I believe that the residency in Outlandia would be an amazing experience! You are located in the Norwegian Spruce at the foot of the Ben Navis mountain rang. If one were to take this residency, they would be two miles from the nearest town and completely isolated. I feel like this would be a fantastic residency for those who need peace and quiet to work, and enjoy nature! One would have a fantastic view and the ability to be isolated and connect with nature through the means of art.

Black Spatial Relics Residency

The residency is called the Black Spatial Relics Residency.  It addresses the history of slavery and contemporary issues with equality through performance art.  I found this work to be important because I personally believe that performance art has not spread through the Black community in the way that it should have been.  There are so many people in the art world who do not understand or care for performance art but there is still a struggle to get the Black community to comprehend the use for art degrees.  The artists in residence for this project are to pay close attention to the slave trade and the negative impact it left upon the Eastern seaboard of our nation.  The group will congregate at The Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice at Brown University.  The university if in Rhode Island and the piece will take place in October of this year. The artists will be in residence for three days in October at the university and then for a week again in May of 2017.   

Residency Art

For my residency art I chose a program titled, Once Upon Water. It is a 10-day art residency on Pico (Azores), one of the nine Portuguese islands, create works about material and magical notions of water. Anyone is encouraged to apply  and they recommend that the artists who apply speak with someone in your countries government about funding. Durning the Once Upon Water, residents work individually or collaboratively to create artworks that explore  tangible and intangible stories of water through media of their choice such as photography, video, installation, drawing,  painting, performance art, dance, sound art, media art, etc.  

mailto:info@OnceUponWater.com

Residency

The residency I chose to explore and read about was Driftwood Studios in South Africa.  The residency offers quite a few different things, for a good range of art forms. Because I am a multimedia sculptor, I found it very beneficial that I would have access to so many different tools and workshops to create and invent my work.  Also they offer a range of residency durations, from 2 weeks up into a full year. Having spent a few weeks in west Africa, I vowed to travel back to Africa, and this residency seems like a great opportunity to do so, while capitalizing on the expansion of my work.

Below is a link of their website and some artists' work.

http://www.driftwoodstudios.co.za

"Unprotected Sex"

This piece is titled "Pi-Chacan". It means to make love in Peruvian-Indian. The artist is Fernando de la Jara.  While the exchange student did not  die, I really wanted this piece of art to be in the conversation. I found it very interesting that he was put in a position of danger from a vagina. We battle with this concept in America and in other nations and throughout different religions ; the fall of man is because of a vagina.  With a little bit of research, I came  across the fact that he just wanted to take a funny photo with his friends.  This situation says so much about sex, virginity, the identity of man and woman, and a mockery of what it means to be a woman.  It is also an interesting photo to see a group of men trying to help a man get out of a vagina.  In this particular case, I do not find that it is the artist responsibility to make sure people are safe when he chose the climb inside of it. You could possibly say the same about sex but then again you can't. It is our responsibility to discuss sexual history or two especially practice safe sex. This  peace could toy with the idea of safe sex.

"Black History Month"

I already knew that I wanted to utilize food with my rock art piece. It's something interesting about combining consumption with items or concepts that aren't meant to be consumed. When I look at my own photo, I immediately feel the annoyance of coming upon something you've picked up that cannot be broken down by your bites. The rock cannot be broken down by our bites ; we'd hurt ourselves trying to in the process.  Using food in art also causes the audience to analyze whatever specific food. Black beans are healthy but tasteless as I don't know what. I never identify tasteless food with being black. Secondly, these beans take FOREVER to cook. They boil a black water too.

"Sorors"

"Sorors"

 One of my favorite artist is John Baldassari.  His work is playful, humorous, and has a lot of movement in it. And my own personal work, I tend to use a lot of playful colors with not so playful messages. I found out about him after taking a photography class during my sophomore year at the University.   Hey text photos and make them into mixed media pieces. All I do is mix media work.

Graffiti artists redefining artist residencies

For our art residency week I decided to post about an alternative to traditional artist residencies like the Galveston Art Residency,  like Banksy's 2013 "art residency" in New York, which he titled Better Out Than In. 

The street artist traveled around the city and posted a mural, video installation, or 'open air' installation almost each day.  This residency is a great example of how social media and new art mediums can change traditional methods of artistic practice and exhibition of works. The artist posted his series of murals, videos, installation, and performance art on social media-- creating an art exhibit that could be seen and followed around the world. Below I've included some of my favorite works from his residency, here is a map of the whole series that I found online. 

Os Gemeos Occupy collaboration, 'open air installation'

McDonalds performance all around city outside of restaurants.

Everything but the Kitchen Sphynx 

Fake Plato quote on a door in Greenpoint.

dangerous art

When thinking about dangerous art, I cannot help but think of the graffiti on I 45 in Houston that proudly reads Be Someone. I chose this because of the potential danger of up keeping this positive message to Houston commuters via a precarious train bridge over several lanes of traffic. There is an implicit danger in most street art which requires the artist to climb and balance to display their art.

