Burning Trash: Amber Snow Pasiak at The Hamilton Center For The Arts, Hamilton NY, July 7 2012

Had another very enjoyable trip out to Hamilton NY on Friday to see a show of work by photographer Amber Snow Pasiak at The Hamilton Center For The Arts. Low tech photos combined with found object assemblies & a marvelous wall length montage of disposable camera snapshots, all of it exploring the artists' sub-rural New York State working class heritage. Here's some video taken at the opening reception:

And an album of pictures showing the work + installation views. I was encouraged by her use of text and scrappy remnants which most would regard as refuse. No, it's artmaking materials, and here's what you do with it ...
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The artist on the right with painter Tony Thompson & photographer Lauren Miller.

Utica based designer Erick Florez of Freak Creative. Visit them on the web at

http://straightfreaky.com/

My favorite piece from the collection of works.

Left to right artists Tim Rand, Steve Nyland, Tony Thompson, Sonny Boyee, and his doppelganger, Marc Tucci. We all got cupcakes to take home!!  :D

Natural Abstractions - Edgewood Gallery, Dewitt NY June 29 2012

Some pictures from the artist's reception on June 29 at Edgewood for a fantastic show of nature form derived artworks by David Harper, Carol Ackles and Ferndando Llosa. The show runs all summer until September 7 so please go take a look! mesmerizing work which needs to be seen in person, and be sure to visit the Edgewood website for more exhibition info here: http://edgewoodartandframe.com/

Artist Fernando Llosa with some of his shale assemblages.

VersuS Debut Bout - Opening Reception May 12 2012, South Side Innovation Center

Here's the original full length 12 minute video I assembled in May from footage taken at the opening night reception for the VersuS group at the SSIC on May 12 2012 -- Fabulous evening of art, music, food, good coffee, and a marvelous scene of artists/musicians gathered to help improve the cultural landscape of Syracuse. Topped off by a performance by !!Tots!! of which I only got a smattering but did what I could with it.

On request from honcho Michael John Heagerty I'm intending to chop it down into two shorter segments but for now this is my unofficial record of the night. Please enjoy!

VersuS on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skillVScraft

July 9 1962: Andy Warhol's Campbell's Soup Cans Debut

Andy Warhol's soup can forms have been of endless inspiration to me over the years -- Warhol's work appealed to me instantly but none more than the soup cans, likely related to years of work in a grocery store. Today is the 50th anniversary of their debut show at the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles, and here is a link to a Wikipedia entry detailing the series & their importance in assessing Warhol's legacy as an artist.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campbell%27s_Soup_Cans

VersuS Debut Bout, Setup At The South Side Innovation Center, May 12 2012

No single development this spring was more important to my rebirth here in Syracuse than participating in the Opening Bout of the VersuS art & performance group headed up by Michael John Heagerty and Jonathan Cantrell. The event had to be relocated to the nearby South Side Innovation Center on South Salina St. in Syracuse at the last minute which was a shame, VersuS 2 awaits at their original Lincoln Ave. space when ready. But it was still a marvelous evening of art, music, food, decent coffee, a funky downtown vibe & the first exhibition this size I'd been a part of since 2002. While a year or ten older than most of the other artists my paintings fit right in, the best part being connecting with some of the scene's artists leading to other gigs/venues/events/opportunities.

However it turned out as an art event, being part of this show is what finally unstopped my cork, and here is the first of two videos I assembled from clips shot at the venue. This one whirling through the setup about two hours before curtain time.

VersuS on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skillVScraft

Maria Rizzo - Trees: Totems of Life, Opening Reception May 12 2012

Here's a video I made fro footage taken at Syracuse area artist Maria Rizzo's opening reception for her Trees: Totems of Life show at May Memorial Unitarian Society on East Genesse St. on May 12. Expect to hear more about Maria's paintings, she has a unique gift for creation and won't be stopped.

Maria's Facebook page for her art business can be found here, "Like" it up!! 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maria-Janina-Rizzo/205751516176783