Interview with The Fiddleback

Interview with The Fiddleback, “an independent, online arts & literature magazine edited by a reclusive band of poets, writers, and audiophiles from across the country.”

Virtual “Tunnel”

Thanks Theresa at Artisan Gallery, for the virtual tour (video) of The Tunnel of Mortality:

Facebook video of The Tunnel of Mortality

Mount Horeb Area Spring Art Tour starts today!

Maps, artist list and more info at:
Mount Horeb Spring Art Tour

More linos…

Listening to rebroadcast of the Cluck: From Jungle Fowl to City Chicks interview on Larry Meiller’s show (archives) that Susan Troller and I did earlier in the year, meanwhile drawing carcass for segment of Tunnel of Mortality that is upcoming solo show in June atArtisan Gallery.

Oh yeah, and my first reduction tees! (hint to you tee printing folks: if the lino is cut out in a shape, you can just line up color #2 by matching the outside contours of the block shape to the outside edges of the print shape) Just did 2 prototypes (pink thermal shown) to see if it would work…. It did!

Plucked lino measures about 30in. high. “Wallpaper” in background is lino on canvas duck cloth about 8ft wide, pigs are reductions on drill cloth, included in panels for ‘Tunnel’ installation

Printing a 4′ x 8′ woodcut onto canvas…

…is not very easy, and as I discovered, probably only possible (to do WELL) with a steamroller or heavier lawn roller. Anyway, here’s my attempt (photo at right) of rolling across the canvas (canvas on top of woodcut, all underneath protective blankets) with a lawn roller, me walking circus-bear-style (for added weight) on top.

The result was ok. The black ink was not as black as it should’ve been–definitely grey. And the front part of the hog was much darker, as I rolled over and over, back and forth numerous times. With repetitive rolling on top, you can achieve dark grey printing. The result is the banner (below) we used to announce a group show (“The Writing’s on the Wall”) that opened October 1. You can see the front part of the hog is darker than the rest, as that was rolled over and over with the lawn roller when printing.

Banner for our group show "The Writing's on the Wall." Hog is 8ft long and 4ft tall.

“The Writing’s on the Wall” exhibit…

…is up through Oct. 30. Opening night at Central Library Gallery (201 W. Mifflin St) was a success! Visitors to the reception numbered about 180, so thanks to everyone who came!

The artists’ work is terrific, and the debut of Michael Martin’s altered book sets “Scary Nun Stories” and “Confessions of an Ex-Altar Boy” at the opening were a hit! The exhibit features 1-4 pieces each from the following artists: Yael Gen, Nancee Wipperfurth Killoran, Laura Komai, Heather Lins, Michael Martin, S.V. Medaris, Erin O’Connor, Cynthia Quinn, Karen Timm, and Larry Welo. It’s definitely worth seeing, so I hope you get a chance to go see it this month.

Hopefully, more photos to come, but in the meantime, here’s the outside banner at the library, visible until Oct. 30 or until it falls apart (whichever comes first). It’s a woodcut (oil-based ink) on canvas, so it should be good unless the weather goes crazy, which it very well might. Printing it was a nightmare, but more on that later. Pig measures 8ft wide x 4ft high, so banner just a bit bigger than that:

Library hours for Central Library, 201 W. Mifflin St (Madison!):
Monday – Thursday: 9:00 – 9:00
Friday: 9:00 – 6:00
Saturday: 9:00 – 5:00
Sunday: (October – April: 1:00 – 5:00)

“Consumption”: The critics speak!

Well the reviews are mixed regarding S.V. Medaris’ Master of Arts exhibit, Consumption. Here’s a reaction to one of the large-scale pieces (*hint* click image to enlarge):

The Magnificent Seven

Boy critics voice opinion through interpretive stance, in front of "The Magnificent Seven", a 14ft x 9ft mixed media piece (acrylic and printmaking on canvas and feedsacks) by S.V. Medaris

(click on any photo to see larger version)

"The Magnificent Seven" by S.V. Medaris • 14ft x 9ft • Mixed media (acrylic and printmaking on canvas and feedsacks)

And some more photos from the closing reception:

"The dark M&M's are terrific!"

Young girl poses for camera, ignoring the hogs closing in behind her.

I ♥  Chicken

Looking through the window, into the interior light of "I ♥ Chicken."

Here it is, closed:

"I ♥ Chicken" by S.V. Medaris • 12in x 8in x 4in • found objects, light, recycled prints, acrylic on specimen box.

…and open:

Interior of "I ♥ Chicken"

The Meat Locker

Approaching the Meat Locker (a tunnel book):

Closed:

"The Meat Locker" by S.V. Medaris • 10in x 10in x 12in (deep) • tunnel book with hand-colored lithographs and inkjets on watercolor paper

Open:

Fight or Flight

Another opinion via interpretive stance by the boys for "Fight or Flight," 8ft x 8ft, acrylic and monotype and relief printmaking on watercolor paper, feedsack, and canvas.

"Fight or Flight" by S.V. Medaris • 8ft x 8ft • Mixed media (acrylic paint, monotype and relief printing on feed sacks, paper, canvas)

A Wisconsin Tradition

Yes, the dark m&m's were a hit.

"A Wisconsin Tradition" by S.V. Medaris • 8ft x 6ft • acrylic paint, relief printing and lithography on watercolor paper

Close up of "A Wisconsin Tradition." Kitten is hand-colored lithograph. This image is from a moment during a deer-processing on a nearby farm.

Closing Reception (main exhibit):

At the Art Lofts. "Consumption" closing reception, May 20, 2010

If you missed the show and want to see most of the work in person (including most of the large-scale works), come to the Spring Art Tour this weekend (June 11, 12, 13). Maps to the studios and more info at Mount Horeb Spring Art Tour.

and Studio 1134 (the second gallery):

Inside Studio 1134 (Gallery 2)

The "Corn King," a woodcut character made for the "Consumption" show (on child's XS t-shirt) by S.V. Medaris

Corn King apparel available at the Spring Art Tour this weekend.

Inside Studio 1134

Prints and t-shirts, including diptych of "The Stalking of the Great White Pyrenees"

More grad school work: prints, broadsides and mixed media