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All of K - Love 4 Art

January 4th, 2014

All of K - Love 4 Art

Check out all new blog posts at http://klove4art.blogspot.com/

Three Murals in Six weeks

August 17th, 2012

Three Murals in Six weeks

http://klove4art.blogspot.com/2012/08/mural-1-great-summer-2012.html

Whole Systems Art- Creating an authentic language for the process of artwork

May 11th, 2012

Whole Systems Art- Creating an authentic language for the process of artwork

As the first installment of my newly created Whole Systems Art Blog I will tackle the topic of authentic language in art. As an African American painter I have found it challenging to find my niche as I have been told my art is NOT black enough. Which I always reply, 'I am an African American, my art is representative of my experience as an African American and speaks to issues and challeneges that face all human beings.'

Defining my work has proven to be an evolution of what is of value to me and I have saught to find topics and subject matter that bridge the gaps/dichotomies between micro and macro thinking, better put, a whole systems approach to art. This means not only the 'act' of painting art that speaks to envisioning a new future, but 'utilizing art methodologies' to transform the way individuals think about education, business and environmental conditions and finding ways to incorporate art as a means to educate around cultural competance, sustainable systems and theories that promote higher level thinking/questionsing and analysis.

It has been a difficult road because I learned traditional painting (which was all about learning about 'the Masters' in art like picasso, vangough and dali) but paint as an African American with vibrant colors, intertwined messages and meaning, movement and social issues as the landscape and foundation of my work. Defining this in a traditional format based in European concepts and terminology can be stifling, which has lead me to the creation of my own definitions and naming of my work: Whole Systems Approach to Art; which looks at not only how I paint and the techniques used, but for what purpose do I choose to utilize the critical skills all artists have (like critique, exploration, imagination, design, knowing when to let go and start over, feedback loops) to expand the 'Meaning' of art philosophies to engage individuals in difficult dialogues around classism, diversity, professional development and training, leadership and environmental degredation.

Though most describe my work in the realm of Surrealism and Impressionism I would define my work in the realm of Fritof Capra http://www.fritjofcapra.net/, Russell Ackoff http://www.managementwisdom.com/abdrrusac.html, Peter M Senge http://www.infed.org/thinkers/senge.htm, Geoff Bellman http://extraordinarygroups.com/geoffrey-bellman/, Don Swartz and Marget Wheatly http://www.margaretwheatley.com/

I would like to take this opportunity to invite you on a journey of exploration. For 2012 I plan to blog at least once a month, but more if possible, at the start of the month and the middle of the month.

This blog will seek to cover topics related to art and how art is connected to other systems. This may entail delving into historical perspectives on art from various pardigms not just the Europeon lens of history.

At times I may review local art shows, tools of the trade: products and articles that I find could spark conversation, but the main intent of this Whole Systems Art Blog is to define the standard of Art and it's relationship to Systems Theories. For 2012 I plan to focus on Critique, Dialogue, Design & Story.

How does art connect and play a key role in capturing methodologies for pro-active engagement, change, dialogue and future visions of sustainable cultures? How can art be intrigal to the re-design of our cultural beliefs, systems and structure that promotes inclusion, creativity at all levels and sanctions efforts towards positive messages? How can we all, regardless of our nationalities or whether you view yourself as an artist or not utilize the methodologies of art to diverge into difficult dialogues with compassion, understanding and non-judgement?

I hope you'll come back often and that you find this blog to be useful.

The Systems Theory Philosophy:
The systems thinking approach incorporates several tenets;
• Interdependance of objects and their attributes - independent elements can never constitute a system
• Holism and it's emergent properties of goal seeking - systemic interaction must result in some goal or final state
• Inputs and Outputs - in a closed system inputs are determined once and constant; in an open system additional inputs are admitted from the environment
• Transformation of inputs into outputs - this is the process by which goals are obtained
• Entropy - the amount of disorder or randomness present in any system
• Regulation - a method of feedback is necessary for the system to operate predictably
• Hierarchy - complex wholes are made up of smaller subsystems
• Differentiation - specialized units perform specialized functions
• Equifinality - alternative ways of attaining the same objectives (convergence)
• Multifinality - attaining alternative objectives from the same inputs (divergence)

Mystic Sons of Morriss Graves Group Invitational 8.5.2010

August 7th, 2010

Mystic Sons of Morriss Graves Group Invitational 8.5.2010

What a great show this was! Packed and full Seattle regulars...Nice