Distorts Series, # 146-150

The Series continues . .

"We Are Assembled", Parksville, BC

Q-Box
Recycled Suitcase, found objects
22" x 18" x 25" — 2009


We are Assembled
Opening October 1st, 2009
Oceanside Community Arts Council
133 McMillan Street
Parksville, BC

Spinal Tap Show Invite, Courtenay, BC, CANADA

Opening Reception
Friday, October 2nd 7:00 PM
Stone Hunter Studio
Tin Town
2328A Rosewall Cresent
Courtenay BC
250 334 2385

A Book About Death, The Emily Harvey Foundation, New York, NY, USA

Here is my contribution to this collaborative project, A Book About Death

A BOOK ABOUT DEATH:
An Unbound Book on the Subject of Death

The Emily Harvey Foundation
537 Broadway, 2nd Floor
New York City, NY 10012

EXHIBITION: September 10 - 22, 2009
Curated by Matthew Rose

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK – The Emily Harvey Foundation is pleased to present A Book About Death, a sprawling, collaborative unbound "book" on the subject of death at the Emily Harvey Foundation Gallery in New York. The opening, on Thursday, September 10, 2009, one day shy of 9/11, brings together hundreds of artists in a global exhibition that honors the late artist Ray Johnson (1927-1995), whose own work inspired this exhibition; Emily Harvey (1941-2004); and the artists themselves, who have presented their unique visions of the subject through combinations of art, photography, and text.
Conceived and organized by Matthew Rose, a Paris-based American artist, A Book About Death is comprised of artists' postcards from original art created specifically for the exhibit. These pieces collectively form the pages of the "book." While many of the artists involved in the exhibition are internationally known – Yoko Ono, Eric Andersen, Peter Schuyff, Rodney Alan Greenblat – all of the artists share the stage equally. Each artist has contributed 500 postcards to the exhibit, and visitors to the gallery are encouraged to take "pages" away with them to create their own book about death. The exhibit is thus designed to "disappear" on its own schedule as people attend the exhibit.
"Ray Johnson is part of the history and spirit of The Emily Harvey Gallery, now The Emily Harvey Foundation," explains Christian Xatrec, EHF NYC director. "Taking the title from Ray Johnson, Matthew Rose's A Book About Death project refers to Ray’s groundbreaking-work in the ephemeral, expanded field of correspondence art. However, this show sets those key Johnsonian concepts on a new course, in sync with the evolving interests of the Emily Harvey Foundation program today. The developing mission of the Foundation, and Rose's show, refuse the notion of hierarchy and the buttressing of institutional framings."

8th Annual GLBT Art Show, Martin Batchelor Gallery, Victoria, BC, CANADA

Opening Reception
Saturday June 20, 2009 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Exhibition continues until Thursday July 16th, 2009

Martin Batchelor Gallery
712 Cormorant Street, Victoria
Tel: 250 385 7919
Open Monday - Saturday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

"Cradled Captions"

The completed work with all 102 spinal needles

"Cradled Captions" for Jeff Hartbower's Art Call : "Spinal"

An interesting idea to use a Spinal needle as the basis of an artwork and call for a show. I wasn't sure when I was first handed the idea but once I had the needles around the studio for awhile and merely considered them in terms of their sculptural possibilities . . it allowed for some venturing into new territory.

Studio J - Artspace . . update

Greetings from the ever beautiful blossoming Victoria!


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Our ATC (Artist Trading Card) group continues to meet on the first Sunday of each month with great turnouts at each session.We will once again be meeting at Moss Street for the Annual Paint-In this year with Mailarta sharing in the festivities.

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Studio J continues to have visitors come for the "Tour" . . recently Janet Lee and Pat Hindmarch-Watson stopped in on their way to the Painters on Painters event up island.

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Efren Quiroz dropped by to do an interview for his project "Exhibit-V" designed to keep Victorians and others up to date on the happenings of the Art Scene in Victoria and around Vancouver Island . . check out his blog: Exhibit-V


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Studio J's ROOM OF ALL SORTS is always in flux as new items are added just about every day . . Here's the latest arrangement.



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The exhibition of Mail Art continues at the Post Office . . here's the window at night.



A recent Mail Art work from Rachel Berman

Mayworks 2009

Sebastian's Journal


The latest in the series of Assemblage works.

Canada Post Mail Art Window Display, Victoria, BC

After many many mailngs . . the crew at the Post Office have become very familiar with mail art and asked if I would be interested in creating a window display of some of the pieces from my collection. Here are selections from all 3 Mailmania shows.

