Sept. 25th- Mark It, Ephemera, Antennas, Sculpture Insects, a Verse Trio, and 32
Posted on 7 September 2010 | No responses
Fall Festival and Gala- soon soon soon! The 25th of Sept. is almost here! Just look at all that is going on that day- here is the schedule of entertainment:
10 DJ ESP & St Vitas – St Croix Falls/Osceola
12:15 Eclectic Ensemble – 3 piece ambient improv act – Twin Cities
1:45 Kaptain Karl – Old Time Folk Singer Story Teller – Centuria
2:05 Dave Frank – St Croix Valley solo old time player legend – St Croix Falls
2:30 Swing Train – Twin Cities Jazz Legends
3:30 Announcements
3:45 Normonzo (he is greaaaaaat!) – Kids Magic Show – Lindstrom
4:15 Festival Theatre Youth Performance “Shake it up” – St Croix Falls
4:45 Michael Paul Band – Comedy Art-Rock Masters – Twin Cities
5:45 Thea Ennen – St Croix Valley Solo Folk Singer Star – River Falls
6:15 Faux Jean - 7 Communist Daughter – Twin Cities Future Folk
7:55 Rogue Elephants Cameo Dance Performance
8 LookBook – Twin Cities Indi/Alt Superstar – Twin Cities
9 DJ ESP & St Vitas
Other Activies – Artist Led Tours at the Park, Roaming belly dancers: Rogue Elephants – A roaming band of Gypsys , Tim Kaiser – Interactive Electronic Music and Found Sound Museum, Drop in Sculpture Making Workshop , Face Painting, Scavenger Hunt
What is ephemeral? Ephemeral describes something that is transitory and something that exists for only a brief amount of time. Most definitions of the word talk about biological occurrences such as a lake that exists only once a year during the rainy season or an organ like the placenta that exists only during pregnancy. Ephemeral sculpture then- is a sculpture that has or holds a brief life. Like sand painting these things happen and then are gone. Do you think something as brief as a lake lasting only a week, an insect that lives for only one day, or a sculpture that happens out in the middle of the woods in secret – matter? Our days are filled with fleeting moments. These moments have some value if you look at them as a part of something larger- don’t they? Do these moments need a context to exist in or can these ephemera stand alone? What is the difference between an object and an event that last only briefly? Does the magnitude of an ephemeral event, moment, or sculpture matter to you in terms of value? The author Virginia Woolf spent a lot of time writing about “moments in time.” Take a moment. Take an ephemeral moment. If you were to create an ephemeral sculpture what would you make?
List-ful this week is- good science/art/physical education mash ups.
- Gulf coast oil absorption as a “floating Obstacle course” made into patterns, dyed onto fabric, and made into couture designs.
- Battling alternate exo-planetary systems(HD 10180) vs. our solar system on paper.
- Marathon computer wood carving contest.
- Making free throws with sculptural “balls” while recording and creating a real time light show of that motion on a court floor.
- _______________________
Antennas: the radio and beyond. I sure do like antennas. My latest “sitting spot sculpture” is chalked full of antennas. I think that the attraction for me is the sense of communicating something through the air. Sound waves travelling at different frequencies… All invisible and full of information…. that is interesting to me. Plus, lightning likes antennas and I feel like I should represent a little during the year of the L-Bolt. Here are a bunch of interesting antenna links to different sculptures etc. http://www.indiana.edu/~rcapub/v31n1/inspired.shtml & http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/junk/2003051252023115.html & http://www.potterbelmar.org/jjss/antenna/antenna3.htm & http://matthewnorthridge.com/work/view/790/2900 & http://www.heyokamagazine.com/HEYOKA.1-SCULPT.RIRKRIT.htm & http://www.tate.org.uk/servlet/ViewWork?workid=1896
Sculptor Spot Light-ning bolt this week is Tessa Farmer out of London England. I look at her work and am amazed at the worlds she creates. Her sculptures seem to lie beautifully in the midst of fact and fiction. Insects take on unusual personas while ripping each other apart and telling a story in the midst of an alternative biological universe. Are you a fan of Farmers work? What is your first reaction to her intricate pieces? What kind of person do you imagine her to be? http://tessafarmer.com/index.html & http://www.parabolatrust.org/residencies/littlesavages.html & http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artists/tessa_farmer.htm
–aRe verse. The first one is mine. The second is from Jesse Bercowetz. The third is from Raina Wirta.
“You better get yourself to a blacksmith shop to get yourself overhauled,
There ain’t nothing about you to make a good woman bawl.
Nobody wants a baby when a real man can be found,
You been a good ol’ wagon, daddy, but you done broke down.” ~ from a Bessie Smith song
I just turned 32. It was a great day (ravswrenchcakeglassbreakinggreat). I do want that wisdom and it only comes from living through the years. Check out this site (Thanks Raina for sending me all that- cheers). http://collections.madmuseum.org/code/emuseum.asp?emu_action=advsearch&rawsearch=exhibitionid/,/is/,/505/,/true/,/false&profile=exhibitions
Visit us at Franconia- where sky meets art, dueces are wild, and sculptures make it happen.
Start Seeing Sculpture- over and out
Bridget Beck
Adventure Play, Nils, Duck, Launched, and Live Music While Making.
Posted on 31 August 2010 | 2 responses
“I cannot help fearing that men may reach a point where they look on every new theory as a danger, every innovation as a toilsome trouble, every social advance as a first step toward revolution, and that they may absolutely refuse to move at all.”
