In my attempt to be a little classier, from here on out I will be posting at:
juliecongo.wordpress.com
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
Revised artist statement
In about 3 months, I am much more clear on my message as an artist.
Still a work in progress; the intro definitely needs a bit more tying together of the concepts, but I think this is much improved.
A true artist hates this world so much that he makes a new one. I was born into the amassed post baby boomer generation. Raised in the Informative Age, it’s not counter intuitive that my work wants you to take a step back from future. To fully acknowledge the present, and pay homage to the past. What you have here. Who you have here. And what you’ve done here, so far.
Several projects I’ve pursued reflect upon my state of mind in that time frame; the challenges, morals, the people, are among many other specific life experiences. In my most recent series entitled “Moving On”, I documented the process of my mother leaving the home she’s kept for my family for over 17 years. My photographs depict the tribulations of my family also dealing with other changes in life; influenced by personal issues and the economic situation that most all American homes are currently facing. The photos act as documents of this whirlwind, investigating micro-moments that may have gone by unnoticed. As well, they also act as fetish items, archiving the home I grew up in that I will not longer see. This work, based around nostalgia and emotive value, aims to connect the viewer with that side in them-self.
Each photograph I take is an emotional experience for me. Finding something beautiful in the mundane is pure joy. Capturing my families move is bittersweet. But the work I create is not limited to documentation. When staging photography, I prefer self-portraiture to recreate a moment that is something more of a dream. These emotional experiences, with deep rooted concepts, allow me to explore my own identity as an artist and as an individual.
My goal is to tell a story with an interesting history behind it. It may not be fully realized, but my hope is by using light to reveal and trace its form, I can understand.
Photos from said series, "Moving On" will be coming soon.
As well as a new computer hopefully, so that my work-flow doesn't need to consist of a school lab until 9:30 pm.
Still a work in progress; the intro definitely needs a bit more tying together of the concepts, but I think this is much improved.
A true artist hates this world so much that he makes a new one. I was born into the amassed post baby boomer generation. Raised in the Informative Age, it’s not counter intuitive that my work wants you to take a step back from future. To fully acknowledge the present, and pay homage to the past. What you have here. Who you have here. And what you’ve done here, so far.
Several projects I’ve pursued reflect upon my state of mind in that time frame; the challenges, morals, the people, are among many other specific life experiences. In my most recent series entitled “Moving On”, I documented the process of my mother leaving the home she’s kept for my family for over 17 years. My photographs depict the tribulations of my family also dealing with other changes in life; influenced by personal issues and the economic situation that most all American homes are currently facing. The photos act as documents of this whirlwind, investigating micro-moments that may have gone by unnoticed. As well, they also act as fetish items, archiving the home I grew up in that I will not longer see. This work, based around nostalgia and emotive value, aims to connect the viewer with that side in them-self.
Each photograph I take is an emotional experience for me. Finding something beautiful in the mundane is pure joy. Capturing my families move is bittersweet. But the work I create is not limited to documentation. When staging photography, I prefer self-portraiture to recreate a moment that is something more of a dream. These emotional experiences, with deep rooted concepts, allow me to explore my own identity as an artist and as an individual.
My goal is to tell a story with an interesting history behind it. It may not be fully realized, but my hope is by using light to reveal and trace its form, I can understand.
Photos from said series, "Moving On" will be coming soon.
As well as a new computer hopefully, so that my work-flow doesn't need to consist of a school lab until 9:30 pm.
Monday, May 3, 2010
old ju-juice
Many times I question myself, both as an artist, and as an individual. I question my feelings, and my thoughts. It can get very dismal leading a life you can't remember. Like flipping through a magazine you've already read, but it's in the bathroom so you pick it up again. Sometimes you find a tidbit of something you can't remember from before, and it's refreshing. Mostly, however, we find ourselves re-reading the terrible garbage that's so processed that
"Shit, I'm jealous,"
says white bread.
I feel badly for feeling so bad.
"Be positive!"
'They' are the people who don't think like me. They are the ones you see on facebook, posting status' about tasks that sound like vacations.
"Busy day, gonna tan, get lunch with my bestie, then my Wednesday shows."
