Videos on Vimeo

I've up more of my video work from the last semester and recently up on Vimeo, so check them out if you're interested. They're in reverse chronological order from when they were made.

 

Catch-17 from Aaron Kather on Vimeo.
Featuring Daniel Westfield, who also assisted with suggestions and some camera work.

This video is an extension of a scene made for a video challenge collaboration with Michelle Cade. The use of "two cameras on single manufactured event" with a cut "between the two in consistent time" is inspired by some of the rules from Challenge 2 with Dan Reidy.




Three Scenes from Aaron Kather on Vimeo.
Challenge 1 reimagined. The original rules for Challenge 1 were:

20 second film. Two people. Four spoken words. Three cuts one of which 10 seconds. One insect. Ambient sound augmented by "performed" post production sound. Four written words to contradict the spoken. Some reference to Santa.

Text messages from me to Dan Reidy on December 12, 2012, around 12:50 PM

I might reinterpret the first challenge.

The Santa part is easier now that its close to Christmas

An email sent from me to Dan Reidy on Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 2:39 AM.

Hey Dan,
I made a new video. It should be in the dropbox folder. It's kind of a redo of the first challenge, but not really. It has Santa in it. There's an insect. There are spoken and written words. There are a couple clips longer than 10 seconds. There are 3 parts (but probably like 30 cuts).The 20 second thing is out completely. Not sure if I like the ending, but I let it sit for a while a decided to leave it as is, at least for now. Let me know what you think (about the ending and the whole thing).


I feel that my love for Jean Cocteau and Stan Brakhage can be felt in this video.




Human Patterns from Aaron Kather on Vimeo.
This video is based on the following email from Dan Reidy, on Thursday, November 1, 2012, at 6:17 PM:

challenge 5
an actor must be hired though barter
a narrative portraying a mundane day-to-day event to show the theme of :fate vs free will
under five min-




Two minutes and eight seconds held breath from Aaron Kather on Vimeo.
In response to dw3.




Kung Fu Sound from Aaron Kather on Vimeo.
Challenge 3, received from Dan Reidy in an email on Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 11:15 PM.

i,m sorry but you must be penalized-
5 bend(ings) of the rules = very challenging challenge

challenge 1
-over time
-too many spoken words
-too many cut
challenge 2
-inconsistant time
-wizard of oz?

challenge 3
reshoot - shot for shot, this clip. you play both parts. the setting and props and costumes are only to be your apartment and items within. you must have stand in for waves and horse(projection on the wall over you shoulder or shadow puppetry or drawings). you must solve the problem of having yourself twice in a single shot. you can use appropriate sound from the clip.

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




Nighttime Snack from Aaron Kather on Vimeo.
From an email entitled Next Challenge for atk, sent Tuesday, October 16, 2012 at 10:52 AM.

Challenge 2 atk
Visual must consist of only-
Two cameras on single manufactured event one tripoded one hand held
Jump Cuts back and forth between the two in consistent time.
Bottom scroll of text of all spoken and written words in chronological order of both dw and atk answer to first challenge
Exactly one min
Reference wizard of oz


The text in the video is a quote from L. Frank Baum's Ozma of Oz, during the introduction of the character the Hungry Tiger, and reads as follows:
"Hungry I was born, and hungry I shall die. But I'll not have any cruel deeds on my conscience to be sorry for."




Beginning of a Conversation from Aaron Kather on Vimeo.
The original email from Dan Reidy that intiated the video challenge project, received in an email Re:Article: Amazingly Efficient Use of Space in World's Narrowest House on Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at 1:31 AM.

Challenge;
20 second film. Two people. Four spoken words. Three cuts one of which 10 seconds. One insect. Ambient sound augmented by "performed" post production sound. Four written words to contradict the spoken. Some reference to Santa.

exquisite corpses

ask and you shall receive

New Videos

Hey everyone! It was great to see you all for the crit weekend. I found it energizing and inspiring to see everyone and all the exciting new work.

Some one commented that it would be nice if we saw some more things from everyone here on the blog, so I'm going to try to post a little more. I'm in the process of putting some of my videos online, so you can see them once they're up if you didn't get a chance to over the winter break. I'll also be putting up some new ones as I've been working with a few different people, expanding my collaboration recently. Feedback is always appreciated. I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season!

