Work continues...and some exhibition updates.

I spent much of this past Saturday charring the wooden boulder that will be included in one of my current pieces.  It was pretty obvious that I could not have possibly achieved the surface and values I was after had I used paint.

Looks like at least two and possibly three more shows before May 2013.  Who knew? Well the marathon has begun and I am stayin' n the race.  I will have dates and locations shortly.

Art STL Interview

Here is an interview I completed recently for the Art STL blog.

http://artstlouis.blogspot.com/2012/11/jason-ackman-ideas-inspiration.html

Return To Me - process photos

Currently I am working on two different sculptures, Return To Me and one yet to be titled.  My hope is to have them completed by the end of 2012...hopefully. Enjoy the photos and shoot me questions should you have any.

Art St Louis Opening

Tomorrow night Art St. Louis will be hosting a reception for the opening of their newest show"Art St. Louis XXVIII, The Exhibition".  Looking forward to meeting the other artists in the exhibition as well as those coming to see the show.

In other news I have been selected for another group exhibition in February.  More details to follow.

Work is progressing on my current pieces.  I will try and post some process photos in a few days.
I just picked up a few new tools to add to my arsenal.  Yes they are sharp.  And yes I will be cautious. Thanks for caring.

Thoughts in regards to place

The art of being (mis)placed - by David Taylor

 "... Sometimes you leave your hometown in order to find your place elsewhere. Sometimes you leave your place of birth only to return years later and find that you belong there after all. Or more grandly, as Kathleen Norris puts it, 'A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.' Here is where you belong. Here is where you will stay put. It is your place and it is ourplace together....

My confession? I feel misplaced in my current city. While I know plenty of people who thoroughly love Durham, North Carolina, I fluctuate between total ambivalence and intense aversion to the city. It is a city that irritates me almost daily. After living here for three years, I have made my peace with the fact that Durham will be the first city in my life that I will be happy to leave.... But artists come along and perform an invaluable service.

For those of us who feel a tenuous or adverse relationship to our places of residence, artists help us to see that, in fact, God is happily at work here, quietly making grace happen in unexpected ways, gently rebuking our stubborn refusal to see that salvation and sanctification are occurring in this place—this street, this humidity, this church, this grocery store, these people...."

Blowin' my mind!

I watched this video and my heart quickened. A flood of emotions...all competing for their place in my thought process at the moment. It was as if I could feel the tools of my trade in my hands and a deep, intense desire to create and connect. Blowin' my mind and then piecing it all back together again. Man do I love the creative process.

Process

I am currently working on a multi-part sculptural installation.  Once again this will be a rather large piece made from reclaimed materials with a footprint of 6' x 6' and a height of around 9'.  This has been a rather slow process since I am carving one of the elements with a chainsaw to rough out the shape.  Most of the lumber for this piece came from the demolition of a storage barn that was used by the former Rushville Lumber Co.

This new piece will hopefully be completed by the end of 2012.  I will try and add process photos as changes take place.

Art St. Louis XXVIII, The Exhibition

Except for This was recently selected for inclusion in Art St. Louis XXVIII, The Exhibition.  This exhibit will feature 67 works of art by 67 artists.  For more information about the exhibit  please see the poster below or visit www.artstlouis.org 

New Website Update

Please take a moment and check out my temporary website and let me know what you think.http://jackma.otherpeoplespixels.com/home.html

Hey Ho - Luineers

Lovin' this one today.

America: NOW AND HERE Update

Just got back this afternoon from delivering and installing my sculpture Early On to Monmouth for the upcoming 64 ARTS America: NOW AND HERE Exhibit.

When I walked into the gallery this morning and looked at the work as it was being prepared to hand and install...I am sure my eyes lit up and my jaw dropped.  This is going to be a fantastic show!  The quality of work is top shelf all the way.   I am truly honored to be part of this exhibit.

The exhibit opens this Friday, yet the opening reception will be held on Friday, September 7 from 5-7pm.  As an added bonus, Eric Fischl,  the juror and organizer of America: NOW AND HERE will be on hand for the awards ceremony.  Artists will be coming in from all across the country and Canada for the opening reception.  Looks to be a very memorable evening.

summer work II

55.5" x 26.5" x 14"  -  reclaimed lumber

summer work

95"h x 22"w x 37"d

This is of the two new pieces I have been working on throughout the summer months.  I will try and have photos of the other piece shortly. Both are made of reclaimed lumber. After adding washes of acrylic I waxed them both with a homemade beeswax finish. Background info to follow.

True

Most artists I know personally, now, are not bitter (as far as I can tell). They are like me, day-job artists who pursue their craft and concepts because of a subconscious, driving impulse. If that impulse is ignored, if we bottle up those ideas and don’t find time to work with our hands, we become cranky. -Paul Nielson

impacting culture for the good

Wow! That was a quick trip!

Just got back from the Omaha area this afternoon. I left yesterday around 8am and was back in Rushville by 4pm. The point...oh yes the point, the reason why I went... My good, good friend Mike invited me to come out and speak with one of the classes he teaches at Nebraska Christian College. The class, Interpreting Contemporary Culture was a fantastic group to dialog with. We talked and chewed on a variety of thoughts and questions related to the role of visual arts in our world today. I certainly could get used to working with students at the university level...

And now, (pause) in closing (pause and deep sigh) I would like to thank everyone who made this possible...sorry, I found this little last bit amusing as I was collecting my thoughts. Maybe I'm still in bit of a driving coma.

Thanks again you guys. I really had a great time. Who knows, maybe a piece of sculpture will end up on the campus of NCC some day.

Here are a few links to check out if you want to dig a bit deeper.

www.artspastor.blogspot.com
www.woostercollective.com
www.arrestedmotion.com
www.arthouseamerica.com
www.internationalartsmovment.org
www.ordinaryneighbor.blogspot.com
www.culture-making.com

New photos

Just a few shots that were recently taken by my good friend Tonya. Still not sure if they will be painted or not.
The anvil piece is slowly moving along with several others on the back burner.

News...update

Although I have not finished the paint on the boats piece I had to begin work on a new piece. And yes, the boats will be finished by the end of this month...they have to be. I am submitting it for possible display in an upcoming show out of state.

This photo shows the early stages of the first of two sculptures that will utilize a Doric/Ionic column. The other will support a bench vise. Want to know more, well just ask.

love, peace and hair grease.