—Alexis de Tocqueville
Adventure Playlands. Jonas came back to the Park to help Jesse move and install his piece last week and he talked about an adventure playland that he was planning to build with one of his classes at Alfred College in New York State. My ears perked up and I am actually set to go out to Alfred to witness some of this adventure playground building from the ground up. I can’t wait. Jonas sent me some material about adventure playgrounds that I can’t help but share with you all. I think this is quite important. The learning and social skills built while building and playing with raw materials is significant and can be a powerful tool in communities. The Adventure Playground movement started in Scandinavia and has been more prominent in Europe than in the United States. What was the landscape of your play growing up? What skills (social, technical, etc) did you learn while playing? Do you put restrictions on your children’s play? Why? Why not? Did you know that in 1959 in The Declaration of the Rights of the Child- the U.N. general Assembly states that, “The child shall have full opportunity for play and recreation, which should be directed to the same purposes as education; society and the public authorities shall endeavor to promote the enjoyment of this right.” I stop and pause at the phrase “shall endeavor.” With all the insurance liability issues that arise from playgrounds… I wonder how much current “box” playgrounds are trimmed at the expense of our children. http://adventureplaygrounds.hampshire.edu/ & http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=8656
Sculptor Spot Light-ning bolt this week is Nils Norman (in the spirit of the topic above). Norman is not just a sculptor per say… but an event organizer, community planner, and educator. His “Exploding School,” and ideas for our future global cities push prescribed norms. Are his ideas completely wacky? Or does his vision for- fun/ecological/urban- hint on genius. Nils Norman takes the modern day urban planner to bat. What should our future cities consider? Where/ how should our communities live, learn, and play?
http://dismalgarden.org/pages/exploded_school_contents.html &
http://www.sdscrolls.org/museums/beyond-green/nils-norman-index.html & http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/globalcities/commissions.shtm
— aRe Verse. The first one is Raina Wirta’s -the second one is from Jesse Bercowetz- the third is mine.
Duck Duck Duck. Apparently the shy ducks don’t come to the park. The past week a handful of ducks befriended Franconia. And, they are bold. We’ve been hanging out with them. On Saturday- during the Music Fest, I saw a group of picnickers eating dinner with the ducks. On Sunday- I woke up early to prime some pieces of my sculpture and they came right over to keep me company. I didn’t even have any bread. Robin told me that you can tell if a duck feels completely comfortable if the duck closes its eyes and rests it head on its back. They must have felt plenty comfy with me and my paint fumes because they did just that. At one point I forgot that they were sleeping next to me and almost tripped over one of them. “Quack!” and then “oops.”
What’s new up at the park on the launch pad? There’s some washing machines being gutted by Matt for the gears and insides, Liz is working on a boat which she aims to float (once), Tim’s carving a man’s dress shoe to add to a future stone stack, Robin is digging dirt to put in his underground steel structure for his sculpture, Heather got the roof in the field, Luisa’s horses are runnnnnnnnnnning wild, Bobby is adding lots of blue and pink, Peter’s cubes are floating in the field, and I am priming and anxious to add color to my new sitting spot! Congrats to William Ronsom for finishing a spectacular piece, “Basline.”
Live music while working on my sculpture. I was working on my sculpture and listening to the live music during the 3D Music Fest event this past Saturday and realized…. “Man this is wonderful… where do you get to do this anywhere else in the country?!” I mean, I don’t know what would have been better.
Thanks for the photos Carissa. Do it up. Try it out. Visit us at Franconia- where sky meets art, dueces are wild, and I always feel at home.
Start Seeing Sculpture- over and out
Bridget Beck
Miss, Locomotives, Fancy Pants, Oracular, and Moving Arms
Posted on 24 August 2010 | 1 response
- Training Wheels
- Continental Horse Power
- Track and Yield
- Rail Barons’ getaway car (the board game Rail Baron is hours of fun)
- _________________________
The Fall Festival is drawing near!!!! Put it on your Calendar -Sept 25th- all day long. Headlining this year’s entertainment are: Lookbook, Communist Daughter, and Faux Jean! In addition, Franconia favorites Thea Ennen, Eclectic Ensemble, Dave Frank, the Michael Paul Band, Swing Train, DJ ESP and St. Vitas will be performing throughout the day, offering a variety of music from jazz to funk, soul to country, and even some comedy. Between bands the audience will be treated to performances from Normonzo the Great, a local magician/comedian. The day’s entertainment will be rounded out with kids’ activities, including face painting and a Family Sculpture Workshop (for artists of all ages), poetry, dance, and some surprises!
— aRe Verse
Fashion and style. I am the first to tell you that I am not very tuned into either of these things. But I do care about the visual currents running through the world. I try and do a little bit to be fashionable. I own a pair of yellow pants, I own some vintage, I have black shirts and skirts, I can look like a business professional, I can grunge in paint and steel stained Carharts, and I can look made up and pretty if I have the time. Someday I will have enough for a truck and trailer because I have never owned a fancy bag. I try and make a favorable impression without those things. My sculptures try and do that too. Impressions vs quality. Dents on people’s recollections… I want to be remembered but I know that I am not going to do that because I am the most stylish person in the room. Then there is the question of style-fashion-quality- and content…. Money. Time. Does it take money to create quality? Can funds help create influence what the definition of “quality is? Does cash sometimes cheapen it? I think that quality drips blood, roots, and lightning bolts not rubies, lipstick, and community affirmations. What do you think the relationship between style and quality is?
