Kristin & Jason

David Griffin on how photography connects us

Jonathan Klein: Photos that changed the world

wrapping up

So, the semester is ending in the next 1.5 weeks for me. It doesn't feel like it's been too long since I've started this blog, yet some good things have been happening over the semester.

This quest for my identity as an artist is no where near complete; however, my eyes have definitely opened up, and I'm not as apathetic about art as I was prior to starting this project. This semester was quite different. Perhaps I just got lucky to have such supportive professors this time around (compared to the past 3 years of being in the art school). To cut to the chase (and forgive me if this gets sappy), my heart has softened up a bit. I'm not nearly as bitter about art and the means of creating it.

I've learned some valuable things while reading, studying, and writing about art. Maybe I never gave it much of a chance to begin with. Whatever the reasoning, things are looking up. I'm excited about this final project.

artists or con-artists?

This is quite a peculiar display of art among different people.

In class last week, we were talking about the idea of one's trash being another man's treasure - but more along the lines of using a media others will rarely look at and consider beautiful and creating beautiful art. For example, I converted a Tazo tea box into a pinhole camera that takes absolutely stunning photos. This tea box would probably have ended up in a dump, along with many other potential artistic mediums.

This article had a bit of a cynical tone to it; and while I would have thought the same thing a year ago, I've grown to appreciate this radical approach on art. It's new and innovative.

Take this sculpture/bust for example:

Mark Quinn, "Self"

Upon first glance, I couldn't tell the medium was extremely bizarre. I figured it was painted and burned. Then, you realize it's blood - a lot of it. Self-inflicted. Now, I don't know what drove Mark Quinn to think of this, but this is the epitome of self-portrait, and while grotesque, it is so brilliant. (Honestly, I can't bear to keep looking at his works)

It's the process of making the art that I think is important. Anyone could scrap together a few items and create something; however, if during the process, the artist does not gain anything other than the tangible object, it loses it's meaning completely.

While, this blog is not the normal artistic medium, I've gained a lot of insight. I've been, in a sense, forced to look at art, question it, think about it, come back to it constantly, and write about it.

Recently, I've been drawn back into the graphics world, thanks to this blog. In an effort to get a more cohesive blog, I've been testing out new design elements (and failing). I'm also trying to give this blog a new approach, especially on the photo aspect of it. I started posting up pinhole and large format photos, and received a lot more feedback. Essentially, I'd want to post up these photos for an online critique. Same photos I've turned in (or will turn in) for my photo class; however, getting a wider range of people (outside of my photo class) to critique them. We'll see where this one goes.

revamping the site!

I am currently in the process of revamping the site to make it all a little bit more cohesive. There are still some issues here and there, so please feel free to let me know if something is off or doesn't work.

My queue list is also messed up, so if you find some entries missing, I'm probably reworking it.

Comments should be working now!

the beauty of photography

One of the things I enjoy about photography is the ability to use it in a variety of ways. The art of photography is that it's not merely art for art's sake, though it could be. When I look at photos like these, I see art; however, it may not be viewed as art at this school.

High-speed photography is so remarkable.

Wedding/engagement photography is one area that seems to be the most "taboo" here.

Another area, which I love, is fashion photography. I remember last semester, the grad student teaching my class told me fashion photography was my strong point. Following one of my final critiques, I did somewhat of a fashion photography-esque type of project, documenting the shoes I wore everyday paired with a self-portrait. In her near exact words she said, "I never, ever, thought I'd say this, but you really should focus on fashion photography. It seems to be your strong point." Those were the best words I've ever heard since coming into the art school.

Is there even a fine line between commercial photography and art? If there is, should that line even exist?