The new Hundred Waters video

My longest known friend, since she was 4 and I was 3, Nidia Alire, did the make up on this new video for LA band Hundred Waters for the song "Gravity".  I am gushing with feelings of proud-ness!!! A gorgeous job on a gorgeous woman!

See it here:

A gift!

I received this gift, a book (handcrafted by the beautiful and incredibly talented, Amy Frankel) of Third Rail Repertory Theatre member's/cast's favorite Portland places and activities, after the performance yesterday. I LOVE it! And the show...impressed beyond words!

Thank you Dave Bodin, Gavin Christensen, Spencer Conway, Don Crossley, Nick Erickson, Amy Frankel, Kelly Godell, Kylie Clark Johnson, Isaac Lamb, Rebecca Lingafelter (yes, dinner @ your place!!!), Amy Newman, Maureen Porter, Karen Trumbo, Rolland Walsh, and Scott Yarbough for your Portland tips! So touched!

Third Rail Repertory Theatre

I was lucky enough to work with Amy Frankel on a lobby installation for Third Rail's production of NOISES OFF. This is a photo of the backs of the 4 "doors" I painted with Third Rail's logo. 

Went to the production yesterday and the installation looks FANTASTIC and the theater goers are heartily participating by opening the doors to see what's inside. 

AND the production is spellbinding...I am so impressed by the set, the lighting, the costumes, and especially the acting!!! Blown away!

Here's a link, http://www.thirdrailrep.org

What to do with old logs...

291 hours later and I'm done with refinishing the logs on my Gig Harbor house!

Here's the before and after:

 

Artist statement...

Humans, Join Us!™

By Mindy Barker and Kristin Giordano

Hey you! Yes, you, "driving" by in your car, texting. Notice the air quotes around "driving?" Don’t you know the dangers of texting while driving? I think Werner Herzog just did a documentary about it. You don’t know Werner Herzog? You should really look him up on Netflix™. The Criterion Collection® put out an entire box set of his films. You will not believe the scene with the tiny monkeys in Aguirre, Wrath of God.™ 

Sorry, I lost my train of thought for a sec. I was talking about danger, texting, and driving. Because there are alternatives. Have you ever considered the pleasures of bipedal locomotion? We have! The best way to begin walking is to find yourself an excellent pair of shoes. They should be comfortable, but please--try to be a bit stylish. You’re in public now. It is not okay to wear your pajamas to the store, and slippers are not shoes. You know who you are.

But seriously, have you ever seen a cuter bunch of baby chickens? One of them is wearing a helmet. By this time, you have probably gotten distracted and clicked on the YouTube™ cat video your cousin put on Facebook™. You really need to stop messing with your phone while you drive. You're becoming a menace. And you really shouldn’t hold a No-whip Mocha Frappuccino® and an iPhone™ while operating a motor vehicle, especially a stick shift. That's probably why the baby chicken has to wear a helmet all the time. 

I see that you are now scrolling through the photo gallery on Flickr™ of cute animals in mugs. I mean, a baby hedgehog IN A MUG! That is literally the cutest thing ever. OMG, totes adorbs! Wait, no way, there’s one with two baby bunnies IN THE SAME MUG! WATCH FOR THE PEDESTRIAN!!!!! Jeez, you really need to focus. 

If you take a break from looking at the hilarious thing George “Sulu” Takai just posted to Twitter™, you might notice that there is a large lemur on a skateboard on the side of a building downtown. That is horrendous! Oops, I meant to type “hilarious.” Stupid auto-correct! You know, you really shouldn’t try to post it to Instagram™ while you’re driving. But, oh, wait, never mind, you just did. No worries! But you should really pull over if you want to get the one of the meerkats in sneakers. It could totally go viral. For, like, 2 seconds.

Done!

Here's the final look!!!! 

Humans, Join Us!

Kristin Giordano and I set to finish the project we proposed for Artscapes, in association with SpaceWorks Tacoma and Downtown:On the Go. Here's a continuation of what was accomplished: 

After the "ground" is set we added a skateboarding lemur, a rollerskating dog and a group of baby chickens, some with red converse and one with a red helmet.

Then after painting in shadows...

Mural: 11th and Market

Last June, Tacoma put out a call for artists to submit proposals for the Artscapes Program:

 Spaceworks Tacoma and Downtown On The Go (DOTG) are teaming up to facilitate new Artscapes for the building walls at 11th and Market in downtown Tacoma. We are seeking artist(s), artist teams and/or community groups to transform the current “Chalk Walls” into temporary 2-dimensional, site-specific installations (Artscapes) with a theme of transportation. Artists are asked to submit proposals that will create a space that adds to the livability of downtown and positively reflects living, moving, or being downtown Tacoma.

