Today we discussed the project I am installing in Tacheles. I asked that you use this blog post to present your final project ideas to one another. Please post an initial statement of your idea, refer to the lecture "part two," for specifics.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
NMD 304 Lecture 9 Raphael Diluzio Building out Installation
Today we discussed the project I am installing in Tacheles. I asked that you use this blog post to present your final project ideas to one another. Please post an initial statement of your idea, refer to the lecture "part two," for specifics.
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I liked this lecture, and I loved seeing the Installation on which Raph is currently working. It was a very intricate set up, and seemed very well thought out. Unfortunately, as we discovered, it was hard to frame the artwork on the computer's screen, but I think we got a fairly good idea of the set. I liked the idea of the projector and the mirror, although I have to say that I do not in any way condone the stealing of shopping carts (which, in Raph's defense, he had nothing to do with).
I also liked hearing a lot about Raph's other ideas, such as the idea of the glacier. When he mentioned that his first thought was that he would be frozen in the glacier, I thought back to our readings in the first book, Installation Art In The New Millennium, and how specific artists would put themselves in their artwork as part of the exhibition. I think that would be an awesome piece, if an artist could somehow find a way to "freeze" himself in a "glacier". It would definitely be something to see.
Another thing I found interesting was what Milos (spelling?) mentioned about using media more in the theater world. He stated that he wanted to find a way to use video as lighting (as opposed to normal theatrical lighting) so that he could get rid of shadows. I don't know if this is actually an attainable goal, but I would very much like to see something like that, in which a production is lit by video projections. Because of the different and changing colors, it would probably do a lot to affect the mood, and if a director were to place his or her actors in white costume pieces, these would pick up the colors more, too. I love hearing about the integration between media and theater, and I think that was an excellent idea on Milos' part.
Um...also, can I think about my final project and then post back here when I actually HAVE an idea?
It's very difficult, especially as I near capstone to come up with ideas. I am merely speaking from my own personal experience. I have this vision that a capstone piece needs to be profound; it needs to wow and dazzle it's viewers and it must be unique. It is here where I have drifted from thinking creatively and lost inspiration, I have now been become overwhelmed by the thought of capstone.
So how can I go back to those curious and creative times? Those early days of my newborn new media mind that had not yet been sculpted or molded by other peoples perceptions of what the subject of new media entails? I feel the more that I have been exposed to, the less creative I have become. Every good piece of art, every product ever produced starts with an idea. How can we go back to where ideas came first and technology came second? That seems to be my problem- I see the technology out there but I focus on how I can use that technology in a new way- this is where my ideas come. Is this a bad thing? Can an idea ever be created without using technology as it's driving force?
As I write this now, I think of how I have come up with ideas from past projects. And to simply point where it originates is a difficult thing. But it was something that triggered my brain to think of it- something that I was reading, watching or interacting at some level with during that time that spawned the idea. If I just stop and look around and reflect on the things around me, maybe that is a source of inspiration.
I recently went to a lecture where the creator of librarything.com was talking about how he came up with the idea. He said it starts with a simple goal "how can i share my interest of this particular topic". He never thought of which medium he would use specifically- that came later. He had to have a solid idea and understand of what he wanted to do or say; not how he was going to say it.
Inspiration is all around us, the projects we create are merely our counter-actions to the world around us. My problem is just what actions am I going to take?
Well after a whole semester of being given a direction for projects, the time has finally come where we, the creative minds, are set free to do nearly whatever we like to nearly an unlimited scale. You'd think that I would at least have a vague idea of what I would like to do, however with so many possibilities my mind seems to go on overload. As of right now I'm still trying to form somewhat of an outline of an idea.
Seeing the first part of the lecture definitely kept my interest, I felt like I was watching a behind the scenes extra from a dvd. It was great to see how much effort really went into the preparation of the installation. Everything from receiving funding to keeping a creative mindset and aquireing a shopping cart for unexpected purposes not only amuses but inspires to make do with what you have and make the best of it. I'm off to brainstorm more ideas for the final project.
This lecture was pretty cool because we got to see the process of getting funding for an installation and setting it up and all of the behind the scenes action. Trying to visualize what it was going to look like when finished was a little tricky and the final piece was nothing like I thought it would look like. I totally agree with Elana about getting to hear about Raph's other ideas. It's always good to hear what other artists are thinking. I use the term artist loosely when it comes to me.
Milos was a riot during this lecture, does he do standup? There were little pieces of this lecture that made me laugh. Milos and his comments, and Raph going out into the street. This was a little more laid back and it was nice because it didn't feel like a lecture to me at all. It was nice.
