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slam evidence

I love it when total strangers not only take photos of you at an event, but are kind enough to email them over cropped, cleaned up and with full permission to post and share.

 

Thanks again to Adam and Brittany, you're both awesome.

more mad science

After a bit of mad science in the name of science fiction, I was eager to tackle another challenge using some of this new rapid prototyping technology. As luck would have it, my buddy Kevin stepped up to the plate with an idea too insane to ignore.

He's referred to the process of creating these extremely complex cuff links in his blog as "Bling Impossible", and after the three long months it took to create the little buggers I'm certain it's an accurate title.

In any event, the somewhat less interestingly named cage cufflinks are now in my portfolio.

slammed into being

There is nothing quite like a deadline to light a fire under your derrière.

While I had been quietly exploring digital illustration for years, nothing was demanding any sort of result. That freedom definitely gave me an opportunity to play and learn, but I think it kept me from officially "completing" the process and releasing new art into the world.

Perhaps I was just protecting my ego from yet another slam.

Ironically, it was a "slam" that ultimately resolved the matter. Specifically, I was invited to participate in the D Art Slam, but under the proviso that I only exhibit my 2D work. So, in a little under a month of sleepless nights, I upgraded my "artistic resume" from jeweler who dabbles to multimedia artist.

Have a look at the results while I recover from the culture shock.

The new digital illustration portfolio.

d art slam

D Art Slam at f.i.g.

May 29-31, 2009
Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

My new collection of digital illustrations will be debuted during the event, alongside the work of 150 emerging local artists.

For ticket information, please visit www.d-artslam.com

mocking picasso

"Computers are useless. They can only give you answers."

Pablo Picasso

Now normally I am not one to argue with one of the most recognized names in modern art history. Truth be told, old Pab' and I see eye to eye on lots of things. I like his goal of maintaining a childhood sense of wonder. I think his views on inspiration and truth are spot on...and we share a love of wine and beautiful women that borders the obsessive.

That said, I think his take on technology was crap.

Picasso was, to be completely fair, dead before the beginning of the information age. I was born during the dawn of the digital era, and before I reached adulthood computers had become a ubiquitous part of my existence.

Where he saw a clunky calculation engine, I was raised to view these magical machines as virtual workbenches on which to pound my ideas into being. Perhaps it is my background as a metalsmith that informed that mental image, but I quickly learned that this was another set of tools with which I could create.

And so, like any child, I did.

For the last five years, I've been quietly putting time and energy into exploring technology as an artistic medium in its own right.

Prior to this new focus, computers were relegated to being little more than another design tool in my existing jewelry making arsenal. While using the "magic pen" to improve my existing work has been a wonderful advantage, it does very little to support my disagreement with the aforementioned dead Spaniard.

In order to prove my theory that technology was emerging as a new form of creative expression, I was going to have to take a risk. I had to get outside my comfort zones and create something that wasn't automatically validated by being inextricably linked to my nearly twenty years experience as a sculptor.

And so, like any fool trying to prove a point, I did.

Flashing forward to about a month ago, I was having a conversation with an artist friend of mine. She encouraged me to submit a few of these new experiments to a brand new emerging artists' exhibition, hosted by a fairly prestigious gallery here in Dallas.

We both came to conclusion that in order to get the output of the "magic pen" validated on its own artistic merits, I needed to get the work to some place where it could seen by people with the capacity to acknowledge it.

And so, with a little help from Lady Luck, I did.

Not long ago, I was formally invited to participate in F.I.G. gallery's emerging artist event, the D Art Slam. The life-alteringly awesome news is that I will not be presenting my work as a jeweler. After five years of preparation, I'm proud to announce I'll be showing my first collection of digital illustrations.

Which should, once and for all, prove that Picasso had no idea what he was talking about.

the spring-time mart chock full of art

Come get a bit of wonderful art for yourself and your friends at the Bath House's Spring Art Mart. Paintings, sculpture, photography, pottery, ceramics, jewelry, soap, prints, cards, and other unique creations will be featured along with food, wonderful music, a silent auction and much more.

