Secret Ultra M | Mariann Marcum

mountain meditation

2011-08-15T22:21:00.000-07:00

I got to walk up a mountain this past weekend with a great group of people. On Sunday morning I got a few hours alone, perched on a rock overlooking this pristine scene. It looked way better in person. I'd have taken a picture, but Tim took my camera on an adventure of his own...

leanne shapton's painted patterns

2011-05-14T23:08:00.000-07:00

Last month, the New York Times Interactive Op-Ed site featured this major eye-candy work, A Month Of Wednesday Patterns, by Leanne Shapton. These freehand watercolor renditions of out-in-the-world patterns have so much character and energy. This erratic little collection of swatches makes my thoughts go erratic, too, thinking about all sorts of human-nature things. I see these works as the charming documents of the simple poetry of the process; her being out in the world, noticing these patterns in their context, and recording them free-handed in an imperfect yet absolutely clear visual language. And then I think, why these patterns? What about all the other patterns she must have seen over the many months of working on this project? It makes me wonder about how our memories work, and how beauty really does stand out and impresses upon us in common and individual ways alike. And just what is it about patterns that attract or repel us so? There are boundless patterns to be found in nature, and it's only natural that we would be quite attracted to unmistakeably human-made patterns. What interesting marks we leave on the world in this way. Clothing, walls, walkways, sometimes even in food. What peculiar animals we are.

Here are some of the individual paintings featured in this online-published work;

Layla cotton shirt worn over a bathing suit to MacaroniBeach
Jan 6, 2010, Mustique

"Pillowcase in my brother's spare room
March 3, 2010, Toronto"

Bathroom tiles in a cottage at locusts-on-Hudson
May 19, 2010, Staatsburg, NY

Wool carpet in the drawing room at Calke Abbey
Sept 1, 2010, Ticknall England

Aaand sidebar--whoa--travel much!? I'd by lying if I said I wasn't envious. : P

More of Ms. Shapton's pattern paintings can be found on her site, here.

Also, check out the totally rad art book imprint she co-founded at jandlbooks.org.

letter 5.11.11

2011-05-11T12:39:00.000-07:00

This is going out to the postal box in t-minus 5 seconds. . . . . 3, 2, 1, buzz off!

Just kidding, Lori. This is coming to you. Please do not buzz off.

postcard 5.10.11

2011-05-11T12:37:00.000-07:00

I received this handmade postcard from one of my BFFs from a trip she took to Argentina. This is an artist's rendition of the Perito Moreno glacier in Patagonia.

I think of it as Perrito Moreno (little brown dog) because this depiction reminds me of a dog's molars.

God Grew Tired of Us

2011-04-06T19:05:00.000-07:00

Hey, all. It's been a while. Life has been busy. I am stressed, I am tired, and I am thankful.

Anyhow, I wanted to pop on here and share a movie--a brilliant, feature length documentary about the Lost Boys of Sudan. To say theirs is a moving story is a grand understatement. It's rare to see such heartbreak alongside such hope. If you've never seen this doc, or never heard of the Lost Boys, definitely check this film out.

St. Patrick's Day

2011-03-16T23:39:00.001-07:00

Chelsea in Dublin Castle Cathedral

An excerpt of St. Patrick's breastplate prayer in the original Irish;

Críst limm, Críst reum, Críst im degaid
Críst indium, Críst íssum, Críst úassum
Críst dessum, Críst túathum
Críst i llius, Críst i ssius, Críst i n-érus
Críst i cridiu cach duini rodomscrútadar
Críst i ngiun cach oín rodomlabrathar
Críst i cach rusc nomdercadar
Críst i cach clúais rodomchloathar.

[Read the whole thing in English here.]

Chúc Mừng Năm Mới!

2011-02-04T16:20:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year! This is, of course, the time of lunar new year, celebrated in many cultures. Tết, the Viet name for the holiday, is one of the biggest of the year. My dear friend Lynelle is part of a Vietnamese Kung Fu studio. She and her students rally the community in celebration of Tết with their acrobatic Lion Dance routines, and work for hire to bring prosperity to Viet businesses. I was honored to catch a commissioned performance this morning and took a few snaps;

Seeing With Photography

2011-01-13T18:12:00.001-08:00

this image was uploaded to flickr by seeingwithphotography.

This is a brand new image created by members of the Seeing With Photography Collective in New York City. All SWPC members are visually impaired, making their photographic method quite poignant. Each image is generally led by one person's idea or narrative, while others assist in building the scene with found props and materials. The set is then framed in the camera, and lights are turned out. The image is exposed in otherwise pitch-darkness by a few people using hand-held flashlights, causing the image to be exposed bit-by-bit as the lighters feel their way around the scene, shining their small light from only a few inches away from each surface they expose. It's a unique way to make digital photography both a sensory experience and a hand-crafted form.

I had the privilege of assisting SWPC on studio days one lovely summer a few years back. It's an incredible process to experience.

Learn more by visiting seeingwithphotography.com.

Walking in L.A.

2010-12-17T21:18:00.001-08:00

Just what it says.

Walking in L.A. Hollywood., originally uploaded by Secret Ultra M.

Walking in L.A. Downtown., originally uploaded by Secret Ultra M.

Found Persimmon. Dec 2010

2010-12-02T13:18:00.001-08:00

I saw this on the sidewalk while walking in my neighborhood this morning. Yes, it's a bit gross to pick up partially-eaten food (or any food) off the ground, but I felt compelled to add it to my found objects records, because this particular object was a poignant reminder of a recent occurrence.

Found Persimmon. Dec 2010, originally uploaded by Secret Ultra M.

A few weeks ago, my mom was rushed to the hospital via ambulance, because she couldn't breathe. Her airway had closed up due to an allergic reaction to eating a persimmon.

(She's fine now.)

Found Page. Nov 2010

2010-11-29T22:00:00.000-08:00

Found in a driveway on a walk in my neighborhood.

Translations, anyone?

Found Page. Nov 2010, originally uploaded by Secret Ultra M.

Found List. Nov 2010

2010-11-25T09:44:00.000-08:00

I found this list in a grocery store checkout aisle. I love the organization of it, and that "ANNIVERSARY CARD" seems a priority...

Found List. Nov 2010, originally uploaded by Secret Ultra M.

Kings as Saints

2010-11-19T14:57:00.000-08:00

Wow, how I love this body of work by Linsley Lambert--specifically, these dear old Los Angeles Kings;

God of the Ice (Wayne Gretzky)

40" x 30"

Oil on Canvas, 2006, by Linsley Lambert

Avenging Angel (Marty McSorley)

40" x 30"

Oil on Canvas, 2006, by Linsley Lambert

King of Kings (Dave Taylor)

40" x 30"

Oil on Canvas, 2006, by Linsley Lambert

AND, although he is not a King, I must include Joe Sakic, my all-time fav player;

Persero (Joe Sakic)

40" x 30"

Oil on Canvas, 2006, by Linsley Lambert

keep sharp

2010-10-26T08:46:00.001-07:00

...or at least try.

Lynelle in the Sun

2010-10-11T20:23:00.001-07:00

...aka Portrait of a Best Friend, edition 2. [See ed. 1 here.]

Lynelle in the Sun, originally uploaded by Secret Ultra M.

Kung Fu master, Master of Fine Arts, Lion Dancer, rescuer of kitties, and "that cute girl who works in the cigar shop." Would you ever guess any of this if you saw her? Probably not. Oh, and I forgot to mention that she is also one of the funniest, most warm-hearted and caring people in the world. Lucky me.

i made that

2010-10-06T15:26:00.001-07:00

i made that, originally uploaded by Secret Ultra M.

tumors and mice

2010-09-14T00:44:00.001-07:00

tumors and mice , originally uploaded by Secret Ultra M.

Yes, been readin' the ol' 1 Samuel...

Yonlu.

2010-09-13T23:13:00.000-07:00

I've known of the album A Society In Which No Tear Is Shed is Inconceivably Mediocre… by Yonlu for a little bit now, but was reminded of him tonight when a friend sent over some home-made music that was reminiscent of this. Yonlu's music is more than deserving of a dedicated blog post...

