Hey everybody, I took the liberty of adding your name in a letter, hope that's okay.
Dear Mother Earth,
I'm sorry I raped you.
Signed,
Humanity
Dear Mother Earth,
I'm sorry I raped you.
Signed,
Humanity
DEMO REEL AND LIVE STAND-UP VIDDY
Hi sweety-pies!
Two vids today on the promo-front, promo-back, and sides all over.
First, it's my Demo Reel for acting all acting-like but so naturally that it doesn't look like acting, it's just being! Represented by Liz Hampton at 2SG in Toronto and Jason Ainslie at Principals Talent in Vancouver. Reel made by filmmaker Heather Trawick who is wonderful and did a bang-up job as we looked at what those demo reel pros were doing and stayed away from the cheez (Outkast soundtracks, skipping records, swirling graphics)- she knoooows what she's doing, the proof is in the pudding. Let me show you why I should be some random guy in your 'project'! Yay!
Secundly, here's me performing stand-up at at Nick Flanagan's Joke Club at the Comedy Bar in February, 2010. As filmed by Craig Irving. It's interesting this bit. It was meant to be 'light' and 'conversational' until I realised that I can't see the audience one iota! It was harder to make contact, to act and react with my friends, the unknown people. Totally dark from the stage so my routine took them to darker and gradually angrier places then back again....
Two vids today on the promo-front, promo-back, and sides all over.
First, it's my Demo Reel for acting all acting-like but so naturally that it doesn't look like acting, it's just being! Represented by Liz Hampton at 2SG in Toronto and Jason Ainslie at Principals Talent in Vancouver. Reel made by filmmaker Heather Trawick who is wonderful and did a bang-up job as we looked at what those demo reel pros were doing and stayed away from the cheez (Outkast soundtracks, skipping records, swirling graphics)- she knoooows what she's doing, the proof is in the pudding. Let me show you why I should be some random guy in your 'project'! Yay!
Secundly, here's me performing stand-up at at Nick Flanagan's Joke Club at the Comedy Bar in February, 2010. As filmed by Craig Irving. It's interesting this bit. It was meant to be 'light' and 'conversational' until I realised that I can't see the audience one iota! It was harder to make contact, to act and react with my friends, the unknown people. Totally dark from the stage so my routine took them to darker and gradually angrier places then back again....
SOCIAL ANXIETY
The other nite I went to a great art opening of my old pal Shayne Ehman. I miss that guy, so good to see him, a pure soul who doesn't get hung up like I sometimes do on 'making it', naw, he makes it- great art, that is. I hope that while he's here we can do some collabs again.
Anyways, there I was at the opening hanging out with another pal who was feeling social anxiety. Openings at the best of times can do that. Back in Vancouver what I found most artful about art openings was the trajectory of eyes criss-crossing tha room trying to avoid all contact. I was once at a party with a friend who had social anxiety and so I called out, "Who's socially anxious?" and numerous hands shot up. It's a common thing.
I get it, too. People can think that I am so comfy and outward but, I get it. "If I just keep smiling and talk loudly no one will know that my heart is palpatating."
And at this opening I was chuckling to myself, see, this one socially anxious pal, we had some mended fences, for a long time if we saw each other out and about we'd both get socially anxious cuz we weren't talking. But time and maturity and a real implemented obligation for me to keep my side of the street clean solved that and we are quite comfortable.
I was really chuckling to myself because behind this pal at the opening was someone not wanting to talk to me and making me...yup, you got it...socially anxious. I said hi to that person and it was awkward and brief. It was a someone who a few weeks ago gave me nasty mixed signals and I called that person on those signals and was angry via e mail and that was that. See, if someone does screwy stuff to me I call them on it and then do my best not to have it in my life. I don't need drama. "I'm too old for this shit!" Heh heh, but young-ish! I get all cock-eyed at people who say life is a game. Are they going to trivialise life that much? Game over!
In my attempts to not have drama in my life and to call people on their bullshit in a reasonable manner, I still risk new social awkwardness which equals drama. I kinda forgot about that. Haven't really had that in a while as I am on a new path that is trying to be more positive and tries to judge others less. Yet when I see something that is a bunch of phony baloney I call do my best to call it. I'd want others to call me on my bullshit so that I can be a better person. Hmm, how to deal?
Anyways, there I was at the opening hanging out with another pal who was feeling social anxiety. Openings at the best of times can do that. Back in Vancouver what I found most artful about art openings was the trajectory of eyes criss-crossing tha room trying to avoid all contact. I was once at a party with a friend who had social anxiety and so I called out, "Who's socially anxious?" and numerous hands shot up. It's a common thing.
I get it, too. People can think that I am so comfy and outward but, I get it. "If I just keep smiling and talk loudly no one will know that my heart is palpatating."
And at this opening I was chuckling to myself, see, this one socially anxious pal, we had some mended fences, for a long time if we saw each other out and about we'd both get socially anxious cuz we weren't talking. But time and maturity and a real implemented obligation for me to keep my side of the street clean solved that and we are quite comfortable.
I was really chuckling to myself because behind this pal at the opening was someone not wanting to talk to me and making me...yup, you got it...socially anxious. I said hi to that person and it was awkward and brief. It was a someone who a few weeks ago gave me nasty mixed signals and I called that person on those signals and was angry via e mail and that was that. See, if someone does screwy stuff to me I call them on it and then do my best not to have it in my life. I don't need drama. "I'm too old for this shit!" Heh heh, but young-ish! I get all cock-eyed at people who say life is a game. Are they going to trivialise life that much? Game over!
In my attempts to not have drama in my life and to call people on their bullshit in a reasonable manner, I still risk new social awkwardness which equals drama. I kinda forgot about that. Haven't really had that in a while as I am on a new path that is trying to be more positive and tries to judge others less. Yet when I see something that is a bunch of phony baloney I call do my best to call it. I'd want others to call me on my bullshit so that I can be a better person. Hmm, how to deal?
GNUS
Hmm, I feel sluggish, no urges whatsoever, eyes droopy. Where is the charm? Over here? Or there?
Voila?
Life is okay. It truly is. It's...okay!
When I face rejection I can go, well, I'm just not the one for this and if it's personal I can go, well, these people just ain't fit to fill the shoes of people who have accepted me, so what do I care! And I accept that.
