December 15, 2018 Update
It is rare that someone writes ‘there’s very little detail here’ in reference to me, my life, or my work but it has been known to happen.
Perplexing, no, amusing, yes.
So I continue to do what I do.
Melusine’s Refrain Not Fade Away
November 15, 2018 Update
Screenshot of Google search
October 15, 2018 Update
As of October 1, 2018 I am officially on leave of absence (suspension of studies in University of Plymouth terminology) until March 31, 2019. During this time I hope to find some resolution to the situation I find myself in at the moment, in terms of how this PhD research project might move forward after the administrative bomb that was detonated inside it last month. While I have been sifting through the rubble, trying to salvage what can be salvaged, consulting contractors both near and far for their professional opinion, I have continued to work with the personas in both paint and words. Unfortunately, the damage has been quite extensive and the chapter writing which had begun so fruitfully has now momentarily been set aside. As this site is a key part of my practice and primarily for my own benefit I will continue to post here parts of my research in all forms as it develops. For now I have collected a selection of writing fragments from the past three months linked to below - they are not posted in the order of their writing.
Creative Playing Just Around the Corner
Invocation for the journey/thru the sacred space
Letters of (Intro)Seduction from Melusine Van der Weyden
Greetings From Beyond the Grave
September 15, 2018 Update
Originally I had intended this update to cover the period from approximately July 26 (date of my presentation at Summer Residency) to September 14, which as always in September, is a rather large post consisting of residency presentation and studio work documentation, reading and writing done during and after residency, and this month was meant to include fragments of the dissertation chapter written last weekend during a personally organized writing retreat in NYC. I also intended to post along with all this writing on exhibitions and other types of work of other artist seen in this two month period of time. However, a recent, in my opinion, incredibly disruptive decision made by the members of the advisory board of this institute and conveyed to me this week and contradicting promises made to me earlier this summer, has stymied the originally planned post. All the above mentioned material I had planned to post will find its way on to this website, hopefully in the coming weeks pending any other distracting news that may come my way, and then be indexed here in an addendum to this month’s post.
One important bit of information I would like to document here now is due to pressing personal, health, and family issues I need to focus on and attend to I have requested of the accrediting university, and which has been approved by the designated research co-ordinator, a six month suspension of studies beginning October 1, 2018 and ending on March 31, 2019. During this time I will continue to post to this website as I am able. Presently, I find myself at the point in this doctoral project where the research is being synthesized in the writing process and hope upon my return from leave to have refocused myself to that.
I will not be working with my advisory team during the period I’ve suspended my studies which, again, in my personal opinion I am expressing here on my research website blog, is probably the only and ever so slightly positive development to happen of late in light of the arbitrary decision by the advisory board members to essentially dismiss my DoS on misconstrued information and false pretense without fully considering the impact this has on my doctoral research project at this point in the process, and then failing to respond directly themselves to my concerns.
However, as I fully intend to return to this program at the end of my leave of absence I am requesting the institute fulfill its promise to provide recommendations for a new, suitable advisor to step into this role at this critical juncture of my project.
Finally, I want to report that after careful consideration I elected to remove all passwords from the pages of this website in order to increase the ease in accessing and loading times on the pages.
Summer Residency 2018 Presentation Preparation Post
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR WORKSHOP READING DIARIES PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO THE PREVIOUS POSTING OR CLICK HERE. THANK YOU!
“measure twice, cut once” - a wise, old carpenter
“Be prepared.” - Robert Baden-Powell
The purpose of this post is to prepare website visitors for their role as audience at my Summer Residency 2018 presentation by helping them to formulate questions they will be asked to provide in the opening minutes. My intention with each presentation I have given during Transart residencies has been for the presentation to provide knowledge which becomes in turn part of my research process. I maintain, the role of the audience is analogous to the spectators of performances or exhibitions, or the readers of the writing, and this must be actively performed. The impetus for my position is philosopher Richard Wollheim’s description of the relationship between the artist, the object, and the spectator, and how this relationship makes painting as an art (Wollheim, 1987). In all points of this triangular relationship I uphold the necessity of active participation to make this research as creative research. Therefore, I am asking you, the audience/spectator/reader of this post, to take time to familiarize yourself with the content linked to below - how much time you take or how deeply you engage is up to you, consider what questions have arisen for you, and bring them to the presentation. If you would prefer emailing me your questions please send to robyn@art-robynthomas.com.
