site currently under deep renovation... !!!!John Sappington - www.basearts.com
I am an artist and an educator working primarily in photography and digital media.
john@basearts.com <- email here
jsappington@santarosa.edu<- or here.
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go to :
https://blog.basearts.com
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PERSONAL Portfolio
Portfolio - rev. 2022
Working Journal - rev. 2025
Curriculum Vitae - rev.2025
Course Descriptions Working - rev. 2025
Information systems, design, interaction and solutions for the arts, education and business.
707.332.0987
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photography, technology and education
education
digital imaging and media systems, process, technologies
digital photography
web and social media design and maintenance
graphic design
digital media capture, conversion and archiving
scanning
large and medium format printing
interactive authoring
computer systems repair
network and systems administration
wired and wireless networking
project management
systems procurement
ecommerce
basearts productions
interactive titles : a series of artists exhibitions for diskette were initiated in November 1993 with the release of Sammy Cucher, Cultures: From the Annotated Self, digital images which explore the conflict of creativity and reason inside the body and the relationship between art and science - through the lens of the HIV crisis. Second in the series, George LeGrady, [the clearing] in 1994, an interactive computer artwork that explores the construction of meaning through the language of the Western news representation of the Bosnian conflict.
Cultures: From the Annotated Self
These images are from "The Annotated Self," a project that includes three separate photographic series dealing with issues of consciousness, psychological identity and memory. The source for the images in the "Cultures" series are photographs of doodles drawn on the margins of notebooks, day planners, post-its and scattered notepads. Drawn mostly while on the phone and without any artistic intention, they constitute a sort of automatic writing. The doodles are distilled from an unconscious creative urge which, as I see it, is linked to the basic biological process that enables the evolution of life. -Sammy Cucher
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[ the clearing ]
by George Legrady
An interactive computer artwork that explores the construction of meaning through the language of the Western news representation of the Bosnian conflict. With the assistance of the mouse, viewers explore the surface of a moving hunting photograph to scan a range of topics on Bosnia. They can choose 30 categories to examine news quotes set against the photograph. Different points of view are identified through color coding: the Bosnian Muslims, the Serbs and outside news commentaries. The viewer's experience of information search through this computer program interface is designed to reveal the traces of vision technologies' origins in military and medical applications - a particular kind of seeing that can be described as "search and destroy" or "hold still while I examine." By situating the Bosnian conflict into the familiar game format, real world content is introduced into a form generally not known for its criticality. This allows for a creative exploration of alternative ways in which information can be disseminated and retrieved from databases.
-----Press Release Sept. 1994 -
[the clearing] is an interactive computer artwork that explores the construction of cultural meaning through the language of the technologicallly mediated Western news' representation of the conflict in Bosnia.
with the assisstance of the mouse, viewers explore the surface of a moving hunting photograph. By this action, the viewer scans a range of topics on Bosnia and can choose any of 30 categories to examine news quotes set against the photograph. Three separate points of view are given. The Bosnian Muslims' , the Serbs' and outside news commentaries.
The viewer's experience of information search through this computer program interface is designed to reveal the traces of vision technologies' origins in military and medical applications - a particular kind of seeing that can be described as "search and destroy" or " hold still while I examine" .
Keywords: world event, sub-text, Balkan, dissemination, information, ethnic genocide, Western interests, media industry, Muslim, frame of reference, Europe, historical memory, narratives in context.
https://www.mat.ucsb.edu/~g.legrady/glWeb/Projects/clearing/clearing.htmlBrookside Assembly 2021-26
Stone - Tool - Artifact - Assemblage
Since the first obsidian artifact was identified in 2021, the assemblage has expanded to approximately 600 stone tools and tool fragments recovered over a five-year interval. The majority exhibit intentional knapping, edge modification, or patterned flake removal indicative of purposeful tool production. While many individual functions remain undetermined, the broader morphological patterns align with known Miwok and Pomo lithic traditions in the region. Both groups routinely manufactured cutting implements, scrapers, and awls used in the processing of sedge, willow, redbud, and other plant materials central to basketry production. The presence of obsidian, chert, and basalt within the collection reflects locally available raw materials and corresponds with documented technological practices. The variability in tool form—from finely pressure-flaked edges to heavier scraping and trimming tools—suggests activities associated with harvesting roots, splitting fibers, and preparing basketry elements. Consequently, the assemblage provides evidence of repeated or long-term cultural use of the site and is consistent with established patterns of Miwok and Pomo domestic and craft-related tool manufacture.
