words and art by w a l t e r w s m i t h

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experiment: data complex 8 | a world floating by for you and i | video art

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“A World floating By For You and I” is an expression of ambiguity in how we exist within the world around us.

experiment: data complex 7 | a world apart | video art

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After several weeks of editing, I have completed my most recent video in my “Experiment: Data Complex” series. It is entitled ” A World Apart” and it focuses on the historical, and current separatist constructs that have negatively affected African-Americans and society as a whole. The Data Complex series brings together modern digital technology, and ambient music with various visual artistic styles such as Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, and Futurism to convey its message. Recently I watched the video of the Jay Z performance art piece entitled “Picasso Baby” at the Pace Gallery in New York City. His merging of Hip Hop culture and High Art culture was impressive. As a digital artist, and an African-American artist, I believe as Jay Z so eloquently said, that (and I paraphrase) it is a time for us to take the technology and expand our vision for the world to see. I hope to always push forward and merge the boundaries of digital art, video art, and contemporary soundscapes as tools to bring together “A World Apart”.

variations | savannah river walk


This past week, Nancy and I spent our vacation at Tybee Island, and in Savannah GA. A little beach, surf, and ocean mixed with downtown art and galleries. We did some kayaking on the backwaters and enjoyed the festivities along the River Walk in Savannah’s Old Historic District. The sights, sounds and smells were wonderful. I hope to capture in my own unique way, the experience, in several upcoming posts. I am also currently working on my latest video project entitled “Data Complex 7 | A World Apart”. With the current climate of injustice and unrest in our civil, social, and political spheres, I thought the video might be an appropriate experimental exploration for the times we lives in. Be on the look out for a short video preview this week, and the final piece next week.

variations | a dreamtime returning

Well it is the final week of the Tour de France. And I must say it has been an enjoyable ride indeed. The final few days, starting with today will be climbing in the Alps, before the final day in Paris. Chris Froome is leading all contenders. And my favorite rider, the Spaniard, Alberto Contador is in second as of today. Approximately 4 minutes and 28 seconds in time behind. We can all assume that Chris Froome will continue to ride in yellow all the way to Paris and to the win. It looks like a four or five way battle for the second and third place positions on the podium. Hopefully Alberto will succeed in capturing second place. Last week in celebration of the tour, I had a very nice ride on my day off. I put in twenty miles in an hour and 45 minutes. The course was hilly and fast, in my humble opinion. Tomorrow before work I hope to get out and do about 10 miles. It’s that time of year when it is extremely hot and humid, so I hope to begin around 9 a.m.. Riding is a beautiful expression of will, consciousness and endurance. Each time I get on the bike it is a profound feeling of a returning Dreamtime.

experiment: data complex 6 | all is forgiven

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All is forgiven …

with the final
curtain call
and their last dance
with our beating hearts
and the setting sun
with its’ last goodbye

All is forgiven …

when strange fruit
and black bodies
(hooded)
as they sometimes may be
succumbs … for the last time
to the poplar tree

variations | when biking le tour, we discover more about ourselves

The pleasure of the moment. In retrospect, a sense of warmth. The night turning to morning …

I was very excited about waking up at 6:30 a.m. to watch stage 9 of the Tour de France. The stage is a 168.5 km trek through the Pyrenees in Southern France. For me the mountain stages are the most exhilarating of all the various stages. The trek from Saint Girons to Bagneres de Bigorre includes four category one climbs, each over 5000 feet and a category 2 climb. A test of man and machine. I believe that climbing is my best skill as a rider, and I certainly can relate to the difficulty inherent to climbing. Whether it is mountain biking or road biking, I love the challenge. Climbing is very meditative; slow and methodical. One has to really focus inward. On the breath, and on the movement of the body. Everything is recorded over and over again. Sometimes with much pain. Physically and mentally is can be quite exhausting, but in the end very rewarding. There is a certain ‘Peacetime’ when the silence of nature, movement and breath come together. An inner bliss without end.

experiment: data complex 5 | a returning place | video art

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The journey to silence as visited through “A Returning Place”. Often the road to our true essence is discovered through the meditative path of silence. In that silence, we navigate the past; leaving it behind. We dismiss the anxiety of an uncertain future; freeing us from our thoughts. It is our hope that we find the journey without moving, The one that takes us on the road inward: The present moment, and the freedom through enlightenment to see things as they really are.

This video captures some of the elements of natural and man-made silence: Silent films, Space, singularity, and the journey one takes alone … in this thing called life.

variations | when, without moving we travel to a new vision

on the road
to Silence
> at last
quiet stillness

‘I think, therefore I am’, is far from the truth revealed in Silence (our thoughts are not who we are). As I move forward, stillness surrounds me. The ever-present moment awakens through the noise of distractions, attachments, thoughts. Creativity begins to make its presence known. The true vision that laid hidden … emerges.

There are moments, when traveling without moving; my mind turns inward. Often the idea for a new piece comes to me in the stillness of repetitive motion e.g. when driving home from work late at night or during the day riding my bike for hours. Both experiences are brought to a new level when simultaneously interwoven with ambient music of some kind: Inventive and emotional. Ethereal and far-reaching. Both movement and sound collapse the night and day into the black hole of my ever-expanding need for creativity. With each movement forward, with each night and day, like a sought out mystery, it mysteriously reveals itself. In Silence, I become one with my creative Truth.

Music for Backgrounds: Bvdub from the cd Resistance Is Beautiful and the track Nothing Like You. Perfect for that ride, drive or creative spark.

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