Minimal Now-and-Later Totems

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to play around with some small remnant pieces of wood left over from panel making.  I liked the cut angles and decided to have fun with color theory and perspective. Then I noticed the cool shadows that were cast on the glossy melamine table top and thought I'd take some I-Phone pics.  They could have been huge set pieces from a Sci-Fi movie in the 70's, or in my opinion, some tasty tangy candy. 

Hump Day

This past week I've been busy organizing my new(old) workspace and restructuring how I carry out the business side of my art.  I have been working on and will soon be re-launching my etsy shop.  I'm also investigating Society 6 and some other opportunities.  Until then, I'd like to share with you one impromptu I-Phone photo series. Today's technology is simply amazing.  All you need is a good eye.

Throw Back Thursday

I hope everyone is having a great Thursday afternoon.  My contribution to Throw Back Thursday is a photo of one of my paintings from my Senior year of college.

One of my many inspirations is calligraphic writing.  I love Arabic, Japanese, and Hebrew writing especially.  I played with the possibilities of the figure and an ultra-simplified way to try and get as many narrative figure possibilities as possible.  I was able to fit in 5 figures from 9 shapes.  I looked at it as kind of a challenge or a game to see how much I could convey with as few elements as possible. I still operate the same way today.  This was painted on HEAVILY gessoed green tent canvas.  It was free.  It was available, and I was a poor college student.  Needless to say, I burned through gesso.  The rest was painted with acrylic paint- I can not stand oil.  Keep watching and reading.  New art is coming soon.

Happy Wednesday Evening!

Congratulations everyone!  You've made it over the hump.  Check back tomorrow for some revealing TBT content.

Tuesday Cleaning Day

Today, I was intensely inspired to clean.  I wiped and vacuumed and threw out trash and straightened my bedroom.  I think I'm just ready to do something physically after such a long break.  I think part of it was that I wanted to keep busy after finding out that Robin Williams had committed suicide.  It's really confusing when someone with such an amazing gift that made so many people laugh gets taken down by depression.  It hits close to home.  My Mom has battled severe depression my whole life.  I remember the challenges she had to go through and the challenges our whole family had to go through.  One thing I do know is that Robin Williams has made me laugh more times in my life than I could possibly count.  I have watched "The Birdcage" too many times to remember and I laugh every single time.  That's an amazing gift to give to one person, much less millions.  I would like to put out to the Universe my dedication to Robin Williams.  It's one of my favorite songs of 2014 and the video to it just came out today.

Monument

Where I Have Been

Where have I been?  

What have I been up to? 

The short answer is that I’ve been recovering from surgery that was needed to repair my broken shoulder.  The longer answer is a bit more complicated.  Recovering from surgery has provided me ample time to review my journey up to the point of disaster and has forced me to become more patient concerning planning for the future.  

I moved out of my studio space on May 30 due to significant rent increases.  I was slightly depressed by this but now I realize that chasing the art gallery model has not worked in my favor.  Between June 1st and June 5th I began brainstorming about ideas for how I wanted to proceed with my art career.  June 6th started out no different than any other Friday.  Adrian and I decided to bike down to Buffalo Bayou Park to ride the trails and stop along the way to do calisthenics.  It was a typically hot and humid afternoon.  My 1981 Panasonic road bike had been overhauled including freshly replaced and inflated tires.  I was leading and Adrian was behind me.  I felt that he was not as close behind me as he should be, so I turned to look behind me to see that he wasn’t far behind.  Then in just a few seconds as I turned around, my tire hit a mound of sculpted grass and my full front tire came to a very abrupt stop, but I did not.  Thanks physics!  I flew over the handlebars and landed on my left side hard on concrete.  When I came to a stop and was able to stand I immediately knew something was very wrong with my left arm.  I thought I broke my whole arm.  Adrian, who luckily had his phone, called Chip and Robert and all three rushed me to a nearby emergency room.  Before any X-rays were even taken, I could tell by the looks on the staff’s faces that whatever had happened to my arm wasn’t good.  I vertically fractured the ball joint of my shoulder but fortunately had broken nothing else.  

After reviewing x-rays and CAT scan images, my surgeon prepared me for two possibilities.  Either a partial shoulder replacement would be required- not the best option for a 36 year old- or there would be enough viable bone to use bone graft, plate, and screws to put it all back together.  Early on June 25, my doctor was able to put my original bone back together during a 3 hour surgery.  The first 10 days after surgery were mainly just a long blur of dealing with pain.  I turned 37 on July 2- the very middle of the year.  I got several great messages and a delicious cake.  

