Striking STRUCK and DR SKETCHY'S!!!

That's right folks, without even time to let the body get cold, we are on to another adventure! Sunday August 17th at the Palace of Wonders, I (taking on the persona of the Rev. Loveseat) will be hosting a Dr. Sketchy's! For those of you not familiar with the concept, Dr Sketchy's is basically figure drawing class, but at the bar, with burlesque dancers. (it was started by Molly Crabapple, and you can get a good idea of the worldwide movement that it has become here And you can see the last time I hosted one of these at Art in Heat, Here) I have all sorts of competitions and drinking games and artistic challenges in store! The model will be the lovely L'il Dutch, and (fingers crossed) a few other gals who have agreed to take off their clothes for you poseurs in berets....it should be a night to remember (and you will have lots of sketches to remember it by!)

The "opening night" for Struck was a huge success, and I would like to extend my gratitude to those who were able to come out and make it such a special evening for me. Unfortunately the picture taking was done in the last 20 minutes of the opening, so lots of people are not represented in this roundup (and the photography suffers a bit from the drunkenness of the photographer...my apologies)

Showgirls showing people the way upstairs to the party!Chris, Meaghan, Me, part of KT, Mike and Scott
Jei and Brian "the pocketwatch" Spatola
Todd, trying to give peace a chance with Kim Jong Il
And Pete the Spyder, perhaps just a bit too excited to be at the show...

...or just really jazzed that Diamond Dead won best Best Musical at Capital Fringe 2008! CONGRATS GUYS!

In fact, if you missed any of these award winning performances, you will have a second chance to see this amazing show. Landless will announce, very soon, its 2008-2009 season...and my sources in Washington (I just love to say that) say that they will be remounting Diamond Dead as a late night show around Halloween! THESE WILL SELL OUT, so be on the lookout for the inside scoop here at BTT.

In other news, the final designs for Planet Arlington's World Playground stage backdrops have been green lighted, so look for progress photos in the coming weeks (in fact August 30th gives me precisely 30 days to complete this! Yikes!) and, it turns out, I will, in fact, be Stage Managing this festivals Mainstage. (this is a first for me. I have never stage managed anything that was attend by more than 700 people...its going to be five acts, and over 10,000 people! Double Yikes!)
Oh, and lastly, come on out to the Ellipse TONIGHT, to see the All Arlington Salon. It may be your last chance to see the Ellipse Gallery...he said cryptically....

STRUCK OPENING PARTY, TOMORROW JULY 25th!!!!

That's right folks, STRUCK opens tomorrow! I hope you have all had the presence of mind to purchase tickets to the DIAMOND DEAD show afterwards...I was told just an hour or so ago that there were only 20 seats left! So get them HERE...but hey, if you don't get tickets, still come out and see me...I'll be upstairs in the "reception gallery" knocking back some brews and serving up some munchies! (There will even be a "opening night exclusive" installation of even more scenery that has been rescued from the dumpsters...but I'm not posting any pictures of it, because its a surprise!)

Now, on to the rest of the weeks news: Last Thursday I had the great fortune to see Lloyd Kaufman, (pictured below) Director of Poultrygiest: Night of the Chicken Dead, speak after a screening of the movie.

It was one of the best Troma movies I have ever seen...(and actually the only Troma movie I have ever seen on the big screen) and Lloyd's talk was really inspiring. He is a big advocate of alternative media and free speech (well, duh) and made many good points about the direction of the movie industry and "big media's" attempts to control the Internet (via blocking Net Neutrality) and distribution channels. I cant wait until they release Poultrygeist on DVD, so I can show my friends all of the hidden subtexts and layered meanings in this masterpiece...

Here's one more production photo, just to illustrate the awesomeness of this movie...

On Friday I had dinner at an Asian place on H St. NW with a few friends...and the rest of the weekend I was down for the count with some kinda bug...just a bit of advice...

I still managed to get in to work and design Lycus' house for Funny...Forum:

Lycus' House Drafting, Funny...Forum
Vectorworks

And just yesterday Cultural Affairs asked me if I would paint a backdrop for the World Playground Stage for Planet Arlington...I just have to have it finished by August 30th...Below is the first sketch helping describe the dimensions and orientation of the backdrops

Planet Arlington World Playground Stage Sketch
Pencil, Vectorworks, Photoshop

Next week I will post photos of the STRUCK opening (become famous, get on the web, if you come I'll take pictures of you at the show and post them here on BTT!!! you wont even need to get naked to get on the web! whatta deal!) and I will be rolling out the official announcement of the new and improved Dr. Sketchys at the Palace of Wonders in August!

See you at the opening!

