In our October issue, we invited writer and artist K.S. Hogg to share a stream-of-thought piece from her creative practice; an intimate glimpse into how one woman explores art, science, solitude, and meaning. Consider this a reflection, an experiment, and a reminder that art itself can be wellness. – Amy Goldberg, editor-in-chief
I have this idea for a sculpture that illustrates Spacetime. Thank you, Einstein and all of the other scientists, for putting this idea into my head. So, what does it look like? I haven’t been able to find a reasonable image of the 4th dimension. So, I’m going to build it. I started making a stretch of fabric using wire on a grid. Days worth of a kind of mathematical mindset starts off repetitive, but then in between there’s a kind of awakening. The process seems very much connected to natural phenomena. The idea of the fabric once completed is that it will warp when a body rests on it. The scientists prefer to use balls that show an indentation on the fabric. They are trying to make the cosmos. I am trying to make the cosmos. I’ve included two woven clay pieces. Yes clay. Clay is heavy but fired clay with squares of space between the weave, is light weight. I’ll keep you posted once I fit all the pieces together. I also made balls. I might need them.
Hanna Arendt was an interesting, very bright human being. Her morals were her own. She was pretty clear-sighted except for her idea that a woman shouldn’t raise her voice to a man. Maybe her message should have been that a woman shouldn’t raise their voice to anyone. Only to other women? Only to the cosmos. She was a woman of her time. A real human relationship is outside the realm of art. Art is clear thinking. There are no boundaries. A relationship has boundaries.
It’s a small town and it is fall, so we’ve started an Artist and Makers group. The group begins, grass roots – 2 people, then 3, then 4, now 5. Where will it go? Math, art, painting, collage. Every week there’s something. Pinhole camera pictures with embroidery. Perfect!
The sounds outside are leaves scattering across the roofs and walkways. The wind is up, the air is cooling. The sounds are unusual because the windows are still seasonally closed. This wind and the gravity are all part of this new piece of art. It’s layers of real experience. The lonely artist trying to make layers that build up an understanding. I saw the work of Marisol recently. We reached an understanding. Several years ago (covid) I read Lynda Barry’s book Making Comics. I followed the course she laid out. It gave me great insight into my neighbours since I had made them my comic characters. Something changed in the world after that. The neighbours started to be friendlier without ever knowing why.
I learnt the lyrics to Just like Tom Thumb’s Blues so I can sing it while I walk the trails around the ponds where I live. It’s fall. Hardly anyone is around except the dog walkers. I’m not on the dogs’ schedule. You know the routine. So, it’s me singing. I started listening to Dylan records, one by one. Again. Really great lyrics right through. He’s so right that the lyrics mean different things as time goes by. For them to still be great lyrics is exceptional. I’ve been digging listening to a Canadian musician, Bahamas. Alternative/Indie. Is he independent? Well, he’s not mainstream. Mainstream equals not Art. What is Art? Art is a willingness to believe in the unknown. It’s at least a willingness to explore personal thoughts that might be shareable. Some of my greatest experiences have been sharing artists’ expressions. It’s so illuminating. Sometimes it’s the art and the environment coming together. Then – Kapow!
