Hang Local - A Panel Discussion on the Arts & Commerce - The Tech Garden, Syracuse NY January 17 2012.

The Technology Garden's artist in residence & curator Ty Marshal invited me to take part in a panel discussion at The Tech Garden on Thursday evaluating the current climate for the art market in the Syracuse area. Specifically the notion of pairing local artists with agents from design firms and interior decorators to place actual artwork in the homes or business of their clients.

The results served both as a lively open discussion on the role that artists can play in promoting their work to those who seek out genuine artwork by local or emerging artists, often in alternative venues with non-traditional exhibition practices. And as a networking opportunity for not just the panel members but those in attendance to compare ideas, exchange contact information, with the "Five" exhibition of our artwork serving as the metaphorical backdrop. 

Panelists for this first discussion included: Erin Sirianni, Carolyn Frani, Ellen Leahy, Karis Wiggins, Michael Joyce, Steve Nyland, Niki Dellios, Kathryn Petrillo, Maria Rizzo, and Nate West.

Left to right artists Maria Rizzo, Niki Dellios, Nathaniel West and Kathryn Petrillo.

Panel members  Erin Sirianni, Carolyn Frani, Ellen Leahy, Karis Wiggins, Michael Joyce, while I do my best "Ironside" impersonation.

Other Syracuse area artists & community advocates present, including Michael John Heaggerty (speaking here), NY Assemblyman Chris Fowler, artists Elizabeth Andrews, Mary Mollica, Derek Bryant, Dick West, Isaac Bidwell, Cayetano Valenzuela, Charlie Sam and John M. Paone. Not surprisingly either many of these names have figured prominently in my own activities over the past year. This bunch means business.

Discussion moderator Ty Marshal, moving things along to the second part of the evening.

Meet & Greet in the Syracuse Coworks shared office space, where anyone can book a table for business meetings or other related pursuits.

Painter Kathryn Petrillo's canvases on the Syracuse Coworks walls. Got something in mind that'll look just Jim dandy up there, yessir.

Some of artist Niki Dellios' work from the "Five" exhibition in the hallway gallery spaces.

Prior blog coverage of the "Five" exhibition curated by Ty Marshal and featuring the work of the artists from the panel group can be found here:

"Five" Opening Reception at The Tech Garden, December 13 2012

Blood Of A Zombie - CD Cover & Other Zombie Commissions - January 2013

Just before Christmas my former Brooklyn era roommate & accomplished musician Matthew Melnick asked if I'd like to take a shot a designing a CD cover for his new music project, Blood of a Zombie.

HELLLL YEAH!

Blood of a Zombie logo

http://www.bloodofazombie.com/

Matt's sketch guidelines for what he wants to see, with doctor/nurse theme. 

The first effort -- Blood of a Zombie: Evisceration Table

Blood of a Zombie: Evisceration Table 2

Matt's notes for the back cover design.

Herbis Horse, March 2012 -- Another album cover design Matt requested, though the music side of the project never came to fruition.

Herbis Horse #2, April 2012 -- Attempting to simplify the design and make it look more stylized with assistance from former artist/designer and firefighter Chris Kulak. Who in turn requested his own commission of a zombie firefighter.

Zombie Fireman

Another friend whom I went through foundation core with at Syracuse University also made a request for a barfing American Gothic couple. Why not.

Zombie Splitting Headache & Projectile Vomiting -- The first result of that effort.

Zombie Hoodies -- This started out as another American Gothic barf-o-rama but I kind of liked it at the stage shown and kept it as such.

Mutant Porno Girls -- Seemed a shame just to paint over the wood forms in the shingle, so I had the pair be a couple of mutant hotties who do pr0n on the side to earn extra cash.

Mutant Alien Cosmonaut -- Suggested from the same approach of allowing the wood grains in the shingle to determine how the painting would take shape.

Cosmonaut Smack Hit

Zombie Buddy Cop Movie -- The best of the batch, and again it started life as a yarfing American Gothic but was just too damn good.

Ken Nichols - Paintings & Scarves - The Art Store, Syracuse NY January 15 2013

Ran out of gels Monday night and took a jaunt down to The Art Store aka Commercial Art Supply nearby at the corner of North Crouse Ave & Erie Blvd. just off the SU campus. Brought home fresh Golden's clear gel tar -- LOVE it as a primer/sealer for the zombie shingles -- and a pricy but long-lasting tube of real Golden series 8 cobalt blue, always my favorite shade. Toss in a few Neocolor II caran d'ache crayons, two of the Princeton series 4250R liner brushes I've come to rely on for the cosmonaut paintings, a four pack of 6x6 Ampersand clayboards to help me execute a commission for a CD cover in the correct proportions and we're back in business.

The Art Store website:

http://www.commercialartsupply.com/

As chance may have it they also had a display of paintings done by fellow Sparky Town Gallery exhibitor Ken Nichols, forever enshrined in my memory as the guy who brought the dancing girls along for a reception in 2008. In all seriousness Ken's work taught me the need for an artist to be responsible for every inch of their canvas, something I've often been guilty of slacking on in the past. Nowadays if a spot is left unadorned it's for a reason, and I've even started to work over the side of my wood pieces after exposure to the practice via the paintings of Fred Wellner & Phil Parsons at the Szozda Gallery shows they've had. Not so sleepy an arts scene after all, and I took a minute to sign up for a turn at a display in The Art Store's gallery space too. Why the heck not.

Ken's website:

http://www.kennicholsart.com

This one caught my eye.

AMAZING painting! Not sure if this is a new style for Ken but it's a marvelous middle ground between his "decorative" designs and an artsy-fine painting approach.

Check that face out, take notes. Excellent work.

I was told this was sort of an exquisite corpse/gestalt painting done at the opening reception by those in attendance. Awesome painting!!!

http://www.kennicholsart.com

Wouldn't You Like To Know ...

I pay for my blog's storage space now. I do not allow ads so I make no income off it. I don't link to pr0n, warez, illegal movie uploads or anything having to do with guns. It takes time to go to events, record data, process & prepare it for upload, post, edit and publish it. I do so without asking for anything in exchange to simply promote the arts in Central New York in whatever form I encounter it. 

That's why I'm here, it's what I do, see you at the next one.

Hamilton Center for the Arts Winter 2013 Community Exhibition, January 4 2012

Hamilton Center for the Arts director Kathy Herold with artist Kayla Cady -- who co-curated the show -- and Eileen Augustin, one of the featured artists.