Marvelous

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation) there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets:

Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it."

-W. H. Murray, The Scottish Himalayan Expedition

New Album - Say What?

Did you know that Forest World is working on a new album?

Forest World Foto Shoot

Today I met up with Sean and Sam of Forest World, they dressed up and I took lots of pictures of them. Above is a taste of how I want some of the pictures to turn out, a kind of arcade/old school nintendo look. I will post more pictures later.

EDP: Electric Dance Part No.2

EDP No.2 was bliss. Click here to see some pictures.

FOTO SHOOTS

So much has happened since I last wrote. Its difficult to know where to begin for a post like this, but I will do my best. So I went back to Twin Falls, Idaho, to visit some friends. My friend Dan Fry let me take pictures of him. See the pictures.

In between that shoot and this next one my brother got married, I moved, and I started making phat decorations for some good friends and our new project to have amazing electric dance parties in Provo, which so far has been a radical success. The decorations so far are big crappy smashed up walls, cardboard cutout dollar signs, lightning bolds, all with spray paint and old old records and neon colored tape. Hopefully at the next dance we can use a projector. I want to put some really snazzy gifs and video loops on the wall.

So, the photo shoot that took place after that was really off the cuff. My friend Sam came to visit from Canada, so we put together these loose costumes for him and our new Canadian friends. Look at them.

Provo Gallery Stroll & The Pilgrims

After going to the gallery stroll in Provo several times I decided that I wanted to make something to share there. Ideally I would like to do installations, but since I don't have a gallery, and I suspect that they are difficult to get into where I do not have an art degree, I decided that I could use people's bodies to build sculptural elements on. I created three "costume sculptures" which I call 'Pilgrims', three of my friends were kind enough to let me build these things on their bodies and to wear them to the gallery stroll. They took me a long time to put together as I made them by hand, but I felt making them by hand was essential for the concepts I was illustrating.

Sadly there were not many people at this gallery stroll. I don't know where everyone went. I am not too sad though, I think its probably better that the crowd be smaller for my first public project in Utah. Hopefully next time the exhibits will be more interesting and the environment less trendy, and I can do something else to help.

THE GOAL: Truly I have wanted to do things that are not in a gallery space so the goal that I have is to do a different project at the gallery stroll every month (its a lofty goal, but it might be doable). I want to create projects that involve more performance art, the body and art being a mobile thing, rather than just being in a gallery. I think this way the gallery stroll could become more and more of an event, rather than just a dry walk through the galleries, it would hopefully be more entertaining and have more performance elements, and be more family friendly. I wish I knew other artists who would like to do things outside the galleries so that we could start a sort of group or movement or something, but I don't know if people would support such a cause.

Above you see one of the artists who does his studio art at SEGO, he came out with a mask he had used for one of his performances in college to greet my models. Actually, there were several people who came out of the crowd to participate and to let this sort of bring out something theatrical in them, which made me really happy. As surprisingly open minded as Provo has been, I sometimes wonder if  I should wait until I move again to put efforts into such projects because of the way the culture here is, but I remember when I was in Twin Falls, it was no different than it is now. We each have to take initiative to build the culture we desire wherever we are, it is our responsibility.

New Tracks: Forest World

New track from Forest World. Don't ask me for the title, I haven't the foggiest. All I know is that it makes me want to wear really tacky clothing and dance like a maniac. Even cooler than all of that is the fact that Forest World has two new tracks! Click here to listen to them!

Knitting

Lately I have taken to knitting. Its Bjork's fault. I am really trying to take these craft elements that tend to be more natural and sentimental and to put them into the future, to transform them by making them more synthetic, secular, or loud. I made the outfit above to wear to the club. It was fun, all these women were taking pictures of me while I danced, so I had a moment to feel sensational and ego inflamed. I loved that it was so neon (which doesn't show so well in the picture) and tacky. I especially loved learning how to mess up the knitting system, how to mess up the order and to make really obvious flaws in the pattern.

I am just beginning to realize how much of my art is rooted in ego security. Its interesting how negative attributes can get such a strong grip on your dominant talents. My future projects will hopefully liberate me from that. I think I am in a good place right now, in a good creative state. 

Below are a couple of digital collages I made recently, both use the knitting for texture.

BOOKS

A few years ago I was going through lots of personal conflict and wasn't sure how to resolve things, so I decided I would read as a way to figure things out. I read, and read, and read, and basically overdosed (you might say there is no such thing, but thats sort of what happened). So I just stopped reading books all together, except for e-mails, blogs, and internet stuff.

