Saturday, September 29, 2007

Codename: Guppy

I wanted to create a male character, for the "Lost Treasures" event (facebook page) coming up in Kenora, Ontario, to acknowledge the fact that most killings-of-women in this world... are at the hands of men. Husbands, brothers, fathers, lovers, sons, lovers, friends and strangers.

It would be simplistic and wrong, however, to say that men are inherently prone to kill women, by nature and testosterone. They/We are programmed by cultures, religions, mass medias, ancient archetypes and legends, corporate environments, etc., etc. I want this piece to reflect upon the anguish of two human potentials lost, when a man kills.

That's not to let us off the hook; the male gender has given the world "honour-killing", "murder-suicide", "serial-killer", "date-rape". "scorched-earth", "mutually assured destruction"...
So on, and so on.

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[Pics click to enlarge.]

I started out by playing with the spare parts and various heads-in-progress lying around the studio.

Lost Treasures. Broken Vulture Art. Bingorage studio.Lost Treasures. Broken Vulture Art. Bingorage studio.

Once the head was chosen; I scrapped the huge arms and started papering/taping the figure.

Lost Treasures. Broken Vulture Art. Bingorage studio.Lost Treasures. Broken Vulture Art. Bingorage studio.

Lost Treasures. Broken Vulture Art. Bingorage studio.Lost Treasures. Broken Vulture Art. Bingorage studio.

Lost Treasures. Broken Vulture Art. Bingorage studio.Lost Treasures. Broken Vulture Art. Bingorage studio.

I added another pre-made papier mache fragment to the back of the head to bulk it out. I think that I am going to leave the piece unpainted for the Kenora event. It radiates some real emotion, without being individualised, this way.

Lost Treasures. Broken Vulture Art. Bingorage studio.Lost Treasures. Broken Vulture Art. Bingorage studio.

Lost Treasures. Broken Vulture Art. Bingorage studio.

Lost Treasures. Broken Vulture Art. Bingorage studio.Lost Treasures. Broken Vulture Art. Bingorage studio.

Lost Treasures. Broken Vulture Art. Bingorage studio.

Lay it down, to get at the underside. I think that I will put some metal weight in the base of one leg to make it "stand".

Lost Treasures. Broken Vulture Art. Bingorage studio.Lost Treasures. Broken Vulture Art. Bingorage studio.

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Tim Giago article

Ledger Art
"The Plains Indian Ledger Art Digital Publishing Project (PILA) was conceived as a way to keep this irreplaceable historic and cultural information intact, address the challenges of research and public access to the Plains Indian ledger books, and preserve the images for future generations."


NARF myspace page.
"The Native American Rights Fund (NARF) has announced its 2nd Annual National Call for young Native artists, ages 15-35 years old. NARF is seeking art entries for its 2nd Annual Art Show in Boulder, Colorado-Modern Day Warriors: Empowering the Young Voices of Native America . The dynamic art exhibition will celebrate and highlight present and future generations of modern day warriors for Native rights. It will also place focus on the fact the Indian Wars Never Ended-they have merely changed venues from the historic battlegrounds of our ancestors to courtrooms; the media; schools; communities; Congress; and the modern day world around us... DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES IS 5PM, FRIDAY OCTOBER 12TH, 2007!"


The Seventh Annual Festival of Native Film & Culture
"(formerly known as the Native American Film Festival & Cultural Weekend) is currently accepting submissions. All feature length and short film Native American and indigenous work produced after January 1, 2007 is eligible for consideration. The Festival will take place at the Camelot Theatres in Palm Springs, California, March 5 - 9, 2008... Film submission entry deadline is December 15, 2007."


Indigenous nations hit hard by hurricanes


The Fenimore Art Museum September 22-December 30, 2007.
"Being Indian: The 6th Contemporary Iroquois Art Biennial, an exhibition featuring the works of Native American artists Peter B. Jones and George Longfish"


AIEA 2007 Native American Youth Conference October 18 & 19, 2007 Phoenix Arizona

Nike has designed and produced a shoe, based on the Native American foot.
"...the Air Native N7 is designed with a larger fit for the distinct foot shape of American Indians, and has a culturally specific look. It will be distributed solely to American Indians; tribal wellness programs and tribal schools nationwide will be able to purchase the shoe at wholesale price and then pass it along to individuals, often at no cost."


How is this for a great idea? The New Zealand government has opened a "wiki" so that the citizens can write the new law on policing. Police wiki lets you write the law.
"Superintendent Hamish McCardle, the officer in charge of developing the new act, said the initiative had already been described as a "new frontier of democracy".
"People are calling it 'extreme democracy' and perhaps it is," he said.
"It's a novel move but when it comes to the principles that go into policing, the person on the street has a good idea ... as they are a customer," he said.
"They've got the best idea about how they want to be policed."
NZ Police were reviewing the old Policing Act, from 1958, which had become "anachronistic" and was "written for a completely different age, not policing of today", Superintendent McCardle said."


Columbus Day is approaching again, United Native America was formed...
"in 1993 as a nation wide grass roots movement to bring about a federal national holiday for Native Americans. The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma fully supports this issue with resolution 91-93. United Native America resolution 1-1 calls on the federal government to stop using our tax dollars to pay for Columbus Day.

Columbus does not rate a federal tax paid holiday in this country. We are standing up against the racial exclusion of Native Americans in our society to include these industries, national television stations, movie industries, national sports industries, national news media and music industries. Bringing about these changes have to take place before America can say it represents all its people equally.

The American Indians helped give birth to this country and helped form the government we have today, this is the true beginning history of America. This contribution and many more are noted in the American Indian heritage month of November resolution passed each year by the United States Senate and signed by the president, please join us in the struggle in the spirit of Crazy Horse, Tecumseh and countless others to live in peace on our land."


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Ugly Necklace Contest

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