Some things that I have forgotten to mention. I now have a Toronto acting agent, Liz Hampton at 3SG, who I got through my Vancouver agent, the amazing Jason Ainslie at Principals. So far, I scored an audition before the ink was dry and scored the role, it involves being goofy and being an ad whore, so the mantra for this was, "Get seen! Get paid! Get humble!"
FEELINGS, my fabulous evening of soft emotional sounds that included my midnite candlelight recitations is no more for the mo-mo. I had to take it and put it on a hiatus. Both it and the UNVEILING art event that I do with William Davison are looking for good homes. Feel free to contact me if you know or have such an appropriate venue.
The WET DIRT album is in the rough mix stage still, if you are or know of a prospective decent label, we'll gladly send you some songs. Because it's good. And you need it.
I am going to go outside for some air now.
Voila?
Life is okay. It truly is. It's...okay!
When I face rejection I can go, well, I'm just not the one for this and if it's personal I can go, well, these people just ain't fit to fill the shoes of people who have accepted me, so what do I care! And I accept that.
Some things that I have forgotten to mention. I now have a Toronto acting agent, Liz Hampton at 3SG, who I got through my Vancouver agent, the amazing Jason Ainslie at Principals. So far, I scored an audition before the ink was dry and scored the role, it involves being goofy and being an ad whore, so the mantra for this was, "Get seen! Get paid! Get humble!"
FEELINGS, my fabulous evening of soft emotional sounds that included my midnite candlelight recitations is no more for the mo-mo. I had to take it and put it on a hiatus. Both it and the UNVEILING art event that I do with William Davison are looking for good homes. Feel free to contact me if you know or have such an appropriate venue.
The WET DIRT album is in the rough mix stage still, if you are or know of a prospective decent label, we'll gladly send you some songs. Because it's good. And you need it.
I am going to go outside for some air now.
JOKE CLUB TONITE
Uh oh, short notice but i am doing stand-up as part of Nick Flanagan's Joke club tonite at the comedy Bar (945 Bloor) at 9:45 this Thursday feb 11th....
I've been doing way more stand-up again, man,I haven't done this much stand-up since high school! I went to see stand-up at Laff Sabbath Sunday nite and was asked to perform so I did, just half an hour or so later! And it was fun! I love doing stand-up!
Ahhh stand-up!
I've been doing way more stand-up again, man,I haven't done this much stand-up since high school! I went to see stand-up at Laff Sabbath Sunday nite and was asked to perform so I did, just half an hour or so later! And it was fun! I love doing stand-up!
Ahhh stand-up!
ZINING INFLUENCES
In my zining there was definitely some zines that profoundly inspired me. One of the earliest was Jim, which was self-published at first by Jim Woodring, but I latched on to the first Fantagraphics issue staring at me on a shelf in the Northern BC town that I lived in. I was in high school, I dared myself to buy it. I'd never seen anything like it, it makes sense that I got into Captain Beefheart at the same time. Then I started corresponding with the man and ordering his mail-order art booklets and wildness. Meeting him at the age of 19 profoundly affected me for life, this big bearded cigar-chomping man took me to Robert Crumb's favourite diner The Doghouse. An incredible man. Those issues are reprinted in the Book Of Jim. Alas, some of those mail-order booklets are unavailable. But I am sure he'd put them up somewhere if he wanted to.
So many other zines have inspired me in my zine-making: Rollerderby, Breakfast without Meat (by Gregg Turkington who later became a great friend, we'd do so many projects together and he'd help me out so much, someone should really put these later issues into a book), and ones that I'd later contribute to such as Flatter and Bananafish.
Zines are a very pre-internet force and have even undergone a nice revival. Roctober and Cinema Sewer still come out, God bless em, and a myriad of art booklets pop up in wonderful random ways. Marco Bello put together Nog a Dod, a book that documents that whole West Coast Canuck scene etcetera where we were all making crazee art booklets. I still do my art booklets and see new doozies pop up.
But there's one, one that never gets talked about.
It inspired me to make a new Bunyon zine a buncha years (late 90s?) back after a two-year hiatus and after the whole zine revolution had puttered. It gave me momentum. This gal, Christine Corlett-spelling? unsure- was working at the Good Jacket store (that place sold vintage but also had the craziest shows, the first Canned Hamm show was there). She saw the July Fourth Toilet easter show (where Jason Mclean and Heather Copeland built me a big foam bunny outfit and we played songs about bunnies, one song about Night Of the Lepus, another about shitting eggs, Here comes Peter Cottontail, The Bunny Hop, et al, odd children's music sound that i loved to explore, I may have puked off the side of the stage, and challenged a biker to a fight but he just kept laughing as I pummeled) and dug it so we started talking. Then she showed me her zines. WHY DOESN'T ANYONE TALK ABOUT THESE? Art Hussy they were called and they blew my mind with their freedom. I haven't seen her in years. Where is she? What else has she done? Can anyone fill me in? I hope she's still making art. I only have two issues, wish I had more. That next ish of Bunyon that these art Hussy zines inspired was the best one.
(natch: if you are her and want these images removed, let me know and I will but the world needs to see these)...
So many other zines have inspired me in my zine-making: Rollerderby, Breakfast without Meat (by Gregg Turkington who later became a great friend, we'd do so many projects together and he'd help me out so much, someone should really put these later issues into a book), and ones that I'd later contribute to such as Flatter and Bananafish.
Zines are a very pre-internet force and have even undergone a nice revival. Roctober and Cinema Sewer still come out, God bless em, and a myriad of art booklets pop up in wonderful random ways. Marco Bello put together Nog a Dod, a book that documents that whole West Coast Canuck scene etcetera where we were all making crazee art booklets. I still do my art booklets and see new doozies pop up.
But there's one, one that never gets talked about.
It inspired me to make a new Bunyon zine a buncha years (late 90s?) back after a two-year hiatus and after the whole zine revolution had puttered. It gave me momentum. This gal, Christine Corlett-spelling? unsure- was working at the Good Jacket store (that place sold vintage but also had the craziest shows, the first Canned Hamm show was there). She saw the July Fourth Toilet easter show (where Jason Mclean and Heather Copeland built me a big foam bunny outfit and we played songs about bunnies, one song about Night Of the Lepus, another about shitting eggs, Here comes Peter Cottontail, The Bunny Hop, et al, odd children's music sound that i loved to explore, I may have puked off the side of the stage, and challenged a biker to a fight but he just kept laughing as I pummeled) and dug it so we started talking. Then she showed me her zines. WHY DOESN'T ANYONE TALK ABOUT THESE? Art Hussy they were called and they blew my mind with their freedom. I haven't seen her in years. Where is she? What else has she done? Can anyone fill me in? I hope she's still making art. I only have two issues, wish I had more. That next ish of Bunyon that these art Hussy zines inspired was the best one.
