UNEXPECTED OPPORTUNITY

This summer, I got a call from my boss/friend Scott.  He asked me if I would be interested in taking some pictures of the closing ceremonies of an art camp his friend (AD) was hosting.  The art camp was for a boys and girls club run by the Homeless Coalition.  I was more than happy to help out.

Now, the coalition's facility is on Paramore, a street smack in the middle of a very rough/impoverished part of town.  I mean, there was a man just straight peein' on the side of the road as I drove by.  I was able to park inside the compound, which was nice, though rough territory really doesn't bother me that much. 

Once inside the compound, I ran into Shawn Welcome, a local [amazing] poet that I know.  He was teaching a poetry/spoken word workshop for the art camp, so he led me to the building where the festivities were being held.  Upon entering the building I was met with a sea of children of varying ages.  Hyper elementary schoolers, stand-offish teens and camp instructors doing their best to maintain order.

One of the first things I noticed was that I was a severe minority.  Of the four white people I can recall seeing, one of the instructors and I were the only white males.  Again, things like that don't bother me, but it is sobering being on that side of the table for once.  I love it.

As soon as I pulled my camera from it's bag, a little boy of about seven or eight, shirt covered in dirt and eyes alight with the glory of God, began a volley of questions, each of which followed with a "Lemme do it!"  As soon as I had my flash on the sync cord, I quickly turned my camera on him and snapped a shot.  As soon as he saw the explosion of the flash, his desire to participate went through the drop ceiling.  So, I showed him the pilot button and he went nuts.  After holding his own little fireworks display and after multiple attempts to flash himself directly in the eyes, (most of which I was able to thwart) I let him hold the flash while I took a few shots.

(I wish I could show you the amazing shot I was able to get of this boy, but many of these kids come from at-risk homes and I do not want to reveal their identities without permission.  However, you can see some of the kids on the program's website.  Seriously, the love of God is spectacularly evident in these kids!)

The events went swimmingly.  Kids took turns displaying the skills they have learned in the various workshops in which they were enrolled.  There was rapping, African drums, poetry/spoken word, painting, guitar playing, even a room-wide rendition of the "Fresh Prince Theme."  With each act ending to a roar of cheers and applause.  (A glimpse of Heaven!)  And at the end, each kid who participated was given an award certificate.

Oh, something I can show:  the kids who participated in the art workshop painted a mural!

After the all the events were through, my little buddy came and found me as we were preparing to take a group photo.  His mantra hadn't changed.  So I draped the camera around his neck and showed him what button to press, and press it he did!  I had left it on continuous shooting, so as long as he press the button, the camera continued to take pictures.  Every time he took a picture, I literally had to pry his finger off the button after 5-7 pictures had fired off.

Once, the group photo was taken, I basically became a school portrait photographer.  Luckily, I had my assistant.  Every child wanted a picture!  Some wanted a full portfolio!  Natural models, they were.  Snap, pose, snap, pose, etc.  it's like they practiced beforehand.  Some of the little guys were already heads and shoulders cooler and suaver than I could even hope to be.

Needless to say, this experience has had an extraordinary impact on me.  I have experienced first hand, the dire needs of this city, and I have seen the Lord at work to fulfill these needs.  I want to give a huge thanks to AD and his staff for letting me be a part of all this and I look forward to what God will be doing through this program in the future, and I would love to be a part of it!

ARTIST'S BLOCKS

Hey guys, sorry it's been a lil' while.  My sister moved in last weekend and it's been a perpetual line of activities since.  Good stuff!  By the way, tomorrow is her and her roommate's first day of college classes.  Pray that it goes well and that they can find interest and motivation in even their driest of Gen. Ed.'s!

Back to the title slide.

If you have ever glanced at my event's page, you'd already know that the evoke365 art show opened last Thursday.  If you have no idea what I am talking about, I suggest following the provided link in order to familiarize yourself with the topic at hand.

Now that we are all on the same page, the event went very smoothly and the turnout was tremendous! Praise God!  It did pour down rain for the first hour upon opening, so the outdoor events such as: break dancing, spoken word and sharing of testimonies did not come to fruition.  This however, was not as debilitating as it sounds.  The gallery was still packed.  I mean, I had a hard time navigating the congestion in the front hallway where our main display was and people were talking!

The main wall in the entrance hallway.

In the Orlando Magic sponsored room.

My pieces.  It tickles me that they were put next to the photography studio.

Also, we had a book of all the pieces in the show, along with descriptions of particular blocks and their intended meaning.  I was blessed with the opportunity to photograph all the panels of blocks for the book.  I am excited to have my photos published in a book for the first time!  The book is available at the gallery for $20.

By the way, if my calculations are correct there are about 1,603 blocks in the gallery.

It gives me immense joy seeing that many people exposed to the message and culture of Christianity in a rather disarming environment.  With the sheer quantity of topics and styles represented, every person had something to relate to.  My hope is that conversations do get started, that Jesus does get talked about in a real manner and that a culture that worships an open mind, applies that notion, even to something they view as antithetical and stale.

DRAWING TOO

Parenthetical Deemed Necessary by the Author
So, I found a force capable of stopping any current train of thought and/or stymieing all productive activity.  The '90s are All That on Teen Nick.  (Case and point: it took me almost ten minutes to write that last sentence. )  I just caught the second half of All That and am now currently watching Kenan & Kel, so this post could take some time.