RPM 2009 - Deluge Gallery, Victoria, BC

A sneak peek at the piece for this years show.

April 10 to 25, 2009

RPM: The Lost Art of LP Covers

A Fundraising Show & Sale

Opening: Friday, April 10, 7pm

The art of the record sleeve, remixed and remastered by more than 50 artists.

Mailmania 3 Catalogue now online

The Mailmania 3 exhibitions are complete and the documentation of the shows are available online:
MAILMANIA 3 CATALOGUE

Richard Margison

What a delight to meet and hear Richard recently . . and to see him on stage next to "Neptune's Crown Synet" . . one of my sculptures used as part of the set for a film being made about him.

MAILMANIA 3 at the Slide Room Gallery

Focus Magazine, Interview by Linda Rogers

Many Thanks to Linda Rogers for the interview and editor Leslie Campbell the team at Focus magazine. You can now see and read the issue online at: FOCUSONLINE

IAP Stamp edition from ANNA BANANA

Special Edition Art Stamp (IAP) International Art Post
This year's edition is an image of my crocheted Crown Synet Series.

ReVision: The Art of Recycling - 2008

"Caution: Prayin Ahead"


One of this years entries for the ReVision Show on Granville Island. Part on an ongoing series of works using old suitcases as the base for the construction.

Summer flies

Naples, Flordia . . a much needed get away from the routines . . especially the cell phones and computer.
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MAILMANIA 3 opens at Studio J Art Space





It has been another hectic time and Studio J is in full swing with the Mailmania 3 Preview show currently running in the art space. . . as the fall season now marks its place on the calendar there is already a cavalcade of things that are upcoming.
The 28th year high school reunion in Point Leamington, Newfoundland was a highlight of the summer.





The graduating class from 1980 . . reunited

Oceanside Arts Centre - We are Assembled, Parksville, BC

The opening reception for all three shows will be at 7 pm on Friday October 3.

Opening Night "Hooked" at the Slide Room Gallery, Victoria, BC

And for a peek throught part of the installation take a look here . . YOU TUBE

Hooked, Installation at Slide Room Gallery, Victoria, BC

Here's a sneak peek . . more work to do today on the installation but it is mostly in place.
Opening tomorrow night at 7:30 PM

Perhaps I'll see you there . .
Check out the You tube link:
HOOKED

An Evening with Uncle Val

What an incredible performer Andy Jones is . . finally had a chance to see him live in "An Evening with Uncle Val". Brilliant wit and skill on the stage . . what an amazing artist. I, of course, now have a new addition for the "Room of All Sorts" collection. Thanks Andy.

Benefit Show for Vital Bridges, Chicago

Thanks Keith for thinking of us for this show.
All the best with it.
Dale

"Mayworks" Opening 2 May 2008 Parksville, BC

Poster for the Mayworks show

Jeffrey Boone Gallery, Vancouver, BC, Spring Salon

Opening Thursday evening!May 1st, 6-9:00 PM

"Intersections" Martin Batchelor Gallery Installation Video

Many Thanks to Chris Gower Reese for making this video.

Mayworks 2008

"Spell Spill" . . the latest piece for the Mayworks show at the Oceanside Gallery in Parksville, BC

Mapping Correspondence, Center for Book Arts, NY, NY

I'll be at the opening at the CBA on the 11th!
See you there.

Sea Shanty . . . May Works 2008 Entry

The May Works entry for 2008 . . The mail art portion went into the poste yesterday . . it seemed to throw the postal clerk into a tailspin as to how to deal with the object . . here's what I sent (as is . . no envelope).

Studio Visitor: Anna Banana

Anna Banana peeks into Studio J for a visit . . What a wonderful history of performance and art making she has. . . like most people the space seems a bit overwhelming . . there is just so much to take in.

Be sure to check out Anna's site: Banana Productions

Fibre Quaterly Vol 4 Issue 2: Spring 2008

Check the link to the current Issue for the full article and other great articles: Fibre Quaterly

RPM Show at Deluge / Studio J Interview

Mapping Correspondence NYC, 3rd Entry

Encaustic / Mail Art

In my continuing need to correspond with the greater universe I once in a while do a random set of mailings . . this set of post card size works went to 2 earth work sculptors that I admire, R. Long and P. Dougherty. I have often kept elements of tests or made pieces that will sit around the studio for some time . . eventually they make their way into the world in one form or another.

Distort # 127

With so much attention on other things at the moment it always feels like I've accomplished something to see a new # added to this series.

Scott Young, Botwood, Newfoundland

Scenes from my hometown, Point Leamington, Newfoundland taken by photographer Scott young of Botwood, NL.

