Updated and revamped for your enjoyment! Check out the NEW www.anzajarschke.com
Browse through my past art projects! PICTURES, PICTURES, PICTURES! {And easy to navigate.}
Don't worry, this blog will stay just how it is. However, I will be posting new blogs at www.anzajarschke.com/blog.
For anything posted prior the change over, this previous blog's address is www.anzasaurus.blogspot.com.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Terms Of Success
New Genres first project: Terms Of Success, addressed via Altered Readymade Multiples
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| Display. |
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| Labeled Cassette Tapes |
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| Old Court Room Recorder |
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| Self Recorded Audio onto Cassette Tapes |
Cassette Tapes were recorded with different sound that are made when I am making my own artwork. The tapes could be played in the Court Room Recorder to hear what had been recorded onto the tapes, if wanted. Individuals were not instructed as to what could or could not be done, but the recorder power light was on.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Inability to Forget
I just got back from Burning Man. This is not my Burning Man post.
Something much more than BM is on my mind.
{I wish it wasn't as I still have 6 chapters of homework to read...}
The Temple (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thetemple2012/the-temple-2012-redux?ref=live) burned last night and the power still resonates within me.
Last year was my first year at BM, just months after a beautiful and young soul passed on. It was a sign that the Temple was made for me in honor of that person. I donated money to the project in his name (this year I donated in his name to keep the arts in a local high school). I wrote his words on the walls and watched through soggy eyes as it went up in flames. I purged and went on with life.
From time to time, I try to forget the reality of death. That I just haven't seen someone for a length of time and that they will reappear. This is not the case.
This summer I was a counselor at a grievance camp for kids. It was the most powerful thing I've experienced. To sit in a circle of 70+ people age 5-50 grieving. Having one boy come up to say, "There is something I need to tell you about my mom: she was perfect" and watching the whole crowd burst into tears because their souls all spoke the same language.
While at Camp, I learned to deal with grief so much from those young children with so much strength and pain in their life. I thought (for a brief moment) "I have been cured! I will think about you no longer!"
This is not the case.
It comes and goes. But it is there. This year, the temple was built my one of my favorite artists, David Best. He is from Petaluma, a beautiful soul and wonderful artist. He builds the temple for those passed on (see the video on the link first mentioned). I met David this year. He was wonderful. I wrote my own words on the temple this year, rather than the passed on. A different kind of power came over me.
I watched the temple go up in flames last night. I cried before it started. Once the flames ignited, I knew that my grief would not be gone with the flames, just purged for another length of time. I watched the flames and thought to myself, "this is for you. They built this temple for you. They are burning it for you."
And I was not wrong.
Something much more than BM is on my mind.
{I wish it wasn't as I still have 6 chapters of homework to read...}
The Temple (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thetemple2012/the-temple-2012-redux?ref=live) burned last night and the power still resonates within me.
Last year was my first year at BM, just months after a beautiful and young soul passed on. It was a sign that the Temple was made for me in honor of that person. I donated money to the project in his name (this year I donated in his name to keep the arts in a local high school). I wrote his words on the walls and watched through soggy eyes as it went up in flames. I purged and went on with life.
 |
| 2011 Burning Man Temple |
From time to time, I try to forget the reality of death. That I just haven't seen someone for a length of time and that they will reappear. This is not the case.
This summer I was a counselor at a grievance camp for kids. It was the most powerful thing I've experienced. To sit in a circle of 70+ people age 5-50 grieving. Having one boy come up to say, "There is something I need to tell you about my mom: she was perfect" and watching the whole crowd burst into tears because their souls all spoke the same language.
While at Camp, I learned to deal with grief so much from those young children with so much strength and pain in their life. I thought (for a brief moment) "I have been cured! I will think about you no longer!"
This is not the case.
It comes and goes. But it is there. This year, the temple was built my one of my favorite artists, David Best. He is from Petaluma, a beautiful soul and wonderful artist. He builds the temple for those passed on (see the video on the link first mentioned). I met David this year. He was wonderful. I wrote my own words on the temple this year, rather than the passed on. A different kind of power came over me.
I watched the temple go up in flames last night. I cried before it started. Once the flames ignited, I knew that my grief would not be gone with the flames, just purged for another length of time. I watched the flames and thought to myself, "this is for you. They built this temple for you. They are burning it for you."
And I was not wrong.