From mid-July until now, I have been going to physical therapy and stretching regularly at home.  I’ll probably have most of my full range of motion in another 6 weeks time.  The good news is that I have been sketching.  I created an entire new series of 25 drawings.  I think they are very good and I am still considering exactly what to do with them.  I’ve been writing down many ideas concerning new methods of delivering my visual aesthetic message to the world.  I will be very transparent in sharing information on my work.  I want those who follow my career and collect my work to know all about my inspirations and process.  I am a total voyeur of the creative process.  Please keep watching me.  Thank you for your continued support. 

Out and About on a Beautiful Saturday

I snapped this earlier while waiting in the 610 West feeder on the way to the Galleria.

I LOVE unusual angles and cropping!

Look at Some of the Loot I Found in a Forgotten Treasure Trove!

Check out these pieces I completely forgot I had(they were buried under paper in my flat file).  They are all roughly 8"x11", paper on paper or paper on acrylic painted illustration board.  Don't they look sugary sweet enough to eat??

If you are interested in purchasing one, please send me a message!

In Space.. No One Can Hear You Scream.....

I snapped this pic today in my studio.  Any guesses as to what the subject might be?

It was just a coincidence that I was watching this video-inspired by THX 1138, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and A Clockwork Orange, while I was experimenting with this image.

Pet Shop Boys: I Don't Know What You Want But I Can't Give It Anymore

What I do when I have to wait at Home Depot

Happy Hump Day!

This is my confused face as I try to understand iMovie a little better.

The Writing's on the Wall

Getting closer and closer to the first opening at Will Brooks White Box.  I have just a few spots left if you'd like to participate!  There is NO COST.  You may bring guests to share in your Spirit Totem Experience.  This is a participant event ONLY.  ONLY participants and their guests may attend this show.

Happy St. Patrick's Day !

Today, I celebrate the part of me(I'm a TOTAL Euromutt) that is Irish.  I won't be drinking any green beer or looking for pots of gold, but I will be making some kick ass art!  Here is a pic of how the Spirit Totems start taking shape:

Thank you to Chip Ware for all the help with construction. 

Throw Back Thursday

I promise I have not disappeared!  I have slightly refined some details of Will Brooks Art Experience 1: Spirit Totem.
1. The size of the totems are now significantly smaller.  5" or less square at the base and 2- 2 1/2' tall.
2. There is NO fee to participate!

I have filled 3 out of 7 slots available for the FIRST show of this experience.  Message me ASAP if you want in on the fun!

I'm serving up some Bob Ross realness!  I watched his instructional show on PBS religiously as a child/teen; he was one of the people responsible for making art seem magical to me.

DAY 2

Don't You Want a Totem of Your Very Own??

Wouldn't you LOVE having a totem that is designed specifically for you?  Well, that is what Experience 1: Spirit Totem is all about!  For ONLY $50, you can have your very own 12"x12"x48" personalized spirit totem that you can keep forever!  What else $50 buys:  Dinner and a movie for two.  2-3 drinks out for two people.  Sign up now!  There are only 5 slots left, and the opening party is set for Friday, April 4, 2014 at 7PM.

Happy Hump Day!

I am busy getting over the HUMP of reorganizing White Box.

I have two people who have signed up to be inaugural participants of Will Brooks Art Experience 1: Spirit Totem, but I have 5 MORE spaces left!  The fee to participate(to cover contraction material costs only) is $50.  The show opening is Friday, April 4, 7PM.  Please click the link above to read the details and contact me about being a Participant.

Get in on the FUN!

I'm hard at work getting my space ready to create the Spirit Totems for my first Will Brooks Art Experience.  I have two confirmed Participants, and two totems ready to be designed.  I have FIVE slots left, so message me ASAP to get in on the fun!

TGIF! What is Your Spirit Animal?

Happy Friday everyone!  Today is the last day in February which means we are that much closer to Spring!  Yesterday I announced my first Will Brooks Art Experience.  This show is completely dependent on willing participants, so I need your help to produce it as my first example of where I am going with my art philosophy.

The cost is only $50(to cover totem construction).

So.. which animal do you associate your spirit with most?

