Friday, April 1, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Perhaps you haven't met my dear friend Icarus?
Treetops are not so high
Nor I so low
That I don't instinctively know
How it would be to fly
Through gaps that the wind makes, when
The leaves arouse
And there is a lifting of the boughs,
That settle and lift again.
Whatever my kind may be,
It is not absurd
To confuse myself with a bird
For the space of a reverie:
My species never flew,
But I somehow know
It is something that long ago
I almost adapted to
- Richard Wilbur -
Thursday, March 3, 2011
take me back?
To my few yet cherished followers I am deeply sorry for what has become a shadow of a blog.
I can only blame the rest of the internets for my recent indifference, it's just so tempting, what with free tv and videos of chimpanzees riding on segways its a veritable playground for the weak minded and weak willed.
I promise to treat you as you deserve from now on.
x
I can only blame the rest of the internets for my recent indifference, it's just so tempting, what with free tv and videos of chimpanzees riding on segways its a veritable playground for the weak minded and weak willed.
I promise to treat you as you deserve from now on.
x
Monday, October 4, 2010
acting 101
 |
| you're about to confess your love to your long time same sexed friend |
 |
| You're about to bungee jump off of the empire state buliding |
 |
| You've just seen a rare bird being eaten by a baby |
 | ||
| You've come to pick up the love of you life from the airport after having not seen them for 3 years |
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
tepid
I've always hated the cool kids, and even more so now, those who are now uncool to be cool. I feel that they are even crueler and more judgmental than the original beasts. I bought my sister a t-shirt recently that said 'I was uncool before uncool was cool" and she was. but she was also kind.
There’s a quote from a renowned acting coach called Larry Moss that truly speaks to me. “ The great icons of the past were not and are not cool, they were passionate, sophisticated, deeply wounded, brave, and idiosyncratic, and they blasted their way into the audience consciousness”… “For god’s sake, be hot! Be mad! Be witty! Be loving! Be heartfelt! Be sunny! Be fiercely cold! But, Jesus, don’t be cool!”
I feel that so much of our existence revolves around our ability to be ‘cool’. Whether or not we own THOSE items or interested in THAT lifestyle, it’s as though we are frightened to just exist.
Have you ever found yourself sitting alone at a bus stop or somewhere similar just idly playing with your phone? It’s as though you need to justify your right to be alone.
I urge all young men and women to refrain from using the word ‘cool’; it demeans a person and their true nature. ‘Cool’ indicates as though something is aloof, uncaring, lacking a sense of enthusiasm, lacking zest, lacking passion. ‘Cool’ comes with an underlying sense of undeserved importance.
I’ve been told time and time again that I’m not ‘cool’, by boyfriends, by friends, even by own sister! At first I was insulted, but then I realised how great a gift they’d given me, by giving up the pretentions of ‘cool’ you are given the opportunity to be quirky, interesting, eccentric, unpredictable, fun, funny, lovable and delightful!
So as a human being I vow to never be ‘cool’, to delve into the unusual and to never feel above a character or story. I ask the same from you, implement your aversion to ‘cool’ in all you do. Have an affect and be effective.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Henry -I’ve changed my name to that of a literary great so that people wouldn’t immediately associate me with my father whom had just hired me- James.
Specific title I know, but very apt.
Obviously this is a story of an exchange between myself and a boy I didn’t very much like. For the purposes of this post we shall call him Henry… Because that’s his name.
Why I didn’t like this boy is not entirely clear. Was it his mispronouncing of my name, or maybe his eye rolling judgment at my ‘lack’ of official training in my chosen profession? Whatever the reason, the minute I laid eyes on him he irked me.
How to deal with such distaste?We didn’t move in the same social circles so I couldn’t spread vicious (but I’m sure accurate) details of his sexual history, nor could I vent to any friends, they didn’t know him so why should they care.
Now a friend of mine was telling me of how she had taken a particular disliking to a girl named Helen, now instead of shouting expletives into the ether during moments of pure unadulterated rage she began cursing dear old Helen’s name.
