A couple things–
This post is not likely to be superbly written. I have sacrificed a sharp mind (sleep) for passion. And after the past 2 months I’ve had, I can tell you–passion has a way of nourishing you–I think you could maybe replace all forms of sustenance with passion and you’ll be just fine. Just a little sleepy–tired.
But even with that–its still fuel.
What am I saying? I’m rambling.
I don’t really put much on my personal blog about iAMDA. Or MobileArtCon. I’m not sure why–you see, my art is my art. The org–is the network and the means in which we collectively support, share and promote what WE do. It’s the worldwide link. I represent myself as an individual creative on here.
STILL–at this point, it has become somewhat symbiotic for me. I’ve immersed myself in the business and the goings on of iAMDA. Particularly working quite a bit–with 9 other people–to organize our 2nd Annual International Conference–MobileArtCon.
“On the Move”, MobileArtCon 2011, had a new focus. Of course iAMDA was founded in the spirit of collaboration and community. But we wanted to launch new ideas, projects. We wanted to embrace all mediums and create an environment for all mobile creatives to thrive within. To instantly connect and collaborate in spontaneous new ways. For the photographer to commune with the fingerpainter, for the fingerpainter to interact and build something new with the musician, for the musician to collaborate with the filmmaker–in an effort to truly understand the medium, the direction, the reach. To push ourselves and our creative visions and to be inspired.
LOFTY, I know. But basically, we wanted folks to MAKE ART. To make NEW ART. To learn and to be
inspired…to KEEP making art, however they see fit. To think of the medium as a conduit–not an end result, but a means to facilitate an idea. You can use it by itself, or work it with something else. It’s all apart of the process…(still rambling…)
As an organizer, I found it a little difficult to commune as I would have liked to during this event (and
among such a great group of people). But I did observe. I had moments where i got to sit down and talk to attendees–old and new. And hear about what they planned to give and what they gained from such an intimate and friendly coming together. And I loved what I saw. It was a moment for me–near the end. To walk into a workshop and see some of my favorite artists in the entire world sitting and having a healthy discussion (or debate) about print, display…what’s legitimate art and what’s not. How one introduced young children in Nicaragua to the concept of fingerpainting–and instead discovered how the art he brought to this community would heal, inform..and how his access to the mobile medium and other technology allows for him to share the many untold stories of abuse. We all sat and discussed how he might push his project forward.
Or the Bolivian artist, who would go into towns with no electricity and illuminate the room with his colorful iPad paintings.
Or the Photography group from Montreal who came together through a mobile photography obsession and launched a regional group to support and provide space to display multimedia works and performances–fused with their own photography.
The idea of a collaborative film project–film created on mobile devices and laced into a series of 2 minute international takes on our environments, experiences and ideas. Trying to understand the mobile platform through creativity is a must. We mustn’t sit and discuss it. We just USE IT.
How one could enhance his creative process with mobile devices. It’s NOT the device, but its the process and how the devices can be used as tools to implement a vision. an idea. a concept: ART.
I traveled from room to room all weekend, checking in. Peaking in to see who, what, when? How? 
I’d hear laughter. Someone would hold up a phone or an iPad…and run a slideshow or video of work. Another would pass their own device to the right or left and ask someone to add something–ANYTHING..and give it back.
Another moved around the room, “I need 3 seconds of video footage from you. just look here and talk for 3 seconds.”
A master PAINTING (not fingerpainting, but PAINTING) course was held in a small room with 15-20 artists sitting around a well lit model. A master artists providing insight and critique.
Another illustrator in the room opposite was walking people through digital painting tools–advanced digital processes. Concepts and ideas that could be applied to any digital platform. All demoed via video mirroring from the iPad.
There were vectors and photos and film and food..(oh, the food was yum!)…there were images being passed back and forth like pingpong.
It all felt like family. And I walked away quite clear on what the mobile medium brings to the table.
It’s not NEW art. Art is not being recreated through these devices. Either you’re an artist…a creative…or you’re not. And if you are–you don’t particularly NEED a mobile device to create.
What makes the mobile platform special is the ease in which ideas can be shared. How easily a collaboration can happen. How easily the results of that collaboration can be released and shared with the rest of the world. (check our U-Stream)
Things happen faster this way–growth, new collaborations, new work and new opportunities for exposure.
Its the ACCESSIBILITY and REACH.
We are at a sort of crossroads at this point. I think artists will take maybe two roads (which will inevitably branch into more roads–making our community a lot more diverse over time): There will be those who wish to sustain themselves creatively in the social realm. And there will be artists who wish to sustain themselves in the professional realm. Both are fine–just something I noted. From discussions about critique, reach and ways in which we might educate or make a difference within our community to discussions about how much we love each other and value the camaraderie within the overall community of mobile digital artists.
I’m hoping we can sustain both–in our commitment to collaboration and creative growth (and sustenance). Passion fuels us…see.
Anyway, I was happy after this year’s conference. I felt we all walked away much closer to knowing what we want as individual artists and also what iAMDA is. It’s about ART, COLLABORATION and CREATIVITY–ongoing…streaming in AND out.
The good news is–only innovation and change can come out of that. It’s a good sign of things to come.
For now I’m sleepy as hell…and will spend the weekend re(covering)(flecting)(membering) all the cool stuff that happened this past weekend!
(update–i guess this was the weekend before last. lol…i forgot to post!)