Alligator, Ant, Bat, Birds(please specify), Bear, Boar, Butterfly, Cat(please specify), Cock, Cow, Deer,  Dog(please specify), Dolphin, Dragonfly, Elephant, Fox, Frog, Goat, Rabbit, Horse, Lizard, Octopus, Otter, Owl, Raccoon, Ram, Salmon, Scorpion, Seahorse, Serpent, Shark, Snail, Spider, Squirrel, Swan, Turtle, and Wolf.

Message me if you would like to participate.  I'm eager to begin work on your totem!  

FINALLY! Introducing Will Brooks Art Inaugural Event: Experience 1: Spirit Totem

"Don't you know who I think I am?" -Kelly Mantle from RuPaul's Drag Race Season 6.  

Who are you? Who are we?  

This is a question humanity has been asking for millennia.  What is the answer?  We are each many different people, and we have developed many sayings for this.  "We all wear many hats."  "There are three of us:  How others see us, How we see ourselves, and who we really are."  I tend to agree most with the first statement.  We are many people(labels/roles), yet we are able to transition seamlessly from one to the other while still maintaining enough consistency to be perceived as an individual by everyone else.  My goal is to visually present just a small slice of each Participant's life experiences in the form of a totem using information such as global Historical perceptions on humanity and our relationship to our environments while including unlikely associations as context in order to create an interesting, informative, and beautiful Artifact created by my hands and filtered through my personal visual aesthetic.

 

Presenting:

Experience 1:  Spirit Totem

This will be a physical manifestation of a visual conversation; and the discussion starts with each Participant choosing a "Spirit Animal" which they think best describes who they are as a person.  The list of Spirit Animals to choose from include: 

Alligator, Ant, Bat, Birds(please specify), Bear, Boar, Butterfly, Cat(please specify), Cock, Cow, Deer,  Dog(please specify), Dolphin, Dragonfly, Elephant, Fox, Frog, Goat, Rabbit, Horse, Lizard, Octopus, Otter, Owl, Raccoon, Ram, Salmon, Scorpion, Seahorse, Serpent, Shark, Snail, Spider, Squirrel, Swan, Turtle, and Wolf. 

I will use that information as a starting point in creating a personalized 'Spirit Totem' that visually explores each Participants life.  I will be mining each person's Facebook pages as well as their other public social media interactions looking for the interesting, exciting, and fascinating personal experiences that lend themselves toward creating exciting personalized pieces of art.

-How may you participate? 

First, this experience requires that you live here in the Houston metro area. There are only 7 slots open for this first show of Experience 1.  It is first come, first serve.  Those who are interested, please message me through my Will Brooks Art Facebook page, my Will Brooks Art website, or Twitter.

-Is there a cost? 

Yes, there is only one small fee of $50 for those who wish to participate.  This is to cover totem construction/production costs.   Each totem will be approximately 11" x 11" x 48" and will be constructed out of wood. 

-When and Where will this event occur? 

The unveiling of each Participant's personal Spirit Totem will happen during the unveiling party scheduled for  7PM, Friday, April 4, 2014 at White Box located in Spring Street Studio #135 1824 Spring Street, Houston, TX 77007.  There will be the usual food and drink and perhaps an unexpected surprise or two.  Every Participant is encouraged to invite their friends to the unveiling of their personal totem.  A donation box will be provided if guests feel moved to help defray the costs of the event.  Additionally, each Participant may choose to make a financial donation in appreciation for their personalized art according to their desire and/or means, but is by no means mandatory and no specific amount will ever be suggested or expected.  Having said that, the more capital I have to work with, the bigger, the better, and more exciting my Experiences will be.      

-Other information: 

This project along with all future projects will be heavily documented through photography, and video recordings.  My creative process will be documented step by step and will be released online throughout the duration of the project. 

Thank you all for your continued support and I look forward to presenting my first Will Brooks Art Experience. 

Tuesday musings..

I was art article hunting when I came upon this piece about Josef Albers .  I have always been intently interested in color and color theory.  Besides just learning about color,  he also showed me how everything in life is relative to everything around it.  Fascinating reading.

Happy Monday! (Here in Houston, it feels like Spring but looks like Seattle outside) Announcements:

First, I would like to thank my friend Don Cook for supporting me by purchasing one of my paintings from my "Rebirth" series titled "Hot Thought" 16"x20" Acrylic, Ink, and Rice Paper on canvas.  Don made me an offer, and I accepted.

Friend and Supporter, Don Cook with his painting:  "Hot Thought" 

Thanks again Don! 