Misc. linkage. Interesting and odd- Sudan’s plan for animal shaped cities. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129272722 Good music- http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=129253715&m=129235323 Thomas got me tuned into this- make sure to look at all the photo details- http://www.failetemple.net/ he also sent me a link to another Faile project— this is cool~ http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fdeluxxfluxx.com%2Flondon%2F&h=d5a22S39DbdHV9VFcWMRm-rzoAA Thanks Thomas!
Heather Hart is one of the artists up at the sculpture park right now. Her past works can be found at heather-hart.com. She is currently in the midst of building a roof that will soon be installed in the park and become what I understand as a place that descibes objects in our society in terms of a ”source of truth.” It aims to be oracular (relating to oracles, or in the form of an oracle). Here are a few of Heather’s drawings about her work in progress and a picture of her work in progress at the park.
Jesse Bercowetz moved his sculpture… and they walked with outstretched arms this past weekend to a permanent home at the Plastech Corporation in Rush City, MN. Congrats Jesse! If you want to check out more of what he is/has been up to try these links- www.jessebercowetz.com & www.overcoat.org Here is a photo of the dis-assembly (the best little blue bike ever even makes an appearance in this photo) and some others of the installation and plastic samples from the Plastech Corp. I arrived at Franconia just after the bulk of his sculpture was loaded up on the trailer. I wondered how he and Jonas managed to fit ALL parts on the trailer… A+ stacking technique. I have so enjoyed his raw and imaginative sculpture.
How do you maintain a relaxed state when there are things to do? What is telling about monotany? Why do people hide inside style? It was a beautiful weekend last weekend. Are you coming to the 3D Music Fest this Saturday? Bright is great and dull is sneaky. Thanks for reading. Come out to the park. Pack a picnic and visit my sculpture- lots of secrets for the mind to turn while having lunch. I’ll be adding a couple of half pipe slides to the earthen ramp soon. Keep your eyes open. If you are not a friend of Franconia on Facebook you should be http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/franconia.sculpture.park?ref=ts.
Start Seeing Sculpture- over and out
Bridget Beck
Pour It Up, Process + or _, Cast Spaces, Humid Color Combos, and Come See Us!
Posted on 12 August 2010 | Comments Off
The Community Collaboration Iron Pour was a smashing success. Were you there? Did I grind your iron scratch block creation? I had a lot of fun. I was stationed at the “grinding and chasing” station. What that means is that I helped (along with some of the best of the best) bust the communities iron pieces out of the sand molds and polish/finish/grind them. Hot sweaty job- I’ll tell you that. But, I like to be part of the muscle and the backbone of an operation. I talked some with Fernanda about how satisfying it is to be physically and mentally spent at the end of a good day. Hundreds of scratch blocks were poured on Saturday. All of the iron artists poured their pieces and finished up with an experimental tube/paper/loose sand mold made by Tamsie Ringler. A fine group of artists from the University of MN helped with a smaller furnace and they poured most of the scratch block sand molds. Thanks to all who had any part in making this iron pour one of the best eVER (go fight win grind and chase team all the way). Check out this link to the Minnesota Public Radio- State of the Arts- article and slide show of the iron pour at Franconia http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/state-of-the-arts/archive/sculpture/ My sculpture Playstation makes an appearance here too!
Sculptor Spot Light-ning bolt this week is Rachel Whiteread. In the spirit of the recent iron pour Whiteread has an interesting take on casting. She often casts the spaces under, alongside, and in-between objects. Instead of casting a chair she cast the spaces under and around it. An object’s negative space and the environment it is in does partly define that object. Do you agree? Do you think that the “spaces between” are important? What is your first reaction to Whiteread’s pieces? I find them interesting and important although very foreign at the same time. http://www.tate.org.uk/servlet/ViewWork?cgroupid=999999961&workid=21864&searchid=9924&currow=1&maxrows=22 & http://www.luhringaugustine.com/artists/rachel-whiteread/*# & http://www.sculpture.org.uk/biography/RachelWhiteread/
—aRe Verse – the first one is mine and the second poem is one of Carissa Samaniego’s favorites. Do you have a favorite poem to share- send it my way!
Additive, Subtractive, or a bit of both? What process fits with you? I am basically an additive process person with a heavy dose of envy towards the subtractive and combo (casting) folks. There are two main processes to create a sculpture. You can start with something and keep adding or you can start with a material and subtract to the finish. But with mold making and casting you do both. When you cast a piece of art you start with something (either made additively or by subtracting from material) and then you add a mold (sand, plaster, latex, etc.) then you subtract the part you’ve made the mold around leaving a hollow place for yet another material to be added. Add Subtract Add Subtract. This past weekend I was talking to Peter Morales (who often works in stone) about how an artist comes to love and be comfortable with certain materials and processes. Peter actually carved pieces in stone and then made sand molds of them to be cast in iron. Interesting- Carved stone to cast iron. You don’t hear that every day.
List Full this week is “interesting sculpture color combinations for a humid and sunny MN afternoon.”
