"Cartographies of Time: A History of the Timeline"

This book has moved from various studios and at this stage, two different coffee tables, for a couple years now. It was stained from an accidental red wine spill and the discoloration goes well with the subject matter (words I never thought I would utter). In a Herculean effort this spring to finish projects that are essentially complete but require a few days of concentrated effort in front of the computer, it was time to revisit it this morning.

As I press forward with the completion of Camden's Rock: 2012 - 2017, I have become fascinated with the presentation of chronological timelines from the past, whether they are pocket-sized (as in the top image) or scrolls. This chart above from the late 1870s was sold as an accordion book and on rollers for wall mounting. I am curious how such a large amount of information can be stored in a compact manner.

Conversely, this little red scroll is nearly two inches wide and is one of the smallest that was ever published. The Stream of Time on the bottom is wound on a roller in a box which has great appeal in terms of protection and a method of reading that will not cause stress to the paper.

Of all the objects presented in Cartographies of Time, Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg's Chronographie universelle was the one that I wanted most to see in person (and hold). The paper is mounted on cranks and enclosed in a little case that reminds me of something one would find in a printmaking studio.

I am not sure what Camden's Rock will look like when it is done but I can say that it's a 2.2 GB file that is 630" long with 83 images and as of this weekend, it is finally edited and assembled and sent to the designer to fill in the text. Nearly every part of that sentence is huge.

Belated San Diego Post

I am slowly knocking out the last of the U.S. destinations in the Autobiography in Water series. Last August, I visited my parental homeland, floated giant photographs in La Jolla, Del Mar, and Coronado, collected water samples and buried a chunk of Camden's Rock. I spent my birthday with my cousin Mark visiting the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego to see the Nicole Eisenman exhibition and the expansive sculpture garden.

Nancy Rubins, Pleasure Point, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego

Ed Ruscha, Detail of Brave Men Run in My Family, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego

Detail of Nicole Eisenman's installation in the exhibition Dear Nemesis, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego

Detail of Robert Irwin's installation 1º 2º 3º 4º, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego

Pre-float with my Uncle Paul and cousin Mark (I cannot thank my family enough for their assistance during this task)

 Camden's Rock was buried here at Coronado.

Water sample on top of the mound where Camden's Rock was buried, Coronado Beach

Iceland Day 4: Hellissandur to Akureyri

A couple things to note about the above photograph: 1) the road in the background is a main thoroughfare (dirt) and 2) the economy of one pole functioning as a sign post, stop sign and mailbox holder. After leaving Hellissandur and backtracking over territory explored the previous day, we reached Breiðabólsstaður (pronounce that quickly). Our road atlas mentioned that Holger Cahill, the national director of the WPA and the briefly the acting director of the Museum of Modern Art, was born in a church here. This fact fascinated us because it was such a remote area so far away from the art world in the United States during the Great Depression.

The church was closed but we were able to experience the full force of the wind. I am standing next to a flag pole where the metal cord never ceased hitting the pole. Soon after, my brain was bouncing in unison with the noise that created.

We covered a lot of territory this day. We learned about tuyas here at a rest area overlooking Hunafjordur and Skagfjordur. They are flat topped volcanoes formed when lava erupts through an ice sheet (frosted angel food cake).

My first view of the Arctic Ocean was seen through a bathroom window in a coffee shop in Dalvik.

I didn't get the impression that much English was spoken here. It was a charming place and produced the most interaction with locals that we had experienced thus far.

We drove to this peninsula to see the Arctic Ocean and after a much needed cup of tea, we headed north to Ólafsfjörður. I obtained a clear water sample and tossed another chunk of Camden's Rock here.

It took a long time to talk myself into walking into the sea (one of the most intimidating experiences with water). [Photo by Donna Goedhart]

I never expected to collect water from the Arctic Ocean when I first began this project. It opened up a whole new avenue on how to finish the remaining bottles (hopefully completed by the end of 2016).

Cold and sandy feet (the things one does for Art).

It was also in Ólafsfjörður where I channeled my inner Alexis Pike and documented a mural in less than ideal light before departing.

Snowy mountains near Dalvik on the way to Akureyri.

If I had to do this trip all over again, I would have stayed an additional night in Akureyri. It was a charming city (second largest in Iceland) but we never broke the surface. It was used as a departure point and roaming around after sunset was all we were truly able to do. This bowling alley was a happening spot late in the evening and one of the few places open after 10 PM.

