A few new updates

A few new things on the website to check out. Enjoy!

Paintings:
Until the day that you are me and I am you
The Monster
Jake and Michele
Ben (green coat)
Carl and Travis
Brittany (brown)
Ben (blue)

Performance:
Let's Talk

Artist Statement:
Statement and Bio

Trunks

A recent gift from my brother.

Subject to Oneself

This week was the opening of the self portrait show Subject to Oneself at the Playspace gallery. It was lots of fun and the turnout was exceptional.

Until the day that you are me and I am you

Press Release:

Lori Gordon is a San Francisco-based artist who creates cross-disciplinary works that combine aspects of the paranormal, belief systems and social sculpture. Much of her work attempts to make the ineffable visible. Through collaborative endeavors, Gordon explores the gap between coincidence and intention, with an emphasis on setting up moments that deviate from the expected conversation. In some cases, she is more interested in providing the organized framework around which potential interactions may occur, both between herself and the viewer or participants.

For Subject to Oneself, Gordon has created a painted configuration on the wall which depicts her aura. Through this work, the viewer is able to witness the effects of a phenomenological process, in which a shared public interaction will take place between the energy of her body and theirs.

Lori has previously exhibited her work at PLAySPACE, The Lab and Build Gallery. Her work is currently on display at the San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery and Gavin Brown Enterprises at Passersby in New York. She is the recipient of the Murphy Fine Arts Fellowship, Sponsored by The San Francisco Foundation. Lori Gordon is a MFA candidate at California College of the Arts.

10 steps backward

And just when I thought the human race was starting to make strides... As my brother would say: I think I just threw up in my mouth.

About me

Check it out...

The Latching

One month ago, Max and I eloped to Maui. It was an experience I will never forget, and in some ways would be impossible to describe through writing.

Having been with this man for nearly ten years already, I had no idea that we could surprise and spoil each other in a way that seemed completely new. But we did. And it was awesome. Awesome in the context that this word was originally intended. I have never felt as loved, beautiful or accomplished as I did on this day.

For more photos click here

The marriage certificate arrived over the weekend, and today I started the process of having my name changed. Or rather, having Max's name added on. I will remain Lori Gordon for professional purposes, but in all other ways I will be Lori Gordon Auffhammer

New friends and faces

Friday was the first BBQ of the semester at school. This happened in conjunction with two other events: a pin-up show of work by first and second year students, and White Rainbow II [A one-day environment for solitary reflection, meditation, and relaxation]

Hot Dogs, Hamburgers and Beer

Fun people and their dogs

The man responsible for me coming to CCA: Stephen Goldtstine.

Good Art

White Rainbow II Jam

The night ended hanging out at my new friend Michael's house. We had lots of fun playing on his roommate's pilates ball. Mike is actually like a seal on this thing, and demonstrated his skills for the camera.

Mike was also kind enough to explain what the sculptural wood pieces were hanging on the wall, and how they work.

Turtle decoys:

1. This is the turtle decoy, made from wood.

2. The decoy swims along in the water.

3. The real turtle swims towards the decoy and tries to hump it

4. The decoy is then used to whack the real turtle over the head.

Asking the right questions

In thesis class today, Ted Purves gave us the following assignment: Write 15-20 sentences which, when taken as a whole, circumscribe a space that your 'work' occupies. Which constellation of questions is your work the answer to? Think about your work in a larger, aesthetic sense, rather than in terms of specifics.

Here are my questions.

1. Why is the research process necessary in order for the work to feel meaningful?
2. Why is it important to create something out of nothing?
3. Why do I make work I cant necessarily explain or justify?
4. When is it important to be caught up in the emotional and physical 'ness' of the work?
5. How can I set up moments that deviate from the expected?
6. How will I convince the viewer into believing what I tell them is true?
7. How do I close the gap between coincidence and intention?
8. How can I work things out and still leave them open-ended?
9. How can I display phenomenological information without seeming hokey?
10. How can I most effectively reach people?
11. How can I manipulate the excitement of a stranger?
12. How can I highlight the mundane aspects of life vs. the most explosive?
13. How do I expect to have intimate conversations without sharing in that?
14. What is a girl version of an alien abduction?
15. What gets the clearest ideas across?
16. How can I turn conversation into medium?
17. How can I bring voices forward?
18. How can I give permission to people to say what wouldn't otherwise be said?
19. How can I create a relationship, stimulate dialog and still maintain a respectful level of distance?
20. How do I make clearer what my role is in this work?
21. How do I artistically project into a public space?
22. What is the difference between a conversation and an interview?
23. How does the conversation translate afterwards into a tangible thought, idea or image?
24. How can I make the ineffable visible?

The best there ever was...

