Jenny Holzer "Language Games: Interview with Jeanne Siegel"

I really like Jenny Holzer's work. It's just words, but they are statements to grab your attention. I like how she used posters and signs to display her work. She didn't want to use an art gallery to showcase her work, because it seemed to planned. Jenny preferred the idea of her work being stumbled upon. "I think it has the most impact when someone is just walking along, not thinking about anything in particular, and then finds these unusual statements either on a poster or on a sign."

It's also interesting why she chose to use language. She felt that her ideas and thoughts could be expressed no other way. With language, it was forward and to the point, so no one had to wonder. "I was drawn to writing because it was possible to be very explicit about things. If you have crucial issues, burning issues, it's good to say exactly what's right and wrong with them, and then perhaps to show a way that things could be helped."

At the end, she is discussing how short of a period her audience has to see her work. "Since most of my experience is trying to stop people on the street, I'm very aware of how much time you don't have with your audience." I like that she took the challenge and ran with it. Instead of staying safe in a museum, she went out into the streets to grab your attention and change your ways of thinking.

Group material caution! Alternative space! And statement.

“Group Material started as twelve young artist who wanted to develop an independent group that could organize, exhibit and promote an art of social change.”

This is what I’m shooting for.  I want and need a community of artist.  I thought about making an art center of sorts, one that could be ran by artists, that could give artistic lesson, have exhibitions, and hold activist organization meetings, and other events as well.  I feel as though if I worked for a place like this I could live a meaningful and eventful life.

The main problem a came across was location, not that I could not find one in the city that I live in that could capture the attention of the residents here but the problem was the city itself.  There are not enough people that see the importance of the arts so that an establishment of this sort could survive.  The only groupings of artist out here are that of street artist and they are few, young and scared of what is called “fine arts”. This realization was disappointing and is one of the reasons why I need to leave.

This kind of establishment might be possible in an area like this but it would take years. First the city would have to develop more, and more things would have to happen so that the city could incubate a group of people like this. Then finding and gathering them and picking out a few that could help in the development. The next step would be in finding ways of financing something like this, which I have no idea how to do besides small art fairs, art lessons and other events but it I don’t think that alone could fund it.

I also worry that trying to make this happen would eventually take all my attention and I would eventually forget about my own art.

fermin jimenez

Sol LeWitt "Paragraphs on Conceptual Arts"

I really liked how Sol LeWitt talked about conceptual art. "I will refer to the kind of art in which I am involved as conceptual art. In conceptual art the idea of concept is the most important aspect of the work." I have never really thought about ideas and language as art. I've always just thought about the classic paintings and sculptures. It's interesting to see artists who have done something other than traditional.

I still find it slightly odd that LeWitt didn't actually paint his works, but came up with the idea and instructions. I mean, I guess that's the best way to do it. You get credit for a wonderful work, but you never have to do the manual labor. It's the idea that makes the art. "Successful ideas generally have the appearance of simplicity because they seem inevitable. In terms of idea the artist is free to even surprise himself. Ideas are discovered by intuition."

It's also the viewer that interpretes the piece. The artist can present the peice as the way he thought it should be, but the viewers will all have different interpretations. "It doesn't really matter if the viewer understands the concepts of the artist by seeing the art. Once out of his hand the artist has no control over the way the viewer will perceive the work. Different people will understand the same thing in a different way."

Sol LeWitt " sentences on conceptual art" 1969

I really enjoyed this list of sentences by Sol LeWitt, they where very true, short and easy to apprehend. I have come across very similar thoughts as her' s. All together there where thirty-five sentences, but a few stood out more then the others.

The first one that stood out was number 17. “All ideas are art if they are concerned with art and fall within the conventions of art.”  I have a very similar idea.  I believe that any idea can be art if one perceives it to be, but its up to the individual to accept it or not.  Art has no actual boundaries, no actual rules it has to go by.  Art is a human made idea and it cannot exist without consciousness.  The only set of rules art has is by the ones the individual gives it, but it is only true for the individual.

20. “Successful art changes our understanding of the conventions by altering our perception.”  This is usually my goal every time I set out to do a serious work of art.  I feel I have nothing else to give to the world but my ideas and my point of view, and I feel as though it is very different.  However, it can be a burden trying to focus on if a work of art does that or not.

25. “The artist may not necessarily understand his own art.  His perception is neither better nor worse then that of other.”  There are some works I have no idea why I did them.  I just liked doing it, maybe because it was a nice pattern or shape or color.  Honestly I feel as though a lot of work one makes is very influenced by the subconscious, and may not even realize what has been created till one points it out.

There where many more that stood out, but considering its 6:30 in the morning and ive been up all night; I think I’ll stop at three.

- Fermin A. Jimenez (don't get it twisted)

Karen Finley "I Was Not Expected to be Talented"

This article really spoke to me. Being a woman, I can identify with what she is saying. The majority of this piece screams what I have thought at one point or another.

Karen talks about how she wanted a daughter so she could give her daughter the opportunities she never had. I love having a daughter, so I can do those things for her. Karen said, "I feel if I have a daughter I can give her the chances I never had. This is something perhaps only women would understand -- that up to this very day, girls, daughters are killed for being just that. Girls. Daughters. Females. No wonder the entire psyche of women is universally coached to be as desirable as possible, as boring as possible, as cute as possible. Obviously, it's for the survival of the female species." The second part of that quote hit me. I totally understand that. We are trained to be a certain way for approval, for survival. Men still cannot accept women as being strong and equal.

Karen also speaks about not being expected to be talented. I feel the opposite. I feel as if I was expected to be very talented, but I've failed. I understand her, but feel the opposite. I feel as if I have disappointed people. "You know why I only feel comfortable around the collapsed, the broken, the inebriated, the helpless, and the poor -- CAUSE THEY LOOK LIKE WHAT I FEEL INSIDE!" I completely understand that quote. I feel like that the majority of the time. I just put on a mask and pretend everything is okay. That's how society, especially women were trained to act.

"I've been needed, rejected, and desired, but never valued by anyone."