It's already a pretty melancholic collection of home-made songs, but that is overshadowed by Yonlu's suicide at age 16. Apparently, in a last note, he told his parents to listen to his music when they missed him. Ugh. Heartbreak.

This is a really lovely album with some beautiful yet simple melodies, sound exploration, and hauntingly sad lyrics. Take off your hat and give it a spin.

Psychological Suspense... Documentary?

2010-08-31T10:20:00.000-07:00

Yes, folks, that is what the film Catfish is. It's a crazy story of a boy and girl falling for each other--over AIM and Facebook communications. My jaw dropped (literally) several times whilst watching this film, and my emotions were taken on a wild ride. It's one of the best directed psychological thrillers I have seen, and the only one that calls itself a documentary.

There is drama and much speculation as to how much the filmmakers knew while documenting the virtual relationship of the lead subjects. There is such a controlled unfolding of details that it seems to be scripted--or at least anticipated and expected by the filmmakers. Alas, even the most neutral documentary cannot escape the fact that it stands on some biased vantage point. I am personally not too concerned with Catfish's manipulation of the story. In fact, I think it is apropos. Because of its calculated direction, the audience is swept into the emotions of the story, giving this cautionary tale a sharp hook. At the end of it, you walk away with this little internet-age ethnography haunting your thoughts.

let's get [site] specific

2010-08-17T01:11:00.000-07:00

In excitement for an impending camping trip, I am imagining pitching my tent right by this thing:

Flame (Gate)
Light installation, 2009
850 x 530 cm

Yochai Matos

see more installation images of this work...

See more from artist Yochai Matos...

What's going on in your life?

2010-08-09T09:39:00.000-07:00

Wait--don't answer that question. Take a break from your world and go to Docu Weeks (NYC and LA). There is nothing quite like a well-made documentary to remind you that you are not the center of the universe. To be able to see the joys and struggles of people from a faraway place or histories that never made the books is a blessing of living in our time.

Last night, I got to see Louder than a Bomb, which was followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers. In the film, they told the stories of four urban Chicago High School students and their experiences being on school-sponsored slam poetry teams. These kids are incredibly bright and passionate, and in poignant ways, mature. From classroom, to home, to stage, these four lives (and teams) were shared in such a humbling way. It's crazy to think that this doc was made because the filmmakers happened to be driving by the theater hosting Louder Than a Bomb 2005, and wondered what it was that had all those kids standing in line for poetry on a Saturday night...

I hope to go back to the Arclight in Hollywood to see a few more films before Docu Weeks ends on Aug 19. Treat yourself and do the same!

Unicorn

2010-07-31T23:50:00.001-07:00

Unicorn, originally uploaded by Secret Ultra M.

Here is the first of a series of large format shots I took in a local urban forest. This image depicts a massive puppet I helped to make, which was used in a performance at the grand Kulakoff wedding. If you poke around a few posts back, you'll find some scans of the Polaroid tests from the shoot.

Large format film, I love you. Never leave me.

Jamie Drake + Palace

2010-07-28T22:26:00.001-07:00

Last week I had the honor of dusting off the ol' 4x5 cam and photographing this poster project for Jamie Drake and Palace.

Jamie Drake is a super-talented songwriter, singer, and snazzy dresser. She will be starting a residency at Hotel Cafe every Wednesday in August. Give yourself a preview here.

Palace is the design haus of Erik Buckham--a typography and illustration wizard, who moonlights as a popcorn busker.

Two great/wonderful/special people, check 'em both out.

art morsel

2010-07-26T22:41:00.000-07:00

Check out this delicious still-life by Theo Mercier. Photography is all smoke and mirrors...

"The Regrets of the Fish Head"
Theo Mercier, 2008.

Collaboration Benefit

2010-07-01T11:16:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty excited about this one. I just downloaded a collaborative album by the Dirty Projectors and Bjork, by donating toward the effort to protect international waters for the sake of marine life. (It's for all our sakes, really).

Here is the image of Nor Cal's Mt. Wittenberg that goes along with the project:

The album is called Mount Wittenberg Orca, inspired by the sighting of a killer whale from atop a ridge on the Mount. Check it all out for yourself at MountWittenbergOrca.com.

Wedding Portraits

2010-06-30T00:04:00.001-07:00

This morning, at an undisclosed forest location, I was given the honor of making a series of wedding portraits for Mark and Jehoaddan Kulakoff. A group of friends (myself included) had made these man-sized puppets for a surprise performance at the Kulakoff reception last month, and the couple loved them so much we brought them back to life once more. These are some of the test Polaroids.

Here is the bride in the Orb Master's robe. The Orb Master was the narrator in the original performance.

Here are Mark and Jehoaddan wielding the scepters of fire and snow. May they reign together for all their years to come.

checking in

2010-06-01T20:47:00.000-07:00

Hey, amigos! I've been busy with work and a basket-full of projects--sorry for not keeping up with the blog! A special little parcel of my time has been spent with the Paperbacks (Myself, Dianna Park and Gena Peterson), rehearsing and recording with Jason Diaz. Here is a sweet EPK from the Diaz camp, in which we have a little cameo appearance...

Jason Diaz EPK from Jason Diaz on Vimeo.

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T22:16:00.000-07:00

by Dorothea Lange, 1939

Dorothea Lange was a documentary photographer who worked under the Farm Securities Administration (USA) during the Great Depression. Her work is recognized in part by the many images of mothers and children in the harsh context of migrant agricultural life and homelessness. I've always admired her for documenting the fullness of experience of the people she sought to portray--from the iconic "Migrant Mother" photograph to this, lesser-known, image of a smiling mother. Lange was a mother herself during her FSA work.

God bless all you mothers!

crow-lage

2010-04-30T18:20:00.001-07:00

I'm trying to get better at drawing crows, but I'm still not very good at it. I decided to try cutting one out, and that went o.k. I used the handout from Boadrum 2008, which made for nice plumage.

judging by covers

2010-04-23T11:55:00.001-07:00

I totally judge books by their covers. The cover is the shell of objecthood for the book. When you crack open a hard-bound work, reading becomes not only an intellectual endeavor, but a palpable physical experience as well. I appreciate publishers that give/allow special consideration to the physical/visual aspect of their books. To hold a beautiful thing in your hands is one of the little joys in life.

My love for beautiful books was awakened from its nap when I found this little gem last week:

It's from an anthology series published in the 70s--the textured gold paper cover is right on for the era.

Here's another book from my humble collection. This one is a bit older, printed in 1911. The cover features a letterpress design on traditional book cloth.

Here's another old guy. I'm not sure when it was printed, but the novel was copyrighted in 1899. The cover is laminated with wood! Is it weird to cat-call at a book? I just did.

Anyone else have some fancy covers lying around?

glass music

2010-04-11T21:55:00.000-07:00

I'm totally digging on this album from Glass Ghost (Brooklyn!). I dig the bizarre narrative lyrics, which is a writing approach that is usually a hard sell for me. But they are just the right kind of quirky, with just the right kind of homemade beats behind them. Don't let the word 'beats' throw you off, though--the overall feel is pretty low-key. Oh, and a really cool thing about this album is that each track features a number of musical contributors--the fab Sharon Van Etten being among them. So rad. I love a good, friendly collaboration.

If I had to throw some "sounds like"s out there, I'd say this has tinges of Bjork, Animal Collective, Air, and Sunny Day Real Estate.

Fave tracks are: "Violence," "Divisions," and "Time Saving Trick."

Over and out.

Come one, come all!

2010-04-05T15:43:00.001-07:00

Nikka Costa April 9, 2010, originally uploaded by The Roxy Theatre.

I'll be singing back-up for Jason Diaz this Friday @ the Roxy. The last show was such a blast. Come out and kick off your weekend!

fun times in rehearsal

2010-03-31T01:01:00.001-07:00

Jason Diaz Band, originally uploaded by Secret Ultra M.

I may or may not have personally told you, but I am one third of a Motown-inspired vocal trio. We are called The Paperbacks, and we will be singing backup for Jason Diaz and his band at his next few shows. We just got out of rehearsal, and we had a blast all by ourselves--but we want *you* to have a blast with us, this Thursday at the Viper Room and next Friday at the Roxy.