Hateful? Petty? Perhaps, but extremely satisfying nonetheless. So now I’ve found instead of a simple outburst of curses gone by, I simply relieve my hatred and exclaim “DAMN IT HENRY!”
I URGE YOU ALL to implement your dislike of something or someone into all of your exasperated cries of despair. If you’re at a loss, use mine… I’m sure he won’t mind.
Obviously this is a story of an exchange between myself and a boy I didn’t very much like. For the purposes of this post we shall call him Henry… Because that’s his name.
Why I didn’t like this boy is not entirely clear. Was it his mispronouncing of my name, or maybe his eye rolling judgment at my ‘lack’ of official training in my chosen profession? Whatever the reason, the minute I laid eyes on him he irked me.
How to deal with such distaste?We didn’t move in the same social circles so I couldn’t spread vicious (but I’m sure accurate) details of his sexual history, nor could I vent to any friends, they didn’t know him so why should they care.
Now a friend of mine was telling me of how she had taken a particular disliking to a girl named Helen, now instead of shouting expletives into the ether during moments of pure unadulterated rage she began cursing dear old Helen’s name.
Hateful? Petty? Perhaps, but extremely satisfying nonetheless. So now I’ve found instead of a simple outburst of curses gone by, I simply relieve my hatred and exclaim “DAMN IT HENRY!”
I URGE YOU ALL to implement your dislike of something or someone into all of your exasperated cries of despair. If you’re at a loss, use mine… I’m sure he won’t mind.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Weavil
This post is about my competition very dear
She's certainly the most awkward person I know and chances are she'll probably eat your cat.
We have very similar tastes inpensioners men, sometimes a little too similar.
But underneath her hunger pains, face for radio radiant features and desire to outdo me with her own blog
http://empressmoonchild.blogspot.com/
She's just like you and I, except that she will kill you in a car accident.
And maybe send you pictures of her in the bath.
She's certainly the most awkward person I know and chances are she'll probably eat your cat.
We have very similar tastes in
But underneath her hunger pains, f
http://empressmoonchild.blogspot.com/
She's just like you and I, except that she will kill you in a car accident.
And maybe send you pictures of her in the bath.
The Love Of My Life
 | |||||||||
| my 'Best Fucking Friend' Ian Z captured this little gem. The subject is my best friend and sister Victoria May Stasey, check him out here www.enzed.tumblr.com |
Hitchhikers guide to... Hitchhiking
Just recently I went on a road trip that began in Calais- France and took us all the way to Gdansk-Poland. Not your every day road trip mind you, but one that depended purely on the kindness of strangers.
Not only did I not end up as a lampshade in someones fun dungeon, or as a human hand puppet, but I learned a valuable lesson in human nature.
People WANT to help one another and the fear that is instilled in all of us by the media, horror films and those whom are generally just terrified of brushing shoulders with a stranger, limit us from experiencing the most delightful things. Personally I blame these guys
Of course you must have your wits about you, there's a fine line between being carefree and being careless.
1. Do not hitchhike alone. Not only are you more vulnerable but loners generally seem more threatening.
2. Do travel with musical instruments. Obviously the grand piano and string section are not practical, but try a ukulele or a harmonica. If you seem like the gentle, poetic type people are more inclined to help. I mean, hippies are never dangerous are they?
3. Don't travel at night. People are hardly game enough to let in a stranger let alone one they can't see, and if they are then believe me, YOU are the one in danger.
4. Travel light. You would not believe how hard it is to track down that copy oftwilight War and Peace that you've left alongside a Truckie who only knows English curse words (only applies if traveling through a non English speaking country... or does it?)
5. Leave your mark. Of course I don't condone the defacing of public property, but just write your name and destination on the back of a street sign or maybe on apassing animal rock.
6. Be pleasant. don't do as I do and constantlyget drunk fall asleep, thankfully my companion has far better manners than I do.
7. Seating arrangements. generally people will want you to sit in the back, yet others will take offense if you don't take the seat next to them, assess the situation accordingly.
