VIRTUAL SHADOWS

So the shadow seems to know in this case just what is going on with the manipulation of itself, whether a literal or virtual reality.

COVID/CORONA HALLOWEEN

 

"Corona Halloween". 2020

This Corona Virus has had many of us in a different kind of place, and looking for "normality", not only in terms of being able to do the things we always have, but in terms of celebrations and group activities led me to this image.

I knew what I wanted from this at the start with the scrap plastic filler fabric and the ability to create holes in the material with a simple stove lighter. I envisioned a face, although not especially my own, and I thought that I could make it a little "scary" with some help from PhotoShop. I used three layers, two of the fabric and one a "selfie" of me without my glasses.

After trying numerous versions, I came up with this one as the best because I felt it had the most convincing mixture of texture and form along with the "fitting" of the layers together to seem truly blended into a believable image.

VIRTUAL LOBSTER VIRUS

 I have been thinking a lot lately about how long it has been since I've had a lobster, and I have to admit I sort of miss them. I could probably eat three or four of them right now without even breaking a sweat. I would just line them up in my stomach and create all sorts of room, or maybe just wait five or ten minutes between each one to let it "break down" a little bit. Right now they are only virtual to me, and I wonder if I am coming down with something "lobstrocity" like.

FACEFLOW

Simply put, a composite from a rainy day and my journal. Things crawling around in my mind, literally!

MY VIRTUAL WORKSPACE

My "online" workspace can be so confusing at times, and I thought I was "cool" when I discovered that I could be in several places at once through multiple Google Meets. Yesterday I had a "double double" where I was in two meetings at the same time... wait for it... twice! How could I possibly be any more efficient than that, right? Today, during the last class of the school year (Block D) I ended up being in three meets at the same time. Now, I know colleagues have used "breakout" rooms to access students and get work done in groups, and I have a new appreciation for navigating this part of the "virtual teaching" world. We will need to talk and compare notes!

The image below is my culminating vision of the "blocks" (apply metaphor as needed) of time, of student progress, of many aspects of teaching and learning in the virtual environment. I have enjoyed this, it has made me see what is truly possible through the application of technology, and given me new insight for my teaching process.

CALENDAR CONFUSION

As the school year officially begins to come to an end, I notice that I have become a virtual victim of my calendar over the past few months. I hear from others that work from home that the days run together, that it is sometimes difficult to keep track of time, and that the day of the week, to say nothing of the day of the month, is indeterminable. I blame the calendar, as it is literally the multiple functions of its purpose (some of them  are mentioned above) that are so utterly exasperating. Am I watching the time of day? The calendar keeps track of appointments by minutes (notice how similar the word minutes is to minutia). Am I looking for an event that is supposed to happen this week? Maybe it was next week, they do come one right after the other on the calendar. And months? Don't get me started, because when I look back at those, all I can think is, "Where did the time go?".
This piece is the assembly of my calendar, my confusion with it, and myself. Know what I mean? Is tomorrow Monday?

VIRTUAL ADVISEES

This group of students has been with me for the past four years, with the exception of my absences due to shoulder surgery and their absences due to the conflict between advisory and HCTC in Ellsworth. These guys do mean a lot to me and I have watched them grow and mature in numerous ways over the past years... Time has flown by. I created this image from a picture taken during community service day at Camp Beech Cliff, and then added their senior pictures as a comparison. I then mailed a printed copy to each of their homes!

KATAKOVID & ME

Here's an image of a collage piece I created on Wednesday with a group of artist/teachers from all around the State of Maine. It was an amazing experience, as I got to see old friends I hadn't seen in a while, put together some materials to "make aht" with, and produce a piece of work. I must admit two things here though; the time (30 minutes) seemed to "whizz" by and I really tried to work fast as I thought I would not get anything done, and secondly, I just couldn't keep my digital "paws" off the piece.
Content wrapped around the Katahdin Woods and the political hassle involved with it, the national pandemic and the possible long term effects on education, and the importance of each citizen in this country voting and having their vote counted at the polls and through the mail, hmmm... new Postmaster General, really Mr. Trump?
So, yes, I included myself in the final "digitized" version because these are my thoughts and opinions.

