Matt Was Here

Spring break this year started in Las Vegas with the baptism of a good friend's son.  Despite all of my efforts they refused to have Elvis do the ceremony.  From there I spent a couple of days exploring the Mojave Desert and Joshua Tree before finally heading to LA and flying home.  It was a much needed vacation in the middle of a loooong semester!  Here are some of the sights along the way. 

 

 

 The church was also hosting a series of Quinceaneras, a Latin sweet 15 ceremony.

Ami and baby Evan.

And finally off to the desert!

The first night's camp.  Where there are trees, there will be people.

Off to Joshua Tree on Route 66

Second night's camp

Last stop: Griffith Park, LA

 

 

Fluxus 2.0

Honestly, I never thought the images on my 2.0 megapixel iPhone 1 (yes, it still works and I'm still using it) would ever find their way into any aspect of my artwork.  The images on the phone are for the most part taken as a reminder that I am a dumb ass for not having my camera on me that day.  But never say never.  In an attempt to submit something to the upcoming Fluxus exhibition at the Cade Gallery I decided to put aside my anti-cellphone photography beliefs.  Fluxus artists believe that everyday life is art, or at least that it can be in a perfect world.  This philosophy has led me to reconsider the possibilities for images taken for purely personal reasons.  Another inspiration for the piece below is Fluxus artist Nam June Paik, considered by some to be the father of video art.  I'm particularly interested in his use of rudimentary technology such as videotape in the 1960s.  So with all that in mind, here is what I made for the show.

I am calling it A Cellphone Dairy From 2008-2010.  Below are some of the individual images I used for it.  The exhibition opens on March 6th.  I hope to see you there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Cat in Josef Sudek's Garden

Spent the holidays in Prague.  Here's the visuals.

 

 

 

 

A cat in Josef Sudek's famous garden

 

 

 

 

 

 

urban cows 

 

 

 

making pasta

 

 

 

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!