On the surface it looks like a hyperexaggerated junk shop, and that's what it was until 1997, when the hoarder/owner died and something had to be done. Instead of throwing away all of the unsold knicknacks, fabrics, and debris, they decided to make an art collective.
On the advice of Aliya, who was an artist in residency in the space, we checked it out on the way through Greensboro. It's right downtown, on a cute street of gentry and whimsy, surrounded by still-operating antique shops and art galleries of varying degrees of safeness. It could have been just another monument to the story-less lives of cute collectors objects and broken tools, the things that didn't sell, except for one important rule:
Nothing goes in, and nothing goes out. Resident artists can embark on any project or performance based off of the materials in the place, but their tools are limited to what was already in the 2-3 story shop at the moment of the owner's demise in 1997. This creates a false economy of useful objects and a false surplus of others: what does one do, for example, with hundreds of nails, no hammer, and a soldering iron? Or hundreds of dresses and 2 mannequins. The space is both constraining in its rules and limitless.
Collectively, the workers, interns, and residents have developed a knack for aesthetic organization; fabrics and machine parts and other groupings will be made along inscrutable organizational guidelines, a little bit functional, a little bit material. The space is fairy-like and surreal, begging to cameo as a set in an animation series.
The collective acts as a museum (admission: $1), accepts artists in residents, and has a variety of classes to share its collection with the community.
Especially considering the conflux of people and technologies it took to make it. Greg, who burns fast and brightly forward with a yearning eye on the past, and Lindsey, made of steel, wool, wood and horsehair, quietly transforming the world onto a real scale. A film image on the highest-quality camera of yesteryear (I think), uploaded hi-res into pixels on flickr.
My ol' buddy Laura D's been busy, she and her boyfriend Max make all manner of art together, their styles contrast greatly and the overlap is the precious thing to me! I love Max's pictures of Laura:
Coupled with Laura's pictures of them:
Together they are Bird Brain Press, they just had an interview write-up in Gavin's underground, check it out and see what's on their minds!
The 25th and 26th of this month'll be fun.
First, I'm taking the Art Truck up to Ogden for 8 hours or so, then traxing/riding back. Next I'll be involved with this:
I have no idea what it is, but I do know it's 48 hours of straight performance art, and I'll be working at the art center 9pm to 4 AM (!!!) The night of the 25th to 26th. Further, knowing Gary Vlasic's antics and looking at the flier art, I'm expecting something equestrian and ritualistic, like the climactic scene of Equus slowed down 500 times:
wow. All I can say is wow. Then, it's up the next day to race in Chris's Techtastic Alleycat, Happening at 2:00 PM on the 26th on the U campus, somewhere. I'll get the specifics on that forthwith.
Mark off some time next weekend to check out the 337 Project's Urban Gallery All Star Face Off, a mural painting competition that's the best thing since last year's. The list of artists looks great and I can't wait to see what comes up, especially from Rachel Domingo and Kier Defstar. Yeah! Read More......
I got a chance to check out the 337 Project's Mini-Golf Course at the Art Center last night, everyone has to give it a play, some really impressive stuff! I wrote a little preview of things to come this weekend over on the 337 Project Blog, including the arrival of Banksy's film at the Broadway. Sweet!
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Cein Watson... A poet and a saint, a ruddy-faced smiler, even his bitterness is sweet. We're losing him to the backwoods of Vermont, where he plans to camp on his newly-acquired land until he builds himself a studio and a treehouse. Will you let us visit?
Spoiler: It went incredibly.
(clicky make biggie, thanks Greg!)
I'm one of those people that's hard to please, as a general rule. But I can firmly and happily report that if not one more thing came from this entire movie project I'd be satisfied. Everything went off without a hitch, and exceeded my expectations. From the turnout to the weather to help from strangers to my two best friends winning the race, I was blown away. My only worry is how I'll ever top it, in terms of things I organize and in terms of personal satisfaction.