(natch: if you are her and want these images removed, let me know and I will but the world needs to see these)...
Comedy 2Nite: Wed Feb 3rd 9 PM
hi folks, gonna perform 2nite, do my Artist Of The Millennium speech methinks, it's part of the monthly Comedy at the Ossington (61 Ossington)...stand-up is fun, I enjoy 'doing' 'it.'
Info:
This month hosted by The 'Comedy at the Ossington' LADIES,
SARA HENNESSEY & STEPH KALINER. We are going to deliver all of your babies. And by babies, I mean laughs...
Also on the show:
ROBERT DAYTON
RHIANNON ARCHER
ANDREW JOHNSTON
MIKE BALAZO
ALANA JOHNSTON
hi folks, gonna perform 2nite, do my Artist Of The Millennium speech methinks, it's part of the monthly Comedy at the Ossington (61 Ossington)...stand-up is fun, I enjoy 'doing' 'it.'
Info:
This month hosted by The 'Comedy at the Ossington' LADIES,
SARA HENNESSEY & STEPH KALINER. We are going to deliver all of your babies. And by babies, I mean laughs...
Also on the show:
ROBERT DAYTON
RHIANNON ARCHER
ANDREW JOHNSTON
MIKE BALAZO
ALANA JOHNSTON
ENERGY
Well folks, it's been a curious batch of months, even the past week has been filled with life changes. Yet one small thing absorbed all my energy: I encountered a psychic vampire on a matter that is fairly trivial, but it rattled me, it really rattled me and I gave it so much power tho I tried not to, believe me. It's funny, I had so major things happen this week, but empathy and respect were so much a part of these events that it didn't freak me out. Then this one minor little teeny thing in a teeny town in a teeny country happens, anger enters into it, and kabloooie! It sucked up my energy....HOWEVER! It caused me to face some fears and think deeply about things. It's been a few days of talking (venting) with some great people and thinking things out. When certain emotional matters weigh on me, talk can also turn to creative professional practices.
Some of my previous, recent posts veer into whiny turf, I do my best to steer clear of self-pity (a tough thing to do these past few months) and naturally don't always succeed. I'm focusing on why something doesn't make it or might not make it. Trying to find a solution or a way to increase the creative odds. I wrote those last few posts with the unstated understanding of why something I do would make it. I can't enter into victim framework/cycle. As one pal put it, some folks can't even get out of bed due to fear, let alone put themselves out there and be creative. So be grateful for the creative gift and put it to use.
Current need: 'making the industry take notice.'In other words, 'making it.'
I feel good about this new project that I am starting on. Is it a creative breakthrough? We'll know if it sticks to the wall.
In one book I read, written in 1991, the writer was going off about the phrase 'interdisciplinary' and how stupid/lofty it was because, well, most people do have other interests. Unfortunately that term has to come into play more and more because there are plenty of people who are easily confused, they find some frustrating need to ask, "What's your focus?" As a boy, whether writing, drawing, performing or making music, it was all from the same creative place. As an adult I feel the same way. So maybe answering the question with "Being creative" or "Interdisciplinary" isn't so bad.
It's direct.
I'll say it again.
It's direct.
Be direct.
Some advice I have gotten is to gear all your talents to that one thing, have those talents help each other out on that thing.
So I decided to make a book, been refining the ole pitch. Got lots of writing.
Then the amazingly helpful ole pal Marc Bell said, send your lil hand-drawn home-spun Y2K Compatible self-help booklets and olllllld Bunyon zines to that publisher you've been eyeing. I poo-pooed him a bit. I censored myself. I thought that they'd want pure prose, typed out stories, text text text. Then I stopped for a second. My peers are getting books published that are chockful of drawings. These lil mags of mine at their best synthesize humour, drawing, and writing in a strong way that reads true to what I do. When they succeed, they merge talents and if I include a strong universal theme that is happening in my life (by life I mean the best selling genre of humourous creative non-fiction) it could work. I just need to refine it and use my strengths. Much of my stand-up story-telling is dealing with that as well and that could be used to promote it when (not IF) I am touring the book. And maybe there's a way to have music enter the picture too. Throw that in the marketing part of the book proposal.Will the book give me vast riches? Doubtful. How many rich authors do you know? Yes, I want it to make money and I am open to vast riches. But a book can lead to further opportunities as well.
Blogs are thinking aloud, I'm yammering about me, it's my blog, but hopefully this is of some use to you as well. Or it could just be the nonsensical natterings of a crazy person.
Some pseudonymous soul recently countered in the comments section with, "You're not marketable." The crazy thing is that I've been reading so much, biographies et al, about artists who marched to the beat of their own drum who had to hear that statement for years on end (ie, Chester Gould, Willie Nelson, Matt Groening)then finally something hit for them.
Time to back all that up with some more work, a few pages are done, more need to get done and be better....
The funny thing is that I moved to a new city to make things happen for me career-wise and people can make books no matter where one resides. I will still use and be open to the opportunities that this city can provide me with and, of course, all of you sweethearts that I encounter. I mean, I won't use you. I mean, I'll be there for you. I mean. Oh never mind, you know what I mean.
Some of my previous, recent posts veer into whiny turf, I do my best to steer clear of self-pity (a tough thing to do these past few months) and naturally don't always succeed. I'm focusing on why something doesn't make it or might not make it. Trying to find a solution or a way to increase the creative odds. I wrote those last few posts with the unstated understanding of why something I do would make it. I can't enter into victim framework/cycle. As one pal put it, some folks can't even get out of bed due to fear, let alone put themselves out there and be creative. So be grateful for the creative gift and put it to use.
Current need: 'making the industry take notice.'In other words, 'making it.'
I feel good about this new project that I am starting on. Is it a creative breakthrough? We'll know if it sticks to the wall.
