Finally completed this piece after a lot of hiccups. If you look at the left top and bottom you can see some more smearing of the Pan Pastels. I also apologize for the yellow tint of the image. It really messes with the color of this piece. The incisions on here are neon yellow. That is hard to see because of the lighting.
As I progress to the summer session, the height of my research has started to formulate interesting ideas. The visualizations have directed my attention more to the placement and layout of certain types of visual culture in specific locations, rather than specifically focusing on the interpretation that these images might have on my students (although this idea has not been expunged out of my research). The more visualizations that I created, the more some of these ideas started to become more evident and of greater interest to me.
My last visualization consists of two neighborhoods in the Southern portion of the Southeast Quadrant. For the visualization, I continued with the incorporation of collaged maps on the background, and for the other one I incorporated the images of visual culture that was collected through all the neighborhoods I was able to cover. I collaged those images on the background, but I am a little concerned with my use of photo quality paper. The paper had a few issues when I “Mod-Podged” the images. Many of the pictures started to warp and bump as they dried because I was not able to apply the glue in a cross-hatch fashion for all of them. This created some areas of concern when the photos rose from the wood, and when I drew the neighborhood map and applied the nails for the visual culture points.
My concern is that I actually find both maps to be important in relaying information. I enjoy the collaged map because of its reference to Rochester and its neighborhoods. I think it gives the information that is needed to direct the viewer towards the idea that the specific neighborhoods are coming from this given area of Rochester, NY. However, the visual culture also gives information in regards to the purpose of the nails and the textile radiuses. I like the idea that it gives information of what was found in these locations (maybe offering images that encourage others to discover this area).
I have contemplated doing another two. One of the overall Southeast Quadrant of Rochester, NY and another of the last full neighborhood that I was able to cover in the research. For these I was thinking of collaging both pictures and maps to unify the two different backgrounds. Specifically doing this with the overall map of the Southeast Quadrant, and completing the last neighborhood with collaged images of the visual culture that was collected. However, I have a tendency to include more images of murals because of bias on being drawn to the coloration and overall composition of those images.
Work continues…here is take two of this piece. I ruined the first attempt. I had to completely restart after I smeared the entire first layer of Pan Pastels. I had actually started this before the previous work I posted with the piece I did in monochromatic blue. I had to walk away and try it after I completed something else because I was pissed. I couldn’t continue this one again, but here is round two…so far. I also included the Pan Pastels in the image so Taylor could see what the material looks like.
My current research is still hitting dead ends. I have taken the original idea and altered it into a survey format for alternative forms of opinions and information. I have created a survey, but found troubles sending it out because I cannot use Survey Monkey for free. The size and number of images I need to complete the survey requires that I upgrade to Pro and pay thirty dollars a month. After I received a response from my HREB reviewer, I decided to create several different surveys so I can use the survey format. The method I was trying to use prior caused a lack of anonymity. So, I am now trying to create several different surveys that fit the format for the free Survey Monkey so that I can use the platform. Once the surveys have been completed, I will post it to my school’s PTA Facebook page. From there I will inform participants that they can choose the survey in which they wish to participate. I am hoping it has some feedback since I have a few parents who are professors at RIT and Brockport. They know me pretty well from the art shows, and their avid dedication in fighting for the arts and the best education for their kids. I am hoping they take pity on me.
As for the photos, I still continue to take images and head throughout the city collecting pictures. I am expanding the imagery now to parts that are not covered in my data selections to use for studio. I have come to find that Rochester is a city for advocacy. Many personal statements can be found in the neighborhoods in peoples’ lawns. Many murals speak to things that are for beauty, kindness, and what supports the best interest in people. I am finding pride living here the more I see the work.
I completed my largest piece yet. I have a few steps of the process in this post. The four layers of wax, the incising, and the addition of the oil pigment with the incising..
I appreciate all the comments you made on the last step I had of this piece. The image is of a mural that I pulled from my research pictures. The words and image of Martin Luther King Jr. is also pulled from a sign I saw in someone’s front yard. I wrote the statement of the sign, and I took the contour of the image of Martin Luther King Jr. in the bottom right corner to give credit to his quote. All of the images have been cropped or altered from the original state I find them. I usually use my camera as a sketchbook. Holding ideas for me until I am ready to start working.
