Artist: Scott Grieger

1. Globalization and war, is it important as a subject matter?
2. Are swooshtikas cliché?
3. Is there any redeeming quality in Grieger's work?


1. Globalization and war could be appropriate subject matter, of course, the methods used to express in Grieger's work is possibly the worst way to discuss war and globalization. There is absolutely no focus to his installation Be Here Now!; there is no real construction of ideas that express a meaning. That which he has chosen to signify has little to do with what the artist has thought or produced. As Grieger states, "What I'm trying to do is make a protein drink out of many fruits and vegetables. What comes out has a different texture and look from any of the original ingredients." All he is doing is paraphrasing and making it seem like his paraphrasing is important enough to fill a gallery. The paraphrasing maybe okay unto itself but there it no further redeeming qualities which the installation holds(i.e. formal or perhaps a quirky point of view). Barbara Kruger does slightly similar installations but hers are much more potent to the viewer.

2. Swooshtikas are totally cliché. It is kind of funny that the symbol went from religious to nazi to punk to the representation of the similarities between globalized economy and government authoritarianism. So is control good? Either there is to much or not enough, no one is ever happy. So how does global warming fit in. Metaphors and metonyms are great ways to make things seem poetic but most of the things in the installation only fake what could make poetic substance. It is middle school love poems.

3.This questioning has become rather cynical and will stay that way. There is no redeeming quality to Grieger's work. Entirely or partially due to the fact that there is no point of view and/or clear topic of thought that the viewer can observe and internally discuss. Seemingly contrasting ideas of meditation and war,cliché. Authoritarianism and global warming, cliché. Tags that say "Dharmy", cliché. hELLO, cliché. How does all this make any sense? The artist intentionally does not take his references and make them have any grand idea that encompasses. "German youths were given a color and a uniform and they became monsters", this is what conceptually unites footwear and nazis for Grieger. He was simply enthralled by a picture of the world, "How could so simple an image represent something so complicated as the whole globe?" Extension. The work just seems ridiculous and pointless. It is funny that Grieger says his show was pointed and blunt, almost the opposite off my thoughts.

Three more:
1.Does his Buddhist point of view actually manifest in ways less trivial in other works?
2. Are his views egocentric or does the text betray him?
3. Is it possible to make work with separate ideas that do not relate successful? In other words, can the kitchen sink be thrown in and still keep it interesting?

Class Commentary: 08-02-27

Viewing the deconstructed washer and dryer and the architectural presentations redirected my thoughts toward, well, presentation. My normal patterns of thinking are similar to the technical manner that design, such as architecture, sometimes manifest. In a way, much of the work that I have produced deals with the rationalization of the irrational or where they meet. Methods are used to create structures that seemingly make sense of or complicate the natural order. It has only been recently that there was realization of this thought process. Planning for the exploration of this will be incorporated into further development of work. Works that I have produced are either manifestations of this exploration of rationalization or the complete avoidance.

Class Commentary: 08-02-25

Identity projects were shown.

Emily's video was inspiring. Looking at her pictures of the object she made for part of the video, there was a question of how this related to identity. The object itself contained little interest, but when viewing the video there was much more imagery that was included. Did the video grow from the object? Deemphasizing the object, foregrounding put the actions and the view of the camera into the position of importance. Considering that the next project is time based, the video definitely gave a bar for the class that could be reached, as far as production.

Old Drawings.

I was just looking at through some old things I had, kind of reminiscing. A lot of things I've made are just crap, but I've made a bunch and thrown away a bunch. I have only a couple sketches from before the age of 16. It would be interesting to look at some of the things I've made that I no longer remember. One time I went to my sister's house and she still had a pen holder I had carved from part of my churches alter, with her name on it, from 1992.


1997- from life- parakeet


2000- watercolor and crayon


2005- paint, graphite, and polyurethane

Class Commentary: 08-02-11

Well, after so long wanting to use alginate in mold-making, I finally had a chance to see what all the fuss is about. Just a bit disappointment is all there was felt. I'm really not sure how it could possibly be of any use for me. The limited shelf life of the mold was unexpected, after about an hour parts were already becoming hard. The only real use I can foresee it the quick making of a positive to be further developed for a more permanent mold. That being said, the use of a soft mold is amazing and would definitely be something that I would like to explore given the chance and need for such.

Identity Project

Invariably one of the most important aspects of being a human is communication. I have recently been studying semiotics, the study of signs. Language, art, traffic signs, a mark on the wall, we receive these signs then interpret their appropriate meaning given their context. With language(which I am defining as any sign made by a person to communicate a signified meaning) there is always an expected result. What if there is a breakdown? Two possible ways are: a) the resulting information the receiver has interpreted is not that which the sender intended, the receiver being at fault or b) the sender did not send an adequate signifier, which the sender is at fault. In my project I being the maker of the signifier could only use breakdown (b) to inhibit the full communication of the signified. Ultimately the signified is the breakdown and not the original signified concept.

At this point you may be asking "How does this relate to identity?" Hopefully, it is self explanatory. But just in case I will elaborate. Breakdowns of communication have been apparent to me for some time. Mostly, the cause of this being problems with the control of anxiety connected to social situations. This issue has affected nearly all of my life and continues to affect it but to a much lesser extent than previously up to this point. In a time when anxiety is at its worst the outward communication is dwelled upon but rarely expressed and when it does find its way into the world it is inherently garbled or incomplete. Comfort of one's self cannot be found in the outside world but must come from the inside or the small amount of the world in which manipulation does get repressed by factors that incite anxiety.