In one book I read, written in 1991, the writer was going off about the phrase 'interdisciplinary' and how stupid/lofty it was because, well, most people do have other interests. Unfortunately that term has to come into play more and more because there are plenty of people who are easily confused, they find some frustrating need to ask, "What's your focus?" As a boy, whether writing, drawing, performing or making music, it was all from the same creative place. As an adult I feel the same way. So maybe answering the question with "Being creative" or "Interdisciplinary" isn't so bad.
It's direct.
I'll say it again.
It's direct.
Be direct.
Some advice I have gotten is to gear all your talents to that one thing, have those talents help each other out on that thing.
So I decided to make a book, been refining the ole pitch. Got lots of writing.
Then the amazingly helpful ole pal Marc Bell said, send your lil hand-drawn home-spun Y2K Compatible self-help booklets and olllllld Bunyon zines to that publisher you've been eyeing. I poo-pooed him a bit. I censored myself. I thought that they'd want pure prose, typed out stories, text text text. Then I stopped for a second. My peers are getting books published that are chockful of drawings. These lil mags of mine at their best synthesize humour, drawing, and writing in a strong way that reads true to what I do. When they succeed, they merge talents and if I include a strong universal theme that is happening in my life (by life I mean the best selling genre of humourous creative non-fiction) it could work. I just need to refine it and use my strengths. Much of my stand-up story-telling is dealing with that as well and that could be used to promote it when (not IF) I am touring the book. And maybe there's a way to have music enter the picture too. Throw that in the marketing part of the book proposal.Will the book give me vast riches? Doubtful. How many rich authors do you know? Yes, I want it to make money and I am open to vast riches. But a book can lead to further opportunities as well.
Blogs are thinking aloud, I'm yammering about me, it's my blog, but hopefully this is of some use to you as well. Or it could just be the nonsensical natterings of a crazy person.
Some pseudonymous soul recently countered in the comments section with, "You're not marketable." The crazy thing is that I've been reading so much, biographies et al, about artists who marched to the beat of their own drum who had to hear that statement for years on end (ie, Chester Gould, Willie Nelson, Matt Groening)then finally something hit for them.
Time to back all that up with some more work, a few pages are done, more need to get done and be better....
The funny thing is that I moved to a new city to make things happen for me career-wise and people can make books no matter where one resides. I will still use and be open to the opportunities that this city can provide me with and, of course, all of you sweethearts that I encounter. I mean, I won't use you. I mean, I'll be there for you. I mean. Oh never mind, you know what I mean.
KITCHY WITCH
INSPIRATIONS
Found some early Herbie comic books for cheap.
Dunno Herbie? here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbie_Popnecker
I first heard about Herbie as a boy through an excellent retrospective in an issue of Comics Scene magazine (an early ish, when that mag was good). It sounded like the best comic book ever! But hard to find, especially in Northern B.C. where I lived.I pored over that article again and again soaking up this Herbie character.
There's been reprints since, even pricey hard cover volumes with so-so reproduction. But they're missing some of the neat other stuff by Shea and Whitney that went into each issue of Herbie. A shame as Herbie feels like a fever dream, we are lucky it ever existed at all! Here's some never reprinted items from issue 2:
If you own the rights to these images and want them removed, let me know and I will.
TOUGHENING UP THE SHINS
Sometimes..........
...........a blog isn't the best place to work out/on creative doubts, as the blogosphere is the place where those anonymous and pseudonymous people who don't believe in you- and maybe want to see you fail- come and kick you.
...........a blog isn't the best place to work out/on creative doubts, as the blogosphere is the place where those anonymous and pseudonymous people who don't believe in you- and maybe want to see you fail- come and kick you.
REASONS OR EXCUSES?
Are the following reasons....or excuses? If they are excuses, are they for the shipper or receiver?
You aim too high. You need to lower your standards. Vancouver doesn't have a lot of options. You moved to Toronto during a recession. No one's buying art right now. Agencies are wondering if they're going to have to drop talent, let alone sign talent. The music (or any other appropriate) industry is dying. If only you guys had released it five years later. If only you guys had released it two years ago. It's too funny. Is it funny? It's funny, right? I don't get it (what's not to get?) Canada wants a more safe, banal version of an American funny (or of any) thing and the one exception, The Kids In The Hall, are all filled up as of twenty years ago. Is there a market for this? Have you ever tried doing this yourself? No one's paying writers. No one's paying for content.
The list goes on...
You aim too high. You need to lower your standards. Vancouver doesn't have a lot of options. You moved to Toronto during a recession. No one's buying art right now. Agencies are wondering if they're going to have to drop talent, let alone sign talent. The music (or any other appropriate) industry is dying. If only you guys had released it five years later. If only you guys had released it two years ago. It's too funny. Is it funny? It's funny, right? I don't get it (what's not to get?) Canada wants a more safe, banal version of an American funny (or of any) thing and the one exception, The Kids In The Hall, are all filled up as of twenty years ago. Is there a market for this? Have you ever tried doing this yourself? No one's paying writers. No one's paying for content.
The list goes on...
LOOKING WAYYYY BACK: CHILDHOOD DRAWINGS
When I was 12 I took a Greyhound bus trip with family friend and Minister Dexter. He had conducted my parents wedding only a couple of years earlier and many years later conducted my Dad's funeral. A couple of months ago he conducted my brother Perry's wedding. It was there that he gave me back a sketch book full of my drawings: a sketch book that I had originally given him on that bus trip. I honestly have no memory of this sketchbook but it survived a few of Dexter's moves across Canada and he was thoughtful enough to give it back to me as a gift that shows where I was at then and where I am now. Drawing hands and feet are still a problem and many of the characters that I create today still don't really totally catch the zeitgeist. For example, The Burner, whose sole power is the ability to himself rather horrifically, he's remained in this sketchbook until now, ready for the world to see. Same with a rather pastoral unicorn scene just for all you fantasizing indie rockers.
THE UNVEILING #3: Mark DeLong and Jason Mclean
THE UNVEILING #3: Mark DeLong and Jason Mclean
Mon Jan 18th, The Ossington (61 Ossington)
Free admission
ONE-NIGHT-ONLY!
