Archive for August, 2009
The Quality of Line
As my August 2009 residency continues I’ve found myself talking quite a bit about “line quality”. And while most of the folks around me hear what I have to say, nod and move on, I’ve come to realize that it really must seem a throw away expression.
Why has no one said, “what the hell are you talking about?” (assuming they listen or care).
As I work, day in and day out with nothing but black and grey lines (ink and pencil respectively) I find that when I close my eyes I continue to see lines of varying width and sharpness, and as I read a book at the close of the day I find myself examining, almost subconsciously, the heft of the line used to connect the two pillars of a capital “H”, or the gentle slope of the letter “c”. One might think this bothersome, but really it feels like a meditation: the more time I spend with the line the closer I feel I come to truly understanding it.
Now, I know that may sound odd, but it really is what I’ve chosen to do with my life. I make images which, by and large, are comprised of a series of lines that when viewed as a whole, form an image greater than the sum of its parts. I believe that getting to know the singular line allows me a superior control of the overall work: that with the flick of the wrist a whole piece can be altered, perhaps imperceptibly to the uninitiated, but changed nonetheless.
Every artist, I would imagine, dreams of a time when their work transcends the boundaries of their mortal life, discussed in a far flung art history course on a campus full of activity long after the artist’s passing. For me, I would like it to be said that Jason Covert understood the line – that the body of his work spoke of an exquisite quality of line.
VIDEO: Live, from New York…
As mentioned previously, on Thursday, June 18th, 2009, I was fortunate enough to be offered the opportunity to speak publicly about my photographic work, entitled A Quiet World.
Programmed by Cannery Works (a not-for-profit based in NY, headed by the Spencer Chandler mentioned in the above video) and sponsored by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, the event was a success: above you will find video of my brief introduction to said work. The artist presentations were followed by a spirited Q&A session unfortunately not featured here.
Odd Foods: The Ground Cherry
“It’s a what?,” I stammered as the woman at the local green market tried to explain what it was I had just put in my mouth.
“A ground cherry”, she repeated, “though it has no relation to the actual fruit.”
She had also described the little orange yellow fruit as seeming to offer everyone a different experience. She thought they tasted a little like natural peanut butter, while to me it tasted just like the milk left at the bottom of a bowl of Berry Berry Kix cereal from my youth – sweet and savory… so clearly we were getting something different out of it.
An interesting tactile experience, the ground cherry, also known as a husk tomato, and officially as Physalis Pruinosa, grows close to the ground and is sheathed in a paper-like husk (top photo) that parts easily when the fruit is ripe (see below). Popping one in your mouth is not unlike popping a small cherry tomato into one’s mouth (taste aside).
Native to South and Central America this little globular surprise would be incredible dipped in chocolate, and likely make an excellent choice for jams or jellies.
Apparently it can be grown from seed in most warmer climates, and it might just make an appearance on our deck next summer. If you get the chance, be sure to try this small wonder: I have no idea what it will taste like for you.
Sights and Sounds
A glimpse, or a taste…
2:30pm, Brooklyn, NY, and fresh snow had fallen that morning.
As I walked to one of my favorite diners in the neighborhood, shivering in too few clothes, as I am wont to do when the cold first descends, I noticed the shocking contrast between the green leaves and the snow. It took a moment for it to really sink in: the green leaves were ON TOP of the snow.
A jarring yet satisfying twist on the usual order of business.
shot with an iPhone 3G