Fluxus events in NYC!

This is such interesting stuff. And I am in NYC that week--I may have to just to to this and meet up with Cecil!! How exciting... I am tempted to go Friday Night!
The following is a clip from a post made by Cecil Touchon regarding upcoming FLUXUS events in NYC...
"Also I will be in NYC for some Fluxus performances and get-togethers around April 14-18 I think. A lot of fluxus artists will be descending on NYC for "Greetings from Daddaland:Fluxus, Mail Art and Rubber Stamps" performances and events are planned for several days. see below.

Would enjoy meeting up with anybody in NYC at that time.

1. Thursday, April 15th - Gaglione opening at Stendhal / Dada machine
Fluxus performance : Performers are : Picasso Gaglione, Darlene Dormel, Joshua Rutherford, Jessica Feinstein, Keith Buchholz, Reed Altemus, Melissa McCarthy,Ruud Janssen, Christine Tarantino,
and Mark Bloch .
The show opens at 7pm. We will perform at 8:32 sharp.

2. Friday, April 16th - Inside / Outside Fluxfest at Printed Matter

Performers ( So Far ) are :
Reed Altemus, Picasso Gaglione, Joshua Rutherford, Melissa McCarthy, Perry Garvin, Ruud Janssen, Christine Tarantino, Darlene Dormel, Warren Fry, Jennifer Zoellner, Jessica Feinstein, Mark Bloch, Keith A. Buchholz, Olchar F. Lindsann, Tomislav Butovic, and whoever else shows up to perform .
The performance is at 6 pm with the first 30 minutes inside Printed Matter.
At 6:30 we will move outside and unroll a banner that says " FLUXUS STREET THEATRE "
and begin the second part of the performance .
( Printed Matter will be featuring the release of our new series of Performance score pamphlets that evening ).

3. Friday Night, Following the Performance - 8pm
New York Correspondance School Dinner - at Katz's Deli
Spread the word !!! - a classic meeting reemerges at historic Katz's.
Let everybody know - It would be great to have as many folks there as
possible .

4. Saturday, April 17th Lectures at Stendhal - John Held Jr., Ruud Janssen,and Geert De Decker ( Stuka Fabryka ) Lecture on Mail Art, Rubber Stamp, and Fluxus .
1 pm ( tentatively ) I'm not completely sure of the time, but We'll know the lineup for sure by the time we get to New York .

5. Saturday Night - Please Mr. Postman !!!! It's Sticker Dude's
Birthday !!!
Joel Cohen (Stickerdude) hosts an evening of music and mayhem with mailartists at a coffeehouse in Brooklyn .
Details to follow in New York !!!!!!

6. Sunday Morning - The Raid on Rutgers.
For those who wish to venture out on the train.
The Post Neo Absurdists have put together an informal tour of HISTORIC FLUXUS SITES on the Campus of RUTGERS. see where the FLUXMASS really happened. And lots more.
Our hosts Olchar, Warren, and Tomislav have done all the footwork

Are you in NYC? Or near it? Perhaps it's time to decent upon the streets of NY and share some art!

Moles not Molar presents Predictions in Philadelphia

Friday, April 2nd at 7:30PM

location: Wooden Shoe Books (704 South Street)
Philadelphia, PA

Moles Not Molar presents
Predictions

A Book Release Event

Featuring Cara Benson, Jason & David Zuzga, Julie Sadler, Monica de la Torre,

and More!!

Animations! Readings! And Choral Performances!

For this special release event for the fourth volume in the Chain Links book series, a number of the contributors to Predictions - who range from climate scientists to animators to poets - will be presenting portions of their contributions to the collection.

