Say Something Brilliant

Back in the Saddle Again

2012-01-24T12:24:00.000-08:00

I have been gone.

A lot has happend since I returned from New York. You may have notice my website has been down. I am in the process of updating it's layout with a new template from Word Press. It's going to look really nice and clean I think. I have been thinking about my work a lot, less working, more thinking-which is usually not the best for me. But it is what it is.

I haven't utilized my residency. I know, I suck. Life has been pretty interesting. I fought so hard for that stupid thing but moving to Little Rock has been a huge distraction. Though, I must admit, I have most definitely faired better emotionally not living in that cesspool of a city. It does have it's charms. Suffice-it-to-say I need to get my shit together.

The plan is this- I need to get all of my work photographed and printed. The large prints of Papa need to be printed and I need to build frames for them. Also, all of my old sculpture work needs to be photographed. I need to print all of the work from NY and previous BFA stuff so that I have a nice printed portfolio for grad school stuff when I apply next. Not sure about this fall yet. It is going to depend on our moving situation within the next few months. This is also why I must take advantage of the help in Memphis now.

On a productive note-
I have been publishing some small/quick advertisements for my mother's business in local Arkansas magazines: Arkansas Bride, Weddings in Arkansas, and Soiree.

2011-12-08T07:42:00.001-08:00

Lots going on and lots to do.

2011-07-14T16:07:00.000-07:00

Here's the big post I have been promising for a week now. As of today I have been in New York for 11 days and I am just now getting some idea of what I'm doing for my project. I'm not really sure what will manifest as the final project for the exhibition.

I have gone quite a lot as far as visitations. I took a free swing dance class down by the Hudson River and then there was a jazz band for dancing.

A couple laying in the grass at the Hudson.

The other night my two friends Maisie and Cemre made dinner together in Cemre's fabulous apartment she's staying in for the month. It was a wonderful dinner and great evening. Also Maisie and I have become friends with the RA on my floor, Chen Longo. He's a really interesting person and the three of us have had dinner together a few times. We went down to the river close to Gramercy Park and had some amazing Chinese food from a place down the street from our building it was beautiful. We jumped the railing and went down to sit on the large rocks in the water on the sand.

I've been taking some photos around town and some of my classmates. I've been using Velvia Slide Film and it's beautiful. For some reason my exposures are dark so I've had to do some post camera work.

If you look closely you will see a man rollerblading with three rats on his shoulders and head. Only in New York.

The New York Public Library (main building) It's absolutely gorgeous inside but none of my negatives were any good.

The Chrysler Building from 6th Avenue

A fish in the tank at Cemre's Apartment. I think it's related to the piranha.

We visited a gallery in Chelsea the same day as PS1. This may look familiar because it's a Cindy Sherman Print. (yea that's right...be jealous) Below is a piece of sculpture outside on the balcony. The view was really nice.

Hopefully I will be able to update tomorrow. I'm not going with my class to Soho because I am going to a lecture about contemporary art and neuroscience that conflicts. But, I hope to get much work done and begin updating with some artwork.

Some Research

2011-07-13T10:30:00.000-07:00

Self Portraits by Kimiko Yoshida

I purchased a book called "Portraits of the Mind" and I'm thinking of doing something like with my own drawings of my mind.

Soon I will be updating with lots of pictures once I pick them up from processing today.

Brain Overload

2011-07-08T21:39:00.000-07:00

So...
Today I visited MOMA Ps1. It was really a beautiful museum and the exhibits were really interesting. I took several pictures of my class today (with film of course once I develop them I will post some.) They are all truly extraordinary.

My god, I have to learn another language.

The exhibit I really enjoyed was Francia Alys' exhibit titled "A Story of Deception." Also, Laurel Nakadate "Only the Lonely" was interesting but I found most of it artificial and in many cases contradictory and gratuitous. Her interest in Britney Spears does make me happy though. Before we made it to Ps1 we visited the Flag Gallery which was totally boring. The selections relied far too much on the explanation of the curator which one of my friends pointed out.

You could cut the elitism with a knife.

I did like to see some of Roni Horn's work in person but it was very difficult to get over the self-indulgence of the artist in works such as this golden piece. Though, I do respect Horn's way of being able to not limit herself to one genre or discipline and that she works with many varying concepts within her work. I did like the pink glass piece; mostly because it was all round and glassy. :)

After I went by the school to sign up for my one on one critique times I managed to take a 2 hour nap and then went to dinner with my friend Maisie, who is quite brilliant and lovely. We ate at a really nice Mediterranean place in the East Village and took a walk in the rain. My Tom's are completely soaked. Tomorrow the plan is to have breakfast at Tiffany's and then tour the NY Public Library. Then I need to do laundry and figure out what I want to shoot because I need to get materials for printing and I have a one on one with Seth Greenwald and I want to so him something new. Wish me luck!

