Harry Harlow's experiment in the 21st century

graphite on paper 24" x 30"

   In our future, I hope we are not moving towards a social world which exchanges technology for direct human contact (...this I state as I ironically sit by myself at the computer and type up this post).  But if it is a choice of text message or nothing I suppose most would opt for the text.

   This scene might look slightly familiar to anyone who took a science or psychology class.  I would venture to say that those textbook photos evoke a reaction in most readers.  You can find some info on the 1950s Harry Harlow's experiments with baby rhesus monkeys & social isolation here (Harry Harlow).  I am not sure what definitive info was gained in doing them but it is clear that the costs upon its monkey participants were great.  From what I have read, these experiments led to questioning the ethics involved in the treatment of laboratory animals.  I don't think that such experiments would be permitted today, so thankfully this drawing is entirely fictional.

   On a side track, in regards to the subject of captive primates and social isolation, there is a recent documentary called Project Nim (http://www.project-nim.com/) which follows the life of a signing chimp named Nim and the effects that the human world had upon him.  Evidently not every signing primate has a life story like Koko the gorilla. 

Drawing with Bleach



"Bleached Black Sheep"

   Yes, your mother probably told you not to play with bleach when you were little but despite the hazards it can produce some interesting effects on black paper.  Above is the result of my experimenting with drawing with straight household bleach (in a well ventilated area of course) using wooden toothpicks or chopsticks to apply it to the paper.  I found this new "media" to be very unpredictable when trying to produce lighter or darker lines (more bleach doesn't always create a lighter line--- I think probably that the air exposure/chemical reaction upon the dye in the paper has more influence...should look this up).  Different types of black paper also give different results; anything from browns to coppers, to yellows to faded bluish colors.  The paper used above is Strathmore's Artagain brand.

   Of course this type of art is very impermanent.  Eventually when the whole paper fades your lines will disappear into the bleached void like disappearing ink--it has a definite lifespan.  I like the idea of mixing this concept with the idea/subject matter of the drawing involved.  One of the things I try to consider when thinking about and looking at art is the media chosen.....what is its significance to the work, how would the work change if another material was used.

Rodent Skull

A paper-weight "800 lb Gorilla"

 This is an older "big" drawing I started about a year back I decided to work on again.  

In regards to the subject, I was pondering whether the need for a religious explanation of the world only comes from awareness of self.  When we were little what was it like before any idea (not necessarily belief) of "god" exists in our mind or was it always there?  What is external or internal?  (Also...not so deep, just thought it would be "cool" to draw a really big gorilla.)  

In something I was reading recently I came across the animal metaphor/phrase about the 800 lb gorilla which refers to an entity so powerful it can do whatever it pleases (I guess most gorillas weigh less than 800 lbs).  I thought that this put an interesting spin on the picture.
Although to some there might be more satisfaction with one definite statement it seems better if art can act as a catalyst for further thought.
Need to work on anatomy some more---too bad there aren't many gorilla models about to pose.