Coelynn McIninch

First Semester Summary, Fall 2007

I started this semester with a cursory overview of the main movements in art history. John Berger’s “Was of Seeing” was quite helpful in framing the various accounts I encountered. Since the history of art is a rather broad subject that will take many years to explore, I read “Introducing Postmodernism” in an effort to focus in depth on the more immediate influences on today’s art scene.

Over the course of my first residency, I found myself drawn to artistic expression of communication theory, specifically interpersonal communication, and how it is affected by communication technologies. To understand this dynamic more in depth I set about researching online realities, internet cultures and theory regarding physical interaction with machines. I found “Convergence Culture” by Henry Jenkins to be an excellent companion to my wanderings. Although the book focuses more on the relationship between fans and broadcast media, the reality of their relationship and the motivating forces behind both sides of the equation are very revealing. Henry Jenkins makes repeated references to Piérre Lévy and so I have added him to my future reading list.

My mentor, Jeff Warmouth, was incredibly helpful in directing me toward artists and readings that were highly relevant to my interests. We met three times for formal critiques and several other times to discuss theories, methods and ideas. His recommendations led me to Rosanne Stone Allucquère’s “War of Desire and Technology at the Close of The Mechanical Age” and the idea of technology as a prosthesis. This line of reading led me to Marshall McLuhan’s writings on all manner of technologies and theories about communication as a whole. I have always loved fantasy novels and epic tales but Science Fiction has never really been high on my list. Considering my current studies, I took Oliver Wasow’s advice and read “ The Diamond age by Neal Stephenson. The book was a pleasant break from heavy theory books but still ties in perfectly with my current projects. Next on my Sci-Fi list is “Neuromancer” by William Gibson.

After the first residency, I decided to set aside my poorly defined ideas concerning philosophy and spiritualism. I have since discovered that it is an integral part of my creative processes that I am not willing to leave behind. My ideas on spirituality are more scientific than philosophical and I find myself continuously drawn to quantum physics and cosmology. Upon recommendation from Tony Apesos, I read Phillip Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” trilogy. I was fascinated by the simplicity with which Pullman explains the concepts of dark matter and dark energy. The books related directly to one that I had started reading before my first residency began: “View From the Center of the Universe” by Joel R. Primak and Nancy Ellen Abrams: a scientific journey into semantics, cosmology, dark matter and myth making as a necessary step in social evolution.

As it turns out, my interests in metaphysics and cosmology are very easily tied in with my interests in communication theory and technology. The basic concept I am focusing on in this correlation is: emergence across the social, physical, meta-physical and virtual spectrums. The exact parameters of this correlation are not yet fully clear to me in such a way that I am able to write an entirely cohesive paper on the subject however, I am excited about my current path of study and hope to delve deeper into the subject during the next semester.

I tried to attend exhibits this semester that spanned all of the types of art I am interested in creating, as well as shows involving work I have difficulty comprehending. My visit to the ICA to see Louise Bourgeois’ work was by far my favorite museum visit this semester. I loved exploring the sculpture exhibits and, oddly enough, couldn’t seem to get very excited by Phillip-Lorca di Corcia’s photography. This was a major hint to me that I need to explore more of the philosophy behind photography and re-learn how to see as a photographer. My theoretical motivation for this exploration has come from William Mitchell, Roland Barthes, Marshall McLuhan and Victor Burgin.

My intended daily sketchbook has evolved into a photographic sketchbook of sorts. I wanted to get back into enjoying photography without digital manipulation so I have started carrying a camera with me at all times to photograph anything that catches my eye and sends my mind off on creative/imaginative tangents. Sunsan Sontag describes photography as a violent capturing and stealing of images. I find myself leaning more to the side of photography as a sacrifice on the part of the photographer who inserts the camera between self and experience so that individual visual memory has been donated to the film plane never to be truly experienced by the photographer. For years, I have been photographing things to be used as basic elements for an as yet to be constructed idea of reality. Now, I find myself photographing things that I feel need further study to be understood. I am trying to be open to ideas and visuals around me rather than relying on a framework of my own design. The result has helped me to recognize certain aesthetic tendencies.

In all honesty, the idea of “exploring” during this first semester took a while for me to absorb. I have been doing assignment work for so long, it was difficult for me to simply “play.” I gave myself a set of parameters regarding subject matter and materials to work this semester and found the parameter were very useful during the first half of the semester when I was planning my projects but stifling once the hands-on work started.