Update

2011-07-06T20:51:00.000-07:00

Hello All,

Sorry to not update yesterday. I was exhausted when I got back to the GW. I met up with Nikkila in Brooklyn where we got the cheapest mani/pedi's ever. Nik is staying with her friend Yazmin who is also from Memphis but came to fashion school at Parsons. She's gorgeous and her closet is ridiculous. We had a lot of fun until we got lost while trying to find a specific restaurant (which we thought was on 10th ave but was actually on 10th st). We're dorks!

We had a fast dinner at a small diner that was closing. They were really nice to let us come in and have a bite. They had their A/C up so high. We were frozen. It was the first time since being in the city that I wanted to be outside.

Before I met up with Nikkila I spent the day getting turned around in Times Square. I had a caricature done of me by this really nice guy for 5 bucks. It was great. I will take a picture and post it soon. I initially went looking for the Sanrio Store but I had a hellashious time trying to find it amongst all of the craziness.

I was expecting a giant megastore which is probably why I passed it three times without noticing.

While getting lost on 42nd St, I walked underneath this first and didn't realize it was actually the real thing. How beautiful and amazing is this building?! I was suddenly reminded of the tacky representation of the cityscape in "Down With Love" which is one of my favorite New York movies next to "When Harry Met Sally" and "Breakfast at Tiffany's."

Having breakfast at Tiffany's is one of my dreams and I will definitely be doing that sometime within the next few days. After all of the walking I had to take a cab. This photo I took from the window.

So today, I officially began my residency. (Woot) The people I have met are amazing. The group is very diverse as far as background, nationality, and place within our careers. Just to name a "few" of the countries represented: France, UK, Spain, Turkey, India, U.S., and the South (me). lol. The faculty is amazing and I am so silly to have been nervous about the critique today. It went swimmingly, as it was basically a show and tell of our work and an introduction to each other. Everyone was really positive about my work and about everyone's really. I am the only one who works with self-portraiture which is a whole new world from me coming from the MCA department.

Tomorrow we have a lecture from Jerry Saltz (nominated for pulitzer in criticism three times) go ahead and pee yourself. :) lol. And then an intro to the digital lab in the photo building. By the way, the facilities I saw today blew me away. I am so jealous of the kids who do their undergraduate work here. But as a Memphian, I suppose, I can just say they're spoiled.

My lovely new friend Maisie and I went to the Whole Foods at Union Square and it was insanely busy (I'm sure what I expected from Union Sq? lol). We had a tasty dinner and then walked back to the GW. We had lovely conversation.

Sorry this is a short post for two days. I'm needing my sleep lately.

Caio (Eddie Izzard reference for those who know and love him, as I do)

Bright Lights, Big City

2011-07-04T08:52:00.000-07:00

I decided to dedicate my website blog to my adventures in NYC this summer. I was accepted into an Artist Residency Program at the School of Visual Arts. I finally made it to the city after 15 hours of travel including an eight hour layover in Atlanta, GA. I made fast friends with my fellow passengers of flight 368 as we spent so much time together in the airport after our flight's cancellation. Shout out to my friends: Laticia from Chicago by way of Puerto Rico, Maya from Cally, and Anne from NYC. And a special shout out to my great friend from Florida by way of Brooklyn who's name I still do not know and Patricia, a beautiful Italian woman who didn't speak any English.

I speak for all of us when I say: F*** YOU AIRTRAN

The plane rides were great though. I was able to upgrade to business class for $4.00 on the first flight, which was awesome! The two children in front of me were very entertaining. The boy must have been 4 or 5 years old. He had fun talking like he was on the intercom and making crashing plane noises. I'm pretty sure that the guy across the isle from me threw up his bloody mary in the lavatory sink. I went in to pee and couldn't wash my hands because the sink was full of tomato juice. I tried to turn on the water and I was spattered by the sink's contents. It was fabulous. On the second flight I had a window seat next to one of the guys from my original flight. He read X-Men comics on his Ipad the entire flight. He looked like Louis C.K. with a different shaped face and so I was disturbed to see his smart phone background was Hello Kitty.

Once I got to my building (The George Washington Hotel on Lexington Ave) I was exhausted but still felt like I needed to at least unpack to feel like I accomplished something. So I did. This morning I had a toasted croissant fromt the deli next door and took a trip to Walgreens. I had to unload a few items from my luggage yesterday morning because one of my bags was over the 50lb limit. So I had to take a trip to Walgreens this morning also, to pick up some shampoo and lotion.

In a few minutes I'm going with Tommy Kha to B&H photo supply and then to China Town for some dim-sum. I think I will probably visit the Sanrio store today in Times Square and a Bed, Bath, and Beyond for a bed cushion. I think the mattress I slept on last night must be 50 years old. I'll update later today with some real photos and more to tell.

