Changes to Psychology

So, I have been dealing with a lot of anxieties about my future, so I decided today to tear up some books. Man, it felt good. Normally I am not one for tearing up the written word (I find books to be so precious) but my dad gave me a bunch of old, outdated psychology books he was getting rid of.

The books have this wonderful musty smell and yellowing pages (gosh, I am making Dad seem so old -- he's not -- really, its just that textbooks don't seem to have a very archival quality to them -- probably because it isn't worth the money when new editions are pushing old copies out-of-date faster than one pay the hundred plus dollars it costs to buy text books these days. I could go on and on about the textbook business, as I was once in publishing, but I'll spare the details. That said, that might be another underlying reason I enjoyed so thoroughly tearing apart the old textbook.

So, anyway, this book alteration came out of an old project I did years ago that I always hoped to re-explore again. I don't think I want to talk too much about it -- Hopefully, despite my poor photo skills, the project can somewhat speak for itself. 3D is kind of hard to photograph as an amateur, but I won't let that stop me from creating in 3D -- I really like 3D, I think it is in the blood -- my late grandmother was a talented sculptor and my dad is creating some beautiful sculpture himself when not being Santa Claus.

I am not sure that this project is done, I think it needs something else, but I will sit on it and come back to it when I am ready. I am wondering if there is a way to integrate screen printing without being too loud, without taking away from the elegance of the piece.

Right now I am most enamored with the small window that opens to the inner most scroll, revealing the intricacies of the twine that binds it interacting with the text on the page. I really tried to get a good shot of this, but I had to use a flash since my tripod is still at the studio, and the flash blew out the detail. When I bring the tripod back, I will try to get a better picture. (see right)

My last issue with this piece is how it should be presented. I designed it verically, so that it would be like an open book on the shelf, but I am really loving it lying down, tent-like. I am not exactly sure which works better.

For more images and different angles of this piece, please feel free to check out the photo collection here. (Blogger was giving me a bit of trouble with inserting photos so I limited the number I am showing here)

*Peggy, this post is for you. Thank you, and I will reply soon*

Red Light, Green Light. Is it a go?

I have been doing a lot of cleaning and coming across some art. I am not sure what to do with it, since it is printmaking, I have multiple copies and I can't hang all these multiples of one image in the house. (Nevermind the fact that Kevin and I are absolutely horrible at hanging stuff up!) I am debating whether to sell it on etsy. A lot of people sell multiples of their work by reproducing it in archival prints, and sell them infinitely. I don't want to do that, because I think a huge part of the beauty is in the handpulled silkscreen, but in that case, I am limited by quantity and can't charge the same low prices that these people sell their work for.

Well, at least I can post one of the images in question, Red Light, Green Light, © 2005 (left). This is not the greatest picture. When I start making my art full time, I need to look into having my art shot professionally.

Red Light, Green Lightis the second -- and last, to date! (hopefully with more to come) -- of a series of produce images reflecting the experiences of growing up girl. This was titled after the popular childhood game, bringing up memories of carefree yard games in which both girls and boys participated.

The first in this series is Odd Girl Out, © 2005 (below right). This title was appropriated from the fabulous book Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls by Rachel Simmons. This book, while examining the cattiness and aggression in girls, also normalized the anxieties I experienced starting in late elementary school. While examining this as a common problem in growing up female, Simmons does not condone it, but instead introduces it as a common problem. These teen and preteen relationships fascinate me, and I hope to explore and reflect on this more in future art. In the meantime, check out one of my all time favorite movies, Mean Girls, which is another insightful reflection on the "hidden culture of aggression in girls."

Quite honestly, I wasn't thinking about all of this when I created Odd Girl Out, but when I finished it and looked at the orange all alone in the corner, that's exactly what it reminded me of -- the sad, lonely, painful time when you are left out by friends. Looking at it totally hit a nerve, reminding me of a time in my life that I wouldn't want to go back to, but at the same time helped me grow up and learn to really find those genuine women friends that are a huge part of my life today.

*On a very cool side note, I gave this as a wedding gift to a friend (for purely aesthetic reasons, not because she ever made me feel this way!) and she told me "Did you know that Chinese tradition is to give and have oranges on display because the Chinese word for orange sounds like the word for wealth? So, growing up, people always gave you oranges for good luck!" I think that is the coolest thing. Thanks for telling me that, Stace, mom of lovely Ivy.