This is simple existence. And I'll admit sometimes, I am jealous. I could never lead the life of mediocrity and be so happy as they are.
This I think, is what artists are made of. We're all miserable, we find it hard to find joy in average life. We're constantly looking for excitement because we are complex, and choosey. We can't turn off our minds. We have ADD. We have anxiety. Since the end of childhood we've started brooding about how boring/disappointing the real world is,
"Julie, what do you want to be when you grow up?"
"I want to be a flower."
"Uh..yea..yes. Yes you can be anything you want."
which only pushed us to create our own world. A true artist hates this world so much that we make a new one.
Through photography, illustrating, painting, writing, dancing, singing, etc, we are able to create.
An artistic creation, by Julie Congo definition, is a stylized representation of a view on either our surroundings or a completely different place/idea based on reality.
The god principle,
"I made this! It exists because of me. Oh you want water, you got it!" ...Poof!
And it doesn't cry or poop. We manifest our own world, even as it views the bleak existence. We manifest our own identity inside this world. A photographer who documents the streets of New York can feel satisfied after witnessing a glimmer of beauty in something overlooked (not limited to 'they', because we all see differently) knowing there is something just in this world, and by photographing they have encapsulated this fondness, creation. In another instance a person takes voyeuristic photos of 'dull' pop-culture, documenting the thing they despise; and yet it remains a creation and something to feel empowered by because essentially, once you view something from an objective point of view and intentionally point out these issues, it's as if you're immediately above it. Stand-up comics for instance are always pointing out the obvious and mundane, and for this they get applause and praise. They created this stylized vision of our world, and therefore they get the credit as creator.
Which relates to how it establishes ourselves, our own identity.
"If I'm viewing them, I can't be one of them."
We aren't who we are because of our past or bright bright future, we are only who we are because of our present. The way we perceive ourselves right at this second, right...now.
Artists are always artists even if we haven't physically made anything in a while,
"What have you been working on?...."
because we will always have our minds, our perception. We are always internally creating.
This is the reason why there is nothing more frustrating than being an artist with a block. We're sad and the world sucks as it is, so if we can't even create, than there's really nothing else going for us. You feel lost without your world. You'll starve for inspiration, and when that comes, and your mind explodes with visions, it's an orgasm. Then we can tap into our new old present past anything world at any time. The rest of the time we just try to remain comfortable, best we can. Which is why most of us are escapists, readily using drugs and alcohol to block out that which has disappointed. Not to say everything non-creation centric is a huge bummer. Myself personally, I can always tap into a few good people in this world that can bring me much joy, but I'm talking about how we feel about ourselves. And we should never let other people define our own existence. That's another issue with 'they'.
You can think of this how you like, I think it's a blessing. To be blessed with not-accepting, to be blessed with perspective, and essentially we are all 'alt'. Let's just accept that we're pretentious. We think we know better than what everyone else does, and it's true. We're able to see this world is so ridiculous in the wrong way. This isn't how we saw it as tots. Why not continue the period of life where we had no inhibitions? Why not make it ridiculous in a fun way? Ridiculously absurd. Ridiculously not scientifically, metaphysically, or physically possible.
We're innately unique.
________________________
Sooooo....
How is any of this relevant? Well, frankly, some of my Julie juice is tasting like OJ that's been sitting out a while. It's still OJ, but...
I'm really looking forward to the semester ending. It's really been a drain on my brain's full function. I've lost my daily daydreams, the time I used to have to gain new inspiration, to write something like this! (I'm missing class right now). My brain has been crowded, and it's mostly nonsense busy-work.
The light is there though. I see it, it's blue and it's calling me..it looks a lot like one of those summer skies on old film, it's a little greenish in color, and you can tell it's really calm and sunny there. And quiet, it's fucking quiet!
I did some great work yesterday that is an idea that I had been toying with for a while, and its given me enough Ju-juice to last the rest of the semester...
So here we go.....
"Shit, I'm jealous,"
says white bread.
I feel badly for feeling so bad.
"Be positive!"
'They' are the people who don't think like me. They are the ones you see on facebook, posting status' about tasks that sound like vacations.
"Busy day, gonna tan, get lunch with my bestie, then my Wednesday shows."
