What’s wrong with hippie art and landscapes? A letter to Eugene, Oregon 2018
Tree. Moon. Animal. Landscape. The soothing images of Saturday Market and Etsy are repetitious, earnest and unchallenging. This type of art has a solid footing in the culture of the white and well-fed. I’ve lived in Eugene for 28 years and I can say that for most of Eugene’s residents, this is the only art […]
Premiere of Trophallacy
My performance art piece, Trophallacy, a critique of the win/lose paradigm, premiered on 5/26/2018 to a packed house. Eugene Contemporary Art presented the event and you can find more photos at ECA and Gray Space Project. I’m developing a version of Trophallacy to place online. Meanwhile, you can listen to an audio clip. This voiceover is a […]
SubGenius Kickstarter Live
The most fun I had in 2017 was working on the Kickstarter for the documentary film, Slacking Toward Bethlehem, the incredible true story of the Church of the SubGenius. As “Bob’s Nurses”, my friend Kelly Cash and I created six different 30-minute live broadcasts, performance art as content for the Kickstarter. I love this film team […]
Every SubGenius Has a Different Story
This is the first time I’ve blogged about a Kickstarter campaign (you’re welcome) because this documentary film, Slacking Towards Bethlehem: JR “Bob” Dobbs and The Church of the SubGenius, needs to happen! Read all about the accomplished team of Austin filmmakers on their highly amusing Kickstarter Page. (Update: The campaign was fully funded as of 11/8/17. […]
What exactly do I DO?
“What exactly do you DO?” I get this question all the time. My elevator speech stops at too many floors. I could list titles –author, writer, artist, arts advocate – but each one of those titles requires further explanation. So lately I just say I’m Art Oprah of Eugene, Oregon. That makes people laugh and […]
Branding Your New Protest Group
Two days after the Women’s March on Washington 1/21/17, I find myself examining the term “intersectional feminism” and I’m pretty sure I’ve arrived at the intersection of the ridiculous and the tragic. I write to figure out what I think, so after another morning of dizzying headlines, lady patriarchs defending alternative facts and male plutocrats […]
#ARTivism
ARTivism. ‘Artivism’ is a term coined by author and UCSD Professor Ricardo Dominguez. I’ve been holding that word like a touchstone. I’m glad to see intelligent people are out there writing, making art and making sense of the election results. These people are less stupefied than I am, at least in my current state. I […]
Let’s Talk About Art
If you’re in the Eugene area, please come to an event I’m facilitating over the next 3 Tuesday nights. The description below provides details, but the shorthand is this: Let’s Talk About Art. FREE! Facebook Event Public Art: The Big View 3 Evenings of video and conversation based on “Art of the MOOC” Tuesdays: Sept […]
ARTiculate: Full article here
Artists, I hope you’ll enjoy my article ARTiculate: Write and speak your way to confidence. Originally published by Professional Artist Magazine, it features artwork and quotes from artists Gabe Fernandez, Tallmadge Doyle and Jabu Mzilikazi. Did you know that appearing to be confident could actually help you become more confident? As I say in the article: “Courage improvises. […]
Can Creativity Be Taught?
The following article, “Can Creativity Be Taught?” first appeared in Professional Artist Magazine, Aug/Sept 2015. I’m particularly fond of this one because I get to mention ArtCore, an integrated arts program for middle schools. I helped to write the initial grant for ArtCore. Maybe this should’ve been titled, “Art Teachers Will Save the World.” Next […]