"Hot Thought" in it's new environment, Don's home.

It looks so much better up on a wall to be enjoyed instead of in storage! 

I would also like to let everyone know that all 12 pieces that were hanging in Houston City Hall are now back in my space, White Box.  I am in the process of completely reorganizing my entire space for my upcoming inaugural White Box show and I need as much free space as possible.  So, please, if any of you have been interested in any particular piece, let me know, make me an offer, and it very well could be on your wall tomorrow!  Here are some examples of pieces that were displayed in the Houston City Hall Proximity exhibition:

Title:  The intentions behind | Those resplendent blue eyes | Are not nearly as brilliant 

48"x24" Acrylic on Birch Panel

2011

Title: Feathered Gypsies | Animating the Concrete | Cleansing the City of Crumbs

Acrylic and paper on panel

80"x36"

2009

Title: The Last Catch of the Day | Proves Difficult | Under an Umbrella of Thunder

Acrylic and Paper on panel

72"x 11"

2010

Some interesting facts about this painting: 

I painted it exclusively for a show I had in Galveston, TX.

I used (what seemed like a whole roll of) masking tape and high gloss varnish to give the effect of rain, which is barely visible in the photograph.  This painting, especially, must be seen in person in order to completely appreciate it. 

It is an unusual format for a painting which would look fantastic over a mantle, low window, or over a wide opening connecting two large rooms. 

Ignore all the pricing on my webpage, and make me an offer that is reasonable.  I really want people who love my work, to own my work, and I know most of us out in the world are no where near millionaires and I am no exception.  Make me an offer in accordance to your means and own art that was actually touched by a human. 

Thank you all for your continued support! 

--INTRODUCING WHITE BOX AND THE WILL BROOKS ART EXPERIENCE--

 I am excited to introduce to you all the official new name of my space and a more detailed explanation of my new art direction.  The space formerly known as Will Brooks Art Studio is now Will Brooks Art:  White Box.  Why "White Box?"  I chose the name for two reasons.  The first is the most obvious.  My space, without anything on the walls is a big white box with a concrete floor and ceiling.  It is also a nod to my theatre friends as a play off of "Black Box" theatre.  This will be my primary location for producing content(both physical for projects and media for online) and hosting most Will Brooks Art Experiences.

What is a Will Brooks Art Experience?

The Will Brooks Art Experience is the result of an epiphany I recently experienced which lead to not only a new personal worldview but also a dramatic philosophical shift in how I perceive and approach "Art."  Now, rather than only making art objects in the hopes that someone will purchase them, I am more invested in cultivating methods for creating entertaining and informative experiences that requires the direct interaction between artist, concept, and participant.  There will however be aesthetic continuity.  I will still be focusing on shape, color, and simplicity.  The difference will be in the execution and presentation.  I aim to create art that is more relevant to the participants on a personal level.  Participants will be directly involved in the art making process by making content, style, and presentation choices.  It's an experiment in social art making.  I believe it will allow for an interesting way to visually communicate the individual and shared human experience.  I want to break away from the model of art as something detached from life.  My new art will be much more organic.  I also want my art to be fun for all of those participating.  It is high time a little excitement gets pumped into the floundering 'art world' of old.

How will I accomplish this financially if I am no longer selling "things?"

This part is a leap of faith.  My new business model is rather unorthodox in the visual arts communities.  I will be operating in the new funding realm of crowd sourcing.  I will be asking all of you to support me directly according to your desire and means.  I will be producing some videos specifically for a gofundme.com profile as well.  I will also be launching a donation portal through Paypal.  I am convinced that if people believe in something strongly enough, they will support it, and I am convinced people like you will be excited about my new direction enough to back me financially.  I will be transparent on costs including my space rent, cost to produce a show, etc.  I think this is only fair.  There are only a couple of exceptions.  Most Will Brooks Art Experiences will result in a physical record(s) which I will refer to as "artifacts."  I will ask those who wish to participate in these types of experiences to cover costs of materials ONLY.  This will also be just as transparent as my other operating costs.  After the show/experience, those who participated may decide for themselves what, if any, monetary compensation is justified.  The only other exception will be merchandise such as t-shirts, prints, or photo books, etc. when applicable.

