Ode to Richard Long
For my first idea I began thinking about what I did most commonly with my pet chocolate lab, Dru. The thing we both love doing most together is getting out into nature, such as going to the beach or taking hikes. This lead me to think of the British conceptual artist Richard Long. Many of his pieces simply involve the mark he leaves on the land due to hours and hours of walking. I think this could be a really interesting collaboration to go in this direction, but with Dru's efforts, not just a human's. I feel that the results would therefor not only be a collaboration between Dru and myself, but nature and plants and the earth as well.
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Project Updates
04/28/06 10:01:14 - Hendry's
This was our first long route, which we took together on Sunday, April 23. When I was younger i usually just took Dru on short walks around the neighborhood, but now that I dont live at home, when i rarely get to take Dru on a walk, it will be for a longer span of time. For the purpose of this project I am focusing on taking her to new enviornments, new places, and for longer periods of time. The purpose is to see not only the change in her but possible changes she leaves or can leave on the enviornment. I am still thinking about this aspect.
Anyways so we took this walk for roughly 2 hours. We went to the east of the slough at Hendry's beach, for this is where dogs can walk without a leash. It is a little difficult because Dru got very distracted by all of the other dogs and wasnt as focused on this intense, theoretical journey that is our walks together. But she had a lot of fun. I am realizing that this project is really bringing us together, I feel for the first time like we really are on a journey together.
My upcoming plans are to continue taking Dru to new places and am planning 1 day at a as of yet unknown location where we walk for hopefully an entire day, maybe 10 or so hours. I think that would be quite interesting. I also need to do more research on ather artists who have done similar work, and I would like to research Richard Long even more extensively.
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This was our first long route, which we took together on Sunday, April 23. When I was younger i usually just took Dru on short walks around the neighborhood, but now that I dont live at home, when i rarely get to take Dru on a walk, it will be for a longer span of time. For the purpose of this project I am focusing on taking her to new enviornments, new places, and for longer periods of time. The purpose is to see not only the change in her but possible changes she leaves or can leave on the enviornment. I am still thinking about this aspect.
Anyways so we took this walk for roughly 2 hours. We went to the east of the slough at Hendry's beach, for this is where dogs can walk without a leash. It is a little difficult because Dru got very distracted by all of the other dogs and wasnt as focused on this intense, theoretical journey that is our walks together. But she had a lot of fun. I am realizing that this project is really bringing us together, I feel for the first time like we really are on a journey together.
My upcoming plans are to continue taking Dru to new places and am planning 1 day at a as of yet unknown location where we walk for hopefully an entire day, maybe 10 or so hours. I think that would be quite interesting. I also need to do more research on ather artists who have done similar work, and I would like to research Richard Long even more extensively.
The mark left by Dru on the sand |
our walk at Hendry's |
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05/02/06 10:36:46 - Week 4
This past week I wasn't able to spend much time with Dru so I have focused on researching past artists who have worked with walking. I haven't been that succesful but have found a lot of information on Richard Long, and I have found a lot of inspiration from his works. Still very excited for this project!
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This past week I wasn't able to spend much time with Dru so I have focused on researching past artists who have worked with walking. I haven't been that succesful but have found a lot of information on Richard Long, and I have found a lot of inspiration from his works. Still very excited for this project!
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05/12/06 10:32:39 - foot notes
finally i am getting somewhere and feeling not as overwhelmed by this project. I have first decided to drop the idea of counting steps, because i feel like this is inherently dividing me and Dru, for she might take more steps, mine will be longer, etc. Instead i want to measure the project in something that is more universal, and i found this to be time. I have calculated that i have spent 15 hours with dru so far and i would like to make the total hours spent walking with her at 50. i will explain more later.
i was also very succesful at finding other artists who have worked in this area, in fact one source went as far as to actually denote an art field of just walking. Some of the artists that I have found include Stuart Horodner, Bruce Ferguson, Vito Acconci, Robert Ladislas Derr,Gilbert and George, Andre Cadere and Hamish Fulton. I have been studying their works to see if there are similarities between their purpose and what I am finding mine to be. I have found close parallels with Hamish Fulton from what I have read so far. His walks are really about his individual being with nature, as are my walks are really ab out my relationship with Dru. It was through contemplation on this that I decided to give myself a time amount to have some constraint on this, so that it will be an actual work, and not an ongoing reflection.
i have also been finding a lot of theory on walking as art, which has impacted my thoughts on this project greatly. i am still very motivated by the fact that none of the artists i have come in to contact with yet have included animals in their works. I found a beautiful book entitled Foot Notes, the art of walking from 1875 written by Alfred Barron. It just has some lovely thoughts on walking, in the process of reading that as well.
