mel told me i shouldnt post any more of these. but it’s important that these people be blacklisted from any public office, position of corporate power, or child care/child rearing.

what you are looking at:  clothes stapled to a tree.

words of the artist:  “I too consider myself very spontaneous, and the kiss that inspired my work was a completely random incident.”

further:  “I used the clothing from my room as well as tools to prop them up. I think this distinguishing characteristic is important because it illustrates my dependence on clothing and the material world as a whole. I am very connected to society and I don’t enjoy nature the way I perceive Goldsworthy enjoying. Whereas he gets his hands dirty to accomplish the style he is known for, I am very fussy about the outdoors. As I said earlier, my fascination with clothes permeates into this assignment, and despite it focusing on nature I still incorporate them into whatever I do.”

woo there are a series of doozies in there.  how can i objectively grade such sentiments?  answer:  i dont!

actually here is what i wrote, pretty level headed i think:

“Autumne,
I think this work would have been more successful if you had somehow implied what happened under the tree, perhaps through lighting or further props.  I appreciate that there is a narrative structure lurking in the background.  I just think it needs to be more clear to the viewer.  Otherwise, it seems you are simply trying to anthropomorphize the tree through fashion. ”

Ok here is anouther one, just a quote really:

“I debated adding some white rocks around the base of the flower to enhance to contrast. I decided against that because i liked the simple natural feel of a solitary flower without aesthetic additions. More things would have also ruined the interaction of having one object change a space.”

allow me to translate this for you.  I thought about trying harder, but I decided against it.  Here is some bullshit as to why this is.  Also, my last sentance doesn’t make any grammatical sense, but hopefully, you, the teacher, are either drunk or stoned like I am right now, and therefore incapable of reading this essay too closely.

Now: oh my fucking god!

“This tree and pom-poms incorporate both childhood memories as well as my collegiate memories. Growing up I was always fascinated by trees, mainly stemming from my love for climbing trees.  Since coming to college this passion has died out.  However, I wanted to recreate it by bringing energy through nature with the elements of my work.  This is why I incorporated the pom-poms and the blue and white dinosaur.  These pieces serve to link my past memories and passions with my love for Penn State and nature.  The different views or shots of the dinosaur represent the different perspective, memories and experiences I have had throughout my life. By placing these elements into this fascinating tree, I attempted to bring spontaneity, power and energy to this nature. ”

sorry i had to include the whole schebang, but,  um.  incredible.  future IMF president, no doubt.   er, uh, this was written by a  dude, at that.

My response:  “Eddie, Penn State propaganda is always dubious as an ‘art’ form.  I think your work would have benefited from less glorifying elements to connote your time here.  What do fake dinosaurs have to do with your contemporary conception of nature? ”

Fuck!

“These tiny yellow flowers would represent the new life that JD was starting in heaven.  I then wrapped my bundle of twigs; in a sweatshirt that JD had given me that was his at one time, which stated Lewistown Panthers, where he would have graduated this year.  After creating this amazing piece of art, I was trying to decide where in the world I was going to put it.  I then decided I would put my piece of artwork on the very road that JD lost his life, but also began his new one; Dry Valley Road in Burnham, Pa.”

How is a sweatshirt wrapped around twigs, A. fitting testament to a life, B. amazing art?  I hate it when they pull the sympathy card.