The first slide show is online on my website as of right now. http://www.texelgirl.com/LastSin/lastSin.html There are a few typos to correct but those will have to wait for a bit. I have discovered that Apple's Keynote is vastly superior to Microsoft's PowerPoint. I ended up using that to make the presentations work for the web and ended up redoing them all in the process as their templates are much nicer (and work better) and Microsoft's (all hail Steve Jobs).
I have to temporarily stop work on the website for a while since the the graphic design students have their opening tomorrow. I have to make sure the presentations are ready and synced with my husband's iPad. I also need to do a synopsis of every person on the the "Salvation" frame and at least a listing of the events on the "Sin" frame.
This blog tracks the concept, development, construction, installation and unveiling of the art exhibit entitled "The Last Sin" by artist Heather Miller.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Installation Success!
Installation is now complete - well mostly. I'm still toying with the idea of created artist statements for the digital prints and USB-NA. I can put them up through tomorrow if I do it. Otherwise install is done. It went perfectly smoothly other than a minor incident with the trunk of the tree. I lost my grip trying to get it out the the library and into the hall. It slid down my arm so I have a really nice set of scratches but they're just surface scratches so it looks far worse than it is. :)
I'm working on turning my PowerPoint portfolios into slide shows but I ran into a snag. Microsoft (which has now totally earned their nickname Microsucks in my book) removed the feature that converts PowerPoint slide shows into html files in the newest version (at least on the Mac version). So I can make it into a .mov if I want to mess with animation timings for hours. Or, I can opening each one in Keynote and have it covert the presentations for me. *sigh* Why can't Microsoft stop screwing things up? In any event the slide shows will be a nice synopsis of each part of the project and will explain a lot more detail about the meaning of each piece. Look for that in a day or two.
I would like to beg for a real photographer to take pics for me. I'm flat broke so I can't pay but I also can't use my camera worth a damn. Yes I read the manual, like six times but when you don't really understand what the F-stop does exactly, knowing where it is doesn't really help you. The little tiny blurb it provides is about as clear as mud and I have had zero time to spend on photography this semester. You'll see in a minute that I used a pretty expensive camera to take really crappy pictures (its a gift). You don't get to see the digital prints because I couldn't figure out how to photograph them without a giant flash showing on the print - well it dawned on me when I got home how to turn the flash off but it was too late then wasn't it. All in all my pictures, the "good" ones are passable at best but mostly terrible. You're only seeing the passable ones for the most part.
BEGIN PICTURES........
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| The school only provided our name so I provided the title of my exhibit. There was some discussion about not allowing this because it wouldn't be fair to students not willing to spend the money (mine cost less than $10). Cry me a river. As you can see, mine went up. If you can't save $10 in 4 years you need help. |
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| The entire exhibition |
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| Left Corner |
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| My sign-in book, it says "Never Stop Thinking." The pen itself says "Last Sin" on one side and "TexelGirl" on the other side with ones and zeros in the background. No detail too small. |
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| This is the pedestal for the sign-in book. I had two extra PC cases that had no covers on them at all. Together they were almost a perfect height for a pedestal-table. Inside was the fallen angel statue that was "gifted" to me at the very beginning of the project and the extra apple I bought. The fallen angel served as a model for my "square project" assignment at the beginning of the semester. |
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| Satellite Dish Grouping A |
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| Satellite Dish Grouping B |
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| The Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil with all 5 apples fully installed. Yes, if you look closely that is a crow standing on top of the tree. Why? Because. Just Because. An no, you won't get any more explanation than that. As you can see I am a lousy photographer. I took several photographs and this was the best of the bunch. The chain in the picture will be removed Monday morning, I Photoshopped both of them out of the larger picture :) |
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Install Tomorrow!
Installation Pending: I reserved a truck last week for pickup on Saturday at 12pm. I got an email this morning notifying me that my reservation had been bumped to 1:30pm. The place closes at 2pm and I was worried that I might not get a truck at all. They didn't have any available earlier either. So my husband took off work on Friday - which kind of works out better anyways.
