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Why I paint spirals

In: Conceptual Art, Conceptual Art Examples, Conceptual Art Theory, Inspiration

Spirals are one of my favorite ways to compose pictures. Here is how I explain what it is about them I love so much.

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away; I took Geometry. Like most of the other ninth graders in my class, I found it to be a refreshing diversion from arithmetic and equations (otherwise known as “Math”), and in getting to know and draw shapes, I was introduced to the spiral, properly. We had these nifty graphing calculators, black and brown screens and spirals would animate right out of the axes once the correct equation was entered - though by this time, bringing equations back to the shapes was a brilliant way to rekindle my fading interest in math. And then, there was the geometric theorem (I can’t find a reference) that stated that “all spirals are similar,”  as depending on the dimensions on the axes on which they are mapped, they can be made to look exactly like one another, even if arising from very different equations. So if the shape is a spiral, no matter how it looks, it’s just like every other spiral. cool.

It wasn’t long after this that I began to draw spirals. I could manage to draw a straight line, but drawing a spiral became effortless. The trick I found was that …

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Back from being home, in France

In: Inspiration

“And they got me used to that clean white linen, and that fancy French cologne.”

-- Thankfully I was able to bring the latter back with me! Duty-Free to boot.

Vacations are always good for renewal of perspective, but Paris (and France in general,) for me, is a walk in a whole new paradigm. There’s more to this perception than a simple physical transfer to another continent; there is separate, more natural nutrition. There is human-designed space, architectural and landscaping, to suit design principles and the running away of the imagination. There is a long, well-documented history and elements from various times co-existing like a poorly organized museum. There are differences in weather, water, shelter, rhythm, and other very basic influential elements.

We stayed with my Aunt Susan who lives in the French Alps in a little town called La Roche sur Foron (meaning, the rock on the Foron river.) The town has existed since the medieval era and left to illustrate this are a sizeable tower (on a rock, possibly “La Roche”) and a surrounding walled-in village complete with narrow roads and an old market area where grain basins in stone still exist. Here, Travis got his first taste of real French pastry, and our experience of France as a couple began at the Marché Thursday Morning. Having not spoken French in 10 years, I still managed to …

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Real work for peace -13 Grandmothers at a time

In: Inspiration

If you're anything like me, then you've been wondering how the world will "end" in a heap of waste and despair where the current values system is leading us. The International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers has the same concerns, and thankfully, they know what they can do about it.

The International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers is working for peace; spiritually, energetically, and in other ways we might not expect:

In October 2005, the Grandmothers Council sent a letter to the Vatican for the repeal of papal edicts dating back to 1493, which granted dominion to European nations over lands occupied by tribal peoples for thousands of years. Read more

Were you even aware that such an edict existed? I wasn’t. I want to be sick, yet I’m also thrilled and grateful to this group for unearthing such acts of history and not tolerating their current standing.

As a person who truly believes that all people are equal and have equal gifts to share in coexistence, I see dire need for this work all around me. I try to make my contributions through my art and web development, as well as every day in the presence of others, yet these efforts are young and minimal. Though they won’t stop, it can still be frustrating to see their lack of impact. I believe that this work needs to be done regardless, so its easy not to give up and to know that some day it will …

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