I just watched the final episode of Six Feet Under. It was fantastic. I really wept at the end. And I have to say, as I've said before, this is just the best show there is on television. I am so disgusted by most of what I see on TV -- as it's usually just another version of what I like to call 'The Whitey Show'. I really appreciate that the writing on SFU is smart and never tries to insult my intelligence. I like that two of the main characters are black and hispanic. I love that there is a depiction of artists and the art world that isn't completely unrealistic. And I love that one of the main relationships is that of a gay couple, shown not as something fantastical, but rather contained by all the same complexities and faults as any heterosexual relationship.

I take my hat off to all the actors in this series, for bringing a quality experience into my home each week. I am already sad about how long I'll have to wait for the next series.

Remembering the wave

Two nights before all the chaos of September 11, I had an awful nightmare. It was probably the worst dream I've ever had. The morning after my dream I told Max, and my friend Toni - who I worked with at the time. It was this:

For whatever reason, people knew it was the end of the world, and were preparing for this. I was in a small wooden house with my mother, father and brother. We decided we all wanted to be together if we were going to die. We were sitting on the floor, in a circle, holding hands. I was feeling very anxious about the fact that Max still hadn't arrived and the time was drawing near. I kept looking out the window, hoping to see him. Eventually I spotted him in the distance, only because he had a bright red t-shirt on. [his Ferrari t-shirt] He walked in, and apologized. He had books under his arm, and explained he stayed too long at the library. I was surprised he would care about this and place priority on his studies, but decided that being an academic was just a part of his nature. We made space for Max in our circle, and all joined hands. For whatever reason, we could suddenly tell it was time, and then I heard it. This HUGE wave coming.... I could hear the water, and sense the weight of it. This wave just washed over everything, and suddenly it all went black.

It was horrible. And I woke up feeling terrible.

On 911 my dad called and woke me. We were on the West Coast and my parents were on the East Coast. The rest is pretty obvious: glued to the TV, crying, trying to imagine what this meant in the world.

Today in my German class, we had a moment of silence. My teacher Eva had us go around the room and talk about how 911 has effected our lives. I talked about my dream. She told me that psychologist Carl Jung had a dream about a tidal wave right before WWI.

I went online today and researched this, and this is what I found:

Jung experienced a series of visions in the autumn of 1913. A feeling of oppression had been troubling him for a while, and his experience demonstrates the possible effects of future angst which can occur in an individual, especially when faced with the instability seemingly endemic to 20th century life. He writes about these experiences in his autobiography:

In October, while I was alone on a journey, I was suddenly seized by an overpowering vision: I saw a monstrous flood covering all the northern and low lying lands between the north sea and the Alps. When it came up to Switzerland I saw that the mountains grew higher and higher to protect our country. I realised that a frightful catastrophe was in progress. I saw the mighty yellow waves, the floating rubble of civilisation, and the drowned bodies of uncounted thousands. Then the whole sea turned to blood . . . two weeks passed; then the vision recurred . . . even more vividly than before, and the blood was more emphasised. An inner voice spoke. "Look at it well; it is wholly real and it will be so. You cannot doubt it." Soon afterwards [June 1914] I had a thrice repeated dream that in the middle of summer an Arctic cold wave descended and turned the land to ice . . . the entire region totally deserted by human beings. All living things were killed by frost.

One month later, on August 1st of that year, World War I broke out, and Jung's prescience was a shock even to himself. It led to a deep exploration of his own psyche, in an effort to understand the nature of his increasingly intense psychic turbulence. It also galvanised in him a sense of the urgency and importance of his life's work; he felt that man was at a crisis point, and a greater understanding of his nature was crucial if he were to survive.

An excellent way to start the semester

Sean McFarland just had his first ONE MAN SHOW after finishing the MFA in June at CCA. It does me proud to say I am his friend, and it gives me hope as an artist that dreams do come true! His photographs looked excellent, in his hand made white frames. The turn out was incredible, and there was a very electric feeling in the air. It was awesome. Lots of the new grads showed up, and I saw some old faces too, which was nice. Max is away right now, and he took the digicam with him. I felt naked without my camera but once again, Deborah took some fantastic pics with hers.

Here she is blatantly promoting the upcoming show at the Wattis.



Sean the rockstar.





My favorite piece in the show.



The gorgeous Libby Black.



Melissa and I.





Leaving to eat dinner.

Thanks to Emily Clark for graciously lending me her jacket so that I didn't freeze!

Smashing Heads

It Can Change at Gavin Brown’s Enterprise at Passersby
September 4-16, 2004
Reception & Piñata Party September 10 from 6pm until every piñata is smashed.

It Can Change will be presenting a piñata party at Gavin Brown’s Enterprise at Passersby from September 4-16, 2004.

