Concerned Citizen

As we started thinking of individuals who made a difference in the community we came up with an individual named Chuck Ryan, a volunteer at BYU. He was awarded Volunteer of the year in 2012. And as we had the time to document him it quickly became apparent what a good and positive citizen he is. Chuck has a passion for BYU sports and his enthusiasm is very contagious. While documenting one of his tours around the BYU sports facility, he showed his friendship and positive influence to those around him. I found it very reminiscent to a section of the readings we did in class entitled Human Rights and Culture: From Datastan to Storyland. It said, “ In storyland we understand that the resilience that sustains communities in times of crisis is rooted in culture, in the stories of survival and social imagination that inspire people to a sense of hope and possibility even in dark times.” This reminds me of Chuck as I interviewed him for this assignment. He is an outstanding citizen that does just that. He would tell stories of survival as he would tell about the athletes who had overcome certain obstacles in their lives and he read a quote by Muhammad Ali, that he said he reads everyday. He talked quite a bit about human accomplishments and it gave a sense of excitement and positivity. I also think about missionaries who go out into the world and teach stories of survival and give people a sense of hope in dark times. I also recall the film The Man who Planted Trees. This is a short animated film of a man who looked into the future and decided to plant trees that would most definitely out live him. But as he thought of how future generations would enjoy the areas in which he planted many trees. This is a perfect example of a concerned citizen.

Protest Poster

The poster that I made is about a subject that I am very concerned about, and think is one of the most important subjects to address. The subject is crimes against children. It is a subject that frustrates me, and sickens me, knowing that there is a huge lack of representation for children in this world. Adults pay for lawyers and higher people in order to be heard. But children don’t have this ability and so many issues go unresolved and blatantly are not given the attention necessary to protect children from harm. The statistics are very high when it comes to abuses committed against children. My inspiration was a lady that was on NPR that talked about a girl who was tortured to death by her mother’s boyfriend. This terrible and appalling act made me extremely angry, as the lady went on talking about how the boyfriend was not punished fairly in the trial. She talked about how she made a strong effort in making sure that the boyfriend did not get of the hook for his crimes, and she has started an organization that helps represent children. This topic is very important to me, and as a father it breaks my heart knowing that there are millions of crimes committed against children on a weekly basis. The poster I created has written on it a terrible statistic that says that one in every four children will be victims of a crime.  I wanted to isolate the children in the poster that I made, and I wanted to show how amazing children are, and how happy and pure. I wanted to drive home the importance of taking care of the children in the world so that they can have a future without unnecessary evil committed against them. One of the things that I think I can help out with on an individual level, is research the different organizations that represent children, and find a way to volunteer or make a donation, that can possibly help a child in being removed from a dangerous enviroment.

Webspinna Artist Statement

The Webspinna was a very interesting assignment, and was a completely new experience for me. Searching the web for sounds that were interesting to me and that I wanted to share with the class really took some time. I found it a bit difficult to have good transitions. The combination of many different sounds, all taken from the Internet was a great example of thinking outside of the box. I think that it is very important that we find new ways in which to express ourselves, and this will lead to better work as a filmmaker, and as an artist. I really liked the idea and thought it was a very enjoyable Friday night party. Although I didn’t think my work was extremely exceptional, I enjoyed making it and having the opportunity to share and perform in front of the class. It was a great experience that we don’t always get as students. I thought it was nice to show and not tell. The fact that we didn’t have to explain our projects and just let the audience listen to something that we had created was refreshing. I also really enjoyed interacting with the class in the setting of a party; it led to more casual and amicable conversations. The class was there to have a good time, and we all just relaxed and enjoyed ourselves. It was great!

My process of creating the Webspinna was heavily influenced by my experiences of seeing someone DJ an event. I felt as though I should treat my sound the same way. Find a beat and mix it up in a way that sounds good. It was an experience that the reading titled “Bourriaud” talked about. The whole process was very eclectic, and made you mix sounds together, which are not normally mixed together. I have been a big fan of the work of Pixar, and one film that comes to mind it The Incredibles. This movie is very eclectic, and shows items such as cars and buildings in an anachronistic manner, because items were chosen by their aesthetic appeal, and not their time period. This made it hard to pin point when the film took place, but in the end it didn’t matter and the inspiration from various different time periods on the earth worked out well.

