Reflexive Meta-level #1 (click image to enlarge)
First in a series. There is nothing new about art taking art as its subject, either generally or with respect to some specific aspect, such as the role or situation of the viewer. Nonetheless, I am noticing a pattern in my work of noticing the viewer, and I aim to follow it to see where it leads.
Lamp, Chair, Photograph.
I often see wonderfully moody shots of interiors–you know, all dark and mysterious. I guess it is harder than it looks. Or maybe you just aren’t supposed to have the light in the frame. The lamp reminds me a bit of David Lynch’s stuff. I’m going to keep experimenting with it. But even with the dimmer, I couldn’t get this 300w bulb down low enough. I couldn’t get the color right. I seemed green to me. Just a scooch to the right, and suddenly too magenta! So, back the other way. Back and forth, back and forth. Finally, I just kinda left it where it started. I still like that Cougar, though.
Painted Hearse, Oakland CA. April, 2011. (click image to enlarge)
These past few days I’ve been too engrossed in work to make it out to stroll the neighborhood. So I’ve only shot as far as the curb in front of my place of employment on my way back and forth to my own car. But I think there’s plenty of photography to be done right there: churches, hearses, lowriders, chinese hamburger-stirfry-donut shops–you name it.
I recently changed the route of my bike commute to work. I was simply trying to get away from San Pablo Ave, which, while it is the straightest shot to my workplace, is also very bike-unfriendly. There are lots of cars, obstacles, freeway on/off ramps, and debris.
I decided that I would try to slide over to Hollis Ave through Emeryville, and this took me into west Oakland. The result is a new crop of photos, and some incubating ideas for future series.
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