Things of Interest, Volume 1

Self Portraits done to a different drug every day - earlier this semester we discussed the use of drugs and their connection to artmaking. Chelsea brought this link forward as an extension of that.

This strange animation reminded Danica of our interviews! Art jargon.

She also thought this award-winning short film might be of interest: Ryan.

TGG Gallery - We spent a lot of time discussing the space of the online gallery - especially in regards to Jamie's project "Tasty, Kinky". Claire's friend Tobin has an online gallery and you should check it out!

Sarah wanted to share a couple of links dealing with tattoos and street art:

- An interview with Chad Bojorquez
- And a video about the C/S Symbol (don't know what that is? click and find out - it's super interesting)

The Ditch Witches are feeling inspired.

Another instalment of 'Things of Interest' coming up soon!

Love, Claire

INTERVIEWS

Jerry charged us with interviewing each other - having a conversation about art, our lives, whatever. These are some things our groups find particularly relevant and would like to show you.

The Rush-In Bandit
 
Intrigue. Romance. McDonald's.

Carson, Erin, Kate & Bess 

Anything But 

That's a Sexy Picture 

KIDS & SKIDS

Can You Make Me An Elephant?

To most people, balloons are simply associated with children, décor and celebratory events. Their role is usually meek − look cute and embellish. But to the internationally-acclaimed Swiss performance artist Victorine Müller, they hold a much greater meaning and usefulness. The inflatable aspect of balloons is an essential part of her work. For over fourteen years now, she has been combining the disciplines of painting and sculpture, with sound art and performance. 

When I stumbled upon her work earlier this week, I was absolutely blown away by the seemingly weightless PVC structures (this is how Müller characterizes them) of transparent forms, which are usually animals. What really astounded me was that she places herself inside the air-filled animals, emitting a tangible aura− “breathing animistic energy into the beast she inhabits” (design boom).

Performative sculpture is Müller’s favourite medium, often dealing with notions of spiritual and emotional dynamism. It certainly provides audiences with an immersive experience. This is what she had to say about her work:

'I’m interested in creating moments of sensitivity, moments when our defenses are down and we are open to new things. moments of powerful concentration. ... I create zones, put forward pictures, show processes that touch the viewer, that invoke associations on various levels, transport people into a different state, so that things hidden may become visible, accessible, opening up possibilities – to demonstrate something that is not said and cannot be said, but that is'.

This is my favourite work of hers, as it relates closely to my own artistic practice. This performative sculpture, titled ‘timeline,’ (from 2005) begins with the monolithic elephant in an upright position, with Müller situated calmly cross-legged within. Lit by natural and powered light, she gives a sense of a living spirit and awareness to the animal. Later on, audiences are exposed to the work in an entirely opposing state; she lays the gentle beast on its side, and evokes it sleeping or perishing− ‘an elephant in a quiet, dark space, motionless, awe inspiring yet also arousing our sympathy.’

 

Check out some of the stunning art, and if you’re in Bern, Switzerland, be sure to go see her show ‘Wild at Heart,’ which opened on November 2^nd at the Zone Contemporaine Oliver Fahrni.

I can’t help but wonder what she’s thinking about when she’s inside her sculptures! What do you think? Share your thoughts below!

- Katerina Pravdivaia 

Sources: 

"Victorine Mueller." infecting the city. N.p.. Web. 8 Nov 2012. <http://www.infectingthecity.com/2012/artists/victorine-muller>.

. N.p.. Web. 8 Nov 2012. <http://www.infectingthecity.com/2012/artists/victorine-muller>.

Laura, DB. "art." designboom. N.p., 25 2012. Web. 8 Nov 2012. <http://www.designboom.com/art/performance-art-meets-inflated-sculptures-by-victorine-muller/>.

Solicitous in Sackville

So as some of us may feel, this week was a bust creatively. I’m in a rut of sorts, I spent weeks just making so many things and this week, especially after the crits, I’m just done. I wasn’t happy with certain things and a few just seemed to not be working out like I had planned. Of course I am happy with certain things, just as a whole I feel uninspired. Right now I am not motivated to make anything. Maybe it’s a rut from being dumped, or possibly drinking a bit too much lately, which could also stem from getting dumped or just stress in general, maybe just over thinking content and not being able to move forward with any concrete ideas. I don’t know what it is but its making me even more stressed. I worry that I won’t be living up to my own expectations, which for me are ALWAYS too high. I want to make things and be happy, but to do that I don’t know whether to go to grad school, or apply for residencies or take a year off and just work at the hospital again and make art and maybe get into the gallery scene in Ottawa. 

With grad school I don’t know if I’m ready for that type of environment yet, I don’t even know if I’m good enough to get in. I have shit all to put on my CVxcept for a piece that I submitted to the Sweetest Little Thing silent auction which my mother bought and an honorable mention for the Fine Arts Department sculpture prize, which is pretty much just saying you were the first loser. I’ve never had a show and have nothing to entice people to accept me into their schools. My artist statement is a bore and I’m not sure my art is good enough to compete against soooo many other applicants, I don’t even know if I’ll be able to get a damn Struts show.

Residencies seem a bit more reasonable for me at the moment but again the issue of competition and my lacking requirements come up. I also don’t think my parents will think it’s beneficial to be put up in a place to work on art, not be paid and that isn’t affiliated with an “educational” institution. Another thing that doesn’t make me seem a good candidate for any of these thing is that I don’t have a very solid body of work. I have a whole crap ton of “half projects”, a few paintings here, some drawings there but not much that relates to one another or even very much that I would like to explore and expand upon. 

I’m probably over thinking things and overreacting but I needed to take out my doubts in a different place then my art. So I’ve just poured all of my worries and frustrations onto the internet and frankly I’m embarrassed. I would like to get some discussions going and maybe some worries other people have about being in art school and what awaits them afterwards? 

 - Elizabeth Bissonnette