New Media Projection

New Media Performance Art

I found it interesting how the new media methods for projecting scenes and backgrounds for live plays still can have a connection to artist from the past. In David Hoffas’ Time Traveller, in order to create a recognizable version of the apocalypse David and his team were able to animate some of the gruesome figures from Bruegel’s paintings of the end of the world. I have always loved working with wood and could have seriously see myself working to build theatre sets, but I believe this projection method may allow, more precision as there’s literally no limit to what programer may design if allowed enough time. Also there is no limit to the amount of sets which can be projected, as there is no problem of moving and storage, this method could even effect the overall size of theaters, as smaller theaters can sore everything they need on a micro chip. Also at the time of the showing less staff is need to control the sets as only one or two people can control everything which needs to be displayed.

This new media doesn’t dwell in the passed, as David’s team will often tackle stories with a very futuristic feeling, stories which involve time travel, cyber sex, and other fresh ideas. When developing these environments there is really no official director, as changes can be made more easily on the fly, input are joined together from all members of the team, creating something which everyone could truly see they had a part in. The illusion of creating depth is apparently surprisingly good, as a projection can be used to create long hallways, even sometimes projecting something like water on to the actor which gives an illusion he is actually getting wet. Unfortunately I was not viewing the performances live, but on another projector and I think this made the depth appear computer flattened.

It’s very interesting all the possibilities that come with new media performance art, and I now make a point of going to see a performance live in order to get the full effect. Maybe then rather than picturing myself physically building sets out of wood, I should picture myself composing scenes on a computer screen instead. Who knows what other possibilities could arise from the field at any time, as sometimes when you are simply trying to improve old methods with new technology you can spawn something totally new and exciting.

First Dawn

For this multi layered scene silk screen, I took my many hours of drawing and re-drawing, I then scanned everything into Photoshop for a clean crisp look. The 156 ink-jet transparent printer allows the screener to print large black images on transparent acetate, in oder to burn a silk screen layer.
For me the use of layered eyes is a symbol for infinity, and a higher power, also it gives a damn trippy effect. Planet earth is being birthed out of the center of a beautiful flower, a sign of natures beauty and perfection. The obscure face in the centre of the image is a Diety (god), and is supposed to look that way, I didn’t want to simply draw a face that looks like old man christmas and say “look it’s God.” Overall the face resembles a ram face but it’s actually composed of several smaller images, including a grim reaper, dragon-man (shown below), and a daisy, depending which way the picture is tilted a different image is revealed in the face…..but it’s really obscure and the image is blurry so don’t worry if you don’t see anything at all. I Really doubt God looks like an old white guy or anything else we could easily comprehend so I think the obscurity of the image works in this case.

Have you heard All That Remains

All That Remains are a newly emerging heavy metal band, and I just recently had a chance to see them live in Vancouver, and the show did not disappoint. There was not a huge crowd because the other bands they were touring with were up-and-coming bands, but this also allowed everyone to get close to the action for a more intimate show. Most of the openers I was not crazy about, but this gave me a chance to get in the beer garden, there’s nothing worse then when you can’t keep your buzz from your pre-drinks. When ATR (all that remains) came on everyone was energized, there sound was crisp and heavy. It was great to get in the mash pit, and circle pit, and release some energy. Unlike the Killswitch Engaged show people were actually pushing each other, at Killswitch I pushed some people in the pit and they looked at me with puppy eyes, as if to ask “what are you doing.” Well don’t go in the mash pit unless you are prepared for physical contact, but Killswitch is the wrong show if you like it rough. If you like new metal, check out ATR, they sound awesome live, to me their style blends addictive heavy riffs with more technical melodic solos, and good lyrics for the crowd to chant. The next time these guys are in town I expect you to get roudy, and get there, if you’ve already seen them, see it again, and tell me how it was.

Spaces Within

This piece is an exploration of how one interacts in the space in which he or she resides. The multiple images of the charater allow the viewer to not simply view the environment as a sterile setting, but instead will imagin how the person may interact with his or her surroundings.

Urban Intervention

Hey, stickers are fun! except at art school, we call it a vinyl…sounds more professional. But this was a fun project, the image speaks to the balance of urban structures and nature in Granville Island, Vancouver BC. The vinyl is placed on a window near where I park my bike everyday, there are vines running all over the cement wall surrounding the window essentially a life size monument inspiring this work…and a perfect place for it.

