Two more days until I leave for Chicago. The opening VIP reception for SOFA is 5-7 PM Thursday and my talk is Saturday morning at 10:30 AM.
Preparing this lecture for SOFA has challenged me to consider the intentions and ideas that fuel my work, the meaty whys. Previously I spoke more about the hows, the techniques and tools that I use in making.
Artists’ techniques and tools will always intrigue us, but considering other artists’ ideas and the inspirations that fuel their work stimulates us on another level. Hearing other artists speak hopefully opens a window to seeing the world through that person’s thoughtful eyes. Listen carefully and it can reward our attention with new insights and connections; a dynamic ripple effect.
In contrast to the intense activity to prepare for this trip, my own studio practice evolves more slowly.
This Relics piece is 20” x 44”. It will be mounted on a 24” x 48” stretched canvas frame painted black.
Here’s a detail where I’ve screened subtle additions of vertical columns of text and added more layers of paint to the surface.
The previous Relics piece has been framed and is now on display at the Rochester Print Club Annual Member Exhibition, where it just won a Jurors Choice award.
For the next two days I’ll revisit the images for my talk, revising and honing the content. No one could possibly gain more from listening to my lecture than I am receiving in preparing it. Working to articulate the ideas that inspire our work – and it is a hard process for every person, no matter how well they write or how articulate they may appear -- helps to coalesce our focus and directions.
Being thoughtful and slow is a choice, just as are the times we choose to play with ideas and processes and be totally spontaneous and experimental. Both have value. It is worthwhile to learn to be comfortable moving back and forth between them both.
I'm new to your blog and can't remember how I found you, but that doesn't matter. Whenever we take time to sort through our thoughts to present them to someone else, we place ourselves in a great learning situation. It is definitely two sided. From my past experiences the presenter takes away just as much or more than the audience. Talking about your inspirations and why you create art the way you do forces you to put what is often an intuitive process into words. Personally I have learned who I am as an artist by such experiences. Good luck in your presentation.
ReplyDeleteYes to all you said Jeanne. Have a great time!
ReplyDeleteJeanne, the piece is absolutely awesome!! Love the subtlety.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, Newfoundland is a place I've never visited but imagine it to be beautiful. I enjoyed looking at your work and will return again to your website. Thank you for commenting.
ReplyDeleteLeslie, are you back from Kyoto so soon? I must visit your blog and read about it!
Elizabeth, thank you for appreciating the subtlety of the piece. My eye has favorite places on it where I feel it is the most successful -- perhaps we all do that?
Jeanne,
ReplyDeleteNewfoundland is a great place to visit and live; I have to warn you that it is highly addictive! I know so many people who visited once and then bought a house here.
Best of luck with your presentation!
ReplyDeleteYour encouragement is appreciated, Vicki.
ReplyDeletehello... hapi blogging... have a nice day! just visiting here....
ReplyDeleteHi Jeanne, I'm thinking of you as you prepare for your presentation in Chicago. Is anyone going to tape it, or video it? I, for one, would like to hear it, with examples, even though I won't be there. I found this post to be so thoughtful, and wise. I'm glad to count you as a friend.
ReplyDeleteI am reading though your blog for the first time. I enjoy the thoughtful sentiments, statements and cool evolution of your work.
ReplyDeleteHi Wen, hope to meet you in person at the SDA conference; thank you for taking the time to read back through these posts. Yep I'm thought-FULL most all the time!
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