NEW AND IMPROVED WEBSITE: WWW.ARTBYJARED.COM!!!!!!

That right, you heard it here first, I have spiffed up my ole website just in time for the flood of activity surrounding STRUCK: Scenic Remnants by Jared Davis at the Warehouse. So check out the new look at:

WWW.ARTBYJARED.COM

Here you will find all sorts of improvements...Gone are the days of having a website that I don't have the software to update...its all thanks to the wonderful people a otherpeoplespixels.com. It has truly been an easy and enjoyable experience working with them. And I am not just saying that because I get three months free for every person I recommend who signs up with them (although I do...so remember to plug me if you sign up!)

Last night was the opening night event for the DCCAH show that I have a piece in. Check it out, all the deets are below:The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities would like to invite you to the FY2009 Visual Arts Applicants' Showcase.

Opening Reception: July 16, 2008, 6:30 PM
Exhibition Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday - Saturday
July 17 - August 1, 2008

Katzen Arts Center
American University
4400 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20016
(Take Metro Red-Line to Tenleytown/AU Station)

For more information call (202) 724-5613

I also dropped off some artwork for the All Arlington Salon at the Ellipse:

All Arlington Salon
Non-Juried Exhibition open to artists who live, work, study or have a studio in Arlington, VA.
Friday, August 1 - Saturday, September 13, 2008
Opening Reception Thursday, July 31, 7 - 9 p.m. with Flamenco Guitarist Gerard Moreno performing.
Parking is free and open late on the night of the reception.

And I am dropping off some work for Wall Mountables at the DCAC tomorrow:

July 18 - August 31
Installation: July 16 3-8pm, July 17 3-8pm, July 18 3-6pm
Opening Reception: July 18, 7-9pm
Deinstallation: September 3 - 7, 2-7pm

So that's a lot of exhibitions in one week...who said that summer was the slow time for arts?

And lastly, I have made some progress with the Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum set design. While this may not be the best start I have ever had with a show, I feel that the design is pretty solid for this theater company's needs. I had visions of trying to do the whole show as a roman mosaic, but eventually I woke up from that dream, and realized that it (more than likely) would be to ambitious for this group to attempt. So I have shelved the idea (not completely, because I intend to use mosaic as a motif in the architecture) for now, but perhaps I will get a chance to do this show again...in the meantime here is the first sketch of the set:

Funny...Forum Set Sketch, Arlington Players
Pencil and Photoshop, 1/8"=1'

And here is an example of my progress with the drafting for the middle house:

Funny...Forum Senex's House, Arlington Players
Vectorworks, 1/4"=1'

I hope to see you all at the opening of STRUCK, NEXT FRIDAY!!!!! Until then, ALOHA!

STRUCK NOW OPEN--Mark your calendars, Opening Party July 25, 7-10pm!!!!!

As many of you have heard, my solo show, STRUCK: Scenic Remnants by Jared Davis opens tonight. Well, that is, everything is installed and available to be seen, probably while you are attending a Capital Fringe show at the Warehouse. But the announcement for the opening party is still in the works (in case you didn't read the title, the opening party is Friday July 25th, 7-10 pm). I have created a postcard for the event, and have sent it to the printers, check it out:

Front of Struck Card

Back of Struck Card

Special for the loyal readers of BTT, I am also posting some shots of the exhibition, shot moments after installation:

Warehouse Gallery installation of Struck (looking towards mainstage)

Warehouse Gallery installation of Struck (looking towards 7th street)

I know what you are thinking, "why is the bar covered up, and why didn't you hang more art on the bar?" Well, rest assured, the bar will be open (beer and wine) during the Fringe Festival...so you will be able to enjoy my work in some of its proper context...

I have also created an artist's statement (heavily edited by my lovely wife...who has fortunately stopped me from sounding like a pompous artsnob...) that I will post at the end of this posting. It will help clarify any misunderstandings about the show. Things like, is this art or scenery? Are you selling this? Will the DIAMOND DEAD performance after the opening party be free? (no, so get your tickets now!)

Speaking of DIAMOND DEAD...

Top of coffin...and the logo for DIAMOND DEAD...

The load in went well enough...some of the scenery didn't fit, or was too complex for the fifteen minutes allotted for setup between shows, so not everything was used. But Skull-Elvis made the cut:

Skull-Elvis drop for DIAMOND DEAD
Painted Black Velour, 8'x8'

Shot of DIMOND DEAD rehearsal after load in...wicked!

