Sunday, August 30, 2015

Hawaii Kroc Center Art Night - "Hope for Tomorrow"

Aloha Friends,

Art teacher by day and art teacher by night!

As some of you probably know already I occasionally teach a few class, do a few shows and give a few demos at the Kapolei Kroc Center. Last Friday was our celebratory our end-of-summer-session Art Night and I was invited back to do another live mural demo. I love Art Nights since it gets the community together in one place to make art, look at art, hear some great local music and just have fun!

A big mahalo to everyone who came out to support our keiki and our community! Cheehoo!

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Final Time Lapse Video:



Details:





The keiki's mural!


Art Night is an awesome way to get our community together! 
Mahalo to everyone who stopped and said HI!

Super tired, but super happy.



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Don't forget to follow me on instagram if you'd like!



Mahalo for looking!
Boz Schurr

All work is copyright 2015 Boz Schurr. Please do not use without my permission. Mahalo!

Sunday, August 23, 2015

"Fujinomori Shrine" (Places Close to Home Series)

Aloha Friends,

I've finished another piece in my "Places Close to Home" Series. Although this is a small one I am pretty pleased with how it turned out. This past spring I went to Japan and the place I stayed at near Mt. Fuji, a little town that you could walk across in 15 minutes, was the most magical and charming place I've ever stayed. Fujinomori was truly exceptional. It's not one of the usual Fuji Five Lakes places to stay but since we had clear skies I think it offered an amazing view. Next time I'll be climbing you Mt. Fuji!

Mahalo for looking! (P.S. Where should I travel to next? What place should I explore and become close to? suggestions are always welcome!)


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Fujinomori Shrine
2015
Pancil on Paper
12" x 9"
$200 (unframed)





Artist Statement:

"Places Close To Home" is a collection of drawings and paintings that explore home as not necessarily a physical place, but as a feeling and an experience. This series is closely tied to the "On The Spectrum" series. Places Close to Home are the places and events that one might experience that helps define who they are and where they fall "On The Spectrum."

We are made of many parts, parts to our personalities, our bodies, and as one part to the rest of the world. "Vivre sans temps mort et jouir sans entrave" (Live without wasted time and enjoy without hindrance)


Details:





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Don't forget to follow me on instagram if you'd like!



Mahalo for looking!
Boz Schurr


All work is copyright 2015 Boz Schurr. Please do not use without my permission. Mahalo!

Friday, August 14, 2015

"On the Spectrum (Insomnia)"

Aloha Friends,

School starts in less than a week! I am so excited to begin my third year teaching high school students. I have a really good feeling about this year. And even though there is a lot of training and planning and general chaos I am sticking with this series. I am happy to say I should be well on my way to finishing by the end of the year *fingers crossed* Still looking for an idea for letter "Z!" If you've got a story to tell, please leave a comment or message me! Mahalo!



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On the Spectrum is a 26 part print series, one for each letter of the alphabet, that explores interactions of mental illnesses, developmental disorders and perceived normalcy as abstract landscapes. Please read my artist statement for more details.

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Artist Statement: There is a strange disconnect between mental illness and normalcy – as if there is a stark dividing line between the two: Black and white, us and them, completely separate. I believe this arbitrary classification, ill, healthy, recovering... is very similar to how we catalog our colors: blue, red, green... The visible color spectrum reflects the human experience. An experience where colors cannot be contained as single, definable points. The spectrum is one band of ever shifting, transitioning hues, as are we – our lives and our experiences are continuous and overlapping, yet discreet.

We all exist in a world with other people. We interact daily with a wide range of personalities. It is not possible to limit your experience to “normal.” We are but one piece in the cosmos. No one exists in a vacuum. So instead of pushing past others whose mental or physical health might not reflect exactly our own, we must embrace.

We are made of many parts: our personalities, our bodies, and our world.


***

On The Spectrum (Insomnia)
2015
Screen Print on Paper
15" x 11" 
$100 (unframed)







Details:














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Characteristics:


Insomnia, or sleeplessness, is a sleep disorder in which there is an inability to fall asleep or to stay asleep as long as desired. While the term is sometimes used to describe a disorder demonstrated by polysomnographic or actigraphic evidence of disturbed sleep, this sleep disorder is often practically defined as a positive response to either of two questions: "Do you experience difficulty sleeping?" or "Do you have difficulty falling or staying asleep?"
Insomnia is most often thought of as both a medical sign and a symptom that can accompany several sleep, medical, and psychiatric disorders characterized by a persistent difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep or sleep of poor quality. Insomnia is typically followed by functional impairment while awake. Insomnia can occur at any age, but it is particularly common in the elderly.[4]Insomnia can be short term (up to three weeks) or long term (above 3–4 weeks); it can lead to memory problems, depression, irritability and an increased risk of heart disease and automobile related accidents.

