⋆Final Installation Blog⋆

 

This experience was like no other!

When this idea was on the chalkboard of my mind, I felt like it would stay put forever just because I was a bit doubtful about its execution..that was until we (the class) blew a great life into my chalk dust.

I remember the morning of this installation. I’m a huge early bird type of person so on this day I got up at 7am, got my supplies ready, and went to have breakfast. This is all context but when really getting into the set up, it was a therapeutic process. I got way too much paper but I loved using my obnoxiously large ruler across our grand table, and taking out my fresh set of pastels. I am also glad I got reminded to document because this image of anticipation makes me feel ready to make art!

In this midst of setting up supplies, I lost sight of setting up any restrictions. All I remember repeating is that the installation was about creating a mirror image to your partner, and to switch around colors when you were done with what you started with. I didn’t give too much direction on the tango of leading the mirroring and I think it had the great effect of people really connecting with their partners.

I think some beautiful outcomes from this happening was the sounds of the pastels going across paper and the silent conversations across the table. The laughter is also something that made me smile and feel like this installation did what I wanted it to. I wanted a connection, no matter how temporary, that helped us (as a class) express ourselves to each other.

This picture is one of my favorites because it truly shows a moment. The class may be off washing their hands at that moment (or what have you), but they created something that spoke for them in their absence. This piece was so huge that I had to stitch it together differently in a janky photoshop, but this work will always stick with me. 

I am glad we all came together this day and created something so beautiful. 

Rebecca Carlton Reflection -

 

I absolutely loved this artist talk. The time for self reflection is so hard to really sit down and have but when we were prompted to talk amongst each other and have a moment of retrospective, it was great. Rebecca talked alot about how these memories beg the question of “What do you want the viewer to see about you?”. She also talked a lot about her exposure to art being a consistent thing. Through this connection she often  later found herself in conflict between her and her environment. 

This is where she talks about Vanish: To become Zero. There were 4 main leaves used which took up a lot of the installation in size. Through this Rebecca then talked about thinking globally when creating art. To go out and look for what is around, and not being said. She also put emphasis that intention is key, and you have to know why you are doing something. 

She continued with how the process is one of the most important pieces to any creation.

5 billion to none: An extinction is an installation that really broke my heart. This piece revolves around passenger pigeons and how they were pushed to extinction. Rebecca talks about creating the 5,000 porcelain eggs (with no molds btw!). She also states here that global imagery is also essential for making an audience recognize that they understand something within the work, even if it is just an egg or a basket. 

There was much more said but ultimately I adored this artist talk because Rebecca Carlton put emphasis on the process and artists self within the evolution to the end product of all this work. I also loved her passion. You could just hear it. Many times she told the audience “Be persistent!” and “Follow through!” with whatever we get into. I appreciated that.

This opportunity was one of the best.