tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61912062204386044252024-03-13T20:47:44.128-07:008crayoncolorsartist jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13840079197074387733noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191206220438604425.post-8191519710020808762011-04-06T13:58:00.000-07:002011-04-06T14:11:05.628-07:00The Next Four Classes<p><strong>Monday April 11th</strong> - out of class assignment. we will not meet in class. use class time, or the time of your choosing to visit a museum or gallery. Select an art piece, take a picture (verify that it is permitted) and attach to email or embed in your 1 page document doing a formal analysis. <a href="http://www.tallgrassarts.org/site/">Tall Grass Arts Association</a> <a href="http://www.unionstreetgallery.org/">Union Street Gallery</a> <a href="http://www.ssc.edu/en_US/Getting_to_SSC/Art_Galleries/">South Suburban College</a> <a href="http://www.monkeymindartstudio.com/">Monkey Mind Art Studio</a> These are local options in addition to GSU of course. Also all that Chicago has to offer (The Art Institute, Museum of Contemporary Photography, Museum of Contemporary Art, etc) Email the assignment by Sunday night 10pm April 24, 2011. <strong>Wednesday, April 13th</strong> <strong>.</strong> <strong>Monday, April 18th</strong> <strong>.</strong> <strong>Wednesday, April 20th</strong> . All three of these days class will meet in the classroom with Pam Planera for exciting additions to our class topics so far.</p>artist jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13840079197074387733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191206220438604425.post-71867881732409034172011-04-05T22:05:00.000-07:002011-04-05T22:11:45.603-07:00Midterm GradesART 129 - as requested midterm grades (estimates) will be handed out. The following factors were combined to estimate student grades: Practice power point assignment Christopher Gallery paper GSU Gallery paper David Hockney ipad drawings email extra credit GSU email attendance class participation in-class short answer response The grade indicates an estimation of where the student is now. The factors still to be completed are: research presentation, research paper, written exam - and these are weighed the most heavily (compared to the above assignments) so students who have earned a low grade so far still have time to earn a higher grade over all in the class.artist jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13840079197074387733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191206220438604425.post-40762748322829428212011-04-04T13:52:00.000-07:002011-04-04T13:56:14.382-07:00PSC ART 129 Flashcards<a href="http://www.flashcardmachine.com/558079/5g7h">http://www.flashcardmachine.com/558079/5g7h</a> Here is the link to the set of art images that will be used for our exam on May 18, 2011. According to the PSC's schedule of final exams, the exam time is 3pm (not 4pm like our class time).artist jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13840079197074387733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191206220438604425.post-47061341724770316592010-09-22T13:05:00.000-07:002010-09-22T13:07:46.341-07:00GSU Gallery Calendar<iframe src="https://www.google.com/calendar/embed?height=600&wkst=1&bgcolor=%23FFFFFF&src=o71e0a7j85rfcj4vi14qsag2qs%40group.calendar.google.com&color=%234E5D6C&ctz=America%2FChicago" style=" border-width:0 " width="800" height="600" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>artist jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13840079197074387733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191206220438604425.post-38598111902262030282010-09-15T17:16:00.001-07:002010-09-15T17:16:44.312-07:00calendar<a href="http://www.google.com/calendar/render?tab=gc">calendar</a>artist jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13840079197074387733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191206220438604425.post-78746907767174538692010-05-08T07:08:00.001-07:002010-05-08T07:30:51.089-07:00USG May 8 Reading List Updated<strong>Reading List </strong><br /><p><strong></strong> </p><p><strong> </p>Gladwell, Malcolm. Outliers – The Story of Success.<br /><br />Katie, Byron. Loving What Is – Four Questions That Can Change Your Life. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2002.<br /><br /></strong>Langer, Ellen J. <strong>On Becoming an Artist – Reinventing Yourself Through Mindful Creativity</strong>. New York: Ballantine Books, 2005.<br /><br />Levoy, Gregg. <strong>CALLINGS – Finding and Following an Authentic Life</strong>. New York: Three Rivers Press, 1997.<br /><br />Pink, Daniel H. <strong>Drive – The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us</strong>. London, England: Penguin Books Ltd., 2009.<br /><br />Pink, Daniel H. <strong>A Whole New Mind - Why Right-Brainers Will Rule The Future</strong>. London, England: Penguin Books Ltd., 2006<br /><br />Mumaw, Stefan. Oldfield, Wendy Lee. <strong>Caffeine for the Creative Mind - 250 Exercises to Wake up Your Brain</strong>. Cincinnati, Ohio: HOW Books., 2006<br /><br />Cameron, Julia. <strong>The Artist's Way</strong>. New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam, a member of Penguin Putnam, Inc., 1992.<br /><br />Cameron, Julia. <strong>The Vein of Gold - A Journey to Your Creative Heart</strong>. New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam, a member of Penguin Putnam, Inc., 1996<br /><br />Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly. <strong>Finding Flow – The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life</strong>. New York: Basic Books, a member of the Perseus Books Group., 1997<br /><br />Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly. <strong>Flow - The Psychology of Optimal Experience.<br /></strong><br />Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly. <strong>Creativity - Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention</strong>. New York: HarperCollins., 1996<br /><br />Kimmelman, Michael. <strong>The Accidental Masterpiece - On the Art of Life and Vice Versa</strong>. New York: Penguin Press., 2005<br /><br />Maisel, Eric. <strong>Coaching the Artist Within</strong>. Novato, California: New World Library., 2005<br /><br />Pagels, Elaine. <strong>Beyond Belief - The Secret Gospel of Thomas</strong>. New York: Vintage Books., 2003<br /><br />Pagels, Elaine. <strong>The Gnostic Gospels</strong>. New York: Vintage Books., 1979<br /><br />Harris, Sam. <strong>The End of Faith - Religion, Terror, and The Future of Reason</strong>. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, Ltd., 2004<br /><br />Gadwell, Malcolm. <strong>Blink - The Power of Thinking Without Thinking</strong>. New York: Little, Brown and Company, Time Warner Book Group., 2005<br /><br />Gladwell, Malcolm. <strong>The Tipping Point - How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference</strong>.<br />Tharp, Twyla. The Creative Habit - Learn It and Use It for Life. New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks., 2003<br /><br />Baptiste, Baron. <strong>40 Days to Personal Revolution</strong>. New York: Fireside., 2004<br />Sawyer, Keith. Group Genius - The Creative Power of Collaboration. New York: Basic Books., 2007<br /><br />May, Rollo. <strong>The Courage to Create</strong>. New York: Bantam Books., 1975<br /><br />Vincent, Norah. <strong>Self-Made Man - One Woman's Journey into Manhood and Back Again</strong>. New York: Penguin Group., 2006<br /><br />Dyer, Wayne W. <strong>The Power of Intention - Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way</strong>. Carlsbad, California: Hay House., 2004artist jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13840079197074387733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191206220438604425.post-12280485237906663962009-09-16T13:46:00.000-07:002009-09-16T14:46:05.589-07:00Artist Date<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4X0PSBFvt1NNfNdjz2G8vz0JVOZzyz4YuUCX1NHgQbJeX15ZfUxVC-07e_TWIRi5BiwFQfC818wagnA5wyQLn07-LUaR-5seg7lGDtEha8lgmXN9h_sItpS9Rtn6FG8JTupeQG-klwYb_/s1600-h/2183281537_8aa80539a1_m.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382184520441373042" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4X0PSBFvt1NNfNdjz2G8vz0JVOZzyz4YuUCX1NHgQbJeX15ZfUxVC-07e_TWIRi5BiwFQfC818wagnA5wyQLn07-LUaR-5seg7lGDtEha8lgmXN9h_sItpS9Rtn6FG8JTupeQG-klwYb_/s200/2183281537_8aa80539a1_m.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>Last Thursday I had a meeting to set up some Creativity Workshops I'll be diong in October, November, and December sponsored by the <a href="http://www.caconline.org/">Chicago Artists' Coalition </a>and taking place in the Coalition Gallery, of which I am a member artist. So there I was in Wicker Park on a gorgeous, sunny afternoon. I just had to take advantage of the day and I was at that critical hour, nearing 3:00pm when getting on the road to drive to the south suburbs where I live, can turn into a tediously endeavor. Why sit in Rush hour traffic when exploring Wicker Park and all it has to offer is right there in front of me. </div><br /><div>I found inspiration through exploring some places I had noticed before; <a href="http://www.fluevog.com/">John Fluevog</a>, <a href="http://www.eyewanteyewear.com/">Eye Want</a>, and <a href="http://www.zellabrown.com/">Zella Brown</a>. Of course I also went through the <a href="http://www.theflatironproject.com/">Flatiron building</a> and there was plenty to see there while they were setting up for one of their featured art events for the upcomming weekend. There are loads of artists showing all kinds of work and I was also looking for other sorts of inspiration.