I was watching this interview with Francis Bacon from The South Bank Show taken from my favorite site on the web (ubuWeb), when I discovered something. That, perhaps, as artists we can really be so definitive, yet introspective, that we are profoundly susceptible to contradict ourselves constantly. Aside from being an odd couple in basic housekeeping (he breeded amongst chaos, I need a blank slate to think), it’s my belief that I would have gotten along quite well with this man. There’s a critical vibe running through the simplest of comments. Especially when it comes to the non-evasive approach to discussing his own work.

• • •

“Art is artifact, and the more artificial you can make it the better, the more intense it will be.”

“If I drew it, I would just be making an illustration, so it’s so much better to immediately attack the canvas with the paint.”

- Francis Bacon, 1985
(slightly paraphrased)

Our M_US__EUM piece is featured today on this tres cool site, a source for “highly abbreviated entries on design”.

A Greek-based e-gallery curated by social designer Costas Voyatzis called Yatzer features ‘M_US__EUM‘ this week.

While in Miami I spent some time with Miami Art Exchange’s Onajídé Shabaka. Here’s the result of our casual midday conversation at the Aqua Miami Art Fair.

Interview with TJ Norris @ Aqua Miami Art Fair from onajide shabaka on Vimeo.

Check this spot out about Scott Wayne Indiana’s Braille Graffiti project.

PS: THIS JUST IN - Tonight #1 of 3 of our collaborative M_US__EUM edition sold at Aqua and dinner was on me!

The Atlantic has this story (w/an illustrative slideshow). I really need to get out more often, and a trip to the Wolong Nature Reserve in the remote Yangzi Region of Sichuan, China (”Province of Abundance” - and birth place of Szechuan cuisine) might do the trick. Though Sichuan is also one of the major industrial bases of China and as such one of the most polluted. With an estimated total panda population of only 1,600 of these creatures in the wilds of China today, this furry friend is one of our most endangered species. WWF is the first official worldwide environmental group dedicating its resources to help save the animal and its habitat.

• • •

Speaking of other habitats, and getting away from it all, big nods to Arcy Douglass for his extremely well rounded reportage of the latest exhibition at SFMOMA (check out the interactive features) by house favorite Olafur Eliasson. Back in May of ‘06 I saw his show at Tanya Bonakdar Gallery (who also shows the work of Uta Barth) and had this to say:

Your Engagement Sequence
by Olafur Eliasson

“This gallery is truly dedicated to work that flares boundaries, and does it with technology, light and space in this forum. The central work, Your negotiable panorama dealt with the ripples of wavy water, its reflections and light in the round - all enabled by the motion of entrants to the space. A slight bouncing platform actually uses your weight to trip the light…fantastic! The uncertain museum was another work dealing in cylindrical space with light and shadow (and motors). Panels of steel and projection foil dangled from a centered tubular freestanding space. Upon entry the space creates large cast silhouttes to the exterior walls, along with large circular ornamental geometries rotatating in space from the ceiling, offering inner/outer projections and multiple experiences within a convex space. Upstairs hung a huge geo-prism of mirrors that dangled like a Seussian chandelier, and a super darkened room that acted as a camera obscura. The best part was your ability to walk right inside the “camera”. Great show where he is again dealing in larger than human scale optical dimensions.”

The Washington Post reports…

Though I am a supporter of the visionary of Dennis Kucinich, you gotta give this man something for having the cahones (or at least a nod for spending the dough where the people eat it up, fried or raw cookie-style).

PS: No relation.

>>> CLICK <<<

Portland must seem like an exotic oasis to them there NY’ers!

My favorite magazine, The Wire has finally gone dually digital this month. The even more exciting thing is that in doing this they are offering a Free Trial Issue to peruse before you buy. You may notice that in this particular issue that Emmy Hennings review of my triMIX project appears on page 80 at top left. After 25 years of amazing journalism they have really put a face to the underground, truly responding to the most edgy and vibrant music on Earth.

Does anyone beside me remember France Joli? I can’t hear you….Well, I do, and have been completely haunted by the memories of ‘79 all day. “Come to me, when your world is empty and cold……” (erp)

On my way to the studio today there in the middle of Water Street lay a strewn set of pink rosary beads. The color was off to me, but I later wondered why. Does color matter when counting prayers? It reminded me of a childhood memory of sitting quietly at an abbey as many veiled ladies murmured on for what seemed to be hours in some strange tongue (Latin). Pink is actually a traditional Italian color for these beads after a moment of research. Seeing these also reminded me of another song, this one from the 90’s called Counting the Rosaries by Book of Love.

