Just watched this thought provoking TED talk on how art can influence the culture around us. 

I often find living in Las Vegas the culture here has influenced artwork of myself and my peers. A professor of mine in the Art Department at UNLV noted, "I moved here from the midwest. I have never seen so many artists with the need to light things up until now." Could this be us being influenced by our residence in Las Vegas?

It has been my understanding that as an artist it means more to actually influence culture where you live. I have seen action taking place of local artists using "found" objects. This is definitely not an influence of Las Vegas on the artist but rather the opposite. The culture in Las Vegas is if its a day old who wants it? Get a new one! Why would anyone ever use "found" objects.


Have any of you had experiences with art influencing the way you think of culture? 
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Show 10/06/2011
 
I will have a piece featured and for sale in this show at in Blackbird Studios at First Friday in Las Vegas. The show is a Zombie themed show. This piece definitely fit the theme. This is an etching that was put in the acid at least 12 times with the uses of soft and hard ground and aquatinting. 

This is a self-portrait from a picture of me as a child. I have no idea why I was so scared, shocked, or surprised. I just know that I was an over top child. 

Enjoy!

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My husband Tyson Anderson is amazing when it comes to doing things on the computer. He offered to make a computer model of my agave and you can view it here. There aren't many things in our marriage where he actually does what I tell him to do but this model was one of those things. :) 

So far I have all the leaves cut out to size. I just have a little bit left to do with the shaping of the leaves. I am so excited. I'm getting closer and closer. I think that I will be done by next week!

Giveaway!!
Until then let me tease you with a little extra about the sculpture. There will be lights involved. These lights describes the space which they are in but not just by illuminating things. These lights will describe space in another way. What way will the lights describe the space they are in?! Lets see if you all can give the right answer to this question. The first person to guess right gets a free piece of my own artwork. Good luck guessing! 


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I just found out that I will be in a show at the Alumni Gallery at UNLV. I have to have everything turned in by Monday and so I've been updating some artwork a bit. Here is the first piece and the second piece. Sorry that the pictures aren't the best. I'm working on figuring out how to inexpensively take better pictures of my artwork. Any suggestions would be great.
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This is my first attempt at a Bristlecone Pine.
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This is what I did all day Friday and part of Saturday. My new and improved Bristlecone Pine.
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Closer look at the tree.
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This is my inspiration for my sculpture that I will be doing in wood. This is blue compact agave.
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Ok... Honestly I was stumped when assigned this project. I decided I would start searching online to find some inspiration. Here are some pictures that inspired me. What would you all want to see made? The assignment must be 2 feet by 2 feet, must be mostly wood with other components, and expresses space. 
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Huge kaleidoscope. I just made a tiny kaleidoscope in a elementary art class and it would be so fun to make a 2 x 2 ft huge one! Of course not as huge as this one.
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A wooden chandler and my husband is going to help me wire the lights in. This would be so fun! Well not this one but one like it.
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Wooden plant pots with a creative twist.
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Mini creative chair. This would be complicated to make but fun to sit in.
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Organic inspired cabinetry. Gorgeous!
What do you all think?
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Thoughts on space discussed in my sculpture class.

The conversation in class started with one of my fellow students talking about space being its own or not its own entity. An example my fellow artist Aysha do two chairs create space or does it create itself? I ask my husband this same question and he doesn't even want to consider the question. Would you consider the question? Its an interesting one because scientists don't have an answer!

I brought up the thoughts I shared in my previous post. My previous thoughts were that there is a reason why everyone has space. That space can be acquired to house more things and/or family. So everyone chooses what they are using their own space for and then our conversation began to evolve. We discovered that as you pick what your space is used for you emotionally charge that space. Which means you have given that space meaning whether that it is considered "good" or "badly" charged that is not my business.

Other thoughts on space...
Space is a stage
Space inside objects
Personal versus public space
Space defines

Anything you all want to add?

My Assignment:

My assignment must depict some sort of space and I must support my object with explanation and craft. I am to work in wood the piece is to be 2 ft by 2 ft. The object could be smaller but must be within 2 ft. by 2 ft. 

I'm still thinking on what I want to build. My first thought is a fancy salad bowl but how boring. Not to mention I have no reason for it. I will post brainstorming and sample drawings 

What would you all build?
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     As I am a developing artist I started Intermediate Sculpture this past Monday. In every college class you talk about the syllabus and rules but in sculpture you get to talk about all the exciting dangers you may encounter in the classroom. Emily Kennerk my teacher went over all the horrifying experiences she has had in sculpture. We went over the possibilities of loosing fingers (expected), being scalped (shocked), and creepy men sneaking up on you in the tool crib (WHAT)?! Intermediate Sculpture is not for the fainthearted. (If you want more details on those experiences I will post more on request).

     After all the stories of negative life changes due to people working on sculptures we were assigned our first assignment. I was really excited to start sculpting after that. Not. The first assignment is to be done in wood and has to do with space. We are suppose to come to class tomorrow with our own definition of space. There are no restrictions. So what are your ideas on space? 

     Disclaimer: My theory on space. Don't let it sway your's. Unless of course mine is that good. 

     I have been thinking of space the last couple days since I got out of class on Monday. I have come up with my theory of space. When the Europeans came to America they defined all the empty land around them as something that was their's to fill with their stuff and/or family. My thought is that this idea that the European's created still continues to this day in all Americans. I feel as though I was raised on the idea that the more space you have the more important things you have in your life. So your space defines your importance in this life and/or what you value as important. Will you expand or make smaller your space for family, things, and/or necessities? Is space really just a place to put things or is it a value marker? Do we recognize what we are making space for in our lives?

I will update you on where our conversation in class goes tomorrow. 
Mary Caroline
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