1985 (Artist Statement Part 2/2) An installation of dreamy pin-up drawings from 1985.

There are two parts to this installation. The first part is based on the physicality of my bedroom from 1985, located in North York in a town house complex, which was and still is a haven for the ultimate suburban life. The posters in the gallery are duplicate prints of my original drawings printed on poster paper. The original desk and the ghetto blaster I used to listen and record from are also included in the installation. The soundtrack in the gallery is played from the mixed tapes I recorded from the radio and TV in 1985 and respectively from 1984. These are the cheesy retro 80’s songs I listened to while I drew, it was the most comforting thing for me at the time.

(image: Cassette Series (Tears for Fears no.1), Mixed Media on Cassette Case, 2010)

The second part involves my current art making practice mixed with the 1985 drawings traced directly on the cassette case. It’s an installation with a grid of cassette cases hung on the wall. Each one is individually drawn and painted on the inside of the back door of the case. And each case is accompanied with a mixed tape I made from my collection in 1985.

(image: Cassette Series (Ricky Schroder no.1), Mixed Media on Cassette Case, 2010)

This exhibition is a celebration of knowing what I wanted to do with my life 25 years ago. I knew after the 3rd or 4th drawing in May of 1985 that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Draw and listen to music. Life didn’t quite turn out that way, but it’s pretty close since I still do it in my adulthood along with other responsibilities and events that occur daily.

(image: Cassette Series (Prince no.1), Mixed Media on Cassette Case, 2010)

This show is dedicated to Sylvia Horowitz who shared that experience with me in 1985.

1985 (Artist Statement Part 1/2) An installation of dreamy pin-up drawings from 1985.

On May 18th, 1985, after celebrating my 11th birthday, I sat down at my desk that had the map of the world on it and started to draw. I drew the pin-ups that covered my bedroom walls with Duran Duran, Wham!, Ricky Schroder, John Stamos, and basically whoever graced the pages of Bop, 16, Teen Beat, Super Teen and Tiger Beat magazines. In this installation I’ve chosen to display the first 61 drawings that spanned from May to December of 1985. I chose them because they represent the pure innocence of not following any type of instruction other then what I saw on the page of the magazine. I can’t draw like that anymore and that is what is so special about them. They look very simple, even bad, but in a good way because they are so free from any type of limitations and rules. They’re like kids who don’t worry about everyday things like adults do.

(image: Detail of Drawing (Ricky Schroder), 8"x10", Graphite on paper, 1985)

My current artwork is focused on the Volkswagen beetle, which is an alter ego of myself, and the narratives in the work are biographically based. They carry years of personal trials, where the 1985 drawings don’t. Just like my obsessive relationship with using the beetle for 11 years, you can see the same type of relationship I had with these drawings. As I look at them I see what I felt back then which was the same type of comfort and security I currently do with my artwork today.

(image: White Picket Fence No.1 (Detail), mixed media on wood panel, 2010)

"1985" Part 1 - 24 days - A Miracle! (warning long blog)

Yes I encountered a miracle this morning. My ghetto blaster, well it's actually my older sister's ghetto blaster from 1982ish, started to work again! I remember years ago trying to see if it still worked so I plugged it in and there was no life to it, no life at all. And I remember trying a few more times after that, just to see, but it still didn't work.


In the last few months as I was getting ready to finalize the details for the "1985" show, I kept saying to myself that I really should get that tape deck fixed because it needs to be part of the show. After all it's where I taped all the music from the radio and tv up until probably 1987 when I got my double decker. But my friends had advised me to just get something that looks like it because to try and get that old thing fixed would have cost me a brand new tape deck plus!

As I was getting ready this morning to go out to the east end over to the pawn shops to look for this look alike ghetto blaster, I was looking at the one I have and noticed a switch on the side which I don't remember noticing before. So I thought to myself, you know I should really try and see what this little guy can do because it might be the reason why it's not working. What can I say, I don't give up easily.

So, I switched the little switch on the side, and then I plugged it in. When I plugged it in, I couldn't believe it, I heard a "heart beat", that's what I call it an electronic heart beat! Then I pressed on the rewind button which worked! Then I pulled an old Eurythmics cassette and what do you know, a switch here and a switch there, and boom, the music started to play!
(The lead off song after this blog should be "Let the Music Play" by Shannon.)

1985 Break - Artist Project March 4 - 8

I took a minor break from the "1985" project to focus on the new vw beetle work for the Artist Project.

I'm exhibiting in the AWOL Collective booth, # 210.

If you get a chance please come by, here is a link with all the info:

http://www.theartistprojecttoronto.com/dates_and_times.php

"1985" Part 1 - 34 days to go - Who is your favourite Duran Duran?