Tim Lefens Lecture

Tim Lefens is the creator of A.R.T (Artistic Realization Technologies).
Author of Flying Colors
a.r.t.lefens@artrealization.org
When Tim realized how much he loved art and that he may lose it, he tried to create a way for those who couldn't move to create art. It simply allows those that struggle moving their limbs to control a laser and decide the outcome of their art.

Tim had multiple theories about art itself and the way people think about life/art as a whole.
Here are some of his theories--
Death Bed Theory- If you only had 4 hours left and were on your "death bed" what painting would you want to see on your wall?
Trunkated Pyramid- There are only so many people who can be ballerinas or astronauts. But, Warhol and Duchant sliced off the top of the pyramid and allowed everyone to become equal on this level of art, "joke art."
Double Funnel- You can't get there by calculating or manipulating. You have to go all the way through a funnel and then shoot out of the second. Lefens didn't realize what he was experiencing until he was staring at the stars and had the realization that he was so small in this vast universe. The further down you go in the funnel, the further out you come the second.
Two Plateaus- One on vast land and 6 feet to second plateau. An artists greatest challenge is to take that leap. Take the leap to the second plateau to find the better place.

The body and spirit cohabitate against their wills. the body belongs for the earth, the spirit for the sky.
He believes the secret to finding real art is by losing yourself and letting go. Somehow get yourself out of the literal world. It took Tim a near death experience to have a vision and realization of the beauty in the world. He explained an instance where he saw the sprinkler as beautiful dropplets of water in slow motion. Similar to paint brush strokes. I love this idea of taking something so fast paced and quick and slowing it down to find the beauty we may miss in our fast paced lives.
If you are aware you are looking at art, that it is framed, you haven't gone far enough. "It's only art if you forget who you are or where you are."

Marcel Duchant (signing a toilet bowl) to Andy Warhol (silk screen of a soup can)- these two artists opened up the "floodgates for mediocre art."

I was fortunate enough to attend Cardinal Hayes last year, 2010, with Art for the Exceptional Child. It was an amazing experience to be able to observe the laser technique at work, much different than simply hearing about it. Students in wheelchairs with severe disabilities are able to create art with the help of a laser and a "tracker." Assistants are the trackers and will ask yes or no questions for the students/artists to respond and create their artwork. Students have the freedom to choose canvas size, brush surface, and color of paint. They are able to control the entire piece, all they need is the hands and functions of the trackers.