Photography

First Thursday Art Schlock, 2012-13

A hero emerges...

A hero emerges…

An anonymous Reaction GIF blog about the pitfalls of life in the art world
or an ongoing investigation examining the fecundity of Examined Investigations

During a period of deep dissatisfaction with the art world, I came across an animated GIF of Tina Fey’s peerless Liz Lemon. “Oh, brother,” she moaned, and as her eyes rolled on and on, the premise of First Thursday Art Schlock washed over me—a safe place to vent anonymous, honest critique. +lols

I setup a Tumblr and made a post…

"When your artist statement uses the word FECUNDITY." Inaugural FTAS post, May 17 2012.

“When your artist statement uses the word FECUNDITY.”
Inaugural FTAS post, May 17 2012.

Within the hour, I wrote a dozen more. I’d been following other reaction gif blogs and reddit threads, so I knew the format and what could work. I got so immediately into it that I’d made twenty posts by day’s end. Pent up anxiety and displeasure poured out of me so readily that I had to pace the output. Even with a rule to never repeat myself, I had over 100 things off my chest in the first two months.

In order to remain anonymous, I only shared the link with three close friends at the start. One of them posted it to Facebook and, awesomely, it quickly grew a devout set of followers. When there was a good group going, I publicly became a fan of the blog as well.

The response was surprisingly positive, considerate, and honest. I was overjoyed seeing people relate to the posts, share them, ask around who ran the thing. FTAS did several interviews and was even highlighted in best-of and year-end lists. But the most satisfying thing was hearing people bring it up in conversation, simply excited about it, not knowing—and getting to play along as a fan of the blog myself. Those were the salad days.

"I'm feeling lucky..." Screenshot of and collaboration with Google Suggested Search, 2012

“I’m feeling lucky…”
Screenshot of and collaboration with Google Suggested Search, 2012

Soon I started making parodies of celebrated work I encountered in Seattle. FTAS Originals had one clear statement: “If I can make your art in 5 minutes, I will.”

"Look Ma, No Talent" A First Thursday Art Schlock Original, 2012

“Look Ma, No Talent”
A First Thursday Art Schlock Original, 2012

I applied for The Betty Bowen Award, a highly sought-after artist grant, under the pseudonym Art T. Schlock.

"Betty Bowen Award Shoo-In" Stuff on a wall, 2012 18" x 18" x 4"  $15000.00 Part of 2012 Betty Bowen Award Application Entry series.

“Betty Bowen Award Shoo-In”
Stuff on a wall, 2012
18″ x 18″ x 4″
$15000.00
Part of 2012 Betty Bowen Award Application Entry series.

“Some Literary Reference”
Stuff on a Lou Reed record (video), 2012
4min
$15000.00
Part of 2012 Betty Bowen Award Application Entry series.

"The Same Two Things on the Ground in Four Places" Photos of stuff on the ground, 2012 128" x 128" $15000.00 Part of 2012 Betty Bowen Award Application Entry series.

“The Same Two Things on the Ground in Four Places”
Photos of stuff on the ground, 2012
128″ x 128″
$15000.00
Part of 2012 Betty Bowen Award Application Entry series.

"The Eternal Struggle" Printed Screenshots of Google™ Images®, 2012 120" x 120" $15000.00 Part of 2012 Betty Bowen Award Application Entry series.

“The Eternal Struggle”
Printed Screenshots of Google™ Images®, 2012
120″ x 120″
$15000.00
Part of 2012 Betty Bowen Award Application Entry series.

Eventually the project yielded an unexpected product for me: peace. The honesty of the whole thing and its general embrace proved to be incredibly therapeutic. I also began involving myself less and less in all of the things that irked me, which in hindsight seems such a simple gesture. While this progress was great for me, it was the eventual death-knell for the project itself. A self-canceling system.

"Hold the Ketchup"  A First Thursday Art Schlock Original, 2013

“Hold the Ketchup”
A First Thursday Art Schlock Original, 2013

The project continued to gain steam and followers. For months I felt bound to its continued existence, that I had to keep up with this anonymous curmudgeon. Posting became as anxiety-inducing as the art shows that once spawned them.

"Typeface for the ineffective (and those who are 'on the nip')" A First Thursday Art Schlock Original, 2013

“Typeface for the ineffective (and those who are ‘on the nip’)”
A First Thursday Art Schlock Original, 2013

Nearing 180 posts and a year of existence, I reached my end. Three ceremonial final posts wrapped things up and I bid FTAS farewell. Friends who had eventually figured me out wrote with condolences and I even saw some goodbye shout-outs that really made it feel right.

It was a satisfying conclusion for me.

Months passed. I got a great new job at an art museum and had an incredibly busy summer of shows. I found myself once again embroiled with the art world in ways that were occasionally maddening—and as I did, more and more friends suggested that I bring the thing back. I took time to consider it, and ultimately felt it would be better in someone else’s hands.

So, three months after my end with First Thursday Art Schlock, I found my replacement, drafted and signed a Dread Pirate Roberts Scenario Pact, and handed off the keys.

It was the most rewarding, honest and engaging project I have yet been a part of.

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Still Hardcore, 2010/12

Lightjet Print, edition of 5, 18 x 24 inches.

Lightjet Print, edition of 5, 18 x 24 inches.

A new print made from an old video.

Collaborative photo and video with Erin Frost showing in June at Parlor Gallery, in Asbury Park, NJ.

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Lumière dans l’Empire du Gris, 2012

Hand-embroidered archival inkjet print, 10 x 10 inches.

Created for ONN/OF, a two-day art festival of Light.

I was invited to contribute a piece of art and a drink recipe for the Visual Art Happy Hour of the ONN/OF art festival, which was all about providing Light in the midst of Seattle’s generally dreary gray winter. During one of these gray mornings, I took a photo from my living room window. While there was some digital manipulation in the textures of the clouds in the photo, there was not much further color-adjusting necessary–it really was a perfectly flat, gray morning.

I had two archival inkjet prints made of the shot. Still interested in embroidery, I decided to sew up the first, preparing a mandala pattern which generated a sun-like shape.

Das Hermosa Mimosa Platter, mounted archival inkjet print, 16 x 16 inches.

The second print, altered with a set of glowing orbs radiating from its center, served as a platter for the drink portion of my contribution: Das Hermosa Mimosa, an editioned set of mimosa gelatin shots, presented individually in 1.5oz paint containers–wee doses of delicious light and beauty. A tasty little treat, I thought.

Das Hermosa Mimosa, 1.5oz champagne & oj gelatin shot in paint container, edition of 25.

I am happy to report that all 25 shots were snatched up during the Happy Hour. I hope they brought a glow to those who consumed them!

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Intercourse, 2011

Lightjet c-print, 36 x 17-1/4 inches. Collaboration with Erin Frost.

Created for Alterations, a one-night exhibition with Erin Frost.

This set of works combined many of our interests: performance photography, sewing and each other. Though strikingly different in mood and content from our last collaborations, the focus is again on a kind of connection, a force between us.

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Intertwined, 2011

Intertwined, 2011

Lightjet c-prints, 8 x 10 inches each, thread, frames, easels. Collaboration with Erin Frost.

Created for Alterations, a one-night exhibition with Erin Frost.

A sculptural take on the series.

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