This past week has been a bit of a strange one in the Ackman house. Our Great Dane of the last nine and a half years is no longer with us. Christy and I brought Magnus home when he was only 8 weeks old. He had developed some growths in his spleen and lower bowel that were causing problems with his ability to eat and digest food.
We had to make the tough decision to let him go. It was not fun for either of us. You know you have a special pet when your vet cries with you at his passing. When you have a dog that weighs 165 pounds roaming around the house, well lets just say he is hard to miss. Now with him gone, things are a bit out of balance.
On a brighter note, Maguns' buddy Zhang, our 4 year old Pug has kept us more than occupied. They were quite the pair. Magnus, this giant harlequin Great Dane and Zhang a 20 pound Pug. Passers by our home would always seem to get a laugh seeing them together.
I know he is only a dog, but he was part of our family. He will be greatly missed.
Plans are finally underway for an artist co-op here in the big city of Rushville, IL - pop. 3300.
I have come up with a simple, yet solid outline for the co-op. A letter along with the outline will be sent out to those I believe would be interested in becoming involved with this venture. Like I have stated before, this is something I just can't shake. I really see it as something I have to do.
Lots of new sketches for paintings. I can hardly wait to get back to working on them again. The house is almost finished, and my glass work is pretty predictable for the next few months. This means that I can start carving out some time to get back into the studio.
I will do my best to keep you posted.
Onward and Upward,
Jason
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Here They Are.
These are the new paintings I have been meaning to post for a while. All of them are based on this abstract idea of a bridge theme. My girls want to play Go Fish, so no time to discuss them right now.
Oward and Upward.
Friday, September 5, 2008
new photos coming soon
not nude photos. NEW photos of some paintings will be posted in the next few days...or so. The paintings are considerably more abstract than my previous work.
They are all of this bridge theme I have been tooling around with.
They are all of this bridge theme I have been tooling around with.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Installation project.
I have been thinking quite a bit about the idea of doing some type of installation exhibit. I have a couple different ideas rolling around in my brain. I don't want to disclose too much because I want it to be an experience. That may seem weird but I have thought quite a bit about this(being up on scaffolding and ladders for hours at a time allows a guy to think). I am wanting to create something that allows the viewer/participant to be involved in the work.
The ideas I have been thinking of possibly elicit a very deep emotional response from people. I know the ideas have impacted me deeply.
Bridges, backpacks and baggage. That is where all of this stems from. Like I said I don't want to reveal too much. So there you go.
Also been sketching out several different ideas for new paintings and prints. Most of them seem to happen during sermon time on Sunday morning. Now this is nothing against my good friend and preacher, Mike Cahill. No, it is actually quite the opposite. His sermons typically trigger more thoughts than I have time to process.
And this is when my sermon notes become artwork notes and sketches. I suppose we all do that is one way or another depending on a variety of things including our current mood, emotional state, etc. My wife calls this type of thinking "rabbit trailin' ". Kind of like when you are reading something on a web page and the next thing you know you have clicked on a link to another web page. And then you do it again...and again....and again. You get the point. You are far removed from your original web page and the next thing you know you are no longer reading about how to put together the simple bookshelf system you bought at IKEA and now you are reading a blog written by a guy who is really unable to communicate his thoughts in a meaningful way, much less make a lot of sense.
Anyway you get the idea. I will try to keep you posted.
Onward and Upward,
Jason
The ideas I have been thinking of possibly elicit a very deep emotional response from people. I know the ideas have impacted me deeply.
Bridges, backpacks and baggage. That is where all of this stems from. Like I said I don't want to reveal too much. So there you go.
Also been sketching out several different ideas for new paintings and prints. Most of them seem to happen during sermon time on Sunday morning. Now this is nothing against my good friend and preacher, Mike Cahill. No, it is actually quite the opposite. His sermons typically trigger more thoughts than I have time to process.
