Quo Vadis
During my time in Pont-Aven I committed to working on 3 separate bodies of work. The first is a continuation of my explorations into humor, absurdity and food. This time, I would be questioning how a change in culture and environment would influence the work. For this project I have come up with these so far:
and this first draft, which is to be reedited when I return from my upcoming trip:
The next project is well underway, but not quite ready to show. This second piece is a Barchael collaboration using video to explore the space and communication challenges we face as we try to overcome distance and time as obstacles. Though we don’t have anything posted that would be ready to show, you can see our progress and regular video chats here.
Now, the final project is about process. I wanted to make a book or web project that would highlight my process of sketching and experimenting while I’m in Brittany. Though it isn’t completely finished, I have posted most of the project called Quo Vadis (which means “Where are you Going” in Latin). It began with a book I found in a French thrift store. This book, published in 1939, has become my sketch book and a project to work on when I’m away from my computer. Of course I’ve decided to turn it into a digital project, but in doing so, I’ve been able to include video, audio, and photography experiments to extend the idea of my sketch book. I will continue to make small adjustments and add pages to this project while I am in Pont-Aven. The site is non-linear, linking back in on itself, or jumping ahead, to highlight the illogical process of expression and discovery.
Once I return from my 2 week trip to Paris, Berlin, and Amsterdam, I hope to have an entirely different edit of Fischerhosen, a Barchael video project and many new photographs to share. Let’s see how much I can accomplish in the upcoming weeks.
Monuments to baked goods
Here’s the newest video. One down and a few more to go.
More video
I took the opportunity to work on some new Barchael video today, in between periods of rain. I hope to have a short piece edited this afternoon in response to video sent to me by Mike. I’m hoping to have a couple more sessions of this before 2 weeks of travel starting on Tuesday.
Holiday brunch et pluie
A few of the students here organized an Easter brunch with an assortment of delicacies. For me, there was a special plate of vegan pancakes, to which I added maple syrup, peanut butter, and fresh fruit. This of course was complimented by coffee and mimosas. It was a fine meal on a rainy day in our beloved petri dish. It was nice to gather outside of the submarine during daylight hours. Our extra-submarine adventures usually happen under cover of darkness—except for supply expeditions.
Anomalosphere
I’ve posted a new series of photos here. It may take a while to update in all browsers. Currently they appear in Safari and Camino, but not Firefox. These are a small side project which goes along with all that I’ve been focused on since I’ve been here. These images (and most of the other work) deals with space exploration, alien lands, and this petri dish submarine. Also, I’ve finally looped a couple of the older videos on my page (the way they were intented to be seen). Otherwise, I am continuing to work on the web piece which is not quite ready to be seen, but is hiding on my site at the moment and looks good so far.
A submariner in space
I’m continuing to work on multiple projects simultaneously. After a lot of deliberation and consideration, I’ve decided to re-edit the Fischerhosen video to a two camera version. Somehow the third person perspective doesn’t seem to work as well for what I want. This will happen soon, but prior to that, I have a menhir video to finish editing and my web project I’ve been working on (which also includes a few video components). After that, there is a new series of photos, which I hope to post in the next couple of days. I feel I have reached a point at which I must bring a few items to some form of finalization, so I can narrow my focus. I’m doing a bit too much mental juggling right now.
Outside of these projects, I am working on a long distance Barchael collaboration. We have been having regular video chats and documenting those with screenshots. We have started a dialogue which involves legacy and myth, but it is something that will require continued development long after the current video project we are working with. I must find time in the upcoming days to create additional footage to upload for editing.
Otherwise, I have been considering writing I would like to start. I have to do some writing about these projects, but I feel that the web project will be the all encompassing non-linear record of my logic and process while here in Pont-Aven. Once I have clarified the language a bit more in my head, I will post the writing as well (or at least parts of it).
In the past week I have been to a cookie factory, another art school, and in a pen with 50 or so dogs. I had plans to go to a grain mill yesterday, but at our planned meeting time had discovered that it isn’t open on Fridays. I hope to get another chance to visit this week.
Here is an image from an animated video I did of myself spinning around in the cookie factory. Notice the fine paper hairnet for the bald guy.
Speaking of cookies, if you ever had any questions about how much butter may be too much, consider this visual.
Here is an image taken by my friend Rahel of me in the pen with the dogs.
Finally, here is an image taken by David Eckard from our video expedition day for the Fischerhosen piece.
Rather than continue to distract myself on the internet, I need to get back to these projects. I have a little over a week before leaving for Paris, Berlin, and Amsterdam. I will be without my computer for two weeks while traveling, so I need to get as much editing and uploading done as I can. It will be nice to be without the internet for a while and only allow myself cameras, writing, and drawing as creative outlets during that time.
I’m sure there are other experiences and thoughts I am forgetting at the moment, but I can always revisit those at a later point. One thing I would like to note is that I have kept my ipod on shuffle for so long that I had forgotten the joy of listening to entire albums. For the past couple of days I have been listening to entire albums by Radiohead, Elliot Smith, and the Shins sometimes multiple times in a row. I’m glad I have rediscovered this simple pleasure. It makes it a bit easier to combat the inherent distractions of living and working in a submarine which is floating in a giant petri dish.
Beaucoup de travail
I’m joining the group on a trip to a nearby art school in Quimper today. Tomorrow, I’m joining a group that is going to a cookie factory. I’m looking forward to possibly being able to film or photograph there. We shall see. Otherwise, I have to edit the second part of the Fischerhosen video and/or re-edit the first part. I still can’t decide if they are the same, or two seperate things. Outside of those, I have another video to finish editing and more work to do on the web project as well as a new photo series. I enjoy having too much to do, however, not enough time becomes a bit of a challenge. It is sometimes hard to focus when you spend most of your days in a submarine (or at least a building that is not dissimilar to one).
Moisture
Pont-Aven has been incredibly damp the entire time I’ve been here. It rains quite, which causes all of the images I’ve put on my studio wall to curl. The tape I’ve been using doesn’t stick, so I frequently come in to find curled photos laying on the floor. I’m used to being in very dry environments like LA or Boulder, so this is an interesting change. I wonder if this is what it is like to live in the Pacific Northwest?
Fischerhosen 1
Ok, I have posted part one of my new video. I’ll have to sit with it for a bit to see if I want to do any more to it. Otherwise, take a look and share your thoughts.
