Number Two Secret

Here's another clue to figure out my secret project. It looks like it is going to take me at least two or three months to complete so, even though I've freely talked about it to numerous people, I'm going to try my hand at building suspense and keep referring to this as a secret project here on this website.

Secret Project

Here's the start of a secret project that everyone knows I'm working on.

Cool in the Morning, Warm in the Afternoon

Today, I received word from Photographer's Forum Magazine that a photo I entered into their annual photography contest has made it into the final selection group. This means that the picture will be published in the book, Best of College Photography 2009, and that I'll be in the running for some significant cash and prize awards. I hope I win first place. Interestingly, the publishers want to know the name of my photography instructor. I'm not sure whose name to give them as I'm not really a photography student. I think they really just want to know a name so they can try to get the proud instructor to buy multiple copies of the book on behalf of a school.

Slack/Chinese/Paranoia

It seems like I'm slacking on the creation front and, though I actually do feel kind of slacky, I've really been working pretty steady lately. Its just that the work I've been doing has been for other people's benefit, not mine. Today I spent a long time cleaning "my office" and trying to figure out what to do with multiple pounds of broken, plate glass. I also want to get rid of a bunch of not-broken plate glass so if you need some for any reason, just ask. At some point during the day a Chinese guy asked me if African culture came from Indian culture. He meant Native American, not India Indian. Luckily the phone rang and I didn't have to answer his question.

The other night, when it was way too cold, I stopped to take this picture under a street light. For some reason I was really paranoid about getting hassled by the cops so I only took a couple of quick shots and then high-tailed it.

Gretch

In addition to the printmaking show in Colorado reported yesterday, I also have some photographs in a local, photography show at the Gretchen Charlton Gallery. The reception is next Thursday, the 29th of January. I'm not going to post pictures of the entered photos since I want them to be surprises. However, they have both been posted on here in the past, so you've probably seen them already anyway. Instead I'm going to post a picture of a pug in a tuxedo.

Also showing work at the Gretch are my friends Rhiannon, (whom I convinced to enter,) Michael and, if things worked out, Michael's dad.

American Print

If you live anywhere near Golden Colorado, you should go over to the Foothills Art Center during the next couple of months and take a look at American Print 2009 an exhibition of work from 43 printmakers across the U.S. Thanks to the alphabet, I'm #5/43. If you can't make it to Golden, the show is available for viewing (and buying) online.

Here's a list of all the artists involved.
Regina Benson, Lynn Brofsky, Deborah Bryan, Devon Clapp, Christopher Clark, Dale Clifford, Amelia Currier, Jeffrey Dabney, Sue Crosby Doyle, Ron Fundingsland, Judy Gardner, Christopher Hagen, Brandon Hagstrom, Dusty Herbig, Erin Hoffman, Elizabeth Jabar, Brian Knoerzer, Matt Kuhlman, Anthony Lazorko, Monique Maddox, Rachel Martin, Janice McCullagh, Aaron McLeod, Carolyn Muskat, Chunwoo Nam, Jonathan Nicklow, Candace Nicol, Tony Ortega, Nolan Preece, Curtis William Readel, Lara Schenck, Dave Seiler, Merrill Shatzman, Ralph Steeds, Sharon Strasburg, Brian Stuparyk, Stephen Sumner, Anne Sunderwirth, Taro Takizawa, Olivia Timmons, Chris Warot, Greg Wessel, Michele Winkler

Killer Kuba

For the next few weeks, I'll be spending my work hours avoiding the fumes coming off a room full of African artifacts that have been stored in far too many mothballs for the last few years. As it turns out, mothballs are extremely poisonous. I wish someone had told me that before I spent four long days surrounded by those fumes. Oh well, the medical advisers say health problems are caused by long term exposure. Unfortunately, they don't specify what constitutes "long term." I hope they mean more than four days.

Don't let the health risks dissuade you from coming and checking out the exhibit. I'm sure the few minutes it'll take you to become overwhelmed by the odor won't be enough to harm you. If I'm going to die, the least you can do is gawk at the cause. The little figure pictured isn't really included in the show, I don't think it is even related to the same region of Africa. I don't know anything about Africa. Its hot there right?

How to Identify Signs of Mothball Poisoning -- powered by ExpertVillage.com

Research

This series of prints is officially up on the walls of the Research Gallery. Its a kind of weird space within the library where people are actively using computers to search the catalog for books. As you can see from the picture above, looking at artwork definitely isn't the primary purpose of the room. Still, I'm happy with the setup. I prefer that regular people see my work in a regular setting rather than uppity art types hanging around in galleries. And, I'm taking the liberty of adding this to my resume as a solo exhibition, the inaugural show, in a new gallery space. If you happen to be in the area, you could stop in a check out the presentation. Follow a clockwise path around the room and the printing process will be revealed.