This is simple existence. And I'll admit sometimes, I am jealous. I could never lead the life of mediocrity and be so happy as they are.
This I think, is what artists are made of. We're all miserable, we find it hard to find joy in average life. We're constantly looking for excitement because we are complex, and choosey. We can't turn off our minds. We have ADD. We have anxiety. Since the end of childhood we've started brooding about how boring/disappointing the real world is,
"Julie, what do you want to be when you grow up?"
"I want to be a flower."
"Uh..yea..yes. Yes you can be anything you want."
which only pushed us to create our own world. A true artist hates this world so much that we make a new one.
Through photography, illustrating, painting, writing, dancing, singing, etc, we are able to create.
An artistic creation, by Julie Congo definition, is a stylized representation of a view on either our surroundings or a completely different place/idea based on reality.
The god principle,
"I made this! It exists because of me. Oh you want water, you got it!" ...Poof!
And it doesn't cry or poop. We manifest our own world, even as it views the bleak existence. We manifest our own identity inside this world. A photographer who documents the streets of New York can feel satisfied after witnessing a glimmer of beauty in something overlooked (not limited to 'they', because we all see differently) knowing there is something just in this world, and by photographing they have encapsulated this fondness, creation. In another instance a person takes voyeuristic photos of 'dull' pop-culture, documenting the thing they despise; and yet it remains a creation and something to feel empowered by because essentially, once you view something from an objective point of view and intentionally point out these issues, it's as if you're immediately above it. Stand-up comics for instance are always pointing out the obvious and mundane, and for this they get applause and praise. They created this stylized vision of our world, and therefore they get the credit as creator.
Which relates to how it establishes ourselves, our own identity.
"If I'm viewing them, I can't be one of them."
We aren't who we are because of our past or bright bright future, we are only who we are because of our present. The way we perceive ourselves right at this second, right...now.
Artists are always artists even if we haven't physically made anything in a while,
"What have you been working on?...."
because we will always have our minds, our perception. We are always internally creating.
This is the reason why there is nothing more frustrating than being an artist with a block. We're sad and the world sucks as it is, so if we can't even create, than there's really nothing else going for us. You feel lost without your world. You'll starve for inspiration, and when that comes, and your mind explodes with visions, it's an orgasm. Then we can tap into our new old present past anything world at any time. The rest of the time we just try to remain comfortable, best we can. Which is why most of us are escapists, readily using drugs and alcohol to block out that which has disappointed. Not to say everything non-creation centric is a huge bummer. Myself personally, I can always tap into a few good people in this world that can bring me much joy, but I'm talking about how we feel about ourselves. And we should never let other people define our own existence. That's another issue with 'they'.
You can think of this how you like, I think it's a blessing. To be blessed with not-accepting, to be blessed with perspective, and essentially we are all 'alt'. Let's just accept that we're pretentious. We think we know better than what everyone else does, and it's true. We're able to see this world is so ridiculous in the wrong way. This isn't how we saw it as tots. Why not continue the period of life where we had no inhibitions? Why not make it ridiculous in a fun way? Ridiculously absurd. Ridiculously not scientifically, metaphysically, or physically possible.
We're innately unique.
________________________
Sooooo....
How is any of this relevant? Well, frankly, some of my Julie juice is tasting like OJ that's been sitting out a while. It's still OJ, but...
I'm really looking forward to the semester ending. It's really been a drain on my brain's full function. I've lost my daily daydreams, the time I used to have to gain new inspiration, to write something like this! (I'm missing class right now). My brain has been crowded, and it's mostly nonsense busy-work.
The light is there though. I see it, it's blue and it's calling me..it looks a lot like one of those summer skies on old film, it's a little greenish in color, and you can tell it's really calm and sunny there. And quiet, it's fucking quiet!
I did some great work yesterday that is an idea that I had been toying with for a while, and its given me enough Ju-juice to last the rest of the semester...
So here we go.....
Monday, April 26, 2010
Down in DUMBO.
"Down in DUMBO"
DUMBO Brooklyn is currently in disarray, undergoing tons of construction and renovation. The streets are bleak, tractor lined and dust-filled.
