Stop, Collaborate, and Listen

All of a sudden it seems like I'm involved in a number of collaborations. From working on paintings with Jess Barnett to poems with Martin Cockroft, with film and writing and photo work in-between, there has been lots of close working with artists lately.

The pics above are from last weekend (or two weekends ago depending on how you measure it) and are of Jess Barnett and I working together on a painting. Now, I am not sure it qualifies as anywhere near as cool as the collaboration Pollock and Tony Smith worked on—as described in the intro to the book “Pollock: And American Saga,”—that eventually turned into the painting Blue Poles, but it was pretty great. You can also check out Jess’ blog to see how some of our experimentation has leaked its way into her work:

http://myfavoritecliche.blogspot.com/

But all this collaborating combined with random High School images finding their way onto Facebook had me replaying the Vanilla Ice opus “Ice Ice Baby,” in my head. Was it really “Stop, collaborate and listen” as an intro? What the hell does that even mean? Freeze, get together and pay attention? And when will shaving lines into your eyebrows become cool again?

In other news: On rotation in 617 Midway are Mayday Parade’s “Jamie all Over,” and “Remembering Britt” by a Day At The Fair.

I wonder if Frank O’Hara said to Jasper Johns during the making of “Target with Plaster Casts,” something like “all right now— stop, collaborate and listen.”

The Hawk Comes Home to Roost, Ode to Barnett Newman, More Blue Cowboys, Painting Music, and Alexie Wins Again

Quick update:

The Hawk: As some of you 617Midway readers know, I’ve had a hawk stop by the crib from time to time… and usually at this time of year. I’m not sure if this is always the same one, or if my fire escape is just a perfect perch, but the hawk was there yesterday morning when I got up. Above, see a few shots of the hawk surveying all things Boston.

And no, I am not referring to the Spenser sidekick and confidant from the Robert B. Parker books and the Robert Urich TV show. Pic is from wikipedia.

Ode to Barnett Newman: Also, a few days ago I spied this shot in my apartment. The light through the curtains had my studio doing a Barnett Newman impression.

Blue Cowboys: Blue Cowboys continues along. See another shot in progress.

Painting Music: The latest music blaring in 617Midway includes Cartel’s If I Fail and Hit The Lights’ Statues.

Alexie: Many of you know that Sherman Alexie is one of my favorite writers. Thankfully he is hitting the poetry hard again and his new poems are popping up all over the place. Many of you also know that Fitzgerald and the Great Gatsby make guest appearances in my writing and art from time to time. Here, Alexie does it right with both the poetry and the Fitzgerald. Thanks to poet Paul Morse for sending this along:

www.poemeleon.org/sherman-alexie/

Clip From Vanessa Vartabedian's "A Valentine's Ritual For One"

Fimmaker Vanessa Vartabedian has been kind enough to pass along this clip from her movie "A Valentine's Ritual For One: Love in Many Acts," as shown at Fort Point Theatre Channel's production of Exclation Point 5! The Science of Love, on February 13, 2009.

It is a pretty amazing movie as a whole, as all will attest who were fortunate enough to see the screening last Friday. This is a small clip of the larger movie... and all of it is wonderful. Thank you to Vanessa for passing this along for me to post here, and for creating such beautiful work.

Enjoy!

Joanna Klink at Harvard Briggs-Copeland Reading

For those of you who missed it tonight, Joanna Klink blew the doors off of the Edison and Newman Room in the Houghton Library at Harvard University. Reading new work from a collection titled “Crisis Lyrics,” Joanna was nothing short of amazing in her reading, in her new poems, in her managing the energy and space of the room. It was truly spectacular. Her poem “Sorting” is probably my all-time fav.

I was afraid to bust out the camera during the reading, being at Harvard and all. I was trying to figure out which combination of Affleck and Damon from Good Will Hunting I was tonight (without the movie star good looks of course). I figured 90% Chuckie with 10% Will Hunting sprinkled in. But the Will is only because I walked by the Au Bon Pain after that was in the scene with Minnie Driver.

Question: When will Au Bon Pain use House of Pain for an irreverent series of commercials?

Anyhow, I didn't take a photo during the reading. But, pretty wonderful to have a great poet as your thesis committee chair, and to recognize the music of her poems and to still be bowled over by her talent and craft.

Also above see the gratuitous notes of mine during the reading.

Humpday Catch-up

Here is the whirlwind catch-up for 617Midway readers, February 18th hump day edition:

Joanna Klink

For those looking for a great event on Thursday (tomorrow), poet Joanna Klink will be reading at Harvard University. Joanna is a knock-out poet and basically did her best to teach me how to write a poem. Plus, she was head of my thesis committee at UMontana. Don’t judge her on that though, I am a bit rock-headed and a difficult student. Think spitballs and lots of detention. But her poetry is good, good stuff.

