The Artists "Review" Artists Project was launched on June 30, 2008. Below is a "review" of Lisa Klow's work, Selection from Journaling Project June 2008, written by Brent Hallard. Lisa provided the second jpeg, an image of Selections from Journaling Project June 2008, as well as a brief response to Brent's "review."
Lisa currently resides in Laurel, MD, and Brent lives in Tokyo, Japan.
If you would like to participate in this project, please email me at jtkirkland [at] gmail [dot] com.
Selection from Journaling Project June 2008
Ink pen on paper
3 3/4" x 2 7/8"
2008
The "Review"
A swatch of watercolor paper heads with a date and a time that runs 3/4 across the top. Under this the layout implies a two-page spread format. To the left is a squiggly drawing of a head with shoulders. The squiggles around the head area suggest hair, or could just as easily represent a scarf or turban, protection or turbulence. To the right (on the second page) is a text. It is in a hand and flair that agrees with the flurry of line in the drawing,
'Nothing happened today'.
Instantly one is reminded of King George’s famous July 4th 1776 entry.
This author adds a refrain, the parenthetical,
‘p/z remain calm’.
This, of course, suggests the opposite [is the] state of affairs. Beyond the page, beyond the abbreviated and the telling script, perhaps lurks restlessness, even a calamity.
The ordering of text and image, the classical layout, the poise and experience of the formal language as a notation, tend to, though, mellow out any sound or read of a foreboding. However, as a ‘diary’ notation, as an every day event, the hand and the script, the order it follows could suggest a type of struggle -- a ‘societal suffocation’, one the author is unable to dodge, despite the quick quill, quirk, and scholar of a rehearsed penmanship.
It was enjoyable reading this small piece. It could, after-all be just a personal note to self. When published, what part the self plays in the greater scheme of things is always up to another's beat.
And then the night came
And then the night came
Oh...and someone told me, "Nothing happened today."
Yes, someone told me, "Nothing happened today."
It happened today.
*taken from the album entitled "The Fine Art of Surfacing"
*written by Bob Geldof
Selections from Journaling Project 2008
Ink pen on paper
3 3/4" x 2 7/8" each sheet
2008
The Response
What a great review, thanks! I was concerned the reaction might be: What the heck is this? to a single piece. Your associations with the text were quite interesting. The source is not so literary, but more pop culture: a line from sci-fi series “Babylon 5” and a private joke. When I have a mundane day, I say, “Nothing happened today, please remain calm.” My work consists of writing and drawing daily, since 1997, so I have thousands of these little pieces with drawings, jottings, notes, description, pondering, etc. I’m pleased that a single piece could be so thought-provoking.
By Lisa Klow
Previous "Reviews":
Pam Farrell on Ken Weathersby
Paula McCullough on Aric Calfee
Lee Gainer on Leigh Waldron-Taylor
Aric Calfee on Paula McCullough
Matthew Ballou on Heather Levy
Giovanni Garcia-Fenech on TJ Norris
TJ Norris on Giovanni Garcia-Fenech
Susan Tolbert on Mary Klein
Heather Levy on Gail Vollrath
Sharon Butler on Matthew Ballou
Mark L. Power on Steven Alexander
Steven Alexander on Mark L. Power
Molly Norris on M. Trigos
Ken Weathersby on Joseph Barbaccia
Sondra Arkin on Susan Tolbert
John M. Adams on Sharon Butler
Michael Paul Oman-Reagan on Brent Hallard
Daniel Mafe on Pam Farrell
Joanna Knox on John M. Adams
John Lucien Grillo on Joanna Knox
Comments