work – Neon Poisoning

The New Art in Houston: Temporary and Permanent

Last week was one of art installation.

Installation of Aurora Robson’s Commission “Lift” for Rice University’s Barbara and David Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center – Houston, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

“Lift” (Detail) – Installation of Aurora Robson’s Commission “Lift” for Rice University’s Barbara and David Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center – Houston, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

That’s not me up on the genie lift, I was part of the ground crew. The artist is Aurora Robson, the piece is called “Lift”, it looks gorgeous, and you can find it here.

Local arts blogger Robert Boyd found some pre-installation pix from NYC blog C-Monster.

Also, helped with installing some of the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft’s Iron: Forged, Tempered show. I’ll spare the adjectives, just go see it. Plan on enjoying the metal works, be pleasantly surprised by the other great exhibitions.

Let the End-of-Year Navel Gazing Begin + Visions of A Brave New Year

2009: The Year of Sloth

…at least that’s how it feels right now. But isn’t this quiet time before the New Year just perfect for dwelling on all the failures and missed opportunities of the past year. So easy to do so.

2010 Goals:

Stop dwelling on all the failures and missed opportunities of the past year. Not so easy to do.
Find that inspirational New Year resolutions post I read online yesterday. Read something good by a creative type (could swear it was Karen O!) about productive strategies and not sabotaging yourself in the process. Now, I couldn’t find it to save my life. Why is the Internet so big?
Blog more. This website (and Flickr) has put me touch with some good people and the occasional paying gig. I like interesting people and $$$. More of those, please!
Write more. National Novel Writing month had me busting out some decent writing on a long term book. Since then nada. Not feeling the Muse. Find Muse. Feel up Muse.
Make more music. Got a good start on some electronic noodling that I’m pretty pleased about. But I’m reaching the limits of my musical skills and need to get some feedback. Looking to find some Houston based peeps for help. So, do that.
Be a better husband. My missus is fantastic. Be the husband she deserves. ‘Nuff said.

2009 is moving away in the rearview mirror, and I’ll be spending the new year with two great women of my life and a lot of opportunities that are only mine to screw up.

That’s not such a hard list.

Opening Thursday – Michael Salter @ Rice University Art Gallery

Robot show at SJMA, originally uploaded by AstroGirl.

Building large robots is hard work. I should know, I’ve been working with artist Michael Salter on one of his styrobots. The standing robot above is from the San Jose Museum of Art. The Rice Gallery ‘bot will be sitting, chilling in the corner.

It’s another great show at the gallery. Every single person in the world should see this show.

Pictures of the installation and completed sculpture go online Thursday.

The Big Project: Aurora Robson at Rice University Gallery

Works by Aurora Robson – Plan for an Installation, originally uploaded by hragvartanian.

Soon, there will be a post about the art installation duties that consumed me before, during and after the hurricane. Until then, the above model of Aurora Robson’s installation at Rice University Gallery will have to do until I can post photos of the real thing.

For those of you in Houston (or not) this installation is a real treat, and one worth taking some time to see.

Hard-Working Slacker

The last week and two days have been spent working at the Alley Theater, installing lights for their “Christmas Carol.” It was the most intensive, rigorous theatrical lighting job I’ve done. Most of the shows I’ve worked in the past have been traveling rock and roll shows in roadhouses or arenas, and touring performers/small theater companies in small venues for short runs. This is a much different thing. This show (whose lights and sets look mighty impressive) will be running until December. The detailed set and effects-laden lighting meant a longer set-up time to really wring out the details and meet the Light Designer’s standards. Hoping to see this one once it opens to the public.

The hard work stole my time away from blogging, writing for NaNoWriMo and everything else. Now, on a day off I’m lying here, typing up this post, researching old Vegas phone numbers for some fiction, and procrastinating about calling a gallery about some on-call art installation work. In the other room, a list of tasks waits to pounce on me.

I can slack a little longer before guilt gets me out of bed.

One-Job-One-Car Family

Since we moved to Houston, we are a one-car-one-job family. While the missus has worked full-time teaching, I have almost always worked a collection of on-call art and theater positions. Like fitting small puzzle pieces around a larger one, my jobs have always fit around her schedule. And it has always worked to our advantage. For over nine years, we have been a one-car family and it works well for us.

Recently, I interviewed with a great Houston-based company. It was almost a dream come true, a combination of art installation and fabrication. I have been so used to working freelance, it came as a complete surprise to me that they offered their employees full-time work. I told them that, while I probably couldn’t take it, I’d need to talk to the missus about it before I could make a firm decision.

If I took the job, we would have to buy a second car immediately (and incur a whole set of new expenses relating to it). Further, expecting our first child, my wife and I need to have flexibility in our schedules that a full-time job for me wouldn’t allow. So, for the time being, I’m taking a pass on the job, and we’ll postpone the purchase of another car until our baby’s arrival is closer.

Job or no job, I keep thinking that this new daughter of mine is going to be getting cool toys and goodies at the expense of all the goodies I want!

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The OC Register has an interesting article about a family that got rid of their car and ended up saving a lot of money. – Life: Giving up gasoline and getting in gear

They Write the Songs: Working with Musicians

My jobs always have me meeting interesting people and one of the last jobs I’ve worked was no different. 3 of the four guys I working with are in bands. Jason is the drummer for Dead Confederate. Their myspace page has them describing themselves as “Rock / Psychedelic / Other”. What’s really cool is that they just got signed to a label and are doing a bunch of touring.

While talking about his band schedule, I met another new guy (to me) who was also in a band. Jason was talking about hitting some cities in Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama. Mo mentioned that his band was flown in a military cargo plane to perform for the soldiers at Guantanmo Bay. His band, Mother’s Finest.

Mo’s got a sweet ride that he built himself. The doors come from VW Beetle, he salvaged wood from a shipping pallet for the roof and steering wheel and the trunk has been cut down to fit his Frankensteinian monster of a hot-rod. If I had only seen it in a picture I wouldn’t have looked twice, but I feel in love with this thing when I saw it. I love the carpeted doors.

Moe’s Truck, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

Fun In San Fran: Another Return Back From Yet Another Ship

Back to Atlanta from yet another lighting installation on a cruise ship.

This time was 6 nights in San Francisco. While every work night was spent on the ship, our last travel day was spent running around the city. I forgot how much I loved the city and this recap won’t do it justice. I didn’t hit all the strange places I wanted to visit (The Wave Organ on the bay & the Camera Obscura near Cliff House) but I did manage to hit the badly great Musee Mecanique on Pier 45 (location on My Google Map.) This is now a new favorite place of mine and I’ll be singing its praises! Check its link for a more thorough details on this odd museum.