Tag Archive for 'artist statements'

Lumen Prints Statement #3

Published
by
Andy
on September 25, 2008
in art, lumen prints and photography
.

Here is the latest revision of the statement. I still have to make a few connections and make a better link between the Lumen print and the subject matter.

The Lumen process is serendipitous, unpredictable and liberating. Some plants record their leaves’ vein structure on the photographic paper with great detail and exactness, while others wither very rapidly from the solar heat, leaving ghosts of themselves on the paper as they die. I have learned what colors will be produced by certain exposure times, but something new happens every time—a new color is produced, chlorophyll from the plant is pressed into the paper—and is never again replicated. The ever-surprising nature of this process is what draws me so intensely to it. I escape the exact, precise nature of working with the conventional camera. Choosing plants to create these prints, I find my place in Nature, and the plants’ place in art.

Lumen Prints Statement #2

Published
by
Andy
on September 24, 2008
in art, lumen prints and photography
.

Last week we looked at our artist statements in class, and edited my statement down to this:

The Lumen process is serendipitous, unpredictable and liberating. I never know exactly what the results will be—some plants record their leaves’ vein structure on the photographic paper with great detail and exactness, while others wither very rapidly from the solar heat, leaving “ghosted” images of themselves on the paper as they shrink. Through experience, I’ve learned roughly what colors will be produced by certain exposure times, but something new happens every time—a new color is produced, chlorophyll from the plant is pressed into the paper—and is never again replicated. The ever-surprising nature of this process is what draws me so intensely to it. I am allowed to put off the very exact, precise nature of working with the mechanical camera, and completely let go. By going out and collecting plants to create these prints, I am able to find my place in Nature, and discover the plants’ place in art.

Today we went over our revisions/edits and clarified them even more. Unfortunately I left my print out of my statement that has all my edit marks on it in my darkroom. I’ll post that revision tomorrow. Please feel free to edit and comment about this revision in the meantime.

Lumen Prints Artist Statement Draft

Published
by
Andy
on September 15, 2008
in art, lumen prints and photograms
.

I’ve been meaning to write an artist statement for my Lumen Prints for ever, and I’m finally getting to it (an assignment to come up with an artist statement for my Graduate Seminar class certainly helped me get my butt in gear). I’d very much appreciate feedback, and edits, so please leave a comment and let me know what you think. Oh, and the assignment is due Wednesday, so no pressure.

An Artistic Study of Southeast Idaho’s Aquatic Vegetation

One of my first experiences in photography that I remember is of making photograms, where various objects such as plants, fabrics, pencils, paper, hands, are placed directly on photographic paper, which is then exposed to light. After development, areas where the objects were blocking the transmission of light are left white, or turn varying shades of grey, depending on how translucent the object is, and areas void of any object become black.

The Lumen printing process expands on the principle of the photogram, but skips the development step. Plants and other organic materials are placed on black and white photographic paper, then left to be exposed under sunlight. The sun’s intense UV light and solar heat react with the paper and plant, and the chemical make up of the plant and paper all combine to produce various colors (development after the exposure would eliminate these colors and render everything in black and white and various shades of grey); papers from different manufacturers react differently from one to the next, and varying exposure lengths affect the vibrancy of the colors produced.

It is a very serendipitous, unpredictable and liberating process. One never knows exactly what the results will be—some plants record their leave’s vein structure on the paper with great detail and exactness, while others wither very rapidly from the solar heat, leaving a “ghosted” image of itself on the paper as it shrinks. Through experience, one gets to know very roughly what colors will be produced by certain exposure times, but there is always something that had never happened previously—a new color is produced, chlorophyl from the plant is pressed into the paper—and is never again replicated. The ever surprising nature of this process is what draws me so intensely to it. I am allowed to put off the very exact, precise nature of working with the mechanical camera, and completely let go, and I find great joy and relaxation in that.

Artist Statement Faux Pas

Published
by
Andy
on August 17, 2008
in photography
.

This spring my friend Carolee Coy had her B.F.A. Show, along with some of the other graduating graphic designers, painters, and others from the art department of BYU Idaho. All the work there was very impressive. I was partial to Carolee’s work, partly because it was the only photography there, but mostly because it was really good photography.

But, I had to wonder at some of the artist statements. A few of them had phrases like: “For my project I hope to show…,” and “I hope my work shows…” And these students aren’t the only ones guilty of including these types of statements. I’ve read many statements from artists all over the internet, ranging from personal web sites, to artists featured at prestigious online and “brick and mortar” galleries such as Photo Eye.

Such phrases (especially the latter) show insecurity from the artist about what they hope their art does or what message it conveys or what questions it is asking. Such phrases act like a sort of a cheat sheet, giving the viewers the answers to whatever questions the artist’s work is (hopefully) asking, or tells the viewer how the artist thinks their work should be approached. Good Art, good Photography, and good artist statements don’t give answers away.

Now, graphic designers perhaps don’t have to worry so much about artist statements, so them including phrases like that is a little understandable (one caveat here: I’m completely unaware of what is au courant among graphic design and illustration, and if any work is shown in galleries). Photographers, painters, sculptors, ceramicists, etc… do. At least if they hope to get gallery representation, enter into exhibitions, or get published.

I’m not saying that artist statements should be nebulous and full of pretentious, flowery language and have statements such as: “Although I am not a painter, I think that the reductive quality of the gesture spatially undermines a participation in the critical dialogue of the 90s.” I am saying they should be direct, concise, and simple, and explain what the artist feels about the work and just say what is being done, not what the artists “hope to” achieve.