11/11/11
Alberto J. Almarza
AA11
Sunday, November 20, 2011
First Levitated Objects
Early Torisian historic depiction of vessel used in the innitial levitation and suspension experiments of the Engineering Era.
Courtesy of the Mystery Libraries of Torisia
Nov, 2011
AA11
Artificial Planetoids
From the Mystery Libraries of Torisia, these innitial studies on levitated artificial celestial bodies and the engineering of controlled atmospheres, planetoids, planets, orbits and other living systems.
Fractal genesis of a tree
First planetoids: experiments in levitation and geomorphic grids
Cartography of Torisian planetoid development
"Sphere Limit 1"
Iterations of alignment on the 12 point sphere surface
Fractal genesis of a tree
First planetoids: experiments in levitation and geomorphic grids
Cartography of Torisian planetoid development
"Sphere Limit 1"
Iterations of alignment on the 12 point sphere surface
Platonic Solids and other geometric forms
Studies of platonic solids done in compass and straightedge using graphite, tea and wax on paper.
"World Within a World"
Dodecahedron inside subdivided Dodecahedron
"Ripples 1"
Concentric circle-packing on the Icosahedron
"Ripples 2"
Concentric circle-packing on two imposed Icosahedra
"Ripples 3"
Concentric circle-packing on Stellated Dodecahedron
"Pyramyds"
Sub divided Stellated Cuboctahedron
Alberto J. Almarza
AA11
"World Within a World"
Dodecahedron inside subdivided Dodecahedron
"Ripples 1"
Concentric circle-packing on the Icosahedron
"Ripples 2"
Concentric circle-packing on two imposed Icosahedra
"Ripples 3"
Concentric circle-packing on Stellated Dodecahedron
"Pyramyds"
Sub divided Stellated Cuboctahedron
Alberto J. Almarza
AA11
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Geodesic sphere study
"Wrapping my Senses Around a Geodesic Sphere"
Incorrect stereoscopic image of shadow overlaping a pencil-drawn geodesic sphere, homage to Buckminster Fuller's Synergetics
AA11
Diorama
I havent posted in so loooong! But just so you cant say I've been slacking, I've brought some art with me to show you.
Here is a diorama room I created in october as a special commission for a friend...
It took many hours of work and lots of fun. The creation of rich contained worlds has been a passion and pursuit of mine for many years now.
Here is a "behind the scenes" image of the photoshoot which took place inside my "Moss Bed Valley", an indoors moss bed in my home studio.
I like to build a world in detail. I enjoy it so much. I am fascinated by the layers of depth that can emerge from a world or space or environment once you look at it at close range and pick appart its possibilities. And so in this project I added many layers of details, so that there would be mini artworks contained within the artwork; worlds within worlds.
For example, I made this abstract mixed media painting to hang in the back wall:
here's a detail:
And in the library I added cool things, like this replica of his kid's drawing...
...and this portrait done in pencil from a wedding picture.
But one of the funnest details to add, was this hidden miniature book...
I call this book "Illustrated Imaginary History of Energy and Matter"
Thanks a lot for visiting my little world, hope you enjoyed!
AA11
Here is a diorama room I created in october as a special commission for a friend...
It took many hours of work and lots of fun. The creation of rich contained worlds has been a passion and pursuit of mine for many years now.
Here is a "behind the scenes" image of the photoshoot which took place inside my "Moss Bed Valley", an indoors moss bed in my home studio.
I like to build a world in detail. I enjoy it so much. I am fascinated by the layers of depth that can emerge from a world or space or environment once you look at it at close range and pick appart its possibilities. And so in this project I added many layers of details, so that there would be mini artworks contained within the artwork; worlds within worlds.
For example, I made this abstract mixed media painting to hang in the back wall:
here's a detail:
And in the library I added cool things, like this replica of his kid's drawing...
...and this portrait done in pencil from a wedding picture.
But one of the funnest details to add, was this hidden miniature book...
I call this book "Illustrated Imaginary History of Energy and Matter"
Thanks a lot for visiting my little world, hope you enjoyed!
AA11
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Magic Troll at Trolly Dolly House
A little Troll Dollhouse I made for my little sis, Rosita.