Here's a photo of the "Chalk Walls" project. The wood panels are the surface to be painted for this call:

Kristin Giordano and I decide to tackle this challenge. Here is our initial proposed idea: 

We are accepted!!! 

The city also accepts Jeremy Gregory's design and decides to have us share the building, giving one side to Kristin and I and the other to Jeremy. We are tickled! Jeremy graciously takes the hilly side of the building. Thank you! 

Here's our new revised design for the Market St. side of the building:

At this point of the design process, the design didn't have the "ground" indicated but on the actual final mural it will be added. 

After our specified basecoat color was painted, this is what the site looked like before we began:

 Time to measure. And measure. The polar bear and the "Humans, Join Us!" became the center to measure from:

                                                                                       

After hours of working with FedEx on 19th (thank you manager Vicky and the super fantastic Jeremiah...thanks for not shouting, "No more! We never EVER want to see you both again!". Kristin even brought them donuts as a peace offering but both Vicky and Jeremiah were not working. Nice thought, though, Kristin!) to produce our images and hours of gluing these images together, here is where the application of our design began:

First to be painted, "Humans, Join Us!" second, the polar bear is adhered.

Next the meerkats...

A high (Hi!) fashion/Tacoma action shot of Kristin!!!!

The team. An attentive passerby noticed I was standing in the middle of the street with my camera and tripod, running back to Kristin to get a photo of us together once they were set. She kindly offered to take over. Phew! She only got one honk of warning from one impatient car driver. 

The cats are added.

 photo: Lisa Kinoshita

Painting in the "ground".

photo: Lisa Kinoshita

The "ground" is now in place.

More to come...

My lanterns are hung!

Come visit the Tacoma Design Collective's showroom! I have just hung some of my handmade lanterns in the window and they are all lit up...come look in the day or come at night. Very festive! 

On each paper lantern I have embedded photos I have personally taken and then added a hand painted design to connect all the photos. Each one is completely different from the other. There are three sizes and also two different paper lantern formations, one a random rib pattern... the other more consistent, to choose between. All reasonably priced for that perfect present for your loved one!

Is there more work to purchase in the showroom from the other Tacoma Design Collective members?

Yes!!! Please visit this website to learn about other artisans represented by the Tacoma Design Collective.

http://www.tacomadesigncollective.com/

What is the Tacoma Design Collective?

Tacoma Design Collective is the premiere North End Design + Build creative team. The brainchild of President Scott Neste, the Tacoma Design Collective was formed in January 2011 to build on the collaborative and creative strengths of its members including Weddermann Architecture, SE Construction, Details BUY Design and Neste’s own Minor Details. 

Where is the showroom?

2603 North Proctor, Tacoma, WA 98407

253.468.4965



 
 

Bright pink wall for the holidays!

Scott Neste, of Minor Details (http://www.minordetailsdesign.com/#home), asked me to add a bit of bold color to his office wall. His choice: Benjamin Moore's Mulberry (2075-20).  After painting this color in a flat finish I used a gloss varnish to freehand a design over the top.

Stenciled "watermark"

Finished this week for The Institute for Functional Medicine's new office space, specifically the front desk area, in Federal Way. The design follows the recent branding this company, including the color and "watermark" image. The first photo is of the large stencil, thanks Fran Biddle (Director of Operations and Finance) for the referral AND extra hand, that was made by Karen Alexander of Sign Language. Karen had to first cut it into long sections (Sign Language's cutter can only handle a certain width of vinyl) and I reassembled it on the wall, carefully placing it so that the outlet cover fit within one of the stenciled areas. 

Stencil set onto wall

I custom mixed the wall's and the image's color, to replicate the company's branding colors, with the base in a flat sheen and the stenciled areas in semi-gloss. 

Finished look

The next step Fran plans for this wall?  The addition of the company's logo, in dimensional letters, with their tag line underneath.

Wallpaper? Who needs it!

This week, Rhonda Canales and I teamed together to solve a problem our client had with wallpaper they had started to install...the batches were discolored on the edges.  Since the design had also been discontinued their designer, Tamara Rosenbloom, asked us to replicate it in paint. Here are the results:

After  basecoat layer and plaster layer we used this stencil

Rhonda adjusting the stencil

Final look

                                    Final look in sunset light

Events at MAE!

We have a few exciting events coming to the Madera showroom in the next few weeks!  We hope to see you.

Saturday November 12 10:00a.m. - 6:00p.m. 

 

 rePly Furniture, A New Chapter - the work of Steve Lawler

An exhibit of unique, hand-made, eco-friendly furniture made from reclaimed woods and scrap plywood.

 

                                                              

Friday November 18 7:00p.m. - 8:30p.m. 