</div><br /><div>John Fluevog is a shoe designer and there was something really great about seeing the unique <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVztCzH_IofVlxtd3dSmPchcyfgBMNvprwYBWLLOSuo6YjX1KaIgGEYg0o7aQtBdjymeFWcmdpIkwhYtBZ9JMkX38Qfq08PmwUoomHDPYJXg9d77qDJ3qOsbfUMtOP6gjGgGdBw2x2D9PP/s1600-h/composite.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382173362262036770" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 152px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVztCzH_IofVlxtd3dSmPchcyfgBMNvprwYBWLLOSuo6YjX1KaIgGEYg0o7aQtBdjymeFWcmdpIkwhYtBZ9JMkX38Qfq08PmwUoomHDPYJXg9d77qDJ3qOsbfUMtOP6gjGgGdBw2x2D9PP/s200/composite.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5q9jnRkmazrhVBhrJLcMPUT3EL-sT0gKY0ZOSOTqCd_6v7fWQ8U9HTlXieUcziJyVeQp3UPUZv-FXB-_ECxRl9GtednPamSxtSqv8nvpKZdKKTkrEWokJWLj3c7emwLLxXfl-QhRe91B9/s1600-h/composite.jpg"></a>designs because with fashion, there are of course certain practical limitations on what the design can do. It has to be worn on the body. It has to fit, feel comfortable, wear well, etc. So when designers are still able to find novelty within these limitations, and still avoid the ridiculous, it inspires me. I'm a sucker for a good Loafer/slip on shoe. This one caught my eye.</div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLi01pgDmG7mCmZ4x9oL6oISdYjpTcRHviVzAimljK1euyHDa8jCkB9sR5hzVbVWS8TNoifDJKUpau7RdawON8YGyvG957v6m4Myq28NuAQHnU6yQt6aIa6a98fTQNTqzRNimddjWlHkRD/s1600-h/CHAMBER_SYSTEM_587x600.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382175589086490994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 196px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLi01pgDmG7mCmZ4x9oL6oISdYjpTcRHviVzAimljK1euyHDa8jCkB9sR5hzVbVWS8TNoifDJKUpau7RdawON8YGyvG957v6m4Myq28NuAQHnU6yQt6aIa6a98fTQNTqzRNimddjWlHkRD/s200/CHAMBER_SYSTEM_587x600.jpg" border="0" /></a>I had been to Eye Want before when a friend of mine was exhibiting in their gallery. It is an eyewear shop that specializes in vintage and funky designs. The shop is decorated with art and objects that are worth going in to see on their own. They have also converted two rooms in the back of the shop to be used for rotating art shows. And the quality of work is exceptional. <a href="http://www.kimlaurel.com/">Kim Laurel</a> and <a href="http://www.fletcherhayes.com/">Fletcher Hayes</a> are currently showing work there. I was particularly drawn to Laurel's mixed media collage where she is stitching into the paper and materials to make lines. Hayes' paired photographs were particularly pleasing to me as they let the viewer consider common place scenes in new ways.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgrVWGUGsMoDsH8Augo04dQDKLPxSbwRrTLsugkO5dfc_T6IwKzOaF8L4KK_m4LBkweNaIQNNnbuTZq4T-rMSSvWNTRbxHoZY_CXvIkfJFwWChqp_Pol6ACUVYo3rL8KGEfnBSoHWMvNGI/s1600-h/041509_Domestica_07.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382178385567149282" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 110px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgrVWGUGsMoDsH8Augo04dQDKLPxSbwRrTLsugkO5dfc_T6IwKzOaF8L4KK_m4LBkweNaIQNNnbuTZq4T-rMSSvWNTRbxHoZY_CXvIkfJFwWChqp_Pol6ACUVYo3rL8KGEfnBSoHWMvNGI/s200/041509_Domestica_07.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBA0WlxOtCQNPnuCdWmEJbYc682SpbEEiGMznz7l1M2pOroCPyZLHhh0ZoQ0OyO2QjMNSSNXckW0-1nulJFXYV-KtJjNtvt70dFAxGEGK3WismRZqBdPJo1cP1Ulkua9v3AnktTnsOK8k/s1600-h/zella-brown-window.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382179049230271986" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 149px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBA0WlxOtCQNPnuCdWmEJbYc682SpbEEiGMznz7l1M2pOroCPyZLHhh0ZoQ0OyO2QjMNSSNXckW0-1nulJFXYV-KtJjNtvt70dFAxGEGK3WismRZqBdPJo1cP1Ulkua9v3AnktTnsOK8k/s200/zella-brown-window.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.zellabrown.com/site/launch.html">Zella Brown </a>has some great interior design prodects, most hand made, all original designs. The most interesting of them to me was the re-designed and re-purposed shopping cart chase lounge. The store has a fresh and new feel to it although many of the<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTle6BVSmA0vMjRIXFTn8Uv0jx20lCL3kRXxP0TLsk4PZX-vdfxzxYrRkcmHB4uqglndi7JBEHtmuY75_4kJ4by_s67oKhQSPsuJJfM_WKqjhjnzXPSfCa6KTMBQqmHnro8Yh7Tz7COzXz/s1600-h/untitled.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382179212172157906" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 193px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTle6BVSmA0vMjRIXFTn8Uv0jx20lCL3kRXxP0TLsk4PZX-vdfxzxYrRkcmHB4uqglndi7JBEHtmuY75_4kJ4by_s67oKhQSPsuJJfM_WKqjhjnzXPSfCa6KTMBQqmHnro8Yh7Tz7COzXz/s200/untitled.bmp" border="0" /></a> products are recycled. There are clocks made of tea cups and neck ties, original art, clever and cool objects to ponder, purchase, or present as presents.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4X0PSBFvt1NNfNdjz2G8vz0JVOZzyz4YuUCX1NHgQbJeX15ZfUxVC-07e_TWIRi5BiwFQfC818wagnA5wyQLn07-LUaR-5seg7lGDtEha8lgmXN9h_sItpS9Rtn6FG8JTupeQG-klwYb_/s1600-h/2183281537_8aa80539a1_m.jpg"></a> </div>artist jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13840079197074387733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191206220438604425.post-40587999613378362702009-08-07T10:10:00.000-07:002009-08-07T10:31:10.630-07:00Rocks and Roots<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMlBFln5O-Flm-ScRwAwLEOYOKX13aCN-XXl8y2H4pL-xig6aVrMLARYuO5xXWiMXnXDQ3Cv4vtD1z7JMmz7Ibwx7cd1IQHj6EkLNSqLnhfj9AUYLny-KeenwjEZuUHnrdZDl8YojI__q/s1600-h/Copy+of+DSCF2880.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 196px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMlBFln5O-Flm-ScRwAwLEOYOKX13aCN-XXl8y2H4pL-xig6aVrMLARYuO5xXWiMXnXDQ3Cv4vtD1z7JMmz7Ibwx7cd1IQHj6EkLNSqLnhfj9AUYLny-KeenwjEZuUHnrdZDl8YojI__q/s200/Copy+of+DSCF2880.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367275207183069746" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictEqqdfOk6LJy7NjggPcmWHdiKJhMiZaPxgtSj7KPlSXWX2MKkkymbpKHqYRmWRSEXdxOMgMUneTaiSq8jXc2RzTIJW4qZXYTqxNsNSdhEElWW9LM_4qt_O3UkvrmyERQJiGYbrKybXFY/s1600-h/Copy+of+DSCF2892.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictEqqdfOk6LJy7NjggPcmWHdiKJhMiZaPxgtSj7KPlSXWX2MKkkymbpKHqYRmWRSEXdxOMgMUneTaiSq8jXc2RzTIJW4qZXYTqxNsNSdhEElWW9LM_4qt_O3UkvrmyERQJiGYbrKybXFY/s200/Copy+of+DSCF2892.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367274718355997842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9PqFrYkOye3bx3YF_alyhBM6N16mGBbslaz1wWtbYIrvB4mQ4FvKNGsM6fer0UBYRIozWckYhNJGsYOr-YjCVEnVJDezzCNFN81JaaFOEP_wDDUdWXciooQzA-24ULVQhr3vqW_JEh0U/s1600-h/Copy+of+DSCF2890.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9PqFrYkOye3bx3YF_alyhBM6N16mGBbslaz1wWtbYIrvB4mQ4FvKNGsM6fer0UBYRIozWckYhNJGsYOr-YjCVEnVJDezzCNFN81JaaFOEP_wDDUdWXciooQzA-24ULVQhr3vqW_JEh0U/s200/Copy+of+DSCF2890.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367274589844315778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBu3pGaZL11KfiFKVlE3f55fKHSJuttCR0yYwowmDXRGPPsuKxXpEdqpRmRaruGBvdLy1DjZeeJsiClVRwU0fJbyzYPkfWhhGwQ0u5DW03g0sA3SPb4GklQa5guKRcA5WjYodzTrPdPL0Y/s1600-h/Copy+of+DSCF2889.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBu3pGaZL11KfiFKVlE3f55fKHSJuttCR0yYwowmDXRGPPsuKxXpEdqpRmRaruGBvdLy1DjZeeJsiClVRwU0fJbyzYPkfWhhGwQ0u5DW03g0sA3SPb4GklQa5guKRcA5WjYodzTrPdPL0Y/s200/Copy+of+DSCF2889.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367271611050991810" border="0" /></a>artist jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13840079197074387733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191206220438604425.post-50897042024275055232009-08-07T10:04:00.000-07:002009-08-07T10:10:19.876-07:00Nature's Patterns Lichens<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlULeg92DSJy7edO7obBd7_oPJanBGLyKm9x4INb20iOrihdvF20Xw4UtCugKZf1qg8UcSAA7um_LpemdQAvoXQ6RhFLEK2RqILdhtOi1ZqGpo82Ghl-Sl_N_MVkmsRRLuUtEIGHwk7ut8/s1600-h/Copy+of+DSCF2888.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlULeg92DSJy7edO7obBd7_oPJanBGLyKm9x4INb20iOrihdvF20Xw4UtCugKZf1qg8UcSAA7um_LpemdQAvoXQ6RhFLEK2RqILdhtOi1ZqGpo82Ghl-Sl_N_MVkmsRRLuUtEIGHwk7ut8/s200/Copy+of+DSCF2888.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367270344175725602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KSuRZYaL6IqczlrJ7LyJiXDaEMd4R7JNJ70i77hDhEUYF84A25t_75_TtajCHVdhswZXnsKIuewQR_qsjCZ-3PuXztiOHCydJPhDVc8aIpf-odpXik4FFdKYR-dG1K25oDzgS1K0HURH/s1600-h/Copy+of+DSCF2887.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KSuRZYaL6IqczlrJ7LyJiXDaEMd4R7JNJ70i77hDhEUYF84A25t_75_TtajCHVdhswZXnsKIuewQR_qsjCZ-3PuXztiOHCydJPhDVc8aIpf-odpXik4FFdKYR-dG1K25oDzgS1K0HURH/s200/Copy+of+DSCF2887.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367269600992833138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWigyE_aJhcq2DGSLHAxK45D7onYxrNC2EFW1j4vSb5jF-G8CgBflaqW4RXpFwJMtj1vcjcmysqqUj7oYTrqvXSXLI1MRMm3TW22i-6ytQNbSPCEhVrPxGPEKDtitShH58hdMqAscRPAI/s1600-h/Copy+of+DSCF2886.