Raising Awareness for Type 1 Diabetes

I am blown away by the growing community of people on-line who have Type 1 Diabetes. A few weeks ago I decided to organize an Arts Festival designed to continue the conversation about being good stewards of our natural resources, while raising awareness and money to find a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. I wasn't sure where to begin my research for this festival...Do I begin by finding artists, collaborators, a clear definition of my goals, permission by my Graduate advisor to develop a festival, or somewhere else? I decided I would start with finding artists, but every time I start to search for artists I might be interested in bringing to the festival I find myself quickly drawn to connecting with people who are battling Type 1 Diabetes. I don't know why?!

Even though my wife has Type 1 Diabetes, I know she doesn't represent everyone. She has to deal with it every hour of every day, so she doesn't care too much for talking about it nor reading about it. She is a silent patient who continues her battle through prayer (something I believe is essential for finding a cure). I guess in a way that is why I am drawn to hearing other people's stories. I want to know if developing an Arts Festival to raise awareness and money to find a cure is something that the community of Type 1 Diabetics would support. I don't presume to be doing anything original, in fact, I am actually just trying to follow the lead of Bart Millard and others before him. I guess one question I have for you folks out there that are in the battle everyday, is this... Could you direct me to art events or artists who are actively creating art to raise awareness and money to find a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. Everywhere I look I see marathons, triathlons, walks, and rides, but not very many arts events. I'm an artist, that's what I do, that's what I'm good at, and so that is how I want to help.

I just had a thought...what if the Arts Festival isn't geared toward continuing the conversation about stewardship, but about Diabetes...! An exhibit of artists work who have Diabetes, a docu-drama/play devised from interviews of people with Diabetes, or panel discussion with people who have Diabetes, endocrinologists, and a representative from JDRF? Could it work...would it be successful...Let's do it!!!

Well, regardless of how this dream ends or grows, I am here to stay and here to support...Let's find a cure!

Arts Festival for Type 1 Diabetes

Here is an e-mail I recently sent out to begin acquiring information about organizing an arts festival that will ultimately help raise funds to find a cure for Type 1 Diabetes...

Dear Loretta Yarlow, I am a 2nd year MFA Candidate for Lighting Design in the UMass, Department of Theater. I am beginning to develop a seed idea for organizing an arts festival. I want the festival to embrace not only theatrical art, but art from a wide variety of resources. In particular, I am wondering if you would be interested in discussing the possibility of creating an exhibit of a variety of professional artist's work that speaks to our current environmental atmosphere. My initial thoughts and hopes about using the University Gallery space are to install either a painter's exhibit or an installation artist's exhibit. I am beginning my research far in advance. If, after a few conversations, my idea is one that you might consider, then the exhibit would not be installed until April 2011. I am very excited about my plans for this arts festival and would appreciate any feedback and/or support you might be able to afford me. If my inquiry would be better directed toward another person or another of the Fine Arts Center galleries, then please feel free to contact me with your advice.

Sincerely, Jonathan Hicks

Here is her wonderful and exciting response! I appreciate her initial question, which has helped me to begin to harness my thoughts and focus for this arts festival!

Dear Jonathan, I'm not really sure what you mean by the "current environmental atmosphere". The University Gallery has organized exhibitions that activate the architecture of our exhibition spaces involving light projections and video projections with gel filters (example: spring 2007, "The Experience of Color: Ann Veronica Janssens and Diana Thater"). The most recent exhibition "Gravity" this past semester showcased 9 light projections on beds of salt by artist Miroslaw Balka. Did you happen to see it? Also, our permanent installation called "Scrim Piece" by LA artist Robert Irwin (it's installed in our north entrance) typifies light and atmosphere in current art practice. So maybe you can clarify your definition so that I have a better understanding of what you're proposing. Also, please let me know if you had a chance to see any of the artworks I mention above, and whether they fit the categories you're speaking of. Thanks, Loretta

My response back to her from this morning...!

