Raylene Gorum

2011-12-21T14:08:00.003-05:00

Hello hello! If you're in NYC come to the 'CITY' opening tonight at the Bridge Gallery at 98 Orchard St just south of Delancey.
Opening 6-8p Wed DEC 21st... followed by a trip to my bar, Baby Grand, to celebrate the art of Serban Ionescu who is showing work in 'CITY' and debuting EMERSON ON GRAND ST (written, drawn and sculpted works) at the Baby Gallery.

I'll have 6 (mostly tape drawn) pieces representing SF, NYC and LDN in a group show with other artist/architects. The Bridge Gallery actually specializes in my type of creatives- I've found my tribe.

Show will be up through January, let me know if you pop in. Happy Holidays!

2011-12-05T13:49:00.002-05:00

Good news!

I've long been a fan of THE LAB Performance + Installation Art Gallery at the base of the Roger Smith Hotel. So few places are dedicated the these ephemeral arts, yet here they do it with panache- two large windows on a busy corner and they document each event with a perfect piece of video. KUDOS!

I'm pleased to announce that a certain large and shiny installation will be gracing the prominent Lexington Ave gallery this time next year. "Camero(o)n's Line" will be up December 2012 and will be the first of their fast paced installations to span two months. The winter setting will suit it perfectly.

More:

My proposal "Camero(o)n's Line" is inspired by a dramatic geological event that occurred 440 million years ago yet profoundly influences modern New York City. The Cameron's Line fault stretches up from Staten Island along the east side of Manhattan and into Connecticut. It denotes the remaining ridge created by the collision between volcanic islands off of modern Portugal and our continental edge that pushed what became Brooklyn up from the depths of the ocean. While Brooklyn's soft ocean soil holds only modest buildings, the ancient bedrock beneath Manhattan supports a towering skyline.

During the prolonged violence of the Taconic Orogeny, Cameron's Line was folded and eroded several times, so I propose folding large sheets of reflective mylar into a striated sculpture. Creased panels cascade from floor to ceiling along the north wall dramatically intertwining with a vertical twist in the center of the space. The floor is covered in more mylar laid flat and printed with patterns reminiscent of geological formations. Tiny fishing lines radiate toward the ceiling to lend structural support and trace the trajectories of the geometry. Reflections from the floor, the diamond prisms of the origami and the pulse of the city outside will dance across the remaining white surfaces of the gallery.

In this case, the act of folding is also an expression of transformation. The material is thoroughly modern and will be animated in the vernacular of midtown, reflections. The effect also resembles diamonds or crystalline structures (likewise products of geological pressure) emerging from the gallery. The title's play on words is a nod to the huge diamond deposits recently discovered in Cameroon and is a reminder that modern life (and luxury) remain shaped by events inconceivable in scale and historical distance.

study model:

fantastic little videos here

2011-07-27T21:15:00.002-04:00

My installation proposal for Wave Hill in the Bronx has been selected as one of the top ten and I should find out by the end of the month if I make the final five. The piece tells the story of pollen + Brownian motion. More on that later.

Wave Hill is an phenomenal botanical garden + cultural center in the Bronx, a perfect escape from the city. They have hosted a great number of artists I really admire in the past and I'm honored to have had their curators in my little studio.

CONCEPT:
Pollen is the unsung hero of the botanical world, most often associated with allergies. I'd like to celebrate its quiet contribution to the natural world, its compelling mathematical shape and its place in the history of science. At first blush the installation might strike one as a cheerful field of layered yellow patterns, where one can't quite perceive the boundaries between what is happening inside vs out. However, the longer one engages, the more there is to see.

I call such a work a "narrative pattern" because it also summons the story of how Brownian Motion, pervasively analyzed in the world of finance, was initially discovered via studies by Robert Brown, the botanist. Einstein himself first drafted the "random walk formula" based on Brown's observations on the movement of pollen through water contained in a clear glass jar. In this case, the room becomes the clear jar with a 3D line drawing gingerly jumping across the walls, windows and shadows on the floor. I'm fascinated with the idea of treating the room as a microscope magnifying the invisible forces of the natural and scientific worlds.

2011-07-07T16:56:00.008-04:00

A fun interview by the Stiglitz School of Leadership & Creativity in London... art talk interspersed between tales of late night crooning at our karaoke bar + the creative late brunches that follow....just like real life!

interview here: Raylene+Mike: Baby Grand, Urban Geometry + Killer Waffles

2011-05-15T20:00:00.006-04:00

I'm very pleased to have just completed "Reconstructing a Midtown Forest" via chashama at the Donnell Library on 53rd St across the street from MoMA. Chashama has been curating various artist installations in the massive windows of the closed library for the past year. I am honored to be the first artist to take on the entire façade.

At 16' x 165' plus an installation room, it is my largest work yet. In a matter of two weeks, I hand silk screened 600 sf of geometric patterns and with the help of an All Star Assembly crew back painted and installed them across THIRTY THREE 5' x 8' window panels.
We spent hours just removing painters tape from the building patterns. AMEN!

To start, here's an overview of the eastern and western most window bays and the centerpiece over the old library's revolving doors.

The effect is that of looking up through buildings at exuberant foliage....wherein the colors and patterns intertwine with reflections off of a 20' x 16' mirrored wall sitting 30" behind the window plane. It draws from both the sylvan natural history of the site and the modern Midtown vernacular of the ever present reflection to create the sensation of an immersive botanical mystery for half a block.

Some reflective hyper reality... where buildings I painted based on the buildings of 53rd Street and the origami inspired geometric fauxliage are layered with reflections of the buildings and foliage of 53rd St.

And then there's the installation room, which continues the forced perspective of the windows adjacent but instead of a mirror backing the room behind is visible and rich with more silk screened tessellating patterns swarming across the floor and creating a tape enhanced constellation across the walls.
(view from inside)

(views from outside)

Special thanks to Eric Gjerde who wrote the book on origami tessellations, let's me have my way with his patterns and actually folded origami in this very library while waiting to meet me at MoMA for the first time many years ago.

Visible day + night through May 31, 2011

Event info and more at chashama.org
More pictures here

2011-04-30T03:17:00.004-04:00

Just as the Art + Architecture show at the Gowanus Ballroom wrapped up in mid-April (post on this later), I discovered that my biggest installation yet was moved forward some weeks to May 3rd! zing!

Ok, one Gowanus shot..

Some serious calculations involved in seeing if it was feasible...deep breath and dive in.

So here are some process shots from the printshop as I prepare for 16' x 120' of window in the closed library space across the street from MoMA on 53rd St. backstory here

"Constructing a Midtown Forest"
behind the scenes...(more words soon, right now I'm a little faux foliage factory)

Definitely inspired by the week of blooming Dogwoods in the city...and by the look of the colors in the drying racks, Easter too.

meshing all kinds of mutated tessellated origami (thanks eric gjerde!) + hexagonal patterns into fake foliage...one pattern more visible from front, one from behind
...there will be a mirror of sorts 30" behind the window to capture this for the curious
who dare peak behind the curtain

I love printing in Midtown...already gathering the energy of the site pre-installation.

2011-03-17T13:38:00.002-04:00

This was my proposal for the NYC Dept of Transportation call for Barrier Beautification proposals.

They are wave patterns inspired by Japanese woodblock artists as an expression of the tides of traffic. Calm chaos.

It had to be something executable by teams of volunteers and stencils. Luckily I love playing with variety within modular tools.

2011-03-14T16:08:00.001-04:00

Just discovered a kindred spirit! (my initial proposal for Ridgewood Times Bldg last spring on left, his LED installation in Mex City on right) Thomas Glassford is another recovering architect turned artist.

He recently unveiled this awesome permanent installation of Penrose non-repeating patterns (my patterns courtesy Eric Gjerde) across the marbled facade of Plaza de las Tres Culturas in Tlatelolco. The site is historically charged, his response elegant.

More info:
http://www.sicardi.com/public-art/thomas-glassford-xipe-totec/

2011-03-14T16:00:00.001-04:00

It's Collector Appreciation Day in the Studio. Off to the post.

2011-03-14T15:44:00.002-04:00

Working on a new series of tiny books called "The Choir". They measure roughly 3/4" x 1" and organized into different themes, I picture them arranged across tiny podiums, waiting for someone to make them come alive.

My karaoke bar Baby Grand generates dozens of song cards from impromptu heart-felt performances every night. My patrons step outside their comfort zone and take the stage for roughly three minutes at a time and share collected musical memories with a full range of emotions- humor, nostalgia, celebration, love and of course heartbreak. Each song is a story elaborated on by what each performer brings with him/her.

This series aims to capture the traces of these beautifully human moments.

2011-01-27T15:24:00.003-05:00

Limited edition handmade tiny sketchbooks reminiscent of the moleskines the art work was originally created in. Variable sizes, content. Magnetic cover.

Available by request (comment or email)

2011-01-12T23:31:00.003-05:00

I'm remixxxxing my last installation in the Baby Gallery. So different against the small black backdrop compared to the sweeping glass views of the East River. The installation may grow...it may even start creeping around town. Watch out!
Will be up until 2.22.11

2010-11-29T14:51:00.006-05:00

MORE BIRDS

This is a piece I did a while back whilst collecting dead and stunned birds as a part of the Audubon's "Project Safe Flight" - which helps track data on bird + building collisions (usually migrating birds who run into windows reflecting trees).

The bird is rendered in tape and watercolor from a picture of a bird I picked up at one of the city's worst architectural aviary offenders, Bellevue Hospital. A lovely tree sweeped courtyard unfortunately is reflected across the many glass surfaces and dead birds, confused from a night of flying, and the super reflective city, are frequently gathered in front of the lobby entrance.

So I'd like to take my experience volunteering for the Audubon and translate it into some window based art. I'd love to work out a system to deter the birds from meeting their violent ends from a blind spot of architecture.

I call this mock up "An Honest Mistake", I'm picturing future installations with more variety of birds and larger windows.

The deadliest buildings for birds in NYC are The Met, Javitz Center, Bellevue Hospital and a couple of buildings at the WTC.
Through Audubon's efforts, the worst one, the big Post Office building in midtown (killing almost 400 birds a week), was modified to be less reflective and is now in good graces.

These types of collisions remain the biggest threat to birds man has to offer. It seems solvable though, so on with the art, awareness and fundraising! More soon.

2010-11-18T20:21:00.004-05:00

Good news and a gamble...

The good folks curating the vacant library across the street from MoMA called to give formal approval for my gigantic proposal. "Reforesting Midtown" covers 165 ft of a building I'm not alone in remembering with fierce fondness. Childhood memories of visiting the orignial Pooh Bear collection by a friend named for this Christopher, architecture lectures and apparently even Origomi, whose patterns inspire much of my work, waited in this library before meeting me for the first time at MoMA.
The "Reforest" is to read as a trompe l'oeil of reflective trees flickering as the visitor passes, bike, taxi or au pied. A replacement forest of sorts for the missing books that the missing trees once gave us.
For this reason, I'm taking my chances on presenting it early summer instead of the sure thing 1/2 scale install offered me for this January. A decision that held me in a special gravity for several days. May the stars align to grant continued access to the good folks at Chashama.

In the meantime, this proposal to turn a gallery into and inverted garden, will continue to percolate.

2010-11-09T12:13:00.005-05:00

It's Auction Season!

I've donated another piece to the kids...

Proposal for 50 Murray Street, NYC
13" x 20" paper, silkscreen, tape
© RAYLENE GORUM 2008

It is a proposal to transform a building in Tribeca into a portion of Graffiti City. One of these years, I hope to make this happen full scale.

I've donated an embellished silkscreen print from the Proposal for 50 Murray series. If you're in Park Slope this Friday eve, come by to say hi and maybe even support the kids while enjoying food and drink.

Meanwhile, the CMA Auction last week was great fun, a little more of a glam touch like the Whitney Art Auction - their new space on Hudson Street will be amazing once open. Mostly, it was a pleasure having friends around (Topher Dawson and Gerri Davis were also contributing artists) and seeing Simon du Pury in action on his very animated auction block. Anecdotally, the art world seems to be recovering compared to the last couple of years.

When Birds Roamed the Earth, Dymaxion View

2010-10-07T19:44:00.001-04:00

When Birds Roamed the Earth, Dymaxion View, originally uploaded by R.bean.

Happy to be participating again with this piece the always glamorous CMA auction this year. (actually slightly diff in the globe in picture- thin blue tape stripes instead of the orange silkscrened globe- just in case you're tempted to bid online - seriously honored to be in with such distinguished artists as Andy Warhol + Yoko Ono)

Celebrity artists and hosts if that's your thing and great art (usually at great prices too) for an inspired cause (bringing the arts to the underserved kids of NYC).

