About Artomatic

WHAT: Artomatic, a free arts extravaganza featuring hundreds of local artists — visual artists, musicians, dancers, filmmakers, and many more. Nine floors of creativity!

WHEN: May 29 to July 5. Fridays and Saturdays, 12 noon – 1 a.m.; Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays 12 noon – 10 p.m; closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

WHERE: 55 M St, SE (at Half Street) in D.C.’s Capitol Riverfront neighborhood. Right above the Navy Yard Metro ballpark exit (green line), a block from Nationals Stadium.

WHY: This tradition of transforming raw space into an explosion of art started right here in D.C., and no one does it up quite like us! http://bit.ly/Rgan4

Artomatic 2009

I am participating in Artomatic for the first time this year. I didn't think I would be able to because of the timing of finishing up classes in Rochester. But as it turned out, I was able to come home just in time for installation, and got one of the last wall spaces. (I was the 1,044th artist!) On Sunday I went to Artomatic, got my wall space assignment and painted the wall. Tuesday I returned and hung 100 Soup Cans, After Warhol, an artist statement, a box for business card/comment book, and the vinyl lettering for my name. Then I volunteered from 5-10 that night. I spent 10 hours yesterday finishing my volunteer shifts (all artists have to contribute 15 hours of work). I did everything from manning the loading dock, to hanging signs, to moving tables. It's been a ton of work, but overall a great experience. Artomatic opens its doors today at noon, and will be open through July 5. See above post for more information. Come find my wall on the 5th floor, by the woman's restroom and the stairs. (In section 15)

Performance Still Life #2

During Walk-Through, I set up a still life in which I placed cheap, processed foods, alongside organic produce and homemade breads and cream cheese. Each organic food item had a processed counter-food item. For instance, there were organic grapes and grape flavored blow-pops; wonderbread and homemade bread; organic grape juice and grape kool-aid; organic raspberries and candy raspberries, etc. Faculty and visitors were invited to partake of the foods, and the still life was documented throughout the day, through the use of a digital camera, placed on a tripod in front of the still life, and set to take a picture every 10 seconds for 5 hours. Then I put the images together in a quick time video.

In creating the Performance Still Life, I was investigating which foods would be eaten and which would remain when consumers were given a choice between natural and processed food. There was quite a lot of food left at the end of the day. If I do this again, I will be more mindful of the audience demographic, which has an effect on the kinds of food and the amount of food taken.

Spring Walk-Through

At the end of winter and spring quarters, the first year MFA grad students hang up their work in one of the many lighting studios in the RIT photo building. (I also photograph my still lifes in these lighting studios, so I spend quite a lot of time there.) Then, on the day of "Walk-Though," about 20 MFA faculty and invited guests come through each studio, in groups of 3-4, and stay for 30 minutes per group, to critique the work. It's intense, to say the least. But incredibly helpful and rewarding. The pictures below show the way in which my studio was set up for Walk-Through. The images were printed on Inkpress White Gloss Film, and were 30" in width. I fastened them to foam board just for Walk-Through, but plan to get cheap, ornate gold-colored frames for them. I also set up an actual still life, in which I placed cheap, processed foods, alongside organic produce and homemade breads and cream cheese. See above for details and video.

Still Life #9

INGREDIENTS: CITRIC ACID, MALTODEXTRIN, CALCIUM PHOSPHATE, SALT, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, ASCORBIC ACID, (VITAMIN C), RED 40, BLUE 1. SMILES AND UNBLEACHED ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR [FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMIN MONONITRATE (VITAMIN B1), RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), FOLIC ACID], CHEDDAR CHEESE [(PASTEURIZED CULTURED MILK, SALT, ENZYMES), ANNATTO], VEGETABLE OILS (SUNFLOWER, CANOLA AND/OR SOYBEAN), CONTAINS 2 PERCENT OR LESS OF: SALT, YEAST, SUGAR, SPICES, AUTOLIZED YEAST, LEAVENING (MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE, AMMONIUM BICARBONATE, BAKING SODA) AND ONION POWDER. MILK CHOCOLATE (SUGAR, CHOCOLATE, COCOA BUTTER, SKIM MILK, LACTOSE, MILKFAT, PEANUTS, SOY LECITHIN, SALT, ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS), SUGAR, PEANUTS, CORNSTARCH, LESS THAN 1% - CORN SYRUP, GUM ACACIA, COLORING (INCLUDES RED 40 LAKE, BLUE 2 LAKE, BLUE 1 LAKE, YELLOW 6, YELLOW 5, RED 40, BLUE 1, BLUE 2, YELLOW 5 LAKE, YELLOW 6 LAKE), DEXTRIN. ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMIN MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), WATER, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, YEAST, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: SALT, VITAL WHEAT GLUTEN, MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, PRESERVATIVES (CALCIUM PROPIONATE & POTASSIUM SORBATE), LEAVENING (MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE), DOUGH CONDITIONERS (CALCIUM SULFATE, L-CYSTEINE, ASCORBIC ACID, AZODICARBONIAMIDE, CALCIUM IODATE), GUAR GUM, ENZYMES. CONTAINS WHEAT.

