How do I make my exhibition feel "safe"? How do I create an environment that allows viewers to touch things (but not destroy things!)?

I want to have a few things on the walls, I think. Not directly, though. Maaaybe pinned, but I am more likely going to put tiny nails in and hang things from them. I will either cluster the scribbles like this, or have individual ones framed, or something...

Do I want to get a table and lay things across it, as if it were a table cloth? Do I want to create a scrap book full of splotches?

I want to hang things, but what? I want to create something that is hanging. Maybe hang the splotches I have? Hanging vellum, tracing paper. Sewing together sheets of tracing paper. Dipping them in wax.

I have started dipping crumpled up pieces of vellum in wax. Should I hang those? Cluster them in a corner?

Thinking about making little balls/orbs, little "safe havens" if you will. Maybe they would hang?

Most things are going to be small.

I am still sketching out ideas...hopefully I will have something by Monday.

~

I wrote some words down the other day, which I think help describe my show so far:

marks, maps, anxiety, emotion, fear, loss, love, relationships, keeping, in-between, distance, connections, touch, tactile.

I also came across the most ridiculously relevant definition EVER.


Liminality: a transitional period or phase... the condition of being on a threshold or at the beginning of a process.

This came up in my horoscope. It is really really relevant to the way I've been feeling... dammit!

If anyone out there is reading this, I need some feedback. Anyone?

I bought lots of new paper - drawing paper, a new sketchbook, fancier paper. I also bought a fancy new pen and some new pencils. And brown and white embroidery floss. I need need need to make some new work. I'm starting to feel kind of unsatisfied with what I'm doing. I also didn't really make anything over break, except for a self-portrait that I'm less than happy about.

I have a bunch of scribbles and have made a bunch of stuff, so its not like I wont have anything to show at critique. I'm still ridiculously unsatisfied though. Well, maybe I'm just being hard on myself. I am satisfied, almost. But its been a while since I've really devoted myself to one specific project. The weird thing about sem is that I've been making lots of smaller things and essentially developing "collections". Which I don't think is a bad thing. It's just different - I'm not used to not devoting several weeks on one single piece. I would really like to put all of my focus into one thing for a little bit, though. I think I need to create something that is really really important to me (not that my work now isn't important... its a different kind of important).

I've been ridiculously focused on finding jobs and applying to things, but I need to make something soon.

ArtLA Contest

I copied Nan and also entered into the ArtLA contest. I didn't use any thesis related work, just the one painting I'm ridiculously proud of. Check it out here: http://www.artlastudents.com/index.cfm/search/detail/entry/2573

I want to make something really delicate, yet strong. I want to work with flimsy and difficult and weak materials. I want to make something... where I am keeping, preserving something. Well, I guess I'm sort of doing that. But I want to make something really special and meaningful, and shows a sense of holding on to something. I want it to come out through the materials. I also want to make tiny books. And I need to make a self portrait. And I want to draw more necks.

I would like to do these things sooner rather than later. But spring break is approaching and all I want to do is sleep. I'll at least scribble some more.

I should also post artists here. All text is just no fun.