For myself , responding to the work I received involved persistence and a willingness to fail . Because of a discrepancy with numbers of participating artists , I was partnered with two artists , both of whom worked in styles highly divergent from my own . Initially excited to receive another artist ’ s work , I quickly became panicked at the thought of responding to Sarah Rehmer ’ s sculptural paper forms or Brad Hook ’ s layered transfers and grid-like overlay . Through multiple failed attempts , I continued to experiment with different types of paper and surface techniques until I found a way to connect to my partners ’ work .
Shosin is a concept in Zen Buddhism meaning beginner ’ s mind . It refers to having an attitude of openness , eagerness , and a lack of preconceptions when studying a subject , even when studying at an advanced level , just as a beginner in that subject would . For me , participating in this project provided an opportunity to challenge myself , to struggle , to learn , and to grow . It was in the struggle and the not knowing that I learned . As an artist , this is invaluable .
Collaboration is not by its nature an easy undertaking . And yet , perseverance has its own reward , pushing us to stretch beyond our comfort zone and expand our technical repertoire . Collaboration isn ’ t , for most artists , a recipe for making masterpieces , but rather a way of breaking habits and expanding one ’ s repertoire . As difficult as it may be , collaboration can be crucial for emerging artists in terms of exchanging ideas and forming new connections in the larger artistic community . My experience with The Diptych Project II was overwhelming positive and I look forward to a future opportunity to partner on an artistic endeavor .
A catalog of complete works from The Diptych Project II can be ordered online through Blurb :
The Diptych Project II