As I continue designing this mammoth work for Earth Stories I am reminded of a couple details. One I cannot publish online the entire work anywhere, anytime until after the exhibit opens in May 2014. So I provide snippets of it to illustrate my anguish.
Secondly I am reminded of the challenge of designing this humongous piece, intended to fill up most of a 72″ square. I managed to wallow through the first half and now am working on the second half. While the debut exhibit is not until next spring the photography is due this November which means it has to be finished!
My theme has to do with building sustainable architecture particularly in natural disaster areas, specifically structures that will withstand earthquakes and tsunamis. So half of the work was about the earth and now I am working on the piece about the structures.
My original thought was to hang this at 90 degrees of what this work generally hangs. This worked for the earth section but to design the building section at 90 degrees looked more like sea which was not the look I was hoping for. So I decided to design it vertically while hanging at 90 degrees…lost yet?!
Now my concern is it is so abstract that no way does it look like what it is intended to resemble. Aha … this is where the artist statement that accompanies the work which will explain to the viewer what the heck they are looking at! After all we often look at art and wonder what in the world was the artist thinking? How the heck does that relate to anything? So I decided after much consideration and hours wide awake when I might be sleeping otherwise to just hang with it and proceed forward. I also decided to ask a writer friend to help me craft the artist statement.
All I know is I am learning a lot about puzzles, patience, process, and trust. I just have to trust that this is going to work out. I also look forward to showing it to my art group so someone not engaged in this anguish can say what about doing this and the hallelujah chorus will sing!
This is one of the gifts I acquired from forming this mixed media art group nearly a year ago. I’ve never been one who liked critique. I had a vision for my work and I was sticking to it. Gradually I have eased into so welcoming their input which is always brilliant and often jettisons me away from the anguish.
When I finish this project I plan to make something really easy!
This little snippet is awesome! Love the palette.
thanks helen…when i look at it here i just see chaos…it does look better on the wall!
Radical Elements doesn’t debut until May also, but we have to *ship* to Ohio by September! Yikes! Our pieces are much smaller than Earth Stories, though. I feel the same way about critiques as you, but maybe I’ll stretch myself by showing it to a newly-formed group I’m part of.