Many thanks for allowing me to talk to you all tonight...I thoroughly enjoyed the evening, and hope I was able to impart something of value.
Please feel free to e-mail me at any time. My local address is davidglen@cox.net
Wishing you all great passion in everything you do!
David Glen
9 comments:
In reference to David Glen’s discussion:
I found Glen’s issues on how we have to find our on aesthetics through finding who we are, instead of creating a style or an intricate technique, was a reaffirming experience.
Glen’s truthfulness in speaking about his own duty as a Documentarist Photographer compels me even more to search the importance of the individual as human beings, and not just to refer to us as a.k.a’s or disassociated screen-names.
It was not until recent that after observing my work through the past 3 years, I have realized that I have found what fuels my art and thus my life: The duality of humanity in aspects of spirituality and the flesh.
I believe that despite our differences as individuals, we all possess within us a truth that is common. In order to find this common truth, we have to dig deeper into our subconscious and search for a quite place of enlightenment; a place of meditation where we find the true essence of what we are composed of.
I would be interested in projecting a documentation of our society through the use of mirrors. I believe a mirror is more than just a mere tool that reflects the world we live in; it is a canvas composed of light, projecting an illusion of our aesthetics. My work reflects the subconscious conversation between illusion and reality: the reflection that comes from within the mirror interacting with the fabric of our being. Hopefully viewed in an anthropological context of who we are beyond our dissociated state with ourselves.
In conclusion, I feel it was not until now that I fully appreciated Glen’s point of view.
PHIL KIM
First of all, thank-you very much David!
I very much enjoyed David Glen's presentation. I very much enjoyed how David emphasized the individuality of Aesthetic point of view. It was also reassuring to here from him (and the rest of the class) that it takes a very long time to really find what you want to do with you art.
It was also uplifting to find out about the amazing photographers that I had no idea about. As a graphic designer photography plays a large part in my work, as well as being a amateur photographer myself. I was refreshing to learn about the work they do around the world, how much they risk on a daily basis and the sacrifices they make to do there work.
It shows that no mater who you are, if you have the drive to do something positive for the world you can, and as David said "you have to make big sacrifices, but the benefits are well worth it"
Cheers.
i think dave glen hit upon a central aspect of the human experience. to "find your calling"....by that i mean find what lies at your core in terms of passion. likely by this time, most students are exploring their passion(s), not yet crystalizing the one, that one most center to their experience, intutions, and deep longings to express something important in their lives. i think we all wish to do something in our lives that has meaning to us, that somehow expresses who we are. something we can look at and say "thats me, for better or worse, thats me". and most times true expression brings purity, beauty...a solid representation of where we are trying to go. its a long journey, and the good or bad news....depending on your attitude....is that it is a work never finished. we are always learning, evolving, changing, growing....our attitude towards things like beauty change (or so it seems), but really we are just moving experience by experience closer to who we are. and, fortunately, our center is like a gyroscope...it struggles to maintain balance and usually does. it rights itself and we move on to the next life work. makes life sound magical and worthwhile doesnt it. dave glen has a passion, you can see it in his face and eyes...his message is coming from his center and we are lucky to be in the room when he goes there.
ronnie rogers
David Glen,
I thought your presentation went very well. I was amazed at the photographs you showed us and very impressed by you reaction to some questioning.
Also, thank you for telling us that we don't need to have our niche yet. It seems like such a pressure and it's not fair to get pushed into a niche that probably isn't your own. I think a few people were put off by that fact, I sensed some unease around me when you seemed to question their sense of themselves. Not a thing that most people can deal with.
You were very encouraging, despite the somber mood of the photos and what they represent. Not likely to happen again with another person talking of the same thing.
The issue that was brought up in class about about whether the images provoke thought or if they just become another image about the poverty of other nations: I feel both. It appeals to different people. Some people have more of a mind-set towards helping others and wanting to spend their time doing so. Others are more self-centered, or just don't want to see. I feel sort of like that's just how it is. And there's not really a way to force someone to look. If you force someone, their reaction is to turn away more.
Thanks for your presentation
Aubriana Zurilgen
Thanks very much, David, for sharing your passion with us. I remain open to see where my path unfolds. I find inevitably that there is always opportunities to pay forward all of the many blessings I have received in my lifetime thus far. Often they are small; a ride, a material need, or just a couple of bucks for a meal. The key, as you, David, have mentioned is becoming compassionately aware. This is a conscious choice as Aubriana mentioned, a person is affected by a photo or work of art that depicts a need for compassion only as far as he or she is willing to allow or step beyond self.
