nonfiction-erfüllt-fiction

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     So I had a quick moment to post some process images of this Mars sprayer. It is all pulling together well and I am so excited to be working on this scale. I’ve never worked this large and it is thoroughly liberating in so many ways I can’t even begin to describe. The seats are upholstered, CNC wheels are cut, support laminations are glued up, and the chassis in the works. Check out the massive 2” - 140degree engraving bit I got for the chamfer part of the wheel. Chuck that CNC!... It cut like butter.     

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     Also I forgot I hadn’t posted any images of my midterm piece. It is a 6’ tall x 8’ long x 24” wide tapered telescoping device. When you look inside there is a distantly dim-lit image of planet earth. The space farmers able to look back home to remember why they are there in the first place.  Some will perish while some will become symbiotic heroes of America’s new innovative industrial agricultural system. Join us in becoming the next Utopian Space Farmers of America…The new American Dream.

 

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I had the weekend to shoot all the "word a week" projects as well as my midterm piece (which I will post soon). Working quickly on these weekly projects I feel really helped my process in multiple ways. Here are the images in corresponding order with the literature for each word and image. Enjoy!

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Trifle: (Bird, Twice Baked Banana,Carrot Hybrid)

“To handle something not in a normal way or appropriate use.”

     Where do we draw the line for modifications within genetics? What role will evolution play in these hybrid genes made from a plant here and an animal there? Well the reality is now they are everywhere.

     Personally, I’d rather my tomatoes freeze like they should in a cooler climate instead of injecting a modified flounder gene so it can withstand the temperatures. Although in 1997 this gene was removed from our supermarkets is beyond the point. Is there no ethical line where science merely states that this is an insignificant act due to the potential danger it may have on the human race? When will bio technicians just say tomatoes are not meant to be grown and harvested in cooler climates instead of cashing their obese paychecks? Simple critical thinking methodologies here as you can see, however I ask will it take genetic evolution of these hybrid-species to finally wake-up the general public? Ripe hybrid fruits spawning in your yard from cross pollination while absurd new species of birds fly aloft over your rooftops.

Oblique (The Glass Dome)-

"having the axis not perpendicular to the base"

     Time as well as oblique perspective plays a large role in viewing satellites in the night sky. Onlookers have approximately five minutes to catch an average 17,500mph satellite from horizon to horizon cruising 150 to 300 miles above us. Miss that five minute slot? Pack your shit up, re-calculate, and re-adjust you lenses because they never return to the same spot ten minutes later like you would expect them to… This act naturally embraces the idea oblique, however rendering it in three dimensions helps one get a since of scale within our own personas in comparison to the bigger picture. A reality check through scale to provoke us to accept the vastness beyond our commuter planes in the clouds.                   

Concern (Powerful Green Laser Piece!) -

"something that is regarded as important"

Worry is to see.

 X-rays, enquiry, data… 

Concern is to solve.

“Concern for man and his fate must always form the chief interest of all technical endeavors. Never forget this in the midst of your diagrams and equations.” – Albert Einstein

 Synesthesia (The "K" Cake)-

"A neurologically based condition in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway."

     In the rare form of gustatory synesthesia, when speaking and or reading one may induce taste sensations to certain foods by simply seeing/enunciating a specific letter. After reading cases on this subject I found that the letters were always random never drawing connections to why certain letters provoke certain tastes. I thought of the letter “K” because in my twisted view of a synesthetic world it has always reminded me of the head of a stick-figure opening his mouth getting ready to eat something delicious. Hope you have a sweet tooth like because today the letter “K” sparks my taste buds to salivate for red velvet cake.  

***The Image of the Avacado being zapped by weird structure with a glass tube full of light was for the Summer Project which was the first week of classes this semester. I figured I'd trow it in there since it went along with the others conceptually.****

Retreat (PDF Image of Layered Solar Systems) -

"The process of going backward or receding from a

position or condition gained."

     Diagrams of our solar system have continued to change as technology develops. From near earth asteroids that have never been spotted before that are potentially detrimental to the human race, to solar sun flares that would burn our planet back to molten matter. The process of tracking these objects trajectory is mind-boggling amounts of mathematics and pre-calculations, equations that would give the average math-guru a splitting headache. The only basis they have to draw from is the idea of retreat; the mass of an object orbiting back to its original place.

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I wanted to take a second to post my thoughts on a new body of work. Building off of what I have already been working towards conceptually with serious consideration in bringing back my furniture making skills into this concept. I will leave you with my latest statement, yet keep in mind I’ve already have new additions to the concept that are being written as I type this post. I will also post two sketches of the next two pieces. These are human scale objects! The sketches are prototypes and will have much more life (if I may say) upon completion. Enjoy!

