600 WORD CRITIQUE GROUP RESPONSE – October 15 – November 15 2015
Crit Group D decided to present in two shifts so that there
wasn’t a situation where the first person doesn’t have the opportunity to
present much progress on their project – while the last person doesn’t have
much time to consider & apply any of the group member’s comments. So we
went in two groups of three people – first presenting an introduction to the
project & receiving feedback … then presenting again to show progress on
the work & receive feedback.
My Introduction post – October 15th
My Progress post – November 6th
Feedback on Introduction:
Michelle gave a very poetic response – pure poetry,
in fact! And commented that the idea of RAW is limitless & extreme. She
also suggested that I pursue more photography with an emotional/visceral use of
the camera -as she had seen hints
of it in some of my images. I did this & was pleased with the results.
Johannes detected a sense of pilgrimage & process
– with a hint of “Nordic Tropicana”. He also planted a seed to think in terms
of “experimental journalism”.
My Hay Bales made him think of Van Gough. He suggested I
look at Anselm Kiefer, Beuys writing & the film Chronos.
Asher had thoughts of Ana Mendieta & Herman de
Vries. He wants to see me exploring & discovering without the confidence of
an experienced performer.
He commented on the idea of “evidence” … some evidence of my
having interacted with the raw materials of nature – like the bottles of
elderberry wine, baskets of apples, gaps in the wheat-field.
Analia noted that RAW = potential for Transformation
– using raw material to make something. The transformation could be something
as simple as the “silhouettes” (gaps) in the wheat. She suggested looking at
Pina Bausch “Complaint of an Empress” – for the body repeatedly falling due to
surface of ground.
Oliver noted my project statement & my fusing the
self with nature – he commented on how humans have separated ourselves from the
environment & my fusing with nature draws attention to this problem – but
does my poetic focus take away from the serious message?
Feedback on Progress:
Michelle gives another poetic poetry response &
comments that she sees much potential & possibilities in the footage I
presented.
Analia comments on the video footage saying that,
although the timing does need tightening up – not to pander to the modern
demand for fast pace – she thinks that contemplation & observation is
important for this work. She asks what is the difference between Raw &
Nature? & again emphasizes that Transformation is the key … taking the raw
& using it to create … & / or stripping everything down to the raw
material (as in my performance at somos)
She also comments that I have found an individual aesthetic
to avoid the potential clichés of my subject matter.
Oliver said the video of my performance at somos
caused him to reflect on body politics in art. Also on the dehumanization &
defeminization of women prisoners who had their hair shaved. He sees an
integration of my body Studies work with my Nature work in that it’s all raw
materials. He also comments on the fact that raw materials are for making
something (selling of hair, making apple jam)
Johannes sees my process in the context of art
history – he sees that it’s a very personal process, (which is why I’m not
repeating past historical tropes.)
Suggests: book – Andrea Fraser -Why does Fred Sandbacks work make me cry?”, Deleuze essay –
Body without Organs, Jan Svankmajer’s stop-motion.
He understands that the concept of Rawness unites all the
facets of my project.
Suggests careful editing to show material well.
Asher refers to the feeling of “gravitas” in my live
performance that he doesn’t sense so much in my videos. Comments on my use of
the word Interrogation & suggests I pursue that into self-scrutinization.
Likes the “radial” motion still images. Finds some of my video editing
distracting (in its current stage) – thinks of how to frame nature & body
in the same aesthetic.
The common thread I pick up on most in the commentary is the
idea of Raw Material becoming / transforming into something else – or being
affected. Whether it’s about “transformation” of a raw material … or “evidence”
of something having happened to the raw material – or the idea that the
material has a “purpose” to become.
This is GOOD … as Transformation is an underlying theme of
my work - & although I have not yet pursued this theme with great
deliberation to expose it yet, apparently it is coming through in the work
anyway!
Most of my peers also commented on how I have found a way to
avoid clichés of nature through my very personal approach of investigation via
the body-self.
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