Journal Entry # 12

Project #4 in this course asked as to create something that shows a “before” and an “after”. There were several different options given, ranging from a set of photographs, to a GIF animation or video, etc. I decided to do a little bit of all of them in a compound media format. I decided to compiles sequences of animations taken by stop motion photos, and compiling them together to make a video. I had come across a term when searching about camera forums called “CHDK”. As it turns out, it is a hack someone has developed for all Canon brand software cameras (most models). You simply put the hack onto the memory card, and open your camera to advanced features that it is physically capable but was not originally programmed for. Some of these features include motion detection, extra-long exposures, ultra high shutter speeds and stop motion interval shooting. After some experimentation, I got a hang of stop motion shooting and began shooting people walking in the street downtown and compiling a couple of very short clips. Then my camera got stolen, but recently got a new one and decided to try it up again for this project and shot some footage but this time the viewpoint from my car driving. I named this short video “Speed Of Light”. What I am trying to convey in it is this aesthetic beauty of time passing us by. We tend to be afraid when we feel time passes us by very quickly, however we never stop to wonder about the phenomenon and realize some beauty in it. Since we feel we are the ones that are not changing, it is too easy to feel alone and purpose slipping away. I introduce in this video, Kloe, someone close to me, in hopes of changing the feeling a bit. She serves as a concept, to contrast the previous aesthetic of feeling alone as time flies by. She is a reminder in the video, that when you spend time with those who are closest to you, the speed of time can go as fast as light and you will still end up feeling at home (such as the ending of the video suggests).

Journal Entry # 11

In this project, the theme was to show some sort of array denoting a collection of some sorts. Whether it were pages in a book with a theme or motion, a polyptych or photo series, all were acceptable formats so long as they portrayed some kind of collection. For my personal interest, I was immediately curious about polyptychs. Some of the examples shown in class in the power point presentations showed 3 panels, or frames with photographs on them and description. The one I remembered in particular was about blindness. It showed an empty room with a wooden floor, a portrait of an actual blind man, and a photo of a woman with her hair slung down in front of her face, covering it. Next to the three images was a description of the piece. In a sense it was a collection of feelings, real and imaginary about the perception of blindness. The empty room was the unknown, and the unawareness of the detail around. The real blind man was a sense of reality, a concrete example of the commonality of the subject. The woman, hiding behind her hair, perhaps demonstrated the frustration and emotion involved. I did some further research on the internet, and came across religious triptychs. I remember as a little boy going to church, and behind where the altar stood, there would be these intricately carved wooden panels to house it. They would be painted with all kinds of religious. Then after browsing some of my photographs to think of ideas, I came upon some photos I took at St-Joseph oratory. I decided to make my own collection themed polyptych. The title I gave it was “Modern Gods”. There was something eerily strange about the way some of the saint’s statues were displayed at the oratory. Blue lights coming from a hole in the ceiling, rings, platforms, and little red candle holders. It seemed almost extra-terrestrial to me. I wanted to emphasis this theme as if the “Gods” were modern religious prophets or something, and depict them as if they had arrived in the future. I made 4 panels, all shaped like tombstones to imply that the idea of future modern religion will inevitably fail and die. The second image shows the crucifix of Christ at the basilica of the oratory. Just the size and creepy background art in that photo makes it look like a still from the movie “Aliens 2”. The third panel goes on to show a double exposure photo I took in an alleyway in a street nearby. The result produced a sort of cross in the sky. Perhaps this new “cross” which looks less perfect in symmetry is a sort of apparition from the sky. It is a denouncement, seen from a lower-level perspective of an alley. The final panel shows another saintly figure on top of a pyramid of candles. As the candles are light, the future remains uncertain. Perhaps for some of those faithful to these religious there is still much hope. I took all four photographs myself, scanned the negatives, and had some prints enlarged to 12” x 18”. I then used photo adhesive spray to glue them to 4 foam-core panels. I cut the second panel in the shape of the arch, and decided to use this as the final shape for the rest as well. I proceeded to tape up the sides with electric tape for a cleaner finish. To bind them, I used thumb tacks in the sides of the panels and small ball magnets to act as the hinges.

Journal Entry # 10 Gallery Visit

Since I was unable to attend the Belgo gallery due to a class conflict, I decided to write about a piece at CTRL Lab gallery on St. Laurent blvd. It was the "Home, Paralleled. " vernissage for Art Matters. I myself, was also partaking in it.

1. What is the work / exhibition you chose to write about? Who is the artist?

 The poutine bed named "Comfort Food" by Jia Chen Cardy Lai.

2. Which gallery is it shown in?

 CTRL Lab gallery, 3634 St. Laurent blvd.

3. Describe the work (what does it look like, what is the size, what is the subject matter, what does it convey either aesthetically or conceptually):

The work itself is a beveled bed frame, about the size of a double bed. It is white and emulates a large poutine styrofoam take-out bowl. Inside consists of large french fries carved from foam pieces, white pillows sewn as cheese curds ands a gravy blanket with holes in it to allow the fries to stick out. The visitor sits in the bed and puts on some headphones playing some very warm music inviting music similar to the sounds of a tuning orchestra. 

4. What are the materials, what is the presentation format (ie. a video projected on a wall, a mixed media collage, pencil crayon and charcoal drawing that is framed and hung on the wall, etc):

 The bed sat it in its own corner of the room as is, with the described material. On the wall above it, there was a projection of a girl in a one piece swimsuit doing leg stretches and swimming in a pool. The headphones and video are meant to submerse you in a different reality.

5. Why did you choose to write about this work?

 I chose to write about it because the concept seemed so unique, and inviting. Everyone loved the poutine bed. Also, when I sat inside of it, I was surprised at how effective it was as transporting me to another environment.

6. How do you think digital media has influenced the creation of this work?

 Digital media allowed for digitally recorded music to enhance the experience along with the visuals of the swimmer. This changes our audio and visual perceptions despite the fact that we are sitting in a white room.

7. Try to relate your writing to a topic discussed in our lectures. 

ENTRY # 9: Diego Stocco - Music From A Tree

Browsing some sound blogs, I came across “Music from a tree”. Does not sound very unusual maybe to some people. Just about half of all musical instruments ever made were carved from wood. In fact, most instruments, if not metal, are traditionally made from wood, animal skins and hair and gourds. Many of the attributes of a musical instrument’s signature sound are because of the material it’s made from and how the sound resonance through it. Different woods resonate differently, as well the sound from a hollow instrument vs. a solid one. In the last hundred years or so, people have easily improvised instruments like the jug bass (metal washing jug with a broom handle and string) and have played on them. But this man, Diego Stocco, really takes the experiment a step further conducts an experiment where he decides to create musical sounds from a tree. Using contact microphones, Diego experiments ways to produce sounds. Sometimes he makes tapping sounds, sometimes bowing twigs with a violin bow. He then layers them in a loop until a plethora of woodsy organic sounds of orchestrated your ear drums! Aside from personal interests in sound recording and field recording with ambient noises, I thought I was able to relate to the thought of exploring spaces. The entire thing is a creative experiment, and if you function visually or by hearing, this is an exercise of the imagination worth conducting. In the past I have explored with ideas such as recording the sound of my keys hitting the floor and then slowing it down and adding delay or running a gunshot backwards. The possibilities were endless, and it is good to see videos of people like Diego who are pursuing their curiosities.