The alleycat swelled to 67 people, which I believe is a record for Salt Lake. It was a scramble downtown then up to the theater, check out the manifest here. At one of the stops Cory, Mark, Mark's friend and Meera decided to make a little high art with the help of the racers:
Pretty talented bunch, I gotta say. After that they got photo-shot by Tom Fleming halfway up the hill, here are some of the best ones:
Tony was first up the hill, and apparently took Tom by surprise.
Joergen's suffer face.
For more alleycat awesomeness check out this great little video shot by John Schafer. Thanks John! Check this shot of Heather and JC he nabbed through the Sketch Alley:
Once people started to accumulate up top we gathered up and went inside to watch the movie. Full house! 250 people came out to watch the inaugural screening! They were very kind and energetic and appreciative as an audience, they laughed in all the right spots and made me feel pretty great about the movie. I had to laugh, because as a filmmaker it probably never gets any better than an auditorium full of your closest friends and family. That experience will stick with me for quite some time, I imagine, I'm thankful for it.
But the top of the toppest, the best prize, by far, came from Burro Bags out of Jacksonville Florida. They sent us Salt Lake City's First EVER champion/bragging-rites bag, custom-made for the event:
And gawd damn it's beautiful.
Speaking of, this gawdy creation will rest on the shoulders of Alex Haworth whenever he feels like stepping his hipster-cred up a notch. Not only is this Al's first Alleycat win (He's placed second twice before, I believe), he's also my best friend and the Director of Photography on Don Giovanni! I swear I was surprised as everyone else when he won the race, even though between that and what comes next I should be accused of rigging it.
Because little Jessica Gilmore, my girlfriend, accomplice, and stunning supporter, won fastest woman and 7th Place overall. You go girl.
I can attest that she wanted the win BAD, going so far as to strap a map to her handlebars for the logistics of the race.
I felt great organizing this event, and extend my sincere thanks to all the friends, family, groups and organizations that helped me along the way. Off the top of my head I'd like to thank Dima, who helped land all the prizes for the race.
friggin' cutie.
Lindsey's Mom, who stepped in to help me sell tickets, otherwise I'd have been swamped. Greg Hebard, who is a good friend and puts up with me making mistakes. And for all of those who toiled, lent, waited, froze, and worried for me these past several months, I cannot thank you enough. You know who you are.
Here's the rough placement for the cat:
1st (Overall, 1st SS, General Badass): Alex Haworth (DP/Editor, Don Giovanni!)
2nd (Fix): Patrick Beecroft of Legal Messenger Inc.
3rd (Fix): Tony
4th (Fix): Joergen Trepp of Jason's Deli!
5th (Fix): Chase
6th (1st Geared): Greg Hebard of Jason's Deli!
7th (1st Woman's Fix, Overall, and Stubborn as Hell): Jessica Gilmore
8th: Max Hoagland
9th: Nate Borganicht (Birthday Boi!)
10th: Adam
11th: Lindsey (1st Woman Geared, 2nd Overall) (Plays Bike Punk in Don Giovanni)
12th: Benji
13th: Nate
14th: Peter Andersen
15th: Max Goldsmith
16th: Inacio Lopez (Plays Ottavio in Don Giovanni)
17th: JJ of LMI
18th: Zach Pina of Salt City Couriers
19th: Gary of SLCBikeCollective
20th: Tobi (3rd Woman)
21st: Dima Hurlbut (FLATTED, better luck next time :P)
22nd: JC of U of U Bike Collective
23rd: John
24th: Raphael
25th: James Miska (Musician on Don Giovanni)
26th: Matt Delporto (who designed our movie poster!)
27th: Luke Williams (Main Musician on Don Giovanni!)
28th: Connor Rickman (Producer, Don Giovanni!)
29th: Heather (4th Woman)
30th: Suzi (5th Woman)
31st: Gudrik
32nd: Skyler Chubaks
33rd: Simon Williams (UPM on Don Giovanni!)
