WEEKLY PICS! New Photography From My Vaults of Hard-drives

A fine hello, and how-do-you-do to all my esteemed colleagues out there, and hell, even you too. I continue with my customary excuse line, "I've been sooo busy with all these other projects, and yada yada yada...." the thing is though, this time, I'm not lying. I've been cooped up editing a series of documentary's for IN:SITE, a local "temporary public-art" organization here in good 'ol Milwaukee, and though I really am loving it- its beginning to make me a little nutty. If that isn't bad enough, I haven't even had the time to indulge in my usual remedy for imbalance- ART ITSELF!

"The Cell Phone Photo Gallery," Curated By Joseph R. Reeves

So, for the very humble hand full of people that have been faithfully following my various endeavors within art, writing, and film; you may recall my very first installation of "The Cell Phone Photo Gallery," that was cooked up my senior year at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design well over a year ago. At the time, I was very excited about the concept itself and entirely pleased with the small scale version of it that I was able to install. Since then, I had kept it in the forefront of my mind as a project that needed to be given its full extent of potential as soon as I could find a space large enough to host the show.

Over a year later, after having done a substantial amount of traveling and living on the road while working on the in-process manuscript for THE LAST GREAT american JOURNEY; I had returned to milwaukee to work for a month or two, in efforts to collect some cash to continue my traveling (I am in Eugene, OR. as I type this, and Portland bound by tomorrow). During my prolific little stint in Milwaukee, I did everything that I couldn't do on the road, and I pushed my studio practice to the fullest, almost always working large scale- mostly because it's not an option when you're living out of your back pack. Out of the whole batch of work, my biggest accomplishment was definitely the full scale implementation of "The Cell Phone Photo Gallery."

It just so happened that during my time in Milwaukee, a serendipitous little happening took place that randomly ended up getting me a job with iNViDiA DESIGN. Since these guys had the means to support a show of this caliber, I immediately began forming an in depth proposal. The extensive 8 page proposal outlined the budget, construction, implementation, and any/all otherdetails concerning the show.

I must've done something right because the proposal was accepted, and I had just over a month to collect the photo's and build a gallery for the humungous, pillar-lined Pritzlaff building. I was very grateful that M.A.R.S./iNViDiA was willing to give me the space I needed.

By using social networking devices such as text messaging, and Facebook, I was able to generate allot of interest in the show, and even more importantly, I was able to boost the number of submissions a bit. The main efforts we put forth with our highly modest budget, were in pounding the pavement, hitting the street, and littering Milwaukee with fliers requesting that people submit us their favorite cell phone photos for the gallery. An important aspect of my approach was that all the photographs would remain entirely anonymous, and pretty much anything was acceptable as content.

Opening these subversive possibilities up to complete strangers was intriguing to me because in a sense, it gives a very broad audience a certain amount of control over the content as a whole. In this way, my role as "curator" is both loose and debatable. To this extent, I believe I am working towards the idea of using curating as a medium in itself.

I collected over 600 pictures for The Cell Phone Photo Gallery, and I see this project as one that will continue to develop through the years. As I continue to travel, I am beginning to flirt with the notion of collecting photos regionally, but like usual, I will make those decisions as they come.

The idea of representing the photos eventually in a book is also a possibility- if you're interested in providing me with space for a show, or are interested in the possibilities of seeing this idea in print, e mail JOSEPHREEVESART@YAHOO.COM

I could sit here and elaborate on this exhibition till the cows come home, but to a certain extent, I feel like doing so would limit the convenient elbow room I left you for contemplation. So, UN-like a curator, I am going to shut the hell up and let you do some inventing. No short cuts to thinking around here folks, sorry.

If you'd like to read some more about the concept, check out the original posting of the small scale version- if you click on "CURATING" on the side bar here, under categories, it's probably the only other piece I have under that heading, but hell, who knows. It was interesting for me to go back to, maybe it will be for you too.

THANKS SOOOOO MUCH:

to Chastaine Tallon, Austin Gardener, and Brian Olsen, who assisted me in the major construction of the show, the printing of the pictures, and the distribution of the fliers. Their efforts were crucial to the successful outcome of this event, and I am forever grateful.

The awesome graphic design for the fliers, was compliments of Chastaine Tallon. Chassy specializes in collaborating with artists, so anyone in need of a thoughtful, intelligent, designer that understands the art of design, I highly recommend her services. E-mail me if you need her contact info.