Portfolio: I've been working on PowerPoint presentations for my portfolio. My professor wants a digital portfolio rather than a print portfolio and suggested PowerPoint in the guidelines. This works out for all of you as I can convert PowerPoint (PP) slides to a web viewable slide show. The guidelines for the entire portfolio call for a minimum of 8 "process" photos. I've decided to do a PP presentation for each piece (or grouping) so I can tell the story of each part of the exhibit from start to finish. I'll upload them here as soon as they're finished.
Now I just have to pray that all 17 pieces make it from my house to GMU intact. Its a short trip but that doesn't really mean much does it?
Portfolio: I've been working on PowerPoint presentations for my portfolio. My professor wants a digital portfolio rather than a print portfolio and suggested PowerPoint in the guidelines. This works out for all of you as I can convert PowerPoint (PP) slides to a web viewable slide show. The guidelines for the entire portfolio call for a minimum of 8 "process" photos. I've decided to do a PP presentation for each piece (or grouping) so I can tell the story of each part of the exhibit from start to finish. I'll upload them here as soon as they're finished.
Now I just have to pray that all 17 pieces make it from my house to GMU intact. Its a short trip but that doesn't really mean much does it?
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Finishing Touches!
USB-NA: Just about complete! All I have to do is attach the feet to the base and officially attach the sign to the front and its finished! That's the room number where my exhibit will be in the Art & Design Building by the way. I uploaded this image to the Facebook event pages for my exhibit & for the school's event.
It isn't often that I'm actually impressed by my own work but I'm kind of impressed by this one - and the tree of course. Together they make quite a pair. I know that's an odd statement to make but usually I finish a piece and its disappointing. I derive pleasure in the making, once I've done the work have a finished piece, I'm done. I'm "over it" as they say. I'm not one of those artists who gets emotionally attached to their work. These pieces, however, I feel a bit weird about. I want them to sell, but I want them to stay together - like its some kind of moral imperative that they not be separated.
And that, boys and girls, is yet another reason why I never wanted to create this kind of art. Not only is it
Alright, I'll stop babbling. In other news, I was prepping the pedestal for USB-NA for refinishing when I accidentally knocked it over - and broke the last tier. I realize that almost none of you know what piece I'm talking about. I wasn't attached to it by any means. I'm attempting to fix it as I don't think I have time to rebuild it (or the funds), not to mention it was a pain to build the first time. It does mean that it gets a coat of texture to cover the nice crack though. I'll have to see how that works. If it looks like crap I'll have to build another pedestal. It's kind of indicative of the luck I've been having lately. All in all though, a pedestal mishap is kind of minor.
Marketing: My postcards are in and look great. I highly recommend GotPrint.com for all your printing needs. They are EXTREMELY INEXPENSIVE but EXTREMELY HIGH QUALITY. I've used them in the past to print business cards ($39.95 for 5000 dual sided full color glossy) and wasn't disappointed. The postcards were just as impressive. I also used them to print the school's postcards. I ordered the two sets of postcards at different times with different options. Mine were standard print and shipping options. The school's, because of various group problems, had to be rush printing & 2-day shipping. I ordered 1,000 cards for the school w/the afore mentioned add-ons for just under $80. I really can't rave about them enough!
Personal note: Need a stylist for free? DON'T GO TO MACY'S! They offer the service at select stores but I suppose it falls into the "you get what you pay for" category. Thinking that I wanted to look nice for the opening, especially considering that I lost over 20lbs this semester I thought I'd give it a go. I had the WORST experience ever!! I was treated like complete garbage, talked down to and made to feel absolutely horrible about myself. I won't recount the details but unless you have a couple of grand to blow and are a complete slave to fashion trends, steer clear of the Macy's "Personal Shopper." Otherwise be warned that if you try to say "I don't want a jacket because it will insanely hot in the building and won't wear it" they turn into giant bitches who will inform you that you wear it because its part of the outfit regardless of the temperature (same goes for accessories, layers, & anything else they give you).