10pm (don't be late as we are rarely very tardy)
"Unveiling #3"
Hosts Robert Dayton, Junior, and William A. Davison dramatically unveil the latest and never-before-seen (until this very eve) creation of artists Jason McLean and Mark DeLong: a collaborative effort by these original and wild artists! Two minds melding together from opposite sides of this grate land of ours! "Works inspired by Portuguese cod fish cakes, the Greyhound bus company and Jason's quest. The subject matter is very personal to Mark and Jason as it reflects modern parenting and childbirth." Jason will be in attendance, Mark in spirit.
Then Robert and William will be auctioning off this masterpiece with minimum bid starting at just 100 dollars !!! A low price for this amazing work by these important artists...
This will be followed by a soiree/party
ONE-NIGHT-ONLY! So if you want to bid and possibly attain this never-before-seen work by a great artist, you best attend! Even if you are broke like us, you do not want to miss this opportunity of UNVEILING....
"The Unveiling" is a series of one-night-only soirees/exhibitions, held monthly (more or less) in the back room of The Ossington Bar, which playfully reinvent a romantic and antiquated concept - that of a single artist "unveiling" their latest creation for a gathering of colleagues, collectors, critics, and cultural elite. The series is organized and hosted by local artists/curators William A. Davison and Robert Dayton.
The Unveiling is presented in such a manner that it becomes highly performative with its’ climactic turning and twisting of the tropes of the auctioneer and the charming element of surpris . Indeed, for those who know the work of either Davison or Dayton , a humorous, subversive approach is not at all unexpected. "At the same time," Davison continues, "we have a deep respect for the work we will be presenting and we feel that this series will provide a highly unique, entertaining, and engaging way for some of our favorite artists to show their recent creations." There will also be snacks, oh, there will be snacks.
BIOS:
Jason Mclean was born in 1971. He graduated from the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design in Vancouver BC , 1997. Over the past few years, his diverse practice has included drawing, sculpture, installation, sound performance and mail art. Much of his work contains collaborative elements.
He was recently chosen by MacLeans Magazine as one of the top ten visual artists to watch for in Canada . His work has been displayed at Colette, Paris; Richard Heller Gallery, Los Angeles; Mother's Tank Station, Dublin; Bee Studios, Tokyo; Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, Toronto; Neon Gallery, Brosarp, Sweden; Spencer-Brownstone Gallery, NY; Abel Neue Kunst Gallery, Berlin.Perugi Art Contemporenea, Padova, Italy; Fondazione Bevilacqua La Masa, Venice
His work has been featured in many important magazine such as Modern Painters, Flash Art, Border Crossings,Adbusters, and I.D.N. magazine. He also has had a published book project with Nieves Books, Switzerland and has submitted drawings to other publications such as Nog A Dod, Montreal/Nyc, Glomp #9, Finland and the Ganzfeld #5 Japanada.
http://www.jasonmclean.ca/
Mark DeLong was Born in 1978 in New Brunswick , Canada . He is a self taught artist working in a variety of mediums including drawing,painting,sculpture,video and installation.
His work has been displayed at Colette, Paris; Bee Studios, Tokyo; Spencer-Brownstone Gallery, NY; Abel Neue Kunst Gallery, Berlin; Perugi Art Contemporenea, Padova, Italy; Museum of London Ontario,MOCCA Toronto ,LES Gallery,Vancouver;Giant Robot,NY; Little Cakes,NY; and Hunter and cook in Toronto.
His work has been seen in Border Crossings and Canadian Art Magazine, He also has published books with Nieves Books, Switzerland Seems Books, NY and publications with TV Books, New York titled Sbooky Booky and The Only Clock On the Ship. Mark is represented by Perugi Art Contemporenea, Italy ; TV Gallery, New York and LES Gallery in Vancouver .
http://bambi.org.uk/
For further information, feel free to contact The Unveiling's hosts/curators William A. Davison and Robert Dayton.
William - davison@recordism.com
Robert - moustachedpainless@yahoo.com
Many thanks to Jubal Brown/Intervention Mondays and The Ossington!
LOOKING BACK
Going through my files for a project and found some gems from the past!
This first one is a drawing of Canned Hamm made by Jason Mclean and Marcel Dzama
Here we have a rare moment of Big Hamm and myself backstage before a Canned Hamm show, we truly look like old vaudeville comedians here.
This is us way after a show with The World Provider at an odd late nite Montreal bar, apparently I was singing "Iron man, Iron man, na na na na na iron man..."
Here's me experimenting with moustache length with Pro Hamm AKA Pete Mills, who was responsible for the production on the Canned Hamm albums, with the first album he understood our love of 70s Beach Boys but also added auto-tune as a special effect (this was back in 2000) keeping it forward thinking, and he made our dance-pop album sound much bigger than it was in terms of budget. He's currently producing and making music in LA . Him and Big Hamm are so insanely musically talented, real 'can-do' fellas.
Olllld pic, just pre-moustache, very early 90s with roomie Julian possibly before we formed July Fourth Toilet, Julian's another talented egg, verrrry versatile musician (you'd have to be to play in July Fourth Toilet who'd change styles at whim)/cartoonist/record collector.
From July Fourth Toilet's tenth anniversary show, Jasmine played the Lady Byrd and I was Bernie Byrd from our live rendition of K-Tel's Rock Fantasy LP:
This first one is a drawing of Canned Hamm made by Jason Mclean and Marcel Dzama
Here we have a rare moment of Big Hamm and myself backstage before a Canned Hamm show, we truly look like old vaudeville comedians here.
This is us way after a show with The World Provider at an odd late nite Montreal bar, apparently I was singing "Iron man, Iron man, na na na na na iron man..."
Here's me experimenting with moustache length with Pro Hamm AKA Pete Mills, who was responsible for the production on the Canned Hamm albums, with the first album he understood our love of 70s Beach Boys but also added auto-tune as a special effect (this was back in 2000) keeping it forward thinking, and he made our dance-pop album sound much bigger than it was in terms of budget. He's currently producing and making music in LA . Him and Big Hamm are so insanely musically talented, real 'can-do' fellas.
Olllld pic, just pre-moustache, very early 90s with roomie Julian possibly before we formed July Fourth Toilet, Julian's another talented egg, verrrry versatile musician (you'd have to be to play in July Fourth Toilet who'd change styles at whim)/cartoonist/record collector.