Atlanta’s Drain Magazine has just released Cruelty which includes a review I penned earlier this year.

This issue led by Olivier Chow and is dedicated to cruelty and its visualization in art, culture and politics. One of the chief concerns of this issue is the legacy of Abu Ghraib. Abu Ghraib is explored from a variety of angles: through an essay by Adrian Parr which discusses the controversial Abu Ghraib paintings of Gerald Laing. Cruelty and its relation to the state of exception and the work of Giorgio Agamben is discussed by Kim Paice. We are also proud to introduce an analysis of the psychology of cruelty by the French psychoanalyst Dominique Cupa, whose work is here accessible in English for the first time. A review of the work of the Chilean artist Alfredo Jaar discusses his engagement with the traumatic visualization of famine, war and genocide in the Sudan and in Rwanda. The horror vacui themed Drain exhibition Blank is reviewed by TJ Norris. These artists explore a number of themes related to cruelty such as authority, the war in Bosnia, collective violence and video games, the alienation and fragility of the subject in the threatening non-space of hospitals, everyday melancholia mediated by the TV screen.

Shhhh. Just a lil’ secret. The Wire magazine continues to celebrate its 25th Anniversary. Only select people were invited to this online event (those who couldn’t make it to London) as Matmos & Laub will be broadcast live direct from London’s Bush Hall. This takes place tonight, streaming approximately at 8:30 (Pacific) (20:30 BST). Simply tune in by checking this page. I can’t keep a secret.

Hey reader. Perhaps you are one of the few, the proud, the regulars who saw me through the transition from Livejournal to OregonLive to right here on unBlogged! Well, no more lines or waiting as I was finally able to piece together all of the archives from O-Live into three handy components (sorry the images did not transfer, and forget about recovering those batches). I felt it was important to keep the good word alive somewhere online, as I had a handful of requests and saved it for a rainy day. So, let it pour!!! Since my good word is copywritten under my own name, I re-claimed it for those out there who wanted to reference those pages again. Though it was a days worth off wrap-tapping at the olde (pre-Intel) keyboard - for you it’s as simple as 1 (2005) & 2 (2006, Pt I) & 3 (2006, Pt II).

You know that Shop Victoriously campaign over at Ebay? Well, I thought it was cheeky, unnnntilllll I was able to score a copy of the ‘92 release of the Onobox!!! This is absolutely essential - and right now I feel mighty real. Well, the long and short of it is I bought a brand-new copy of it (a rare find in ‘03) while in an underground shop in Montreal. My entire luggage was stolen, my camera, clothes, a cache of Terre Thaemlitz Love Bomb(s) and the sacred Onobox. Of course its been on and off Ebay over the years at ridiculous auction prices up to $350 - but I copped mine for $82 (w/shipping included). It’s a treasure that won’t leave my sight (plus I already downloaded the discs “just in case” some fat burglar breaks in for it). Ya see, this was my b-day gift to myself this year. Ahhhhh.

ONE YEAR OLD: Though one year is the paper anniversary to some - here in our collective, paperless blogosphere we have all but spared even the soy ink to bring you a wishing well of endless tedium and other treats. This particular (un)blog, as you can see, now has a two headed mascot (better than one?). Is it because this is the official one year anniversary of this personal blog of culture (and blah-blah-blah)? Well, yeah. And is it because there is something special coming soon to the blog world near you. Yeah, yeah. Is it also because I like to futz with things ’til the cows come home? Make that a triple. More soon on this.

FAQ: Why change the name to ‘unblogged’?

Simon Says: Why not? Though probably just another ‘ism’ it’s a misfit cross between the essence of being “unplugged” and the sensation your pipes get when you fill em up with Drain-O.

In the meantime, I just received a package from Bremen. My friends Glit[s]ch & Baraka[h] (otherwise known as Troum) sent me a kit of new sounds they are stirring. If you are unfamiliar, but love drone as much as I do, please don’t hesitate to bring one of theirs home. You could probably find something by them (or their former selves as Maeror Tri) at your local specialty music shop (though they are few and far these days). A few years ago I shot a varied series of composite images in industrial Portland. And though I have created artwork for a handful of commercially available CD projects, these gents are using one of my diptychs for an upcoming vinyl release as the entire inner sleeve fold-out! Since I’m often much more involved in the community of experimental music than anything else, this feels like a real homecoming achievement to me. More info will be forthcoming.