My two most recent videos:

https://vimeo.com/55408237

https://www.dropbox.com/s/tuhgvsr9ufclcg2/challenge1reduxf.dv

PS. I'm also going to try to figure out how to make it so that everyone can have the option of getting a email when someone posts so that you know when there's something new to look at.

Rings, Blogs, Etccccc

Hi all -

Hope your crits were constructive.  I found colleens post to be useful for the last crit.

Congrats to Monika - and if you haven't had a chance to look at the mentor folder she put together.  Check it out - It's great and looks like a lot of work!!!

If that was all we did to improve the program this fall as a result of our communication - i would consider that a huge success....  I think we accomplished even more than that and if anyone wants to start up that dialogue again - i'd be happy to join you.  Beth S. or Erin would also be really good people to talk to.

Robins blog!!   I really liked how hers looked and liked seeing the progression of her work  from the beginning of the summer to now.  It inspired me to make my own, it felt a little self-indulgent and congratulatory at first, i wasn't even going to post it - but it became really helpful in contextualizing the changes in my art and made me a little more conscious of what i've been doing, so i really found value in making one and am going to put it out there.

Take a look if you get a chance and give me some critical feedback: http://jblisspaints.wordpress.com/


Hope you all have a good holiday and let's try to keep in touch,

Joe

ps. Anybody have a pic of my lotto/chair project you could send me?

we could spend all of our time fighting our own damn institution or do something productive and start working on bigger problems

shitty sculptures

I'm making a shitty sculpture because its been a shitty week in the studio. I'm apologizing in advance for you all having to look at it in the upcoming crit.....



but i guess i get a little pleasure out of it....

Critiques

(I dug up some old notes on critique etiquette.  Can we add to or otherwise improve this list?)


Critiques are a time for:

• feedback, not judgment
• suspending egos (of the artist and reviewers)
• patience to understand the artist’s goals and give suggestions on how to meet them (not just how to tailor the project to the reviewer’s taste)
• artists to reconsider their art in a larger context

A bad critique:

• uses phrases such as “don’t like” or “like” without using solid examples and relating them to the artist’s goals (false and empty compliments are as pernicious as personal attacks)
• fails to allow every reviewer a chance to speak or ask questions
• has reviewers who disrespect or belittle each other’s statements
• is vague or involves blanket judgments
• has inattentive reviewers
• gets personal
• has an artist who isn’t ready to consider advice or grow

Suggestions for reviewers:

• Voice opinions as questions whenever reasonable. This helps keep everyone’s focus on eliciting information and avoiding defensiveness.
• If an intuitive appreciation for the artwork is all you have to offer, at least identify what element draws you to it.
• You can respect an artwork even if you don’t like it at all.

Suggestions for artists:

• Ask specific questions for the audience.
• Take notes.
• Even if you don’t like a response or suggestion, consider it later.  Thinking it over doesn’t mean you have to act on it.
• Remember that the only reason for a critique is to help you grow.

student's thaumotrope

(no) Vacancy in my mind

Hey all, it's great to see some work and hear a few words from everyone! Here are a couple pictures of what I've been working on recently: 

As part of a series of videos that I'm working on with Dan (Reidy), I was remaking a scene from the Seventh Seal, featuring myself as both characters (the Knight and Death). I started trying to learn how to use Adobe After Effects to achieve this effect. 

I've also been using a dremel to carve a wood chess set. I have all of the pieces roughly done, but have lots of details and finishing work to do still. 

teaching assistant positions

So as you've all read in the oh so polite email from Dean Christopher Sharrock, there is no longer a teaching assistant program for us.

I'm trying to get letters from those interested in keeping it going. Letters to Sharrock pertaining to the importance of having such a program, what it does for us, the teachers involved, and even the undergraduate students.

I know some of you, in particular stories I have heard from painting students, have not had such a great time. I'm sorry to hear that as mine is going pretty well. If you guys are willing to write a letter in favor of the teaching assistant positions I urge you to the need for more structure as well as the importance of such positions.