First, I recommend reviewing the three most recent residency presentations. In these postings you will find my research questions. These postings contain videos of the presentation portions only (no Q & A) but if you prefer a quicker means by which you familiarize yourself with what I have done so far the notes and the slides are contained in these postings as well.
Second, I direct you to postings documenting the process of the two works I will discuss in my presentation. Do not fear - most of these postings are short and more image than text! It is up to you how much time you spend with each posting.
Origins of the work yet to be titled
Still no title but the next steps
The now of the work yet to be titled
The future of the work yet to be titled
And
What Petra and I are working on
What Petra and I are working on, Part 2
Franzi steps into: what Petra and I are working on, Part 4
I give some definition to: what Petra and I (and Franzi, too) are working on, Part 5
Petra comes back to: what Petra and I and now Franzi are working on, Part 6
It's finally time for me to take over: what Petra and I (and Franzi, too) were working on, Part 7
Black, White and Blue: what Petra, Franzi and I were working on, Part 8
Finally, it is not necessary however, if your curious and would like to dig deeper into this project I recommend the February 15, 2018 Update as it contains a list in chronological order of all project postings till then. For full lists of links to postings between then and now visit the May 15, 2018 Update and the June 15, 2018 Update.
Summer 2018 Reading Diaries
Clicking on this link will take you to the homepage for the section of this research site containing all required reading diaries for Summer 2018 Residency Workshops.
If a password prompt appears for any page on this site between January 1 and December 31, 2018 the password will be: ti18.
I will be participating in one workshop, Slow Drawing, which has no required readings. Images of the drawings produced in that workshop will be posted at a later date.
If you would like to go directly to the reading diary for your workshop please click on the workshop title in the list below:
June 15, 2018 Update
The following is a list of recent workings in the studio, posted in Studio/Making in the order of their doings.
What Petra and I are working on
What Petra and I are working on, Part 2
Franzi steps into: what Petra and I are working on, Part 4
I give some definition to: what Petra and I (and Franzi, too) are working on, Part 5
Petra comes back to: what Petra and I and now Franzi are working on, Part 6
It's finally time for me to take over: what Petra and I (and Franzi, too) were working on, Part 7
Black, White and Blue: what Petra, Franzi and I were working on, Part 8
May 15, 2018 Update
After a very difficult period of time and a few months back working in the studio I have slowly begun to reconnect to the work, if not to all aspects of the project. In many ways I still feel disconnected to the personas, the research, etc. but it is moving along, step by step. I have learned that personas-as-tools require a certain mental focus that can be quickly disrupted by forces both internal and external. The work in the studio the past few months has shown me how process is key to restarting and (hopefully) reconnecting to the research via the work. An analogy might be how loosing both hands forces the painter to find another way to pick up the brush. The desire to paint and the process of painting remains but how to enter into painting requires a new way.
Here are direct links to the recent postings in the order in which they happened ... i.e. in reverse order of how they appear on the Studio/Making page which is formatted as a blog, so it is best to use the list below for a sequential navigation. Unlike previous post many of these contain a fair amount of text discussing the process. Again, this is a response to the situation/place I found myself in and what I required to re-enter not just the making process but the reflection. In the next month I intend to re-enter the writing process via posts addressing my research questions as well as readings I have been doing this past half year.
Here is the list.
Origins of the work yet to be titled
Still no title but the next steps
The now of the work yet to be titled
The future of the work yet to be titled
And there was one new post in Studio Writing.
April 15, 2018 Update
Working, documenting, but little archiving of this here.
A new persona has come on board: The curator.
More later.
March 15, 2018 Update
Fragments from Elegy and signs left behind. More later.
