Georgie Friedman- "Practice to Failure"

Headed up to Boston to meet with my new mentor, Video Installation artist/photographer, teacher and all around amazing woman, Georgie Friedman.
This image is of one her recent installations 'Dark Swell', which I believe is at the DeCordova at this writing.

Carrying sketchbooks, photos, a mini computer and one large drawing I managed to navigate easily to our meeting place, The Boston Public Library. After perusing my work, picking my brain and making suggestions, the outcome is as follows:

I need to focus (did we all get that one???)BUT...while I am focusing,I also get to play. I had been experimenting with some hand drawn/digital combinations mainly to work out issues. Georgie suggested that I scrap those and instead of trying to move forward so fast, take a step back and really investigate fully my own loves. She basically reaffirmed for me what I had dove into after returning from AIB.

Since coming away from our residency and all of the "culture" shock, all I have really wanted to do is draw..and draw large. The first post you saw of the vulture, was created out of the shear love of drawing. This is what 'practice to failure' is all about. If you are not doing it... you can't fail, but you cannot also succeed. This is still my ongoing project, but now with some new twists. (more later)

My readings and writings have inspired me in ways I have not thought imaginable.
I am concentrating on my art as process and mark making (a correlation between my beliefs in the artist's visible hand, and the fact that as human beings, we make our mark in life and in death. (yes I have "not gotten over it" :-)

I have begun to document my process, looking for a video camera but for now taking stills every time I stop working. In order to manage my "lack of focus" I set my self up for success by rearranging my studio to fit my needs at this time. Rather than work on one piece of art, I have set up at least four different drawing concepts, basically all related, but I am just going with the flow. A trip to Providence for some large rolls of paper really released my spirit, and I am having fun.

The only problem now is that I do not want to clean my house, go to work, write my papers, I simply want to draw. PEACE

Wheeeeee-The First Thrill

Georgie Friedman---Check her out www.georgiefriedman.com
is my MENTOR!!! Thanks to Hannah Barrett for her unending support and to Laurel Sparks for the suggestion. I will be heading to Boston next week for our first
meeting.
Will post more after that.
PEACE

Teetering at the Top_Feb 4, 2010

"Consuming Death" work in progress (charcoal and conte)
Have been feeling an urgency to draw. The image is from a photo originally taken for sculpture. The texture of my hair struck me, and I wanted to exploit those marks. While doing so, I realized a bird was forming. It seemed like a vulture, but I wasn't sure. I went over to my computer and looked up vulture images,found an image and it looked just like the image I had drawn. I realized, that a vulture is a symbol of "consuming death". I have been consumed by this "death" thing for 4 plus years now. Maybe the vulture is a good sign.

Chuggin' on the Rail-February 2, 2010

Well, the deadline for Mentor forms is Friday and I have yet to secure a mentor. Have contacted at least eight professionals with no resolution in sight. My advisor has been working to find new suggestions and I have taken to the internet in search of listings through museums, galleries and arts communities. There are some really inspiring artists out there.. Pray for my success.

On the bright side, my studio work has consisted of many, many journal entries and sketches with works that are just waiting to materialize. My goal is to form more of a focus, as well as play with different mediums and ideas. This excites me.

At first I felt that I was slacking off because I have only created one piece, but the sketches and ideas are flowing and I do not want to stop them. A writer reminded me today of the old addage..."Success is 10% inspiration, 90% persperation".Then he added... "You have to get in there and rip it out from inside of you"

Saturday and Sunday in the studio is looking really good to me right now. So I just keep chuggin' on the uphill rail waiting for that stomach turning "Weeeeee" factor on the downhill thrillto appear! Peace.