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