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWigyE_aJhcq2DGSLHAxK45D7onYxrNC2EFW1j4vSb5jF-G8CgBflaqW4RXpFwJMtj1vcjcmysqqUj7oYTrqvXSXLI1MRMm3TW22i-6ytQNbSPCEhVrPxGPEKDtitShH58hdMqAscRPAI/s200/Copy+of+DSCF2886.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367269329323019442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPzay2llHtR4DGUYJ-uLDi_TfyzujIA6CYoyXfU7w0upp9904wENVz0Yz5wmRAdfZ9wllgK629GFhqfzpBg5BW8WM_WLGS91Jh6eiHYCidLFy0YT-mjLhhpSyeJ7KZ_TPgYyhC-7vJaaC/s1600-h/Copy+of+DSCF2885.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPzay2llHtR4DGUYJ-uLDi_TfyzujIA6CYoyXfU7w0upp9904wENVz0Yz5wmRAdfZ9wllgK629GFhqfzpBg5BW8WM_WLGS91Jh6eiHYCidLFy0YT-mjLhhpSyeJ7KZ_TPgYyhC-7vJaaC/s200/Copy+of+DSCF2885.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367269197623352450" border="0" /></a>artist jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13840079197074387733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191206220438604425.post-493826976832630952009-08-07T09:57:00.001-07:002009-08-07T10:01:18.658-07:00Photo shoot in MN - Landscapes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizeOJErtoqPht8Xz1dadj6hja85VVvLZizLG1OmIOtYsIAk9RJwHgvFa6Qfal7WhOuj4cIZAqUzBIuBhu5L3wBZmhbCH5pddozCIS-yKR_BIsLNFek9456db3IRhmERCKN2niGcl5BYVGg/s1600-h/Copy+of+DSCF2908.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizeOJErtoqPht8Xz1dadj6hja85VVvLZizLG1OmIOtYsIAk9RJwHgvFa6Qfal7WhOuj4cIZAqUzBIuBhu5L3wBZmhbCH5pddozCIS-yKR_BIsLNFek9456db3IRhmERCKN2niGcl5BYVGg/s200/Copy+of+DSCF2908.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367267890923564434" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0WDvDD_kl_uOx4M2gg7iRiu3JteOwttb2SpKCidfRrF7KabDjOndx_2XNY5gidAeD-GubdhsfvIZZY8wuDRZH72hDlEp2VnvxL18Z3pYUo9CjK5niEYfLTmcVBS01K72V3T8NVzYCg7o/s1600-h/Copy+of+DSCF2899.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0WDvDD_kl_uOx4M2gg7iRiu3JteOwttb2SpKCidfRrF7KabDjOndx_2XNY5gidAeD-GubdhsfvIZZY8wuDRZH72hDlEp2VnvxL18Z3pYUo9CjK5niEYfLTmcVBS01K72V3T8NVzYCg7o/s200/Copy+of+DSCF2899.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367267549665981762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTwtiSx62Foxc8Ti6ctPYqUrNGdpvpegvPzBObBpTkTCw6nFx1HbYm7fUNX9n7-bPuSx3BXYcHczapRmRCQKzlHCmmzKl28foHtc-iftLoRp65tiFx0w1OcoezVhJK1RpB8tCi_7DnSrt/s1600-h/Copy+of+DSCF2896.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTwtiSx62Foxc8Ti6ctPYqUrNGdpvpegvPzBObBpTkTCw6nFx1HbYm7fUNX9n7-bPuSx3BXYcHczapRmRCQKzlHCmmzKl28foHtc-iftLoRp65tiFx0w1OcoezVhJK1RpB8tCi_7DnSrt/s200/Copy+of+DSCF2896.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367267412892222242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPoBr_gKlXy3CSSjZZLClJ9VPbOdgGoTq9O4UIPyym9x6xAjWmBT8QRhDFdWHyM-68qHZ0UN5Y2NhyXvSuuqbJBqIVzClcapmU2w1jN1ShyphenhyphenjNvY7TuDLarIg9p3rqVThXxbVJlD2R5CYf/s1600-h/Copy+of+DSCF2895.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPoBr_gKlXy3CSSjZZLClJ9VPbOdgGoTq9O4UIPyym9x6xAjWmBT8QRhDFdWHyM-68qHZ0UN5Y2NhyXvSuuqbJBqIVzClcapmU2w1jN1ShyphenhyphenjNvY7TuDLarIg9p3rqVThXxbVJlD2R5CYf/s200/Copy+of+DSCF2895.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367267284137411394" border="0" /></a>artist jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13840079197074387733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191206220438604425.post-26185828156600615862009-08-07T09:45:00.000-07:002009-08-07T09:56:54.474-07:00Photo shoot in MN - Waterfalls and Friends<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKWSZ1uHDOTCeBQxSRuajR53um2fwDI6Gq9D74_1mpPSgRlrDSUl8DeH7caOa2URkq2FRk6vGpT5YAWbR3_12xk3w-zhXpGDO41imXOTUTc2ULPlDam2pgH6gxFGJcrMdBAu0EnXvPYDO/s1600-h/Copy+of+DSCF2914.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKWSZ1uHDOTCeBQxSRuajR53um2fwDI6Gq9D74_1mpPSgRlrDSUl8DeH7caOa2URkq2FRk6vGpT5YAWbR3_12xk3w-zhXpGDO41imXOTUTc2ULPlDam2pgH6gxFGJcrMdBAu0EnXvPYDO/s200/Copy+of+DSCF2914.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367266804982459426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-AxgEEywigw5iwcQu5MEhzVP6yJg5I6DxthhAE81wQObInhMV4_cjR7SsSa4bjz-rRQjbuRCVDutyrAV66DgxzMll9yrufX_0lxCLeFGVkfWAuV4nSxdpfLXCDqdPoUY5KRMkehcxU94M/s1600-h/Copy+of+DSCF2848.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-AxgEEywigw5iwcQu5MEhzVP6yJg5I6DxthhAE81wQObInhMV4_cjR7SsSa4bjz-rRQjbuRCVDutyrAV66DgxzMll9yrufX_0lxCLeFGVkfWAuV4nSxdpfLXCDqdPoUY5KRMkehcxU94M/s200/Copy+of+DSCF2848.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367266670584098850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksb7ffr5Z99jBwJuCU0I8JrJ0nz-ZveW5jq4d5eWuFKgto-0V507A1Ov-oiNrTg9R2iXLJkIKNWVzBa3Dv0gOKy8dtGwrNxio45T9UnSxVFQLO0ywFyflazLRpRcuzq0_jURQXLQjwPRO/s1600-h/Copy+of+DSCF2871.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksb7ffr5Z99jBwJuCU0I8JrJ0nz-ZveW5jq4d5eWuFKgto-0V507A1Ov-oiNrTg9R2iXLJkIKNWVzBa3Dv0gOKy8dtGwrNxio45T9UnSxVFQLO0ywFyflazLRpRcuzq0_jURQXLQjwPRO/s200/Copy+of+DSCF2871.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367266326925643922" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WXutofAqXPMPvyiAVqDMeC2Swy68fQTPLUrbVAAUrPPQ3OzfU9P4C2T4ATJu_-N4Of9a0XS9japHfVAnDEWYTaZokt4F89Ar5oYMTqAH2gZxt8DSbgA6HEu4j1y5oKh1EJUZRErMCGfm/s1600-h/Copy+of+DSCF2867.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WXutofAqXPMPvyiAVqDMeC2Swy68fQTPLUrbVAAUrPPQ3OzfU9P4C2T4ATJu_-N4Of9a0XS9japHfVAnDEWYTaZokt4F89Ar5oYMTqAH2gZxt8DSbgA6HEu4j1y5oKh1EJUZRErMCGfm/s200/Copy+of+DSCF2867.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367266151597863442" border="0" /></a>artist jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13840079197074387733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191206220438604425.post-71274031864007472012009-08-07T08:02:00.000-07:002009-08-07T09:43:45.873-07:00Update on "Ask, Tell" Reworking<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGNGzlMvQCxu429fTuBo8DAX0uyePSEJ81lqwY3RHpP0BlJ2THTtEGyH0JwDN7hgRiF2d3cKJcqM3bW7L_iO5EscRJ9l2Z-JA_cx042QXNi2y-ZlWtAXPd9-3fS0D0b7S57ccO84_I86b/s1600-h/reworking+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGNGzlMvQCxu429fTuBo8DAX0uyePSEJ81lqwY3RHpP0BlJ2THTtEGyH0JwDN7hgRiF2d3cKJcqM3bW7L_iO5EscRJ9l2Z-JA_cx042QXNi2y-ZlWtAXPd9-3fS0D0b7S57ccO84_I86b/s200/reworking+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367262889238307314" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />I built a small frame/box to hold the broken pieces of the figurines. It was painted red to pick up on the red in the altered book and also to make references to injury, blood, and wounds.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4tTQn2kztjlVObcTBtzZ9UE8YMwAFS2_A903_2brkKwSDHQq9kmj3U1N8hkHzPFHJwL8WgQA3HvPgXz2oKtWDKv2n9H3k3JO4bNpjJxchQgQPK8qJp-YIRmdsdl6Q2CWX6M-yF0PIH56/s1600-h/reworking+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4tTQn2kztjlVObcTBtzZ9UE8YMwAFS2_A903_2brkKwSDHQq9kmj3U1N8hkHzPFHJwL8WgQA3HvPgXz2oKtWDKv2n9H3k3JO4bNpjJxchQgQPK8qJp-YIRmdsdl6Q2CWX6M-yF0PIH56/s200/reworking+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367261745619315890" border="0" /></a>A clear epoxy was poured into the box, over the arranged broken fragments. When dry, the epoxy is like a block of glass, transparent and solid.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGlJGVkmobFpQe8wBdCyoiRnPj2tBInPzIKKU8mnmIYp2K8MF1U9NoZsA1lplPLavwWsWzOA33zVgUrRIlEUBtjSNNMUO87CqkpQLawpcFuvSsUS6vvBBr9Ku3m_FYuPubMdLPiffTXFM/s1600-h/reworking+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGlJGVkmobFpQe8wBdCyoiRnPj2tBInPzIKKU8mnmIYp2K8MF1U9NoZsA1lplPLavwWsWzOA33zVgUrRIlEUBtjSNNMUO87CqkpQLawpcFuvSsUS6vvBBr9Ku3m_FYuPubMdLPiffTXFM/s200/reworking+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367261860503600450" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Dryer sheets were attached to the sides of the box and at first seem to make reference to lace and ruffles because of their texture and color. Because of the red color of the box a connection to bandages can be made.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7EIYDoEk0ItM_i4YznyW-Glq02bgohf6Au6S42XuusaWuMJu98ce-4eHXZMNUBKy9KkFZEIg-XeBcWlogbN_cIeLP5rE1ANRuxmVjTceMk_GAxg0YJC8uYvE8RgmaS6zeSHK2GfUmnqym/s1600-h/reworking+004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7EIYDoEk0ItM_i4YznyW-Glq02bgohf6Au6S42XuusaWuMJu98ce-4eHXZMNUBKy9KkFZEIg-XeBcWlogbN_cIeLP5rE1ANRuxmVjTceMk_GAxg0YJC8uYvE8RgmaS6zeSHK2GfUmnqym/s200/reworking+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367261957787151586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF40TE3OeVVmPRJ-DQbXLX3GB24wRdEKQRb4GjFLxwx4v5NIvLGMayDK-X2h6sNHVtsaWcUHXF1nz1LDHH3WGAHgky6ERFP8uHSWtrmJrOow4_YT9R1Jdp15ok-OXOWbMfkPa-trCrQX7S/s1600-h/reworking+005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 141px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF40TE3OeVVmPRJ-DQbXLX3GB24wRdEKQRb4GjFLxwx4v5NIvLGMayDK-X2h6sNHVtsaWcUHXF1nz1LDHH3WGAHgky6ERFP8uHSWtrmJrOow4_YT9R1Jdp15ok-OXOWbMfkPa-trCrQX7S/s200/reworking+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367262080754815698" border="0" /></a>artist jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13840079197074387733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191206220438604425.post-1765282528436372412009-07-16T08:56:00.000-07:002009-07-16T09:00:08.346-07:00Artist's Statement<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Bookman Old Style"; panose-1:2 5 6 4 5 5 5 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" >I am exploring personal and cultural issues of sexuality, masculinity, race, gender, and humor </span><span style=";font-family:";" >and simultaneously focusing on how our brains process information. While making my work I question thoughts by observing them, like in meditation practice; observing that the mind thinks and that thoughts arise.