The First Artist on Mars

My friend Jason Mortara opened his first solo show last night at Mission 17 in San Francisco. The exhibit, entitled First Artist on Mars (press release), was an interesting juxtaposition between the familiar and the comfort it provides and the ominous discomfort of the unknown. Ultimately, though, one must search out the unknown, head towards the unknown, and grapple with the unknown and will even be unconsciously drawn to the unknown much as we will someday make it to the uninhabitable planet of Mars. I liked almost every piece, though I can't vouch for my unbiasedness. Two pieces in particular struck me: two of the doctored photographs from the Mars Lander, one where Jason was planting a tree, the other where he was sitting, head in his hands. I think, in his artist statement, he said that in addition to sending scientists and engineers on our pioneering missions to the unknown, that artists should be part of the exploration as well. New contexts demand to be grappled with by the artist as well as the builder. (Should the philosopher be in on that, too?) There was also a 8' x 8' all white house with no door (again, the accessibility/familiarity theme), wall papered gallery walls that held the disparate pieces together and paintings of corporate handshakes, etc, that I couldn't really understand in the context aside from it being kind of creepy. There was also a video showing Jason's descent to and landing on Mars with a voice over of what he felt and thought throughout.
The show was a nice respite from the jarring week.
Now I get to prepare a last-minute lecture for Tuesday’s metaphor class. First of all, I can’t see both preparing a lecture and having to put something together for section. I do get to talk about Eve Sweetser’s etymology work which I think is great, but I imagine ir isn't as captivating to non-linguists as, for example, the metaphors in sign and gesture.
Then I'm giving a talk in a week at The Society of Linguistics Undergrad Students (SLUgS) conference on harmony in Mafa but more generally about harmony/agreement/spreading.

If you want to come: Sunday, November 14th in Dwinelle 370.