8. Don't be too grateful. Don't jump into any car going any which way. If at any point you don't trust the driver or something doesn't feel right, like perhaps the "Hail Satan" bumper sticker, don't get in the car, someone else will come by soon enough, hopefully someone with a 'visualize whirled peas' sticker... tee hee
9. Know where you're going. Have a clear idea of what roads you need to be on, which directions you're heading in,
and try not to go too off track, unless of course you don't have any time restrictions, you have endless amounts of money or a fantastic opportunity presents itself to you.
10. Don't over think it... Pretty self explanatory
Overall, be safe, be kind, document and enjoy your travels. People are good they just need the opportunity to exhibit it.
Of course in saying all of this, travel at your own risk.
Not only did I not end up as a lampshade in someones fun dungeon, or as a human hand puppet, but I learned a valuable lesson in human nature.
People WANT to help one another and the fear that is instilled in all of us by the media, horror films and those whom are generally just terrified of brushing shoulders with a stranger, limit us from experiencing the most delightful things. Personally I blame these guys
Of course you must have your wits about you, there's a fine line between being carefree and being careless.
1. Do not hitchhike alone. Not only are you more vulnerable but loners generally seem more threatening.
2. Do travel with musical instruments. Obviously the grand piano and string section are not practical, but try a ukulele or a harmonica. If you seem like the gentle, poetic type people are more inclined to help. I mean, hippies are never dangerous are they?
3. Don't travel at night. People are hardly game enough to let in a stranger let alone one they can't see, and if they are then believe me, YOU are the one in danger.
4. Travel light. You would not believe how hard it is to track down that copy of
5. Leave your mark. Of course I don't condone the defacing of public property, but just write your name and destination on the back of a street sign or maybe on a
6. Be pleasant. don't do as I do and constantly
7. Seating arrangements. generally people will want you to sit in the back, yet others will take offense if you don't take the seat next to them, assess the situation accordingly.
8. Don't be too grateful. Don't jump into any car going any which way. If at any point you don't trust the driver or something doesn't feel right, like perhaps the "Hail Satan" bumper sticker, don't get in the car, someone else will come by soon enough, hopefully someone with a 'visualize whirled peas' sticker... tee hee
9. Know where you're going. Have a clear idea of what roads you need to be on, which directions you're heading in,
and try not to go too off track, unless of course you don't have any time restrictions, you have endless amounts of money or a fantastic opportunity presents itself to you.
10. Don't over think it... Pretty self explanatory
Overall, be safe, be kind, document and enjoy your travels. People are good they just need the opportunity to exhibit it.
Of course in saying all of this, travel at your own risk.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town
 |
| Pearl Jam in Poland... I lost my shoes within seconds. |
Berlin&Poland, June 2010
 |
| yeah, you're right, sleeping bags are |
Open'er Festival Gdynia Poland
Sea monsters in Berlin (well technically we were in a lake)
Berlin
Berlin... again, this time more relaxed
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Beaches in poland... I'm as surprised as you are |
greetings
I was abandoned. Left alone to fend for myself in the abyss that is the internets. So now this is MY blog. No joint ventures, no one to blame the misspellings/curse words on and no one to hold my hand through the java script/html/sticky keyboard ... Which I've spilled my lemonade on... oh dear.
enjoy at your own peril...
Love
Jeanie
enjoy at your own peril...
Love
Jeanie
what's black and blue and hates sex...
THE RAPE TUNNEL By Sheila Zareno
[Image removed upon request of owner]
The Rape Tunnel being fabricated in Richard Whitehurst’s Columbus studio.
Richard Whitehurst is a Columbus-based artist who made his mark on the Ohio scene by showing at the William Strunk Jr. Museum of Contemporary Art in Akron and internationally regarded galleries such as Alexandria Asheton Gallery and Seward Projects Space. He was the 2006 recipient of an Akron Culture Committee fellowship and has quickly become a seminal figure in the often overshadowed Rustbelt regional art scene, rapidly moving from sculpture and installation to more challenging situational based work that would make Nicolas Bourriaud’s head spin.
