Camouflage Union Square

It ended up being more powerful to face the rain than the sun. It is always that way. You say that you want to have things go perfectly with clear skies, warmth and glow around but you really don't want it that way. Ambiguity and chaos are more interesting. Face the cold and the shadows and then you have something to remember. Stand in silence, cloaked as nature, in this private act shared.

Camouflage Performance

I have just received an acceptance email that will allow me to perform in a festival this month. If you are in the New York City area and would like to participate in 'Camouflage' please go to the 'complete profile' section (seen at right side of screen) and email me.

Below is an exerpt from my explaination that I provided for the Contemporary Museum in Honolulu

"... measuring approximately 131”x131” It is a piece of government issue desert camouflage that I have altered by adding hundreds of hand cut pieces of Hawaiian shirts. These shirt pieces were then hand tied to the existing camouflage to create a quilt like effect. I originally got the idea when I discovered that Honolulu lei makers were put to work during WWII making handmade camouflage. I thought of the phrase that we hear so frequently, that a family has ‘military ties.’ I decided to make a more palpable interpretation by utilizing used clothing to represent the people of Hawaii, and hand tying this representation in place. "

I later learned that entire buildings in Honolulu were covered in handmade camouflage so to try to make the city look like the jungle.

Most of you that know my earlier Hawaii pieces know that I frequently use the idea of camouflage as a reference to species self-preservation. It has become another way to tie us back to the earth for our own sakes.

Camouflage

Miyoko in full camouflage. Central Park, NYC, Feb 2008

So I am sort of dragging this post out for a while, but I keep thinking that a little more of the story is revealed in the images. I think Miyoko looks quite content to be in the full regalia. I think that I need to get back to art making again. The beginning of the month was a fury of creativity that was soon replaced by dollar earning and illness. I need to get a couple of pieces completed and submitted to a show back in Honolulu. I feel a world away from Hawaii right about now. But the sun shines bright and tonight somewhere in that sky lies a full moon.

As American as baseball and...

All that we were missing now was the apple pie and our America performance would be complete. Strangely intrusive and wonderfully random, I would expect nothing less from the greatest of city parks. I rather like this triangle, mostly because I want to know what in the heck was he thinking?

Camouflage-Central Park

Central Park, New York City

It is hard to describe what happened next, but somehow we became just part of the whole city park scene. A brilliant NYU photo student walked up and comfortably settled into out act. She took her images and then allowed me to adorn her in camo. Miyoko was then cloked, patiently waiting as an elegant, silent Gingko. Then a Father and son joined us to play catch within a few feet of the scene above. A giant poodle tried to attack me. It was everything you want a performance to be and so much more. Interaction, reaction and possibly two of the best photographers one could hope for both on the scene. Build it and they will come, applies to art too, I guess.

we took to the streets

My awesome assistant Miyoko and I took to the city to raise all kinds of questions
(and eyebrows.) We siezed the balmy sunny global-warmed Sunday to set up our performance. More to follow...

Insecurity Blanket

(photo documentation of new fiber piece by me Anna P. )

After learning that we still are, and forever may continue to live at Level Orange, I decided to give my insecurity blanket a try on today. It is a 15 foot piece of government issue desert camouflage that I have altered by adding hundreds of pieces of cut Hawaiian shirts. I was thinking of Klimt's Judith series and Nick Cage's sound suits while I styled these shots. I feel that it needed to be a cloak, even though I keep trying to make it a wall hanging. Yeah wall hanging, who am I kidding? When have I ever made something that fits comfortably into one category. Maybe next I grab Miyoko-san as my fearless assistant and take it to the park...

I reshot today after a night of Klimt research. I transformed myself into the redhead 'Truth' who shines back light from the mirror of truth. Throw in a little reference to 'Hope II,' and I think I have made progress.