In Darkness Challenge
This weeks challenge is all about the word/s Darkness or In Darkness and what kinds of feelings and emotions do those words evoke in us. You can choose to make your own interpretation using any style, and medium of art, so be creative.
So for example, you could create an assemblage artwork with objects and themes which you associate with the word darkness. You could create an artwork which could be as simply as painting pure emotions out, in an abstract expressive way or you could choose to paint a much more figurative style of painting with slightly more realistic images. What images could symbolise darkness? You could write a poem to express how darkness makes you feel or you could make a video response. You could create a collage from cutting up magazine images to construct a surrealist setting around the theme. You could create a image using a flatbed scanner as many have done in the past.
I am leaving it up to your imagination.
So why this theme of darkness you may ask? Well i say, why not for a change. In order to appreciate the light, we need to step into the darkness. And there is something very humbling and still about being in pure darkness, it allows us to focus on our thoughts. Darkness is something which we need in order to sleep. Darkness does not have to be a negative!
Many of you who watched my youtube video 'In darkness' were moved by the painting 'Anguish' by artist Albert Schenck (1828-1901) just as much as i was, and my video was a response to the feelings which this painting evoked in me. I have to say this was the first painting ever to cause me to be so emotional on so many levels. What is interesting is that many people felt the same way after viewing the painting yet there were others who felt nothing from it at all.
So if you are one of those people who felt nothing from the painting, then i am wondering is there a painting or piece of art which has caused you to cry or be totally humbled or moved? I would be interested to see what image/s create these kinds of emotions for you.
I think in times of darkness people find clarity and for me it has been a cleansing in many respects.
So i welcome your thoughts on the subject.
Gaz
This could be a Golden Ticket Challenge!
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jana Reinecke on -
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TRYING TO STOP THE PENDULUM.jpg, 648 KB
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Permalink Reply by Jan Jackson on -
lovely work, great symbolism
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Permalink Reply by Deb Godley on -
beautiful work Jana... lovely..lovely..
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Permalink Reply by Dana Pruner on -
Wow, Gary. A HUGE part of me wants to run SCREAMING from this challenge.....Which tells me I must NOT. As I read your e-mail the image of what I need to paint came instantly into view. This will be so hard. I wonder if I can even get out on canvas what i have in my head. Will it bring everything back? Open me up raw again? Or will it excersize it from my soul...put it to peace..or some semblance of.
It's wonderous how life plays out. Until recently I thought I was ok. I thought WE were ok, but perhaps not. When our tragedy happeded last summer, My 14 year old said,"EVERYTHING happens for a REASON". And now i recieve your weekly challenge addressing this very thing. Yes, everything happens for a reason.
Thanks, Gary. For the push. :)
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Permalink Reply by Dana Pruner on
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Ok, here is my submission. It's called Velocity of Loyalty. Last summer my family, some friends and I witnessed the death of our friend. He was hit by a train when he tried to grab his dog of the tracks at the last moment. The story HERE. And my own blog breakdown/rant/insight HERE. I won't bother going into again.
This challenge was not as awful as I thought it would be. Although a bit spent, I also feel more "open" and can talk about it once again without feeling so horribly uncomfortable. I thought that I had worked hard to face it and get past it these past months but realised at one point that I was now trying to avoid it completely. The incident has started to "come back" in a raw way for my 14 year old and it has been SO hard for me to sit and listen to her needs. After doing this painting I feel much more open, "protected" and comfortable in helping and guiding HER. She'll be starting counseling next week to help as well.
thanks again, Gary, for this PUSH. I am again seeing the light in this tragedy. The reminder to be so grateful for the precious things we have, to cherish each day and not take things for granted.
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Permalink Reply by Mo Mapes on -
Dana- this is wonderful. I can see the darkness, the cloudy turmoil, the SLASH of anger but in it is also light. I hope you and your family can get past the worst of the pain and start to go on and realize everything does happen for a reason (I know some people don't like that saying but I have been around enough years and thru enough to KNOW that it is true!)- we just sometimes can't see at the time.My prayers are with you!
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Permalink Reply by leofaerie on -
Oh this painting is fabulous so tactile and textured full of angst and love the splash of light in a dark place...
so sad a story but its what animal lovers do and its what our companions do they just love each other unconditionally ,its bittersweet that they died together ....
x bev
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Permalink Reply by Dana Pruner on
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wish I could capture the true colors with my camera. The blue and yellow are actually the colors of the Alaska RR train. I tried to capture speed/velocity and it's impact "into Darkness" - the unknown for our friend and his dog and a darkness in the lives of the rest of us...
The left side of the painting is actually black, not that bluish color. And the bitumen did not represent well.
oh, well. it really was a cathartic process, though. Thanks for the comments.
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Permalink Reply by Jacob Connell on -
wow... when Gary says "I would be interested to see what image/s create these kinds of emotions for you." above... well, this is one of them. After reading your story and seeing this creation come from you I am feeling so emotional. I cannot stop staring at the two yellow lines coming together at the "void" and colliding... very very powerful stuff...
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Permalink Reply by leofaerie on
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Hi Gary and members im new here and i love the place still looking around in fact and this challenge is perfect for me as i suffer with depression so i think of the downs are the dark and the highs as the light ....
Jana your image is wonderful ....
Mine is based on a organization here in OZ called Beyond Blue it started for young people with depression but now caters for all and that is what i called my piece ....
cheers
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