A Thesis.

the wonderful Sophie Calle

self-portrait of Nan Goldin

installation documentation by Miranda July

This year is the year that I am going to be taking on the writing of a very long research project. After much deliberation and advice from the faculty at my university, I have narrowed it down to artists and the therapeutic value of their personal work. However, that is still quite broad. I haven't quite finessed it down further. I need to do some reading about what research approach I want to take. It will however, involve reading biographies, criticism, articles and looking at the work of the selected artists. I plan on looking at the lives of artists and pinpointing what body of work corresponds with significant life events they have experienced. For those of you who know me, you know that Sophie Calle will be among them! Nan Goldin. Perhaps some Diane Arbus...although she is the subject of another thesis from my department. Miranda July. So there narrows it further....rather contemporary female artists and how they use art as a coping mechanism. But the narrowing it down to women frustrates me a bit. I really also want to focus on On Kawara and his art as proof of existence. Argh. This subject, while fascinating, is going to be hard get into a clean, concise, art therapy approved topic to be bound in May of 2010.