ART BLAST #1
Added 2018-12-07 17:58:02 +0000 UTCHello my Friends,
as I told you, I want to share more of my own creations and artistic Life with you. So here is my first ART BLAST post, containing my newest Track "Endless City", a Text about that Track, one of my Poems, a Book I suggest you read and a photo of me at a much younger age. ENJOY! :)
Time for some Sound:
My newest Track "Endless City". Listen to it here: https://youtu.be/tQbCl-6qYuQ
Endless City
This track consists of a single note, played for almost 17 minutes. It is accompanied by a random choice of 180 verbs out a 317 verbs long Lyric for this Track. The main theme of this track is the endless city of social media and the internet. The emotional ambivalence and double-sidedness of connecting to strangers, friends, family, supporters, fans, followers. We all know it, we all do it. We a laughed and cried, fell in love and felt paint, have been uplifted and left alone. It took me quite a while to decide to produce and post this since I am also a content creator now. I find the track very intense and surprising. The first track that I created that hold any voice at all and in this case my voice. The whispering is a voice that is ghostly and close at the same time. It's scary but also the voice of a lover telling you something in secret. Circumstance, context, relation are extremely important to every action, yet so hard to judge or understand on social media, where most of it, the gestures and facial expressions, the tone of voice and movement of the eyes are often missing. More often than not, it is a hollow voice and we fill in the gaps, hoping we got it right.
The Endless City is not autobiographical or a statement of my online experience, it a sound sculpture of social media and the internet itself. Listener Discretion is advised because I feel that the experience of listening to this can be somewhat extreme and overwhelming.
Time for a Poem:
With you
I found a moment with you
lost between the days
found between your lips
made between our eyes
I found a moment with you
kept inside my heart
carried through the nights
warming every memory
I found a moment with you
made to be my guide
tasting like the stars
drawing me to you
I found a moment with you
ever to be mine
shared only by two
kindled side by side
Time for some Inspiration:
The Art of Asking is one of the best Books i have read in a long time. It's about the life of Amanda Palmer, singer of the Dresden Dolls. It's the tale of her life. Uplifting, emotional, deep, inspirational, encouraging, powerful, moving and also the reason why I started sharing more of my art with you. Get it here: https://amzn.to/2Uq5c1p
Time for a personal Moment:
This is me, probably 14-20 years ago. I'm not sure of the exact year. It is strange to look at yourself from a younger age. Trying to see how much you still remember about that person, what is left or has changed. It is even stranger when you see places that are still there, but that younger you is long gone. Somewhere between all those days, stretched out, recolored and changed in shape. How many thoughts, ideas, dreams have held onto the ride or have been lost, replaced, rewritten over all that time. I always thought that the things I do, read, feel, think, will always stay with me. But now I know that I need to learn and practice every day because we lose what we learn faster than we learn it.
Thank you, I hope this first ART BLAST was fun for you, inspirational, thoughtful and connecting. Love you, see you tomorrow with the next Tutorial :)
Comments
Thats weird, one of my postings (just after Oops etc) has gone missing. For the sake of completeness:- My post takes a little bit of understanding. Fascinating Aida are a bit of a shock to the system (especially the one I linked to - I could have been gentler), but some of their stuff is hilarious, other numbers are beautiful. You need to find their stuff from earlier years (easily found on YouTube), as well as stuff from Dillie Keane (their founder) for later stuff. Of course, its not to everyones taste, it may not 'travel well' (though they have had international success); perhaps some layers do not cope with the passage of time and circumstances. But the point I'm trying to make is the long struggle they had (Dillie was born in Ireland and went through boarding school run by repressive and restrictive nuns) to build their particular niche into success. All their shows are sell-outs - Ive still never managed to get tickets. Obviously they've had their share of life's problems, and it was a while before they realised they 'had something' in terms of the particular qualities of their act - but they had to persist! I'm going to shut up now.