And this is when my sermon notes become artwork notes and sketches. I suppose we all do that is one way or another depending on a variety of things including our current mood, emotional state, etc. My wife calls this type of thinking "rabbit trailin' ". Kind of like when you are reading something on a web page and the next thing you know you have clicked on a link to another web page. And then you do it again...and again....and again. You get the point. You are far removed from your original web page and the next thing you know you are no longer reading about how to put together the simple bookshelf system you bought at IKEA and now you are reading a blog written by a guy who is really unable to communicate his thoughts in a meaningful way, much less make a lot of sense.
Anyway you get the idea. I will try to keep you posted.
Onward and Upward,
Jason
Monday, August 18, 2008
Too Much....
stuff to do. I know that is truly a news flash for everybody. But that is exactly what is taking place in my day to day life. Art work has been pushed to the back burner for the last few months. Painting my house has consumed a large portion of my time. You may be thinking painting the house, big deal...well it'snot that simple.
I am painting my house because it is covered in lead paint. Yeah!!! Love that lead paint. Such a genius invention, ranks right up there with asbestos insulation. Anyway, wearing a respirator, scraping (not my first choice) priming, painting, clean up...and well lets just say its a slow process.
The option here was to make my own personal artwork or fix my house that has caused one of my children to test high for lead in a recent blood test. Of course, its a no-brainer.
I have been doing my best to protect myself during this process. Needless to say, it is not easy to stay clear of the lead. I have been spraying the house down with water to keep the dust down too.
Anyway...I have still been sketching out ideas for paintings and prints. I will certainly be back to work in a few months.
And to really mix things up a bit more, I am teaching two new classes this year along with the wacked out idea of starting a local art co-op/collective. I was talking to a friend of mine on the local arts council and mentioned the idea of starting a co-op and all my ideas for what I see it becoming and he just says "aren't you getting ready to go back to school?"
Of course I say, its a perfect time to add something else to my day. Well, we will see how it plays out.
Thanks for your patience and understanding.
Onward and Upward,
Jason
I am painting my house because it is covered in lead paint. Yeah!!! Love that lead paint. Such a genius invention, ranks right up there with asbestos insulation. Anyway, wearing a respirator, scraping (not my first choice) priming, painting, clean up...and well lets just say its a slow process.
The option here was to make my own personal artwork or fix my house that has caused one of my children to test high for lead in a recent blood test. Of course, its a no-brainer.
I have been doing my best to protect myself during this process. Needless to say, it is not easy to stay clear of the lead. I have been spraying the house down with water to keep the dust down too.
Anyway...I have still been sketching out ideas for paintings and prints. I will certainly be back to work in a few months.
And to really mix things up a bit more, I am teaching two new classes this year along with the wacked out idea of starting a local art co-op/collective. I was talking to a friend of mine on the local arts council and mentioned the idea of starting a co-op and all my ideas for what I see it becoming and he just says "aren't you getting ready to go back to school?"
Of course I say, its a perfect time to add something else to my day. Well, we will see how it plays out.
Thanks for your patience and understanding.
Onward and Upward,
Jason
Monday, July 7, 2008
Time to unload a bit
For the past week I have been at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago painting, exploring and soaking up all the "art love" I possibly could. The focus was on Contemporary Art. Whats going on, what artists to keep an eye on and so forth. Down right fabulous. I can't wrap my head around it. It was absolutely amazing. I could write for days about the experience...but on to what I really want to talk about.
On one particular evening we had the evening off. Meaning no free dinner. So we were left to fend for ourselves and shell out some cash for a meal. A couple of my female colleges asked if I would like to join them and I said sure. Any chance to dialog with other art teachers especially those from New York and Maryland. Two places I have never been and have only seen in pictures. Anyway I agree to go to dinner and as I am heading back to the residence hall on State Street I notice two young ladies, twenty somethings, and their dog. Either they were homeless or backpacking somewhere. They held a small cardboard sign that said "Begging Sucks, Passion Doesn't" This of course could be taken many different ways, but it really struck something in me. First of all I had never noticed two girls traveling like this, especially since I live in a town of 3300 with few, if any homeless. Second, I felt an urge to talk with them, I wanted to know their story. But I was in a bit of a hurry to get back to my room and clean up for my dinner date.