I hope you are all as excited as I am about my new art career direction!  I am looking forward to announcing my inaugural experience soon.  I will leak a tiny bit of information.  As of now, my first project will only have 9 available slots.  As it stands, I have invited two people to participate in this first experience, and if they accept, there will only be 7 slots left.  I am expecting the total mandatory cost(material supplies) to be under $100, and I am tentatively aiming for Friday, April 5 as the date of the first show.  Thank you all for your continued support!

Weighing in on the Ai Wei Wei Smashed Vase

This story is a day old and already I have had some robust conversations on art and ethics.  I find this to be a fascinating story.  Maximo Caminero smashed a piece of Ai Wei Wei's art.  Or was it his?  Was it partially his?  The crushing of the vase was done in protest of a new museum(and museums in general) not giving attention or focus to local artists.  So, Ai Wei Wei took a 2000 year old art artifact and arguably destroyed it by pouring house paint all over them.  What gave Ai Wei Wei any more right to destroy art than Maximo Caminero?  Is it because Ai Wei Wei bought the vases?  Does buying art constituted owning it to the point of being able to alter it?  Not according to U.S. law.  When I sell a work of art, it is understood that I maintain the copyright of the image.  It may be possessed, but not altered UNLESS my permission is given.  Anyone who does otherwise is breaking the law.  I think Mr. Caminero should have done what I would have done.  I would have walked right past that museum thinking.... ah look.. more crap.  That art is for the elites.  Let them keep it.  The best art can not be found in museums.  The best art is done in private spaces, on the internet, on the streets, etc.  Art is no longer confined to traditional venues.  Mr. Caminero would be better off ignoring that part of the art world and focus on finding those who agree with his aesthetic.  It's a different game.  Those who don't hop aboard the train will get left behind- including artists.

A BLAST FROM THE PAST

I've been cleaning and rearranging my space and found this painting from college.  This would have been Fall of 2000.  I think there is a clear continuity in my paintings that I intend on maintaining throughout my transition.

BUSY BUSY BUSY

Now that I'm back from the TMEA conference in San Antonio,  it's time to get busy.  Off to a good start already!  First stop:  Houston City Hall to retrieve my art that has been on display for the past 9 months.

Painting the Walls on a Rainy Winter Day

I was busy painting the walls back white today in my space at Spring Street Studios.
So, what is....

 ?

Keep watching and reading.  I'll be unveiling the new name for my space and announcing my first Experience very soon.

Art Market Illness

I have been following the Facebook/Twitter posts of art critic Jerry Saltz for several months now.  He is one of the only critics I like because he speaks very bluntly about art topics as he sees them himself.  He doesn't appear to be on the same Art World Bandwagon as many of his contemporaries.  Well, today he posted this story about Art Flippers.  The article draws comparisons between today's frantic art market(only the biggest names, mind you) and financial bubble.  What do you think of the hysteria?  I think it's an old institution's last gasp.

Cleaning House

There is a Buddhist adage that states "If you have nothing else to do- sweep."  Another more aggressive version would be "Idle hands are the devil's playground."  I was feeling a bit uninspired today, so I decided to tackle my bedroom which has been in need of a good thorough cleaning.  I eliminated so much from my closet that I either can't wear, won't wear, or was just plain too old.  The interesting thing about old shirts, if you wear deodorant, is that the underarm area sparkles from all the aluminum that builds up over time.  I decided to capture this and share it with all of you:

Now a little something for your ears: 

Faithless: "Sweep"

Millennial-Minded

Good evening everyone.  I recently rediscovered one of my favorite artists, Hennessy Youngman yesterday and have been catching up on all the videos of his I've missed on YouTube.  Although, I was born in 1977, I am very much in line with the Millennial generation's mindset.  I love how Hennessy lays it all out to the Art Establishment in a very blunt and truthful way.  This video can also be a hint to what you can expect from me.  Experiences.  Art that can be made to fit people instead of vice-versa.  What do you think?

NEWS, AND SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT

I hope everyone is having a great weekend so far!  I know many of you are looking forward to the Super Bowl, but I'm just excited to have some great weather to enjoy on this February 1.  I'm wearing shorts and writing this blog on my patio.  First, the news.  I will soon be revealing the new name and logo for my space formally known simply as Will Brooks Art Studio.  I am also quite busy finalizing all of the elements of my inaugural project.  All details must be considered thoroughly to ensure a Will Brooks Art quality experience.  I am 90% sure that the first show will be invitation only.  However, if all goes according to plan, that show and many to follow will be streamed live.
Now for the thought of the day:  I saw this story as a post on a fellow artist's Facebook page, and thought it was quite relevant to my new art direction.  What do you think about the interaction between viewer and art in our society?  I will agree that this was inappropriate conduct in this environment even though it was funny that the child simply saw a space to play in.  I want to take art from something to stand and observe to something that is an action and experience.  Wouldn't you like to be able to interact with art and create?  I'm waging my career on the hypothesis that people are ready to experience art in a new way.  More info coming soon.

