Did Steven Harper really say" let them eat cake"

      The trouble with Canada is that back in the 70's we still had a glowing reputation (according to my recollection anyway).The world has had such a high opinion of us in the grand skeam of things I wonder what went wrong?
      A couple days ago I finished a book called "Atlas Shrugged" not sure whether it was suppose to melt my mind or expand it but one thing is for sure it really seemed to describe today on the planet. Now this book has some interesting idea's and it stops just short of where society is in this part of the world is. The elements in the book are not the same but the parralels are uncanny, even though it was written in 1957. Apparently Atlas Shrugged was quite popular and was thought of as Objectavist "propaganda" whatever that is. The book isn't really about John Galt but more about us. We used to think, produce, and make things. We still do sorta or at least some of us do but I'm getting off track.
     Here in Canada our government is in a tough situation with the potential for some serious trouble if they are not carefully respectful to and of, our indigenous peoples. Mr. Harper our prime minister all of a sudden (200plus years in the making)  has a problem in that the First Nations people made deals with our past leaders, and our leaders have purposely (in the near and far past) and perhaps even geocidally done their  best to screw glue and tattoo these indigenous people's into none existence. Let alone not honour their end of the deal, from the beginning. With the "Arab Spring" fun and games,jiggery pokery of gun law people (I gotta say in the US you can have virtually any kinda of gun known to man to protect yourself and carry it concealed in some cases, and yet some guy all dressed up and packing some pretty heavy fire power walks into a movie theater and whacks a bunch people and no one shoots back????? Locks are for honest people and armed guards in banks didn't stop bank robberies,nuf said). Ever hear of  "Idle No More"?
     This past holiday season Chief Theresa Spence of Attawapiskat went on a hunger strike because she basically ask the Government for some more Gruel for her band and they told her to "let them eat cake" basically... (actually it was housing but the results were the same). Now a while back four women got together? and came up with "Idle No More" (First Nations people's answer to the term" Mad as hell and not gonna take it any more", I don't blame them when you look at the real issues) It would seem that these INM people were going around and teaching fellow FN people and anyone else that cared to listen about what the Canadian Government had in store for them long haul. The more people they spoke to the more people began to think "hey your right! my hind quarters do seem to feel a little raw" but still a good number of folks are still responding to government rape by yelling "Thank you sir may I have another" I don't think that will persist though, considering one day last year we had "thousands" of lakes, streams and rivers and as if by magic we had less than 800 and thats just the start. Oh ya and we just penned a deal with China so they could, en mass and have a go at us too. We'll see how that goes but I don't think it will be pretty....
     In a few hours Mr.Harper, his body guards, the Governor General (the Queens rep) and his body guards, Chief Spence, Shaun Atleo (Canadian Grand Chief), and all of, some of, or none of the other chiefs are going to meet,or not at all. It would seem from the governments position, to do some more discussing about what can be done about the deplorable living conditions First Nations people have to endure, or was it the general lack of ingredients to make "black bread". In all likely hood the First Nation's people in all shapes and forms are" Idle No More". Like me I'm sure they have spent alot of time (my guess is a few hundred years) sitting with a phone jammed in their ear waiting for the "department of Indian affairs "  to come back to the office from coffee and take them off hold so they can get on with business. But since they have been on hold again for a year they just figured they'd come down to the office and see how its possible for 6000 government employees to be at coffee all day for a year, every year.
      Mr. Harper and his gang of merry looters are going to make history in the next few hours, and when his term as Prime Minster is up, actually by the end of the day "he" will have decided whether he wants to be remembered as a "HERO" or a "LOOTING ZERO".  It doesn't matter who's responsible for making it what it is. you wanted the job. now you got it, make it work..... First Nations people (sorry to break that to ya) are the first "Turtle Islanders", you might know it as Canada, but they were there/here first or at least before us.....So lets do the right thing by them and maybe by accident we might get our seat back at the UN big boys table....we know, you know, how to behave like a big boy, and we know, you know, what "respect your elders" means and since that,s how you want to be treated, act respectable your making us look bad.