Graduation

2011-05-15T06:59:00.000-07:00

Alex and I graduated yesterday from Memphis College of Art with Fine Art degrees. He's an illustrator and I'm a photographer. We're really proud of ourselves and thankful for our parents who made it possible for us to get a good start at life.

New Website

2011-04-27T10:02:00.001-07:00

http://www.aleciawallsbarton.com/

2011-04-18T12:42:00.000-07:00

Photos from a recent shoot. I'm planning to do more of these next weekend. This is my grandfather Albert. He's awesome.

Stuff that I should have posted a month ago

2011-01-16T19:44:00.001-08:00

These are 5 of the images I printed for alternative processes. They're scans of paper textures and my own hand and arm. The print process is called platinum and palladium. I like them. The process was fairly simple but allows for several variations for tonality; etc. I really just wanted to make something that's pretty, but I think they are still very me. Enjoy!

Got and A

2010-11-18T17:48:00.000-08:00

pretty salt print. this is what they look like if you were wondering. they can be darker toned also, which mine are.

I got an A on my salt prints yay! I will be posting them tomorrow. I have to scan them in and Leah has two of them hanging out in the hallway. This is nice seeing as I got a C on the last two projects. (bogas by the way) They turned out really nice like I said earlier.

Right now I should be working on a yarn project for surface design that is due on Monday. I'm making a snuggie and I can't get the yarn that I bought to work properly. I think I will just have to buy a different kind and attach the fuzzy stuff to it afterward. So back to Michaels again tomorrow.

Also tomorrow is the Holiday Bazaar. The photo class and I have been planning a photo with santa opp. I hope that it goes well and people want to donate to our SPE/grad school/group show monetary needs! We're all broke and I still have to buy $200.00 inkjet silk. ugh. I help Tommy to make buttons today it was really fun. We just collaged random images and illustrations together to make them fun and absurd. Now I want a button maker for Christmas. Seriously.

I have been watching LA Ink lately and it's really interesting. It makes me want to have a tattoo but I know that I would regret it. Plus I am so small that I would be all tattoo. So I'm letting Alex paint on me. I definitely will not get one until I am a more decisive person and a little more easy going; like when I'm 50. I just want to see what it is like.

So they turned out okay

2010-11-15T12:31:00.001-08:00

The salt prints turned out pretty good actually. I think that it's the prettiest process that we have learned. When I get them back on friday I will scan them up and post them. The last project for alternative process is platinum and palladium process. I am excited about it but the kit was so expensive. Splitting it with Megan still cost me about $180.00. Yikes. I still need to buy my inkjet silk for my photo 5 portfolio and it's going to cost about that much or more! Expensive!

For fibers I am making a yarn "snuggie" for my computer. I just figured that because It is in the bed with me all of the time it should be more snuggly like me and Alex. I found this really obnoxiously puffy yarn called "Pomp -a- Doodle!" and some giant US 35 knitting needles. It's going to be a lot of fun. I have to finish the samples for the different types of knit techniques and the snuggie by Monday.

Salt Prints: F-U!

2010-11-10T20:52:00.000-08:00

At school all night making salt prints (silver nitrate/gelatin). I can't wait for Friday to be over, for real. I was supposed to go to therapy today but my counselor called and changed it for tomorrow. So my day pretty much went to crap after that.

I didn't get things done quickly enough and now I'm afraid that there will be no more silver nitrate and the critique is friday. ugh. But I did get my transcription done from my interview with Guniz. It only took like an hour and a half. That's good I guess. One less thing to worry about tomorrow.

Now I'm just waiting for the gelatin to dry and looks like we're out of the new silver nitrate. Hopefully the old stuff we found will work. If not, I have no prints and I will fail most definitely. Yay me. I'm in a good mood though because of my break down yesterday. I suppose I just got some stuff out (talking/crying to Haley all morning).

I'm terrified right now but trying to be positive. Please don't have a panic attack. The sad part is I don't think I even have the energy to have one right now.

Hurry up Friday afternoon!

This past weekend

2010-11-09T07:05:00.000-08:00

This past weekend some things were accomplished. Mom and I finished the napkin rings for the holiday bazaar. they look really great and I hope they sell. We have about $2.50 in each so I'll sell them for $5.00/ 4 for $18.00.
I interviewed Guniz for Cultural Anthropology. The interview went really well and I learned a lot about her and her life. She's so beautiful and interesting. We discovered that we have so much in common and I am so lucky to have her in my life. Thanks Guniz!

I can has? :)

2010-11-05T20:18:00.000-07:00

I would also require a larger apartment.

salt prints today

2010-10-29T11:42:00.000-07:00

Today I'm testing salt prints. i'll post them later. I actually shot some stuff last night; only tests but at least I made some work. I'm going to photograph silk deteriorating with pretty lights on it soon. Forgetting about the imagery. I need to do something else instead of self portraits for a second.

