MEAN, while the children take a test!!

I sit here before a semi empty classroom. . . remembering what it was like to be nervous before a test. . and now I'm the dirtbag making everyone else nervous. .   Art Appreciation !! Gotta love it baby! If nothing else it makes me miss grad school. Not all the crap, just the atmosphere of intelligent/and semi-intelligent minds that I could embrace with conversation. The students at Dixie College aren't bad, the problem is that Dixie doesn't have an Art degree, and won't until fall 2012. I know that's not to far away, but all the students I'm with now have an interest in some other field.
Also, the Giants didn't even make the playoffs this year, major downer!! And for all you suckas in P.A. who reading this . .what is the deal with the Pirates!! the year started out unbelievable. .. then they confirmed that we never should have believed in the first place . . . .if the pirates played any other way then they wouldn't be our Pirates!
I decided, some of you I have already told this to, that I could eat a Cilantro taco . .. yea, I like Cilantro that much, a tortilla stuffed with Cilantro and I would eat it!

So I got this video clip emailed to me by my sister. I think it's way neat!
just wanted to share it with everyone! And it's about time Deric finished that pot!! who's with me on that !?
http://youtu.be/Hm3JodBR-vs

Ladies and dudes.
I haven't posted in a while, and i apologize, but I've been quite busy. I went from student, with a part time job, 2 kids and the wife, to teacher, 2 full time jobs, 3 kids and a wife. so I've been feeling a little stretched. just want all you folks to know I'm still checkin out your blogs, and still active in the arts!!
I wish I had a picture or 2 for everyone to see. Maybe next time.

I recognize that dude . .is that Chris Hill it the Blu Overalls!

Now That's A Water Balloon!

Check out this link, the slow mo guys are pretty entertaining. I saw this video and thought about Travis and his sculptures, pods, creatures. in slow motion the wrinkles and waves would be nice to see on some of his stuff, it might create a weird skin, maybe making the viewers want to feel it!
Water Balloon Video!

Now That's What I'm Talking About . .Right On

Even if you think I crazy, which I understand if you do, you gotta admit that there's something to the following story. I think this story can TOTALLY relate to what we as artist go through. .
http://www.tampabay.com/features/can-a-complete-novice-become-a-golf-pro-with-10000-hours-of-practice/1159357






Now That's What I"m Talking About . . .Right On!

sneeky like a spy

the trick. . .LOOK AWAY!!

hmm eggs

Boys Playing with Thier Light Sabers Again!

If its not falic, then it's sexist!! Some people read that stuff into EVERYTHING!

Some Stuff that Excites Me.. Oval Dishes

Hope you enjoy..

You know .. the FUNK . . ever had that?

There are many different "funks". Sometimes you can feel the "funk" . . .after to much Thai food (that one goes out to my brother . . I think he invented that one!). .. or when you hear some Hip and Jivin' music .  . . and sometimes you can be in a funk, like after a fight with your significant other ..  . or when you can't seem to get out from under that rain cloud .  . . or when everything you touch instead of turning to gold like you expect, actually breaks .. yea . .the FUNK. So I've been in a bit of an art funk lately .. at least coming into the semester, and boy did the work show it! At the insistence of assignment deadlines I made a platter.  .it was the making of that platter that left with me the feeling that pulled me out of the ever dreaded funk. Like a 10 ton winch would have jerked the Colombian mammoths out of the La Brea tar pits, had someone been there, and happened to have a 10 ton winch laying around. Here is the Platter.

Im not sure if the feling I had while making, and after the completion of the platter comes through fully, but gee whiz Wally it sure was fun . . .and exhilerating to enjoy the making once again. That was the funk saver!! hard to belive I know, but that was it.

And that platter has led to the development of the new work Im about to show you.. ..

A couple of REAL Artists!

Deric and I had a good Art conversation on the way to and from Corry this morning. . then I saw this video. if it can keep your attention through to the credits, the word artist is so funny!

Vessels for Sharing

I have to admit that it has taken me a little while to moving in the studio. Yes I do have a thesis show coming up, but I still struggled to find motivation to work .. . but, at last I've found it. And here's some of the work that I have started making.

And these are bowls, they're just upside down!

