Immediately upon viewing this painting Lindsay, I felt your frustrations being released in the paint! I think there is also a prevalent sense of anxiety in the work…… I think as teachers we face hardships of systematic failures, difficult students, lack of resources and unfair situations in general at our schools. You have inspired me, to focus my own studio work more towards releasing the struggles of my own journey of teaching. Your painting made me think of artist Cai Guo Qiang and his explosions with gun powder. Somehow, your painting also ignites the uncontrollable escape we all yearn for in life when things are becoming unmanageable and hectic.. you are awesome! I would love to see you take these further somehow, like maybe a mini series!?
Visual Arts/Studio Research
MSEd in Art Education @ SUNY New Paltz Fall 2016
Thank you so much! That means a lot. I was talking to my friends last night about all of the anxiety we face as teachers and pressures that we have to deal with in terms of expectations in testing/assessment. I feel like too often, especially as art teachers, people do not realize just how much we have to deal with and it is important for people to realize what we feel and experience. I am really interested to see your studio work in relation to the struggles you face (and also just in general because I find your work to be very visually interesting as well). I had heard of Cai Guo-Qiang before, but this video was really great in seeing his mindset and process/technique he utilizes in his work. There is something truly beautiful about the way it all explodes together, fusing the different colors of gunpowder and creating the image on the surface he is working on. The use of gunpowder as a medium has also been used by the artist Danny Shervin, but in a more controlled and precises manner. It is interesting in comparing the two artists work and ideas behind their art using the same, explosive material.
In regards to creating a series, I was thinking about getting smaller canvases possibly (about the size that Amy from last summer used in her dot paintings) and creating perhaps weekly paintings regarding my feelings from the week. We’ll see what happens with that!
I think that’s a great idea – the small canvases. Together, they could really make a powerful impression. I know how your feeling, sometimes, I feel really isolated within my profession, like it’s difficult for people to relate if they are not in our field of teaching. Classroom management seems to be overwhelming me lately, especially with my alternative students. Physically, Im exhausted, mentally drained. I tore something in my arm lifting clay… ughhh. Lately, all the work Ive been making reflects sadness, frustrations and pure surrender lol. I really identify with your work Lindsay, it really is soulful. Keep on trucking- you are an inspiration!!