Aley and I watched Janeane Garofalo's stand up in Seattle last night. She's so amazing. I forgot how funny she is. Also, she's looking really hot lately. :)

20 minutes later.

2010-10-28T16:39:00.000-07:00

I checked my email. Turns out I'm on the cover of the exhibition catalogue! Today got a lot better after that. I'm such a winy little brat. I'm sorry.

Here's the link. Go buy it!
http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1666319

Stuckness

2010-10-28T11:15:00.000-07:00

FML.

I am so tired of school today. I am sick and tired. Ugh.

Okay.

Um, the weather is making me want to curl up in a ball and sleep until I am in another world. It was dark when I woke up this morning and Alex hadn't come to bed yet. He's got some serious sleeping problems. He is insistent on working non-stop which is great because he is inspired but I am getting worried. As for my work, I have still not accomplished anything. Haley says I should photograph beds, like hotel room beds or other people's beds. I'm not sure about it yet. I know I need to get out and do something but that is really tough. Maybe I just don't have any good ideas concerning my illness. I don't know how I can or should express it.

ahhh. help!

I think I'm gonna be a librarian.

2010-10-27T12:43:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I was talking with Alex over dinner a few nights ago. Once, again we ran through the list of possible careers, including things like: janitor, psychologist, chef, dance teacher, photographer, chemist, physicist, elementary school teacher, etc. Librarian was one of the only one's I said was a possibility--go figure. Basically, I want to continue to learn forever. I don't have enough of one interest to fulfill a life or a career life. Being a librarian I would make a contribution while not being stressed out all of the time. There are so many options in this field as far as specialties and focus. The only problem is I am afraid that I will not be a competitive candidate for graduate school. We shall just have to see. I am looking at a few schools in Texas and UCA in Conway.

Anyhoo, this could be exciting.

Also, I have been going to see a psychologist. It is going very well.

I watched Groundhog Day for the first time last night and it is one of the greatest films ever made in my opinion. I can't believe I hadn't seen it before.

As far as photography, I am working on two projects. One of them is for alternative process. It's about different types of light and self portraiture. I'm shooting 35 mm in color and then converting it to black and white. I need to have it done before thursday night so I can have Haley print it for me. The other is for photo 5. I am printing on silk inkjet fabric and then putting bleach on it so it falls apart over time. Them I'm going to photographic it falling apart. The inkjet silk is going to be expensive though.

I learning how to knit in Surface Design class. It's really hard to figure out how to hold your hands at first. The needles I bought were too long to deal with and sort of slippery with the acrylic yarn so I bought some bamboo ones that are pretty thick and short. So, we will see how that goes.

We are planning to visit Lilly this weekend instead of going out for Halloween. That kind of sucks because I want to go out but I haven't gotten my wig yet and I can't go another weekend without hugging that sweet little baby! Derek keeps posting pictures and I can't take it anymore. She's probably forgotten me by now and that sucks !

i'm on behance

2010-10-21T21:19:00.001-07:00

http://www.behance.net/aleciawalls

Everyone should check out my new profile on the behance network. You can browse all of the artists I'm following and get inspired by. I'm sure I will be posting their work soon. I'm really into illustration lately, go figure!

P.S. I watched Sleeping Beauty a day ago. It is still amazing.

the beginning of alt. process.

2010-10-19T22:13:00.000-07:00

Here's the work I did for alternative process recently. I don't know what I think about them. I need to make some work and fast.

opinons welcome.

one last all nighter

2010-10-14T20:52:00.000-07:00

Here's Ponyo.

Tonight is the last all nighter before midterm. I cannot wait until after 3:35 pm tomorrow! Fall break is here and perhaps I will get to visit the people I love the most. That would be lovely. I am printing cyanotypes and van dyke browns at the moment when they are finished I will post them. If you haven't seen my beautiful niece lilly, you must visit her blog it's derekbjohnson.blogspot.com; she's adorable!

I really want to have a full account on ancestry.com so I can look up my family tree. I'm really into geneology. Today I had a conversation with my friend Steven about how exciting it sounds to someday all be one race. That eventually with interbreeding we will all be so mixed up and confused that no one will now what race they are. That would be awesome in a way I think. But then it could cause problems I suppose as far as genetic testing for diseases and such and for people who care to trace their ancestry. Lol.

A photo of my maternal grandparents Albert and Lillian. My grandfather has pneumonia at the moment (scary). And a photo of my Lillian as a teenager. They both grew up in Forrest City and Wynne Arkansas on rice farms. I wish I looked more like her sometimes. Tall and thin.

bad week, new stuff coming soon

2010-10-13T19:19:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone.
It's been a rough week but I don't want to talk about that.
Here's the start to my new series. I am planning to do about 12 to 24 of these. The concept is the passage of time with me in one place. This photo is the first time shooting. I want to refine how to get the shadow of the second hand.