Blue Clay!!

Check out this new clay I'm working with!! It should have give some interesting results!

To all you who view ART!! Beware of your filters!

As I have tried to tackle this intense assignment to blog . .on a regular basis and the fact that if people have to read this and I am going to be taking up their time than out of respect for them I should at least post something that shows some cognitive depth I find myself drawn to conversations which includes passion, or at least supported opinions. almost like a tiny particle of iron is somehow some way sucked with such amazingly natural, and to the particle itself unexplained, power to a magnet through the sand I to have been drawn to these conversations based on, or around the creation of, the evaluation of, the concept of, and the appreciation or ART.


Jason Thompson, http://www.jasonthompsonsculpture.com// blew my mind the other day with his response to my inquiry of how his trip to "the NYC art scene" went with " I hate video art," and "90 percent of video art is S#*T!"  And yes, I immediately jumped to the defense of art ( to some surprise I know, but we're getting to that) by questioning the foundation of his attack. After a while of conversing and seeing some examples from him of the minimal video art that is acceptable, I came to the conclusion that as much video art as Jason has seen, it has been enough to taint him for who knows how long toward video art. which got me to thinking about the Filter, as shade that he will be viewing art through as a result of these brief experiences with video art. Isn't that nuts how he now has this filter that might actually start to spread into other medias in the art world. . .Thank you Jason for helping me realize what everyone else has already realized, that we all have so many filters that we bring to the viewing, excepting, enjoying, and the creating of art, and that these filters will be there until we make a conscious effort to find out what ours are, how they got there, if we except them and leave them in place or if we decide changes need to be made. I feel that I have really grown, or matured (arguably) in my approach to the viewing and excepting of art. My filter was brought to my attention by Linda Cordell,(insert website here!) when during our first class maybe 2 years ago I explained that I hated art. And she broke it to me that I needed to take the filter out, change my perspective by saying that I should find one good thing in each piece, or something I liked in each work of art. I can now say that I like more art then I did before, and even though the filter may not be gone, it has a lot less of an effect.

Jason wasn't the only person who was disappointed with the work seen in what they called the "best" galleries, or the work was was supposed to be the best of the best, in these galleries. My thoughts went to why these sculpture students were so disappointed. What were they judging this "best" work against, or what filters were they viewing this work through. I started putting together a list of possible filters, and here are some of the possible ones we use. .
Jealous filter .                    does jelousy come into play when viewing art .. .
Envious Filters. .
Prideful, or sort of a pecking order Filter...
then I started thinking about others, including myself and some other filters that might be in place . .
religious filters . .
cultural filters .  .  are you more willing to like or dislike certain art works based on your, or the creators culture
arrogant filters.
academic filters . .
fearful filters. .
and then I  thought, why do all these sound negative. . .in the sense that they are resulting in our lack of acceptance of the work. . so what about people that have filters that work the other way, brighteners, you know when you were a kid, trying to be all "cool" and stuff, so you wore some yellow or orange sunglasses that actually brightened everything (not that I ever did .. .OK you got me!) . . you know an enhancer filter . .or
acceptance. . .
or naivety . .
lack or self esteem ( so everything better than yours)
or a poor self image .. .
any kind of emotional or personal baggage becomes a filter . . .
some of these filters go both ways. . good and bad, excepting and shunning of art work ..  .
if we can somehow remove ourselves from these filters . . like the spirit leaving the body at death( for those believers) or like Jason removes his hair with a razor every morning (for the non-believers) we would have an unadulterated view of the work before us. .
   I know this counteracts what this whole blog has been about, but the opinions we form are filters as well. . . and if we didn't have opinions would we react to, or engage with any art at all ? so . .are the filters nessasary ?

videos for the non-thinkers!

Another atempt at conversation .. . no facts please, just opinions!!

