Perfectly Normal

relax, we are perfectly normal...

Ah, what is perfectly normal anyway? Are you perfectly normal? Is there even such a thing?

What is new? Where to start...

6 weeks to go before the grand finale, the end of 10 years of studying art. It's almost scary to think that it has been that long. I should probably be a lot more "academic" by now. And very smart. One would think. However, I still find myself quite often in a state of confusion. Trying to bridge the gap between the internal and the external, the introverted and the extroverted, and the never ending cycle of norwegian-english. Trying to turn thoughts and feelings into words, a coherent stream of words either written or spoken. And then trouble begins. Add some pressure and we're really rolling down a hill desperately holding on to conscious thought processes while the auto pilot switches on and off.

After this many years I am left with a feeling that maybe, somewhere along the line, I forgot to attend a class or ten on how to make sense in public. And probably one or two about the average sense of humor.

oh well.

I should get around to putting up some photos of all the other things I am making for my new body of work as well. The plaster hand adventure began last Friday. And it was a mighty expensive and not very successful start, but I am very keen to get going again. First major lesson was: Never buy alginate from the art store. no no no.... about $37 bucks for enough to cast one hand. Once, that's it. It is hard to recast with alginate, especially with something as complex as a hand. It will have to be broken away once the plaster has set.

Anyway, I did some research. The guy at the store said you could re-use it after it dried, but nothing I've read has suggested any such thing possible. But, research (and taking the time to think before acting again...) found alginate under a different brand name for about 12 bucks for the same amount online. Hallelujah. If you just purchase the one for dentists, voila! it's a lot cheaper. And it's the exact same stuff.

I have fallen in love with this stuff. I Heart Alginate. My first cast was so detailed it showed every pore on my hand, every line, every fold.... everything. This stuff is magic. I want to cast everything. I want to make a body cast. I want to cast my bellybutton. I want to cast my face. But first, I have to make 6 hands for the masks in Performing Metamorphosis. I have a feeling whatever ends up on the plates in the installation will also be casts of something.

Cynthia Plaster caster works with this stuff. She casts penises. Mostly famous. Like Jimmy Hendrix. cynthiaplastercaster.com

She's a pretty awesome lady. i saw a doco on her a few years back and have been a fan ever since.

I also love sculptor Jamie McCartney's project "Design a vagina". It is beautiful.

http://brightonbodycasting.com/design-a-vagina.php

©Jamie McCartney

oh dear. I forget that I haven't really explained this new body of work very well previously, have I? I only really started blogging again a few weeks back.

If it has waited this long, it can wait another couple of days.

Quincey Edward James Fanta Pants helping my finish my grasshopper mask.