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Comment by lhyatt (05/16/06 12:51:44):
I found this quoe from the tate's website and found it very applicable to my work on this project.
Fulton decided to 'only make art resulting from the experience of individual walks.' Since then the act of walking has remained central to Fulton's practice. He has stated 'If I do not walk, I cannot make a work of art' and has summed up this way of thinking in the simple statement of intent: 'no walk, no work'. Although only Fulton experiences the walk itself, the texts and photographs he presents in exhibitions and books allow us to engage with his experience.
finally i am getting somewhere and feeling not as overwhelmed by this project. I have first decided to drop the idea of counting steps, because i feel like this is inherently dividing me and Dru, for she might take more steps, mine will be longer, etc. Instead i want to measure the project in something that is more universal, and i found this to be time. I have calculated that i have spent 15 hours with dru so far and i would like to make the total hours spent walking with her at 50. i will explain more later.
i was also very succesful at finding other artists who have worked in this area, in fact one source went as far as to actually denote an art field of just walking. Some of the artists that I have found include Stuart Horodner, Bruce Ferguson, Vito Acconci, Robert Ladislas Derr,Gilbert and George, Andre Cadere and Hamish Fulton. I have been studying their works to see if there are similarities between their purpose and what I am finding mine to be. I have found close parallels with Hamish Fulton from what I have read so far. His walks are really about his individual being with nature, as are my walks are really ab out my relationship with Dru. It was through contemplation on this that I decided to give myself a time amount to have some constraint on this, so that it will be an actual work, and not an ongoing reflection.
i have also been finding a lot of theory on walking as art, which has impacted my thoughts on this project greatly. i am still very motivated by the fact that none of the artists i have come in to contact with yet have included animals in their works. I found a beautiful book entitled Foot Notes, the art of walking from 1875 written by Alfred Barron. It just has some lovely thoughts on walking, in the process of reading that as well.
[Write Comment]
Comment by lhyatt (05/16/06 12:51:44):
I found this quoe from the tate's website and found it very applicable to my work on this project.
Fulton decided to 'only make art resulting from the experience of individual walks.' Since then the act of walking has remained central to Fulton's practice. He has stated 'If I do not walk, I cannot make a work of art' and has summed up this way of thinking in the simple statement of intent: 'no walk, no work'. Although only Fulton experiences the walk itself, the texts and photographs he presents in exhibitions and books allow us to engage with his experience.
05/15/06 20:41:54 - week 7
well this is my second time writing this update but i will try it again.
im on about 20 hours with dru. this past friday we went to steven's park, which is a very important trail for me and something i've been waiting specially to do. it is a trail that i spent much time on with dru when i was younger, since iit is only about 5 minutes from my parents house. it was a surreal experience going back, considering i havent been there for about 5 years and i grew up taking walks there. it was really interesting, and i felt dru acting different as well. she loved it and it turned into a really beautiful experience for the both of us, because for about 2 hours we were transported back. although it is not a part of my project, i had brought a camera along and the documentation created some beautiful photographs.
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well this is my second time writing this update but i will try it again.
im on about 20 hours with dru. this past friday we went to steven's park, which is a very important trail for me and something i've been waiting specially to do. it is a trail that i spent much time on with dru when i was younger, since iit is only about 5 minutes from my parents house. it was a surreal experience going back, considering i havent been there for about 5 years and i grew up taking walks there. it was really interesting, and i felt dru acting different as well. she loved it and it turned into a really beautiful experience for the both of us, because for about 2 hours we were transported back. although it is not a part of my project, i had brought a camera along and the documentation created some beautiful photographs.