- Light blue and bright white with a splash of margarita green and bits of neon reflexive metallics
- Shiny peach on tan with stripes of flat yellow
- Gray on lighter gray on black with bright blue, and a touch of magenta here and there
- Foam green plus storm green (the color of a tornado infused sky) masking a fuzzy pastel palette of sunset (the kind of sunset you’d be wanting to take a picture of minus the brightest parts)
- __________________________________________________________
3D sculpture symposium tonight- you DO NOT want to miss Jonas Lindberg and Lauren Moore’s slides and the ensuing conversations. I hear there may be some tasty foraged food to boot. Should be a wonderful weekend to come up to the Park. This Saturday is another 3D Music Fest. New iron creations abound. Bring the kids and a picnic and enjoy the sculpture park. Chin up. Read. Start a project even if you don’t know how. Bits to bigger. Large to chipped small. Thank you Mary for the photos this week. You are the best. Not a bad idea to remember that that imagination of yours is important. Thanks for reading.
Start Seeing Sculpture- over and out
Bridget Beck
A Performance, How Does Iron Casting Work?, List + aRe, von Rydingsvard, and Chin Up!
Posted on 3 August 2010 | Comments Off
What an incredible iron pour performance Kenneth Payne! He is a noted sculptor and professor known for his work in cast iron, stone, glass, and various metals. From 1990 to the present, he has taught at Buffalo State College, Buffalo NY. He has exhibited across the U.S. and worldwide, including Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Iran, and Israel. On Sunday, Payne poured 7,000 pounds (that’s a lot of iron to break) of molten iron poured into a 7-ft-deep earthwork from his 800lb cupola. That large-scale iron performance was beautifully intense- and what a sight it was against the Minnesota night sky.
This coming Saturday (Aug 7th) is the Franconia Iron Pour. 2010 Iron Artists are: Pritika Chowdhry, WI, Kate Clark, WA, Veronica Glidden, MN, Alexa Horochowski, MN, Mary Johnson, MN, Thomas Linder, MN, Suzanne Mahoney, MN, Peter Morales, MN, Stephen Morse, PA, Tamsie Ringler, MN, Julia Rogers, OH, Araan Schmidt, OH, Austin Sheppard, NC, Kristy Summers, IL. Franconia Iron Artist Interns are: Samantha Guy, OH, Keith Kaziak, MN, Scott Lamont, MN
How are the artists going to create their cast iron art work?
- Create a three-dimensional (positive) sculpture pattern to make a sand mold from. That sculpture pattern can be any combination of materials because it will not be permanent.
- The artist then makes a sand mold (to pour hot molten metal into) of that sculpture pattern. Sometimes these molds have as many as twenty parts, and can weigh up to 2000 pounds. The original (temporary) sculpture is then removed from the mold, thus making the space (void) for the hot iron to be poured into.
- The iron cupola (furnace) is then fired up to 2500° F using coke, a derivative of coal, to fuel the furnace. Iron is then slowly loaded into the top of the cupola to create a reservoir of iron that is ready to pour.
- Then all of the workshop residents’ sculptures are filled with molten iron from the preheated ladle. The artists also pour liquid iron into all of the sculpture molds made by community members.
Listful this week is – Blight
- I always think of corn ( I remember shucking a piece of corn when I was young and seeing black splotches- my first experience with the word blight).
- Ruined plant fight.
- A spoiler (like a person giving away the ending to a book)
- An extremely positive sounding negative condition-
- ___________________________________________________________
—aRe Verse- the first on is mine and the second is Raina’s
Sculptor Spot Light- ning bolt- this week is Ursula von Rydingsvard who was born in Germany but lives lives in Brooklyn, New York. Wow, I searched high and low this week for a sculptor that resonated with me. I looked at all sorts of contemporary public art sculptors and just didn’t connect with anything I saw… UNTIL I found Ursula von Rydingsvard! The care she must take while thinking about her materials- the depth in her individual pieces- it all strikes me head on. In the interview (the second link below) von Rydingsvard talks about how she is a very intuitive artist and that visually sculpture seems to be able to ask and answer questions you’d never be able to ask verbally. Do you think that art can be a way to express answers, questions, and statements that our spoken language can’t? When you look at her work does it strike you right away? I would love to see her sculptures in person. She is on my list. Is she on yours? Why? Why not? http://www.pbs.org/art21/slideshow/?artist=189 & http://www.conversations.org/story.php?sid=64 & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ursula_von_Rydingsvard & http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/vonrydingsvard
Tough week already for me. One day then the next. Iron Pour coming up this weekend. Looking forward to finishing up some misc. painting and get on to some new ideas for things. Read to your Kids. It’s August already and humid is here in a major way. If you are not a friend of Franconia on Facebook you should be http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/franconia.sculpture.park?ref=ts. Thanks for reading! I do look forward to being able to give you the inside scoop (at least a little of it). Chin up. I’ll get some iron pour photos for next week! and I am signed up to grind the community designed scratch blocks. Will I get to grind your iron original?
Start Seeing Scultpure- over and out
Bridget Beck
List Full, Funist?, Gumption, Iron’s a Coming
Posted on 29 July 2010 | Comments Off
Check out this link to see an a UofM project on geography in terms of joy and pain in the Twin Cities http://mapping-joy-and-pain.posterous.com/
List Full is a new element of the Franconia blog. It will be a short list. It will be different each week.
List Full this week is – Fest
- Events that make you feel like you are inside of a movie
- Midpoint between Feast and Best (like thanksgiving outside)
- A preferred alarm clock sound setting
- A state that cannot support itself indefinitely
- ____________________________________
I mused a bit last blog about beauty etc. and the more I think about it the more I think that sculpture and art are as much an opportunity to communicate ideas that you can define but also can be the stimulus behind understanding the definition of something- like what is beautiful. Visual thinkers may be able to sort through a heap of thoughts during the process of creation. How do you think through difficult questions?
