As a means to garner some skill in “VJing” – video performance art for night clubs – I decided to take an art installation class.  Well, that wasn’t the only reason I enrolled.  I think creating space is something that deserves a lot of consideration.  When it comes to art installation, there’s no longer an option to look at the hanging painting or pick up the video game controller.  You’re participating just by standing in that area.  Funny enough, that lends itself largely to the realization I had earlier.

Honestly, it was starting to feel like this medium wasn’t for me.  Every time we had an assignment I seemed to miss the mark.  We were given abstract, design-oriented themes like color or line, but I kept pushing it toward more of a narrative.  I’m just partial to stories, signs and sigils.  At any rate, this week was geared toward Symbols, so, perfect!

It had to be site specific and, given the morose feelings developing toward my incompetence at the subject, I could only think to hang nooses everywhere.  It seemed like a sick joke to turn the drab space into a gallows.  Eventually I had to admit that the idea seemed lacking.  Although a noose can be a powerful symbol, I felt there should be more.  First, I thought to add fallen photos beside each rope, but that would border on a level of angst I simply can’t represent.  So?  I finally thought to make it more personal.

As the end of my four years at Drexel approaches, I’ve been reflecting often on my work.  When was the last time I made something that satisfied me?  It seemed appropriate that I create a piece representing my feelings toward my own art.  As the idea crept in, many more followed, and I ended up with this:

Installation at Drexel University on May 6, 2009

One of the most memorable moments I’ve had in my education here was after a compositing class taught by Ted Artz.  I told him about automatic drawing and my disappointment at the difficulty of connecting with such modes of intuition through 3D modeling programs.  He taught me a very valuable lesson that day.  No matter how many programs you master, the essence of technology is constantly expanding.  It is more important to grasp what messages you wish to convey, and create the most sensible path to materialize that message.  In a very literal sense, the medium, at that moment, became my message.  My wish to create a more tangible, intuitive interface for 3D artists had become my driving force.  The Interaction Design Pilot Year has the potential of being a straight shot in my desired direction.

I titled this post “Automatic Installation” because a very funny thing happened as I was explaining all of this at the crit.  Emerging from the lamentations I had at my inability to master any of the tools on the chairs (poi, camera, paintbrushes and paint, audio mixer, paper and pen, Wacom tablet) , the epiphany dawned.  Throughout my four years here, I have become acquainted with most all of these tools.  They are the landmarks of my journey, and have brought me closer to realizing my dream.  These days, my newest and most poignant mode of expression will be the Arduino, which I would not have discovered without my digital and fine art background.  When this came to light, the metaphysical message of this installation piece hit like sunshine burning away a fog.

Yeah, it was a good day.  Thanks for the insight, Mr. McLuhan.

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Figure Drawing I

Figure Drawing I

Girl with Pearl Earring

Silent Hill Nurse

Copyright AbjectPhoto 2008

Clark Park Performance

Copyright AbjectPhoto 2008