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" >Although the social commentary is an important aspect, there is also plenty of room for interpretation and reflection by the viewer. Because the works are created using an intuitive approach, aspects evolve that might not have been planned. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" >The rich tradition of oil painting and its history is a foundation; I find that the altered books and collage techniques, in combination with the tradition of painting, create a new whole that is reflective of our current time.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" >History Books embody the idea of historical information, once thought to be true and real, now outmoded and obsolete as they are replaced by the internet.<span style=""> </span>The density of the visual imagery in this work also connotes the effects of media, advertising, and the internet, although in these pieces more provocative combinations are being presented in a unique way.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>artist jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13840079197074387733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191206220438604425.post-69628837639842602342009-07-15T09:35:00.000-07:002009-08-07T07:54:35.616-07:00Stargazer: Garden Dreams Come True<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgND4bBQpqyYfd44tZG4gLGfa-IPyz0bDAP9ikzB2qX-MxL928bE31eayah0QtTQdTqs0tr-5bqzMdVvtRjHMUJmbgcsBjq9yJnycUYww7O6NnZbIaKk3l01FK0l8CQKd58tJzrsodXUycf/s1600-h/foxglove+love.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgND4bBQpqyYfd44tZG4gLGfa-IPyz0bDAP9ikzB2qX-MxL928bE31eayah0QtTQdTqs0tr-5bqzMdVvtRjHMUJmbgcsBjq9yJnycUYww7O6NnZbIaKk3l01FK0l8CQKd58tJzrsodXUycf/s200/foxglove+love.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358728784147683906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">For my "Enhancing Creativity" Class, we did an exercise created by Martha Beck called "Stargazer". The goal of the exercise is to reframe one's personal story and history to include seemingly negative events and see how they pave the way to the things we love most in the world.</span><br /><br />Because I always wanted to have a wonderful garden, I had to be overwhelmed by other peoples problems while serving on the board of my condominium association.<br /><br />The contractor who converted the building, an owner going into foreclosure (and illegally renting his unit while the bank was taking it over), an owner refusing to pay assessments and requiring legal action, pet policy violations, etc (and it was only a 9 unit building!) - convinced me that I had had enough of condo living.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0L3YL4VcAb3n2TRgM91xpcO9Q0XjPD9fehdiEEBVD9I6BvWQAop4SCx9iVUyxZssYz-XNrGfapHa4li3aMxtaBUg6JpZLgMTzX0w7rcHvtQ81-khV5j2HkO4sDMm1huu6p__vAgFi4PQ/s1600-h/foxglove+love+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0L3YL4VcAb3n2TRgM91xpcO9Q0XjPD9fehdiEEBVD9I6BvWQAop4SCx9iVUyxZssYz-XNrGfapHa4li3aMxtaBUg6JpZLgMTzX0w7rcHvtQ81-khV5j2HkO4sDMm1huu6p__vAgFi4PQ/s200/foxglove+love+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358728978946679634" border="0" /></a>Luckily our friends Brian and Jennifer were also house hunting at the time and worked with people who recommended Homewood-Flossmoor, an area we had never even heard of previously. We found a house we could afford with a double lot - more than we had hoped for and have spent the last 5 years getting rid of lawn and replacing it with landscaping; trees, shrubs, flowers and soon raised vegetable beds! If it weren't for all the headaches at the condo, I wouldn't have my beloved garden.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2_Jx9bIgtOA-5bvCOfRMhk-kBt_T27PdUC67_TRcS6PbekDMQbeb_SOTavYzMNiPdpSRwWCs8obva5uGsw6SJqP8iYX5TaCQ7jp9bCsEi_ZCJptBEL0wniwjHfgHmdjMyBsQsGGFf4cS/s1600-h/garden+path.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2_Jx9bIgtOA-5bvCOfRMhk-kBt_T27PdUC67_TRcS6PbekDMQbeb_SOTavYzMNiPdpSRwWCs8obva5uGsw6SJqP8iYX5TaCQ7jp9bCsEi_ZCJptBEL0wniwjHfgHmdjMyBsQsGGFf4cS/s200/garden+path.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358729329972763554" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoyCO7UCGMm3yaPYupiu3ciEXtEdRHAKndWCt7jBJA9PJYwqw1gHK2U3ppTrYacT4qJI1R_FgpDqJC_QmU5yyh32ARzG2icNHeeVFw3a0LUQsvZbxLB3hfO49GAsnpzB_izmvHLq_iThe/s1600-h/maw+maw%27s+august+lily+hosta.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoyCO7UCGMm3yaPYupiu3ciEXtEdRHAKndWCt7jBJA9PJYwqw1gHK2U3ppTrYacT4qJI1R_FgpDqJC_QmU5yyh32ARzG2icNHeeVFw3a0LUQsvZbxLB3hfO49GAsnpzB_izmvHLq_iThe/s200/maw+maw%27s+august+lily+hosta.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358729483918031058" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">From <a href="http://www.marthabeck.com/">Martha Beck</a>'s "<a href="http://www.marthabeck.com/books.php">Steering by Starlight</a>" exercise.</span>artist jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13840079197074387733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191206220438604425.post-33930437212003828422009-07-15T09:15:00.001-07:002009-08-07T07:59:09.837-07:00Stargazer: Chloe<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCg-emXPbvoV0dvkn8NSpDNW0zNbHK8dO3kRH27Faen-GCA2okhdCeohgRW9xatpsI8Frj6MmVg5yk1gfLQlydyUXNcsEU3ewFN4wZY9LcAOvfvAlD9S4_G_pVtB0NnTj34zD32GmljcMG/s1600-h/Hi+Hill+June+Chloe.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCg-emXPbvoV0dvkn8NSpDNW0zNbHK8dO3kRH27Faen-GCA2okhdCeohgRW9xatpsI8Frj6MmVg5yk1gfLQlydyUXNcsEU3ewFN4wZY9LcAOvfvAlD9S4_G_pVtB0NnTj34zD32GmljcMG/s400/Hi+Hill+June+Chloe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358724520147205250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">For my "Enhancing Creativity" Class, we did an exercise created by Martha Beck called "Stargazer". The goal of the exercise is to re-frame one's personal story and history to include seemingly negative events and see how they pave the way to the things we love most in the world.</span><br /><br />Because I was open to the wonderful things that dogs can provide, I received the best dog in the world, the love of my life Chloe. A 3 year relationship with my partner at the time had to be ended, and when he left he took his (our) dog Chiquita, so it created the desire to have a dog of my own. <br /><br />Because of my lifelong relationship with my cousin, who is more of a sister to me, and her propensity for taking in stray animals on her farm in West Virginia, when I was visiting her one of her strays had just had a litter of puppies and I said, "I'll take that one". If I hadn't experienced the painful break up of a relationship I didn't want to see end, I might not have ended up with the best dog in the world.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bZxusthkJmQeFcO03Mg_y7VklRz5SxFdRP1-K6zqIS2yp8AZfJND7pKowcuYhtAAPi61GqfoyZ4qYBjoMPWGhmZGOItp5uiM8np-42yQLuEkSUtdeVPgvnWgeayBKexxXew_BqG71HNX/s1600-h/Hi+Hill+June+Chloe2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bZxusthkJmQeFcO03Mg_y7VklRz5SxFdRP1-K6zqIS2yp8AZfJND7pKowcuYhtAAPi61GqfoyZ4qYBjoMPWGhmZGOItp5uiM8np-42yQLuEkSUtdeVPgvnWgeayBKexxXew_BqG71HNX/s400/Hi+Hill+June+Chloe2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358725053468173074" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">From <a href="http://www.marthabeck.com/">Martha Beck</a>'s "<a href="http://www.marthabeck.com/books.php">Steering by Starlight</a>" exercise.</span>artist jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13840079197074387733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191206220438604425.post-21280032073678968012009-07-13T16:32:00.000-07:002009-07-15T07:11:27.406-07:00Ask, Tell: the great debate<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jeffstevenson.com/ask,%20tell.htm"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 138px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKXSVjWbrQn-7NMjySfgGV-QY1Vh8pdsVjVo8japf-9ZsBQq4VxrfiiBSrZk7guIYLzX8CqFqd2PF6dLHenW_F81kyuzDzD0hL1_SKsBfWA7S7DJFY4LaGZn4s_6q5jOTEvx0I1X9bMFs/s200/Ask,+Tell+%28web+sm%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358518341982831250" border="0" /></a><br />My <a href="http://theartistsway.com/tools/the-basic-tools?f90a4dac66e2ce578e9b972a5d87c8bc=961c8f8d1d4baf59fffb7c04cafbe5b4">artist date</a> last week was the most memorable one of all time. I had been thinking more about making <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gicl%C3%A9e">Giclée prints</a> of my work, but knew very little about them. An artist friend recommended someone and it had been on my mind to find out more about the printer and the process. The web site provided a lot of information and I felt the cost was reasonable for the results. Because the printer was about an hour drive away, I took the piece that I was most interested in reproducing in case they had time to do it that day.<br /><br />The conversation was informative and because of the three dimensional nature of the work, such as the porcelain figurines, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jeffstevenson.com/ask,%20tell.htm"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUU7Ru3COMX4f9yJaLHgaFPxYDhW6fmOcItxyBo4sxb7zy1H9eA9E4u678djuaWakcIFsarXqaukfIZLXwBCgreQxX90XV7NqafYq73oYA5XfI1kooylE4gtz_iJQflBGFzfGmvLXXrjH8/s200/Ask,+Tell+detail+figurines.