The Illuminations comprise a glowing gallery of images that float as though disembodied, and at odd angles, in the center of a darkened room. The effect is at once ethereal and sculptural, sacred and profane. The Illuminations subvert the ordinary gallery experience and usher the viewer into an intense and direct relationship with the vision of the artist.
April 27th – May 1st, Open daily from 1 PM to 1 AM
Opening:
Friday, April 27th 1:00 PM to 1 AM (or perhaps even later . . . )
Daily entrance fee is 6,00 € (reduced 4,00 €)
Highlights:
Evenings of music and performance
42 international artists
Parallel with Berlin Gallery Weekend
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Deutsche:
Ich bin am Gallery Weekend in Berlin und zeige “The Illuminations” auf dem BAGL Springtime 2012 Kunstevent.
Die Illuminations bilden eine leuchtende Galerie, die wie körperlos und in ungewohnten Winkeln in der Mitte eines dunklen Raumes schwebt. Der Effekt ist gleichsam ätherisch und bildhauerisch, sakral und profan.
Die Illuminations untergraben das gewohnte Seherlebnis und führen den Betrachter zu einer direkten und intensiven Beziehung mit der Vision des Künstlers.
Ausstellungsinfo:
BAGL Springtime 2012
Kuratoren: Anja Schneider, Jennifer Spruß
Ort:
Spandauer Straße 2, 10178 Berlin-Mitte
27. April – 1. Mai, geöffnet täglich von 13 bis 1 Uhr
Röffnung:
Freitag, 27. April, 13 Uhr bis 1 Uhr (oder sogar später…)
April Lelia’s, “Caterpillar”, looming over the fence at my home/studio in Stinson Beach, CA
My studio, located in Stinson Beach, California, will be part of the ” 2011 Stinson Beach/Bolinas Open Studios”. This is an annual open studios event comprising nearly two dozen studios in the small coastal Northern California towns of Bolinas and Stinson Beach.
Many of my original works may be viewed, as well as Illuminations, and also work in progress. My wife, April Lelia, will be displaying her outdoor sculptures. Additionally, San Francisco sculptor, Dana Albany, will be our guest displaying her recent mosaics. All participating studios are open from 11 am to 5 pm on Thanksgiving weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun). My studio is at:
The gala opening reception will be on Friday October 14th from 7 pm – midnight. There will also be a Halloween Party on Friday. Oct. 28th featuring music and performance by Rosemary’s Billygoat, and much much more . . .
The location is:
Sancho
1549 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
For further Information please contact the gallery owner, Dani Collins via the Sancho Facebook page:
The Illuminations show for Burning Man was a real challenge for me to produce. It seemed that I was besieged with setbacks and insecurities of every kind, yet throughout the project friends, collaborators, and associates came through for me with great support and/or excellent work.
This page is to thank and credit all those people:
“Illuminations” hanging in the Center Camp Cafe at Burning Man 2010
This is documentation of my installation of “Illuminations” at Burning Man’s “Center Camp Cafe”. The Cafe’ is one of the primary “institutions” of the Burning Man Art Festival. Located in the center of “Center Camp” it is at the heart of the event. The structure of the cafe‘ is a 250′ diameter dome that stands 20′ tall at it’s apex. This spacious shelter anchors the western end of the “Promenade”, and as such sits on an axis with the effigy of “The Man” (see map). In addition to serving coffee, the Cafe’ displays an extensive art exhibition of paintings and sculptures, also there are two stages hosting a continuous cavalcade of music; theater; and poetry. Not only that but Cafe’ society endlessly amuses itself with juggling, acrobatics, massage, and body painting. It’s a very popular spot!
View of the Cafe’ taken from the towering pedestal where the effigy of the Burning Man was mounted (the Cafe’ is the sprawling dome in the center of the photo).