 

Tripod Slideshow Series presents 3 Awesome Art Forms

• Carlos Taylor-Swanson explores... Intarsia and Trompe-l'oeil wood inlay in Renaissance Italy

• Eric Fisher/Lynn DiNino learn how...Cartoon Architecture in Las Vegas

• Steve Lough presents...Sunbathing on the Solstice in Fremont

                                                                

Saturday November 19 12:00noon - 5:00p.m.

 

Madera Architectural Elements presents New Works, Small Works and The Works - Our Annual Party!

 

The artisan members of MAE are known throughout the region for crafting outstanding custom furnishings and architectural elements.  Each year they get together to showcase their lighter, more portable creations - original, affordable and perfect for holiday gifting (or keeping!).  This year they have invited a few friends to join in the fun: 

• Andy Lewis-Lechner returns to Madera with his beautiful wood-fired stoneware
• Artist-Designer-Creative Prolific Scott Neste presents original mixed medium artworks
• Jennevieve Schlemmer is leaving her mosaics at home and bringing a menagerie of felted creations
• Chris Wooten is showcasing her intricate assemblages of bamboo, wire, beads and who-knows-what!  

And for something completely different we are proud to be presenting Urban Elixir - the cure for the common cocktail.  U.E. is a new, woman-owned Tacoma business venture creating artisan-made cocktail mixers.  Their mission statement is to create exceptional, hand-crafted cocktail mixers and encourage giving back to our world in meaningful ways. They will be unveiling (and sampling!) 3 mixers at our event: Margarita, Bloody Mary and Potion #3.

  

If you cannot make the Gala opening on Saturday 11/19, we will be hosting a sneak peek during ArtWalk Thursday 11/17 5-8pm and the show will run through December 21. 

 

                                                                      

 Please visit our website and the MAE website for more information!

Recently completed furniture

A collaboration between award winning designer, Scott Neste of Minor Details Design, Madera Woodworking, Wade Martin of Axis Cut Parts and myself. The cabinet was designed by Scott Neste, meticulously built by Madera Woodworking, the door's curved elements by Wade Martin and I added the painted finish. I love Scott's inclusion of the beautiful mirror within his design!

A detail

View of 1/2 of cabinet

Photos courtesy of Madera Woodworking

Restaurant mural

In late March I finished this mural at the Ikonos Real Greek Souvlaki restaurant in Gig Harbor, WA. Working between 8 PM until 4 AM, I completed it in two weeks.  Great client, Dan Walker, great designer, Cheryl Marshall and great restaurant staff!

Movie: "Great Moments in Advertising"

A couple of weekends ago I was lucky enough to be involved in a fun "72 Hour Film Festival" mini movie filmed by David Derickson. It was a BLAST and the film won an award, Best Use of Prop!!!!!!! The prop= an egg.

 Here's more info:

What is the 72 Hour Film Festival?

Each filmmakers' challenge began Thursday, April 21, 2011 at the Grand Cinema. 30 filmmaker teams gathered for the instructions on what needs to be in their 5 minute short film. It's simple - they have 72 hours to write, shoot and edit a unique and creative short film that includes these specific elements:

• A character must have a SUPER POWER
• Line of dialogue: "What are you going to do about it?"
• Prop: an egg
• Location: a dock or pier
• 5 minute maximum length, including credits

The films were due back at the Grand on Sunday, April 24th.

Finally, everyone was invited to watch these great local films at the Festival Party on Friday, May 6. The evening concluded with the annual awards ceremony, to recognize the best use of the different criteria, for a total of six (6) awards.

Here's the film:


Great Moments in Advertising History from David Derickson on Vimeo.

This Saturday, at "the Space"

Saturday, April 23rd

Come, see and buy artwork by:                                 

Jeremy Gregory
Robert Evans
Geoffrey Weeg

5:00PM-8:00pm

then MUSIC @ 8:30pm:

CHECK PLEASE (my band!)

 and MAUS HAU

$5

"The Space"

729 Court C

Tacoma, Washington, 98402

TONIGHT...Dodo show!

The DODO Show

Event Hours

7-10 pm

Event Price

Free admission

When

Friday, March 11th, 2011

Where

Mad Hat Tea Company 1130 Commerce St. (253) 441-2111

Contact

www.madhattea.com, www.facebook.com/madhattea

Description

Join us for an unforgettable night of rare birds. Local artists put forth their rendition of the one, the only, the never to be seen again...The Dodo; alive and well on the walls of the Mad Hat. Music, refreshments, snacks, surprises! 

 

 

My Dodo piece...

 

  fabric

 27" x 27"

paper on round wood panel

click to see larger

 

Lida Husik - Bozo

Fairly recent...a finished painting.

A diptych for a client's bedroom. A lover of bright clear color, this painting's color palette came from her window treatments and bed covering...both in fuchsias and oranges.