Saturday, August 1, 2009

DisCo DisCovery


In January of this year I put a call out on my blog to other artists to join an online project called the Disintegration Collaboration (DisCo). The idea was simple: create an artistic bundle made from materials of their own choosing and “hang, bury, submerge, or just place” the bundle in the elements. This collaboration was to be with the ultimate partner…Mother Nature herself!

A little background for you. The impact of time on both nature (think the budding and blooming of a plant) and man-made objects (think the rusting of a metal washer dropped in the street) has always been fascinating for me. In my mind, there is intrinsic beauty in evolution, in change, and even in decay. I am far from the first person to do something like this, but I thought it would be interesting to apply this natural process to art.

Symbolically, I feel that aging, disintegration, and decay are natural parts of evolution which create something of value and are not necessarily endings, or things to be discarded or dismissed. To me this relates to our own aging, to the value of recycling and repurposing, and to the recognition of the beauty of weathered and distressed objects – be they a rusty fence, a wall with peeling paint, or ourselves!

PART ONE
123 artists answered the original call and posted photographs of their bundles on their blogs. You can click here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here to be taken to previous posts on my blog that showcase many of the bundles.

Here are just a few examples:




PART TWO
Bundles of every imaginable material, shape, and color were hung, tied, buried, and submerged all around the world. Nature worked her magic with snow, rain, hail, sun, wind, earth, fire, and water - interacting with and disintegrating bundles of bundles. We all watched and waited. On May 1, participating artists began to retrieve their bundles to see the impact of nature. For some it was subtle. For some it was dramatic. And for some, their bundle was gone, either through nature's hands of human hands. In the end, 96 artists posted their "after" pictures. The links to each one can be found on the sidebar of my blog under the Disintegration icon.

Here are just a few examples:




PART THREE
But there was more. As a means of symbolically reflecting the re-creation that often follows dis-integration in nature, all artists were asked to create a new artwork using some or all of the disintegrated materials from their bundles. And today is the start of the reveal! Their ultimate creations are as varied and exciting as their original bundles.

As artists post their artwork, I will add links below. Click on each link to be taken to their post and feel free to leave a comment so they know you visited. If you are a blogger who has posted their artwork and you do not find your name on the list, please email me so I can add your link. Please note that soon these links will be transferred to the sidebar of my blog and will always be easily accessible!

Sun Soul Art Thoughts 08/01/09
LaWendeltreppe 08/01/09
Debrina's Diary 08/01/09
opening connecting 08/01/09
Lani Puppetmaker's Blog Spot 08/01/09
Jazzgoil Ink 08/01/09
Memories of Mine to Thine 08/01/09
Second Nature 08/01/09
Art Propelled 08/01/09
Ink Haven 08/01/09
Just a Note 08/01/09
Cinnamon Studio 08/01/09
Altered Book Lover - Part 1 08/01/09
Altered Book Lover - Part 2 08/01/09
Marianne's Art Blog 08/01/09
Lucky Dip 08/01/09
4 Rooms and the Moon 08/01/09
Truly Spacious 08/01/09
Caroline at Coastcard 08/01/09
theresa mARTin 08/01/09
BT - The Crafty Gardener 08/01/09
Fran Meneley 08/01/09
Christine Marie Art 08/01/09
Found Memories Art 08/01/09
Papieren Avonturen 08/01/09
n2theblue 08/01/09
Expression Studio 08/01/09
Pentamento 08/01/09
Fully Flummoxed - Part 1 08/01/09
The Land of Lost Luggage 08/01/09
The Weaver of Grass 08/01/09
Where I talk about Art 08/01/09
Gillian McMurray 08/01/09
Art in Redwagons 08/01/09
POGA Art 08/01/09
Mick Mathers Art Blog 08/01/09
Beelieve 08/01/09
Lynn - Getting my Feet Wet 08/01/09
Corrine's Altered Art 08/01/09
Magpie's Nest 08/01/09
Primfixins 08/01/09
One Day at a Time 08/01/09
JazWorks 08/01/09
Creative Rebel Gal 08/01/09
Rodrigvitz Style 08/01/09
Hermine's Place 08/01/09
This I Didn't Know 08/01/09

