I'm Back

Hello beings out there in cyberspace. It has been a long time since I sent any messages or thoughts out to you, to be added to the other billions and billions of words and emotions.

But here I sit, space and time revealing the first blank page or moment of repose in many many months.

Another 10, 000 pound gorilla pulled out of the hat (and sometimes it felt like other orifices as well)

This year's big show opened last Friday. Hudson Holiday.

This was my 29th Holiday season install. Of course there have been smaller and larger, but this one seemed huge. It is huge, actually.

I don't find dedication or loyalty very difficult. I can tie myself to a wagon and be drug a thousand miles if I think the outcome will serve the audience. It is being cut loose from the wagon that is one of the hardest points. I usually feel pretty lonely before a work is done, and then it really steps in after a work is released.

I was watching an old old interview with one of my heroes and friends, the late great Steven Arnold and one of his statements caught me (paraphrased) " I was always doing puppet shows for all the children - Always fairy tales - fantasies - I was always doing the show for them, but I didn't relate to them"

Time to re-invent for the 1000th time. I'm surprised I haven't run in to myself yet.

Curtain Dress

Some of my favorite things

There was nothing wrong with Great Grandmother Kate making us kids clothes from remnants of upholstery fabrics (kinda scratchy) or even drapes. 

Until that evening in Florida visiting the other half of the family.....

When (after having a couple cocktails) Aunt Gertie threw me aside thinking I was the curtains to the veranda.

Ok, fiction - for the most part -...actually just the funny part. But it still makes me smile, so I'm keepin it.

Were Off

...You'll find he is a whiz of Wiz!

If ever Wiz there was.

If ever oh ever a Wiz there was 

The Wizard of Oz is one because,

Because, because, because, because, because

Because of the wonderful things he does...

I Want to do wonderful things.

I am getting my strength back.

My power back.

No need to ask where its been,

just happy to have a glimpse of it's return.

Perspective - Lovely

Jayne and Terry know that I was supposed to be the next Danny Kaye. He was loving, endearing, witty, highly skilled, sharp.

I am loving, so whew! I get an A on #1. Witty is tough to judge before your dead. Highly skilled - Yes, mostly in obsolete Arts. Sharp - not like I was.

I spent lunch and tour time with a very long time friend Kathi DeFrancis ( 34+ years), her daughter, Angie DeFrancis, and her son PHEONIX sp? (going on 9). Three generations.  It was lovely.

Kathi introduced us to Billy. It was a nice spin back through the circle of life.

Emry Says Goodbye

The King of Garp is dead. Long live the King!

William Noble Fleming was an amazing man and I was blessed by his love, friendship and mentorship. I will miss his body and carry a piece of his soul with me until I go.

I know, the boots are heavy Billy, but know that we love you.

The Warrior puppet was very tired.

His boots were very large and heavy.

He was missing buttons.

His helmet was hot.

He was tired of fighting.

We need so much more of this!!!!

Click Through to You Tube for the full view - I can't seem to get it right yet -

Iron-ney

Isn't just like an artist to design something that BEGS to be climbed, 

and for it to be commissioned by a committee that figures that out after it is installed.  

Berekley

Walking This morning around the bay we found this giant chain and anchor being used as garden edge.

I know, the shoes in the shot are already a gimmick.........

Light Animation from Japan

Amazing performance light animation -- try it full screen (click the little box at the bottom) and sound up - long but amazing.

Chandelier Chardin - Pallazzo Verdi

I never really posted this video, due to a little glitch in part 1 - here is part 3 - this was an amazing project:

TED Lecture on OK GO Video

I am sure you have seen this video, but this lecture at TED by the chief engineer is work watching!

WATCH FULL SCREEN!!!!!!!

Comedic Re leaf

Ok, sorry to be so macrabe' yesterday. One of the most influential people in my life, an old friend and ex-business partner is dying. Not sick, but dying. He and his wonderful wife were to arrive in a couple of weeks to spend the summer with us, as several times before.

We got news that he is too weak to travel, and that he has a few weeks on the short, the end of the year

on the long side. I know he is in his 80's. I know he has led an incredibly full life. I knew he was in his final chapter. But I did not know how deep he was in my heart. I did not know how much he has influenced my work. I did not realize how much of me is him and me of him.

Meanwhile, here are some old sketches that fall forward the kind of inflatable sculptures I am cultivating, and the king of ornament that the honorable WNF, or Henly Swerthing, would want me to be.

Heartbreak

I suppose the upside to having your heart broken 

is that it proves that you still have one, 

and that it still can be broken.

And it will grow back again. 

with this scar, 

another part of your mosaic.

Poppies...poppies....poppies.......sleepy...............

