DIFFCULT ARTS & CRAFTS DIY Difficult art Monthly anonymous essays on different Difficult Art Featured interviews W/: Cindy Sherman & John Baldessari December 2012
Mar 12, 2016
DIFFCULTARTS & CRAFTS
DIY Diff icult artMonthly anonymous essays ondifferent Dif f icult Art
Featured interviews W/:Cindy Sherman & John Baldessari
December 2012
W o r d S e a r c h 9
J o h n B a l d e s s a r i 1 0
D I Y D i f f i c u l t A r t 1 1
C o l o r i n g P a g e 1 2
W i l l P e r g l I n s t i l l a t i o n 1 3
D i f f i c u l t y o f M e m o r y 1 4
1 I n t h e N u d e
4 F r e s h H y b r i d
5 D i f f i c u l t y F a c t o r
6 D i f f i c u l t y o f S c u l p t u r e
7 S t e r e o t y p e s
8 C i n d y S h e r m a n
TABLE OF IDEAS
Nudity can be tough! Seeing naked people in art is a weird experience and can be very difficult to process sometimes. It makes you ques-tion everything youʼve ever learned, going all the way back to first time your mom yelled at you for taking off your pants in public. Letʼs face it: people have always been taught that being naked is bad. But when it comes to art, it’s just not true. Like a lot of great moments in art, it gives you something to think about.Why is this person naked? How does their nudity inform the piece? Are they trying to shock me? How does this relate to my own body? There exists an endless world of readings which can only be opened up by removing clothes from the picture. In some cases, the uniform we put on each day can be very blinding and inhibitive. Clothing is often what makes a person who they are, so taking taking that away makes them every person. They can stand in for anybody, because when you re-move the clothes, you are left with the purest form of human being. You have a human in its most natural state, the state in which it was born into this world. So, don’t let history tell you that nudity is bad. You were born naked, and you’ll surely be naked again sometime soon. What’s so wrong about a person spending some of their naked time in a piece of art?
i n t h e n u d e
- D.A.C.
Sandy Skoglund’s Fresh Hybrid is an art piece that
is considered both installation and photography.
This installation consists of fabricated figures and
human beings interacting in a man made space.
The sculptures and atmosphere have all been
made out of colored pipe cleaners and wool fibers.
The thing that i find most difficult about this piece
is that they’re are so many juxtapositions being
created all in one that it is hard to be able to form
a distinctive concept quickly. Several of these
comparisons include the materials being used
and the real world, fake figures to real humans,
from plant form to human form and bright
color to natural color. Fresh hybrid has difficult
subject matter but the piece feels inviting and
I’m able to invest myself in it because I am able
to relate to the actual living humans that i see in
the picture. I’im left questioning what exactly is
going on with interactions and why everything
is placed the way it is, but it isn’t necessarily a
bad thing. I want to keep coming back to this
image and keep investing more time because it is
so visually interesting. Overall difficulty i would
give 3.5.
HYBRIDF R E S H
4
- D.A.C.
5
DIFFICULTY FACTOR!WALL OF LETTERS: NECESSARY REMINDERS FROM
THE PAST FOR A FUTURE OF CHOICEAndrea Bowers, 2006
In this installation, a series of letters from mothers-(who-don’t-want)-to-be to a small group of female abortion doctors are hung on the wall. These letters are full of very deep and personal stories, giving the viewer a feeling similar to the one you get looking into your sister’s diary: one of intrusion and violation. The names may be crossed out, but you still feel that you’re looking at something that no one wanted you to see. This piece brings up a lot of political debate, being a strongly pro-choice (in favor of keeping abortion a legal option for pregnant women) work, and as such creates a great deal of tension between the two sides of this argument. When you bring politics, religion, and the body into one piece, you’ve certainly got a pretty difficult work on your hands!
- D.A.C.
Difficulty in sculpture
and other 3d art is that it
breaks the barrier of the
canvas and essentially
has no frame. Without
this frame, we have much
more to consider other
then all the elements of
a 2-d work. One thing
that’s first and foremost
important in deciphering
sculpture is the space.
