barack-o-lantern

I guess Palin would be scarier, actually......

New work...

...most likely finished. But with enough strands left hanging to explore in the next piece.

Topic: Who do you talk to about art?

Obviously I talk to students about art, a lot. But that's not really the answer I'm looking for here. Who do I talk to about my art?

a. Mary/Josh

b. a few other people I run into around DM, but that's pretty infrequent

c. Christy

d. Alex

e. people I meet at receptions for exhibits, usually ones that I'm in



I think I need to talk to more people about art.....

in my ears

Chris Knight: Heart of Stone
The Backsliders: Southern Lines
Son Volt: Acoustic Radio Sessions '95-'96

This Son Volt stuff is amazing. I think we all have certain music that defines us, because of where we were (physically and otherwise) in our lives when we discovered it. Even as my taste evolves and I keep discovering new music, the original incarnation of SV from the mid-'90s will always be MY music.

Topic: Take Photos. Discuss.

I couldn't decide which photo that i took this evening to use, so I'm including both. They're related, anyway.

For those who don't know, about four years ago I bought the house that I grew up in. So the things that surround me now are largely the things that were familiar to me at an early age as well. This number "36" is on my garage. I don't know why, except that it was on the old garage that used to stand in the same place. I guess it's more accurate to say I don't know why it was on the old garage. As a kid, I used to look at it (on the old garage) and imagine that the former owners must have kept a racecar in there.

The other photo is a 1971 Chevelle that is sitting in my next-door neighbor's backyard. It's not a real SS car, even though it has the trim. And the only reason I know that is that when I was growing up, the car belonged to a kid who lived on the other side of my house (and I remember it before it had the trim). It appears to need some attention in its current location.

in my ears

Richmond Fontaine: Lost Son
Bloc Party: Silent Alarm
Bright Eyes: I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
my latest mix ("Bury The Nineties Under a Pile of Loud Guitars That May or May Not Be In Tune")


The Bright Eyes had been lost for a while. I found it this morning and was pleasantly reminded of how good it is. Not a huge Bright Eyes fan in general, but this record is awesome.

Topic: find good art and talk about it

This piece is titled "MPD" and is by the artist Grant Barnhart. I'm really drawn to his style of working, probably because it relies on a collage-like composition of imagery similar to mine (even if the imagery is much different). There is also a strong reliance on the process of drawing, which is obviously a plus in my book as well. His work has a very contemporary (almost trendy) look that would make it fit with much of the "pop surrealism" that is hot right now (see Juxtapoz magazine, etc.), but to me it transcends that trend by not relying on cliched kinds of images. I don't know anything about the guy, but I get the sense that he might be one of those artists who is well-versed in history and tradition, but isn't afraid to keep his eyes open to the present (and we need more of those people).

For more of his work, see www.okokgallery.com.

Topic: How do you feel about art-making right now?

I think somehow as artists we all are familiar with the "if only I had more time to make art" sentiment. It's an easy trap to fall into; you're busy, you have things that you literally HAVE to do, and making art is somewhere further down the list. The obvious response is that you have to force yourself to do it anyway, right? We all know this, but we also know that forced art without inspiration or ideas is art that sucks.

So what do you do? You figure out the strategies that work for you. For me, I don't try to force myself to make art, but instead to look at or read things that inspire me. These things then are the catalyst for my art-making - in other words, when I look at good art (and by that I mean the things that I wish I had done), I can't keep from working on my own stuff. I have to teach, and I have to take care of my family, and I have to pay my bills, but I will make art at the same time as those required activities if I have to. So the only reason I end up doing it is because I know myself well enough to know what will cause the desired activity to happen - so I flip that switch. Sounds simple, I know. Which brings me to my other point.....

It doesn't get any easier to find time to make art. You graduate from college, and you get a full-time job, and other things take the place of the things that currently keep you busy. DO NOT COUNT ON HAVING MORE TIME FOR ART THAN YOU DO NOW. It won't happen. In fact, you'll have less. So figure out what you need to do to flip that switch, and use it when you need to use it. It may be as simple as knowing where to (or having the resources to) look at the kind of art that inspires you.