Still Life #9

INGREDIENTS: ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR [FLOUR, BARLEY MALT, FERROUS SULFATE (IRON), “B” VITAMINS (NIACIN, THIAMINE MONONITRATE (B1), RIBOFLAVIN (B2), FOLIC ACID)], WATER, YEAST, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP OR SUGAR, SOYBEAN OIL, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: WHEAT GLUTEN, SALT, CALCIUM SULFATE, VINEGAR, VITAMIN D, CORNSTARCH, WHEAT STARCH, DOUGH CONDITIONERS (DATEM, SORBIC ACID, SODIUM STEAROYL LACTYLATE, ETHOXYLATED MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, CALCIUM DIOXIDE AND/OR MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES), YEAST NUTRIENTS (CALCIUM CARBONATE, AMMONIUM CHLORIDE, AMMONIUM SULFATE AND/OR MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE), SOY FLOUR, CALCIUM PROPIONATE (TO RETAIN FRESHNESS), WHEY, SOY LECITHIN. IF TOPPED, ALSO CONTAINS SESAME SEEDS OR CORNMEAL. CONTAINS WHEAT, MILK AND SOYBEANS. CITRIC ACID, MALTODEXTRIN, INSTANT TEA, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS*, ASPARTAME†, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF NATURAL FLAVOR, MAGNESIUM OXIDE, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM, RED 40 LAKE, RED 40, YELLOW 6 LAKE, YELLOW 5, BLUE 1 LAKE, BLUE 1, BHA (PRESERVES FRESHNESS). *ADDS A TRIVIAL AMOUNT OF SUGAR †PHENYLETONURICS: CONTAINS PHENYLANINE. WATER. CHERRIES, CORN SYRUP, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, WATER, CITRIC ACID, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, FD&C BLUE #1, FD&C YELLOW #5, PRESERVED WITH: 1/10 OF 1% POTASSIUM SORBATE, BENZOATE OF SODA, SULFUR DIOXIDE. SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, CARAMEL COLOR, ARTIFICIAL COLOR (FD&C RED #40), GELATIN, AGAR-AGAR, CITRIC ACID, ARTIFICIAL & NATURAL FLAVORS, FRACTIONATED COCONUT OIL, BEESWAX COATING, CARNAUBA WAX.

Still Life #10

INGREDIENTS: PEANUTS AND SALT. ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR [FLOUR, BARLEY MALT, FERROUS SULFATE (IRON), “B” VITAMINS (NIACIN, THIAMINE MONONITRATE (B1), RIBOFLAVIN (B2), FOLIC ACID)], DEXTROSE, VEGETABLE SHORTENING (SOYBEAN, PALM AND HYDROGENATED COTTONSEED OIL), WATER, SUGAR. CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: NONFAT MILK, SOY FLOUR, LEAVENIGS (SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, BAKING SODA, ALUMINIUM SULFATE, SODIUM ALUMINIUM PHOSPHATE), EGG YOLKS, SALT, SOY LECITHIN, MODIFIED WHEAT STARCH, MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, TAPIOCA DEXTRIN, CORN DEXTRIN, GUAR GUM, KARAYA GUM, CORNSTARCH, CITRIC ACID, WHEAT STARCH, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE SHORTENING (SOYBEAN AND COTTONSEED OIL), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (COLOR), EXTRACT OF ANNATTO ACID AND TURMERIC (COLOR), NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, SORBIC ACID AND SODIUM PROPIONATE AND POTASSIUM SORBATE AND CALCIUM PROPIONATE (TO RETAIN FRESHNESS). CONTAINS WHEAT, MILK, SOYBEANS AND EGG. CITRIC ACID, MALTODEXTRIN, INSTANT TEA, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS*, ASPARTAME†, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF NATURAL FLAVOR, MAGNESIUM OXIDE, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM, RED 40 LAKE, RED 40, YELLOW 6 LAKE, YELLOW 5, BLUE 1 LAKE, BLUE 1, BHA (PRESERVES FRESHNESS). *ADDS A TRIVIAL AMOUNT OF SUGAR †PHENYLETONURICS: CONTAINS PHENYLANINE. MILK CHOCOLATE, WHICH CONTAINS SUGAR, COCOA BUTTER, WHOLE MILK, CHOCOLATE, SOY LECITHIN, (AN EMULSIFIER), AND VANILLIN (AN ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR) AND MAY CONTAIN PEANUTS / NUTS.

