“In Progress” Blog

Bed Chase No. 1 (Sinistre Somnus)

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:03:49 -0330

Here is my video that was included in the Rooms “Short Sighted II” Short Video exhibition (Ends Dec. 31). Below is a brief passage about the work:

“In this original audio/visual composition, I'm trying to create the same type of contained, relentlessly repetitious non-narrative that is present in many of my paintings. The idea of this nocturnal chase and the rolling/automated bed are images which I've been exploring in some other media. The title is presented in the language of medical classification (i.e. parasomnia) and reflects the tone of the piece. The video is an attempt to summarize or define some part of the highly subjective dream experience.”

Please let me know if you experience technical problems playing the video...this is a bit of an experiment.

Bed Project Sneak-Peek

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 07:55:34 -0230

I’ve posted a sneak-peek pic of one of the beds in progress - this one has 20 T8 fluorescent tubes, in all their buzzing glory, illuminating the underside. Stay tuned for more images very soon.

Venturing into the Twitter-verse

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 08:58:18 -0330

As you can see, I’ve decided to add a twitter widget to my website so that I can post info and updates while on the go. I’m hoping, among other things, that it will allow me to post information and “news” while it’s still new! Expect the tweets to start flying as soon as I get my head around this!

In other news, just sent two new pieces off to the Leyton Gallery, so drop by and check ‘em out. I’ll have images posted in my web gallery ASAP.

Mixed Media Workshops

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 09:20:29 -0330

The Central Newfoundland Visual Arts Association and the Bay St. George Artists’ Association have asked me to host Mixed Media workshops for the last two weekends in November.

I’ll be working with participants, and demonstrating the process that I have developed for creating images utilizing acrylic, charcoal, ink and collage.

If your local arts group is interested in finding out more about having me present a workshop, get in touch at info@newfoundartist.com

Art Ex this weekend!!!

Thu, 5 Aug 2010 14:25:25 -0230

Art Ex 2010 is the inaugural year for an annual visual arts event, which will take place in the Exploits Valley region of central Newfoundland from August 6-8. The three day celebration of visual art will include activities such as youth and adult workshops, panel discussions, talks, interactive art interventions, public artworks and collaborative community based art events. The activities will occur concurrently in a number of municipalities within the region: incorporating both Grand Falls-Windsor, as well as more remote, rural locations to the north-east (Leading Tickles, Norris Arm) and south-west (Millertown, Buchans).

For further information, contact contact the Exploits Valley Economic Development Corporation at (709)489-8700 or edo@exploitsvalley.nf.ca

Leyton Gallery Summer Exhibition, Etc.

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 17:38:14 -0230

The Leyton Gallery would like to invite you to attend Michael Connolly's solo show all about the wonders found “Close to Home.”

Also opening is our annual group Summer Show - a very large show that is really something to see!

Featuring all new work by: Iakov Afanassiev, Jack Botsford, Audrey Feltham, Jonathan Green, Sarah Hillock, Bonnie Leyton, Sue Miller, Undrea Norris, Jonathan O'Dea, Michael Pittman, Toby Rabinowitz, James Rosen, Margaret Ryall, Phil Simms, Anita Singh, Ginok Song, Louise Sutton, and Jillian Waite.

Exploring the Aesthetics of Outport Interiors

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 08:35:21 -0330

I’ll be participating in an artist’s residency/workshop on Fogo Island for most of the month of February. Exploring the Aesthetics of Ouport Interiors will run from February 11th to the 27th. It seems to be a really good fit for my present work, as it seems to deal largely with furniture design (I’ve been working on an art project about beds for the last 3 months or so, and furniture has often featured heavily in my work, often to signify a presence, or the body).

The event is described as “an experimental art/design project and workshop designed to develop the ideas for contemporary furniture and interiors inspired by traditional Outport living conditions and reality.”

Click the image above or visit outportinteriors.blogspot.com to learn more and follow the progress of the participants.

Christmas Shows

Mon, 7 Dec 2009 11:16:21 -0330

I’ll have new work up for the Christmas exhibitions at The Leyton Gallery of Fine Art (St. John’s, NL) and View Art Gallery (Victoria, BC) throughout December. If you’re in town, please drop in and have a look - lots of new work by numerous artists.

In neutral...sort of

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:24:28 -0230

Well...lets see. I’ve spent the last week trying to get organized; looking back and taking stock and looking ahead to see what’s next. Time to think out loud...feel free to join me.

I’ve spent most of the last bunch of months making work for my show with Rhonda Pelley at The Leyton Gallery. I think the show looks great. Hats off to Bonnie for the putting us together. Its been nice to have contact with someone whose work seems to come from a similar place as my own (thanks to Rhonda for loaning me an awesome book).

Last month I was also able to finish up my funding proposal for a new project that I’m hoping to start in the early in the new year (fingers crossed). I don’t want to say too much about it at this point (though some of you may have heard me blabbing already...hard to keep my mouth shut when I’m excited). It’s not that it’s a big secret, it’s just that I’m not altogether sure where it’s going to lead me. Practice wise, it will likely mean a pretty big departure from what I’ve been doing lately, and many more trips to the surplus store. It everything works out, I’ll post my first successful “experiment” on the site. Lets hope that’ll keep everyone glued...

What else is new? I’m on the board of VANL-CARFAC now...that’s been interesting. I haven’t been around long enough to figure it all out yet, but it’s been nice to have some input on things that effect all visual artists in the province, while having more contact with some people who share some of the same art-related concerns as myself. One of the other board members and I had brief a discussion about “career building” as a visual artist (not necessarily in a commercial sense). This really started me thinking about how active, or inactive, I am in growing my “career” as an artist, and what steps might be involved in the process. I’ve often said that my biggest successes or surprises have come when I’ve kept my head down and just made art. I realize that this only goes so far; at some point you to have to disseminate the work that you’re making, and exhibitions don’t always fall right in your lap. This is hard work for me...not the process, as such, and not necessarily the act of putting your work out there for judgement (which one gets accustomed to as an artist). I think it’s a fear of getting tangled in the “not-making-art” part of art, and letting this effect the art-making part. I don’t mean in a time sense, but more in a psychological sense. It sometimes seems that insecurities bleed from one side to the other and paralyze both. This will likely have to be my first “career building” hurtle.

Anyhow...having said all this...I’d better get back to the real reason I sat at the computer to begin with. Exhibition Proposals.

New Work by Rhonda Pelley and Michael Pittman

Thu, 8 Oct 2009 15:18:53 -0230

Please Join Rhonda and I for the opening of our show, “Penetralia”, at The Leyton Gallery on Friday, October 9 at 5:00PM. The show will feature more then twenty new pieces and will run until November 7. All are Welcome.