"It's on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way. So we must dig and delve unceasingly." - Claude Monet
THE PHILOSOPHICAL
I talk about how an artist, especially one that uses photography, stands out. In other words, how do you separate yourself from the other 100,000+ people? The biggest factor is content or subject matter. That also needs to be supported by an interesting and involved/supporting process. Remember, you won’t get very far with gimmicks and fake, pretentious “art”. And even if you do, you’ll know you’re a fraud. Most people can see through bullshit. Even if they don’t call you out, they still know the work is not coming from an authentic place.
So, how do you achieve this goal? I think it begins with honesty and authenticity. The concept has to be connected to the artist in a real way. It’s important to feel that what you’re doing matters. And you need to be able to explain it to a fifth-grade student so they can understand it. And you need to find an appropriate process or materials that will support the concept. Like a hand going into a glove. It needs to fit and feel good.
I’m still working out my concept. Or at least the details. More and more it’s pointing to my struggle of occupying land that was taken from the original people that were here. It’s about the mystery and beauty of this land too. I know my work will never be portraits of Indigenous People, I just don’t feel that’s appropriate for me to do. It’s not my place to romanticize the white man’s version of the American Indian and to wash the past clean.
This work is about my struggle with this land and its history. It’s about how conflicted I am living here and being fully aware of the past and what happened here. How does one reconcile that? Can you reconcile that? I don’t think it’s possible. I’m trying to work through that and allowing the images to be a catalyst for those conversations. That’s the best thing I think I can do. My art, my presence, my voice, and my questions will never change or “fix” what happened. It can, however, open conversations up about it.
The goal for me is to keep these memories and events alive, or in people’s minds, so that they won’t happen again to anyone. That’s the best thing we can do. If we can learn from the past, we won’t repeat it. If we try to ignore it or try to forget it, it will come back to haunt us.
The historian, Ian Kershaw said, “The road to Auschwitz was built by hate, but paved with indifference". Meaning, yes, hate drove the events of the Shoah/Holocaust, but not caring, and not paying attention to what was happening to “the other” allowed it to take place. Indifference is the danger.
I think this is where art can really make a difference, at least to some degree. That’s my hope with this work. Through the beauty and fascination of this landscape, showing where the Nuuchui/Utes lived and thrived for thousands of years, I can remind the viewer of what happened here. And encourage them to stand against injustice, in all forms.
THE TECHNICAL
I think I’ve got a great plan for the Oil Transfer process. I’ve ordered a small etching press, acetate, tape, etc. I’ll be ready to press prints when it gets here. To say I’m excited is an understatement. I have high hopes for this but am trying to manage my expectations. It’s difficult to do that when you see the possibilities from this process/workflow. I made my first test print today to use in the press. For the lack of a better word(s). I would call it a “printing matrix”. It’s from a collodion dry plate negative (Plate #8) massive rock formation in Fremont County, Colorado, made on Yupo paper.
The exposed print goes into a tray of water with sodium sulfite and sulfuric acid to clear the dichromate from the gelatin. This is a very interesting process and probably my favorite.
A cleared matrix. I allow them to dry completely (one day) and re-swell them before inking them. This allows the gelatin to harden even more when swollen. Makes for a “tough” matrix.
Look at the relief on that! This is perfect to use as a transfer print. I’m hoping I can re-ink and make several transfer from one Yupo print.