Still Life #11

INGREDIENTS: SWEET CHOCOLATE (SUGAR, CHOCOLATE LIQUOR, COCOA BUTTER, ANHYDROUS MILK FAT , SOY LECITHIN, VANILLIN), RAISINS, CORN SYRUP, SUGAR, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, GUM ARABIC, CONFECTIONER’S GLAZE, CONTAINS: SOY, MILK. PROCESSED IN A FACILITY THAT ALSO PROCESSES EGGS, WHEAT, BARLEY, PEANUTS & TREE NUTS.FRUIT FILLING: FIG PASTE (SULFITE TREATED TO PRESERVE COLOR), CORN SYRUP, SUGAR, WATER, SALT, NATURAL FLAVOR (CONTAINS LEMON) CAKE: ENRICHED BLEACHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE [VITAMIN B1], RIBOFLAVIN [VITAMIN B2], FOLIC ACID), SUGAR, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN AND COTTONSEED OIL WITH TBHQ TO PRESERVE FLAVOR*, WATER, CORN SYRUP, DEXTROSE, CORN STARCH, SALT, BAKING SODA (LEAVENING), WHEY (MILK), EGGS, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, EGG WHITES, SOY LECITHIN (EMULSIFIER). *CONTRIBUTES A TRIVIAL AMOUNT OF TRANS FAT. CHERRIES, CORN SYRUP, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, WATER, CITRIC ACID, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, FD&C BLUE #1, FD&C YELLOW #5, PRESERVED WITH: 1/10 OF 1% POTASSIUM SORBATE, BENZOATE OF SODA, SULFUR DIOXIDE. CITRIC ACID, MALTODEXTRIN, INSTANT TEA, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS*, ASPARTAME†, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF NATURAL FLAVOR, MAGNESIUM OXIDE, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM, RED 40 LAKE, RED 40, YELLOW 6 LAKE, YELLOW 5, BLUE 1 LAKE, BLUE 1, BHA (PRESERVES FRESHNESS). *ADDS A TRIVIAL AMOUNT OF SUGAR †PHENYLETONURICS: CONTAINS PHENYLANINE FRESH CHICKEN MARINATED WITH: SALT, SODIUM PHOSPHATE AND MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE. BREADED WITH: WHEAT FLOUR, SALT, SPICES, MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, LEAVENING (SODIUM BICARBONATE), GARLIC POWDER, NATURAL FLAVORINGS, CITRIC ACID, MALTODEXTRIN, SUGAR, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, WITH NOT MORE THAN 2% CALCIUM SILICATE ADDED AS AN ANTI CAKING AGENT. CONTAINS WHEAT. OR FRESH CHICKEN MARINATED WITH: SALT, SODIUM PHOSPHATE AND MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE. BREADED WITH: WHEAT FLOUR, SALT, SPICES, MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, CORN STARCH, LEAVENING (SODIUM BICARBONATE), GARLIC POWDER, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, SPICE EXTRACTIVES, CITRIC ACID, AND 2% CALCIUM SILICATE ADDED AS ANTICAKING AGENT. CONTAINS WHEAT. *WILL CONTAIN ONE OF THE TWO INGREDIENT STATEMENTS ABOVE, DEPENDING UPON REGIONAL SUPPLIERS, MILK, WATER, WHEY, MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, MILKFAT, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF SALT, CALCIUM PHOSPHATE, LACTIC ACID, SORBIC ACID AS A PRESERVATIVE, SODIUM CITRATE, SODIUM ALGINATE, ENZYMES, APOCAROTENAL (COLOR), ANNATTO (COLOR), CHEESE CULTURE CONTAINS: MILK ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR [FLOUR, BARLEY MALT, FERROUS SULFATE (IRON), “B” VITAMINS (NIACIN, THIAMINE MONONITRATE (B1), RIBOFLAVIN (B2), FOLIC ACID)], WATER, YEAST, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP OR SUGAR, SOYBEAN OIL, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: WHEAT GLUTEN, SALT, CALCIUM SULFATE, VINEGAR, VITAMIN D, CORNSTARCH, WHEAT STARCH, DOUGH CONDITIONERS (DATEM, SORBIC ACID, SODIUM STEAROYL LACTYLATE, ETHOXYLATED MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, CALCIUM DIOXIDE AND/OR MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES), YEAST NUTRIENTS (CALCIUM CARBONATE, AMMONIUM CHLORIDE, AMMONIUM SULFATE AND/OR MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE), SOY FLOUR, CALCIUM PROPIONATE (TO RETAIN FRESHNESS), WHEY, SOY LECITHIN. IF TOPPED, ALSO CONTAINS SESAME SEEDS OR CORNMEAL. CONTAINS WHEAT, MILK AND SOYBEANS. ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR [FLOUR, BARLEY MALT, FERROUS SULFATE (IRON), “B” VITAMINS (NIACIN, THIAMINE MONONITRATE (B1), RIBOFLAVIN (B2), FOLIC ACID)], DEXTROSE, VEGETABLE SHORTENING (SOYBEAN, PALM AND HYDROGENATED COTTONSEED OIL), WATER, SUGAR. CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: NONFAT MILK, SOY FLOUR, LEAVENIGS (SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, BAKING SODA, ALUMINIUM SULFATE, SODIUM ALUMINIUM PHOSPHATE), EGG YOLKS, SALT, SOY LECITHIN, MODIFIED WHEAT STARCH, MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, TAPIOCA DEXTRIN, CORN DEXTRIN, GUAR GUM, KARAYA GUM, CORNSTARCH, CITRIC ACID, WHEAT STARCH, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE SHORTENING (SOYBEAN AND COTTONSEED OIL), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (COLOR), EXTRACT OF ANNATTO ACID AND TURMERIC (COLOR), NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, SORBIC ACID AND SODIUM PROPIONATE AND POTASSIUM SORBATE AND CALCIUM PROPIONATE (TO RETAIN FRESHNESS). CONTAINS WHEAT, MILK, SOYBEANS AND EGG.