This was also ‘old home week’ as the moon must be drawing from the past. In less than three days I heard from or saw four old friends who I haven’t connected with for up to 2.5 years! Having a birthday gets you on people’s radar somehow magically. Kent and his partner brought me a pbn’j sandwich one day while I was working, Antonio and I went up to 82nd and ventured for Malaysian food in the new Chinatown - the tamarind fish was delicious. My buddy Todd from Happy Valley called me out of the blue from his farm and wants to get together to catch up. And today I saw my former squeeze Stan who pretty much costumed me for my appearence as MC Miss Ann Thrope at the Halloween Pageant (and Zydefunk Night) at Mississippi Pizza! You heard that right, and if you want to see me make an absolute fool of myself I welcome you to join in the festivities. There will be prizes for the best costume. The theme is “Disney Spin-off Characters We’d Like To See” (I would take that as liberally as you wish). I could use a pair of mouse ears for my costume - though it already has about sixteen parts - so maybe I shouldn’t push it. Anyway - Stan is dear and his garden and yard, which he built by hand is packed with herbs and a huge arbor, a sunken patio in stone and a hot tub. He gets plenty of sun, and much growth. The lemon verbana was out and pungent!

Oh, and this weekend, jeeeshers, I spent most of Saturday working with my studio colleagues John Brodie, MK Guth, Sean Healy, Stephen Hayes, Blair Saxton-Hill, Angelle and Phil as well as Philip Iosca who lent a hand to help us paint (and paint and paint). Yes, it was that time of the year - we painted nearly the entire common area of Today Art Studios! It was work, muscle, sweat and lots of coverage. But for some reason it seemed to go quite smoothly and everyone seemed to really work as a team - this was the first such group activity since we moved in nearly a year ago. Well worth it with a visit from PAM very soon as well as Prints4PICA coming in December…..Right on team.

After that I dashed out to pick up my copy of Scott’s totally fun in-joke project of the season, The Portland Art Coloring Book. And I think it’s just freaking funny and simple and clever and stupid and all sortsa good things. For $10 those who appear in it can nab a copy (and though we are colleagues, I had no idea about this until the night before he released this). It’s about an inch and a half thick too, so though its low-tech and pretty zine-esque I think it’s a nice “first volume” tribute to a shiteload of contributors to the scene right now (and a few from years past, like Mark Rothko!).

Um, the rest of the weekend was pretty damn sleepless and included a party at Rose’s place. Moreso a brisk and misty night by the firepit with heaping portions of bbq meats, mutts, biker memorabilia - all to the repetitious spinning of The Doors on an antique Silvertone. There was also garlic peanut tofu over glass noodles and Ty in his hoodie, seemingly inseparable from his lil’ Nokia. Yes, it was a night of mythic ambiguity. Then came Saturday evening and Dude’s Night Out Carport Party at Jesse Hayward’s place. For an ‘illustrious cast of invited characters’ I must say it was more low key than I would have expected, which was exactly what I needed. Chilled with some mint whiskey punch and some of the best homemade cc cookies I’ve had in years. Nice lengthy chats with a few folks about what they are up to, hanging by the fire. It felt solid, the group dynamic, the camaraderie. Seemed like a cohesive, respectful scene and give Portland so much credit for playing host to many talented folks who can engage in the larger conversation.

I HATE YOU, YEAH YEAH YEAH: The rest of the weekend was spent battling the elders…the Boxelders that is. Our lil’ treehouse is crazy infested by these stinky (when squished) red underbelly striped bugs. I have become the vacuum master in the process (which was just instinct, but it’s actually recommended). They are trying to make my home theirs, but there will be no vacancies at the inn this season.

In celebration of the first anniversary of this site, we now have a new logo and are optimized for the ADD generation as “iPhone Ready” (is that a real term?) and from this day forward is officially dubbed unblogged.

iPhone from ijustine on Vimeo.

Paul’s Fenixworkshop is now right smack dab in the center of everything at 1007 SW Morrison, which is across the street from Smart Park, the India House, a few doors down from Ray’s Ragtime and more importantly at the intersection of the Max and the Portland Streetcar! If your plans have you needing a project done in Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Filemaker - they offer small classes and a common sense approach to technical training. They helped me get this site up and running, and you can’t stop me now…..

Though I am slightly disappointed (but not surprised) by the decisions of my blogging opponents, the people over at Urban Honking will move on without me. They may call it “ultimate” though the kids left in the ‘game’ are all really friends, in cahoots if you will. They’ve unfortunately lost a sense of diversity, of character, age and antics though I’m not too fond of alliances and all that. I move on, and with these perameters it’s for the best as these things fly. I’d suggest un-biased judges next time. I had fun while making a fool of myself at that pace, and continuing to blog after six years!