Castles dreams & Popsicle stick budgets

Mural pricing info and preventing hard situations.

 I received a call the other day from a past client wishing to get a quote for a new mural. Now under normal circumstances this would be good news. Only this time the client is a non-profit. A few years back I was approached by members of the “non profit “ board. At the time, I was new to town and felt that participating in a community endeavor was good for all concerned. As it turns out the board came to me “hat in hand” asking if I would consider “fixing” an existing mural pleading they had no budget. So we all met at the museum one night and discussed said mural in need of repair. Well it didn’t need to be repaired as it was done by some well intentioned amateurs about 20 odd years ago. I did the only thing I could do......replace it. Turns out they spent 5 k on a steel chest, not that it matters but imho they really have no need at this point in the game.

Now in the spirit of good will, I did the mural at cost under the inferred idea that they would do some fund raising on their own for the next one at par- “ish”.          Silly me, I should have known better!
 So this time three of us get together and the whole exchange lasted 5 minutes or less. After doing some measuring it turns out that the new piece they want is three times the size of the first one. So this time they insist I give them a straight out price for the mural which is strange from these guys (I don’t give out written quotes, just basic agreements signed by both parties when it’s money time). So I give them the straight up goods and that was it for the meeting. .......hmmm! Did I mention the mural I did helped win them an award, (as I was told this past summer by another board member) so they probably got a bursary of some sort too which is great, glad I could help.....but!!!!

Having done many meetings, there are a few things I have picked up....sometimes I’m wrong but not very often these days! This is what I think derailed the project:

Someone new (to the board with lots of plastic friends) knows an artist (that thinks they can paint murals, “some can”) and is pushing hard to send them work......so the meeting was loaded before I even turned up. Probably even before they called me.

Or

I’m bidding against......  a vinyl reproduction of a photograph! (which makes more sense in this equation).

A couple of things lead me to these conclusions:
 I could be wrong but I think not
first, I can paint what many can’t (that’s not say I can do anything but I have only had one complaint in almost 30 yrs), and there is no one I’m aware of any where near, that can match what I do in product or price.

What do I think I learned...hmmmm.
-If you do something for cheap/”the deal”, then expect to never ever earn more than that price point from that client no matter what they “say”.
- Never go out to quote on a job or ask for a quote unless you know what your asking for or doing exactly.
- Just because your friend is losing their house doesn’t mean they can paint murals at a professional level
- Some things just shouldn’t be done in vinyl, use the right medium for your venue (some things just look tacky no matter how "great" it looks on the screen)
- Don’t disrespect a mural artist by using vinyl all around a painted photo-real mural.....(unless its on a placard giving the artist credit and/or describing the mural its near! (it just looks tacky)
- Hire an artist/designer for artist designer work....it’s what they do! (yes I know you’re talented...but you may not or don’t have, the training!) The difference in the end results are “Huge”!  Product knowledge is a big help to achieve quality.
- If you are not confident enough to charge, (or prepared to pay if you’re a buyer) $35... give or take $10 - $20 either way, plus materials/rental equipment, per square foot for a mural then you should seriously practice/save your money until you are.
                                                  Murals are not for the faint at heart.
An additional thought, vinyl is not for museum displays, and museum displays are not a place to practice mural painting even though you can paint 20 x 30 inch canvases of cats, dogs or horses etc! (imho of course)

Totally Out There...Must be a Weasel "or" A Weasel dressed up as Gran Ma

And now for something totally out there

Not sure how to start this one so these be the facts!!

A neighbour of mine dropped off some _ _ _ _ _ at an art/_ _ _ _ _ store in town on consignment..( I also have some of my work in for sale in said store) About 4 months ago the store sold some of his _ _ _ _ _ _ and said they would pay him at the specified numbers of days down the road....No problem right? lol......