As I have been doing all week when I enter my room on the 14th floor, I go to the windows to take a look and see what is happening on the streets surrounding my building. It just so happened that I could see the two girls sitting across the street with their dog. What was even more ironic was the fact that I had been sitting in front of the same windows reading a book by Shane Claiborne. (if you don't know who he is or what he typically writes about, look him up and then come back for the rest of the story, it will be much more meaningful)
I am looking down upon these two girls and thinking I would really like to talk with them. Maybe share some food or money with them or maybe just listen. But I didn't. How bizarre is it that I have been reading this book and I pass these girls and now I can still see them from my room?
But I don't have enough time to do both. Talk to them and go to dinner with my friends.
This goes on for several minutes and my stomach starts to ache. Finally I look back and they are gone. I get ready and out the door to the elevator and off to dinner. One of the girls I am with says there is a great steakhouse down the street. She also mentions that it is a bit expensive. Fine I say, no problem. I had planned on spending a bit more for at least one meal.
As we chat and walk we talk about all that has taken place so far during the course of our time in the studio and the museum. Finally we arrive at the steak house. As soon as we enter I realize what expensive means. My menu arrives in a wooden frame. Just like you would frame a piece of art and place it on the wall. Then I see the prices........by now I am trying to think of a nice way to leave. That would be beyond awkward. But I can't get the costs out of my head and I scan the salad menu and find something in my price range. Actually it more than I would usually pay, but it was my best option.
Then things become a bit more awkward when the two ladies I am with order steaks, wine and sides and I order a tomato and mozzarella salad and water. The waiter can hardly believe that I am not ordering a steak. With prices starting at about 40 bucks...well I just could not do it. I tried to move the focus of the meal beyond the food and more to conversation, which I have to admit was really quite nice.
Then the food arrives. To my amazement, the steaks are about as wide as they are thick. My salad was twice the amount of food. So much so that I could not even eat all of it. For me, this is certainly a rare occasion. The girls I am with try and give me some of their steak, and of course I try to give them some of my salad. We end up just sticking to our own food.
The waiter drops off the check and we divide up what we owe. I could not believe what the cost of dinner for three. My stomach, although filled with plenty of food, is still a bit uneasy. I can't help but think about the two girls and their dog.
There they were, right in front of me. A prime opportunity to show love, to be love. What was I doing? How did I miss the opportunity? Was my dinner date that much more important? How did I let it slip away? To be very blunt, God gave me a golden, magnificent opportunity to be his hands and heart and I abruptly said no. What in the world was or is wrong with me? By now you are probably thinking this is pretty screwed up. Don't worry I am way ahead of you.
I have been replaying this in my mind...the girls...the street...the view from my window...the Claiborne book...the ache in my stomach...the dinner...money...my stomach...That is really screwed up. I fumbled on the goal line. What a missed opportunity.
Now where it gets a bit messed up again. I made this sign/painting a while back and have been meaning to post it. It was pretty much a punch in the gut and face. Salt and Light...that is what we are called to be. But in Chicago, I shut out the light and dumped the salt on my own head. This will haunt me for quite some time.
On one particular evening we had the evening off. Meaning no free dinner. So we were left to fend for ourselves and shell out some cash for a meal. A couple of my female colleges asked if I would like to join them and I said sure. Any chance to dialog with other art teachers especially those from New York and Maryland. Two places I have never been and have only seen in pictures. Anyway I agree to go to dinner and as I am heading back to the residence hall on State Street I notice two young ladies, twenty somethings, and their dog. Either they were homeless or backpacking somewhere. They held a small cardboard sign that said "Begging Sucks, Passion Doesn't" This of course could be taken many different ways, but it really struck something in me. First of all I had never noticed two girls traveling like this, especially since I live in a town of 3300 with few, if any homeless. Second, I felt an urge to talk with them, I wanted to know their story. But I was in a bit of a hurry to get back to my room and clean up for my dinner date.
As I have been doing all week when I enter my room on the 14th floor, I go to the windows to take a look and see what is happening on the streets surrounding my building. It just so happened that I could see the two girls sitting across the street with their dog. What was even more ironic was the fact that I had been sitting in front of the same windows reading a book by Shane Claiborne. (if you don't know who he is or what he typically writes about, look him up and then come back for the rest of the story, it will be much more meaningful)
I am looking down upon these two girls and thinking I would really like to talk with them. Maybe share some food or money with them or maybe just listen. But I didn't. How bizarre is it that I have been reading this book and I pass these girls and now I can still see them from my room?
