I have been thinking about the concept of excuses for a long time. We have become a society littered with excuses and we are a slave to excuses. In fact, everything we do includes this activity of using excuses; this putting off, this procrastination of not doing something or perhaps we are waiting for more positive, affordable and effective, replaceable alternatives. So, I am also feeling optimistic about this notion of excuses although this topic almost forces me to discontinue writing this blog entry. And perhaps I am not cogent with this area of thought; (and while I write this I will leave this entry on the back burner, sign out, think, incubate, and reevaluate what exactly I want to say.) It is really a complicated story though, and so, I too, have given up on excuses. We seem to use lame excuses more and more frequently. My students give me incredibly terrible excuses that I don't even want to consider. Pardon my critical nature, but have we become so idiotic a people that we are really listening to these excuses? Unfortunately, I have to listen to these positions and believe them, give credit and at the end of it all, the trap is set - we become excuse prisoners and part of this dogma that shapes our existence. And that's no excuse!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
excuse prisoners
I have been thinking about the concept of excuses for a long time. We have become a society littered with excuses and we are a slave to excuses. In fact, everything we do includes this activity of using excuses; this putting off, this procrastination of not doing something or perhaps we are waiting for more positive, affordable and effective, replaceable alternatives. So, I am also feeling optimistic about this notion of excuses although this topic almost forces me to discontinue writing this blog entry. And perhaps I am not cogent with this area of thought; (and while I write this I will leave this entry on the back burner, sign out, think, incubate, and reevaluate what exactly I want to say.) It is really a complicated story though, and so, I too, have given up on excuses. We seem to use lame excuses more and more frequently. My students give me incredibly terrible excuses that I don't even want to consider. Pardon my critical nature, but have we become so idiotic a people that we are really listening to these excuses? Unfortunately, I have to listen to these positions and believe them, give credit and at the end of it all, the trap is set - we become excuse prisoners and part of this dogma that shapes our existence. And that's no excuse!
Monday, March 16, 2009
some Kodiak moments
Pictured is scenic Kodiak; waters of blue green and reflective surfaces are stunning peppered with solo fishing trolls that go out and come in with hundreds of wind swept sea gulls that stir a subtle hum off the shore. It is the epitome of quaint.
Above is some wire relief site installation that I completed at my residency at Kodiak Island, Alaska. This painting/sculpture/mixed media piece is approximately 15 feet tall and eight feel wide, made with industrial wire, paint and is adhered to the wall with 2 and a half inch nails. It took me three days to complete this piece, starting with much frustration and angst and ending with (always) the big art surprise. I am very satisfied with the result though. This piece will remain in the Kodiak High School art room. The picture below shows details of the artwork.
On Saturday, March 7, I conducted a workshop for the Kodiak community. Eighteen participants showed up to work on their own site installation. Each group was given random materials to work from as a surprise and challenge to fit their aesthetics and an hour to complete each piece. This piece below is called tsunami and accompanied the sculpture with a short performance. All these site installations were poetic in nature and each fit the environment nicely.
Below, is the interior of St. Herman's Russian Orthodox Church. I was lucky to attend a two hour service called Orthodoxy Sunday. The choir would sing non stop throughout the service upstairs where the rest of the congregation stood on the first floor. Small children would come and go, people shuffled in and out, while all of a sudden I experienced an unison of meditation, spirit and prayer. It was magical and one of my favorite moments of my trip. 
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