From July Fourth Toilet's tenth anniversary show, Jasmine played the Lady Byrd and I was Bernie Byrd from our live rendition of K-Tel's Rock Fantasy LP:
LOOKING BACK THROUGH YOUTUBE PART TWO
LOOKING BACK THROUGH YOUTUBE PART ONE
EXPERIENCE
Hope inevitably leads to disappointment.
SIGNIFICANT LIFE EVENTS OF THE DECADE
It seems that many blogospherical people are making "Best of the Decade" Lists or are, at least, reflecting. Guess I best reflect as well. No "Best Of Music Books Film Etcetera" for me. That. my dear, is so played out and borrrring. This is Robert Dayton's Blogspot. This time it's personal and self-indulgent. Hey, maybe it'll cause you to make your own list. No Best Of for me, either, just significant events, I don't want to fall privy to hierarchical thinking either, let time sort it all out. This list is a good way to get my back, to not to sell myself short, I've done a lot, maybe that's the problem: the world ain't caught up yet, ha. I don't want to get too nostalgic but maybe this 'where I been' will help with the 'where I'm going.' And feel comfortable with 'where I am' but not too comfortable (stay hungry). I've never gotten stuck on the good old days. Ever since I was a boy buying my comic books in the store and a fella in line told me how I better enjoy my life as 'school was the best years of his life.' This scared me. Looking back, I just feel sorry for that guy. There's a lot of people like that.
(pic by Clancy Dennehy)
SIGNIFICANT LIFE EVENTS OF THE DECADE
(done in no chronological order)
-My Dad died, he wasn't my Birth Dad but he was my Dad and though he wasn't talkative, he loved me and had a sense of humour. Went back home to see him a few times thinking it would be the last time, I could have gone a few more. I do my best to make sure to be there for my Mom.
-My brother Perry got married. I have three brothers, no sisters, he may be the only one to get married. And it was while I was there that I saw my Father's grave for the first time five years after he died.
-My cat Flo died. Tumours on the tongue. She was always there for me meowing and sleeping on my chest. A calico cutie.
-I fell in love three times.
-Me and the third love moved to Toronto. Never lived outside of BC before.
-That love moved back to Vancouver. I am still dealing with this and do not have proper perspective. UPDATE:I know as of twenty minutes ago that it is truly over and I best move on, I'm so fucked up and scared at this moment.
-Became disillusioned and feel that I am of no fixed address. I have no home.
-Met a lot of very interesting people at home (ha ha) and abroad in many walks of life, became friends with some. Maintained and treasured many very longterm friendships. Patched some up and made amends with some for mistakes made. And collaborated with some very wonderful and talented people!
-Had dalliances and relations with a LOT of women. I don't regret it but sometimes I was out of line, insecurity and fear of being able to be monogamous played a part. The last half of the decade featured more serious relationships, strengthened by what follows next.
-I stopped drinking. This helped me to get some self-respect and health back as well as to not doing things I'd feel horribly guilty for. Hopefully slowed down self-sabotage as well. I also started eating better, and living in nicer homes (ie. I moved out of an illegal bsmnt suite, a box really, when it flooded and destroyed some rare records).
-Always paid rent on time even when things looked scary.
-Became less judgmental. Thank God, it helped with my bitterness and to see people as people on their own terms.
-Starred in a movie called "Male Fantasy", a part which I think was written for me. It played a lot of festivals, was well regarded and is now out on DVD. It led to getting a great agent and lots of weird commercials and some TV spots.
-Acted in a Manson movie in a role that was written with me in mind. A small role but supported me for a while in Toronto. Now if I could just get an agent here. Movie goes into wide release in a few months.
-Recorded 9 albums.
Released six albums on our own and did well considering!
Four were with Canned Hamm: one was song-and-dance catchy funny synth pop; one was a tribute to that with Destroyer, Mark, New Pornographers and Rodney Graham, Frenzal Rhomb, Neil Hamburger, Bobby Conn, Nardwuar, and more; one was total glossy dance-pop; one was an X mas album; and Big Hamm is a musical genius ready to always look forward and not rest on his legendary laurels.
Two were with July Fourth Toilet: the first was warm charming bent psych pop, the second was hard driving psychedelic biker boogie and eerie soundscapes and ballads that my brother Frank played incredible guitar on with very very talented long-ti,e musical collaborators that are more open-minded than most.
Unreleased albums but should be released and I wish I had the resources and/or finances to make it happen: Points Gray, this may've been started late 90s, formerly called AIDS (way pre-AIDS Wolf), with Dan Bejar and Julian Lawrence, we wanted to do acid downer folk as no one was doing psych-folk at the time, when people started doing psych-folk we were way too damaged melodramatic vanity pressing sounding, ie. not watered down like most of that revival crap and we were individualistic, it did inspire Dan for his This Night album with Destroyer so it had some good effect indirectly and Steve Balogh did a limited CDR release. Hallmark, my melodramatic romantic glitter rock band, I wanted to move beyond the overtly funny but as normal as I was trying to be it still came out odd, recorded at JCDC so it sounds great, interesting dynamic of folks, I really want it to come out, I know at least a couple of us want to tour it. WET DIRT: hard rock Toronto damaged 4 piece band , recorded at 6 Nassau, currently in rough mix stage.
-Toured all over North America a lot as well as Australia in Canned Hamm. Many tours were with Neil Hamburger. One with Bobby Conn. One tour to Montreal was due to Musique Plus popularity for a music video. On one tour Tim and Eric opened with their videos in Philadelphia. One tour in Eastern Canada in the winter almost broke us up. We worked hard and mostly did it ourselves (peers did pitch in and help and support, of course), we were frustrated that it could never break through to the next level , we got a lot of media attention considering that. Is it that we were too funny for music and too musical for comedy or that we reside in Canada? We are still ready and standing by.
-With July Fourth Toilet no two shows were the same and musical styles fluctuated as did personas, see the theme running through my life: CREATIVE RISKS IN EXPRESSION. too many people are too scared to fall flat on their faces, I've done it and I've even been scared to leave the house afterwards but it has to be done to move forward. Sometimes I was tempted to quit completely but that's a confidence thing (and I'm gaining it back dammit).
