Images from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

I love these images.

Images from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter – The Big Picture – Boston.com.

Art Events in Rotterdam

Yesterday was a day of art events in Rotterdam. First an opening for Michal, the local artist I’ll be collaborating with. It was a small event, but I met a number of interesting people. My plan was to ride my bike from the opening to the opposite side of Rotterdam to attend an event which involved open studios and tours of local galleries and project spaces. Luckily, a few from this first event were going so I joined them in the car. I’m glad I did since the weather was cold and wet. It was also much further than I had anticipated.

On the way, we stopped at a gallery where one of the people with us works. The gallery had a small fluxus show on display. The show was nice and the building, a converted farm house, was nice, but I was most enthralled with the Rooster that lives in the gallery. The entire time I was there he sat on the pipes above the exhibit. I feel that more galleries should include pet roosters. I think it could make each gallery a bit more memorable.

Afterward, we went to an abandoned school which had been converted into artist studios. There was an auction, bands, and open studios. Nothing was too memorable, apart from the room you had to crawl under to get into. It was built in a studio and housed a band and a small bar. It was a good idea, except that it was filled with smokers and little, or no, ventilation.

Next, we stopped by another gallery/project space. They were about to close, but let us in to take part in a “workshop” where we each responded to framed drawings people had made of their neighborhoods. It was a bit more interesting since I didn’t understand any of the Dutch labeling on the drawings. I’m sure my description was more interesting because of this.

Finally, I was talked into joining Michal for a couple of after events for the Rotterdam film festival. These weren’t anything unique, just a lot of people drinking and too much noise. I’m glad I got to see a bit of the festival culture, but ultimately was more interested in sleep. We’ll see what adventures tomorrow will bring.

Creating and Absorbing

I’ve begun a number of new projects, most of which are collaborative. Simultaneously, I’ve decided to make a concerted effort to go and experience as many cultural events as I can manage while I am here in Rotterdam. Two nights ago I joined a friend for a Hammond Organ Festival at the music conservatory in Den Haag. I was reminded that in any field, the more educated one is, the more likely that person is to appreciate dissonance and the anti-aesthetic. I was glad to have attended the event, but as the night progressed, the music became more tedious and painful. However, I did enjoy the piece that began with a few lights and oscillating fans on timers with all the house lights off. The fan noise was some of the more consonant sound that evening.

At the moment I am working on a few pieces for Barchael, have begun a collaboration with a Polish artist here in Rotterdam, and will potentially start a Barchael collaborative piece with another artist in Los Angeles. The first Barchael work was begun this past fall. We have a series of proposal-based works, two of which are under way and there are a few more to come. Second, Barchael has been asked to contribute to a web zine out of Portland. We are expanding on the first idea of proposals and generating an entirely new body of work for the publication, which is set to post in late March.

In the process of working and generating Barchael ideas for the magazine, I have been in touch with my friend and fellow artist Stacy Elaine Dacheux. A while ago, Stacy had suggested that she would like to write about Barchael. Since then, we have decided to do a collaborative work which we will propose as a new magazine-based piece. I’m not sure why, but magazines as a medium, whether net-based or in print, seem an interesting direction at the moment.

As all of this is going on, I have begun to collaborate with an interactive artist here in Rotterdam. Michal Osowski has created a project that will travel to multiple locations around the city. He had contacted one of the people here at the residency, asking to be connected with someone who might like to collaborate. At this point we have begun brainstorming on different strategies for the interactive installations. Since this work will move throughout the city, it is intended to grow and progress through the course of the exhibition(s). This means that it will work as a process, rather than a finished piece. I’ve just begun animating for the first stage of our experiments. I hope to have a completed sketch or two by this Sunday.

While all of this is going on, there is also quite a bit of activity in the Rotterdam art scene. Today, I went to an art fair, known as ART Object Rotterdam, as well as the Netherdals Photo Museum. Tomorrow there is an opening at the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum, a 4 day, 24 hour a day film festival at Witte de With, the Rotterdam film festival, and the opening for the first stage of Michal’s project. My contributions may affect this first location’s work, but is intended for the second location (here at Kaus Australis) and subsequent locations.

I guess I should get back to work. I will try to upload another sketch or some images this evening or tomorrow. In either case, I’m busy making work.