Now, I love the fact that Teen Nick is showing all the old shows from my peers and mine's youth, but the commercials between the shows are downright unnerving.  Every break, there is a commercial for First Response Pregnancy Tests and I just saw a commercial for a text-in "love calculator" that literally depicted a bride being left sobbing at the altar because she didn't heed the 3% compatibility reading she got from the calculator earlier in her relationship.

Anyway, Drawing II...

In a previous post, I gave a pregame to this Drawing II class that I have been taking for the past 5 weeks.  The aforementioned post acts as a prequel to this current section, so I strongly suggest you skim the archives in order to get the most out of the following paragraphs.

So, this class was completely different than what I experienced in Drawing I.  A MUCH more relaxed environment, that took some getting used to.  Workload was tiny compared to the 100+ hrs I spent drawing in Drawing I.  We were expected to produce finished pieces, which was blasphemy in my previous class.  Much more creative freedom in this class.  Composition and style were also incorporated in critiques.  A lot like a 2D design class.  No figure drawing at all!  This really surprised me, considering Drawing II at UCF is almost strictly figure drawing.

Though, I did get frustrated with the lack of drill sergeant-style reprimands and crazy high expectations that I have come to love(?) about previous art teachers,  (A little masochistic, yes, but it really pushes you to accomplish and learn things at a remarkable pace.)  I did end up enjoying the class.  The teacher was amazingly nice, and you could tell she just loves art and knows her stuff.

It was a self-starter style class, mainly because we were a group of six Drawing II students that were mixed with about 15-20 Drawing I students.  I basically just practiced the contour line drawings I had learned the semester before.  However, the homework assignments required shading, another no-no in my Drawing I.  This is something I really do enjoy, though I have only really attempted to shade a handful of drawings.  The piece below, I just completed yesterday for our final. 

Abstract Realism was the assignment

Note:  I praise God for providing!  I had been frustrated with my work for a while now, but this piece really gave me some confidence, especially since I have very limited experience in traditional mediums.  I look forward seeing what God has in store for my art in the near future!  Just need to keep the correct goal in perspective.

SUMMER PHOTOGRAPHY IN FLORIDA

 

My friend Geoff and I wanted to take some pictures about a week(ish) ago, but as you may or may not know, Florida nights tend to be on par with aquarium hoods when it comes to humidity.  So, instead of sealing our cameras in vacuum food saver bags lined with silica gel, we decided to stay inside my nice, safe, climate controlled apartment. 

So, after a healthy volley of I dunno's and whaddayouwanna do's, we just started shooting. 

First, Geoff discovered that a long exposure combined with rapid panning and tilting can capture the cycling of the T.V.  This lead me to create some rather delightfully abstract compositions. 

 

Next, we took some key light shots on Geoff's camera, Chiaroscuro style.  I do not have those to post, but Geoff has kindly posted them on Facebook.  <- You can view the one's that I'm tagged in.

After that, we goofed around with different makeshift gels.  Anything from plastic bags to Eggo waffles were fair game.  Each providing surprisingly rich additive color.  This particular one was taken with an orange plastic Tupperware lid.  The green bottle, being analogous to orange's complementary color maintains much of it's integrity while everything else is washed with orange.

Lastly, the only technique we planned on using was explored.  They are called physiograms.  I learned about this nifty light trick from an e-book I downloaded a while ago.  You hang a light source from a string and swing it.  Mount or position your camera so that it remains still throughout the duration of the exposure.  Then pick a long exposure, I suggest bulb-ing it.   (Special thanks to Tyler for providing the materials and being the official string swinger.)

Here are the results.

(The center one was kind of a reverse physiogram.  I let the camera spin via it's strap.)

Anyway, I thought I would share my latest photo endeavors.  You can check out the rest of the photos from that particular night on my flickr.

Thanks again for bearing with my rather lengthy posts.
God Bless!

BUSY MONTH FOR EVERYTHING BUT BLOGGING

Hey, sorry I have been so skimpy on the posts this month.  It's been a rather hectic/trying last couple of weeks.

So let's get this recount rolling...

The Grandparents
So, my grandmother was recently diagnosed with cancer.  This came as a rather substantial shock to my family and me.  What started as a simple abnormality in her colon, turned out to be a rather substantial amount of cancer in multiple areas of her body.  This weighs heavy in me.  The thought of either one of my grandparents in pain just wrenches my heart.  That being said, I ask that you pray for healing in my grandma.  Seriously, I believe God heals today, just as He healed in the past.  If believers come together and pray healing, there is no reason we should doubt its fruition. 

Now, regardless of what the future holds, I am comforted by a simple fact: 

No matter the suffering we may endure here on earth, the Promise of God ensures restoration for those that are in Christ Jesus!  And I have the immense joy of saying, that my grandparents fall into that category!


I was able to visit my grandparents this weekend, and every time I am around them, I am awestruck by the love they lavish on others.  Kindness and genuine love just flow from them; you can tell just by looking at their faces.  And the love they have for each other has only grown stronger as they aged.  They really are two people who are madly in love with each other, and work as one to emulate the life of Jesus.  I wish I could explain what it is like to be around them, but it is just one of those things you have to experience.  They show a legitimate interest in you and what you are saying and make you feel like the most special person on the planet.  Pure.... Unadulterated..... Grandma and Grandpa love.


