Jacob Fossum

Wow

2011-08-20T10:07:00.002-05:00

Wow,

Here I am blogging. I haven't done this in years but I thought it would be good practice for me. There are so many ideas floating around in my head, maybe this will help sort them out.

I've been thinking a lot lately about miscommunication and what's lost in translation. I had no idea how relevant this topic was in my life on so many levels until just recently when I realized that I could not physically talk to my roommate without my words or actions being misinterpreted. Previously, I had only thought about this principle on a spiritual level and had no idea that it was also physically significant.

How do I talk about this through my art? That is the big question.

I've also been thinking a lot about how we humanize Deity. In the religion of my childhood (Mormonism) I grew up believing that one day I would become a God. If this is true than it makes sense that we would give God human characteristics. Now that I no longer practice religion and am attempting to realize myself as a healthy gay man I wonder what I might take with me from this experience into the next life. What kind of God would I be? Would I be more interested in homemaking experiences like kitchen duties or housework?

The Greeks were experts in humanizing their Gods. I am starting to imagine possible soap opera scenarios with Characters you might find in an Almodovar film contrasted with the vastness of space. But this then brings up the issue of the figure which I have grown tired of.

I love the figure but am beginning to feel governed by it. Part of me just wants to paint a still life or a landscape and leave the figure alone. But I love narratives. Lately, I've been fascinated with the beauty of Nature and the spiritual experiences it inspires. What is lost in translation in that experience? That could be a fun topic to explore. So much to think about.

First Vision

2006-11-27T15:16:00.000-05:00

Just a new drawing.

Hump Day in Buenos Aires

2006-11-27T10:40:00.000-05:00

This is the draft that was in a group show on campus.

Behold, I am a dried tree.

2006-10-28T16:23:00.000-05:00

This is a new image of a new painting. I'm not sure what it means but I know how I feel when I look at it. It makes me chuckle and feel a bit remorseful. I have a portrait of both my mother, aunt and little sister in it when they were little children. The title comes from Isaiah chapter 54, 55, or 56. I can't remember which. It's a wonderful line though spoken by a eunuch. It makes me chuckle.

Grace Hartigan

2006-09-30T16:59:00.001-05:00

This is a portrait that I am working on of Grace Hartigan, the director of my program. I am going to do a painting of her also but just wanted to do this as well. I went over to her house to take some pictures and she was wearing a bright pink sweat top with a bright orange sweat bottom. She said she was presenting me with a "color problem." I went around and took pictures of her precious antique dolls and other odd figurines. Above her is a wooden dragon which hangs in her studio and I think I will eventually add a couple of her dolls. I love drawing. I love Grace too. My friend and colleague Liz Wade went with me also and we all talked for a couple of hours about the Jackson Pollock painting scandal. Evidently some new Pollock paintings have surfaced but the Krasner foundation denies their authenticity. Grace said that they were authentic Pollock paintings and that she saw them in his studio but that she wasn't going to get involved. It's all pretty insignificant. She's also wearing a necklace that Joseph Cornell gave to her in the hopes of winning her interests. But she was engaged at the time.

Oh the cleverness of me!

2006-09-11T19:36:00.000-05:00

I just finished this drawing. It's around seven feet tall and three feet wide. I love the war between the seagulls and the fairies.

Hump Day

2006-07-24T16:24:00.000-05:00

Here is a drawing I have been working on this summer. I'm basing the composition off of a Valezquez painting. The subject matter deals with silly, mundane traditions I encountered and embraced as a missionary for my church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) along with the homosocial aspect of the experience. I think it's incredible that nineteen year old boys leave their family and lives to go and serve God, but at the same time are trapped in their nineteen year old mentality. The title refers to a tradition missionaries have. Half way in to your mission (1 year), you burn an article(s) of clothing. I skipped my hump day but made up for it my last night in Argentina by burning most of my clothes. I plan on adding more sickly dogs because in Buenos Aires (where I was a missionary) there are tons of dogs with mange that roam the streets. Children sometimes catch them and tie them up on the railroad tracks.

You knew what I was when you picked me up.

2006-07-23T18:36:00.000-05:00

Here's an image I have been working on for around five months. I'm very pleased with it. I decided I wanted to use the "Pieta" theme again but personalize it with some "Peter Pan" and "Old Testament" references along with some other personal religious icons (Salt Lake City Temple). The Title is also a reference to a story I heard a lot growing up about a young Native American boy who goes out on a soul quest up a mountain. He climbs to the top and upon arriving at the top he sees a rattlesnake who calls out to him and implores him to take him to the bottom of the mountain so he doesn't freeze. The boy says no but the snake persists, assuring him he won't bite him. The boy is eventually prevailed upon. After reaching the bottom with the snake wrapped in his arms he sets it down only to be bitten. He asks, "Why did you bite me? You swore to me that you wouldn't." The snake replied, "You knew what I was when you picked me up."

The Mockingbird

2006-07-23T14:32:00.000-05:00

I wrote this song after taking a road trip with my best friend Emily. We went up the Northern California coast. I loved it. I love her.

Click Here.

The Flight of the Wendybird

2006-07-23T13:47:00.000-05:00

This is an important image for me. It represents a new stage of conceptual understanding for me. I've incorporated images both mythical and religious from the book "Peter Pan" and personal religious icons to create a language unique to my own emotions.

Pieta

2006-03-06T14:05:00.000-05:00

This is an image that I never finished or really understood why I was making. I think that's why I couldn't finish it, but this was my favorite stage. It is based on the "Pieta".

Sandra

2006-01-17T14:03:00.000-05:00

I think I'm done with this work so long as my professor gives me the OK. I'm pleased with it but more excited to get on with some new work and new ideas.

2006-01-09T14:11:00.000-05:00

Courtney is a fellow grad student. I wanted to paint her because she has a great face and is extremely modest in her behavior and dress. It's cool. This painting is 60" x 90" and was done in oil on canvas.

The Nudist/Universalist

2006-01-09T13:59:00.000-05:00

This guys name is Richard. He is a Nudist and a Universalist. We both agreed that it was strange that he had to put his clothes on to come to work just to take them off for work.

The Immaculate Conception of the Protestant

2006-01-08T14:13:00.000-05:00

Jeriah and Liz (both fellow grad students) were my models for this piece. I chose them because Jeriah is the epitome of a heathen while Liz reminds me of a Madonna (as in the mother of Christ) figure. I figured their child would be the modern protestant.

Audrey

2006-01-05T14:18:00.000-05:00

Audrey is a great friend in Utah that possesses an elegance that I had to paint. She also loves patterns.

Cathrina and Lacey

2006-01-04T14:19:00.000-05:00

This is an image of a painting of my sister Cathrina and her daughter that I did the summer of 2004.