Webspina

http://www.artofthetitle.com/news/sxsw-2013-film-awards-title-design-finalists/

http://www.playlist.com/search/Daft%20Punk/songs#a/r_02/R8H/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lc6j5oL9fIw

http://www.soundtoys.net/toys/raindrop-melody-maker

http://margaretnoble.net/blog/cottage-countries/

http://www.looperman.com/loops?cid=31

http://www.widgetways.com/WidgetLordOfTheRingsSoundboard.html

Medium Specificity

http://vimeo.com/61693434

I have chosen to do a title sequence for the medium specificity creative art project. I find it interesting how a simple title sequence has the potential of being beautiful and interesting. Although we have seen many title sequences with the deluge of films that we have seen, the title most likely will not be mentioned when discussing and analyzing the film. This is unfortunate in my opinion, because the title sequence is an art and should be recognized. We talked about striping an art to its bones in class and looking at the essentials of what makes the particular piece of art. The title sequence I created was a simple amalgam of typography and image, woven into a montage.  Image + Type + Music are the elements that make up a title sequence. I have taken a typography class that has made me really appreciate the beauty and art of type, and I have also come to see the beauty and art in imagery. A particular title sequence that I find fascinating and very beautiful is the title sequence before the film The Visual Language of Herbert Matter. I have posted a link to this particular title sequence and many others that I find interesting. I am really fascinated in the minutia or simple nuance of any art form. When you become more aware of the process and intricacies of any type of art, you can come to a better appreciation and understanding of the art medium. Knowing the history of a typeface such as Garamond, Helvetica and Baskerville give you a better sense of the art. Knowing about the design that goes into creating a typeface, and every single letter and serif is fascinating. The image and composition of the image is very complex and also has fascinating intricacies that make up and image within a frame. The reading in the book about the image and word being mixed, specifically talking about comic books was very interesting and I thought brought up a very strong argument about the importance of the image. I liked his observation about how the general public thinks that comic books are inferior to standard texts with only words. How words and image have been pitched against one another, when in fact they work very well, and are very effective in tandem. I really enjoyed making this title sequence and plan on creating more as I learn better techniques in doing so.

Medium Specificity

http://vimeo.com/54959036

http://vimeo.com/48589127

http://vimeo.com/25832902

http://vimeo.com/12408384

http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/sherlock-holmes/

http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/a-history-of-scotland/

http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/the-fall/

Textual Poaching

My creative image has to do with the combination of my religion and the art in my life. These two areas in my life are a representation of who I am. The painting Starry Night by Vincent Van Gough is representative of my appreciation for art, and the camera on a tripod emphatically states this admiration for good art. With the camera I have placed my self in the French countryside on a beautiful night. Another Item that you will notice is the temple in the valley. This makes the painting all the more meaningful to me as a member of the church. When I came up with this idea I remembered the pictures in the book, with the African American version of Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Queen. These are both an attempt to represent your view on life and create a piece of work that is well known so it has an impact to the public eye. Another thing that influenced my work was the exhibit of Andy Warhol’s work at the MOA. Warhol is the quintessential artist for this particular genre of art. He has taken photographs of Marilyn Monroe and put some graphic artwork and coloring over the photographs and created a representation of what he feels is true art. Although Warhol’s art is of a lionized individual and mine is a representation of a temple and my belief system.  I see the similarities of getting to take control of an existing piece of art and ameliorating this work in anyway that you can so that it is connected to you in some form. This activity was very thought provoking as one tried to come up with an historical medium that could have a historical representation of yourself. I think that my religion and my choice of study need to coexist comfortably in order for me to do well in life. 

