Julian LaVerdiere

I have decided on 3 questions to ask of all of the artists ...
1- who is the audience?
2- do they maintain similar themes/purposes?
3- What is the general media used?!?

Dr.Faustus?!? Interesting comparison. I actually worked on that show and I have to say that he was quite strange to reference that to himself. LaVerdiere dapples in a bit of media it seems, real objects, installations, and performance. The one that caught my eye the most was the light beams that he sent up from ground zero. I like the way that he made it like a performance in the fact that it was there for 2 months, also because where I am at right now, I can look at my window and see ground zero...my sister's apartment is right across the street...why couldn't I have been here for that?!? He seems to make his work for the general public, but the kind that are interested in art because I dont think that everyone would appreciate something like "safe circa" or "FATATCC". Other than experimenting with technology..I don't see a drastic common theme in the artwork here.

The Art World Expands

I hate to say it, but after the first couple of pages, this was one of the worst things I have ever had to read... it talked about photography for a bit, which really grabbed my attention because I am a photo major, but soon after I had no idea what they were talking about. If I ever hear the word postmodernalism again, it will be too soon. Maybe it is because I don't have the proper knowledge of all of these different times and movements but they confuse me. I know that they are completely relevant and that the art world had to experience them to get to where we are today....and I appreciate that, I just think that I don't understand it completely when these words are thrown at me. I do realize how far the art world has come with incorporating technology and new techniques, and as an "artist", I am excited to see all of the different styles that I can incorporate into pieces, hopefully really expanding my horizons. I think that although it seems that almost everything has been done, I will still see things that will shock and awe me beyond what i thought it could.

'The Happiest Day of My Life'

Wow, this guy really loves his artistic side. What possesses someone to go to such an extreme to almost destroy his life, or at least all of the physical aspects for art?!? I wish that I was bold enough to do something similar, but never quite that extreme. I'm not entirely sure how far I would be willing to let myself go when it comes to something affecting my everyday life so drastically. I guess it is just how you look at it. Is it his only job, his life? For me, right now my whole life is work and school so I guess essentially I do but my whole self into something just in a bit of a different way. I am impressed however and kudos to him! I wish I could have seen this in person, and I think that it is interesting how there were people who were actually taking items away from the piece...are you kidding me?!?! I would be pissed that people were not appreciating that I am laying out all that I have to them and they're taking advantage of that, but this guy expected it. But to have no possessions at all...that is only something I could dream of accomplishing. I think of this in the way of religion and simple living and I wish that I could do something like this to maybe enhance my life and make me appreciate things more, but I don't see that happening in the near future.

The Meaning It Tells

It's really hard to concentrate on blogging when you're in New York on vacation and all you want to do is watch Ace of Cakes with your sister.... haha. Well, we talk about the importance of meaning so much in class that I feel there isn't a whole lot for me to comment on with this one. I agree that if you change even one little thing about a piece, that it can change the meaning entirely. I never really think of it that way. When I look at art, I look at it for what the artist made it to be exactly. It's only when someone points out to me those "what ifs' that I remember to think of it that way. Sometimes it makes me really excited at all of the possibilities that one piece can have if you're creative enough to just explore...but on the other hand, it can make me angry. I think 'why didn't the artist think to do it this way, it would have been so much better!!" But I guess that is where the connotation part kicks in. I really wish that I could do this more in my work. I think that it is so nice when an artist actually references to something historical and meaningful like war, economy, hardships, etc... I am gonna try to bring out some sort of history or at least a new perspective in my future work. Also, I really enjoyed the little commentaries in the small print :) i guess it really does make a difference (depending on the mindset of the individual viewer) of who the artist is as a person and the background. I have decided that I want to go for pieces that evoke emotion...I want to make viewers feel uncomfortable for a future goal. Since I am in the city for a couple of days, hopefully I will find some inspiration.

2.25.08

Today started the beginning of the presentations for identity, I'm always surprised at how much I dread the days for critique, mainly because the last 2 times I have managed to be late...crap. Sorry guys. I had alot going on today. Another thing is the fact that this day has the ability to make me feel slightly successful, yet completely inadequate at the same time. I really don't like this feeling and I never feel satisfaction. it is hard to compare your work with other students because you really are your biggest critic. I love to watch people who have really creative pieces, I wonder if any of my stuff sparks that is other students....probably not in this class.