But I don't have enough time to do both. Talk to them and go to dinner with my friends.
This goes on for several minutes and my stomach starts to ache. Finally I look back and they are gone. I get ready and out the door to the elevator and off to dinner. One of the girls I am with says there is a great steakhouse down the street. She also mentions that it is a bit expensive. Fine I say, no problem. I had planned on spending a bit more for at least one meal.
As we chat and walk we talk about all that has taken place so far during the course of our time in the studio and the museum. Finally we arrive at the steak house. As soon as we enter I realize what expensive means. My menu arrives in a wooden frame. Just like you would frame a piece of art and place it on the wall. Then I see the prices........by now I am trying to think of a nice way to leave. That would be beyond awkward. But I can't get the costs out of my head and I scan the salad menu and find something in my price range. Actually it more than I would usually pay, but it was my best option.
Then things become a bit more awkward when the two ladies I am with order steaks, wine and sides and I order a tomato and mozzarella salad and water. The waiter can hardly believe that I am not ordering a steak. With prices starting at about 40 bucks...well I just could not do it. I tried to move the focus of the meal beyond the food and more to conversation, which I have to admit was really quite nice.
Then the food arrives. To my amazement, the steaks are about as wide as they are thick. My salad was twice the amount of food. So much so that I could not even eat all of it. For me, this is certainly a rare occasion. The girls I am with try and give me some of their steak, and of course I try to give them some of my salad. We end up just sticking to our own food.
The waiter drops off the check and we divide up what we owe. I could not believe what the cost of dinner for three. My stomach, although filled with plenty of food, is still a bit uneasy. I can't help but think about the two girls and their dog.
There they were, right in front of me. A prime opportunity to show love, to be love. What was I doing? How did I miss the opportunity? Was my dinner date that much more important? How did I let it slip away? To be very blunt, God gave me a golden, magnificent opportunity to be his hands and heart and I abruptly said no. What in the world was or is wrong with me? By now you are probably thinking this is pretty screwed up. Don't worry I am way ahead of you.
I have been replaying this in my mind...the girls...the street...the view from my window...the Claiborne book...the ache in my stomach...the dinner...money...my stomach...That is really screwed up. I fumbled on the goal line. What a missed opportunity.
Now where it gets a bit messed up again. I made this sign/painting a while back and have been meaning to post it. It was pretty much a punch in the gut and face. Salt and Light...that is what we are called to be. But in Chicago, I shut out the light and dumped the salt on my own head. This will haunt me for quite some time.
Monday, June 23, 2008
A Couple of Recent Sketches
Well, it is obvious, at least to me, that summer is in full swing around here. As always I have more to do....actually more that I want to do, than I have time to accomplish. Anyway here are a couple pages worth of sketches for past and present ideas.
Still planning on creating some screen prints. I just received my order of paper from French Paper in Michigan. Cool thing, the facility in which the paper is made is completely run on hydro electric power. And they have been doing it for many, many years. Long before the green movement came about. The paper is fantastic. It is a smooth cover with an antique newsprint shade. Pretty sweet to me. Not too many people I know get excited about paper. But man do I, weird, but man this paper is fabulous.
These three sketches are a some of the ideas I have been tinkering with.
The first is based on Noah and the Ark. Pretty straight forward. It will make a really nice screen print.
The second is of a snow globe with a church building inside it. I have been challenged with the thought of how sometimes the church isolates itself from the rest of the world. Only serving itself.
The third is of bottles floating in the sea. Much like Christianity and all of the denominations within Christianity. Similarities, but strong enough differences to keep us apart. So essentially we are all floating in the same sea, but we never connect, unable and unwilling to cross over an risk working together. I know this is a tough one. My close friend and confidant, Mike and I discussed this at length. Still have not come up with an answer yet.
Chew on these for a while and give me some feedback. Onward and Upward.
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