Children’s Museum of the Arts'
6th Annual Art Auction is Tues. November 2nd, 2010, tickets start at $125....

but!....

....mine little piece has also been selected for a free preview party at Bloomie's next Tuesday.

An Evening of Art, Fashion, Music and Shopping
Wednesday, October 13th
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Bloomingdale's SoHo
504 Broadway (between Spring and Broome Streets)

Light refreshments & drinks will be served

2010-09-27T18:47:00.004-04:00

Graffiti City first appropriates the colorful designs donated to the public realm by street artists borrowing buildings.

It then inverts the traditional rejection of such graffiti by landlords city wide by inviting it into a volunteer situation at a scale large enough to abstract the original tag. A re-re-appropriation.

This concept was translated into a taping.

And headed further downtown to the hip residential building at 50 Murray Street, NY

- an edition of silk screened prints on white, silver and gold paper in variable colors with unique tape embellishments

And over to the East River, using Keith Haring's vocabulary across the United Nations building.

Continuing to the West Village...the text on the left is the almighty Lease, which governs so many of our relationships.

2010-09-07T13:58:00.006-04:00

I once packed up my art in a portable file to have professionally shot before a solo show and had to finesse it into the back of a taxi cab. I told the taxi driver I was grateful it fit, conveniently taxi-sized art....to which he looked up at a big truck ahead of us and said "Maybe someday you'll make truck size." I could have hugged him.

It's been amazing season of back to back installations + they keep getting bigger!

The Ridgewood Times installation gave birth to my latest at Northside Piers in Williamsburg Brooklyn. I was delighted to find that the building is directly across the street from the 1st loft I moved into when I arrived in NYC. This building and the pier they built to enjoy the animated waterfront are certainly better neighbors than the recycling center they replaced. Movin' on up!

Here's the story, mostly told in pictures:

The original proposal - the process always takes on a life of it's own - especially at this scale, but the good folks kept the vision and I think the result added more color and texture than originally anticipated. The concept was autumnal ivy -which you never see growing on glass and which would remain up before and after actual Autumn.

The big art is helping me work through my fear of heights.

Night view from above

Afternoon shadows

Homage to the spring installation- a portion of those windows are framed here behind the doorman with reflective backing. The effect creates another window of sorts and multiplies the "blossom" line work.

Sunset, installed!

And sunset from the East River...amazing.

On the pier they built + looking back at the building.

It should be up until 2011, I'm happy to lead tours or let you know how to visit. More pictures here

And a BIG thanks to Eric Gjerde (he actually wrote the book on tessellated origami)who let's me have my way with his origami crease patterns. Someone was suggested the shapes looked like Rubic's non-cubes...I think they might look a little like one of his recent folds here.
Cheers!

2010-08-20T15:11:00.000-04:00

This year has been dense with installations and as the last two have been massive and back to back, it's high time to catch up on the interwebs.

The Gowanus Ballroom:

Angela Bracco curated a terrific group show, "Architecture + Body" July 2010 at the Gowanus Ballroom. The space is like an industrial cathedral and was filled with large scale installations, paintings, sound art, sculpture, architecture models, dancers and an ethereal opera singer.

I was very proud to participate and contribute my "July Sky 40° 67' N 74° 0'W" - my biggest installation yet.
55' x 20' (24' x 14' uninstalled) spanning ten 4' x 7' bricked in windows...which were very difficult to reach -the highest point was nearly 40' off the ground and over a metal staircase....and it was during this summer's heat wave w/ temps over 100 degrees (hotter higher up in the space).

(windows in the back are mine)

A brief tour of install to party begins here:

Testing the 4' x 7' layout, obviously too big to work on in my studio (my trusty assistants are pushed into the corners, thank you Baharak for your dedicated assistance!).

In this case bigger=better, the bottom row is ready to rock.... just waiting on the scissor lift + some bravery pills for the two windows over the staircase.

And I thought it would be sketchy- we leaned two planks on the lip of the bricked in windows and walked across the staircase drop below to install an unwieldy 4' x 7' bit of mylar with tape that no longer wanted to stick in the 100+ degree heat (our sweaty hands didn't help).

Good laughs were had at the pools of nervous sweat gathering under my feet.

Party time!

The dancers were amazing and dramatically flanked by Kate Commodore's naughty wallpaper, Elliott Arkin's "Rachel" and Gerri Davis' grand homage to Picasso on the right.

Enthralled audience

I desperately want to purchase this piece from Whitie Tighties. The "ants" are actually little black army men. Poor Troy was one of the death avoiders during installation.

Downstairs delicate steampunk drama

Malesha Jessie (founder of creative network MuseSalon enchanted us with sporatic opera which resonated through the cathedral like space. Here she is interacting with the sound art piece.

From the poetic architectural room...

Finally, here's a detail from one of my window pieces, featuring the lovely BrooklynQueensExpressway!

I've just uploaded the full story in pictures on flickr from start to death-defying (literally) finish. There were more ambitious and well executed works + beautiful people than I could possibly capture, it was an honor to be a part of this immense creative thrust.

2010-07-28T20:28:00.000-04:00

A series started in burlesque life drawing events in NY + London. Inspired by the Graffiti City series and immersive tattoos. Body graffiti embellishment yields the following Graffiti Citizens wrapped in "tag" outlines.

Graffiti Citizen
mylar, paint, collage, ink

Graffiti Citizen
mylar, paint, collage, ink

Graffiti Citizen
mylar, paint, collage, ink

art+architectureSHOWfront

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

art+architectureSHOWfront, originally uploaded by R.bean.

OPENING PARTY
THURSDAY JULY 8!
6-11p

Going to be a fun art party in an awesome space (just off Smith + 9th) -

Big installations (including my biggest one yet in giant bricked in windows), gorgeous paintings, architectural models, custom toys like teeter totters, beer, wine, even a flotilla!

Come and you won't regret it. Show will be open through the weekend.

gowanusballroom.com/

2010-06-15T20:02:00.002-04:00

in-situ-progress, originally uploaded by R.bean.

Hurray! Flavorpill is featuring the CAMPFIRE show this weekend. Great inspiration as I'm still blazing through blades and covered in tape scraps....and about to undue a lot of work to switch techniques.

...been taking lots of progress photos along the way....partly because this thing is so massive + my studio is so small- the camera lens helps me really "see" it.
Fun shots as I go now together as a photoset

Enjoy!

2010-06-03T19:35:00.003-04:00

Lots of exciting art things coming up this summer...
the studio is humming.

First up is a fun Campfire themed art party out in Sunset park
- big music + lots of art on Saturday the 19th
my contribution is a return to the lightbox, a 4ft by 4ft vertical "fire"
more tape, more blades, more s'mores

All the details findable here
(fire!)

Next event will be Thursday July 8th at the Gowanus Hotel Ballroom - through July 12th
- featuring a large scale installation from yours truly, awesome large mechanical toys (see motorcycle boat!), fresh oysters from Maine...and other very voyage-worthy stimulations.

convincing pictures here

2010-04-28T13:33:00.001-04:00

Thanks to everyone who came out to the castle this month! The caliber of work in the show was really high- spirits were good - and I'm really pleased with the synergy of sharing space with Karl Friedrich's steel sculptures and Fiyel Levent's geometric laser cut lace patterns. I added my signature chirping bird soundtrack and people kept coming back to the space to just hang out as the outside light changed, some calling it an indoor urban park, some stealing smooches.

Ok, onto pictures!

...me, daytime

close up

I stayed up all night installing, but the payoff was seeing the work at sunrise.

Liza makes a great model with her fabulous necklace. The work changes so much as the outside light changes, I'll post more night / evening shots soon.

A portion of the second room of the installation, just the origami blossoms and a real blossom-less tree in the background.

And here's a view of the shadows lent by this combo caressing Fiyel Levent's beautiful laser cut lace pieces.

Outside view in the morning- a different deal when lit from within at night.

2010-04-02T15:22:00.003-04:00

Daydreaming in the Valley of Heart's Delight, Part Two, originally uploaded by R.bean.

Getting very excited about upcoming group show in Ridgewood, NY (just off the L train, no worries)-
I had originally proposed an exterior installation-(see below)- but a little last minute switcharoo and I think it's for the better. I'm hustling this week with silkscreen, cutting, taping + installing for the opening...

APRIL 10TH! The party begins with 2 bands + a dozen really (intimidatingly) awesome artists taking over these gorgeous loft conversions in a very interesting crenellated building.

5-8p
...but I'll be there during the day for any daytime adventurers. The whole thing put together by the fabulous artist/architect Gerri Davis.

I'm eager to see if the NYC blossoms beat me to my origami homage. Thanks to Eric Gjerde for the tessellate-able origami pattern.

It will be up for 2 weeks, ping me if you want to visit some other time, I'll be arranging little field trips!

p.s.
Here's "Daydreaming in the Valley of Heart's Delight, Part One"

2010-03-30T11:10:00.002-04:00

ARTIST STATEMENT

I enjoy blurring the line between print and installation, taking prints off the tradition place on a wall and cascading the them across window frames. The building becomes canvas, the print dynamic. The transparency of the work on the window creates a spatial relationship between indoor and outdoor and an interplay of available light.

The work tends to express a missing natural element using obviously man-made structural forms. Origami tessellations printed on clear acetate become blossoms, anticipating spring in neighborhoods where real trees are few and far between. Geometric shapes hand silkscreened with a warm Autumnal palette creep across glass like ivy never could.

In my heart, an architect is an artist whose work is made explicitly in consideration of its surrounding environment, at all scales. I started assembling works out of wallpaper found on job sites and the raw materials of hardware stores into proposals for full-scale projects that include their setting within the art; cities are fantastically rendered, nature is represented structurally. Blueprints for tessellated origami cluster and become foliage, flocks of birds reveal a harmonious mathematical graph, sky charts map galactic structures masked by our city lights.

These works in turn have grown to a more architectural scale themselves, coming full circle to create a dialogue with the space in which they are installed with pattern rich trompe l'oeils of vividly colored geometric "natural" scenes. It is my passion to continue translating these projects full scale in public spaces.

Bio
Raylene Gorum moved to New York City in 2001 after completing her Bachelors of Architecture at California Polytechnic in San Luis Obispo and Ecole d’Architecture in Paris.

In 2003, she started her own design firm, Sweet 101, focusing on interior architecture, custom furniture, and textural redesign of spaces.

Professionally engaged in the speculative process of drawing construction plans, refining blueprints and bringing them to fruition in the real world, she dedicated her remaining time to crafting fantastical urban proposals on drafting film in vivid colors of layered tape and paint. In 2008, she had three solo shows of these proposals at Art Engine (San Francisco), Rowan Morrison (Oakland) and Shetler Studios (Manhattan). Her sketchbook books and prints and since been exhibited and collected internationally.

In 2009, she to designed, built, and started operating Baby Grand, a singing bar and micro art gallery in SoHo. The "Baby" is a place for patrons to explore self-expression, for Raylene to curate very small shows, and for everyone to go to sleep very, very late.

In the past two years, she has actualized some of these fantastical visions for cities and translated them into large-scale, site-specific installations in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan. Her largest one to date, occupied 165' of windows across the street from MoMA on 53rd St in Manhattan. She is still running Baby Grand and is eager to continue fusing her artistic and architectural perspective with even larger, building-sized art.

• Trained as an architect at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Ecole d’Architecture in Paris
• Designed + operates + curates Baby Grand, a singing bar + gallery in Soho, NYC
• Currently focusing on large scale installations
• Sketchbooks and tapings exhibited in New York, San Francisco, London, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Taipei, and Brazil
• Nearly fainted when she found Rubans de Normandie, a tape store in Paris.