2nd entry for Mapping Correspondence in NYC

"Footsteps", CACGV, Victoria, BC CANADA

The extraordinary collaboration between Stella Meades and hundreds of artists has resulted in an amazing collection of handcrafted shoes, which will be sold by donation with money raised to go towards children in countries affected by war. The Victoria show is the second of four shows where the shoes will be shown and sold.
The opening of the Victoria show will take place Friday, Feb. 15, 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. at the Community Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, G6-1001 Douglas St. The shoes will be sold by donation at the Gallery from Feb. 15 to 27, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
If you want to preview the shoes, you can see them on the website:
GLOBAL SHOE PROJECT
The two organizations that will receive donations from this show are
I.C.R.O.S.S. International Community for the Relief of Starvation and Suffering.
The Canadian headquarters of this organization is in Saanichton, BC

Save the Children-Canada for their education program

When you visit this website click on 'what we do', then'Education', then 'latest news on re-write the future', then 'see the story'. It really is worth a visit.

Distorts . . continued

This piece had it's finishing touches completed today .

Room of All Sorts latest addition . . .

I've been searching for historical images of the Duck building (location of Studio J) since I first glimpsed the book " Stella: An Unrepentant Madam" by Linda Eversole.
Last evening I got to meet Linda at the premiere of the film "Aswang" as part of the Victoria film Festival.
Linda had a role in the film and very graciously signed my book that will be added to the Room of All Sorts.

RPM Show at Deluge

My entry into the RPM show at DELUGE GALLERY this year.




Feb 29 to Mar 15, 2008

RPM: The Lost Art of LP Covers
A fundraising show and sale

Opening Reception: Friday, Feb 29, 7 to 10 pm

The art of the record sleeve, remixed and remastered by more than 40 artists.

Stone Carving, 2008

A Brazilian soapstone.
In between all the various projects this stone has now seen completion and gets delivered tomorrow to it's new home.

Mapping Correspondence, Center for Book Arts, NY, NY

The first in a series to go to the Mapping Correspondence Show curated by Champe Smith at the Center for Book arts in NYC.

Ugly Touque . . .

The Graphic Designers of Canada recently held it's annual Winter event at the Curling Club . . with a contest for the "Ugliest Touque" . . I love a challenge and created 2 hats . . (see below) and . . won the prize for the ugliest .. . perhaps it was the ensemble that worked to seal the deal . . .I love a good contest . . just found out I won a "pallet of toys" from CBC TV for a children's charity of my choice . .decided on the Queen Alexandra Foundation Children's Hospital . . here in Victoria.

(Thanks to Andrew Keilbowicz for the use of several of these images
His works can be found at : AK DESIGN

Monday Magazine . . Review

Thanks to the talented writer/artist Danielle Hogan for this great review and to the Magazine for making such an amusing cover heading into the pages that followed.

08 Greetings

The New year is here . . and so I close the chapter on the past year with the show at Martin Batchelor Gallery ending on the 24th of December and the works now packed for their next viewing .. the last day was interesting with a film crew coming in to interview me and to work on shots for an upcoming film project .. (details on this as it is worked out in the months ahead).
One of the last people to come into the gallery was a blind woman who had a chance to feel the works and talk with me about her experience of form and texture. The scents of oakum and tarred hemp were an added addition to the experience of the pieces. She had grown up near dock sites in England.
Last day of the year and a walk along the shoreline . . couldn't help myself . . I came home with driftwood for new works. . . It's that time to back up images and files . . . back to work. See you soon . . .
D.

Happy Holidays

Season's Greetings!

"Intersections" Installation Views

Martin Batchelor Gallery
712 Cormorant Street
Victoria, BC

Opening Night of "Intersections" Exhibition at the Martin Batchelor Gallery, Victoria, BC

New Works . .

Today will see the final details in the completion of this grouping of new works . . . Just in time for the opening . . a day away.
Still deciding on their titles . . The "Stand Ins" are made from rescued doilies and lace that has been collected from a number of people and locations.

Still deciding if this piece with the tendrils will be an upright or floor piece . . depends on the space for the most part. Onward into the day . . Shelves to be built this day.

Work Work Work . . .

Deadlines are a wonderful thing . . it makes one set some demand . . . a sense of duty in their being along with that critic on the shoulder saying no sleep tonight . . you have much to do before this show opens . . so I'm in the craze of building forms again. . but would I have it any other way . . I don't think so . . seems to be just the way it is . .constantly setting goals and making new projects for the next round of expression . . This one piece should see completion by the end of the day . .