My Stuffed Frog

Monday I shared a link discussing people's favorite personal Teddy Bears.  Today, I thought I would share the story of my favorite stuffed animal as a child.  When I was 4, I was diagnosed with a heart murmur.  I remember being told that I needed to have surgery and that it had to be done in New Orleans, LA.  Having been born 4 hours away and being so young, I had no idea what any of that talk really entailed.  I knew I should be worried though because my parents were.  Pediatric open-heart surgery was complicated for 1982 and there was only one doctor at Tulane University- Doctor Brunswick, whom I do not remember, but wish I did.  Anyway, I do not remember much of the pre-op besides being taken on a gurney to the operating room.  I was frightened because I had already been incubated and was unable to speak.  I remember being very frightened and crying and not taking my eye off of my Mom.  The next thing I remember was the after image of a very bright light, which I assume was the operating light.  Then, the very next thing I can remember was lying in a bed on my back and staring up and seeing a stuffed frog dangling over my head.  My Dad had gone down to the gift shop and bought it- I suppose thinking it would keep me distracted.  Over the short time I was in the hospital(I was told I had recovered exceptionally fast), I remember being flooded with gifts from all kinds of people- relatives, church folk from the church my family attended at the time.  I had never received so many gifts at once in my life- a record still held to this date!  However, the only one I can recollect is the frog.  A few years ago, my Mom put together some boxes of my 'stuff' so that I could take it back home with me - an exercise of letting go for my Mom.  In the box, among many other childhood toys was the frog which still looks remarkably well for being over 30 years old.  If any of you have any interesting, crazy, or funny stories about your favorite stuffed animal, please feel free to share it.  I would love to read your stories in the comments.

HAPPY MONDAY!

I hope everyone is having a fantastic Monday.  I wanted to share with you guys a link.  What was your favorite stuffed animal as a child?  In the meantime, I will continue to learn basic video editing.  I am also thinking of new names to call my space.  "Studio" is really no longer an accurate label.

ALL BETTER NOW!

I'm back again after having shaken off a nasty little 48 hour bug.  Fortunately for me, "Winter Storm Janus" made it completely undesirable to be outdoors, so it was a lucky time to get sick. To keep everyone updated, I have been busy planning every single detail of my very first Guided Art Experience.  My plan is to put this event on during the beginning of March.   I am currently debating whether or not to make my first event invitation-only.  I am also considering having the event streamed live online for anyone to watch from home.  Many possibilities.  Expect to see content of all forms coming from me that may be directly or obtusely relevant to the upcoming event.  Please keep reading and watching and as always thank you for your continued support.  I can't wait to take you all with me on this new journey.  And now, a little humor on this Frigid Friday.  What if Conceptual Art could be more accessible?

Portlandia Parodies Conceptual Art

What do you think?

What place will 2D art have in our modern dwellings in 10 years? Our walls will either be constructed with interactive panels or covered by them. Everyone will have an unlimited supply of visual sources to choose from to view at any time for any length of time. Check out the google art project- you can even read the tiniest brush work detail if you choose. So, where will painting fit? Old school decor? A treasured piece of nostalgia of a lost time? What are your thoughts?

WHAT IF ?

How many of you have gone to an art show recently and left thinking: 'Damn, that blew my mind!' or 'Wow!  That's the most fun I've had at an art event'?  How many events have looked like this:  A large, mostly empty space filled with bright-usually warm light.  You walk in.  You may or may not be greeted depending on the availability of the host and/or the perception that you are important enough to acknowledge.  The art hanging on the walls are usually well presented but boring.  You walk up to the wall next to the painting and read the title/description/statement, then walk away feeling either bewildered, confused, dumb, or even annoyed and angry.  You see many people chit chatting away with each other about how amazing the work is and attempt to dazzle each other with their knowledge of the 'style' or 'the process'.  You still do not get it, so you decide to go to the open bar and take a glass of red or white wine(wallet/purse/checkbook lube).  The ART gallery doesn't want to get TOO creative.  You drink, you socialize, and at the end of it all you were probably thinking.. 'wow, I could have done something else.'  If you have not gotten to this point, you very well may.  