Be...Dream...Play... 08/02/09
Ruth Rae/Judy Wilkenfeld 08/02/09
River Garden Studio 08/02/09
Rosa & Josie's 08/02/09

Artisticaneum 08/03/09
Altered Bits 08/03/09
Creatively Anew 08/03/09
Fully Flummoxed - Part 2 08/03/09

Dryadart's Weblog 08/05/09

In the Name of Art 08/06/09

Two Dresses Studio 08/07/09
Art-ticulation 08/07/09

Artfully Ooglebloops 08/10/09

World of Joy 08/14/09

Stamping Rika 08/15/09

The Artful Eye 08/17/09

Bohemian Caravan 08/24/09

Artsortments 08/26/09

Writing from Life 08/27/09

Ro Bruhn 09/01/09

Mixed Media 09/08/09

While the initial plan was to have all artists post on August 1, many of the participants (including myself)will be posting later in the month instead. Please check back often to see the updated list. As you can see, I have included the date I added each link to the list so that it is easier to track which blogs you still need to visit.

Enjoy! And thank you to everybody involved!

38 comments:

steven said...

a really cool project. i'll be wandering around the links to the other artists over the next few days. thanks for sharing this!! steven

Maj said...

Seth, you know how to keep us busy! I haven't even finished visiting all the links from your previous post, and now I am busy travelling the ether, seeing all the amazing objects of art this project has resulted in. WOW!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Brilliant stuff Seth - and a lot of extra work for you too - but I am sure you are thrilled with the result. It is good how bloggers respond isn't it.

Dymphie said...

planning to do a 'tour de blog' the coming weeks :) thanks for all the hard work!

Anonymous said...

This has been such a wide reaching project and a huge success!! Happy to be part of it...

http://rodrigvitzstyle.typepad.com/rodrigvitz_style/2009/08/disintegrationd2.html

x..x
steph

Nikki Lee Anne Ghilain said...

Seth, Thank you for all you have put into this incrediable project....I can't wait to take a Day and visit all the links.

Lynn Cohen said...

You are incrediable to do all this work Seth. I do appreciate your energy put forth and am sure all the other artists do as well.

I posted mine today and already it's been visited by at least one of your participants. A fun way to find new artists work! And have them see mine. Thanks for that too.

And I have gone to the two who had visited his art. And so the circle goes. And will continue.

Thanks again for challenging all of us! It's been fun and continues to be filled with beautiful finds!

Karin Bartimole said...

Wow Seth, I've just visited a bunch of your fellow collaborators and am blown away by the results - as well as inspired. i think I'll have to start disintegrating some materials of my own, since I didn't get on board with this. Thanks for thinking of everything - dating and organizing the links for us, etc. Much appreciation for all the work you do in putting together these projects for us!!

3rdEyeMuse said...

adding the date was a smart idea, Seth ... even though I didn't take part in the project, I have to tell you I am having so much fun seeing what poeple have been doing with it ... FANTASTIC!

Anonymous said...

Hi,
Here is my finished project
Warm regards Hermine

Mick said...

So, Seth. After you have a chance to breath free for 10 minutes ... what's Part IV going to be? :O

~*~Magpie's Nest said...

Seth, my post is up and I have emailed you the direct link.
Many Many Thanks for another fantastic project
You Rock ~*~ Patty

~*~Magpie's Nest said...

I see some folks are posting links here :)

http://bitze.wordpress.com/2009/08/01/disco-discovery-blue-the-color-of-hope/

TBM said...

Seth, thank you for sharing this idea with us and including us in this journey! I am looking forward to visiting everyone to see their final pieces. Congratulations on such a successful collaboration :-)

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I am still amazed at all the work you have put into this project. Thanks so much for all you have done on this amazing collaboration.

rscoach said...

Whew! Finally finished - my post is up on my blog, Seth - thank you, thank you, thank you! This was an amazing project and so honored to be a part of it all - please add my blog to the list of projects - Reva (Los Angeles)

CreativeRebelGal.blogspot.com

BT said...

