Fluxus pix Fest

These fluxus pix were taken April 16, Friday nite, at Printed Matter in NYC.

FLUXUS Pix Fest Intro

I am so sorry this took awhile to post. I have been out of town 2 weekends in a row and am still catching up. I wanted to do a nice formal blog post, and explain the beginnings of mailart and how important the movement is, and how these people relate to it all. BUT that whole process is delaying this post even further.
IN short, Melissa McCobb Hubbell and I met up with Cecil Touchon. He's a most inspiring collagist and fluxus artist that lives in Texas. He was in NYC recently for the Stendhal show featuring none other than Mr. John Held, Jr. and Picasso "Daddaland" Gaglione. This all gets so complicated with the history of it mailiart....but even Ruud Jensen is involved with this show at Stendhal called "Greetings from Daddaland: Fluxus, Mailart and Rubber Stamps". The show lasts till May 29, so there's still time to get thine hiney down to this gallery and check it all out.
Meanwhile, they had this rather impromptu Fluxus performance at the Printed Matter and while I used Cecil's camera to take a movie, Melissa took these pix of the show. It was quite the spectacle and did enlighten me on what the movement is about. What loving people, to support each other to the extent that they would fly across the world to be there for the show. I am impressed.
Unfortunately, I don't have the time to research these peeps' names and affiliations and websites. If you know who they all are, feel free to post in the comments.

Shameless self-promotion

Steven Specht here...
If anyone is planning on being in the greater Harrisburg/Hershey area between now and August first, I would encourage you to visit The Black Gryphon restaurant in Elizabethtown, PA. The owner and chef is Anthony Morgan - a former student and good friend of mine. He specializes in fresh food procured from local farmers. He also is an avid arts supporter - featuring a different artist every quarter. He allows artists to sell their displayed works with no commission (a rarity!). From now until August 1st, my collage work is featured. In the back dining room he is featuring my "older" watercolor works (now mostly in private collections). Enjoy!

Meeting up with Melissa McCobb Hubbell

Don't you hate it when you go somewhere, and a LOT of cool stuff happens, and then you get home and want to blog about it and it's just TOO MUCH! That's where I am at today. How and where do I start!
I was gone the past week visiting my family on Long Island. During my stay, I met up with Melissa McCobb Hubbell, of AEZine and Erraticus zine fame, and we rekindled our old friendship and also attended the FLUXUS event at Printed Matter on Friday, April 16th. I want to give some details on all of this and I am thinking this will end up being a couple of blog posts!

Melissa McCobb Hubbell....I met Melissa maybe 10 years ago thru the Art Erratica list on Yahoo. She was the list owner and creator. There were a lot of people in that group that were interesting and offbeat and I knew instantly upon joining this group that I had found a new home. Melissa's work spoke to me immediately and so did work of others'. One day Melissa posted about starting a zine. I was looking for a project to delve into and I also had special privileges that would come in handy for zine production such a free access to a color laser printer! Amy Peacock, an Art Erratica member hailing from Snohomish, WA also joined up and for a few years, the 3 of us produced AEZine. Amy's life got kinda hectic and we were all 3 of us breathing at the seams trying to print this zine and making no profit from it. We regrouped and renamed the zine. For a little while longer, Melissa and I did Erraticus Zine, and then finally I dropped out and I believe Melissa continued on for another year or maybe 2 by herself before closing it out. She also found a lack of activity on the Art Erratica list and she closed this list. It was the end of a long era.
I know our personal lives sometimes get gnarly, and our art obligations and interests sometimes have to take a back seat while we just plain old LIVE! And so we did.
It's been a few years since Melissa and I have collaborated on anything and we both went in opposing directions. She went on to work with Somerset Magazine, began to craft collage kits that she could sell to arty types, and we didn't lost contact, but we didn't make contact either. I went in some kind of fine arts tailspin, and did my best to remove anything related to "craft" from my work. I wanted to be taken seriously, and being that Somerset is a craft magazine I was quite biased and avoided that crowd and that audience. (It is interesting to note that now I am attempting to remove my self imposed moratorium against craft! I get silly notions sometimes that are detrimental to my personal growth.)
So life goes on. And now both of us are in an entirely different place. I have gotten divorced. Found my personal freedom and art voice. Started this very blog. Found a new love. Had a successful solo shows. Been published. Been in a movie.
And so did hers. She also was published in books, got involved with different groups of people, starting selling kits, and found her personal life also coming to a head. She's currently working towards splitting up with her husband and gaining living independence, looking towards creative ways to make money, and struggling to find a way thru this adventure we call life... It was time for us to meet up again.
And meet up we did. We met in NYC last Friday at Tinsel Trading Co. It was a cool place to meet. I had heard of it before thru none other than Somerset magazine.

