…had to be in Eugene for a few days, I was crowned the Director of Digital Arts, a new addition to my title here at UO.  I am following a great artist and director, Colin Ives.  He is really responsible for getting our whole Portland White Stag program off the ground.  If you saw any of my students speak at the swf studio, he can take the credit for having helped launched their thesis research back in september.  I understand Colin Ives to be the next artist-in residence at the swf starting in the fall.  Residents can look forward to a depth of insight concerning the environment, combined with high technology, during his stay at the John Ross.  As for me, I get back the John Ross friday and I will be in the home stretch of my installation.  3-4 long days.  I swing back home early next week to go to my kid’s end of school picnic, and then return from the opening-closing-unveiling-release-launch by thurs eveing at 6pm.  I believe Jeremy will be manning the grill serving up hot dogs, a perfect compliment to my work.  In attendance that night will be our UO art department’s friends and collaborators from the ShanDong University of Art and Design.  These are faculty from China with whom we had a fruitful and fascinating relationship with over the past few years.  Help us greet them to the USA, help me by checking out the show, and help Jeremy by eating hot dogs.

I have a very large outdoor sculpture being produced in Sophia, Bulgaria and the timing required me to jet there while I am still in Brussels preparing for this thursday’s opening of my show.  The image is from the studio where the piece is being fabricated.

…here in Brussels now installing a solo show at think..21 gallery.  Considering I jetted out mid-residency to do this show and I am also planning on opening the swf show June 18th, I consider myself busy.  Busy is something an artist should always desire and I am grateful I have so much going on.  My collaboration with Think.21 makes this show certainly one of the best supported efforts I have ever been able to make.  The result is some of my finest work and I say that with steady humility.  I have done a few shows over the years, this one is special.  There is a variety of works I have had the assistance of fabricators crafting and finishing the pieces, there is a giant site specific styrobot, over 20 framed drawings, 3 wall hung sculptures, and of course my banana-man.  10 hour days, jet lag, and the stress of installing has got my anxiety creeping up, but the thrill of the installation keeps me focused.  I’ll be back at the swf late next week and will begin the final stages of that show, FLOTSAM

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…….my itinerary is not in stone yet but I will travel to Brussels for a solo exhibition which opens May 28th.  I will be building a large styrofoam robot on site, and as usual, about half of the entire exhibition will be site specific.  There are several pieces being fabricated and its always a challenge to work in such a way overseas.  I work closely with this particular gallery, Think.21, who understands me and my work intimately enough to negotiate complex production methods - even when I am not there.  I develop drawings and plans, research production methods, and then they source the best fabricator.  “The guy doesn’t even make his own work?” true, in some cases, I seek a level of high production so technically specific it only makes sense to use professional technical crafts people.  I am sure we can find plenty of masters throughout history whom have had their work constructed by teams of assistants, but it does sound odd to some who still only understand art making as a craft exercise.  I am a maker and always will be, but in my practice I continue to believe I can and should use every media, method and technical advantage I can access.

The SWF show is coming right along, and I even have a title.  FLOTSAM.  The random floating debris encountered in the open ocean is referred to as flotsam, not to be confused with jetsom  which is the jettisoned articles a vessel will throw over board prior to running a ground or capsizing.  I imagine our visual culture to be a sea.  A sea filled with Flotsam so thick and dangerous that navigating through it is treacherous.  Imagine the things we see are bumped into, sometimes even attaching themseleves to us, clinging to our consciousness.  The work in this show is synthesized visual flotsam.

SWF’s Art, Culture, Science committee presents resident poet Don Dagg Monday, May 4 from 6:30 - 8 PM In his 20 years writing political, religious and socially conscious poems, Don has been invited to share them at venues across the state, in Canada and Ireland.
It is an honor to have him at our next gathering, where we will have the opportunity to hear his work and engage with him personally.

All South Waterfront residents are welcome for wine, conversation, the sharing of recent artful experiences and, of course, poetry and insights by writer Don Dagg.

6:30 - 8 pm
Atwater Amenities room
Heidi@heidimcbridegallery.com for more information

file:///Users/Home/Documents/SWF%20Blog/dondaggpoem_SWF-ACS.pdf

Join Artist in Residence Michael Salter and his students completing their BFA degree in Digital Arts from the University of Oregon Art Department as they present brief descriptions of their research. Considered to be the generators of our future visual culture, these artists and designers will present their motivations, insights and year-long BFA project thesis. Pizza, pop and junk food will be served.

Featured students on Thursday, April 30:
Zach Rose
Andrew Parnell
Daniel Strong
Mac Schubert
Dustin Dybevik
Peter Baston
Travis Bachmeier

UO/SWF Artist in Residence Student Presentations
Thursday, April 30, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
AND
Thursday, May 28, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
John Ross Plaza Studio
3623 SW River Pkwy., Portland, OR  97239 map it

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
RSVP appreciated, but feel free to stop by
RSVP: communityrelations@southwaterfront.com or 503.222.778