About the Book:

As is painfully obvious for many a religious leader and many a psychic, predicting the future is an indeterminate business. The work collected in PREDICTIONS takes that indeterminancy as a starting point and celebrates it. A futurist points to how the question of the future, once a matter for dreamers and philosophers, has moved to the center of development and scientific agendas. Several artists, well aware that accelerating changes to the environment require that we learn quickly, suggest how art might help us to understand and to rethink the interface between old technologies and new technologies in this time of environmental crisis. A writer and a scientist team up to tell an alternate story of evolution. And a poet writes, "Predictions acquire full meaning when they apply to the, until then, unimaginable." Edited by Cara Benson, with contributors Paul Raskin, Bart Bridger Woodstrup, Julie Sadler, David Zuga, Jason Zuga, and Monica de la Torre.

I am going to be there! If you are anywhere near Philly this Friday night, let's meet up!

Post Animation Discussion

There's nothing like that feeling of achievement when you finally finish something that started off wonderful and ended up tedious and annoying! The animations for the Predictions show are done and I am breathing huge massive sighs of relief. At first they come easily, and I laugh and enjoy the play between me and my art, but after countless hoursof computer work, a month later I begin to tire of it and crave the freedom that collage allows me.
It's within my brain that I feel the difference. I am always well aware of what steps need to be performed to create an animation, and most of it is computer work, inputting frames, animating things, timing to music....it keeps going and going the list of commands and mouse executions I need to perform grows and expands but that's all there is. I am a fast typer and an even faster thinker so things move along, but still, after awhile it just feels tedious.
On the other hand, when i am on the collage table, I feel the freedom to look thru that magazine for just the right little piece. And if I come across something that strikes me for another project I can grab that too...or stop for a moment and read a funny little ditty I find in an 1850's newspaper while I am searching. These pleasant little distractions just don't occur in the middle of working on a computer animation. It's balls to the wall work, for both brain and body.
And so having said that, I am really glad to be done with all 6 of them. I know I am complaining a bit, but I must also be truthful and show the good. There's something hugely satisfying and powerful about being able to see your art come to life. It's as tho I can go in and complete my thoughts, and actually show you what I was thinking behind the scenes. I love that feeling, and it's that very feeling that spurs me on when my wrist starts to ache--and my eyes go fuzzy. It's the knowing that there is no end to the fantasy within me. I love that. They get pretty tedious, but I still seem to be compelled to do it!
After countless hours of work tho, in the end I have to feel justified, and the animations are kind of a dead issue so far for me, at least as far as money is concerned. How i hate it that money even comes into this equation. it's about love! it's about doing! it's about being while I am doing! but my resources =time are limited. I need to justify these things even to be able to afford to continue them all--with shows, sales, and maybe soon some teaching. I need to prioritize with such a busy life, I just have no choice.
So back to the animations, I can't share them or sell them as a product as of themselves, they are ethereal. They are aether. So I'm compiling them into a DVD now, so I can share it and sell it. I don't imagine myself ever getting rich on them specifically, but certainly this skill set of mine isn't a common one! I have done Dreamiverse, Fairies Fantasticus, 8 AEZine CDs, Stand and Deliver...I guess I have done several computer pieces that were designed to accompany artwork, but I have always had the book as a product to sell along with it. For this project, all I have is the DVD.
Such are the lamentations of a wayward collage/computer artist.
This last phase of compiling should take me just one more half day, and then I will be ready for next Friday night's performance. I have to get the details together on that, but that's for another blog post.
Happy arting this weekend ya'll!

Ephemera auction

posted by Steven Specht:

I would really like to keep this as much of a secret as possible, but alas, I feel obligated to inform anyone of my fellow artists who might be interested...
This Saturday there will be a large auction of ephemera in Earlville, NY (beginning at 11:00). For more details, check out www.cnyauctions.com Perhaps I will see you there.

INFAMECLESS Matrioska!

Just Spectacular! found at his flickr home!

