BA Week 6

WORK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2IXF2rlfoA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt0LyJlAOhU

In process

RESPONSE

At that moment I was nothing, to everyone and everything around me, just another body. Not in a depressive state, but an understanding of the vast perplexity of life, all life, from humans to trees, from whales to bees, nothing but me standing in a crowd of others who didn't see. All worried of whats next on their list, next on the day, things to buy and perceive in a state of consumerism and need. But somehow i saw it, all of it, life to death, love and hate, the trap of society and its ever tight grip. How could i see yet no-one around me gave it thought, the only thought, concerned of the past and forever fearful of the future. But i stood there in the present, questioning the system, the rules, the comfortable contentment, questioning a reality that is so easily accepted as our own, my own, the individual who thinks it's theirs. But its not mine, its not yours, its not me, its not you. Accepting a fabricated lie as a truth led us to a planned path, one without freedom and acknowledgment of our true selves, to discover one self would be the truth, the light, freedom. Freedom like that of childhood were we roamed freely without concern of placed perceptions and adopted characteristics, "But thats not realistic in the real world" "Screw your "real world" I'll make my own, one where passion and love is endless in expression, where freedom from societal standards exists and individuation is unlimited. Free from categories that shape us into a square then force us into a box. For i am formless, a forever growing being flowing in a process of creating a better me, a truthfully freer me." When you find this place, it may come and go, but whatever you do, don't ring the bell, forever rage, forever learn, understand, grow and become the light which we all posses. Feed your light, your flame, ignite!




INSPIRAITON

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxvOMHoLRBY

2. https://laughingsquid.com/beautiful-giant-kinetic-art-sculptures-powered-by-the-wind/

3. Mosaic in Student center Flagler College

Artist Residency Post 2

2/21/2018

Project: 3D Letters and shapes

The first day this week I challenged the group at SJYA with a task of creating 3D Letters by using rolled slabs and the scoring and slip method to connect the pieces. I first started the class by demonstrating the project and creating my own letters "C". During the process I explained to the group the importance of creating air within the shape and then putting a small air hole somewhere in the piece once it is done to avoid pieces breaking during the firing. They asked questions pertaining to the firing process and asked how I "baked" the clay and were very curious of the process. After creating my example i gave the each guy their own slab to begin to cut and build from. Some guys took initiative and jumped in without fear of failure while some needed guidance and help in starting the work. Conversations stemmed from life after their sentences and what their plans were. A lot of guys shared the ideas of returning to and finishing high school while some didn't know what they wanted to do. Throughout the building process some guys continued to excel and create very clean 3d objects. Some guys strayed from creating letters and went to creating squares and rectangles with words written on them. Once student in particular wanted to make a name tag and decided to stay 1 dimensional, which i ended up enjoying the end result. One student seemed to be making something then became unhappy with it only to squish it back down into a slab and continue to make more then flatten it back out again. One guy made a "snickers" bar and planned on trying to get a friend of his to take a bite of it without him knowing it was clay. He had a plan to create a outer wrapper for the bar made of clay to further disguise the clay. Though time ran out before he was able to make the wrapper that day. At the end of class i had all the guys in the group write down their favorite snack hoping they would return the next day to finish their work and claim their gift of food. Class ended and everyone was smiles a lighter as they left the room.

The second day i returned with the clay pieces almost completely dry and some fresh slabs with intent of new students being involved in the group. Not to my surprise some of the guys in the group were involved in some "bad" behavior the day before so i pretty much had new students with 3 returning. I showed the example again to the kew students and they ended up creating 1 dimensional art because time was limited due to a late start (faculty had to find someone to supervise the class). I also brought underglaze to allow the guys to paint there finished pieces. Only one of the guys from last class had a finished piece so he ended up painting his green. Though during the process since the clay was bone dry parts of his work broke apart, though they can be fixed once fired with super glue. The new guys were involved intently and created the whole time i was there. Since we were limited with time the clay pieces came out somewhat small, but due to the complexity of building in 3D, which seemed challenging to the most, i am overall content with the work and the guys feel the same Conversations today led to more of the future, and their ideas and plans once leaving SJYA. The majority expressed finishing high school. Since there was a lack of supervision the guys didn't really focus as much and were not the best listeners when told to chill and participate int he work. Though they were not disrespectful, just acted as young kids, which some are. The kids in the last class remembered the snack list and kept asking if i had brought any which i assured them i did, though it seemed as though they had mentioned it to a few people which induced the increase in class size (I will be more cautious of next time). At the end of class since some of the returning guys were not there, i handed out the snacks that were listed to the returning guys that i had promised. With 8 more guys in the room and 5 snack left, i wrote numbers down on a piece of paper and had them all choose  number 1-8. They all were hooting and hollering in joy when I called out the numbers they had chosen and presented the honeybuns and Oreos to the winners. They left with a slight sugar buzz and smiles.

BA Week 5

WORK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf5W-PjJ9Xg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=titEMsOZe0M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwB-M1OkdCg



RESPONSE

Symmetry at play, that's your God at work. Multiplying cells to create the ultimate gift, life at first. How could one BE beauty while some SEE ugly, if it's in the eye of the beholder how much could it hurt to see yourself as your true being, beautiful and free with lack of others perceiving. Once their thought is adopted words that judge approach, difficult to stray from the hate and ugly spoken by someone who fears it themselves, only to put you down while picking them up. Is it all worth it, at the end of the day, to say something hateful and push people away? Watch your words, they come from within, from you're true mind and conscious no-one else's.