The Cody
Now, a few days after the news about my grandmother, one of my best friends, Cody (more on her in a previous post....scroll down) was admitted to a hospital in Guatemala with internal bleeding.  This was crazy scary considering 1) she was in a third world country and could not be flown back home due to fear of complications, 2) she only has an international phone with very limited minutes and a phone number/country code unbeknownst to me at the time, and 3) I had just talked to her on Skype (she was at an internet cafe) as she was being picked up for the hospital, and we both treated the situation rather flippantly.  

As far as the details of the whole ordeal, I will leave it up to the primary source.  Updates can be found on her blog.

Anyway, her best friend (Christine), my old boss/current friend (Scott) and I went and prayed at a prayer chapel the morning following our reception of the news.  I send out a mass text for prayer, as did Christine.  Cody needed prayer, and fast!

Now, earlier today, after a good five days of radio silence, Christine discovered Cody had updated her blog.  Our prayers have been heard! And God provided!  Cody is doing much better.  Once again, I'll let her blog post explain.

Now, I know there will be plenty more trials both my grandparents and Cody will be facing in the near future, and who knows what is in store for us others, but rest assured that God is a constant.  We can lean on his goodness and are assured of His presence and a future with Him!

Praise the Lord!

MARRIAGE PREP.....ENGAGE!

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."

- Colossians 3:16            

So, last weekend my good friend and roommate (Chase) and his beautiful lady (Chloe [she's my friend as well!]) became engaged ...and I helped!™

You see, Chase devised a scheme to pop the question over the Forth of July weekend, while we were all back home in the Florida Panhandle.  Under the guise of your quotidian sunset beach-walk, Chase led Chloe to a predetermined location at which his family had written "Will You Marry Me?" in the sand with a flock of adorably dainty LED candles.  All the while, I was perched behind the dunes, neath the cover of a restaurant's beachfront deck.  

Now, I would have made a rather convincing bid for one of those creepy don't-have-a-relationship-so-I-satisfy-that-desire-vicariously-through-stealthily-observing-the-intimate-moments-of-others kind of guys, but I had camera with a 300mm telephoto lens with me.... yeah..... definitely alleviates the creepiness. 

Anyway, I was blessed with the task of capturing the proposal as it unfolded, unbeknownst to Chloe.  I was like a big, pervy sniper! 

So, here is the juicy part:

Now, I was way out of earshot, but I dabble in body language, and I think she was both surprised and ecstatic, and about 95% says there was a "yes" uttered somewhere in there.  In fact, they must have been two feet off the ground as they continued down the beach to meet with the family; took just short of a full on sprint to catch up with them after I left my hidey-hole.

After catching my breath and explaining mine being there, I did manage to snap off a nice gushy one of the newly betrothed.

 

All snark aside, I want to wish God's blessings over Chase and Chloe's relationship.  

I pray that their future is filled with love, encouragement and support for one another as they begin their journey as two people living as one, in pursuit of the righteousness and holiness bestowed in their lives through the life and love of Christ Jesus.  I pray that the Word of God saturate every facet of their relationship, creating a pouring out of God's love both between themselves and on to those around them.  I pray that God's will be earnestly sought and honored by both parties without hesitation and that God always be at the center of their joy and everything they do.

Congratulations you two!

THERE SHE GOES....(THERE SHE GOES AGAIN)

Look out Guatemala, here comes some Southern Lovin'...

So one of my closest friends is going to be in Guatemala for the next six months.  Her name is Cody and she has been a complete Godsend in my life for the last four(ish) years.  I will gush about her existence in my life in a later post.  Right now there are more pressing announcements to make.

You see, one of her particularly spectacular attributes is that she loves to love people!  This is currently taking the form of a trip to Guatemala.  Now, due to some amazingly peculiar and frustrating discoveries that arose about a month ago, the means by which she was planning to work and inhabit Guatemala have changed.  However, this did not stymie her plans or what she is setting out to do,  though it did do a marvelous job of confusing the stuffing out of me.

So, as far as details on what she is doing once she gets there, I am at a loss.  All I can say for certain is that: 1) God's love will be touching lives.  2) Medical, physical and spiritual needs will be met.  3) Friends will be made.  4) Little foreign children will be in danger of asphyxiation via hugs and/or spontaneous adoption.

(She [hopefully] will be documenting her ventures via her blog throughout the course of the trip.  The frequency/existence of her posts will depend on the availability of wireless where she will be staying. )

Obviously, this trip will be an awesome tool for honing Cody's spirit and her relationship with God.  Things will happen on this trip, that can be assured.  I ask anyone who happens to read this to pray for Cody and the people she will encounter during her stay.  Pray that she is given an unfathomable vigor and confidence in serving those Christ came to save;  that she be floored by God's power and love unfolding in front of her eyes.  Pray that the people of the villages she frequents are touched by God's Spirit;  that they can come to know the God that loves them.  Pray for healing and prosperity in the country and in the hearts of its citizens. 

P.Y.S.R.S. (Parenthetical Yet Super-Related Statement) - She just took her NCLEX (for nursing license) not 24 hours ago.  She will know her results two days from taking it.  Pray that she passes with flying colors!