Do you ever feel disconnected with your surroundings? Ever gone to a sculpture park, museum, or gallery and thought- man … I don’t connect with much here. In my experience, when I feel the most confused and stuck somehow I am able to break barriers I hadn’t even thought of before. Do you think that it is easy to dismiss ideas and concepts that we don’t understand?
Funism and Thinkism …Outline of Art History from 1970 to present…. (hmm?? Really!) http://arthistory.about.com/library/outlines/blcontemporary.htmI find myself cringing- Funism. If you look at this article http://www.funism.com/art/reviews/funisminartright030.pdfyou can surly see that its two main principles –that art should be enjoyable and accessible- could be taking about almost anything from a car ride to get ice-cream to my latest sculpture. And although I like ice-cream I do not enjoy to potential labeling of my work into this self proclaimed (as it seems Magnuson is trying to do http://www.funism.com/art/reviews.html) “Funist” mentality. Is the general public really so unable to grasp the elite concepts that he rejects as important in art history? I hold the public’s abilities to a higher mark. I lack the exhaustive knowledge and base that some better informed artists have when they talk of who’s who and what’s what in the art world. But, I see how important this history (music, literature, science, politics) is to art making. Do you think that milestones in the past (complicated or simple) have much to do with the present? I don’t think that being or trying to stay informed is exclusive to being “trained as a fine artist.” Nor do I want people to look at my work think that it is enjoyable and accessible and be on their merry way. What is elite? I think that being an elitist has a lot more to do with the way a knowledgeable person treats their audience than the information they hold. What is accessible? Both have merit. Magnuson seems to be saying you can’t be accessible and have complicated content and be enjoyable. Do you think this makes sense- do you think I am missing his point? What are the themes in works of art these days? Do you fit into any of the –isms on the link above about the Outline of Art History from 1970 to the present? Thinkism- here is the manifesto http://www.thinkism.org/asp/manifesto.asp what do you think? I think I’d like to write up a manifesto someday too. I’d better wait for some years and wisdom to hit me square on.
Sculptor Spot Light-ning bolt this week is French artist Jean Dubuffet. I have seen his large sculpture~ Monument With Standing Beastin Chicago- but I never connected the name to the artwork. Dubuffet was of the mindset that “intellectuals are the killers of art” (much like Magnuson from above). He was very involved in the texture of materials and the medleys that overlapping could create. He was also involved in music and paintings. His paintings and drawings are provoking and raw. What do you think of Dubuffet? I think that his later paintings (especially his landscapes) are rough and tumbling and would be fantastic in 3D. Is it important to have artworks that you don’t immediately connect with? Is provocation a good social tool?http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monument_With_Standing_Beast & http://www.dubuffetfondation.com/oeuvre_set_ang.htm & http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?criteria=O%3AAD%3AE%3A1633&page_number=8&template_id=6&sort_order=1
Gumption. Do you have it? Say you were lost in the desert and you knew that you might be able to stave of dehydration for a few more days if you walked ___ steps per drop of water you had in your bottle… That is gumption. Planning/doing something big and impossible and knowing it is going to be rough almost the whole way and planning for it to rough most of the way. And then when you see the other side of it you think, “man… I did that. Whoah I made it.” Or, shoot I tried but it didn’t work out. I prefer the first but you have to have an actual opportunity to drip gumption. Until then save up the unspent energy for an explosion which requires gumption later on.
Hands, fingers, legs, and toes. Can you wrap the future around the past? Can you have true random acts without your experiences subconsciously commenting? Do people resist elitism because they are afraid they won’t grasp entire complicated concepts? Or do people resist elitism because it muddies the spirit with useless and weighty information?
Come to the Iron Performance this Saturday from 5pm to midnight. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Have you ever seen molten iron poured performance style? Come on- it’s a must. Next Weekend is the Community Iron Pour- that is a must too.
Lots of new work being created at the park. Remember to look up at the sky. Thanks so much for reading.
Start Seeing Sculpture- over and out
Bridget Beck
A Beaut, KMS, Motor Maintenance, Looking at Light, and a Move
Posted on 20 July 2010 | Comments Off
“Moonlight is sculpture.”~ Nathanial Hawthorne
What is beautiful? The word is used so often and describes so many things it’s hard to know when you’re looking at something beautiful and when you are looking at someone else’s idea of beautiful. Beauty is quite subjective and can be attributed to an object or an experience. But if you can’t concretly define what it is….? Should you use concepts that you can’t begin to communicate to others? I need help on pinning down just exactly what makes something beautiful. I want to understand it enough to have a conversation about beauty that goes beyond the fact that most people innatly know it when they see it and that it is subjective. It is often linked to: attraction, cultural ideals, aesthetics, perfection, symmetry, fashion, standards, etc. Can you create a sculpture without making a statement about the prettiness or the ugliness of materials and commenting on societal standards? I could make a list of what I think is beautiful and you could and we could compare… but I think that beauty is more important to the visual arts than that. I think that as an artist I should take more responsibility for expressing what I have learned about words like beautiful. I am going to have to think about this and get back to you. Nevertheless, it makes me extremely thankful to think that there are all kinds of different people and they all probably have a different subjective definition of what is visually pleasing. Good. I’m glad. Plus, how does interesting comment on beautiful? hmmm
- Beautiful – very pleasing and impressive to look at, listen to, touch, smell, or taste
- Aesthetics- an idea of what is beautiful or artistic
- Comfortable- making somebody feel physically relaxed
- Ideal- a standard or principle to which people aspire
Kids Make Sculpture was this past weekend. I hear there was a sizable waiting list. I know why- because the creations are amazing and the teachers are top of the line (small pat to my own back). It seems like many of the kids that have participated in KMS in years past keep coming back for more. I saw lots of fantastic creations being drilled, cut, screwed, nailed, and thought up under THE NEW EDUCATION SHELTER. It was a sunny start to the event and the shade proved to be invaluable. Then towards the end it started to pour- But we were covered…!!! I supervised the creation of a tipi which could comfortably hold three people. It had wires and bits of string twirling out all over it, dangling things inside from its peak, secret messages, and a heck of a lot of screws and nails. Good job kids and thank you.