In the end there is no knowledge of who or why. Simply a generic card with no reason of being. Vague communications are common to me, always leaving in my mind more to be said. So much effort is put in just to say nothing.


Binary Opposition: 1, Documented construction and giving of Valentines.






Amber




Zac and Kathy




Lydia




Mom

Class Commentary: 08-02-20

It was nice to discuss the identity project with just a couple of classmates; there was a more relaxed feeling being outside of a square box of a classroom. It's almost humorous how we make entire buildings with facilities, that many would say, are not conducive to learning. Definitely there is more need for discussion about my work in my life(also more making). Informal conversation is where the only place that truths can be allowed to come out. Critiques in class are limited in many topics of discussion. So why do we endure these blocks on the progress of thinking and learning? Part of it must be the compromising for the whole rather than the individual. I'm not sure, but there must be more.

Class Commentary: 08-02-18

Well, this day made me realize I definitely need to work on public speaking. Elizabeth Alexander came across to me very weak; her presentation was problematic. Would a better presentation have sold her work better? Most assuredly. Audiences don't want wishy-washy expressions of thoughts, they want concise confidence. Arrangement of ideas in a manner that is fluid yet regimented. Many artist, their work I completely did not admire, I have seen speak and because their presentations were so well constructed there was at least a redemptive quality that saved their work. Artist must be able to sell themselves unless they can get someone else to do it for them and that is not likely. Influences must be articulated more effectively. Leonardo is a generic influence; Elizabeth's knowledge of him and his context must surely be greater than that which she discussed. Circles and squares representing the heavens and the Earth goes farther back than Leonardo(it's odd when he is referred to as da Vinci). It seemed just to be an obsession with Leonardo, rather than a true insight into the influences he has had in her work.

I doubt anyone else in the class realize her work does relate to others in the craft field. Woodworking and ceramics are heavily into the idea of the vessel and making objects that do not work as the object's original intention. I have even made ceramics that their function is denied. Why is this a common occurrence? With the modern machine of industry there is little need for handmade items with function. A wheel thrown coffee cup is frivolous when a mass produced mold made cup is less expensive. So, Naturally the market for the handmade is going to be for those who not need a cup for use, but for some other purpose. That purpose being much like the formal living room that Elizabeth's grandmother had in her house. It was not for consumption but for the psychological perks her grandmother received.

Class Commentary: 08-02-13

Tony Oursler's work is intriguing. There is an Art In America from awhile back that his work was on the cover. In the show that was shown, his pieces were just eyes and mouths projected on organic shapes; it was not as literal. His work is good but I've never really liked the screwed up psycho aspect, it only seems interesting at first then it goes away. Relating to identity, does it signify emotions or thoughts the artist has felt? For as emotional as the work seems there is a cold disconnected feeling. It is as if a child is playing dress-up and only playing, not truly being. Theatrics is how the work functions, being over the top. Yet, it is all just a show thrown together in just the right way to have the maximum impact. It demands viewers to look. Looking at things that are normally thought socially not to be proper to observe.

Class Commentary: 08-02-06

Trip to the Mint.

The only piece that was visually interesting enough to make anyone come see the show was on all the ads. Besides the further understanding of things not to do when making art with fibers, there wasn't much to see at the Fiberart International 2007. They were very much like exercises of material and composition than full artworks. In many, the creation was more important than the piece. Yet, the creation conveyed nothing and meant nothing. Very cliché while trying to be serious. They were not makers of objects, but makers of textiles.

I saw the show about a month earlier excited to see some fiber art; leaving disappointed in the end.

Class Commentary: 08-02-04

Janine Antoni's dealing with identity is not about how she fits into her culture but instead it focuses on the private identity. Her work is a manifestation of small thoughts that reside in her immediate surroundings. Very much a kind visual philosophy, there is dialogue which is self contemplative. The viewer is almost unimportant, what is important is her ultimate understanding of herself.

A while back at UNCC there was an artist couple that presented their work, Bradley McCallum and Jacqueline Tarry. Their work was much different. It seemed if the saw themselves as the "every man" and could distribute universal truths that would cleanse the would of it's ills. They were pretentious and their idea of self, in their work, displayed it. Their work was not bad. Just when I see work that uses the idea of self to make broad generalities about parts of culture it never turn out good.

Class Commentary: 08-01-30

Interpretation.

When something is signified by the sender(artist in this case) it has intention but when the receiver(viewer) sees the work do they comprehend the signified or do they create extensions of meaning which were not signified. A child draws a picture of his family, is there signification of their social status, marital status, mental status, race. Likely it is unintentional, but none the less it can be interpreted as containing these views of self. Where does it end? Could we get scientist to research and tell even more of the world just by a picture drawn by a child?

The key is to block out the unimportant as much as possible. Be concise.

Accumulation: Week #6

Angels are ethereal at best, mostly nonexistent. Emotional, irrational, lovely, catalyst of God. Made of paper, glue, wires, feathers, plastic, clay, reflections of light, and stains on any surface imaginable. Sent to help until the afterlife is reached.

Arthur C. Clark wrote a book called Childhood's End.