Pete Gunnell
2018-12-12 11:28:18 +0000 UTCThats weird, one of my postings (just after Oops etc) has gone missing. For the sake of completeness:- My post takes a little bit of understanding. Fascinating Aida are a bit of a shock to the system (especially the one I linked to - I could have been gentler), but some of their stuff is hilarious, other numbers are beautiful. You need to find their stuff from earlier years (easily found on YouTube), as well as stuff from Dillie Keane (their founder) for later stuff. Of course, its not to everyones taste, it may not 'travel well' (though they have had international success); perhaps some layers do not cope with the passage of time and circumstances. But the point I'm trying to make is the long struggle they had (Dillie was born in Ireland and went through boarding school run by repressive and restrictive nuns) to build their particular niche into success. All their shows are sell-outs - Ive still never managed to get tickets. Obviously they've had their share of life's problems, and it was a while before they realised they 'had something' in terms of the particular qualities of their act - but they had to persist! I'm going to shut up now.
Pete Gunnell
2018-12-11 13:08:06 +0000 UTCOops, pressed wrong key. Now then, I detect a touch of what is sometimes called the 'black dog' so, at some risk of causing offence (not my intention, but this group can be a bit 'blue' so be warned) I'm going to suggest a little listen via YouTube to FascinatingAida (been going since the 1980's, and they had to struggle early on and, for obvious reasons never made it big on TV). For starters <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmoG4JY_T58." rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmoG4JY_T58.</a>
Pete Gunnell
2018-12-09 13:41:04 +0000 UTCOh so very well said both Bob and Olivio. Dammit you've both got me feeling tearful !
Pete Gunnell
2018-12-09 13:37:08 +0000 UTCHi Bob, that was a wonderful text. Thank you for that. It is interesting that almost every person has that wish to preserve and share their memories with others. Through Social Media we all became writers, photographers, artists. It's somewhat of a pity that most of that happens is a kind of shallow form, limited to 140 characters, reduced to a Instagram filter, produced as a quick side activity. But non the less, it has very much impacted our skill and vigor in producing these documents. I think Photoshop and affinity photo have finally cemented the fact that a photo is less a form of pure documentation, and more a form of individual expression and artistic language. After all, what makes a photo really our own voice is how we manage to change it into something we see from the inside. I feel with you on the project to document your life's earlier memories. It is interesting to meet that other person again, that we used to be, and revisit the choices and paths we have taken. I think a lot of artistic will comes from the difference of our expectation to what the world really is. Sometimes more cruel, sometimes more beautiful than we could have imagined. I hope my channel helps more people to go onto this journey. It's at times shocking to see how many people in our society have no contact to art, other than what's in the latest top 10 list. Never spending a minute to sit down and think about the deeper things beyond the surface. I can't really say it would make them a better person. But maybe a richer, more thoughtful person. Maybe a less fearful person for anything that is different and strange. The interesting thing about our mind is that it is not a clear window we are looking through. It is a highly manipulative filter that only shows us what we have allowed ourselves to see. I think the anger and hate that boils up when people with not artistic understanding look at art, comes from a feeling that they might have denied themselves the most beautiful parts of our world. While art is strange and conflicting, it opens the book of the world and allows to see more than just the cover. as old and overused that metaphor is, it is very true for the onion like nature of our world. About art and appreciation: It is painful do be disrespected for art, because it is such a private and delicate moment of sharing. At the same time it is childish to feel pain from that disrespect. Rather than punishing myself with the pain i feel, i should feel sorry and love for the person who has yet to open their eyes. That is a really big step to take. Most of the time, you want to bash their face in and ban them from all your channels. But that's like hitting a child because it laughed at a funeral. It's not their fault nor have they the ability to understand it yet. It's not that i failed them, but it's not that they failed me either. Hate comes very easy and sometimes it's a great relieve of the pain we have bottled up at other times. Kick the weak dog that can't bite back. At the same time, especially because it is a weak dog, no matter how bad he has been, deserves some food and a place to sleep.