Technology, art, and living. If you are reading this blog you are on the internet. Isn’t it fantastic what you can learn here? I remember times before the internet and you had to slog through card catalogs and hope that the book you wanted was in. There was no… “ I need to figure out how to change my brake pads,” “how do you make pita bread,” “print out driving directions.” Nope. You’d have never known the day to day goings on of the park and have access to all our educational material at the touch of a button. You’d be more limited in your immediate access to information. Even with all the information you need- learning about things can daunting. Complicated processes require that you start from the beginning and gradually gain understanding. Isn’t it easier to just let someone who knows how to do things do them for you? But they are your things right? Don’t you want to know how your things work? Don’t you want to take care of your things? I want to begin learning about how the stuff I use everyday works. With me? I am behind too so – let’s start together. Internet check. Brains check. Time—hmmm – I’ll make time so check. Does being truly engaged in life mean figuring out what you can about how things work ?- I’ve been reading- Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Have you read that one? It’s a favorite of a close friend of mine. It isn’t about motorcycles. It is more about life and quality and science meets art. Check it out.
— aRe verse. The fist one is Raina’s and the second one is mine. Want to contribute to aRe verse? Send me a poem.
Sculptor Spotlight-ning bolt- this week is James Turrell. He is originally from California and currently represented out of New York. He is a sculptor that works with light. He creates views and his artwork is very tuned into how we see light just as much as what light lets us see. Read the interview from the first link. It is a must. Seriously. I find it absolutely gripping and it ties in so nicely with the book I mentioned above. I was trying to find a quote from the interview but I really couldn’t pull any of the conversation out of its context without belittling it. Please read the first link. I really do think about light and sky differently after reading this. http://conversations.org/story.php?sid=32 & http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/turrell/clip2.html & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Turrell
The sky means a lot to outdoor sculpture. I had great friends come visit my sculpture this past weekend. Shout out to you Carrie and co. Music Fest this Saturday! 3D symposium on Thursday night. My sculpture My Mother’s Cottage was moved from its active spot for some much needed love. It is currently looking for a home. There was a bird living in it’s highest bird house and the bird was completely lost when it was moved. But, I am pretty sure that it found it. I saw a swallow swooping in there on the morning after. And, I caught a picture of my bridge coming down mid- air! Heck yah. Best to you all. Come visit us at the park. Picnics are a simple great. Poetry is one of my favorite things. Books. Sculpture. Yes.
Start Seeing Sculpture- over and out
Bridget Beck
Humanlike, Music on the Mounds, New Digs, and Content
Posted on 12 July 2010 | Comments Off
Humans recognizing human forms… Most people value their connectedness to an object. I think that often people look at a sculpture and like to see themselves in it. But, I’d stress that there are many ways to recognize yourself in a sculpture besides seeing a reflection of the physical self. Do you like figurative sculpture more than sculptures that you can not immediately name? I find myself frustrated with figurative sculpture sometimes. I do know artists that swear by the power of a figure but… I am not sure if a fledgling idea, a product of a search to define something interesting and important, or a reflection of the self should always be defined in an acutely recognizable physical form. And, I’d venture that an artist should not be confined to familiar subject matter just because most people are more comfortable looking in a mirror. Public art ought to be pushing prescribed norms right? Isn’t that how we dodge the dark ages? I don’t want to live in the dark ages. But yes, I like seeing familiar faces and recognizing definable objects – but well… couldn’t we all set that aside and see that it isn’t always time for figurative art. Instead of this is___ let’s have this is !!!??? !
The music fest this past weekend was a blast. I had a great time. The weather was beautiful and there was a solid group who looked happy to be at the park listening to the band Twin Cities Hot Club. Thanks for the wonderful music guys!!! The MN spinners were at the park as well on Saturday. And, there was a frog expert at the park during the fest who had all of the frog/salamander/toads from the MN area. That was great too. I even got to hold some of them. I was a little too afraid to hold the biggest frogs. Maybe next time.
—aRe verse. The first one is mine and the second one is Raina’s.
Ali Della Bitta and Drew Goerlitz are working magic on the Franconia landscape. Ali designed a fantastic environment around the main house including an enormous fit pit, granite tables and wooden benches (fit to feed 50+ easy), rolling hills, native grasses, and a stone entranceway to the main steps… oh Ali- WELL DONE. I can’t wait for a hundred years to pass when the stone tables will be smooth from thousands of hungry sculptors’ hands. And, Drew is nearly finished with a new education shelter/bridge (t?) crane out on the launch pad. I nearly fainted when I saw it. The possibilities. This shelter’s potential. I can’t describe how exciting this is for the parks future. Oh Drew,,, you get a WELL DONE too.
