Re: Alternative Processes and Concept and Temporality and...

Hey Jack,

thanks for getting back. i have a question for you on this: regarding the
viewer, you discussed when a viewer sees a print from "bare paper," they have a
certain response. what though, do you think the viewer is responding to? if
they don't have the information necessary to know that hours and hours were put
into a print? do you think it's an innate response? instinctual? that they can
feel that this piece involved a great deal of craft and effort?

i think a lot of people may look at a title of a piece and see that it says
"archival digital print" or "silver gelatin print" or "c-print" or "pt/pd
print" what if the viewer doesn't really know the difference? do you think
there is some kind of mystical quality?

i'll check out that book. definitely looks like a good read. can you tell me
more about these other cultures and their feelings about work? or point me to
some reading?

thanks,

steve

Quoting Jack Brubaker <jack@jackbrubaker.com>:

>
>
> Steve,
>
> I like to think about the actual effort we put into making abjects, be they
> alt prints or what evers. In this age it is common to regard effort or work
> as a negative (if it takes extra time to make something, or if it is more
> physical, than the effort is misguided). Many cultures in the past had very
> clear ways of thinking about the possitive attributes of the energy that
> goes into making something. That energy was often given magical qualities
> (a
> village would believe that their fruit would not spoil because it was
> packed
> in the ceramic jars made by the potter of their village who put special
> energy into his pots). Many traditional trades had incantations or gestures
> that were to banish the evel spirits from their work, not just so it would
> not explode in the kiln or crack in the quench but because these gestures
> made their products better in some fundimental way.
>
> Today most people believe they are too wise to believe in such things and
> yet they honor that input of energy and individualism that they know (deep
> down inside themselves) only comes from creative work (sometimes the
> emphisis is more on the creative and sometimes more on the work). The
> puplic
> lacks awareness and words for their relationship with this magic, but they
> sence it just the same. Most of us have had that moment when an observer
> stand in front of our art and can't move. Most people can't put their
> finger
> on what it is that touches them but they feel some energy enter them.
>
> I think that the work of making a print from bare paper effects us and our
> creative energy and when all is right can add another layer to the viewers
> responce.
>
> On a different note read:
>
> The Nature and Art of Workmanship
> by David Pye, published by Cambium Press
>
> A very thoughtfull piece about the difference between mass-produced and
> artisan made objects. He came up with very clear (if densely written)
> definitions for the differences and their meaning. Highly reccomended.
>
> Jack
>
>
Received on Thu Mar 11 11:35:34 2004