February 15, 2018 Update
The intent of this month's posting is to serve as a guide for the external reader (RDC2) to viewing all work related to the project since it began in October 2016 to date. This posting consists of three lists. The first list contains the titles with embedded links to all work posted to the 'Studio- Making' page. The second list is of titles to all postings in 'Studio Writing' also with embedded links. The third list contains links to postings in 'Presentations' for the three presentations done for this project in conjunction with Transart Institute residencies. All lists are chronological - oldest to most recent - and each link should open in a new window.
I. The following is a chronological list of postings in Studio - Making. Each work is built to some extent off previous work; therefore it is important to start at the beginning to see the unfolding of the painting strategies through the techniques, methods and tools of my process. The postings include my own painting (self) and the painting with the personas - individually and in collaboration within my painting practice. I have documented the process the various works’ creation through still photos, flatbed scans of the paintings, videos. The writing in these postings is meant as documentation of the making process, not an analysis or reflection of the resulting work or contextualization through sources outside of the works themselves. Therefore, the writing here will tell the reader how a work was made and provide some ‘backstory’ -such as the origins of each persona or images used in a particular work - but little else.
Double Portrait: Self and Franz Walsh
Double Portrait: Self and Petra Nimm
Double Portrait: Self and Melusine Van de Weyden
Dissecting Double Portrait: Self and Petra Nimm
Good Witches of the Between, Part One
Good Witches of the Between, Part Two
Good Witches of the Between, Part Three
A little madness in the Spring, Part One
Good Witches of the Between, Part Four
A little madness in the Spring, Part One -part two
A little madness in the Spring, Part Two
A little madness in the Spring, Part Three
A little madness in the Spring, Part Two -part two
Good Witches of the Between, Part Five -Franz’s intervention
A little madness in the Spring, Part Two -part three
A little madness in the Spring, Part Three -part two
Good Witches of the Between, Part Six -applying Petra
Gestures of CillaVee-Gestures of Petra Nimm
A little madness in the Spring, Part Three -part three
Good Witches of the Between, Part Seven -another start
Momentary Messages of Truths as told by Petra Nimm, Image One -part one
Momentary Messages of Truths as told by Petra Nimm, Image One -part two
Momentary Messages of Truths as told by Petra Nimm with Interruptions by Robyn Thomas, Image Two
Momentary Messages of Truths as told by Petra Nimm with Interruptions by Robyn Thomas, Image Three
Good Witches of the Between, Part Seven -enter Franz
Good Witches of the Between, Part Eight -Petra returns
Good Witches of the Between, Part Nine -another layer of paper
Good Witches of the Between, Part Ten -Petra, watercolor, thinned gesso and acrylic
Good Witches of the Between, Part Eleven, -Robyn and oil
Berlin Sketches and Melusine Writing
Another Point of View/Shadows on the Wall
Happenings in the Between: Subtext Part Twelve
Zigging and Zagging Postal Posted Posting
Eight by Ten by Twelve by Four
Eight by Ten by Twelve by Four: Elegy
II. The following list is a chronological account of postings in Studio Writing. The writing in these postings takes a variety of forms, such as reflections on the personas and making process, readings, exhibitions, films, sketches, notes, citations, presentations, and drafts for chapters. I have found writing on the computer in either in documents or emails allows my thoughts to flow quicker - and more legibly - to the page I rarely write more than a word or two as a prompt in my notebook, sketchbook, or journals. Instead, I sit down at my laptop and write, either as myself, Melusine, Petra, and occasionally Franzi. Most of the following postings are by me unless otherwise noted, and very informal with very little editing. I return to read the postings frequently, to re-think, reflect and re-consider the thoughts I had when creating the posting; and to collect bits and pieces to add to or generate new writing, specifically the writing for presentations, reports, and most importantly, the chapters of the written dissertation.
Thoughts on Pessoa and Duchamp
A child’s solution to the limits of space
Codes of Dressing Up, Part One
Notes from: Play and Its Role in the Mental Development of the Child by Lev Vygotsky
Petra paints with her left hand
Thoughts and Questions by Melusine Van der Weyden
Sara Berman’s Closet @ The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Vygotsky: The Psychology of Art, Part One
The digital continuation of a walking-talking conversation between two painters
Smoothing the edges: an observation
(How) is adult play/creativity different?