Mail From Carole . . Ken wrap

A red duct taped bundle arrived today . . . 3 boys for the wall (one sans feet) . . of Kens . . they really aren't all Ken . . but a close kin . . .so how many more before I have 999 Kens on the wall????

IAP 20th Anniversary Special Edition Stamp

Wonderful surprise in the mail with the latest edition IAP from Anna Banana.

Studio Visits .. etc . . .

A busy few days . . as seems to be the case most of the time for me . . .
Images:
-Fran Willis is back in town and comes for a visit
-Anne Swannell visits for the first time
-The newest addition to the collection of Distorts
-Stamp Sheet #5 showing a grouping of another 25 sculptures

Rick Raxlen, Victoria, BC, CANADA

"Intersections" Exhibition at Martin Batchelor Gallery, Victoria, BC

ReVision - The Art of Recycling, Granville Island, BC

Many Thanks to Ann Lee, Launi Lucas, and Carl Anderson for making this show happen and come together so smoothly. It was a very interesting show with a wide array of art and ideas.

Daniel de Culla, Burgos, SPAIN

Greetings just in from Spain with an amusing portrait of Mariana Pineda - a performance piece by Daniel de Culla . . I was especially captivated by the new method of painting . . .

North Island College, Courtenay

North Island College
Special Thanks to David Maclean and Linda Perron for making this trip a success. An amazing campus and art facility. . . . for a moment it made me want to be a student again. The Old Island Highway is such a pleasant drive . . . a few side roads and a sneak peek at some of the works for the "We Are Assembled" show in Parksville .. with such an exciting array of works/artists its going to be a great show.

"We Are Assembled" Parksville Exhibition

WE ARE ASSEMBLED
The 11th Annual Junk Art Show!!!
Opens Friday, November 2nd
7:30 pm at
The Oceanside Community Arts Council Gallery
133 McMillan Street
Parksville, BC
WEB: www.oceansideartscouncil.com

Sunset along the Pacific Coast

The fall is a wonderful time along the coast. This area is Dallas Road in the James Bay section of Victoria,BC.

Distort # 118

"Understanding the Personal" Assemblage

After much searching and placement of elements this piece has come together and is on its way to the "We are Assembled" show in Parksville.

"ReVision" Show Announcement

Opening on October 27th at the Granville Island Hotel, Vancouver, BC

Distort Series #116 & # 117

#118 is underway . . .

Distort Series # 115

The Series continues . . . #116 now approaching completion . . .
This one comprises a phentex slipper and netting twine both from Newfoundland . . .
Note: A new link has been established for the Distorts Series:

DISTORTS

MM3 updates . .

The studio is active these days with so many projects occupying various regions of the J Space . . The new mail boxes for the Duck Building came into operation yesterday and some interesting additions to the Mailmania 3 project are showing up. This card from Wacky Stuff in with the mix. I'm revisiting some ideas for sculptural works that were part of an installation years ago . . and after several conversations with artists yesterday about what motivates us to do the work we do . . I decided to let go the restraints and just make the pieces I feel impelled to do . . Onward into the journey of this day . .

Cock a doodle doo . . . for Ira & Wayne

A fun piece that has also seen completion this day . . .This one is finally off on it's journey to Newfoundland . .

Brazillian Alabaster - 2007

Stone carving area of the studio has been active since the weeks prior to the artwalk . . . picked up another stone this week . . a red/orange Spanish alabaster . . . another project in the days ahead.

Art Call out: Opere All'Asta, Bologna, ITALY

Another Mail Art Call from Art Gallery Artrebates . . .
I'm enjoying getting to have time to see some of these projects finally get stamped and on the next phase of their journey.

Anna Banana, Robert's Creek, BC

The Banana Rag has arrived along with a grouping of wonderful stamps and an Anna B. special edition.
Next month will be the 20th Anniversary of IAP (International Art Post) Editions. I'm already working on my images for new stamps. It's always a highlight of the year.

James Bay Art Walk, Victoria, BC

James Bay Art Walk 2007
Another year come and gone for the Annual Art Walk . . year 3 now for participation in the event. I experimented with paper pulp this year and also carved stone on site at the Emily Carr House Historic Site.
Molly (otherwise known as Emily) came to visit artists along the route.

One Proud Newfie, Nanaimo, BC, CANADADA

Tanks m'dere . . .
Long may ya big jib draw . . .

Jokey X Wilson, San Francisco, CA, USA

"Dopey Bird"
Thanks Pete for the connection to Jokey . . . mail soon to be on the way south of the border . . .
D.

Blackwood Opening

Opening of the David Blackwood Painting show at the Winchester Gallery.