It isn't often that I'm actually impressed by my own work but I'm kind of impressed by this one - and the tree of course. Together they make quite a pair. I know that's an odd statement to make but usually I finish a piece and its disappointing. I derive pleasure in the making, once I've done the work have a finished piece, I'm done. I'm "over it" as they say. I'm not one of those artists who gets emotionally attached to their work. These pieces, however, I feel a bit weird about. I want them to sell, but I want them to stay together - like its some kind of moral imperative that they not be separated.
And that, boys and girls, is yet another reason why I never wanted to create this kind of art. Not only is it
- insanely expensive to produce,
- a serious, serious time suck (although perhaps less so if I wasn't in college),
- takes up insane amounts of space in my house BUT
- it also creates all kinds of weird emotional / internal issues which detracts from my primary goal of selling art to normal people.
Alright, I'll stop babbling. In other news, I was prepping the pedestal for USB-NA for refinishing when I accidentally knocked it over - and broke the last tier. I realize that almost none of you know what piece I'm talking about. I wasn't attached to it by any means. I'm attempting to fix it as I don't think I have time to rebuild it (or the funds), not to mention it was a pain to build the first time. It does mean that it gets a coat of texture to cover the nice crack though. I'll have to see how that works. If it looks like crap I'll have to build another pedestal. It's kind of indicative of the luck I've been having lately. All in all though, a pedestal mishap is kind of minor.
Marketing: My postcards are in and look great. I highly recommend GotPrint.com for all your printing needs. They are EXTREMELY INEXPENSIVE but EXTREMELY HIGH QUALITY. I've used them in the past to print business cards ($39.95 for 5000 dual sided full color glossy) and wasn't disappointed. The postcards were just as impressive. I also used them to print the school's postcards. I ordered the two sets of postcards at different times with different options. Mine were standard print and shipping options. The school's, because of various group problems, had to be rush printing & 2-day shipping. I ordered 1,000 cards for the school w/the afore mentioned add-ons for just under $80. I really can't rave about them enough!
Personal note: Need a stylist for free? DON'T GO TO MACY'S! They offer the service at select stores but I suppose it falls into the "you get what you pay for" category. Thinking that I wanted to look nice for the opening, especially considering that I lost over 20lbs this semester I thought I'd give it a go. I had the WORST experience ever!! I was treated like complete garbage, talked down to and made to feel absolutely horrible about myself. I won't recount the details but unless you have a couple of grand to blow and are a complete slave to fashion trends, steer clear of the Macy's "Personal Shopper." Otherwise be warned that if you try to say "I don't want a jacket because it will insanely hot in the building and won't wear it" they turn into giant bitches who will inform you that you wear it because its part of the outfit regardless of the temperature (same goes for accessories, layers, & anything else they give you).
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
oh so close!
Today I got my digital prints today! They are absolutely gorgeous!! Thank you Sarah & Jeff! I dropped them off at the framers immediately. I got the spiel about them being insanely busy. However, then she said that given their size I'll probably get a call in a day or two just because they won't want them laying around taking up space. :) I better get that call.
Tomorrow I learn out to put up and take down vinyl lettering. That should be a handy skill.
I discovered that the school is seriously short on pedestals so I need to create another pedestal for my sign-in book. Thankfully I have several extra computer cases so I'm going to try and create a pedestal out of those. Tomorrow I'm going to try and come home between classes and sand and prime the pedestal for USB-NA. I already did the touch ups on the base last night.
Its nice to be ahead of the game with 11 days until install!
