The opening:

The opening for the McColl center was very exciting. I loved Hollis’s work, and there were many other cool artists there.

One of them used a computer software to make random carvings on his paintings, which I found to be a stunning product. Looking at these works gave me an instant feeling of calmness, they moved me. I especially liked the cool colored pieces and the random strokes that were more long and ribbon like.

There was another artist who made large format carvings in wow which were held together by string. Steven is also working with currency as a subject, which I found very beautiful. I can’t wait to see the end result.

Upstairs there was a performance artist who was doing very interesting work with dance and theater elements.

All in all the work was phenomenal and I can’t wait to see the progress.

The open studio:

The open studio was very interesting. I had no idea what to expect, but it seemed to be fairly busy. People asked lots of questions that I would have never expected them to ask. It seemed like a very fun and engaging way for everyday people to have a met and greet with hard working artists.

This week my proposal for an installation was chosen and we have jumped right in!

The concept behind the piece is to project our dreams (which will be laser cut out of wood) as shadows on the wall. Essentially we are making a 18×18 wooden cube, each 6 sides will have one of our dreams and a strong light source on the interior will be projecting the images onto the walls. So hopefully we will be surrounded in shadows of dreams.

We managed to get some ideas down, work out the logistics and even cut our mock-up for the final. (shown above). This is my illustration, it is dead cows covered in lemons that I abstracted into very geometric and less representational shapes.

Below are some inspiration pieces to give an idea of the product.

Being a part of Brittany’s cube group, we all began the week by attending a training course for using the laser cutter. After the planning phase, I began sketching out my ideas for my panel. As the concept behind the piece is dreams, I drew up several sketches pertaining to the absurd and often disturbing nature of my dreams.

Ranging from murderous, middle-aged chickens, and endless staircases, I eventually settled on one of my more abstract dreams about machines and nuclear power. I then began work on my final drawing and planning for the illustrator file. The plan is to have the file ready for cutting this week so that my panel can be cut before break.

Jennifer Purdum received her BFA from University of Cincinnati and later pursued her MFA at American  University, Washington DC and Corciano Italy. Purdum is well known internationally and nationally for her print making. She has participated in many exhibitions internationally and nationally, including, “Printmaking Today” at the Cincinnati Art Museum, Zig Zag Light Night, Gallery Svartaloft, Reykjanesbae, Iceland, AGallery in Chelsea , NYC, and at the Weston Art Gallery in Cincinnati. (Miami University 2016)

Her recent works are the series of print and mixed media representing the objects that she loves. She works in layers and using two medias to overlap each other creating blurry, ambiguous  images that could be read as objects or places. Her works are inspired her personal experience in living through Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans and has explored the same concept through print making and drawing since then. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio and teaches at the regional campus of Miami University. Jennifer Purdum also has international teaching experience from Czech Republic at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen and has been visiting artist, giving lectures at several universities and colleges throughout the country. (Miami University 2016)

“Jennifer Purdum.” College of Creative Art,. Miami University, n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2016. <http://miamioh.edu/cca/academics/departments/art/about/faculty-staff/faculty/jennifer-purdum/index.html&gt;.

Jennifer Purdum, Trojan House #1, Ink and Latex on paper, 60 x 55 in. 

Jennifer Purdum, Domestic Mori 1, Ink and Latex on paper, 44 x 44 in.

Jennifer Purdum, Exodus 5, Archival Pigment Print on German Etch Digital Paper, 22 x 17 in. 

Jennifer Purdum, Trojan House #2, Ink and Latex on Paper, 60 x 55 in. 

Citation

“Jennifer Purdum.” College of Creative Art,. Miami University, n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2016. <http://miamioh.edu/cca/academics/departments/art/about/faculty-staff/faculty/jennifer-purdum/index.html&gt;.

http://www.au-purdum.com/Pages/jenmain.htm

As part of Morgan’s and Heather’s group, I am working with a figure in a personal area and incorporating yarn into the piece to extend it into space. I have been practicing my crochet as well as learning embroidery as a way to add the yarn to the piece. We had to wait for the mylar to be delivered before working on it directly but I have sketched out my image on it as well.

The first work day consisted of practicing sewing yarn into the Mylar, which turned out successful. On Wednesday, we cut the large Mylar and found huge drawing boards to draw on.  Over the weekend, I went into the studio to start the drawing of the figure and cat. The plan for week 2 is to finish the drawing and start to sew on the final piece.

For this project I was more focused on constructing a 3D piece that could allow for interaction. I also wanted use the different textures within the cardboard to create variety in the sculpture. Accenting the folds, ripping off the layers to show the ridging in the center.

Our project included using materials that activated the space in which it was installed. By using a mixture of materials the result is a variety of active and static lines. The space was chosen because the gate when gusts of wind comes along send the pink lines aflutter. They become active and dancing, reminiscent of tribal dancing. While the orange and black tape ground the strong lines when the wind blows through.  The rise and fall of the pink string creates a sense of breath. There’s a soft sound when the wind runs through the gates that is pleasing and calming despite the loud colors.

Claire Trotignon creates works that collages fragments of engravings and old postcards. The result is meticulous and intriguing landscapes that are neither drawings or sculptures. Her drawings articulate neither architecture or a narration, rather they create a new time and space. The detailing of the work is impressive as they imagery is hand cut from engravings and carefully arranged into a new landscape. She has crafted a new realm in each image. The use of a white background keeps the images ungrounded as they appear to float in space. As though these are in progress pieces, the landscape is not quite together yet and its intriguing. The whiteness draws you in to look more closely at the pieces within. Although her drawings may not have a narrative quality to them you can sense the story. The placement of the pieces itself creates a kind of story telling.

Claire Trotignon is an artist who lives and works in Paris, France.

For the wire installation, each one of us gathered various portraits of art student, which later became open to people outside of the art department as well. Next we began to draw out portraits we found to be interesting. these drawings will eventually become the basis of the wire sculpture.