Helplessness Hood

This was an Elements of Visual Thinking project. The assignment was to engage a space (that space being the classroom) so that it is changed from its normal function. I used this canvas hood to blind me of sight, smell and a bit of hearing and I also vowed silence so that I was completely vulnerable to the outside world. I let the class do what they pleased with me. The real point of this hood was to show how humans act when given power and how, in most instances, the power is abused. I was lead into walls, objects were thrown at me, I was taunted and overall, I was used as an object of amusement. 

Six More Days at the Bottom of the Ocean

Violet-black skies linger over head

I see her everywhere

Apparitions of that face surrounding me,

There and there,

Here and here 

Spring arrives and astonishment ensues

Petals adhered to the wet, cement stairs

Yet, the formality of it all is profound

Just then, the Great Star crawled over the horizon

but my intentions are flawed

Just as they were when you knew me

Those trees are dampened with the dew of daybreak

and I think I own too many readings on the local flora and fauna

Names and names of things I have yet to encounter

This wind is whipping far to violently for me to bear today

Shake off the dust from my trusty, five-year-old windbreaker

grab my camera

and get a late start on an early day

I closed my eyes

and opened my ears to full capacity.

I heard a voice

but the words were in a voice I could not comprehend

I can only imagine

that what was said was nothing in my favor

and a stab at my character

On this journey, I have met too many individuals

who concern themselves solely with richness and decadence

fame and fortune,

and things of that nature

Me?

No, I am not the same

for my only goal in life is to make a sincere impact on as many people I encounter as possible; whether it be positive or negative

I want to be remembered

That is all.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine and ten.

Ceci n'est pas une pipe

vain, vane, vein

I am a man of peculiar tastes

mmm...food

I've had recent run-ins with old friends--the majority being the imaginary ones--and I realize how much of a change I have made as a being. 

I used to think it was possible to ensconce oneself on clouds. I made it my primary goal in life. I later found out it wasn't possible. I cried for hours upon hours.

"I quit my job and moved to live in France for a short while, because I wanted to spend time with a girl that fascinates me more than anybody I have ever known"

Strange Times

This Didn't Go Over Well But...

I'll post it anyways...

So many ideas went into this self-portrait series, that it was too hard for the class to grasp. I have to find a simple way to incorporate all my ideas without confusing the viewer. Two of the drawings are layered tracing paper sketches of my face: one in india ink, the other in pencil. One is chalk & charcoal on toffee colored paper and the last is just ebony pencil on found paper. All the drawings have a projection of a photograph of me onto them. So many concepts, so little time.