____________________________________________

EXHIBITIONS
2011 'City' Group Show at the Bridge Gallery, NY, NY
Reconstructing a Midtown Forest, 53rd St Installation. Chashama at the Donnell LIbrary, NY, NY
Art + Architecture Show at Gowanus Ballroom; Brooklyn, NY
Ivy Remix, Baby Gallery; Manhattan, NY
2010 Brooklyn Ivy, Northside PIers (installation up until 2011); Brooklyn, NY
Art + Architecture Show; Gowanus Ballroom; Brooklyn, NY
CAMPFIRE Group Show by Winkel + Balktick; Brooklyn, NY
Heart’s Delight Installation, @RT Ridgewood Times Building; Ridgewood, NY
2009 Curator at Baby Grand Baby Gallery
2008 Volume Too- Solo Show* Rowan Morrison; Oakland CA
Raylene Gorum Vernissage* - Shetler Studios; New York, NY
New Constructions – Solo Show* Art Engine; San Francisco, CA
ArtXposium ; West Chicago, IL
ISOT Fair; Tokyo, Japan
London Book Art Fair; London UK
2007 Postcards from Darwin: Exeter Phoenix Gallery ; Exeter, UK
ArtXposium II; West Chicago, IL
2006 Southpoint from Ruin to Rejuvenation Exhibition; Center for Architecture, NY, NY
2005 Proj:ex, Super City; March-July Taiwan + Hong Kong, China SAR

PUBLIC MENTION for articles w/ images
2009 "Everyman's Joyce" Contributing Artist
2008 Phillips de Pury: Featured Emerging Artist
2007 Capricho Magazine, Brazil
2007 Underspray.com Interview
2006 ENYA Southpoint Competition Published Finalist
2005 Milk Magazine, Hong Kong
2005 Friday Magazine, Hong Kong
2003 Artnet, Charlie Finch, Critic

EDUCATION
2001 Cal Poly University, San Luis Obispo, CA: Bachelors of Architecture
2000 Ecole d’Architecture Val de Marne, Paris, France
2007 Central St. Martin’s, London, UK: Experimental Printing
2005 Cooper Union, NY, NY: Certified Advanced 3D Studies

guerilla parade march 21st

2010-03-18T12:16:00.001-04:00

guerilla parade march 21st, originally uploaded by R.bean.

Come play this Sunday!

We're celebrating the 1st day of Spring + turning SoHo into our catwalk. Several casual couture fashionistas will be sharing their lines + encourage you to wear your spring favorites. There will be dancers + a sample sale complete with $5 mimosas at Baby Grand afterward.

Great photos to be had, beautiful people, + kickass fashion. What a way to start the best season of the year.

Spring! Street Fashion Parade
Location:Downtown (Starting at Spring Street - see attached map) Time:3:25PM Sunday, March 21st, some will be meeting at my bar beforehand at 3p.

Sample sale features custom T-shirts, undies, body jewelry, hats, veils, totes, tights + more by Whitie Tighties, Little Spring Millinery, Uptights, and I Inspire All Humanity... until 6p

Sunny weather expected!

2010-02-28T18:11:00.002-05:00

Raylene Gorum was originally trained as an architect at California Polytechnic University SLO and Ecole d'Architecture de Paris. This background surfaces in her art via hyperbolic projections for the urban environment and the fastidious materiality of her works' construction.

London appears as if it's narrow mews were unfolded and overgrown with vegetation while Her Majesty's animal subjects migrate freely. New York commercially embraces her graffiti culture and reforests the avenue floors. San Francisco undulates improbably and lays golden tracks of car-free street life. These become earnest proposals if we believe that we, together, re-build our cities daily.

(I've augmented the traditional material list to include subjects and mappings to allow them to tell their own story. More on how these are constructed below. Enjoy!)

L O N D O N

Gilded London
60cm x 80cm
Mylar, tape, paint, paparazzi magazines, London underground map, Posh, Paris, Lindsay, buildings of Knightsbridge

and it's fraternal twin, also made during my sojourn in London

Natured London
60cm x 80cm
Mylar, tape, watercolor, spray paint, stamp, graphite, vintage wallpaper, the Queen's city animals, map of the London Underground, buildings of Knightsbridge, London

London Escapist
60 cm x 80 cm
Mylar, tape, spray paint, watercolor, ink, golden foil, Financial Times, map of London boroughs, spring night-sky for 51° latitude and my boy-torn model

In transition between London and New York

Pond Crossing
24" x 31 1/2"
Mylar, tape, spray paint, origami diploma collage, map of medieval London, spring constellation above London latitude.

N Y C

Daydreaming in the Valley of Heart's Delight: Part One
42" x 32"
Mylar, tape, silk screened foil, watercolor, 2nd Avenue, origami crease patterns

Graffiti City
7" x 20"
Mylar, spray paint, artist tape, collaged photos.

Leased Graffiti
20" x 14"
Mylar, tape, spray paint, graffiti collage, origami cranes (photo), lease transfer

This piece was based on time spent one summer between a borrowed home in Greenwich, CT and NYC. My city mind kept calculating the density missing from the bucolic backyard and the projects passed at the edges of the city.

Project Trees
24” x 36”
Mylar, tape, watercolored housing density map of NYC

S A N F R A N C I S C O

Trapeze Over the Universe
40" x 32"
Mylar, tape, watercolor, map of NYC silk screened onto foil paper

A Bridge Over a Deep Gorge"
43" x 32"
Mylar, tape, watercolor, silkscreen, cork, map of San Francisco, Redwoods,

E A R T H

When Bird's Roamed the Earth, Dymaxion View
20" x 32"
Mylar, silk screened birds, ink, Bucky Fuller's Dymaxion silk screen map

TAPINGS:

I maintain a broader definition of “tape” including off the shelf varietals found in hardware and art stores across the globe, custom manufactured rolls and original silk screened textures printed on luxurious papers with adhesive backings produced in the studio. Thus the palette does not blend as paint blends, but is drawn with a knife and assembled. The Tapings are built on translucent drafting film and framed between two plates of plexiglass. Backlit, the interplay of positive to negative is revealed in the luminescent joinery.

2010-01-28T21:05:00.000-05:00

Everyone picnics! A proposal for the reuse of ruins at the tip of Roosevelt Island (between Manhattan + Queens) published in a book for the NY Emerging Architects 2005.

The idea is to bring people to the island to picnic before the tremendous view of Manhattan on a 140 ft long table.

One end meets the water to encourage boat traffic, one end overlooks the Small Pox Hospital ruins turned green-planted outdoor gallery. Part boat dock, part invitation to performance art (linear dance!), and completely alluring for moments of casual respite.

The acreage beyond would be rehabilitated as a bird and arbor sanctuary further filling the site with life, sound and reprieve. The design reuses the distinctive red steam pipes which provide the island with self-sustaining energy as water closets and kiosks.

2010-01-26T17:24:00.000-05:00

Very excited about an upcoming opportunity to take these installation ideas full scale.

The Times Building, a former newspaper building with plenty of quirky character, dramatic textures and even crenellations - has been converted into a smart residential loft building.

The owners + brokers are a savvy bunch + are collaborating with artist/architect Gerri Davis to host several artist studios (a very talented gathering!).

This was my proposal, the actual installation we know will take a life of its own.

The work will open with a live band on March 27th. More details to come soon.

2010-01-20T15:38:00.002-05:00

The sketches made in my moleskine books have been exhibited in three continents and have probably received more attention than any other thing I've done. They are now available in limited edition archival prints.

Email me or leave a comment if interested, cheers!

and more additions in the horizontal spread

2009-10-29T15:21:00.000-04:00

pond-crossing-dbl, originally uploaded by R.bean.

Honored to be included once again in the Children's Museum of the Arts annual benefit at the Phillips de Pury auction house.

This piece was made as we were moving from London to New York- it's the usual mixture of tape, mylar + spraypaint with some labor intensive mapping of Atlantic Ocean currents in ink below. The moto-adventurers are cut out of a vintage map of London.

Left side is front lit, right side is back lit.

From my most recent foray into art auction world at Phillips de Pury - it can be stressful because you always want your little babies to do well!
Funny to make the "Social Diary", funnier still to find that many of my friends follow these pages and gave me the heads up that Topher + I were in them!

scroll to bottom- Children's Museum of the Arts w/ Iman
www.newyorksocialdiary.com/node/1187591

There's a goofier picture of me next to my piece here:
www.famegame.com/mediaObject/1356824/?profile_id=239724&a...

2009-10-27T13:57:00.005-04:00

Wave Off the Headlands 24 1/2" x 18"
Mylar, tape, spray paint, watercolor, silk screen

Homage to Hiroshige: A dialogue with the acclaimed Japanese woodblock print artist, Hiroshige. Both artists 'draw with a knife', producing their works by precise cutting (he to wood, she to tape), and share a celebration of
color. Gorum quotes compositions from Hiroshige's prints of travelers in Edo period Japan, exchanging villagers with modern characters in distorted American vistas.

The Road to Dawn 18" x 24 1/2"
Mular, vinyl, tape, watercolor, graphite, spray paint

Plum Estate 24 1/2" x 18"
Mylar, vinyl, tape, spray paint, silk screen

A Bridge Over a Deep Gorge
42" x 32" mylar, tape, watercolor, silkscreen, cork, san francisco, redwoods,

People on a Bridge Surprised by Rain
24 1/2" x 18"
Mylar, tape, spray paint, graphite

Wishess of Highway 280
18" x 24 1/2"
Mylar, vinyl, tape, watercolor, spray paint, ink

Floating Subway
24 1/2" x 9"
Mylar, tape, spray paint, ink

2009-08-26T13:11:00.001-04:00

everyman's_joyce, originally uploaded by R.bean.

One of my sketchbookers was included in the most recent edition of the "EVERYMAN" series- which pairs the work of artists with discourse of literary giants.
My little piece ode to fireworks over Manhattan was paired with a discussion of Joyce's treatment of Dublin...

"Joyce wanted the picture of Dublin to be so complete in Ulysses that if the city vanished, it could be reconstructed from the book"

I've never dissected Joyce before (in truth I mostly reread the first five chapters of "Artist" and put it away for some other time when I'm ready) and as he's a writer ripe with verbal puzzles, I'm really enjoying the publisher's efforts here to open the gates.

"Everyman's Joyce"

2009-06-14T20:45:00.001-04:00

Sponsored by AIA NY Emerging Architects and selected for publication and exhibition-Groen Hook Boathouse is a competition entered along with Christina Hansen + Jake La Chapelle- for the adaptive reuse of an industrial site along Greenpoint Brooklyn's water edge.

The program called for a boathouse with storage + learning facilities, a community center.

In addition, we provided a plan for returning the area to a marshy habitat (navigable by boat), reclaiming existing oil storage drums for sound + sculpture installations. Visible from Manhattan, Williamsburg and Greenpoint and of course everyone passing on the East River, the vertically oriented boat storage building doubled as an iconic object-as-billboard with the stacked boats advertising the new water park in the former industrial wasteland.

More people using the cities waterways leads to cleaner waterways and happier people.

Boathouse Tower

Reclaimed Marshland Park + Sound Drums

2009-05-04T14:28:00.003-04:00

HOLLY COLOR, originally uploaded by R.bean.

Creative Holly has recently launched a new blog in which she introduces artists through color.

I'm honored to be on her radar and went through the happy process of selecting 5 colors from "Natured London".

It's a fresh way of viewing artists and appropriate as colors are so emotionally charged.

Her blog is adorable and I've already discovered some new artist crushes.

http://creativehollycolor.blogspot.com/2009/04/raylenes-tapings.html

2008-10-28T13:25:00.004-04:00

Hooohaa!! My show made Flavorpill SF Overdue aren't we for pictures from the opening at Rowan Morrison? West Coasters who couldn't make the opening have another chance to socialize amongst art as they will be debuting John Casey's well-considered illustrated book SCARECROW....just in time for Halloween.

Book launch party will be 7-10pm October 30th....two for one ART EXTRAVAGANZA (oh, it's casual you can wear what you like).
Details on Rowan Morrison's site.

Pre-opening shots....this one captures the gold tape streets on the large image better than the pro-shot I used for the postcard.

The pink + orange wall....you're probably noticing these pieces are a bit smaller than other works. Suitcase sized! I'm liking the scaled size, there's more to come.

A small sketchbook print installation too. These landscape moleskines are from the past year of travel + art and will be included in the next collected volume of sketchers....v.2, 2009. Gotta update the shop.

good times!

Sneaking some family in...

All star cast - Baharak's mom, Pete the gallerist, Stephanie (in from Chicago! + lovely lovely for introducing me to the gallery!), and my childhood chum Vanessa. Don't know who was behind the camera, but I love how they got a little ham out of everyone.

Graffiti City

2008-10-20T15:36:00.001-04:00

Graffiti City , originally uploaded by R.bean.

Back in NYC, getting the studio back together after the storm before the show, cracking the whip on some archi projects and getting winter clothes out as this promises to be a very cold one indeed.

Right now, though, it's all about party clothes as tonight we'll join the Children's Museum of Art to cheer this piece on to it's new owner. Good company promised as Sol Le Wit and Warhols are also on the auction block. As the prices tend to be lower and the money goes to a good cause AND you get a little gambler's high, auctions are a great place to build a collection.

Phillips de Pury on 15th street @ 6:30.

2008-10-07T01:31:00.002-04:00

Sneak preview of the upcoming Oakland show. Doing a little tour around the Bay Area for a couple of days before the show. Caught bluegrass in Golden Gate park, stars and quiet in Napa, friends everywhere. Hello California! Thank you for the warm warm reception, I love you too.