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358518573874406434" border="0" /></a>the printer was making sure that I understood that some of that quality would be lost and the piece could be less interesting, at least different as a result. It was almost like he was trying to talk me out of it. Yet, I felt I understood the limitations of the process and that it was still worth doing. He had time, and asked if I could go have lunch and come back in two hours.<br /><br />As I drove off to find a place to spend my two hours my mind was considering the possibilities that having a print of this piece would bring. Like other artists, if I chose a piece that other people liked, I could sell the prints at a fraction of the price of the original, widening my audience, earning some money, and the cost of the set up and making the prints would be recouped quickly.<br /><br />Then the printer called when I was only a few blocks away - could I return to the shop...he said I was going to be really upset...the frame on the piece had failed, the piece fell, the figurines were broken.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLL0r5tfb6_Qf5bEZS8PEQOwD-jM7p0GW4hTT0PbnHj2Md9jjxFYaWd7ofT6yPPvaPxU9lUD-54fn01Co08pS02pEeqLTdDBXnQGQ-26OTW8dY7QimAB9YO9ywTIvX6kbxsCeWudsVbSwS/s1600-h/ask+tell+the+great+debate+e.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLL0r5tfb6_Qf5bEZS8PEQOwD-jM7p0GW4hTT0PbnHj2Md9jjxFYaWd7ofT6yPPvaPxU9lUD-54fn01Co08pS02pEeqLTdDBXnQGQ-26OTW8dY7QimAB9YO9ywTIvX6kbxsCeWudsVbSwS/s200/ask+tell+the+great+debate+e.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358520124302643618" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnsjL0ApQfEL0-WTM1X1W6oPgU1k2VTEmnj_W3cTPDRK-03ikXgwLy99AxMQGNMIFabQw5nJt60Plr8Xjhkwp7TsaCAV7adjnE-CMDJEeqoCEV86O_R7X3aALBVU1N_0-BkfXV_dhjGuR/s1600-h/ask+tell+the+great+debate+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnsjL0ApQfEL0-WTM1X1W6oPgU1k2VTEmnj_W3cTPDRK-03ikXgwLy99AxMQGNMIFabQw5nJt60Plr8Xjhkwp7TsaCAV7adjnE-CMDJEeqoCEV86O_R7X3aALBVU1N_0-BkfXV_dhjGuR/s200/ask+tell+the+great+debate+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358519463205466114" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A week prior to this I had sent a proposal to a collector for this specific piece. I had written a two page letter explaining the significance of the piece and why it would fit in the collection. I had written a two page analysis of the imagery. I had included glossy photos of the piece. Of course I imagined getting a call from the collector to confirm the inclusion of this piece in the collection and I would be faced with explaining it was broken. It was slowly occurring to me as I worked on this in my mind that replacing the figurines was unlikely so restoring the work to what I represented to the collector was nearly impossible. I felt sick. I had to remind myself to concentrate on turning the car around and driving back safely.<br /><br />The printer felt horrible. He explained what happened. It made sense. I saw that by no fault of his or my own, the frame failed, the materials had not been strong enough to hold the weight of the piece, and the dust pan was filled with what was left.<br /><br />There was nothing to do but to go home. The urge was to feel heartbroken, crestfallen, sad, sick, miserable, "why me", "just my luck", "nothing ever goes my way", and on and on. It was raining. The long drive home gave me time to be alone with my thoughts.<br /><br />The teaching is: don't try to stop the feeling or emotion that arises when something like this occurs but rather to observe it and stay with it. I felt really upset. And then the teaching is to observe how the mind wants to run off into imaginary scenarios and messages to add on to this feeling, and usually add on to the misery. Watch how the mind wants to do that. Observe it and just stay there. Eventually, the feeling of calamity became less, and there was room for something else.<br /><br />I was able to process some more. The figures could be glued. The broken figure carries meaning for the piece and perhaps is even better than what it was before. This metaphor, symbol, and iconography is potentially powerful.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYz9GB3QGHu-W0YmzKjlSCsPNQEnRga3VMbTaR3YO-N8SSZ7yFFHm0xvqyIm6OredIZS4G-tDhnOjVBqTpanTzkieVTnr_9gNA237vsvLOADiRNwYt8CM5rTM9cZ9TbEHjYst1R-nt6b94/s1600-h/388px-Duchamp_LargeGlass.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 207px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYz9GB3QGHu-W0YmzKjlSCsPNQEnRga3VMbTaR3YO-N8SSZ7yFFHm0xvqyIm6OredIZS4G-tDhnOjVBqTpanTzkieVTnr_9gNA237vsvLOADiRNwYt8CM5rTM9cZ9TbEHjYst1R-nt6b94/s320/388px-Duchamp_LargeGlass.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358683508247200578" border="0" /></a>Then from my art geekitude came the memory of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcel_Duchamp">Marcel Duchamp</a> and a piece of his, known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Large_Glass">"The Large Glass"</a> that was accidentally broken when being installed at the <a href="http://www.philamuseum.org/">Philadelphia Museum of Art</a>. He saw it as the perfect random event that completed the piece and made it better than before. Life <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> random, Marcel. Life is also beautiful as you seemed to figure out, Marcel. <br /><br />Marcel painstakingly repaired his broken piece, but left the cracked glass intentionally knowing that it had perfectly completed the piece visually and intellectually.<br /><br />The teaching is that what happens in life isn't really the point; what we do <span style="font-style: italic;">next</span> is. The old, overused cliche "<span style="font-style: italic;">when life gives you lemons, make lemonade</span>" can be true. <br /><br />The trick is to find out how. So often the lemons life throws at us trigger other responses and we are so far into our reaction so fast, and that reaction is so automatic and so all-encompassing that seeing an alternative way to be at that moment seems impossible. Yet there are infinite possibilities.<br /><br />Another teaching that came to mind is "Loving What Is". So, to start telling myself that this event should not have happened, or at least it should not have happened to me, that the printer should not have dropped it, I should have known better in building the piece, I should have stayed and handled the piece...should, would, could...(these are key indicators in our thinking when we are resisting "what is"), to let any of that thinking occur is to not observe reality. <br /><br />Of course this is what happened. Things like this happen all the time to people all around the world. Why would I think that I would be exempt. This is "what is". If I can accept it, yes even LOVE it, I bring myself the greatest joy. We do have a choice in what we think and how we react. The thing happened. There is no turning back from that. I have the proof that it happened. It is real. The figurines are broken. So do I want to put energy into rage, regret, or revenge? Or do I want to, with a clear mind, accepting and loving what is, make plans to move forward on this piece and prevent frame failures in the future?<br /><br />What shape will the piece take now?<br /><h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading"><br /></h1>artist jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13840079197074387733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191206220438604425.post-19217504900341116612009-07-09T12:09:00.001-07:002009-07-09T12:25:06.926-07:00Ask, Tell<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2n-NEJOB7_1GfomVGhFTDjSECJtnJFs0Zsahnv6LPFaGOvdauPpkhRLfqDkSX6HdLszz3jdnDd5k-MfqiqvvzKO9Hnyco9ywojz9pKqiN5Lt04RkUe5PjopyVKJ32nNcTHHStCZduZNUu/s1600-h/Ask,+Tell+%28web+large%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2n-NEJOB7_1GfomVGhFTDjSECJtnJFs0Zsahnv6LPFaGOvdauPpkhRLfqDkSX6HdLszz3jdnDd5k-MfqiqvvzKO9Hnyco9ywojz9pKqiN5Lt04RkUe5PjopyVKJ32nNcTHHStCZduZNUu/s400/Ask,+Tell+%28web+large%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356539855462760546" border="0" /><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> </a><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;" align="center"><span style=";font-size:78%;" >“Ask, Tell” 2009<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Analysis of Symbolism</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" > </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" > </span><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">"Ask, Tell" 2009, (37.5" x 26.5") is a mixed media piece by artist Jeff Stevenson incorporating oil on canvas, altered books, curled book pages, found objects (figurines, metal address holder), and wax.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" > </span><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" > </span><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">The altered book in the center of the piece is opened and exposes pages that have been cut away to reveal various images within the book: maps, and text on the left and circular patterns on the right consisting of the book’s inside cover design, a reproduction of a fine art piece from the Western Art tradition, and a collection of African masks.