34th: Matt
35th: Cat
36th: JD
37th: NOPE (First Tallbike!)
38th: Chris Rugal
39th: Vinnie of Jason's Deli! (He's a Car Driver, relax :))
40th: Al
41st: Lexie (DNF)
42nd: Joellen Morisson.
DFL: Matt Lemmons (Maybe?)
NOW, let's keep this sort of thing happening. Alleycats all around, everyone plan one. I don't care if there are no prizes and the stops are manned by pieces of paper, let's DO it! I'm waiting to hear if this movie gets into the Bicycle Film Festival, in the mean time lets make some more. I wanna ride in one! Thanks Salt Lake, and good night.
All the pictures we've seen and TONS MORE (Like EVERY SINGLE RACER GOING UP THE HILL) can be seen on my flickr page. Thanks to Tom, Al, Greg, and Zach Pina for the photos.
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Back before we started shooting I commissioned Matt Delporto (one of the voices behind the Salt City Rag) to do an epic, hand-drawn movie poster for the film. Sketches, re-draws, character studies, plot reads, rejected ideas and many, many desk hours later we have the official Don Giovanni Movie Poster:
Full screen that sucker!
I love what he did with it. I'm charmed and pleased to have such a good record of the film. For our next ambitious art project we're trying to replicate/recreate the image in a high-quality multi-layer screenprint that will be available hopefully at the gallery roll and also to reward some of our cast and crew for their hard slave labor work. Be sure to come out to the alleycat, premiere, and general bike revelry on April the 24th.
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It's time to screen this bad boy!
Anyone who's been following this blog knows how long this film has been in the making, it's incredible, really. So now, more or less, I'm done. More words after the jump, but first I'd rather let the work do the talking. I give you the Trailer! (full screen that sucker):
So, quickly, to recap: The Tale of Don Giovanni: That Indomitable Hipster is my first narrative film and a romping bike adventure. It's around 24 minutes long and has more scenes than a drunken prom date.
It is the story of Don Giovanni as told in Mozart’s opera, adapted into a hyper-exaggerated bike hipster vs. anarcho-punk world on the streets of Salt Lake City with updated sexual politics. Wackiness ensues. There are fixie riders, mountain bikers, flashy hipsters, smelly punks, a transvestite or two, many instances of the word f**k, a sex scene, a rape scene, and lots and LOTS of bikes. There's a dumpsterdoven BMX called the monarch and a man getting hit by a bus. The soundtrack is completely local and completely inspired and I weep to think of what I would have done without talented friends.
It took a tremendous effort to make and the work of many, many people, all of whom deserve way more credit than I'm able to give them. This project rallied people from all aspects of my life, and I was horrified I'd let them down. I don't think I did. I hope you'll come ride in the alleycat (which won't be nearly as hard as the one we shot for the film) and attend the premiere with your fam and friends. Please distribute this flier far and wide, I want to fill the post and possibly overflow to do multiple screenings. This community rocks and I'm happy to be a part of it.
Austin McBride, the optimistic scam-artist, used to live with us in an unusual way, if you remember. Austin converted our closet into a quite impressive minimal monk's hidaway with the help of interior designer Ryan Manning. He's since moved to San Fran, but the room remains. Greg came in to take some photos for Ryan's Portfolio:
Felt panel slides away to reveal collapsible closet. Note golf tee.
Muted sci-art and tunes center.
Good use of crates.
Simple futon would be rolled out here and double as a chill space for rhapsodic psychological discussion.
Not only does it center around work by my best friend and film partner Alex Haworth, it references my good friend Laura Decker too! Oh, and it mentions this blog :). Coupled with the fact that the inversion needs to die and be taken seriously by Salt Lake, I'm very happy about all this.
Local art's feeling good right now, as if awakening from hibernation, It's great to be a part of it, and I'm looking forward to what comes out of the spring.