-Co-created and co-edited a free unique Vancouver monthly newspaper called The Drippy Gazette. It lasted one year but it was then that I knew that what I do (and what many of my peers do) is not of marginal taste or value (many of these peers are getting quite successful). The public loved it, great feedback. But we just couldn't get to that next level, we couldn't get a backer, there was a glass ceiling. It has always been hard to get it to a wider audience and distribution and make some money. I hate being DIY and I notice that time and time again what I do can really reach people but it's the money-holders that never care. Through this newspaper, Julian got a Xeric Grant (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle money) to do a comic book and Lester got a job designing crazy tee shirts for Bang On after I convinced them to buy an ad and to have Lester design it. As well, some of Tommy's restaurant review columns for Drippy ran in the Nog-a-Dod book.
-Wrote a regular column for a free weekly Vancouver paper. Though I wrote it for free, I had carte blanche to take creative risks and reach a lot of readers. When they took my carte blanche away and the editor started treating me poorly, I left- I was writing for free, I didn't need the grief and, besides, writing for free takes work away from other writers as it undervalues them and makes backers think content can be free even though they run ads. Yes, the column gave me a certain cache and an opportunity to say something (creative nonfiction/experimental fiction/music/art/film/comics) and get me girls and guest lists but it also allowed my ego to run rampant and did not really lead to any serious writing opportunities whatsoever- was this because of location or because weeklies are disposable flotsam?
-wrote for numerous other magazines (Roctober, Cinema Sewer) and had some stuff in a cool book on Neglected records. Helped write an unreleased but filmed script and wrote a couple myself, will write more.
-Had art in magazines and Cinema Sewer books and Nog a Dod book. Numerous posters. Was/am in many group art shows. A solo show or two, one at Luckys. In a couple two man art shows with Jean-Paul Langlois. Constantly looking to expand my boundaries technically and otherwise.
-Made a series of self-help booklets.
-Did a lot of hosting as various personas and myself for variety shows that I put on. Also have done plenty of solo performances and story telling/comedy/improv. Lots of DJing as well.
-Started a small company for viral videos. Was careful in finding a tech collaborator but not careful enough as my collaborator fucked it up and essentially fucked over our first client and it was on my shoulders as they trusted me. This made me feel sick to my stomach and I had to walk away from the company.
-Walked away from a couple horrible day jobs that were ruining my quality of life. I've had some pretty awful jobs that required checking my self-respect at the door. I do not regret, however, working on the Downtown East Side, it was a worthy experience! The last few months though were truly awful as I had to work alone and no one should work alone on the DTES: the stress aged me- the age washed away when the job ended, luckily.
-Took training in acting and singing and typing to improve my passions.
-Had sinus surgery to improve my quality of life. Deviated septum. Not a nose job!
-Had the underside of my tongue cut to help with my vocal delivery. I enunciate better now.
-On allergy shots for better clarity of mind, quality of life, and vocal delivery.
-Trying to get out of self (this list isn't helping) and to listen more.
I'm sure there's more. Tell me about your decade.
WHAT'S NEXT?
(pic by Clancy Dennehy)
SIGNIFICANT LIFE EVENTS OF THE DECADE
(done in no chronological order)
-My Dad died, he wasn't my Birth Dad but he was my Dad and though he wasn't talkative, he loved me and had a sense of humour. Went back home to see him a few times thinking it would be the last time, I could have gone a few more. I do my best to make sure to be there for my Mom.
-My brother Perry got married. I have three brothers, no sisters, he may be the only one to get married. And it was while I was there that I saw my Father's grave for the first time five years after he died.
-My cat Flo died. Tumours on the tongue. She was always there for me meowing and sleeping on my chest. A calico cutie.
-I fell in love three times.
-Me and the third love moved to Toronto. Never lived outside of BC before.
-That love moved back to Vancouver. I am still dealing with this and do not have proper perspective. UPDATE:I know as of twenty minutes ago that it is truly over and I best move on, I'm so fucked up and scared at this moment.
-Became disillusioned and feel that I am of no fixed address. I have no home.
-Met a lot of very interesting people at home (ha ha) and abroad in many walks of life, became friends with some. Maintained and treasured many very longterm friendships. Patched some up and made amends with some for mistakes made. And collaborated with some very wonderful and talented people!
-Had dalliances and relations with a LOT of women. I don't regret it but sometimes I was out of line, insecurity and fear of being able to be monogamous played a part. The last half of the decade featured more serious relationships, strengthened by what follows next.
-I stopped drinking. This helped me to get some self-respect and health back as well as to not doing things I'd feel horribly guilty for. Hopefully slowed down self-sabotage as well. I also started eating better, and living in nicer homes (ie. I moved out of an illegal bsmnt suite, a box really, when it flooded and destroyed some rare records).
-Always paid rent on time even when things looked scary.
-Became less judgmental. Thank God, it helped with my bitterness and to see people as people on their own terms.
-Starred in a movie called "Male Fantasy", a part which I think was written for me. It played a lot of festivals, was well regarded and is now out on DVD. It led to getting a great agent and lots of weird commercials and some TV spots.
-Acted in a Manson movie in a role that was written with me in mind. A small role but supported me for a while in Toronto. Now if I could just get an agent here. Movie goes into wide release in a few months.
-Recorded 9 albums.
Released six albums on our own and did well considering!
Four were with Canned Hamm: one was song-and-dance catchy funny synth pop; one was a tribute to that with Destroyer, Mark, New Pornographers and Rodney Graham, Frenzal Rhomb, Neil Hamburger, Bobby Conn, Nardwuar, and more; one was total glossy dance-pop; one was an X mas album; and Big Hamm is a musical genius ready to always look forward and not rest on his legendary laurels.
Two were with July Fourth Toilet: the first was warm charming bent psych pop, the second was hard driving psychedelic biker boogie and eerie soundscapes and ballads that my brother Frank played incredible guitar on with very very talented long-ti,e musical collaborators that are more open-minded than most.
Unreleased albums but should be released and I wish I had the resources and/or finances to make it happen: Points Gray, this may've been started late 90s, formerly called AIDS (way pre-AIDS Wolf), with Dan Bejar and Julian Lawrence, we wanted to do acid downer folk as no one was doing psych-folk at the time, when people started doing psych-folk we were way too damaged melodramatic vanity pressing sounding, ie. not watered down like most of that revival crap and we were individualistic, it did inspire Dan for his This Night album with Destroyer so it had some good effect indirectly and Steve Balogh did a limited CDR release. Hallmark, my melodramatic romantic glitter rock band, I wanted to move beyond the overtly funny but as normal as I was trying to be it still came out odd, recorded at JCDC so it sounds great, interesting dynamic of folks, I really want it to come out, I know at least a couple of us want to tour it. WET DIRT: hard rock Toronto damaged 4 piece band , recorded at 6 Nassau, currently in rough mix stage.