I watched a great Miyazaki film last night called Ponyo. It's about a fish that becomes a human girl. The illustrations are beautiful and the story reminds me of The Little Mermaid and my puppy/fish Lucy-Nips! I want this week to be over already. We are going home Friday or Saturday until early Monday morning.
I really feel bad that I missed the Gay Rights March in Memphis on Monday. I heard that it went well.

So many questions, so little time.

2010-10-07T10:58:00.000-07:00

Hello All!

This week Haley has been torturing us with graduate school, residency, and internship searches. Now is the time to begin applying for all of these and to figure out what kind of future you want in the art world and your plans for the near future. This is all terrifying and confusing. I am most uncertain about what I want to do with my life, my photography, myself; and it seems like I haven't had the time to figure it out.

Four years, for me, has not been enough time. I just made some breakthroughs about a semester and a half ago. I want to approach all of this as if I want to do it all but this is difficult because I want to do it all in more than one field of study. I have to find grad schools that offer studio art, library science, and art history graduate programs so that I can give myself the room to make decisions. I really don't want to pigeonhole myself into one department again, especially when it comes to the fine arts. I have learned a great deal about myself from being a part of a small department but I want to learn what i can do. That is why I want to attend a large university.

The next problem is it's a graduate degree and you must apply to a specific program. It's not like undergraduate at all. And I don't want to be stuck in a university that doesn't have a reputation for my fields of study and that does not have a good art program to begin with. As you can see it is hard to focus.

Some of the schools I'm interested in are because of their location. I know that I should only be concerned with what I want to do and not what Alex will be doing but I don't want to force him to move somewhere for me when I still am not sure where what I want to do and learn . So places that he may get jobs are texas, washington, california, and canada. I am very interested in the University of Arizona, University of Oregon, Texas Women's University, University of Texas Austen, and ACAD in Canada. University of Washington is a maybe but I don't really get excited about the work that comes from there. I need to look a Colorado Universities as well. Also the Dallas schools.

I need help making decisions. I am interested in the Anderson Ranch residency and an internship at pretty much any museum or library that will take me to be honest. I just need to get some more information about all of this.

ps. Party Girl. Possibly my new favorite movie. I knew before that I loved Parker Posey but now I think I'm obsessed.

Mary: "I may have made a mistake but that is no reason to patronize me. It is dismaying that your expectations are based on the performance of a lesser primate, and also revelatory of a managerial style which is sadly lacking. Is it any wonder then that I've chosen not to learn the intricacies of an antiquated and idiotic system."

I Got In

2010-09-28T11:36:00.000-07:00

I recieved an email yesterday with a subject that read "Congratulations." That's right, I got into my first non-school, international show. This is really exciting. The exhibition was juried and 1000 images were submitted. They picked forty and one of them is one of my slides from the Bedroom Series. Yes! It's in Middlebury, Vermont at the Photoplace Gallery so I won't be able to attend. My piece will also be included in the exhibition catalogue. The site of the results is on the Vermont Photography Workplace/ Photoplace Gallery website. So check it out. The image on my profile is the one that got in. The exhibition is titled Wide Awake Dreaming.

In other news: The Javits applications are due on Thursday. All that I have left is to collect one more letter of recommendation and complete my statement of purpose after Haley edit's it. I am ready for it to be out of my hands so I can focus on my portfolio. I have a lot to shoot and a lot to accomplish before december and I begin filling out grad applications. I need to enter more shows also.

I am really excited about my next two photo projects one is a van dyke brown diptych and the other is a continuation of the bedroom and time series. It's already mid-term next week and I'm kind of freaking out, but I really think I can get some of this stuff done.

Artist of the Day: Inspired by my excitement for the van dyke project is Susanna Hays. She makes beautiful contact prints. I plan on doing something related to these for the holiday bizarre. with flowers and such.

Upload of Work

2010-09-20T18:40:00.000-07:00

Here's some of my work. It's called the Bedroom Series. Also here is my latest artist statement. It's still a work in progress. I am going to add additional statements about this project in particular. These are just a few of the series, some of my favorites.

My photographs depict my struggle with clinical depression and how that affects my life, dreams, and relationships. I photograph myself in personal spaces with natural lighting to indicate time of day. The images are a mix of light and dark. The darkness is recognized as a feeling of loneliness and seclusion while the light accentuates my psychological state. For me, the images have a meditative quality and I hope to give the viewer a greater understanding of my condition. My goal is to cause others to experience a life of limitations.

