Sketchbook Show

Final page of my journal

The Sketchbook Show opens tonight in Atlanta at the Art House Gallery.

The first in a series of eight venues through out the east. Tonights (Fri.27th) opening will

be broadcast from 7:00 - 10:30pm Eastern. They warn that only 50 can view at once, so 

check in for awhile if you can but be patient.

thericeshow

Karen and I visited the Rice Show at Wesleyan University's Zilkha Gallery

yesterday. This is a very unique installation/performance by Stan's Cafe of

Birmingham, UK. The exhibit consists of mounds of rice that depict the

difference between various statistics.

Interested in the number of people killed in Rwanda vs the number

of UN Peacekeepers deployed? The results are displayed as mounds of 

counted rice grains. The displays are at times grime and sometimes

humorous but the best part is that at the end of the exhibit the

rice is donated to soup kitchens.

Or Children Soldiers vs children in a local school system? The exhibit

puts a graphic and physical sense to the sometimes mind-numbing

numbers we encounter as we sort through our own life priorities. 

The huge pile in the rear left represented the number of viewers

for this seasons American Idol premier.

Sketchbook Project

I just sent off my journal to the Sketchbook Project.

I first learned about this from Corrine's great blog.  The project, co-ordinated

by Art House Co-op, is set to travel to eight venues this spring. They're supposed

to set up a link to the opening Feb. 27th, which I'll repeat here when it is up.

Artists were asked to submit small journals about 3.5 x 5.5 to

the project.

Although only loosely themed on the topic "Everyone I Know" it

soon became apparent I was going to tear out every page I worked on.

I ended unbinding the journal so I could use my own papers as well

as work in a more sculptural manner with cutouts, constructions 

and fold outs. 

Rusi Returns

A few years ago I made a digital collage based on a character from

a Nang shadow puppet theater. The character is Rusi, an old man you 

might meet in the woods. For better or worse he knows everything

about you. The Nang theme is essentially morality. I return to the Rusi 

theme from time to time in my art. I created this Flash(click here for the show) 

(sorry about the long load) for my final project in my media 

art course at Wesleyan mentioned in the last post. 

I was trying to achieve the same flicker book look of an actual performance.

Falling Leaves

Please click here to view my first foray into Flash! (oops-it takes a few seconds for it to load and become visible) I've been taking a digital media course at Wesleyan this fall. The flash portion of the course has been difficult to say the least. My learning curve has been slow and frustrating, but so satisfying when things come together. Todd Jokl  my instructor has some interesting work to check out at his link.

A modern fairy tail

Yes, I'm back after a brief time out. I haven't been posting for awhile. Plus, I admit

I have much to catch up on the blogs that inspire me. I can't explain it, I just needed

a break. I haven't been totally inactive. I worked on an artist book project that just

hasn't come together. Some art failures I'll blog about some not. I've been working

with narative and I have something to offer. The following is a 12 piece fairy tale. 

Each panel telling a story. 

An Old Work

I've been looking over old photos of my early art and thought

some bloggers would be interested in where I was at my beginning. 

Born in a small town in mid-state New York to a family business

of auto body repair. I worked in the shop from age 12, and learned

welding. Thank God I excelled in school and got a scholarship. I 

started in business but quickly found art. Much to my family's

distress. My work in the shop lead me on a path of large welded

 sculptures. But times change and now my canvas is different.

A very minimal approach - concentrating on structure.  This work 

consists of three one inch thick steel plates holding a concrete 

wedge. This work was part of an exhibit at the Arnot Museum 

in the 70's. Got a $500 dollar prize for best new work, but not

the collection prize. 

Nightball

Karen and I were in Ithaca, N.Y. over Labor Day. I was involved with

developing an upsurd game that has persisted with our college friends

for 30 years. Yes, we even party with our college age children during 

this event. The game is based on croquet played at night. The illuminatin

is provided by lighter fluid. We set the wickets, balls and sometimes

mallets ablaze. At the start Fluxus and Happenings were the thing.

I  dropped Minimal went with the flow and 30  years later I still

 have a work in progress. To most a wild party, to me a work of art.

A big multi-generational get together. I get to meet everyones kids

not just to see pictures. How cool is that!

The t-shirts have become a pet project. I've been providing free t's 

for at least 20 years now. This years model features a rift on a

1890's croquet rule manual. The mister wicket® has a long history

probably explained on my other blog, if I can get help or find time.

Enough summer fun, I'm back on the trail of some art fun. Best

job on the planet as long as we realize the responsibility.

Writing on the Wall

Bittersweet to return home after a nice vacation. I did  miss

my technology; as it turned out we were so far off the grid

I didn't even have cell phone coverage. So updating a blog

via iPhone wasn't going to happen, nor checking email. In 

fact I only got in two painting sessions. Karen loves this; get

Bill to hike, bike, canoe until he drops. I admit to being a 

weekend warrior in the exercise department, but my wife

always thinks I'm still 25, bless her heart. So every muscle 

is sore, but telling me she is right, as usual. So today was

like this: mow lawn, run out of gas, pick up gas, food shop,

do laundry, pick up the dog, return calls and emails, sort

mail, gasp at the bills, and finally sit down and do a quick

30 minute photoshop work to remind myself of myself. 

Glassman

Some Photoshop play. I just upgraded and am trying to learn the 

new features. Just some basic play using some old files and images.

Remaking and recombining and trying some filters. Probably more

angst showing than I'm feeling because we're about to leave for

vacation! Maybe the angst comes from the fact that I don't have

a laptop to take with me. But nine days in Canada with just a 

camera and my sumi-e brushes might be just what I need. I have 

been practicing updating the blog with my iphone but don't 

expect much. Karen thinks I need a break from technology; get

back to roots- draw, paint make sandcastles. She's usually right; 

we'll be celebrating our 32nd anniversary on this trip.