ambiguity, substrates and place

I heard someone say the other day, regarding the taking of a photograph but it really pertains to all art for me, if there is no ambiguity why bother.  I guess for me the art I like best are those works I can revisit and they never  get old, ie boring.

I'm also at the beginning stages of purchasing a dulcimer-guitar type object.  I have just realized how different sounds appeal to people.  Some people love the brightness of cherry wood but for me it is not deep enough.  Some think walnut is damping, resonators too twangy etc...  A world of choices.

And on to substrates which has also been occupying my mind of late.  When working digitally there are a host of substrates* to ponder, paper, of course, metal, glass, plexi...

And the many ideas of place, one's place at any given time, place in the world, proposals for space at a particular place, am I in the right place, directionally...

*substrate ( ) n. The material or substance on which an enzyme acts. Biology . A surface on which an organism grows or is attached.  Art. A surface on which something is painted, collaged, attached.

What a good idea!

This morning I opened my email to find a note from Haystack Mountain School of Crafts.  They have started an online auction just in time for xmas present buying.  Take a look. 

Haystack is located on the Atlantic Ocean in Deer Isle, Maine.  If you aren't familiar go to the Home or About pages and see what they have to offer.

Ludington Holiday Event

The Ludington Art Center held its first Holiday Art sale this year.  The gallery or main area was host to 17 crafters and the vestibule, the space leading to the main stage, displayed fine art works.  In the evenings guests were treated to musical events, Family Talent Night on Friday and the Bloomquists from Grand Rapids on Saturday, as well as wine bar and hors d'overes.  We hope this will become an ever-expanding annual event.

Sad news.

Artist Jeanne-Claude, who with her husband Christo, created public art installations around the world, has died. She was 74. Her family said she died Wednesday night at a New York hospital from complications of a brain aneurysm.
Most recently, in February 2005, Jeanne-Claude and Christo created the art installation in Central Park called "The Gates." Constructed from more than 7,500 metal gates draped with orange fabric, city officials estimated that the project brought in about 4 million visitors and generated $254 million.
The Associated Press reported that Mayor Michael Bloomberg spoke with Christo on Thursday morning and offered condolences on behalf of all New Yorkers.
 

Morphing from one medium to another quite naturally

Often the journey of making art takes you to places you were unfamiliar with or had ruled out early on for various reasons.  Photography was this for me.  Sure I took vacation photos, photographed my work (paintings and ceramics) for marketing and even took on the occasional wedding assignment but I never took photography further than that.  I loved art photography, James Casebere's work springs to mind, but just never considered it.  Well, I have arrived. 
A few years ago I was painting and using collage and then later encaustic when I decided to mock up some ideas using the computer.  As I worked I kept thinking this is the idea I was trying to uncover or this is the story I wanted to tell/show or this is the feeling I wanted to impart.  At some point, which is usually longer for me than most, the light bulb came on.  Why not just make the art, that is the finished piece, this way?
I have to say I miss the smell of paint, the making of something with my hands, cutting wood, arranging objects and just getting in there and pulling the piece out but in the end I was arriving at a finished work that left me wanting. 
This is one of the best things about the creative journey -uncovering and finding what works best for you and why.  I continue to enjoy the journey.

art in GR etc...

After all the hoopla has died away from ArtPrize here are some very good places to see art.  The UICA (pictured here), GR Art Museum, Open Concept Gallery and Gallery 154.

and I found next door The Ladies Literary Society.  Neat building and goings on.

I often ask myself...

do I live under a rock?  I learned yesterday that there are such things as portfolio review events!  Who knew?  I am sure many.  Of course all the dates have passed for this year and the one I was most interested in was a biennial so I have plenty of time to prepare for the next go round.  I guess that is the good news.
I recently contacted an artist, whose blog I follow, who offers consultations.  I'm never quite sure about this type of thing.  I research everything to death but I miss some things (see first paragraph) so how helpful would a consultation be?  Money is tight, as it is for most working artists, so the hand-wringing begins on what is the best way to use limited funds.  In the meantime I am reading Taking the Leap and Art Marketing 101 and learning a few new things but most suggestions given in the books I'm already doing.
The closest large metro area to me is Chicago but the best city for photography is San Francisco, or it used to be.  Are Seattle and Portland moving in on this territory?