Today in studio

Today I was supposed to work on rewriting my project proposal. I tried, I really did. However, I'm not going to lie; I had nothing to write. I've been frustrated with my ideas but more with my interpretation of IP in general. I keep having this idea that everything I make in the art school must be highly conceptual - and I think I don't have a good grasp on what conceptual is.

I keep assuming that 'conceptual' must mean that I have to take something in my life, whether it's a tree or an old pair of tennis shoes or the world economic crisis and derange it to the point where you can't quite tell what it once was because I've now covered it in papier-mâché and paint and explained how it's relative because it shows the inner delicate nature of the big oak tree outside... I don't know, I just assume that I can't simply appreciate form and aesthetics in this school. Personally, I'd much rather focus on making a really beautiful piece of jewelry that is clean and pleasing to the eye. I like smooth metal and textures that repeat. I like the feeling of a smooth interesting form between my thumb and forefingers. I like playing with materials, but I'm always so concerned with allergies because of my own that I only like using silver or better if it's going to be in touch with skin.

Today, I was lucky and get to talk with Tirtza about my project, or so far lack thereof. She and I discussed things that I'm interested in and what kinds of aesthetics I really like. I mentioned my interest in shapes and textures and she noted two main artists for me to research - Anish Kapoor and James Turrell. I spent a lot of the class session just looking at Kapoor's work and it is amazing. I love the look of just clean, mirror-finish, polished steel. I also enjoyed his large tunnel/hole/vortex kinds of designs- their use of space intrigues me and I'd like to explore that some more.

I need to train myself to not be afraid of larger and more 'function-free' work. I think that's one of my goals this year.