-Toured all over North America a lot as well as Australia in Canned Hamm. Many tours were with Neil Hamburger. One with Bobby Conn. One tour to Montreal was due to Musique Plus popularity for a music video. On one tour Tim and Eric opened with their videos in Philadelphia. One tour in Eastern Canada in the winter almost broke us up. We worked hard and mostly did it ourselves (peers did pitch in and help and support, of course), we were frustrated that it could never break through to the next level , we got a lot of media attention considering that. Is it that we were too funny for music and too musical for comedy or that we reside in Canada? We are still ready and standing by.
-With July Fourth Toilet no two shows were the same and musical styles fluctuated as did personas, see the theme running through my life: CREATIVE RISKS IN EXPRESSION. too many people are too scared to fall flat on their faces, I've done it and I've even been scared to leave the house afterwards but it has to be done to move forward. Sometimes I was tempted to quit completely but that's a confidence thing (and I'm gaining it back dammit).
-Co-created and co-edited a free unique Vancouver monthly newspaper called The Drippy Gazette. It lasted one year but it was then that I knew that what I do (and what many of my peers do) is not of marginal taste or value (many of these peers are getting quite successful). The public loved it, great feedback. But we just couldn't get to that next level, we couldn't get a backer, there was a glass ceiling. It has always been hard to get it to a wider audience and distribution and make some money. I hate being DIY and I notice that time and time again what I do can really reach people but it's the money-holders that never care. Through this newspaper, Julian got a Xeric Grant (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle money) to do a comic book and Lester got a job designing crazy tee shirts for Bang On after I convinced them to buy an ad and to have Lester design it. As well, some of Tommy's restaurant review columns for Drippy ran in the Nog-a-Dod book.
-Wrote a regular column for a free weekly Vancouver paper. Though I wrote it for free, I had carte blanche to take creative risks and reach a lot of readers. When they took my carte blanche away and the editor started treating me poorly, I left- I was writing for free, I didn't need the grief and, besides, writing for free takes work away from other writers as it undervalues them and makes backers think content can be free even though they run ads. Yes, the column gave me a certain cache and an opportunity to say something (creative nonfiction/experimental fiction/music/art/film/comics) and get me girls and guest lists but it also allowed my ego to run rampant and did not really lead to any serious writing opportunities whatsoever- was this because of location or because weeklies are disposable flotsam?
-wrote for numerous other magazines (Roctober, Cinema Sewer) and had some stuff in a cool book on Neglected records. Helped write an unreleased but filmed script and wrote a couple myself, will write more.
-Had art in magazines and Cinema Sewer books and Nog a Dod book. Numerous posters. Was/am in many group art shows. A solo show or two, one at Luckys. In a couple two man art shows with Jean-Paul Langlois. Constantly looking to expand my boundaries technically and otherwise.
-Made a series of self-help booklets.
-Did a lot of hosting as various personas and myself for variety shows that I put on. Also have done plenty of solo performances and story telling/comedy/improv. Lots of DJing as well.
-Started a small company for viral videos. Was careful in finding a tech collaborator but not careful enough as my collaborator fucked it up and essentially fucked over our first client and it was on my shoulders as they trusted me. This made me feel sick to my stomach and I had to walk away from the company.
-Walked away from a couple horrible day jobs that were ruining my quality of life. I've had some pretty awful jobs that required checking my self-respect at the door. I do not regret, however, working on the Downtown East Side, it was a worthy experience! The last few months though were truly awful as I had to work alone and no one should work alone on the DTES: the stress aged me- the age washed away when the job ended, luckily.
-Took training in acting and singing and typing to improve my passions.
-Had sinus surgery to improve my quality of life. Deviated septum. Not a nose job!
-Had the underside of my tongue cut to help with my vocal delivery. I enunciate better now.
-On allergy shots for better clarity of mind, quality of life, and vocal delivery.
-Trying to get out of self (this list isn't helping) and to listen more.
I'm sure there's more. Tell me about your decade.
WHAT'S NEXT?
I CAN'T BELIEVE I ATE THE WHOLE THING
"You're full of yourself."
"You're full of beans."
I used to feel infallible. Now I feel too fallible. Split the difference.
Why is it that when friends start telling me about their interns I want to laugh uproariously?
Want to be my intern? It involves a damp sponge and a high tolerance for Bronson movies. Oh, and you have to tell me I'm a fucking genius and remind me of my accomplishments once every couple of weeks. Oh, and you have to find me that book on meditation I've been looking for. No, I'm not going to read it! I'm going to contemplate it.
Art still up and for sale: Hunter and Cook, Index G, Mercer Union. Beat the rush. Ha! Or donate to your favourite charity, people/animals are struggling worse than some dude with the flu. Achoo.
Gesundheit.
Current favourite song title: "Pity you, Pity Me" by Bill Cole.
If you can't relate to this post, you are too close.
Which do you prefer: piffle or hooey? There's plenty of both to be had. They're in the cupboard.
Recently showed clips of my favourite band, The Bonzo Dog Band, to the funniest man in Toronto (Chris Locke). He got scared after watching it as he loved it and thought that it would cause such an influence on him that his comedy would become less popular (less populist?).
I understand.
Here's Chris:
WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT:
Father to son: "Don't fuck it up."
Mother to daughter: "Don't fuck it up."
Father to daughter: "Don't fuck it up."
Mother to son: "Don't fuck it up."
Monotheistic Patriarchical God to man: "Don't fuck it up."
Monotheistic Matriarchical God to womyn: "Don't fuck it up."
(the word 'womyn' sounds silly, I should use lady, oh geesh, I just fucked it up....)
TANDEM:
"Doc, it hurts here when I laugh and I laugh a lot!"
GOD ADVICE:
If you want to be taken seriously replace the word 'fuck' with that of 'funk.'
Awwwwwww, funk it!
If you don't like what you see here, get the funk out!
(get the funk out, get the funk out)
ANTI-CLIMAX
deflation