Pulse

As a preparation for the first eco art project I spent some time exploring my local surroundings that I felt foreign to. I wanted to get a larger picture, as I know many of the hills directly surrounding the campus. So out I went in my Volvo for a late winter drive. I made use of a sketch book and my camera to document points of interest and my path. Some noted points directly reflected in my frist eco art project, such as my notations of hay bails in my sketchbook. Other places discovered became places of interaction later in the semester.

I found myself finding interested in the land that was claimed by humans, either through simple signage, or mining.

Up Sherman road I came a crossed a row of posted signs standing alone in a large empty, snow covered field.



Also on Sherman road I came to a view of Buffalo Crushed Stone mining. I followed up with a visit to the Buffalo Crushed Stone web site. I came a crossed plans for what would be done to reclaim the site after the mining, which included a park. Rather ironic.

So here is a rough photo of the second drawing Georgia did this morning with with the chair backs, string and sharpie set up. The first was on a glossy white paper which turned out well since she was feeling pretty active, but I think this second one has more potential. With a dull, looser weaved paper, the ink spreads. Each spreading dot is where the pen tip was left when she stopped drawing, leaving the pen standing alone.



And here is an update on the exploration of Korean Nature Art. Essentially this is about performance, and I have spent a lot of time thinking about and looking for the perfect locations for inspiration. Here is a photograph just taken, the goal was to work beyond comfort to find some sort of understanding of this form in nature. Initially I was stricken by the size of the bail, and trying to fight the cold while shimmying up it. Eventually I was able to give in and fold myself over the bail, breifly enjoying the sunshine.

I was hoping my slip would line up with the snow on the bail, obviously I underestimated the size of the bail.

Hi guys, I'm going to play with this blog thing and use it to record this exploration that I'm working through in the course. Today I set up a contraption the allowed my cat the play/draw. Some of the results are interesting, but shes a little tired and lazy this morning. Maybe shell feel more artistic later.

There are two ideas that I am exploring. The first is Korean Nature Art. Seung-hyun, KoHee-joon Kang, and Jaye Rhee (follow the links to their web pages). I love approach that these artist have in making their statements. The work is humorous and simple, embracing the natural world harmoniously. It is truly performance based art but documented through photography. I'm wondering how it might be better documented?

I have also been thinking about how we can use our environment to paint. I began with 'what kinds of pigments and stains can I find in my environment, and how could I allow my environment to make these marks on their own?'. I eventually found an artist whose work really captured me, Tim Knowles. His tree drawings have a commonality with the Korean work.

All in all I am looking to really explore these sort of simple, possibly houmourus, approaches to environmental art. I am recording my travels as well, for possible future use, and as a reflective portion of the exploration.