

The title of this post is actually referring to the fact that I recently was cast to be an extra in a big movie production about John Dillinger, set in the early 1930's.  They're shooting in several locations around the state and in Chicago. There is a pretty heavy-duty list of stars in it, Johnny Depp and Christian Bale at the top.  I'll be happy if I can even catch a glimpse of them in action.  I'm no actor, but I am more of a person who's all about the experience.  It will be interesting to see how it's all done both on and behind the scenes. While I am excited to do it, I am not looking forward to putting my hair in rollers and pincurls every freaking night.  :(  eh well, small price to pay I guess. Just hope it will be fun.

Whatever 'it' is has yet to be determined...  

  Anyway - yes, it's been a couple months since I last posted. I've somewhat hit a roadblock in regards to the physically creative end of my current project - both due to lack of funds and experience and technical difficulties.  (not to mention just trying to get through the holidays). But, fear not, I am starting to get back on track and take the bull by the horns & get this party started!   (ok, enough catch phrases). 

   I'm looking into doing a partial body cast for my next piece - I've only had minimal experience with casting...so I'm a little apprehensive about it.  I need to find someone local who might be willing to help, or, get busy reading/watching some life-casting videos.  I'm psyched to do it though. I don't really work figuratively much, and never work with myself as part of the art...both have recently intrigued and motivated me. 

  Ok. More to come as things develop. 

After finally finishing the 'Mandala' series this past spring, I finally am now able to embark on the journey of getting my next piece out of my head and into 3-d.  The basic imagery for it came to me last winter, out of the blue and totally unrelated to the pieces I was working on, or to anything I have done in the past. As I do with most of my concepts, I did a quick sketch in my book to come back to later.  The difference is that when I usually go back to the sketches/ideas later on, they often don't seem to grab me as they originally did when conceived...but this one did. 

 I will refrain from any visual descriptions here, but I can say that some possibilities include molded front halves of my torso, in various paper & lightweight materials, text incorporated into it somehow, movement, and possible light projections.  There are many other possibilities brewing, and it is constantly changing/in flux during this time of research and mad sketching.   I hope to be better about updating this blog more frequently as the project progresses.

 I am also hoping to do more writing about my art. I have discovered that I am not very good at it and am insecure about it to boot.  Not a good combination to say the least.

  I just need to figure out that whole space/time continuum thing so I can be in two places simultaneously. 

Yeah, I'll get right on that...