Midway during the second semester I was taken on a trip to the states part funded by the college. The aim of the trip was in part to set up a future dialogue and relationship between the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) as well to further our own studies by engaging with foreign students and generally opening our horizons , gaining invaluable experience and confidence. The trip was a huge success and the overall result was that we returned with a renewed sense of motivation and an assurance in our own work and abilities. I cant express how important the experience was for the formation of the designer/artist that I am becoming.
The downside however was that it took two weeks out of my printmaking classes and that although my work was furthered I fell behind for the semester. I did, however busy we were kept during our visit (which was very; perhaps too much..) try and keep my print project very much in mind and decided especially because of my American citizenship that I wanted to formulate a body of work which was influenced by the great country that is. I left the states at about age four but have always felt a very strong connection to my background there. There are so many hypocrisies and contradictions, great gaping flaws and obscene natures but after all there is so much so greatness and wonder on offer. Its a country which has inspired and and conceived so many fantastic things and is really to great a force to be shrugged off. It captured my imagination whole heartedly during my trip and I began the process of documentation and collection of images/objects which would help me create work which got across the great American spirit, whatever that might be. Below are a collection of the reference photographs I took on my trip, some digital but mostly on 35mm film.
These first pictures are from the Mall Of America. It's the second largest mall in the world thanks to china and boasts a theme park in the centre. The ultimate shrine to consumerism it was a bit uncomfortable to be honest. I bought a book from Barnes & Noble.
Here, kids are baby sat by the power rangers whilst their parents shop.
MALL OF AMERICA BANS GUNS ON THESE PREMISES.
An Amish boy with his father on the Amtrak cross state rail service "The Empire Builder"
Selection of found & collected material;
some photographed some scanned.