GO HARRISON FA-MI-LY GO!

So, you might be all like:

"Yo,  Mikey! (No one calls me Mikey)  What up wit' the schmaltzy space silhouettes and obviously unoriginal backdrop biz?"  (Thanks, gamesandwallpapers.amazing-planet.net!)

Then I'd be all like:

"It's my family, bub!  And I'm a'celebrating their existence!  People tend to associate existence with space for some reason and silhouettes serve well to protect my fam' from creepies and the like!" 

You see, both my sister and father have had birthdays in the past week(ish).  So, I thought I would post about the wonderful family God has blessed me with!  (Throwing Mom in the mix, too.  Though her birthday is half a year away, she is still loved!)

So, lets get this love fest underway! *

Dad - (Divinely Appointed Demonstrator)
This man has been a role model from the start!  Be it shoe tying or tie tying, math or history,  driving stick or riding a bike, he has been there to show me how.  And sports.  Oh, the things I have learned about sports!  A most manly of bonds that has grown stronger throughout the progression of our relationship.  How I cherish the times we spend on the couch watching and conversing about sports!

He has also been paramount in developing my character throughout my life.  Honesty, integrity, perseverance, patience, hard work and love; these he has cultivated in me as I began to grow into who I am meant to be.  I see my dad's passion for the things he loves and it strikes something in me, and his encouragement toward a path of righteousness was a catalyst for my passion to serve God today! 

Mom - (Maturity Ordinance Manager)
She's the great encourager!  Her delight at the site of my success was crucial to my confidence.  Things like being there to provide a PB 'n' J after a long day at school and waking me up in time to go to said school, speak volumes of her love.  A shoulder to cry on and a word of direction, she helped me realize that I should not and cannot do life alone.

Her strength and desire to uphold a stable and loving environment for my sister and I to grow up in still amazes me today.  I am coming to realize more and more, her often under-appreciated willingness to get her hands dirty, both literally and figuratively.  One of the greatest lessons I've seen taught through her life is the fact that we still can love and serve those around us, regardless of our current predicament and struggles.

Sister - (Stunning Intellectual Slash Teenage Experience Reciprocator)
She is my partner in all that is awesome!  Lets face it, I have more inside jokes and shared humor traits with this girl than anyone else.  She is just downright fun to be around.  I love playing N64 and going on photo excursions with her, and I can't wait to hang out every time I come home.  Oh, and we will soon be reunited, as we will be attending the same college next year!  Which is doubly amazing, considering she blends seamlessly into my group of friend, and they think she is a blast!

Now, she is more than just a buddy to pal around with.  Over the years, I have seen her grow into a BEAUTIFUL woman.  (It's a weird feeling!)  And she has the intelligence and wit to match.  When she talks about her web classes, I feel so out of the loop.  I mean, she, a recent high school grad, can code circles around me!  Now, she is going to be in a metropolitan area.  With her looks and mental sharpness, you will hear this girl's name sometime in the near future!

* Love fest characteristics expressed in each section may also be transferable to other family members :)

Happy Birthday Guys!
Love you!

BACK TO THE CLICHE-AVOIDANCE BOARD

Grab your extra large newsprint pad and gird your lungs for charcoal filtration! 

It's that time again.  Time to bust out your semi-blind contour power stance and reflect on how you never thought you would end up being sore from drawing.  This time, however, I have the rather scarce luxury of both knowing what to expect, and having no idea what to expect the same time.  You see, I am taking Drawing II at Valencia Community College (rather than UCF) this summer.

Now, I have mixed feelings about this.  I really like the quality and style of instruction provided by UCF's professors.  In the basic drawing classes, they work almost exclusively in blind and semi-blind contour drawing with spatial reasoning techniques  such as descending inter-cross.  You are asked to respond to the object instinctively and draw what you see, not what you think you see.  Exploration of and communication with the subject is done almost exclusively with the eyes; the hand and pencil just document that interaction.  Having, no background in more traditional art forms and very little experience with a skill such as drawing, I feel this style of teaching levels the playing field, so to speak.  It teaches you how to see rather than how to stylize.  I hope that the Valencia drawing classes provide the same teaching style.

However, as beneficial as Drawing I was, it is a ton of work!  This is where I am hoping that the Valencia class differs.  In UCF's Drawing I, you would average about 10hrs of drawing outside of class and 6hrs in class each week.  Around the weeks of midterms and finals, that work outside of class turns to about 20hrs.  Drawing II is supposed to require even more work.  Now, if that trend carries over to Valencia, combined with the 2x accelerated pace of a summer session with class M-TH, I could be looking at a maddening amount of work!

The other unknown is the class content.  UCF's Drawing II is figure drawing, and in order for this class to transfer credit, I figure that Valencia's version would cover the same content.  However, I have not been able to find a description of the class on their website.  I guess if I walk in to someone in a robe looking all sheepish or peculiarly confident, I'll get my answer.  (Yes, this is potentially one of those type of classes).

Side note:  I wish the models could just wear those spandex body suits.  It would really help ease my conscience, though I do not expect to find myself lusting, considering most of the models will forty-somethings and/or dudes.  Also, per the nature of drawing, we are expected to view the model as a form, rather than a human being.  (i.e.  I HAVE A CLASS THAT REQUIRES ME TO OBJECTIFY WOMEN!)