Just for the record, I'm not worried about how much talent I have, or don't have. Or how much skill I might use to cover up the talent that I lack or whatever. I just thought it was an interesting question, and judging by the responses I received nobody really cares to talk . . is talent ever involved in the making of art. .saying someone is a "gifted", or "talented " artist..  . is that nonsense? Does anyone have an opinion? I don't feel the need to fit in .. .I'm not going to use this as anyway of justifying my work, or myself, or my existence. I guess I just thought it was something interesting to think about, that's all. I had a discussion at lunch today with a lady that used to teach music lessons, before she started teaching sh thought that anyone could be a good singer . .it might take some longer than others to reach the ability to hit notes, and sound acceptable, then after a while of teaching, she said her feelings changes . .she finished the statement with and just because you learn how to sing, doesn't meant people want to hear it.

search for the truth, please help. .. . . .

So I have one hypothesis on why I feel the need to define, or create boundaries for what is called art . .I think my insecurities in my ability to be excepted in the world of art based on my creations create in me the desire to box in "art" then barbed wire the fencing so as to do everything I can to keep that out which I determine doesn't meet the existing criteria .. . . that once again was only created by me. .
to those who can read, and write, I'd love to know what you think, not only on my hypothesis, but any theories you may have are welcome. .. and if you can read or write but still want in on the conversation perhaps you can get a friend to help you out .. ?
LOVE
Heath
critiques welcome ( smiley face )

Another Question.

Where do talent, skill, and art merge . .and when do they separate?
 I know this person who has no formal training in the arts, and makes great art. . . does that mean this person has mass quantities of talent laying around? And what about this other person I know who has a lot of formal training and still makes nice art. Do they have talent to, or have they just learned some skills and applied them successfully?




which are trained, and which aren't?

Art?

So what isn't Art?
You know the same old debate about what is art .. .perhaps, to those whom time I'm not wasting, we could define what art is by identifying what art isn't.  . here are a few examples of things walking the line. what do you think?

























is there a difference between making art, and just making something cool .. . .
trying to make art, and actually MAKING art?
when does something actualy BECOME art . . .?

Inspiring conversation. .

Sometimes I think forcing it is what makes it dreaded. That's why people often repel the chance for official discussion or statements of true feeling. you know .  . " read this article we are going to talk about it in class . . ." or my favorite. " blog twice a week"  performance anxiety is real, some times things come across as staged  . ." Gotta get my blog in for the week. . " gotta get my participation points for this discussion . ." that sort of think can lead to insincere participation, and less than, if not mediocre results thus causing a downward spiral of moral and interest. I enjoy an intelligent conversation discussing art and all that is wrapped up in it, but I hate when a conversation or discussion is cut short because people, or someone is disinterested. I'll admit in group situations it can be hard to carry on a conversation when one persons body language reeks of boredom.  . or "I'm to cool for this business kind of attitude." or if some one keeps trying to end the debate in one sentence, changing the subject to something less trivial at the end " everyone is entitled to their own opinions, anyone want coffee? " or my other personal favorite . .the unofficial/ OFFICIAL keeper of time. Deciding we have spent enough time on one subject, of piece of work, so its time to move on. . at crit  . . " Well that is all true .  . . now this piece (turning every ones attention to another form) is a good example of blah blah blah!!"
I hope some how I can find something important to say twice a week . . so yall don't hafta read no filler!!
 love Heath
Hope you all take it personal!

I think that video confirms the importance of atmosphere in growth and progression . the idea for instance of the bears was mine, that stemmed from the amazing prints of Jay Ryan www.thebirdmachine.com my ideas were jumping as follows. i love his style . . . its so playful and honest . . . i think some of those prints i would like to own, if so i would like them to influence my children( www.thebirdmachine.com/detail.php?uid=DF915A ) why cant i influence my children in the arts. . .i wish some one took me to a museum when i was little and got me started looking at art earlier . . . how could i help my children embrace art now. . if i make art they can relate to then they might find some they enjoy . . .i'll make some prints to help them   . . .i love prints . . the big hungry bear . .if i take stories my children know,   . and  . .creat artistic renderings of characters in their stories . .theymight be interested . . Then Michelle chimed in " your work has no life to it . . your flame is dead" heath"  . . yea  . .your right . . i hate you! " Michelle " i don't care ( smiley face) " and now the big hungry bear series . . .
more to come soon.

P.s. thanks for all the help Michelle, and I'm the best potter in the world!!!

just a video



and i hope you are preparing yourselves for the BIG HUNGRY BEAR!