 

Statement:

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Artist Statement

My work has progressed from non-fictional origins to potential fictional aftermaths and/or solutions.

       Since the escalated use of government-subsidized genetically modified organisms (GMOs), modern agriculture has been greatly altered – thereby debatably affecting our food production system as well as consumers in a negative and potentially toxic manner. The denigration of agriculture began in 1983 when U.S. scientists developed the first transgenic organism, a tobacco plant genetically designed to resist antibiotics. By the 1990’s chemical companies had also gained interest in the use of artificial genetic material in food. This practice was then endorsed by politicians and the FDA, creating a GMO epidemic among corn, soy, and canola plants. Due to their success and eventual overabundance, these plants became food for livestock, and began appearing in altered forms, as a vast line of sugars and preservatives in our supermarkets. Private chemical companies continued to patent and produce GMO seeds, pesticides, as well as herbicides, which sequentially set a new agricultural standard for “farmers feeding America” by the beginning of the 21^st century. This standard became a perceived necessity due to the world’s expanding population and America’s permanence in fair trade. However, is this progression sustaining life or disease on this planet? Will the depletion of our soil’s nutrients and natural resources force us to find new alien landscapes to produce “innovative” agricultural systems? Is space agriculture our future? If the acceptance of GMOs continues to advance, the idea and definition of nutriment will inevitably evolve as well. Science and technology could become not only tools for sustaining and improving life, but also creating an entirely new existence.  The near-distant age of space agriculture could then become a remaking of human reality and our symbiotic relationship with food.

-Justin Kramer (C.E.O of Space Agriculture Investment Services)

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The first sketch is basically the new mars hybrid Seeder-Segue. It germinates seeds, drills holes, and plants! Complete with GPS navigation of mars strenuous terrain.

The second vehicle is the new Space-Sprayer. Complete with 350degree spraying capability. Two seats for space farm team members to work in groups.

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So I figured I would tend to a much need post while I rip-off some wifi on the retched, filthy, germ filled plane ride back to the Bible belt/arm-pit of America. Yay for Indiana, what an accomplishment. If you can’t tell I am still bitter about having to fly home for a few days while my mind churns since I just finished the hair salon job and I’m itching to finally work on my next piece. I got some ideas and some pretty sweet test tubes and beakers that will get introduced somehow. Exciting…

Speaking of the north park hair salon job…it is finally done. Opening night was last Saturday and the place was packed. The smell of fresh paint and perfume leaching off all the big wigs just made claustrophobia kick in followed by nausea. Other than that it was a great time. Keg, wine and all to take the edge off my taut tie. Totally forgot to print off business cards which was a huge failure on my part because Logan and I got introduced in-front of everyone and I had people complementing all my work…Opportunity missed, but I’m still going to have them printed and have her place them in her salon. I mean come on it’s a hair salon. Hopefully she’ll gossip about all the new shit for the next few months. Free advertising! Over all it was an excellent experience/networking oppurtunity for myself here in San Diego and I made some good money. Two birds with one stone. Anyway I’ll leave you with some pictures of what the hell I’ve been doing for the past couple months. The pictures are not great, but Logan is having everything shot and is sending me pictures soon. These are the ones I took. Enjoy.

Process shots:

Opening Night!:

 

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Looks like the corporate giant is hopefully now finally meeting its karmic demise...

• The New York Times reported earlier this month the failure of Monsanto’s newest GE corn and the company’s plummeting stock—down 42% since the start of the year.
• West Virginia is suing Monsanto for failure to cooperate in the state’s investigation of the company’s advertising and pricing of its Roundup Ready 2 soybeans.
• Earlier this year, seven U.S. state attorney generals launched an investigation into whether the company has abused its market power to lock out competitors and illegally jack up its prices.
• The U.S. Department of Justice is continuing its own probe of Monsanto and other seed companies’ possible violation of anti-trust laws, in the context of unprecedented corporate consolidation in the seed and pesticide industry.
• U.S. federal courts have recently blocked the planting of GE sugar beets and GE alfalfa, ruling that USDA’s prior approvals were illegal.
• At the UN Biodiversity Convention in Nagoya, Japan, people’s movements are demanding an end to Monsanto and other corporations’ “gene patent grab.”  (http://www.panna.org/blog/monsanto)

Be sure to check out the prostate cancer chart for where America ranks with this type of food enduced cancer world wide. Pretty shocking. I guess it makes since when we are the only country the fully allows GE foods.

