Art Statement:
Dear viewer or doer,
The modern gallery and museum system is dependent on enormous wealth inequalities. I do not wish to perpetuate such a system. Hence I make art that has a use, and for the time being give it away for free.
In brief; I have made a number of paddles for friends, on the condition that they use them. The paddles are displayed in the gallery when not in use, next to documentation of their use and production.
When I make a paddle I have a specific person in mind. I try to make the paddle representative of him or her in some way, and useful. I talk with him/her about what she/he wants, but sometimes do what I think is best anyway. I am still learning how to successfully, both aesthetically and from a use standpoint, build paddles. As of this writing I have made two paddles, one of which is too heavy to be good, and the other is in several pieces, some of them drifting down a river in the Columbia gorge. Now they are mostly art objects. Clearly I am not an expert craftsman, but I am experimenting and learning.
I try to make paddles which invoke their user. This transcendence is one of their artistic aspects. I think they are aesthetically pleasing, and convey the idea that art can be useful. There is a small performance aspect of my work, often fulfilled by others. I hope (dream) that by physically building paddles I am also helping to build a paddling community.
Michael Jorgensen
p.s. If you decide you want to go paddling, use one of my paddles, learn how to make one, or want me to make you one, shoot me an email at: [email protected] , and I will see what I can do.
Dear viewer or doer,
The modern gallery and museum system is dependent on enormous wealth inequalities. I do not wish to perpetuate such a system. Hence I make art that has a use, and for the time being give it away for free.
In brief; I have made a number of paddles for friends, on the condition that they use them. The paddles are displayed in the gallery when not in use, next to documentation of their use and production.
When I make a paddle I have a specific person in mind. I try to make the paddle representative of him or her in some way, and useful. I talk with him/her about what she/he wants, but sometimes do what I think is best anyway. I am still learning how to successfully, both aesthetically and from a use standpoint, build paddles. As of this writing I have made two paddles, one of which is too heavy to be good, and the other is in several pieces, some of them drifting down a river in the Columbia gorge. Now they are mostly art objects. Clearly I am not an expert craftsman, but I am experimenting and learning.
I try to make paddles which invoke their user. This transcendence is one of their artistic aspects. I think they are aesthetically pleasing, and convey the idea that art can be useful. There is a small performance aspect of my work, often fulfilled by others. I hope (dream) that by physically building paddles I am also helping to build a paddling community.
Michael Jorgensen
p.s. If you decide you want to go paddling, use one of my paddles, learn how to make one, or want me to make you one, shoot me an email at: [email protected] , and I will see what I can do.