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Investigating
Viewpoints in
the Big BendArea of
Texas
MEANING &
MATERIALITY
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THESIS
We can expand the
meanings of materials
based upon where
materials come from and
what meanings other
people ascribe to them.
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A quality of art thatincludes both thephysical mass of
created objects andthe select materials used to create them
Distinct from content
and composition
WHAT IS MATERIALITY?
Now There Is Time for Everything, 2011, 48 x 50 inches
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Daniel Bernard Gray
Visual artist
Materiality is a strongelement in work
Interest in why somematerials are more
meaningful Interest in Big Bend
border issues andmeanings
Billi London-Gray
Writer, photographer
Symbolism, metaphorstrong elements
Interest in aestheticsand art criticism
Interest in semioticsand assignation ofmeanings, especiallyin visual language
WHY MEANING & MATERIALITY?
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We want to convey meaning through art (despite SusanSontags polemic against meaning in AgainstInterpretation, which we read for this project).
No academic work has specifically addressed themeanings of materials native to the Big Bend.
Related: Dario Robleto (Texas artist)
Related: Yukio Lippit (Harvard art historian)
WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
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This project contributes to the culture of the Big Bend.
Big Bend is peopled by a disparate spread of nativesand imported artists; we involved people of varyingbackgrounds in our research.
This project connects the native materials, theinhabitants of the area and the art world.
WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
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Mattermaterial is just molecules until people giveit a name and a meaning, a significance, based on it spath through time and space.
Genesis 2.19: Out of the ground the Lord God formedevery beast of the field and every bird of the air, andbrought them to Adam to see what he would call them.
And whatever Adam called each living creature, that
was its name.
We humans are the only arbiters of meaning.
WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
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1. Videos and
photos
2. I nterv iews
3. Col lecti ons
4. Synthesis
OUR
PROCESS:
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OUR PRODUCT:A v ide o in s ta l l a t ion a nd e s sa y a b out e x p a nde d me a n ing s o f ma te r ia l s
Expanse | Elements | Existence | Effects
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Materiality
Two categories ofmaterial meanings:
Symbols Artifacts
New materials
Expanse
Light
Expanded meanings
Sky
Creosote
Soil
WHAT WE DISCOVERED
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Professionally
Interviews
Creative resources
Professional contacts
Collaboration
We can do it!
We still want to do it.
Others want to join.
Repeats
Big Bend
Grants
People outside art world
WHAT WE DISCOVERED
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ONVIEW
SEPARATE AND JOIN TOGETHERUniversity Galleries
May 7-11, 2012
Public ReceptionThursday, May 10
5-7 p.m.
www.youtube.com/billilg