The Call:
I’m working on a series called "Call and Response".
It’s about dialogue. I would appreciate it if you would participate.
Just send 2-4 pieces of evidence. It could be images of your work,
work you like, things you find interesting.
The Response:
Thanks for inviting me to be a part of the conversation. Here are some things that I am interested in currently (they are always changing!):
1. Using reclaimed materials to create something:
This video is one I have probably shared with you...I just love it and Dan Phillips makes it sound so easy!
*My aunt is an artist out of Phoenix, AZ who creates beautiful works of art from "junk". She is the person who finds treasure in your trash. It has amazed me for as long as I can remember, and I've always loved and appreciated the idea of "mixed-media" creations. Recently, I have invested some time into starting to make my own (and first) dining table out of reclaimed barn wood from a barn that was torn down here in Washington, NC. I have no idea how it will turn out, but I am so excited to go through all of the steps of preparation and creation. There is a plan in place but I predict that it will change as things progress. To me there is something so rewarding, beautiful and thoughtful about using reclaimed/recycled materials to create anything!
2. Embellishments
*I see embellishments everywhere...clothes, cars, billboards, TV, etc.
They are flashy and catch you eye but can be so void of any
meaning/utility. I also hear embellishments constantly throughout the
day...in stories, news broadcasts, from students, from neighbors, etc. Now I've been known to embellish a story from time to time, which can be
a creative outlet. However, the embellishments that are used for
personal gain (i.e.-politician platforms) have really become very
troubling to me. I want stripped down, honest, and simple...the
embellishments have become just too much these days. What ever happened
to simplicity?
3. Diversity (this one is a little jumbled!)
*I've always been drawn to things that were different--people who thought and looked differently from me. As a young girl, I wanted to learn about what made people different--their backgrounds, experiences, upbringing, etc. I wanted to understand them so that it would help me relate and find common ground. I did this before the word "diversity" became such a buzz word. I did this out of an innate curiosity to learn about others. The word "diversity" comes up a lot over here at ECU. There are plans to increase diversity, programs to support underrepresented groups of people, and governing powers telling institutions that they need to have faculty that reflect the diversity of the student body, which also needs to be more diverse. I also know that our world would be quite boring without diversity in thoughts, art, music, religions, styles, languages, etc. But I struggle to find a balance when it comes to focusing so much on diversity it becomes divisive and we get pushed further apart, rather than being brought together to appreciate our similarities and celebrate our differences. Someone always seems to be left out. I'm not sure if this makes sense. I wonder if the artists struggles with this concept of diversity...you want to create a brand or a certain look/style, but you want to create something new and different with each new piece, too.
Okay, so I am not sure if those make sense or fit what you are looking for, so if you need additional information please let me know :)
Have a great weekend,
Kelly
1. "I have no idea how it will turn out, but I am so excited to go through all of the steps of preparation and creation." Here at empathinc. we call that process. Actually we call it good livin'.
2. "What ever happened
to simplicity?" We don't have an answer for that one, Kelly. Tell you what - we'll google on our smart phone and then text you and post on our Twitter account to insure redundancies.
3. "I'm not
sure if this makes sense." empathinc. holds that anything related to an individual is already imbued with meaning. And that just makes good sense to us. Understanding is overrated.
Empathinc. Photo Response Credits:
2. Willoree Ford (grandaughter) with my friends Almetto and James Alexander.
3. Shameless promotion of son Isaac Schulz' new project: Shibuya Wildcats.
Kelly's blogs:
Thanks for being part of the conversation, Kelly!
Have a great life,
Tom
While
comprehending both the conveniences and pitfalls of a Cause and
Effect existence,
here at empathinc. we prefer to
live in a Call and Response Universe.
This series is an
exploration of that space.
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