Thursday, May 22, 2008

WARMTH/MOMENTARY ESCAPES statement on direction for Fall 2008

"Through community we are saved from loneliness , degradation, and despair”

In community we find the opportunities for shared experiences. Two points of view are presented, debated, and from this interchange, perhaps perception is positively shifted towards a brighter horizon. Is this not the essence of art? The artist wishes when displaying a work or works to merely communicate with the viewer in an encounter which is infinitely wide ranging. One wishes for a mergence to occur; for that “ ah ha” movement. This is a form of trade and exchange. In this world of vast cultures and infinite battles artists must begin to facilitate a dazzling world for the inhabitants of the here and now. As educators by nature ( all artists assume this role), we must find a way to honestly engage and help many realize these shifts in perception which have been presented by many such as two of my favorite artists, Felix Gonzalez-Torres and David Horvitz, who encourage viewer participation and whose works are truly gifts.
Encouraging viewer participation has shifted the attitudes towards art. Personally, viewer participation has helped me realize that the world is truly interconnected ( I had this experience the first time I saw an exhibition by Rivane Neuenschwander). I realized that art could be immensely personal yet political and perhaps even a bit “ selfless”.
We are striving to find our place in this world and nothing is ever certain. We are so infinitely small yet so powerful. With this being said, in a world full of degradation, I wish to lift people up through making interrelational work that allows for the participants to get to know one another while escaping the doldrums of their daily lives. I wish to actively share in activities with my participants in which they find certain actions liberating such as jumping on a trampoline as a momentary escape . I wish to help make connections while setting up experiences. This raises many questions. How well does one truly know their friends, family, co-workers? How can I positively set up events or moments of play? This is highly challenging. By setting up situations and encounters perhaps I can assume multiple roles including educator, comedian, etc. but at the same time have the participant assume these roles as well. It is a complete trade. Laughter is the best medicine and antidote to the current state of affairs. Depression has become an epidemic.
We must therefore become “ big about the little things”. Happiness can be achieved in the simplest of ways. I wish to be an advocator of this through encouragement ( facilitating activities and opening dialogue) and by generating warmth, in the form of affection, friendliness, kindness and sympathy.

This is my answer to apathy.

No comments: