AFO

I was perusing my iPhoto albums and realized I had a folder titled "Portfolio Pictures." I'm glad I looked, I had recently become certain that I hadn't done anything in the Art Foundation program here at VCU. While (for whatever reason) the photos absolutely *blow*, they do serve to remind me of some of the things I made my first semester in college.


These prayer flags (here seen bundled and ready to deliver, below seen "installed" on my dorm bed post) were for the final assignment in my "2-d/surface studio" with Gordon Stettinius (http://www.eyecaramba.com/). Gordon was a freakishly amazing person, his class really helped me understand a few integral facets of myself as an artist. As usual, these understandings have come years later... *digression* The assignment was to use an easily repeatable process to make something for everyone in the class. I have a couple wonderful pieces from my classmates, but my favorite is the photograph I chose of Gordon's. It is of the nude office clerks at the Whitetail nudist colony. :)

Blue is cyanotype using a transparency printed with the words "ars gratia artis" as the negative. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_for_art%27s_sake) Material is a cut up shirt sleeve, thanks dollar bin at Exile! (note that I am *wearing* a similar shirt...) :D

cyanotype = blueprint (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanotype)

I have no idea if this was actually for a project. I'm assuming it was, though I doubt whether it was hung like this for the critique - I believe this photo was taken in my room on Plum St. Anyway, fun facts: the skeleton is hot glue painted over with acrylic. I have absolutely no recollection of painting the panel to the right, it's clearly an aerial view of a town... There's a piece of transparency pinned to the top. I think this is the only decent photo in the bunch posted today, so it is helpful to enlarge.

I don't have much of an idea where the "prayer flags" came from, but I really enjoyed making them. I also owe Gordon a nice cyanotype print for giving me free chemicals! yay :)

So, while these aren't exactly high art, they and the other unposted photos are very helpful in reassuring me of my continued experimental nature - if not also my continued lack of ambition. I did direct a mini-photo shoot of myself that semester. I am extremely fond of a few of the end photos and my presentation of them, though Gordon did not share my excitement.