Textual Poaching

Statement

A well composed and aesthetically pleasing picture is in reality a subjective point of view. As I was thinking of what type of art piece I wanted to present to the class I started to think of what is good composition. Who has made up these rules? I know that we as humans find value in pictures composed with the rule of thirds or various other compositional rules, but is this an innate sense that we are born with or has it been a forced tradition? I thought of this with regards to the article The Ecstasy of Influence. This article addresses the fact that there is no such thing as originality anymore and that we actually borrow from other artists before us. This is called cryptomensia, a subconscious plagiarism that occurs in human beings because of the eclectic and steady flow of artistic works that will influence and individual. Well this applies to the rule of thirds or any other compositional rule. When we compose art we borrow or use rules of composition, and in a sense are recreating a composition or piece of art that has been done before. I chose to use a picture of a staircase that is present at BYU. Although staircases have been photographed many times I found that this particular staircase had a compositional value and aesthetic that I found simplistic yet beautiful. This photograph represents my connection to BYU and my respect and gratitude for this wonderful institution. To me this staircase represents the fluidity of the ups and downs of life, but also the very rough path that we can take when we stumble in our lives.  I also believe that the design architectural craft involved in making this staircase work harmoniously together.  This photograph represents all of the elements of our manifesto. When coming up with this idea I remembered the beauty in the architecture in Paris, France. I have had the opportunity to go there, and one of the things that impressed me the most about the trip, and there was plenty of beauty and art to see and enjoy. I remember being extraordinarily impressed by a staircase that was in the Petit Palais. It is a magnificent staircase that represents well-composed and aesthetic beauty.

MANIFESTO

Movement Manifesto:

Art today appears to be pulled by two forces: uninformed consumers, and the egotistical art community.

The uninformed consumer doesn't like using his brain, he thinks art merely has to look nice, and mental exertion of any kind require from a song, a painting, a film etc. is a sign of an arrogant artist and a signal to them to switch their brain off and dismiss. The most unfortunate part of this force is that it is imaginary, a conjuration of studio's and commissioners, who sole effort is to make a sure buck. These corporate bodies are shackling artists, or even worse inspiring new or existing artist, to create formulaic, shallow pieces or art work that re of benefit to no-one. 

Equally to blame are the numerous pompous artists that are caught up in their arrogance. These men love to create work that is nigh impossible to access or understand. Every time I have to read a blurb explaining a painting in order to glean a shred of meaning, I die a little inside.

Good art means something. More specifically it means something to the artist. It represents something that the artist feels or sees and is reflecting on. The best art is just that, a reflection on a truth they have witnessed and desire to share. It can be critical, it can be praising, but it can also be an ambiguous reflection. Once the artist finds something that inspires him, finds something he wants to share, it is then up to him to present it in a way that can be received by his community (note. his community can be anywhere from his family to the world, depending on the commonality of his subject or truth). Art should be well composed, half of what makes good art is the craft of the artist. This isn't to say that art is beautiful, but the beauty or horror should come from the subject matter and not the composition or craft.

Good art is honest. And it is up to the artist to use his craft to convey his truth to his audience. If art fails, it fails because it is meaningless (or lacks significant meaning), or there are problems with the craft. Art is a fine balancing act, neither the craft nor the subject matter should overwhelm each other, instead they should exist in harmony.

Our Pledge.

1. Must be well composed and aesthetically pleasing.
2. Must reflect the society in which the artist lives, or is apart of.
3. This reflection of society or life must be easily determinable.
4. The craft and the subject matter mustn't overpower each other. They must work in harmony.

MANIFESTO

MANIFESTO

1. Must be well composed and aesthetically pleasing.

2. Must reflect the society in which the artist lives, or is apart of.

3. This reflection of society or life must be easily determinable.

Movement Sample

What makes this painting significant is the demonstration of illimitable possibilities. Laws with which we are bound, no longer exist in this world. This uninhibited creative power provides an opportunity for original unexplored artistry, and an expansion of the imagination.

Historical story Artist statement

While coming up with the script we had many discussions on how to cover, and portray the historical event and back-story of the assassination of John F. Kennedy.  While coming up with the story I thought of certain images that might prove interesting. After some thought I came up with the idea of following the manufacturing proces and and sale of the rifle to Lee Harvey Oswald by mail order. As I read Vivian, Fort Barnwell by Ethan Canin about the photograph of his mother, I couldn’t help to think of all the speculation and embellishment that has taken place because of the assassination of the President. This reading also made me think about the small details that can be overlooked, like in the photograph of the author’s mother (really his grandmother).  There is also an alluring effect that takes place when we are able to catch a particular moment in time by a single photograph. While researching the life of Lee Harvey Oswald, I came across a black and white picture of Oswald holding the rifle he used to assassinate the President after he received it in the mail. This image, just like in the reading has story to tell. If you begin to analyze, and read about this particular photograph you will have a better understanding about the picture. For example Lee Harvey Oswald was a communist, and in this photograph he is holding a communist newspaper with his rifle. You will also notice that there is a divot, or scratch in the stock of the rifle, which would later prove to be helpful, while trying to identify the weapon used in the assassination.