So today 4 months and a few hundred pounds of “BS” later, my neighbour drops by and asks me to help him pick up the rest of his consignment’s. So I said “ I take it they didn’t give you any more than excuses again today” he said “no they didn’t”......All right I guess we are going to pic up some art too while we at it!

Before I say any more about this I must give you some background...... there are few other artist in the surrounding area that have work in this store as well, so a few of us have been a little concerned that they might do a “runner” with our stuff and whatever monies are owed will just vanish with them! A few weeks back while in the store I noticed that a painting a friend had done was missing off the wall.....I contacted the friend to congratulate him on his fortune and was told he knew nothing of it.

 He dropped into the store about a week later (just a little visit to see how his art was moving etc....since he hadn’t been in, in a while.... lol) Long and short they said the painting had just sold the night before (lie) and that it was going to take  the usual amount of time to get paid out (45 days)......I must also say at this point (I heard today ) that they (the said store owners) are over a year behind in their retail rent at this point too. There is more but I’ll skip it as I think you get the idea! So anyway into the store I go and tactfully let the store owner know I’m coming with the neighbour to pick up his remaining consignment pieces and while I’m at it, my art as well...(based on the circumstances).....He responds with “Can you come back at 4” .....”Sure” I say “no problem”

At 4 we turn up.........With the neighbour's _ _ _ _ _ _ _ safely tucked into the truck I start the task of de-hanging my paintings and gathering up assorted prints and sculpture salted into the decor.... In the progression of gathering my stuff up I come to two large-ish prints (un-framed/rolled) that are layed out on two desk pull outs.....So as I’m inspecting the first print for damage (so I can sign off on the undamaged return of my work) the store owner comes up and grabs the other print (incorrectly) off the other sliding drawer and promptly puts a crease in an otherwise undamaged print and ask’s me what I'm doing......I turn to him and say........ ”I’m inspecting this print to make sure it has no creases in it like the one you just made!” “Looks like you just bought a print!”(Now the..... “totally out there” part)           He (the store owner) turns to me with the print still creasing in his hand and says “I didn’t do that !” (he quickly drops the print back on the drawer)....I respond with “ _ _ _ _ _, I just watched you do it ! “. “No I didn’t” he repeats.....”I’m not paying you for that little creese” and back and forth it goes.

Eventually he sorta takes responsibility for it and promises to pay me the wholesale price at some later point in time......”Hmmmm” I think to myself and then say “like you promised to pay _ _ _ _ _ _ for the _ _ _ _ _ _ you sold 4 months ago?” to which he starts to pedal............Now in the muddle of back and forth-ness in the discussion, he claims no understanding of how said crease could be considered damaged! (So I had to ask) If you have no understanding of what your actions have done, or even what your looking at/holding incorrectly how on earth did you ever think you were going to sell it and what made you think you could just pick it up anyway? he picks it up carefully this time and asks what it is and what makes it valuable....So then the art lesson begins (holy sheet!!!!!! and these guys have been in this biz for longer than I have, or so it is commonly thought!) and is ended with the question from me to him” didn’t you attend the archivist course last year for the museum volunteers so that they could handle similar materials properly?” He didn’t respond......oh by the way...while I was making sure all my paintings were in good shape I discovered a screw that "they" use for hanging paintings wedged into the back of one of my paintings between the canvas and the stretcher bars.........fortunately no hole or permanent damage! (I coulda screamed) No wonder they're bombing, careless disrespectful weasels!

So what to do?....we were friends....but to be told basically “ _ _ _ _ off !”  and “I didn’t see what I saw” for more than an hour what........ do ya do since silencing is a no no?
GBH? Perhaps, but that might be a bit much and not really “my style”. Beside I don't own a backhoe so digging a hole would be alota work. Can't say how I'm gonna handle this but I can say well maybe not.