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05/16/06 12:57:07 - more hamish
i found another interesting note on hamish..
During a walk, Fulton takes photographs to convey the essence of his journey. Since the walk for him is a spiritual experience, and taking pictures intrudes on the intimate relationship that exists between himself and nature, he does not take numerous photographs. Rather, he carefully chooses images he feels will capture most successfully his own experience of the walk.
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i found another interesting note on hamish..
During a walk, Fulton takes photographs to convey the essence of his journey. Since the walk for him is a spiritual experience, and taking pictures intrudes on the intimate relationship that exists between himself and nature, he does not take numerous photographs. Rather, he carefully chooses images he feels will capture most successfully his own experience of the walk.
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05/16/06 13:18:50 - even more hamish..
this is some of hamish's own statements...
TO BE COMMITTED TO WALKING MEANS--TO SLOW DOWN TO THE PACE OF WALKING ...
A WALK CAN EXIST LIKE AN INVISIBLE OBJECT IN A COMPLEX WORLD. (WALKING--CUTS A LINE THOUGH TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY LIFE.)
Q. WHAT KIND OF ART COULD RESULT FROM A WALK?
A. ART INSTALLED ONTO THE FLATNESS OF EXISTING ARCHITECTURE. (A FILM ... A WALK TEXT AS AN URBAN BILLBOARD. WALK TEXTS ETCHED INTO GLASS FOR WINDOWS. WALK TEXTS CAST IN IRON AND SUNK INTO PAVEMENTS.
JPEGF
WALKING IS AN 'EXPERIENCE'. CONSEQUENTLY, THE RESULTING ART COULD BE PRODUCED IN ANY MEDIUM OR SITUATION.
AN ARTWORK CANNOT RE-PRESENT THE EXPERIENCE OF A WALK.
ABSENT. THE LOCATION OF THE WALK IS NOT IN THE GALLERY AND THE WALK ITSELF IS A PAST EVENT.
AN OBJECT CANNOT COMPETE WITH AN EXPERIENCE.
WALKING IS PRACTICAL NOT THEORETICAL.
A WALK HAS A LIFE OF ITS OWN--A BEGINNING AND AN END.
WALKING INTO THE DISTANCE BEYOND IMAGINATION.
ONCE A WALK HAS BEEN COMPLETED, IT CANNOT BE DESTROYED.
A WALK, IS AN INVISIBLE MONUMENT TO 'TIME' ('LANDSCAPE' ART SHOULD ENCOMPASS MORE THAN JUST THE HISTORY OF ART.)
WHEN WALKING AND CAMPING ALONE, I ATTEMPT TO PRACTISE THE 'WILDERNESS' ETHIC OF LEAVE-NO-TRACE.
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this is some of hamish's own statements...
TO BE COMMITTED TO WALKING MEANS--TO SLOW DOWN TO THE PACE OF WALKING ...
A WALK CAN EXIST LIKE AN INVISIBLE OBJECT IN A COMPLEX WORLD. (WALKING--CUTS A LINE THOUGH TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY LIFE.)
Q. WHAT KIND OF ART COULD RESULT FROM A WALK?
A. ART INSTALLED ONTO THE FLATNESS OF EXISTING ARCHITECTURE. (A FILM ... A WALK TEXT AS AN URBAN BILLBOARD. WALK TEXTS ETCHED INTO GLASS FOR WINDOWS. WALK TEXTS CAST IN IRON AND SUNK INTO PAVEMENTS.
JPEGF
WALKING IS AN 'EXPERIENCE'. CONSEQUENTLY, THE RESULTING ART COULD BE PRODUCED IN ANY MEDIUM OR SITUATION.
AN ARTWORK CANNOT RE-PRESENT THE EXPERIENCE OF A WALK.
ABSENT. THE LOCATION OF THE WALK IS NOT IN THE GALLERY AND THE WALK ITSELF IS A PAST EVENT.
AN OBJECT CANNOT COMPETE WITH AN EXPERIENCE.