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| Burning of 2012 Temple of Juno |
I am the Rain King,
living in my rain dream,
where the moon is hidden behind the clouds,
but the earth still shines her light,
I am the Rain King,
the kind of pretend.
my heart beat is thunder,
lightning pulses through my veins,
I am the Rain King,
in my kingdom of emerald grass,
where colors arc through the sky,
and my joy falls from heaven,
kissing what exists below.
I am the Rain King,
living in my rain dream,
sleeping for the day,
waiting for the Sun to go away,
so I can kiss the Moon again.
~D.W.L.M.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Camp Starland: Division of Adventures and Directives
Getting Ready for Burning Man.
Made costumes, patched parachutes, grocery shopping, and so much more.
Currently working on my directive kits. Included is a hand cut envelope from repurposed screen print art, a photograph (or piece of one) that I took, a "power penny", a paper crane wish, and of course a directive. Maybe a surprise also--come to Camp Starland (3:45 & D) this year at Burning Man to find out what it is for yourself!
Made costumes, patched parachutes, grocery shopping, and so much more.
Currently working on my directive kits. Included is a hand cut envelope from repurposed screen print art, a photograph (or piece of one) that I took, a "power penny", a paper crane wish, and of course a directive. Maybe a surprise also--come to Camp Starland (3:45 & D) this year at Burning Man to find out what it is for yourself!
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Up-and-Coming {NOTHING NEW}
This is going to be more of a journal entry blog than pictures blog.
Every couple months I ask myself what personal changes I can make to be more sustainable in my life. I have changed a lot of things. I don't wash my hair, I use coconut oil for everything, I buy organic when possible, I make fresh meals, I've made laundry soap and dishwasher soap from scratch. I have eradicated excess beauty products form my life (yeah, that's why my hair looks the way it does), etc. My recent thoughts are making flannel pads and TP. I have already switched to a DivaCup and love that choice. I am try to tackle the what things I throw away or "one-time-use" objects. I have also gathered the materials to make "paper towels" that are cloth, but snap together and go on your paper towel dispenser.
As you (whomever "you" might be) may or may not know, I am interested in making art from recycled, reused, repurposed, re...anything not brand new. In less than 9 months I will be putting forth my solo BFA exhibition. I have a few ideas, but I know that I will not be purchasing anything new for this show. I decided I could expand upon this thought and take it to my entire life for somewhat of a personal experiment/part of my BFA. I needed a start date though and guidelines. I have decided to start on day 1 of Burning Man, as it is a decommodification culture and nothing can be bought (or even traded! Only "gifted". if interested in gifiting watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naqEr2-7b7E)
There were some necessary purchases to go out to Burning Man, like a new dust mask to filter out the fine alkaline dust and some nylon webbing or costume making (although I did a lot of costume shopping at the awesome Reno consignment shop Junkee.) However, upon my return, I will limit my purchasing of new items. Here are some guidelines I've set up for myself and my lifestyle. I am sure these will evolve once I start the process, but these are what I have started to lay out.
-Not "new" meaning not "pre-made" or "fresh" from the store (with some exceptions). I will instead buy second hand, craigslist, make from scratch, borrow, repurpose, dumpster dive, as well as any new ways I come up with, to obtain my possessions.
-Foods are allowable (obviously- but worth stating. No "used" foods, please.) {note: I plan to take advantage of Project Mana, and encourage other students and community members to do so also. They give out free foods Wednesday 3-3:30 at the Parasol Building in Incline, and other places around the lake.)
-Also allowable are "necessary" personal products like tooth paste (although I replace one day a week with baking soda), personal hygiene products, toilet paper, although I am working towards reducing the waste of such paper (even the 100% recycled in wasteful.)
-Personal accessories allowable when needed (socks, undies, bras, swimsuits, etc.)
-Required dress articles not found at thrift stores first (i.e. I had to buy white sneakers for work. There were not any that I felt good about at the thrift stores.)
-Required materials for class (no matter how much repurposing I can manage, there are always supplies need for art (and psych) classes. I am still a student learning the basics, so such things must be purchased. However, I always try to rent my books or borrow from others first.)
-Materials to make things {I would normally purchase} myself (i.e. fabric for clothes, crafty stuff for bathroom/cleaning/etc supplies)
As I work towards this goal, with my first day fast approaching (along with the start of school and heading out to a dusty playa), I am starting to look at everything in my life. For example: $30 of my $41 energy bill is on hot water. This pointed out I need to take shorter showers, maybe wash my hands and dishes with lukewarm water rather than scorching and so on.
I'll write periodic updates about my adventures.
