Studio Class, September-November 2008

The storm systems that come, give new meaning and create new perspective, showing that the elements are the most powerful influencer.

The storm arrived.  I watched it roll in.  I knew it was coming, I could feel it.  The wind gently blew from a familiar, yet undesirable direction.  All that I could do was brace myself for the elements, knowing that they are far more powerful than I could pretend to try and understand, or laughably control.  

I watched, observed, trying to make sense of how the energy shifted through my supportive, intelligent, and inspired first year class, to a level of defeat.  I saw myself process through the cut of a deep childhood wound.  The kind of pain where rawness slices deeper than expectation could anticipate.  In my head I pleaded, "but we worked so hard." And we did work extremely hard.  We created an environment of open communication and understanding, a place that we could just be, learn, grow, and work on ourselves and our artistic process.  The kind of artistic education one can only dream of!

Now, I just feel lucky that I had an opportunity to experience that time, however short lived it felt when it was taken from me.  Though the storm blew in quick, fierce, and intense, I now know we maximized the pre-luding calm; we were there, present, connected to our surroundings, momentous within ourselves.  This particularly enlightened foundation formed our independent artistic authenticities, and holds my artistic heart together.

This situation lead to greater artistic maturity,  I do believe, the best holiday gift ever! 

Shift of Perspective

   One of the many beauties of photography is how photography helps shape and grow ideology.  

Perspective, detail, communication, subtlety, evaluation, understanding, light and color are

 amongst some of the essences of this medium.  However, the beauty begins when these words are thought about and applied to the human element of growth.

Creating an image is one of the most fulfilling activities to do.  When I see something I want to take a picture of, I take a picture.  An enlightening aspect of this process is evaluating (editing) images, for the sole purpose of witnessing the perspective changes that occurred throughout the picture taking session. While trying to take a photo, I become so attune to detail, composition, light, shadow contrast, and appealing visual elements, that I start to see "more" within the frame.  At that point I can change my perspective and really start to take some artistic control.  It is the subtlety of detail and mental openness that makes this possible.

The real beauty comes when the idea that changing ones perspective creates a different way of seeing and therefore makes one more open to different points of view.  The human finallie to this analog process is finding beauty in difference.  

Don't be scared of what you don't know, embrace the difference of....

If a truck could lead a movement of critical thinking

"A most remarkable change in our ideals is taking place, one of such rapidity that it seems to promise a greater change still to come.  It will be for the future to decide the aim, the nature and the limits of this revolution, the drawbacks and disadvantages of which prosperity will be able to judge better than we can."  -Jean d'Alembert,

 the french philosopher and scientist made this statement in 1759, in reference to the rapid change of the social, scientific, economic and political systems that was occurring, the shift leading the world into being, "the modern world."  

Today, at this current time, the digital revolution stampedes ahead to parallel the new, the challenging, and the changing times of the late 18th century, the beginning of the modern world.  We will just see a quicker cycle of these histories.  Recycle, Reduce, Reuse! 

 

Now lets just try and learn from history to find the ideologies that we should reduce, in order for the positive benefit of the people, by the people, for the people!

Back to Basics

    As things change, it really just amazes me how much they stay the same.  Becuase history repeats itself and provides the only answers we, humans, continuously search for, I search to not need to know the answer, and continue to learn my history.  History shows that the fight centralizes around personal freedoms.  D'Alembert knew that prosperity was challenging personal freedoms and it would be the defining nucleus of the future.  Our prosperity has shifted to an excessive disconnection of what it is to be priviledged and entitled, and so it also was the case 300 years ago, when the fufu, over-funded Rococo Art era occured.  Rococo moved to Enlightenment so there is hope.  Obama is on to something.  We may be moving quicker that ever before, but the simplicities of handling challenges are still the same.

   Again, breathe through your belly.  The belly is what connects you to you.  The purpose is to be free, be your best self, and positively affect your surroundings.  And so the shift from Rococo to Enlightenment occurred in the mid 18th century, right around the time d'Alembert philosophized time-less human turmoil and growth.

    We are blessed.  Blessed to be alive, blessed to be breathing, blessed to be able to live in a time of unfathomable information access, blessed to be able to stimulate our own senses, mind and being, and blessed to be able to have countless avenues to find connection.

    Written at his wake, this is dedicated to John Handsome, who took his own life.  May he serve as a protector and learn to love himself.

American Romanticism is the next art movement

A Higher way of knowing through the concept of imagination....

I imagined this van, the van is here, her name is Bruce. While checking her out, I encourage you to say, with your best annoying English accent, "heeeeeaaalllllllo Bruce." Okay, look at the picture and try, it is really fun. Go on, "hheeeeeaalllllo Bruce!" :)

Shot Creation: My core warmed from this California hot spring, my eyes blessed with illuminates from shooting stars, my soul interrupted by a crying coyote singing the sadness of existence.  Noticing, my energy connected to the elements, I embrace the journey of photography, challenging my every perspective. All i can truely perceive is that I was warmed by water connected to the guts of the Earth.

To think that people do not experience this is my reminder to remind, and then get reminded again. This writing is that reminder for me and hopefully for you. 

 The reminder that we are not as important as we think. The reminder that the elements talk and communicate. The reminder that the only way to hear what is being said, is to be connected. The reminder that in order to be connected we have to have awareness of our surroundings and be reminded of the most simple parts of life.

Bruce says: Breathe, and be a reminder.

Morning 1- 11/30/08

Morning 1

Slowing down the rapidly changing technological world...

I was lucky enough last night to hang out with my friend's daughter.  I, consumed with my current move into a van, (which began last night, marking the beginning of Classically Virtual) was not focused on my good company.   She was making due with what was available to her, considering her mom had packed the newly loaded, to be un-loaded boxes in their new Carpinteria rental.  I recommended something digital to fill the remaining time until her mother got home from work, though I always swore I would never do that with kids.  Knowing she sensed my ambivalence of agenda, she suggested, "Can we do something that does not involve technology?"  A child blessed with many traveling freedoms honed in on the importance of connection, while simply reminding me of my existence.

I think one of the many beauties of analog is that the individuals that want to slow down the craziness, read.  We ended up reading Winnie-the-Pooh, out-load, almost blessing the new space, her new home.   It amazes me how little one needs to be truly entertained and all we need to do is casually remind ourseves and others to appreciate life and humans!

Have a good day and be kind to yourself and your neighbor...