WALKING IS PRACTICAL NOT THEORETICAL.
A WALK HAS A LIFE OF ITS OWN--A BEGINNING AND AN END.
WALKING INTO THE DISTANCE BEYOND IMAGINATION.
ONCE A WALK HAS BEEN COMPLETED, IT CANNOT BE DESTROYED.
A WALK, IS AN INVISIBLE MONUMENT TO 'TIME' ('LANDSCAPE' ART SHOULD ENCOMPASS MORE THAN JUST THE HISTORY OF ART.)
WHEN WALKING AND CAMPING ALONE, I ATTEMPT TO PRACTISE THE 'WILDERNESS' ETHIC OF LEAVE-NO-TRACE.
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05/21/06 20:11:44 - 7 falls
we had an amazing day together last tuesday. we went to the 7 falls hike at the end of tunnel rd. i have now been doing research on trails in the area and goold places for walking in order to broaden the scope of enviornments covered within this project. this was a little rough for dru considering it was quite hot and all uphill going there, but once we found one of the pools she became very happy. i also brought along the gps device so hopefully i used it right and look forward to seeing the results generated by it.
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we had an amazing day together last tuesday. we went to the 7 falls hike at the end of tunnel rd. i have now been doing research on trails in the area and goold places for walking in order to broaden the scope of enviornments covered within this project. this was a little rough for dru considering it was quite hot and all uphill going there, but once we found one of the pools she became very happy. i also brought along the gps device so hopefully i used it right and look forward to seeing the results generated by it.
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05/30/06 12:21:03 - break from the walk
i was sick and then went on vacation so alas last week was my one week off from my walks with dru. I think she was more upset by this than myself, for when i got home she freaked out when i first saw her. this should be a good week to go full force back into the project and bring it to an end.
over the course of the weekend i however came into contact with some very interesting rabbits. all i know about them is they are native to the desert (i was in palm springs) and they were everywhere. they were very active and interesting. around the resort where i was there were atleast 10 families of them of varying sizes. At first I simply tried to get as close to them as possible. They were very apprehensive of humans. There was one rabbit, a baby, that was friendlier than the rest. I was able to get closest to it. I found it again the next day and attempted to get closer but it simply ran away, and they are extremely fast runners. Though the animals were quite beautiful and interesting, I realized not the best creatures for collaboration. I was sad to leave them yesterday but I wish them the best and plan on continuing a relationship with them when i return.
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i was sick and then went on vacation so alas last week was my one week off from my walks with dru. I think she was more upset by this than myself, for when i got home she freaked out when i first saw her. this should be a good week to go full force back into the project and bring it to an end.
over the course of the weekend i however came into contact with some very interesting rabbits. all i know about them is they are native to the desert (i was in palm springs) and they were everywhere. they were very active and interesting. around the resort where i was there were atleast 10 families of them of varying sizes. At first I simply tried to get as close to them as possible. They were very apprehensive of humans. There was one rabbit, a baby, that was friendlier than the rest. I was able to get closest to it. I found it again the next day and attempted to get closer but it simply ran away, and they are extremely fast runners. Though the animals were quite beautiful and interesting, I realized not the best creatures for collaboration. I was sad to leave them yesterday but I wish them the best and plan on continuing a relationship with them when i return.
the rabbit's habitat |
the laziest of them all This is one of the smallest of the creatures whom actually allowed me to get the closest. |
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06/06/06 11:01:21 - Jesusita
This was one of more difficult trails I have been on with Dru. By the end of it she was exhausted as was I. Beautiful views and nice creek running through. I would recommend it to any one who likes some shade, but mostly sun, and there is uphill climbs going and coming back. One of my favorites. Sadly didn't bring my camera so no documentation. I also took her back to Hendry's. She loves our beach walks on sunny days.
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This was one of more difficult trails I have been on with Dru. By the end of it she was exhausted as was I. Beautiful views and nice creek running through. I would recommend it to any one who likes some shade, but mostly sun, and there is uphill climbs going and coming back. One of my favorites. Sadly didn't bring my camera so no documentation. I also took her back to Hendry's. She loves our beach walks on sunny days.
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