4/1 at the Viper Room we'll be opening for Jonathan Tyler + the Northern Lights; 4/9 at the Roxy we'll be opening for Nikka Costa. Both our sets at 8 PM.

Cheers!

Aaron is a Church DJ...

2010-03-30T19:21:00.001-07:00

Last Sunday was Palm Sunday--the commemoration of Christ's dramatic return to Jerusalem in his final days before crucifixion. For my church, it was also the first Sunday holding two services (which we will be providing henceforth). I was asked to photograph the occasion--specifically, to document the intermingling of people coming and going between services.

I arrived to find Aaron Ballard, member of The Parson Redheads and owner of Ballard's Artwork Framing, spinning some major, smile-inducing, old-time gospel music.

I went up to chat with Aaron, and he asked if I wanted to see an album his Father and Grandmother recorded. I made him hold it up for this snap: (his Father is hidden by the glare, his Grandmother is on the lower left.)

What an amazing family legacy, no?? Needless to say, it was super sweet to learn that little tidbit about my amigo and his fam. Also, he said he'll be DJ'ing more during the between-service slot in the future, so come on over and hang out. Next week would be perfect, in fact--it will be Easter! The best service of the year! I'll be singing in the choir during both the 9:30 and 11:15 services. It's Ecclesia Hollywood, right on Hollywood Boulevard in the thick of it. Location and parking/metro info can be found here.

Cheers!

succulent design

2010-03-28T01:36:00.001-07:00

succulent design, originally uploaded by Secret Ultra M.

I painted a pot to provide a fancy home for this handsome "Indian Corn Cob" cactus, who was to be a birthday gift.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

2010-03-16T19:54:00.001-07:00

Saint Patrick's Cathedral, originally uploaded by Secret Ultra M.

In 2004, I got to travel to beautiful Ireland. I saw so many amazing things; Saint James' Gate, the Book of Kells, the Blarney Stone, the Black Abbey; and the astoundingly beautiful St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin.

Tomorrow, the world honors the famous Scottish Saint, who devoted most of his life to serving a people who originally captured and enslaved him. Cheers to Saint Patrick!

wild.

2010-03-10T23:27:00.000-08:00

So, I've been branching out into drawing these days, trying to start a regimen to get good. Truth be told, one of the reasons I started off in photography is that it was a kind of "automatic drawing." (As it was conceived/pitched back in the 1800s...) I had images I wanted to make, and I didn't want to wait and suffer my time-consuming, incompetent hand, poorly translating the vision of my mind's eye. Fortunately, I grew to love the photographic medium for much better reasons, and adore it now for all that it is.

That being said, I also adore illustration. As I quiet my mind and attempt to re-orient my workflow to a much different pace, I am seeking out inspiration to shut up my frustrations. Lucky for me, I have an amazing Hannah Stouffer print hanging outside my bathroom door, and it reminded me to check out what's going on with her. I didn't realize all she was doing out there in the world, with both her personal art and her commercial endeavors. She's pretty amazing, pretty wild. I can't get enough of her snakes, birds, and elk in their spacey, psychedelic wilderness. With Marty Stouffer (Wild America!!) as half of her immediate gene pool, it's no wonder the root of her work is the natural world. [sigh] I pretty much love everything she does.

'Black Roses Tell a Story' ink on paper 20 x 20" 2008 Hannah Stouffer

'The Lost Stormr' ink on paper 20 x 20" 2009 Hannah Stouffer

You know how much I like sharks, right?

Oh, and she also did this wolf illustration for Nike Snowboard team rider Laura Hadar. Will someone please buy these for me? *L*

good morning

2010-03-02T13:28:00.001-08:00

good morning, originally uploaded by Secret Ultra M.

This is my first true day off in a while. Even though I have a ton of housework to do, I get to be home. I get to stay in my PJs and go about my day at a relaxed pace.

As I was finishing a breakfast of spiced oatmeal pancakes and coffee, I had the random urge to sharpen a nearby pencil. Not wanting to hover over a trash bin, I let the shavings fall into my empty cup. Looking into it made me feel like I was reading tea leaves.

Yes, I will draw something today.

white wolf

2010-02-07T01:21:00.001-08:00

Back in December, I got to shoot stills for an indie music video for the band Kitten. Here are a couple images from the batch...

portrait on film

2010-01-27T00:12:00.001-08:00

Joseph Barkley, originally uploaded by Secret Ultra M.

Here's a recent portrait I took for Joseph Barkley. Music composer, performer, speaker, and all around nice guy.

Also, he's the Lead Pastor of my church, Ecclesia.

golden kelp

2010-01-25T15:01:00.001-08:00

San Diego, originally uploaded by Secret Ultra M.

I went to San Diego last Thursday, and had a mini photo safari sesh with Kate M...

737

2010-01-22T18:09:00.001-08:00

737, originally uploaded by Secret Ultra M.

I drew this for a hamburger and a beer. A really good hamburger and beer, from The Oinkster.

Well, ok, it was not just for the burger, but for a friend.

New Year

2010-01-07T14:05:00.000-08:00

Well, well. It certainly is a new year. It feels so futuristic... so strange... writing "2010" on documents and such. At the same time, I think that writing the date is the only change I feel aware of so far. I am intrigued by demarcations of time, and give them quite a bit of credit. Personally, though, the rounded-out ring of 2010 doesn't feel like much of a bearing yet. I'm waiting...

Anyhow, with the spirit of anticipation of change, I pass on a recent posting from the photo blog of Adam Sjoberg. He documented the October 2009 LiNK staff journey to the NK border area of China, and the images he captured afford a beautiful yet sobering glimpse of that world.

This is the river that so many try to cross.

This is a small action toward freedom.

This is a home where three refugees wait for the next step.

See more here.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T12:47:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas!, originally uploaded by Secret Ultra M.

I wish you all peace and joy on this Christmas day...

Texas, Here I Come.

2009-12-17T03:03:00.001-08:00

Howdy Kerchief, originally uploaded by Secret Ultra M.

As I count down the days [five] until I get to see my family in Texas, I have been embroidering on this kerchief. I actually started it in October, but haven't had time to finish until now.

Howdy!

testing

2009-12-14T16:29:00.001-08:00

While my subject was finishing up in wardrobe, I tried to jump into the shot myself, to test focus and light. This was shot one...

shattered

2009-12-02T22:58:00.001-08:00

shattered, originally uploaded by Secret Ultra M.

I was spending a quiet evening at home, when one of my candle glasses exploded. Ok, it didn't explode, per se, but it did blow its bottom right off. It narrowly missed breaking the glass lantern sitting right below it...

I think there was a small bubble in the glass, which, when the flame got right next to it, made it ka-splode. Yes, this is my hypothesis.

art morsel

2009-11-17T13:46:00.000-08:00

I went to Bergamot Station is past weekend with some friends, and we visited the Brendan Monroe show @ Richard Heller. Style-wise, I don't think this is Monroe's best work ever, but I did enjoy the content of the show. I like the way his abstraction resembles organic forms at the microscopic level, and how he jumbles up the context and scale of said abstraction by inserting the human figure.

This piece, although lacking the figure, drew me in. Having a spontaneous childlike association, I imagined this piece as depicting a single, essential atom of macaroni and cheese. Initially comforting, and then kind-of gross, right?

Brendan Monroe
The Cell Who Remembers the Sun
26 x 20 Inches, Acrylic on Paper
2009

Portrait of Katherine

2009-11-04T17:47:00.001-08:00

...It could also be called, "Portrait of a Best Friend."

Kat just came out to L.A. from Georgia for a wedding, but I managed to commandeer most of her west coast hours (and even an extra one, thanks to the end of daylight saving!).

We got to catch up on tons of stuff, including our lack of [insert excuse here] that keeps us from doing just-because creative work. She came up with the brilliant charge of making each other's portraits during our free Sunday evening time slot.

We each got an hour, and were confined to using a digital 35, two small strobes, and my bedroom.

