Chaos, Control...Chaos, Control

Exploring The Idea of The Border Between Chaos & Order

In The Border Land Between Chaos And Order

I will admit, this episode was a bit ambitious. I feel like most of what I have done for season one here is Starling has been to barely approach some of the larger ideas behind artistic development and creative practice. This show starts the discussion of how the artist must be able to find the balance between chaos and order and exist within the boundary to help move humanity towards development in consciousness. It is the role of the artist to be at the forefront of moving human thought to make us aware of the unknown. This means an artist being willing to walk right up to all that is unknown, to the boundary of chaos and risk our own destruction for to be on the forefront of new thought to make it visible for all. I barely touched the surface in this episode and it is a lot to process actually. I hope it makes some sense...Listen and let me know at the link below. Then check out all of the content connected to this episode in the links to explore and discover more around the topics I touched on.

The Borderlands: Chaos & Control - Starling

Chaos, Control...Chaos, Control...You Like? You Like? Have you considered how you walk the edge between chaos and order in your artistic practice? In this episode we explore the borderlands, the area that the artist works from when creating art that moves culture forward. Like an explorer, an art...

buzzsprout.com

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Six Degrees of Separation

This is the movie that started me thinking about this whole concept. Way back in 1993 when I saw this film I believed that the double sided Kandinsky was a real thing. Part of me was really disappointed to know that this object was created by the playwright John Guare to be an important symbol in this play. I now see his genius in creating this object from the separate paintings, as it was important as a metaphor for his story how we are all connected. And, it got me thinking about that edge, the border between chaos and control.

I rewatched this when I started thinking about making this episode, and I will say I am not sure this holds up. It really feels like a watching a play...but not in a good way. And it feels very dated, as the internet would solve a lot of the problems that arise in this film. But, it still is a great introduction to considering how we deal with chaos when it arrives. As Paul shows up to the Kittredge's apartment and chaos ensues. I was surprised to learn this is based on the true story of a con man named David Hampton. Paul represents chaos, in a way, and how it connects all of us. Through the experiences all the families of the story have with Paul, they become connected and they all process this experience differently.

At the time I write this...you can stream Six Degrees of Separation on Prime Video. Explore the links and images below about the film, as well as the artist Kandinsky.

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Several Circles, Kandinsky

Representation of order/control

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The Imaginary Art Object

The double sided Kandinsky from the play/film does not exist but was a creation of the playwright John Guare.

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Black Lines, Kandinsky

Representation of Chaos

Learn More About Kandinsky Here:

Wassily Kandinsky Paintings, Bio, Ideas

Kandinsky exploited color and form to create experiences that engaged the sight, sound, and the emotions of viewers and thereby leading the Expressionists.

theartstory.org

My Students Seeing The Work During Our Summer Trip

Every year I take students on an enrichment trip to see art in it's own habitat. Last summer was NYC. While exploring the Guggenheim, these two discovered Several Circles on their own. They said it was one of their favorites from the collection.

Here you can see the scale and know that it is not double sided.

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For In Depth Reading on Kandinsky

Kandinsky is a fascinating individual, and his spiritual connection to creation is very powerful. If you want to take a deep dive into his work. This is a great book, and the audio version is available on audible as well. Here he explains his own relationship to creation.

Link To Amazon: Concerning The Spiritual In Art

Romare Bearden

I discovered the art of Romare Bearden in college, and fell in love with his collages. Discovering more about his creative process revealed that his practice was an inspiration to behold. I am going to give you several links for exploration including a full interview with Bearded about his life and his process, that is worth the time to watch.

Images From: The Odyssey

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Romare Bearden Paintings, Bio, Ideas

Bearden's dazzling collages celebrated the Black-American experience via visually powerful statements, which he integrated into greater American modernism.

theartstory.org

For Teachers

This is a great resource for teachers who want to share Bearden with their students. It is also great for students who want to learn on their own.

https://www.nga.gov/content/dam/ngaweb/Education/learning-resources/teaching-packets/pdfs/bearden-tchpk.pdf

nga.gov

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Deep Dive Book

If You want to discover more about Bearden, check out The Life and Work of Romare Bearden by Mary Schmidt Campbell. Unfortunately there is not an audiobook version of this one available.

Link to Amazon: Life & Work of Romare Bearden

Harlem Renaissance

Bearden grew up during the Harlem Renaissance and was influenced by the music, the writings and the atmosphere. This was the American interwar period, a time of rapid change. The work created by African Americans at this time was the first time contributions from this community was truly seen. Explore the links below to learn more about the artists and this movement.

Harlem Renaissance

The Harlem Renaissance was the development of the Harlem neighborhood in NYC as a black cultural mecca in the early 20th century and the subsequent social and artistic explosion that resulted. Lasting roughly from the 1910s through the mid-1930s, the period is considered a golden age in African American culture. Famous artists include Langston Hughes, Zora Neal Hurston and Aaron Douglas.

history.com

Harlem Renaissance

National Gallery of Art

nga.gov

Jazz...The Musical Embodiment of The Border Land

Home | Ken Burns

Jazz has been called the purest expression of American democracy. Join us for an exploration of jazz, America's greatest cultural achievement.

pbs.org

Be The Line?

Looking at the symbol of the Yin Yang, most people ignore the boundary and just see the dark and light, chaos and order. But the line that is the boundary, also unites the circle. It becomes the whole and understands "both".

Is the line only there if it is flat? Is it there as a sphere? This has had me thinking...and I did not discuss it in the podcast. But I think it is important to consider, as the line becomes the whole when it is 3D....

My Playlist:

I thought about just making this all Jazz, but I'll be honest...I don't know enough about Jazz for that. So I added Some Miles Davis and then put in songs I connect to this concept. Hope you enjoy.

Chaos & Control, a playlist by Amy Markham on Spotify

A playlist featuring Miles Davis, Son Lux, The Cure, and others

open.spotify.com

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Starling Stuff

You can support the show with some Starling Stuff. Check out the merch available on my redouble page. And look at these two lovely coworkers of mine in there long sleeve Starling shirts, don't they make great models?