Joking aside, I do ask that you pray for me and my classmates.  Pray that I can put in the work for this class without getting burnt out.  Pray that I can abstain from unwholesome thoughts and attitudes toward the models and nature of this class.  Pray that I can connect with my classmates and even my teacher, and that opportunities to share Christ will be provided and capitalized on.

P.S. - Check out the 'EVENTS' tab to see what you could be doing this weekend!

WHAT I LEARNED IN BOATING SCHOOL IS...

My thoughts upon finishing the art blocks:

This was a very rewarding project.  There were definitely some pleasant surprises and expected frustrations.  Though there was the constant struggle of setting aside time and creating when I didn't feel like it, each block presented a unique set of challenges.  For the sake of compartmentalization, I will break the experience into three categories: the frustrations, the challenges and the takeaways.


The Frustrations
The main source of frustrations over the course of the week came from the mediums and tools.  The top echelon of these miscreants had to be the glues.  Their ringleader: the spray adhesive.  It was great for adhering delicate and moisture sensitive materials such as paper and thread, but it loved to vomit little white confetti of glue, giving black surfaces a bad case of dandruff.  It also remained tacky indefinitely and produced noxious fumes.  The super glue was kinda a jerk as well.

Other culprits were misaligned and sloppy cuts, mystery splotches on my clean white paper and cutting wood.  Ah, the wood.  I was expecting a nice soft particle wood block that could be punched through like cookie dough.  Little did I know, getting the clockworks set in the block would turn into a 2 hour ordeal.   (Thanks for the help, Tyler!)  And cutting that little red block with a PVC hand saw was rough as well.  Getting a straight and level cut with a hand saw, not once, but twice, was a nightmare.  Also, as I would reach the end of my cut, the wood would chip off and splinter.  Sorry, had to vent a little.

The Challenges
Besides making sure to set aside the hours and creating when I don't feel like it, I'd say refraining from thinking ahead was one of my biggest challenges.  Since I wanted each block, from conception to actualization, to be created in one day, I attempted to keep from thinking about concepts for future blocks.  I did come into the project with some materials and concepts in mind, however; but the forms those concepts took were realized in the day of their creation.  The challenge was when I would get an idea and discover that I did not have enough time to produce it that particular day.  I couldn't reserve that idea for another day. 

The other main challenge was letting myself be vulnerable.  I see all the "flaws" in each piece and immediately focus on that.  I see times where I lost control of the mediums.  I see the simplicity of each piece and feel that I need to be doing more.  I see the repetition in style and feel like I need to expand my spectrum.   It's putting it out there anyway, for others to see.  It's realizing that its not about me that helps me overcome my own criticisms.  In fact, recoiling from revealing God's truths out of fear of personal inadequacies is the very thing this project is combating.

The Takeaways 
Besides simply getting some experience with various mediums, I've learned quite a few things from this project.  One of the greatest benefits of this project was touched on in the previous paragraph.  It's putting something out there that I may not feel confident about and seeing what happens.  If it depended on my skill and talent to put ears to God's Word and change hearts, then this project would be for naught.  Rather, it's the fact that God chooses to reveal Himself through our tinpot creations that makes projects like this so beautiful.

Another thing I have gleaned from this project is the fact that every piece does not need to contain a deep or obscure concept.  Who are we to determine what is deep or obscure anyway?  In fact, it is the simple messages, the pivotal messages, that need to be proclaimed first.  It's fine to dive deep into characteristics of God's character and Biblical themes that may not be addressed as often, but I need to remember my audience.  These pieces will be seen by a large gamut of both believers and non-believers.   For the sake of the non-believers, the most basic form of the Gospel needs to be portrayed through at least one of my pieces.  It may be a message that I have heard countless times, but I cannot treat it as commonplace nor can I treat it as if it has lost it's power.

PIECE #7 - SANCTUARY

Title :  "Sanctuary"

Date :  06/06/11

Materials:  acrylic, wood

 

This one is very clean and simple, just like its message.

Come to the Lord and you will find peace and security.  In fact, it is only in Him where we can truly find these. 

Since there are only three element on this block, I'll just break them down individually.

The Black
Represents any type of suffering or blight.  Anything that is a result of sin.  The fallen world and the consequences we are, as a race, sentenced to endure. 

The White Path
Jesus.  The Light of the World.  It is through Him, and only through Him, we can reach reconciliation and therefore peace.  He is the Way, the path to eternal salvation and peace.

The Red Block
The stronghold of God's Covenant.  The immovable security for those that are in Christ Jesus.  While we still remain in the sin filled world and endure it's suffering until we are called home, we are now cloaked in Christ's blood.  We are afforded the peace of knowing our salvation is assured.

It is just that simple.  No gray area.  You are either in this sanctuary or you are not.  This is why I feel that this piece needed to be simple.

Well, there you have it. It's been a challengingly great experience!  I will be posting a synopsis about the whole week in the next couple of day.  For now, I'm gonna have some food and watch a little T.V.

PIECE #6 - (TITLE TO BE REVEALED LATER)

Title :  (To be revealed later)

Date :  06/05/11

Materials: matte black card stock, white charcoal

For this one, I will be withholding the explanation behind it.  Considering I did not figure out what it meant until after I had finished it, I feel a little ambiguity would serve the audience well.   I want to hear your interpretations!

