Hartman Uses Crowdsourcing as Tool in Creating New Artworks

Edwardsville, IL, October 04, 2014 --(PR.com)-- #socialques is a new typographic series that Steve Hartman is working on that mixes image with hand-pressed, letterpress typography and handwritten words. The words come from Hartman's interaction with friends online via Facebook, Twitter (@creativille) and Instagram. Each work becomes an artifact of that interaction.

The work begins with a found image from a moment in his daily life. Hartman takes a quick photo with his iPhone. Using his Instagram account, he shares the image, including Facebook and Twitter with a caption, "Looking for one word comments on this image. #art." Then the poetry begins.

So far, comments have ranged from 20-60 words per image. During the first round of requests, eleven in all, they began to drop in quantity of responses. Maybe because Hartman's friends were getting tired of his weekend long posts, only asking for comments. Some comments were poignant and deep, some were literal, some were humorous and snarky. Regardless of what they were, Hartman uses them all in the end. Who doesn't want a piece of art with the words beer, streetlightzilla or vagina imbedded? It's all part of the social experience…at least in his circles.

What does this all mean? That's up to the audience to read each piece, and decide if there is any poetry to be found in these typographic works of art. You can view the works, plus his paintings on his website at www.stevehartmanart.com