How Sweet it is!

How sweet it is...to be at this point in time where the final stages of curating the show is in place.

For my part in this show, I wanted a different way to present my images. Being an artist who works in multiple mediums, I found it impossible to choose one medium to go with. My personality is such that I want to do it all. This was my 'solution' to that quandry. I took my photographs and transferred them to fabric (100% Kona cotton). I ended up using different ways of transferring the images. The initial concept was that they would be all transferred by way of the ink jet iron on process. I found that this made the fabric very stiff and awkward to work with. Especially with the scale that I was working in and using gathered fabric technique. So there are several techniques involved in the transfer processes that I used.

I think photographic images can be ideal as a graphic image for textiles. Why not? If I knew how to translate this process to a grander scale to make life sized pieces (human sized), I probably would!

I had to create my own pattern and make prototypes to work out the logistical problems (as most artists do) of the dresses. A qualifier though: (in a Richard Nixon kind of voice) I am not a seamstress! But I am stubborn, so that's how I work through my shortcomings. OK, and sheer panic that I wasn't going to have anything ready for this show.

So, there you have it; the rationale for how I ended up with what I did.

Oh, and special thanks to Gary at Southwest Custom Acrylics for coming up with a wonderful soultion for acrylic covers on my shadow boxes. The acrylic that came with the frames were too shallow for the dimensionality of the work (they come flat which normally works for shadow box frames). I think there's a market for these covers in the framing world for all of us who like to work in mixed media. If you come to the show, you'll see what I'm talking about as far as these covers go.

LU: Prosperity

The first image for this dress is of a reef off of the coast of Moloka'i. If you are intimate with the coastline, it is the Waikane area. On the old map that I have of the island, it says that it is 'foul with rocks and coral heads'.

The second image is a macro shot of a drainage grate of a water feature at the Tamaya Resort here in New Mexico.

DE: Virtue, moral

These images are both macro shots: the first is of a gazing ball in my yard and the second is the detail of a lamp in our guest bedroom.

XI: Happiness

The top image of the dress is a macro (you get the feeling I love macro photography?) of what is called slag glass (is that one 'g' or two?). Slag glass is the glass at the bottom of these huge vats at glass factories. Kinda like scraping crystalized sugar from the bottom of a pot and it comes off in big chunks. There is this art gallery north of Dixon on the way to Taos that has a whole table full of this glass outside (yes, it's for sale). For the life of me, I cannot remember thier name. Rip something. Anyway, so I went crazy with these glass models (it was one of those "stop the car I see slag glass!" moments. Very few people can relate to this level of obsession. I think many would be frightened of it.

The second image is a close up of pink bougenvilla flowers in my dad's yard in Ho'olehua, Moloka'i.

HE: Harmonious

The images for this dress are of peeling paint of an old gas pump located in Ft. Worden State Park in Washington and of a macro shot of a metal bird house in my back yard. Textures, patina, patterns, speaking of age and being somewhere...all of which has a lot of appeal to me.

SHOU: Longevity

The images for this dress are of a macro shot of a straw flower (contrived, not real) and some very beautiful and vibrant strands of hand dyed yarn hanging outside a yarn store in Taos, New Mexico.

CAI: wealth, money

This one could be one of my favorites. The images are of a macro shot of glass marbles (the flat kind) with 'eyes' stamped on to them (they were part of a Round Robin Shrine project). The other image is of a multiple exposure of bamboo and chicken wire in my back yard.

JI: Lucky, auspicious, and propitious

The images for this dress are of a blue door at a local import store and a random piece of netting that I think was hanging inside a friend's house.

FU: Blessing, good fortune, good luck

These two images for this dress are of a blue jar from a local import store and real glass eyes at an antique store in Taos, New Mexico.

Counting down

Guess What Arrived!

Today there came a ring of the door bell and low and behold UPS delivered the printed piece. I was a bit shocked as I was expecting it on Thursday. So now I must run down to the hardware store and get some wood to make the frame and some hinges so it can fold up and be transported.

On to the quality of the print. I thought I had requested it be printed on a matte surface but with all the printers I had asked this the one I need too I did not. So it has a bit to much glare. Bummer. The vinyl is a nice heavy weight with black backing, so that should help prevent light shining through it.

First off it is a bit overwhelming at that size. As I started to look it over I quickly realized that certain elements are very difficult to make out. The print is a bit darker in some areas than I would like and a bit fuzzy in areas I needed it crisp. This is probably due to the resolution these banners are printed at. It looks good, but I think if I had the money I would print on canvas.

I am very impressed at the turn around time of the printers and the knowledge they have. Echod Graphics based in New York.

Now off to framing.

Printer Secured

I finally got a printer that will print within my budget. The only draw back is that their specs where quite a bit different. Their resolution was higher than the printer I had originally planned, so with some adjustments it should come out ok but not exactly what I wanted.

The printed work should be here this Thursday, so with cross fingers I wait.

does anybody really know what time it is?

Right now these clocks have 'photoshopped' hands but they will soon be a real clocks. Not sure what kind of hands I'll end up with when I finally get to go shopping for them but probably something similar unless I find some chartreuse, neon-glow, ultra modern ones. That would make them more interesting, I'm sure.

The one on the left is one of those typical mixed media, never could be duplicated sorta pieces. All the texture was accidental, a result of an attempt to deviate from the recommended components of a crackle technique. The one one the right turned out a bit more like it was supposed to except that the background (which was the residue of a failed photo transfer) added a yellow cast that I don't love. I kinda like the one on the left better but the other will be completed and can be a backup just in case there's a run on crackled, digital clock collages.

Printing Problems

Here I was going to post a nice explanation of the art piece, but now I am scrambling to find a printer that will print 100" x 100" cmyk.

The printer that I had secured, and at a great price, will not print the piece due to the nature of the content. I was on the phone for at least 30 minutes explaining away all the different elements of the work. They re-convened to discuss whether or not they would print it based on my detailed explanation. Sadly, I was emailed that they would not. I respect their decision and the values they hold on what their company prints. In an odd way it is kinda nice to know that there are still companies out there that have values and they do not place money before them.

The printing company referred me to a few other printers and they were almost 3x as much, which puts printing out of my budget.

So if any of you know of any large format printers that can print cmyk at 100" x 100" please send me an email at micro590@hotmail.com.

Thank you,

Dan.

V8x8 checkerboard

Can't seem to get a decent photo of this one because of glare but I'll try to scan it when I'm sure it's completely dry. (photo is now the scan.) I love mixed media -- you screw up and just keep going (after you get over having the thing you tried, not work quite the way you intended). I had fun doing lots of doodles for the 1 inch square, poly-litho prints on all the black squares but it sure was fiddley and took forever (it seemed) printing them.

Countdown to 8/8/08

Almost finished!! I have six pieces completed, one might be done (still thinking about it), and one that is still completely inside my head. Then I have to wire them appropriately. The finish line is in sight!

Lucky Day

As we get closer and closer to the big day, I have been passing out postcards like a maniac! At a recent outdoor show, I had a nice big stack and was happily passing them to one and all. One lady picked one up, and said to me in a very serious voice, "Did you know 8 is a very lucky number in Asian culture?" And another well intentioned soul asked me how many artists were participating in the 8 show...Interest is growing!