The Power of Collaborative Creating: Social Practice Art
Many is More 2015 IN PROGRESS.
Andrews BRONZE FIGURES IN PROCESS
12” H X 24” W X 10 “ D
Mixed Media – Found objects contributed by 12 collaborators.
Barbara Rogers Bridges –assemblage artist
Barbara Bridges seeks to empower all people to embrace the creative process. She makes art from artist fabricated components in a variety of media and rescued power objects. She organizes the objects to create meaning and provoke discussions and reflection on a wide variety of social topics.
Many is More represents an organic brain filled with the thoughts and experiences of a dozen collaborators.
Keith L. Andrews, bronze sculptor
Nos-otros is an exploration of the processes and consequences of people as they collaborate creatively. While explicit collaboration among equals is the norm in most human activities, it is relatively uncommon in the visual arts. In the name of authenticity and as an unquestioned norm, visual artists generally are expected to practice solo creation.
This project experiments with the alternative by allowing one artist (Keith L. Andrews) to work with a diversity of men and women, young and old, from five nations, using different media, starting from a diversity of visions and working processes. The constellation of themes includes aging, dialogue, social realities, interpersonal conflict, gender, trust, love, loss, and humor.
* Art and artists play many roles in contemporary society Some artistic practices support just socio-political practices and processes At other times, artists ignore or even encourage injustices
* We are members of a demographic cohort that has tried for a half century to be involved in positive social change
* We are also beneficiaries of a society that has given us a certain amount of financial freedom and security And we intend to use that freedom, not to indulge ourselves but to facilitate our commitment to social change through artistic practice
- We will stimulate and be involved in positive social action
- We will provide constructive criticism
- We will denounce and oppose, when needed
- We will maintain our commitment to bettering the world
- We will use our time energy and experience for our constant improvement
- We will work collaboratively with others
- We are willing to teach and mentor but we will never stop learning from others, including those younger than us
We will always look to the future, focus on the present, reflect on the past
Deconstruction of Collaborator Objects
Reflections from Barbara Collaborator Statements
| Rock from Sandy Point Beach Lynda’s next promotion will be the Chancellor of 37 universities I have worked as a professor for her in one way or another for 18 years She supported my development of the first hybrid/online teacher licensure program in the United States She shared the vision We made it happen Her choice of this particular rock from our beach was interesting to me Most of our stones are smooth and round and black She DID select something rare As is she. |
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Saul Griffith –Ted-TALKER, inventor and genius of Other Lab https://otherlab com/ CaliforniaThe digital and the analog are not in opposition Digital tools will expand our library of opportunities | ||
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Jeanne Rogers- Nurse, teacher -MaineA visit with our daughter in the Caribbean was filled with surprises, not the least of which was this little creature that skitted about unbidden in and around all areas in the rooms | ||
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Brenda Mercer, teacher, nurse Maine Sea glass makes me think of the ocean singing and how blessed you and I are to have known this beautiful bay |
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| Pine ConeI received my first kiss at age 13 from Eddie Atkins in Pam’s kitchen in Bangor, Maine I think Eddie kissed all the girls but it was still memorable for me, as evidenced by my remembrance of his name PS Pam is not just any old English teacher She took Steve King’s job at Hampden Academy when he found a $100,000 advance check for Carrie in the mailbox in front of his trailer! |
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Michael Strand, Social Practice Artist, Chair South Dakota State art department http://www michaeljstrand com I am always encouraged by the potential of many minds coming together |
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Rick and Laura Brown, PBS documentary, Artists and Teachers, historical Re!constructionists Massachusetts College of Art http://www handshouse org/“Hundreds of student workers have created Handhouse Studios and the historically authentic objects which have come to life there Motto: “Learn by Building” |
| Barbara’s Reflections WOADMeeting Krista and Matt, former students and current worldwide experts in this new field of teaching and learning which Laura and Rick Brown have invented was another Haystack moment for meAs we used glass grinders to grind, and grind, and grind the WOAD, my little distractible heart was screaming for diversion When I asked Matt how he kept people at the grinding table he shared many stories and insights which the somewhat meditative process produced as a byproduct of the activity To clarify: The dialogue built community and as indicated by the statement from Matt and Krista… a new menu for WOADISMS |
Collaborator Statements Krista Lima, Matt Jeffs, Artists and Teachers, historical Re!constructionists MassachusettsWOAD is one of the most important and difficult pigments used for the painting It required a great deal of effort to grind before mixing into liquid paint “We are WOAD Warriors”“WOAD is me ” “The WOAD less traveled”
This project changed me in ways I do not even recognize yet Jeffs
Watch “Everthing is Illuminated” starring Elijiah Wood Then you will understand what we experienced Lima |
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| Antler These two new Sandy Point neighbors have already shown themselves to be “keepas” , as we say in Maine.Smart with Heart. |
Greg Biddinger, ecologist – Lise Leigh health scientist TexasThe antler is from a wild deer imported to Texas to be ranched and hunted. A number of the deer caught wind of the ranching/hunting plan, jumped a few fences, found life to be quite good outside of the fences and established themselves most comfortably in Texas Hill Country. Ah, the open range….true Texans.Collected on Valentines weekend. Antlers are symbolic of the horns of a dilemma, to stay in Maine fulltime or keep migrating back and forth to Texas? | |
| Coquina Coquina is the stone that saved Spanish Florida. And in many ways, Gail helped me save myself. How apt. |
Gail Gannon Social studies teacher, school counselor The Spanish in Florida built the Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine out of this light and porous rock. The thick walls absorbed English cannon balls rather than shattering, providing a surprisingly long-lived fortress. Perhaps we could all take a lesson from coquina. If we can absorb the cannon balls of life in order to remain standing, that is much better than being a hard stone wall, easily shattered. |
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