 

 

 

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Where is our food production headed in the U.S.?  This is what I’ve been asking myself now that I have reflected on my latest piece. Not only do I not want to choose a side, I’ve never been the type of artist to make gruesome or raunchy pieces that have a heavy stance towards one political/environmental point. As I know it’s not my place…My father raised me on oil money. Castrol Industrial Lucubration’s proud employee for 20 years now. I have no fucking room to talk about corrupt corporate businesses or genetic pollution. So where do I stand? I’m living proof of the typical radical bastard child who didn’t agree with most of my parent’s methodologies about pursuing the American Dream. Shit it took me a year or so to even get my father to accept the fact I was going to school for art. On the other hand spending a year now in San Diego, CA as a graduate student I have become aware of how different farming really is from what I grew up watching. On the U.S. Census, under occupation, there is no longer a block to check for farmer…just “other”. This has inspired me not only research industrial agricultural to its fullest but be physical proof of eating non-pesticide/herbicide, GMO, or manipulated soil products on a daily basis. In the past semester the only food I have eaten outside of this realm is food from a restaurant. Dani and I eat out about once week. Do I feel different? Yes. Have I noticed change? Absolutely. I’m not saying I won't eat foods that are not fully organic cause that is racist, I just want over 75% of my intake to be the real thing.

How do I make work about this? Physically…fuck if I know it will come to me hopefully, but I do know that conceptually I do not want my work to overall show a support group for one side. What I learned from this latest piece was just by adding a twist to the concept that took the initial idea to a higher level of meaning just by presentation. In this pieces case the idea of a religious shrine for a Biotech company’s entry hall. I’m not saying I’m going to make a ton of shrines now but this has led to me this idea of fiction. Science-fiction based concepts, objects, and possibly presentations. HAHA. I just realized how that makes no since but that’s how my mind works. I think of shrines…yeah it leads me to fiction don’t judge me. First things first though I’m off to explore the BioTech world of San Diego. Come to find out there is a huge cult of these peps round here. I’m going to try and slowly stir the pot without spilling anything.

Here is my latest piece. Title, I'm not so sure yet but I am still considering CananaBerry or just BioTech Shrine any thoughts?

Not only do I adore the sensation of reaching the summit of a mountain, but sometimes when I’m in an energetic mood I want to try and beat my previous time. Pushing myself harder and earlier in the hike to just enhance the experience of reaching the top, feeling the sun peak over the summit and start to warm my skin, followed by the mass blast that hits you once you are close enough to feel the roaring wind rush over the summit. Almost knocking you off your feet while the sweat evaporates immediately from your sponge of a shirt. This guy on the other hand is a new different kind of breed. Not only does he summit this insane mountain he does it in under 3 hours. Oh and did I mention he runs the crest? I hope watching this will provoke others to recognize the power of the human body. What practice, focus, and compassion can do for your drive as a human being. Because when go time comes you can’t miss a step.

J.Kramer

I decided that his piece would be good with a little video action. I enjoyed the process/outcome of this piece and I hope to pull elements from it and continue a small series of work.

Here are some photos.

Statement:

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Amplification

Title: Daily Dose

     Americans are being habitually exposed to and infected by pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides in their very own communities. A study done in 2009 by the American Public Health Association said, “A range of pesticides - including some that have been banned from use in the United States for decades - is evident in the blood of most Americans, according to a July report on chemical exposures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A separate study from the Environmental Working Group that tested umbilical cord blood from newborns found babies have traces of 200 chemicals in their blood, including traces of 21 pesticides” (Late).

     Daily Dose is an exploration into the world of “boom-spraying” in the Midwest. This is where all the subsidized corn (which is turned into high-fructose corn syrup/cow feed) and soy beans are grown then sprayed with thousands of chemicals. This now privately owned food product is then distributed into every item in the aisles of your local supermarket…Normally concealed under a different name that we cannot pronounce.

     Though these chemicals are not actually addictive we are exposed to them twenty-four seven, seven days a week. They are in our blood right now and continue to deprive us mentally and physically through our tasteless, lifeless, nutrient deprived genetically modified foods. Not only is there pesticide on the outside of the crops but it has now been introduced to the genetic make-up of the crops. The Makers Mark whiskey bottle acts as a “pesticide supply container” for the boom-sprayer while referencing the idea of farming culture. The average American doesn’t have a chance or choice. No matter how much you wash the food you are still ingesting pesticides. Therefore our bodies have become accustom and dependent on these chemicals without our knowledge. Like how alcoholism can creep up and before you know it your waste deep.

Each nozzle conveniently fills up the individual porcelain corn cobs with the liquid supplied by the boom-sprayer… Perfect for our gluttonous society. Drink up; enjoy your daily dose.

Justin Kramer

 

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It’s amazing how quickly I can remind myself how gorgeous San Diego really is.

I'm pretty sure Avalanche agrees. That or he knows he is about to get a banana when we summit.

Check it...

And they say hick's aint’ good at critical thinkin'..