Monday, April 28, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Those "In The Know"
Donald Kuspit visited The University of Pennsylvania for a lecture. This morning, we had an in-gallery critique with him.
SOME NOTES from my segment:
- These prints are abstract. You are using the letters as gesture.
- Attesting to the idea that abstract works aren't dead. A new kind of abstract.
- You are undergoing a dilemma. Do you go the industrial, commercial design route to support yourself, or go the other route into color, gesture, and pushing the ideas of modern abstraction?
- Scramble more. More 'word salad', for lack of a better term.
- The digital parts are so cheery, so upbeat. They don't square with the seriousness of the visual testing going on in the prints. They are a starting point. Don't try and return to them to 'finish' the study.
- There is a context, today, for this nostalgia, this re-interpolation of these techniques.
- These prints are abstract. You are using the letters as gesture.
- Attesting to the idea that abstract works aren't dead. A new kind of abstract.
- You are undergoing a dilemma. Do you go the industrial, commercial design route to support yourself, or go the other route into color, gesture, and pushing the ideas of modern abstraction?
- Scramble more. More 'word salad', for lack of a better term.
- The digital parts are so cheery, so upbeat. They don't square with the seriousness of the visual testing going on in the prints. They are a starting point. Don't try and return to them to 'finish' the study.
- There is a context, today, for this nostalgia, this re-interpolation of these techniques.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
cavernous.
After a really blissful week off (give or take) from the matrix of production, I was ready to revisit The Common Press and my characters. Thanks to a previously unnecessary 4' x 8' sheet of plywood, I now have a variety of bases upon which to adhere my large Everyman (Plex-Man) characters.
Last night, I decided to attempt to bend the Vandercook to my will (insert diabolical laughter?). As in, pull a series of large prints on the letterpress that show no resemblance to "traditional" letterpress prints, besides the fixed width dimension.
The first tan/gold/mustard one was the worst, but I needed to get it over with and out of my system, and then moved on.
I made an enormous mess. And also many gradients. I printed a few on nearly translucent kozu paper with a bed/tympan packed to the hilt. I cracked about 4 letters into pieces, and still can't wash the cyan out from under my fingernails.
I hoped for these to feel "cavernous."
Last night, I decided to attempt to bend the Vandercook to my will (insert diabolical laughter?). As in, pull a series of large prints on the letterpress that show no resemblance to "traditional" letterpress prints, besides the fixed width dimension.
The first tan/gold/mustard one was the worst, but I needed to get it over with and out of my system, and then moved on.
I made an enormous mess. And also many gradients. I printed a few on nearly translucent kozu paper with a bed/tympan packed to the hilt. I cracked about 4 letters into pieces, and still can't wash the cyan out from under my fingernails.
I hoped for these to feel "cavernous."
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
trivia for everyone.
This blue ink was/is really great. The scan is inferior. "Pure Hueset Blue" I think is what the canister said, and I can't tell if it is a royal blue or a wonky violet from instant to instant.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Type, Liberty, and The Pursuit of Happiness
The University of Pennsylvania Fine Arts Class of 2008 Thesis Show opened without a hitch on Tuesday, March 25 in the Charles Addams Gallery. Friends, acquaintances, teachers and strangers from near and far filled the space. There were smiles, kind words, provoking questions all around.
My parents took these photos. A bit of documentation, as I was too flustered to remember most of the evening. High-quality photos of the thesis work will be posted soon on the thesis website. My portion was comprised of 3 sections:
a) A small wall with an assortment of small digital and letterpress prints
b) A short pedestal with the wood type.
c) A larger back wall with six of the large rice paper prints from the galley press.
For more photos, courtesy of Nick Sherman, check out his Flickr.
My parents took these photos. A bit of documentation, as I was too flustered to remember most of the evening. High-quality photos of the thesis work will be posted soon on the thesis website. My portion was comprised of 3 sections:
a) A small wall with an assortment of small digital and letterpress prints
b) A short pedestal with the wood type.
c) A larger back wall with six of the large rice paper prints from the galley press.
For more photos, courtesy of Nick Sherman, check out his Flickr.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Unversity of Pennsylvania Undergraduate Fine Arts
SENIOR THESIS EXHIBITION
Opening Reception: Tuesday, March 25 from 5 to 7 pm
Show runs from Monday, March 24 to Friday, April 18
The Charles Addams Gallery
200 South 36th Street
Philadelphia, PA
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
A Revelation on The Galley Press or "Hoe".
Seven hours of "Being Free" and "Letting It Go".
And "Modernism Is Boring."
And "Forget What You Think You Should Do."
And "Where's The Art?"
And "Hey Robin, Be Punk Rock For One Week."
And...the proofs in the photos are not the nice-looking, CRAZY ones. The neat ones from tonight went unphotographed, as I was intensely lightheaded after Hour Four.
So more photos to follow.
Many MANY advising sessions today. Notes to follow as well.
And "Modernism Is Boring."
And "Forget What You Think You Should Do."
And "Where's The Art?"
And "Hey Robin, Be Punk Rock For One Week."
And...the proofs in the photos are not the nice-looking, CRAZY ones. The neat ones from tonight went unphotographed, as I was intensely lightheaded after Hour Four.
So more photos to follow.
Many MANY advising sessions today. Notes to follow as well.
Weekend Progress.
I skipped an entire bountiful photo post of me preparing about 30 slabs of type-high end grain maple. However, here goes time a-movin' on. My typeface, Everyman, has been refined as far as can be at this juncture. Saturday was spent engraving one set of the alphabet characters, numerals, and scattered punctuation. Fabrication of the full set is far from complete, but nonetheless...It has begun...
Tomorrow at 8:30 am begins the fabrication of Everyman in 12-inch plexiglass sheets. I am downright giddy with anticipation.
Tomorrow at 8:30 am begins the fabrication of Everyman in 12-inch plexiglass sheets. I am downright giddy with anticipation.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
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