Untitled & Unwritten: April 2010

Friday, April 30, 2010

Artists' Statement

These two stories are unwritten and untitled. Each story began with a chapter title. No outlines were created in advance, rather the stories grew, moving from title to illustration to title, each one adding to the story. Each title was written by one artist, and sent to the other to be illustrated. Sketches were critiqued by the writer and there were discussions of the work in progress. Once a chapter illustration was completed, the writer would create the next chapter title, using aspects of the previous illustration to suggest a direction.

Narrative and story are integral to the way Schneider and McCoola view the world. But storytelling is a collaborative process, needing both tellers and audience to become a living tale. Schneider and McCoola have already worked together to create the pieces of two stories, but now an audience is needed to give them meaning. While Schneider and McCoola have illustrated nine points of each story, what happens between the images is only hinted at. Blank notebooks accompany the work, and the artists invite visitors to write stories for the illustrations. Additionally, the artists look for titles for these stories, and have a place where visitors may contribute.

As members of a technological generation, the artists wish to extend the exhibit to a larger audience. Blogs and chats are communal, forming a virtual sort of community. To reach out to a broader arts community, the artists have created http://untitledunwritten.blogspot.com, which displays a selection of artwork from the exhibit. Here, people are encouraged to add to the story in the comments section.

The tone and direction of each story evolved during the process of creation, moving in different directions, drawing from different myths, and creating two individual stories. While these stories are not linked by style, medium, or genre, they are joined through a shared process and the inclinations of their creators. But while the artists have finished this collaboration, the works are still growing and morphing with the additions of gallery-goers, constantly evolving as any good story will.