Mike Kelley: Unit 5

Mike’s art uses mixed media to the best of his abilities to create amazing visuals. He has a piece that he is doing 365 takes to each, so that each takes represents 1 day in a year. I think that’s really great because it is extremely hard for a person to remain dedicated to something for an extended period of time if it is not a repetitive and beneficial action, such as work. I guess it makes sense that he would so something like doing something like that due to his love for rituals, and interests in writing. It’s wonderful that he is interested in writing because I grew up with books, and writing can be very artistic and thought provoking. His obsession with stuff animals and his use of them in his art makes no sense to me. When he spoke of trauma and abuse I made a connection with that idea, and his oval shaped paintings. However, I can’t look at cuddly stuffed animals and think of abuse and trauma. Such an abundance of them is kidlike to me. In my opinion he should stick to the paintings, and performance art. The stuffed animal thing is not really emotionally appealing, or controlled in any way.