What a wonderful time I'm having blog hopping Seth and what a vast amount of work you have put in. I'm sure you'll agree it has been worth it. Thanks for letting me hop on board. I've loved it.

Karen Salva said...

Seth, another huge thank you for this fantastic project. When I started I really did not know what to expect...had nothing planned out but created freely and learned to really appreciate working with what mother nature does via the aging process! You are the best!

Julie Prichard said...

Seth- well done....really....congratulations on this collaboration.. It promotes you to Superstar Status in my book.

Wayne Pitchko said...

My REVEAL is posted on my blog. Thanks Seth, and thanks for everyone visiting my REVEAL. I will try my very best to see what everyone else has revealed. And congratas to everyone who participated....you are ALLLLLLLLLLLLLL amazing

Mrs Pretzel said...

Seth, this was SUCH an amazingly FUN project!! My kids LOVED it, my neighbors asked about it... it's been pure fun. Thank you so much. SO much. I'll be sharing your final list on my blog as well!!

Jill Zaheer said...

I'm awe struck by the magnitude, the amazing and intricate artistic creations made, their depth, and the personal meaning and impact the project has had and will continue to have on so many! Truly stunning results by all and Herculeon efforts by you Seth for initiating and coordinating this 3 part collaboration! Seems like a dream come true for all. Tremendous thanks go out to you for your imagination, tenacity and energy to put this global happening all together! It's a special journey looking through everyone's posts- learning about their thought processes throughout their disintegration projects and creations!

Wayne Pitchko said...

I changed my REVEAL on my blog

Diane said...

Seth~
With much joy I have posted my project for DisCo DisCovery. It is called Day at the Guadalupe.
Thanks again for the challenge. It was much fun.

Poetic Artist said...

Seth.
Thanks for always sharing and inspiring.
Katelen

Tumble Fish Studio said...

A brilliant project that I have loved watching here and on lots and lots of blogs out there! You are such an inspiration and your projects are approachable and so very interesting. Thank you for sharing your hard work, insight, and creative gifts and making them usable for the rest of us.

Anonymous said...

thank you so very much for putting so much of yourself into this project, seth. you're a genius and i have had sooooo much fun "playing" with you and everyone else on this project. i sooooo can't wait to see your final piece! i just post mine, it its current state, a tad late. will add more and post new photos soon.

Chris said...

wow, Seth. You have really brought this full circle! I am working on mine. yes! And I can't wait to get to all the contributors.

Thanks for fun!

Unknown said...

What a cool idea. I love distressed and tattered bits and pieces. How fun this must have been. I've enjoyedreading about it and now am off to check out the oher blogs. Thanks!

Unknown said...

What a cool idea. I love distressed and tattered bits and pieces. How fun this must have been. I've enjoyedreading about it and now am off to check out the oher blogs. Thanks!

Mary S. Hunt said...

okay
WHEW
i am caught up!

i want anyone who reads what i might say
to read this:

you should hear me clap /\/\/\/\
in applause
to each project posted
you all deserve a standing ovation!

such creative creatures you be

and seth

a special little applause to you
that you headed up this show...
better than any gallery event i have attended!

Curio said...

This just all seems so selfless...Your generosity towards other artists just blows me away. And look what beautiful art creations you motivate! You are quite the person! Glad I've come to know your blog.

rivergardenstudio said...

This is such an amazingly beautiful project Seth... I love seeing everyones work and creativity evolve here... Roxanne

Barbara Kleinhans said...

very amazing to see the creativity and diversity of this project. Really like how it's grown and evolved.

Our Hands For Hope said...

What an interesting idea. i'm looking forward to searching through the archive of sites.
Terisa

The Artful Eye said...

Lot's of fun.

Many thanks for all your efforts with this collaboration!!

Now I have time to breathe and visit all the other talented artists.

Here's mine.

http://www.artfuleye.com/2009/08/disco-redux.html

couragetocreatewriteandlove said...

Here it is my link:


http://heartandsoulgardening.blogspot.com/2009/08/disco-discovery.html


Seth:
I apologize it took me longer than expected to accomplish this project.

rivergardenstudio said...

This was such an amazing project, and your collages of the results are amazing and beautiful!