What's in a Name?

[dawnba]

Alright, I always have a hard time with naming things, and I need to come up with a title for my show in August. I figured it might help to get another (hopefully unbiased) opinion.
I will be displaying artwork primarily in the landscape genre ("storescapes" too), if you need a refresher on my recent work, check out my DA page. I like the

Comments

[gold_dragontsu]

When I was reading your entry, I thought "Scape" without seeing the pole choices. However, I think that was more reactionary toward the "landscape vs. storescape" part of the entry rather than something I'd pick for a name. Indeed "scape" is the common factor in both words, but other than that, I'm not sure what it means. :}

Indeed, I would have been one of the people to instinctively associate "landscape" with purple mountain majesties and fruited plains. :}

I like multiple levels of symbolism... but I find symbolism to be most effective when it first works at a very basic level for a general audience. Having said that, I like the dual meaning of "suburban", though personally I don't know if I'd get it if you didn't explain it first. Stores don't trigger "suburban" in my mind.... Perhaps that is because America is so commercialized, there are stores everywhere. When I think of suburbia, I think of pink plastic flamingos, plush lawns with pretty flower gardens, orderly streets with nices houses, etc.

What do you think of the word "natural"? I like it on a few levels (I'm not going to divulge more at the moment, as a kind of test for the strength of the word). However, I'm not satisfied that it works at that basic level. Maybe in conjunction with another word?.... but which one?

I kind of like "Natural Landscape of Contemporary America", but that might reek of a bit too much Gold Dragon Social Commentary™. It's also longer than anything else you proposed. :}

BTW, Storescape II is great. I seem to remember commenting on it before already, but I'll say it again since I still think it's a pretty neat piece. The perspective is rendered excellently and really adds to the piece. Good color selection throughout and light/shadow usage. I like how the upper half of the piece isn't as colorful, yet the perspective makes me drawn to it anyway... I want to go up the escalator to see what's on that upper floor.

"Backyard" and "Value Valley" are thought provoking in a similar vein for me, especially the latter piece. I find it disturbing how you blended the elements of a store interior into the valley so seamlessly. Again with the GDSC™, I read this piece as a nod to how natural consumerism has become a part of our culture. We celebrate scenic vistas while simultaneously embracing the convenience of our local malls and Wal*Marts, often at the expense of the former.

"Backyard" has a similar nature vs. modern human thread for me. Backyard, perhaps... but how ironic that our desire for that perfect, natural look means we'll go out and buy completely unnatural accessories. In my mind, every green plant in this piece is fake... made of plastic (perhaps supported by the fact that this looks like it is indoors with the roof and the lighting being so "warm" and the foliage being so perfectly green). Then there is the juxtaposition of the pseudo-perfect backyard against the backdrop of the shelves... More detergents? Or perhaps those are lawn-care products (e.g. weed killers, etc.). In either case, there is again irony in the chemical waste and pollutants generated in our human quest for sanitation and perfection.

Well, on that great note, off to bed with me! :}

~GD