Notes on a search of adult play
Roland Barthes on Cy Twombly: play not game
Waiting for Franz: May 8 11 AM
Preliminary thoughts on the written exegesis
Quotes and Notes on Performance Studies: An Introduction
Authentic Drips and Ziggy Stardust
Notes and Quotes from Serial Imagery: Definition by John Coplans
The pleasure of The Pleasure of the Text
Bibliography as a tool for reflection
Melusine’s correspondences and other writings (until August 1, 2017)
Boxing Shadows with the beginning of (mainly) Melusine’s interruptions
Odds and (non)Ends, August and September
Poems by Melusine Van der Weyden
The Relevancy of a Death in Writing
Two quotes on identity and its reception by others by a couple of recently deceased artists
Petra thinking of a friend while painting
This increasingly fragmented pixel
Another Way of Telling My Practice
III. The final list is a chronological account of postings in Presentations.
Janaury 5, 2018 Quick Navigation Links
Hello and Welcome.
If you are visiting my Research website for the first time this posting will provide you with a brief introduction to the purpose and structure of this website along with direct links to where you may find the work -made and written. Whenever you encounter a password protected page the password will be the same as the one you used to access this blog [exception shown below].
First and foremost it is important to understand that unlike most websites which have been created for the visitor to the site this website has been created by me the artist-researcher as a space to document, archive, reflect on and play with the work and supporting ideas in a digital, unbound space. Think of this website as a huge box filled with notes, sketches and photos by the artist for the artist. You have my invitation to browse the site, pose questions to the contents and provide feedback to me - the artist - with the understanding it is not a site displaying finished work for you - the viewer.
Along with browsing the blog section where in each monthly update you will find links directing you to the previous months postings I suggest you scroll through the two other blogs: Studio Making and Studio Writing.
Because both are set up as blogs in the website template most recent postings will always appear at the 'top' of the page. In the Studio Making page to get a better picture of the process/development of a work it is best to scroll back through to the 'older' postings and work your way up/forward to the most recent. This is also true to a lesser extent in the Studio Writing section.
Finally, for more detailed information to the research project embedded in and driving the contents of this website I suggest reading through my RDC1 prospectus [password: ti17] and the most recent, but not final(!), drafts of my RDC2 transfer report and sample chapter.
If you have any questions, comments, or wish to get in touch with me directly please email me at robyn@art-robynthomas.com.
I look forward to seeing you in Mexico City very soon!
December 15, 2017 Update
Re-posted
November 15, 2017 Update
A chronological accounting of postings Studio Writing and Studio Making.
Thoughts on Pessoa and Duchamp
A child’s solution to the limits of space
Codes of Dressing Up, Part One
Notes from: Play and Its Role in the Mental Development of the Child by Lev Vygotsky
Petra paints with her left hand
Thoughts and Questions by Melusine Van der Weyden
Sara Berman’s Closet @ The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Vygotsky: The Psychology of Art, Part One
The digital continuation of a walking-talking conversation between two painters
Smoothing the edges: an observation
(How) is adult play/creativity different?
Notes on a search of adult play
Roland Barthes on Cy Twombly: play not game
Waiting for Franz: May 8 11 AM
Preliminary thoughts on the written exegesis
Quotes and Notes on Performance Studies: An Introduction
Authentic Drips and Ziggy Stardust
Notes and Quotes from Serial Imagery: Definition by John Coplans
The pleasure of The Pleasure of the Text
Bibliography as a tool for reflection
Notes: Important sentences from my Summer 2017 residency presentation and how my understanding of what I am doing has developed through the process of preparing it.