This inspired me to shoot an ironic twist on this location with tons of "fun" props and colors. Meanwhile, this girl ends up lost, confused, and out of luck. It describes my style and personality pretty well. Full of contradictions.
Model: Brittany LaBella
Clothing supplied by: Urban Outfitters
Balloons: Balloon Saloon, TriBeCa
Special Thanks to the men at Old Fulton St Garage.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Refurbished Fashion
April 17th
__________________
to be continued..
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Nude Photoshoot
3/5/10, Chris
Shot with P40+ w/ Phase One Digital Back.
On March 5th 2010, I experienced 12 hours of manual labor...technical labor...creative labor.
I love this stuff.
For a class I was assigned to shoot a male nude within a group, each of us taking turns shooting, assisting, gophering, teching (working with Phase One camera P40+ tethered to Capture One software) and general trial and error that would occur throughout the day.
I've shot a male nude once before, and all I knew was that my photos were not going to look like that again. There's this tendency towards overly sexual ideas with nudity in photography...flexing and touching, bedroom eyes, and this very work usually is shot without any actual crude exposure. We're all aware the anticipation is usually more alluring than what is really there....but..
More so than that, America wants it's beautiful purity to remain, with the assistance of censorship laws, traditional Christian values, double standards, et cetera. No matter what our parents did in the groovy generation, all of these ideals made it through to today. And yet, this is all crap. To America, there is no problem with "secretly" getting dirtier and dirtier, you know when you look really REALLY close you see it. Just keep zooming, like a David Lynch film, and there it is.
Either way, this time around, I made a point to create imagery that focused on the aspect of vulnerability that comes with being nude. As well, I played around with the idea of turning his body into something more of a creature, versus human. Creatures are always naked. I did not pay much attention to where his privates were swaying, to me it was less relevant since I'm not creating 'sexual imagery'. The nude body is natural, and it's just honest. No secrets here.
Shot with P40+ w/ Phase One Digital Back.
On March 5th 2010, I experienced 12 hours of manual labor...technical labor...creative labor.
I love this stuff.
For a class I was assigned to shoot a male nude within a group, each of us taking turns shooting, assisting, gophering, teching (working with Phase One camera P40+ tethered to Capture One software) and general trial and error that would occur throughout the day.
I've shot a male nude once before, and all I knew was that my photos were not going to look like that again. There's this tendency towards overly sexual ideas with nudity in photography...flexing and touching, bedroom eyes, and this very work usually is shot without any actual crude exposure. We're all aware the anticipation is usually more alluring than what is really there....but..
More so than that, America wants it's beautiful purity to remain, with the assistance of censorship laws, traditional Christian values, double standards, et cetera. No matter what our parents did in the groovy generation, all of these ideals made it through to today. And yet, this is all crap. To America, there is no problem with "secretly" getting dirtier and dirtier, you know when you look really REALLY close you see it. Just keep zooming, like a David Lynch film, and there it is.
Either way, this time around, I made a point to create imagery that focused on the aspect of vulnerability that comes with being nude. As well, I played around with the idea of turning his body into something more of a creature, versus human. Creatures are always naked. I did not pay much attention to where his privates were swaying, to me it was less relevant since I'm not creating 'sexual imagery'. The nude body is natural, and it's just honest. No secrets here.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Location Logistics, "Before and After"
238 E. 33rd St
Apt 11
New York, NY
10016
"Before and After" was a great opportunity for me to utilize a space that is familiar to me, and no longer will be. My sister was moving out of her apartment, and originally I assumed I could shoot it before the move, and then afterward. When the project objective became more clear, to create some kind of 'change' within a limited time period, I realized it would be better to make my own creative decisions.
To me this project was an emotional experience; a place where we had many experiences, and one I’ve even lived in myself. This place looks strange now, and yet is still familiar, like an old friend you haven't seen in a while who has become nearly unrecognizable. Stark white walls, scattered with remains of the battlefield.
As I observed the space, I noticed a few items left behind after her move. I looked over the objects that remained and I decided to take on their shape, to mimic them.
I stood there thinking,
"These things left behind, they are all I have left now, to try and remember what was once here, and yet they must mean nothing, since she left them."
