Photo Finish

_My image contained in the data recorder for Space Shuttle launch STS-133_
_Fluxface in Space_

This has been a busy productive week in the studio and also a week of receiving some amazing art in the mail from several friends and collaborators.  The image above is part of the artist call from the Fluxmuseum for an exhibit of postcard sized images that ride into space on one of two final space shuttle missions this fall.  NASA's site allows the upload of pictures that are to be included in the data recorders aboard flights STS-134 and 134. After your upload, print a version and mail to the Fluxmuseum in Fort Worth, TX to be part of the land based exhibit.
I'm not sure how anyone else works but many times I wake up in the morning with my dream mind still engaged. So, that day begins with a thought like, "I should really do something with monkeys".  I don't know why; but I write those thoughts down and sometimes these random things find a way into the art.  So when I heard about this artist call, I thought about the first animal test flights I remembered from my childhood.  So, serendipity strikes and with monkeys on my mind already, I searched the files from NASA archives and found Albert.  Actually there were quite a few Alberts, a rhesus monkey, as well as chimps that were the first living mammals in space.  The ongoing blog of the contributions is called Fluxface in Space. I'm number 3!!

IN THE MAIL

This first grouping is from Kathleen McHugh of Seattle.  This is a set of the cards (to date) of her contributions to the various A Book About Death projects.  First exhibited last fall in NYC at the Emily Harvey Gallery, the ABAD project has expanded internationally.  While some curators have chosen to include only the original  unbound book version containing some 480 images; other curators have extended the call and requested new works. This group contains Kathleen's contribution to the ongoing projects.

Kathleen McHugh for Emily Harvey, NYC

Kathleen McHugh for RNG Gallery, Omaha, NE

Kathleen McHugh for MuBE, Brazil

Kathleen McHugh for MuBE, Brazil

Kathleen McHugh for MoMA, Wales

The next piece is from Christine Tarantino of Massachusetts.  Christine maintains the Fluxus-USA/ New New Art blog where various international artists submit a variety of current and historical Fluxus material.  Fluxus, in its broadest definition consists of a blending of media, styles and disciplines that began in the 60's. I certainly have been influenced by many Fluxus artists and continue to contribute to shows containing fluxus work.  Grazie Christine!

Christine Tarantino

Several pieces showed up from Belgium this week from Ria Vanden Eynde with whom I love to work on collaborations.  This next piece is hers alone and is intended for the RNG Gallery of Omaha where another ABAD exhibit is in the process of being assembled.  There is still time to participate in this latest version of ABAD being curated by Louise Millmann and Robert Gilmer.

Ria Vanden Eynde: an ABAD image for RNG Gallery of Omaha, NE

The following is an ongoing work in progress collaboration between Ria and myself.  This particular one began with several ink drawings I sent to Belgium for Ria to add to or modify without restriction.  This is the second and it has just been returned for me to do the same. Either add and resend, call it done or some other undetermined action.  We both enjoy the possibility of accident, change and impermanence.  The piece I sent was an ink sketch of an Iris on paper about 12" x 21".  In this case Ria has attached a pressed flower (a forget me not) and a Japanese death poem written on the reverse.
Ria has also launched a new blog of special interest to women artists (and the men that love them). In Ria's words: "I’m interested to see how other women artists create as they are ‘touched' by life. I’m calling women artists for artworks about their body as it changes through different circumstances, the joyful and the sad. To name a few: aging, child birth, illness, accidents, psychological suffering, life changing events, ... Interested?" Please visit The Body - Nothing Else.

Work in progress by Ria Vanden Eynde and William Evertson

detail of poem

detail of flower