Only 4 weeks in

2010-09-17T12:08:00.000-07:00

It's only been four weeks of school and I'm barely making it. I can't lie, it hasn't been that rough compared with the past two years but still, I'm tired. Right now I'm sitting in the lighting studio while by bestie jordan hood lays half naked with one light on her for my pinhole project. She's a good friend! I have two of recommendation letters finished and my short artist statement for the Javits fellowship application. I need to fill out the application and finish my statement of purpose and extended statement. The Javits for those of you how are unaware, is a Scholarship/Fellowship program that supports the arts. It's the largest and most prestigious fellowship allowed for the arts from the Federal Government. They pay around 44,000 a year for writers, artists, and musicians to attend the grad school of choice. 33 are given every year and you can apply only twice in your life. My photo 5 class has been working on these apps for the past 3 weeks and it's tough.

I'm trying to get my graduate school portfolio together but I don't feel like I have enough work to show for the past three years. That's the nature of my illness, never anything to show for your life. So, I've got to get myself motivated and improve my attention span. Does anyone know any natural supplement that can improve your attention span? Anyway. I was talking to Haley and she said that I should think about doing something to my prints after they are printed. Like, some other way of presenting them or showing some kind of wear or condition of the print. There's actually not a lot to look at from other artist who work like this but I suppose that's a good thing.

i just like to many opposite things: documentary/painterly, stark contrast/soft focus, etc. Just like any other thing in life I am indecisive because I can imagine so many possibilities. I guess this is not a completely useless way of thinking but at this particular time in my life it is causing me great grief. But on a lighter note an art historian told me that I didn't have to have a museum science degree to go into that field. He said I would be better off pursuing library and art history majors which is sort of a relief because I would be able to have many more options for careers. I have become very interested in cultural anthropology and psychological anthropology. These are other possible paths for me I think.

I feel like all of that was ramble.

(michelle branch radio).

Shout out to artists I like at the moment and one's I've always loved.

Connie Imboden

Elina Brotherus

Sorry

2010-08-22T20:06:00.000-07:00

So, those of you who actually follow this blog, I apologize. This has been a rough summer to say the least. No excuses. I'm finally getting myself together. Tomorrow I being my senior year at MCA which a little terrifying and daunting to be honest. I am ready to get as much as I can out of these next to semesters and then move on.

I have been stuck when it comes to my independent study project. A few postings back (which was months ago) I talked about photographing women in their homes as a way of getting at some very deep feelings. That didn't pan out because I never got any responses. I suppose I should have tried harder but I am planning to do something similar to that this semester. Then I got it in my head that I wanted to photograph myself (again). My professor didn't think this would be very productive and know I finally get why.

I am in my head so much that I cannot see past myself. That is why I have been stuck to the point that as my friend Jordan says "I am rejecting photography" I can still talk about myself but I need to separate myself from the issues. I cannot really photograph an internal ordeal with just my face, it will always look the same and my portfolio is already full of pictures of myself. Ahhh!

So then I decided I needed a symbol for myself. I think I'm a flower. My mother is a florist and horticulture has always been something that is a part of my soul. I don't know that much about them and that makes me sad; but when I look at them and smell them I feel more alive. So there, I'm a flower.

I had this idea that I wanted to create this feeling of drowning or being stuck, buried whatever. I was planning to drown flowers. (sounds sacrilegious I know)

Update: It's been two days and I haven't finished this post. Today is the 25th.

So back to the project. Anyway, I was going to drown these flowers; ok. Then I thought, I could destroy a potted plant. A potted plant makes sense as a symbol for something that is contained and restricted; stuck. So that is what I did. I laid under a piece of glass with a plant on top of it. I slowly destroyed the perfect little potted plant. Then I added water and magic happened!
A sorts of tree forms roots and all kinds of creepy came to life.

So now I am digitally collaging these images into one composition. It's going to look really amazing and a lot darker than all of my other work but I like that about it. It will be finished before Friday and I will post it soon.

I have a new website: www.aleciawalls.com. Please check it out and tell me what you think. I updated the photography section and the others will soon follow. I want to know how the site looks on your screens so let me know. I know two of the sections need to be re-uploaded because they aren't the correct resolution. I want you all to look at the Easters and Bedroom Series One and Two. They're finished.

I have a feeling that I am really going to progress quickly and abundantly before May. I am really excited about seeing what I can really do. In photo 5 I will be making myself a professional: resume, statements, commercial & fine art portfolios...it's a lot but I'm excited. I'm also starting to look at grad schools which is probably what I am going to be doing after I graduate. I want to become an assistant to a photographer though, to gain some more experience.

I don't think anyone is reading this so I am going to stop now.

Moment of Zen

And some plastic pots

What's Up

2010-07-19T16:59:00.000-07:00

It's been a while.

I've started working at Low's Bridal and Formal and I love my job.

I've started taking pictures with my computer camera and video each day to supplement the non-existent independent study work I have done. No one ever responded to my ad. Oh well I learned something just from thinking about the project. I think during the school year I will try it again. I have been turning on the camera when I am at home, watching me watching television. I depend on television to get me through the day, it's sad I know. I pick a show and watch every episode. Indulge me while I list all of the shows I have exhausted.

