Welcome back to Code Of Posture! (it refuses to die.)
This blog was started as a means to retool my sanity. The full potential of C.O.P. has been accessed a few times over the past few years, and my mental and physical state are aging well because of this. You see; this blog is a resource for: reflection, guidance, sorting things out, finding definition, deconstruction and construction, accepting anger and finding peace. This blog has allowed me to throw ideas at the wall to see what sticks. Sometimes when things stick it's because they are gross, and a new perspective is gained!
My interests shift at an alarming rate and C.O.P. is helping to set a nice pace for me as I evolve. At some point C.O.P. itself evolved and mutated and birthed my other blog Almost Naught! All of this is happening as naturally as I ever could have hoped. The evolution of the blog(s) is undoubtedly carrying my art productivity to unprecedented levels.
With this post I'm urging you to flip through some of my old posts (I find it interesting to start with the first post and move in chronological order from there- but do your thing.) Sometimes it's very therapeutic for me to do the same every-now-and-then. You can read about the universe, learn some of my secrets, and maybe, most importantly, trigger a new stage of evolution in your own life. Go! Go! Go!
Monday, November 18, 2013
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Sunday, May 26, 2013
CONTROL
"...these quasi autonomous creations play out complex patterns of behavior in which deviation and individuality balance determinism and repetition," is a line gleaned from a description of artist Zimoun's installation pieces. The pieces consist of large arrangements of cardboard boxes with tiny whirring motors attached to selected surfaces of the boxes. The motors are triggered by sensors that can sense the viewer in the vicinity of each motor; ultimately creating multitudes of buzzing acoustic cardboard chambers. But so what?
It's understandable that a layperson amongst such an abstract installation would blurt out, "I don't get it..." or, "Cut the crap. This is just a pile of boxes with buzzers glued to them!" but it's also understandable that the artist was intending to represent an intriguing complex subject in an unusual way, either with the materials at hand or materials most challenging for the same expression, I'm not particularly sure. (not to mention it's actually visually stunning.) OR! more simply: Art imitates life.
Let's also be clear that when it is expressed that "art imitates life" this does not pertain only to realist portraiture that wants to but can never be alive. Art also imitates life in perhaps just as desperate a way, but a way where in some instances it truly does come alive!
If the pile of boxes with motors glued to them can really 'play out patterns of behavior... etc' then is it not doing that? Those are systems found daily and historically and universally in mechanical and natural happenings... life. Zimoun has found his way of pinning down this otherwise cageless and formless spirit. Ironically this may mean that art is actually a meandering science. Once an artist has mastered and experimented with their mediums they can finally have control and be able to dismantle their own ideas, confident that they can be put back together again. Much like a child would destroy a watch or some fragile mechanical device; Curiosity matures into awareness. One may even become so aware of the components that a completely different device could be made from the available gears and springs.
These resources and materials are available to artists at every glance of the world around us. Artists are limitless with how we can experiment with life itself. We can not only manipulate life, but we can also evoke emotion and create clumsy models that perform just as confidently as a clumsy human.
It's understandable that a layperson amongst such an abstract installation would blurt out, "I don't get it..." or, "Cut the crap. This is just a pile of boxes with buzzers glued to them!" but it's also understandable that the artist was intending to represent an intriguing complex subject in an unusual way, either with the materials at hand or materials most challenging for the same expression, I'm not particularly sure. (not to mention it's actually visually stunning.) OR! more simply: Art imitates life.
Let's also be clear that when it is expressed that "art imitates life" this does not pertain only to realist portraiture that wants to but can never be alive. Art also imitates life in perhaps just as desperate a way, but a way where in some instances it truly does come alive!
If the pile of boxes with motors glued to them can really 'play out patterns of behavior... etc' then is it not doing that? Those are systems found daily and historically and universally in mechanical and natural happenings... life. Zimoun has found his way of pinning down this otherwise cageless and formless spirit. Ironically this may mean that art is actually a meandering science. Once an artist has mastered and experimented with their mediums they can finally have control and be able to dismantle their own ideas, confident that they can be put back together again. Much like a child would destroy a watch or some fragile mechanical device; Curiosity matures into awareness. One may even become so aware of the components that a completely different device could be made from the available gears and springs.
These resources and materials are available to artists at every glance of the world around us. Artists are limitless with how we can experiment with life itself. We can not only manipulate life, but we can also evoke emotion and create clumsy models that perform just as confidently as a clumsy human.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
PABLO AND ME
In addition to framing an original Juan Miro; a few months back I had the honor of framing an original Pablo Picasso. Unfortunately, I didn't get around to capturing a photo of it until it was all bagged up and ready to go back to the customer.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
CHICKEN SOUP
Today is approximately day 5 of recovering from having the flu. There were two really strong days of chills, body aches, sinus problems and a deep cough (cough still persisting DAMN IT!) Now I'm just afraid to go outside in the 'perfect for getting sick again'-rainy gross weather. My immune system has not been strong this past winter and I'm not quite sure why. I exercise regularly and I eat healthy foods. I have a moderately active life walking to and from work and running back and forth at work for 8 hours. Could it be lingering stress?
My life is great and I generally don't make it through a day without laughing and smiling. Good things happen to me often enough that I'm really being somewhat rude if I ever allow some dark areas of my life to overshadow the light. The gloomiest corners of my mind are host to ridiculous things like jealously and bitterness. I'm Jealous and bitter that friends have more artistic success or liberties than I have. My own "lack of success" being of my own design, of course. I also worry that I've not yet graduated to an honest "adult" status since I often can't/don't pay my bills! Yet here I sit in front of my computer not doing much to change my life, and instead I pitifully reflect in hopes to gain some sympathy(?)