INSPIRATION

1. Stoicism: Letters from a Stoic and wisdom of Seneca-  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84i8591lZL4

2.  Beyond Good & Evil - Friedrich Nietzsche

3. Helen Keller - "Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing at all"

Artist Residency Post 1

2/14/2018

Project: Pinch Pots

Prior to starting, are consultation with Mr. Freeman was thought provoking and helpful in deciding scheduling and a list of guys to participate in the projects.


During my first visit to St. Johns Youth Academy I introduced clay and the pinch pot building method with intentions of each guy building one or two cups/bowls. I gave examples of how to start the bowls and a quick demonstration of making my own. Also an example of scoring and slipping clay to attach handles or pieces of clay and a reference size of thickness that needed to be throughout the bowl. I gave each student a larger ambitious sized piece of clay to push them to make decisions and thick about them while building.  The guys gravitated to the clay with interest and full of questions. "what is it made of? How do you bake it? and questions about my experience with it which I answered to the best of my knowledge. Throughout the time working with them there was conversation geared towards future endeavors once they are free. I continuously encouraged and pushed them for betterment in themselves and to pursue a lifestyle of happiness and passion. Some guys were interested in what i had to say while others brushed it off. They were interested in building the pinch pots but towards the end of the time there they had created a few pinch pot bowls then smashed them back into a ball of clay to keep building and creating. They started chasing ideas of what they wanted to create, while some were perfecting their pinch pots other were building "torches" and Pizza Plates. I felt that allowing them flexibility in their creations and freedom to make whatever they wanted towards the end of class was freeing to their expression in their current environment where they are told what to do and when everyday. Happy with their end results, they continuously questioned when i was coming back to make more clay things, assuring them i'd be back Wednesday.

My second visit, I brought the kept pinch pot bowls to allow them to sign and scribe whatever they wanted onto the clay. This time there were new guys who wanted to partake in the clay creating and jumped right in. I gave a pinch pot lesson to the new guys in the group and then they were on their way creating. Some previous students continued making pinch pots and cups, some heart shaped and some tall and skinny. Conversations were geared towards sobriety and how expansive and free the outside world is. I was asked "how does it feel to be free, out there?" which i had to ponder for a second to try to perceive common understandable ground between us. I told him "explore, there's so much and too much to see, don't limit your expansion of yourself or your environment. do more.". On guy spoke of his love for marijuana and how he glorified it and asked for my opinion of it, which i warned him my answer would not be what he'd expect and asked if he still wanted to hear it, which he replied yes. I talked about sobriety and a clear persistent mindset, stronger than temptations and urges, overcoming barriers to achieve self worth and self acceptance/growth. Which i caught the attention of one younger guy who I've been involved with when our class visited for the previous project. I continued to push the idea of stoicism and greatness, which they seemed to sit and listen to, though i could tell it isn't what they wanted to hear, being that age in that situation. At one point during the class i announced i had two pieces of candy and two numbers written on a piece of paper behind my back, 1-7. They all guessed and the two who guessed correctly were awarded a pack of skittle and a twix bar, which they all seemed to laugh and enjoy the spontaneity of the act. Some individuals who started off working in clay moved over tot he painting and beginning working in that. One guy made a total of 4 different clay pieces that he put time into. As they were leaving the class they were all asking if i'd be back again, which i assured again i'd be back Monday.

BA Week 4

WORK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_h-R4EGZA4




READING RESPONSE

The truth, it will set you free, unless you don't want to be, to be a prisoner in thoughts and emotions, ideologies and unquestioned repetition. Its as simple as the eye can see, tell the truth and you feel complete, infinite, elite. Why lie, to them, to you? Is it easier to turn an eye to the truth, to not confront unweary spoofs of how you are told to live, told to be? "But its my culture." But that doesn't mean thats how you have to be. The truth, you will live happier and with less mental resistance without questioning without researching without learning for your own, consume, be the person on the TV, not yourself because questioning would mean they're wrong. "How could that be if they're in the position of inspiration to the masses but i'm just me?" Can't you see, that me. That's the true you you've wanted to be. No price is to much to own yourself. Be your truth.




INSPIRATION

1. Fredrick Neichze - Beyond Good and Evil

2. Atmosphere - They're all gonna laugh at you    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-IXVmGC5eQ

3. My Mom

BA Week 3

WORK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ0165LwGik





READING RESPONSE

The Green was like a green I've never seen before flowing in the motion, forever changing in kaleidoscope form, I was the supreme ultimate observer encapsulated in a perpetual duration of unlimited hues of the green, the green I've forgot i've seen. "The green!.." he continuously repeated "they are so green..". Dumbfounded without proper words to detail his sight, repetitive blinking to shake the illusion though there wasn't one, a truth of what is, directly in view. "Have they always been here, have they always been this green?! Surely they have had to be here, where have I been then?." Green more green than the eye could see, not visually overwhelmingly, quite the opposite at most. To explain the green would take my breathe and eternity to express, forever babbling about the green, so I leave you here. Go outside and breathe, and look at the green.





INSPIRATION

1.   https://www.youtube.com

2.   Electric Light Orchestra - Out of The Blue

3.   Harry S. Truman