APRIL Advisors Update- Andrew AND Herman!

Andrew and I had a Skype meeting on April 14th.  We talked about my previous conversation with Robyn and her advice with integrating an inert pigment into the pigment sheets.  Andrew brought up taking cheese cloth and submersing it in red ochre pigment to give it more stability.    We also talked about traveling with the acrylic sheets and how to bring them into Germany the most cost effective.  I had Andrew look at the paintings that I have on exhibition here in Denver.  His first comment was that he  enjoyed the green stripe that was behind the paintings.  He suggested incorporating painting on the wall and canvas into one piece.  I totally agreed with this suggestion, extending the pigment directly onto the wall.  He also said I need better quality pictures.  He suggested the movie Basquait, which I intend to watch with a glass of wine as soon as my paper is handed in:)  He also brought up coming up with a strategy for ruining paintings.  We also had great conversation about tapestry workshops and Goldins workshop in Paris.  All wonderful things!   Andrew has been a great addition to my experience at Transart and I have valued all of wonderful suggestions and comments!

Herman and I had a Skype meeting on April 15th. I had sent Herman a revised copy with his editing comments to him before and we discussed that the paper was on the right path and that I just need to finish.  I had questioned the validity of references and if I needed to directly cite them or if some could be used as just a general knowledge base.  Herman assured me that my sources were ok, and needed to have more support than less.     I had issues with my conclusion and we discussed that I am looking at it as the finale versus tying up loose ends.  Overall, it was a quick regrouping before finishing the paper.  I have two different people editing the paper and will then I will have Herman look at it and then it'll be done!   He is so supportive in me, my writing and my passion, it has been awesome in having Herman be a part of my artist tribe!

April Update!

April has been a busy month!  At the beginning of the month I started an exhibition of the Rooted in RED paintings.  It was incredible to see these painting out of the studio!  They were hung on a wall with a green band down the middle of the wall  and that made them sing! I am thrilled with how they turned out and they will be up for the entire month.  This Friday I have an artist talk about them and the project.  I am excited to be able to communicate the message of Rooted in RED with people from my community.  Below is a link of the paintings and an  installation shot.

http://www.rootedinred.blogspot.com/2016/03/rooted-in-red-exhibit.html

I am finishing my paper and FINALLY just finished the reference material.  Looking back, I believe I bit off a little more than I could chew in regards to references, but I feel like that few one paragraph was worth it all I got out an entire book:)   I scheduled the next two months of Rooted in RED workshops that I am thrilled will be based off natural pigments and color theory!  I am excited to change the pace of the workshop a bit.    My polymer for the final MFA installation in Berlin is slowly trickling in and starting to play with inert pigments to help with keeping the acrylic sheets more consistent in dryness.  The goal is start pouring out sheets on May 15th!  

exhibition of Rooted in RED paintings at My Hair Trip in Denver, Colorado

Critique- skype time!

On April 4th, I had my critique with my lovely crit group!  My questions to the group were mainly geared towards the future of the project and the recent Rooted in RED paintings that are being exhibited right now.   My biggest feedback was the process and resources to making Rooted in RED a non-profit.  Deb had a lot of suggestions in regards to Board of Directors, funding, specifically youth funding.  She also asked a very good question, how do you see others involved?  It made me realize that I needed to address this project like no one knows about it!  Because no one does! ha!  But, I assume that this knowledge that I have gained over the past two years is evident and its not yet, I need to have a clear concise way to involve community members of all ages.  Robyn also agreed about Board of Directors and her big question is what is your mission statement?  Another question that I need to hone down to a simple, concise articulated message.  Robyn also in an additional skype conversation talked about labeling my paintings differently when I list materials.   I totally agreed and will start revisions!  We also talked about inert pigment and how that may help with the temperature change for my MFA installation in Berlin from CO to Berlin.  She shared words of wisdom about shipping there and checking it as baggage and additional ways to transport it.  Omayra ended with a great quote, Leap before you think!  I loved it, and she nailed it when she said be honest with yourself  GO DEEP! Also, that things will evolve and shift through out the life of my project but the core of the project will always need to remain the same.  Stephanie referred a book the Spell of Sensuous by David Abrams.  She also commented on how the  more organic paintings spoke to her more than the geometric paintings.
Overall, it was amazing and always encouraging to have such an amazing support system for a project.  That was a concern of mine,  that once TI is over, will I lose this amazing support, and these amazing ladies assured me that they are always there!  Thank you ladies, for your time, support and immense energy to give such amazing feedback.