This attention to detail with imagery was really what we decided to write about. New Orleans after the deluge was another helpful guide while coming up with a way to tell the story of this event. Another inspiration was a particular film, The Tree of Life by Terrence Malick which uses imagery to tell a story. With the use of abstract images the audience can interpret the story in many ways.  The film is very lean in dialogue, and relies on the image to tell a story. The horrific event of the assassination of a JFK took place before I was born. This historical event is documented well, with many photographs that tell stories about the past. Because of the many conspiracy theories of the grassy knoll and many other theories the event can be cloudy to understand what really took place that day in November. Implementing this approach to our story really helped us focus on the story of a single detail, that would intervene and become a piece of the historical event that took place. 

Historical Story

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5lfMvYlmPZpUTFjWm4tNmhDdjQ/edit?usp=sharing

Genealogical Artifact

When ten years of age, all of my friends and I suddenly developed an obsession for Victorinox Swiss Army knifes. In retrospect I believe this obsession might have stemmed from my Swiss heritage, and memories of my grandpa pridefully wielding his fathers Swiss Army knife, and vehemently explicating the quality of Swiss products in general. When the time came when our parents would allow us to purchase our own pocketknife, we determinedly chose the Swiss Army brand. All of us went to Ace hardware and chose a knife from the assortment of colors. I chose a green ducks unlimited edition. The knife consisted of a blade, file, scissors, toothpick and tweezers. I thought the pocketknife was extremely useful and empowering, a devise that showed my maturity. While choosing my green Victorinox from the display case, my eyes kept reverting to a particular model of Swiss Army knife, the Swisschamp a 1” thick pocketknife that contained an assortment of 33 different tools, and or implements. Among the more alluring tools were pliers, magnifying glass, wood saw and a ballpoint pen decorating the substantial toolset. The knife had a lifetime warranty and was built for me specifically or so I thought. I euphorically procured the knife from Santa a couple of months later, and I couldn’t wait to use this master of all pocketknives. I stored the Swisschamp in its original packaging and kept it safely tucked away in my dresser.

            The day came when I had the opportunity to proudly tote the beast on a scout camp. This tool would most definitely prove to be useful in the wild. As I finished setting up camp I quickly grabbed my Swisschamp, and joined my friends carving sticks with inferior knives. As I started carving a stick my friends and fellow scouts immediately were astonished. While I was carving the stick I suddenly felt like I was dulling the blade on a menial task, and it bothered me, so I stopped and went back to my tent and grabbed the smaller knife that I had previously purchased and started using it instead. In fact the knife was so impressive to me that I didn’t use it all that much throughout the years. I didn’t want to ware it out. It was more like a trophy for show only. I was more infatuated with the design and sheer presence of the knife that I didn’t want to damage it in any way. The knife would remain safely tucked away in my drawer and every so often through the years I would admire its beauty and laugh because of its pristine condition. The Knife has 33 tools, cost a lot of money, and I only used it a couple of times over the years.  To this day the Swisschamp remains one of the few items that I have taken with me, as I have moved from place to place.  

Swisschamp

Artist Statement 4

Artist Statement

My pocketknife immediately came to mind when thinking of an object in my life. The knife has been in my possession for a very long time, and generated a tapestry of images, feelings and memories. As I held the knife in my hand I was nostalgically transported to my youth. It was interesting how the memories flickered through my mind and so easily surfaced as I reminisced on the significance of my Swisschamp Victorinox pocketknife. I thought of the reading Unknown Keys. The author’s father had passed away and while rummaging through his fathers personal effects he came across a set of keys marked “unknown keys”. The mystery keys reminded him of his father, they became symbolic of his life. My Swiss army knife doesn’t get much use today, and never has in the past, and like the keys, the memories that the object encapsulates is far more significant and valuable than the object itself. Tangible objects have the ability to create a concatenated line of memories, attached to in this case a red inanimate object. I also realized how much I value products built with meticulous craftsmanship. Another thing that brings significance to an item in my life is its design and craftsmanship. When a company focuses on these to components I will place value upon the object. Another company, or product that has a strong connection with me is Apple. This electronic company has built products such as the computer and phone that create a connection and significance in my life. They have generated a loyalty and connections between its products and consumers. There are many objects that have historical significance in my life such as a t-shirt, or a watch, or a pair of shoes. And as long as these objects are in my possession, they will have the ability to fuse themselves to the same memories. They have the power of story, of recollection when viewed or held.

