Brooklyn visit

I enjoyed this visit very much even though the person who was supposed to show us their studio did not show up.  He said that the L train had stopped running or something like that.  I am a bit more cynical to just except that excuse.  We spent sometime in a mall drinking coffee but it was fun because I got to talk to people I never have in the class.  This develops a stronger class relationship to have this social time which is important for learning.  We then went around to a couple of random studios such as 3rd ward.  They had a very nice building but seemed expensive.  I did not know such an option existed for artists after they graduate.  I find this option very helpful for getting the resources you need to work.  We then got to visit a gallery made to help unknown artists gain show experience.  This is a good gallery to keep the information for the future.  Finally we ended up at the studio of Bruce "something".  I can not remember the name, maybe Bruce technologies? Something with Bruce.  This Studio was huge and had a lot of resources to work with.  The speaker also had a lot of good advice to give.  I did not know studios where groups can work together like this existed.  I just figured after graduation it was time to hit the gallery submissions.  Ultimately I learned a lot about my options in the future and Brooklyn did not seem like that bad of a place.

The Installation part 2

The Installation went extremely well and looked great after the setup.  Initially looking at how much art we had in the small room, we felt we were short on art.  At that point there was nothing we could really do.  It was tough getting the cubes to hang with the correct measurements on such a high ceiling but one of the kids in my group did a really good job of getting that setup.  I put up a bunch of the pictures on the wall because hammering is always cool as hell so I hogged the hammer (but it was my hammer).  We had to take some of the pictures down and re-measure or re-position them.  The spots we hung the pictures were completely different then what we wrote on paper the week before.  The reason for that is because once you are in the space with the art, you can see how they play off each other and how the art works in space. The big issue we ran into was the concrete behind the wall.   We could not get the big nails in far enough and the small nails where too small to hold the weight of the painting.  Eventually we found some medium nails which worked fine.  After everything was up it looked amazing.  Having the less amount of work looked really good.  Compared to the other rooms which seemed cluttered with work.  I was proud of the back room we setup and we got some good compliments that made me feel really good.

The Installation

My group got assigned the back room that is significantly small and has windows in it.  I am not sure how all the art we picked will fit in the space.  The picking process was interesting because we were connecting completely different pieces of art together with the single idea of linear.  My group seems to agree on all the art we picked, with not much opposition which made the process go a lot smoother then some of the other groups. We also planned out how the pieces will be put in the space.  I feel a lot of that will change once we are actually in the room.

Studio work

I started to develop a script and story board my work in order to give it more structure.  The video I have been working on, called "fox", was a random snip-it with not much grounds other then to show the class my idea for the final thesis project.  I have decided I am going to focus on the de-modernization or the breaking apart of film.  I have figured out the methods I will use in post production but I need to start shooting more meaningful footage.  In order to figure out what this footage would be comprised of I have to story board and write out my ideas creating a significant composition.  I want to make my video shoot go as smoothly as possible so I need a shot by shot description ready before hand.  So this studio work day I worked on story boarding ideas and creating a script.  It was successful in organizing the direction I want to go with my final piece.

Critique

The critique I had was very useful in the development of my project.  Also, it is very nice to be able to get other eyes on my project.  I am going to have to have smoother transitions between tripod shots and moving shots.  I had a question as to keep the entire piece desaturated or to have certain scenes with red only for dramatic effect.  It seems the consensus was on keeping it in all black and white as the red is over used and does not help the main ideas behind my project.  Finally, the most important piece of information I gathered was seeing my piece go from the computer screen to the projector.  The darkness of the video was completely different on a giant projection.  This has got me to think how I want to display my artwork, on what medium? I feel I will stay away from projections because it requires a dark room and tends to lose quality.  I do not feel like giving myself those restrictions when I can use a TV.  A fun aspect of the critique was I got to see the work from other concentrations.  It was nice to see what my peers were working on and hearing their reasons behind it.  I am looking forward to the next critique.

Progressing

I shot some video the past weekend.  The shots looked great but I ran into some issues with the sound in post production.  I did not use an external mic while shooting the video which I know is always a mistake but I did not anticipate the intense effect it would have.  The further away shots have a much quieter sound and the close-up shots are significantly louder.  I tried a fix in soundtrack pro, however the cricket ambience is consistent through every shot so changing the dB's will not work.  I am probably going to have to do a voice over.   Re-shooting would be tough because I do not want to keep bothering my friends for a video shoot.  This shoot had some arguments involved and was a bit more stressful to complete.  Maybe I will take my friend out to dinner then ask him for his help if the dubbing does not sync correctly. Otherwise, compositionally, the shots looked great.

The next Assignment

I was absent for my assigned date to show my work.  I was going to come the next week even though I was not assigned to but I was told not to come.  I do not have much to write about for now but I have heard from other video students experiences.  When I do present my work I will be well prepared with information and resources to back-up my work.  During my studio time, I developed a couple of ideas for some projects as well as story boarded them.  I also talked about my ideas with my department's head, Ardele Lister.  I would like to incorporate my study abroad experience in Japan in some way.  Preferably some comment on culture and the subtle differences we all seem to miss until you fully experience that culture.  I have bulk footage of my trip in Japan I started to go through and edit.  I made a statement on current Japanese culture with past Japanese culture.  I have also been watching Japanese films to give me some ideas such as Mizoguchi, Kenji's Ugetsu.  I plan to film this weekend some concepts I have.

