Its been more than a month...

I would like to apologize for not posting anything for more than a month. The holidays are a really stressful and action packed time of year, and this one was no exception for me. Lots of things happened, and lots of things didn't. KT's grandma passed away just before Xmas, which caused no end of disturbances...then things started to go in slow motion around the holidays. Without a Lobsterboy Revue for NYE, I was practically adrift. So a teensey bit of "depression" set in, namely inactivity and sloth...I am like a shark; give me lots of blood to swim in and I am happy. Once my calendar has no significant deadlines, I am dead in the water.

I must say that it was not entirely unproductive...I did get lots of things up on the $0.10 EBay listings over the new year (I even sold a few MR. TIKIHEADS) and, Oh yeah, Scientology pageant opened and closed...enjoy some pictures and a link to the review

The set in its pristine state...without child actors!Prince Xenu and the Robot get down!

All in all, it was a really great production. It left you with a warm glow...then again, that could of just been the theatans...(or is it engrams?)
Some of the good news about Landless Theater is that they have begun to find their audience. I think that they are capable of becoming one of the awesomest theater companies in the DC area. I believe in them so much, that I have agreed to be one of their "Associate Artists" for another year (which means that I will be designing Debbie Does Dallas the Musical, in the spring...and much more in next years exciting season)

Yuri's Night 2008 is in a bit of a holding pattern right now. It may be a small show...it may be a big show...or it might not happen at all...The next few weeks will determine what will happen...Stay tuned...

One of the things that started to trip me up over the holidays was making work for the Dirty Show in Detroit. It turns out that "erotic art" is a bit of a stumbling block for me. I guess that most of my experiences with erotic art have been from, lets face it: PORN. So I feel that its really much more of a photographers medium...try as I might, I couldn't seem to get any erotic paintings off the ground. This was a major contributor to my aforementioned sloth/depression.

But, undaunted, I threw myself into some work that would hopefully get me moving in a new direction artistically. I developed a sketch and then I made this to paint on:

More about this new direction my work may be taking later...

On a "year in review" note, the going out gurus listed Art in Heat as one of the top 10 art shows in DC in 2007...

This Saturday, you should get your butt to Dr Dremo's and swing by my table for the third annual DC Conspiracy Counter Cultural FestivalThey have a Myspace Page for the show, as well as a plain old website

Below is the blurb about the Art Whino show I will have some work in...Opens this Friday!

Please Join Us! ART WHINO ANNOUNCES DOUBLE FEATURE: A Dream Remembered, An Endless Pause: The Solo Show of J. Coleman and Art Whino's Collaboration Featuring 18 New Artists www.artwhino.com Alexandria, V.A. Art Whino (www.artwhino.com) launches a DOUBLE FEATURE: A Dream Remembered, An Endless Pause: The Solo Show of J. Coleman and Art Whino's Collaboration Featuring 18 New Artists, The opening reception takes place on January 18th, 2008 from 6-12pm, and will include music by DJ Mikel Panda spinning from 6-9pm and a Live Band Performance by Brooklyn based band "Object" and Live Painting performance by J. Coleman beginning at 9pm. A Dream Remembered, An Endless Pause: J. Coleman Solo Show Twenty eight year old artist, J. Coleman, lives and paints in Washington D.C. Coleman has been showing consistently for six years now and has been featured in multiple exhibitions. After earning his degree from the University of Mary Washington, Coleman apprenticed under D.C. painter, Matt Sesow. Since then he has quickly become a prominent figure in the D.C. art scene. His work has been shown in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Wilmington, DC, Brooklyn, Baltimore, and has recently had portraits purchased by the UNC museum for their permanent collection. Art Whino Permanent Gallery Art Whino adds 18 new artists to its Permanent Gallery bringing the number to 100 participating artists and over 400 pieces of art on exhibit. New work from this show will be available online at (www.artwhino.com) starting Jan 21st. Adam Russell, Arisu, Benjamin Floeter,Brandi Read, COL, Grim Arts, Iceberg Slick, Jared Davis, John Powell Jazirock, Michelle Caplan, Nate Frizzell, Nishi, PaperMonster, Phoneticontrol, Rick Beaupre, Tika, Yoskay DJ MIKEL PANDA performing in the Front Gallery 6-9pm DJ Mikel Panda is a Deep House/ Tech-House/ Techno/ Breakbeat DJ originating out of Washington, DC and the surrounding area. However, Dj Mikel Panda, the name, originated in Richmond, VA. He has been Djing out for over a decade in places such as BUZZ, FIVE, The Edge, and more in Washington, DC. He started the outdoor and FREE event, ROBOT ROK four years ago. He has played on the FM Dial six times, as well as festivals, retail shops, international restaurants from Norfolk, VA, Richmond, VA, Washington, DC, and Baltimore, MD clubs as well. Object Band Performing in the Back Gallery 9pm Object resurrects the brain-dead with more than a few jarring songs wrought with pure emotional violence expressed in the form of an equation that balances only two members. From Brooklyn, with love, the duo possesses a kind of innocent demure that is only shattered by the deafening blow of their post grunge anthems. Above all else, Object have pushed their way into the collective consciousness and sit there on the merit of their music. Finely crafted hard rock that recalls the likes of Failure, Fugazi, Foo Fighters, Jeff Buckley and Nirvana, with a raucous live show that flaunts fearless semi-demented yet thoughtful tunes and a mess of beautiful noise that could make your head explode. Object wants you to open your eyes to the possibilities.

Portfolio Assemby Complete!

I have just completed one of those tasks that is never really complete. I updated my portfolio. It takes forever, is never as cool as you would like and starts your subconscious on a "gut check" about your career. But its so good to have it done. I will soon be able to offer you an in depth glimpse into said portfolio, online. That's because I have been feeding discs, with portfolio images to Bennu Enterprises, to update www.artbyjared.com

Other goings on this week involved a Hexagon meeting about the "kick" number, and what its scenery (as well as content) will entail. I also made some designs for the "frills" of circus wagons, which are coming along beautifully.

Trixie and I have been going back and forth about making a new sardine can to replace her current one which looks less and less like a sardine can. So I did this quick redesign:
You are all sworn to secrecy about the inner workings of this piece of scenery. (its not really like a magic cabinet, so you can see the inner mechanisms...which are really just there to make it easy for her to transport)

I also have been making stabs at getting a good proposal for a valance for the Palace of Wonders. Here's a design that didn't quite make the cut......Which is kinda frustrating, because I don't think that they understand my process...I don't start by making "great art", I try to provoke a reaction, so that a dialog gets started...its just a sketch...

This was also the weekend of Mark and Amy's disco party. They really know how to throw a shin-dig. I also got to use the Elvis suit one last time (this month!) because it happened to be thematic! (although Elvis was not really "Disco"...I like to think I added a bit of rockabilly to the evening with my presence)

On Sunday KT and I caught Sleeping Arrangements at Theater J. It wasn't really my cup of tea, but I did come away with one good sentiment from the play:

Most problems in life can be improved by a stay in an expensive hotel room.

The other remarkable thing about the production was that the set designer got her MFA from Wayne State University...GO TARTARS!

This week also started my next stint at Rep Stage painting the set for some Pinter play. They are woefully behind on construction at this point, and it is going to be a stressful build, but I am up for the challenge!

I also have been trying to "make friends" on Myspace, so if you are reading this...won't you please be my friend? You can contact me on MySpace here:

http://www.myspace.com/artbyjared

Well, I guess you should wish me luck at my portfolio review on Friday. I hope that all of this work on the portfolio makes a good impression!