<span style=""> </span>The page with the images of the African masks is cut to fit within the circular shape, but also is cut into a common “party mask” shape.<span style=""> </span>Within this page a smaller party mask shape is cut through to the Western Art image several pages deep exposing the eyes of the figure depicted there.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" > </span><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" > </span><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">By utilizing the image of masks and the shape of a mask in this way, the piece explores the ideas of masquerade, ceremonial functions of masks, and altered or shifting identities.<span style=""> </span>The title “Ask, Tell” in the context of the year 2009 creates an unavoidable connection to the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region> military policy of “don’t ask don’t tell”.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><span style=""><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" > </span><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" > </span><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">African masks create mythology and stories of those cultures such as warriors, spirits, and ancestors.<span style=""> </span>The mask that the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> is asking for its military to wear is also of mythic proportions: the male, heterosexual hero defending family, hearth and home.<span style=""> </span>This ancient tradition that reaches well beyond our nation’s history has connections to sexuality and identity.<span style=""> </span>Indeed a man’s definition of “manhood” is often focused on his ability to compete with other men, dominate other men, and kill other men.<span style=""> </span>Our cultural model of our warrior has little room for men loving other men and relies on this model of competition, dominance, and willingness to kill in order to gain men’s commitment to the cause.<span style=""> </span>By threatening the individual man’s sense of belonging to the larger cultural group, his status within that group, and indeed his very manhood, this man can be convinced to fight, kill, and die for the cause.<span style=""> </span>This model also excludes women from this status as warrior because women and children are historically held up as the reason for fighting, defending and protecting.<span style=""> </span>This cultural model manipulates people’s deep love and affection for family in order to fulfill its needs.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style=""><br /></span></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style=""> </span>This mythology was also used to oppress racial groups thereby reserving the heroic role of warrior for those most valued by the system, the white, heterosexual males.<span style=""> </span>By men openly loving other men this paradigm is turned on its head.<span style=""> </span>By women fighting along side men, and possibly also fighting for the “enemy”, this antiquated model is forced to change.<span style=""> </span>Racial equality was fought for through claiming the symbolism of the military myth, the role of the worthy warrior.<span style=""> </span>In our modern world this outdated mythological warrior culture is not serving us well in any regard and must be changed.<span style=""> </span>Our military will be stronger without it.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" > </span><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" > </span><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">Party masks used in a masquerade unleash secret persona the wearer has hidden within.<span style=""> </span>Throughout our history, celebrations are imbued with deeper meaning by tapping into the imagination through the use of masks.<span style=""> </span>Changing one’s identity can have positive, creative, and transformative effects.<span style=""> </span>When we imagine our future around the issue this piece is exploring, we realize that we can be whatever we want to be.<span style=""> </span>Our greatness is not limited by who we are now.<span style=""> </span>We can choose to put on a new persona and celebrate our inventiveness.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" > </span><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" > </span><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">The maps are not easily identified as a particular location and therefore refer to the <i style="">idea of</i> location: finding home, traveling to new places, and our history of where we have been.<span style=""> </span>They also refer to our need to understand our world and our place in it.<span style=""> </span>Mapping is an activity that seeks to find specific facts of the natural world.<span style=""> </span>Because the maps in this piece are interrupted, it implies that this knowledge is fragmented and in need of unification, connection, assimilation, and integration.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><span style=""><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" > </span><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" > </span><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">The figurines are framed by the cut out of the maps.<span style=""> </span>Although they are two male figurines they are difficult to identify quickly as such.<span style=""> </span>Part of the androgyny is a result of the original purpose of the figures; they are decorative representations of cliché nostalgia and a generalized idea of a romantic notion of days gone by.<span style=""> </span>They also were created with female counterparts because in a heterosexist culture, one cannot exist without the other.<span style=""> </span></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKHbjOArV94YjrT6tqEPVfi15WnUbSe8ThUcbfQSHz-48qS0DsFO-T7NcXNUDKKee28RWdFBpi_sCj8JGopYE26_QFZVVEctcAJksK8aFFqoGbCI5xisDEA0OuFyptp1oaVCw3adunpic/s400/Ask,+Tell+detail+figurines.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356541105316365362" border="0" /></span><span style="font-size:78%;">One figurine is a Dutch youth carrying a yolk across his shoulders with a water bucket.<span style=""> </span>The other figure wears a tri-corn hat, ruffles, and finery of a beautifully trite past era.<span style=""> </span>His hair (wig) is full of curls and the way the figurine is painted, could easily pass as female.<span style=""> </span>These two figures appear in the oil paintings incorporated into the piece and they are shown in close proximity as if <i style="">asking</i> or <i style="">telling</i> one another something.<span style=""> </span>This close proximity could also be interpreted as an intimacy not unlike that prior to a kiss.<span style=""> </span>By using androgynous porcelain figurines the viewer is provided an opportunity to examine their own feelings about same-sex closeness and intimacy without immediate discomfort that might be felt from a human depiction of the same subject.<span style=""> </span>There is also a certain amount of good natured humor as we are invited to imagine the secret lives of these two little guys inside the curio cabinet when the collector isn’t looking.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">The curled pages connote a book transformed and silenced.<span style=""> </span>The book in the center of the piece has been altered to a new purpose.<span style=""> </span>It can no longer be read as it was originally intended and now stands as a stationary object symbolizing the information, beliefs, and knowledge it contains.<span style=""> </span>So then, </span><span style="font-size:78%;"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobgdxAuVFDcDr16_7gKtNupwkO5NqCCx5vXCywF3Xxj2vZkpK7eTtz4gk9IZnDC9uYB45rpqA2nrRp1lAEksKXKnXFMQMQJUfZpcJltSyt1bdDLR6F6PX07UV8LsqeBX589nK2fU8amiF/s200/Ask,+Tell+detail+paper+curles.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356541602424981202" border="0" /></span><span style="font-size:78%;">the curled pages extend this analogy of the book to a representation of inaccessible knowledge and lost history, presumably of gay people who have actively been excised from history.<span style=""> </span>A people who’s silence has been demanded, who have been threatened with exclusion from the group to which they rightfully belong, who the dominant culture makes invisible by exclusion, oppression, and omission, and who are steadfastly demanding equality.<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">The size of the piece is almost human size but not large enough to dominate the viewer.<span style=""> </span>The viewer is provided an intimate proximity to the piece in order to contemplate it in the privacy of their thoughts.<span style=""> </span>The colors are harmonious and warm particularly the creamy tones of the paper and wax that also creates a translucent visually pleasing effect.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">The visual elements are open to many different reads and interpretations of this piece. They provide enough clarity to communicate a message and enough mystery to evoke thought.