After that all I would do was get books I could look at. Big coffee table books, fashion magazines, art photography, and sculpture books. Stuff that was mostly focused on the visual side of what a book can be. I have been living on visual elements for the last few years and am now coming to terms with the fact that I am a visual junky and that other parts of my human capacity are being totally ignored. Now don't get me wrong, I have learned so much focusing on the visual, but I need a change. So I have decided to start reading again, to start circulating some real substance. Here is a list of books that I want to find and read.

• Blink - Malcom Gladwell
  
• The Power of One - Bryce Courtenay
  
• Cold Sassy Tree - Olive Ann Burns
  

My list is only three books long so I decided I would ask my friend Amanda to write me a list of books to read. Here is what she suggested.

• One Hundred Years of Solitude
  
• A Prayer for Owen Meany
  
• April Witch
  
• Making Love to the Miner Poets of Chicago
  
• The Effect of Living Backwards
  
• Slaughter House Five

So have you read anything really amazing lately, or not so lately. If you have any suggestions you should leave me a comment and tell me what they are. I would totally appreciate it.

Flying Lotus: Los Angeles

While I was listening to Mary Ann Hobbs a while back I was introduced to Flying Lotus, I finally picked up their album titled "Los Angeles" last week and am now a qualified addict. This smoldering, crispy, crystal-black music is equal to platinum vodoo dolls being dipped in dark chocolate. I cannot get enough.

Yay Presets!

I was nervous about seeing The Presets at Urban Lounge, I wasn't sure how their music would translate to a live performance, but now I am sad they are gone, because believe it or not, they are better live! I think Kim's drumming adds a lot of texture to the performances and Julian's voice sounds just as good live as it does on the recordings.

Forest World: RUINS

A couple of weeks ago I was raving about how I was going to attend one of the release concerts for Forest World's album Ruins...I missed the release, which stunk, but I was able to catch up with them after the concert to pick up a copy of the album. Since then I have been trying to put together my thoughts on their new release.

I think this album is for anyone who is sick of the rock bands and pop singers who all sound the same, its for anyone who wants something experimental, new, and fresh. The beats on the album follow a distinct sound flavor in which Sean elaborates and plays with different musical styles. The beats are nostalgic for me. They remind me of the Nintendo games my brothers used to play and my family's first computer, which was a beautiful ancient thing. Its interesting how technology that is often thought to be sterile is becoming a source of sentiment today for musicians and artists, this is especially true in this album.

Sean and Sam's voices explore a range of emotions within the structure of the album. The lyrics are catchy and infectious, but still experimental. Some of the themes in the album are about going back to our most basic human needs and the finality of death. I think the theme that I am most fond of on the album is that of death. Normally I hear people on the microphone screaming or freaking out about death, but Forest World hits the stage with a mood that basically says "we are all going to die, and that's ok. Lets dance."

4-Day Birthday Indulgence

Its been a while since I wrote anything. So I think I shall take this time to fill you in...and I hope you enjoy it.

TONKA FOTO SHOOT:

A couple of weeks ago I made these plastic dresses with matching boots and helmets and used them for a photo shoot. I was way happy with the results and plan on extending this chunky/tacky theme into other stuff I will make later. The picture at the top of the post is from this shoot. You can see the rest of the pictures from this photo shoot by clicking here.

CHOCOLATE CAKE:

This darling Catholic lady at my work made the most delicious chocolate cake I have ever eaten in my life! It was three layers of sinful bliss, completely made from scratch, including the frosting. It was pretty much the best birthday cake of all time and it was as big as a fax machine.

FRIENDS FROM TWIN FALLS:

Some college friends came down to SLC on Friday to watch The Cure. We stayed up in SLC eating the rest of that beautiful cake, putting on black lipstick, and taking really funny demented photographs in this cheap hotel room. I was there until 4a.m. and had such a fun time chilling with them, I miss them so much, they are amazing and brilliant people.

AMANDA'S PHOTO SHOOT:

On Saturday I was in a photo shoot for Amanda's final show for her art degree, this also involved some film footage. It was amazing. She dressed three of us in these earthy costumes based on the monster sculptures she has made in her studio, then she took us to these muddy black hot springs where we swam around in this hot steamy mud and made beautiful beautiful pictures. Her show is in July, I can hardly wait. I will post a shot or so of this shoot as soon as I get a copy of the pictures.