Art Thesis: Katie Kelly

Katie is a graphic design concentration.  When looking at her work we discussed how the field of graphic design has a very commercialized area to it.  It is very easy for an artist to get lost in the commercalization and money to soon forget the passion they once had for a more aesthetic piece of work.  The artist is walking a fine line between what the client wants and what the artist wants.  Asking about that commercialized work she went on to discuss the role MGSA had in that work.  Sometimes following the structure and guidlines MGSA sets out for the student can be good at times but when the student steps out of those boundries MGSA may not like it too much.  In that sense she can feel restricted.  She believes there is a lot of business oriented assignments that are given to her. 

The main theme in her work is symmetry.  She finds a good balance very pleasing to look at.  It is an expression of Katie's personality or how she would like to lead her life, beautiful, peaceful, and harmonious.  There is a clear connection and display of symmetry and balance throughout her work.

Katie finds inspiration in minimalism.  The artist Mehmit Gozetlik is an artist that takes commercialized items and takes out alot of unnecessary graphics.  Bringing the image to a more basic state.  Katie feels that this more basic form can be more pleasing to the viewer than the item that has twenty different images on it.  This artist also does his own typography.  Katie is very inspired by this.  When asked if she had any ideas about what to do for her thesis, she responded by saying she would like to minimalize books and publishing.  Katie wanted to minimalize the cover as well as create her own typography.  Possibly with her own stories. 

Katie's work is very professionally done and I look foward to seeing the art she will produce in the future.

２０１１年３月１１日 大きい地震

There was a huge earthquake today in Miyagi, Japan.  I did not feel it but on the TV it looks terrible.  Houses are being swept away by the tsunami.  I have never seen anything this bad before.  The size was an 8.8.  Everyone around Kyoto looks normal and are going about their normal business.  I can not make cellphone calls.  Narita airport is destroyed.  There is no way any planes are going to come in or go out for a long time.  I am sure there will be many causalities.  I am sure a lot of things are going to change because of this.

２０１１年２月２１日ー２３日

北海度に行ったばかりです。スノボードをしました。私はあずさと一緒に行きました。この旅行は一番好きな旅行でした。飛行機で行きました。着いた時、荷物を部屋に置きました。あの部屋はめっちゃきれいでした。大きな窓がありました。窓から山が見えました。１時半に着きました。それに山に早い行きました。これはあずさが初めてスノボードをしました。フランキー先生はあずさにスノボードをしこと教えました。始めにスタプを三時間ぐらい教えていました。そのあとで、　一人でスノボードをしました。一人でスノボードをした時、あずさは一所懸命スノボードを練習していました。私はめっちゃうれしかったです。　ニセコはすごい山ですよ。アメリカの東よりニセコのほうがすてきです。いい雪があるんです。そのあとで、温泉に入りました。そとの温泉がありました。とても楽でした。それから、ひらふに晩ご飯を食べに行きました。ひらふはニセコの村です。たくさんオストレリア人とヌジランド人がいました。北海度の有名なラーメンを食べました。魚介のラメーンを食べました。あずさはピリピリラメーンを食べました。そのあとで、帰って寝ました。次の日、早い起きました。午前７時ぐらいでした。おいしいホテルの朝ご飯を食べました。それから、ベードにもどりました。１２時ぐらいに起きました。一人で山でスノボードをしました。一番高い場所に行きました。めっちゃやばい。でも、私は強いです。１３０８mです。できました。そのあとでバニヒルであずさに会いました。もっと練習しました。それに、一緒に本当の山に行きました。あずさは上手になりました。スノーボドができる。私はすごい先生ですね。８時ぐらいに終わりました。北海度の有名な魚介を食べに出かけました。　世界で一番おいしい魚介でした。そのあとで、ホテルに帰りました。それから温泉に入りました。それに寝ました。　最後の日、ひらふで散歩しました。お土産を買いました。飛行機で帰りました。北海度が大好きです。この旅行を忘れません。