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p>artist jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13840079197074387733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191206220438604425.post-36133983116676294552009-04-29T16:54:00.000-07:002009-04-30T08:50:02.460-07:00Do Things Differently<span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >If I want things to be different, I must do things differently.</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" > </span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >The problem with habituation is that it is so comfortable, so familiar, that often it is also undetectable. We do things a certain way because "that is what works", or "that is how I always do it", or we don't even register the fact that we chose to do it or that there are alternatives.</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" > </span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Of course for things like washing dishes, driving to work, or getting kids off to school having a routine is important if not imperative. However when we lose track of what we are doing out of habit - flipping on the TV, getting lost in yammering phone conversations, surfing the net - things that get in the way of our life goals, relationships, and creative energy, well then, it is time to <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Do Things Differently</span>.</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><br /><br /><br />Pick one day this week to be your <span style="font-style: italic;">"<span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">Observation Day</span>"</span>. Pick another day to be your<span style="font-style: italic;"> "<span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Do Things Differently Day</span>"</span>. And then carve out an hour or so on a day off, presumably the weekend, when you can be alone to <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">write and reflect</span> about what happened.</span> <span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><br /><br />"<span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0); font-style: italic;">Observation Day</span>" is to take note of what you do. Make a <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">list</span> of all of your activities. <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">Write it out</span>: wake up, shower, groom, eat, talk to spouse, radio, TV, drive, work, etc. Identify what you do automatically and how you do it. Observe yourself. Notice how you always (flick the lights on, then coffee, then the dogs go outside). Can you get down to the details?</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" > </span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Just watching yourself will bring a new level of awareness. Also <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">note </span>what makes you mad, happy, irritated, (rain, traffic, favorite song) particularly unexpected things and surprises.</span> <span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><br /><br />Then, the night before your "<span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-style: italic;">Do Things Differently Day</span>", <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">review</span> your list of observations. Pick a few favorites - the things that are really YOU. Begin to imagine doing those things differently. Have you ever written something with your opposite hand? for how long? all day? Can you see yourself taking a different route to or from work? Asking someone else to drive or taking the wheel yourself? Ordering a different morning coffee, or buying one for the person behind you in line? What would happen if...?</span> <span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><br /><br />The "<span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-style: italic;">Do Things Differently Day</span>" dawns and you realize that the universe provides infinite possibilities and instead of doing routine things the same way, today you will do them differently - just for fun. Even if it is less efficient. Even if those who see you as the sum of your habits start to question and even freak out when you show up wearing red, or with your hair slicked back, or you skip lunch to take a walk around the park. Don't over think it, although you can do things that are good for you, you can do things you've put off doing, just do things differently.</span> <span style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >At the end of the "<span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-style: italic;">Do Things Differently Day</span>", go over your list again and put a <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">check</span> next to things you did differently, put a <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">smile</span> next to those things you had some fun with, put a <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">lightening bolt </span>next to things that felt energizing, and make up your own <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">symbol</span> for any other trend you noticed.</span> <span style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >When you can <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255); font-style: italic;">take some time to reflect</span>, sit down at a time and place when you won't be interrupted. Take about an hour. Write about it and keep your hand moving. Even if you write "I don't know what else to write", another thought will arise regarding this experience. Notice what you resisted, what excuses you made for yourself to abandon the exercise, how you returned to it in fits and starts. Don't judge yourself, just observe. See what else comes up for you about what you did, how you did it, and the potential it brings to life.<br /><br />If we want things to be different in our lives, we have to <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">do things differently</span>. Much of what happens in life is beyond our control - surrender to that. What is within our control, our own behavior and choices, is often given over to habit, numbed out by routine, and avoided due to fear - observe that. Even a small change of a seemingly insignificant task can have a profound effect on our psyche. Try it. <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-style: italic;">Do Things Differently</span>.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span><br /></span></span>artist jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13840079197074387733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191206220438604425.post-73285340719079830962009-04-29T16:50:00.000-07:002009-04-30T07:59:28.917-07:00Excursions: Recharge Your Creative Spirit<o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><b style=""><u><br /><o:p></o:p></u></b></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">For those of us who live in and around <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Chicago</st1:city></st1:place> there never seems to be a shortage of cool places to go and interesting things to do. <span style=""> </span>And yet all too often we find ourselves getting into a rut or a routine, and even when visiting friends and family come to town and demand our services as tour guides, we look to the obvious solutions and end up in the same places.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">Recharge your own creative spirit by treating yourself to a solo excursion to a nearby gem, <a href="http://www.elmhurstartmuseum.org/">The Elmhurst Art Museum</a>.<span style=""> </span>By going on your own, opportunities arise to explore your own thoughts, soak up the beautiful surrounding park, and enjoy the quiet of the galleries. <span style=""> </span>Creative ideas often emerge from a well prepared mind that is at rest.<br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><span style=""> </span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">The <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Elmhurst</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Art Museum</st1:placetype></st1:place> is worth seeing no matter what exhibits are on display.<span style=""> </span>The McCormick house, one of only two Mies van der Rohe residential homes, was moved to this site in one of <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Elmhurst</st1:city></st1:place>'s parks and then the new museum was built onto it.<span style=""> </span>In this way, the home was preserved (and is mainly used as office and meeting space, but visitors can see and experience the house) and the new construction harmonizes with the Mies van der Rohe architectural aesthetic.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><span style=""> </span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">The EAM website will allow you to check back about specific exhibits next time you are looking for a great destination for guests.<span style=""> </span>And the museum is only blocks away from <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Elmhurst</st1:place></st1:city>’s bustling shopping and eateries. <span style=""> </span>Recharge your own creative spirit by adding The Elmhurst Art Museum to your creative list of destinations; your friends and family will thank you.