The more letters we have the less the Dean can ignore us. I've even asked my teachers to write a letter.

I hope it can continue. I've found that I am learning a lot about my own practice as an artist through watching and advising students. I hope we can all have that.

If you guys want to send it to me and I will hand them all in together or you can email the dean at csharrock@uarts.edu.

If you are willing, can you please ask your teacher you are working with also. I'm hoping about 10 or so letters will get to him.

Not a sound you expect to hear

I went to a glassblowers' show yesterday, and saw one piece that reminded me of Joe Bliss's lottery cards.  I had a chance to talk to the artist, though, and his mind games were significantly less philosophical.  Joe wins!

Very very very very...

VERY early stages of this painting.
I recently start collaging..I'm pretty obsessed with it. It's a lot different from what I've been doing, but I think I'm on to something new..
I haven't decided if I should paint that woman or honestly just glue the photo on there. any feedback is appreciated!

Hope everyone's doing well :D

Roll-call submission

Brewer, Robin...Present!

CRAZY busy!  Having some meaningful crits with my mentor Jim Johnson from Moore College of Art.  In a couple of shows, one in LA and once coming up in Philly on November 3.  If you are around Philly on November 3, stop by this event:
http://lukasweidner.blogspot.com/2012/10/art-without-ego-visual-art-festival.html

and here's the LA show, my photo is at the bottom of the list when you click view exhibit:
http://www.1650gallery.com/signs2012_show.php

and here's my personal blog:
rbrewerphoto.wordpress.com

Looking forward to seeing you all in December!

hi guys!

Hope everyone is doing well. I have yet to figure out how to "post" so this is me testing it out... hopefully ill upload a piece by the weekend :]

Joe bliss has already witnessed!

ROLL CALL

All we talked about having a "roll call" a few times during the semester.  Let's try one.
There's only one rule - post anything (picture / text / whatever).
Last one in is a dirty egg...

Representation

Hi folks, i know we're all busy and all is not doom and gloom, but collectively i think we can help retain what's best about our program and also effect some positive changes.  Here is where we're at and i hope to meet with Erin at the end of the month - - so please read through and offer some comments or criticisms.

Can it be made clear what we can expect next summer, what will definitely stay the same, what is likely to change, and what power do we have as a group to effect changes within the program? What can we do to help the program, ourselves, and Erin?  Our success as students, artists, and professionals is in everyone’s best interest.

Must Haves to be successful in this program:

• ·      24 Access to all facilities (including weekends)
• ·      Plenty of artist lectures (but not mandatory, or at least not mandatory outside of our primary discipline)
• ·      Teacher Assistantships – Everyone should have the opportunity to be a TA if they are considering teaching after graduation.
• ·      Writing lab provided during the summer where we can sign up for individual help with our papers. 
• ·      Photography students need to have the same access to color copiers and the labs as students do during the regular year.
• ·      Grading – If there is any possibility of getting less than an A in a course, we should be notified early and told exactly what that teacher needs to see from us, so that we don’t get less than A.

Support for out of towners:

• ·      Dates for crits and shows provided early and not changed.
• ·      Try to plan these events when flights are traditionally cheaper to Philadelphia (not during holidays, army/navy game, etc…)
• ·      Can the university provide housing during winter and spring crits?
• ·      How much do mentors get paid?  And could the out of Towner’s mentors possibly be given more so they have more incentive?

I’d like to see:

Continued relationship with the West Collection

Reading List:

The program should provide a recommended reading list.  What are they reading at Yale, Columbia, Tyler, etc…? What should we have read at this level to intelligently converse with our peers around the country?  Include blogs and periodicals.

1^st year reading list -

2^nd year reading list -

3^rd/post thesis  reading list –

Mentor List

Provide a binder that lists possible mentors and an example of their work.  Having a good mentor is crucial for success in the low-res program and this should be stressed at the very beginning that this is something we should be thinking about from the start.

Anyone have any suggestions for more constructive group crits?

Public Speaking

Can we have the woman from last year back and maybe for more than just at the beginning.