Still Life #12

INGREDIENTS: PEANUTS AND SALT. ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMIN MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), WATER, CORN SYRUP, YEAST, SALT, BICARBONATES AND CARBONATES OF SODA. CITRIC ACID, MALTODEXTRIN, INSTANT TEA, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS*, ASPARTAME†, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF NATURAL FLAVOR, MAGNESIUM OXIDE, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM, RED 40 LAKE, RED 40, YELLOW 6 LAKE, YELLOW 5, BLUE 1 LAKE, BLUE 1, BHA (PRESERVES FRESHNESS). *ADDS A TRIVIAL AMOUNT OF SUGAR †PHENYLETONURICS: CONTAINS PHENYLANINE. MILK CHOCOLATE (SUGAR, CHOCOLATE, COCOA BUTTER, SKIM MILK, LACTOSE, MILKFAT, PEANUTS, SOY LECITHIN, SALT, ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS), SUGAR, PEANUTS, CORNSTARCH, LESS THAN 1% - CORN SYRUP, GUM ACACIA, COLORING (INCLUDES RED 40 LAKE, BLUE 2 LAKE, BLUE 1 LAKE, YELLOW 6, YELLOW 5, RED 40, BLUE 1, BLUE 2, YELLOW 5 LAKE, YELLOW 6 LAKE), DEXTRIN. MILK, WATER, WHEY, MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, MILKFAT, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF SALT, CALCIUM PHOSPHATE, LACTIC ACID, SORBIC ACID AS A PRESERVATIVE, SODIUM CITRATE, SODIUM ALGINATE, ENZYMES, APOCAROTENAL (COLOR), ANNATTO (COLOR), CHEESE CULTURE CONTAINS: MILK. ENRICHED FLOUR [UNBLEACHED UNBROMATED FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE (VITAMIN B1), RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), FLIC ACID], WATER, SOYBEAN OIL. CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF THE FOLLOWING: SUGAR, NATURALLY FERMENTED RYE FLOUR, WHEAT GLUTEN, EMULSIFIERS (SOY LECITHIN, MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, DATEM), YEAST, SALT, SOY FLOUR, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, VINEGAR (PRESERVATIVE). TOPPED WITH SESAME SEEDS. SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, CARAMEL COLOR, ARTIFICIAL COLOR (FD&C RED #40), GELATIN, AGAR-AGAR, CITRIC ACID, ARTIFICIAL & NATURAL FLAVORS, FRACTIONATED COCONUT OIL, BEESWAX COATING, CARNAUBA WAX.

First Attempts at Photographing Still Lifes

All quarter at RIT, I've been concentrating on the lighting/styling of my still lifes. My goal was to create photographs that allude to seventeenth century Dutch still life paintings. Only instead of using luxurious foods and table settings, I used cheap, processed foods that related to the foods in the still lifes, and cheap, plastic cups/bowls/utensils. In so doing, I wanted to reveal the drastic changes that have occured recently in the American tradition of preparing and sharing food. This first set of imags are the really rough first attempts, in which I was loosely basing the lighting and composition on specific paintings. However, later in the quarter, I chose 5 paintings which I attempted to match as much as possible.

Still Life #3

Still Life #4
Still Life #6
Still Life #7

Performance Still Life #1

The following video is my first attempt at documenting a
"live still life" that I set up for audience participation.