(If you really want to know what my take on the piece is,  feel free to ask me.)

Thanks again for the prayers! One more block to go!

PIECE #5 - CONTINUUM

Title :  "Continuum"

Date :  06/04/11

Materials: matte photo paper, India ink, acrylic, working clock mechanism

 

So, this piece is obviously about time. 

(Trust me, I thought about using the movement of the hands to portray many other concepts, but I figured the radial movement and tell-tale ticking sound would trigger 'clock' in the audiences' minds no matter how hard I tried to mask it.  Besides, that little motor in there has almost no torque, so I couldn't really add anything to the hands or replace them with other objects like I wanted to.  Oh well, problem solving is a crucial part of the artistic process anyway.)

Now as far as the concept, I decided to express something I have heard mentioned multiple times by a pastor named Isaac Hunter (Summit Church).  It really stuck with me.  It's the fact that:

"the only time we can interact with God is in the present.  Not because that's the only place He exists, but it's the only place that we exist."

I love that!  Our only chance to pursue God, obey God, worship God, serve God and have a relationship with God is in the present.  Our existence, at least here on earth, is linear and we are right on the precipice. We create a heritage of moments, each one lived in at one point or another, but now uninhabitable, for we can only inhabit one moment at a time.  Our next moment here on earth is not guaranteed and we cannot retro-navigate our lineage.  We are stuck in the present.  Due to this, God, existing outside of the jurisdiction of time, in his immeasurable love and compassion, meets us in the only place we can.

This block asks a question knowing the answer, but begs another:  Do we know when we exist?

PIECE #4 - THOROUGHFARES

Title :  "Thoroughfares"

Date :  06/03/11

Materials:  Acrylic

The result of this one really struck me.  It really has moved me in the most beautiful manner.

I was struggling for ideas throughout most of the day.  I had read Ephesians 4 this morning, so I decided that unity in Christ was going to be my concept, but I really had no idea about the vessel in which to convey the message.  I hadn't even decided on a medium or technique. 

So, I just began by painting my block white.  While I was painting, I glanced over at a box of push-pins on the table.  After a little experimentation, I decided I was going to use the push-pins to scratch through the semi-wet acrylic, revealing the red-stained wood underneath.  I began in the center of the block and would swipe the pin out to the edge, repeating until the entire block was covered.  I did this five or six times, each time painting back over the scratches in order to build up a history.  The last time through, I left the scratches open and the paint scraps untouched.

As for reading into this piece, this was one of those pieces where I just start working, not knowing where the rhetoric may lie.  I'm just along for the ride.  With this piece in particular, I did not know what this piece was saying until after I had finished working on it.  In fact, my perspective changed quite a bit over the course of making this one.  I really like when that happens; when it leaves the overall message in tack but the form is dynamic enough to take on a multitude of projections from the audience.

At first, I viewed it as a bunch of paths leading into a central point; that was my intention upon starting the piece at least. They were representing lifetimes; linear, at least as far as our time on earth goes.  Each one unique but united with the same end. The ones faded by the paint were the lives of those who have already left earth.  All meeting at the epicenter that is God. 

I also viewed them as veins, our lives united by the well of blood that is Christ's that was spilled.  Veins, life giving, providing for the entire body.

Then, a few layers of paint in, I began noticing the violent nature of the center and how each scratch has so much energy as it shoots outward from the center.  Outward, that was surely different from the previous interpretations.  The more I looked at it, though, the more it looked like the aftermath of a great impact.  I began thinking of the word impact.  Christ's impact on humanity surely had some force behind it, maybe this was a representation of His impact upon coming to earth.  Then the scratches would be those sent out by his impact, not cast out, but sent; sent out on missions to bring people back to Him.  Bring people back?  If this is a site of impact, how is the act of bringing people back portrayed in this piece?  This caused another change.

As I was checking to see if the last coat was dry, I held the piece vertically to see if the paint scraps would remain on the block.  As I looked down the face of the piece, I was taken aback.  The landscape had totally changed!  It was vast!  It was intricate! An entire nation appeared before my eyes!  It was a densely populated city with countless tributaries feeding the central hub!  The scratches became roads on which people could enter the city and its inhabitants could be sent out to reach the outside world.  A system of imports and exports! A necessity for a city to thrive!  And the paint scraps, they were the people!  They were the cars, they were the buildings and they were the people!  Countless in number, all on the move!  And with my desk lamp casting golden light and long shadows over this kingdom, it looked as though dawn had just broke!   

This is what I mean when I mention the paint scraps.  This picture doesn't do it justice.  You will just have to see it in person.

PIECE #3 - CHECKING THE MAP

Title :  "Checking the Map"

Date :  06/02/11

Materials:  matte photo paper

 

So today I caught myself in a rather troubling state of thinking.  It is something I have occasionally found myself doing lately when I am deeply involved with something that I am passionate about.  I get into this habit of appeasing God, be it by abstaining from sin or making an effort to perform good works, in hopes that he might bless my work.  Now I do believe that God rewards faithfulness and can and will withhold blessings in order to reveal wickedness in hopes of repentance, but this mindset I find myself in is downright selfish.