The Be Someone mural in Houston inspires the community it strive for personal greatness, fostering a community of doers and changers. The unknown artist wrote on his instagram page (@besomeone): "It isn't about being someone that is accepted by others it's about accepting your self ." 

Despite the positive message, the artist puts himself in danger physically and legally in order to spread this message to the community. 

La Muse

A retreat styled residency set in France provides a beautiful mansion shared among artists and writers for a space that promotes creativity, inspiration, and peace. With a library as well as studios, this residency can last anywhere between one to four weeks. They also have side houses for large groups for things such as writers retreats. This may not be ideal for extended projects but I wanted to focus on one that has a concentrates on literary art. Also France is beautiful and the isolation has the potential to invoke a peaceful artistic getaway!

There's the link!

Residency in Houston

There is an art residency program in Houston called  ArtBound! is a curriculum-based, in school integrative arts program at H.I.S.D. For each visit, the teaching artist works with each class for approximately one hour. Art League Houston Teaching Artists are professional artists and experienced teaching artists. The residencies, including art supplies, are offered free of charge to the participating schools. In addition, the ArtBound! residencies integrate into H.I.S.D. curriculum and is provided primarily to grade levels third through fifth.

I think this is a great program where 'artists' can start young with other local kids and teachers. Here is a link: http://www.artleaguehouston.org/artbound/

ART Residency

An Artist residency is an opportunity to experience a different culture, location, or influence to expand your creative horizons. These opportunities are given to artists in with a variety of benefits that might include a stipend, travel arrangements, accommodations, exhibitions, and a chance to work with other artists.

ART Residence, in Marfa, Texas, Summer 2016, photo by Alton DuLaney

This past summer I had the opportunity to participate in a residency program organized through the University of Houston and Beaux Artes Nantes, called Deserting the Site, in collaboration with FieldWork Marfa, in the artistic oasis of Marfa, Texas.

The group consisted of 5 artists from the MFA program at UH, and 5 from the equivalent program in France. We met in Houston for a 10 day conference followed by over 2 weeks in Marfa, researching art making processes as it related to the specific conditions of the site. The program culminated in an exhibition at Roaster's Gallery, and a site specific exhibition on the outskirts of Marfa.

ART Exhibition in Marfa, Texas at Roaster's Gallery June 2016, photo by Alton DuLaney

The residency was the first collaboration in an ongoing program between the two universities. For more information, and to see more of the art made in Marfa, check out the website:

http://www.desertunit.org/dust/deserting-site-2016/

Residency Programs

Artist Residencies

"Two weeks in the south of France to edit a book of poetry. Three months in a mill building in Massachusetts to work on a film. A year in the mountains to sculpt. A semester in Taiwan to compose. With 100s of residency programs worldwide, the choice is up to you."

The top quote was taken from their website Artists should participate in these programs to broaden their horizons. See, learn, feel, and Experience new things in different parts of the world. It also is a way to get your art and name out their. The best way to Socialize face to face in front of your art. You also will meet other artists and most likely your soon to be best friends. The experience would be a great piece of your life to look back on. The top quote sold me on it. Hopefully you all will get to experience it.

Here is the link. Check it out:

http://www.artistcommunities.org/residencies/directory

For my killer art I didn't choose a particular artist but the dangerous(and illegal) art form of graffiti.

Many graffiti artists have died or been killed by graffiti, not only from run-ins with law enforcement but by attempting to do graffiti in dangerous spots or areas. Within the graffiti community, these areas which are harder to reach, harder to get to, or flat out ridiculous are given more appreciation for their level of difficulty. For instance, places that are very high up or require a bit of climbing are called "heaven spots". Ironically many have fallen to their deaths because of these attempts, and I have linked articles to many who have tragically died because of it.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2360111/Graffiti-artist-Sam-Opolli-16-falls-death-spray-painting-building-Birmingham-Tame-tag.html

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/alif-graffiti-artist-falls-death-painting-tag-bridge-article-1.1292592

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/tributes-to-sheffield-graffiti-artist-who-fell-to-his-death-1-7944593

http://www.dreamindemon.com/2013/04/03/craig-fugate-graffiti-artist-dead-dangling-highrise/

Pi-Chacán

Fernando de la Jara
 2001  
Tübingen, Germany

 

Image Source: http://delajara.com/EN/werke-skulpturen.php
 
Peruvian artist Fernando de la Jara's Pi-Chacán has stood near the entrance of the Microbiology and Virology building at the University of Tübingen since 2001.Chacán is the Quechuan word for both a naturally occurring water-carved tunnel through solid rock, and for sex. (2)

Fernando de la Jara is quoted saying, "It’s participatory art, It should be entered." (1)
 

June 23, 2014:

Image Source:  
http://www.mercurynews.com/2014/06/23/student-gets-stuck-in-vagina-sculpture/