Thank you Loretta for your wonderful response and great opening question! To be honest, I am still exploring what, specifically, I mean by the "current environmental atmosphere". As one can imagine that statement encompasses a far too broad range of topics. I will need to be more specific about that phrase in order to have a cohesive festival capable of having a strong and meaningful impact on our local and global community. When I think of our world's current state-of-being, I immediately think of the environment around us (cities, farmlands, forests, bodies of water, air, solar systems). So, when I think of our current environmental atmosphere, I think of websites like the following: Inhabitat (for its vast exploration and commentary on the invention and use of energy efficient products to conserve natural resources like oil, air, and water) Charity:Water (for its concern and care for our worlds water resources) Environmental Working Group (for its intuitive and detailed research on our worlds oil situation) Solar Power (for its ability to make tangible understanding how to harness the power of the sun) These sites, among others, inspire me to create works of art that create social commentary on our worlds current environmental atmosphere. I think of artists: Andy Goldsworthy Shai Zakai Jim Hamlyn Jason Ditmars Urs Jaeggi And many others...I have not seen any of the exhibitions you mentioned. Last year was my first year, and with a newborn baby during the first week of school, the rest of my year was plagued with catching up. The next two years, however, I plan on moving forward with bold and exciting work! The culmination of which, I hope will be this arts festival of installation artists, music, art exhibitions, and theatrical performances all focused around creating a conversation about our current environmental atmosphere. I would like to push my research for artists who would be interested in participating toward exhibiting art work related more closely with light as I am a lighting design student. The exhibitions you mentioned sound like they fit well with my dreams for this arts festival. Again, thank you so much for helping me to flesh out my seed idea with such a simple question as "what do you mean by...?". I hope I have been able to get closer to answering that question in this e-mail, and I look forward to further interaction with you! Sincerely, Jonathan Hicks

This is the beginning of what I hope will be a wonderful collaboration!

New Havens

I added a new link list to the right. These sites are a list of links I am starting with to help build my knowledge of the arts happening today. I am hoping to build the list and do a weekly reading of a new site each week. If you have suggestions on which sites I need to know about send them my way. I am specifically interested in sites that touch on an area of art (music, theatre, dance, sculpture, performance art, etc.), but would love any suggestions.

What have you got?

Portfolio Update

Howdy folks...I wanted to let you all know that my Portfolio is completed. Check in the list of links to the right and you will find a link that takes you to my Portfolio. I will also be working on a page where you will be able to read a brief description of the production.

While you are purusing the links to the right find something you are interested in and enjoy looking at the various sites I enjoy looking at...Also, you may find a number links within my posts...please take some time to check out these links as they are most often quite intriguing.

Thanks for stopping by...

J

Spiral Jetty

Sprial Jetty...an amazing work of art...!

I was doing some research on Installation art today, and I found this blog...

First, it is a great exploration into art versus capitalism, art versus corporation, and/or historic art versus forward future. What are cities, corporations, and people willing to give up or destroy in order to make money, learn for the sake of our "future", and compromise without understanding what is being compromised.

The site also offers a myriad of links to other eco friendly sites, artists, blogs, and journals. I can't wait to utilize the site to find more artists like myself who are interested in preserving art for the sake of our "future", while creating valuable opportunities for the environment, the next generation, and society.

Edward Hopper

Automat, Edward Hopper, 1927

I am working on a lighting studio project. We are instructed to research one painter, write a paper telling about the artist and his work, focusing on the artists concept and use of light, color, and space. I have decided to do my project on Edward Hopper. He is a realist painter of the 20th century, whose art has a decidedly architectural and geometric emphasis to it. Although many of his paintings contain men and women, most of his paintings are of buildings and landscapes. It may be argued that the buildings and landscapes are the subject of his work even the paintings with human figures in them. I am enjoying his work in relationship to this project specifically because he is a great artist to study for inspiration while working on lighting installations for architectural environments.

The geometrical shapes and angles that he works with, the focus and direction of light, and the moods created in his art are combined an inspiration to my art. I have never been able to explore an artists work and understand what they are creating. I have never been able to enjoy looking at the art. However, with this project, I am beginning to find a way into the world of the painter of the still artist.

First Night

James Clar & Associates, "Pong"

I am looking forward to playing on an installation project for Northampton's celebration of this years First Night. It is a kind of New Years celebration (the images on these links are not the best, hopefully we will get some better ones for this year!) I have never worked on an installation with anybody, but myself and some classmates from College at Westmont. So, I am really looking forward to this opportunity. I heard that a kind of globe has been built atop the Northampton Hotel. Some of the equipment we will be using to light the installation has been purchased from Philips Color Kinetics. I tried to find some images of the installation that is being built, but I think I will have to wait until I have a chance to see it myself and take my own photos. I will be working with the artist Nan Zhang, who teaches lighting design at Smith College.

Stayed tuned for updates as I developed this new pursuit for my Thesis!