For this project we are asking artists to contribute piñatas. From September 4-9 the piñatas will hang in the gallery unmolested. On September 10 we will invite people into the gallery for a piñata party. Each piñata will be struck with a blunt object until whatever is inside of it falls out. From September 11-16 the results of our piñata party will be on view.

As the piñatas are beaten pleasure is attained; beauty and craft are sacrificed.

During the party debris from each piñata will be collected and heat-sealed in plastic and packaged along with photographs depicting the destruction of each piñata. The photographs and bags of destroyed piñatas will serve as mementos of the actions that took place during the piñata party.

Gavin Brown’s Enterprise at Passersby
436 W. 15th StNew York, New York 10014 USA
gallery@gavinbrown.biz
Tel: (212) 627-5258
Hours: Monday-Friday 12pm-6pm

What's in a name?

This is frighteningly accurate.

Although the name Lori creates the urge to be reliable and responsible, we emphasize that it causes an emotional intensity that is hard to control. This name, when combined with the last name, can frustrate happiness, contentment, and success, as well as cause health weaknesses in the nervous system, worry, and mental tension.

Your name of Lori makes you very idealistic and generous, with the strong desire to uplift humanity leading you into situations where you can express your desire to serve others. You want to assume responsibilities and to look after people; however, you can become too involved in other people's problems and tend to worry. Your name gives you a natural desire to express along artistic and musical lines. You desire a settled home and family life, and are expressive and attentive to your loved ones.

Kabalarian Philosophy

I'm melting!

The weather is unseasonably warm, and I finally bought a fan for the apartment. Max is in Germany right now, and despite my telling him how hot it is, I don't think he really understands. The weather report claims 80 degrees, but it feels more like 85-90 because the wind is slow and lazy. I wish I knew someone with a pool.

My brother and I walked along the beach at sunset, by his new place on Saturday, but that NoCal ocean is still fucking cold. My feet went numb! I miss Hawaii...

I am keeping cool with Toffuti Cuties. Trader Joes only sells Vanilla and Chocolate. My favorite flavor is Mint Chip, but these are only available at Rainbow grocery, and it's harder to get to that place. If anyone wants to mail me boxes of this stuff, I wouldn't turn it away.

Tomorrow school starts again. My first class of the day is a 9am in Oakland, so I'll be getting up before the sun shines to make it to the subway in time. I wonder if I can pack a Tofutti Cutie in my backpack?

Garden State

Dear Zach Braff-I was finally able to see Garden State tonight. Words cant fully describe how much I loved it. I laughed and cried a lot. I wanted to reach out and high-five you for this amazing first film. All performances truly blew me away. It was never pretentious or formulaic. It was always genuine and heartfelt. I connected. And I felt inspired. This film is life, love, laughter and pain. This film is now officially on my favorites list, along with You Can Count On Me, My Life Without Me, In the Bedroom, Monsoon Wedding, Leon, Whalerider, the list goes on....I look forward to what you'll be showing me in the years to come. You are a true artist!

Justified

Ben and I decided to collaborate for the Piñata Party Show organized by It Can Change at Gavin Brown in New York. We were watching The Fabulous Life of Justin Timberlake, when we realized this was who the piñata would be! This is Mr. Bling. We filled it with gold glitter and fake diamonds, and gave him big diamond earrings. It was a real treat working with Ben. Usually collaborative projects are difficult for me, because I know exactly how I want the work to be. And Ben is the same way. BUT, for whatever reason it worked so well, and the final product was a huge success. Ben will be in NYC for the show, and will send pics of the kids smashing it open.

Thank You Jack & Gertrude!

Last night was the opening reception and award ceremony for the Murphy & Cadogan Awards. I will be uploading the work from this show onto my site soon. In the meantime, I can share that it's a series of 9 photographs - all of which I hope to sell. The show was packed, and lots of people got to see my work, which is very exciting. It was also very cool that my work was situated in the space right next to Scott and Jake's. We had studios side by side this first year of graduate school - it must be a lucky spot in the building.

Deborah came to the opening, as she does all my openings. It's so nice to have such a supportive friend. This time she had her fabulous new digital camera, and I didn't have to take a single pic, as she was there, ready to point and click away. My brother Shaun was also there, and we all mingled around the gallery, saying hello to everyone and drinking cold, refreshing sparkling water. Sean McFarland showed up too, which was a big surprise as he is currently getting ready for his big exhibition at the Jack Hanley gallery.

It was nice to see all these artists from five different schools together as one unit. I thought about how huge the art world is, and it's a wonder anyone 'makes it' at all. We pay a fortune for school and our supplies, and are one of the hardest field's to create a career in. It's amazing...

(this pic was sent by gallery Director, Rupert Jenkins)

Poor Max ran later than he thought at work, and missed the award ceremony, but Deborah took some lovely shots. Afterwards, we went to dinner at a really good German restaurant Suppenküche.