This is a project where I pay workers on Amazon's Mechanical Turk to review my art and website and pay them $5 dollars for 500 words. This is the 14th review I've received:
Ah, to write about Paul Shortt and his eclecticism style art. Here is
what I did in preparing for this assignment. I first viewed Paul’s Blog,
including his funny video, or was it serious? Then I scrolled through much of
his collection of art, comfortably nestled in cyber art space at
PaulShortt.com. Next, I went to Wikipedia and found the official definition of
eclecticism. So it turns out that eclecticism is conceptual approach that does
not hold rigidly to a single paradigm or set of assumptions, but instead draws
upon multiple theories, styles, or ideas to gain complementary insights into a
subject, or applies different theories in particular cases. Well, that
according to the Wiki. But it describes well what I find on Paul’s site. Funky,
quirky and down-right cool in scope and intention. Now with my cup of Yogi Kava
Tea, and again back at the Mac, I’m once again toying with the different art
work at the site and feel compelled to comment, as I sit and ponder on this
unseasonably warm Seattle evening. So what is it about Paul’s art? Left Brain?
Right brain? Who knows, but pretty cool stuff, left or right. As Sinatra once
said, “Flying to high in the sky, is my idea of nothing to do…”
First the early
work, this is the stuff that makes me bubble. I really enjoy it and like it
when someone, an artist, or anyone for that matter, causes “people” who are in
a social coma, or self induced form of a kind of hypnotic state, to stop and
ponder their own existence. How about the “Mechanically Move Your Body Up The Stairs
Like A Machine?” Exactly, very cool, I like it Paul. I liked the “God Save
Shortt,” portrait and could not help but think right away of “Bueller,” Ferris
Bueller that is, “Save Ferris.” Very cool stuff. In fact, we can all learn a
lot from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” if reflects the same ideas as “Paul
Shortt’s Day Off.” Shortt, Shortt, anyone? Anyone? Anyone? This idea that we
are more than the social cog in the wheel that public school and the daily
grind of work has made so many of us into. I did the corporate thing for 22
years, now I grow my hair and drink tea. Very cool, huh.
“Resist” is a rather
favorite of mine, in the shortt, I mean short time I’ve been an official
visitor at PaulShortt.com. It sums it all up, yes? Especially the last line, “Never
follow Directions.” Has anyone ever read Thoreau? Also, Modern Greetings looks
fun, and offers the same witty twist on accepted convention. What is this
handshake thing anyway, and who started it? Maybe we could all just do the
knuckle bump? “Nimby’s” is clever art. Seeking Good conversation is
interesting. Missed Connections is creative. Keep up the innovative and
creative work, Paul. Hey, if you don’t, who will? If I could sum up all the
work at PaulShortt.com, it would be to “Never Follow Rules.” Peace, my friend
from sunny and warm Seattle.