Now, what if there was another way to experience art?  What if you could participate in an experience that involves YOU?  What if you could participate in an experience that is ABOUT YOU?  Would you be interested?  I'm proposing an experience like no other I have ever attended or read about.  I'm proposing a Guided Art Experience.  I will provide the concept, the method, the materials(when pertinent), and will be your guide in group discussions during the creative process.  YOU get the opportunity to create YOUR own art based on your discoveries, revelations, and perceptions about the established concept.  These will be multi-disciplinary art happenings.  They may include elements from, but not limited to:  Theatre(of all varieties), illusion, creative lighting, music, story telling, and writing.  These will not be classes.  You may or may not learn something about an art technique.  These will be designed COMPLETELY around YOU so that you, the participant, may get the most (fill in the blank- fun, satisfaction, amazement) from the experience.  I hope to have many collaborators along the way and I intend on touring these experiences if/when the demand arises. 

Thank you for your continued support and I look forward to you attending the first of these experiences! 

I Want to Make You a Deal

As you may have read in my previous post:  I am Heading in a New Direction and I will need the support of everyone who is interested in what I am going to do next.  Here is where the deal comes into play.  I have many paintings stored in my studio and several that are about to come back to me from a 9 month long exhibit in Houston City Hall.  So, my new path is now completely dependent upon my visibility in the realm of social media.  If you can find me 20 new followers that are willing to follow me on My Will Brooks Art Facebook Page  or on my Twitter account @ WillBrooksArt.    in exchange, I will offer you the painting of your choice at the price you feel it is worth to you(as long as it is reasonable- I will not sell a large painting for $100 for example).  In order for me to keep tabs on this progress, the new followers must send me a message that somehow tells me who it was who directed them to me.  Encourage them to be as funny and/or creative as they wish!  This is a first come/first serve opportunity.  I will be available by appointment in my studio for you to view your chosen painting every day of the week unless I am out of town.  If you do not live in the Houston Metro area, you are still encouraged to participate.  The only catch for you is that you may have to cover part or all of the shipping costs to your location.  Ready?  Set?  Go!

ANNOUNCEMENT: - WILL BROOKS ART CEASES TO EXIST IN IT'S CURRENT FORM AS OF THIS WRITING -

As you have been noticing, I have been going through a process of epiphany that coalesced recently upon listening to a series lectures by Alexander Bard over the past couple of weeks.  Somehow, he was able to frame our contemporary lives in terms I was able to understand.  It has everything to do with a major shift in perception.  I encourage you to google him and hear him out if you are so inclined.

Before, like many others, I felt as if I was trying to reconcile a way to merge the old way of doing things with the new way that is currently changing the way we conduct ourselves socially and the way we do business.   The “Gate Keepers” are losing power faster than they know how to handle it.  Art galleries are struggling to operate in this ‘old way’.  So, they’ve devised a new strategy - the art fair.  They are everywhere and they court only the wealthiest among us.  They are only delaying the inevitable fact that the “Art World” is dying a slow, painful and embarrassing death.  Art belongs to all of us and it is not a ‘thing’.  Art that statically hangs on a wall or sits on a pedestal is dead.  I’m certainly not the first to say or think this, however the evidence now can no longer be ignored or denied.  In my opinion, it has no place in the future beyond nostalgia and decor  and will not survive.  Sure, there will be stragglers and those determined to make the world bend to their will, but they will continue to struggle more and more with each passing year in this outdated mode of thinking.  We are still in transition and some of those structures will continue on to become dinosaurs in a new era.  Think about how well traditional retailers like Sears and J.C. Penny are fairing.

