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.