Melusine’s correspondences and other writings (until August 1, 2017)
Boxing Shadows with the beginning of (mainly) Melusine’s interruptions
Odds and (non)Ends, August and September
Poems by Melusine Van der Weyden
Good Witches of the Between, Part One
Good Witches of the Between, Part Two
Good Witches of the Between, Part Three
A little madness in the Spring, Part One
Good Witches of the Between, Part Four
A little madness in the Spring, Part One -part two
A little madness in the Spring, Part Two
A little madness in the Spring, Part Three
A little madness in the Spring, Part Two -part two
Good Witches of the Between, Part Five -Franz’s intervention
A little madness in the Spring, Part Two -part three
A little madness in the Spring, Part Three -part two
Good Witches of the Between, Part Six -applying Petra
Gestures of CillaVee-Gestures of Petra Nimm
A little madness in the Spring, Part Three -part three
Good Witches of the Between, Part Seven -another start
Momentary Messages of Truths as told by Petra Nimm, Image One -part one
Momentary Messages of Truths as told by Petra Nimm, Image One -part two
Momentary Messages of Truths as told by Petra Nimm with Interruptions by Robyn Thomas, Image Two
Momentary Messages of Truths as told by Petra Nimm with Interruptions by Robyn Thomas, Image Three
Good Witches of the Between, Part Seven -enter Franz
Good Witches of the Between, Part Eight -Petra returns
Good Witches of the Between, Part Nine -another layer of paper
Good Witches of the Between, Part Ten -Petra, watercolor, thinned gesso and acrylic
Good Witches of the Between, Part Eleven, -Robyn and oil
Berlin Sketches and Melusine Writing
Another Point of View/Shadows on the Wall
Happenings in the Between: Subtext Part Twelve
October 15, 2017 Update
September 15, 2017 Update
Bowie image in window of store front of Hansa Studios/Meistersaal near Potsdamer Platz. Location of recording work done by Bowie during his Berlin period. Part of 'Walk-Talk' on August 10, 2017. This image has been used frequently in conjunction with the auction-exhibitions of Bowie's art collection by Sotheby's in Fall 2016.
This posting will be primarily be a quick recap of the full committee meeting on July 26 in Berlin and links to updates and posting across this website since July 15, 2017.
Key points to think about from full committee meeting: list of words supplied by Andrew; whether the creative process is what the project is about; Jungian archetype of the shadow; current thoughts on structure of written exegesis -Playing is the process/methodology...my painting practice while Painting and Personas is where the contextual research (lit. review etc) is dealt with; Roberta suggestion to deal with play and performativity strategically; think of the turning triangle as a metaphor (structural engineering systems); the text becoming the mirror/shadow of the work; it might be helpful to think of the performance in the studio space as brackets for my own performativity. Some discussion on direction of ‘chapter’ for RDC2. Goal is a first draft for initial comments to Andrew and Roberta by second half of September.
I have continued scholarly research focus on Duchamp and Bowie and am in the process of drafting the chapter. It is slowly coming together in bits and pieces but as of today I am not yet satisfied with the structure-flow to consider the initial draft to the point I want it to be to begin receiving feedback and making revisions. But it is close and should be there in the next 1-2 weeks.
Since returning from Berlin painting has progressed. Andrew and I had a long discussion about some of the smaller works on paper from myself, Petra and Franz I brought with me to Berlin. Using that discussion as a springboard back into the studio and the work that was done this past month I am ready to begin the next step on the integration/collaboration of the three (and with Melusine’s text -four) personas into a larger scale painting using methods explored this past month in the 4 inch x 6 inch paintings.
Here are direct links to all the recent postings.
Studio-Making:
Berlin sketches and Melusine writing
Good Witches of the Between, Part 7 -enter Franz
Good Witches of the Between, Part 8 -Petra returns
Good Witches of the Between, Part 9 -another layer of paper
Good Witches of the Between, Part 10 -Petra, watercolor, thinned gesso and acrylic
Good Witches of the Between, Part 11, -Robyn and oil
Studio-Writing:
Notes: Important sentences from my Summer 2017 residency presentation and how my understanding of what I am doing has developed through the process of preparing it.
Melusine’s correspondences and other writing (until August 1, 2017)
Some words from some words, I.
Boxing Shadows with the beginning of (mainly) Melusine’s interruptions
Odds and (non)Ends, August and September
To view Summer Residency presentation follow this link.
