Well, the Comfest benefit went well. Ran into some people I hadn't seen in a while and met some new & interesting people! A couple of weeks after that I took part in the CCAD Spring Art Sale. That was my first time test driving a booth, and it was most definitely a learning experience (note to self, bring some snacks). Since then I've updated my Etsy Store with some of the new prints, and I'm working on more (lots more). I'm not showing any of the paintings I've been doing as I'm saving them for shows later in the year. I don't want to reveal everything all at once... what's the fun in that?
So anyway, I have a coupon code for my store that'll give you 10% off. That code is MAYDAY
So yeah, check it out ;)
Here's what's coming up art-wise: On Saturday May 7th is PAPERazzi, works on paper. This show is being put on by Creative Arts of Women (CAW)at MadLab Theater in Columbus Ohio. The Facebook event page is here. The show reception runs from 4-7pm and will include visual art and performances by members of CAW. Food and drinks provided by MabLab. Stay after and watch Theatre Roulette! address is 227 North 3rd Street Columbus, OH 43215-2530
Then, in July I'll be vending at the Starwood Festival XXXI in south east Ohio. I've never been to this festival before, but I've heard a lot about it over the years. A friend I spoke to last night billed it as 'The Burning Man of the East', and it's one of the largest festivals of it's kind. I can't speak from experience, but what I've heard is there are lots of workshops and events to work on personal growth, and lots and lots of partying. At the end of the festival they are known for putting on a bonfire that can get as high as three stories. Should be crazy-good. I'll write more about it when we get closer to the event date. If you're interested ticket sales are on sale now, and go up towards the end of May.
So today is the Community Awareness Benefit. Before you even ask, it's free but they're taking donations on behalf of the ComFest Grants Program. Basically today in the spirit of ComFest at Woodlands Tavern (formally Thirsty Ear) there will be music and art and interesting people to hang with all day long (from noon to 2 am). I will be there, showing some paintings and giving a bit of a preview to the CCAD Spring Art Sale happening next Saturday (the 16th). Also I'm going to be showing a few new prints. So Yay!
So not to long ago I got a request online from a guy for my website URL, which I of course did give him. He later responded with something to the effect of 'wow, you're really into women power huh?'. I was bemused.
I don't really often explain what my work is about, but of course I have some notion. It's fine if people don't come to the same conclusions. My goal is to nudge people in a direction, not drag them kicking & screaming to whatever point I'm trying to make. I feel that 'all art is propaganda', meaning that everything we see, from commercial advertising to high art and everything in between, that is created by man presents a concept, belief, idea, and leaves an impression. When we see something it can leave a mark on our psyche. For example I saw a commercial for Arby's the other day, talking about how it's 'feel good food' and showed an example of someone eating the food and thus... feeling good. Who doesn't want to feel good? I almost kinda wanted some, even though I try to avoid eating fast food. Another is I was looking at a jewelery shop selling hammered wire hair barrettes, naming them after goddesses and likening them to stars, moons, and suns. The influence here is one would buy a piece not only because they thought it would look good on them, but that it may also align them with the ideals that the piece represented. Granted these examples use words in conjunction with visual stimuli to sell products, but it also works in art. A woman viewing an old painting of mine that involves a stripper smoking said seeing that kinda made her want to smoke too, even though she had never done so before. This extends globally. Places in the South Pacific got television later than most other parts of the world, and this was one of the places that were less concerned with body image. In fact they actually have a dance that the women do where they tied sashes around their hips to make them look as large as possible & then danced on tables, people (men and women) who were on the thicker & more robust side were considered desirable. Then in 1996 TV arrived, and eating disorders shot way up in teens 36 months later. 74% believed they were too fat, and 15% used vomiting to control their weight, something unheard of before. When something is presented as the ideal, seemingly regardless of where it comes from, we seemingly subconsciously align with it, even try to become it.