Walls of trim tantalized me

This wall of vintage millinery was outstanding. I stood there gaping for quite awhile...

A cool display--I love black and white anything
It's a special thing to have an artist as a friend. I can't tell you how inspiring it is to hear about things that others are doing, or how nice it is to be able to talk to someone who actually understands your creative side. I really appreciate my friendship with Melissa, and I am glad that we could meet up again this past week. I am hoping to con her into collaborating with me again, on SOMETHING! I don't know what yet. That seems to still be percolating!
You can read Melissa's blog here. You can shop for her collage kits here.
Amy's gallery for Art Erratica is still here.
AEZ links still online on my website:
3Queens Productions
AEZ 1
AEZ5
The head game

Mailart from Planet Susannia

How amazing is the gift of art?
I am super humbled over the mailart that I received from Planet Susannia. Maybe it's because I am from the most commercial country in the world and the idea of giving seems to be something of the past. I never expect to get gifts from someone that I don't know. I guess this is the premise of mailart. How awesome is that?

So one day a week ago, I got this really beautiful gift of art from someone across the pond who I probably may never meet. I was truly touched by this sweetness.
Inside a really cool decorated envelope were precious pieces of art, ATC, and a full plate of her special "The Planet of the Collagists 2009" mailart stamp set!

I am honored. What else can I do but reciprocate with an equally interesting package?
Thanks so much, Susanna.

Moles Not Molar: Predictions in Philadelphia, April 2, 2010

The Wooden Shoe bookstore in Philadelphia,PA

It was with great anticipation that I greeted this weekend at last. I had been working on animations of my collage work for the Predictions book for a steady month and a half. It had consumed all of my private time and even spilled over into some extra mental overtime. The project was ripe.


My sister (who took these pics for us...thanks sis!) was an astute observer to catch this wooden shoe on the shelf

It was a lousy night for traffic that night, with it being both Good Friday night, and also a most beautiful sunny and warm day for this time of the year. Lots of people were in town for the Easter holiday and the weather brought the populace out in droves.
I was nervous--of course--and the fact that we got stuck on the highway behind 2 accidents helped feed my mental anxiety. There was no need for stress, however, since the performance ended up starting at 8:00. We had plenty of time to set up.


Yours truly, glancing backwards...with (L-R) Jason and David Zuzga working the DVD player

I didn't think that the venue would be this informal. I was ready for anything, tho, and the first thing to be tackled was the hardware. There were some initial issues with the DVD player/projector combo. I felt sorry for David Zuzga, as his black and white illustrations were to be viewed in psychedelic purple! These technicalities did not deter from the performance. The show must go on.
It was funny to meet fellow NYer Cara Benson down in Philly! Finally, after a couple of years of correspondence and collaboration we had a chance to talk in person.


Vivacious, powerful, driven, focused, intelligent, inspiring...it was good to meet Cara at last!

The performance began with a reading and my animations were sprinkled in like little commercials between the readings. I apologize for not getting the names of the 2 individuals who read along with Cara--me bad blogger! This was an animated reading and I liked the drama of having 3 people reading the work. A subject as serious as our future environment was treated with respect by creative visionaries...I was glad to be involved.


Cara making her point!

Jason Zuzga, a PhD student and prolific writer/book contributor, shared various books that contained the common theme of life built around water, such as The Water Babies. I loved this segment, since I am studying childrens' lit privately. Now I have some new selections to consider.
David Zuzga, genetecist and also a book contributor, gave a most interesting talk about his gill hypothesis. I really enjoyed his speech and found myself feeling proud to be in company with such knowledgeable folks.
I was also lucky to have both my sister and father accompany me to the event. My sis came all the way from Boston and drove down with me...and my father lives in North Wales, outside of Philly, so he was on board, too. My only stress in this event involved the fact that the event took place in an anarchist bookstore, and my father is a staunch Catholic! I was worried he would cop an attitude or be offended, but instead he was supportive and attentive. I appreciate that so much!
All in all, it was quite the event! I was happy to be a part of it.


My supportive dad, Otto Ziemann, in attendance at the performance

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.