This is it:

Now, none of this was necessarily in the front of my mind during the shoot, but I love this depiction of her, because it reflects where she is in her life right now. I especially love the pensive body language, because she is someone with whom I can always share the endless cycle of questions and answers with. We have had so many adventures together, from late-night shooting in L.A., to hour-long train rides to Coney Island, to driving and camping along the Appalachian Trail. She is a thoughtful and steadfast soul sister (not to mention, a great photographer), and I love her to pieces.

Homage to the Rebel

2009-11-02T18:37:00.001-08:00

A salute to the iconic James Dean as Jim Stark...

Homage to the Rebel, by Secret Ultra M.

This image is a tidbit from a menswear/lifestyle shoot I art directed last week. It's part of a project I have been collaborating on with some talented friends;

Photographer: Kim Garcia
Model: Preston Vanderslice
Stylist: Corban Poorboy
Art Director: Mariann Marcum (me)

These peeps are so good at what they do, and I loved spending the day working with them. Thanks, you guys!

fab fobs?

2009-10-31T11:01:00.000-07:00

I will be the first to admit that I pretty much only look at the photographic content in most fashion-culture mags. I'd prefer to read a book before I read about whatever of-the-moment person has been propped on the front cover. Don't get me wrong, there are some awesome writers out there who touch on some interesting and vital topics--but usually, I am not drawn to read most bio/fashion/lifestyle articles.

However, while looking through the latest issue of The Fader magazine (#64), I found myself wishing there was an accompanying article for a specific photographic editorial spread. Entitled "No Place Like Home," photographer Gabriele Stabile and stylist Mobolaji Dawodu portray young émigrés and first-gens living in NYC. The puzzling part is, their portraits were taken in their home or neighborhood, and they are dressed in designer clothes. Each image is captioned with the subject's name, age, current location and country of origin. A smaller caption names the designers of the wardrobe. But I want to know more.

Photographer Stabile, according to her website, is a photojournalist. Her style is ultra contemporary, and she shoots with chrome films. Her images are contrasty and luscious with color, and are more beautiful than the snaps by your average Times shooter. Her style pushes the limits of journalism, and straddles the line between photography as reportage and photography as art. You know, the kind of art that mashes up contexts and pokes you in the eye. Moreover, what kind of photojournalist works with a stylist?

I really want to know more about the people in the portraits, and about what the producers' concepts for the images were. Also, being that there isn't any other information in the mag, I wonder how much these images can tell me on their own. Are they a visual commentary on the American dream? I guess I'll need to take some more time to see.

See them for yourself in the free PDF download of the issue, pp 50-54. (The whole issue is great--it's a photo issue.)

retreat

2009-10-22T01:35:00.001-07:00

A few weekends ago, I was able to get away to Sequoia National Park. I was there with a group of a dozen or so friends, old and new. We spanned a couple camp sites, and did a fair bit of cooking and hanging out. It was fantastic to sit around the fire and chat and laugh after the sun went down. Smells of wood smoke, chili, whiskey, and forest were the perfect backdrop for the pitch-black nights.

I was able to have a tent to myself one night, and to branch off into a smaller group for an off-trail hike on our one full day there. The quiet moments I thereby got were wonderful, and much needed. Anticipating these quiet moments, I only packed my "no look" CyberShot. I'm glad I didn't get into large-format mode for this short trip.

Here is my favorite image from the "roll:"

.

point and shoot

2009-10-06T23:14:00.000-07:00

Soo, I went to New York City this summer to see these people get married;

It was a lovely ceremony in Long Island City, and a fantastic party afterward.

Anyhow, the camera I had on hand at any given moment over my long weekend was a recently broken Cyber Shot. Well, it wasn't totally broken, the LCD screen was just busted. Since said LCD was the only viewfinder option on the camera, I was guesstimating at most of the framing. Thank goodness for auto focus and the Zeiss--the pics don't look half bad!

...

2009-09-26T18:44:00.001-07:00

unabsence, originally uploaded by Secret Ultra M.

...and I'm back.

No, he is not from an evil parallel universe...

2009-09-21T22:22:00.000-07:00

...he is just from North Korea.

It is amazing to think that while we get to do things like sit down for morning coffee, grab a burrito on a lunch break from work, and chat with friends over dinner, there are people on this very same planet, at this very moment, who are starving. Yes, I know this is not news to you--how many mothers have used this fact to guilt us into eating the rest of our dinner? However, the fact that North Koreans are practically blindfolded and isolated from the rest of the world, on top of being slowly starved--all by their own government--is not just circumstance, but severe injustice. If one could glance away from the nuclear glimmer in Kim's eyes for just a moment and see through his propaganda fog, one would find that a deeper atrocity has already been carried out. Yet, there are organizations that are working very hard to help North Korean people. Liberty in North Korea, headquartered right here in Los Angeles, is one such organization. They work in a grassroots way not only to raise awareness of the situation, but to directly aid NK escapees re-settle in the free world and prosper for the rest of their lives.

A real, live glimmer of hope.

Yard (and Studio!) Sale

2009-09-20T16:34:00.001-07:00

What Happens (installation detail), originally uploaded by Secret Ultra M.

This Saturday, September 26, I will be participating in a fund-raising yard sale. Many of the works from What Happens (pictured above) will be among my offerings, along with some other interesting stuff. Yes, stuff. Stuff like CDs, housewares, and a sweet old single-slide projector.

100% of the funds will go to a group of my friends who are traveling to India next month to do some projects. One is to make a documentary in the foothills of the Himalayas, and the other is to put on a children's activity day-camp type thing at a school.

Come to the sale, drop a few bucks, and talk to my friend Rod about what he'll be shooting for this doc!

I'll also be making some delicious Iced Indian Red Tea.

4534 Ambrose Ave, in Los Feliz, 90027. It's near the big Albertson's shopping center on Hillhurst.

I will be there from 8:30am - 11am, and I'm not sure what time the party will stop, but I will make the appropriate update here in this entry when I find out.

Hope to see you there, Cheers!

these are a few of the beautiful things...

2009-09-19T01:17:00.000-07:00

...Yes, I was singing that to the tune of "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music. (No, I don't really like musicals.)

Anyhow, as I get back into the blogging saddle, I have decided to sprinkle a few personal anecdotes and goings-on into the mix. This should result in more frequent posting, and will serve as a nice notepad/record for my post-post-studio practice. Ha!

Now, on to the topic at hand--beautiful things. Specifically, I wish to make an account of two heart-moving occurrences I've recently witnessed;

1) At a local used bookshop, a boy of about age thirteen was standing behind me in line with an older brother/uncle/mentor type figure. I say older only because he was older than the boy--he was a young man himself, twentysomething at most. The boy was holding an unknown H.G. Wells paperback with some fantastic, funky cover art and said "Yeah, I think I want to buy this," in a half excited, half timid tone. The brother/uncle/mentor smiled encouragingly and told the boy he'd like to buy it for him. The boy's responding grin was also half excited and half timid, but totally heart-melting.

2) In a museum, in a very dark gallery, a woman was with a young boy (again, around age thirteen). The boy was blind. They walked arm in arm as the boy tapped with his cane, and they proceeded through a thick velvet curtain which was a passage into an exceedingly bright gallery space. And when I say exceedingly bright, I mean it--they were walking into a space featuring a sculptural installation that consisted of a grouping of flood lights, creating a blinding-white wall. So, you can imagine how the light streamed through the draping velvet as they passed. Maybe it's cheesy, but it was a kind of bittersweet, allegorical moment.

Anyone else catch a moment like this lately?

Over and out. . .

unabsence

2009-09-10T19:40:00.001-07:00

unabsence, originally uploaded by Secret Ultra M.

Hello. I'm on my way back to this blog from a longish absence. I've been traveling, working, and spending high-quality time with people. I'm almost back, now...

Hooray for Graduate School

2009-04-27T13:06:00.000-07:00

Hello, friends. I just read this fresh New York Times op-ed article by Marc C. Taylor of Columbia University. He aptly highlights some of the outdated patterns of University academics and suggests some interesting new ones...