Process Piece

https://soundcloud.com/jcowan2/violin-process

The process piece that I worked on was of a musician tuning and playing a violin. While finding the individual to document, it became clear how empowering this line of work is.  You are able to open doors all because of a technological device. This coupled with an inclination of the general public to discuss their process, whatever that may be provides many opportunities. Documenting a process by audio makes it very critical when choosing a subject that will complement the form. After watching some of the routine videos that consisted of time lapses and a very distinct soundtrack I immediately understand why sound is so important, and can be the biggest factor in the success of your film. 

Artist Statement 2

Creativity is such an important aspect to humanity. Without it we would not be able to enjoy it’s innumerable facets, such as music, art, movies, computers, automobiles and electricity to name a few. Creativity has done so much for modern society, and has provided opportunity in area’s that didn’t even exist a hundred years ago. When we are young, I feel that we are encouraged to follow our dreams, to be creative to not give up. Interestingly enough the same individuals who supported you when you said you wanted to be an astronaut, artist or inventor later on would rescind their support and tell you to “be practical.” When someone wants to make a living in a creative profession, they most likely will be on their own while pursuing their creative dreams. Very few are encouraged to reach their potential to fulfill their dreams, because it is too risky or “impossible.” I wanted to write stories of all the discouraged individuals who never even gave it a try, because they let others tell them what they were capable of. How can anyone know what you are capable of without trying? I believe with all the discouragement, many sell themselves short and quit before they begin.

            While doing this assignment I realized how much you could say with so little. In the book there is a picture of a grocery store where a 14-year-old African American said something to a white woman and was murdered for it. This is a tragic story and is told with a picture and a few words. Sometimes saying less is more powerful, and with a photograph or an illustration so much can be told without a single word. “A picture can say a thousand words.” Is a very cliché statement, but is very valid with regards to this assignment. As a filmmaker, gaining an understanding of how to communicate visually will make you extremely effective in your career. 

Tiny Stories

Artist Statement 1

Avril 14th by Aphex Twin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBFXJw7n-fU

My piece is a conglomeration of nine photographs, all with a specific representational visual element. My family is irrefutably the most important responsibility, priority and blessing in my life. My film studies and aspirations in life in comparison are trivial and inconsequential. These photographs are a representation of my struggles as I seek a balance of priorities and time spent with my family and efforts in making a career as a filmmaker and artist.

 The first photograph in the sequence of nine is of my daughter at the Museum of Art. She stares into the massive eye of a behemoth female Cyclops. This is a representation of how at times art can be the priority and domineering presence in her life. Although the photographs are of my children, Isis and Aiden, they are in fact a reflection of me, and my struggles to balance my priorities. As of now these two compartmentalized areas of my life are not correctly balanced. I attend class everyday of the week and when I am done I spend an enormous amount of time on homework and film projects. I am pursuing one of the most competitive professions in the world. My awareness of how extremely difficult it is to make it in the film industry can cause me to become fixated, spending long hours to educate myself and get as much experience on set as possible. This combination inevitably creates conflict in my life. The remaining photographs are of abstract cautionary yellow, labyrinthian art and of my beautiful children. The yellow puzzled abstractions, also represent my efforts in solving the puzzle of my artistic abilities can create a sustaining family career. My life is not complete, and needs to be fully pieced together and balanced correctly. As you can see the photographs of my children have a tinge of yellow representing an imbalance. I have a lot of work to do in order to piece both areas of my life back together. The last photograph is of my daughter, one of the most prolific artists I know being proud of her gingerbread house. This photograph represents the balance of how my family and art can coexist.

Music Mosaic