In addition.

Audio as visual supplement? Or auditory distraction from visual effects?

I’m questioning the role of audio accompaniment to my installation. Somewhere in the process of compiling the visual elements of these pieces, I had a few thoughts as to its place among this visual collage. As much as I would enjoying putting together  an audio selection/piece for the installation that has more experiential dimensionality, I have concerns that it will ultimately distract our audience/viewers/guests.

I know I posted earlier about audio/poetry inspiration, but here’s another one I forgot about that I think really helped me in the process:

Cited:

"YouTube - Shira Erlichman." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. Web. 28 Feb. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Aw6il5OEY&playnext=1&list=PLC6FD3B91BFF0C35B>.

Rough drafting (a record of chronological progress).

9am: I got ready for an adventure at Goodwill, and a quick stop at the store for spray paint and whatever materials I think might be necessary for my project.

11am: Goodwill was a little disappointing...and thankfully they have a 7-day return policy I didn't know about prior to purchasing some electronics that I discovered did not function. But I arrived at the D&P prop shop (where all my materials are stored) to work on/edit my pieces. I quickly built the last of my MDF boxes, got a base coat in those two, and got to "filling in the gaps".

3pm: I got inspired after a brief break, and decided to use the 1/16" plexi sheeting for one of the boxes I previously had few to little three-dimensional elements involved.

For the stencil that I had previously cut out, I searched the web for “anatomical heart” imagery, and discovered a VectorStock, a website that distributed free images designed by various graphic artists that are available for all types of image references.

From there, I grabbed spray paint and started playing with layering and texturing. Pleased with the results from just a half an hour of rigorous painting, I sealed them with a coat of clear, and took them to the band-saw to cut out geometric pieces for my heart collage on the white base.

5pm: I am absolutely thrilled. I’ve decided to call it quits for the evening, and take some time to do some blogging, thinking, planning, and editing. I think if I went back into the shop to do more work, I would clutter the work I’ve done so far, so it seems a smart move to walk away from it.

For next time: I’ve definitely got a more finite plan of attack on the last few bits of my installation pieces before/during the Spring Break. However, due to my lack of funds, I will have to secure some more materials, and wait for a few special shipments to come in before I can complete the last box.

Silly technological snafu.

It seems pretty ridiculous that going more than a month without a personal computer would effect my connection to work and school as much as it does, but...go figure. I guess that's just how it is for some.

So I'm finally back on the blog train, with plenty to think about, and much to update. For instance: I've begun building my pieces, and working on shapes and templates. I think I finally got tired of hesitating, and started the process.

As of right now, I've got my biggest part constructed out of scraps of MDF, and I now have a better idea of how to tackle the other details and move a little bit faster on the rest of what I feel needs to get done.

Things went relatively well, until I started running into materials problems (and basically acknowledging a lack thereof), so I've decided that this week I'll need to make a few more trips out to Goodwill to look for other helpful odds and ends to pull my ideas together.

I think the most important part of the process so far, is the time set aside during the work day when I force myself to walk away, come back, edit, take a good look at it from across the room, and get back to work.



...And I would venture to say: I'm pretty excited.

To simplify.

I've been doing a lot of thinking about this crazy jumble of ideas that keep influencing my installation, and the other day I suddenly realized, I should probably edit myself before I get carried away in hyper-analyzing text and exploring too many over-the-head topics. I think it's important to start simple with what I know, and not get too caught up in theorizing.

Which reminded me of the workshop I did with StaceyAnn Chin a few years ago - it was about following impulses, and working with the types of work that you produce under extreme pressure and time constraint (sort of a word-association game, to get ideas on paper). What came to mind was this poem she wrote about translating cultural assumptions, and using specific vocabulary to categorize or clarify who and what we are as people. This is called "Cross Fire":

So what has this left me with? I realized it's not about how many ideas I have going on in my head, the interpretation is really all that matters in this, right? The "translation", rather? If I just keep going with what I've picked out so far for materials, and use those items as my own vocabulary for translating cultural assumptions about my identity, I wonder how our audience will ultimately perceive me, and what I've made.

CITED:

YouTube - Stayceyann Chin "Feminist or a Womanist" Perf. StaceyAnn Chin. YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. 24 Mar. 2007. Web. 25 Jan. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQOmyebFVV8>.