I just went to Hokkaido.  I went snowboarding together with Azusa.  This trip was my favorite trip I have been on.  I went by plane.  When I arrived I put the luggage in the room.  In the room there was a big window.  From the window you could see the mountain.  We arrived around 1 in the afternoon.  We went to the mountain fast.  This was the first time Azusa snowboarded.  I taught Azusa the way of snowboarding.  First I taught her how to stop for about 3 hours.  After that I went alone on the rest of the mountain.  When I went by myself, Azusa stayed on the bunny hill and kept practicing with all her effort.  I was so happy.  Niseko is an amazing mountain.  Compared to the east coast of America, Niseko is more fantastic.  There is good snow.  After that I went into the onsen. (Hot spring bath thing) There was an outside onsen.  It was very relaxing.  From there we went to Hirafu to eat dinner.  Hirafu is the village of the mountain.  There was a lot of Australian and New Zealand people there.  I ate famous Hokkaido ramen. It was a fish ramen and Azusa had a spicy ramen.  After that we went home and then went to sleep.  The next day we woke up early, about 7 a.m., to eat breakfast.  The hotels breakfast was amazing.  From there we went back to bed.  Then we woke up at 12.  I went boarding by myself for a bit.  I went to the highest part of the mountain.  It was very dangerous but I am strong.  1308 meters high.  I did it.  After that I met Azusa at the bunny hill.  We did more practice.  Then I took her on the real mountain.  Azusa became good. She can do snowboarding.  I am an amazing teacher right? We finished at about 8.  We went out to have Hokkaido's famous seafood.  It is the most delicious seafood in the world.  After that we returned to the hotel.  From there we went to the onsen and then went to bed.  The last day we went to Hirafu and walked around.  I bought some souvenirs.  Then we returned home on the plane.  I love Hokkaido.  I will not forget this trip.

２０１１年２月３日

今日１時ぐらいに起きました。単語を３０分勉強しました。学校に運動しに早く行きたかった。自転車で立命館に行きました。自転車に乗るのがいい感じでした。今日はとてもいい天気でしたから。でも乗った時、いずみやのところでいらいらしになりました。たくさんおじゃまさまがいます。やっと立命館に着きました。体育館に入る前にコーヒーを飲んでおきました。それから、体育館に入りました。とても込んでいました。柔道チームは運動していました。強い人です、でもいつもウエットを落としていました。偉い友達は「ウェイトを落としたら、あのウェイトは重すぎます。」一回と言っていました。ちょっとうるさいでした。私は肩を運動しました。体育館のあとで、図書館に勉強しに行きました。でも着いた時、もう閉まりました。サブウェで昼ご飯を食べました。そのあとで、友達に会いました。飲み会をしました。１２時ぐらいに帰りました。テレビゲームをしてジュオイにスカイプをしました。それで眠りました。

Today I woke up at about one.  I studied vocabulary for about 30 minutes.  I wanted to go to school fast to exercise.  I went to Ritsumeikan by bike.  It was really nice to ride my bike because the weather was really good.  But when I was riding, around Izumiya, I became annoyed.  There were a lot of people getting in my way.  I finally arrived at Ritsumeikan.  Before I went into the gym I had a coffee so I could gain energy.  And then I went into the gym.  It was very crowded.  The Judo team was exercising.  They are strong, but they were always dropping the weights.  An admirable friend once told me, "If you drop the weights then it is to heavy for you." They were a little annoying.  I exercised my shoulders.  After the gym, I went to the library to study.  But when I arrived it was already closed.  I had lunch at subway.  After that, I meet a friend.  We had a drinking party.  I got home around 12.  I played video games and skyped with joey.  And went to bed.

２０１１年２月２日

今日は初めてブログに書いています。理由が日本語を復習しています。
今日私は１２時半に起きました。私はジームに行きたかった，でもちょっとおそくなりました。それで行きませんでした。起きたあとで、ちょっと勉強をしました。言葉の練習をしました。私はいつもことばを忘れていますから。それで、言葉を覚えるように毎日復習しています。そのあとで、昼ご飯を作って食べました。辛いカレーを食べました。弱い味の人は食べない方がいいです。ははは！私のカレーを気をつけてください。昼ご飯の前に洗濯しました。昼ご飯のあとで、本屋に文法の教科書を買いに行きました。私は成功しました！でも自転車を駐車した時、だれかは私に叫びました。たぶん私は自転車を違法駐車してしまいました。男の人は「この店に入る？」と言っていました。私は「ううん、入らない」と言っていました。それから、私は逃げました。次、ヨドバシカメラに買い物をしに行きました。テレビゲームを買いました。名前は魔人と失われた王国です。めっちゃ楽しいです。そのあとで、晩ご飯に出かけました。なか卯でカツ丼を食べました。それから、帰りました。私の日です。

Today is the first time I am writing a blog.  The reason is to review my japanese.  I woke up today at 12:30.  I wanted to go to the gym but it became a bit late. So I did not go to the gym.  After I woke up, I studied a little bit.  I did word practice because I am always forgetting words.  Therefore, so I don't forget, I review everyday.  After that,  I made and ate lunch.  I had spicy curry.  If you have weak taste, it is better to not eat my curry.  Please be careful of my curry.  Before lunch I did some laundry.  After lunch, I went to the bookstore to buy a grammar book.  I succeeded.  But when I parked my bike,  someone yelled at me.  Maybe I parked my bike illegally.  The guy asked me if I was going into the shop I parked in front of.  I said nope and then ran away.  Next I went to yodobashi camera to shop.  I bought a video game.  It is called 魔人と失われた王国.  It is a very fun game.  after that I went out to dinner.  I had katsudon at Nakau.  And then I came home.  My day.

Some days are going to be boring and some will be awesome, regardless it will sound like a child wrote them because that is my level of Japanese.  The english is just a direct translation.  Maybe another time I will beef-in them up.