Feathery Poppies from a friend's front walk this evening

Flag Renderings

Working on flag designs for the Amphitheatre. Each flag will be 5 feet wide and 20 feet tall. 16 flags in all. Digital transfer - sublimation dye on to fabric. The top sketch is 6 flags wide, the second 7. it should be fun to see them all fly as a single (big) picture. Click on to see detail.

Ah, Vegas....

Only in Vegas

A blurry shot of a short Elvis with a member of Kiss talking shop while on a break on the strip in Las Vegas. Surrounded by Americans. Who didn't notice.

Another note, I practically closed down security at the Las Vegas airport when the jacket Terry tailored  for me (including l.e.d. lights and battery packs....) went through the x-ray. It was actually the light bulb samples  we got at the trade show that triggered the bag to be opened, but when they saw hand stitching on the lining of a jacket and wires coming out, all of a sudden there were a lot of official people stopping by and speaking in hushed tones and using a lot of letters as we saw all the lines in front of us shut down. They were all very nice people and handled by electric jacket with grace. So Terry's fashions are at least being photographed by some very important people! We were swabbed, frisked, ask a million questions and sent on our way. The guy in front of us had a huge steak knife "he uses to fix his car" and that seemed somehow reasonable. They kept the knife.

Big Secret High End Warehouse Sale!!-Yes it is Lonnie

Finds of the day

27 27 WEST 27th Denver Sunday last day - 8 Great stores, many very cool people.

He continued to design his Amusement Park, if Only in His Mind

If I could have this one back I would. We collaged tissue drawings from a window design from the same event on to the canvas. 

95 paintings - Continued

95 paintings in 95 hours. You will need to see the beginning of the telling of this story on http://harnetthargrove.blogspot.com/
This string between two old art warriors begins March 25th.
Jayne - I can't find any images from 95 hours - Thanks for sharing - wow - that was a trip to do AFTER the main 30 day installation - jeez! What a blast.

I did find a couple of pix of HK...

Hong Kong 1997

Jayne,
Remember that night, March 1997 after installing the Dragon in Little Shanghai - North Point, you and Ann were desperate to go to the Hotel for a few hours of sleep - certainly not rest - it was like 4am -  BUT the gaurds were not going to let you out of the building, because you didn't have your photo pass with you and they were being sticklers.
You decided to "make a break for it" and escape through the parking garage with the gaurds running after you,  to grab a cab to wisk you back to the "relative" comforts of the 4 star hotel that played the same techno pop song in the elevator for the 3 years we worked there.

Mosaic

The floor of my office as I draft platonic (and archemedial) solids for the mosaic floor at the Museum of Outdoor Arts' indoor gallery at the Englewood Civic Center. We are installing a permanent "Cabinet of Curiosities" section of the Museum. It will open April 10th.

Eeeeek on to another deadline!

ADCD paper Fashion Show high def Youtube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AonjmDk_O_E

Watch it full screen in 720 High definition! (there is a little button on the bottom menu bar)
Thanks Kelley - Great job

Paper Fashion Show Last night 2

Paper Fashion Show Last night

More to come as we sort images. What a blast!
http://www.thedenveregotist.com/news/local/2010/march/19/2010-paper-fashion-show-winners

Prague

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHq5qEB_NQI&feature=player_embeddedUkulele Loki and the Gadabout Orchestra shot this video one long night at the Museum of Outdoor Arts during the Magic Lantern Show using pieces from the Grandville Troupe Costumes.
What Fun!

Paper Fashion Show

 I am pretty excited about the upcoming Paper Fashion Show that I am preparing for. The Museum of Outdoor Arts is submitting an ensemb. entitled "Walk though the Sculpture Park". Every thing is made out of white paper, but meant to resemble fabric, wood, wrought iron, flowers, crystals, plants, flowers, etc.  Go to www.paperfashionshow.com to learn more!
Here are some more work in progress shots

Cuastic Quote

Just ran across this old quote. So glad my life doesn't reflect much anymore.

God, grant me the senility ..

To forget the people I never liked anyway.. 

The good fortune .. To run into the ones I do

And the eyesight to tell the difference.

Quote of the Day

"I'm really never out of style, 

the world just falls in and out of me"

"Fabric" piece for upcoming paper fashion show entry

www.paperfashionshow.com

Just a note...

OK folks, I know I really blew it on the NYC trip - its was so amazing, and I have only managed to get a couple of days reported. Now time is dulling it, so maybe I need to move in to the present. One of the things I am exploring in this blog is the creative process and getting along in the world, so I am sharing a currently "festering" dynamic.

I would like to explore a totally legitimate difference.

You appreciate our work, are loyal to our work, and give your best to our work, and  -  it is work. It is your job. You enjoy your job and "have a life".  There is nothing wrong with that. I even envy that balance of work, family, play, homebuilding. You are a part of the team, and will give that extra heave-ho, but you are entitled to the rest of your life.