"End the University as We Know It"

Ahhh, to be a new advanced degree holder. So promising. :|

art morsel

2009-04-13T13:36:00.000-07:00

Hello, all! It's been a few weeks. For me, a few very busy weeks. But I'm happy to be back on the blog with an exciting art morsel. Perhaps it's better described as an art sip:

DrinkPeeDrinkPeeDrinkPee

by Rebecca Bray and Britta Riley

installation image
from Eyebeam Feedback exhibition
March 2008.

The artist duo behind this thought-provoking visualization of toilet water treatment narratives did their research during a residency at Eyebeam in NYC. The "bio-artists" also created this surprising D-I-Y urine-to-fertilizer kit. Finding this gem was timely, as part of my days being away from the ol' blog were spent doing some springtime indoor gardening. Too bad these fertilizer kits are no longer available...

i talk about me.

2009-02-24T13:57:00.000-08:00

Who needs Frost/Nixon when you can have Miliate/Marcum? The wondrous Lynelle Miliate has posted an interview with me here. This is only the beginning of our online interminglings; you'll see...

art morsel

2009-02-01T20:51:00.000-08:00

I love Richard Heller's gallery. He always seems to share something that is part whimsy, part sour, part craft, and part just-plain-lovely. You get a different ratio of each, in any given show. I was able to see the current Amy Bennett show during the recent "breakfast receptions" at Bergamot Station. I was with a couple good artist friends, and if I remember correctly, this was the one show all three of us liked.

It was almost exclusively small-ish oil on panel works, save for a single sculpture. The very nice attendant informed me that it was created by the artist as a reference from which to paint, but it was a beautiful object in and of itself. (I could go off on a whole other tangent, talking about how wonderful it is that she paints from miniatures she builds herself. For the sake of my much needed night of sleep, I will not.)

The panels are each finished with a flawless, shellacked sheen, which gives the pictures' color and form an assertive presence. The palette is quietly idyllic and the rendering of light is ethereal. The materiality of the gloss also resonates with the theme of houses on lakes. From image to image, the lake surfaces change from rippling, to unnaturally, eerily, glass-like. The dominant aspect of the images are the rural landscapes and their reflections; yet dwelling within them are minutely rendered people. Their activity is familiar, yet peculiar. Think super-removed/aerial view of Gregory Crewdson at the lakehouse on a spring morning. The paintings are, for lack of a less-clichéd word, captivating. I will say no more. Go see this show. Take your valentine. (It's over after the 14th.)

Vacationland, 2008
22" x 48"

by Amy Bennett, at Richard Heller

They say you should never meet your heroes...

2009-01-27T19:20:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure who "they" are, but I am happy to report that meeting Sophie Calle was lovely. It's an honor to be able to thank someone who has been so influential and motivating (especially when they live in Paris).

I was able to meet/thank her earlier this month at an artist talk she gave in La Jolla, at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (in conjunction with a visiting artist program of UCSD's). She presented a slide-show/overview of her career's worth of work, peppered with some really great anecdotes. It was so fun to hear some of the stories that went along with her projects and process. She's an amazing artist, and a pretty funny lady. Here's one of the images she showed of her recent work, made after the passing of her Mother:

I believe this is related to the work wherein she represented plaques inscripted with the maladies claimed to have been cured by the Lourdes fountain's famed healing water. She added a blank plaque, symbolizing the fact that breast cancer, the disease that took Calle's Mother, was not listed as one of the fount's triumphs.

Her Mother was the center of another recent work, "Couldn't Capture Death," wherein Calle continuously videotaped her mother on her deathbed, in an effort to capture her last breath. As the title infers, she couldn't be sure of the exact moment, neither at the time nor via reviewing the film. While the description of this work almost sounded distasteful or sacrilegious, Calle was so loving and sincere when speaking about it. Moreover, she reported that her spirited Mother felt vindicated in finally being featured in Calle's work. (I think you can still find this video on YouTube, if you want to see it for yourself.) As for the issue of the work coming close to some kind of abstract personal boundary, if you know her work, you know this is nothing new. :)

I first learned of Sophie Calle when I was on a trip through Dublin in 2004. She had a retrospective at the Irish Museum of Modern Art, and I was enamored. I still am.

Stop. (unh!) Hamma-time!

2009-01-15T02:25:00.001-08:00

I paid a visit to the Hammer museum on Tuesday, and I really, really wanted to take a photograph of this Warhol photograph in the Oranges and Sardines show. Not because I respect A. W. or love the photograph (and I do, both), but because it was in this intense light atmosphere! Anyhow, the guard said I could not take a photo, so I drew this picture/diagram, instead.

Now, imagine this; Warhol's silver gelatin print of a hammer, sickle, and pizza slice; lit by the tungsteny-yellow bulbs of Felix Gonzalez-Torres' Go-Go dancing platform from the left; and from the right, glowing blue from Dan Flavin's "Diagonal of May 25, 1963." It was crazy!

What an interesting occurence. (Which came out of the circumstance of Gary Garrels' curating and Wade Guyton's contribution to the Oranges and Sardines project.)

Xmas miXchange

2009-01-15T02:11:00.001-08:00

Xmas miXchange, originally uploaded by Secret Ultra M.

This is some of the mix cd cover art made by CSULB MFA candidates at our recent studio-party. We exchanged music mixes as "holiday" gifts. Artists, left to right: Shaden Mousa (untitled mix), Gabi Ferrer (See-Thru), McLean Fahnestock (pLAceness).

Merry Christmas

2008-12-23T22:19:00.001-08:00

Leonard Knight's tape player.

Merry Christmas, friends.

a priori / a posteriori

2008-12-02T12:56:00.000-08:00

This is an old video clip of a collaborative installation I did last year with Chris Boyd. Our exhibition was called a priori / a posteriori. The aesthetic of the structures is a signature of Boyd's; the sound was my counterpart. For the three structures created for this exhibition, I made a different soundtrack to emit from each one. One of the components of each track is a sustained vocal note that combines with the others to form an underlying chord.

Merlino Gallery at CSULB. Nov. 2007, Long Beach, CA.

I 'Dined' at the Villa

2008-11-22T16:04:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, I dined at the Getty Villa--in more ways than one. I not only had a divine dinner in the Villa's interior courtyard, but was doing so in celebration of the new exhibition by artist Jim Dine, called "Poet Singing (The Flowering Sheets)." A few of my CSU Long Beach colleagues and I got the opportunity to have Mr. Dine himself talk to us about his newest work before the opening soiree. The invitation was extended to us (and to a handful of students from other schools) by Villa art historian and education-liason Ann Steinsapir. She was such a great host, and went well out of her way to give us a tour of the grounds and inner-workings of the museum. We even got to see a sneak-peek of a forthcoming exhibition about the restoration and interpretation of ancient statuary, which was quite exciting.

Mr. Dine was present with his charming wife, and gave us a glimpse at both his new work and his process. Many of the interesting facts and details that were shared are available to all at the Getty website here. Our small group was treated with having Mr. Dine escort us to the selected objects of the Villa collection that served as direct references for his installation. We then went to his exhibition space, and were given the opportunity to ask questions about the show in a relaxed, informal forum. He was candid and humble, with a few flashes of cheeky wit.

I'll admit that my initial reaction to the work was one of repulsion. I was pushed away by the gigantic carving of Dine's head, filling the space with the most mass, contrast, and overall presence than the smaller, more abstract "muses." However, I began to warm up to the installation as a whole, and started feeling like it was a "Being John Malkovich" experience. The walls were covered in smeared charcoal, and over-written with transcripts of the artist's own poetry. The same ten (or so) poems were read by Dine and recorded, and were playing back in a loop over the air of the museum room. The work finally shifted into some kind of odd translation into the Being of an artist, and evoked a sense I was ultimately familiar with. I now think of the installation as portraying the 'buzz' between the artist's ego, mind, environment, and world at large--as though one's consciousness is constantly being tuned between radio stations, sometimes coming to rest on the static between two frequencies.

It's nice that I was able to walk the grounds after that experience, and finally stop on a terrace that had just a view of the ocean and the incoming fog.

(Photographs are from the Getty website.)