2.20.08

BRAINSTORMING: This is the essential part but the most dreaded parts of the process. I tend to have a hard time getting started at anything....my motivation level is at about a 3. Not good, I am working on it but... It is good getting to hear other peoples ideas and sometimes they are really helpful. I didn't get much accomplished today, but it was my fault because I wasn't really ready to go with a specific idea. It is interesting to have them explain it so that your picture it but when the time for presentations come, they will be completely different. I think that I have an imspiration block. This kid Joey pointed it out to me, i like him. He's funny and doesn't hold back, I'd like to bounce more ideas off of him in the future.

2.11.08

I am learning to like to explore in different media more than I thought. I see myself as a 2-D person, but I was really excited today when we got to cast molds of ourselves. I cholse to do my lips because they're a feature I really like. I am very tempted to go online and buy a big thing of algenate even though there is a good chance that most of it will go to waste or I will waste endless hours of productivity casting random things instead of working on something that needs to get done...that's the story of my life, I think I'll get some.

2.13.08

We saw several interesting artists online today and although interesting, I don't think it helped me with my own identity. Some artists like Oliver Herring have these deep emotions that make their lifestyles change and become part of their work, I am not that kind of artist...at least not at this point in my life. Art is the only profession I see myself in but to indulge yourself so much so that you're not doing anything else day or night.....wow. I did relate to his feelings when he lost his friend. Last year I had a close friend commit suicide and it is hard to try to take your mind off of it. But I find that I don't like to present things that are so "deep", it seems a bit cliche to me, yet it is the only thing I can seem to come up with at this point, I'll keep trying.

Barbie

IDENTITY:

I decided to express my identity by taking all of my insecurities as a woman out on barbies. Barbies are the all to familiar opitime of female beauty. As someone who is so uncomfortable with her appearance, I tend to take it out on other women sort of blaming them for my insecurities...finding myself wishing that instead of being like them, they would be more like me so that I wouldn't have to change to feel better about myself. It's horrible, but some girls I just want to get really fat, and others...i wish I could make their hair ugly or sabotage their makeup. So with these Barbies, I chose one to chop off her hair and stain it so that it would represent all of the times I cut my hair and dye my hair, then become unhappy with it. Another, I wrapped her hair over her face and put a pink piece of a sack cloth on her for clothing... I took away all of the glamourous features that she came with and made her to seem anti-social. Barbies always look cute, in real life....girls have shitty days and just want to be invisible, sweats if possible, no make-up, sunglasses, and a hat...this was the best I could do. And finally, my favorite...the body factor. I dressed this one in a measuring tape because I am always conscious, on a daily basis, of my weight..how clothes are fitting, if my face is getting fatter,etc.. I marked all of the places that I want to fix with a marker and even rubbed off her breasts with sand paper and cut off her behind...hey, my body does not look like that!!I also tried to boil one but it didn't do too much, just made her head pop off..haha. For the presentation, I put them back into the boxes as if they were for sale again but with no price, daring someone to buy them...who would want a doll who looked like this?!?!?
New Generation of Barbie
8"x3"x2"
mixed media

2.1.08

"LIBRA is the only inanimate sign of the zodiac, all the others representing either humans or animals. Many modern astrologers regard it as the most desirable of zodiacal types because it represents the zenith of the year, the high point of the seasons, when the harvest of all the hard work of the spring is reaped. There is a mellowness and sense of relaxation in the air as mankind enjoys the last of the summer sun and the fruits of his toil. Librans too are among the most civilized of the twelve zodiacal characters and are often good looking. They have elegance, charm and good taste, are naturally kind, very gentle, and lovers of beauty, harmony (both in music and social living) and the pleasures that these bring.

I love reading descriptions about myself...it's fun to see if that's how other people view me, and I think it kind of is. I continue to collect from the paper daily and also any other horoscopes or segments containing information on librans.