Have you meet any of the artists out at the park? Right now you got the chance to ask Heather Hart, Paul Linden, Mary Jane Mansfield, Julia Caston, David King, Lauren Moore, Thomas Streit, Raina Wirta, Paul Howe, Robin Wilburn, Bobby Zokaites, John Hock, Peter Kiely Dentz, and myself what we are working on either on the launch pad or out in the sculpture park. Are you creating something as well? What are you working on? You don’t need a world class sculpture park to make great works of art- but it sure is nice!! I challenge you to find another sculpture park that has emerging and establish artists coming together, gantries and a covered bridge crane/ educational shelter, community programs, celebrations, music fests, huge garden, top of the line residency housing , etc. like Franconia. That would be hard to do.
Sculptor/Architect Spot Light- ning bolt this week is – Frank Gehry. I should probably already know about him. But, as I said before I am sort of out of the loop when it comes to naming current names in the art/architecture world. That’s why we have the Spot Light-ning bolt- to supplement my art education. I recently watched a Charlie Rose episode that talked about Vainity Fair’s article on the most important architects since 1980. Their conclusion was Gehry. The article describes Gehry as “the most important architect of our age” and “an innovator who came from outside the Establishment… whose sheer genius pulled him to the red-hot center of his art.” In the interview I watched with Charlie Rose, the conversation keep describing his Bilbao Museum as sculptural. I’d like to take a moment to think about this architectural feat. I am just starting to realize how powerful building spaces can be. We live in a world of destinations. Sculptural destinations- Yes. Do you have a building or place you go to that has become an important space in your life? Why is this? What is the merit of sculptural art on and in everyday spaces? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guggenheim_Museum_Bilbao & http://www.charlierose.com/search/search/current_affairs?text=gehry & http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2010/06/frank-gehrys-bilbao-museum-tops-vanity-fair-architecture-list.html
Say what? When you talk about what message a piece of art communicates you might think about these things:
- Content- the meaning or message contained in a creative work, as distinct from its appearance, form, or style
- Theory- an idea of or belief about something arrived at through speculation or conjecture
- Conjecture- the formation of judgments or opinions on the basis of incomplete or inconclusive information
- Narrative- the art or process of telling a story or giving an account of something
- Intent- something planned, or the purpose that accompanies a plan
Take a look at the 360 piece on science and art- http://www.studio360.org/episodes/2010/07/09 Kids Make Sculpture this weekend- and I am excited. I am looking forward to being a part of it. Are you going to be there? You can help support the park through a donation – they are hooked up with PayPal- it couldn’t be easier. Thanks for reading and I mean it.
Start Seeing Sculpture- over and out
Bridget Beck
Earthen Amps, Jest, Cottage Explained, Wood, and Have a Great 4th
Posted on 29 June 2010 | Comments Off
This past Saturday afternoon/evening there was a 3D Music Fest at Franconia. Wisco performed! Did you attend? If you are curious to know more about the process and the vision that took the park into the Music Fest mode… ask to talk to Ali or Drew. They are the creators of the Amphitheatre. Plus, they are working hard on some new additions to the park this year too! Fire Pit expansion,,,, and a covered bridge crane,,,, no… wait wait…YES!
I am slowing making my way through the book Infinite Jest (my brother Jim got me started on this book written by one of his colleges alums- David Foster Wallace). Although I am still in the first third of the book, I wanted to share a bit of it that got me started thinking about all sorts of things. One of the characters in the book is pondering facts he has learned in the halfway house he is in: “That no matter how smart you thought you were, you are actually way less smart that that.” and “That you do not have to like a person in order to learn from him/her/it. That loneliness is not a function of solitude. That it is possible to get so angry you really do see everything red.” and “That a clean room feels better to be in than a dirty room. That the people to be most frightened of are the people who are the most frightened. That it takes great personal courage to let yourself appear weak. That you don’t have to hit somebody even if you really really want to. That no single, individual moment is in and of itself unendurable.” This goes on for a long while and a lot of it has to do with addiction -but I think it is quite interesting to think about what you can for sure say about your surroundings. Keeping track of all the small facts you’ve discerned- is a wholly different task… one I am usually not good at. I would say that a great artist is probably a good observer. And maybe -that remembering your observations is pretty important when you plan to do anything more with them (making a comment,,, sculpture,,,etc ). Some people have amazing memories- I need to write/draw stuff down so I can look at it later. Do you remember the little things long after you make the observations? Do your everyday observations drive your creations? Is remembering important?
— aRe Verse
Sculpture Spot Light-ning bolt this week is Henrique Oliveira from Brazil. I usually don’t read sculpture magazine but the last time I was up at Franconia I glanced at the magazine sitting on the big table and found out about Oliveira. I was struck with a strange sense of jungles, tar paper, old vinyl, sideways landscapes, body organs, and secrets. I started wondering about what a surface can tell you. What do you think of his sculpture? When reading the captions under the photos of his work it lists the material as one word- wood. Woah,,, that’s more than what I thought wood could do. What do you think? http://www.sculpture.org/documents/scmag10/jun_10/oli/oli.shtml & http://henriqueoliveira.com/pinturas.html & http://henriqueoliveira.com/tridimensionais.html
What is my sculpture My Mother’s Cottage about? I created a place that I thought my mother would have loved to live in and around- out in the woods somewhere magical with secret interior spaces and birds flying all around. My mom is the most wonderful storyteller. I remember while growing up she would ask me what I wanted the story to be about and she would weave this fantastical web of suspense and color specific to my requests. Often, I choose to have special powers and fancy outfits in alternative and playful worlds. Even as an adult – I look back to the time in my life where my mother fabricated stories where I could be/do/have whatever I wanted. When I built this sculpture, I thought a lot about how different it is to be the storyteller verses the one being told the story. I started thinking that my mom told me all these stories but I had never told her one. I thought she needed a magical place and a story told with her in it. It is sort of a thank you to her for fostering the creative spirit I cannot shake. Are you a storyteller? Who tells the stories that you listen too?
