We lost someone this week whose art I mostly loved, on occasion hated, and always felt pushed by: Jaime Carrera. He made provocative, weird art. The first time I saw him perform was the Choreographer's Evening in 2007? 2008? at the Walker Art Center. He stood naked in the middle of the stage except for a very long wig (like floor-length) and high heels. He swayed the hair back and forth then slowly posed in "muscle-man" poses. My parents, along with most other people there, couldn't stop talking about it. Nastalie and I were instantly in love and had to meet this person. Not long after, we performed with Jaime at countless cabarets and shows. He performed in my work, and I in his. The last work I saw of his was the most controversial, in my mind, I'd seen, at Patrick's Cabaret last June. I was offended and challenged by it. I didn't think it was one of his best pieces, nor did I think the offensive part was very purposeful or thought out, but it was Jaime. And I watched him revel in the controversy. I think, actually, that might even have been the last time I saw him. I wonder if he might have changed his mind about the piece as time passed, but now we'll never know. Nonetheless, I always felt very tender about him. In looking back through my archive, I found several very sweet exchanges between us over email and facebook. I am reflecting on how amazing it was that he agreed to be part of my 2010 Naked Stages piece. I think it wasn't really much his thing to be in other people's work, but for some reason, he said yes to me. Here's some excerpts:
And here are a few of my favorite pieces of his:
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Here's a quick sample of what I'm doing. By tilting the tablet in my hands, I can move the smaller animation (fox) around the screen. By moving some of the sliders on my tablet, I can change the scale, contrast, etc. Step 1 towards making my installation interactive!
I've been working hard on my Max/MSP/Jitter certificate program, and I want you to see what I've made! This Thursday, come to Harvestworks (596 Broadway, suite 602, Manhattan, 10012) from 7-9 pm and see the work-in-progress viewing of my interactive video installation.
Above is a quick sample of what I'm doing. By tilting the tablet in my hands, I can move the smaller animation (fox) around the screen. By moving some of the sliders on my tablet, I can change the scale, contrast, etc. This was Step 1 towards making my installation interactive! Besides this, I've been very busy seeing lots of art, hanging with pals from around the country all gathered here for MIX, biking to Dead Horse Bay, hiking in New Jersey, and eating lots of delicious food. It's been a blast. I'm in New York City to learn and see and explore and make, thanks to the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council and the McKnight Foundation's Next Step Fund! As you can see from above, yesterday I spent the day at the ocean, given that 70 degree days in November don't come often - I took full advantage! I didn't get in further than my knees, but I could have - it was so much warmer than most of the lakes I swam in this summer.
Aside from the fun day at the beach, I've been holing up at Harvestworks diving in deep with Max/MSP/Jitter software. What the heck is that, you are probably wondering. In short, M/M/J will help make my video installations interactive - I am working on creating what is called a "patch" that will talk from my Android tablet to the computer running the videos and allow the viewer of the work to move the animals around, change videos, and potentially influence other environmental factors of the installation such as lights, sound, and so forth. The fantastic Tommy Martinez is my mentor in this creation. He took a video of my project working that I'll upload later. Only a few days in and it is looking so good! Honestly, I feel surprised that this thing that I've been talking about for over two years is actually happening - that I am making the work do what I envisioned in my head! I've had many doubts along the way as whether what I wanted was even possible, so it's really special that I am being funded to make this happen! Just a quick update about my art making and future projects! I have spent the last couple months mostly gearing up for an upcoming trip to NYC for my Next Step project. Stay tuned for more on that! Also, I've been working hard in the pottery studio - see the tea pot I made on the left. Making a tea pot was my goal project when I started taking pottery 2 years ago. I'm so proud of the little guy - and it works quite beautifully. It holds 2.5 cups of tea, it doesn't dribble when you pour, and the lid stays on snugly when it's tipped. Yep, that's quality workmanship! I've also been taking a lot of self-portraits lately. Harking back to 2004-6. I'm not sure what I'll do with them, but it's been fun to get dressed up and take pictures. Feeling very Cindy Sherman/Kathy Acker/Madonna/Siousxie Sioux lately, I guess!
Last week, I heard that I am a lucky recipient of an MRAC Next Step grant!! I am still working out the details, but I expect to be heading to NYC's Harvestworks to take classes some time this fall. Hoping I can make it line up with MIX!!
So with that good news under my belt, I've been working away on two baby side projects:
So while I'm not able to devote much time to my studio right now because of $work$ commitments, it feels good to have a few little things to work on. I've also been hitting the pottery wheel every week - and I'm getting better, so expect some photos from this spring's firings soon! xo
The momentum has been slowing lately, but I'm still chugging away. I've recently come to some new revelations about the work, so hopefully I'll get some time in the next month or two before summer camps swallow my life to bring them to fruition. In the meantime, check out these from January and February.
Also, I've been working on learning my parts and practicing my moves for this upcoming show by Annicha Arts. It happens to be the 3 days after my birthday - so come and wish me a happy birthday. It's been an incredible experience to work with Annicha Arts, Pramila, and the rest of the company and cast of awesome artists/movers/people. This is feeding me in ways I hadn't even imagined possible.
EVERY OTHER Aniccha Arts premieres a 75-minute performance installation over a vast physical landscape at Grain Belt Studios. Every Other examines how the body is disciplined through personal, material, spatial and sociopolitical sites of tension. Composed of three movements, this interdisciplinary performance features a multi-racial cast that moves through an immersive sonic and light environment. Date: May 7–May 9, 2015 Time: 8pm Place: Grain Belt Studios 77 & 79 Thirteenth Avenue N.E., Minneapolis, MN, 55413 Tickets: Pick your price (suggested $12) Contact: pramila@aniccha.org Water, air, Flooding, Drought, Pollution, Hot Spots, Growing...
Vote for your favorite one in the comments! And Tell me Why!Pottery for sale - help Support my Continued OBSESSION!I'm swimming in pots! No, really. I have given a significant number away as birthday/thank you/etc gifts, but I've still got LOTS! And you could have some too, for yourself or to give as a birthday/thank you/etc gift. I'm selling pottery at a few upcoming craft-y type fairs, but also directly to you, my dear blog readers. Give me a ring/text/email, and let me know you're interested. If you're in MPLS, I'll hand-deliver. If you're outside of MPLS, let's talk about options. Prices are negotiable, but I'm aiming for around $10-15 per piece. I want to keep taking classes, and this seems the best way to make this a sustainable enterprise. I get all the joy of playing with clay, and you get to drink tea or eat cookies out of my pretty pots. 314[dash]308[dash]3985 (call or txt) or kelley[at]kelleymeister[dot]com. Review in the Star Tribune/Vita.MN of SooVAC exhibition!Check out this lovely review of my work in the SooVac Exhibition ((up til Dec. 28th)) in MPLS: There’s a charming naiveté to Kell[e]y Meister’s digital-collage video “Where Do We Go From Here?” in which drawings of animals (dogs, beaver, bunnies, birds) race through a watercolor wilderness intercut with waterfall footage and drawings of increasingly polluted cities. The rough production values are a good fit with critters in desperate search of a haven. For full article go here. Thank you to everyone who came out last weekend to see my work! It was great to see so many supporters and to meet so many new folks. I feel energized and inspired by all the conversations I had over my projections, and I can't wait to share with you again.
Unfortunately, I didn't take any photos of people looking at the work or mulling around the studio because I was so busy meeting and greeting. But I have a couple of pretty cute photos of me getting ready for the big day that I'll share instead. |
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February 2024
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