DIAMOND DEAD should be a great show, so don't wait until the Struck opening party to go, because they are apt to sell out once they get some press...you can get tickets here

This coming week I have my preliminary sketches due for Funny...Forum, and I also hope to be farther along with a sex machine logo...but until then, enjoy the Struck Artist's Statement:

STRUCK:

Scenic Remnants by Jared Davis

ARTIST STATEMENT

This show is a bit of an odd duck; it’s not very often you see an art exhibition devoted to leftover scenery. The work for this show has been given the theatrical equivalent of a “stay of execution”…after the final curtain call, they were struck from the stage but not sent directly to the dumpster. Instead, I packed these representative pieces in my truck to be saved for later, reworked, or used again. I did not anticipate that they would be hung in a gallery, but here we are!

The art exhibited was created with a different set of rules than usual gallery pieces. They were created to be seen under colored lights, behind actors, and from at least ten feet away. Additionally, they have been around the block, some to several venues. Consequently, I ask that you consider the occasional scuff mark and the bits of ground-in glitter makeup as part of their charm.

For every piece in this exhibit, there are dozens more that have been lost or re-painted. There are also a few who have made it in the hands of collectors. For example, one part of a Lobsterboy Revue set is now a headboard for a waterbed. Another is hanging in the Silver Spring Piratz Tavern. And others have tripped to places like Playa del Fuego.

I have been working and living in DC since 1999. In the usual gallery/art show context, my work is best known for small paintings that frequently feature Tikis and Monkeys. I don’t make a distinction between my work for the stage and my work for the gallery. To me, it’s all painting. The main difference is scale.

I would like to thank the Rupperts who have supported my work in both contexts, as painter and as Scenic Designer. I am thrilled that Molly invited me mount this show during the Capital Fringe Festival. I have a connection with this festival having designed shows for fringe over the past two years. Since I tend to paint in a “lowbrow” style, I also seek out theater that aligns with that sensibility, I believe that this exhibition, like this festival, suits an unconventional crowd.

Lastly, I would like to thank my amazing wife as well as the theater groups and performers who give me opportunities to think and paint BIG.

-Jared Davis

A sexy logo, DIAMOND DEAD skulls & I have a solo show! (sorta)

Do you ever say to yourself, "I wish there were a embarrassment free way to buy condoms"?...well fear not, the good people at Sex Machine Vending are coming to your rescue. They have recently contracted me to take a whack at designing a logo for their upcoming line of condom vending machines. This logo will not only be on the machines (and the letterhead and t-shirts and whatnot) but it will be on the boxes too...(I know my, er, chest will swell with pride every time I see the logo on the box, just before I use their product!) Anyway, my task is actually to revamp the existing logo, which is a punk rock girl straddling a (oddly) downward flying rocket...So, the first line of reasoning I went through was to try to rework the, er, symbolism of the logo, and focus more on the name of the company...here's the first greenlighted sketch:

Sex Machine Vending Logo Sketch
Pencil on paper, 6"x8"

That's right, I went the sexy android route...Ive sold them on the concept, now I have to do the heavy lifting of finding the right pose and style (and probably reintroduce the rocket...but perhaps in a more subtle role) So, as this project progresses, I will be posting updates...I figure you will probably be finding these in your neighborhood bar sometime this Fall...

Progress on DIAMOND DEAD has moved apace...as of publication of this post I have completed the two front "skull" draperies in last weeks design:

Stage Right Skull, DIAMOND DEAD DC FRINGE 2008

Acrylic on Black Velour, 8'x12'Stage Left Skull, DIAMOND DEAD DC FRINGE 2008

Acrylic on Black Velour, 8'x12'

These have been really fun to paint, but I confess, that the time frame is really quick (even for me) because we are loading the show in on Saturday! I still have two more to paint (the devil and the skull-Elvis in the upstage part of the design) and I will be rushing because of the fourth of July Holiday...I also made progress on the only piece of carpentry in the show, the 12 foot high coffin entrance:

Coffin Entrance, DIAMOND DEAD DC FRINGE 2008
Wood, 12'x5'

This is shown laying on its side, and partially folded...I made it hinge so that it could be stored easier at the Warehouse, because there are a zillion other groups performing at DC Fringe, and they all need to store scenery too...

The last bit of news may be the biggest. I am going to have a solo show. Well, sorta. Molly Ruppert called and asked if I wanted to have an art show in the Warehouse during Fringe. Of course I said yes (even though I am neck deep in building stuff for fringe and all of my current inventory of work has been depleted by Art-o-Matic...) So I am going to install a "retrospective" of scenery that I have painted for Burlesque events over the years. So, its kinda a solo show, kinda a retrospective, kinda scenic painting samples...What I need to do is come up with a snappy title for the show and send out invites for an "opening"...next week...