Hard Like Algebra

Last night.

For the thirtieth day of my project, I was tossing around a few ideas, but nothing really felt right until Erin sarted suggesting a list of 30…somethings.  She was suggesting funny things, kind of as a joke, but I liked this idea.  A lot of the work that’s important to me influences the work that I am doing, and I like spreading the word about folks because some stuff is just freaking cool.  For me, it’s never about being a snob or knowing more than other people, it’s about sharing the art that really gets to me.  The dude who runs Hype Machine describes himself with ths bio: “I wake up in the morning to get people excited about music.” Would that we could all be so lucky. Anyway, I give you (with links when I have time to add them):

THIRTY ARTISTS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ME
in no particular order 

01. Jenny Holzer
02. On Kawara
03. Steve Almond
04. Chuck Klosterman
05. Amanda Petrusich
06. Donald Judd
07. Carl Andre
08. Dan Flavin
09. Bruce Nauman
10. David Horowitz
11. Miranda July (esp. her stories, and this)
12. Mierle Laderman Ukeles, (specifically, Handshake Ritual)
13. John Cage (esp. Lecture on Nothing)
14. Phillip Glass
15. Laurie Anderson
16. Christo and Jeanne-Claude
17. Kerry James Marshall (esp. this painting)
18. Matthew Barney
19. Andrea Zittel
20. Superamas
21. Walter De Maria
22. The Neo-Futurists
23. The San Francisco Mime Troupe
24. David Horvitz
25. Jeff Tweedy
26. Dick Higgins
27. Vito Acconci
28. Robert Rauschenberg
29. Barbara Kruger
30. Mike Daisey

There are more! There have to be more. If you know me well, you probably know people that I would have wanted to include better than I do! These are the ones that came to mind with the assistance of just a few books and references. There’s so much more out there, and I didn’t include Eddie, Ben, Nicole, or any of the other artists that I actualy know in real life, in my life. Feel free to leave comments with great artists that I left out.

Thanks for coming along this journey with me. I plan that there will be more to come around here.

A while back, one of my friends (can’t remember who) told me that they felt I took really great cell phone photos.  Now, one could take that as more of a “wow, this fast food hamburger tastes great!” kind of compliment, but I decided not to do that. 

I’ve been pretty enamored of how the photos have been turning out with my Palm Centro, especially the arrows one from a few days ago.  Mind you, I don’t do any digital retouching at all. 

I have always been fascinated with making do with the at supplies you have at hand.  When I take  cell phone photo and use it as my artwork for the day, I really did take the photo thinking, “this might be my art for the day.”  But digital photos are also so immediate that it always feels like cheating to me.  Especially camera phones.  I don’t know why.  I wouldn’t say that Girl Talk cheats by making collages of songs, or that Photoshop artists aren’t making art.  

At any rate, it’s sleeping time.  Big day at work tomorrow.

Today’s art brought to you by the letter tired and the number queasy.

I like cameraphone shots also.

Take on the 17th, posted before bed on the 19th

I really like trying to take good photos with camera phones. I feel like it’s just another way of dealing with the shortcomings of the tech you have at hand, like taking Holga photos or using children’s instruments.

Portland was so gorgeous today.

We had a party on day three.  Well, it was taco night.  Essentially a party, yes?

And parties can be art right? I’m going to write five reasons why this works, and have that qualify as the day three project, okay? Okay.

1. The Act of Drinking Beer With Friends is the Highest Form of Art.
2. Like any performance, you have to prepare, know your audience, and essentially design sound, lighting, and even your “character” for the night.
3. Performance art is art in which the actions of an individual or a group at a particular place and in a particular time constitute the work.
4. I am thinking of how creating something daily is an act of creating meaningful experiences.  This was a great one! 
5. Happenings. ‘Nuff said.

Thanks to all the people who helped create this project for Day 3!  :-)

The fountain cascaded with promise. She focused her attention on the water, only glancing at him long enough to say, “It’s all too much.”

And then she was gone.