Plagued

I am thinking a lot about images, and about iconography, right now. A deep discussion about my work and where I was taking it led to so much buzzing between my ears that I can barely tune it down. There are two projects currently being processed in my head:

One, which is very object-based, material focused. I want to gather together people with "invisible disabilities" - ones that are not readily apparent, and are thus often overlooked or even scoffed at - and have them sit with me in the studio or other such setting. I would take two photos - one with and one without my sitter. I would then use the the first to create an ink drawing of the sitter on rice paper. I have found, almost by accident during some ramshackle collage work that rice paper and rice paste make a wonderful semi-transparent overlay. Almost ghost-like. I could then paste the drawing of the sitter onto the photographic background so that the background would show through without overwhelming the drawing. I would like to see if I could also mix this application with a coating of wax to allow for some almost sculptural relief and further separation from the image. Maybe some stamps in the wax, who knows?

So much trouble, anyway.

For my second trick, I would like to take my lovely plague doctors (the physical representation of my unpleasant medical condition) and bring them into more "real" settings, while still fabricating images of a surreal nature. I want to use a more classical look (less S&M, more preacher hats), having the character interact with or shadow myself in otherwise normal or pleasant situations. Except by me I mean someone else (funny - I am either being someone else or someone else is being me). I feel I want more control of these shoots and would like to remain in the directorial stance, rather than self portraiture. I've done an awful lot of that lately and I feel it would be trickier to capture the aesthetic I want to pin down. To complement these, I want the model (myself?) to also take part in scenes where she is seemingly lost, floating, in a dreamlike "other". I see these two realms coexisting with each other. It's a little tricky to explain, perhaps. In this avenue, I was reminded of artist Brooke Shaden, who I featured before, with her billowing dresses and floating girls. Reading her blog is rather informative, but I can't help feeling that I will need many shots and probably a leaf blower.

I was worried, then, after making these decisions and over my desire to use outside, dedicated models. Where would I find someone willing to sink in that sort of time? I made a posting on Facebook, asking for volunteers.

It took all of five minutes.

For some reason I don't think the rest of it will go so smoothly.

We Fucking Forgot

So if you are tired of politics already (especially those living local, what with the RNC) then stop by the Venture Compound on 9/11 to have completely non-politics art based experience. The plan to have the place completely packed, if possible - and all art will be under $50 with the proceeds going directly to the artists.

I plan to have some things in it, but maybe not as much as I would like. At least stickers.

We Fucking Forgot, The Venture Compound, St. Pete. For more information: Facebook.

Imagine

I spent much, much, too long on this silly image. Hopefully I will be able to make some buttons or stickers soon enough, even quicker if anyone offers up some pre-sales. May Cthulu bring you peace.

Eyes

Hadn't done any good sketching in awhile, so I started messing about. I think I got a bit carried away. Oh well, it's good to stretch so to speak, get it out of my system. Also... eyes. Get the eyes out as well.

Tampa Meets the RNC

So artists Nora Ligorano and Marshall Reese plan to literally melt the middle class during the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida as protest of the dire economic conditions.

Does anyone know of any other art going down in the area opposing or supporting the RNC? I am seeing a lot of billboards, a lot of talk, and plenty of protests (to the tune of 15,000 people). I would like to know how else my community is making itself known.

Here are some images from the 2008 convention.

Link Parade

This image took years to make - a long exposure shot of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, in fact the longest in known history at 34 months, created by Michael Wesely. More info can be found at itchy i, whom went out of their way to contact the artist themselves after their blog entry gained such quick popularity. Hmm, should I be jealous?

Thomas Jackson creates surreal images in which common objects seem to take on the qualities of flocks of birds or schools of fish. He also has a fondness for robots.


This is a piece by tattoo salon Needles Side, in France. Their photo gallery is full of delightful modernist work. I must say I am appreciating this current trend in body art and it seems I am seeing more and more artists taking to it.



What can I say? Martin Klimas likes to freeze time - flying birds, shattering sculptures, paint splatters - to grand effect. A google image search brings up even more of his work, for the interested.



This video is amazing. Watch it.

So I think, if you've been following my work, you might understand my attraction to this picture. It was done by the spectacular Keith Thompson. This is the sort of work that got me started on art in the first place.

Rotganzen, an art collective based in Rotterdam.

The Telegraph wrote an interesting article about the art-addicted collector couple the Vogels and their recent donation to the National Museum of Art in Washington.

The New York Times, on the hand, addresses the problem of an inherited Rauschenberg that is actually illegal to sell - and yet is being chased for $29 million in taxes.

In the middle of a Texas desert stands what seems to be an empty Prada store. In actuality, it's an art installation known as the "Prada Marfa".

How to make your own clay.


A stop-motion film about... making guacamole. Just watch it.



In case the last one was not "artsy" enough.



And how about... Underwater Zombie Frog Ballet?

This image was stitched together from eleven images - more info here.



Another video, this one about a film in progress involving two people and ten years time.



Vally Nomidou creates rather luscious sculptures using only one medium - paper. She compares the art and process to "self-healing".



Speaking of paper art, Eric Standley makes elaborate and delicate papercraft mandala type structures, resembling stained glass or cathedral walls from a distance, but when approached reveal the depth of their layered structures.

For an interesting trip into the past check out New York Time's aptly names Lively Morgue blog, where they highlight photos from throughout their long run, revealing the breadth of their archives

This blog post goes over a slew of contemporary hyper-realist sculptors, some of which I have mentioned here. Just in case, I don't know, you get them confused sometimes. I am surprised there was no mention of master wood artist Bruno Walporth.



"The Purge" by Chris Whiteburch. Find out what exactly this is here. It reminds me of Alicia Martin's piece in Spain in which 5,000 books pour out of an upstairs window.



"I am standing in a flour storm. I have a carrot nose."

Yury Pustovoy. I wish I could tell you more.



This piece, and others like it, are made by artist Amanda McCavour using thread and fabric which dissolves in water. They seem ready to unravel at any moment, disguising their true durability.

If you are up for more videos you can check out this interview by one of my favorite artists, Diana Al-Hadid.

Vice Guide writes a particularly scathing commentary on Tracy Emin's retrospective, and about the current state of the art world.

Pierre David made some rather unique paint samples - using human skin. Not as morbid as it may sound.



East meets West in this adaptation of a traditional scroll (Guo-Xi's Early Spring) as if done by Van Gogh via artist Zhang Hongtu.

Klaus Pichler's "One Third" is simply stellar. The series deals with food waste and globalized food markets; I would love to know where the photography ends and the photoshop begins.

I do love sculptures that move (probably linked to an early interest in robotics). Tim Lewis certainly brings it. Here is a video of the above, "Pony", in motion.



I wish I could remember where I found this. My sleuthing is doing me no good tonight either.

Good art doesn't just come from the well established. Here are some up and coming talents, Kyle Thompson and Nicolas Bruno.



Chelsey Tyler Wood does the best paintings of people in boxes around. Interestingly, they have also been turned into three dimensional objects to further complete the illusion



ESPN actually did something I can really appreciate with these amazing photos of athletes in the buff. For more interesting images of the athletic body, check out this photoshoot which shows the various shapes of fit.