I'm kind of annoyed at Macy's. They have this "personal shopper" service, which is free. Basically you get a stylist to help you buy clothes or gifts. Since I lost a little over 20 pounds this semester, and this exhibit is kind of a big deal for me, I decided it would be fun to try the service out. I'm not thin enough to fit into my old clothes yet but I've lost enough that I need something new to wear. Sadly no one seems to return my calls and the online appointment system got as far as "your local rep will call you" but no call. Which sucks as my body isn't quite the same as it was when I was 135lbs and I never quite mastered the art of dressing my fat self. I also need to get my hair cut before the opening as I haven't had that done in eons. I keep hoping Groupon or Living Social will cough up a good deal at a local salon but no dice yet. Salons in this area are so insanely overpriced compared to Ohio that I basically stopped getting my hair cut save once a year.
Tomorrow I learn out to put up and take down vinyl lettering. That should be a handy skill.
I discovered that the school is seriously short on pedestals so I need to create another pedestal for my sign-in book. Thankfully I have several extra computer cases so I'm going to try and create a pedestal out of those. Tomorrow I'm going to try and come home between classes and sand and prime the pedestal for USB-NA. I already did the touch ups on the base last night.
Its nice to be ahead of the game with 11 days until install!
I'm kind of annoyed at Macy's. They have this "personal shopper" service, which is free. Basically you get a stylist to help you buy clothes or gifts. Since I lost a little over 20 pounds this semester, and this exhibit is kind of a big deal for me, I decided it would be fun to try the service out. I'm not thin enough to fit into my old clothes yet but I've lost enough that I need something new to wear. Sadly no one seems to return my calls and the online appointment system got as far as "your local rep will call you" but no call. Which sucks as my body isn't quite the same as it was when I was 135lbs and I never quite mastered the art of dressing my fat self. I also need to get my hair cut before the opening as I haven't had that done in eons. I keep hoping Groupon or Living Social will cough up a good deal at a local salon but no dice yet. Salons in this area are so insanely overpriced compared to Ohio that I basically stopped getting my hair cut save once a year.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
USB-NA (or Thank God for the Interwebz!)
I had to refinish the top of the base for USB-NA. I haven't put the resin coat on yet as I'll do that last this time. I've spent most of yesterday and today polishing the copper, or at least attempting to. The epoxy resin that holds the pieces of copper together and the USB cables in places is, of course, sticky. While putting everything in place I inevitably got residue on the copper itself. I assumed I would be able to polish it off with enough patience, perseverance and a few dozen Dremel bits. Additionally the first coat of acrylic paint on the epoxy was a bit messy (I suck at delicate painting). After trying to polish the copper with the polish that came with the Dremel (and failing), vinegar and salt (and failing), vinegar / salt / lemon juice (and failing) I finally consulted the interwebz for advice on how to remove the acrylic paint. The suggestion? Rubbing alcohol. Ironically it worked beautifully on the epoxy residue too. Yeah! It is still a really, really slow process but slow is better than nothing at all. I have reattach more copper at the base and then trim them back to a more manageable size. I've decided not to try and embed the base copper in the resin. That didn't seem to be working so well and also wasn't working visually with the copper at the top. Oh, I bet you want a picture because let's face it, words are boring....
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Nov. 27, 2010.....
I haven't gotten all that much done in the last few days on my project, but that's not a bad thing because I'm nearly done!!
Marketing: I spent several hours on Thanksgiving spamming the daylights out of every event calendar site in the region to market the event. I wanted to ensure that come Friday morning when people showed up to work to review the calendar entries, ours were ready to be reviewed. The postcards were ordered on Thursday for the same reason. If this event pulls in an audience that is more than the student's mommies, daddies & BFFs it will be a miracle though. :) I wish we could have started marketing two months ago like we should have but the school is still trying to figure out how to deal with the whole "senior festival" thing so I suppose I have to chalk that up to 'growing pains.' Today I submitted the event to a few TV stations. I checked the Pink Line Project website and saw that The Last Sin was finally approved and is showing up so it evidently takes about a week for a submission to be approved. I submitted Liminal on Thursday so hopefully it will be up on Monday. Fingers crossed on getting it that little pink seal of approval (a girl can hope right?).