Taking the liberty

Since Julie is busy with her animation work for Philadelphia (I LOVE her animations!), I thought I would take the liberty to post my most recent piece (I'm assuming Julie wouldn't mind). I'm chomping at the bit to post this one somewhere; but can't post it on FB or my blog yet since it is a birthday gift for my daughter Brianna (and she shouldn't see it until her 21st B-day at the end of the month). The piece is done on a 6" x 6" panel which is 3/8" deep and incorporates hand-made paper from my sister-in-law Sharon Anayiotos. Enjoy!

animation city

The clearinghouse is quiet, while I take time to prepare the animated collages for PREDICTIONS in Philadelphia.
I do so enjoy making the art squeak, squeal, rock and roll! The added dimension is quite satisfying, but my poor right hand is mad at me now. My wrist hurts and it is hard to maintain 8 hours straight in front of the keyboard to do these. Nonetheless, I persevere and as of this weekend 4 out of 6 animations are complete. The last 2 are already half done, so if I hang in there, I can finish before this week is over.
I looked over at the studio table while I banged away at the keys, and my glues called out to me in distress...USE ME! Soon enough I will be back at the table in the middle of a pile of cut paper! And my wrist will love me again.

Announcement from FLUXMUSEUM - Call for Works

ANNOUNCEMENT FROM FLUXMUSEUM
Call for Works

INTERNATIONAL FLUXHIBITION #4
Deadline: April 1, 2010
no entry fee.
All accepted, no returns.

see incoming works here
http://fluxmuseum.org/calls-for-works-fluxhibition4.html

INTERNATIONAL FLUXHIBITION #4
Fluxus Amusements, Diversions, Games, Tricks and Puzzles

The Fluxmuseum will be organizing an exhibition for exhibit during 2010. This exhibition will focus on fun and games. Works including art, objects, boxes, instructions, performances, scores, ect. are sought that deal with any issue related to fun and games, tricks and puzzles, amusements and diversions.

Subjects might include: any sort of crazy game, trick, magic tricks, strange things to amuse one's self with, disfuntional diversions, perplexing puzzles, etc. Dream up something, send it to:

FLUXMUSEUM
FLUXHIBITION #4
6955 Pinon Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76116
817-944-4000
cecil_touchon@fluxmuseum.org

Be sure to include a filled in Deed of Gift Form

The Future is near! Prepare now.
Don't wait for the dealine, send soon.

Items become a part of the permanent collection of Fluxmuseum.
A full color catalog will be available when completed.

countries currently represented in this upcoming exhibition:
USA, Spain, Ukraine, Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Denmark, Hungary, Australia & Brazil

Sincerely,
Cecil Touchon
Fluxmuseum.org - CollageMuseum.com

Hochbaum interview on Juxtapoz

David in his element

It's no secret I have a passion for David Hochbaums' work. His ephemeral and medieval landscapes take me to places I think I have been, or perhaps I will be sometime in the future? I have met him in person, visited his studio and seriously have been inspired by his sharing and generous art spirit. The personal benefits I have received because of this I cannot speak enough of ....nor can I exaggerate.
He is interviewed on Juxtapoz regarding his most recent exhibit Your Are Not Falling, You Are Floating. (which I only wish I could have been on the West Coast to see)
When asked about dreams, his response, "All the glimpses into our past which are some how manipulated by our minds and end up as memory that we carry and mold our lives and character around." seemed so appropriate. I believe that as collagists pick up specific detritus from their daily lives, they are unknowingly subconsciously re-membering or re-living experiences or feelings from the past and repeating these themes throught the artwork. It's a fascinating premise.
And so, I urge you to peer deep into these canvases....whether you go to one of his shows, or check out his extensive web presence....and look for that deeper meaning that stirs within your own psyche.

The rich texture and patterning in David's work is evident in this piece. He uses a variety of printing techniques in addition to some that he has conjured up thru his own experience

Encaustic Workshop @ Arkell

The workshop was the first day of no snow, after getting 2 1/2 feet the 3 days prior!

Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of being able to attend an encaustic workshop. I was lucky because this class was being taught at Arkell Museum which is located right in my hometown of Canajoharie, NY. I have seen encaustic works before....I did a post in 2008 about Kate Phillips work that I discovered on Etsy. I love the effect, but I have not had the opportunity to try. My collage comrade, Steven Specht, also signed up and took the class.
The instructor for this class was the enthusiastic and vivacious Joanne LaForest-Qua. She is based in Albany, and I think she said she teaches at SUNY. This was going to be interesting. I have not attended any collage workshops before. I am looking into giving some workshops in the future, so I was quite interested in how these things go.