MFA Thesis Exhibition

2008-11-06T11:32:00.000-08:00

...it has come down to this. Vote for me! Errr, I mean, I would love to see you there. There = CSULB Department of Art, Werby Gallery, Sunday, Nov 16, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM. Carpooling is highly recommended, as parking sometimes fills up during openings. Also, bring your laundry coin purse, because once the free parking lot is filled, there are only metered spaces.

There will be 2-3 other exhibition openings happening that night as well, which look super-promising. One is of my friend Christen Sperry-Garcia's recent work on issues of Globalization and Human Trafficking, and another is a group show curated by CSULB art history/museum studies students entitled "Hysteria." You're bound to like something. : )

Please click on the image below to see the full-size e-flyer with complete information and directions. Cheers!

a work/play weekend

2008-11-04T16:05:00.000-08:00

Worked and worked on the upcoming thesis show...

This is a production photo of a piece
from my forthcoming work,
Homes in Novels.

...and then went to a fantastic Halloween party. A better weekend than many in the recent past.

This is myself, as Andy Warhol,
and my good friend and fellow artist
Summer Merritt, as the Morton Salt Girl.

art morsel

2008-09-30T21:58:00.000-07:00

Bernard Faucon Digital Recipe Card, 2008 (?)

Bernard Faucon is one of my favorite artists. Not only does he make magical photographs, but his website is the most fun, generous, online adventure around. Last year, he had a bazaar page tucked away on his site on which various personal effects, old show catalogs, and other bits of treasure were for sale from a range of zero to a few hundred Euros. I was able to scoop up the last free item, which was a cd-rom of the "making of" of a few bodies of his work. It was sent to me from his studio in France, compliments of Chez Faucon. It was such a treat.

Anyhow, since my last visit to his site, (it's been many months) he has added a new(ish?) obscure page featuring digital recipe cards headed by some of his photographs. You can download each one as a free PDF. Il est doux! (And, there is the extent of my high school French...)

Go to www.bernardfaucon.net to poke around for the goodies!

GLAMFA Catalog...

2008-09-09T11:39:00.000-07:00

...now available as a free pdf at lulu! Check out some of the work and statements from the artists, and a few essays from the curators here. Thanks to all who came to the reception this past weekend. Cheers!

real-life stumbleupon #2: Roger Andersson

2008-08-28T11:31:00.000-07:00

I was gift shopping at my favorite neighborhood bookstore a few weeks ago, where I stumbled upon an artist book by Roger Andersson, called Letters From Mayhem. The book features illustrated letters of the alphabet as part of a collaboration with New School writer-in-residence Albert Mobilio. The illustrations have a precious, ephemeral aesthetic and depict a miniaturized adolescence among various faunae. Here is his letter d:

D, from the book Letters From Mayhem

Cabinet Books, 2004

Roger Andersson

It felt peculiar looking through Letters, as it has the appearance of an over-sized children's storybook, with cardboard-thick pages and rounded corners. The simple form of the book had a strange, nostalgic power that kept pushing to transport me back to a child's frame of mind, yet I would be tipped right back out of it as the coming-of-age theme kept floating forward. Fumbling between the child/adolescent/adult headspace was not unlike my physical interaction with the book, which is about 10" square and 2.5 lbs. It was ever-so-slightly awkward, balancing the book while turning the big rigid pages, and having to do it slowly enough to get one page to let go of the next.

I'm really glad I found it.

Free Screenings @ Bonaventure

2008-08-15T17:52:00.000-07:00

Hi, friends! Here's a random question--want to go watch some lo-fi/sci-fi films on the roof of the awesome Bonaventure hotel? Afterall art journal is sponsoring a series of free screenings this month, on Thursday nights, starting at dusk. Here's more info. Let me know if you want to car pool or bikeavan!

88 BoaDrum @ La Brea Tar Pits

2008-08-10T09:36:00.001-07:00

...was great! They totally "just did it."

Photo-0324, originally uploaded by Secret Ultra M.

Also, not only was the show free, but I got free ice cream and a free commemorative poster. The Korean in me rejoices!

Losmosis: Making Art in Los Angeles

2008-08-10T00:44:00.001-07:00

note: This is an essay I contributed to the forthcoming GLAMFA 2008 exhibition catalog. I hope you enjoy this little preview-tidbit of GLAMFA '08. If you're in the L.A. area on September 7, please join us for the artist reception!
Also, I'd like to thank thee Melissa M. Martinez for her grammarian expertise.
Cheers!

Losmosis: Making Art in L.A.
Some of us are native, but many of us have made the witting journey to be here. We were drawn to the fabled, golden frontier that is California. Moreover, we have settled in the glimmering metropolis of swimming pools and movie stars, our beloved Los Angeles.

But it’s not just that L.A. seems to be a magical Eden formed from the dusts on the Santa Anas and the dew of the Pacific—rather, it has a substantiality made of the many disparate cultural sediments that have silted here. If you wanted to gloss it over, you could say we’re just another melting pot. But we’re a dynamic, strange, relatively young and unpredictable one. Our unlimited sunshine, space, and resources (or so the story goes) create fertile ground for creative minds. It is no coincidence that L.A. is the headquarters of the entertainment industry. The same stuff that makes gold records and silver screens can be found in the workings of L.A.-based fine artists. We’re only limited by our imaginations, and anything we can think of is fair game for subject matter and media—why “not a cornfield?” Or, a movie-screen sized aperture in your ceiling?

While the New York art scene re-institutionalizes itself every few years, the L.A. scene grows slowly and steadily, and as erratically as a Joshua tree. Every minute particle that comprises L.A.’s cultural landscape begins to do an osmotic dance with our creative practices, and a great deal of evidence of this phenomenon is on display here in the GLAMFA exhibition. There are the pieces that pictorially represent vignettes of the L.A. landscape, such as Dana Maiden’s fruit cart, Kate Wall’s depiction of downtown, and Alison Walker’s sideways pool slide. There are works that riff off of Hollywood’s industries, as in the prop and façade-like sculptures of Isaac Resnikoff and Seth Pringle, and Joanna Mitchell’s documentation of women in the music recording industry. However, there are many more L.A.-tinged works in this show that don’t reveal so many stripes on the surface.

In one of GLAMFA’s most ephemeral pieces, I’m With Stupid, Jared Nielsen performs as a sign twirler. Instead of the usual “2 Pizzas for $8.99!” or “LOFTS NOW AVAILABLE,” the text on Nielsen’s arrow-shaped sign doesn’t promote any wares. Nielsen does, however, give us his guided glimpse at this relatively new advertising tactic that tries to penetrate the windshield of L.A.’s car culture. As we all know, a significant part of L.A. culture is the reverence and, arguably, the necessity of the personal vehicle. For years, advertisers have been trying to leak into these spaces via billboards and radio spots, but sign-twirling is perhaps the most unexpected tactic. In my own passing of these sign twirlers, I most often find myself thinking more about the twirler than the twirled. The experience is not unlike the uncomfortable encounters with the city’s record-number of homeless, often posting themselves at busy intersections and at the end of freeway off-ramps. These occurrences reveal that what we think of as our own mobile, private spaces neither screen us from the outside, nor lend us a neutral, secure environment within. This shift in perspective is propagated by Nielsen’s verbal and literal shifting of “Stupid.”

At the perimeter of the car-culture spectrum, Deanna Erdmann’s 24-minute video, Blow Sand, is an entrancing, abstracted look at the SoCal pastime of riding motor bikes, quads, and buggies over the heights and stretches of our surrounding desert dunes. Trying to find pleasurable ways to kill time is almost a pastime in itself, and in this instance, the peculiarity of circling over empty swatches of land on a mechanical steed is filtered from its hormone-thick atmosphere for a closer inspection. By the simple swapping out of sunlight for headlights, Erdmann creates an almost meditative image in which you find yourself presented with a microcosm of time and space—simultaneously reflecting all responsibilities, decisions, and consequences of having such resources.