As can be seen in the photos in this blog post, the paintings were hung between the posts that support the Cafe’ dome. This was a placement of ultimate prominence at the festival and I venture to guess that nearly everyone who attended the festival this year saw the work. Many people assumed that these were original paintings due to the high quality of the printing, however these were actually framed double sided large format prints on vinyl (standard advertising material). I chose vinyl for it’s light weight and translucency since I needed something that would emit light through both sides, and not be too heavy. The frames were essential to give people the sense of looking at paintings instead of . . . um . . . “banners”. These were hung at precisely the point where the dome’s tension cables connect to the posts (8′) so that the artwork integrated harmoniously with the dome’s architecture.
A total of six paintings were displayed in the show:
Additionally a set of smaller Illuminations framed and mounted on acrylic sheets were mounted along the perimeter of the dome as decorations in the dome’s alcoves (photos forthcoming).
Many people were crucial in making this exhibit possible. I am thanking them here.
Here are a couple of panoramic photo-montages of the installation:
These are photos of an aerialist suspended from the structure of the cafe’. Unfortunately, I do not know the acrobat’s name, but I am pleased to show her performing in conjunction with my art display.
Video of Installation at Finder’s Creepers, Des Moines, Iowa.
This video shows the installation of my “Illuminations.” The illuminations are a series of prints that are “self-illuminated.” This installation of the complete series (to date) was recently exhibited at “Finder’s Creepers” gallery in Des Moines, Iowa. The Illuminations hung in the center of an 18′ x 25′ gallery room located in a windowless basement. The only sources of light were the artworks themselves. Unlike ordinary painting exhibits where the work hangs on the walls, the Illuminations hang in the center of the room and can be viewed from both sides. To shoot this video I used a steadicam to create the impression of walking around in the exhibit and viewing the works from different angles.
Panoramic photomontage of the “Illuminations” installation hanging in Finder’s Creepers.
Displaying my work in this way breaks up the typical gallery routine. The division of space and the dark environment discourage viewers from crowding in the center of the gallery to socialize while neglecting the art. In the Illuminations installation the viewers attention is dominated by the art – it cannot be ignored.
We are conditioned to look at glowing pictures. Televisions, computer monitors, billboards, and more naturally draw our attention. Presumably it is behavior that goes back as far as the human use of fire, i.e.; it has always been irresistibly fascinating to stare into the fire. The Illuminations mesmerize people to stare into an alternate, glowing world of mythic satire. People say they have never seen anything like it, but actually they see it all the time, but always in a commercial context. Fast food restaurants, airports, bus-stops, and more are aglow with “light boxes” – a staple of the sign-making trade. My “Illuminations” are an application of a commercial signage technique to a fine art purpose, however the change in context is so profound that people do not recognize it for what it is – a standard signage technique reinvented. Because of this appropriation of an advertising technique I consider the work to be “Pop”, that is to say, fine art that uses an advertising technique. Yet, it also partakes of a stained glass like quality, in so much as the Illuminations are like glowing windows, and in this way they invoke a sacred atmosphere. The ambiance is that of the hinterland between the sacred and profane, an effect that I would call “Crassicism”, i.e.; something that is at once “classical” and “popular”.
Illumination of “Chemical Imbalance” in the window of “Gallery13″ in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The above picture shows a different deployment of an Illumination. In this case “Chemical Imbalance“, was included in a group show at Minneapolis’s “Gallery 13″. Display in the window took advantage of the Illumination’s stained glass like characteristic, and also acted as night-time signage for the gallery.
The photo above shows the Illumination from within the gallery. Afternoon sun is lighting up the print from behind. Back-lighting the Illumination in this way creates deep, saturated colors reminiscent of a black velvet painting. In these photos from Gallery13 you can clearly see the frames. The frames are custom milled and gilded with variegated metal leaf.
Illuminated Silk Prints on Display in Burning Man’s “Central Cafe”
Opening Date: August 30th 2010 Note: Artist’s Reception will take place sometime later during the festival . . .
Exhibit Schedule: Aug. 30th – Sept. 6th (Duration of Burning Man Festival)
Location: Burning Man – “Black Rock City” – Black Rock Desert Playa, Nevada
Type of Exhibit: Solo Show
Notes:: After 10 years of absence my work will grace the playa once again. I will be showing large blow-ups of the paintings as illuminated silk prints.
