Inspirational exercise...

As an inspirational exercise we were assigned to record, draw or photograph any subject, any person, or any event for 7 days, in the same space, time of day and area. So this seems great right? Well not at first...this was almost too much freedom as I could record absolutely anything! I hummed and hahhed about many things but some things seemed so boring as they wouldn't change over time so I opted to record something that would show evidence of change. I came to the conclusion of recording the refrigerator which proved to be quite interesting as it offered an array of change not only every day at 6:00, but every time I opened the fridge. From this exercise I could see the contrasting sides of change that I am dealing with. Although the fridge itself remained the same its contents continually changed as they were moved around or eaten or some things that had just gone bad as time takes a tole on things. The fridge (like artists) attempts to stunt this process of change, however it is never completely successful, just as we artists are never able to truly capture the essence of a moment. Time is and will continue to remain out of our reach as it remains in the power of God's hands...time is too complicated and precious of a concept for us imperfect humans to have control over.

Disappointment followed by a final idea....

Well I went on the hunt for the clocks that I had my heart set on, but unfortunately I was unsuccessful! But for some reason I can't pull myself away from this idea so I am going to turn to another idea, or another approach to capturing this rather. My plan is to photograph 3 different types of wall clocks that are all set at the same time. Then, I am going to alter them with Photoshop to give them the sort of Andy Warhol effect with his use of colour etc., which gives a modern twist to the issue of time too as our society today as become so dependent on time as it controls every aspect of our busy, hectic lives. Our lives are controlled by the continual routine of time. We are continually looking at our clocks to determine where we have to be at every minute of every day. So with this piece I guess I am incorporating many aspects of time into one composition.

Just a side note: in cohesion with the idea that time is a consistent continuum, and yet it continues to change as we never regain certain moments kind of relates to what we artists try to do. We tend to capture these moments in time so we can try to experience them again in attempts to break free from the routines of time.

Deciding on how to create the concept of time...

So I have been thinking long and hard about my last post and the contrasting elements of the change and changeability of time. From this I have been drawn to the idea of clocks despite how expected that may be considering the topic is time. But I want to focus on the consistency of time which I feel would be best captured in a clock itself. With this I hope to find three different looking clocks and then I will have each of them set at the same time. This idea will capture the consistency of time (with all the times being set the same) and the inconsistency using three different clocks. I am tossing around a few ideas of what sort of medium to use. I was thinking of either using the clocks themselves or drawing the clocks using pen&ink or something along those lines....so for that I am undecided...

However, if I am unable to find the clocks that I have in mind then I have also continued to think about the idea of using a pear to represent this contrast. I have a chrome-like figurine of a pear which will represent the consistency of time as this figurine captures a particular moment in time (something that art allows us to do). This I would capture in carbothelos. Then I would also capture the essence of a real pear with its variety of colours to represent the changeability of time. The real pear I would capture with watercolours which allows for an element of change as it is such a flexible and unpredictable medium.

Playing with the concept of time...

Initially when I was presented with the concept of time I had no idea where to begin, but then I began to think of the seemingly negative aspect of time: the tole that time takes on life. In relation to the effects of time I began to think about things that quickly decay and fall apart such as fruit or vegetables. I was reminded of a painting assignment I did last year in which I had to paint an array of vegetables. The vegetables did not remain the same thus complicating the piece. I'm liking this idea of time because of the obvious evidence of time.


However, while I was reading "It's Not About Me" by Max Lucado I was struck by a contrasting concept of time...the unchanging aspect. Time is consistent and reliable as we are able to count on 1:10 pm coming again tomorrow without fail, just as the sun rises and the sun sets everyday without fail. Similarly, God is unchanging, he is our fortress (Psalm 59:16-17) and his word will stand forever (Isaiah 40:8). Although, despite the unchanging consistency of time, there is a strong element of change amidst it's reliability because a perfect moment in time can never again be recaptured. Despite the fact that it may be 1:10pm tomorrow, ultimately it will never again be the same. We can never regain a particular moment, we just can't help it. However, we can turn to God who is essentially time as he is the consistency as with him "there is no variation or shadow due to change" (James 1:17). So our days may change, our lives may change, but time (and God) is ultimately the continual driving force of our lives.... After reading this chapter ideas began flooding as I suddenly changed gears from the change of time to the unchanging component that still has a changing aspect? I am currently faced with this dichotomy and uncertain of how to approach it or even if I can transform my ideas into a piece of art? I was thinking of photographing a clock at the same moment of every day to show the consistency, but I am uncertain at this point how to incorporate the still changing aspect of it. I may not find a way to transpose my ideas...they may remain ideas within my head. But I feel that this idea could become interesting and would get people thinking...I just have to figure out how!