Grey's Anatomy
Nip/Tuck
The Office
Friends
Sex and the City
30 Rock
America's Next Top Model
The Tudors
Dawson's Creek

I've seen every episode at least twice. It's ridiculous. There are more shows like Beverly Hills 90210 (original) that I've seen several seasons multiple times. I'm addicted to characters and other people living their lives. I watch reality tv and I hate that about myself. All that it does is cause even more unrealistic expectations of the world, relationships etc. All of this does not help a person who already feels like she is wasting her life.

Enough of the pessimism.

Pandora Radio makes me very happy. Sixpence None the Richer, Michelle Branch, radio. Sing along.

I've decided that I want to fall into something. Someday I will be able to take part in my abundant interests. I would love to get off the television and on to books. Which reminds me that I have become delinquent with my library books. (carrie bradshaw reference...oh god).

Lately I am totally obsessed with stand up comedy. I thought for a day that maybe I could be a stand up comedian. But then I realized I'm not a performer. Even as a dancer I really only enjoyed the studio. But don't get me wrong I like attention. Every time I'm in a conversation with someone I always bring anything they're talking about back to me. No matter what it is I will find some way that I can talk about myself or someone I know. And believe me, I always know best compared to others. How messed up is that. Why can't I be a listener and ask questions about others. That's it, I have to do something about this. I've been thinking about this for the past few days maybe a week.

Okay blog decoration time.

Shabby-Chic

My Heroine Kathy Griffin
watch her show My Life on the D-List and all of her Bravo specials. I want to be her when I grow up. Well, a little bit anyway.

Alan Cumming, amazing man.
My favorite Youtube video as of late (as an inspirational poster)

And last but not least of Alecia's random favorite/on my brain lately things

Never has there been a film that has defined a generation like this one. Especially in this case because it is a period film that defined a generation that was not even born yet for another 20 years.

That's all for today. Images should be up on the website soon. New url: www.aleciawalls.com

On the Web

2010-06-23T23:59:00.000-07:00

My website has had a face-lift! Please check it out and tell me what you think. I am much happier and am actually excited. There are not any images yet but there will be soon. I am still putting the negatives together etc. Fun fact: the background of my site is a texture I made from my favorite portrait of my maternal grandparents. It has always been special and though my work deals more primarily with my psyche these days I wanted to recognize that I first began documenting my family. I still plan this summer to start my archives. Does anyone know of a good, free museum software. I would really like to have a copy of Past Perfect but it is like 700 bucks.

me on the web even further: www.aleciawallsphotography.com

Oh and I posted an ad in the Memphis Flyer for models. I have a new project brewing.

copy the link and volunteer:
http://memphis.memphisflyer.com/Volunteers/female-photography-student-wants-to-photograph-everyday-women-needs-models/2915058

Off to sleep.

Now

2010-06-22T18:51:00.000-07:00

I cannot seem to get anything done today.

I did pick up the house so that I can breathe a bit better. Alex promises to take all of the dirty clothes to the car so I don't have to look at them until we go to the laundry mat! That's nice of him I think. Laundry is something that just drives me insane and according to my sister it runs in the family. We had a very long conversation recently about how much we hate and neglect laundry duties. It is so stressful and only because I just want to avoid doing it at all costs.

I have this paper to write about Bunuel but I couldn't stay awake enough during the movies. The longer I'm in this class the weaker my attention span gets I think. This paper will suck and I will not get a B+ like I did on the last one. This means I must write like a badass this weekend on the next one. I really hope for a B in this class.

I plan to make my advertisement tomorrow for the Memphis Flyer. Hopefully it is cheap. Haley also suggested Craig's List but I'm a little terrified of who will answer, though I'm terrified that I'm going to get crazies anyway from the paper ad. Any suggestions? I know that's a stupid question, no one reads this crap. I will have to start blogging about something that matters to other people. Maybe I will post all of my images and findings...yea I think that's a good idea, good job me. That's interesting right? I know that I am not that interesting; only with complaints.

I will write more later once I have finished my crappy paper. Let's make Blogger better than facebook! Also I will being next week working on my website. It needs serious help. Go to it if you want and make suggestions. I just can't seem to figure out what I'm really going for. I want something really clean and accessible but that doesn't look like I made it with IWeb.

Good Day.

Ps. This old man makes me happy. I love his work.

Today

2010-06-21T22:19:00.000-07:00

This is all I can say after today. I am mentally exhausted and had at least one or two panic attacks. I wish I had known Gene Kelly maybe instead of some other people or at least just known him. I want to sing and dance in the rain (really cold rain, I think).

I went all over Memphis to find a book Haley suggested but I gave up searching at 7 and didn't even make it to Burke's. A girl just wants to learn! I completely changed my concept for my independent study. It's complicated. I'll post some of the questions I asked myself and some things I wrote down...