 This little adventure has brought to mind a few from the very distant past......I think this is what learned though (again...grrr)  Here’s a potentially expensive education “heads up” if your a neub to the art biz.....

1. If the dealer looks like they are in trouble (they didn't) “they are!” Its way easier to get your stuff back than to try and sue someone who is penny-less. Also if your agreement seems kinda weird or none existent don't do it

2.Still don’t do business with friends lol...(cash only and no custom stuff)

3. Make sure you have and use a good clause for damage/losses/shrinkage and responsibility with dealer/gallery agreements.

4. Inspect everything before you deliver, get them to not only acknowledge receipt of artwork but also the condition and,....inspect everything thoroughly that you pick up before you sign off on receiving it back if applicable (it happens)

In the end I guess after spending most of my life in the art biz, I still have lots to learn & or remember!

lasting art sculptures in the modern era, art that lasts

The web as you know has a wealth if information on virtually any topic. While researching out a new technique that I wish I new more about, I read an article on the topic of "what is considered the longevity needs of modern art/art produced today", well not exactly but .....

   So here I am looking for a medium to cast my sculptures in that will last at least my lifetime and hopefully longer and I come across this thread in an unmentioned forum regarding casting in hydro- cal and how to make it last longer than just a few years. One of the respondents referred a study or a product that said in its description that society generally looses interest in something within 5yrs and that auto manufacturers produce vehicles that are only designed to last 3yrs. By at which point most things will have been broken and thrown away or the owner will have tyred of what ever it was and just pitched it out.

   Now I don't know about you, but when I buy something, it better last and I expect to have to pay for it. It just stumps me though that when I want to create a new work of art. I want to use the best quality materials to produce my finished piece. In this case its sculpture cast in,.... cast in,....... well I don't know yet. That's the problem. I cast in allot of different mediums hot and cold! But due to the wants of me needing a new material that can be finished anyway I like and can be indoor outdoor safe per say. Cement is to heavy and hydro cal is lighter but not strong enough to handle the weather. Now I could cast in metal but most people can't afford that sort of thing. So back to the cold cast materials.

   I have had some pretty good luck casting cement and hydro-cal materials alone and with additives (my own mixes, he he he) that include but are not limited to Carpenters glue, weld-bond, pearlite, vermiculite, fiberglass, latex, acrylic, enamel, as well as others. with varying degrees of success.

   As this seems to be a toss away part of our history I'm taking a stand. I want quality in what I buy and I'm going to create art of the highest quality. My advice to you is to do the same. So with that in mind I can tell you for sure, if your casting with hydro cal throw at least 1/2cup of carpenters glue into every 1/2 bag. Don't use pear lite or vermiculite they both float to much. I have yet to find a suitable sealer or clear to make it weather proof. So if its meant for out doors, cast with cement same mix as for hydro-cal. Don't use pre- mixed cement. Its usually too course for my liking. I like a 50/50 cement sand ratio. Be sure to seal it. but not before it has cured for at last 48hrs after demolding (including next day sealant). The mediums need time to De-gas/dry before you add the new material (clear or sealant) as the cast needs to be able to readily absorb it.

 Remember if you spend the time to make it, take the time reproduce a quality piece. Not everything has to have a "Bic lighter" life span  

Lipstick

So a few weeks back a buddy drops by and just happens to mention that he needs to go down to the coast to pick up his 5yr old daughter. There had been allot of snow in the preceding week so I asked which of his 2 vehicles he planned on taking to which he responded " Oh the 4runner" and I was forced to ask him about the safety aspect of said trip.He has new winter tires but the frame on this 4x4 of his is almost none existent not to mention more hole in than wheel wells. He says ya I know but what choice do I have. I have to go and get my daughter from my ex. "Ah the frame will be fine" he further states. But what really worries me is that the rusted out wheel wells  are going to attract attention and that will get me pulled over for a spot safety check and then I'll get a bunch of tickets that I can't pay, and the list just goes on. Not to mention what my daughters mother will say! So I have a half can of bondo so I'm gonna just fill the holes and I thought I'd drop in and see if you wouldn't tell me how to go about doing it. I said "your really going to do this and he says "Ya!" and I said where ? He says "Oh at my place outside" To which (being his friend and just having cleared the shop up) I said "No we'll do it here!"

