Scaling Up

I am making these 6 foot sheets of combined classified ads - it is growing into a large mural sized wall of type -

a much different experience than the smaller pieces - this is pulling me toward some new ideas for image and content -

More Studio Images

I now have all sorts of people saving the classified sections for me - If you can help me out - please save yours too - I can either pick them up from you or I will reimburse you the postage to send them to me.  I am interested in the ENTIRE pages - please do not cut anything - I will take the adjoining page even if it does not have any ads on that side... I am using the automobile, real estate, public notices, want ads, personals, etc, etc. and I am gathering daily papers, weekly community papers, university dailies, little nickel want-ads - anything with the classifieds. 

I am hoping to gather texts from all sorts of states - Do they have this practice of posting classified ads in other countries?

New editions are the text and I am still working this element out - it feels a little vulnerable to be posting these in such an early stage - but this is part of my process too.  I am overwhelmed with all the connections that this project is bringing my way.  It is intersecting with a very personal space - that deals with searching and loss and hope in my own life.  Seattle recently had a daily newspaper fold and die - the Seattle Post Intelligencer published its final issue last Wednesday.  It will be 100% online from here forward.  There is a loss for many of us in that and an eerie wind of change.  I actually like change and I also have some sacred(?) rituals in my life that revolve around holding and touching my reading material.  You may have guessed that I do not own a Kindle. But never say never...

Newsapers

I am limiting myself to using the classified sections of various newspapers.  It seemed like such a prudent decision... to cut down on noise and confusion... to limit my palette ... to focus attention and force the creativity to arise in new ways.  And it is terribly difficult.  There are some days that I just have to leave the studio and walk around the block to reframe my mind - saying, "you can do this - reach past the voice that tells you that it's ridiculous." I laugh a lot and try to honestly dialogue about it with my studio mates.

It is not flashy and it is not gorgeous and it is not easy.  I am just believing that within this process will come some more deep learning and understanding of my own working systems and decision-making.  My mentor Rebecca says that I am making the "rules" and then I can break them, disrupt them, use them to make my points.  It is entirely MY game here.  I don't think I am used to being in this much control and it is both compelling and frightening.  The images above are experimental - I find myself tumbling from one thing into another - process is the only way.

I am mesmerized by the material on a mental level - all that the newspaper represents - Stuart reminds me that

it's an eclectic material if you count the privileged role of say, the NY Times or the Wall St. Journal -- and it is a throw-away material if you gather it in the recycling bin or wash windows with it.  It represents the arrival of breaking information and yet the message is dated within 24 hours.  I am using the classifieds for many reasons.  One, I am drawn to the natural grid and organization of the page - Two, the want ads represent the desire for connection and exchange between people.  Three, we are in a time now when many are forced to find new connections, jobs, help - this inter-dependence makes so much sense.

I welcome any feedback / ideas - I'm looking at enlarging these pieces to huge -- and thinking about new ways to mount them - combine them - 

I wonder if they might be interesting in a video format - stop-action 0r  slide show type - 

this is turning into some rambling - so for now, I sign off.