Olivio Sarikas
2018-12-09 10:34:10 +0000 UTCIt is so interesting that you are bringing this forward, along with your generous sharing of your artistic talent. Thank You! I’m enjoying it. My project to capture my life’s memories is what first interested my getting more serious into photo editing and enhancement. That led me into my 3 year sub-project of learning and applying Affinity Photo. In year one, you have become my primary mentor. In ways, as I am completing this chapter of my life journey, your talents and artistic vision will be projected on to those who knew, know or will know me. I suspect that is true to all those you have shared your talents with whether as dedicated Patreons or one lesson Youtube viewers. They carry the seed forward. I appreciated your earlier life photo and reflected on my own as well. Way beyond photo restoration (though that is important), I desire to express my life as I saw it then and how I see then now. Those are two equally useful views. Old pictures lack so much whether from just being a poor picture (it is hard to trust others to do a good job at catching a moment :) ) or the no pictures of incredible moments. I personally believe all important moments are remembered though many need a trigger to be recalled. Photo-Art can capture that moment and enhance it, as well as provide a future trigger point. The requirement though is to be able to create the image that does that capturing. You and Affinity are setting that foundation for me. Can I create what my mind sees? Not quite yet but I am learning and gaining. What is more important, how others feel when they experience what we share or how they feel when they apply it to themselves? Now at likely 20 years beyond yours, I have been rewarded with many great chapters in this story of mine. It is remarkable that I have a perspective on them though I certainly cannot go back and relive them. That is okay. “Now” has enough adventures, struggles and stories of its own. Others certainly help as we help others. Yes, As Pete shares, we gain from and appreciate your technical skills and artistic insights. It is a shame that some through ignorance or worse, fail in respecting others art and creativeness. I have observed for many years that the majority of people attempt elevate themselves by pushing others down. It is miserably wrong. True art has so many right answers. I enjoy much and appreciate the rest for the most part. I am glad that it was expressed. We’re given life. With time we learn, develop a perspective and make choices. At some point the test is over and we rest, passing along to others who will receive it. In our appreciation, BobD
Bob Domine
2018-12-09 02:33:54 +0000 UTCIt's really good to have you here and read your word, Pete. Thank you :)
Olivio Sarikas
2018-12-08 17:20:11 +0000 UTCHi Pete, yes i agree and thank you for encouraging me. It is surprisingly hard to embrace life, even if it is right in front of us. there is always another thing to take care of first, a bit of shyness, a bit of angst, some friends or family that hold you back. It's hard to cut loose of all these webs. And if you do, the world turns out to be a cold and harsh place, unless you find those rare and small pockets of people that call you "one of us". As much as i love amanda palmer, i'm not sure she takes into account that most people will always get more hate than love for their art. then again, it is still worth trying and doing it, for the small group that likes you, for the rare moment that touches someone. I still need to find the courage to do it myself. It is strange that even at the lowest point, where i have nothing left but my art, i still hesitate.
Olivio Sarikas
2018-12-08 17:17:56 +0000 UTCHi Olivio, thank you for your kind thoughts. You're right about all the technology that can support, of course. But if I'm bluntly honest, if often doesn't. Don't take that as a negative - what I'm trying to say (poorly!) is that you shouldn't waste time/life being dragged down by those who don't (yet) appreciate. Its so much more important to take all those little positives that often hide away. For example, I greatly appreciate benefitting from the technical skills gained from your site here. But I also gain an even greater benefit from the artistic insight that comes with it, and from those others who contribute to the site. It might be becoming harder for me, that's just one of those 'luck of the draw' things, but the enhancement to my life becomes more appreciated. A thick skin helps. indeed, but there's often an unspoken (dare I say silent ?) group who do appreciate but fall into that category spoken of by Amanda.
Pete Gunnell
2018-12-08 17:10:35 +0000 UTCHi Pete, i'm sorry to hear about your condition. On the positive side, we now have an abundance of technology that can help you. speech-2-text, stabilization of the brush, magnification to allow for rougher movements. I feel like sometimes the more we a limited the more we get a chance to focus on the things that really matter and can make better art for it. Also thank you for reminding me about her ted talk, i didn't listen to it yet. I totally must. My newest work "endless city" reminds me of her time as a statue - there sure are a lot of people walking by and joking about your art when posted in a public place. then again, i can't expect everyone to just get in to mood to listen to my works. it still hurts a bit, but i need to get over that and get a thicker skin
Olivio Sarikas
2018-12-08 16:51:07 +0000 UTCJust managed to listen to Amandas TED talk - I found it very moving. Thank you for curating and sharing that Olivio. I see I can give you quite a few years: if only we could see forward a little way. I get very frustrated that I'm increasingly crippled with arthritis (the feet and legs - perhaps I wasn't surprised, the fingers - disappointing, the eyes - I never knew) ah well. My underlying message ? Go for it whilst you can......
Pete Gunnell
2018-12-08 15:48:14 +0000 UTC