Steve, I totally agree with you on the fact that we’ve all had the creativity sculpted out of us. The danger of new media is that it is very technology heavy, where they want you to use and use and use all these different technologies, and just expect you to be creative all the time with them, however creativity comes from so many different areas, and I think that one of the major things that is lacking in a lot of the courses in new media is teaching of creativity, if more or the classes were taught more like an art class, where things were critiqued like an art class than we would all have a very different viewpoint as to what new media can be, rather than what it is.
One thing that I think is true and good that this program here at U Maine does is in the way that we are very software oriented, though it kills the creative side of lots of people, we have the technological drive, now only if we could find the way to drive creativity at the same time. Creatively is seldom something that can be generated on the spot, a lot of the time there is a process to it. And there are other factors that come into play when creating. The question that you need to find the question to is what is my process?
Perhaps something more important to think about rather than what can I do that is new that is new media, is rather to question the basis that we have built our foundations on, what new media is now, is in fact already old, or over used, so why not take it and find a way to create something new out of it. Use the tools that we've all learned to use in a new way a way that is unexpected. Most importantly remember that the software is only that a tool, and the techno gadgets and game consoles are only tools. A good concept will only use them to strengthen the overall idea. Look for where the idea complements tools, also look for where the tools are pushed by the idea, and exploit that area.
In looking in on the project that Raph was building it helped to exemplify how with a lot of thing in art, what the idea may start out as it changes by the end, and the process of the building on the idea can help to strengthen the overall piece. This is so true for so many mediums, painting, drawing, sculpting, writing, its cumulative, and you can do all you can and plan all you want before hand and make all the choice then, but until you actually, build it, draw it, write it, say it, you wont know how it can be or what other issues arise in the making of it. Nothing, yes nothing in life is perfect, and one of the most beautiful things about art to me is, it embraces this idealism of unattainable perfection and uses it as the engine that drives the passion to create and it is this passion that for me makes me want to create and generate work. For an artists there is no such thing as a completely finished piece there is always a way to make it better, always a way to change it, now sometimes an artist reaches a point of understanding what is there is interesting and should be left alone, but there lingers a flame to keep working on the piece.
I like how by showing us the installation Raph has shown us the open door to what it is like to create in a space, and allowed us to see that there are seldom perfect things that happen when working on a piece. You generate an ideal idea and as you work on it you make mistakes, but as you work to fix those mistakes, you work with them, and that is the difference between art and a lot of other subjects, the mistakes are often most interesting, and can often be the source for more inspiration. Take what you can from the technology but just remember that the concept is the way to come up with a great new thing and embrace the mistakes, because they come as accidents and you can spend hours even days trying to recreate them.
Brian- I do not agree about having a class that teaches creativity, because you can not teach it. There is no class or professor that can teach you that. It's what we call a gift; it's how your mind works, it's how you perceive things and reflect on them through past experiences.
Collaboration is the best way to learn and grow. Which we discussed today; I only wish we had more of a model in New Media like this.
by new media, i mean the new media department at umaine.
The process behind funding for an installation is not very different from any other matter I feel. I believe that all funding requires groveling and then being placed at the feet of a hopefully open-minded individual.
How do installation artists make money? Are they paid for performances with a VJ? Because they can't be paid for a print of an original work, due to the nature of the beast. I view installations as a one time ordeal, unless the artist wants to do it at another location.
Elana- Your mention of using video as lighting isn't necessarily an unobtainable goal. I personally believe that as long as individuals keep working at it, and this would require building a BRAND new theater equipped for the task, it would be possible. I strongly believe that the house lights changing hues for different scenes would be brilliant! We just need to find a subtle ground for them.
This was an important lecture to have because it shows PROCESS. As artists (and students) the logistics of art are not always on the forefront (because creativity takes over). It's always good to see what projects Raphael is up to so we can break him down a little (haha just joking). I have really liked the ice sculpture installation, there's something natural and digital about it, which is a neat collision of mediums.
I am not sure what I want to do for my final though. I really like using music, but raphael HATES when students use music, so I am unsure. I had this idea of using a song to tell a story, but that's too MUSIC VIDEOISH i guess, so I was thinking of taking out the words and portraying the story through feelings (using all the things we've talked about), but music that isn't ambient isn't allowed, so i'm at a standstill. I have had a few ideas of a video about gender construction which I think I will follow through with, not sure exactly what it will entail, but with something like the 12 frame edits it will be interesting to keep flashing to different gender constructions and then going against them back and forth, then montaging things next to each other.
I disagree with what Brian says (to an extent) about creativity. I have taken art classes and I don't see that they TEACH creativity (as I believe it isn't something you can TEACH another person), but there is more "free time" sort to speak to explore, which may be what you were really getting at - that there is more space to create and let the mind flow. I would say 206/306/capstone were good at this because though there was guidance you were allowed to do what you wanted to do to explore. I really think there should be a 106 as well for students to just come up with ideas, try things, shoot the breeze, so when projects come up they have ideas and processes in which to create them. Just an idea.
overall, some good information!
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