And that, my friends, is my long-winded post about how I feel about art-making right now. Since school started up again, I haven't made any art. That was starting to bother me, so today I pulled out a couple magazines that I like, flipped through them, and voila: I'm sitting in class, watching my students draw while I cut out some stuff to collage onto a piece of paper.

an explanation, in advance

I'm requiring my ARTS 450 (Senior Seminar) students to blog about certain topics that are assigned periodically. My hope is that this will encourage a different kind of dialogue than is possible in the traditional class discussion format. It's not intended to replace the class conversations, but I'm certain that some things (for some people, anyway) are easier to post than to say. As usual, it's an experiment.

Which brings me to this explanation: the students have asked me to respond (via this blog) to the same topics that I give them. Sounds fair to me. So in the future, when you see the heading "Topic:" at the start of a post, that's a class pseudo-discussion in progress.

in my ears

Doug Burr: On Promenade


I've always been fairly aware of the production qualities of recorded music - it's just something I think about when I'm listening. Textures, balance, even how many different sounds are going on in relatively simple songs. I vividly remember, though, when I started thinking more about how nontraditional (postmodern?) production could affect songs that might otherwise be classified as very straightforward folk music. Two albums in particular contributed to that awareness: Richard Buckner's "Devotion and Doubt" and Chris Mills's "Every Night Fight For Your Life". It happens that both of those came out in the mid '90s, which was a very formative period for me, musically and artistically I guess.

I don't really know anything about Doug Burr, but I came across this album on some blog that I don't recall the name of now. It's folk music (just ask iTunes), but the production is stellar, and it's the textural/ambient/slightly dissonant stuff that makes this such a great listen. If you aren't afraid to admit that you like pretty songs, but you love it when they're buried in some really interesting soundscapes, well.......this one's for you (and me).

The last gasp of summer?

Or the first tangible taste of fall? Either way, I like it. If you ever get the chance to stomp grapes at your local winery, I highly recommend it.

Later in the day: grilling, a fire in the bowl, and some bootleg sparkler/firework things that Alex and Katie picked up just south of the border. Put it all together, and what do you get? Labor Day Weekend, of course!

*art*

(click image if you can't read the details)

Just finished this piece this morning, which will be featured in the upcoming show at Zanzibar's. I'll post the flyer with details soon, but I do know the opening reception will be held on Friday night, September 5 from 6-9 PM.

Rain or no rain........

......the farm work must go on.

in my ears

Oxford Collapse: Bits
Ben Weaver: The Ax in the Oak
Bellwether: Home Late

Getting Ready for the Show....

Upcoming Exhibit

Coming soon: an exhibit of my recent work at Zanzibar's Coffee on Ingersoll in Des Moines. I believe it will run from August 31 through early October. There will likely be an opening reception, but I don't have details yet - I'll post them when I do. As for the show, it should include a couple of pieces that are from the past year or so, and a few that are brand new. Watch the website (www.aarontinder.com) for images of the new pieces soon.

summer and longer

working on some new art/playing music/finally found a drummer (and he's actually good)/riding bikes and walking with the kids/new carpet upstairs/gotta get the garage door fixed/building a new bass (just need to get a pickup for it)/reading lots including spin's 20 years of alternative music/need to get to the zoo to see the elephants before they're gone

I need a drummer.

Isn't there anyone out there who wants to play drums in a band just for fun, and who actually has good taste in music? And who has drums, and a PA, and a practice space? And maybe some contacts to get gigs? And maybe a big bass amp? And......

in my ears

man, there's a lot of good music out there......


Hayes Carll: Trouble in Mind
The Wheat Pool: Township
My Bloody Valentine: Loveless

in my ears

Jr. Juggernaut: Ghost Poison
Rodney Parker: The Lonesome Dirge
Justin Townes Earle: The Good Life

downsizing

In my ongoing effort to make the outward signs of life match the inward more closely, I have magically transformed the Jeep into a Honda Civic. I anxiously await the results of the first gas-mileage test.......

War Stories

(Reader's note: the following is not really relevant to the typical content of this blog. It is merely something that is in my mind today, and sometimes those things need to be said to no one in particular.)

I've been having dreams lately about Bob. Bob was a really close friend for the years I spent in DeKalb (grad school), and although we didn't stay in touch well after I moved, it hit me really hard when he died a few years ago. I don't really know why I related to him so well, especially since he was quite a bit older than me and came from a very different background. Yet I remain haunted by the things he told me about his experience in Vietnam, and I think that my friendship with him is the main reason that I'm somewhat obsessed with the sociological fallout from that war.

