Submissions, Summer 2007

Sometimes we need to submit to what we need to do.




When you believe in what you're doing, you do it until you can not do it any longer.

"Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that generation," Nelson Mandela 2006

statements & veracity

Art Statements. I find irony that we have to write about something that should speak its own language.
But out of respect to tradition, here's one I found myself writing for a couple of shows.

"Sometimes, I find things to paint, to sculpt, or to assemble.
More often than not, those things find me.
Be those subjects or objects, it is the very act of finding (things or ideas) that I begin to process the true act of discovery.
More correctly, it is from those objects that I discover true process.

My work comes from a desire to deconstruct and to assimilate a greater sense of the human condition.
Deconstruction comes from history; assimilation comes from knowledge.

I believe interesting work comes when we allow our minds to recognize history and its potential effect on our future.

I believe work can be a reflection of the human condition.
It is the identification of similarities and the enlightenment of discovery from which we find our audience.

When I create work, I want the seams and the edges to show. I want there to be a record of the process and of the materials. I want my audience to recognize places from which my work comes. I seek truth and disclosure.

I believe that change can be created with the knowledge that we must "never give up."
No matter what our plight, we must allow our voices to be heard.

It is from art, that I find community. It is from the world of forgotten objects that I find beauty.

In spite of ourselves, even when we want to, we can't give up, we won't give up -- because this is truly what we love to do.

Tami Sloan Tsark,
this 30th of July, 2007."

Summer 2007: Sculptural Wooden Gourd

"How I spent my Summer vacation, 2007:"



Perhaps not the WHOLE summer, but four weeks have been spent at a sculpture workshop in Marin, meeting and working with some very talented artists, (more photos available on Flickr.)
Carlton Bradford was the instructor. He's a really funny nice guy. For my first wood project, Carlton challenged me to make this weird gourd (that I had found at a vegetable stand last Fall on a road trip with my mom).

This was the first time I've worked with wood, and believe me, it is not the same as working with clay! Don't even get me started about doing sculptures out of metal :) Pound, spark, zap, ouch.
The good news is I made a gourd. The bad news is that it took me a couple of weeks to a gourd! emphasis on ONE little @#%! gourd. Yes, yes, we're learning a PROCESS...I understand that (I think...)

Much of the time was spent simply getting used to learning to use new tools and working with a new material. Wood is a lot more forgiving than I'd first thought. I started to get the hang of pushing curves, turning edges, etc. And, all I can say, is thank you for the invention of the power tool.

The first couple of days, we did self-portraits, out of clay.
"Emerging Self":

Never Give Up: La Vie En Rose

Sometimes, you find things to paint.
Sometimes, those things find you.
More often than not, those things find me.
...It is from this, that I paint my best.

Such was the case with "La Vie En Rose."
My friend brought me the broken glass with paint already splattered upon it.
The image was painted from a magazine in my dentist's office, that I "had to have."
The butcher paper was already on my easel.
The white painted board was sitting in the corner waiting for the "right thing."

This painting "came through me."
The title comes from the song which was, at the time, playing on my stereo.

I entered this piece in the Art League of Northern California's National show.

In speaking with my friend, Chris, who also has two paintings in this show, we realize that one must "never give up."
In spite of ourselves, even when we want to, artists don't give up -- because this is truly what we love to do.

It's an honor to be part of this show, with painters and artists whom I have the highest respect.
http://www.artleagueofnortherncalifornia.org/national2007winners.html

Right now, c'est vrai: "La Vie en Rose"

fishretirement2007

happy retirement, jim!

Painting from Memory or Subconscious

An exercise in painting from subconscious memory rather than from photo-refs.

From the studio, on the easel...

View from the Top

independence 2007

there's something quite wonderful about spending time with people we care about, over the holidays.

here are some pix from 7/4/07:

2x2's from 2006

Pictured below are Miniature 2" x 2" painted tiles.
More complete works are now posted at:
tsark.com/2007art/SmallWorks/index_smallworks07.htm

humility and persistence

Photos from the SVMA reception:






http://tsark.blogspot.com/2007_04_29_archive.html

Good News and Intuition

First the good news:

One sculpture and one painting, each, were accepted in the Marin County Fair 2007.
"Pool Guy" and "A Girl and Her Fish of Stars."
A friend said he liked the title, (the latter) more than the sculpture and I'd have to agree, but I think both went hand-in-hand.

Now the analysis:
The results helped me to realize, as much as we all love the advice of our friends, we must ultimately trust our intuition. I felt more strongly about these two pieces than the other two that I entered "as a trial." Whether or not they got in the show, I think it validates that one really must listen to our hearts/guts.

As I turned in my entries on Friday, I saw all of the other beautiful entries being walked in. I stood in line with the other artists and we chatted about letting the outcome be it what it may. But deep down, as I looked around, I wondered if I shouldn't turn back to my car before reaching the submissions table. I guess that's why they ask you to enter your fees/forms weeks earlier. I was committed. And, had the two questionable pieces made it in the show, I think I might have started to distrust my instinct.

All of this is a long winded way of saying, "Believe in what YOU hope to be true, in your world."
I think it is our instinct that helps us survive... whether it be the Tundra or contemporary times.

marin county fair 2007

Friday is the delivery date for the Marin Fair. This year it's the following submissions for the Aquatic Theme:





The sculptures are "Adrift" and "A Girl and Her Fishes of Stars"
The paintings are both less than 12". "Aquatic Chill" and "Pool Guy" from a previous posting.

WIP: on the easel: "Distance"

evergreen6600

Trying a new surface...
Hardwood board from my friend, Jack Campbell.
(If you ever need a new hardwood floor, he's the one you'll want to contact.)

Also trying this painting's title on for size.
Leave me a comment if you absolutely can't live with it.
"Evergreen 6600"

pool guy & young salty

the theme is aquatic.



1. pool guy (with sunglasses)




2. sailor (young salty)

some of the masks we wear

Generations of a Final & Art reflecting Art reflecting Art

"Generations" was a painting I'd completed last December '06.
Given that the theme for my final was titled "Generations," I thought I'd pull a quick one and save myself some work.
No rest for the weary.



I wasn't very happy with the way it came out. So I started this painting tonight, and will submit it for the final (unfinished):

masks

Forgotten Herd

Forgotten Herd




re-posted 5/15/07
I felt this painting was too flat. Here's the revision with a new I added a light source from above.