THE GAME ROOM

Tuesday Nights is the name of our class and The Game Room is where we meet when we are not together.

Got a idea that just can't wait...tell us about it.
You need to hash something out, maybe we can help.
Or maybe you just want to see what everybody else is up to.
Post links, post pictures, post questions or just ask one.


My Philosophy.
I teach through action and immersion. Just keep moving, contemplate later. In art, for me at least, there are times of rest and contemplation, and times of work. Art making is a time for work. It is the time to pull from the mental and make physical. Create a reality, a piece of art. For this the contemplative brain needs to move over, the art critic side isn’t even invited to the party. Learn to ask and answer your own questions on the move. The sooner I can get you making art the better. Get something done and then we have something to talk about.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Materials for project one.

So what do you need for class one? Whatever you are going to use for a canvas and your chosen media, a drawing instrument and a sense of play.

I will show examples on the first night. For supports think good paper, velum, canvas (unstretched or stretched.) Remember when I say any media I mean any media. I know we have a quilter, a glass and wire worker and a mosaic artists amongst us. Sculpture or assemblage might be fun. I will bring the printer too, just incase. Remember this is a month and a half project, you have time. Just think of getting a foothold on the first night. 

“There are two thought paths amongst artist. Those who think the world needs to be ordered enable to be understood and those who think it is ordered and only needs to be revealed."                                                                                                                                       -Me 


PROJECT ONE: THE EXQUISITE CORPSE



We will begin by playing the game Exquisite Corpse. This is a method by which collections of words, images or objects (images in our case) are communally assembled. The game was invented by the Surrealists and is similar to an old parlor game called Consequences in which players write in turn on a sheet of paper, fold it to conceal part of the writing, and then pass it to the next player for a further contribution. The results are known as the Exquisite Corpse. The technique got its name from one of the initial writings, "Le cadavre / exquis / boira / le vin / nouveau" (The exquisite corpse will drink the young wine). It seemed like the perfect game for an exhibition around fall and Halloween.

We are working with two things in this game, chance and the unconscious. Both of these concepts are going to be important in these classes. The Surrealist thought about chance in this way, if you put two dissimilar things together, two objects with distinct meanings, you end up with a third meaning. It was this meeting of chance elements that brought forward the true unconscious meaning. Also frequently cited in Surrealist texts was the idea that  "poetry must be made by all and not by one."  How fitting for us to begin with a game that will allow us to make art as a group.

We are going to play the game with a twist. The human body will be broken into six proportionately correct sheets of paper, i.e. the head is around 1/8 of the body. (Don’t worry I will bring these.) First we will word associate body parts to warm us up. For example, what does an arm make you think of? Then we all draw, (skill doesn’t matter, just get the idea down) one section at a time. The results will then be put on the floor where each of us will chose our bodies, in turn one part at a time.

This is where we really change the game; your selected Exquisite Corpse is the inspiration for a piece of art, not the piece itself. Feel free to follow your muse and use any media you want. How true you stay to your original body is up to you. Your only obligation is to your art and to keep a sense of play - after all it is only a game.

Here are the rules:
Your end piece must be 2’ x 4’
It must be finished by mid October.
You must have fun with it. 

Welcome Candace!

Wouldnt it be good if I could count...Candace makes twenty.
Yes there is a number 11. First on the waiting list moves in.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Welcome Heidi and Annie...

Ok the class is closed and the waiting list has begun.
Just took a tour of Highland studios and the space is perfect.
Just incase some of you have not been out yet.

Monday, July 19, 2010

More of my Philosophy...Art History


Know the history behind what you are doing, it will follow you no matter, you might as well use it. For example if you are painting people in oil the whole history of oil portraits well influence the work. Both you and the observer will bring that to the work. For this reason I use art history in my teaching. If I think another artist or period of art has something to offer my student I make sure to open them up to it. 

Welcome 6 more....

Welcome to Tuesday Night's Bob, Susan K, Liz, Ralph, Kathi and Antonia.
That makes 12. This is a fun group.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

The Fastest Artists in Town.

Welcome Deb, Nancy W, Tracy, Nancy F, Carole and Karen. You six are fast.
I have added you to the authors, so you can post also.

Monday, July 12, 2010

My Philosophy.

I teach through action and immersion. Just keep moving, contemplate later. In art, for me at least, there are times of rest and contemplation, and times of work. Art making is a time for work. It is the time to pull from the mental and make physical. Create a reality, a piece of art. For this the contemplative brain needs to move over, the art critic side isn’t even invited to the party. Learn to ask and answer your own questions on the move. The sooner I can get a student making art the better. Get something done and then we have something to talk about.