Sometimes the suffering we go through for the sake of Art is completely self-induced.
Take Bryan Lewis Saunders, for example. The D.C.-based artist recently released a series of self-portraits each drawn through the lens of a different drug. The series — appropriately titled “Drugs” — includes 48 self portraits composed while Saunders was on everything from Crystalmeth and cocaine to DMT and Bath Salts. The experiment — which had Saunders taking a different drug everyday — left him “lethargic” and with “mild brain damage.” [Browse through a sample of Saunders’s work in the gallery above.]
And I thought leaning out of a helicopter was sort of on the edge.
Incredibly, Saunders claims that the experiment is on-going and that he plans to allow more time in between each session.
Sounds like a smart idea.
While this kind of over-the-edge mining for creativity may pay off for the painter, I have serious doubts that it could produce the same results for the photographer. Sadly (or fortunately, depending on how you factor mild brain damage into your risk/reward equation) the camera lens tends to act as a pretty strong filter for mind altering substances.
Or so I’ve been told.
Let it go on record that I am not advocating any of you to go out and repeat this journey for the sake of Photography. [But if you do, please send along the results.]
So I guess the first question to ask: how many of you bashing chase drink alcohol? Oh snap! Bunch of hypocrites. What makes this killer, family destroying, substance acceptable, but the one’s the artist took not. Grow up! No one said you have to take them.
BTW many take drugs (though I actually don’t), and function in society just fine. Stop believing the propaganda spewed by church and state.
Chase just decided to pass on some art he found in reality, and thought that we’d like to see it. It’s a peice based on a concept, which is more thought out than most so called artist produce. If you don’t like it than ignore it, don’t get your panties in a bunch over it. I must ask though: did you all dislike the art based on its merit (your personal perceptions of what good art is) , or just cause you felt drugs are bad? If its the latter, you might want to check your premises… as this internal censorship will hinder you as an artist. Since you lack pushing your comfort zone.
Thanks for sharing this chase… Have a good one!
Mark
Well said.
Also – the little shot of humor [But if you do, please send along the results.] – is far from an endorsement… At least, to anyone willing to think their way through a knee-jerk reaction.
Besides the obvious lack of morals with this post, what does drugs say about art? Yeah, sure a lot of artists take them to feel more creative, but is it really *CREATIVITY* if you need to take a mind altering substance to create original artwork??
Yeah, that pretty much ended my love affair with chase jarvis. and as far as chase not condoning this drug related activity, just read the text above:
“Let it go on record that I am not advocating any of you to go out and repeat this journey for the sake of Photography. [But if you do, please send along the results.]”
Basically your saying to your audience “if you want to get exposure to the millions of people who read my blog, take a lot of drugs and send me the photos you take when your high”….
Meth and drugs like it will kill you, maybe not over night, but they will steal your soul, your family, your children, they will take everything you have. Check back in with this “artist” in 12 months, he will either be dead or in jail. and we should applaud him, because he drew drug induced pictures of himself the level of a sophmore art school student?
Yeah, i’m jumping off the chase jarvis bandwagaon. no thanks “dude”, i’m out.
No thanks i’m out. I’m with you! Chase you’re washed up man.
I agree with embarrassed. Chase! Really? I realize you’re only passing the info along, but by doing so, you’re not an innocent by standard. You have a lot of people who look up two you, and as such, you have a responsibility to your followers, of which I am no longer.
Your absolutely correct. Chase shouldn’t post anything about drug induced art… Because no famous artist have ever abused drugs…. If Chase doesn’t post things like this, they will go away…. Grow up and move on… If your that easily swayed by something like this than you are in for a piss poor life…
The tired old “lowest common denominator” argument? Everyone else is doing it, huh?
Exactly who needs to grow up here, Ben?
No Sean, blindly jumping away from something or someone because you see a side that isn’t sunshine and rainbows is the truly childish sentiment here. This is a place for artists to be exposed to different arts, as well as technique and business. If you only want to feel good and not expose yourself to non threatening work, go find a puppy and cats group on flickr. Perhaps if you would look at the work from an artists perspective instead a concerned sheltered parents point of view, you would appreciate it for what it is…. art…. I’m done arguing with you. Ive gone farther than what I should have with this as I know its pointless to argue. Neither one of us will see the others side… So you go back to your Betty Crocker life, and I’ll go back to skid row….
He was definitely very happy on number 4! An interesting, though not healthy at all experiment. Thanks for sharing!