Installation Art

I have been granted permission from my Faculty Advisor, Penny Remsen, to pursue lighting design for installation art during my time here at UMASS. I am very excited about this opportunity as it was my original intention to attend Graduate School for an MA or MFA in this style of design at Dartington College of Arts, now University College Falmouth. Penny has asked me to explore the art form and the people that are doing this work. Check out my INSTALLATIONS link to see who I have started with. This list will grow as I begin to have a more clear understanding of what I would like to specifically focus on, but its a start. I am specifically going to look at Heather Carson, since Penny is acquainted with her and she works often from New York. Michael Pearce ought to take credit for getting me going on Andy Goldsworthy's work. I can never get enough of Goldworthy's stuff, and I hope to work with or at least meet him someday!

Installation Art

A lovely artist has come to UMASS to present a work of art entitled, "Lifelines of Connections and Continuity." The artist, Karen Dolmanisth, has an intriguing artistic viewpoint that I am very interested in seeing brought to life through this particular installation and culminating performance on Oct. 14th. She has begun to install her art, so far we have two lines with leaves strung along, extending from the top of the fine art building down to a few steps near the Isle of View (the campus pond), and a third string bare. I think this will be a lovely piece when it is complete and the sun plays on it throughout the day. If you happen to be in the neighborhood, you should come and spend a few minutes gazing across the pond while the lines play in the wind and light.

Children's Book Installation Art

Children's Book Installation by Ethan J. Hicks

Ethan is at it again! Today he lined all of his books upright and open. It created a really interesting look, and I think he will try to do a larger installation down the road. I believe filling whole rooms with books in these and similar positions was how he described it. A way of seeing books quickly and linearly.

Here is a picture of the artist proud of his work and ready to tackle new projects. Thank you Ethan for your inspirational work!


Ethan J. Hicks beside his Children's Book Installation

Miscarriage

A couple of years ago my wife, Adrienne, miscarried our first child (Freesia, as we called her)...


Freesia Flower.

It was an extremely challenging and heart wrenching period in our lives. An experience that many people have, it is said that one in five pregnancies will end with a miscarriage. Since the loss of our child, I have been developing a way to dedicate something special to her memory for myself and Adrienne.

I would like to get five barrels to represent the average pregnancy. I will position the barrels so that the four successful pregnancies are set on four corners with the miscarriage in the center. I will fill the successful pregnancies with water and the miscarriage with paper. The barrels with the water will, however, have small holes punctured throughout the barrel. This will allow for the water to slowly drain out as a pregnancy slowly progresses until a child is born full and flowing with life. The barrel with the paper inside will be lit a blaze and burn down rapidly ending with the tragic ashes of the child born shriveled and lifeless.

The original difficulty with this installation piece was that I couldn't find a place to install it in Southern California during the late spring. There were too many fires at the time. I am however ready to start making preparations for the installation to be established this fall. I hope I can receive permission to set this up on a burn day.

How many of you have had a miscarriage or have had a friend or spouse that has had one?

Going Green

I was perusing Inhabitat today for some recent attempts at creating art while supporting our environment, and as usual I was not disappointed. I came across this article and then took a look at the BIOS website. This is a very interesting project...I particularly love the architectural and sculptural presence that the structure symbolizes and offers the community that inhabits the area. I am still formulating what I think about science and its attempts to unlock the mysteries of the universe. The more I see things like this the more I am inclined to encourage and pursue these kinds of advancements. I would love to see how the theatre could design a set that allows the performers, technicians, and audience members to participate in a production that doesn't merely absorb energy. What if the set was designed to create a self generating power that helped to support the energy needs of the production? Is this being done by anybody? If so I would love to know more about it. Anyway, check out the BIOS site and the Inhabitat site, they are both really interesting and the latter is particularly intriguing and usually full of all kinds of interesting projects, information, and sites.

Shoe Installation

Yesterday, Ethan conceived of an installation to express his love for shoes, and the drawers that they live in. Towards the end he kept adjusting until they were in just the right position. I think this piece expresses the joys of a shoes journey, and the person they carry. How wonderful it is when they return the wearer safely home! What better way to say thank you for a safe journey than for the wearer to return the shoes to their home where they await the next auspicious journey. Thank you son for your contribution to the artists experience...I hope our shoes will meet regularly on their journeys!

Installation Art

A good friend of mine, Michael Pearce, is an avid installation artist, and an exceptionally interesting painter among other artistic talents. I appreciate his love for art, humanity, and young minds. While my professor at Westmont he helped to introduce me to a world that shapes other worlds. I love how he seeks to use art to communicate. His art is a conversation about life, about history, about people, places, things, and his art challenges. He is working on a bottle installation for Earth Day on April 22nd. Please take a look at his bottle installation and feel free to pick his brain and chat up Earth Day with your friends. Thanks Michael for the inspiration!