Holly McNarland, where is your Gnarliness. Live with 5440 Vanvouver

First of all I want to thank Rock 101, for hooking me up with two free tickets at the doors of the sold out event. I was just about to wander off and find something else to do when I’d found there were no more tickets, but getting in for free and spending that money on getting sauced was way better in the end.
I was curious to see Holly McNarland especially, being one of the few female artists I enjoyed hearing on the only rock radio station in Prince George. I was initially captivated by her boldness and angry lyrics, like in songs Do You Get High, Elmo, and Coward it was quite a contrast to other songs from female artist I knew, like the way too happy Soak up the Sun by Sheryl Crow, which I last saw advertised on tv for a mixed CD for kids under 8. Whether it was expressing rage at an x-boyfriend, or singing about battling the bottle she was certainly much more edgy than any up and coming pop stars like the young Britneys or Christinas. Now I’m not saying there’s no angry female artist out there, it’s just I was young and she left a bit of an impression being one of the first women I’d ever heard use the F-word with real emotion. This emotion I could tell was real and genuine, something lacking in the generic mix of mainstream hits on the radio, and this is what I wanted to see when I went out to see her on october 19th. I’d listened briefly to her new album, and knew I might be disappointed, especially if she played too many songs from it, and of corse she did. The crowd perked up a little bit and was able to sing along when she did play one of her older hits, Numb, but other than that I thought it was a let down. She’d recently started performing again after having a baby girl, and she still wanted to pretend she was hardcore, talking about how she would be drinking jagermeister after the show, but her edge and feeling of raw emotion was gone. She is destined to be listened to by volvo driving soccer moms and that under 8 kids mix album I was talking about.

Axis Disrupt (silk screen)

This is my first silk screen, and overall I’m pretty happy with it. It’s not perfect, but what ever is, I accomplished everything I wanted, in trying to create an effective poster.

When creating a metal poster, I kept in mind that each band wants to appear more badass than the last, I wanted to create a strong sense of evil mixed with loudness. One of my friends mom’s thought the two characters were chuging out of beer bongs, which could work..lol, but they are musical horns, I’m not sure that’s obvious or not.

review: Do The Right Thing

This week, I am reviewing the movie Do The right Thing directed by Spike Lee, who also plays the main character Mookie. The controversial film deals with racial tension felt in Brooklyn during the 1980’s. Lee wants to demonstrates how the issue of race effects a community by causing miscommunication which eventually builds to to end in tragedy. Through the sets, atmosphere, and characters Lee manages to produce not a wholly realistic view of urban culture, but his own vision which he manipulates to make his final point with the incident at Sal’s pizza. The viewer is meant to feel sympathy for Sal, and made to make a choice over who is the victim, Sal who’s property is burned to the ground when he is the only white person with some compassion for the black community, or Radio Raheem. Because the scene where Sal is witnessing his pizzeria being burned is very emotional, at first one is tempted to pick Sal, but ultimately Radio Raheem had to pay with his life which is of course worse than any property damage. Ultimately this movie is fun to watch, and Lee brings humor and playfulness to movie dealing with the issue of racism. I think I might have ruined the ending on this one but go check it anyway, plus it has Samuel jackson. If you are an Emily Carr student you can find it in the library, fo free .

Twisted, Samuell Jackson. Office Sapce

This weeks movies are Twisted with Ashley Judd and Samuell Jackson, and Office Space with Ron Livingston and Jennifer Aniston.
If you are like me, you instantly gavitate to any movie with Samuell Jackson, the way he talks just grips you. Unfortunatly we all know he doesn’t get the greatest movies, and he’s thrown in there for the film to make money, like snakes on a plane. In the movie bis this guy is a sure bet, no matter how much the movie looks like it sucks, people will maybe it wont because it has Mr Jackson. Once again I’m sorry to say even Samuell couldn’t pull this one out of the fire. In this murder mystery I was able to guess who the killer was 15 minutes into the movie. I see what this movie was trying to do in making you think killer and the cop who’s looking for the killer are the same person, she just doesn’t know it yet! But I wasn’t buying it, and I don’t think anyone else will either. 2/5 stars
Office Space doesn’t have any really big names, but it doesn’t need any, because the situations are what’s halarious. This movie has a bad-ass soundtrack with lots of gangster rap, in a film about pasty white office employees, it’s genious. This movie reminds me about why I’m going to art school, and the fax machine scene is awsome. I highly recomend this movie 4/5 stars (check it out)