The letters H•O•M•E were popular window decorations throughout the country. I spotted them in the larger cities and smaller villages, always pointing to the living room inside.

Double Negative: Entropy at Its Finest

It was only in the 80ºs when visiting Michael Heizer's Double Negative this year (it beat the 115º heat from 2009). The Space, Land and Concept... crew descends into the South side of the earthwork.

The view across across to the North side. There is a photographer from Los Angeles stationed with a tripod at the top of the opening. Lexi and Sarah are looking at a geocaching box at the closest end of the cut.

Six years have wreaked havoc on the earthwork. Large chunks of stone have fallen since the last visit and it was inadvisable to walk too close to the edge when peering down from above.

I noticed (spoiler alert for future Observational Kit) that the remains of many fire pits littered the base of Double Negative. This was photographed from the South side looking East toward the Virgin River.

For the first time, I traversed the Mormon Mesa to view it from the North side. Our vehicles are barely visible for scale reference.

Rubble on the North side.

A couple days ago, I looked at the envelope in which Camden sent me the concrete block and was shocked to see it dated 2012. I have been chipping and tossing this around the globe for three years. The startling part is that it is only half gone. Double Negative was an ideal location to leave a piece as it is now lost in the debris of fallen stone.

What One Does in Amarillo After the Ramp is Rained Out...

Aside from visiting the Standard Gas Station featured in many of Ed Ruscha's artworks (still a highlight of the trip)...

One wishes her window seat had a real window, not the view of the green grasslands from the seat in front of her.

One initiates her brand new shoes in the worst way possible.

One tosses Camden's Rock into the muddy abyss surrounding the Cadillac Ranch.

One marvels at another rainstorm in back of a limo heading to a vegetarian's nightmare: the Big Texan Steak Ranch.

One remembers what products are sold in a Mexican grocery store (Amigos) and ponders what recipes might be made with cacti.

The Swap with Camden Hardy

Interrupting last month's regularly scheduled programming with something that occurred today!  The Swap with Camden Hardy.

Jacinda Russell, The Swap with Camden Hardy

Camden Hardy, The Swap with Jacinda Russell

“Our paths first crossed in the spring of 2009, when James Luckett (consumptive.org) convinced Jacinda to become a member of the newly formed Postcard Collective (postcardcollective.org). Jacinda had a deep-seated interest in mail art and began to flood Camden with postcards of fake Styrofoam and caulk cakes floating in water. We meet in person on occasion when the opportunity arises, but our relationship is primarily maintained through mail and electronic correspondence. We began to collaborate on an ongoing project in 2012.

"We share a tremendous interest in how people value physical objects and decided to trade something of great personal value, not knowing what the other would choose. We made the exchange in a parking lot during a quick meeting in Tucson, Arizona and commemorated the event by photographing each other holding the objects we received. Jacinda returned to Indiana and settled on displaying Camden’s portrait in a manner similar to the framed photograph of strangers he had acquired at a thrift store. Camden became infatuated with the mysterious stain on the back of Jacinda’s book and the story it tells. Our artwork rarely includes images of other human beings, so it was a challenge for both of us to create something that would reflect our original intent while revealing something about the other person.”

Camden Hardy and Jacinda Russell

John Baldessari Lives Here

I have threatened to find John Baldessari's house for a couple years and I can cross that off the Artist Stalking list as of last week. Above is the video still from A Brief History of John Baldessari and below is his house. The foliage has grown considerably between the two.

Of all the artist's houses I have seen, this one is my favorite (read: I am most envious of this location and design = this is something to strive for one day).

There were two visits to this Venice Beach complex because I neglected to bring the big camera the first time. This blown out photograph features the front door open (!) and evidence of someone moving around in the house (!!).

The second day, the sun was in a better position (damn this winter light) and the front door was closed.

On both days, this truck was parked out front complete with a map of the US tossed in back. That small detail was a highlight since one of my favorite artworks of his is California Map Project.

Also, see that bush on the far right of the house in the photograph below?

A piece of Camden's Rock was tossed there.

Next up... Ed Ruscha.

Camden's Rock: One For Each Province

British Columbia: Near Vermillion Pass en route to Banff

Alberta: Moraine Lake

Saskatchewan: Lake Mead

Manitoba: Winnepeg (St. Boniface)

Ontario: Old Woman's Bay, Lake Superior National Park