Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Examples of artists working in Google Earth

NEW MAPPING EXPERIMENT
Not a huge Arcade Fire fan.  Admittedly, it's probably due to their popularity even if it is well deserved.  Like most pop bands tho, all of their stuff just sounds the same to me.  Anyway, I'll give 'em this one - it's a pretty interesting video concept ..and relevant to the mapping stuff we are doing in class.
http://www.chromeexperiments.com/arcadefire/

BIBLICAL EARTH
Here's a very interesting project that I just came across.  I think the images are amazing and really beautiful.  The realness of satellite imagery provides an uncanny sense of reality.  Though I'm not religious, I love traveling to this mythical world of our cultural origin.  Also, from this perspective one can't help but feel a little god-like.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1295301/Gods-eye-view-Artist-uses-Google-Earth-images-recreate-parting-Red-Sea-Christs-crucifixion.html

Monday, August 30, 2010

Response to Sol Lewitt

6. If the artist changes his mind midway through the execution of the piece he compromises the result and repeats past results. 

I found the above statement interesting.  I can somewhat appreciate it from a conceptual perspective; but isn't the artist more susceptible to repeating past results if the result is so fully preconceived?  I believe separating art completely from the process is limiting.  For me, the process is part of the development of the idea.  As with abstract expressionism, making art is an essential step in the evolution of the artist and of the idea.  This negotiation is key in fleshing out that which is not, or can not yet be figured.  To conceptualize an idea from start to finish limits us to our mind's capacity; whereas, when we allow an idea to evolve beyond what we've mapped out, we go beyond our self.  Lewitt actually illustrates this in another sentence:

22. The artist cannot imagine his art, and cannot perceive it until it is complete.  

It seems Lewitt understands that evolution of ideas is a natural byproduct of art no matter the approach.  He would probably argue for developing all of the subsequent ideas to their full potential, albeit preconceived.  Perhaps Lewitt has more faith in human capacity than I ..or maybe just better ideas. 

28. Once the idea of the piece is established in the artist's mind and the final form is decided, the process is carried out blindly. There are many side effects that the artist cannot imagine. These may be used as ideas for new works.

Friday, August 27, 2010

John Baldessari retrospective at LACMA

There is currently a John Baldessari retrospective at LACMA if anyone is going to be down South.  I included a Juxtapose link because it contains some decent images from the exhibit in case you, like I, can't make it.

http://www.lacma.org/art/ExhibBaldessari.aspx
http://www.juxtapoz.com/26367-pure-beauty-money-well-spent