Fresh blood

Raw, fresh, meat... I mean talent. MMMM. Sounds delicious.

After 10 months in the city, only now am I beginning to get more involved with the artistic community. The Academy of Art is known not only in the bay, but is recognized as an international online degree program. Many tout it as being a business more than school, designed to suck money from its students rather than pump out creative innovators and designers. Regardless, I have been keeping my eye on this school, the art that comes out of it and will be attending the 2010 annual spring show.

Staple city

The making of Ephemicropolis from Peter Root on Vimeo.

Poser!

Alright, when Lady Gaga first came on the scene, I must admit, I was NOT impressed. All she did was run around with out any clothes on, acted sexually on stage, and dressed up like Madonna. Her recent video, telephone, did catch my attention however. Although it is a complete appropriation of Quentin Tarantino's hit Kill Bill - appropriation seems to be a common theme with Gaga - there are several unique creative elements to note. The art direction is fantastic! Hello? A telephone hat? Cigarette sunglasses?

Check it out:

Scoop away stop motion videos

Selling kitty litter, the stuff your fuzzy little friend poops in, must be a challenge to sell... but not with these videos! They are well made, creative AND cute. I do have a soft spot for stop motion, marketing, and kitties however....

Wanderlust: A&D senior thesis. Checking up on my alma matter.

Exactly a year ago, I was preparing the finishing touches on my senior thesis, Adventitious Synesthesia. All of the students work incredibly hard for exactly a year on highly conceptual piece while simultaneously trying to find employment and determine what to do with their life post art school. In short, it is a stressful year. Today, soon to be graduated A&D students are doing the same. I was visiting the A & D site today, browsing through some of the students websites and checking up on my alma matter. Below are few highlights. The rest can be found after the jump.

Katie Brooks: "This jewelry series contains materials that show the interaction between the wearer and the jewelry over time and through movement."








Katie Horn: "26.2 miles. Training for the Detroit Marathon from the inside out." This artist developed an visual mind map and provides insight to what is running through a runners mind while preparing for a marathon. Check out her site, it is well concepted and beautifully executed.

Courtney Michalik: "Everything must go somewhere, is a multi-media installation that incorporates plastic sculpture and digital underwater images." Her ghostly images of plastic objects photographed underwater are not only beautiful, but pack a powerful message about the environmental effects of plastics in our trash. And what a better time (Earth day is right around the corner!) for this show to be exhibited. I know that recycling isn't the answer to all of our problems, but you can get cool stuff for recycling! Visit the recycle bank to earn rewards.







Chealsea Neman: She had no description, but her paintings are reminiscent of Klien and echo certain characteristics I am trying to depict in my paintings.






Well done Michigan, well done A & D.

Tara Donovan

By far one of the first artists I ever gained exposure to, and one of my favorite artists, is Tara Donovan. This incredible woman uses every day objects in repetition to create ethereal, organic, unrecognizable art. For example...

Why do my paintings always begin looking like vommit?

As most of my paintings begin, they are messy, unorganized bursts of energy, sometimes (as my dear friends have pointed out) resembling something like technicolor vomit. My current piece in progress has taken a similar turn. Sunday I painted what looked like a series of line drawings in paint. The result was chaotic and very linear. In the moment, I was at peace. Today, I began to loathe my creation and layered a coat of white gesso over the dried noodles of primary colored paint, creating a textured backdrop. The next step is to place boldly colored convex and concave shapes over the piece, hopefully bring it farther away from the appearance from regurgitated food. Despite the horrible image you may have in your mind right now, the end result will be beautiful, energetic and fun.

Below is photo of my work done today.