This way of thinking that I sometimes slip into, attempts to shift my motivation (to do good and refrain from sin) from a sense of duty and gratitude out of the unconditional grace provided to me, to that of obtaining a certain level of success and accomplishment.  I am in danger of placing my success over that of God's kingdom. I am in danger of labeling God's blessings as "conditional."  I am in danger of serving the blessing instead of the Blesser.

-  So this block is a statement to myself and to anyone who finds themselves in the aforementioned situation.

When I create a piece of artwork, in any form, it cannot be for the purpose of serving art itself.  It needs to be in service of God, a service with His Kingdom as the benefactors.  This concept got me thinking.  What is making art for art's sake anyway?

Creating art for art's sake is just as futile as creating food for food's sake.  Food will not consume itself, nor will it benefit from itself.  Food requires a client.  The client receives nourishment from the food and the food is fulfilled as a service.  Without someone to eat the food, the food cannot be considered food.  This is the same with art. 

If art was to be created for itself then it would serve no use to anyone or anything.  It would be self sufficient, requiring no participation on our part; art would just be, void of any interaction.  Rather, it is that interaction that creates art.  Communication is what makes art possible.  Transaction from artist to patron is necessary for anything to be considered art, even if the artist is the sole patron, interaction will still be involved.

So if art requires a producer and a benefactor, then it is considered a service.  Art is created with an intent to serve an audience.  Now that service can provide many things, both in and out of our control; but for that part we can control, lets make sure it is serving God by providing an audience with His truths.  He is the one who created the notion after all.  He is the original artist, isn't he?

PIECE #2 - THROUGH THE SEDIMENTARY

Title :  "Through the Sedimentary"

Date :  06/01/11

Materials:  gesso, matte photo paper, white foam core, assorted figurines, red pencil  

 

What if I'm not strong enough? 
What if I'm not good enough?
What if I don't know?
Maybe I should wait. 

Someone else is more qualified. 
Someone else will do it. 
I might mess it up. 
I don't know enough.
What difference would it really make? 

How can I be sure? 
What if I do more harm than good?
What if? 

Enough


These are the phrases that are found on this block.  Oddly enough, I had no intention of them having such great rhythm, but hey, gives me confidence that I'm not the only one at work here. 

Doubt, in the form of the assorted questions and statements, are seen as numerous and piling up to the point where each phrase begins to loose its uniqueness and instead, mixes with the other phrases forming more of a single entity.  This form, however is not an arbitrarily conceived, ill-structured sediment, easily cast aside with the flick of a shovel.  Rather, it is a front as hard as granite.  Organized like a platoon of infantry; atoms aligned in tightly squared rows, all for the purpose of bending your spade.

The Spirit has equipped us with the tools, however, to excavate these treacherous grounds.  We are armed with a passion to seek the truth.  We know its down there, buried by our own weakness.  We can feel its pulse like magma veins, waiting for the light of day.  We are also armed with confidence; not in ourselves or even what the truth might look like, but that it will be good, that it will be true.  For if we have no faith that the truth we find will actually be true, then all this toil will be for naught. 

And when we do find what we've been seeking, that stedfast well of truth, we discover what has been true all along.  It is enough.

PIECE #1 - LET THERE BE...

Title :  "Let There Be..."

Date :  05/31/11

Materials:  Acrylic, Polyester Thread, Coated Wire

Description:
This piece was inspired by God's act of creation, both in the universal sense and the personal sense.  Something is born into lack.  Be it light, sky, seas or life itself; an idea, a conviction or even a desire, all are created to fill a void.  It is when we leave the act of creation up to God, that we see such expanses filled to the zenith of their potential.

"Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep."

    - Genesis 1:2 (NIV)

In this piece the emptiness, or lack, is represented by black threads.  The dynamism of these threads portrays the formlessness of the lack.  It calls out for structure, calls out for purpose, but when such a call is answered, there is resistance.  The very newness of creation causes unrest.  It is not of the authority of the lack however, to deem the commencement or even the identity of the creation.  That power belongs to God, the Creator.  Upon the onset of creation, the lack is overcome, it recoils and dies.

The white circles represent the epicenter of the creation.  Power radiating outward from a single and eternal source; pushing through the emptiness, all the while consuming it, allowing the creation to trump the lack.

The white threaded form represents the creation itself.  Organic and dynamic, it represents everything God-breathed.  Still in its embryonic stage, the form is destined to grow into indentity.  Though currently unrecognizable by human eyes, it still bears the same material as its creator.

Side note:

In order to create the white form in the center of the piece, I created a nifty little device to help hold the thread in a grid pattern.  May I present to you...

The HairLoom*

Ba-Zing!

*patent pending (just kidding, Feds)

Thanks for the prayers! Keep 'em up, I'll need them!

GETCHA' PAINTBRUSH READY!

Tomorrow, I start my week's worth of art blocks for the Glory of God! 

For those of you who don't know, I have been working along side some amazing people the last two semesters.  Seriously,  getting to know these brothers and sisters in Christ (names will appear in later posts) has touched me deeply and impacted my life in ways I am just beginning to plumb.  I thank
God for placing me in such a wholesome and encouraging environment!

