The Sentimental Archive

Now that my BFA project is in full swing, I figured I should start updating here a bit more. I will also be updating the blog I set up specifically for the project, which is called The Sentimental Archive. Up until this point, I've done formal experiments, material exploration, research, writing, organizing, and thinking about my ideas. But with about a month left until midyears (can we please not talk about that?), it's time I start production. So here's a bit about my project.

ABSTRACT (as of right now, anyway)

The Sentimental Archive is an attempt to do something intangible and impossible, yet entirely important: to preserve memories. Through a systematic approach, personal stories will be collected from the individuals of a specific community, and will then be organized and archived in a way that validates them. By archiving them in a specific manner, the stories will gain a sense of authority and show that the subjective point of view can often be more valuable than the objective truth we so often seek. The system of grouping and filing, following a traditional archiving practice, will allow viewers, with the assistance of finding aids, to locate memories to which they can relate. By visualizing some of the memories, I hope to spark curiosity and invite people to delve into the archive to see what other stories exist. In doing so, I aim to inspire people to take an interest in the personal sotires of others, because the sharing of experiences evokes empathy between individuals and helps strengthen a community.

BRANDING (still developing)

In an effort to create an aesthetic that balances authority and sincerity, I decided to utilize fonts with more of a handmade feel that mimic a traditional serif and script. I have also begun integrating hand drawn lines and accents with older photographs. I aim to keep it fairly simple and clean, but I'm sure it will continue to evolve. Anyway, this is the blog I set up. You can visit it at TheSentimentalArchive.com.

EVENTS (or whatever you would prefer to call them)

In order to attract a wider audience, I'm going off campus to various Cleveland destinations, where I will speak with whomever is interested, and record their stories. These are the stories that will be archived, so if you want your memory included, make sure to come to one! The first will be held tomorrow from 10:30am-2:30pm at the downtown public library.

FLYERS (or, how I hope to interest people into having a conversation with me)

While my approach may change, for tomorrow I will be simply sitting and hoping to spark curiosity. I will have small signs sitting on a table next to my sound recorder. We'll see how that works. It may fail, or it may spark some honest curiosity and sincerity.

TAKEAWAYS (what each participant will be given)

I wanted the participants to be able to see the progress of the project, and to see their stories evolve into art pieces. So I set up a blog, and printed these half-sheets of paper with the URL and my email address, as well as the abstract if they wanted to share their experience with others and explain the project.

So? I'm always always always looking for a critique. Leave a comment?

Some Things I Feel Like Sharing

Because it's currently 2:41am, and I'm probably not going to sleep tonight (which is probably for the best because if I do, there's a very good chance I will morph into Rip van Winkle or even my sister McKenna, who can easily sleep for 18 hours at a time if you don't wake her up). So before I get back to work, I thought I'd ramble here a bit about my life and dreams as an artist, or something.

1. Today I lost three chunks of flesh. The first occurred when I swiveled around in my studio chair (with a wooden back) and sandwiched the tiniest bit of sensitive skin between the back of the chair and my desk. But I didn't actually mind so much because it was pretty much the wound of a different color. The second chunk of flesh missing is in my thumb due to a blister that developed and popped while stoning enamel. And the third was that unnecessary patch of skin on the back of the ankle that all razors know doesn't belong.

2. In 6 days, or 5 I suppose, I will be in Asheville, North Carolina, my favorite city, visiting my favorite boy, and picnicking by my favorite waterfall. And, coincidentally, my friend Joe just hung some work in a gallery for a show featuring photographs altered by the hand. Besides the fact that I love Joe's work, I love tactile media and processes, so Nicholas & I will totally have to check it out!

3. For a vegetarian, I eat a lot of animals. Nicholas often claims I'm childish, just because my kitchen is often filled with Teddy Grahams, Bunny Grahams, Cat Cookies...

4. My BFA is about to begin the production stages and I'm very happy with my ideas right now. Obviously I still have plenty to learn about and read about and think about, but I've finally stopped doubting myself. And I'm excited, which makes it a lot easier.

5. My tapestry weaving due tomorrow turned out to be a total failure. Which is probably good, because I happened onto something potentially really interesting. I hope. We'll see how I feel abut it at 9:30am.

6. The main reason I am ok with graduating is because I will be able to cook, to have fresh vegetables in my home, and probably sleep a healthy amount.

7. Sleep is for the weak.

8. I need to buy film. Like, right now.

Mega Mess at Megastudio

This is not the worst it has been. But no matter how hard I try to stay super clean and organized, it never works out. If I'm in the middle of something, why should I waste time clearing off a space at my desk (especially if I end up working on the floor)?

I keep promising to write more frequently here. But BFA has consumed my life. This is the hard part. Fighting the inertia. It's such a big process, that starting everything at once is overwhelming. But my goal is to have all my thoughts in order and to have a specific plan written down by Friday afternoon. I'll share more about that later (I really do promise!). But after this, things should make more sense. 

Some Things I've Been Doing

I've been terrible at updating this thing lately. But, in all fairness, I am working on my BFA. And that takes a lot out of you. Hopefully, now that midterms are (almost) out of the way, I can start writing here more frequently, and documenting my progress.

Since I don't always have my camera with me, I've been relying on Photo Booth to document my latest endeavors. So here's a recap of the last 8 weeks. I promise I'm not a narcissist. And, yesterday, I photographed a bunch of work for midterm presentations, so expect a better, art-focused update soon. Or not. We'll see how much sleep I want.

 I made tons and tons of clover crowns and started making some out of leaves. Is this art? Or just what I do during picnics?

 Invested in a thermos. Changed my life. My clothes and my lunch and my hair started to match.

 I splurged on a pair of the best boots ever. I've had them for a month already, and there are still no holes!

 Brain maps everywhere.

Ordered my first pair of big girl headphones, aka, not $10 earbuds. I've been really into this green lately.

 Discovered that in lack of ponytail holders & bobby pins, string works wonders.

 Wrote essays on my arm. Everyday.

 Dyed some cotton and collected some bark.

 Got a studio in the Digital Arts/Animation department with fancy new desks and a window.

 Ordered new prescription glasses so I can actually see the art I make.

 Realized that even my headphones matched my thermos.

 Decorated Megastudio with pictures by my favorite artist. This is an owl on a unicorn's back she drew when she was 3.

 This is a picture of an owl perched on my arm she drew this summer, age 5.

 And this is both of us from this summer, the night we dyed my hair.

 Wove oodles of Bob Dylan bracelets (I'm talking a 724" warp, guys), which also functioned as a scarf when you need to carry them somewhere without them getting tangled. Also, they match my headphones.

Realized that I started matching the art I'm working on. What is with all this color coordination? I just look for clean clothes...

Ps. Who else likes the progression of bags under my eyes?

Look for a real post with real pictures sometime soon. I made things I like.

Viola June Bertsch 12 yrs. old-

Viola with one of her little friends taken at our house. Viola is in second semester Junior High school and likes her new school. She has a little farther to go now and rides her bicycle most of the time. Nearly all the girls are riding bicycles around here.


Viola is almost as tall as her mother. It keeps me busy sewing to keep up with her.


She plays her piano nicely too. She played the piano at school for music period last winter already-


From the back of one of my favorite found photographs, which I will share once I scan it. I think I love the message more than the image. I want to make art with this.