In fact, his new controversial work, THE RAPE TUNNEL, which is set to go on view at Columbus’ 4D Gallery on October 30th, has come under fire from Columbus-based feminist groups not to mention, local law enforcement officials. The artist plans to place himself in a room, the only entrance or exit being a 22 ft long plywood tunnel constructed by Whitehurst himself. Then he says that for the duration of the gallery’s opening (from 7:00 p.m. to midnight) he will rape anyone who travels through the tunnel into that room.
On a recent trip to Ohio, nearly all art-related conversation stirred wildly around Whitehurst and his tunnel, with half the people hailing him a vastly important figure to keep an eye out for, while others regarding his work as cheap and exploitative – not to mention very dangerous.
We’ll let you readers decide. The following interview was conducted on September 22nd via e-mail correspondence.
Please describe the project.
In the 4D Gallery main room, I’ve constructed a 22 ft tunnel out of plywood that leads into the project room. There is no way in or out of the project room except for this tunnel. As you travel through the tunnel, it gets smaller and smaller, making it so that you have to crawl and put yourself in a submissive position in order to reach the tunnel’s destination. At the end of the tunnel the subject will find me waiting in the project room and I’ll try to the best of my ability to overpower and rape the person who crawls through.
Why rape?
Because as an artistic gesture, it’s one of the most impactful I can think of. For the past ten years Ohio’s art scene has been largely centered around a string of alternative spaces in Akron’s warehouse district, where people had been putting on art shows. At the beginning I happily participated along with everyone else but then I started to feel like it wasn’t going anywhere. It dawned on me that if the work we created had never existed the world would be no different than if it had. None of it mattered to anyone outside of our small and insignificant circle of peers. I wanted something that would have more impact.
I started to think differently about my work. In 2007 at the Seward Projects Space in Columbus, I had my first breakthrough with an installation that was to be the prototype for this current one. It was called THE PUNCH-YOU-IN-THE-FACE TUNNEL. It was the same set-up as THE RAPE TUNNEL except at the end of the tunnel I’d punch the subject in the face instead of raping him or her. The impetus was completely reactionary to the current state of art, and motivated by pure frustration.
As it turns out, I ended up breaking the nose of the third person to crawl through the tunnel, an aspiring model. She went to the hospital and eventually sued me. Her modeling career was put on hold. The civil case was long and drawn out and the matter still hasn’t been resolved. To this day she still has unpaid medical bills. The point of this long aside is that all this took place two years ago, and I’m still having an impact on this young lady’s life, something not many other artists could claim about their work.
Rape seemed like the next logical step.
Richard Whitehurst.
But rape is way more extreme than a punch to the face. Is your intention to ruin people’s lives?
Possibly. I’m not necessarily concerned with the positive or negative effects of this project so long as there is some effect on people’s lives. I’ve merely set up a situation where there is potential to impact people in meaningful ways. Maybe I won’t be able to rape everyone who crawls through the tunnel, but the door is open for all kinds of scenarios; rape, serious injury, maybe even death. I might even get arrested.
Right now the installation isn’t even complete, and I’ve riled up a substantial portion of the local population. The installation as an idea is powerful enough itself.
By “substantial portion of the local population” are you referring to people that have been protesting this event?
Yes.
How do you feel about the protesters?
I’m fine with them. They have the right to speak out against this installation. The project would be an utter failure if it didn’t create this kind of open dialogue.
Are you pro-rape?
Not really. I personally think rape is morally reprehensible and something that should generally not be allowed in our society. Most people feel this way, which is why the act is exploitable for the purposes of my work. If people were not so repulsed by rape then this project would fail.
Does this mean you’re willing to go to jail for the sake of your work?
I am. The local authorities are already threatening to have this exhibition shut down. Caroline Miffen [4D Gallery director] to her credit has hired a team of lawyers working hard to ensure that THE RAPE TUNNEL will proceed as planned. At the end of the day there’s a disclaimer on the door so people know what they’re getting into.
It would seem that what you are proposing to do will not technically constitute rape for the obvious reason that whoever enters into the tunnel is acting of their own free will, therefore making the act consensual. If you aren’t really raping anyone, doesn’t that undermine the credibility of the project?