USB-NA: I'm onto the polishing & resin stages but don't have any new pics. Here's a pic of what it looked like just before I started that.
I had a small issue with one coat of resin which didn't cure properly. Unfortunately I didn't realize the issue with the resin before I started the polishing so I ended up with stuff stuck in the resin. Long story short I ended up grind down some of the resin and start from scratch. Errrr.... But not too serious of an issue as I have plenty of time. I have a new layer of chalk dry which I'm going to paint in a minute. Once that's dry I'm going to pour the resin (this time I'm sticking to one brand on resin). I also have to finish the pedestal for this yet as well.
Apples: All five of the apples are officially finished! If time permits I'll finish re-encoding the hidden videos inside the copper apple.
Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil: Done!
Heaven Doth Protest & Hell Responds (digital prints): Awaiting return form the printers and then off to get framed!
Slide shows for the tree: Basically done! I say basically because mankind has a LOT of sin under its belt so I can always expand the sin slide show. As time permits, and as I have time and grill more educated people, I expand the salvation and "end time statistics" slide shows as well.
Satellite Dishes: The dishes are painted. The poles are painted. The computer cases are cleaned, now I just have to figure out how to to mount them. My husband has devised a plan but its damn cold out today so we may wait until Monday as its supposed to be a bit warmer.
Thank You Gifts: Everything has been ordered! I received some of items, the rest should be here Monday.
Reception Details: I bought my sign-in book last night. I had to run out on Black Friday to pick up my glass, buy resin & polishing bits for my Dremel so I figured I'd stop at Borders and check out their selection of blank books. I found the perfect one to use a sign-in book! I also think I'll have time to bake little apple cake-poppers treats too! I love it when a plan comes together!!
Marketing: I spent several hours on Thanksgiving spamming the daylights out of every event calendar site in the region to market the event. I wanted to ensure that come Friday morning when people showed up to work to review the calendar entries, ours were ready to be reviewed. The postcards were ordered on Thursday for the same reason. If this event pulls in an audience that is more than the student's mommies, daddies & BFFs it will be a miracle though. :) I wish we could have started marketing two months ago like we should have but the school is still trying to figure out how to deal with the whole "senior festival" thing so I suppose I have to chalk that up to 'growing pains.' Today I submitted the event to a few TV stations. I checked the Pink Line Project website and saw that The Last Sin was finally approved and is showing up so it evidently takes about a week for a submission to be approved. I submitted Liminal on Thursday so hopefully it will be up on Monday. Fingers crossed on getting it that little pink seal of approval (a girl can hope right?).
USB-NA: I'm onto the polishing & resin stages but don't have any new pics. Here's a pic of what it looked like just before I started that.
Apples: All five of the apples are officially finished! If time permits I'll finish re-encoding the hidden videos inside the copper apple.
Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil: Done!
Heaven Doth Protest & Hell Responds (digital prints): Awaiting return form the printers and then off to get framed!
Slide shows for the tree: Basically done! I say basically because mankind has a LOT of sin under its belt so I can always expand the sin slide show. As time permits, and as I have time and grill more educated people, I expand the salvation and "end time statistics" slide shows as well.
Satellite Dishes: The dishes are painted. The poles are painted. The computer cases are cleaned, now I just have to figure out how to to mount them. My husband has devised a plan but its damn cold out today so we may wait until Monday as its supposed to be a bit warmer.
Thank You Gifts: Everything has been ordered! I received some of items, the rest should be here Monday.
Reception Details: I bought my sign-in book last night. I had to run out on Black Friday to pick up my glass, buy resin & polishing bits for my Dremel so I figured I'd stop at Borders and check out their selection of blank books. I found the perfect one to use a sign-in book! I also think I'll have time to bake little apple cake-poppers treats too! I love it when a plan comes together!!
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