Ye Olde Artist Statement gets a Facelift!

In preparation for a show at the Magnolia, the one and only Scott Horn requested a bio and an artist's statement. For the first time in a long while, I decided to sit down and update my creative purpose. And I feel refreshed because of it. 

Check it out:

Academically immersed in theories on race and culture, I am inspired by the prospect of communicating and learning from the diverse human experience. Characterized by figures with gaping mouths and textural formations, “Out of the Woodwork and Beyond” is a series dedicated to the notion of revelations through refreshed perspectives. 
    
By creating palatable scenes with inquisitive creatures, holes, layered wood, mirrors and fiber, I aim to elicit a desire to further explore and engage with each composition. Through a hodgepodge of materials and techniques, I hope to offer the viewer an accessible opportunity to discover diversity. Ideally, this temptation to feel and further investigate the terrain of the art can be applied to our relationships with one another. 

Like the pale figures seen in this series, when we are confronted with the infinite array of components that influence our respective identities, we often stir with confusion and fear of change. However, when we proactively discover various vantage points, we invigorate a consciousness with the capacity to understand. 

We awaken, bright-eyed and bushy-bearded, ready to impact others with the beauty of individuality.

I Will Be Here

tonight. Here are a few photos from dropoff day. Sorry about the blurriness.

I AM HERE.

I promise. It's been total blog fail lately, but things have settled down some after a move, a joint show, a job change, etc. and I'm back in action! If for nothing else, I'll be retroactively posting a few things to document them on the interwebs. 

As for now, the big item on my agenda is the DIAC's I AM HERE show (as noted in the sweet graphic below).

Cara and I are exhibiting next to one another to represent the KUNST! revolution up at Dbros Addison and beyond. Come on by the SouthSide on Lamar to check out 6 pieces by us and a ton of other work by a mixed bag of great talent from Big D.

I also wanted to express infinite gratitude to my homies Dylan Hollingsworth and Zach Saucedo for reaching out and inviting us to show at this event. Much appreciation, fellas.

Thank You, Betsy Lewis!

A few weeks back, Betsy Lewis of KERA (Dallas' own PBS/NPR media affiliate) stopped by my garage to shoot some video footage of my creative space. Today, at around 4:00 PM my eyes bulged out of my skull and my heart filled with excitement (could have been the Dunn Bros. dark roast coffee) when the lovely Ms. Lewis sent me a text message notifying me that the video was live on the Art and Seek blog.

Dedicated to cultural advocacy in North Texas, KERA and Art and Seek are strong community pillars, ornately decorated by the local arts scene. Thanks to folks like Betsy Lewis, this mission can be witnessed day in and day out on Channel 13, 90.1 FM, kera.org and artandseek.org. She and the rest of our wonderful public broadcasting staff are taking to the streets, galleries, theaters and lecture halls to ensure cultural awareness in our neck of the woods.

For the love of brevity, I appreciate that.

For the love of North Texas (and maybe for the sake of my ego), check out Betsy's post and see my mug in video form right here.

P.S. I had been slacking on submitting the information for our upcoming Dunn Bros. Teeth and Tongue closing reception / art show roundup to the Art and Seek events calendar, but someone went above and beyond by creating this event for us. Thanks for picking up my slack.

Steal These Images!

Then place them wherever you please.

Verses from The Vernal Equinox

In an attempt to uniquely and fancily celebrate the arrival of the allergy filled spring season, my friends and I put together a Vernal Equinox party this weekend. With hostess skills shining brightly, a well dressed Faye organized a wine contest and a spring, poetry and wine related trivia quiz. To ensure commitment to the "finer things" theme, we requested that our guests bring either a bottle of wine or an original poem. Donning fancier than normal clothing, we participated in these activities and ended up collectively consuming about 10 bottles of wine when all was said and done. 

Needless to say, every single moment of the evening was absurd. Jon's poem entailed hilarious personalized quatrains written to Zac, Nick and myself. Calling for a toast our ludicrous creation, Nick's piece probably should have been read to preface our folly. 

Originally written on 4 old business cards and 2.5 wide sticky notes, my poem was only slightly offensive. In honor of les printemps, I present my nonsense in a more archival format...

After months and months of shivering, 

delivering frigid turds from a frosty colored manhole

I now wake up with aqueous transmissions,

ubiquitously flowing to and fro.

Oh, what a delight that I might not have to thaw my bowls,

as spring has come 

and defrosted my belly's food crumb.

Spring was near, now she is here. 

Hear! Hear!

Hear what? 

We have nothing to hear but hear itself. 

Hear the swallow sing songs of how he shat on an elf. 

Flowers are blooming and Christmas is over. 

I only wish I didn't eat this poisonous clover. 

We've done daylight savings time, 

but I can barely breathe, much less pantomime.

Oh, these pants of mine, these pants of mine.

I must unzip these pants of mine (unzips pants)

Whether it's the warmer weather

or this lac-ed plant feather

This is where I draw the line.

As pollens fill the air 

like microscopic dragons in a boundless lair

I and my allergies agree to sneeze. 

Away! Damned poisons of St. Patrick, I expell thee.

Out!  Green rot, I beseech ye.

Spring was near, spring is here.

Hear! Hear! 

Listen to the buzz of bees and burgeoning leaves.

Spring was near, spring is here. 

Hear! Hear! Hear! Hear!

Here, here. Her ear is swollen, swollen shut.

Mother nature is an ungodly slut.

skatebearding with dylan hollingsworth.

Today, my homie Dylan Hollingsworth and I set out to bring the skatebearded creatures from my latest series to life. I'm about to head down to Kettle Art where Dylan and I both have pieces up for the Birds vs. Skulls show tonight, so this is just a sneak peek at what went down today. Garage sales, flour paste, and grape drank was involved, so prepare yourselves. Also, this is just a quick note to say thank you for doing what you do, Dylan. You inspire me.