Writing Through Sculpture

This chapter was very interesting. After reading it for the first time I was lost. I attempted to dig through it to relate to I am researching. Over the course of the chapter I thought her ideas about text or font relating to the texture of a sculpture were beautiful. To not only write but to compost it in a way that is similar to creating a form for a piece of three-dimensional art.

One quote I loved in there was ' Lying in a hammock may never be a writable position, but it is a sculptural position' This really got me thinking about how I could use her technique in my own research. She mentioned journaling and going through 'flow' by mapping and planning through writing in every day situations. I am able to use this in my own journaling that can be created into a collage with photographs. By journaling I am able to 'sculpt' my everyday and the emotions, thoughts, and events that affect my life.

Over the course of this past week I have tried to regroup and get my thoughts in order about a research project. I have finally decided on researching Celiac Disease through collage and journal work. I have always been inspired by beautiful journals and collages. The overall idea and theme, after talking and brainstorming with Rachel, is the idea of Celiac Disease as a Landscape. My curiosity grew when I was diagnosed with it in August of 2009. Being in college and always on the go it is sad to say that I have not conducted as much research into this as I should have. My love for art and desire to create it in a meaningful and beautiful way, I feel will greatly change my perspective of this new life style.

One thing that is particularly interesting with this disease is it is hereditary. Over the course of the last few months I have encouraged family members who have symptoms such as mine to get tested. It could be interesting to look at family history.

Another thing that I found interesting was that at times this disease can be triggered by traumatic events in a person's life even though they may have had the disease for years prior. Two years ago my parents went through a divorce and it shook my family quite a bit. Along with that many other events could have added to the stress. I would like to look more in depth on how an event may or may not have triggered my disease.

An area that I would also like to venture is daily frustrations and challenges that I face. Being an on the go person planning is taken into great consideration of meals, snacks, and reading food labels. Things such as shopping in a grocery store for two hours, or the heart attack I have each time I go through the check out line at the store and realize how expensive eating healthy can be.

So the main ideas/ goal that I have for this project is to:

• Research different collage styles/ work of different artists
• Research my family history if possible
• Journal about my every day challenges and frustrations about Celiac Disease
• Look over my medical history over the past year and work that into journals and collage
• Research more in depth on the disease and things that may have triggered it
• Connect with the disease through my art and the construction of it by making aesthetic decisions when creating each piece

As an end goal I would like to have a successful collage piece or multiple pieces and a journal that may tell a story of the first year being diagnosed.

Research Brainstorming

I have had a few thoughts about what I would like to research. Because I am still an undergrad I would like to explore myself more as an artist. Currently what I am inspired by is the Iowan landscape which I have grown up in. I never realized how beautiful it was until I traveled to the central and western part of the state. The hills form wonderful shapes and lines that are reflective in my work.

The other idea I have thought about, mostly over the course of these last six months is Celiac Disease. I have recently got diagnosed with it and still have a lot to learn, and what better way to do so by researching it and maybe the effects it has on me as an artist.

Another thought I had to research is children and young adults coupled with art. What does art bring? What is most successful with students? Curriculum?

One goal of mine has been to journal. I would really like to incorporate that into my research by journaling and collaging creating beautiful works of art of thoughts or ideas.

Research Brainstorming

Groups of People:

Coworkers- Restaurant (The Summit)

BFA Students- The Studio

Roommates- Home

Friends- Out to dinner or lunch/ Bars

Family (mostly my sister and brother-in-law)- Dinner/ Bars

Interests:

Iowan Landscape (or the landscape in general)

Religion

Effects of art on students

Non-for-profits

Myself as an artist

Art Therapy

The Archive

Ceramics

Abstract Expressionism

At-risk students

Celiac Disease

Atmospheric Kilns

Making sense of the world:

Shower- A hot shower always calms me down due to no distractions and my mind wondering. It is me and my thoughts.

Talking to myself in the car- My mind works through thoughts or different dreams that I have about myself or the future. This works because I am able to say my thoughts freely out loud to make sense of everything or understand how ridiculous I sound.

Hand-building/ Throwing on the wheel- This is a huge stress relief when I can go into my own world and forget about troubles or distractions. I get set into a state of flow where I am completely focused.

Lists- I make lists to remember and let my mind relax at night or throughout the day. With this I am able to manage my time and try to get my priorities straight.

Daydream:

In my future I see myself creating an after-school program where I have the freedom to teach courses and programs with just the students in mind and their interests. Along with that I would really like to continue my education as an artist by attending residences and graduate school to really focus on my art and myself as an artist. I enjoy getting lost in my art and do not want to lose that part of me. One thing that I find frustrating about what I would like to do is the stress of funding such a program. My audience is first potential grad schools and their faculty. My long term audience is parents or students themselves who have an interest in art. I want to communicate to them through my talents and goals for the future. I want, especially with my students, to form a bond of trust and openness when in a studio and for it to be an atmosphere of equals. The reason I am so connected to being an artist and an educator is without creating art I would be lost in my day. I can't imagine not working with clay everyday. The other reason is that it is troubling to me that students either do not get the opportunity to explore art or get a small amount of it. Everyone has a talent I just feel like they get hindered or shut off at some point in time. I want to bring a voice inside of a young adult alive and let them explore and understand themselves through their art.