So I gave them meaning; paying homage to this apartment through these objects left here, as I wish that I could join them in occupying this space I will miss dearly.
To lighten my homage to this space, I thought I'd do a second concept, since I had some time to spare. My sister and I had an inside joke that her place was haunted, so I decided to play off that joke and create scenes of posters flying off the walls, and surrounding spirits who love to move things when nobody is around to see. There was always some mystery about Apartment 11, and I needed to acknowledge that before I locked the door at 238 East 33rd for the last time.
Apt 11
New York, NY
10016
"Before and After" was a great opportunity for me to utilize a space that is familiar to me, and no longer will be. My sister was moving out of her apartment, and originally I assumed I could shoot it before the move, and then afterward. When the project objective became more clear, to create some kind of 'change' within a limited time period, I realized it would be better to make my own creative decisions.
To me this project was an emotional experience; a place where we had many experiences, and one I’ve even lived in myself. This place looks strange now, and yet is still familiar, like an old friend you haven't seen in a while who has become nearly unrecognizable. Stark white walls, scattered with remains of the battlefield.
As I observed the space, I noticed a few items left behind after her move. I looked over the objects that remained and I decided to take on their shape, to mimic them.
I stood there thinking,
"These things left behind, they are all I have left now, to try and remember what was once here, and yet they must mean nothing, since she left them."
So I gave them meaning; paying homage to this apartment through these objects left here, as I wish that I could join them in occupying this space I will miss dearly.
To lighten my homage to this space, I thought I'd do a second concept, since I had some time to spare. My sister and I had an inside joke that her place was haunted, so I decided to play off that joke and create scenes of posters flying off the walls, and surrounding spirits who love to move things when nobody is around to see. There was always some mystery about Apartment 11, and I needed to acknowledge that before I locked the door at 238 East 33rd for the last time.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Brooklyn Heights
The promenade.
Co-dependent tree clings for dear life.
Hicks street.
Driveway on Cranberry street.
Old Fulton Road Garage/gas station.
I only really know Brooklyn past Atlantic Avenue; so I've been trying to explore the whimsy of downtown Brooklyn on foot. With the help of a 20D and a textured lens. Hopefully I can get past the touristy shots quickly.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Location Logistics, assigment 1
NY artist Jorge Colombo, 2/8/10
Jorge and Myself 2/8/10
I was assigned to photograph Jorge Colombo in his 'natural habitat'.
The second shot is part of a personal project I'm starting involving self portraits with my subjects. Purposefully cinematic, it shows a scene of a relationship that remains a mere blip of time, but regardless holds value.
Friday, February 5, 2010
it's 5 am
I am really silly for being awake right now..eh.
Made some promotional itemage for a class tomorrow.
I had to start fresh, because I sort of hate everything old. It's just old.
I think I'm beginning to realize WHY I take photographs. It's completely psychology. It's actually sort of a scapegoat. I don't need to explain myself with words, talk about certain 'taboo' topics, and I can take back everything because it's all just context! People tend to only count things when literal words are involved. Not myself. Words are of lesser value. But either way, I think I'm a little too comfortable not explaining myself.
I wrote an artist statement, and I REALLY wrote it..for over 2 hours. And it still was so fucking vague. Like I'm afraid to talk about specifics. I really need to learn to formulate ideas and WORDS on my work, if I'm ever going to do anything with it.
Here it is:
"I was born into the amassed post baby boomer generation. Raised in the Informative Age, my work wants you to take a step back from future. To acknowledge the present, and pay homage to the past. What you have here. Who you have here. And what you’ve done here, so far.
Art isn’t dead, it’s alive, and mine is life itself. "
I'm not really sure about the wordy sensitive stuff, but at first I was rambling about the clueless ignorance of GEN Y and how to deal with brats, when you're one of very few capable minds in this "gimme gimme now" era...and how technology is ruining everything. Yeah, no reason to be so hostile. I don't think I even care that much normally. Gah.
Taking a class solely on business writing in the art market, which is what I've renamed it, since the original name led me to believe it would be completely different. Oh well..now I get this.
I've never posted photos here...I didn't realize TIFs were banned.
this is what's on one promo card, they're all different.
Jenn with Migraine 11/26/09
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