Bob was an artist, and although he was working on his undergraduate degree when I knew him, his life experience made him gravitate toward the grad students more. Some of the best memories I have of that time period are of Bob pounding on my studio door late at night, a couple beers in hand, just wanting to sit and talk for a while. I like to think that he appreciated the differences between us the same way I did. And I like to think that he was really happy in the time shortly before he passed away; I know that he had found more peace in his personal life anyway.

The things that remain, tangibly or otherwise: the late lamented '89 Dodge Caravan, the few pieces of his artwork that I have, the unrolled cigarette paper whenever he was finished with a smoke, cassette tapes ("nicotine and waiting....just wanting to keep it alive..."), and the image of the flag being handed to his wife at the funeral.

So maybe the dreams are just to remind me. It's good to reinforce the memories, good or bad, right?

in my ears

Patterson Hood: Killers and Stars
Collin Herring: Past Life Crashing
James McMurtry: Just Us Kids


"Hurricane Party" from the James McMurtry album is probably one of the best songs of 2008. It's going to find its way onto a mix, I'm sure.

in my ears

Rolling Stones: Hot Rocks 1964-71
Iron and Wine: The Shepherd's Dog
Drive-By Truckers: Brighter Than Creation's Dark

That Truckers album is pretty diverse. I never really got into them until recently; the whole "Southern Rock" stigma turned me off. I've since explored their earlier stuff, and about half of it is REALLY good. This new disc is mostly good, if all over the map. In my opinion, it's one to listen to as an "album", not isolated tracks.

form, content, meaning

It's very difficult to get students (even smart ones) to understand how to develop ideas or concepts. The conventional wisdom is that you always get the idea first, then figure out how to turn it into a visual product. What I've come to realize in my own work is that sometimes it happens in reverse: you use images, then at a later time it becomes more clear to you why you're drawn to those kinds of images. And maybe sometimes you don't completely figure it out, but that's okay too. However, I hesitate to tell this kind of thing to an undergraduate student; they have to be really ready to hear and understand it, or it can be counterproductive.

in my ears

Superchunk: Cup of Sand (rarities)
REM: Accelerate

The new REM has been hyped to death (a return to form! rock! they're back!). Turns out it actually is pretty good. If you came of age with these guys in the '80s and '90s, then you'll probably like this one. Kind of a cross between the sounds of "Life's Rich Pageant" and "Automatic for the People" (their last good album, in my opinion).

new stuff

nothing is more energizing than finishing new work that you actually feel is good. i will sleep well tonight.

virtual venting

(AKA righteous e-indignation):

My job is NOT to teach people how to make something that looks like the public's perception of "art". My job is to teach them how to make something that provokes a response. That response may be visceral, or it may be a slow tide. It may be soothing; it may be shocking. It will likely be both, or neither. It will not involve color, form and subject matter by necessity, although these are likely byproducts.

in my ears

Levon Helm: Dirt Farmer (thanks, dad)
Red House Painters: Songs for a Blue Guitar
Archers of Loaf: All the Nations Airports

thundersnow and the blues

Caught a Kelly Joe Phelps show at the Vaudeville Mews last night. Good stuff - acoustic folk/blues with very intricate fingerpicking. Had heard of him before but didn't really know his stuff; just needed to get out and hear some live music. Tried to go see the Conrad Bakker show at the downtown Art Cener beforehand, but apparently they close at 4:00. Oops.

So today I wake up to thunder and wind, and before you know it, there's some kind of freaky hail/ice/snow mix coming down. I picked a good day to be driving around all morning visiting student teachers.

in my ears

For some reason, I have always found comfort in documenting the things I do. You know, making lists or charts or whatever else might serve the purpose of marking that I existed on a particular day. (Insert necessary comment about the obviousness of blogging here.) And one of the things I do is listen (I mean really listen) to a lot of music. So the "in my ears" heading will indicate a list of what I've deliberately listened to in the past day or two.

Uncle Tupelo: March 16-20, 1992
Mississippi John Hurt: Vanguard Visionaries collection
my own "March 07" mix (includes Bound Stems, Antlerand, Varnaline...)
Austin Collins: Roses are Black

note to self:

use blog more often.



check back soon. www.aarontinder.com will be online in a matter of days, at which point this blog will be updated more regularly. not every day, just more often than before.