This show will be a little dialog w/ Hiroshige. - The Tapings, smaller this time at 24" x 18", along w/ a tube of new sketchbook prints travelled well. Looking forward to getting the babies out of their travel clothes and up in the gallery in the coming days. Send burritos.

based on..

based on....

based on:

New camera, new art in progress

2008-09-22T16:14:00.001-04:00

New camera, new art in progress, originally uploaded by R.bean.

Been too long...so much busy beans in these parts. I promise more updates soon.

Meantime, here's a little "behind the scenes" shot from the upcoming show at Rowan Morrison in Oakland. West coasters, the opening party is October 11th at 7pm. A sweet gallery / artist book store run by an awesome artist couple.

I'll be setting up the week before....ping me for a private tour or burrito!

Through Nov. 15.

Here's the press release...

Raylene Gorum is exhibiting selections from her well-traveled
sketchbooks as well as what she refers to as "Tapings", broadening the
definition of "tape" to include hardware store varietals, custom
manufactured editions, vinyl, and handmade silkscreen-textured
adhesive panels. The Tapings, assembled upon translucent drafting
film embellished with ink and watercolor, draw on themes of
fantastical urbanity and its tenuous relationship to the natural
landscape.

Volume Too is a series of such Tapings in which Gorum engages in a
dialogue with the acclaimed Japanese woodblock print artist,
Hiroshige. Both artists 'draw with a knife', producing their works by
precise cutting (he to wood, she to tape), and share a celebration of
color. Gorum quotes compositions from Hiroshige's prints of travelers
in Edo period Japan, exchanging villagers with modern characters in
distorted American vistas.

A Bay Area native, Gorum studied architecture at California
Polytechnic in San Luis Obispo and at Ecole d'Architecture Vals de
Marne in Paris. She presently lives and works in New York City.

2008-08-13T12:20:00.004-04:00

The show was a great success! Thanks to everyone who popped into the Penthouse this weekend, I know the multitude of summer plans were also tugging at your sleeve.

For those who couldn't be there to enjoy the roof, the bubbly and the mirrored reflections....here's a visual recap.

The Graffiti City pieces

The Lovely Jen Rock + friend checking out Roosevelt Birds....the sun had just gone down letting the light washing down the mirrors backlight the pieces.

Detail of the front + reflected backside. This photo is great because it reveals the nature of their collaged dresses, which isn't clear from the front view. Paris Hilton wearing a tabloid article about Posh Spice remixxxx.

Christopher Arcella introducing me to his photographer friend Aoyumi (sp?).

Double sketchbooks strike again. Jonica dawns the gloves at the book table.

22 feet of sketchbook art! This portion of the exhibit will be up in the public space of Shetler Studios through 2008.

Can you tell I'm excited about the mirrors + back-lighting?

Big thanks is due to Robin + Ron at Shetler Studios for having the vision and opening up their fabulous space and hosting talents for my work.

Special thanks to Mr. Matt Glasson, the man behind the camera foisted upon him, for the brilliant photos.

2008-08-07T14:10:00.003-04:00

Almost there! Breathing through some delays...and packing up the tape, the wine, the magic lights.

Here's a sneak preview for some of the prints debuting at the Shetler Penthouse:

This is a proposal to transform a building in Tribeca into Graffiti City. One of these years, I hope to make this happen full scale.

In the meantime, there are prints....on white, silver and gold papers with varying colors and customized tape details to make each unique. Edition of 35.

Homage to Mr. Fuller. Bucky's Dymaxion Globe: Under Construction. Printed on highly reflective gold paper (please excuse the reflections on the left!) There are other variations in this silkscreened series, got to leave some surprises.

Let's hope 08.08.08 is really the auspicious omen it's been talked up to be. If not, there will be plenty of wine to toast to a better 09.09.09.

See you this weekend?! Details here.

2008-07-31T16:06:00.002-04:00

Went by Shetler Studios, the sounds of gorgeous sopranos slipped rang through the walls while I played half architect/half artist in the mirrored Penthouse measuring tape in hand.

I probably took as many photos of the view as I did of the space.....perhaps there's a new project in there somewhere?

Nine days!

2008-07-15T11:13:00.002-04:00

Oh my my my. First Radiohead (in)famously releases this gorgeous album pay-as-you-wish. Now they are using lasers + other non-camera graphing technologies to produce the videos. Boing boing is all aflutter because the technology used is super cool AND it is being released for free use through Creative Commons.

This girl is aflutter because this video seems to capture the essential beauty inherent to the spirit of this album and to the zen of the digital era: of creating something devotional and then setting it free to become the colorful dust of the universe.

2008-07-10T16:31:00.003-04:00

The East River is singing!

David Byrne, a recovering architect himself, has gone back to the well...only this time merged with his musical genius. Creative Time (perhaps the most audacious public art sponsors in the city) connected Byrne with the use of the upper floor of the Maritime Building on South Street.

Byrne then connected the building to this organ people line up to play every Friday thru Saturday. Pipes are drilled into flutes, radiators edges are fondled loudly, and other structural elements are variously transformed into percussion instruments giving this 100 year old building (dreadfully underused for how beautiful the space is) a creaky cacophony of sounds that would make John Cage proud.

We rode our bikes along the East River pathway to also take in Olafur Eliasson's 4 Waterfalls. These are obviously designed with "best views" in mind as up close and personal (though I'd love to kayak under one if the impact or grime wouldn't kill me) they seem a little un-glorious. The one under the Brooklyn Bridge rocks it from all directions, the others need a little distance to emotionally trick you into awe with the help of adjacent dense cityscapes.

Luckily there are plenty of boats, including...the FREE ferry to Governor's Island (where the 4th waterfall lives)..and which conveniently leaves from....the Maritime Building where David Byrne's rigged organ is making all that racket.

Thanks for the treats gentlemen!
A great excuse to drink in the edges of this fair city.

Playing the Building - open Fri-Sun til August 24th
NYC Waterfalls - up through October 13th

2008-07-08T13:13:00.007-04:00

Alrighty folks! The art is coming to NYC for a special weekend viewing because I love my NYC peeps. I'm honored to be the first artist that Shetler Studios (a Theater District anchor with an inspiring entrepreneur at it's head) will host.
Everyone is welcome!

Press Release:

In this East Coast viewing of “New Constructions”, New York City-based artist Raylene Gorum shares her tape drawn visions of NY, SF and London in a mirror and city lined Penthouse in the Theater District. The show’s title, like the artist’s inventive process, reflects her intent to transform these familiar urban environments into proposals and postulations of what is and what could be. Perspectives are bent as urban constructions fuse with free roaming animals, wild vegetation and edifice sized graffiti.

Originally trained as an architect, Gorum builds each “Taping” on translucent drafting film, framing them between two plates of plexiglass. Set slightly off the mirrored walls, the pieces subtly glow while the viewer gets a reflected peak of the other side. She maintains a broader definition of “tape” including off the shelf varietals found in hardware and art stores across the globe, custom manufactured rolls and original silk screened textures printed on luxurious papers with adhesive backings produced in the studio. Thus the palette does not blend as paint blends, but is drawn with a knife and assembled. Backlit, the interplay of positive to negative is revealed in the luminescent joinery. Above all, Gorum’s Tapings are a fictionalized perception of place that allows the viewer to navigate through these energetic landscapes while inviting them to participate in the urban landscape beyond the gallery walls.

“New Constructions” Vernissage at Shetler Studios Friday August 8th 5:30-8:30 pm and Saturday August 9th 1:00-4:00 pm. Accompanying installation of the artist’s bookworks to remain on view through 2008.

2008-06-06T17:20:00.002-04:00

IMG_9319, originally uploaded by kspaulding.

I made an exhibition catalog which features the art in the show. Each piece is portrayed with a front + back view to reveal the construction (always a question with my media of choice). 38 pages and at provided at cost over at Blurb.

You'll have to create an account with them to order it or contact me [ rgorum @ gmail ]+ I'll do it for you since I know it can be a bit of a buggy hassle at times.

New Constructions: Raylene Gorum softback $15, hardcover $25.

Another short visitor

2008-06-06T17:11:00.001-04:00

IMG_9198, originally uploaded by kspaulding.

C'est moi!

2008-06-06T17:10:00.001-04:00

IMG_9368, originally uploaded by kspaulding.

Early in the evening

2008-06-06T17:09:00.001-04:00

IMG_9306, originally uploaded by kspaulding.

DJ getting warmed up.

(more of Kyle's photos - which include people! - here Thanks Kyle!)

2008-06-06T16:19:00.006-04:00

I LEFT MY ART IN SAN FRANCISCO

....and apparently my health, my voice and yes a bit of my heart. I'm about to rejoin the living here in NYC - no small task - and am ready to share a little party-a-porter tour for folks who couldn't make the show. Turn out was fabulous with folks coming in from Canada, NYC, London and even LA just for the evening! A truly beautiful crowd sipping Napa wine and taking a closer look at all that jazz on mylar. I talked my voice away that night and still wish I could have talked to more people.

Why don't we tell the rest of the story with a slew of photos?

View from street at night. Art Engine - 1035 Mission Street between 6th + 7th in San Francisco. Show is up through June 24 (Thurs eves + Saturdays).

....bits of bird tape visible here...and sketchbook podium

Tiny Dancer! Short art lovers had a lot of fun interacting with the pieces floating mid-space.

Night overview....the art really changes with different lighting conditions since it is translucent. Day, night and though we had to make a gametime call to not do so- especially when backlit.

Daytime...from the back of the gallery - back of the last hanging piece- Green Streets of San Francisco.

The other two pieces hanging mid-space for a full how-it-was-constructed view of front + back. Had the nice effect of creating a little room.

Bird tape installation on entrance door.

Double sketchbook - open for public perusing....and perhaps the most commented on piece of the show.

Pablo takes a break from his amazing hosting at the bar (with his gorgeous presentation of chocolate dipped delights).

That's me getting chatty in the middle. I loved watching people interact with the art - what a treat to have people share their experiences of it with me.

Ladies of San Jose reunite!

Favorite quote from the airport, "Thank you for participating in security."

So much love and gratitude goes to our hosts and friends in SF- we are overflowing with good mojo!....and secretly looking into tiny cars should we one day head west...shhh.

Special thanks to Yuri Psinakis for all his insight, generosity and hard work,
Ez Uy for everything right down to bravely taking a sharp knive to tape in the 11th hour,
Baharak Najm for connecting the dots and spreading magic like no one else quite can,
Pablo Vago Lopez Mitzel for sharing his culinary arts and impeccable style.

KISSES + CHOCOLATE!!!!

2008-06-03T21:47:00.001-04:00

E L S E W A R E on the web

06.17.08
Whitney Art Party - participating artist

....and Styledash featured my piece in a selection of 10. Happy our friends picked up Shannon Ebner's Alphabet piece (No. 2 below).

05.18.08
Phillipe de Pury profiled as "emerging artist" : phillips ART expert.
phillips ART expert takes up the aim of demystifying art for people interested in collecting. The site is peppered with current finds, artists in their studios, videos + games. Their auction desk profits go Make it Right of New Orleans 9th Ward.

I'm honored to be reviewed in their Emerging Artist forum.

05.29.08
Alan Bamberger, who runs the informative (articles for artists + collectors)and well named website ArtBusiness.Com was kind enough to review my SF show and include some great photos on his website.
Scroll to bottom for New Constructions, San Francisco.

03.28.07
Underspray.com interviews Raylene Gorum.

10.24.03
Mention by critic Charlie Finch of ARTNET

2008-06-02T12:50:00.002-04:00

WELCOME TO THE ART GALLERY

The slideshow below responds to your mouse. Move mouse away to let slide show run. Click on particular image to get more information. Roll over bottom of image to reveal grid of all images or to adjust the speed.

2008-05-23T12:51:00.002-04:00

So many things to be excited about over here....well....aside from the abdominal aortic aneurysm I'm sure I have....
the internet is a dark + terrible place for the hypochondriac.

Thing No. 1:

The venerable auction house Phillips de Pury, part of the engine behind Saatchi's (in)famous mega-art-website, has been curating a lovely site of their own aimed at demystifying the art world. I'm honored to be profiled in the Phillips art expert site as an Emerging Artist: Raylene Gorum. The site is altogether lovely in concept + execution and should be bookmarked by art types.

Thing No. 2

Le Nouveau Custom Tape est arrivé! 24 ROLLS of birds!! So far the parade of packages (books, tape, custom moleskine) have been arriving right on queue. Gratitude! Now to plan for the on-site installation. My suitcase is looking more and more ridiculous, someone has to entertain airport security.