Mr. Miyagi all over the place

My mentor challenged me to use my non-dominant hand more...so I've a brush loaded with dark paint in my right hand and the light-loaded brush in my left.  (It made sense to put my preferred paint in my dumber hand.) 

It's kicking me around and yelling "RIIIIIIGHT!  LEEEEEEEFT!  UUUUP! DOOOOWN!"

Please...don't tell me I'm the only weirdo who quotes "Karate Kid" as she paints.

What's on the easel

knight arts challenge for philadelphia

The knight foundation committed to giving artists 9 million dollars over three years to make art in Philadelphia.  This is the third and final year.  The deadline is October 15th.

If you come up with an idea - the initial application seems very easy to fill out.

If you apply and get accepted - please consider our group for assistants and helpers.

Good Luck,


What are the rules?
There are three rules: 1)The project must be about art; 2) It must take place in or benefit Philadelphia; 3)You must find other funding to match the Knight Foundation grant



http://www.knightarts.org/knight-arts-challenge/philadelphia/faq

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVFasyCvEOg&feature=relmfu

what ive been reading up on

http://whitney.org/file_columns/0002/9847/andreafraser_theresnoplacelikehome_2012whitneybiennial.pdf

C-E-N-T-A-U-R-S

Who knew my first blog post on here would be about centaurs?

Although this is one of the less important topics of the world--I thought I would share with you guys my latest painting.....

My boyfriend had INSISTED, multiple times, on multiple occasions, that I paint him and his roommates as, you guessed it, centaurs. Yeah its not the greatest painting in the world, but it's pretty funny.

I hope everyone is doing well, and more importantly, I hope this ridiculous awkwardness makes your day.



Here she is:

CLASS REPS

Hello All.

Four people have stepped up to represent our class and help change the program in positive ways.  Each has a "burning" level of urgency to build class consensus and speak with a unified voice to UArts administration to ultimately make our experience in this program more beneficial.

In the words of Joe G, "you students have all the power - make your voice heard".  

Presenting...

Local Reps:                                                         Remote Reps:

(in, or less than an hour from Philly)                      (more than an hour from Philly)    

Joe                                                     Michelle

Eric                                                     Brian

Your first opportunity to be heard is by responding to Joe Bliss's email sent on Sept 12.

We all know UArts rocks, but let's make it rock harder!

p.s. Joe G's words are paraphrased - but I think it is real close.

Rocky

Zac and I watched Rocky and Rocky II today, and happened to find out that one of the scenes in the second movie happened right next to our school. Anyone happen to remember walking by a Starbucks on the corner of Broad and Pine?

http://totalrocky.com/filming-locations/car-dealership

progress

work has been slow. financial means keep me down. refunds come in next week. i'll be rolling in the sculpture supplies. in the mean time this is what i've been working on.

I'm going to add some dark purple/brown wax to some of these. I'm also going to buy some more latex and white paraffin wax, which you can pigment with wax crayons. I think i'll brush it on the exterior of some of these shapes instead of latex, or also.

-Zac

No self-control

That promise to never ever EVER frost anything for the rest of my life was meant facetiously, but I rather expected it to last longer than a couple of weeks!

media fire

Hello everyone,

Media Fire is up and live. It's a really great source of info. I suggest weeding through for an hour or two. Some are easier to look at than others. Some don't have any images, just thesis papers. The ones with images  are a little easier to see if you have something in common with or not. I copy and pasted practically every file. Thus, I saw which ones had a good amount of images. I compiled this list before I arranged them by year, but if you see these names I suggest taking a look see.

Helsey, Craven, Dorfman, Lehman, Chatfield, Demarco, Agati, Cianfrano, Colby, Bennett, Baldridge, Vaudeville, and Cortese.

You know who I am and what kind of art I tend to lean towards, but these I suggest taking a quick look through. They all have plentiful to look at.

Happy researching!

-Zac

Left hand, meet right hand

So....did ANYBODY actually receive billing notification prior to the registrar's notification about being removed from classes?

I'm working on my telepathy, but it's just not quite there yet.  (I feel so ashamed.  I was supposed to be reading minds and bending spoons by last Tuesday.)