Andrew and I discussed my presentation and approaches for future presentation as well as presenting a selection of ‘finished’ work on my other [non-research, professional] website. A goal is to invest in a new DSLR camera this fall and re-photograph some of the work to-date, posting about 5-7 images on that website. Editing and ways of presenting fewer works...ideally in person...is important as the painting and experiencing the painting as such (and not as a reproduction in another format) is much on my mind.
Please remember, this site is first and foremost a tool for my personal documentation purposes and all work -written and painted- is in process and posted here solely for my own reflective methods and quick referencing as I work through this project.
The same image when viewed from a slightly different angle. Bowie changes.
Summer Residency Presentation
For the text, slides and videos of my Summer Residency presentation please follow this link.
July 15, 2017 Update
Welcome to my blog.
You might be visiting this blog/website for reasons related to the 2017 Summer Residency, in which case I will give you a short introduction to help you navigate to the information you are looking for. Occasionally you will encounter a request for a password. The password is always the same one which brought you to this page.
If you are looking for my summer workshop reading diaries please click on this link.
If you are visiting this website to prepare for my presentation on Monday, July 31 I recommend you look over the following by clicking on the words below:
RDC1: Abstract and Prospectus are the proposal of my research project submitted to Plymouth University in January 2017. Here you will find the background information to my research as well as aims, questions and methods.
Studio Writing is an ongoing blog of various types of informal writing used in my research. Some of the writing is from me, some from the personas, some writing are exercises I’ve given myself to get my thoughts flowing from my head into words, and others are ‘notes and quotes’ to various reading.
Making is an ongoing blog, primarily image based with some explanatory text, of the work the personas and I have been making in the studio.
Although the blog format contains areas to leave comments I ask that if you do have comments or questions for me to please email me directly at robyn@art-robynthomas.com as any messages you might leave directly on a blog page has the tendency of getting lost.
I use this main blog page as a place to gather my thoughts each month, reflect on what I have done, consider my next steps, and to create a site from which to navigate to recent postings. It is designed primarily for my personal use, as a type of electronic diary-sketchbook-archive, a tool for me to reflect upon my research. Others, such as yourself, are invited to visit this website, peruse the pages, and direct any comments, suggestions or questions you have my way. I ask that you keep in mind the purpose of this website, that it is a tool in an ongoing process and the contents contained here are in a ‘draft’ state unless otherwise noted.
Recent postings are as follows:
Making -
Momentary Messages of Truths as told by Petra Nimm, Image One Part One
Momentary Messages of Truths as told by Petra Nimm, Image One Part Two
Momentary Messages of Truths as told by Petra Nimm with Interruptions by Robyn Thomas, Image Two
Momentary Messages of Truths as told by Petra Nimm with Interruptions by Robyn Thomas. Image Three
Studio Writing-
Safe travels and see you at residency!
Summer Residency 2017 workshops schedule with links to reading diaries
My notes and comments to myself [diaries] for the required readings can be viewed directly by clicking on the title of each reading in the post below.
PU Doctoral Training Session 1/2 Monday, July 24, 2017
"Thinking / Researching through Artistic Practice" with Dr. Anya Lewin and Dr. Deborah Robinson
PU Doctoral Training Session 2/2 Monday, July 25, 2017
“Your Practice-Research: Articulating Methodology and Significance” with Professor Roberta Mock
Suggested Reading and Source for workshop exercise:
Robin Nelson, Practice as Research in the Arts: Principles, Protocols, Pedagogies, Resistances (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013). [no diary]
Three Minute Thesis Competition: https://threeminutethesis.uq.edu.au/resources/competition-rules
"PRESENTING ARTISTIC RESEARCH" WORKSHOP WITH SARAH BENNETT Saturday, July 29, 2017
No suggested readings or websites.
"ARTICULATING TRANS-TERRITORALITY. GEOGRAPHICAL AND DISCIPLINARY DISPACEMENTS." WORKSHOP WITH HERMAN BASHIRON MENDOLICCHIO Thursday, August 3, 2017
"OPEN ACCESS VS. DOCUMENTATION ¬ IN PRACTICE-LED RESEARCH." WORKSHOP WITH MERETE RØSTAD Thursday, August 10, 2017
Suggested readings TBA