Well, that's it. First term is over. Should I make some profound statement now? Let's see...today I saw a sign over a sky bridge at PSU that said "let knowledge serve the city" and i thought, "now that just sounds stupid."
Tomorrow I leave for San Francisco, where I will see Olafur Eliasson's fantastic installations and I will see Christmas on Tour! Also, I am giving my family their Christmas gift. I'm a bit short on cash this year so I am treating them to a week of my physical labor. I'm pretty sure I will be painting and putting up floor boards. I will miss Stephanie, who will be hard at work.
Other than that, things are nice. I'm going to try to take it easy over the break. I want to make some money so I've listed a bunch of stuff on eBay under the username: pinkisred. Also, I'm still selling my artwork under the username: ericmsteen. I've sold 2 pieces already. Prices may go up soon. I'm looking forward to seeing some friends who have been out to grad school, and I think that's about it. I don't know how often I will post here over the break, but maybe. And to leave you, I will give you some information with one of my latest events: curate a date.
The other day I took Stephanie on a date. Everyone in the social practice group picked something for stephanie and I to do on the date and then we did them. The suggestions related to the artists own work in some way. These date ideas included eating dessert first, Amy dropped off one of her apple pies, we took the bus to Powell's bookstore, arranged our fridge by color, exchanged Christmas ornaments and had various discussion topics, etc. It was an interesting night to say the least. It made me wonder about "blurring art and life." It sounds romantic but maybe it's not really. I'm not saying the date was bad, I'm saying it felt contrived. It wasn't normal for us. Maybe "blurring art and life" should look different, maybe that means highlighting the weird things you do, maybe that means doing everyting out of creativity, maybe that means your daily rituals become your daily projects...whatever. But maybe that's a bit dangerous. Maybe we need to be able to flip the switch off occasionally and not always be engaging in some creative act. Something to think about...
12/06/2007
The term ends
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6 comments:
I like this post! Interesting idea. Sorry i am not more verbose at the moment...I just really liked this.
Nice work Eric Steen. 4 Golf claps to you. Hey, when are we going to fight now that you live so close? I've got the gloves whenever you have the time!!
I'm with you here on "Maybe we need to be able to flip the switch off occasionally..." I get annoyed when I'm with people where everything they do is or has potential to be "the next project." What's so wrong with really just enjoying a moment without having to make it into a super special documented meaningful for everyone moment?
Are we afraid that if we enjoy something and don't turn it into a project that it didn't mean anything?
amen.
Hey eric steen, Thanks for your comment on my blog awhile back. I've actually got a new one that pertains to the subject of "blurring art and life" (juliaisliving.blogspot.com).
I suggest you read this essay by Allan Kaprow: http://readingbetween.org/artwhichcantbeart.pdf
I have come to the conclusion that my entire life is art, and I don't think it means that everything has to be "documented and super meaningful for everyone" at all, and I dont think it has to be contrived either. Art doesn't have to be contrived, documented, or a 'project'. I don't think so anyway... But its highly debateable :)
I thought life and art were supposed to be the same thing.
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