I can finally say that I think I am starting to figure things out and my big question for the week has been:
“What makes you Uncomfortable?”
I have been thinking more about how one can define uncomfortable and what makes people uncomfortable. So at the beginning of the week I sent out a message to a number of people asking them to define uncomfortable and give me an example of what makes them uncomfortable. With these responses I have been compiling them on a sheet of paper hanging up in my studio. (So if anyone wants to add to the list feel free to stop by!)
It has been interesting to see the responses from people though. There are many unique answers as well as a lot of repetition, all focusing on both physical and mental feelings of being uncomfortable. Another thing I noticed that is how many of the responses are about a situation when a second individual is around, such as public speaking.
These responses have also got me thinking more about the brain and how human’s think, judge and interact. So another thing that I have started this week is I have began reading a book called Blink, written by Malcolm Gladwell. So far it has talked about how individuals think without thinking. It’s about the snap judgment we as humans have no control over when looking at other things and people.
Also this week I have spent a few hours working on the book that I started cutting into this past week. I am not sure how this idea will tie into anything in the future but I still like the whole concept. I love the idea of not knowing what to expect and even though it is a tedious and somewhat time consuming art form I am excited for the final project. I will be putting up final images in the next few days.
For next week . . . .
Starting this weekend I am going to continue this idea of being uncomfortable and based on some responses I have received I am going to put myself in uncomfortable situations, both physically and mentally while I create art. I am going to draw, sketch, paint whatever comes to mind while trying to portray what I am feeling at the time. So wish me luck with being uncomfortable this weekend!
I am going to also continue reading Blink. This book makes you think and view things in a whole new way. Along with reading I also want to continue researching and reflecting on my own idea of what being uncomfortable is.
Finally my plan is to finish cutting into the book within the next few days as well as do more research on the whole concept of being uncomfortable.
It would be helpful if you would summarize what you are learning from the Gladwell book. Then we could see if there are connections to your topic. I think you should still be open to considering uncomfortableness in various ways. You could make people uncomfortable with the art that you make. You could put yourself in uncomfortable situations. Or you make art about being uncomfortable. Sometimes I wonder whether you mean “challenging.” When you first started talking about this, it sounded like you wanted to challenge yourself to go in new directions by doing things that normally make you feel uncomfortable. I also think that we need to see more of your previous art and design work to get an idea of things that you feel comfortable with and what your visual inclinations have been. Put some of these on your website so we can get more background for you.
ReplyDeleteJanie