Saturday, April 18, 2009

Creator the Curator

This is probably going to come out really conceited, I realize that, I promise. But seriously I have made myself nauseous. 
Are you curious as to the source of my ill temperament? Well let me show you...

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

For the same reason I was originally apprehensive, I now feel this is successful: It is Personal.

What might have been lost?
What might have been lost?


I have been very busy. So much school work. So much art. So little breathing room. 

Hello my name is Fred Mitchell. The title of this post is an excerpt from a speech I wrote last week. It was about my art. In the past I have primarily utilized photography to express my artistic vision. Over the past few months I have endured a considerable amount of chastising from my peers and mentors about photography as an art form. I know that I have mentioned in previous posts that I have been reading Susan Sontag's On Photography. I was partly reading Sontag's essays on photography because I hoped that there would be some sort of quip or rebuttal I could find and use against these people. Unfortunately, so far I have been unsuccessful. I have learned a good deal about photography as art/photography as documentation though. I just keep coming across issues that make me question whether or not I should even continue with my art. It doesn't help the matter that I am taking twelve studio art classes (none of which directly involve photography), and I keep coming across people who make me question the validity or importance of what I am doing. Since my work is becoming more personal I really am just questioning myself as a person and as an artist. I am not a photographer. I am an artist who uses photography as a tool to convey my artistic purpose. I do not feel good about myself as an artist or as a person right now. 

I have now received assistantships from the University of Washington in Seattle, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and University of Nevada at Las Vegas. I have to make a decision soon but I don't know what I will choose. Those are the only three schools that I was offered assistantships from. I feel honored to have been offered such generous moneys from great art departments. 

I guess the rest is up to me. So, sleepless nights will ensue. Tossing and turning MFA programs over my mind, imagining which school could launch me into a successful career as an artist and an educator, but all the I will be pushing my tongue against the roof of my mouth and I'll be clenching my molars causing my bite to become slightly misaligned. Is this an excuse I can use for my lack of an appetite? Is it really? Maybe is it the thought of a grandiose failure? Maybe I simply forget? I guess a little of each will attribute to my weight loss. My birthday is Friday. I remember what I was doing two years ago. I wish I wasn't such a bad friend to the people who have been there for me. 

I actually have had trouble leaving my apartment because my panic attacks have become so severe. But when I had to give my speech last Wednesday I pulled my shit together as the last minute. I actually was proud of the whole deal, although my work did not look as good as the rest of the students, I did feel like I was able to articulate myself fairly well. Maybe I will be able to pull myself together again at the last minute and finish this semester with the GPA that I hope to get.

I started my new job with the Birmingham YMCA last week and a kid pooped in the pool. It is significantly better than UAB. Also, for my deer bike project I have found some ridiculous things on the internet like a deer leg, which I am going to be purchasing among other odds and ends. So, I look forward to showing that work. Now, I am going to work.

Sorry to all my friends who have to suffer by my hand for me being a poor friend for you. Now I must listen to these men who are shouting below my window. 

with love and squalor,
f.




foolish.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

mmmhmmm

Friday, March 27, 2009

Naslay sprayay (you don't need to breath so easy)








Once, I when I was locked up, I had this song by DOP stuck in my head. Then, a man was brought in who was a murder. He screamed. Other people, like the guard, screamed back at him. Then I had the original version of Darlin by the Beach Boys stuck in my head.

I have been having a panic attack for several days now. I shouldn't be posting on here because it is taking away time from what I probably should be doing. My throat closed up last night. Ashley came into my apartment right as it was happening and I couldn't speak or breath. I thought I was choking on food but I wasn't. Then I was overwhelmingly lightheaded and I had to sit down. So I did not get to ride bikes or hang out like I wanted to last night. Oh well.

with loveand squalors,

f.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

I Have to Return My Video Tapes


Like a sex-machine-a. 

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Who's to say you have too many samuria swords?

So many good finds lately at thrift stores. I am sure that I have already mentioned the numerous wolf shirts and furniture I have acquired. Yesterday I was about to make some new additions to my things, such as a purple tank top with giant bold text that says, "I'll be back" WTF? plus i found a pair of suede Keds Ankle boots. Lots of polaroid manuals was what I went looking for and I found a good bit of those, so that was a plus. Stole some things. hmmm I am going to go appropriate a chair to do my work in. I want to publish a solid post today on here. We'll see if that happens won't we?


wth lv nd sqlr,
f.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Never Say Never... You Banged A Lot Of Dudes.

Finally, I have finished the web cam project. If you are interested in viewing it or what I am doing, you should go to my site and check it out. It was a project about the voyeuristic aspect in constantly being able to watch what someone is doing without the subject being aware. The camera may not always be on, but I try to keep it up.

I am going to work on my totem pole in a moment. And do a little book making. good day.

with love and squalor,
f.