So the next day he turns up about noon and we spend the next 36 hrs (none stop, no sleep) and use a whole bunch of my fiber glass and other art stuff to fix (actually recreate) his wheel wells. I won't bore you with all of that fun but I will pass this along. The work we did would have fooled the most diligent of random glances.

We remove all the masking and tape, open the door and roll the gleaming beast into the mountain crisp, winter air. My buddy smiles and says "I think we're done here and I need sleep! He heads for home to catch a nap before he has to leave.

Now the reason he has this 4x4 is that he lives up a mountain at the top of,  (being gracious) a goat trail type driveway. In which in the winter, there is no snow at the bottom. But at the house there could easily be 3ft. On this day luck was not on his side. He gets the bottom of his driveway rolls about a 100 yards up and suddenly there is this horrific sound of grinding and bending metal and his truck comes to a halt and then starts to roll backwards. He jambs his foot on the brake and jumps out to see what he has run over in the snow. He bends down on one knee and looking under the 4runner see's the drive shaft all bent up and the rear wheels out of whack. And on top of all that he now has to climb his 1/2 mile driveway. Fun times eh!

The moral to this story is don't waste time on junk, substrate, materials ect... Because no matter how much time or how good a job you do.....Lipstick on a pig does not make it "less a pig"

Directorslive.com a great place for Indie films & animation or a black hole.

When I work I often need interesting fodder for the mind and once in awhile I find it. Like today for example, I was looking for something to watch/listen to while I worked and I found " directorslive.com , what a score! The two pieces that I watched were "Darkwood "2008. A great little film about a guy loosing his house & the hypocrisy of the system ( www.directorslive.com/channels/films/darkwood-2008-a-short-film/ ) and "Madame Tutli Putli " 2007  ( http://www.directorslive.com/channels/films/madame-tutli-putli/ ) an amazing little NFB stop animation about a woman with baggage and a moth (to say anymore would wreck the story in which no words are spoken).

Now what I chose to watch was up to me, but I dare say you could probably find almost anything at directorslive.com . Both films are under 25min and streamed lagg free and crystal clear on my set up. I don't know if I was just lucky or what but both of these films were very well done and I expect that most will find them as entertaining as I did. So if you are an "up and comer" in either of these film styles this level would be a good place to reach for as far as low budget films are concerned. But whatever you do, make it your own!

Have a look and let me know if you think its a gold mine of inspiration & great indie flix or a black hole, share your favorites.

Snow carving warm-up 2010/2011 let it snow!

Snow is falling all clean and fresh and the almanac says we are in for the coldest winter in 50yrs. Lets carve snow, Calgary got a foot today from what I here. What do you do with it all. Well if you have a bit of time you can do all sorts of things with it but I suppose shoveling (stretch first , you've got lots of work ahead of you) would be the natural place to start, though I leave it up to you but don't forget the anti-freeze. Me, I'm going to re-read the past posts that Mr.Arnell was kind enough to share with us last winter. Making a big pile and hoping it melts just isn't my way. I want to do it right so its ready for some serious snow carving. I think maybe I'll order a set of those snow carving tools Tim was talking about and try my hand at it. And if we're lucky he'll show us some more photo's and snow carving techniques

So bundle up, stay safe, and if your in the back country this winter breaking all the high marks or the rules ( not that you'd do that) be sure to take your avalanche and GPS locator stuff. Because we want you back long before its time to mow the lawn in the spring and I need to know, is it snow carving or snow sculpting?