My girlfriend is also considering a job in New York, and the place of potential employment has had her on stand-by for months now since her first interview. Will we be moving to New York soon? Can I afford it? Will I miserably fail my own girlfriend with my lack of preparation for such a move? and why have I been asking myself this for months and am not looking for more work to afford such a change? Do I even deserve the good life that I have? Am I actually a baby? ... and so on...
Of course my girlfriend tells me not to worry, and my parents tell me I impress them with my independence; but, what do I think about me? I know I can be impressive and confident, but I have pretty high standards for myself, and when those standards are not met, I guess I simply stop trying sometimes. Then my will power gives out a little, and my finances shrink, and my confidence glazes over, and then stress surfaces and illness finds me and I want to hide under the covers.
Tomorrow I will remove the covers and go back to work after missing 3 days. I will be catching up on production all the while mindfully monitoring the congestion in my chest. If I'm so good at reminding myself to keep my chin up and look forward, then what piece of the puzzle am I missing that could really take me there... Up and out... *cough*
My life is great and I generally don't make it through a day without laughing and smiling. Good things happen to me often enough that I'm really being somewhat rude if I ever allow some dark areas of my life to overshadow the light. The gloomiest corners of my mind are host to ridiculous things like jealously and bitterness. I'm Jealous and bitter that friends have more artistic success or liberties than I have. My own "lack of success" being of my own design, of course. I also worry that I've not yet graduated to an honest "adult" status since I often can't/don't pay my bills! Yet here I sit in front of my computer not doing much to change my life, and instead I pitifully reflect in hopes to gain some sympathy(?)
My girlfriend is also considering a job in New York, and the place of potential employment has had her on stand-by for months now since her first interview. Will we be moving to New York soon? Can I afford it? Will I miserably fail my own girlfriend with my lack of preparation for such a move? and why have I been asking myself this for months and am not looking for more work to afford such a change? Do I even deserve the good life that I have? Am I actually a baby? ... and so on...
Of course my girlfriend tells me not to worry, and my parents tell me I impress them with my independence; but, what do I think about me? I know I can be impressive and confident, but I have pretty high standards for myself, and when those standards are not met, I guess I simply stop trying sometimes. Then my will power gives out a little, and my finances shrink, and my confidence glazes over, and then stress surfaces and illness finds me and I want to hide under the covers.
Tomorrow I will remove the covers and go back to work after missing 3 days. I will be catching up on production all the while mindfully monitoring the congestion in my chest. If I'm so good at reminding myself to keep my chin up and look forward, then what piece of the puzzle am I missing that could really take me there... Up and out... *cough*
Saturday, February 23, 2013
MIRO IMAGE
The below image is of me holding an original Miro. Indeed I am holding it ever so carelessly without gloves or anything. As a matter of fact it felt appropriate to be so nonchalant for some reason which I can't yet understand.
A customer dropped this off at my job to be custom framed. I suppose my coworker somewhat blindly took the order, but I later filed the paper work with the art work and then noticed the signature; Miro. I then noticed the signature was shiny, the way graphite is shiny. My heart started to beat a little faster. "I think this is an original Miro," I stated out loud to whomever was or wasn't around. After a few minutes of visual- and some very subtle physical- forensic analysis I decided to call the customer for confirmation.
It's an original alright! This piece may not be an example of Miro's best work, but in it's own little way it's still quite the celebrity to me. What a special thing it is to have an intimate experience like this with the work of a very special artist. I am humbled and excited at once.
A customer dropped this off at my job to be custom framed. I suppose my coworker somewhat blindly took the order, but I later filed the paper work with the art work and then noticed the signature; Miro. I then noticed the signature was shiny, the way graphite is shiny. My heart started to beat a little faster. "I think this is an original Miro," I stated out loud to whomever was or wasn't around. After a few minutes of visual- and some very subtle physical- forensic analysis I decided to call the customer for confirmation.
It's an original alright! This piece may not be an example of Miro's best work, but in it's own little way it's still quite the celebrity to me. What a special thing it is to have an intimate experience like this with the work of a very special artist. I am humbled and excited at once.
Friday, January 11, 2013
BIRTHDAY BUDDHA
The lady came through again for my birthday... *ahem* HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ME!
One of my amazing gifts was a fourth generation Buddha Machine. If you aren't familiar with the Buddha Machine, they are somewhat hard to describe despite their simplicity. The little rascal's creators, Christiaan Virant and Zhang Jian are a music/design duo based in China. The two create minimal meditative music that loops seamlessly and repeatedly. Nine of these simple compositions are then housed in a little plastic box with a built-in speaker. Other features of the box include an eighth-inch jack (for headphones and such) and two control dials; one for volume and one for pitch shifting. The pitch shift ability is an amazingly intimate feature as you can really tune the music in to your own frequency to find that perfect harmony between man and his machine!
Not only is this a unique and wonderful gift idea for anyone, but it is a splendid therapy and could be the key to severe peace for everyone.
One of my amazing gifts was a fourth generation Buddha Machine. If you aren't familiar with the Buddha Machine, they are somewhat hard to describe despite their simplicity. The little rascal's creators, Christiaan Virant and Zhang Jian are a music/design duo based in China. The two create minimal meditative music that loops seamlessly and repeatedly. Nine of these simple compositions are then housed in a little plastic box with a built-in speaker. Other features of the box include an eighth-inch jack (for headphones and such) and two control dials; one for volume and one for pitch shifting. The pitch shift ability is an amazingly intimate feature as you can really tune the music in to your own frequency to find that perfect harmony between man and his machine!
Not only is this a unique and wonderful gift idea for anyone, but it is a splendid therapy and could be the key to severe peace for everyone.
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