what do you think?

i'm trying to evoke pity, horror and sympathy. 

Some New Work

Hey friends, here is some work I have done with the new medium format. :)

I talked to Jessica and she was able to get us room 206 to use on June 4th.

This is some other stuff I'm working on.

work in progress

So, all of this requires explanation (especially at this stage) but I don't think it is all as disparate as it appears. My artist teacher, Karen Dunbar, is beyond phenomenal, it almost worries me, how great she is, I'm afraid no future AT will measure up.

These first three images are all apart of a single project. The reductive woodcuts (in progress) are a collage of media images I've taken from the magazines and newspaper articles I have collected. All the stories I am focusing on surround American and military involvement in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.





This project was inspired by the wood block prints I've done in the past (below), and these pieces always made me nervous and uncomfortable. They can be construed as too decorative and ultimately disrespectful. This current piece is an effort to to contextualize these images so they have a greater impact. Now the cataloged magazines and newspaper articles (along with the notes I have taken on all pertinent articles) are a part of the piece, as it is about my setting out to be come more informed and more receptive (otherwise a lot of these stories around our military's actions go a little over my head) to these current events. The pieces below appeared to many to recall camouflage, so I am tailoring the pieces above to appear as camouflage for the source material. The end piece is to be cut out in a manner similar to the woodcuts below. How I will present it (maybe draped over or wrapped around my source material?) I don't know yet.





So, while I am doing my best to stay in tune with the real world in some way, Iam also hard at work, hermited in my studio (aka my bedroom or, other times, my work place), inventing and constructing an imagined world centered around invoking an awareness of the body and one's physical relationship with material and space. These sewn relief forms of the body are fashioned after plaster casts from my own body.



This last image is just the tracing paper templates I traced over the plaster casts I made and then used as patterns to create the sewn relief forms above. I was drawn to the templates visually and was initially reluctant to get rid of them completely. But right now I can't see where this project could go that would take it beyond decoration, so I am leaving it alone for the moment (maybe forever).

Meet up?

Hey all, whomever can meet up in montpelier on June 4th, can we do this? I have to be at the DMV to legalize my car and then I can hang out for as long as I need to. I could be down there by 3pm? Is that too late for the people traveling???

Hey everyone,

It does feel a little crazy lately. The first month or so after residency felt like forever- now there aren't enough minutes in a day. Diana, take heart,  my Advisor ran out of margin space for corrections, suggestions and cuts for an essay from my last mailing! Hah. (She was right) We are figuring it out as we go along. It's great to see everyone's progress in the studio. I will try to send along some images. ( technically challenged, still) These are still in progress- a large series of drawings.

Looking forward to seeing you all in July. 

I hope all is well. I would really like to meet up with you guys in the next few weeks. It would be exciting to talk about what we have been doing the last three months. I could head up in the morning and make a day out of it. I don’t know how easy it would be to bring what I have been doing. There is really not much left but a photo by the time I’m done drowning it in water, and then burning it up. Experimenting has been great. I will let you know when I can swing it. Peace out….Ezra

The photo I know is not so great it was an enormous idea that just kept on going and I was left with what you see for an image…

you must all come to Montpelier as soon as you can with all the work you have so I can feed my brains with all your creative powers and get me through the next three months!!! any time works let me know we can use my studio or the college I will talk to those at the school and demand they give us a room to use!! monday or wensday is best for me but, I'm flex I ble!

Hey guys, I am psyched to see your work thus far! I am a little freaked by how quickly time has passed, I don't know how I am going to wrap up my studio projects. I have three longer term projects underway and I have an idea of where they'll end up, but it is daunting. My next meeting with my AT is via phone, so I have to document work in progress to email to her, so maybe, if I am brave enough, I'll post some images to the blog. Hope you are all well, stay inspired!!!!

HEY! Has anyone had to revise a paper yet??? I have to revise this second one and split it into two small papers. ...sniff...snifff...I am learning a lot though. I kinda knew it was gonna happen when I handed it in. Everything in my life is so busy, I can barely keep up with my own life! Is anyone else feeling this at all?

I think we should meet for a critic