EXPLORATION #28 - Blind Observation

Place an object or a series of objects in your pocket. Describe them using only touch.

Alternate: Go around your room in the dark and identify all the objects by touch. Describe them.

I had to change up this task just a little. I have very few garments with pockets so I placed my item in a pillow case.

The item inside is cool to the touch. It runs from the tip of my middle finger to the start of my wrist. You can feel a slight texture of the handle which is  a little larger in diameter than a pencil. The end of the handle has a slightly raised lip that bends a little into a smoother round surface. The top of the handle has a flat metallic object placed in it. You can feel four slotted openings running vertical and two other longer slots vertical but curved at the edges. The top of the smooth metal has two pointed and flat pieces on each side. The pieces extend out like ears and are about the width of my pinkie. If you press down on them they are slightly uncomfortable, however, probably not sharp enough to cut you unless you use extreme pressure. One side of the slotted metal contains a large spring about the diameter of my ring finger. The spring starts about a knuckles length away from the start of the handle. The spring will turn back and forth if you roll it against the metal. After feeling all parts and pieces you are able to determine the handle is weighted heavier than the remainder of the piece.

                                               

EXPLORATION #27 - Accidental Art

Go for a walk. Identify and document existing "art" that you find, such as things that are not created on purpose. Some examples include stains on sidewalks, spilled paint, bird poo, rust, things that are damaged, random arrangements of objects or find interesting, a bag caught in a tree.

Stolen Art

Tread Wear

Drip

Connections

Muted

Alien Birth

X Marks The Spot

Convolution

Wink

Exclamation

EXPLORATION #26 - Becoming Leonard Cohen*

Sketch or document things that you use in your daily routine.

EXPLORATION #25 - Water

Concrete River

Study and document shapes made by water. Find as many as you can. Research shapes, come up with new ones.

I have been patiently waiting for this exploration. I only wish I knew how to use Photo Shop. I have such grand ideas.  I have always been fascinated with water.  I love the way it moves, sometimes with such grace and other times with fury. I love how it reflects light both natural and man made.

Here are my displays of water shapes.

Erosion

Splish Splash

Above & Below

On the edge

Boiling Point

Rain cloud reflections

EXPLORATION #24 Combinations

Combine groups of objects for visual or emotional contrast. You might try natural vs. human-made, contrasting colors, alive vs. decaying, light vs. dark.

Alternate #1: Take two different objects and try to create as many connections between them as you can.

Alternate #2: Write about what it is like to combine two different activities, such as eating and reading, or walking and drawing. How does one activity affect the other?

EXPLORATION #22 People Watching

Sit in a public location and document people you see for one hour. Take detailed notes. Make sketches of one item that stands out most about each person.

I don't draw well especially people so this one will be a challenge for me:)

I decided to make a trip to a  local BBQ place. Although I observed several people, I decided to document the ones who stood out the most. I'm not sure if my mood played into what I observed but ...

I watched the various servers as they waited on their customers and two of them really stood out. They were complete opposites. One appeared genuinely happy to be there while the other server put on a mask of happiness.  The happy server walked with a spring in her step.  Her ponytail would whip side to side as she walked. She smiled at all of her customers. She even carried a smiley face pencil to take orders with.

An older couple with a child came in and sat at the booth next to mine. I call them older but they were probably anywhere from late forties to early fifties. I'm fairly certain the child with them was theirs. The child was about six or seven. I was very uncomfortable sitting next to them. I felt bad for the young boy.  They talked to him in such a degrading way it would erode even the strongest will. I wanted to snatch him away but of course that wasn't an option. Instead, I had to be satisfied that this experience would hopefully make him stronger. The mother was very stern looking with a strong jaw. The father although stern in his actions did not have the physical appearance of stern. He held his fork like a child first learning to use it. He was more meek and looked like he could easily be intimidated. Perhaps that is why he treated the child like he did. Maybe it was the only thing or person in his life he could intimidate and control.

I loved the older (70ish) couple. The man sat looking all comfortable in his broken in and faded polo shirt. The lady with her piercing blue eyes looked content and happy to be here. She wore the typical "older lady" hairstyle with her little curls close to her head and wound up real tight. She had a genuine laugh that was contagious. I had to catch myself so I didn't start laughing. They enjoyed each other. I believe they have been together for a long time and are happy about it. In addition to enjoying each other  they were very pleasant with their server and took time to enjoy the meal.

EXPLORATION #21 YOUR FAVORITE STREET

Go to your favorite street. (If you can't go there physically, then you can visit in your mind.) Map it out on a piece of paper. Then describe (or otherwise document) everything in detail: the shops, houses, street signs, trees, etc.

It was hard to pick just one favorite street for this exploration. After running through the several in my head I have decided to choose Adena Road.

Adena Road is located inside Adena State Memorial. It is a road that I would visit several times every summer. The road begins as a long winding hill. Even as a child I would notice the large incline you had to climb to reach the top. The road was paved for cars to travel, however a car isn't the mode of transport for children. I would usually ride a bike or walk. After reaching the top, the scene would change. You are transported back in time. I always felt as if I was entering another time, another place. I liked that feeling. It was my own personal escape from my reality. It allowed me to be someone else.

The first thing you come across is the landscaped gardens. They were usually different each summer. I liked them best when they were sculpted high kind of like a labyrinth. The gardens were beautiful. They always gave off a delightful scent.  As you meander through the gardens you will stumble upon a crushed stone path leading up to the main house.

A well maintained mansion built in 1807. The house was designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe, considered to be the first American architect. Latrobe served as architect of the US Capitol under Thomas Jefferson. The house belonged to Thomas Worthington, the sixth Governor of Ohio and one of the first  US Senators.  As you wander the road you will come across several other buildings that have been restored and maintained to preserve this moment in time.