Both the space it takes up
and the negative space it
does not need to be considered. Take notice at all
the aspects that are obvious, such as what is given
on the plaque, tor tag identifying the piece and
artist. Where is it located? When and where was
it made? Next we look at the technical aspects of
the piece such as how big or small is the sculpture
what is it made out of? How was it created? Carved
away? Built upon? How is it displayed? Now that
D i f f i c u l t y o f S c u l p t u r e
we’ve recognized all of the information immediately
available to us, its time to start digging in deeper into
what the artwork is all about. What is the subject
matter? (or lack thereof ?). What meaning comes
from objects used/the
material itself/ the overall
sculpture as a whole?
How is it presented?
Clean cut? missing pieces?
New? Old? Take into
consideration everything
that is obvious about the
piece. It may seem like its
too easy to be true but this
notion is important for
deciphering sculpture. It
is important to take these
into consideration when
looking at the conceptual
aspect of the piece. The
artist is well aware of the
piece they created, why
they created it and why
they utilized the space the
way they did. If you are looking at sculpture digitally
in the form of a photograph/video, it is also important
to keep in mind of the format and if it affects the
viewing of the art at all. Does it negatively or positively
affect the viewing, Is this digital format merely a form
of documentation or does it have a greater purpose
than that?
-D.A.C
- D.A.C.
6
Today this generations extremely obsessed
with being recognized for beauty or trying to
become beautiful when one no longer what it
means to be beautiful, this same attempt to fail-
ure is through a generic point of vie in seeing
art. When one does not have an open mind it
becomes difficult to accept the lack of morali-
ty in religions, as well as tradition. This is what
creates difficult art. The art itself isn’t difficult,
not is the artists intentional concept, it is the
viewer’s opinion, the one the artists chose to
produce it for. The viewers of art eyes are the
stage where a brush stroke, photograph, draw-
ing, dance and perform. Society is usually afraid
of old things being brought to light. There just
new locations with different performers and old
subject matter.
Stereoptypes.
-D.A.C
7
I met with Cindy in
her studio on a Sunday
afternoon. She made me
tea and then proceeded
to give me a tour of her
extensive collection of
props that includes a wide
variety of teeth, glasses,
and lips just to name a few.
The nature of Shermanʼs
work portrays her ability to
transform an individual̓ s
identity over and over
again. After the tour was
complete, we sat down
across from each other at a
table with the sunshine coming through the leaves on the trees
outside of the window, moving the shadows around the table
and studio.
DAC: Thank you so much for having me, Cindy.
CS: It is my pleasure, thanks for taking the time to come and visit
my studio. I always realize how extensive my collection of “stuff”
is when I show guests around.
DAC: Are you always collecting and looking for new “stuff”?
CS: Yes, I go out to thrift stores weekly. I’m interested in going to
thrift stores, because there is such a wide variety to choose from,
all in one store. I don’t always know what I am looking for, and
sometimes I am pleasantly surprised by a pair of pants that have
cheetah print on them. You
just never know what you are
going to find.
DAC: How long does it
usually take you to develop a
character?
CS: Hmmm, well, it varies for
each individual character. I
may come across the perfect
outfit in one trip to the thrift
store, but then I could spend
a week debating on what the
eyebrows are going to look
like! It is kind of ridiculous.
I suppose I make up for it
in my transformations that
manifest much quicker.
JK: Your art work is continually transforming identity through
change of outfit, make up, and persona. Would you say you are
just an adult playing dress-up?
CS: [Laughs] I suppose you could say that.
DAC: There are other elements to your practice other than just
playing “dress-up” that takes you away from being like a child.
Your work feels like you are trying to distinguish different cultural
roles that happen in our society both currently and historically.
CS: Yes, amongst all of my having fun and playing around, I am
interested in bringing attention to the vast variety of the way we
perceive people, especially through a photograph.
Cindy Sherman[inside look]
8
F U M L Z Z Y K J N U V P R C
S J I N P L N Q J B N O W J D
G S E N I H C A M A L F E U S
J Z V M P R N U D I T Y L C P
B M A R A X H U T E K A V N J
E F N O I K O I F E D S S X Y
B R F A N U C Z C H D E K L T
R E U F T S T U T Q D X Z J E
L B I L B U N T X X R U M F I
P U P Y I N R Z I W Q A L E C
B Y Y K J A I E F C C L C M O
Y N E S H V F L O U N I D B S
E T F L L Z O Q Z M A T G K C
C Q T S N V E A I P E Y L Z Z
E N D X E O X J C P A N P N H
FAILURE
FAMILY
LOVE
MACHINES
NATURE
NUDITY
PAIN
POLITICS
SEXUALITY SOCIETY
9
John Baldessarithe interview
my camera in a perfect triangle.
