http://www.ashesandsnow.org/en/exhibition/journey.php

Not that I’ve spent some time pouring over your “blog” I’m intrigued. A long time Mac fanatic, yours is the first site that has intriqued me into thinking “I should be doing this as well.” Where did you get the idea for this critter and is there some introductory locations (URLs) I should look over. My site is pretty much static and to be honest, I’m not sure I could get back into it and change anything. I’m not a techie (and don’t really want to use my retirement toward that end anyway) but have a number of varied interests (the latest and most expensive — outside firearms, is digital photography — just now trying to decide between the 5D and a 1DS Mk II and keep vaciliating). I enjoy much about your orgainizational scheme and appears that you can add as you like/go. Is there some structural limit to the blog?

Thanks again. Hope to exchange a few more notes and hear back from you as you have a chance. I’m in the Redmond, WA area (home to the MS folks) and it’s a beautiful sunny day today.

Thanks,

Bob

Our showing was packed, and everyone I saw there was inspired by the still, video, and spoken messages. Gregory explained to us very passionately why and how he was able to capture the essence of the natural world.

I also had friends commenting prior to my attending on how they didn’t like the show - the main reason? “all the humans’ eyes were closed”. To that I say that there were startling moments in the videos where the eyes were opened, which added for me to the drama and effectiveness. However, from the closed eyes in the stills I immediately read “deference” to the animals and was happy to have that confirmed by Gregory himself, using that very word while speaking to us.

I have no understanding of someone who sees fit to criticize someone’s art, i can only imagine that they must have had their originality questioned or criticized somewhere down their road and have taken that as a ticket to “pay it backward”.

I was extremely moved by the solitude and peace that was invoked in me by the exhibit. Also, Gregory explained that the fabric used several times in both the exhibit itself and outside in the souvenir area was made from cloth teabags that were boiled after being “ruined” for public consumption. That was just another piece of the puzzle. Using something that wouldn’t have been used elsewhere or for its original purpose, like the traincars in the structure. Bravo, Gregory.

It’s urban legend that the animals were beaten. Just goes to show you how hateful some people can be.

I wonder what these same (intollerant?) people would have thought of the first Dada exhibit, or a current performance art piece, or a play or movie that was stretching the boundaries of what we call “normal?”

Colbert had a vision of what he wanted this show to be. I’m pretty sure the results are close to what his original vision was. I give him a huge amount of credit for having the vision, for rounding up the support necessary to make it happen, and for keeping it going around the world.

In this country, anyway, we have freedom of expression which means that anyone can put together a show at any scale and set it out there for people to see. One might say Disneyworld is such a show, as is Las Vegas, as is Cirque de Sole (Canadian but set up in this country). And, going to things like these is a voluntary activity. Don’t want to go, don’t go. Don’t like it, learn from it and avoid things like it (or go to more…). But, the kind of hateful reaction that people have for things they don’t like reminds me of the fact that Bill O’Reilly is the most popular talk show host on TV. I don’t watch him or much TV at all but I know who and what he is and I think the world would be a better place without him. I’m sure if he saw the show he’d want Colbert sent to Guantanamo as an enemy combatant.

Joseph McCarthy comes to mind, not just with Bill O’Reilly but also with the kind of hateful reaction to this show and Colbert. Of course, many of the people reacting are too young to remember and don’t know history.

Okay, my rant is over (for the time being). Thanks for the great comment RC and you too have a great day.

Just today, I went to see the show at the Santa Monica Pier. I found it, in general, to be quite intriguing. The architecture was pretty amazing at this site and the visual display was fulfilling in that gutteral sense (you’re not really sure why or how, but it just sort of grabs at you)

Here’s where I ran into a bit of a quandry. As an artist (very broad sense of the word) myself, I have been for years, and continue to struggle, to find out both what is inspiring to me, and how to inspire others. As well, I have worked on overcoming the fear of putting those thing so personal to me, out there for others to experience, and more probably, “judge.”
At breakfast this morning, I mentioned to a friend on the phone that I was on my way to see the exhibit. The first words out of his mouth were “don’t go.” He went on to explain that he went in for ten minutes and then got his money back because it was all a scam, that the animals were beaten and trained to pose for the shots, and the whole thing is meant to further lull the tranquilized masses into appreciating something “just because someone said it was art.”
Despite all that I went, but found that I couldn’t escape his words while I was there, trying to leave them behind, and just see what I saw. Trying to force myself to see some of that marvelous inspiration to prove myself justified, or even just to spite him. I can’t really say that I did.

However, I came away from the visit with an alterior perspective on art. I don’t think the art itself is right or wrong, it just IS. And I think to avoid further boxing ourselves in as a society, we have to allow expression without inspiration. I guess everyone just expects that if you pay to go into a museum or show, that you will walk out a better, more well rounded, more inspired person. Well, I think THAT’S up to you as a person, not the artist.

I don’t know this man Colbert. I just saw some billboards around town, and this funky building down at the beach.
I thought that some of the dialogue in the film was just level with “cheezy.” (i think the visuals said what needed to be said w/o the ‘these are my letters to you…’ stuff, etc. etc.)
But whether or not he grew up with a silver spoon-filled mouth, i don’t know. Either way, I feel he has just as much right to say something as the rest of us.

And what is he saying? I only know what I “heard” there. Whether some of the animals were trained, or the exhibit itself was entirely inspiring and worth admission, i guess can be argued by those who aspire to do just that. Fine. For me, I’m working everyday to improve my flawed self, and it’s hard, but i love my flawed life, and this flawed society. And this exhibit, if nothing else, served to remind ME that that connection to nature is so precious, and so important to both our continued understanding of oursevles and our survival. So at the end…worth it.

People’s individuality and opinions are hopefully always cherished, but it seems today that it has become much easier to call on the negative than to even try to find a postive influence. So much easier to tear down someone else’s “art” than to risk disappointment, and the challenging fear that comes with setting your own thoughts and dreams out on a public platter for the world to see.

I’m sorry for the people who felt that their time was wasted in being at this exhibit. As a believer that things in our lives are happening for specific reasons, i offer a hope, that those people may set aside for a moment that “need to constantly be entertained,” and look to see if there was anything else at all that could have been gained by being there.

This cosmic life can be an amazing thing when we allow it to be.

No apologies for the long rant, but thanks for listening.
Have a great day

“this show is clearly more hype than it seems.” How much hype does it seem?

“national geographic at its worst!” I don’t think the artist was trying to emulate NG nor make this show about NG travel photography, not sure why you want to make that connection. Is the only place you’ve seen elephants in NG photos? Ever see any Indian art?

I think it’s fascinating that people either love this show (me, for instance) or hate it passionately (you, for instance) but I’m not sure where the hate passion is coming from. If I saw it and disliked it I’d consider it one of many things I’ve seen in my life that didn’t work for me and leave it at that. It seems that people who dislike this show want to burn Colbert on a cross. Can you explain a bit more why such passionate dislike? Thanks for the comment, by the way.