An American exchange student fell over and had his legs wedged in the narrow base of the orifice while attempting to enter. Five fire engines and twenty-two fire fighters arrived on the scene. No special equipment was required to free the student; emergency workers lifted him onto his feet to free him. Both the sculpture and the student were unharmed. (2)

Fernando de la Jara on the incident:

"I believe [he got caught] because he had a lack of coordination. Or maybe it was a lack of sensibility." (1)


 Some other works by the artist:



http://www.delajara.com/images/gal01-angelaadonica2.jpg

http://www.delajara.com/images/gal02-die-drei-kleider-II.jpg

http://www.delajara.com/EN/werke-skulpturen.php

http://www.delajara.com/images/gal01-zauberkuenstlerin.jpg 










Sources:

1.  http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/06/sculptor-speaks-on-student-stuck-in-giant-vagina.html


2.  https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/23/us-student-rescued-giant-vagina-sculpture-germany

CONTENT WARNING - BODY HORROR, SERIAL KILLERS,

So I decided to simply type in Killer Art into a google search and most of the links that I came across actually turned out to be serial killers who PAINT! I found a blog that showed the Top Ten Serial Killer Artists and my favorite on the blog is this one:

And it came with the following bio.

Alfred Gaynor
Between 1995 and 1998, Alfred Gaynor murdered at least 8 women in the Springfield, Massachusetts area. He was known to pose his victims in horrifying ways in order to make the discovery of their bodies as traumatizing as possible. This drawing of his, entitled “Murder Beach”, is exactly what one would expect to see coming from the mind of a serial killer who has been given a box of crayons and an abundance of free time.

What I found the most interesting about this is the fact that Gaynor posed the bodies which (CW: dark and demented and excuse me for this but...) means this man's work - killing people - is transformed into art. He managed to evoke a feeling from the viewer and although the medium is dead body, it does initiate an interesting debate: can we call the placement of the bodies killer art?

Source

The Falling Archangel...Beware from Above

The Falling Archangel... “Saint Michael the Archangel”

The Met Had Obtained an artwork of Andrea Della Robbia. Who was an Italian Renaissance Sculptor. The art piece was "Saint Michael the Archangel" It is 62" x 32" terra-cotta and weighs 217.7 lbs. It was mounted on the wall and on 2008 the Archangel fell from above. It happened at night so thankfully no one was injured. The Artwork was damaged in the accident, so the piece had to be restored. But though the artwork was damaged they were able to figure out how the artist made this piece. Beware from above; the Archangel Michael is watching and will smite you.

i chose this image to represent my rock art. although its not exactly art made. i just love the idea of rocks documenting plants, animals, people etc. its like earths natural way to keep a library of history.

this was called 'bodyspacemotionthings' by richard morris unveiled in 1971 where 2,500 people showed up, but it didn't last long. no one died but 27 people were injured. 

Killer ART

The topic for the 4th week of public ART is Killer ART - Art that is so dangerous for one reason or another that it has actually killed viewers or the artists themselves, or at least has the potential, actual or implied to do so. We discussed Chris Burdens earl work including Shoot, Marina Abramovic's dangerous pieces including Rhthym 0, and pieces like ART Gun, pictured below, which was inspired by both or the previously mentioned artists, as well as Campus Carry politics in Texas.

ART Gun by Alton DuLaney 2016

Then we researched and discussed artists like Robert Smithson who died while creating hims piece Amarillo Ramp,  Richard Serra and his Tilted Arc public art debate on the late 1980's as well as Sculpture No. 3 that crushed an installer, Luis Jimenez who was fatally wounded by his own sculpture Blue Mustang, and Jeanne Claude and Christo's installation The Umbrellas that killed a viewer in California, and killed a crane operator in Japan during de-installation.

Lesson learned - art can be dangerous! So be careful! 

For my rock art I worked with Chenille and rock, and merged the two almost opposite textures to create my sculpture, which I titled "Soft Rock".

Time to call the exterminators...

Mail Art - Late..Oops

I am also a little late on the mail art but I wanted to share. This is why nothing gets done, I live with a bunch of artists. My daugther and my boyfriend both wanted to help me with my project so I sugested that they do their own envelopes and I would share them as well. My daughter is 4. Maybe I'm bias but I think she's already a great artist!!

This is my boyfriend's, Andrew's. I don't like to tell him how good I think he is...there might be some compettion between us. 

And then here is mine. I just like space and I'm trying to perfect the colors sometimes seen.

For the back I just went with it. I get carried away with glitter though. Disgustingly shiny!! 

Rock Art

For my rock art I wanted a model so I paid my snow leopard gecko to pose for me. Instead of a pet rock I have a pet on rock for you. I have these two rocks sitting on my mantel most days because I just love the way they look.

Gratitude

This week, for public art rock art edition: I created a pet rock named gratuity who only wanted one thing. Please tell her one thing you're grateful for today!