Golub, R. M. (2012). "Insomnia". JAMA: the Journal of the American Medical Association 307 (24): 2653–2653. doi:10.1001/jama.2012.6219
Roth, T. (2007). "Insomnia: Definition, prevalence, etiology, and consequences". Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 3 (5 Suppl): S7–10. PMC 1978319.PMID 17824495
Hirshkowitz, Max (2004). "10, Neuropsychiatric Aspects of Sleep and Sleep Disorders (pp. 315–340)". In Stuart C. Yudofsky and Robert E. Hales. Essentials of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences (4 ed.). Arlington, Virginia, USA: American Psychiatric Publishing. ISBN 978-1-58562-005-0. Retrieved 2009-12-06...insomnia is a symptom. It is neither a disease nor a specific condition. (p. 322)
Zahn, Dorothy (2003). "Insomnia: CPJRPC". The Canadian Pharmaceutical Journal.
Wilson, Jennifer F. (2008). "Insomnia". Annals of Internal Medicine 148: ITC1.doi:10.7326/0003-4819-148-1-200801010-01001


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Don't forget to follow me on instagram if you'd like!



Mahalo for looking!
Boz Schurr



All work is copyright 2015 Boz Schurr. Please do not use without my permission. Mahalo!

Monday, August 3, 2015

"On the Spectrum (Histrionic Personality Disorder)"

Aloha Friends,

I am very excited for this print, it's all hand drawn flats, uses yellow for the first time in the series and gets me back into the swing of printmaking. It's been a long summer, full of art and adventures so it's good to get back into the habit. Check back for more prints coming soon. (p.s. I still don't have anything for the letter Z! If you've got a suggestion or a story to share please let me know! Mahalo for looking!)


***

On the Spectrum is a 26 part print series, one for each letter of the alphabet, that explores interactions of mental illnesses, developmental disorders and perceived normalcy as abstract landscapes. Please read my artist statement for more details.

***

Artist Statement: There is a strange disconnect between mental illness and normalcy – as if there is a stark dividing line between the two: Black and white, us and them, completely separate. I believe this arbitrary classification, ill, healthy, recovering... is very similar to how we catalog our colors: blue, red, green... The visible color spectrum reflects the human experience. An experience where colors cannot be contained as single, definable points. The spectrum is one band of ever shifting, transitioning hues, as are we – our lives and our experiences are continuous and overlapping, yet discreet.

We all exist in a world with other people. We interact daily with a wide range of personalities. It is not possible to limit your experience to “normal.” We are but one piece in the cosmos. No one exists in a vacuum. So instead of pushing past others whose mental or physical health might not reflect exactly our own, we must embrace.

We are made of many parts: our personalities, our bodies, and our world.

***

On The Spectrum (Histrionic Personality Disorder)
2015
Screen Print on Paper
15" x 11" 
$100 (unframed)









Details:












***

Characteristics:

Histrionic personality disorder (HPD) is defined by the American Psychiatric Association as a personality disorder characterized by a pattern of excessive attention-seeking emotions, usually beginning in early adulthood, including inappropriately seductive behavior and an excessive need for approval. Histrionic people are lively, dramatic, vivacious, enthusiastic, and flirtatious. HPD affects four times as many women as men. It has a prevalence of 2–3% in the general population and 10–15% in inpatient and outpatient mental health institutions.
HPD lies in the dramatic cluster of personality disorders. People with HPD have a high need for attention, make loud and inappropriate appearances, exaggerate their behaviors and emotions, and crave stimulation.[3] They may exhibit sexually provocative behavior, express strong emotions with an impressionistic style, and can be easily influenced by others. Associated features include egocentrismself-indulgence, continuous longing for appreciation, and persistent manipulative behavior to achieve their own needs.
People with HPD are usually high-functioning, both socially and professionally. They usually have good social skills, despite tending to use them to manipulate others into making them the center of attention. HPD may also affect a person's social and/or romantic relationships, as well as their ability to cope with losses or failures. They may seek treatment for clinical depression when romantic (or other close personal) relationships end.
Individuals with HPD often fail to see their own personal situation realistically, instead dramatizing and exaggerating their difficulties. They may go through frequent job changes, as they become easily bored and may prefer withdrawing from frustration (instead of facing it). Because they tend to crave novelty and excitement, they may place themselves in risky situations. All of these factors may lead to greater risk of developing clinical depression.

Seligman, Martin E.P. (1984). "Chapter 11". Abnormal Psychology. W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN 0-393-94459-X.
"Chapter 16: Personality Disorders". DSM-IV-TR Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. American Psychiatric Publishing. 2000
Bienenfeld, David (2006). "Personality Disorders"Medscape Reference. WebMD. Retrieved 10 January 2007
"Histrionic Personality Disorder". The Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
17 June 2012 "Histrionic personality disorder". PubMed Health.


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I'm pretty sure I was inspired by my Helvetica poster hanging next to my bed for this color scheme...



Don't forget to follow me on instagram if you'd like!





Mahalo for looking!
Boz Schurr



All work is copyright 2015 Boz Schurr. Please do not use without my permission. Mahalo!