Every couple months I ask myself what personal changes I can make to be more sustainable in my life. I have changed a lot of things. I don't wash my hair, I use coconut oil for everything, I buy organic when possible, I make fresh meals, I've made laundry soap and dishwasher soap from scratch. I have eradicated excess beauty products form my life (yeah, that's why my hair looks the way it does), etc. My recent thoughts are making flannel pads and TP. I have already switched to a DivaCup and love that choice. I am try to tackle the what things I throw away or "one-time-use" objects. I have also gathered the materials to make "paper towels" that are cloth, but snap together and go on your paper towel dispenser.
As you (whomever "you" might be) may or may not know, I am interested in making art from recycled, reused, repurposed, re...anything not brand new. In less than 9 months I will be putting forth my solo BFA exhibition. I have a few ideas, but I know that I will not be purchasing anything new for this show. I decided I could expand upon this thought and take it to my entire life for somewhat of a personal experiment/part of my BFA. I needed a start date though and guidelines. I have decided to start on day 1 of Burning Man, as it is a decommodification culture and nothing can be bought (or even traded! Only "gifted". if interested in gifiting watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naqEr2-7b7E)
There were some necessary purchases to go out to Burning Man, like a new dust mask to filter out the fine alkaline dust and some nylon webbing or costume making (although I did a lot of costume shopping at the awesome Reno consignment shop Junkee.) However, upon my return, I will limit my purchasing of new items. Here are some guidelines I've set up for myself and my lifestyle. I am sure these will evolve once I start the process, but these are what I have started to lay out.
-Not "new" meaning not "pre-made" or "fresh" from the store (with some exceptions). I will instead buy second hand, craigslist, make from scratch, borrow, repurpose, dumpster dive, as well as any new ways I come up with, to obtain my possessions.
-Foods are allowable (obviously- but worth stating. No "used" foods, please.) {note: I plan to take advantage of Project Mana, and encourage other students and community members to do so also. They give out free foods Wednesday 3-3:30 at the Parasol Building in Incline, and other places around the lake.)
-Also allowable are "necessary" personal products like tooth paste (although I replace one day a week with baking soda), personal hygiene products, toilet paper, although I am working towards reducing the waste of such paper (even the 100% recycled in wasteful.)
-Personal accessories allowable when needed (socks, undies, bras, swimsuits, etc.)
-Required dress articles not found at thrift stores first (i.e. I had to buy white sneakers for work. There were not any that I felt good about at the thrift stores.)
-Required materials for class (no matter how much repurposing I can manage, there are always supplies need for art (and psych) classes. I am still a student learning the basics, so such things must be purchased. However, I always try to rent my books or borrow from others first.)
-Materials to make things {I would normally purchase} myself (i.e. fabric for clothes, crafty stuff for bathroom/cleaning/etc supplies)
As I work towards this goal, with my first day fast approaching (along with the start of school and heading out to a dusty playa), I am starting to look at everything in my life. For example: $30 of my $41 energy bill is on hot water. This pointed out I need to take shorter showers, maybe wash my hands and dishes with lukewarm water rather than scorching and so on.
I'll write periodic updates about my adventures.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Before and After
I made my first project on my awesome sewing machine. (Thanks to Logan, my mom, and my Uncle Mike to making it the most amazing functional sewing machine ever!)
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| My beautiful vintage "Gotham" Juki Sewing Machine. (That matches my kitchen table!) |
I've been wanting a jumper, so I thought: what fabric do I have???
Logically I went to our "donate" bag.
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| BEFORE: Logan's old plaid button down that was too small for him. |
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| AFTER: My adorable new plaid jumper! |
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| Cris-Cross Backing |
I used (almost) every scrap of that shirt. I even used the liner!
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| What little was left of the shirt (mostly seams) |
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Sculpture Final - {Inflation}
Make something inflate or deal with inflation.
I created a tower of black plastic that resembled an air mattress. Upon crawling into the space, you were in sensory deprivation, aside from what you could see by looking up and the sound of the plastic moving. It was beautiful.
The video is short, but has the amazing audio of the plastic. Turn up your speakers!
I created a tower of black plastic that resembled an air mattress. Upon crawling into the space, you were in sensory deprivation, aside from what you could see by looking up and the sound of the plastic moving. It was beautiful.
The video is short, but has the amazing audio of the plastic. Turn up your speakers!