It's a bit like something I wish I had when I was a kid, complete with removable accesories!
As of my Other Artwork,
much progress,
nothing to show.
AA11
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Art Out of the Box Southside
My AOB residency is now over.
I want to take this opportunity to thank Sam McDonough for her amazing vision and hard work to make this project happen; and for making a part of her artwork that of supporting other artists.
I also want to thank Michael McFadden for his support and awesomeness.
Keep an eye on: www.artboxpittsburgh.com for the 3 upcoming residencies with amazing local artists creating artwork in a neighborhood near you!
On site, I constructed and installed a total of 13 Mini Sites in the corner of 12th and Carson.
Here is a selection of stereo images of the main sites (I like using stereo pictures because they come a little bit closer to capturing the three-dimensionality of the actual pieces.)
"Paper Boat Site 1"
"Paper Boat Site 2"
"Clothes Line"
"How to Fold a Paper Boat"
"Three Chairs"
"Picnic"
"Chess Game"
"Park"
"Park" detail
"Salad Bowl"
"The Cave"
"Pond 1"
To get an idea of the context where these live, and to see the public's interactions and reactions, check out this last of the photo videos:
I had a truly wonderful experience working in (and out of) the box; and plan to continue hiding more miniatures in the streets of Pittsburgh.
I also have a renewed interest in furthering the dialog with the public, building community and conversation around art and its great power to...
put a smile in someone's face.
AA11
I want to take this opportunity to thank Sam McDonough for her amazing vision and hard work to make this project happen; and for making a part of her artwork that of supporting other artists.
I also want to thank Michael McFadden for his support and awesomeness.
Keep an eye on: www.artboxpittsburgh.com for the 3 upcoming residencies with amazing local artists creating artwork in a neighborhood near you!
On site, I constructed and installed a total of 13 Mini Sites in the corner of 12th and Carson.
Here is a selection of stereo images of the main sites (I like using stereo pictures because they come a little bit closer to capturing the three-dimensionality of the actual pieces.)
"Paper Boat Site 1"
"Paper Boat Site 2"
"Clothes Line"
"How to Fold a Paper Boat"
"Three Chairs"
"Picnic"
"Chess Game"
"Park"
"Park" detail
"Salad Bowl"
"The Cave"
"Pond 1"
To get an idea of the context where these live, and to see the public's interactions and reactions, check out this last of the photo videos:
Mini Sites 3 from Alberto J. Almarza on Vimeo.
I had a truly wonderful experience working in (and out of) the box; and plan to continue hiding more miniatures in the streets of Pittsburgh.
I also have a renewed interest in furthering the dialog with the public, building community and conversation around art and its great power to...
put a smile in someone's face.
AA11
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Art Out of the Box
Check out what I've been up to!
Art Out of the Box residency in the Southside, creating miniature semi-permanent site-specific installations hidden in the vicinity of 12th and Carson....
The goal of the AOB project, is both for the public to be exposed to the PROCESS of creating art, and for artists to engage in dialog with the public. This has been my focus for the past couple of days, and I still have 3 more to go!
http://www.artboxpittsburgh.com/
Come visit me in the Southside!
AA11
Art Out of the Box residency in the Southside, creating miniature semi-permanent site-specific installations hidden in the vicinity of 12th and Carson....
The goal of the AOB project, is both for the public to be exposed to the PROCESS of creating art, and for artists to engage in dialog with the public. This has been my focus for the past couple of days, and I still have 3 more to go!
http://www.artboxpittsburgh.com/
Come visit me in the Southside!
AA11
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Paper Boat Dreams
To entice you:
The scale of some of the featured objects in the videos that I'm about to show you:
(if you dislike contemplating little tiny things, might as well quit now.)
I made two videos this weekend that I am pretty happy with. In a way, they are preliminary sketches on something I am building upon, but they also work in their own way.
In my last blog, I was talking about entryways into a dimension that is very much parallel (and same) to our own, yet hidden. I also said that I enter such places through my work.