" habitual daily portraiture
mundane
unknowingly
affected or influenced
no control "

I was trying to decide if I could photograph internal things by making myself unable to suppress my subconscious.

"why am I doing this really?"

"Is it going to bring me to a greater understanding of myself or perpetuate my own self hatred?"

" self destructive behavior
wanting to feel beautiful
the dream of being anyone else but myself"
do I enjoy my self-loathing? "

"Am I too self involved?"
-removing/distancing my human experience
I know that we all have the same experience

"Does my work have cultural/ social significance?" (is that why I do it, should it be?)
"Is is actually helping"

Does an artist always have a need to create or express, does it come from them or from the outside world?

psychology: am I textbook? Is Anyone? Is my illness made up of the need for self-loathing?

"Is everyone self hating?"

Then Haley and I started talking: She suggested that I photograph others so that I can really know where I need to go in my self portraiture. I'm going for a "mock"umentary type situation. I am going to put out an add in the paper for female models that I will photograph is their own homes. I will ask them questions about how they think about themselves. The point of this exercise or investigation is attempt at finding a trace of something that is happening internally from their external body. This is not about "Essence" or "Beauty" it's a study of trying to see something familiar or at least understandable in the psyche of another woman.

Apparently I said so really deep stuff today that blew Haley's head off but I didn't write them down. I always do that. I think things come out of me subconsciously that are amazing, sometimes I agree with them and sometimes I think their just going along with a logical vein, or maybe I'm just good at making stuff up, stuff that isn't real but sounds like psycho babble.

Anyway I'm going to watch the rest of last night's Tudors. Henry is dying and I am sad.

P.S. I can't get Christina Aguilera's new song out of my head. What a Madonna rip off...this displeases me greatly.

I will leave you with Happy thoughts!

Summer

2010-06-16T18:09:00.000-07:00

I'm posting some images in order to get myself to write. There is so much information coming into my mind recently and I just cannot keep up with my own thoughts. Perhaps if I would blog frequently, I could hold on to a few things.

Here are some of the films I have been watching. I know that they are all not very current but I'm just getting to them.

I have been obsessed with documentaries lately, thanks to Netflix and its always available streaming content. I think partly this is because I am on an intellectual binge and the other part being that I cannot make myself pick up a book. I have a serious addiction to television and film. To me, they are no longer enjoyable or inspiring but necessary. This is terrifying to say the least and is not helping my attention span and most of the time when I sit down on the couch with my husband I fall asleep, leaving him to watch the entirety of some chick flick I made him watch, alone. Awful. I suppose I am just uncomfortable without some form of moving and sound entertainment constantly. What is wrong with me?

So, I'm in a film class for the rest of this week and the next. It's Surrealism in Film. I think it is really interesting and appreciate it a revolutionary movement, though it didn't quite bring about as much change as it hoped. So far I am annoyed with Jean Cocteau even though I am drawn to his Belle et la Bette (Beauty and the Beast) because of its dramatic costuming and illusionism. His work is just no surreal. He is so self obsessed (as I blog about myself). I wrote my paper about him. I am very nervous to get it back because I feel like I dropped the ball slowly as I went along. I was on to something in the first paragraph, but of course, I spent so long on the beginning and then I was worn out. I should have spent more time with it. I will probably continue to work on it. I feel like my writings is the best thing I can take from these kinds of classes.

I am also very intrigued by Luis Bunuel's work that I watched the past few days.

I need to begin really concentrating on my independent study. I have some of the printing logistics worked out I just need to do some test shooting and nail down my concept. I am really confused at this point. Some of my last work was about self image, using the body to reflect very internal thoughts. But now, I feel like maybe my work is far too self indulgent (not sure if that's the word). I am separating my own personal experience from the collective and I think that may not being serving anyone other than myself. I know that my experience is not any different than anyone else but I tend to think of it as therapeutic and cathartic for me. I hope that is why I do this work. I would like for it to go beyond that but I have a difficult time feeling confident in my ideas about politics and social interests; I do not understand truth and facts.

I really need to start dancing again.

I think this is the only thing that can bring me any clarity or peace.

Okay, so here's the deal.

2010-04-29T14:49:00.001-07:00

I have never posted anything on this blog because I haven't anything to post. My goal this summer is to become a prolific artist who is amerced in the world around me. I want to make work that is valuable to others as well as self-expressive and self-exploratory. This is the plan: watch a lot of news (eww), use my access to the darkroom for my independent study to my advantage, READ as much as I can, and get involved with something other than myself. I have to start becoming the artist and individual that I am and want to be. This all sounds really stupid. I'll be posting some inspiration and some of my past work to jump start myself.

A Clean Slate

2009-09-28T13:16:00.000-07:00

This is brand new blog