 In one of the lectures I listened to, Mr. Bard used the electronic calculator as an example of how we, as humans have changed.  He said when they were first introduced, academic institutions struggled with how to deal with it:  How to keep students from ‘cheating’ using these devices that made learning adding, subtracting, multiplying, and division, among other mathematical functions irrelevant.  He asserted that from it’s invention onward, math students should have been taught how to ‘do math’ using the calculator- manipulating technology we created as shortcuts.  We’ve done it in so many other areas of life.  People don’t build cars, robots do.  Doctors don’t perform many delicate surgeries- robots do.  So, what’s the point in constantly reinventing the wheel?  What good is acquiring knowledge if we are not using it to our advantage as a species.  Using paint on a support was nothing but a technological advancement of it’s time.  They were not meant to be ends unto themselves.  When Western painting was developed, artists used a type of tempera paint to apply it to wet plaster.  When it dried, it created a long lasting and vibrant image- The Last Supper and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel are probably the most famous examples of this.  Next came the advent of canvas supports and oil paints.  The canvas was light and mobile unlike a  fixed plaster wall.  Oil paint was developed as a way to allow artists to continue to manipulate the image on the canvas until the slow drying oil finally set up-a technological advancement.  Then there were the better mousetraps- different supports, new paints like acrylic what were invented as a means to make producing art even easier and less toxic.  These advancements essentially ended in the 1960’s.  Since then, ‘painters’ have come up with innumerable ways to display paint on a support.  We’ve been left with a legacy of work that is so detailed  it mimics a camera image all the way to a totally blank white canvas with no content at all.  The medium has been exhausted.  I was forced to ask myself the same question I’ve asked myself before but this time through different eyes:  Why am I reinventing the wheel?  It’s old and it’s outdated and it’s only important because we were all taught it was.  The Controllers of Art have since dictated what is ‘good’ versus what is ‘bad’.  When it was discovered profit could be made, opportunists came out of the woodwork and that was the birth of our Art-Industial Complex system. In no other time in History have artists been so severely taken advantage of.  These folks do not own our ideas and they can no longer silence the ones they deem unacceptable(unprofitable). The Art Gallery is completely irrelevant now.  No artist needs them, and people are tired of being told how they are to value and experience art.  We artists can operate with ease through the various social media outlets  and are no longer at the mercy of the  wealthiest among us thanks to the advents of gofundme and kickstarter.  If you are “good” and “relevant”, people will support you according to their interest and ability whether it is by sharing your ideas with others or financial support.  This is true Democracy.  People are tired of being told how they are to value and experience art.   

This brings me to another subject.  What is art now? What is it’s function?  How do I see where I fit into this new world?  The answer is that I will continue to create my own ‘universe’.  I will no longer be painting “pictures” or pursuing a “style”.  Again, those are old ideas that are simply irrelevant in our new world.  “Art”- in all forms is the new relevant “religion.”  Successful artists will be those of us who communicate relevant ideas, concepts, and universal truths in an informative and entertaining way. Thanks to new and extraordinary technology, elements from every discipline is at my disposal, and  I will have no bounds as to how rich of an experience I can produce for participants.   My work will include writing, story telling, fantastic visuals and most importantly will be participatory.  My work will be part conceptual, part performance, and part sermon with a visual focus. I will now produce carefully and meticulously planned experiences.  I have generally been referring to them as Guided Art Experiences.  Also, I will no longer be setting prices for any resulting physical art work.  Any of my future events that results in the production of physical  work will be collected through democratic auction or donation only.  Many of my ‘events’ will have merchandise such as T-Shirts, Prints, etc for sale according to relevancy in order for me to make a living-have adequate housing, food, transportation- life essentials.  What should you be expecting from me?  You will certainly find me more actively blogging and more fully exploring other social media avenues pertinent to my mission.  I will be engaging with all of you much more frequently, and  I am excited and I hope you are too.  Expect to experience art in a way you probably have never experienced it before.  Most importantly, thank you for supporting me and staying with me through this process. 

Trust Me, It Will Be Worth the Wait.

I am still refining my statement, please stand by.  Until then, here is my newest painting of the day:

January 16 Painting

4"x6"

Acrylic on Birch Panel 

No, I Have Not Forgotten!

I am still working on my announcement but I have new painting to share with you in the meantime:

January 15 Painting

4"x6"

Acrylic on Birch Panel

Creativity is the Ability to Imagine Possibilities in the Absence of Fear

I hope everyone had a FANTASTIC Tuesday.  I am still working on the details of my announcement, but it will not be much longer.

January 14 Painting

4"x6"

Acrylic on Birch Panel 

After a Brief Delay, My Posts are Back! Also, a Big Announcement is Coming Soon in the Next Few Days

I had a bit of an unusual problem with my laptop last night that kept me from sending you all my daily note.  Now, it is all better and I can catch you up on my most recent paintings!

January 12 Painting 

4"x6"

Acrylic on Birch Panel 

And last but not least, today's painting! 

January 13 Painting 

4"x6"

Acrylic on Birch Panel