I think too, that as Melissa said in class, we can be inundated with so many of these images, that we gloss over after awhile. Yet we still have the ability to chose to be aware, to get involved.
Stepping beyond self and choosing to put compassion into action, great or small can actually widen the flow of creativity.
Thank you for coming to present for us David!
It gave me pause to hear his view on having a story to tell, a purpose.. and giving photography (and any subject matter in that case) a soul. He talked about feeling things, really feeling them, and empathizing with people that makes all the difference, and I loved that. It can apply to anything if you think about it, whether it be art or relating to people in the world around you. And although I'm sure everyone has been told at one point or another to pursue what they love, it really struck home when he talked about finding what your passion is, and doing what is important to you, and that truth that you pay a price for your passions. The idea of leaving something to posterity in your life, even if its one small thing, but its something meaningful and great, moved me.
Its reassuring to me (as I'm sure it is to everyone else) that finding a passion or driving force or whatever it might be takes time. I always feel like I'm racing against time to find who I am and what I'm trying to say with my life in order to catch the moment where it will all make sense, but its much more reasonable when you see that it just takes time and self-reflection to really see whats there all along.
Thank you for the insightful presentation Mr. Glen!
I really enjoyed Mr. Glen’s presentation, his emphasize on Aesthetic individuality was key to this course. His self-discovery was very impactful, the turning point in his life when we veered away from trademark Steve McCurry imagery and realized that with the art of documentary photography a social debt is owed. With painting I feel it is harder to translate what documentary photography has the opportunity to achieve. Painting does not have the immediacy of photography nor the rawness. Regardless of what our chosen medium may be Mr. Glen produced a dialogue within our selves to question our own work and aim to produce work that is fulfilling. Essentially finding our calling, in finding so, without a doubt will we be passionate of our work.
I agree with Aubriana, the imagery shown in class can be read differently, by different people. It can become simply another image of poverty or impact us (for those who are open to idea). Mr. Glen and other documentary photographers are doing humanitarian work by photographing the realities of mankind suffrage. Some people may gloss over the imagery and that is sad. Sadly, not everyone is going to get involved. Yet, I feel we should reflect on our selves and acknowledge our opportunities and be thankful for the lifestyles we are living and never gloss over an image of human suffering.
Thanks for the Presentation
Luselia Marin
Hi David,
Thanks for speaking to our class. I found you presentation to be eye opening. Even though for some time I have pondered to find my place and purpose in the art world, your words gave me a deeper perspective on that important question. Seeing your presentation and selected photography images helped me gain a better insight on narrowing down my focus and purpose. I understand that it is very important in the art world to be yourself, and to stay true to your beliefs. It is also important to show the world something different instead of a recycled concept that everyone has seen before.
As a graphic designer, standing apart is very hard. When I saw your presentation, I realized I needed to work on adding that extra level of depth into my own creations. Of course, I already strive to let my personal design philosophies show in my work, however, after hearing your insight as to why that concept is so important proved to me how vital it is in the professional world. If you just go around making "pretty art" you're not really showing the world anything. I think many artists already know how to make things look beautiful. That's all good and well, except it is obvious (even through your photography presentation) memorable work encompasses themes that go so much deeper than the general aesthetic alone. I learned it is more important to choose an aesthetic style based on the message and story behind your work, rather than setting out to only show and define beauty.
I would like to thank you for reinforcing that idea by showing visuals to prove its validity. I believe once an artist realizes they have to discover who they are and what they are trying to communicate to the world, the impact of their themes and subject matter will be so much more memorable. That is what a true artist should strive for every day. It is a question I ask myself each time I start to design a new piece. Like you, I am not an artist setting out to create another "pretty picture". I want to create something with depth and meaning. Art is all about self-expression and visual communication. If your own voice does not show through in your work, the end result produces a shallow and faceless identity. Thank you once again for your time and inspirational words.
- Leah
David,
I truly admire the causes you are fighting for in your work. I am interested in the idea of documentary photography creating awareness, although from my perspective this is not as easily achieved as it would seem. I have always been a sceptic. I would be very curious to hear what you have to say on Susan Sontag's essays on photography. What you are doing is very admirable, and it is far more than most. But I would like to hear you address the constraints that come from your chosen medium.
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