Style vs Skill

I'm at an impasse. I am and have been learning SO much both in and out of school about so many things. Through all this learning I've been learning about my own opinions and styles. Here's my problem: as much as I am learning what I like and dislike I can't really put it into professional use yet. For the skills I am able to market right now I'm not fully able to have complete control. In fact, there is very little control. I suppose it's enough to keep me happy, but I'm wondering: if I keep doing the same kind of projects that cause this to happen can I break out of it? Once you get comfortable with something it's easy to stay in that comfort zone. I suppose by pursuing more projects for myself this won't be so much of an issue. Another question: if I keep doing projects like this will I ever be able to find other means of work? Will I pigeonhole myself into doing what I don't want to do?

It's become a question of skill versus style. Right now I am a student, looking for whatever I can get, trying to gain experience, and build credibility. I'm a little concerned that I am I creating a box I won't be able to break out of. When will my style outweigh my skill? Will it ever happen? Web design is a huge market right now, and I know how to do it pretty well. Even if it's not my favourite thing a relevant job is a job. Don't get me wrong- it's not that I don't enjoy it, I'm just worried about the direction it could take me. Worried that it's the wrong direction. I guess I'll just have to keep on doing what I am doing and see where I get.

Conclusions About Poetry

It's hard to be poetic.
I find it difficult because poets are cheesy and I don't want to be cheesy. I exercise a strict policy to eschew my own poetic tendencies, but still, sometimes I just gotta do it. Mostly I harbor this as a terrible addiction, something I can't kick so why should I? At least I keep it to myself, for the most part.There are certain individuals who are able to transcend the self-conscious monster that tamely licks at your ego. People who are poetic while at the same time, are able to avoid the criticism of trying too hard. Kim Hirothøy, a long time Graphic Designer, DJ, and owner of Rune Grammofon, a successful record label in the heart of Norway. Although his monogram is no longer in print, He has recently released pretty much the next best thing.

Money Will Ruin Everything 2 is a celebration of 5 years of Rune Grammofon. It comes with 2 CDs and pages upon pages of album art work, all of which is designed by Kim.When I look at Kim's work, all I am immediately aware of is the feeling of poetry. To me, he doesn't need to be doing anything on top of that, even if he is. It's something about an non-rhythm that gets me, and how nothing-shapes become instantly meaningful. His photographs contain a kindness that is dragged out by his shapes and I can't figure out how so little could become so much. Its not a silly 'less is more' fixation, Kim is able to make the endless beauty and hidden importance of the unfamiliar, instantly noticeable.

Have you noticed... Summer music time

So. I am one week shy of being on summer vacation for two months. 'Awesome!' may be the initial reaction but... it's been bittersweet.

Sad fact 1:

I have no job. I've been looking, applying like CRAZY since before READING week. I officially hate this 'recession' business.

Sad fact 2:

living at home can be hard. Like you can NEVER be alone and you have to be more aware of people in your house (ex my mom wakes up easily. She's not to happy about my coming home in the am's).

Sad fact 3:

I miss London friends, house, and parties/dance places. That is something I for sure have taken for granted over the last 3 years. (HOLY CRAP THREE YEARS!)

Happy fact 1:

Dundas friends are AWESOME, I love my family, and I get to travel more for cheaper (hi nine dollar ticket to Toronto).

Happy fact 2:

I get to do more things I WANT (reading for fun, making stuff for fun ETC).

Happy fact 3 (and here's where music comes in):

AWESOME CONCERTS. I've seen some pretty awesome shows so far this summer. OH! Fest in London was SUPER awesome. Animal Collective at Sound Academy was amazing (but some of the crowd SUCKED (what Animal Collective has more music than just Merriweather Post Pavilion?!)). MOREOVER this week I get to go see Grizzly Bear at Pheonix, as well as Lovely Feathers with the Ghost is Dancing at Lee's Palace. Lovely Feathers are FINALLY releasing their new album. If you're in the GTA come to the show on Saturday. It's only eight dollars and I promise it will be awesome. This kind of brings up the topic of summer music.

I tend to listen to certain music during certain seasons. For example Bloc Party and Arcade Fire are winter bands to me. The Shins and Matt Pond PA are fall bands. Spring music... is... I can't think of any... maybe because spring is a weird mix of all the other seasons. But Summer, summer is a new story.

Summer music is some of my favourite, because I find it the easiest to tie memories too (super cheesy right?!). Last summer was MGMT, Thehoodinternet.com (LOVE), Andrew Bird, and some others. Previous 'summer' bands have been Modest mouse, gorillaz, Crystal Castles, Girl Talk, Delgados... I think you get the picture. So... does nyone else do this? Am I the only one who makes soundtracks in my mind?

Well this summer will have a DAMN good sountrack. I was inspired to do this post by Vivian who brought Think about Life's new album (oh god so good. I need to start listening to them again) to a BBQ lat night. I think that'll be one. Also Yeah Yeah Yeah's It's Blitz is making my life complete. I'm anticipating more Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, Lovely Feathers love OH AN MOST SERENE REPUBLIC. Ok. I think thats enough.

Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.

absjdkfnerlk! New Most Serene Republic!

Ok so, I got the new Most Serene Republic song, Heavens to Purgatory, the other day (you can listen to it here). MSR are on Arts and Crafts label and have been one of my favourite bands ever since I heard the exquisite sound of Phages. They have 2 full albums (Underwater Cinematographer and Population) and a tour album (Phages). The great news is... in July this year they will release another album entitled "...And the Ever Expanding Universe". I am super excited for this album. Most Serene Republic is one band whose music I never tire of. Every time I listen to it I am in awe of the blending of sounds and voices, lyrics, and the sheer brilliance of it. They have never made anything I haven't liked, and they always leave you wanting more. Last year I saw them three times in concert and each time was better than the last, if you ever have an opportunity go see them. Anyhow... I think you get it now.

I'm excited.

The Role of Art

Hey look! A blog post! Ok, so I've been off school now for a little more than one week, and I am lovvvvvvving it. Thus far, my summer has been great, although not exactly a summer (with the beautiful exception of today). Anyhow, all this time sans blogging has left me thinking about things more. It's a little easier to think about your perspective when you have time to.
So lately I've been reflecting on all the STUFF I've learned this year, and you know, it's quite a substantial amount. There's been a lot of things I've never thought about, never known, never realized, you get the picture. Now one topic that seems relevant enough to post about is the role of art in the world. Not just art but ART whether it is painting, photography, design, film, music, literature, anything. I've been trying to figure out it's point in the world. There are so many different approaches people can take, and I think that's why identifying an answer personally has been so difficult. Not only this, but what do I WANT it's role to be? Because the truth is- art serves whatever purpose the creator made it for wanted it to serve.
Some just want to create, they get a burst of creativity and manifest this into something physical. I think there's a lot of controversy over this issue because a lot of people want another person's art to serve their purpose. I think there's a place for everything., every idea. I do think art has the power to change things, and like when art challenges the way you look at things, like a lot of movements and artists have (think banksy, duchamp, magritte, surrealism, dada, etc.) have. I don't know if I agree with the art for art sake thing, but I do think art should be accessible to everyone so if that's how it happens than so be it. Regardless, I think there should be some sort of meaning (I guess even art for art's sake has meaning, so I'm kind of contradicting myself).
I guess I've been thinking about this trying to figure out where I can fit in. What do I want to do with the things I make? Do I want them to challenge? Do I want them to be purely functional? Can the these things go together? I suppose it's something only more work can determine. What do other people do?

The end has no end

Why hello there blog readers.
It has been a great term, full of blogs. As seems to be the current trend I am now posting my 'last post'. This blog was started because this past term I was enrolled in a blogging course. It was pretty fun, I learned a lot through practical application. My homework was my blog, and my blog, in a way became my life. In everything I was searching for things to blog about; blogs are a super way of communicating with others that share interests all over the world. Anyhow... this past week was the final for blogging, I am no longer required to post five times a week. However, it has become so routine for me to open up blogger and share things that I will keep this blog up. I probably won't blog 5 times a week, but I intend to post regularly.
Thanks to everyone who reads my blog, comments, or finds it mildly amusing. You have truly made it a pleasure to blog for.
Ok! On to the madness that is the last week of school. I'll see you around the blogosphere LATER.

Process

The idea of an artists process has always baffled me. So many people invest their time and energy into asking artists some of the most banal questions, in hopes that the result will be some soulful connection. The shrouded ghost of process is no real threat, but it seems to haunt anyone confused as to how any anything could have fallen from the hand that produces so. (and so, and so.)
What most people seem to miss is that Process, is by nature a intrinsically boring event. If anyone tries to enlighten you otherwise, it usually pads out to be bourgeois reenactment of something that is not anymore amazing than clipping your toenails. This maneuver itself is a pasty attempt to make some sort of safety-net-separation between talented creative types and, well, the rest of us.

Having said that, this investigation surprised me. I have not seen such an honest approach to understanding process than what Charlotte Cheetham has done with designers she is interested in. Sure there is theoretical explanations throughout, but none of them are pretentious pandering. Most of all, this is an honest examination of what process is, probably bet put by Montreal's Julien Vallée:

I don’t think I have a particular way of
working, even if it turns out that I have some
habits, some non-official way of proceeding to
create my pieces of work : sketching,
collecting opinions about a topic, stressing,
pumping up the volume of the music, waking up
at night and sketching all over again, getting
drunk and thinking I hold the perfect concept,
waking up in the morning and start all over
again, re-considering my profession, changing
the music, brewing some coffee, adding a new
project in the pipeline, sleepless night,
starting over again in the morning, buy some
material I end-up not using, start over again,
send some sketches to clients (knowing I would
never do this at the end), brew more coffee,
create the final piece, swear myself I won’t
take more than one project at the same time,
get some sleep, accept a new project, start the
process all over again...