</span></p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>artist jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13840079197074387733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191206220438604425.post-740567354600672942009-04-29T16:43:00.000-07:002009-04-29T16:49:54.348-07:00Jeff Stevenson: Artist Bio<o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="font-family: verdana;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:78%;">Jeff Stevenson is a mixed media collage artist with a strong foundation in representational painting. <span style=""> </span>Born in 1962 and creating art ever since he can remember, Stevenson began his career as an artist and educator in earnest in 1988 when he enrolled in Ohio University’s Masters of Fine Art, Painting program.<span style=""> </span>Jeff Stevenson has exhibited his artwork in group and solo shows and has received numerous awards for his work.</span></p><p style="font-family: verdana;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:78%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:78%;">In 2006, through his own investigative journey into the subject of creativity, Stevenson developed a college level course, “Enhancing Creativity” that provides opportunities for students to explore their own creativity and to examine the process of creativity as an academic subject.<span style=""> </span>Stevenson has taught studio art classes, art history, and other subjects through <st1:placename st="on">Governors</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:placetype>, Prairie State College, <st1:placename st="on">South</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Suburban</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">College</st1:placetype>, <st1:placename st="on">Columbia</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">College</st1:placetype>, The Illinois Institute of Art, <st1:city st="on">Chicago</st1:city>, and <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Ohio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place>.</span></p><p style="font-family: verdana;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><span style=""> </span></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:78%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:78%;">Learn more about Jeff through his website: <a href="http://www.jeffstevenson.com/index.html">www.jeffstevenson.com</a> for information about creativity life coaching, art shows, a creativity blog “8crayoncolors”, and more.</span></p>artist jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13840079197074387733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191206220438604425.post-90876487008490633772009-04-29T08:58:00.000-07:002009-04-29T09:08:51.211-07:00Reading List<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Pink, Daniel H. <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">A Whole New Mind - Why Right-brainers Will Rule The Future</span>. London, England: Penguin Books Ltd., 2006<br /><br />Mumaw, Stefan. Oldfield, Wendy Lee. <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Caffeine for the Creative Mind - 250 Exercises to Wake up Your Brain</span>. Cincinnati, Ohio: HOW Books., 2006</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br />Cameron, Julia. <span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Artist's Way.</span> New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam, a member of Penguin Putnam, Inc., 1992.</span></span><p> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Cameron, Julia. <u>The Vein of Gold - A Journey to Your Creative Heart</u>. New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam, a member of Penguin Putnam, Inc., 1996</span></span></p><p> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly. <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Finding Flow – The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life.</span> New York: Basic Books, a member of the Perseus Books Group., 1997<br /><br />Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly. <u>Flow - The Psychology of Optimal Experience.</u></span></span></p> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=""> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly. <u>Creativity - Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention.</u> New York: HarperCollins., 1996</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Kimmelman, Michael. <u>The Accidental Masterpiece - On the Art of Life and Vice Versa</u>. New York: Penguin Press., 2005</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Maisel, Eric. <u>Coaching the Artist Within.</u> Novato, California: New World Library., 2005</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Pagels, Elaine. <u>Beyond Belief - The Secret Gospel of Thomas.</u> New York: Vintage Books., 2003</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Pagels, Elaine. <u>The Gnostic Gospels.</u> New York: Vintage Books., 1979</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Harris, Sam. <u>The End of Faith - Religion, Terror, and The Future of Reason.</u> New York: W. W. Norton and Company, Ltd., 2004</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Gadwell, Malcolm. <u>Blink - The Power of Thinking Without Thinking.</u> New York: Little, Brown and Company, Time Warner Book Group., 2005</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Gladwell, Malcolm. <u>The Tipping Point - How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference.</u></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Tharp, Twyla. <u>The Creative Habit - Learn It and Use It for Life.</u> New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks., 2003</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Baptiste, Baron. <u>40 Days to Personal Revolution</u>. New York: Fireside., 2004</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Sawyer, Keith. <u>Group Genius - The Creative Power of Collaboration</u>. New York: Basic Books., 2007</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">May, Rollo. <u>The Courage to Create.</u> New York: Bantam Books., 1975</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Vincent, Norah. <u> Self-Made Man - One Woman's Journey into Manhood and Back Again.</u> New York: Penguin Group., 2006</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Dyer, Wayne W. <u>The Power of Intention - Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way.</u> Carlsbad, California: Hay House., 2004</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /></span></p></span></span>artist jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13840079197074387733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191206220438604425.post-21753629351696857872009-04-29T08:38:00.000-07:002009-04-29T08:44:52.003-07:00Enhancing Creativity, Art 504 SS09The on-line <a href="https://gsu2.govst.edu:9040/cgi-bin/public/class_schedule.cgi">Class Schedule</a> at <a href="http://www.govst.edu/">Governors State University</a> is now available for Spring-Summer 2009. (it does not appear in the paper printed schedule)<br /><br />ART504 section A, “Enhancing Creativity” is being offered on Monday and Wednesday evenings, 7:30 to 10:20pm June 29th through August 17th. This is a “Block Three” (second session of summer) condensed time frame class meeting twice a week for 7 weeks, however this is a “hybrid” course, meaning that a portion of the class will be conducted on-line reducing the number of on-land <span style="font-style: italic;">class meetings to about once a week.</span><br /><br />This class will provide opportunities for students to explore their own creativity by engaging in exercises, activities, and group discussions, and to examine the process of creativity through research, reading lists, and observation. Participants will gain insights and practical knowledge useful for living their own lives more creatively (no matter the profession or occupation), and fostering creativity in others (in classroom and community settings). Models and methods derived from Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way” and “Vein of Gold”, and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s “Flow- The Psychology of Optimal Experience”, among others, will be utilized.<br /><br />Students who have taken this class in the past have really enjoyed it. It is a rigorous course of study and we have a lot of fun - there are always pleasant surprises. So, to those of you who haven’t been able to take the class in the past when it was offered during the day, now is your chance! Please pass this on to anyone you think might be interested.<br /><br />Contact me with any questions you may have.<br /><br />It is nice to be thinking about summer,<br /><br />Jeff Stevenson<br /><br />Email: jeff@jeffstevenson.com<br /><br />Website: <a href="http://www.jeffstevenson.com/index.html">www.jeffstevenson.com</a>artist jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13840079197074387733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6191206220438604425.post-61720280487763299482008-09-20T16:46:00.000-07:002009-04-29T09:09:37.976-07:00What The Bleep<a href="http://www.whatthebleep.com/">"What The Bleep Do We Know"</a><br />click here and find out more about it.artist jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13840079197074387733noreply@blogger.com0