The Aftermath

Here is what the "Finishing Touch" looked like after the performance, after it had finished being touched. I am extremely happy with the way the installation/performance happened. I'm still editing together a video of the performance, I will post it here when it's finished.

Press

Ok, so the press was in the Huntington Beach Independent which is owned by the LA Times or something, and is an insert in some Orange County editions of the LA Times. Any who, here's a link: http://www.hbindependent.com/

FINISHED!

The installation is complete. The last few weeks have been absolutely crazy with increasing intensity but at long last I can breathe. The pictures above represent only small sections of the whole piece which covers some where around 400 square feet. I'm very happy with the way the thing has turned out, there is always some thing that gets lost or altered in the translation between concept and execution but it this case it was pretty minimal. I've been told that we are on the cover of the "Happenings" section of the OC version of the LA Times; I will post a link if I can find the article online. Below is the info for the show:


"Ground Us"
Huntington Beach Art Center
Reception Friday, June 27th, 7-9pm
Performance: 8pm (Don't miss this)

538 Main St
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 374-1650
Fax: 714-374-5304
Hours: Wednesday - Saturday - 12:00 noon - 6:00 pm
Sunday - 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm
Closed Monday - Tuesday

Um...

Installation Updates

I stopped by the Huntington Beach Art Center for a few hours today to put up the rigging for the airplanes that will dangle above the installation. (And other unmentionable reasons) For what would any modern city be without planes? I took this shot from atop a 10' ladder, still couldn't trap the entirety of the thing with my camera.

The other picture is a progress shot of one the other artists, Kiel Johnson, who is also doing something city themed and... By the way does amazing work and you need to visit his website: http://kieljohnson.com/kieljohnson.com/HOME.html

Where There's Smoke...

I don't think I need to say too much about this one, just show up to the opening.

Book Binding Workshop

Hey! I'm teaching a book binding workshop at Gallery Nucleus next week, sign up and learn something awesome. Here's a link to the signup/info: http://www.gallerynucleus.com/event/149

Date & Time: June 22, 2008 (Sunday), 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Location: Nucleus
Instructor: Patrick Williams
Materials to bring: Listed below
Cost: $55 if you bring your own materials. $80 with materials included.

To Register: Purchase your tickets above or call 626-458-7482.

Ever wondered how books are made? Ever wanted to make your own for whatever reason? All it takes is a bit of know-how. Once the trade of highly skilled master craftsmen, the handmade book has been virtually replaced by mass production. But you don’t need to be a master craftsman to make your own books. With a few basic supplies and a few little tricks you can make whatever you like. We’ll talk over the basics of perfect binding, sewing signatures/pamphlets, Japanese stab-stitch (and variations), and creating hardbound covers. Learn what you need to know in order to make your own personalized portfolio, sketchbooks, notepads, gifts, and more!

Materials:
1 ream 8.5" x 11" photocopy paper (or better stock)
Binder’s thread (or embroidery thread)
Needles
Davey board/chip board (16" x 20"-ish)
X-acto/utility knife and extra blades
PVA glue (Elmer’s is ok too)
Cutting mat/extra chip board
Book cover cloth (or a fabric you’d like to involve in the construction of a book)
Metal Ruler

Recommended:
Bone folder
Super (looks like a linen mesh)
A sheet or two of decorative paper

"Gound Us" Statement

For those of you who care about what I'm trying to communicate with this piece, what the thought process or the elements which I worry might be missed come show time; here is my statement for the piece. It's still very much a work in progress but should offer a hint none the less.

“The Finishing Touch”

The idea for this piece came to me like a revelation or the punch line of a joke. Though it was abstract and formless, it was a blueprint for what could be, completely devoid of interpretation, or limitation. As I’ve labored on it some parts of have changed to accommodate time and space. Because it couldn’t exist as a pure idea, it has been ground up and mixed with ample doses of reality. Through the process of giving the idea form, elements of its potential and meaning have been gradually revealed, though I hesitate to claim more than a partial understanding of this piece.

This piece has been made mostly out of garbage, where trash wasn’t available; the cheapest possible materials were procured. This was in part, because of the size of the installation, in part because of the nature and intent of the installation and as a broader attempt on my part to move away from the preciousness and longevity of traditional artist’s materials. This piece is ethereal and living and as we die, it must as well. The appearance and tactile qualities of the materials have changed through the process but this is in no way an attempt to obscure what the installation is made of.

In a parallel to Turner whose paintings celebrate the violence of nature and in doing so hint at the inconsequence of man, This installation is about rooting for the tragedy, the storm, wildfire, earthquake or tsunami and hoping that there is some justice in absolute destruction. It’s also an extremely low tech interpretation of imagery and events common to pop culture, which continues to gain ground becoming increasingly flashy and visually sophisticated while not being terrible thought provoking or interesting.

Mockup

Let the Install Begin!

I was able to start installing work in the space today though there are almost three weeks until the opening; I still have a lot of details to work out and things to finish building. Let be begin by stating that one of my original concerns for my installation was that it would be lost in the hugeness of the Huntington Beach Art Center's Space. After bringing the buildings and freeways in and giving them a rough setup (there is much that is still subject to change) I feel like I can finally relax in regards the size of the thing, and worry about other elements yet mentioned…

Gridlock

Here are some pictures of the creation process and finished pieces of the cars which will populate the freeway that runs through my installation. They are plaster, cast in a silicone RTV mold of the originals I carved out of wood. I'm not sure all the cars are going to get this degree of detail; the biggest of them is only three inches long.

The Buzz?

Here is the evite for "Ground Us" and a link to something.

http://foca-oc.blogspot.com/