MARCH UPDATE!

PAPER! PAPER! PAPER!   That is what has been up so far this month.  I have scheduled a Rooted in RED workshop this coming Saturday.  We will be making abstract paintings with natural pigments and using greens from trees as brushes.  I should have close to 15 people this time!  Extremely excited to continue the workshop.  I have also started looking again for wall space in Denver to create some Muzzinabikon in the area!  I am planning a  time to go up to Red Rocks again and use the red rock pigment that I have and create a Muzzinabikon in the mountain side.  I have decided to not have an MFA show too.  I just don't think that it is necessary to exhibit.  I am formatting my paper, into an art and literary magazine.  I want the information to be accessible to people, so my goal is to find a way to publish quite a few of the Rooted in RED magazine and pass them out to people all over!  I have not started pouring out my pigment panels, saving money right now to purchase the 20 gallons! April will be the month that I will start to pour and assemble the weavings as well.  Overall, March has been pretty boring in the studio, quiet and I am ready to get loud and paint!!!!!!!!!!

advisors meeting with Andrew!

A short but sweet skype meeting this morning with Andrew.  As the paper is due today, most of my time has been devoted to putting that together.  I have been writing in my studio which I expressed to Andrew.  I have been working on hanging system for installation in Berlin.  That will get sorted out when I have the logistics of  our one day show.  We did discuss how I was going to hang it and Andrew suggested using woven cable and crimping the cable.  Great idea, for quick, inexpensive solution to be able to blend into the ceiling and not be viewed during installation.  We also talked about how using the dowels I will have to use a parchment or wax paper to roll up the panels so they will not stick to one another.   I have been messing around with constellations and that seems to be the direction I will take as Ojibwe, relied heavily on the stars to guide.  Overall, a nice jolt of Transart in the arm, so to say.  Always enjoy chatting with Andrew!

Advisors meeting with Herman

Herman and I had a wonderful skype session on Monday morning.  We talked about the format of the paper, and how I have decided to break it down into 5 chapters. Herman suggested to incorporate my 5 chapter into the conclusion to elude to continuation of the project.  We also discussed my references and the depth of the resources that I have and intend to use.  Herman also said that I did not need to bring to much depth to the symbol of the triangle, but to keep the depth into my symbol and the personal experience that I evoke and go with the passion that I have for the project.  Herman also reassured me of the confidence and "owning" the project is apparent in the research and depth of the outline and bibliography.   I also had some questions on length and how the rough draft will be longer and editing will the name of the game.  Overall, I felt that our meeting was exciting and inspiring to continue with my paper and the project post-transart.

FEBRUARY UPDATE!

I came home from NYC running and ready to get the Miskwanagekozi project.  I went directly to the studio to figure out logistics.  I have set a budget and a rough guideline for my paper.  I have placed an order for polymer medium to start sheets and found that duralar works better in peeling the acrylic sheets.  I have also created a mini paper model to see how the weaving will take shape amongst the nine panels.  With figuring this out, I was fortunate enough to receive the rest of reading list for this project as birthday presents, which was awesome.  I just finished the Paul Klee essays, which was just the grounding I needed.  Thank you Andrew, for the suggestion.   Along side of the Miskwanagekozi project, I have a exhibition right now titled, Eyes Closed: mind mapping collages.  I sneak peak into the way my brain works for ideas paintings and how I tend to organize particulars intuitively with these collages.  It is showing till March 1st, then it moves into a installation setting.  I have done a lot of reflection on the past year and a half and have viewed all the work that I have done while in Transart.  Listening to the story that they tell, my story, my experience with this pigment.  With that amazing feeling, I have a parallel which is pressure.  Pressure to work non stop to pay tuition off by today and trying to find an other job that pays better. It has been a transitional 30 days of chaos.  I do have another Rooted in RED workshop scheduled for the end of the month which will include an additional two hours of activities.   I also have applied for two permits in which the Rooted in RED symbol will finally make its debut in Denver as a solo symbol!  Super exciting!

Working on my outline, intro and bibliography, I have found myself articulating the project simpler and more raw.  The one thing I took away from the residency in NYC,( besides we all have amazing dance moves.) is to OWN IT!   To be the art, I didn't not realize how much I was distancing myself from this.  That has changed, my confidence and passion to build this project into something from the true depths of my being.  It is amazing how much easier, things are when you do not hold any limitations for yourself.