Mechanical Project {3D}
Here is a very much "after the fact" blog about one of my projects for 3D. We were to make a sculpture utilizing a piece of a mechanism. Rather than ripping something apart, I pulled together so old (and beautiful) electronics and made a video installation that utilized the strange floors in the library.
{As this was an installation, it is rather hard to do justice to it with a few pictures, so I have included many descriptions!}
Below is a view of what it looked like from the 3rd floor (the more traffic-ed floor). We have a top of the line 1987 video camera suspended and an old VCR mounted on a shelf. The VCR says: "please rewind"
Here is a shot of the Video Camera:
(This is the same video camera that captured the kodak moments of my childhood.)
Here is a shot (of baby me!) on Channel 3 running from the VCR which was a {"nostalgic"} video compilation of my family's home videos and other strange home videos and old commercials found on youtube. I recorded a ~12min section that I then recored over and over again, but through the TV, so it degraded as you watched it.
Below is a shot from channel 4, which was a live feed coming from the old video camera. This was a live feed of the 3rd floor above.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Taiwan Blogity-Blog
Here is the amazing blog post I wrote for the class blog about my trip to Taiwan:
http://snctnnua.blogspot.com/2012/06/sex-drugs-and-coco-puffs-anza-jarschke.html
Enjoy!
http://snctnnua.blogspot.com/2012/06/sex-drugs-and-coco-puffs-anza-jarschke.html
Enjoy!
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Halfway Across the World {Taiwan} and Halfway Through the Trip
We've been here 12 days now (counting today) and have another 11 (counting today). It's been amazing and beautiful. Eye and heart opening. If I could read Chinese I might never come home. We are outside of Tainan, a very rural country side place at the Tainan National University of the Arts studying predominantly ceramics.
I am not a ceramic artist.
However, I find myself enjoying it. I have been pushed to work as much as my way as possible with the clay, but I am finding myself stumped. There is a wall of not knowing how clay works enough to not think of ways to work other than making traditional work like vessels. I tried some mold making to make multiples, but it wasn't what I was looking for. I settled on some strange creature (Jaba the Hut) "jars" with head stoppers I needle felt on once fired. I made some little bead things and what have you. Nothing spectacular. Also felting has proven more silly than artistic. Little animals that make you say "aw."
I am thinking a lot.
I'm in my head just as much as I am in Taiwan.
Currently, I find myself reading "Sex, Drugs, and Coco Puffs" by Chuck Klosterman (who happens to be from rural North Dakota). He is very bright, very intelligent and causes you to question so much of what you take from mindless junk fed to you from culture. I have assigned it to myself as course reading material. It is called a "low culture manifesto" that looks at Western Pop-culture through a postmodern lens. Now, I have never watched a single episode of "The Real World," but I found the entire chapter on it to be engaging and keeping me thinking.
As an artist who works with Western {pop} culture iconography (cassette tapes, video tapes, paper, trash, etc.) I find this extremely interesting. Being in an Eastern Country while reading about Western Culture has also brought a twist to my way of thinking. "Who is my art for if I am referencing Western Culture?" "What is Eastern {POP} Culture?" Along with many others.
I find myself questioning how/why I use what I do. I often go for the conceptual idea of an object, rather than the idea of exactly what it is. I like the reference to a video tape, not necessarily that it is actually part 1 of the bad TV series/movie "The Thornbirds". I like using the idea of paper, more than the idea it is my psychology homework from 2 semesters ago.
I am 10-11 months away from my BFA. This seems far away, except that next semester I am taking 19 credits, working, doing my senior project, taking ethics and capstone in psychology. This leads me to believe that I will not be able to be as engaged in my art practices as much as I'd like. I'm also hoping to prep, mentally/conceptually, while here in Taiwan (and upon my return to the states).
My notebook suddenly has sketches with the note "remember for BFA" circled and stared. This is good. I am questioning my concept, and beginning to defend my way of working (sustainable {?} art).
I also have the wonderful opportunity to take a glass workshop for a week upon returning to the states before traveling to beautiful Hawaii and spend a week talking art and life with my amazing friend and art accomplice, Rashelle. I am blessed this summer and basking in the artistic growth opportunities.
I am borderline. I am on an edge.
The edge I discussed in JAPR.
I can topple into the ether and have the light bulb illuminate, or I can stand her trying to find a balance while thinking and processing far more than necessary.
For now, I wish to be a sponge :: I feel like a child with big doughy eyes absorbing every image and stimuli.