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This is really great. A Banksy popped up in Park City. Clever bugger. Speculation is that one of the suprise Film Festival films will be about him, more over here.
Also locally, definitely check out the show up in the Gittins gallery right now, the art gallery connected to the Art and Art History building up at the U. The exhibit, Invisible Logic, is one of the best student art shows I've seen at the U. It contains the work of 9 students from both the Art and Engineering departments, who collaborated on some really impressive kinetic objects and living art pieces incorporating circuits, drawing robots, lasers, and multimedia of all kinds. Overall the aesthetic and presentation style is very rough and low key, which plays off the technically advanced objects rather well. There is a clever whimsy to the show that I really appreciate.
HAHA! So it's official. And I'm finally partially recovered enough to come out and say it. Ahem. Ladies and gentlemen, with much, much help, love, and support I just finished shooting my first narrative film project. Ah-yes. 1 month, 3 parties, multiple stunts, 100s of favors pulled and man-hours coerced. All that remains now is the editing. And the music. And whatever. but regardless, I'm so happy and proud and ready to rip into this thing!
But first, here're a couple neat things, mostly courtesy of Greg:
Chris practicing his death in full moto gear.
The fabulous Elvira
And finally, the first of several wicked drawings done for the movie by Matt Delporto:
Moving into the post-production phase, there's still tons to be done, but it's all exciting stuff. Thanks so much for everything so far, if you're interested in helping me screen it anywhere in the world (venues, collectives, parks, your basement) let me know! Think alleycats and sprints and spin-the-bottle parties and dumpsterdiving expeditions and whatever else needs to be involved. Ye-ah.
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Lui Bolin is blowing my mind right now, and he happens to provide a fitting image for my internet auspiciousness recently. But I've been good, if under-the-radar.
Shooting The Tale of Don Giovanni: That Indomitable Hipster soon, my first narrative. It's shaping up to be great. More news on that in a minute. Shooting a first scene earlier than scheduled, on the 18th of October at the SLC Bike Collective in the evening, starting at 6:00. Let me know if you want to help out.
Here's Dallin, in character (as always) as Leoprello, taking his first crack at the script.
Chris is playing the heartless lead, here he is being uncharacteristically nice :).
Went to Interbike in Vegas and learned about the World Bicycle Relief. They're a fantastic non-profit that I'd like to work for someday.
Been moving my Dad out of his place, and working on some stuff for the Leonardo. Biked to 33rd and 33rd on a cruiser last night. Fun, cold, introduced the seriousness with which winter's approaching.
Getting really good at delivering lots of food without a cart, which makes me faster.
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Very happy with this thing. Nathan did some very cool extra work so I could keep my camera+extra lens inside it, and so far this bag's held up admirably under quite a beating. I've used it every day at work of course, and loaded it with all variety of things. Its first job was to haul a frame to 50th south the day I got it, the compression straps are long and work great with odd-shaped objects. The bag is very classy, maintaining its shape while empty and with no extra straps showing when you don't need them. The detachable waist strap is a nice touch, as are the hiding spots for the front flap compression straps. No complaints so far (though I may cut the U-lock strap, I never use it and it slows down replacing the lock). Yesterday I go caught in a deluge of rain coming back from Centerville and the inside of the bag was fine and dry.
Nathan Larsen builds the bags up here in Salt Lake from his apartment. His monster of a sewing machine and materials take up the whole room, it's great. Here're some shots of Nate's process:
Some Dork with his new bag:
And seeing if it works:
I likey. Order a custom one from Velo City Bags or pick up a finished one (for cheaper!) at Model Citizen. Nathan's just released his simple messenger bag as well, which is very cheap and just as nice. Checkacheckit
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America, the Mid East, overground, underground. I hope to keep the ideas far-reaching. Please join into the mix via comments, and if you'd like to let me know about a thing or two please drop me an email