STILL LIFE DRAMA

I'm not sure how or why I ended up with an image that seemed dramatic to me, especially with a flat lay still life, but the layers and overlapping of objects has just drawn me into a mood that reverberates with the same complexity I feel in a dramatic situation or viewing a piece that has the simultaneous sense of stillness and movement.
There, diagram that sentence, Mrs Chase!

I WISH I WAS HERE/THERE

Daydreaming about warmer days and being on the water is mostly just an exercise in imagination, but I have spent enough time on boats to know that the ocean is not going anywhere (yet) and I will be out in my kayak before I know it. This composite background was shot with a telephoto lens from my house, and the portrait was taken by a colleague during a meeting at school. Yes, I believe you can be in two places at once!

TIME IS VIRTUAL

This is actually an image from a digital photo class a couple of years ago where we were all working with a long shutter speed and I set up a camera on a tripod to shoot a five second exposure as I moved my phone light around in the dark during that time. I was surprised that my face was lit but I assume I flashed the light in that direction.

Somehow, given the state of things around us all, I have difficulty staying in the present, finding my thinking moving forward to what might be and backward to what has been. I really think it helps to stay in the moment, and of course, for me, the best method for accomplishing that is to create. Create photos, create drawings, just create... it is a good way to keep "grounded".

LITERAL KITE FLYING

I flew a kite today for the first time in several years. I think I had bought it to fly with the grandsons, but they are hardly ever up here at the house, so I decided to try it.
It has been very windy in the afternoons that past few days and today seemed the golden opportunity, so I guess one might say that I had "flying a kite" on my mind. I was able to tie it down and get some decent shots of it with a telephoto lens, so here it is, my interpretation of what was on my mind, literally and figuratively.

VIRTUAL PATTERNED BAKGROUNDS

This image is an example of what the power of digital media is all about, for quickly creating something that goes beyond the ordinary. The original image had a green screen background so it was easy to "punch out" and replace with the tiled pattern from a part of the face. A few filters in the app Acorn and there we are! I did have to pull a color from the pattern and paint on the edges where they were bright green, which is easy to see on the right shoulder but looks a lot better than it did. Of course, more time, better result.

VIRTUAL GEESE

No, they are not real, but I fooled Jen with them last night and I did take an image of them in the field. I have been wanting to get closer shots of them as they enjoy the beach at low tide, but I struggle getting close enough even with a good telephoto lens. So I made up this "virtual" version!

TREE TRANSPLANT

BIG GEESE

The snow was literally intermittent all day today, even though the storm was virtually over. Those two observations on my part do go hand in hand. 
One thing that constantly amazes me is how fearless our Canada geese have become this spring. They even walk right up to the house, or at least within ten feet or so. They are the most beautiful and graceful creatures, bringing us a wonderful sense of spirit. They are not as large as this obviously manipulated image might suggest.

PATTERN

My Digital Media class is working on "backgrounds" at this time, and this particular piece was created from the photo shown below of the shore in front of our house.

Now this brings to mind the question of virtual versus literal. Has the "manipulated" image become its own entity and therefore literal (real) or is it a virtual version, a metaphor of sorts, for the original piece?

I would ask any readers to take a moment to reflect upon this and respond in the comment section below, as I apparently need some help here.

FACE 2 FACE

I am working on some logo designs and I see the term "face to face" in quite a bit of recent correspondence, so I thought I would try to "logo" that phrase. My first attempt was somewhat hurried and sloppy, but I view it as a prototype, so not a lot of concern with the "literal" result from me. I had the idea of flipping the second "F" (a virtual symbol for the word "face") so that the two Fs would face one another. In hindsight, as I look at that last sentence I hope I haven't confused my impetus for this little project. At this point I felt like I had a starting point. There, I've done it again. 

Anyway, this has led me to the symbol below, where metaphor has once again pushed me down the path of creativity and dragged my faithful muse along with it. The Fs have now gained color, representing the wide range of skin tones seen in our State, not our country, because I feel that there is another post about Maine's relationship to the U.S. coming along. I also felt that it was not appropriate in the current atmosphere of social distancing for the characters in this little scenario to be touching, either literally or virtually.