As For Taiwan-
It is phenomenal.There are amazing artists here, and {com}passionate people here. They are kind and helpful. Their studio is amazing. Without having a grounded 'life' here and not having to work or do other homework, I am able to make a lot of work. Day-in-day-out :: art.
It is tropical here...warm and humid. Puffy hair and boob-sweat is what that translates to. Also, bugs. But not as bad as you would think. Night-markets are amazing. Cost of living is low. A large sized lunch converts to about $2 USD, usually less. They ride scooters everywhere. We went to the coast and snorkeled one day. It was raining so hard that we were swimming before touching the water.
The people here are wonderful. The girls are smart and independent (they are also more social than the boys, which haven't said more than 5 words to me, so I can't make a valid statement about them). There are some American Exchange students here that have been very helpful. Overall--amazing.
Peace, Love, and Xie xie (pronounced shay-shay :: meaning Thank You)
Here is a view of my blogger::
I am not a ceramic artist.
However, I find myself enjoying it. I have been pushed to work as much as my way as possible with the clay, but I am finding myself stumped. There is a wall of not knowing how clay works enough to not think of ways to work other than making traditional work like vessels. I tried some mold making to make multiples, but it wasn't what I was looking for. I settled on some strange creature (Jaba the Hut) "jars" with head stoppers I needle felt on once fired. I made some little bead things and what have you. Nothing spectacular. Also felting has proven more silly than artistic. Little animals that make you say "aw."
I am thinking a lot.
I'm in my head just as much as I am in Taiwan.
Currently, I find myself reading "Sex, Drugs, and Coco Puffs" by Chuck Klosterman (who happens to be from rural North Dakota). He is very bright, very intelligent and causes you to question so much of what you take from mindless junk fed to you from culture. I have assigned it to myself as course reading material. It is called a "low culture manifesto" that looks at Western Pop-culture through a postmodern lens. Now, I have never watched a single episode of "The Real World," but I found the entire chapter on it to be engaging and keeping me thinking.
As an artist who works with Western {pop} culture iconography (cassette tapes, video tapes, paper, trash, etc.) I find this extremely interesting. Being in an Eastern Country while reading about Western Culture has also brought a twist to my way of thinking. "Who is my art for if I am referencing Western Culture?" "What is Eastern {POP} Culture?" Along with many others.
I find myself questioning how/why I use what I do. I often go for the conceptual idea of an object, rather than the idea of exactly what it is. I like the reference to a video tape, not necessarily that it is actually part 1 of the bad TV series/movie "The Thornbirds". I like using the idea of paper, more than the idea it is my psychology homework from 2 semesters ago.
I am 10-11 months away from my BFA. This seems far away, except that next semester I am taking 19 credits, working, doing my senior project, taking ethics and capstone in psychology. This leads me to believe that I will not be able to be as engaged in my art practices as much as I'd like. I'm also hoping to prep, mentally/conceptually, while here in Taiwan (and upon my return to the states).
My notebook suddenly has sketches with the note "remember for BFA" circled and stared. This is good. I am questioning my concept, and beginning to defend my way of working (sustainable {?} art).
I also have the wonderful opportunity to take a glass workshop for a week upon returning to the states before traveling to beautiful Hawaii and spend a week talking art and life with my amazing friend and art accomplice, Rashelle. I am blessed this summer and basking in the artistic growth opportunities.
I am borderline. I am on an edge.
The edge I discussed in JAPR.
I can topple into the ether and have the light bulb illuminate, or I can stand her trying to find a balance while thinking and processing far more than necessary.
For now, I wish to be a sponge :: I feel like a child with big doughy eyes absorbing every image and stimuli.
As For Taiwan-
It is phenomenal.There are amazing artists here, and {com}passionate people here. They are kind and helpful. Their studio is amazing. Without having a grounded 'life' here and not having to work or do other homework, I am able to make a lot of work. Day-in-day-out :: art.
It is tropical here...warm and humid. Puffy hair and boob-sweat is what that translates to. Also, bugs. But not as bad as you would think. Night-markets are amazing. Cost of living is low. A large sized lunch converts to about $2 USD, usually less. They ride scooters everywhere. We went to the coast and snorkeled one day. It was raining so hard that we were swimming before touching the water.
The people here are wonderful. The girls are smart and independent (they are also more social than the boys, which haven't said more than 5 words to me, so I can't make a valid statement about them). There are some American Exchange students here that have been very helpful. Overall--amazing.
Peace, Love, and Xie xie (pronounced shay-shay :: meaning Thank You)
Here is a view of my blogger::
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