Many other GLAMFA artists have tapped into the topic of resource, which is a subject inseparable from the greater L.A. region. In studies of a more contemporary raw material, Tim Schwartz and Gideon Barnett both used the Internet to create their exhibited works. The World Wide Web, greatly shored by the corporations of our Northern California neighbors in Silicon Valley, is clearly one of the new media frontiers in the story of art. In The Origin of the World, Barnett takes the results of a Google keyword image search, an apparent fad-diet in the realm of conceptual fodder, and re-archives the findings in the form of a three-volume, hard-bound reference book collection. As an undercurrent, however, Origin also peeks into the world of L.A.’s Silicone Valley, the American home of the pornography industry. Returning contemporary photographic parodies of Gustave Corbet’s erotic L’origine du Monde, Barnett’s image search reflects the porn industry’s capitalization of all things kitsch, and of the Internet itself. Citing an only slightly less tawdry field, Tim Schwartz’s sculpture outlines the news radar of Hollywood in his piece, Paris. Using an Ethernet feed, a needle-meter pulses between net-wide mentions of both Paris, France, and Paris Hilton. Where the small-town six o’clock news may use the occasional human interest story to fill air-time, L.A.’s news stations use celebrity gossip stories almost daily in their broadcasts. Schwartz’s meter cleverly points out the way Hollywood gauges and reports the health of its image—both the glamorous and the pitiful being of equal import.

Image is another ubiquitous L.A. theme. Everyone who has transplanted themselves to Los Angeles has an accompanying story revealing the hopes and expectations of what the Golden State would hold for them, as seen in Cathy De La Cruz’s narrative video, My First Time in California, playing in the GLAMFA screening room. Typical stereotypes of L.A. include ideal landscape, weather, open space, and, overwhelmingly, lifestyle. Even the images representing L.A.’s population are treated and modified by the prevailing attitudes toward abundance and perfection. Such attitudes are illuminated in William Fen’s photographic depiction of a Hollywood Hills-esque cocktail party, and in Leigh Cole’s Boys Boys Boys marquee. In a pointedly strange mish-mash of image and culture, the video installation Buoyant, by Akosua Adoma Owusu, features a sculptural stacking of life preservers, which are also featured in the accompanying video work. The circular floats, completely wrapped in alternating blocks of blonde and brunette hair extensions, give a surreal, tactile body to the installation. Even though the total work isn’t about poolside bottled blondes, these echoes of Californian stereotypes lend an eerie counterbalance to Owusu’s central themes.

As an artist myself, I’ve recently been feeling the gravity of the realm of Greater Los Angeles on my work, and even my everyday life. It’s been exciting to be on the curatorial team of this year’s GLAMFA, and also to notice the permeating effects of L.A. in the work of these remarkable artists, whom I am thrilled to call my peers. It’s not quite glamorous, and we’re certainly overshadowed by many things here, but being an artist in Los Angeles is invigorating. The spirit our work imbibes from this place gives it a substance you may not be able to put your finger on, but one you’ll definitely notice.

Thanks to all who have supported GLAMFA, both this year and in the past—I hope you enjoy the show.

image information: Left - The Wilderness 3 (Cactus), by Isaac Resnikoff. Right - detail from Paris, by Tim Schwartz.

art morsel

2008-08-08T10:42:00.000-07:00

Another, literal art morsel this time. This is a tasty little image from Rebecca Sittler-Schrock's Donuts of Long Beach work.

from Donuts of Long Beach
5" x 7" 2007
Rebecca Sittler-Schrock

This is one of 60 documents of individual donuts from 60 different donut shops in Long Beach, CA. The print of this image was originally hung as part of a large grid, along with the other donuts from the project. You probably haven't thought of a donut as an object to be gazed upon, but the images from this work have such lovely detail that they must be beheld. The shiny, iced and glazed surfaces of RSS's selections are quite alluring. You can see more of the donuts here at her projects-in-process site, and her official website (with more food imagery) here.

Dali's distant, quiet cousin?

2008-07-31T20:36:00.000-07:00

Michael Borremans
Trickland, 2002
oil on canvas 38 x 55 cm

Back in June, I was on the jury of a criminal trial in downtown Los Angeles. We were given generous breaks, including a 1.5 hour lunch every day. We had been told, at orientation, that we could visit both MOCA locations for free by showing our juror badge. So, I took my lunch there one day and saw the Marlene Dumas show, as well as the "Stuff from our Collection" (1980-2005) show. Both were decent, but I am particularly glad I saw the Collection show, because I was introduced to a brilliant painter whom I'd never heard of before. It was Michael Borremans, whom I later researched to live and work in Belgium. The piece I saw at MOCA was lovely--something I learned that he painted in numerous variations--a young girl in a pleated skirt, bisected through the legs by a mirrored surface. It was a quiet piece, despite the obvious surrealist content. I found more of Borremans' work on the Zeno X Gallery website, and found the same resonance in his pieces there. His impeccable composition and sedulous use of color contribute to the quiet, lucious tension set up by the subjects. All else I can say is that they are extremely lovely.

Thunder, 2006
oil on canvas 36 x 34.5 cm

The Table, 2001
oil on canvas 50 x 65 cm

Various ways of avoiding visual contact with the outside world using yellow isolating tape, 1998

pencil and watercolor on cardboard 29.5 x 21 cm

show time!

2008-07-22T12:02:00.000-07:00

It's about that time again... that is, time for another fun-filled group show!! I'll be showing a new piece from a new, in-progress series. The flyer, with info, is below. Cheers!

Simon Roberts' Russia

2008-07-21T23:16:00.000-07:00

EASTERN SIBERIA: Former Sanitorium, Sludyanka
2004 - 2005
Simon Roberts

Photographer Simon Roberts spent about a year, between 2004-5, taking photographs in Russia. (His map is to the left.) All around, I'd say the images are documentary, although there are many subsets of image types. From landscapes, to portraits, to "moments," Mr. Roberts captures a breathtaking and rather eerie Russia.
I purchased the book form of this collection at my favorite book store earlier in the summer, while visiting my sister in Austin, TX. I've always had a curiosity about Russia, (Trans-Siberian rail, here I come!) and really adore this work. It definitely quenches my curiosities, yet it allows the place to remain mysterious. Motherland has become one of my favorite books. The best part of it is, it's super hearty. If you ever come across it, give yourself plenty of time! You'll not only get to look at tons of beautiful photography, but learn a bit about the country that you never knew before, and get glimpses of the tiniest towns.... here are some screen shots of the book images that I found on SR's website... (...my favs were not in the selection on the site, but these are lovely as well...)

NORTHWESTERN REGION: Apartment Blocks, Murmansk

FAR EAST: Entrance to the Food Market, Khabarovsk

NORTHERN CAUCASUS: Meat Market, Pyatigorsk

FAR EAST: Sasha and Galina Namakonova, Alexandrovosk-Sakhalinsky, Sakhalin Island

i like sharks/street art using storefronts

2008-07-16T09:25:00.000-07:00

In the last post, you can see my little shark handkerchief. The choice in subject there was not casual--I really like sharks! (Once upon a time when I was a kid, I could identify about any species by its look.) Anyhow, I've been seeing the Shark Toof paste-ups around LA--ALL around LA, East-to-West sides. Here are a few pics of 'Toof I've taken with my charming little phone-camera----> At first I would just see the shark head itself, and now it's paired with cigarette imagery. Interesting. Let's keep a lookout and see what comes next!

Anyhow, after seeing 'Toof all over the place, I poked around on the internets for more information. I stumbled upon a myspace page where I found some more "gallery friendly" work. Also, he or she is selling t-shirts with the Shark Toof cig pack design on them. One if them is sooo up my alley (A black shirt with gold foil printing! If you know I like sharks, you probably also know I loooove gold.). Okay, so selling things via pal-pal on your myspace page isn't exactly using a storefront. I just wanted to point it out so I could say I appreciate the the more hybrid approach to 'Toof's street art. Why not try and get a little money from fans and supporters to keep on buying paste-up supplies and paint? I think it's rather foolish to try and completely evade the marketplace, in this our capitalist economy. (I know there are lots of differing opinions on street art and graf, though, don't get me wrong.) Maybe I'll stay on my ramen and PBJ diet for another week so I can show some love with a gold Shark Toof shirt...

I would like one of these...

...from a multi-panel piece spelling "SMOKE."

trying new things...