It was only through that effort
that the failure was able to
become beautiful. How you
fail is just as important as the
notion that you did, in fact, fail.
DAC: A much better moral,
indeed. Your attempts really
were oddly noble at heart,
you knowing how seemingly
impossible the task at hand was
yet continuing anyway.
JB: I’m glad you think so. I think
that nobility you speak of lends
a greater sense of awe to the
action itself. I mean, let’s face
it: there’s nothing impressive
about throwing three balls in
the air. It’s something anyone
can do from a very young age.
It’s how kids pass the time when
there’s nothing else to do. But when you add that layer of impossibility,
it becomes something much more.
DAC: That it does. Thanks for taking the time to chat with me, today.
JB: It was my pleasure. [laughing] I hope to see your readers out there
failing away very soon.
- D.A.C.
- D.A.C.
1 0
I got a chance to sit down with
John over coffee
in his Los Angeles studio
recently to talk about
a few of his action photographs.
These pictures document his
attempts to perform seemingly
impossible tasks, many
revolving around attempting
to throw balls into the air and
capture them while in a perfect
shape.
DAC: So, John, I guess I have to
ask: why?
JB: [laughing] Well, isn’t there
something wonderful about
trying something you know
you can’t do? It’s a very freeing
experience, and one which
showcases the beauty of failure.
DAC: The beauty?
JB: Yes, of course! The beauty! Perfection is never fun. Itʼs fussy and
self-conscious and, honestly, rarely worth the effort.
DAC: I’m not sure how parents will feel about their kids hearing that.
JB: [laughing] Fair point. I suppose I should clarify for the youngʼns:
failure has a time and a place. Don’t use the power of my art as an
excuse to not do things to the best of your abilities. Every time I
threw those balls in the air, I really hoped I would freeze them with
DIY: DIFFICULT ARTSTEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR CREATING DIFFICULT ART
STEP ONE: PURCHASE A TWO PERSON TENT
STEP TWO: MAKE A LIST OF EVERYONE YOU’VE SLEPT WITH
STEP THREE: SEW THE NAMES TO THE TENT
CONGRATULATIONS!EVERYONE I HAVE SLEPT WITH,TRACEY EMMINS (1995)
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Review: Will Pergl Recur, 2006 Olive Tjaden Gallery
Installation Recur is an installation piece consisting of a projected video, a sculptural finger in front of a small television screen, and 2 object assemblages with a strong focus on lighting. There is also loud audio playing, a recording of a saw buzzing, along with the audio from the video, marble rocking repeatedly on a wood floor. This piece creates a sense of panic, discomfort and psychological stress for the viewer. The sound of a blade ensues danger, and at such a high volume it is impossible to ignore. The finger sculpture pointing at itself on the television also seems to be making a statement, “Look here, I’m impossible to ignore, there’s nothing you can do to make this go away”. The orange object assemblages and video also have a sense of the inevitable, the impending. The plumb bob hanging, is at the mercy of chance. Above the water, above a saw blade, or deteriorating dripping down pieces of itself. The audible and animated elements also speak about time. In the midst of a moment our perception of time can be skewed, especially a traumatic one. The slowed saw and slow video demonstrate this disjunct from reality. The installation makes comment on the fragility of each moment, how the unexpected is always here, waiting to take us by surprise, and the experience of being present within a traumatic moment. Overall difficulty factor: 4 out of 5.
- D.A.C. 1 3
Difficulty of Memory
One element that often crops up in art is
the concept of memory. A lot of art is based
heavily within if not solely on experiences/
events of the past. Translating a personal
moment from the past into a physical piece
now is a point of difficulty both for the viewer
and the artist. The piece is successful if it is
able to recreate the essence of that moment.
It is difficult to recreate the tangibility of the
moment in a different space and time with
different elements, however, the audience
should be able to pick up on the feeling
of experience of the moment and make
associations based in their own life. In two
dimensional works this is especially difficult
because of the limits within materiality and
static nature of those materials. With an
image, an artist can definitely create a sense
of dynamic movement, passing time, and
other sensory elements such as sound and
even perhaps taste and smell.
- D.A.C.
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