All About You...Casey Opstad!

Here is an insightful look into the mind of Casey Opstad, one of the participating artists in Masters of the Universe on exhibit through March 27th. He really is a sweetheart when you get to know him.

1. What is your first art related childhood memory?

Every year for Christmas I got a set of #2 pencils and drawing pad. It was my favorite present. I would usually draw log cabins and design my dream homes. Looking back I realize that this was normal and common experience for children and I am in no way special.

2. As an artist, who is your biggest influence?

David Byrne

3. What did you listen to in the studio while creating this show?

The Walkmen & Animal Collective

4. Name three unexpected items one would find in your studio.

Switchblade/five thousand dollars in cash/the head of Alfredo Gonzalez

5. What is your least favorite famous work of art?

Tracey Emin's "My Bed"

6. What art do you have hanging on your walls?

I personal like to keep my walls blank. If I put anything up its mainly porno.

7. What are you working on now?

Poppin’ off, getting sprung and getting paid.

8. What will the title of your retrospective at MOMA be?

The Biggest Knife

Follow this link for more work by Casey Opstad.

Follow this link for more information on Masters of the Universe.

A Trip Down Recent Memory Lane...Get Lucky 2011

Here is a collection of images from Get Lucky 2011...A special thanks to the photographers that sent us these great images:

Photos Courtesy of Claire Molepske




Photos Courtesy of Beth Heemeyer:




Photos Courtesy of Christian Erickson, one of our Zeus Jones Neighbors (who generously donated part of their space):

All About You…Karl Unnasch

Get to know Karl Unnasch, who is currently working on Suspension of This Belief, an installation and performance which will take place during Get Lucky 2011! There is still a chance to bring in an object to have it transformed into art! Visit HERE for more information on how. Our last blog entry shows some of the objects already brought in for transformation.

1. What is your first art related childhood memory? Mom sitting on the couch in the living room whittling hillbilly caricature figures with an Exacto hobby knife whilst pregnant with my twin sisters.

2. As an artist, who is your biggest influence? Obsessives and Compulsives: Those whose passions are their transgressions. I am fascinated by those compelled to make and do without reason. Their endeavors are more honest than any artist.

3. What did you listen to in the studio while creating this show? I keep the dial moving...my sound system is a mix of MPR, blues, and podcasts.

4. Name three unexpected items one would find in your studio. Y'know.everything here is necessary and deliberate. All my stuff is important to my work. A lack of bourbon would come as a shock to some, but I am usually on top of that.

5. What is your least favorite famous work of art? At least 70% of most contemporary "famous" work is vacuous and pretentious if not just plain lazily executed. I need to see more work that puts the artist back into her/his/their work with some honest sacrifices and efforts.

6. What art do you have hanging on your walls? I collect work from those artists whom I know and respect.

7. What are you working on now? Way too much, really. My biggest challenge is turning my house into a living installation.

8. What will the title of your retrospective at MOMA be? Duck and Cover: The Natural Wrath of the Aesthetic.

Thanks Karl!!!
For more information on Suspension of This Belief visit HERE.
For more work by Karl Unnasch visit HERE.

Objects waiting for transformation!

Here is a sneak peek of some of the objects for Suspension of This Belief before Karl Unnasch re-engineers them into a new art object. There is still time to get an object of your own transformed! Follow the link HERE!

Behind The Scenes Footage

This video clip shows some behind the scenes footage of David Bowen setting up for Soft Chaos. Including a shot of him programing the blimps! This was before we loaded in the flies.

Interesting Tidbits about Flies!

To celebrate our little fly friends who are currently piloting the blimps in David Bowen's Soft Chaos we decided to share some interesting facts about them:

• The average house fly lives on average 30 days.

• A flies wings beat 200 times per second.

• Flies don't grow. They are born full size.

• Flies have 4000 lenses in each eye.

• Flies jump up and backwards when taking off.

• Average speed of a fly in flight is 4.5 m.p.h.

• Flies smell with their antennae.

So now you know a little more about flies...they will be with SooVAC till January 2nd.

Sarah Nakano talks about her work!!!

PRX » Piece » Sarah Nakano