We divide things into little boxes. Tv, movies, boxes of stuff we buy at the store, magazines, youtube clips, cheap prints you see hanging in office hallways, commercials, graffiti, comic books, fine art, etc... while consciously you know the difference between all these things, your subconscious is less likely to do so. We are so strongly influenced by what we experience, whether it be 'real world' or virtual, or even from dream. How much one gets affected will depend on the person and the type of stimulus shown to them. If it's something they're already interested in they will be more likely to be influenced by the idea that the image/s represent, also the same if they are the kind of individual that is easily influenced vs someone who isn't. Regardless, if you are constantly bombarded by images & sounds that center around an idea, you may eventually be led to believe that what those images & sounds are 'right'.
Kinda puts truth to the saying 'garbage in, garbage out'. If you surround yourself with people & things with no substance, you will be much less likely to have substance yourself.
Anyway, back to why my work is all 'Woman Power-y'. It's not really something I intended (well, not entirely). My art is somewhat biographical in the sense that most of it is based off of something I've seen, felt, or heard. I think I paint mostly women because I am one, and I've always had a certain fascination with icons. Too often when I talk to women do they put themselves down based off of their body image, or defer to the opinion of others when making decisions on what they wish to be, so one of the concepts behind my work is that women can be different, there's another way to exist. I don't care if a lady chooses to be a barefoot and pregnant housewife or a CEO, I just want women to accept themselves with grace who they are and to feel empowered to be whatever they want to be. This isn't an anti-male thing. I love me some mens, don't get me wrong here. In my world there is no such thing as 'if you're pro-this you're anti-that'. Besides, showing women in this way is a message just as much for the guys as it is for the chicks. I wouldn't say this is a conscious thought every time I set down to compose a work, but it's a base theme as I this is very much a part of what I'm about.
Part of what's bringing this up for me is there seem to be wave of anti-feminist backlash that is just rolling along and getting stronger, which is leaving me concerned. An officer in Toronto during a presentation at Osgoode Hall Law School regarding sexual assault told the students that women can avoid being raped by simply by 'not dressing like sluts'which prompted this amusing backlash. Apparently now Slutwalks are being scheduled in other parts of Canada. Related is is how women need to dress less provocatively & maybe let their daddies pick out their wardrobe because men can't control their lust. I have always found it interesting how some men put the blame on women for their misogynistic tendencies. Ugh, there's lots of other related crap I can rant about, like this (they're trying to do the same in Georgia and tried and failed in Utah), and this, and this, etc. I'm all for ladies expressing their sexuality, but it seems to me that many artists (musical and otherwise) are being sexual without any context... meaning they're being sexual not because that's how they feel or who they are, but because they want the attention that it brings (example: Britney Spears). It's been an amusing thought lately that when the Spice Girls where big in the 90's how cheesy they seemed, and now they seem so 'Pro Girls' than any role models out there today (Lady Gaga aside, not really a fan of her music but I find what she does interesting).
Whew! Enough of this lady-ranting business! Here is Ani DiFranco, 32 Flavors
Ah yay look at everything in little rows! Now all of my feeds are directed where they're supposed to go, and info is updated where it needs to be updated. Ok so enough of that!
In two weeks I'll be vending my work at the CCAD Spring Art Sale on Saturday April 16th. Admission is $5 for general admission (10:30 a.m.) or $50 for first choice (get in early at 9 a.m.). Admission is taken at the door. But trust me it's worth it. There is going to be a TON of artists there (over 100) with some students, some graduates like myself, and faculty as well. Parking will be free, so don't worry about that. This is going to be at the Crane Center (#2 on the map), and I will be at booth 52. Address is 60 Cleveland Avenue | Columbus, OH 43215. So yeah, come on out and say hi!
In other news I'm gearing up for the rest of the year with this whole vending thing. It's going to be a very slow transition from working a regular job to hopefully vending at festivals for my income. I like the idea of traveling around and meeting interesting folks which I feel will be much more satisfying for me vs working in an office like environment. I'll let you know how it goes, and where I will be next of course.
So that's mostly it. Happy Spring everyone! Here's something appropriate, a song from the Finnish band Gjallarhorn - Suvetar (Goddess of Spring)
