There is a natural tendency for biological systems to change as their environments change. The fittest in the biological systems survive, adapt to their environment, and multiply while the weakest in the environment diminish. There have been attempts in computer science to model the processes of natural selection and survival which occur in biological systems in order to obtain more efficient and effective machine-learning algorithms. Genetic algorithms are the result of these attempts.

I wanted to see if I could affect the "unknown" by attempting to steer the subconscious. I kept a journal of events going on in my life, dreams, therapy sessions, or ideas for songs or short stories. In my studio, I kept a running list of ideas for titles of songs, stories, or paintings. In addition to this, I recorded narrative or metaphoric ideas that the paintings presented on the search for the final painting.

I intend to explore various canvas sizes and many formal issues, focusing on space and the application of paint are paramount in my work. I used closely cropped photographs to aid in this study and my exploration addressed the following questions: 1) How does the speed of execution affect the spontaneity and authority of the piece? 2) How important is the unexpected for the success of my painting in regards to formal issues?

Through this study I intended to analyze and determine the significance of the recurring imagery that emerged as an integral part of my compositions. Furthermore, I attempted to discern the importance and over all the effects of the small scale upon my work and determine how vital is the spontaneity that is used to obtain each composition.

To emphasize the preciousness of these tools, I envisioned object-specific carrying cases, like a violin case or my grandmother's china cabinet. The object-specific case or cabinet is, like the tool it houses, special and singular inits utility and serves to underscore the ceremonial nature of the tool. Of all the examples of object-specific environments I've looked at, most have been constructed of fine woods; many have also been either covered or lined with various skins, silk, or velvet to reflect the preciousness of their contents.

My work has developed to the point where it exists within the grey area between painting and sculpture. These hybrid works necessitate the transition from creating objects to that work singularly to installations of various works that operate as a whole. The purpose of this study is to identify successful methods of making this transition through the use of the computer. The computer should provide new strategies to integrate sculpture and painting into a hybrid form.

I am interested, both from a personal standpoint and from a cultural perspective, in pursuing the meaning of thes eimages singly and as they combine with others. In turn, the results, I hope, will lead to the discovery of more images for my image encyclopedia. After this introduction subsequent chapters will explore my reasons for the combinations of images I choose and will place the finished drawings in their contemporary art context. My goal will be to note the changing meanings of the objects as they interact serially.

For the problem in lieu of thesis, a series of ten works were created in which a male image replaced the female image; I continued to utilize the same materials, format, and centralized frontal figure. A record of the work was accomplished by maintaining a written and visual journal on progress and outcome. Some research was made into topics related to the work, and the findings from the literature comprise chapter two of the paper. In executing this body of work and researching related topics, I hoped to better understand my conscious and unconscious processes and motivations in creating both the self-portrait series and the new series.

Although clay has been used throughout history as an embellishment of architectural structures, clay elements have usually remained subordinate to existing architectural forms. Three-dimensional ceramic modules which divided an existing space, altered or obscured architectural forms, and intersected with or penetrated established planes provided a greater interaction between clay and architecture. I explored the use of clay as an integral three-dimensional element which interacted with an architectural space, rather than merely surfacing it. Because the installation of these works was temporary, methods of connecting the clay elements to the architecture were also investigated.

The act of putting anything on a base isolates it and makes it seem more precious. The base separates the viewer from the sculpture and affects the relationship between the sculpture and viewer. The problem for me was to remove the base and experiment with the possibilities now opened to my work. The purpose of this study was to explore the presentation potentials of sculpture freed from the constraints of the plinth.

a. How does the use of different materials such as string, screen, fabric or wire personalize the work? b. How does the addition of subtly recognizable imagery change the reductive field? c. How do processes such as wrapping, printing, dripping, and other techniques infer meaning? d. How does the choice of color and scale affect the work?

The purpose of this research was to develop a body of work which exhibited unity between form and surface, but which relied upon a combination of deliberate intent (specific form, glaze, firing temperature, etc.) and the occurrence of random accident to achieve this unity. The project dealt with the integration of altered wheel-thrown and hand-built organic clay forms with a variety of surface treatments. The firing/glazing techniques chosen (which included cone 9 reduction firing, raku firing, and saggar firing) could be controlled to some degree. However, even minor differences in glaze and/or firing treatments evolved through a variety of chance incidents into marked differences in the finished piece.