Details from poets.org:

February 19, 2009, 7 p.m.The Edison-Newman Room, Houghton Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

Free and open to the public

Please join us for a celebration of the prestigious Briggs-Copeland lectureships, featuring readings by current poetry lecturers Joanna Klink (author of Circadian) and Peter Richards (author of Nude Siren). Introduced by Bret Anthony Johnston, Director of Creative Writing.
Info:
(617) 495-2454

davis2@fas.harvard

hcl.harvard.edu/libraries/houghton/collections/poetry_room.html

Brian Bresnahan and Tim Murdoch

Examiner readers surely read my bit on the current two man show at the FPAC gallery featuring Tim Murdoch and Brian Bresnahan. Well, I can’t suggest it enough. What great work. Brian’s shots of sand are incredible, and the show is curated wonderfully with pieces next to one another speaking and a great set of work. Plus, Murdoch’s installation is the bomb. Above, see a new pic of me from the show taken by artist Jess Barnett. And one of Jess taken by me. Also, see a good shot of the show which doesn't do it justice at all... go see it in person.

George Benner on BNN

Boston residents tune in tonight (2/18/09) to BNN Channel 9 for their program “Citizen’s Corner.” George Benner will be talking on his organization, Round Table Inc., which can be found at roundtableinc.org. As a local artist and a friend of George’s I often get to give some input as to Round Table and the great programs George organizes. Should be a great show on BNN- check it out. And feel free to YouTube my past appearances on the show… nothing like seeing “Curt Eidsvig,” on a TV graphic!

Blue Cowboys

Pic above is of this painting still in progress. I have been messing with the size and contrast of shapes and colors a bit. Plus, am starting another piece—a collage series tentatively titled “Hearts and Dollar Signs,” not to be confused with Everclear’s “Heartspark Dollar Sign.”

Painted to the soundtrack of Hit the Lights (Bodybag), Biggie Smalls (One More Chance Remix) and New Found Glory (Dressed to Kill, Better off Dead), and Fall Out Boy’s “Dead on Arrival” acoustic…

Blue Cowboys, are, well… blue.

More on The Science of Love

So, have had a lot of questions on how Friday night went—with the Exclamation Point 5! event, The Science of Love, and Vanessa Vartabedian’s film that had a small piece of Kurt Eidsvig.

All A’s. The event was great. The works that evening were great. The actors and actresses were great. And Vanessa’s movie was nothing short of stellar. I am honored to have been included in it. Think there is a chance she may pass along the clip I appeared in, so who knows, I may post it…. but the movie itself which featured all kinds of wonderful visuals and sound… hula hoops, eggs yolks, songs… was brilliant.

And Beantown Beautiful

Like lots of the country, yesterday Beantown was trying to send Spring springing forth. A little early to pack away the sweaters, but it was gorgeous. Above, see a shot I took of people skating on the frog pond in Boston Common.

Blue Cowboys, Noah Baumbach, & My Best Friend’s Girl

My Best Friend’s Girl

If you read my recent Examiner.com article on Shepard Fairey getting thrown in the hooskow here in Boston over this past weekend you may have begun to suspect that I had been boning up on my Boston movie watching.

Yes, it’s true: I watched the Dane Cook vehicle, “My Best Friend’s Girl,” this weekend and it was surprisingly good. It was ridiculously obscene at times, sure, but what can one expect from the post-modern experience? But as someone who is currently battling with fiction and screenplay writing and is immensely interested in storytelling and inventive ways to approach a genre, the Jason Biggs/Dane Cook/Kate Hudson fiasco that is “My best Friend’s Girl,” was a great take-off on the romantic comedy.

Plus, it works to feature Boston prominently as a supporting actress, and what a beauty she can be when she wants to. The shots of the South End, the waterfront, and various Fort Point locations had me swooning.

Noah Baumbach

617Midway readers know that Noah Baumbach is one of my absolute favs of all time. His movie “Kicking and Screaming,” is cinematic genius, and I was a big fan of Margot at the Wedding as well (which reminded me of Alex Katz paintings in terms of its cinematography).

Anyhow, other Baumbach fans out there might want to check the Jan 26, 2009 New Yorker out for his piece “Mouse A Vin.”

Blue Cowboys

As promised, I am including a few pics of a current work in progress, “Blue Cowboys,” or “Even Cowboys Get the Blues.” As with some of my other recent works this one gets its inspiration from clothing catalogs, ideas of self-image and popular image, and other random swirls of Eidsvig ideas. It is 48” x 72”. Keep watching for the certain video clips of me running around wildly trying to paint this thing.

