SUMMERY

ART:

I've got a new installation opening today at Artspace's Pop-Up location at North Hills in Raleigh. The Pop-Up is in a former dress store; this installation engages one of the fitting rooms. I've posted some photos here, but it's best experienced in person, not least for the audio component (which David Mueller and I developed). Open hours are 3–7 PM Thursday and Friday, 10 AM–2 PM Saturday. Through June 29.

Work continues on my installation for The Cube/VAE, which will be on view September/October. The piece is an homage to Alice Coltrane and explores the idea of transcendence through music. 

MUSIC:

A few Heads on Sticks shows coming up, as well. This weekend at The Pinhook with Organos and The Lollipops; June 20 at Tir Na Nog in Raleigh with The Lollipops (for WKNC's Local Band/Local Beer sponsored series… it's a free show); and June 21 at The Cave in Chapel Hill with Airstrip.

Our new record, Phantasm in Tutu, will be out in August. 

DESIGN:

Recently wrapped the artwork for the new album. Here's a peek at the cover. I'm excited about how it unfolds through the package and labels for the vinyl. I'm really enamored with this typeface called Macula, as well. (You might notice it makes an appearance in the Artspace installation.)

In June, I'll be attending 2013's DesignInquiry in Vinalhaven, Maine. I've wanted to do this for years and it's finally happening… I look forward to eating several lobsters and thinking about the idea of STATION (which is this year's theme). 

I'm also working this summer on an exhibition for the new Museum of Durham History. More to come on that front.

L

Spring Shows

Exhibiting new and recent paintings this spring in Raleigh, Durham and Greensboro:  

February 1–March 30, 2013:

Looking Back III: Artspace Regional Emerging Artists-in-Residence. Featuring work by Shaun Richards, Megan Sullivan, David Eichenberger, Pete Sack, Garrett Scales, Janelle Howington, Tanya Casteel, Sarah West and Lincoln Hancock. 

February 5–March 8, 2013:

EVERYTHING PLUS. New Paintings. 
Elliot University Center Gallery, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Artist's Talk Friday, Feb. 22, 3 PM, Weatherspoon Art Museum Auditorium
Opening reception to follow, 4–6 PM. 

March 1–March 26, 2013:

EVERYTHING ELSE. New Paintings. 
Room 100 Gallery. Goldenbelt, 807 E. Main St., Durham, NC.

Hours: 

Mon-Sat 10 AM–7 PM, Sun 12 PM–6 PM

Opening Reception March 15, 6–9 PM

FB RSVP

CREST, 2013. 20x24," Advertisements, Photograph, Oil, Acrylic and Disposable Palette on Panel.

EXPLODED HIPSTER

Click through for some photos of the installation I worked on with Yuxtapongo for Hopscotch. We were really gratified by all the folks who gave meaningfully and faithfully of their stuff. 

EXPLODED HIPSTER lived on a 70ft wall next to the Hopscotch stage at CAM.

Assembled by Yuxtapongo: Eleanor Blake, Mollie Earls, Lincoln Hancock, Neill Prewitt and Robin Vuchnich.

All clothing donated by the Hopscotch Community - bands, friends and fans - including All Day Records, Amanda Saxe Barr, Birds Of Avalon, Jon Bowman, Bull City Records, Lauren Carter, Vince Carmody, Kevin Clark, Scott Craddock, Skip Elsheimer, Katrina Lamberto Elsheimer, Sarah Fuller, The Future Kings of Nowhere, Drew & Olivia Griego, Andy Heymann, Bryan Hoffman, Liz Johnson, Cheetie Kumar, Ron Liberti, Alexis Mastromichalis, David Mueller, Neptunes, Sara Phoenix, Molly Renda, Eric Roehrig, Tannis Root Productions, Schoolkids Records, Jenny Schneider, Paul Siler, Ben Spiker, Nicole & Les Stewart, Sarah Tector, Teddy, Michelle Temple, Missy Thangs, Jolee Todd, Ginger Wagg, and Napoleon Wright.

See more here.

Word Up.

If you saw the "Soul Souvenirs" project I worked on this spring in Durham (or if you listened to the excellent mix of Durham Soul compiled by Jason Perlmutter) you might have noticed a group called N.C.C.U. — New Central Connection Unlimited. They were one of the bands that came out of the jazz program at North Carolina Central during the years when Donald Byrd was a visiting professor there in the 70s. N.C.C.U.'s bass player was Aaron Mills — he'd go on to record and perform with Cameo and, more recently, Outkast. (The Independent did a great profile of Mills a few years ago, incidentally, and it's worth checking out.) One of the unexpected treats of working on "Soul Souvenirs" was getting to meet Aaron at the opening of the exhibit — I'm a bass player, too, and a fan of his.

So, with Cameo on the mind, it's proper that yesterday I delivered work to the North Carolina Museum of Art for a group show called "Word Up: The Intersection of Text and Image." It focuses on six NC artists who employ text in their work. It opens July 22 in the new North Carolina Gallery in the East Building, and runs through January 20, 2013. I hope you can come see it while it's up.

In other news, Friday evening is the last open studio of my time as Regional Emerging Artist in Residency at Artspace. I've had six months to move my work forward and I'm feeling pretty solid about what I've accomplished. I'm leaving with more confidence and more questions, both good things. I'll have a show and give a talk at Artspace in September, but I hope (if you're around) you'll be able to stop by Friday and say hey and get a sneak peek. 

L

Artspace in Artsee Magazine

The current issue of Artsee has a story on Artspace, the nonprofit institution at which I'm currently serving as Regional Emerging Artist in Residence. I spoke with them about my work and they took some photos. The magazine is distributed regionally, and the issue will be archived online soon, but for now, here's a glance.