DANCING:

After Amanda's shoot we got cleaned up and danced our socks off at our favorite place. We danced like superstars and our little party group took over the stage. I swear, we were the best dressed, and best dancers, in the joint. I absolutely love that place.

SUNDAY POTLUCK:

We had a gigantic Potluck on Sunday, it was so wonderful to chill and talk and spend time with friends and relatives. We had a great time chilling with our cameras and lots of food. Amanda and Kaitlyn made me a cake and used this cute match for a candle, it was so precious. Lady ThistleRose was there, it was so good to see her, we are planning a poetry reading with her to take place in a very isolated location.

GIFTS:

My aunt gave me this box of marshmellow peanuts and the fanciest chocolate milk in the world. The box was especially amazing because she wrapped it up with yarn instead of a ribbon. My beautiful cousin gave me a gift certificate for Barnes and Nobles...I am so looking forward to wrapping my brain around a new book, its been a while since I have read anything of real substance. My friend Kristi gave me a stunning drawing, that I love to bits. All of the cards and letters are perfect, I feel so completely spoiled.

TONIGHT:

Tonight I go with my mellow friend Scott to see The Presets in SLC, which will be Heaven on Earth. I am so looking forward to it. I can't wait to dress up like an electro-moron for this concert. Scott is going to wear a Halloween cape, how perfect is that for The Presets?

CONCLUSION...FOR NOW:

I just have to say that I never thought my life could be so glamorous. Being in photo shoots for artists, making art, designing outfits and taking pictures of beautiful people in them, going to these amazing concerts, dancing at my favorite club, staying up all night with friends, my relatives and family. Its really overwhelming to think that I could warrant this much attention, or that so many people really care about me and are invested in me.

I am so completely spoiled and I hope that I can somehow be grateful enough to deserve any of this. Thanks for the comments, messages, and e-mails. Thanks for the thoughtful and beautiful gifts, thanks for these wonderful memories.

ONWARD:

I think now I just need to make a bigger effort to do the things that I want. I am getting better all the time now, but I feel like I really need to concentrate on doing and illustrating these goals I have, especially in the realm of art and music. The possibility of these amazing and lofty goals has already been proven, I just have to push them forward until they reach the highest level.

Black

Just made this a few minutes ago.

If Your Going to San Francisco...

San Fransisco was swell. After running around on the beach, China Town, the four story Virgin Megastore, the Museum of Modern Art, and after watching Justice in concert and dancing for several hours I feel so completely liberated. The culture there is very different. The thing that struck me was not the difference in politics or morality, but the difference in culture. In San Fransisco there is such a variety of people that it makes no sense to compare or to compete with those around you, because its not even possible. Here in Utah, or in Idaho, it almost seems like people live the same life, in the same way, with the same thoughts. This isn't completely true, there is so much variety here that goes ignored, but for the most part people here seem as if they are trying to be similar, trying not to be unusual, and trying to gain the same possessions and same ideas of what success is.

With all of that background up there- It was great to be in a place where people can dress how ever they like as long as they are wearing clothing. Where people can literally design their own frame of thought not just their own lifestyle. Of course that kind of cultural freedom can be dangerous, but for me it is something I really crave on an artistic level. I have concluded after all of the running around in California that I should relax and make my art as I wish, because being "normal" in terms of expression is not going to help me or anyone...how many times do I need to re-learn this?

SHOOTS: My good art friend, Amanda, has a couple of photo shoot concepts that I will be modeling for. I am way excited about the shoots because Amanda is so good at designing these photographic situations where so many great pictures can be made. The textures and colors in both of the photographic concepts appeal to me on a personal level too, so I am really looking forward to the shoots. One of these shoots will take place this coming Saturday and I will be sure to keep you posted.

Speaking of shoots, I have a conceptual shoot that I have been designing for our little group of artists in Provo. I just need to assemble the props/costumes and find the right location. I am looking forward to it.

THE SHAKEOUT: The Shakeout is going well. We are finally generating some nice beats. Organizing the sounds is the most difficult thing, I think. But we are learning a lot. Scott figured out how to feed our record players directly into the computer, so we now have much cleaner record files to sample, loop, and play with. I have some strong musical ideas for the project, but its hard to pin them down and to articulate them. I am sure we will make this work eventually, its just taking some time to finish the thoughts behind them.

Package 4 my Bro

I FINALLY started putting stuff into the mail. Here is the first package to be sent to my lil bro who is on his mission.