Contemporary Farewells at Hillyer Art Space

Contemporary Farewells: New Ways of Saying Goodbye from Paul Shortt on Vimeo.

Here is video of my performance at Hillyer Art Space in D.C as part of the Soapbox Performance Series.

Mechanical Turk Review of My Art #28

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 28th review I've received:

This is absolutely crazy! I mean where you get such weird ideas! I love each piece of your art gallery, be it the “No Photo” one or the “Seeking Good Conversation” one. But the one that I simply fall in love with is your “Free Poster”! A pure crazy and genius piece of work! I am planning to adopt this theory at my work place. I mean, giving free poster to each of my employees with a handmade certificate, I mean definitely there would be a little variation from your masterpiece. In fact, I am running short of words to describe this amazing piece of work. And I also admire the art piece called the “Roll on the floor laughing”. I am sure this must have been one of the most entertained workshops. This seems to be a perfect stress buster! I have seen a few workshops in the similar line but none as innovative as this one. I also admire the art piece called “Conversation Card”. This pretty much impressed me. I mean, rarely any one would have thought to create a bonding in such uncomfortable places like hospital! May be the same thing can also be carried out in places where the natural calamity occurred in near past! This also indicates a psychology of people at different places and different situations. The other brilliant piece of work of yours or may be I would be more correct if I say the best piece of work of yours is; “The Business of Selling Yourself”. I am simply amazed with the core idea of getting the opinion from strangers with such a unique and insane way! There can’t be a better and honest way of selling yourself. I know, sometimes you must have attracted a risk of getting rude and nasty communication but all is fair in the name of art. I personally would like to answer you for this piece of art! Now, on the negative side there are a certain piece of works that did not get much attention from me or may be I did not understand the depth of those arts. Pillory for market place mall is one such thing. I have seen this before! There is no second opinion that, every single crowd in the mall would like to take a click with this! But what des not impress me much is; this is a lesser creativity in this. I have seen similar things at in a museum at India and in some stage acts! Now, after seeing this much of art, I also take look at your earlier works and the concept of mechanically move your body as fascinating as your current works. That simply indicates that you keep a consistence tab on your creativity. I really hope to see much more such creative arts on your site! And the last word of my review is borrowed from the tagline of your art blog “Shortage”; “Where funds are low and creativity is high”! I don’t know about the low fund status but yes the creativity is extremely high!” Keep the level up!

Trust Us at Hillyer Gallery in DC

Two New Videos

 Image Breakdown, 2012

These videos are from 2 different bodies of work. The first is from my Please No Photos project.




Learning To Drive a Stick Shift at 30 Years Old, 2012

The second video is my father teaching me to drive a stick shift at 30 years old. From my project called The Car My Father Gave Me.

Mechanical Turk Review of My Art #27

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 27th review I've received:

This collection of art work is simply one of the more unique collections I have seen in some time. While much of the work seems to be somewhat random and without purpose, observing it closely reveals just the opposite. Paul Shortt shows off a great amount of skill in his ability to articulate daily life into an artistic creation. He demonstrates a great ability to deliver creative images through an unusual light. The quirkiness and individuality displayed through his artistic vision is certainly distinct and distinguishes Shortt from his peers. If you enjoy viewing unique displays of art and have a creative side yourself, Shortt’s work will certainly stand out and may just inspire you beyond your wildest dreams. With a great mixture of randomness, humor and a serious tone as well, Shortt’s work has a little something for everyone to enjoy. You will enjoy seeing cool displays of activities that will make you set down and think about just what you are looking at. Shortt goes into great depth in certain portions of his work, for example, he has videos that display him doing what would seem to be simple tasks, however he points out the small complications and cultural meanings that can often accompany such activities. Whether it be raising the American Flag or simply driving on the freeway, you will see these actions in a new light thanks to Shortt and his creativity. Enjoy every moment to because this type of work is rare and hard to track down in your day to day life. While enjoying this outstanding collection, you will notice that Shortt also displays a sentimental side of his work as well. He has a series of videos that go into length in regards to his personal relationship with his father. He takes us through his journey of connection with his father and gives details of their relationship and how their bond has been ultimately established. Especially interesting, Shortt dives into an unlikely connection between his career as an artist, and how it is surprisingly similar to his father’s life long work as a car mechanic. He is able to tell us that story in a way that many of us could probably relate to and one that may strike a chord with a lot of people. This ability to make such a sentimental connection is emotional and leads us all into a journey of thought about our own personal relationships with our loved ones, and how often times things may not just be what they seem. Overall, Shortt’s wide variety of work ads up to a magnificent artistic collection that is inspiring, emotional, amusing, and many other complementary words that just do not come to mind at the moment. His many valuable pieces of work serve as a great view for anyone who enjoys art in general, as I would recommend this art and give it great reviews. If you want to take a moment of reflection and give the world a look from a different point of view than your accustomed to, you should check out Paul Shortt’s work and experience its many different facets.

Mechanical Turk Review of My Art #26

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 26th review I've received:

This art brings a strange irony and a graceful satire to common dilemmas and nostalgias with which we can all identify. Our search for connection, the challenge of finding it in a fast-paced world that is more interested in stock prices than straight-up conversation—all find a quiet, dignified voice in the photography of Paul Shortt. Many of his projects are a series—a set of photos that all portray a similar lostness, or, in the rarer case, sparks of connectivity, of belonging, of home. Other projects are adventures in creativity, such as hilarious new ways to say hello, all captured on candid film with their laughing executors. The overriding message seems to be the penultimate quest of the human soul—to find a place, to belong in it, to know oneself and find others that will understand. At times we make of ourselves a spectacle, as seen in the “Pillory for Market Place Mall” series, and at times we simply reminisce on the people who created and shaped us, and the remaining symbols of themselves they left behind, such as “The Car My Father Gave Me.” At other points, Paul Shortt invites his participants to take time, to explore themselves. He allows them to find out who they are, and, perhaps more importantly, allows them to come away from the drudgery of their daily life and make a sally into the realm of the undignified, but connected, life he offers. Shortt also makes occasional forays into political and social commentary, as in the “Please NO Photos” set. Additionally, there are also pieces the ways we comfort ourselves, and how we can break out into a more realistic truth. For example, how do you present yourself in a favorable light? You might not realize what rose-colored glasses you wear for the mirror until you see Paul take them off in “The Business of Selling Yourself.” A major advantage of Shortt's work is his willingness to explore and expose his own flawed qualities in his art. The casual viewer will laugh at the joke, but if you look a moment too long you will turn away after your chuckle and wonder, “Am I like that? If I was really honest with myself... what would I see?” When viewing all Shortt's photos, I find myself knowing their subjects, including the artist himself. I realize that the greatest moments of belonging, of connectedness, are sparked when we let go of the rushing pace of our lives, and even let our dignity slip through our fingers a little. When we look a little deeper into his art, we grasp the irony of our efforts to keep it together. Real life is something for which we must make time. Paul Shortt understands the human condition, and has the imagination to explore its limits, its influence, and its expression. I rather envy his participants the insights gained into themselves as they dredged up their most cherished comfort zones to throw in the artistic fire.

Letter Research