big gay

Artist Statement: I was really looking forward to this project to create a performance that had some substance and gave me practice as a drag artist and just performance art in general. I spent a lot of time considering outfits, locations and songs and eventually put all the pieces together into something that I am proud of. Project three for me was basically a digital drag performance to song ‘Killer’ by Kali Uchis. To stick to the nature of performance art I wanted to only do one take with minimal editing because, to me performance art is about the individuality and uniqueness of a raw performance. So the video was the one and only take with a filter thrown on and clearer music over the video. The site is my partners basement and stairwell. The site, outfit, makeup, editing and song enhance the performance in creating a haunting, vintage, melancholy atmosphere. 

Artist Statement: I have decided to stick around the theme of drag for the rest of the semester for this class. So, for project 2 I struggled finding a way to incorporate the end goal of this project with drag. Every idea I had seemed not artistic and that it would read more as a tutorial than performance art. With this project the video shows a beginning and and end process of getting in drag. The beginning of the video (and first two images) show the beginning “sculptures” of the before or what goes into drag while the middle of the video shows the least glamorous aspect of drag which is taking it all off. This process is always interesting personally or to see others do because it is taking that fantasy, moment and somewhat of that personality away. the end of the video (and last two photos) is the remains of the end of the process. Wipes, makeup remover, lashes, outfit, wig, shoes, etc. Both sculptures show all the tools that are not necessarily glamorous or pretty to attain the goal of our personal ideas of “beauty” and that the end result shows the remnants of a single drag transformation that will never be fully duplicated. 

Film, such a delicate medium that will only show itself under the most perfect circumstances. It is so delicate and vulnerable that even the slightest light leak renders it nearly useless for developing. With this in mind I wanted to quite literally expose such a medium that I hold near and dear to my heart. The live video or initial video is the exposure itself to the light where I slowly pull the film from the safety of its light proof cartridge, I nearly image the 24 exposures being lost as I slowly let the film enter the world of light. The video itself is a compilation of manipulations and actions that I place upon the film. These motions quite literally pained me as the avid photographer in me found this a tragedy but a necessity to fully understand just how precious film is. The end product was rather cathartic, eye opening and not to mention satirical at best. Here I am disrupting this material and photographing what is used to photograph. How odd it is to destroy a material and turn that heartache into an unforeseeable result of a fascinating sculpture of sorts. This medium is so deeply personal to me which is why I opted for a rather strange and unconventional material. I hope that others are able to reflect upon their meaningful material and feel the angst and tension that comes from this performance.  

For project #2 Material Agency I wanted to work with a material and incorporate my phone as a secondary object. I created a list of objects and verbs and focused on wrap, cover, and roll. The material I decided on was plastic wrap. Plastic wrap is protective. Plastic wrap is convenient. Plastic wrap is a cover. Plastic wrap works best in layers. It wraps in itself easily. When I thought of what the material means, I wanted to expand those meanings to use its material properties, and wrap my phone to protect me from it. To think of what it could do for me outside of its usual space: the kitchen and food storage. At first, I think I was a bit abstract with my ideas as I forgot the project was based on a material so I had to pivot and refocus my energy on the material. I had fun thinking of the project and the process of wrapping over and over again was almost meditative in a way. It was a very effective project for me. I feel as if the plastic wrap is protecting me from my phone, a source of distraction, anxiety and attention so deep in layers that I feel a sense of safety, as it is currently still wrapped. Recording and documenting the project was a challenge as I was using my main recording device and had to use my webcam. I thought that it added another aesthetic layer, in a sense that I am super in to as we progress into crystal clear recordings from hi definition iPhones.

Part 1 to Material Agency. I will have part two up as soon as my wax is melted! I was/ am definitely confused about how this assignment was supposed to be completed but I used the materials that I had on hand. I decided that by adding the element of fire to my moldable clay, I would be taking away the accessibility of the material. From the looks of the candles currently, the outcome of my end sculpture will not go as planned. 

(Inspired by artist Josefine Svärd)

#theartassignment

For my final project, I decided to follow the art assignment “Off”. The concept was to use the blackness of a screen to reflect what it sees. To me, I thought this assignment was very current with everything that is happening. Now more than ever we have to use the technology that we have with us and it can leave us being stuck indoors and stuck succumbed to learning about everything happening around us. This assignment allowed for me to just go outside and quite literally turn off everything happening in this world and just focus on the here and now. It gave me the peace I needed and allowed for me to just focus on the plants flowing and the clouds moving. I hope this can give everyone peace as well. 

I really like the outcome of my video project, although it isn’t exactly what I had in mind. I am realizing more that most of my art projects are inspired by my dreams and as well, they don’t come out quite as I imagined. I don’t think this is a bad thing, and I suppose it’s difficult to accurately portray or even understand one’s own dreams. I added the song Symphonia IX (my wait is u) by Grimes to facilitate the feeling I hoped viewers would perceive from my video. This project was challenging yet extremely rewarding. I never thought to make art through film/video and I hope to be inspired to make more video projects in the future.