Thing No. 3
Spicy Pumpkin Cupcakes....Happy Birthday Ezzie!!!! We will make much party tonight in an East Village basement filled with games and cheap PBR and young folk and and and...
we won't worry about sleeping until we are on that cross-country busplane tomorrow at 7am! I hope my aneurysm holds up until then.

2008-05-19T23:37:00.003-04:00

Strange Days, originally uploaded by magic fly paula.

It’s lucky to hear the flutes for dancing
Coming down the road. The ground is glowing.
The tables set in the yard.

We will drink all this wine tonight
Because it’s Spring. It is.
It’s a growing sea. We’re clouds
Over the sea,
Or flecks of matter
In the ocean when the ocean seems lit from within.
I know I’m drunk when I start this ocean talk.

Would you like to see the moon split
In half with one throw?

poem by Rumi, the 7th Century Sufi mystic, poet + lover of life

photo by my favorite subtle flickr surrealist friend in Portugal, magic fly paula

2008-05-17T12:26:00.002-04:00

pink bubble wrap + pink tape , originally uploaded by R.bean.

It's the small things that bring me through. All I could think about as I pulled an all nighter adding finishing touches to these pieces before shipping them off to California was the hot pink duct tape and the pink bubble wrap. Go figure.

I walked this mr. pink-o to fed ex - on top of my head!- to the delight of morning commuters.

The studio is in a state, I tell you, and I'm right next to it wondering what I do now that my ducks are in a row. It's just so unnatural to not be working up to the very last minute. Considering adding another print edition to the motts next week.

******************************************************

In the meantime....Hermes is blowing my mind! Gerri points us to these DIY Hermes paper bags. Origami-esque haute couture from your printer to your shoulder. I'M IN LOVE!!!! May have to do own tape edition.....and I need a bigger printer! Or, um, one that works since mine decided to take a vacation during crunch time. I may have got it in England, but I'm convinced he's French and en grève (fittingly, the first word I learned when arriving in Paris - it means "on strike").

2008-05-12T12:46:00.002-04:00

SFshow, originally uploaded by R.bean.

I'm happy to announce that my FIRST solo art show will be opening at the end of the month in San Francisco. The gallery is a lovely space near the SF MoMA. I will showing be my tape drawings of urban scenarios- and have added San Francisco to the NYC + London based works for the occasion. A double duty sketchbook will also be live for flipping through and if all goes according to plan, I've commissioned custom tape for an on-site installation. My dear friend Baharak is even working her magic to coordinate a little live music if we are lucky.

The exhibition book featuring the front + backside of about 20 pieces in the show has been sent to the printer! Will post details on its availability in a couple of weeks.

May 29 6:30-9:30p through June 24
Art Engine
1035 Mission St. (between 6th + 7th) SF,CA
http://artenginegalleries.com

SEE YOU THERE!!

2008-04-22T13:24:00.003-04:00

Delinquent Beans! Seems like I've been making lists and cutting tape and adding more things to the list for weeks. The Grand Opening is set for May 29th in SF folks....and there's still the custom tape, the custom moleskine and the exhibit book to put together. It will be done!

Here's a little dissected view of the latest piece. Layout inspired by fellow perspective bending old time Japanese artist Hiroshige's piece called "Bridge Over a Deep Gorge".

For your musical needs, Toph D has mixed up Radiohead into the gorgeous "Nude (Descending Staircase)" -listen and vote for the Dawg! on the site they opened up for Radio-remix-heaven.

p.s. Love the linked write up of the London Hiroshige exhibit and sorry to have missed it. It also supplied a great new word of the day:

pro·lep·sis [proh-lep-sis]
–noun, plural -ses [-seez]
1. Rhetoric. the anticipation of possible objections in order to answer them in advance.
2. the assigning of a person, event, etc., to a period earlier than the actual one; the representation of something in the future as if it already existed or had occurred; prochronism.
3. the use of a descriptive word in anticipation of its becoming applicable.
4. a fundamental conception or assumption in Epicureanism or Stoicism arising spontaneously in the mind without conscious reflection; thought provoked by sense perception.
5. Pathology. the return of an attack of a periodic disease or of a paroxysm before the expected time or at progressively shorter intervals.

[Origin: 1570–80; < LL prolépsis < Gk prólépsis anticipation, preconception, equiv. to prolép- (verbid s. of prolambánein to anticipate (pro- pro-2 + lambánein to take)) + -sis -sis]

—Related forms
pro·lep·tic

2008-04-01T12:38:00.004-04:00

Artists doing their art thing. Studio scenes w/ the bean, an elephant and a multi-talented puppeteer.

I have the Elephant Orchestra disc...mostly percussion...but had never realized they could paint too. I may have been a little sleep deprived and emerged in artworld when first I watched, but I got a little choked up.

* p.s. I've looked at all the nay-sayers arguments and will tell you (as someone who's attempted to teach humans drawing) that no amount of ear touching or tusk holding could yield such sensitive output. Here's a Salon.com interview w/ elephant painting instructors.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The talents of Mr. Matt Berger never cease to amaze...he writes, crafts gorgeous custom furniture (and combines the two for Fine Woodworking Magazine)...and has now moved into stop-motion animation as a part of their terrific DIY videos. Oh and he knits too...shhh!

Short and sweet.....of course my twisted mind is expecting gory puppet hand decapitating scenes...should I have kept that to myself? Probably.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

and I'll leave you with scenes from beanstudio...

Kit of parts...digital collage layout, Parisian gold tape, and my new exploration into silkscreen (a photo from the Empire State Bldg w/ a map of NYC layered over it)

New SF based piece in progress....the silkscreen in action!

Arwen says "Time to get back to work!!!"

2008-03-21T19:23:00.003-04:00

Thank Good It's Friday!!!

What a delinquent little typetress I've been! I put the thought out to the universe to get me more busy with more fingers out in the world....and the universe delivered like a snow dump. Majestical but you gotta dig a hole out.

The good folks at Moleskine in Milan asked me to do a book for them to take to the London Book Fair and in the two weeks it was in my possession it stands as a bit of a diary for these lost days at the end of winter.

Silkscreen class!!! Loving this up. This here is a rare portrait print since I'm mostly after textures to use in my Tapings....but most importantly, I've assigned an official Printing Day jumpsuit to the task. I'm getting flack because it's white....like the idea of a black-belt darkening over time, I've got to earn my squeegee honorifics.

The Freegans bring us the Edible Excess sticker indicating 'free food' on refuse bags FEEDBACK- a great exhibit hosted by mi amiga Carmen of fluxxlab which has the feel of a sustainably conscious arty science at Eyebeam's huge Chelsea lofty space.
...oh! and I did my first blog post for the Moleskine City Notebooks blog on it here! Has links to the cool behind the scenes blog Carmen made while building the exhibit and her amazing revolving door which captures the human energy and converts it to electricity.

TAX TIME!

New Money

Stopping by the Graffiti Citizen's Den of Ill Repute while the state changes Governor's, cranes tumble, and the sky rains fake money.

Spring isn't here yet, but it's in the mail. Sherry has already given up wearing socks. 45* and rising.

Working out new pieces for the upcoming SF show - laying out fictional roller coaster hilly Frisco vistas.

+

So it has made it to the old world, I'm trying not to to be the mother hen fretter and just trust Le Universe. Why not?

2008-03-03T14:42:00.006-05:00

Drenched in spring fever and not showering.

Seems that everything has come together at once. Like inviting everyone you know to a dinner party and actually having everyone grace you with their presence.....time to make origami plates and whittle spoons out of lollipops.

The SF gallery I visited last fall came through with an offer for my first solo show in May! Of course the notebook is filling w/ frantic plans and scribbled perspectives spelling out a dense retreat into the studio for the next two months.

Here's the first new piece....though it's a revisit of a previous piece. Diptych! A part of the Graffiti City Series....Manhattan re-imagined w/ archi-texturalism. Graffiti drawn in graphite.

and then a backlit detail..

Crazypants o'clock, but then Moleskine decided to contact me about showing my work at the Book Fair in London....my laziness somehow paid off and I can now cross them off my "To Contact" list. Of course, I just have to bust some new work in the crunch time.

....and it's still not clear if I'll be able to take a minor role in my friend's latest film.....which of course will be filming during crunch tiime.

......and we've got plans every single night this week. Good thing is that they are exceptionally fun plans involving the Knicks, the Beastie Boys, art fundraising (hello opportunity to wear special outfits), silkscreening, participating at an architecture crit at Pratt and cherished time w/ close friends.

Ok, reader, you've been a dear, hearing my excited chatter. Let's leave you with meta-images of stylish and semi-dressed ladies shall we? Gerri's bday meets Monkeytown meets Dr. Sketchy's....doesn't get much better folks!

xoxo!

Afternoon delight

2008-02-29T16:17:00.001-05:00

Afternoon delight, originally uploaded by R.bean.

The boy shared this w/ me and I melted.

"A woman rescued a starving lion cub, took it home and nursedit for 6
years then gave it to the zoo. This is what happened when she visited
the zoo..."

http://www.telestereo.com/Archivos/video.html

Friday is for lubbin'!

2008-02-23T23:47:00.002-05:00

blackfriars-quickie, originally uploaded by R.bean.

Time capsule from one year ago.
Here I am squandering my early to bed plan surfing the internets...only to find emdot applauding the handy flickr app Photojojo. In short, photojojo is way too fun and takes seconds to set up if you already have a flickr account. Little pictograms from You-Past will show up twice a month in the inbox. Turn those photos into the great undead.

This time last year, of course I was in London and spent the bday in Barcelona looking up at architecture 100 years in the making....can't think of any other project started at such a scale and pace in the modern age.

This time this year...the boy is weekending there to root his Tottenham Hotspurs on at the new Wembley Stadium for a big game against the unloved and overpaid Chelsea Football Club. A little simulcast from 2007 to him!

Revisiting Gaudi's Cathedral

Awesome designy hotel in Barcelona w/ programmable LEDs, sexy shower by the balcony

Slutty bunnies w/ arabic writing on the streets

Some good memories to lay myself to bed with....right now I'm sharing the bed w/ a huge box I can't find another place for....come home quick The Boy!

2008-02-14T11:53:00.003-05:00

Buenos Valentinos! What says love more than a bright red chair, perfectly formed to hold your booty?

(Maybe a couples massage? That's what we be doing instead of dinner tonight, yay! Admittedly it doesn't last as long as a chair.)

The boy got me a red chair for my birthday...it's on the way. Literally on the truck! Very excited to have an actual piece of furniture- feeling very grown up. So far there's a desk, a low table and a box...the rest is all foam all the time so this is HUGE!
Come everyone, sit in a proper chair! Elderly and pregnant people, no longer curse our foam dome home, you have a seat...as long as you come one at a time.

Of course...it is to replace Arwen's beloved foam chair (see above). She is saying her goodbyes with a farewell nap.

I wait with breath held...cleaning the house like you would for a new baby....any minute now....

Dear FedEx guy,

Get thy booty out of my chair! Surrender it now!
I picture you, set up in the back of the truck with my birthday valentine love chair next to some other waiting-soul's end table w/ some holiday roses and a pot of earl grey tea. I want this to be me! I want to sip from the delicious ergonomic curves.
I want to put my booty in and shake it.
Please FedEx guy, I beseech you, unite us at long last. My little red chair can't be the last piece of fine design to pass through your hands on this stylish little island. Have mercy.
Bean

(p.s. I'll pay double whatever Arwen has given to you to hold it hostage)

2008-02-11T20:56:00.000-05:00

Mon dieu mes amis/ dear god my friends!
J'aimerais ecriver tout le post en Montrealean / I would like to write the entire post in Montrealese
...mais je n'en ai pas la patience /...but I don't have the patience.****

Why don't we cut strait to the musical break that rushed me to the telegraph office...straight out of the Montreal elevator music scene, Arcade Fire/le Feu d'Arcade!! (thanks swissmiss)

Quelle awesome, n'est-ce pas?!!

**** [Email from a Montreal comic book store is worth getting just for the double speak:
Rappel/Reminder: Michel Rabagliati TONIGHT/CE SOIR!]

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So today I was introduced to the coolest middle name I've heard in a long time....

In Norse mythology, Hræsvelgr ("Corpse Swallower") is a giant who takes eagle form. According to stanza 37 of the poem Vafþrúðnismál from the Poetic Edda, he sits at the end of the world (or the northern edge of the heavens) and causes the wind to blow when he beats his wings in flight.

Swedish version is Ræsvelg....you know, Rae for short. I'm thinking I could at least rock this in Scandiland...like how I tell people in Hispaniola that my name is Reina...
Queen de la frijole....and wind begetting corpse swallower.

2008-02-10T21:04:00.000-05:00

H a p p y N e w Y e a r s !