First of all, I want to make it clear that I plan to make the experience as unpleasant as I possibly can to anyone who dares to crawl through the tunnel. I will try to the best of my ability to make them regret their decision.
Secondly, rape is not always a black and white issue. The definition is argued almost everyday in courtrooms around the country. The woman who gets too drunk one night and regrets having sex the next morning, was she raped or not? There is no easy answer. I hope some of that ambiguity will manifest itself in this project.
Richard Whitehurst.
Do you have any limitations on the kind of person you’ll rape?
None whatsoever. It could be men, women, old, young, fat, thin… anyone.
What if a police officer crawls through the tunnel?
Then I will probably go to jail. But before that I’ll try my very best to sexually assault him or her. The tunnel is constructed in such a way that it gets smaller the closer you get to the project room. The bigger you are, the more difficult it is to comfortably crawl out. And trust me, I have a lot of secrets up my sleeve to ensure that I can overpower anyone that comes through the tunnel.
Where do you go from here then, a “Murder Tunnel”?
No. That would be too much like repeating myself. I’ve thought about this long and hard.
I’m in danger of painting myself into a corner here and I fear that the sensational aspects of my work might overshadow my ultimate message. If I could somehow cure some disease in the name of art, that would be interesting.
The problem with most of today’s art is that it’s being created for a world that doesn’t want or need it. So many other lesser modes of expression have taken the place once held by art in the culture. I’m trying to totally reconfigure art’s importance in the world and make it meaningful. The process will take a long time. I’m not really sure what the next step will be. I’d rather concentrate on the current project[.]
.
This post was contributed by Victor Barrenechea.
The Rape Tunnel being fabricated in Richard Whitehurst’s Columbus studio.
Richard Whitehurst is a Columbus-based artist who made his mark on the Ohio scene by showing at the William Strunk Jr. Museum of Contemporary Art in Akron and internationally regarded galleries such as Alexandria Asheton Gallery and Seward Projects Space. He was the 2006 recipient of an Akron Culture Committee fellowship and has quickly become a seminal figure in the often overshadowed Rustbelt regional art scene, rapidly moving from sculpture and installation to more challenging situational based work that would make Nicolas Bourriaud’s head spin.
In fact, his new controversial work, THE RAPE TUNNEL, which is set to go on view at Columbus’ 4D Gallery on October 30th, has come under fire from Columbus-based feminist groups not to mention, local law enforcement officials. The artist plans to place himself in a room, the only entrance or exit being a 22 ft long plywood tunnel constructed by Whitehurst himself. Then he says that for the duration of the gallery’s opening (from 7:00 p.m. to midnight) he will rape anyone who travels through the tunnel into that room.
On a recent trip to Ohio, nearly all art-related conversation stirred wildly around Whitehurst and his tunnel, with half the people hailing him a vastly important figure to keep an eye out for, while others regarding his work as cheap and exploitative – not to mention very dangerous.
We’ll let you readers decide. The following interview was conducted on September 22nd via e-mail correspondence.
Please describe the project.
In the 4D Gallery main room, I’ve constructed a 22 ft tunnel out of plywood that leads into the project room. There is no way in or out of the project room except for this tunnel. As you travel through the tunnel, it gets smaller and smaller, making it so that you have to crawl and put yourself in a submissive position in order to reach the tunnel’s destination. At the end of the tunnel the subject will find me waiting in the project room and I’ll try to the best of my ability to overpower and rape the person who crawls through.
Why rape?
Because as an artistic gesture, it’s one of the most impactful I can think of. For the past ten years Ohio’s art scene has been largely centered around a string of alternative spaces in Akron’s warehouse district, where people had been putting on art shows. At the beginning I happily participated along with everyone else but then I started to feel like it wasn’t going anywhere. It dawned on me that if the work we created had never existed the world would be no different than if it had. None of it mattered to anyone outside of our small and insignificant circle of peers. I wanted something that would have more impact.
I started to think differently about my work. In 2007 at the Seward Projects Space in Columbus, I had my first breakthrough with an installation that was to be the prototype for this current one. It was called THE PUNCH-YOU-IN-THE-FACE TUNNEL. It was the same set-up as THE RAPE TUNNEL except at the end of the tunnel I’d punch the subject in the face instead of raping him or her. The impetus was completely reactionary to the current state of art, and motivated by pure frustration.