The room before collage chaos began. Nice and neat!

We were ushered into a spacious and well lit room in the basement of Arkell. Joanne had brought a myriad of materials for us to use, and we had also been instructed to bring some materials (or "specimens" as Steven fondly calls them) of our own. I was pleased with the selection of ephemera that she brought, and there was a little bit of something for everyone.
At first, we were instructed to begin our collage work. Each person in the room had a different way of approaching the situation. I was intrigued and wanted to discuss the process with the folks that were there, but I was also trying to learn something and perform my own work, so my attention was limited.

Class participants began their collage work while the beeswax melts.


Steven (lower left) working in a creative frenzy.
Steven remarked to me that he wasn't usually able to produce good work at workshops. I was hoping for him that this time it would be different and he would find a good flow. At first we were both kind of over stimulated. There's new people, new techniques, stuff to talk about, and to do collage work we all know that a bit of concentration is involved. But after a short bit, we all settled down and the paper cutting began.

Collage work in a box using papers of vermilion and glitter that Joanne supplied for us

As for my work, I was in a totally white mood. We had a huge amount of snow this past week and all I could see was white. My mind was white. At home, I had collected quite a pile of white "specimens", including various birch bark pieces, maple seeds, age-stained linens and cottons, and pieces for a massive wasp nest. I proceeded with my work and ended up being able to produce a reasonable collage, even tho I felt like I wanted to be a little bird, floating around the room watching what everyone else was doing!


My work area: the sloppiest in the room and my piece, right before my first wax layer

Our working styles were seriously diverse. I had bark parts all over the floor, and pieces of fabric were floating all around my area. Meanwhile, Steven on my left, had an extremely neat area, with very little debris, not to mention his fine collection of exquisite little scissors that he arranged neatly in order of size. I laughed about this with him, since I use only one very messy, dirty, collage medium-laden pair of full size scissors. How different we all are! Phil, on my right, also kept his area quite clear of messes. Probably neither of them stood a chance, with my stuff flowing all over the tables like the River Nile.
Once we all had a layer of collage on our canvas, it was time to visit the Beeswax station. Joanne had set up a couple of hot wax pots along with some paintbrushes for us. There was also a heat gun for removing wax that was too thick. We continued to work thru our collages and the room got quiet. I was able to do a couple of layers of wax and I found that it was way easy to put too much wax on. Thankfully it's easy to remove.
When I was just about finished, I danced around the room with my camera and took random pictures of participants working. I am so sorry that I didn't take time to acquaint myself with all of these folks so that I could label these photos properly.

This person had a fondness for Mary Englebright and had many colorful pieces of ephemera with her work printed on it


This woman had wonderful copies that she had made on an old style copier. Some were copies that were done on already printed magazine paper. They were extremely rich in texture.

Game boards make a great base for collage.


Pat Castka is a neighbor of mine! We were surprised to see each other at the workshop. Pat challenged herself with a bunch of natural materials.

This woman did colorful work with a flat approach. The colors were saturated and the beeswax was a great accent.

Yours truly in her messiest art clothes on the left and Steven Specht to my right. Not exactly the most flattering pic, but I am posting it anyhow.

Welcome to my waxed white world. Finished piece.
I got to meet some new peeps, got to learn some new techniques, got to talk art with Steven for awhile. A good day was had by all!

Class Participants:
Toni Gaetano, Elaine Holdridge, Melanie Bouton, Sarah Johnston, Karen Katz, Sally Weinstein, Pat Castka, Olya Szyjka, Steven Specht, Julie Sadler

Now, the question. WILL I do this again, on my own? I am not sure. Although I will tell you that I have already acquired a wax heater and the beeswax. I still need Damar Varnish (to add to the beeswax) and perhaps I will have to experiment on my own. I like the fact that the pieces seem otherworldly. The wax adds a dimension that I cannot achieve with any other medium.