After my prints come down, the next show is tentatively scheduled to be orchestrated by the experimental photographer, Marc McGowan. I'm interested in seeing what he comes up with, but that will probably not be until March at the earliest.

Beholden

I just want to quickly thank everyone that showed up at the Beverly last week for that opening. Despite the bitter taste of defeat, I enjoyed myself. There were a ton of people there and I spent the evening talking to friends. I probably should have been doing more schmoozing with other participants but I'm not very good at that. Though I wish I had more time to talk with Alonso and Bridget, two people I like a lot.

Also Tuesday movie nights in the gallery aren't happening. I was given the ok to do it informally (as long as I didn't do any advertising or make a big deal out of it) but I decided I don't want to feel obligated to be there every week. I still expect to do it occasionally but I'm not going to tie myself down. If there is some movie you really want to watch and you want me to watch it with you, let me know and we'll set it up.

Big Loser

This is a just a quick reminder about the show at Beverly tomorrow night. I'm pretty sure everyone I know is already going to be there, but if you are just reading this now, you should consider coming by. At the very least there should be some free food. Don't be surprised when I don't win any prizes. The winners were already announced and I wasn't one of them. If you want to know who did win, I'll tell you: First Place: Hyun Ja Shin; Second Place: J. Thomas Pallas; Third Place: Michael Costanza; Honorable Mention: Chris Matusek. If you want me to win something, come and vote, cause apparently they're having some kind of people's choice award. If you just want to see the pieces I have in the show, here they are: I hope you love 'em.

What About the Random XX Pics?

Yesterday, I spent a good part of the the day cutting some black mats for a pair of photo prints and then decided I like them better without mats at all. I could have saved myself a lot of trouble. Later I worked on this collage while I watched Planet of the Apes. Not the Tim Burton version, the original, good one. I woke up this morning with an extreme craving for lemonade.

Slow and Steady

I finished these at the beginning of December but it wasn't until today that I had the time to scan them. If you want to know about the inspiration for the project, you can check out the original post I made back in October about the lack of rivalry between Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace, two men who, independently of one another, developed theories of natural selection to explain the diversity of species.

This print is supposed to be hung as a sort of educational installation on the importance of diligence in scientific research. For an additional level of education it will appear alongside eleven other preliminary prints, each a step along the path leading to the final image. In this way, the printmaking process is revealed to the viewer. If you want to see what those prints look like in extreme detail, you could check out the Slow and Steady set on Flickr.

The Adventures Of Mark Twain

Tuesday January 6, 2009 at 7:30pm in the gallery.

I'm trying to start a weekly film series. Right now it is pretty much unofficial but I'm going to try getting it sanctioned. Until then we'll keep it informal, but hopefully at least a couple of people will come. This first week I'll be projecting a crazy movie most people have probably never seen. I've only seen pieces of it. The Adventures of Mark Twain.

From IMDB:
Based on elements from the stories of Mark Twain, this feature-length Claymation fantasy follows the adventures of Tom Sawyer, Becky Thatcher, and Huck Finn as they stowaway aboard the interplanetary balloon of Mark Twain. Twain, disgusted with the Human Race, is intent upon finding Halley's Comet and crashing into it, achieving his "destiny." It's up to Tom, Becky, and Huck to convince him hat his judgment is wrong, and that he still has much to offer humanity that might make a difference.

Amazingly for those who haven't seen it, this unknown animated masterpiece regularly makes it into the shortest short-list of best films of those who have - and i don't mean list of animated movies, but movies in general.

Incomparable to anything else - much like Twain himself - it's every aspect is just amazing. It will feast your eyes, fill your heart (with a both joy, sorrow, warmth and eeriness), boggle your brain, and make your jaw hurt. And you'll still have to find time to enjoy acting (yes, the - acting - of the clay figures here is just amazing) and clever solutions. For example, Mysterious Stranger is the best visualization of the Devil I've ever seen on film.

Some have pointed out that it is not necessarily a kids movie. I'd rather say not AT ALL a kids movie.

Slowly Being Pulled Down

So it is a new year. I think it'll be a good one even though I've been advised not to make predictions like that. But I just feel good and happy despite the fact that it is 6:33 a.m. and for some reason I haven't gone to sleep. I stayed up all night working on this tiny little collage and organizing an unnecessary mixtape. You could download it (the mixtape) if you aren't worried about copyright infringement or intellectual property laws.