I believe the frame or housing of a printed image plays an integral role in the context of the work. It functions as a vehicle for possible interpretation. It should respond to and complement the concept of the central image. The image presented in a vessel or reliquary format should instill a meditative or religious response.

The focus of the problem was to challenge the more traditional. Western approaches to jewelry as adornment in respect to areas such as placement and scale. Approaching adornment as sculptural forms interacting with the human body could possibly challenge the individual's awareness of jewelry as wearable art. This approach brought up the issue of using the human body as a pedestal for adornment.

My interest in the patterns of nature and culture has led me on a long journey through studies of math, sciences, and religions culminating in my current studies in art. Continuing my inquiry into processes of human perception and conception of time. My intention was to incorporate the "process" aspect of the printmaking medium into the final work by creating hybrid works that would take the "print" out of its traditional two-dimensional form. Finally, I planned to utilize the "multiple" aspect of printmaking to address ideas of patterns and evolution.

It was those problems and possibilities I wished to explore in my problem in lieu of thesis. While the simple, geometric images were very satisfying to that part of myself that craves order and rationality, it was all too easy to make work that was dull and uninteresting. I wanted to find a way to produce rich, sensuous, engaging work using only simple geometric forms.

My work attempted to examine the emotional and psychological relationships between humans and the relationship of a human being with their inner self. I adopted the human figure as a potentially successful means of expressing these relationships. The language or symbolism I used in my work was derived directly from body language. This universal language is direct and immediate. Body language, posture, attitude, and tension of the figure are primary perceptions observed by the viewer. The immediacy of communication and directness of emotions through the use of body language were my main concerns. The major issue I dealt with was trying to invest those same emotions into my sculpture. My intention was to endow the sculpture, which consisted of a static unchanging pose and was created from an inert material, with a recognizable emotion and expressiveness that the human figure inherently carries.

The large scale format allows the images I created to have a more pronounced impact on the viewer. Self-reflective subject matter exhibited within the large attention-getting style allows an audience to better connect and identify with the figures in my work. The piece is a series of large scale paintings butted together both side by side at one hundred thirty-five-degree angles that provides a vehicle to surround the viewer. The paintings, when placed together, form a continuous image and present themselves as one extensive piece.

While I worked, I made a number of pieces that followed a common theme, each relating to the piece made before and after. This way of working revealed new possibilities for expression. During this particular body of work, I explored a specific series of forms that could be used in the preparation and presentation of food and drink.

My premise was the marriage of two forms, book and sculpture. My goal was to determine if these two unique types of work could be joined as one. In each oth the proposed works, I focused on an element of design as well as the challenges present when works are produced for a particular space (the Cora Stafford Gallery).

Even Though I already did paint fairly rapidly, I felt I had a tendency to let the painting in progress sit too long in between times spent working on it. I also felt that I was spending too much time stepping back away from the work to look at it and was milling around the studio sometimes needlessly. Thus I became intrigued with the idea of doing a painting in one block of time. The purpose of this investigation was to explore and study the possibilities generated by a series of "one-sitting" paintings. I defined one-sitting painting as a painting which proceeded from beginning to end without a significant break, meaning that it could take anywhere from four to sixteen hours to complete.

This problem tries to bring together a comprehensive array of themes. There has been a duality between painterly techniques, recognizable images and disjunctive imagery. The subtractive painting technique used has created smooth transitions between images and made these hybrid realities more convincing.

It was impossible to document all of the important dancers of the era; however, certain individuals were notably exceptional. The purpose of this study was to document and illustrate some of those dancers who impacted and influenced the development of American vernacular dance during the early twentieth century through the mid-1940's. The individuals chosen were as follows: Dewey "Pigmeat" Markham, John Bubbles, Bill Robinson, Earl "Snakeships" Tucker, James Walker and Charles Green (Chuck and Chuckles), Katherine Dunham, Honi Coles and Cholly Akins (Coles and Akins) Josephine Baker, The Derry Brothers (Ananias, Jimmy and Warren), Eddie Rector, Willa Mae Ricker and Leon James. Emphasis was concentrated on capturing an accurate likeness of the individuals as well as on establishing a specific mood. Since all of the above-mentioned individuals were dancers, a special effort was made to recreate the lighting and aura of the stage.

The goal of this study was to construct a body of work encompassing a broad range of wheel thrown functional pots that are accented with hand built additions. I produced a total of forty pieces developed from four forms representing a respective increase in scale. I addressed technical and aesthetic issues during the process. These included glaze combinations, variations of established hand built additions, surface decoration, and form/shape manipulation.