THE PAYOFF: Taking the much needed time to zip off with Paul to Silver Falls today. There were some amazingly graceful deer spotted through the area. Not to mention the wildlife in our own backyard. Last night a cute young racoon was manouevering on the roof to the house, peering into the skylight right over the bed. It was a funny sight. Anyway, that’s my two cents, now time for some z’s. Maybe this chalkboard we spied in the lobby of the bakery where we dined on lovely deli sandwiches had a hidden message? Matthew Stadler is on to something: This made my brow buckle with glee.

Oooo, so filthy gorgeous, to be plastered on the glossy html pages of Portland’s fashionista haven, Ultra! Always a good read, and an even better look-see! Ch-ch-ch-check it!

Ahoy Mateys…er, I mean, Yo Yo Ho! Can you even want to believe that I have made it to the next challenge round on the Ultimate Blogger? Well, there, I did!

The exciting thing is we are already 1/2 way through the competition now, and there are four of us left! I am up against the great weight of three full-scale teams from Grand Rapids, Los Angeles and Boulder. Mind you, they have all each received one or two immunities during the run of the show, I haven’t yet. But, I hope to nab that this next challenge, which is all about Piracy! In my attempts to battle the blog forces out yonder I plan on working some true ‘jazz hands’ this time. Watch and wait and comment if you care.

What started as an earnest, innocent attempt to pay homage to one of my resonant divas, Miss Sandra Bernhard, turned into a skag drag pseudo Bruce Vilanch look-alike walk down a stripped memory lane runway of sorts. Glints of glitzy glam hither and fro, and all in the name of ye Ultimate Blogger. I’ll be the first to warn you that one of the commenters appears as the infamous Michael Musto of the Village Voice! After personally checking in with him directly he kindly informed me that he did not make that comment. And in the spirit of “piracy” he also did not ask the poseur to strike it either. So, that certainly is one shade of the blogosphere that is somewhat, how shall I say, atonal - yes, that’s it!. It’s down + dirty to the Final 4!!!! Yo, yo, CHECK IT and comment for real!

PS: It would seem that this video may also appear in a forthcoming exhibition in Boston, more details later…..

The Bonus Reel: I decided to run the “Peel Sessions” of our recent shoot as well. It’s always important to consider the subtle details, from an uncut perspective. Over at the Ultimate Blogger things are in full swing, and have been ingeniously hacked by thinktank challengers G-Rad (Challenge 5.5, indeed!), Bodycity is working on their own hackerism, Existential Media made a fun(ny) video of a snakelady and remixed the show’s theme song. Things are getting murky, confusing, challenging, behind-the-scenes-y, and I am even meeting up with one of my opponents from EM in an hour or so. I’m prepared. [In case I don't make it back, you know the culprits!]

POSTSCRIPT: Last night I met up with Jordan Dykstra of the Existential Media (”angstistential needia”) group over at Marriage Records (the guy in the pool led me upstairs), a mere two blocks from the studio. It was alright to see Brad Adkins sitting in the hallway on his laptop. He inferred that his group was spread out down the west coast. EM claims: “But on a serious note, the game is getting good. G-Rad and bodycity, our super secret evil alliances, really brought it this round. We’re starting to get worried. EVERYONE is so good. We still have some tricks up our sleeves.” When I asked him about Bodycity (”BootyCity”), one of the other groups in the competition, he noted that they were closely linked with them, and also mentioned that he had met a member of the other opposing team, G-Rad (”G-Blab”) over this past Summer. I also thought it was interesting (and a lil’ odd) that all competitors as well as the contest orchestrators are using Vimeo (which is quite cool and based in Portland). Is it a case where everyone is in bed with each other? You’ll just have to watch to see how it all unfolds. “TJ Snoreis”, indeed?!

The collapse of the House of Usher may be what saved us from the wrath of ourselves. Pause. Well, that is after my “performance” today. The quotes are firmly in place because it was a small-scale spectacle in my studio. Thanks to my special friends (you know who you are) and filmmaker Cullen Hoback, for your expert work, a day befor you move on down to LA! You’ll just have to stay tuned for the next episode of The Ultimate Blogger to find out. It’s not really a cliffhanger per se. More like a fair warning. LOL.

A special call out to Abi!

The Ultimate Blogger rolls on and on and on. Wanna play?

Come see and comment!