"According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of 2008 is a Year of the Rat (Earth), which begins on February 7, 2008 and ends on January 25, 2009. First in the cycle of 12 Animal signs, Rat Year begins the sequence and recurs every twelfth year.

A Rat Year is a time of hard work, activity, and renewal. This is a good year to begin a new job, get married, launch a product or make a fresh start. Ventures begun now may not yield fast returns, but opportunities will come for people who are well prepared and resourceful. The best way for you to succeed is to be patient, let things develop slowly, and make the most of every opening you can find."

Already making opportunity for tiny sketchbook bound celebrations from the cheesey pamphlet handed out in front of the subway. Thanks to Baharak who taught me to get over myself and take every handout with a smile and a "Thank you," because that job is not all shits and giggles.

2008-02-06T10:57:00.000-05:00

OH DEAR! Well, this art installation was just deflated and packed up yesterday....I've got to get better with my timing. I'll make it up w/ a still do-able event.

The installation: A huge replica of a Korean archway follie delicately stitched in a sheer sky blue fabric....There are actually two built in the space bisected by thin sheet of the same fabric- one above it and one upside down, below.

It's a two story space so you can take your champagne to a lofted lookout and behold a pond like effect (with the one beneath looking like a reflection across the blue 'water') from above.

So we actually crashed Do Ho Suh's art opening on Chrystie Street last month.... perhaps even stranger on the outside. The Lehmann Maupin Gallery is one of the first Chelsea transplants to cash in on the nascent scene since the New Museum moved to the Bowery. The art scene chases cheap rent and cha cha cha all around our tiny island.

Limousines nestled between fruit delivery trucks, smashed watermelons and warehouses darkened for the day....and then we smelled the champagne and used Topher's neighborhood creds to make our limousine-free entrance.

Stunning.

Here's one of my new favorite Art resources- PBS Show ART 21's profile of Do Ho Suh

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Where do you go see a Drive-IN in NYC??? Inside a classic convertible Ford Falcon in a rotating storefront in the Lower East Side, of course!

139norfolk.com aka Grand Opening is a conceptual place in the Lower East Side which has my full support. Latest incarnation (they change schemes 4 times a year) involves 6 folk watching a movie of their choice from a vintage Ford Falcon...indoor Drive In!

Complete w/ popcorn maker. Super cool.

Harold + Kumar Go to Whitecastle hit the spot for us....you can choose your own movie and book your own viewing
online. Looks like they'll have a summer shoot-off program called Cars Under the Stars....I like that they are keeping movie watching social in the Netflix/DVR era. DRV-IN lasts through February.

Previous installations at Grand Opening:

1. Pong...where they converted the space to a Ping Pong mecca for rent + for members
2. Barn for Sale...where they sold old barns

Can't wait to see what the next life will be!

2008-02-05T13:01:00.001-05:00

Giants Parade from my office at 195 Broadway, originally uploaded by mikelewis.

Happy Super Fat Tuesday!

We're even having a huge parade downtown..in the Canyon of Heroes...to welcome the Super Bowl upsetters home. Double Super Tuesday?

I hope everyone gets a chance to vote- when you do it in the morning, your day starts off feeling like you've accomplished something. And sometimes flirty senior citizen volunteers chivalrously kiss your hand on the way out.

I picked up some truffle goat cheese for my Mardi Gras indulgence...and am waiting for confirmation on this morning's suggestion of a late Spring solo show in SF before I burst open the Prosecco lifestyle. I'm overwhelmed with reasons to celebrate and it's not even Chinese New Years yet!

2008-01-28T15:53:00.000-05:00

Changes abound! ....and then there's some wig love.

Firstly, name change! You may or may not have noticed the new web address....though raebean should still work if you've already got your machinery hooked in.

Secondly, new template, new xmlrhtp fandangled format...which makes me hopelessly stuck in the dark ages as far as computer literacy is concerned.

Thirstily, I'm gonna pick up on the illustrated notion....the future bites from my little apple may be less linked and more drawn. Not sure that the beloved moleskine will hold up to such formating, but it's time to shake the snow globe.

Going away party for Amanda, Gabe + Caleb.....found us upstairs in the treasure chest of the host in absentia. Violet/David has the most amazing collection of purple (and white) wigs imaginable. This Crisco buttressed piece was styled for the octerberFIST party. Handy...or should I say fisty?

Young Caleb has clearly seen my favorite Venn diagram (two non-intersecting circles depicting 1. Times I am truly happy 2. Times I am wearing pants).....off with those pants mid-party! How could I resist styling him in the most delicate swirls of cotton candy hair? I could not.

He is ready for New Orleans with his crazy New York style. Rock on young catfish, much love to the adventuring family.

2008-01-18T11:46:00.000-05:00

The boy had a great idea...turn this blog into a little narrative told via the sketchbook. Ok...so my first conscious narration of a silly Monday last week wasn't a steaming start....but it's a start.

1. Rockstar doctor visit (seriously, she was FAB) w/ me hooked to cardiogram

2. Recovery Gallette des Rois (Frenchy Day of Epiphany baked goods...now served with weird little babies?)

3. Farmer's Market on way home..approached by scout for Lucky Magazine...

4. It must have been the little bird in my hat whistling at him

2008-01-17T09:22:00.001-05:00

Roosevelt reBirding, originally uploaded by R.bean.

New Art in the midst of Jury Duty...no word on JD yet, I'm still shell shocked I got selected for trial.

Late night shot of a the newest Taping...though there's less tape here...lots of ink work, some watercolor and the first use of vinyl- the new tape! Yes, like a really big roll of tape and I can't wait to explore more (thanks to Elias for suggesting!).

This is a proposal to add green density to Roosevelt Island (esp. the southern tip)...to invite migratory birds to make their pit stops in friendly territory (extended greens above are more of this green patchwork from a bird's eye view).....a combo of my previous Roosevelt Island proposal + the experience volunteering for Audubon Project Safe Flight- namely picking up dead migratory birds beguiled by reflections of trees on glossy city buildings.

Sorry for the terrible lighting!
Here's the backside:

2008-01-11T10:07:00.000-05:00

Try this at home!
*thinking it wold make a great birthday party game...or maybe just a fun installation for the hallway when Ez gets home*

2008-01-09T12:44:00.000-05:00

New Years meditations inspired by musicians.....

I had such a strong positive feeling of trust in the upcoming adventure going into 2007, that when 2008 came it caught me unaware and I sort of stumbled at the gates.

The trusty emdot passed on a beautiful post by a musician that invites you to just whittle the resolution thing down to a single word. A mantra of sorts to usher you through the spiky times (I think both high and low). Other posts are very good too.

Christine Kane's Resolution Revolution

A contemplative repose is definitely in the air (that we're all breathing) and her approach sort of hums with that perfect pitch simplicity sings in. She got me with "release". ooooh me, is that ever good. Yoga strain? RELEASE. Mulling things over too much? RELEASE. Hording things that are making your tiny apartment feel like the scene inside a giant purse? RELEASE.
Those portfolio fliers i've been meaning to send to galleries? RELEASE.

Sort of gives me the image of 2008 full of gusty gutsy winds....and I like it. Also, it's already working. I'm releasing more things into the universe, like clothes I occasionally wear and art proposals (hurray for Feb. show in SF! will update more once it solidifies).

**********

This illustrated video for an M.Ward song oughter put you in the ease of the eternal moon. M.Ward is one of the musical marvels to come out of my collegetown San Luis Obispo and more specifically the same 20 person magical coop I once had the joy of sharing, The Establishment. Go go Matt! I love finding his husky nostalgic optimism spreading about...this one via pauseability.

2008-01-07T21:50:00.000-05:00

Montrealtastic!

I'd be vraiment Montreal about it and post half in english et une parte en francais, mais je crois pas...
...instead I'll let you imagine Franglais karaoke at the downtown gay bar. "La Vie en Rose" has never gotten such crowd love.

Montrealers love vividly colored public lighting. Neon buildings pop out from the snow. I think their last boom was in the late 70's/early 80's.

....a study in snowmen. Mad skillz I tell you...

So petite (like 6" total) and tres mignon! (not sure why the filet is "cute")

Such a buddha disposition this one!

Both found on Snowman Mountain....er, Mount Royal where there's mad sledding to be had...

!!!!! my first sledding experience! Nervous but big fun until I "garage saled" (hat here, one glove there, one glove? sled gone, bean dizzy)

Parents, much gutsy-er in these parts. Frozen strollers abound too.....and they mostly walk, take the metro or bus. Bravo!

Dramatic ice skating scenes...this one by the river near Old Montreal...another was an quaint park designed for the frozen months...a little figure eight tour under trees, bridges and around a little cottage when the duck pond freezes.

Monsieur didn't care whether he qualified as sledding or skating as long as he had Le Bear.

Montrealers love their particular style of bagel....thinner, slightly sweet and served with real whipped cream cheese (fluffier)....and open Christmas Day! Hurray for a very Jewish Christmas!

Many big murals...mostly with faces like this or w/ the artist's portrait in the corner (hello busted!)

or awesome in the contrast of scenes like this:

Montreal we love you! ...but your young folk have left ...and we don't know many french songs so I'm afraid you are off the list of places we'd leave NYC for at the moment.

Bisoux!

earthcard

2007-12-31T16:10:00.001-05:00

earthcard, originally uploaded by R.bean.

Happy New Years!

Well....I'm still living the 007 dream....but deep cleaning the way for a crisp 2008 (wait did NPR just call it the Year of the Potato as I wrote that? I'm thinking crisp and juicy like an Asian Pear).

An amazing year shaking our snow globe with all kind of travel. Six months later and I'm still grateful to be back in the Big Apple. Somehow even sweeter after our charming trip to Montreal- today I left the house in just a sweater.

Foam Sweet Home

Ok, back to deep dusting and deeper probing into possible personal targets for the new year and then of course, the deepest consideration into which party pants will scoot this booty into next year's first party.

Spread the Love!

miss_canadia

2007-12-26T16:08:00.001-05:00

miss_canadia, originally uploaded by R.bean.

Bonjour from Montreal!

We took the long train straight north, leaving the tiny trees of the tiny apartments for adventures the land of big trees, Canada. 12 hours later it was white, cold and very French.
Already watched the Curling Grand Slam on TV and the big game everyone is watching today is hockey: Canada vs. Czech Republic.
We arrived just before the holiday, so the town is bundling up for a little hibernation- more adventures when everyone shakes the snow and pudding off.

Serendipity brings us Miss Canada 1997….someone finally gave up the last decade of their Playboy stash in our building’s lobby…an early Christmas present that we promptly scooped up and shared with our friends coming up the stairs with us for a little light hosting and now I’m happy to share it with you. (I like the Boxing Day reference – though I think it also refers to her being de-crowned after popping a rival in the face in a bar).

2007-12-13T19:44:00.000-05:00

Recent bits of art in the city....

Kara Walker: My Complement, My Enemy, My Oppressor, My Love

(not easy to cut out...esp. in miniature...go kara!)

Insider Hillster (thanks!) connected us to the opening partay at the Whitney for this exhibition (I'd already recommended w/o seeing to an inquiring visitor) ....which made us feel nice and plied with wine and cheese before leaving the mingling basement for the exhibit upstairs one fine November eve.

All consumptive, she draws with a knife as well! Room sized silhouettes drenched in Ante Bellum iconography....and like everyone says, issues of of race, sex, violence...cut. paste. repeat. Or..."like, skulls are so in right now". (overheard)

Some debate in our team about white guilt rapture....but going to the next floor's show of Lawrence Weiner's lazy sardonic text based installation....the feeling that her art was everything Lawrence's what not....passionate, patient, provocative...and on... and so what it's all about race? When how many black people are present at the Whitney is still a topic of conversation, race remains relevant and under contemplated.

Though I couldn't resist playing with some race reversal/abdication myself. Her exhibit is up until February 3...I know she's got pieces on permanent display at the National Gallery in DC.

....and for those outside of this tender fortress.....here's a bit of her mojo live w/ her constructing these meticulous cutout installations........Kara Walker: How to
>

2007-12-05T14:30:00.001-05:00

the studio smells like christmas!, originally uploaded by R.bean.

...crafty christmasing...

smelling like christmas, yes! also baking and gentle snow in these parts. good good good

...been hustling now that i've archi-projects underway and Sweet Shop orders coming in...who knew folks would actually order?! wow.

Have some things I wanted to share, but for now it's going to be crafty review:

Our decon xmas tree....born of the realization that there was really no space on the ground for even an itty bitty tree in our foam dome home....we went linear, vertical and abstractish.

It does have ornaments (birds and origami diplomas)...and floating candles as lights and the long red string of beaded garland (read bean necklace other months)...and most gloriously, that pax nostalgia inducing scent of pine.

