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This is Not a Myth @ Kaskadenkondensator, Basel

On my very last night in Basel I had the pleasure of performing at Kaskadenkondensator, a space for experimental performance, also known simply as Kasko for short (the full name translates to “cascade condensor”). I had met Axel Topfer, a German artist living in Basel who worked at Kasko, and together we mounted an installation for a one-night event. The performance combined my usual suspects of music, costume, video, miniature sets, singing, and dancing with a physical set that contained and defined the action within it and utilized many of the physical objects I made during my residency. Though packing and cleaning was an endless nightmare afterward, the event was a sweet ending to my stay, the best kind of farewell.

Read more about the performance and see images on the This is Not a Myth page on my site, including the one below.

Schwarzwaldallee/Raum 19,6m³ Screening

I screened my video Ode on a Terran Urn at an event during Art Basel at the opening party for Basel art space Schwarzwaldallee NT. My work was shown in a mobile art space called Raum 19,6m³ – a trailer that Rafael Lutter ports around Switzerland, France, and Germany via a handsome red tractor. It’s really interesting to see the different ways the interior, exterior, and additional stage have been used over the years.

Nt Areal is an area of Basel that is sort of an industrial pocket that houses bars, restaurants (including one incredible Thai place), and a flea market on the weekends. As I understand it, it’s had a lively night life for years, but all that has been changing with the addition of some kinda fancy condos and mucho construction to take it more in that direction. Indeed there was so much work being done in the immediate area surrounding the art space that they weren’t sure exactly what it would look like the day of the show. In the end, we had plenty of space outside and an excellent turnout despite the crappy weather. Bonus points for dance party inside!

Some pics of the event below that I believe were taken by Dominique Berrel, as well as some additional photos by Rafael here.

In Search of the Golden Spandex

I’m interviewed in the 6/2011 issue of Kunstbulletin, a Swiss art magazine, and the title – Auf der Suche nach dem goldenen Spandex – is fondly translated above. The article is by Andrina Jorg, and Cat Tuong Nguyen photographed me. Here’s a permanent link to the English translation courtesy of Google – In Search of the Golden Spandex. It can also be read in German HERE.

Cover of the June issue as well as the photo, which is not included on the website.

Do You Do This On Your Couch?

Tonight in Milwaukee, WI, my video Ode on a Terran Urn will be screened at smallspace along with the artists below and a selection of youtube videos that I curated (including Horowitz & Spector, “Something’s Wrong in Transylvania” above). The screening is called “Do You Do This On Your Couch?” and is curated by Sara Caron. See below for more info:

Among many things to do this weekend in Milwaukee is “Do You Do This On Your Couch”, a video screening I’m describing as: “A gentle confluence of spacey-ness and placey-ness, asking you to think about ubiquitous or outdated media, think about how you might spend your time, think about community
with work by:

Krysten Cunningham
Erica Magrey
Catherine Ross
Katie Steciw
Stephen Strupp

Featuring “Ode on a Terran Urn” and a specially curated youtube introduction by Erica Magrey.

AT:

Friday, April 29, 2011 7pm
Small Space, 2676 N. Holton St.
Milwaukee, WI

Hope to see you there!

Costume-Object Workshop

I’m including here some stills from my current project, Costume-Object Workshop. The project includes several individual pieces I initiated, often not knowing whether the end result would be a costume or an object/wall hanging, with some pieces functioning as both. The video component has been shown in one-channel and two-channel formats and features experiments with the costume pieces which evoke particular character movements and in some cases restrict movement to specific areas of the body. When shown alongside those pieces that ultimately became objects, the shape-characters in the video seem to exert their object-ness. The objects themselves are not-so-distant relatives of decorative home craft items but are elevated as art objects in relation to their potential relation to the body for performative purposes.

Group Show at Dreispitz, Basel

Below are some shots of my work in the group show of iaab residents at the organization’s new Dreispitz project room. I showed my new video Ode on a Terran Urn as well as a new installation piece featuring video, costume, and wall hangings called Costume-Object Workshop. The other artists in the show are Jan-Henri Booyens, Taro Shinoda, Georges Audet, and Sami Lukkarinen.

PART 3 PART 3 PART 3

A bit late on adding this here for posterity, but please enjoy nonetheless, the third and final installment of Ode on a Terran Urn.

Ode on a Terran Urn – Part 2 of 3

Part 2 just dropped – check it out below and see my Metalmags facebook page for new stills!!!

Ode on a Terran Urn – Online Premiere

My new video Ode on a Terran Urn is finally complete and is going up on youtube and facebook in segments. The first chapter was put up last Monday, and you can see it here below or by visiting my magstoriches youtube channel.

I also made a Metalmags fan page on Facebook which includes links to these videos as well as photos and video stills. Go “like” it!

E.S.P. TV, Episode 1 – January 28th

A few of my short videos will be included in episode 1 of E.S.P. TV – a live taping and screening taking place on Friday January 28th at Louis V E.S.P. in Brooklyn. The show was conceived as a public access type variety show that includes contributions from many artists, including Dana Bell, Colby Bird, Elbis Rever, Ganjatronics, Kate Gilmore, KUNSOLE, Katrina Lam, Derek Larson, Erica Magrey, Rachel Mason, Sam Mickens, Bradford Nordeen, Andre Perkowski, Jonathan Phelps, Sophia Peer, Andrew Steinmetz, Jennifer Sullivan, and Brian Zegeer. The show is curated by Scott Kiernan, one of the proprietors of the space.

Always a fan of public access, I’m happy to have my videos included. The three that will screen are all bumpers from Awesome Music Videos, Vol. 1, a compilation I made of music videos from VH1 Classic, wherein I play veejay and create bumper skits to segue between songs. The compilation also features a xeroxed booklet with short essays on each piece. The three videos can be seen on youtube: Alien Lounge Scene, Untitled (HANDS), and Are You Experienced?

If you’re in Brooklyn, check out the live taping! No one knows exactly how it will turn out, which makes it all the more fun. I’ll post an air date/time for MNN when I receive notification.