Eh, Whit?

A Belated Update.

2010-11-03T06:40:00.000-07:00

This semester i've trundled in from the wilderness and transferred to fine art. I haven't updated this blog in a while, so thought best to give an insight into my current practice. Sadly, i only realise now that i have just a singular scan of one of my pieces. However, i hope it gives an esscence of the direction i'm taking so far this year. I studied the signage culture of 70s downtown New York businesses; the independent retailers, the family-owned services, the hang-outs. I love the beauty of hand painted signs; from the bold type faces to the quivering line work which gives the piece a touch of humanity.

It is from this source of inspirtation that i discovered the work of Margaret Kilgallen, a visual artist who not only grew up during, but moulded the evolution that took street art into the gallery space. Her work drew directly from the surrounding suburbs where she lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, consiting of typography, graphic imagery and installation. It was her monumental gallery work that drew her most recognition during her professional life which was sadly cut short in 2003 when she succumbed to cancer.

Drawing from these areas of influence i have begun to create a body of work that not only mounts the gallery wall, but floods the space with installation, video and vibrance. As mentioned previously, i sadly only have one documented image to speak of, but hopefully more will follow.

too darn soulful.

2010-07-26T01:48:00.000-07:00

Got given a lend of this amazing cultural biography by David Nowell a few weeks ago and got reading it properly on the bus trip to wickerman this weekend. It's a fantastic outline of what was going on in the mid to late 60s soul scene in northern england, evidentally leading to what would become known as northern soul. Plenty of anecdotes, pictures and differing perspectives for quite a round vision of what was going on. Only half way through, but loving it. Highly recommend.

The Box of Filth.

2009-12-18T07:56:00.000-08:00

This was outcome of a 3 week installtion brief presented during semester 1.

My original concept was to build a box which would house a small screen at one end and have a working door at the other. The viewer would be seated and watch a continuous 60 minute video piece shot in a single composition dealing with the themes of sexuality, voyeurism, transgender and drug abuse. The video piece would be presented in order to resemble the view of looking into a persons window from street level. The purpose of the box itself rather than a free standing screen or projection is to bring an element of intimacy to the work, as well as the reduction of distraction in a persons peripheral vision. The actions and events would be vaguely scripted but allow enough room for the said events and themes to play a free and creative role in the proceedings.

The questions being asked deal with the taboo of the 'peeping tom' generation, the work being unable to counteract or respond to being watched and the social tolerance we hold towards recreational habits.

Poetry of Departures.

2009-10-22T04:59:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you hear, fifth-hand,
As epitaph:
He chucked up everything
And just cleared off,
And always the voice will sound
Certain you approve
This audacious, purifying,
Elemental move.
And they are right, I think.
We all hate home
And having to be there:
I detest my room,
It's specially-chosen junk,
The good books, the good bed,
And my life, in perfect order:
So to hear it said
He walked out on the whole crowd
Leaves me flushed and stirred,
Like Then she undid her dress
Or Take that you bastard;
Surely I can, if he did?
And that helps me to stay
Sober and industrious.
But I'd go today,
Yes, swagger the nut-strewn roads,
Crouch in the fo'c'sle
Stubbly with goodness, if
It weren't so artificial,
Such a deliberate step backwards
To create an object:
Books; china; a life
Reprehensibly perfect.

whilst filming in the deep jungles of brazil...

2009-10-14T08:51:00.000-07:00

india nostalgia.

2009-10-12T15:25:00.000-07:00

not the best, but the most memorable photos of my jaunt round india.

snap.

2009-10-12T15:06:00.000-07:00

some snapshots of my ever patient (and at this time ill) flat mate round the house.

sketch art.

2009-10-10T17:53:00.000-07:00

some sketch book work here. heavy influences from richt, erone and guy mckinley.

college work.

2009-10-09T10:36:00.000-07:00

a few stills from a sequence i did looking at the human form. read as much or little into the concept behind the images as you like. personally, i just wanted a clean, simple aesthetic that could relate to a wide number of topics.

2009-10-08T02:38:00.000-07:00

well, i'm not entirely sure how this works, but i've been told to try it.
i'm off to college with a reeking hangover after another dubious night out with the guys and gals from graphics. oh lord.
will hopefully have something much more interesting to add to the mass of online shite at some point later.