Learning Environments, Umwelts and Permaculture

Learning environments matter. Living environments matter. When individual organisms are symbiotically connected to the environment or communities in which they exist, synergistic processes beneficial to the organism become a natural outgrowth of these special places. Umwelts, a biologic and psycho-emotional phenomenon, can take root in art rooms or an urban garden oasis.

Art as Semiotic Experience

When I started this blog, I was interested in using art experience as a vehicle to express my thoughts on semiotic theory, the signification process and meaning making. I firmly believe semiotic theory holds the key to meaningful learning and I plan to use this blog as a launch site for my newest research project, rhizomatic curriculum dynamics.

Anything can be a sign. The objects we create in the art room can be a sign. The processes we engage in can be a sign. The tone of my voice when I am engaged in instruction can be a sign. How the objects, the processes, the tone of my voice are interpreted by students, is paramount to developing experiences that students remember.

Oranje 2012

Lots of fun,  good conversation, making new friends and visiting with some old ones too!

A work in progress....

Trying to expedite this new painting and get it ready for Oranje.

I am a teacher....

Roughing out shapes and colors....just getting started.

One thing I know about is the learning process. What is going on in American public education today is shameful. I will explore the perversion of American public education by powerful entities who have no business dictating non consensual learning experiences to millions of children  in American public schools.
Our schools have become test prep factories and the consequences of treating children like cogs on an assembly line have contributed to many wicked problems in American society. This is a moral matter.

Working With Rocks, Re-Purposed Brick and Stone.....

I had the back yard all torn up the past week and ended up with something interesting. It is a change of pace sculpting with plastic like materials and then working with 100 to 250 lb. slabs and stones.

Mobius sculpture at the Greenfield Creative Arts Center

My son Payton standing next to a mobius strip made out of paper sculpting material and covered with re-purposed paint. My sincerest thanks to Sandy Hall for her efforts organizing the Teachers as Artist event.

100 Years of Indy Parks Commemorative Art Exhibition at Garfield Park Arts Center

I am honored to be included with the other nine artists invited to create a work of art commemorating Indy Parks 100 Years of existence.

Here is the artist statement that accompanies this new work:

Is it a raised topographical relief map or an abstraction suggesting foliage, water, sky or the surface of a tree?  “Jack in the Green,” was inspired by natural forms created by dynamic biological processes and is intended to symbolize the cycle of growth observed in abundance throughout Indy Parks greenways and public spaces. This relief sculpture is created from 99% re-purposed materials, including discarded cardboard, paper and house paint. 

My sincerest thanks goes to Tom Weidenbach, Lesley Meier, Kris May, Sarah Norman and Jessica Dunn for all their hard work putting this exhibition together!

 

New Cardboard Work

I created a piece for the Garfield Arts special exhibit: "100 Years of Indy Parks," and I had some cardboard sculpting material left over, so I made this new piece. I like mobius strips so I am thinking about expanding on this idea.

ArtPrize!!

The Rhizome as it appeared at 38 W. Fulton in Grand Rapids, Michigan during the first two weeks of the competition.

My sincerest thanks to the  Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids for selecting this work for inclusion in their ArtPrize exhibition space!

Oranje!

Adam, Ryan, Peter, Beth, Magen and all of the folks at Oranje know how to put on a huge multi sensory event! I am most grateful to all the folks at Oranje for their kindness and good will. The evening provided me with lots of opportunity to show the Rhizome panels and the other works I have been generating. There were some very good contacts made, and I am looking forward to a possible show in Carmel and also connecting with some folks in the music business!

Many visitors to my space were intrigued by the work and were trying to figure out if the work was made out of stone or a composite. When I told them it was cardboard, they were pleasantly surprised. I was asked many times,"How do you transform it?" "What is your process?" My answer? "You have to pulverize it, mix it up and sculpt it."
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I didn't have the heart to tell folks not to touch it. They were so curious....As my friend Diane Jaquith commented, it is a tactile experience to view the work.

Some thoughts on new work...currently I have a work that has recycled paint in the mixture, so that is something I want to explore. Color and new form will definitely be on the horizon for me.

Oranje was so much fun. Can't wait to do it again.

A Night at Oranje!

Oranje Exhibit Preparation Sequence:

Drawing and Sculpture Exhibit at Oranje

I learned yesterday I will have more exhibit space than I anticipated. I look forward to sharing some of my drawings from 1999 to 2009 at Oranje. Oranje will be a fun exhibit! See you on Sept. 17th!

Panel #3

Works in Progress.....

New Work....

Proposal Video

Here is a video I posted on YouTube a day after receiving my invitation from the Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids. Check it out!