The first visualization, regarding my research data set, had a few areas with hiccups. I followed the same methods of my first two visualizations. I collaged imagery to the background and placed a final image on top of the collage—in this case one map of a neighborhood that I researched. There were a few areas where the threading proved to actually be a bit of an issue. While researching, all the visual culture images collected did not fit on the map. I tried to stick to a small radius for the thread component, but I was not able to fit all the actual visual culture imagery on the map. I decided to stick with the same size circles because I cannot determine from the research which images have more influence on the community than others. The threading was the main area where I faced an issue. I decided to buy smaller nails in height as well as head size for the next data set. I am hoping that will help fit all the needed radius that represent a form of visual culture.
The second area of concern was the maps. I enjoy the use of the maps to continue the theme, and give recognition to the size of the vicinity of Rochester. However, I was contemplating actually collaging the images I took for the research, and collaging them underneath the neighborhood map that is painted on top. My concerns are that I took this route with my second visualization that dealt specifically with my topic, and the images that I printed on tracing paper did not print well or collage well. The imagery disappeared greatly the more images I applied. With the amount of visual imagery, I was trying to document with thread circles, I am afraid it might be too many images to collage with tracing paper.
With these two areas being the major areas of concern, I plan on creating visualizations for the neighborhoods that had the most amount of documented visual culture during the research process. I would like to document each neighborhood that was covered, but I am not sure if that might be redundant.
For this piece, the size has changed. It is much easier to work with the Pan Pastels at a larger size. It goes much quicker for me than the smaller sizes. The entire layer of the pastels alone took me 4 hours. This time I clocked it so I can get a better idea of my pace with the whole process because it takes so long. Applying the wax for the under layer took me an hour. However, I am concerned with applying the layers of wax over this finished piece. Placing the layers evenly before applying the Pan Pastels was an issue. We will see what issues are brought up after I complete the wax layers on top for the incisions. I am very nervous for the next step.
Anicka Yi is an artist that I was introduced to through a conversation with my brother-in-law. A conversation that generally begins with, “how is this art?” I had never heard of her before, but I was intrigued when he told me her work was about smells. I, personally, love different smells because of the memories tied to them. There have been moments where I smell my childhood friend’s mother’s perfume, and all these memories begin to flood back to me. Although Anicka Yi’s work has to do with acrid smells, not the enjoyable perfumes a person decides to wear. Her work intrigued me because of her exploration with materials. Something that I am currently enjoying with encaustics; a fun exploration of the process with wax pigment.
Currently, she has a show at the Guggenheim Museum where she won the Hugo Boss Art Prize. The show that is in the Guggenheim involves bacteria, ant farms, and smells from things, such as: kombucha leather, deep fried flowers, armpit bacteria, ginger, cypress, and coriander. Her intention with the scent is to bring about narratives; narratives about a memory, or the synopsis of a person.
Anicka Yi, Force Majeure, 2017 (detail). Courtesy of the artist and 47 Canal, New York. Photo by David Heald. © Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation. Courtesy of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.
Anicka Yi, Lifestyle Wars, 2017 (detail). Courtesy of the artist and 47 Canal, New York. Photo by David Heald. © Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation. Courtesy of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.
Anicka Yi, Force Majeure, 2017. Courtesy of the artist and 47 Canal, New York. Photo by David Heald. © Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation. Courtesy of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.
My Data Set 1 Visualization will be posted by next Monday. Kevin gave me an extension due to past circumstances.
I have finished my second piece. I was a little disappointed in the color of the wax. I utilized the natural color of the beeswax, but I think I need to stick with bleached wax. I was hoping the yellow wax would add a bit of a Sepia tone to the work, but that was not the case. I bought bleached wax today and will continue on with that. I have been using images of architectural structures or sculptures with the Pan Pastels, but I have decided to switch it. I will try a small piece using the Pan Pastel for a graffiti/mural piece and incising the sculpture or structure over the top for the third piece. For now, I like the process, but I am still working on figuring out cohesive compositions. I also want to include the recommendation that Lindsay B. recommended with areas incomplete. I think I will try that for my third piece.