Sounds like Guiliana is going to have her own baby in a manger this xmas...since she doesn't know the sex, the babycape is in a slimming black.

Finally finished the hat Ms. Baharak the Milliner helped me start out west...ta da!

stay warm and get crafty!

2007-11-28T16:19:00.000-05:00

Reflections Internal....raebean makes a web boutique!

Babystep # I-dont-remember of the plan to Get Out There More has come at long last. This bean has coordinated with the good peoples of California to brighten the day of many a medical marijuanaian with a show of prints at an Oakland Cannabis Club. That's right, come for your herbal elixirs and leave with extensions of my sketchbook! Don't you think stoned customers with cash in hand are good customers to have right before the holiday? Well...so goes the wishful thinking. I should have made something you could put your weeeeeed in....

Affordable prints + the Sketchbook Book Vol. 1 took this little walk in public as motivation to join forces in a little online boutique. Turn around time is about 10 days right now...in case there's anyone out there looking for gifts.

Sweet 101 Sweet Shop!

It is somehow harder to rework existing work than it would first appear. I'm gaining loads of respect to artists who make it happen more thoroughly than I.

2007-11-27T11:10:00.000-05:00

Robots + Manholes

Good stuff found by friends..

Jenrock dug up the robot Keepon (developed by Hideki Kozima and programmed by Marek Michalowski...with an eye toward human-robotic interaction) dancing to the Spoon song, "Don't You Evah." The Grande Finale is worth the 4 min.

....and Gerribaldi Davisdottir alerts us to the origins of the manhole covers in NYC....Made In India. A sweet photojournal addition to the new NYT interactive world featuring topless shoeless men w/ hot molten metal. Guaranteed to lighten your woe-is-me-load by at least 23%.

Even just the word: MANHOLES!

jeff koons rabbit ny times

2007-11-26T09:06:00.001-05:00

jeff koons rabbit ny times, originally uploaded by sokref1.

OOooooo....if Macy's is going to be commissioning artists....and Thanksgiving weather is going to be this nice ripe 62*....I might need to pack the mini-champagnes and brunch on Helium Avenue.

Koons this year....maybe Murakami next year?

Hope everyone is recharged after the holiday...Orphan Thanksgiving or otherwise.

shotclock

2007-11-21T14:58:00.001-05:00

shotclock, originally uploaded by R.bean.

A prayer for the Knicks + inspiration from the Church of Stop Shopping

We've got 1/4 of Knicks season tickets this year...and ooooeeee...if you haven't already heard about Stephon Marbury not showing up for practice, the heads that have rolled, the sexual harassment lawsuit against Isaiah Thomas.....it's getting worse. NYC isn't a hometown you want to have pissed at you. Vitriol, I tell you! Boo's peppered with "FIRE ISAIAH!". May the folk$ at Madison Square Garden amend their evil ways and free this crowd from all their negativity.

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Reverend Billy, of the Church of Stop Shopping, was on WNYC (with a song of the First Amendment) this morning....one minute clip of a Credit Card Exorcism below made me laugh.

We're trying to save Christmas from the shopocalypse" .. they'll be at Macy's this Friday ...which, as we already know, is officially "BUY NOTHING DAY" for the 6am line-up w/ striking elves.

What Would Jesus Buy put out by Morgan Spurlock from McDiet fame.

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Before you BUY NOTHING, I do hope you share your feastings and blessings and love with double portions tomorrow.

Happy Tofurkey Day!!!!

2007-11-20T10:40:00.000-05:00

The Feel Good Low-Budg Video of the Morning!
...5 Years brought to you by Noah + The Whale (via hot tip from swissmiss)

2007-11-19T14:55:00.001-05:00

DIY/craft fever! It's not just knitting anymore...

You know I'm a big fan of making stuff yourself...projects accomplishable in a day or less are best. I think there's something hardwired over the course of evolution that gives our tinkering species positive chemical feedback whenever we fashion something with our own hands. A hangover-less high.

So I'm stoked to hear that my good friend Matt Berger (living his dream of joining journalism w/ woodworking + family making) has put up some really accessible getting started in woodworking videos. They are nicely abbreviated (the one below is only 7 min!) and show how to do stuff w/ inexpensive tools as well as fancier big'uns.

There are six vids up- including a 4 min one on joinery and a double header on how to make a cool box (it is gift season, right?)...and here's an easy and useful project: a cutting board!

More vids and resources up at Fine Woodworking

Go go Berger!

2007-11-13T23:04:00.001-05:00

Germ photos the ice experience, originally uploaded by R.bean.

This is the Germ. We lived together w/ 19 other peops in a big old coop hippie house in SLO, CA. He whisked hisself into this FAST, NY for conceptual performance art by Allan Kaprow.

ICE! In front of Cooper Union in the village! My what big puddles you have.

....and then there was a recreated Happening in Queens, courtesy Deitch. One of those, "keep in mind it was 1959" with a dash of "what would bean do?".

NERD CORE! Have you heard?

OMG, may I have the privilege of introducing you to the nerdy, rappy awesomeness that is Schaffer The Dark Lord????

Seriously people, STD (best + worst abbv. right?) rhymes about loving nerdy girls, craigslist, and the little known fact that Jesus is actually an undead zombie. We went to watch the very talented headliner, MC Frontalot and left with his album and a side ache from laughing and swaying.

Many thanks to my NYC friends for versing me in the world of the 12 sided die.

Heading west to a venue of good times near you: Tour Dates!

2007-11-07T11:05:00.000-05:00

The California Grand Tour recap: 10 Days, 28 Peoples, 3 Galleries, 1 New Design Job, 2 Halloween parties via SF, Oakland, St. Helena, Napa, San Jose, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, LA (Silverlake, WeHo, Downtown, Culver City)

Overwhelmed just thinking about it....maybe a simple picture book is in order?

Family reunion w/ the Pops coming from Reno, the Gram de Gram down from Portland, the Moms just moved back to San Jose...add Uncle, Aunt and cousin.....and a marching band welcome on a gorgeous day at the Santa Cruz beach.

Oh, and darling sea otters. They're sea otters right?

New genius in the No Child Save My Behind plan is taking my Grandmama to see my friend's kid...Thank you for sharing Vanessa! Justice loves candles. LOVES them. Two of his four years, devoted love. Halloween costume, yep.

Ok, up to SF/OAKLAND stirring up a little magic with Baharak. Here seen riding a real stuffed horse in a Mission Gallery.

(Bay Areaers! SF MOMA is en fuego right now....so many heartbreaking Joseph Cornell boxes, Olafur Eliasson smoke + mirrors trickery, and now Jeff Wall + Devendra Barnhart...get it while it's HOT)

.....followed by ladies night not spent in a bar, but in Baharak's awesome hat making studio. She's a milliner extraordinaire.

Down down down to see the fire fueled sunsets of LA. All travels courtesy the generosity of the bean's cousin. Thanks for the wheelz Lizard!

Moon's awesome WeHo landing pad screams SoCal to me and is within walking distance of old/new Hollywood chic.

Caught the Gordon Matta-Clark show I've been coveting since I missed it at the Whitney and then hit The Standard's rooftop bar in downtown LA w/ Daniella. Pool and pods with waterbed centers surrounded by skyscrapers. Nice scene except for the pod-invading LA men...they have no shame (ok, we were 3 women already on beds..) so our native Daniella made a game of sending them away by questioning their intelligence. "Can you name the 7 continents?"...."um...Japan? Greenland? Central America?" Nope, Asia, goodbye.

Omar + Lizbeth know what they like. They even have matching cars. They joined us for a drink and then offered us clean sheets + morning coffee.

36 hours in LA over and now it's back up the 101. Surprise stop in SLOtown. Heidi, Zoie and Jack are making Dia de los Muertes skulls. Those kids breath creativity.

Zoie is exploring photography (that's me and her last hour's visitor and some funny bra ad).

This double rainbow after the much needed rains cooled the fiery drylands was read as a sign of celestial approval for our mission to make the costume party in Napa (after leaving LA in the morning, stopping in SLO, dropping car in SJ, changing into costumes + eating in Oakland).

WE MAKE IT!!! Almost a 12 hour journey, but richly paid off at a fabulous party at a design store with the unwitting bell of the ball, Christina as Frida! Minipop played the backyard enchanted tent, trees imported for candle shrines, a magazine launched and local wines free flowing. Hurray!

Happy to be home, but happy to have had such an enchanted rainbow filled, marching band blasted, costumed, ponied, friend peppered visit "home".

More pictures of the Grand Tour

Winged Frijole + Muerte Vanessa

2007-10-23T14:22:00.001-04:00

Winged Frijole + Muerte Vanessa, originally uploaded by R.bean.

Just a hello hello.....about the distribution of other hellos

The Mega-Mini Tour of the West is all about squeezing little loves out while criss-crossing the Bay ...and in fact the state so Golden it's on fire.
Just did a hug count, and I've got a little more than two dozen beeps to distribute.
2 Halloween costume parties (despite not packing costume)
3 Galleries to talk to
3 Parent like people to cheer up
...and I'd really rather not count the miles my booty is smashed into the driver's seat..
Gorgeous red trees, blissfully clear humid-less skies and "oh how I remember stars" are bathing my eyes in nostalgia for the succulent land that raised me.
I'm not quite ready to miss the city yet (hubby + kitty aside), but I do miss public transport.

2007-10-18T10:15:00.000-04:00

Pimping the passions: candy, tape, ponies

Dearest Laurie aka Rolly sent me a link to this craigslist posting:
Creative, Candy-Lovers Wanted for Market Research Project

Ez wanted to know if I wrote it myself. I fly west to the land of family, friends, sourdough bread and burritos in some hours....but first I am doing my candy homework for the focus group next hour. I'm bringing home the facon and eating candy to do it. Sometimes, sometimes.

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...and swissmiss points us to this awesome origami + tape art based video. Our friend Teddy doesn't remember being the cool girl in yellow, but should totally check her paystubs to see if she was paid in stationary supplies or what. It is def. her.

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Having severe bouts of Outfit Envy. It's even customized for r.bean. pant. Can you believe that they do not sell jockey silks at the gift shop? Who wants a polo shirt with a little tree that says "Belmont" when you could have a green and yellow checkered jersey all snazzed up with.....pink polka dots!!!???

So Poppa Bean was excited to hear that the Annual Running of the Crib (he + my uncle started a Day at the Races wherein the crew of The Crib kicked it at the racetrack + took pictures in the winner's circle- a tradition that's run for 20+ years)....has come east. I expected the Belmont of Belmont Stakes to have a better clubhouse than little old Bay Meadows...well...yes and no. The race track is a very tiered experience- somewhat sad men who've made a day of leaving the OTB portals to watch the ponies live (there's a barber shop there? like, hey I won $10, maybe I should get a shave and pretend it's a shower?) ....and our crew of Jackie O revivalists... who didn't quite blend w/ the fancier Garden Terrace elite either.

The 2nd Day at the Races may very well have to be the millinery event of the year, the Belmont Stakes. Meantime, let's rejoice with KP + her $1.22 return on a $1 bet.

vote 2000

2007-10-12T15:48:00.001-04:00

vote 2000, originally uploaded by R.bean.

Polaroid taken in SF, CA during the 2000 election...wondering how the designer feels about it now. I admit that I voted for Nader once I knew California was sure to go to Gore...a statement against the two party system not against the man.

So then today this bean is wishing a bright congradulations to Mr. Gore w/ his Nobel prize. I hope it further's people's sense of urgency.

The things ahead for our planet and the problem of getting everyone to cooperate keep me up at night- but I still keep at all the little things along the way, like conserving water (less flushing + water running while not immediately used) + electricity, not driving, watching consumption + especially packaging + bags , recycling, etc..

Being a Northern Cali girl, I've been eco-aware for along time...it becomes part of your natural routine, like putting change back into your wallet. In high school, I vacationed w/ a friend and while we were shopping at tons of kitschy places, I kept turning down plastic bags. My friend picked up on this and noted, just that day I'd saved about a dozen. It's contagious- she's been eco-aware for 15 years now. We are inadvertent role-models everyday. I keep hope knowing that the little things can add up, for better as well as for the worse.

2007-10-10T09:54:00.000-04:00

The Happy Endings Lawsuit

The envelope awaits its wax...but a huge weight may have been lifted off the beanpile. Malingering malaise from the Worst Client Ever was creeping in again, causing sleepless nights (again) as I was mentally preparing arguments for my Why Don't You Pay Me Lawsuit (seriously...the wealthiest client wouldn't even pay for lights purchased on her behalf...I guess that whole Gown Borrowing mentality will get to your sense of entitlement). The One Year Bitch.

