Drawing and Dancing

Whilst flicking through some old copies of Art Monthly given to me by a friend I came across an article by Christopher Townsend 'On Drawing' (Art Monthly April, 2012. Page 355).
What particularly resonated with me was a reference to Dorothea Rockburne.

"Where writing and drawing diverge, is that drawing is, in its embodiment, performative: it demands 'presence' rather than effacement.  It demands that the artist is not only witness but also participant.  Indeed, here drawing may be closest to dancing.

Dorothea Rockburne studied both art and dancing whilst at Black Mountain College during the early 1950's.  She says:

"Drawing is as fundamental to my art making as my skeleton is to my body.  Drawing is the bones of my thought".  and
"I am doing the things to the material that when I danced I did to my body".

I immediately made a link with my own practice and instantly an association.  Over many years I have often danced in prominent public spaces, sometimes alone, sometimes with family.  I have danced in Central Park New York, on the Staten Island Ferry, on the famous suspension bridge at Cuenca in Spain, in the mountains of Castilla La Mancha, Spain, on the island of Kolocep, Croatia, in the house/art gallery  of Vlaho Bukovac, the most renowned Croatian artist who lived and worked in Cavtat, Croatia.  The last two (dances) I have recorded in video format which I was planning to upload to this blog.  Unfortunately, my new camera was set on 12:9 aspect ratio when they were recorded and it appears they can only be viewed in horizontal format.  You can see them on Youtube, just search Drawing and Dancing Jane Eaton - you will probably get a crick in your neck.
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I am planning to make drawings of each video which I will upload at a later date.

Dorothea Rockburne's work from her "Drawing Which Makes Itself" exhibition of 1972 is currently being rexamined at MOMA - September 2013 through to January 2014.

Below is an image from this exhibition.

Creative Project 2013/2014

 

As a starting point for my Creative Project (a module on BA (Hons) Creative Arts) which I am currently studying for at Bath Spa University I have created a strategy to engage with the drawing process.  Using repetition and the discipline of drawing every day for a five week period I am engaged in producing a substantial body of work to be used for further investigation. This study is further extending my investigation into repetition equals difference in which I was engaged in last year.

 

The aim is to research what happens.  Does drawing become automatic? Does it remain in the domains of conscious thought?  Does the drawing become mechanical/free/unconscious?  Does one begin to rely on memory to record, is all drawing from observation using memory etc., etc?  These are BIG questions and a thorough critique and evaluation will be undertaken at the end of the study.

 

A record of the drawing process has been kept so there is both a visual and literal interaction with each image produced. Two drawings have been produced each day,  one using the right hand and one using the left hand.  Drawn in line only, using carbon pencil on white cartridge paper 130gsm two life size self portraits have been created each day.  Each week the timing of each drawing is reduced.  Week 1 for 45 minutes, Week 2 for 30 minutes and now, I am a few days away from completing Week 3 of 15 minute drawings.  Below are a selection from each of the weeks.