I always wonder how different people create their art and how they might work differently if they brought a different type of scrutiny to the piece. I also find every stage of creating art just as fascinating as the complete project, and though often early works are not technically spot on, I have found myself working pieces to wonderfully polished turds of technical propriety, devoid of grace and true emotion.

So, I am asking artists to consider this idea: Showcase your pieces as they are being made, or post a speculative review upon completion. To aid discussion and understanding, the completeness of pieces will be designated as Pre-alpha, Alpha, Beta, Release Candidate, or Gold. This rating system is based on the software release cycle designations in current use, but not a direct comparison. For example:

Pre-alpha: a VERY rough rough draft of a work, or preliminary stage.

Alpha: Rough draft, but fairly coherent, key elements have been mapped and the basic shape exist

Beta: Work is still in process and structure is emerging, major changes are possible and the work is being polished.

Release Candidate: The darn near final draft. At this point all major concerns have been addressed and all that remains is final polishing and minor adjusts.

Gold: It is done and over; just wrap it with a pretty bow.

This article at Wikipedia may also help you understand
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softwa…..ase_life_cycle

Interested! Cool, please contact me and let me know that you are in.
Questions? Ask.

A full explanation of the system applied to art will be available. . . when we make it! But for now

FURTHER DETAIL ON THE SYSTEM

1. Every piece does not need to go through every stage.

For instance you do not need to post every sketch you do as “fursketch_Pre-alpha work , and the difference between a Release Candidate and Gold may just be your mood. I almost never actually record Pre-alpha work except for in my head or scraps of notes about a composition

2. Each Designation Stage may have multiple Builds (or Variants)

Part of this cultural experiment is to allow the artist and receiver to examine process and significance. By acknowledging the moment when a piece moves into a new stage, or retaining it’s stage status, this helps us communicate how the artist is interacting with the work.

2. Stages are Subjective and designations are up to the individual artist

If you feel that something really is in the Alpha stage, and your buddy says you got to bump it to Beta, go with your gut, and remember:

3. Designations may be changed

However, I ask that you exercise a fair amount of caution in changing designations long after the fact. Only if it’s REALLY the right thing to do, do it. I DO expect you to change designations A LOT in the short run.

For an example of this applied to music I wrote, check out My Muse Tells Lies which happens to be my website.

If you decide to participate, please put the words “part of the Cultural Mayhem Experiment” attached to the work or profile. And be sure to leave your comments and suggestions for the experiment to help me make it even better

Over and Out
AJ Mars

My Muse Tells Lies