As it turns out, I ended up breaking the nose of the third person to crawl through the tunnel, an aspiring model. She went to the hospital and eventually sued me. Her modeling career was put on hold. The civil case was long and drawn out and the matter still hasn’t been resolved. To this day she still has unpaid medical bills. The point of this long aside is that all this took place two years ago, and I’m still having an impact on this young lady’s life, something not many other artists could claim about their work.
Rape seemed like the next logical step.
Richard Whitehurst.
But rape is way more extreme than a punch to the face. Is your intention to ruin people’s lives?
Possibly. I’m not necessarily concerned with the positive or negative effects of this project so long as there is some effect on people’s lives. I’ve merely set up a situation where there is potential to impact people in meaningful ways. Maybe I won’t be able to rape everyone who crawls through the tunnel, but the door is open for all kinds of scenarios; rape, serious injury, maybe even death. I might even get arrested.
Right now the installation isn’t even complete, and I’ve riled up a substantial portion of the local population. The installation as an idea is powerful enough itself.
By “substantial portion of the local population” are you referring to people that have been protesting this event?
Yes.
How do you feel about the protesters?
I’m fine with them. They have the right to speak out against this installation. The project would be an utter failure if it didn’t create this kind of open dialogue.
Are you pro-rape?
Not really. I personally think rape is morally reprehensible and something that should generally not be allowed in our society. Most people feel this way, which is why the act is exploitable for the purposes of my work. If people were not so repulsed by rape then this project would fail.
Does this mean you’re willing to go to jail for the sake of your work?
I am. The local authorities are already threatening to have this exhibition shut down. Caroline Miffen [4D Gallery director] to her credit has hired a team of lawyers working hard to ensure that THE RAPE TUNNEL will proceed as planned. At the end of the day there’s a disclaimer on the door so people know what they’re getting into.
It would seem that what you are proposing to do will not technically constitute rape for the obvious reason that whoever enters into the tunnel is acting of their own free will, therefore making the act consensual. If you aren’t really raping anyone, doesn’t that undermine the credibility of the project?
First of all, I want to make it clear that I plan to make the experience as unpleasant as I possibly can to anyone who dares to crawl through the tunnel. I will try to the best of my ability to make them regret their decision.
Secondly, rape is not always a black and white issue. The definition is argued almost everyday in courtrooms around the country. The woman who gets too drunk one night and regrets having sex the next morning, was she raped or not? There is no easy answer. I hope some of that ambiguity will manifest itself in this project.
Richard Whitehurst.
Do you have any limitations on the kind of person you’ll rape?
None whatsoever. It could be men, women, old, young, fat, thin… anyone.
What if a police officer crawls through the tunnel?
Then I will probably go to jail. But before that I’ll try my very best to sexually assault him or her. The tunnel is constructed in such a way that it gets smaller the closer you get to the project room. The bigger you are, the more difficult it is to comfortably crawl out. And trust me, I have a lot of secrets up my sleeve to ensure that I can overpower anyone that comes through the tunnel.
Where do you go from here then, a “Murder Tunnel”?
No. That would be too much like repeating myself. I’ve thought about this long and hard.
I’m in danger of painting myself into a corner here and I fear that the sensational aspects of my work might overshadow my ultimate message. If I could somehow cure some disease in the name of art, that would be interesting.
The problem with most of today’s art is that it’s being created for a world that doesn’t want or need it. So many other lesser modes of expression have taken the place once held by art in the culture. I’m trying to totally reconfigure art’s importance in the world and make it meaningful. The process will take a long time. I’m not really sure what the next step will be. I’d rather concentrate on the current project[.]
.
This post was contributed by Victor Barrenechea.
I understand that contemporary art is all about being a wanker breaking the boundaries, but I feel there is a line and that this guy just sexually assaulted it. Wake me when a gang of ex cons break into this masterpiece.
Love,
Jeanie
xxx
Thursday, August 26, 2010
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