VIRTUAL MEMORIES

The memories I have of my grandsons are rich and varied, but not "real". They exist in the limited capacity of my mind, and are susceptible to influence from my emotions, so while I cannot trust their accuracy, I can enjoy those memories. 

This image is a still from a composite video I did in Adobe After Effects, and the bright yellow predominant color reminds me of time spent with them at the New Gloucester Fairgrounds, the brightness and warmth of that day, and the joy in their hearts when they were at play. I miss the time spent with them in "reality", where Jen and I would go visit every other weekend, where we could hug them and be in their presence. I know the "virtual" aspects of connecting during quarantine times is not the same, but it is a lot better than nothing. I see and talk and watch them play every day now. I just miss hugging them.

IN THE TANK, LITERALLY

     The septic tank at our house had an issue over the weekend, so my brother David and I got into the reality of modern septic design. The digging wasn't bad as it was mostly gravel fill under a half foot of loam, but the basic job took a couple of days. And then there was the electrical issue with putting in new float switches and rewiring it all. 
     I always enjoy David's attitude, just forging ahead and getting the job done, and he is seldom phased at all by setbacks. We will "sit on it" for a few days before we cover things back up.

VIRTUAL AND VITAL

Ahh, virtual may be a new norm, but the masked faces I see in the sparse public sphere of Maine are not virtual, they are vital. If we are to slow this virus from it's pandemic spread we need to all think of each other and so behave according to that consideration. I've been sewing masks for my family because I am thinking of others in relation to "us". 

This blended, swirling image reminds me that there are faces behind these masks, vital faces that also care about being "in" something that cannot diminish all of us together!

LIVING VIRTUALLY

This is the first post to this blog from my phone, and as I am waiting for the sun to shine before going out to distribute some summer lawn furniture, I find myself appreciating the plants we have inside the house! There is life all around us outside, and with this self-imposed confinement I find myself looking at it all very differently than I did previous to these times. I now feel like I am a part of the life around me, and while I have taken some stewardship steps in the past, I should do more. Goal #1, enjoy the day and everything surrounding me! 

VIRTUAL HOLE

I set up my iPhone to use with my computer as a "document camera", and here's an image I got from the camera after a few minutes of "exploration". I'm always asking students to explore, mostly because it's what I like to do, especially visually. 
How about this... the image is an image of an image of an image, if you get my meaning, so each time it "moves" (virtually) from camera to computer monitor, it is a bit further away and smaller, resulting in the image above. I'm not sure at this point what function it might possess but I do find it intriguing!

VIRTUAL CONNECTIONS

 My grandsons are missing the time we have had with them on a bi-weekly basis for six or seven years now, and the youngest one has started to FaceTime us every day. He met with his classmates for the fist time yesterday and couldn't wait to tell us. He was so excited that he could see and talk to all his friends from school that he had an aura of joy surrounding his image (virtual, not literal) as he talked to us about the experience.

As we work in the new era of "virtual connections", I see more and more of a variety of people that are engaging firstly with increasing connectives, and secondly with a wider variety of occupations and disciplines. This seems a good thing to me as an educator and I hope it continues even after the threat we are now facing is subdued and overcome. Do we really want to go back to "things as usual" or should we move forward keeping what we are now discovering and using as a part of our "systems"?

VIRTUALLY

"Almost" seems to be the best we can do with the current circumstances around COVID-19 and it's spread across our planet, but it continues to amaze me how well our technology is advancing the continuation of our educational system here in Maine. In wondering what to do with this blog site, I'm feeling that I would like to express the variations of our new reality... from my own point of view. Obviously, I would love to see reactions through the comment sections of this blog, but without the reflections of others, I will press forward.
The images I present here will not always be polished or refined, but they will express what I am feeling and will be accompanied by my own interpretations, for example:"I went up my driveway to gather the Bangor Daily News (reduction version) in the midst of a snow squall and felt that snow in April lent a peacefulness to mind which purified and narrowed any of my mental anxiety. Here's the image, and yes, I have my hat on!