The Art Mart benefits the Bath House Cultural Center's year-round visual and performing arts programs - so it's a purchase that we all benefit from!

The Bath House Cultural Center

It's no secret that I love this event. I always have, and I always will. No question.

That said, the fact that these oh-so wonderful people have decided to feature my work prominently on their marketing materials in no way sullies the veracity and depth of my affection.

Nope, not one bit. No bias at'all. ;-)

2009 Spring Art Mart

Friday, April 24th, 7-9 PM (Preview Reception)
Saturday, April 25th, 12-7 PM
Sunday, April 26th, 11 AM - 6 PM

Bath House Cultural Center
521 E. Lawther Drive
Dallas, TX 75218

Update:

The folks over at the Bath House Cultural Center have released a link to this electronic postcard.

post fort worth post

And now, a few completely out-of-context words to the wonderful folks in Fort Worth:

"I have now had three meals with your wife in the last decade."

"I formally apologize for accusing you of lying. She is not in fact inflatable."

"Smashy made my tummy hurt, then left me with pimps, ho's and Matt."

"Keep an eye on your mailbox."

"'La pistola in la boca,' does not mean what you think it means."

"Next time bring ninjas. Lots and lots of ninjas."

"Don't despair, Rufio Q is almost as cool a name as Jack Nine."

"It's official. Purple sticky rice is om-frickin'-nomular."

"Swapping metalsmithing tips was slightly more fun than watching you dance."

"It turns out 'easy listening music' is neither."

"A cracker is never a suitable substitute for a lasagna."

hello fort worth

I admit it, the primary reason* that I agreed to participate in this event is completely selfish. It provides me an excuse to spend time with my friends from the far-flung end of the Metroplex.

*Primary personal reason, actually. It is by default secondary to the professional concerns. Those being, of course, my well-established need to feed my ego and a devout adherence to the tenets of capitalism.

I've had people willing to make the long trek over to Dallas to visit me for years, so I figured I was long overdue to return the favor.

 

A small art faire intended to allow you time to meet the artists and talk about their creations.

Watch a live demonstration with Randy Brodnax, master potter, as he tells his stories and makes his pottery. Randy is sure to entertain you and your family.

Art Afaire is located on the corner of Cantey and Rogers Avenue in the University Christian Church.

Fort Worth Art Afaire

Fort Worth Art Afaire, March 19-21

Thursday "Preview Night", 5-8 pm
Friday, 1-8 pm
Saturday, 1-6 pm

University Christian Church
2720 S University Dr
Fort Worth, TX 76109

smashy squashy photo-ey goodness

Towards the end of last year, I got the completely foolish idea of squeezing in a last-minute photo shoot before the holiday insanity buried me completely.

So, I called up my buddy Captain Smashy, an amazing photographer with a penchant for missions of the impossible variety.

I pitched an idea to him, based on seeing some incredibly weird-looking squashes over at a local snooty food emporium.

We've had an ongoing joke for a while about how a still life featuring a bowl of fruits and vegetables would be a lot less trouble to shoot than the highly reflective metal of my jewelry.

Naturally, he was tickled at the idea of taking a running joke literally, and as is the way of crazy art projects we were purchasing a shopping cart chock full of bizarre miniature pumpkins a few hours later.

Now, the downfall of this completely brilliant plan was the aforementioned avalanche known as holiday deadlines. While the shoot went off brilliantly, it took me until now to find time to clean up the final images for the portfolio.

That said, here's a healthy helping of fresh veggies for you.

veggies and mitsuro

• Bird Wing Pendant
• Heron Pendant in Silicon Bronze
• Orchid Pendant in Silicon Bronze
• Small Hook Pendant
• Spiral and Sphere Pendant
• Wings Pendant with Tahitian Pearl

veggies and other works

• Organixx Ring with Black Pearl

year of the ox

The humble beginnings of The Morpheus Company's 2009 event calendar has been posted.

Coming up in March, I'll be showing my work at an event in Fort Worth, Texas.

2009 Event Calendar

 

© The Morpheus Company • 469.360.7041 • morpheus@dare2dream.com