_latest multimedia game box from my Ox and O series_
This piece is a continuation of a series of small game boxes based loosely on tic tac toe. In 2003, I started making carvings on the bottoms of a series of cast plaster hands. These served at the time as chops to sign and date works on paper. In 2009, I began to expand this idea with additional carvings based on symbols of a personal significance. Given their small size of about one inch in diameter the carvings remain rudimentary signifiers.
digital print collaged to the inside cover _ ©evertson
Now, in 2010, I have over sixty symbols that I regularly make carvings of. The symbols range; a hand holding a brush, animals, children at play, disasters, money, mythic figures such as Sisyphus and Kali, and there are many more. About a year ago I began to use these in "game" boxes.
Ink drawing at bottom of inner compartment _©evertson
The tic tac toe format seemed a likely venue to place symbols at odds with each other. The boxes are not so much about the game play as the juxtaposition of symbolic content, although they can and are played as games. I call these Ox and O boxes in honor of the Zen ox-herding illustrations.
Components of the game _ cover of instruction book on left _ ©evertson
The name of this game is PowerPlay and concerns itself with childhood and our growth from pure play to playing more serious games where power is the prize. Each box I create contains original art which then becomes part of the three dimensional collage that these games actually are.
My original prose from the enclosed "instruction manual" _©evertson
IN THE MAIL
I received a couple of nice pieces this past week in the mail. The first from Ria Vanden Eynde. Ria and I collaborate from time to time. The picture below is from earlier this year. I sent Ria an ink sketch on silk and she turned it into a shroud to veil her portrait underneath.
About a month ago I sent several more ink drawings over to Belgium for her to add her insight. Bear in mind neither of us has intentions of steering the direction of the work so trying to elaborate on another artist's work is a bit like the trust game of closing your eyes and falling backward and hoping someone will catch you. So now the piece is back on my side of the Atlantic to add to or simply sign. Humm?? Still looking. Ria has started another blog that is fantastic. She has been inviting women to submit work concerning body consciousness. One of her recent submissions was a written piece by Yoko Ono. 
Stage two of a collaboration with Belgian artist Ria Vanden Eynde _ The Gateless Gate_
Mail Art by Christine Tarantino
Thank you!!
7 comments:
Can see you've been very busy of late here in the blog bog, constantly percolating on high grade combustible art... haven't dropped in for a little while, life and work and what little blogging I still manage have not left enough time to get out everywhere I'd like as much as I'd like... but better late than never. I like the idea of collaborative international art; and the Ox & X series continue to shake me out of whatever mindset I was in...
There's so much here- amazing collaborations and such wonderful mail art indeed. Hadn't realized you had 60 forms that you use for your art work. Love x and o designs and of course- hands. The idea of play and how it changes from our youth to people as adults is intriguing. Thanks for this post!
Thanks Owen. The collaborations are always fun; shakes your art up a bit. Usually for the better.
Hi Jill - thank you for your comment.
Wow! Big changes going on here. I haven't been over for awhile and I really like the new (?) look. And so much activity and productivity happening. I will return again to get properly caught up. It's very cool how your "game" has kept on evolving. And that collaborative piece that turned into a shroud is lovely. Terrifying to touch another's art work, I'd think (I mean add to or subtract from it). But why, really? When you get right down to it. Art is mostly about exploration, no?
your boxes alone are beautifully constructed and yes, the rudimentary nature of the carving I think add to the theme.
by the way I also like your new look.
cheers from Corrine
More games! Fun. I think the mixture of elements, from images to drawings to sculpture really play well off each other.
And I have to say, you get much better mail than I do!
I like all the little details of your boxes, Bill, and Ria's piece to you looks super cool as well!
-Dean
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