SECCA PROJECT
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Introduction:
Welcome to a blog for OPEN at SECCA; a 20 foot high by 32 foot wide drawn and
painted mural. The top half is "informed" by doodles from visitors
drawn on the bottom half. Anyone, including visitors, volunteers, and
staff of the South Eastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA)
in Winston-Salem, North Carolina are invited to contribute a doodle.
These images will then be used by me as I develope the larger
painted and drawn mural. In this way I am OPENing my art and myself
to the influences of others. This process reflects a central belief of
mine; that as humans we are shaped most by those around us. More so than
events or places, other people shape who we become. In the same way this
large mural will be shaped by those who come to visit and interact with it.
I plan to work on this mural for three months, regularly making changes.
In a sense it will never finished, just as we as humans are never finished
growing and changing. But unlike ourselves its "death" is predetermined
for July 3, 2004 when the mural will be removed and distroyed. I hope you
will visit the mural at SECCA and this blog regularly during its lifespan
of three months.
See how it all started in March-April.
Wednesday, May 6th and Thursday, May 7th, 2004
Tuesday, May 11th, 2004
Wednesday, May 12th, 2004
Thursday, May 13th, 2004
Friday, May 14th, 2004
Tuesday, May 18th, 2004
Thursday, May 20th, 2004
Wednesday, May 26th, 2004
Tuesday, June 1st, 2004
Tuesday, June 15th -Saturday, June 19th, 2004
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Thursday, June 24, 2004
Wednesday, July 28 and Thursday, July 29, 2004
With final grades due on all my classes this week, I was not able to get as much
time in working but I am happy with how things are shaping up. Thursday night's
open house was attended by some very enthusiastic participants. Several parents with
children came as did adult artists interested in the project. I actually got more
feedback tonight that on on the opening night.
I added a dark area around the gun-like weapon on the left side to balance against
the bright yellow character. I finally got the tornadoes looking dark enough too.
I also worked on the bird-cloud-like figures in the middle region.
All my grades are in so I am free at last! I will be working on this project
most of the day on Tuesday, May 11.
6 hours over these two days, 52 hours total
I've started to open up areas to add more drawings. I enjoyed the peace and
quiet today. I will be back Wednesday to start drawing over the areas I
painted today.
4 hours today, 56 hours total
There is a "tree of life" emerging from this section of the wall.
2 hours today, 58 hours total
I did more tree work today.
2 hours today, 60 hours total
Today a large group of folks from Raliegh, NC came through the gallery.
I had a blast talking to them and answering their many questions. On the
mural I used an ochra pastel to recolor a green and blue area so that it
does not compete with the blue area at the base of the tree. I also started
a new blue-white area that will need to be enlarged.
2 hours today, 62 hours total
I finshed up a few areas on the wall today including adding highlights
to the rain drops coming from the sun. It's time to make some drastic
changes and keep this project rolling forward.
3 hours today, 65 hours total
My Uncle died on Tuesday as I was working on this mural project. It has
been a tough week. Today I covered up the large weapon-like element and
layed in a more subdued color background. Thinking a lot about Uncle Ralph
I pulled from the donated images below and added a sereph like (angle wings)
element over the background. This will probably grow in size to balance
this side of the work.
Over the last week I have met people from all over the world, including
folks from NYC, San Fransico, and Turkey. They have all been enthusiastic
art lovers with a wonderul world view of things. SECCA is such an important
magnet for such.
4 hours today, 66 hours total
I finished the winged sereph today. Lots of visitors came through today
including an enthusiastic group of students from Germany. I will paint over
another area tomorrow to continue the evolution of the work.
4 hours today, 70 hours total
Today, and last Friday, I added two new elements. Both were inspired by the doodles
donated by the German group. The first is a tree house like tower that creates a
darker element for the middle of the work. The second are flowers coming out of
one of the faces at the top left side. These pay tribute to all the flowers that
have been donated. It is also a borrowed idea from a Botticelli painting I saw in
Italy.
4 hours today and last Friday, 74 hours total
Back from awonderful trip to Italy and over the jet lag, I added new elements to
the mural and started over making it all balance. The black and red tower in the
middle has set up a darker tone overall. I also added a swash of paint around
the figures on the right. It is not the right color yet but I'll work on that.
I also plan to make the work more painterly overall and add another "quiet zone"
like that with the angel wings. The end is coming! July 3rd will be the close of
the Drawn/Quartered Show and this mural will be torn down.
8 hours this week, 82 hours total
Wow! What a productive 2 hours today. I resolved the color issues I was having
with a large swash of paint on the mural and then a group of students from Summit
School's summer arts camp came in to visit SECCA. After drawing in the other galleries
they came in a sat down to look at and discuss the OPEN mural. Their insights and
questions were amazing. THey carefully considered the work, answering questions
with an understanding of the complexity of the symbolism. They blew me away! Their
interaction and consideration of the work has been the most mature and indepth
I have witnessed over the last two months of the project. Thank you Summit for
a memorable highlight of this project!
Dare I admit that I am becoming attached to this project? I will miss the work and
goingto SECCA weekly.
2 hours today, 84 hours total
Did only miner adjustments today. Here is a full view of the mural as it looked
several days ago. I did not get a picture today but will post one after my next
visit. Next week is the last full week of this project. Be sure to come by and
check it out before the show closes.
2 hours today, 86 hours total
Well, sad to say but that's it! I adjusted a few things on the yellow creature
and documented the work with a few high resolution digital photos. I took one last
look and walked out. By this posting the mural will probably already be removed
and thrown away. Three months work, 600 plus contributions, a few pictures,
new friends, and lots of great memories is all that remains of this project.
Would I do it again? You bet!
I am excited about the start of my next studio painting. It is 70 inches by 80
inches. This used to be big. It will seem like working on a postage stamp now.
Thanks for hanging in there to the end with me on this project. I hope you
can catch the next one.
2 hours today, 88 hours total for the OPEN project