Friends,
I guess that what I'm really trying to say with all of this is--I have heard some concepts over the years that make a lot of sense to me, and which have changed the way I see the world. There are some things that I think that everyone should hear about, or be reminded of now and then. I think that these concepts could help other people the way that they have helped me, and I these are the things that I would like to communicate with my sculpture. It is not that I think that sculpture is necessarily the best way to communicate these things, but, rather, I want to make sculptures and I think that this is a good way to go about it.
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
Fireside Manifesto #5
Friends,
In many ways, sculpture is an individual activity. But everything in life is more meaningful when its shared, and it is one of my goals to share my work with more people. In sharing my work, I would like to not only make beautiful things, but also have them communicate something important. I would like for people to feel some sort of connection to my artwork, and to take something away from it. The best way that I can think to do this is to tell a short story with each piece that communicates something positive; something that I think will help people.
In many ways, sculpture is an individual activity. But everything in life is more meaningful when its shared, and it is one of my goals to share my work with more people. In sharing my work, I would like to not only make beautiful things, but also have them communicate something important. I would like for people to feel some sort of connection to my artwork, and to take something away from it. The best way that I can think to do this is to tell a short story with each piece that communicates something positive; something that I think will help people.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Fireside Manifesto #4
Friends,
In order to really understand Art, we have to talk briefly about the context in which Art exists-- culture.
Culture is a basic part of the human experience as social animals. Our culture organizes our world and gives us roles to play it. Some aspects of cultures seem to make people happier overall, and some make people less happy, but all cultures are internally logically consistent.
In all parts of the world, cultures are shared and passed down through stories. Not only fairy tales and children's books, but all forms of expression tell us stories in some way. What do friends do when they get together over beer or wine? They tell stories. What do we do when we go home and want to relax? We watch stories on TV, or read them in books, or experience them in video games. It is an important and fulfilling experience to connect with one another through our stories, and in doing so, we create, change and reinforce the concepts that our culture consists of.
In order to really understand Art, we have to talk briefly about the context in which Art exists-- culture.
Culture is a basic part of the human experience as social animals. Our culture organizes our world and gives us roles to play it. Some aspects of cultures seem to make people happier overall, and some make people less happy, but all cultures are internally logically consistent.
In all parts of the world, cultures are shared and passed down through stories. Not only fairy tales and children's books, but all forms of expression tell us stories in some way. What do friends do when they get together over beer or wine? They tell stories. What do we do when we go home and want to relax? We watch stories on TV, or read them in books, or experience them in video games. It is an important and fulfilling experience to connect with one another through our stories, and in doing so, we create, change and reinforce the concepts that our culture consists of.
Fireside Manifesto #3
Friends,
We didn't solve anything in the last post, but that's ok. Let's switch now from what Art is, to what Art does.
Art acts as a medium for expression. As in individual activity, it helps people understand themselves and the world. As a communal activity, it is a medium of communication. Just like any other form of communication, writing or speaking or body language, it can have a wide range of effects, and has its own strengths and weaknesses.
Eliciting a response is an important goal for a piece of artwork. Art can shock people, make them think, disgust them, and inspire them. Sometimes it makes people realize that there is beauty in the world, or reminds them of what is ugly. It can tell us stories. It can give us new perspectives. Sometimes, it tells us how we should live our lives. It can even change the way we think.
We didn't solve anything in the last post, but that's ok. Let's switch now from what Art is, to what Art does.
Art acts as a medium for expression. As in individual activity, it helps people understand themselves and the world. As a communal activity, it is a medium of communication. Just like any other form of communication, writing or speaking or body language, it can have a wide range of effects, and has its own strengths and weaknesses.
Eliciting a response is an important goal for a piece of artwork. Art can shock people, make them think, disgust them, and inspire them. Sometimes it makes people realize that there is beauty in the world, or reminds them of what is ugly. It can tell us stories. It can give us new perspectives. Sometimes, it tells us how we should live our lives. It can even change the way we think.
Fireside Manifesto #2
Friends,
First, let me mention that I can already tell that this discussion is going to take a long time. Please bear with me, everything I say is something that I think is important. If you have any thoughts along the way, please comment or let me know in some other way. And so we are off.
To begin, the first question that we have to ask is "What is Art?"
There are a hell of a lot of answers to this question. Some are thoughtful, some inspiring, some meaningful, some absurd, some limiting, and some abstruse. People talk about Art as Truth, or Beauty, or magic. About a year ago, I talked on this blog about Art as something that evokes a response, and something that helps the artist to understand themselves and the world. I've heard that Art is what Artists do, and also that Art is whatever Artists can get away with. Art is pretty much subjective, like what Potter Steward said about pornography-- it's difficult or impossible to define, "but I know it when I see it."
Personally, I think that this is my favorite quote on the subject:
"Art is anything you can do well. Anything you can do with Quality."
First, let me mention that I can already tell that this discussion is going to take a long time. Please bear with me, everything I say is something that I think is important. If you have any thoughts along the way, please comment or let me know in some other way. And so we are off.
To begin, the first question that we have to ask is "What is Art?"
There are a hell of a lot of answers to this question. Some are thoughtful, some inspiring, some meaningful, some absurd, some limiting, and some abstruse. People talk about Art as Truth, or Beauty, or magic. About a year ago, I talked on this blog about Art as something that evokes a response, and something that helps the artist to understand themselves and the world. I've heard that Art is what Artists do, and also that Art is whatever Artists can get away with. Art is pretty much subjective, like what Potter Steward said about pornography-- it's difficult or impossible to define, "but I know it when I see it."
Personally, I think that this is my favorite quote on the subject:
"Art is anything you can do well. Anything you can do with Quality."
-Robert Pirsig
Fireside Manifesto #1
Good Evening, Friends,
Up to this point, I've been using SculptorbyDay to document my progress in artistic ability, and to share with my friends and family what I am working on. However, I've been told that, in order to get into a good grad school, I need to progress the conceptual side of my work as well as the skill-based side. I've thought a lot about art and symbolism and meaning, but I've never really had a clear direction or purpose of my own.
I was inspired to create this blog in the first place by my brother Noah, who uses "Its Computer Science Time" to get down his ideas, and to think through new and interesting concepts. My blog is going to start moving in that direction. There will be many more words than before, but I will try for concision and clarity. I'm excited-- I think this will be fun.
Be prepared, as you are about to be given a glimpse into the mind of Joel.
Up to this point, I've been using SculptorbyDay to document my progress in artistic ability, and to share with my friends and family what I am working on. However, I've been told that, in order to get into a good grad school, I need to progress the conceptual side of my work as well as the skill-based side. I've thought a lot about art and symbolism and meaning, but I've never really had a clear direction or purpose of my own.
I was inspired to create this blog in the first place by my brother Noah, who uses "Its Computer Science Time" to get down his ideas, and to think through new and interesting concepts. My blog is going to start moving in that direction. There will be many more words than before, but I will try for concision and clarity. I'm excited-- I think this will be fun.
Be prepared, as you are about to be given a glimpse into the mind of Joel.
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