Valentine's Day Poetry

So, I am in the midst of yet another manuscript revision which means I am hip-deep in poetry from yesterday. Wading through at least six years of poems. It is like looking at old High School yearbooks and being astounded at your haircut decisions.

And, yes, that is a dynamite name for a poem or book of poems. Sure, it is awful close to Tom Perrotta's "Bad Haircut," but "Haircut Decisions," could still be poetic gold. It's yours for the taking.

Anyhow, I have nearly no Valentine's Day poems, but I did come across this diddy about candy hearts. It always reminds me of the time on Arrested Development when George Michael finds the candy heart that says "Maybe Tonight," and hits Tobias in the back of the head with it.

Pic above is from the-op.com.

CANDY HEARTS

I have chewed through chalk
to the remnants of this jar
of candy hearts. The dull pinks
irritate teeth, but I keep
gnawing at their shells
and wincing at their taste.

Will you?
Hot Stuff
Wrap your hands
around me
You will wonder
if she won’t call back

and Roses are made for breaking,
and there are tears
spewing from my eye-corners—
not in tormenting ghosts
of yesterday, or the isolation
of an empty jar; but the repetition
of crunched-heart chewing.
As with all these lustful jabs
at messy glass, my eyes
are bigger than my wishes,

and I wish there was another
heart I couldn't taste.

Exclamation Point 5: The Science of Love

So, the Fort Point Theatre Channel put out a call to artists a while back asking for possible contributions to their upcoming event “The Science of Love.” Some of you may remember I have done a few things with them in the past. In fact, a deft you-tuber might even find some variety of various Eidsvig haircuts spitting poetic verse from one of their earlier events.

Anyhow, I submitted a piece titled “Women Are Like Buses,” and they responded accordingly:

“Dear Mr. Eidsvig: Your writing indicates you know less about love than any sentient being. In fact, we are all doomed to dismal relationship failures after having read your work. Thank you for ruining our lives.”

OK, OK, it wasn’t that bad. What they did say was that it probably wasn’t the right event for this piece… and that maybe we could tweak it and include dramatic elements for a future production. Which sounds super cool.

Weird that a piece titled “Women Are Like Buses,” might not ring the right bell for a Valentine’s Eve event, huh?

Anyhow, I have been sitting on the picture above for a bit. Took it one morning in my studio when the sun was careening just right through the gaps in my curtains to make an exclamation point against my front door. Those who know the Eidsvig sleep cycles should know that my ability to operate a camera in the morning is just as impressive as this unexpected sun silhouette appearing in my studio.

But while the Fort Point Theatre Channel pronounced me the anti-cupid, it seems as though I will be participating, if only in part, in Exclamation Point 5: The Science of Love.

Filmmaker Vanessa Vartabedian is presenting a piece for the event and has captured some footage of me doing my freestyle rap impression to my poem “Love is Give and Take,” alongside some audio of me and the late, great Al Eidsvig (my Dad) singing and interacting circa 1977. The still above is from Vanessa’s movie, and it should be a treat.

Here’s the skinny from the FPTC website:
Friday, February 13

Doors open at 6:30, and the readings start promptly at 7.

12 Farnsworth Street, Fort Point, Boston

Next door to the Fort Point branch of Flour Bakery + Cafe
On Valentine's Day Eve, The Science of Love celebrates the optimist and the cynical, the sentimental and the brutal, with plays and video, cartoons and music.

Coordinated and Hosted by Silvia Graziano
and featuring work by Sylvie Agudelo, Brian Bartels, Mary Driscoll, Ira Gamerman, Meron Langsner, Christopher Lockheardt, Ron Pullins, Aoise Stratford, Nick Thorkelson, and Vanessa Vartabedian

and with the participation of Tim Diering, Jorrit Dijkstra, Anthony Gaskins, Christie Lee Gibson, Marc S. Miller, Allen Phelps, Therese Plaehn, Steve Rumpler, Brendan Shea, Robin JaVonne Smith, Daniel J. van Ackere, and Mark Warhol

Come early and order sandwiches, dinner, snacks, and drinks next door at Flour Bakery + Cafe. Flour will serve a full menu till 7; the bakery will stay open for Exclamation Point! till intermission, serving pastries and beverages.

12 Farnsworth Street is off Congress Street, two blocks east of the Children's Museum.
Exclamation Point! is free. No tickets or reservations are needed.

*****
So, come on over to Flour and watch me squirm at my world movie debut.

* * * * *
In other news?

1) Artist Jess Barnett has a new blog, check it out at:
http://myfavoritecliche.blogspot.com/
2) It won’t stop snowing in Boston
3) I have been listening to the band “Hit The Lights,” like crazy. Oooh, that “309.” Oh, and New Found Glory and I have become codependent.
4) I am working on a painting titled “Even Cowboys Get the Blues,” or “Blue Cowboys.” More on that soon.