It is my hope with these videos to share an example -of sorts- of how this might work. It has to do with zooming into things up close, things or events that are simple, that go unnoticed and are usually taken for granted. These things and events are everywhere (they are everything), and because of this is that we ignore them. In the worlds that I make, rules of reason and behavior are "different" (hence Other Space), hoping to highlight the fragility of our judgment when perceiving reality.
The videos and related work are also a revision of my usual exploration of worlds, and worlds within worlds. For my Art Out of the Box residency, I am planning to do something similar, making mini scenes and secretly encasing them within crevices of the South Side.
(This should be really fun, stayed tuned on that project, which has already completed one residency...)
Thanks for haging out and watching the vids!
See you next time.
AA11
The scale of some of the featured objects in the videos that I'm about to show you:
(if you dislike contemplating little tiny things, might as well quit now.)
I made two videos this weekend that I am pretty happy with. In a way, they are preliminary sketches on something I am building upon, but they also work in their own way.
In my last blog, I was talking about entryways into a dimension that is very much parallel (and same) to our own, yet hidden. I also said that I enter such places through my work.
It is my hope with these videos to share an example -of sorts- of how this might work. It has to do with zooming into things up close, things or events that are simple, that go unnoticed and are usually taken for granted. These things and events are everywhere (they are everything), and because of this is that we ignore them. In the worlds that I make, rules of reason and behavior are "different" (hence Other Space), hoping to highlight the fragility of our judgment when perceiving reality.
Paper Boat Dream 1 from Alberto J. Almarza on Vimeo.
Paper Boat Dream 2 from Alberto J. Almarza on Vimeo.
The videos and related work are also a revision of my usual exploration of worlds, and worlds within worlds. For my Art Out of the Box residency, I am planning to do something similar, making mini scenes and secretly encasing them within crevices of the South Side.
(This should be really fun, stayed tuned on that project, which has already completed one residency...)
Thanks for haging out and watching the vids!
See you next time.
AA11
Saturday, April 30, 2011
New Visionary Chamber videos
I recently created 2 new videos (more like image collages) of 2 older artworks called "Visionary Chambers". They are miniature assemblage box dioramas, 14 of them so far. These boxes are immersive. They are created for individual viewing, so they are elusive to photograph. I am reluctant to talk much about their concept, as this changes for each piece and it is usually quite elaborate. In general, I conceive of them as contained "realms" similar to that which I have found in dreams and visions. Part of the goal of these works was to give such elusive dimensions (half-imaginary-half-hypereal) a concrete form, without loosing some of their intangible qualities.
Visionary Chamber 5: Wizard's Table
Visionary Chamber 6: Blue Chair
I admit this one is a bit creepy, but it was inspired by a true event: a rather unsettling yet very powerful experience related to my real-life exploration with the aforementioned realms. In a description from an older (2009) video of this box I wrote: "It is inspired in a series of mind-experiments were I launched from my blue living room chair, out of my body, into Other Space. There was a scary gate-keeper there which is depicted in this video. He and his whole family offered me a tea party and by then I had forgotten who I was. I almost stayed there forever, but fortunately I remembered my earthly existence just in time, and returned".
I now refer often to Other Space, which can only be described or depicted in metaphorical ways. I believe many others have described and depicted similar places, popular examples of which are Wonderland, Neverland, Narnia and many others. The mistake is to think that these are solely imaginary places, not realizing the metaphorical and liminal essence of the reality that these stories insinuate. There is something about the existence of a parallel world (right below our noses) that is a reocurring theme of many stories throughout the world. I believe, by means of personal experience, that such stories tell of a journey that any individual can undergo, but only once they have found an entryway. Falling in through a rabbithole or an old closet, entering through a crack on the wall or the crevice of a tree, crossing a mushroom ring, waterfall of mirror; these are some of the preferred methods ;)
But there are many more ways in which the persistent and seeking soul will find such delicious portals. For me, it is through my work.
Sweet Dreams!
AA11
Visionary Chamber 5: Wizard's Table
Visionary Chamber 6: Blue Chair
I admit this one is a bit creepy, but it was inspired by a true event: a rather unsettling yet very powerful experience related to my real-life exploration with the aforementioned realms. In a description from an older (2009) video of this box I wrote: "It is inspired in a series of mind-experiments were I launched from my blue living room chair, out of my body, into Other Space. There was a scary gate-keeper there which is depicted in this video. He and his whole family offered me a tea party and by then I had forgotten who I was. I almost stayed there forever, but fortunately I remembered my earthly existence just in time, and returned".
