A&C/Spark Installation

This is the Installation I did for the A&C/Spark workshop on sat. I didn't know exactly what I was going to do but I had an idea. The idea was to comment on the potential for water to become a memory, and also the memories water carry, from where it flows to what it leaves behind.

Prints

I have been working on getting Giclee prints of my work over this last year and am hitting it pretty heavy before open studios in June. If anyone would like to discuss the process I would be more than happy to. The printer I use is a fellow named John Sheridan www.johnsheridanart.com
He is really affordable and easy to work with.

I just got back from Las Vegas this morning. My last bit of work with Kohler for the year. I was only there for like a day and a half and I had. I had to miss my field trip sun with the BFA crew and catch an 8:50pm flight that evening and I was not in good shape. I managed to regulate a little by last night. I woke up early and headed to the airport with about an hour to spare so I found a reasonable breakfast and sat down at a video poker machine. Slid around $20 bucks in loose bills into the machine a started playing Double Bonus Deuces Wild. I probably played for half an hour when BING! I nailed four deuces with an ace. Now I wasn't playing the "Max Bet" option to often, I like betting somewhere in the middle, like three credits. Which four deuces with an ace payed something like 800 credits on a 3 credit bet, equivalent to $200. Cash out baby. Grab a water, drop a packet of emergency in it and sit at another machine. this time I throw a 20 in and play for 15 maybe 20 min and hit something I don't even recall. I just remember the dinging. Cash out baby. another $140. hopped on my plane fell right to sleep.

Back to Chicago

So I went back to Chicagoland for 5 days to take down the show I put up for Kohler at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. Lost my debit card. The good news is somebody found it. The bad news is they cleared my checking account. That sucked but checking out art didn't suck. Here are a few pics.

Artist Interview: Chris -Graphic Designer/Musician

What is your work about?
My work is about capturing the imagination of people, whether they are a client or an audience member. I try to bring something fresh to the table whether its the music or graphic design.

How did you get into this work?
Well the music has been in my blood my whole life but I did study Music Technology in school. Graphic design was something i picked up along the way and realized I was pretty good at and realized I could make money at it to support what I wanted to do musically.

What are your favorite things about your work?
Hmmm. I would have to go with the freedom it allows me.

Alright, now how about the artwork?
Wow even tougher. Well I guess its the ability to change someone with pure creativity. I like to think that I am pretty original with both music and design. One thing i love is the boundlessness of what I, we, do as artists. (laugh) Am I going to get to ask you these questions because I would be more interested in that conversation.(laugh)

Maybe next time. So how do you feel when work is going well?
Well shit, I feel like I'm doing what I should be doing, I feel like I'm tapped into something greater than me or the art. Maybe God.

So are you religious?
No.

What is your favorite tool and why?
Well I love my G5 and I really love my Korg workstation, but my piano is my best friend because it is so immediate. I can just step up to it and lay down an idea with immediate gratification.

What do you do differently than the way you were taught and explain why?
Virtually everything. Its no fun to play by the rules. I mean you always have what you are taught as foundations but I believe as artists we are here to constantly redefine the rules or else art gets stagnant. I say break them shits.

How do you begin a piece, what is your process?
Well with music, ideas seem to form out of thin air, and these ideas are like building blocks. They inspire new ideas that build and build into something that turns me on. I like to start with a simple bass line or melody and build a simple beat around that and then just let it manifest into something of its own. With graphics I usually try to get some idea of what the client is looking for or get a sense of what they are like, then its trail and error.

What would you like people to experience from your work?
I want people to feel an inner excitement when they experience my work. If people feel good after experiencing my work then I feel I am doing the right thing.

Who are your favorite artists?
Well I love Chris Robinson from The Black Crows. Lets see, Thelonius, Miles, Trane of course. Really there are too many to list and they are all favorites in their own special way. G love, Amon Tobin, ummm next question.

What resources do you find help you the most in your work?
Other folks work.(laughter) No really with graphics you can really jump start a project if you can get some inspiration and insight from what someone else has done. I mean the Internet is the greatest resource. Talking to people in the same line of work, networking I guess. I network at the local bar, I mean shit that's how we met right? Right here. Cheers!(laughter followed by shots of tequila) Have you heard enough yet?

Alright man, last question for now. What advice do you have for new and emerging artists?
You mean I'm not one?(laughter) I don't know man. Eat your Wheaties? Don't believe in whores who say they don't want your money.
Seriously one thing.
Work, work, work.

www.bluestatestudio.com

Here are some links to a few videos I made for class last quarter.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLJcON0NRmI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJPGPW2Aci8

I just spent two wonderful days around the Point Reyes Station area with my friend Janelle. The first day we went to Drakes Beach and cooked brats and drank my brothers homemade mead. We walked up the beach looking for "treasure" and watched little rock avalanches comes down the cliffs along the beach. Janelle found a wonderful piece of petrified wood there. We left there and got a room at a nice little b&b in Olema. We were jarred from our slumber at exactly 8:00am by workers remodeling the kitchen right below us. They could have warned us that there would be construction right below our room before I paid them $200 dollars for the night, so when we asked the inn keeper "what the F" he gave us a bottle of wine to try to make it up to us. That next day we drove back and stopped at Stinson Beach and cooked out again and enjoyed the near 80 degree temperatures. A much needed trip to nature.

this weeks inspiration

I think I'm going to start a body of works inspired by crop circles.

I am also digging gyroscopes. Check this out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5JyO8tqcuo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nsCjTApzH8

Chicago Date

So I took myself on a date while I was in Chicago on a work related trip. It started as soon as I got to my hotel which was a Marriott Execustay, the equivalent of a high rise two bedroom apartment with beautiful hardwood floors, full kitchen and dining, the whole nine. I felt like royalty. I had a pocket full of per diem and an unquenchable thirst so I set out on the city. I found myself in a state of inebriation after about two hours at a small jazz club. I decided to call it it a night and start out the next morning.

The next day was a swirl of fog, rain, and patchy sunlight as I walked the streets looking for good coffee and architecture. Most of the morning was spent finding out what was around the next corner, trying to get myself lost just to find myself again. By lunch I wanted to feed my hangover with some good ol'fashioned Chicago food. I started out with a big Chicago dog. The thing was like a babies arm wrapped in a blanket and then dragged through a garden. mmmm. After that I went for the Chicago deep dish pizza. I ordered to go and headed out towards the Field Museum but only made it to this large park with a spectacular amphitheater that looked like a stainless steel bean I later found out that is the nickname 'The Bean'. I never found out the real name. It started to rain pretty heavily when I got there so I sat and enjoyed my pizza.
After eating I worked on my vocal arts in the theatre. The sound was immense and trance inducing. When the rain stopped I realized it was to late to go to the Field Museum so I went back to my palace, put on some evening clothes and went to find some live jazz and agave. I suceeded. Couldn't tell you the name of the place but it did have a pool table. I convinced a woman I saw sitting by herself to join me for pool and drinks.

Her name was Sharlene. A computer specialist for the United States Air Force. She could shoot a mean stick. We laughed about the fact that here is an artist and a soldier yukkin it up and enjoying each others company. She came up with a new t-shirt for me to make, a picture of George Bush but instead of it saying George Bush it would say George Cunt. I fuckin laughed my ass off and told her "I would get on it right away sir" and soluted. I thanked her for the wonderful company and made my way back to the palace alone. What a day.
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