After the first residency, I had so many different types of ideas that the artists that were recommended to me for study spanned many mediums: photography, sculpture, installation, and performance art.

Jerry Uelsmann, Maggie Taylor Loretta Lux Lyn Hershman Leeson

Tuen Hocks Patrick Nagatani. S.A. Bachman Phillip Ranciere

My studio goals for the fall semester were based on my desire to expand my interests in communication theory beyond the confines of my two-dimensional photography. I have struggled with the idea of photography as an art form.

I am a photographer by profession but I crave three dimensions. This semester I was determined to get my hands dirty with anything other than photo chemicals. I am a tactile person and digital photo alone does not satisfy my need to physically shape my ideas.

In keeping with my technology theme, I chose to use plastics, metals and man-made versions of natural materials i.e. glass pearls and vacuum-molded decorative wall moldings. I am experimenting with ideas of interactive works for expressing ideas related to the interactive nature of online communities and knowledge structures. Some of the materials I have chosen to use are fairly new to me so had to look for outside help. I contacted Ellen Whetmore for instruction on casting in clear resin and Anne Lillly for help in drilling into stainless steel spheres.

I have two projects that are definitely influenced by my mentor’s quirky sense of humor. Rainbow-casting Sodoku and a book of important texts translated into tXt by a language converter program at www.transl8tit.com

One goal for this semester was to de-emphasize surface effects in my photography and focus more on subject matter. I chose to do this by physically exposing my layering techniques through cutting and mounting of images on top of images. This method not only makes all layers obvious but it also creates a detached feeling between elements in the piece. My intent behind this is two-fold. First to use people as subjects in these constructions to illustrate how we can be right next to each other physically and worlds apart mentally because of how we interact I this information age. The second is an illustration of the reality of physics, that nothing ever really touches anything else. It’s just the energy between atoms pressing against something else.

I did an exercise this semester comparing emoticons and their use as a substitute for emotion in the Internet. I used myself as the subject and a web cam as the capture tool. To emphasize the prosthetic nature of the emoticon, I used the same neutral expressional image for all the different emoticons much like the Russian filmmaker Lev Kuleshov in his montage experiments in 1918 with actor Ivan Mozzhukhin.

A few of my goals did not go quite as planned this semester but were certainly not wasted ideas.

The digital printing on alternate materials did not prove to be logistically possible this semester due to technical difficulties and accessibility to equipment.

I learned how to use the Garage Band program for Macintosh to do basic sound mixing and editing and then decided not to use it in any of my projects. The wiring and powered needed to create the project completely interfered with my design concept. I replaced the messy wiring concept with self-contained recorders used in scrap booking.

I had intended to take a course in art history to compensate for my lack of

knowledge beyond the history of photography however, the only course offered in my area was during the day while I was working so I have made arrangements to audit the Art History class being offered at Fitchburg State this Spring.

I assigned myself several exercises in photography relating to and referencing technological influence. I soon discovered that the look of detachment that I wanted to capture and illustrate is nearly impossible to achieve in a staged situation. I contemplated this issue for some time before realizing that the problems I am having stem from trying to capture a sense of social distance while all parties involved were immersed in the social arrangement of a “photo shoot.” These experiments were educational but not very productive.

The writings for this semester have been an excellent way for me to pool all of my various inputs into a coherent framework for future progress and exploration. I still need work on getting all of my ideas down effectively within a small amount of pages, and on time. This last semester, I waited too long to write my residency reaction paper and I could not accurately recall all of the pertinent events, recommendations and reactions. After receiving the new requirements regarding the subject matter of our papers, I believe it will be easier for me to start with the reaction paper immediately following the residency and shortly thereafter write the paper regarding assigned readings and their relevance/effect on my art.

I have ten books already set aside for my reading list next semester as well as a couple of projects that are still in the schematic stage. I plan to keep a weekly journal of my work during the next semester as a repository for notes on my projects and ideas for future development. I have kept a journal of my thoughts on each of the readings as well as a small notebook for ideas and random thoughts. I also have a journal for notes on films and podcasts. Needless to say, I think a little consolidation is in order.

In conclusion, I feel that this semester has been very constructive and educational for me. I started the semester with a huge list of ideas and little or no coherent direction for my studies. I have receive a tremendous about of input this semester from my mentor and my co-workers at the college and I now feel that I have a more definitive idea of where to go for the next semester. I feel that I am much more aware of the interrelation of theory, design and process. I expect this next residency will help identify the faults along all of these lines as well as answer a wealth of questions that have arisen from my studies.