I need to appreciate, and intend on going forward with the understanding -  that though your career is a big part of your life, it is not your entire life. You may even end up somewhere else or even a different industry by the time your career peaks.  You are still young (that is a compliment, not an insult) Your job is not your entire identity. Your job is not everything you are.

Quid pro quo:

My work is everything I am. It is my entire identity. I have been clawing at it for 46 years ( I started at 4). I do not have "a life". There is no "balance" and I do not seek to find one. 

My distress comes from the conflicts these two characters manifest when both at their ends.

I really need to treat people working toward a common goal with great compassion for their lives. 

My crazy Quixote journey is mine to bear, not theirs.

Monday in NYC

The first excuse to come to New York was to see the display of Carl Gustav Jung's "Red Book" at the Rubin Museum of Art, so we headed downtown to this beautiful space.

Housed in the former Barney's store, the sweeping staircase has been kept in place, and a very nice guide told of us the different, but very interconnected shows on each floor. We started in the "sub conscience" of the museum, the lower level to see the Liber Novus, or Red Book exhibit.

It was wonderful to see the sketches and notes of this genius and see the absolute precision of this illustrated visions. I do hope to own a facsimile someday, as obviously they could only show 2 pages each day of the original, and it is a work that one could barely absorb, let alone really read.

Though this pilgrimage seemed a little anti-climactic, the exhibits on the 5 other floors painted a wonderful picture of spiritual connectivity throughout time and space.

We started at the top and wound down through the elegant galleries.
The 6th floor had priceless works about Jainism, an ascetic faith dating back to fifth/sixth century India.
The 5th floor was a show about Mandalas

The 4th Floor was a show called Visions of the Cosmos: From the Milky Ocean to an Evolving Universe. Truly humbling.

The 3rd Floor was Art of the Kathmandu Valley and the 2nd floor was a permanent collection of Himalayan Art.
We left feeling a root connection to the trillions of spirits circling for understanding and meaning in the world.
All images from RMA: www.rmanyc.org


So then out of the heavens and in to EARTH! - Kremer Pigments!
www.kremerpigments.com is where I purchase my lac flake (to make shellac), special marble dust and various artistic alchemical supplies, but it was SO fun to actually visit the hole in the wall distributor of some of the finest powers on earth. Based in Germany, Georg Kremer is the wizard of raw pigments, recipes and methods that keep conservators and artists connected to the real roots of color and texture.

Go to their website to view the amazing photos of where pigments come from - Fascinating!


Could we have more fun? Yup. We are off to the garment/trim district to shop at one of the rarest stores on earth. Tinsel Trading. This was TK's pilgrimage to aquire bits for the clothing he creates for moi - yes I am a lucky boy.  Terry and I have been customers since the early 80's, and have watched this amazing collection of vintage and antique trims rise in value more consistently than any other market on earth.

We missed the owner, Marsha Ceppos, but managed to hear and tell stories about the old days and drop a wad of cash within a quick hour or so.  tinseltrading.com


On the way back to the hotel, we stopped for a cocktail at the roof-top "Poetry garden" of a spiffy themed hotel called the Library at Madison and 41st. The rooms are arranged by the dewey-decimal system, so you can end up in 800.005: Literature/ Fairy Tales if you play your (library) card right.
libraryhotel.com


We ended up having dinner at a "Mexican" restaurant (something New York STILL has not figured out)


I think this 7 days may take me 7 weeks to log, but that is the way of New York - Fast, thick, vibrating, kinetic, chaotic, crazy, cold, and amazing....

Sunday Afternoon

It was great to spend the whole day at the Met before they kicked us out.

We went through the wonderful rooms (our favorite, the Wisteria room was so dark it was close to impossible to get any reference shots)

I loved this poof that was worn out by people looking at this painting.

You know I love Reliquaries and Cabinets

And the many oddities - A wonderful grotto scene, a paper masterpiece, strange furniture

And I simply MUST find these light bulbs!

We first saw them in Frankfurt many years ago. They have a electro magnet in them to make the actual lamp "jiggle" every once and a while, making the bulb feel like a flame that has an occasional flicker.

Please - someone help me find them!

The new American Wing is truly wonderful:

Wax Fruit and What a banquet table SHOULD look like:

We sondered through the small Egyptian collection (only 36,000 pieces, thank you very much)

For friends with initials of C and D

And yes, one of those photos does not belong in the MET, but at Surplus Tools on Alameda in Denver. Which one is it?

Of course, We LOVE open storage!

After an exhausting feast of art and design, we found a wonderful restaurant Cafe Linda and had some hot pasta to warm up with. What a day.

And this is day #1!!!!!!