Rinse.
Spit.
...and suddenly I am back to editing photos, cracking open the sketchbook and collecting exciting tidbits like the Excitable Fool I've always been.

Tonight's court date will be scratched leaving time for architecturey shaninigans**** + sushi with friends.

****Pecha Kucha at St. Mark's "Church" tonight @ 8 w/ young designers and local fave anti-designer Annie Cho of "Dear Architects I am tired of your shit" open letter fame

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In other Big Fish Eat the Little Fish news.....this admittedly awesome coloriffic ad for Sony....resembles a specific piece of bunny-loving work by the inspirational art couple Kozyndan.**

** more glorious version of original bunny infested NYC panarama here + cogent write up on the copyright sitch by an ad man here

It's sometimes hard to get to the point of invoking the messed up American law system...but I'm pretty sure they need to sue in order to maintain the rights to their work (stolen work not persecuted is almost like giving permission in legalese). They'd probably settle (esp. since the production house involved asked for samples of their work 2 yrs ago) and then they could dance around town on their low rider bicycles. I hear the sushi tastes extra fine after the weight is lifted.

sleep well kozy!

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Also giving it to The Man is Radiohead...news of their renegade record-company-less record distribution experiment has been all over the media as a mega disruption to the aging middle-man model.

The download link arrived in my inbox this morning folks, and it's perfect listening for this foggy morning. More like Thom Yorke's recent single in it's subdued mood. It's available "pay as you wish" and I swear you can savour the sweet smell of independence in each note.

"In Rainbows"....respect.

2007-09-25T12:30:00.000-04:00

"I tried to organize freedom, how scandinavian of me.." ahh....bjork.

She cracked me up, made me cry, filled my love coffers and rocked me out for a couple of hours at Madison Square Garden last night.

psss...photo is now at least double borrowed....you'll have to ask angeatelier where she got them.

She's preceeded by an all female icelandic brass band, her electronic beat billies, drummer, and keyboardist...I think only the women are down for wearing the custom fire-like costumes (in shape + color)(though I just read some of these icelanders got in a bit of trouble for topless swimming at Mississippi hotel pool- oops). They radiated Good Times O'clock. The crowd was .... highly stratified...senior citizens to pre-teens...just all over the place on the socio-racial-economic charts- which was a pleasant suprise and a bit rare.

Here's a clip and then some description clipped from a writer less lazy and more direct than I...though I do have to add that the inevitable identification of Bjork as alternately elf or alien is worth thinking about. I think she just decided to excuse herself from the social norms that she found limiting to her emotional + creative landscape. This, perhaps more than her vocal + musical prowess is why her fans admire her so.

.....so the green radar looking thing at the end is a cool....object responding sound board (similar to MIT media labster Golan Levin's toys).... they call it a 'reactor table'. Pretty sweet visual manifestation/fabrication of electronic music, nice of them to put it on screen for us.

“BJöRK (Virgin Mobile Stage): That leaves us with Björk, whose set was so different in spirit and execution from the rest of the day that she might as well have touched down in a flying saucer. Neon flags that looked almost medieval hung above the stage divided almost entirely by gender, with the boys and their electronic toys — along with drummer Chris Corsano, who was sometimes barely audible amid the electronic barks — on one side and all-female brass band Wonderbrass in robes that matched the flags on the other. (Keyboardist Jónas Sen was marooned to the right of both.) The women danced and swayed, and the men stayed put (save for electronics whiz Damian Taylor, who jumped and raved like a madman), not that we needed more stimuli. From the flashpots, exploding confetti and lasers to the screens displaying the touch-activated samplers and the outrageously strange synthesizer the Reactable, whose block interface resembled a game of Magic: the Gathering, you certainly never ran out of things to look at.

“Of course, most of us spent the set transfixed by Björk herself, who really does have the stage presence (and the poofy dress) of a demented pixie reincarnated as an opera singer. On everything from a faithful version of “Army of Me” (augmented with stabs from the horns) to a reimagined “Hyperballad,” complete with full-on acid-house coda, the Icelandic diva gave as passionate a performance as a fan could hope. Compared to the live show, her titanic voice sounds impossibly small on record; you had to wonder sometimes whether she could have done it without a microphone. At one point in “Declare Independence,” as she shouted over the messy synths, the lasers drew designs on the trees and the crowd worked themselves into a frenzy, I honestly thought we were at an intergalactic pagan ritual and might be taken up at any moment. Then she cried “Thank you for tonight” in a theatrically clipped tone of voice, and was gone. Even an hour-long wait for overcrowded ferries back to the city couldn’t diminish the impact of the event, and no disrespect to the Day 2 lineup, but I suspect her set will be the only thing those of us who caught it will remember… unless she uses her alien technology to wipe our brains. Don’t laugh. After seeing this show, I’m firmly convinced anything could happen.”

2007-09-21T13:57:00.000-04:00

ART UPDATE:

Soooo.....this bean's a jumpin'.....the group show I am in just got picked up as one of "Three to See" by Chicago Public Radio. ArtXposium opens tonight, unfortunately I cannot be there.

"Three to See: Are you ready to rock?" by Matt Cunningham if you want
to listen (it's the first review + it's brief)

These are two pieces produced while in London and incorporate images of the city, the underground map and are mostly done in tape. The top one imagines a street populated by paparazzi obsessions (Paris, Lindsey, Posh et alactually collaged in tabloids), the next imagines the same scene gone pastoral (foxes, swans, the Queen's horses).

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In other news, the CEO of Blurb apparently walked my little book within a book over to the marketing department and told them to call the bean about using it for marketing. In a round about way, this means I'm more able to take orders directly should any of yous have had trouble navigating their site. Just shoot me an email.

2007-09-20T14:30:00.000-04:00

Life Around the Studio Lately...

We rearranged the little Bento Box Foam Dome Home when we got back this summer- and somehow added the only furniture in our place taller than 18" (the drafting table) to give me a proper studio space. This is where good tape comes to die....well, if not die, get chopped up into teeny tiny pieces with a very sharp knife.

Like this!

Front + backside of the Dead Bird piece. I signed up for Audubon's Project Safe Flight...to monitor migratory birds that get duped by reflections of trees in super shiny buildings. On my first day, I found this Common Yellowthroat dead by Bellevue Hospital. He was beautiful and tragic, on his way to his hideout somewhere in Central America.

Unfortunately, it's just this kind of shiny building reflecting adjacent green areas that is responsible for thousands of migratory bird deaths each year. The woman running the program has already talked to the designers of the Freedom Tower about the problems. We'll see. There have been small victories like the Empire State Building + the Chrysler Buildings turning off their disorienting light beacon crowns after midnight (and earlier during migration seasons). And they put out a Bird Safe Building Guide for architects who don't want blood on their hands.

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DIY Tom Collins haircut visuals:

...this would be the missing link in the picture above. It's funny how much of a ghost all this mess left behind, I feel like my skull is floating.

Ok, back to trying to fight a nascent cold with spicy Indian food.

2007-09-17T15:15:00.000-04:00

Generations. Observed through Holidays + Art.

So we know there's this beautiful synchronicity with Jews + Muslims with their holy fasting observations right now (I'm joining in a vruit fast).....and maybe we know today is also Ganesh's big day in India....but did we know it's Respect for the Aged Day in Japan?

It's an about face to their outdated attitude toward the elderly.....Oba-ste (sp?)
oba = grandmother
ste = meaning to throw away

WNYC's Radio Lab taught me about this tradition of taking grandma up the mountain and leaving her there to starve. Japanese movies show scenes of pushing grandpa off a cliff, this way the rest of the family is not burdened. Now there are robots. Not to push them off, silly, but to help take care of them. Of course.

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It's Art Season in NYC. Been cruising the openings and really loved the show + vibe at Tracy Williams in the West Village. A converted townhouse with film screening in the basement, gallery on the first floor and wine conversation on the gardened back porch (just green enough to comfortably screen the doings of other village neighbors). Sherry tells me that Tracy's impeccable style is old school art world and I"m suddenly nostalgic for something I'd never known.

Georgina Starr was at her opening...and responsible for the heartbreaking shatter of a porcelein statue she'd executed for her art film (showing Tuesday at Film Anthology). I could have sworn I even saw a 3rd floor villager across the garden cringe. Lots of identity swapping and mystically imaginative personality historicism. Like the portrait above...reconfiguring herself to match a rare glamor-glimpse of her shy mother. Great show, I hope she doesn't mind me borrowing the image.

So many ways to celebrate this week...I'm going to call my grandma.

2007-09-16T21:23:00.000-04:00

Cool projects found lately.

For the next couple of weekends, the good + free Staten Island Ferry will also be host to a radio station. Being a radiophile, the idea of transmission from the open waters (ok....it's only 25 minutes to Shaolin) tickles all sort of antennae. Can I turn my little red bike into a localized radio station? Just how micro can you broadcast sans pod?

The FM Ferry Experiment

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This video for the band Shitdisco for the song, "OK" hits a note with the paper engineering / analog animation loving bean inside.

(via swissmiss)

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This isn't exactly breaking news since it's already been in the Whitney Biennial, but you gotta give it up for the tenacity of Zak Smith's project...probably best described by the book compiled on its behalf:
Pictures Showing What Happens on Each Page of Thomas Pynchon's Novel Gravity's Rainbow

While reading the phenomenal People of Paper sent to us by JJ Monkmaster (oh + writ by Salvador Plascencia)....I kept having such intense visualizations I catalogued a similar idea for future creative fodder. Kudos to Smith for taking it to task.

2007-09-13T11:56:00.000-04:00

Godard says all you need to make a film is a girl + a gun...Rollie must know this...stinker.

Last video of me with long hair. Later that night I might have cut it all off after a few Tom Collins with the bridal girl gang. As Regina Spektor says in the Ghost of Corporate Future,
"maybe you should cut your own hair
cause that can be so funny
it doesn't cost any money
and it always grows back, hair grows even after you're dead"

psst...She's playing October 16th at the Hammerstein Ballroom. [update- sorry it's sold out!]

Happy Rosh Hoshana + Ramadan!

2007-09-11T12:53:00.001-04:00

Rollie's got a gun, originally uploaded by R.bean.

How I spent my September 11th...

When someone calls you up about shooting guns in Manhattan w/ a visiting young Japanese police officer- you should say yes. Westside Shooting Range (20th + 5th Ave - one of the only places guns are allowed in the city) hosted our little knitting party (Laurie rightfully called us out on our chatter while loading magazines full of bullets).

This guy knows how to travel- I want him to help me with ideas for my next trip. He got tickets to two matches at the US Open- including the Mens Finals! His plan to play on the court afterward didn't pan out though. Tomorrow, he'll be taking a helicopter to JFK ($99 gets you there in ten minutes! A cab is $50 and less than half the flair.) Also-apparently in Japan you can carry up to five bullets for your gun.

..I'd post a pict of me, but she's just so amazingly cute that she even looks cute with all the shooting range garb...and you can't even see her dapper little red rain boots. Tired arms are reminding me to get thee to the muscle machine.

2007-09-05T07:57:00.000-04:00

Food Party TV....found on the screens of monkeytown.... Thu Tran is my new favorite chef. Another recipe called for stuffing a giant egg with smaller eggs.

You hear that Food Network? That's the sound of young people getting involved. This is the "snack" section of her blog.

It's beautiful

2007-08-31T17:04:00.001-04:00

It's beautiful, originally uploaded by R.bean.

Arwen has been into some performance art lately in conjunction with the projector.
...maybe she was just trying to censure the naughty frenchness out of this film, Romance. Yes, she's being tied up. Yes, that's a pussy between her legs. Oh Arwen, you're pure genius.

2007-08-31T10:50:00.000-04:00

Definitely being passed around the interwebs (esp by architects....like Laurie-aka-Rollie-in-Japan- who posted it on her blog), but so worth while. (I think you can click it to make big bigger)

Annie Choi also has a funny blog: Annietown

+ a call for global nonsensical participation

* Call for Participants. We invite you to participate in a global
performance event. Please consider contributing to a series of
projects happening simultaneously in 21 cities around the world as
part of Conflux Festival (www.confluxfestival.org). It doesn't need
to be difficult: You could sweep your kitchen, read a story to a
group of children or have a party. You might sneak love notes into
the pockets of jeans at the Gap or direct a walking tour of your
neighborhood. It's less about what you do and more about the doing,
and the awareness that every participant is contributing a project at
the same time. (Also feel free to spread this to friends in other
cities listed). As a curatorial collective, we are interested in
wireless network systems existing not only through the use of
computers and the internet, but through a human awareness of
simultaneous participation and collective consciousness. there is a
call for participation here: www.21citiesatonceperformed.info.

Ok, back to getting my art on.