2008-07-15T20:07:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to try hand-embroidery for a little while now. So, last week I bought some hoops and floss and it kinda sat in the bag for a few days. That is, until last night! ---->

With a few tutorials from needlenthread.com under my proverbial belt, I went for it. I like to think the "happy shark" design makes up for the beginner-level craftsmanship. Anyhow, it was fun, and I'll probably be at it again in the future...

Cuddle Party!

2008-07-12T21:14:00.000-07:00

Yours truly is in the newest Funny or Die video by Matt Wilson. It stars Nathan Barnatt and Doug Jones of Upright Citizens Brigade. I play the nerdy girl. (What a stretch!) Thanks for the fun times, Matt!

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

real-life stumbleupon: Brian Finke

2008-07-12T10:05:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, my friend and I were walking down Beverly Boulevard with the intentions of going to Milk for a delicious baked morsel. On our way, however, I spied this photo-morsel through the window of Stephen Cohen gallery, and pulled my friend in with me.

Sara, Icelandair
40" x 40" 2006

The image I saw turns out to be from a solo exhibition by artist Brian Finke. While the photograph Sara, Icelandair receives front-and-center treatment because it is the biggest and most beautiful piece (of course), there are some other beauts in the show. I found the more contemporary depictions of flight attendants less interesting than those that reflected the days of the "air hostess." The images of the more carefully groomed and uniformed women flight attendants made me think about that very strange intersection of time and circumstance in the story of feminism. Being an air hostess offered women a career and a life of traveling and independence--while on the other side of the coin they were expected to conform to the modelesque image of the ideal modern Woman. I even remember once reading in an in-flight magazine (of all places!) that air hostess positions were framed by airlines themselves as giving women the best opportunity to meet [rich] businessmen--i.e. potential husbands...

art morsel

2008-07-08T09:26:00.000-07:00

This is a piece by Brooks Salzwedel, currently on view at the Black Maria gallery in Atwater Village. The show features many of these layered resin works that have a gorgeous, atmospheric quality that must be seen in person...

Peppets Tin
graphite, transparency & resin
3 1/2" x 3" - 2008

art morsel

2008-07-02T01:35:00.001-07:00

This is the first installment of art morsel! And, literally, it is a morsel. A photograph by Lynelle Miliate, of a meal she ate in Vietnam...

Vietnam: Dinner, originally uploaded by bnelle.

fun with taxidermy!

2008-06-28T09:54:00.001-07:00

Submerged Art,
originally uploaded by JulianBleecker.

A friend of mine took me to an art opening last Friday in Venice at Flux. It was an artist reception for Kyle Ng, celebrating his recent works related to bee-keeping, taxidermy, and [I would argue] Western child-rearing. I most liked the two taxidermic dioramas installed indoors (another was outside on the roof); one featuring a furry, tangled, blob of small mammals being suspended by helium balloons, the other a NHM-inspired, porcupine-inhabited snowscape featuring a faux human arm protruding from the ground, wearing a two-fingered bar ring. The first installation lacked the finesse and gleam of the latter... although, overall, I tend to favor the photographs made from each of the installations. (The photos being pieces in their own right.)

I found a snapshot of another of Ng's taxi-sculptures, which is this mouse I've posted. I wish that little guy was there! I have a feeling I would have liked him most of all. ... I am fascinated by taxidermy, and of course, love its presence in contemporary art. It will be interesting to keep a eye on Ng and see if and how he continues with the form.

GLAMFA 2008 is in the works!

2008-06-21T10:58:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week, I went to Christina's house to shoot images for the promotional cards and posters for this year's GLAMFA (Greater Los Angeles MFA). GLAMFA is an annual art exhibition, produced and juried by art graduate students of the Fine Art Roundtable at California State University, Long Beach. The show features and represents students currently in MFA programs throughout SoCal (CSULB excluded--but an open studios event is held in conjunction with the show). We all work hard on the show, and fortunately it proves to pay off, as GLAMFA has become a notable event in LA's art sphere. (Propers go out to McLean, who has been working extra hard answering questions, and compiling & readying submissions for jurying day.) So, pencil us in for Sunday, September 7th, 2008 at the Cal State Long Beach gallery complex! You can also keep your eyes open for updates and previews here on zee blog, and at www.artgrads.com.

Until then, here are some little morsels of GLAMFA goodness--thanks to Ms. C. Shurts for her food stylings, and to thee one Mr. Shurts for his amazing fly-wrangling abilities.

GLAMFA of the Olde English variety. This version will likely not get used, but we loved the Mexicano nod.

mmmm... flan....

...and here is another "typeface", with a detail contributed by little Grace Shurts.

making the zine...

2008-06-20T10:16:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, three of my friends and I took a little road trip out into the desert. (If you Los Angelenos think it's been hot, you ain't felt nothin'! Try 115!) We saw the giant dinosaurs from Pee Wee's Big Adventure, had date milkshakes, trekked through Joshua Tree National Park, played mini golf, and got bit up by horse flies at the Salton Sea . However, the peak of the trip (and verily the reason for it) was going to Salvation Mountain. Salvation Mountain is a diamond in the rough (the rough=Mojave desert). It is a huge artwork made of bales of hay, adobe, paint, dead pieces of tree, and found refuse (car doors, tires, baby food jars...). It was built by the one Leonard Knight--one of the sweetest, most love-filled human beings I've had the pleasure to meet. If you ever have an opportunity to go, take it! . . . So, Erik "Cinnamon" Buckham, Will "Strawberry" Wadsworth, Kristin "Peachface Killa" Peach, and myself are attempting to funnel the love that Leonard sprinkled on us into a little zine inspired by our journey. (Stay tuned for the zine!) We got together at my place last night to start in on production, and also to watch one of the most ridiculous movies ever, Double Down. (Some would say it is ridiculously AWESOME.) Anyhow, here are a few images we've compiled thus far;

Will's "Maracasnake." Inspired by a little friend we met on a Joshua Tree trail.

"Leonard, I Love It!" by myself.

Erik's desert ninja. We saw him on a billboard...

Kristin's contributions are with her in her notebook... she needed to take it with her on yet another trip she is taking this weekend. Be assured, it is good stuff. I do have this affect she left at my house...^ some peach sparkling wine she brought to share for the session. It was girly-delicious! Yes... soo... do stay tuned for the forthcoming mojave odyssey zine. : )

takin' it back...

2008-06-17T19:51:00.000-07:00

I just poured some resin for the new work I mentioned in the last post--waiting, waiting. I scanned a bunch of older work to (sort-of) continue from the way back post...

perspectives of the kitchen.

This pair of drawings isn't anything spectacular, but it definitely informs some of my recent photographic work of emptyish domestic spaces (see the Interiors slide show in the side-bar). I did these in a beginning drawing course, 2002.

Halloween with Holga, 2003

I came across these negatives that I never printed from... I never really liked the particular quirk of my glass-lens Holga (actually a Woca)--how it doesn't expose a largeish corner of the frame--but coming back to these now, I appreciate it.

Diptych with Roommates, 2004

I shot these with my good ol' plastic-lens Holga. The roommate on the left is still my roommate! The roommate on the right is no longer a roomie, but he is an awesome artist.

TV star, 2004

This was an old, broken tube TV I was playing around with one day...

television, 2004

...I ended up pulling it all apart and photographing the different components. Here's a solarized print of the shell, which is now a hanging plant-basket in my dining room. The rest, below, are a few other blasts from the past.

Ana, 2001

Jonsi of Sigur Ros, 2003

white on white, 2004

And, lastly, here is a shot of me, finishing off a 2003 roll.

takin' it way back...

2008-06-17T16:51:00.000-07:00

Wow, so, I thought I'd kick off the blogging by covering some older stuff. I'm takin' it way back. :)

I made this when I was ten. If I wrote a book today, I think I'd still dedicate it to my Grandma.

Here I am, napping with Grandma.

The beginning of "My Hobbies," from my "autobiography."

I chose this excerpt from my "autobiography" as it is somewhat relevant to what I'm working on now. I'm buying doll house items on eBay, which will be used in some sculptures in conjunction with the House images (as seen in the side-bar slide show). Gosh, I still love mini-things.