That being said, a few months before I started working with these guys, many of them embarked on a commitment to create a piece of artwork a day for 365 days; all for the GLORY OF GOD!  They would use a 6in x 6in wooden block as a platform for each piece.  Other than that, they had the freedom to express anything they wanted or felt led to.  It's amazing the disparity of styles and mediums I have seen come out of this project.  You could literally see the dynamics of a individuals' walk with God laid out before you in a grid of wood and media!

After working with these guys and seeing the amazing personal revelations provided through this process, I really became infatuated with this project.  Well, earlier this spring, I came to find out that guest artists are invited to participate by working on a few blocks of their own.  Needless to say, I was excited!  So, I grabbed a weeks worth and decided to work on them this summer.

In holding true to the nature of this project, I will be creating one block a day for seven days.  I am making a point to avoid any pre-planning.  I want each day to provide me with an opportunity to be lead by the Spirit, though I do have a few mediums and techniques I do want to try.  There will be one deviation though.  By having a pretty lax schedule this week, I will be avoiding the discipline of budgeting time.

There will be plenty of struggles to be had, however.  I have very little, to no experience with many traditional art forms and materials, so this will definitely provide frustration and, not to mention, humility.  It will also be safe to say that there will be many times were I simply will not want to work on a piece.  To help keep myself stay focused, I am fasting TV for the week as well, though there will be numerous other distractions that will vie for my attention.  I also predict some nasty cases of artist's block, though this can be useful in helping me discern the Spirit's influence from simple bouts of preferential theology.

At the end of each day, I will post the finished piece along with a statement about the meaning behind it.  I will also provide a few pictures and explanations about the process behind creating the work.  If you are still reading this post at this point, first of all, thank you for bearing with me, and secondly I hope you will find both enjoyment and meaning each piece.  Also, any prayers about diligence and reception would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you and God Bless.

(P.S.  If you'd like more information on the 365 project visit EvokeMinistires.org.

BABY'S FIRST PHOTO DEMO

The compression monster beat up these photos.  I'd suggest viewing them on my Smugmug or Flickr.  (Found in LINKS section)

So, lately I have been really getting interested in studio photography.  I really like the concept of being able to control every component of the picture.  Though I have just begun to dabble in art, I have come to really appreciate the amount of work and meticulousness involved in creating even just a simple product shot.

A while back, I came across an article explaining the method behind taking pictures of smoke in a studio environment.  I was intrigued, and after one failed attempt over winter break, I decided to revisit the challenge tonight.  I was very happy with the results!

(Interesting God note:  Over my last few photo sessions,  I have been learning to recognize the necessity of God's presence in order for any progress to be made.  Not just in the photography itself, but my attitude toward a passion such as this.  More thoughts on this to come in a later post.)

Anyway, here is a quick synopsis of the process:

First off, this is a super ghettofied version of a studio setup but it works for someone on a budget, though ease of use and flexibility are not exactly the names of the game.

I ended up rearranging some items in this photo.  See notes below.

1.  Baking Pans - used as reflectors.  (Note: pointed away from the backdrop)

2.  Black Backdrop

3.  White Diffuser - ended up being used as a white bounce in the same position.

4.  Canon EX II Speedlite w/ 10ft sync cord and partial snoot.  Ended up moving it in front of the diffuser and pointed it directly at subject with snoot still blocking spill onto background.

5.  Camera hooked up to computer for instant/accurate feedback.

6.  Candle.  (I'd suggest using incense for a more constant, cleaner stream of smoke.)

7.  Canon Digital XTi w/ 100mm Canon Macro EF.  Hoya UV Filter (safety precaution.) All on tripod.

8.  Towel - To prevent elements from sliding around.

Few Tips:
Shoot in a pitch black (or nearly black) room.  Use hand or other object to set correct focusing distance.  Switch to manual focus.  Use a remote release.  Have patience. 

P.S. - These smoke pics look pretty sweet with the colors inverted.
(CTRL+ALT+Command+8 for you Mac users.)

WELCOME BACK FRIENDS!

---

NOTE:

     (In order to quickly establish credibility as a blogger, I figure I should act like I've done it for a while.)

So....

Hey loyal, well established, and ample readers!  Sorry it's been so long!  Boy, blogging sure has changed over the years!  I remember when blogs were nothing more than diaries that happen to be left at bus stops and laundry mats.  Times, they are a-changin'!

Anyway,  I want to let you guys know about my recent and long overdue reunion with my two bestest buddies, Kyle Paxton and Jake Roberts!  I'm pretty sure it has been over two years since the three of us have even been in the same city at one time.  Needless to say, I was ecstatic!  Oh, and this meeting happen to be at one of our favorite places on earth, the beach!  (Romantic I know!  Another couple had the same sentiments.) 

[Dear mystery couple] 

     If you happen to stumble across this, congrats on your engagement!  I hope we didn't spoil the moment.

Back to these guys:

I thank GOD for these men!  They have been nothing but a blessing in my life!  These two have been paramount in creating an environment in which I can see GOD at work and openly discuss the trials and joys of pursuing a life centered on Christ.

To keep from starting a trend of long-windedness right off the bat, I will refrain, for the moment, from diving into how much these guys have impacted my life.  However, I will be sprinkling Kyle and Jake themed anecdotes and shouts of thanksgiving and praise throughout the duration of this blog.