I now refer often to Other Space, which can only be described or depicted in metaphorical ways. I believe many others have described and depicted similar places, popular examples of which are Wonderland, Neverland, Narnia and many others. The mistake is to think that these are solely imaginary places, not realizing the metaphorical and liminal essence of the reality that these stories insinuate. There is something about the existence of a parallel world (right below our noses) that is a reocurring theme of many stories throughout the world. I believe, by means of personal experience, that such stories tell of a journey that any individual can undergo, but only once they have found an entryway. Falling in through a rabbithole or an old closet, entering through a crack on the wall or the crevice of a tree, crossing a mushroom ring, waterfall of mirror; these are some of the preferred methods ;)
But there are many more ways in which the persistent and seeking soul will find such delicious portals. For me, it is through my work.
Sweet Dreams!
AA11
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Realm of HUMAZUMA
Some images from a work in progress called "Realm of Humazuma".
On a recent statement about this work I wrote:
"The body of work I am currently focusing on is another collection (or a conjunction) of objects, scenes and dioramas along the lines of previous bodies such as “POK Mummy Sites” and the “Visionary Chambers”. Like these works, “Realm of Humazuma” is an experiment in physicality, meta-physicality and the aesthetic experience. The work is being created mostly on paper, using paper, clays, pigments, ink, salt, sand, balsa wood and other materials. Much thought has gone into visualizing the work’s progression into a more immersive presentation. For now, humazuma is only a world in progress".
"Humazuma is a deity originally described by my six year-old son. Its realm is that of impermanence, natural cycles, ritualistic objects and arrangements; all interwoven through desolate island/desert/landscape/shrine scenes. Humazuma is, in a general sense, the God of flowing water, clay, erosion, vessels, markings and patterns, and certain specific man-made interventions, such as “alignments of things”. In its domain are objects such as sidewalk cracks, flower pots, clotheslines, holes, shadows, and dimensional portals. There is a fundamental simplicity in the surface appearance of the Realm of Humazuma, which allows me -and the viewer- for an easy entry, plenty of open interpretation, mystery and discovery. It is perhaps through the eyes of my son that I have recovered a desire to not take even the simplest of things for granted, to not put words on things as much, and just absorb them fully and openly as they arrive. This might be the most important consideration if one is interested in dwelling with the aesthetic experience whatsoever, is to not over-rationalize it".
Thanks for hanging out!
AA11
On a recent statement about this work I wrote:
"The body of work I am currently focusing on is another collection (or a conjunction) of objects, scenes and dioramas along the lines of previous bodies such as “POK Mummy Sites” and the “Visionary Chambers”. Like these works, “Realm of Humazuma” is an experiment in physicality, meta-physicality and the aesthetic experience. The work is being created mostly on paper, using paper, clays, pigments, ink, salt, sand, balsa wood and other materials. Much thought has gone into visualizing the work’s progression into a more immersive presentation. For now, humazuma is only a world in progress".
"Humazuma is a deity originally described by my six year-old son. Its realm is that of impermanence, natural cycles, ritualistic objects and arrangements; all interwoven through desolate island/desert/landscape/shrine scenes. Humazuma is, in a general sense, the God of flowing water, clay, erosion, vessels, markings and patterns, and certain specific man-made interventions, such as “alignments of things”. In its domain are objects such as sidewalk cracks, flower pots, clotheslines, holes, shadows, and dimensional portals. There is a fundamental simplicity in the surface appearance of the Realm of Humazuma, which allows me -and the viewer- for an easy entry, plenty of open interpretation, mystery and discovery. It is perhaps through the eyes of my son that I have recovered a desire to not take even the simplest of things for granted, to not put words on things as much, and just absorb them fully and openly as they arrive. This might be the most important consideration if one is interested in dwelling with the aesthetic experience whatsoever, is to not over-rationalize it".
Thanks for hanging out!
AA11
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