Opening Reception

My suitcase with sod from drawing class was accepted in a group show at Delaware County Community College and the opening is this Thursday night (8/30).  Corinna has a bike piece in as well so hopefully I will see her then!  Here's the link: DCCC Gallery

P.S.  anyone hear about mentors yet?

Class Representatives

After the meeting with the dean a month ago or so ago, there was discussion about appointing a few representatives from our class to voice our needs and concerns to the dean and other people in the administration in the future. A few of us have discussed this, but we never ended up actually appointing anyone or going much further than talking. 

I talked to Brian today, and he felt strongly that we pursue this proactive approach. He suggested that we use this blog as a place for discussions about what we want changed and improved with the program. He also proposed that we collectively select two representatives for our class, one living in Philly and one outside of the area. 

Please leave some feedback about this. Leave a post if you are interested in volunteering as a representative. If multiple people are interested, we can have a vote, or just have more than two representatives. Also, I would like to say that it seems obvious to me that Brian is an ideal candidate to represent our class because he is effectively vocal and is obviously strongly interested in this idea. 

STUDIO RESET

When I couldn't locate any white paint, the task of repainting my studio wall yielded the outcome below.  Check out the link for a complete history of this wall during the course of the summer.
http://qubstudiophilly.wordpress.com/

are there too many objects in this world?

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/24/arts/design/work-by-niki-de-saint-phalle-and-bruce-high-quality-foundation.html?pagewanted=1

This is a great article to read for many reasons. One it specifically mentions Charles Long's piece in Madison Square Park. Two it goes over a lot of issues that public art face in New York City that you wouldn't normally think about.

What stuck with me the most was the author's quote from Douglas Huebler, "The world is full of objects, more or less interesting; I do not wish to add any more." 

Is it for the better that we make objects? Should we be focusing on concept? 

What do you guys think? Is it just some crazy conceptualist's opinion?

Art really is opinion after all.

Dang, Harrison Ford got old.

No wonder we never found him.




Also, this is a silly article.  http://gawker.com/5936665/heres-what-happened-when-an-elderly-man-took-it-upon-himself-to-restore-a-painting-in-a-nearby-church

Hope everyone is well!

CHECKING IN...

Hope all are doing well.
I found out that I was awarded third place in an art competition I submitted to here in Winston-Salem, NC. 
Here's the art - a self-portrait I did in 2010.




The event was covered by the free independent newspaper, the writing would probably get a 3 or 4 rating by Leslie, but its better than nothing, I suppose.
Check out the link below...
http://www.yesweekly.com/triad/article-14647-40-under-40-generation-ys-artistic-perspective.html

rent is too damn high!

Heres an update for you fellars.

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/off/3192381229.html

That is similar to the studio I'm renting. I'm moving in Wednesday so I will throw up some process pictures when I get things started. The building is pretty sweet and they have a bunch of spaces that are very affordable for painters if anyone is interested. It is in North Philly though.

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/apa/3206952033.html

And that is where Aaron and I will be moving in come September 1st. No pictures, but its a newly renovated place.

!

Grades

Hey all, hope your summer is going well. Eric asked me if I knew if grades had been posted yet, so I spent some time trying to figure that out. They are indeed up now, but finding them is a bit tricky, so I thought I'd put up a few quick screenshots to show how I found them in case anyone besides Eric is interested and wants to save the time that it would otherwise take to find them. 

First go to your UArts portal page. Click on the uArts logo under launchpad to take you to "MyUArts records." 

Then click on Students on the left-middle of the page. 

This brings you to a standard sort of registrar/records page. Then just click on grades and gpa and you can find your grades for the summer. 

Not the most interesting topic, but I hope this is helpful. I hope to see some of the things you guys have been doing/making/thinking about on here soon! 

WIP Crits

Joe's Crit

Zac's Crit

Jeremy's Crit

Michelle's Crit

Monika's Crit

Robin's Crit

Eric's Crit

Colleen's Crit

Moraiah's Crit 

Megan's Crit

Gia's Crit

Rearranging the drawing room work after the crit

Everyone together. I'll miss you guys!

We'll miss you Joe!