NoumenArt: Art & Consciousness Project

So I actually had to spend some time doing work and grading for my courses :) and… some detail work on the Flinders project.  I don’t know how I didn’t notice that I placed the keyboard upside down.  Now I have to reshoot those sections.

Crikey, I need a massaging chair and I’m gonna go blind from being in front of the computer all of my waking hours.

I have been trying to keep up with the background work of going through the META and Elaborate categories.  I haven’t had the brain power to elaborate much but at least have reorganized some of the posts and other categories.   This is full time work… really. I wish I could do a find and replace on the whole blog for those damned additional charactes that are showing up on the imported posts.

Still, it’s fine.  I actually feel like the gears in my mind are able to turn without grinding finally. Just have to wait until they develop some more momentum.

And… because I’ve been able to think a little bit, may have zeroed in on what to do for the TSC 2010 proposal.

DNAMemory, originally uploaded by XhyraGraf.

Family…

I love them. It reminds me of why it is important to sift through the crap I’ve collected over the years to make sure I unearth and keep what is good and strong about the genes, therefore kind of mind, I’ve been given. (more…)

Veterans Sculpture Draft, originally uploaded by XhyraGraf.

Made in Second Life and completely digital.

Let me preface this by saying that I adore the military.  I have a special admiration for the people that defend and enforce our freedoms; including all the guards, the police, the swat team, I especially love the marines and lets add the FBI and yes, firemen* to the group.

But… I have never been so unmotivated to do something in my life. Worse than… starting to exercise again because I know the worst of the pain will be my disappointment and being demoralized about how out of shape I’ve allowed myself to become. [Note: I'm used to physical pain. I took ballet for crying out loud.]

It’s just that they gave directions, no… specifications, no… a directive. The surest way of not getting me to do something is to tell me how you want me to or think I should do it. [Note: and the budget is way too low for a sculpture, especiallyone they want finished by THIS veteran's day.]

The directive read, and I quote, “The desired work should include a depiction of a war veteran in uniform, a child, and a wife (mother). Work must be representational in nature.” So besides not being able to present my wonderfully expensive ideas about interactive, solar powered and updateable sculpture with light sensitive and/or switchable glass that can be used for projection of the databased information having to do with the actual families [and, of course, their loved ones in the military] from the surrounding cities** – my hackles rose. Because 1.) it was just too specific for me, Ugh! and 2.) I [yes, I have issues] I immediately got the image of a Stepford wife from this description. Could they have said “family” or “community” or “home” or frickin’ anything else and not been so specific? Are there not war veterans in uniform that are female?

So, I think I’ve managed to circumvent my issues. The woman is in uniform. I was graciously given some images by a female student who spent 5 years on active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. She’s a beautiful girl. I admit to being surprised when she told me she was in the military. [Hey, I can admit my failings] She told me the story of when she went to a bar with a bunch of male soldiers who were happy to go with her because she had actually seen action where they had not. Only to have a citizen buy a round for all of them in honor of their service…except for her.

Here’s hoping the committee can really imagine what this will look like in metal.

* firepeople?
**Yes, I’ve been thinking about this for a while. I love the military because “they stand on a wall and say nothing will hurt you tonight, not on my watch” and because I really can “handle the truth” – Really. As subversive as I am, um… as I seem to be, I believe in discipline. Most of America needs a good spanking. OK, maybe not discipline as serious as a code red.

are just terrible.

http://consciousness.arizona.edu/Tucson2010EnterConferenceSite.htm

There really is no reason to be anxious, but there you go…

Where is Yoda when you need him?

Artwork image: ‘Ocular Map: Gyrate Atrophy’

So, I haven’t posted because I haven’t wanted to change from the image in the previous post.  Whee! It’s nice to be in love with something I’ve done again.  Still, that clearly can’t continue.

The database conversion for the Flinders Project is kicking my a**! Well, the conversion is actually done.  Organizing the webpages is actually what is tedious and as usual I don’t have enough quiet time… because I actually need to sleep nowadays.  Yeah, yeah. I did not get it done before going to brasil.  I WILL finish it this weekend.  (more…)

Tags: Flinders, Second Life

Let a day slip by without using the blog.  But then, there nothing like &^%@$!! losing an entire [really long and detailed] post because you went back to do one edit. Crap.  Not rewriting it….

Just the note that regarding something I don’t normally think about – relationships. I’ve decided that I will not eat the marshmallow.

Ok, back to grading now.

Detail from “Aesthetic Experience”

I sit or stand or walk around thinking about abstract and possibly inane things then get news like Miss Evans being shot in both legs. What? How? She’s fine but come on!  Of course, I was just reminded that the window of gallery was shot out not too long ago… but this is my point. (more…)

Tags: Flinders, Second Life

Here is the usual photo of me At One.  While I don’t remember exactly what I was thinking, I am quite sure I was thinking clearly. Since no one thought I would be “thinking” anyway I was left alone…in peace…to think.  I’ve been trying to get back here for what is now most of my life.  Here I recognize my face.  Or rather, here I recognize “myself”.  Undiluted. (more…)

So…how long has it been since I did any real work with this blog?  Some effort toward centering myself and real focus is due.

Tags: Flickr, TAO Zone

This painting is very old but found this “poem” also very old…

The first of the hurt
God’s will has blood spill
Sitting on your throne on high
Eve’s philosophy begins with “Why?”

Why teachings that make me despise who I am?
Why laws that subjugate me to a man?
Why hormonal imbalances that make me lustful?
Why a lunar cycle that makes me spiteful?
Why a fate that makes me hate?

My sex, in eternal vex
The blame, the shame
I bleed for my sins
I bled, shaved my head
I weep, my soul to keep
The snake’s will wins

From 12 to 33 he did his father’s work,
Earth mother’s dearth allowed to shirk.
With my menses, I lose my senses
In dysmenorrheal hysteria
From 12 to 33 I fought with thee
“Why, Father, hast thou forsaken me?”

I, woman, cry “It is finished.”
And you, God, go unpunished

[The title of the painting is "And God Goes Unpunished"]

Tags: Visual Philosophy