If only I could only get photographs of lightning hitting my sculpture- Playstation. I don’t really want it destroyed. I just think that it would be glorious to see lightning hit my sculpture at an antenna point and light it up like fireworks. If it melted a portion of the playstation I would paint it up in oranges and golds like jewelry. And, I would replace any burnt boards with shiny black ones. http://wcco.com/goodquestion/lightning.reply.all.2.1777801.html and a good one from Dylan Thomas that lends to this ridiculous lightning bolt fascination I have acquired this year- http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poem.html?id=175907
Franconia to the max. Billions of ripening raspberries. Lots of baby birds. New book club books. Welcome new artists hope to meet you soon. Have a good Fourth of July. Can’t wait to build. It has been a busy past couple weeks. I am about to explode sculpture because I have been cooped up way to long. But, I got a new grinder- integral. BestAH! oh yah… You should friend Franconia on Facebook if you haven’t yet! http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/franconia.sculpture.park?ref=ts . If you’ve been up to Franconia and had a wonderful experience- tell someone about us. Look up at the sky. All sorts of fireworks sent telepathically from me to you. Check out these sites about childhood reading…
http://chronicle.com/blogPost/Want-Smart-Kids-Heres-What/24200/ & http://www.miller-mccune.com/culture-society/home-libraries-provide-huge-educational-advantage-14212/ & http://www.rif.org/parents/articles/FamInvolvement.mspx
Start Seeing Sculpture-over and out
Bridget Beck
Outdoor Concerts, Libraries, Dance Moves, and Baby Additions
Posted on 14 June 2010 | Comments Off
3D Music Fest Kick Off- the first of a series of outdoor concerts at the Franconia! I can’t wait for the next one. It was a bit rainy but if you we there you know it was worth it. The Rowe Family Singers (an old time country band) were amazing!
Check out the new activities on Franconia website. Mary Johnson and Robinson have recently added to this section. http://franconia.org/activities.html There are lots of fun things to try here. This is a great resource for teachers, kids, and adults. I love my sculpture’s new coloring page.
Lately, I have been thinking a lot about public libraries. In the early 1900s Andrew Carnegie did for the library what the locomotive did for transportation. Libraries are essential to a well educated and literate community. These public institutions bring diverse groups together and become gathering places for people to learn, relax, and interact. Andrew Carnegies push for public libraries across the country changed the social fabric of the United States. Libraries have a significant impact on people lives. These places connect people with the community. I’d love to have the opportunity to build a sculptural gathering space that compliments a library. Imagine-a pirate ship ‘many seats’ reading deck in combination with the wizard of oz and an outdoor coffee shop patio. Now… think about the movement created by swinging visitors under the ‘many seats’ reading deck combined with a full deck of people overhead. Think the movie Brazil. Think carnivals and sunsets all while wrapped up in the best part of your favorite novel. Cheers to that. Maybe someday…
DDddddance. If you are a dance person you’ll understand the power of great dance songs. Everybody disagrees what those songs are but when you hear your song playing… you’ve got to get to the dance floor. Franconia has a secret stash of wigs and parts of costumes for when the night is right. Betsy came for a visit (the couches missed you Bets!) and we have a long history of dancing the night away. Good time as always. Bobby, Raina, Melissa, Ben, Mary Jane, Paul, Peter, and others had some pretty unforgettable moves. One of the many perks of park life.
I just finished creating and installing a baby addition to the side of my sculpture- “Playstation.” This was a special element made just for my baby nephew. My family came for a visit this weekend and I seriously wonder what he was thinking hooked up to his very own colorful swing area. My sculptures are part material… part people on board. The more I see people on my sculptures… the more I can’t help but think that public art should be interactive. There is nothing better than hearing people wonder why they have been invited to participate with my sculptures- and then wonder (when they are on it) where they are. Love it.
—aRe Verse. The first one is Raina’s and the second one is mine.
Welcome Ben Godward and Mary Jane Mansfield! Ben is busy building a huge metal sign front (30’ish!!) and there is talk of some major colorful foam growth soon- exciting Ben. Mary Jane is also well underway. She has mass quantities of wildflower seeds and I am pretty sure that she agrees with me when I say – it’s the year of the lightning bolt (if you see her you should ask her about it!).
Come check out all the new stuff going on at the park. Get the kids signed up for Kids Make Sculpture. Pack a picnic and enjoy a great day outdoors amongst one of the countries formost Sculpture Parks- Franconia! Look up at the sky. Take time to create- even if your not sure of your abilities or where to start. Art is important to the communities we live in. Thanks for reading and hope to see you soon. Sculptor Spot Light-ning bolt will be back and stronger than ever in the next blog.
Start Seeing Sculpture- over and out
Bridget Beck