A final thank you, goes to M.A.R.S., for giving me the space to have this show. If it weren't for their trust in my proposal, and their support of my concept, this show couldn't have happened.

THE FIRST TREE I'VE EVER MADE!

If you like this and other pieces, you should know that many of my current pieces are created on the road, as I am writing "THE LAST GREAT american NOVEL-" Be sure to follow this blog, it is my main priority currently (in the world of blogging that is)
The link is a few posts below, and on the side of the site this site as well- it can be found at:
http://www.thelastgreatamericanjourney.blogspot.com/


It was a bit frustrating being in Jacksonville NC- a Marine town with nothing to do at all, AND, Brian and Mark were working most days. I stayed productive initially by writing for the novel until midnight most days, and then pounding cheap beer with Brian until 3 or 4 and passing out, and then doing it all over again. I did get a bunch of work done on the novel, and I actually don't mind that sort of life- but after about a week I realized there was something missing in my life- I was feeling unfulfilled.
I decided to stop staring at my computer screen for hours on end, unless I was ACTUALLY writing, and decided to change out of Marks sweatpants, and go walk around outside.
It was a beautiful day out, and there were these wonderfully cute little lizzards running around all over the place. I began to go explore the back of the camper, and ended up just playing around with the nature that I saw, which eventually got me thinking about what kinds of art I could make out of it. The way I approached it reminded me of being a kid, and how much time I spent just goint and "playing" in the woods. The revitalization of that spirit began to inspire me, and as I came across a big dead tree that had fallen, I started to jump around on it, trying to get a nice piece to break off. After propping it up on a rock, and finally jumping onto it with a snap- I had a nice length of wood that I could carve or do SOMETHING with, I just wasn't sure what.
I sat there among nature and just looked at it and thought. Although I have always enjoyed earthworks, and natural installations, and that type of thing- I don't often see new concepts being explored; most of the time it is using elements found in nature, and arranging them in an eye pleasing composition. With that in mind, I began to think of how futile an effort that can seem be in comparison to the authentic beauty of nature. Put another way, nature in itself, is so inspiring that artists most often times use fragments of it as a medium to make something that is "MADE OF NATURE" but is no longer "Natural" or within the context of "Nature."
I thought about it over the next night, and when I approached the sad dead log, I suddenly had an idea. What if I could bring this dead log back to life? although I found a certain beauty in it already, I began to wonder if I could make this a "REAL" tree again. Along with this notion, is also a certain trickery that always appeals to me. The idea that I could "FORGE" a tree, or "FALSIFY" nature, began to intrigue me as a challenge.
I ran back to Marks trailer, and grabbed a pair of scissors, a box of toothpicks, and the fold-up marine standard shovel that he had given me for my trip. The results, are not too bad for my first try, and my limited materials. Although we left Jacksonville before I could really put some touches on that tree that would fool anyone- I am pleased with how far I was able to push it, and will be trying to invent new trees and plants now as I continue my travels.
A really great part about the process, is how meditative and reflective it really is to try and replicate nature in such a literal sense. It is not only a humbling experience, but it gives you a sense of inferiority that is intriguing to use as a challenge against yourself, and is at the same time, an aspect that contributes to the way you appreciate nature that isnt invented by wacky traveling artists such as myself.
the day before I departed from Jacksonville, I was overjoyed when a neighbor came over and asked- as if astounded- if we had a magnolia tree growing on the side of the trailer.

New Glitter Porn Pieces, AND Fun Process Pics!

As simple of a concept as these glitter pieces really can seem, there is conversely, a level of depth to their presence, as well as their depiction. Strangely enough, I found myself spending alot of time in choosing these photos out of porno magazines- not for personal reasons believe it or not, but for finding exactly perfect images. Not perfect in any sort of superficial sense either- I was seeking images in which the female model was displaying not only a sense of control or dominance over the male objects, but also striking eye contact, and an intense expression that evokes a disarming sense of intimacy, lust, and voyeurism when confronting the viewer.
The pieces are done on 4' x4' panels, so the relatively large scale is also confrontational in its essence. Although the content is considerably offensive, and the images are quite 'loaded' with possible meanings- I am trying to use the push/pull of imagery versus material, in the same way that I am trying to illustrate the contrast between natural, intimate, human behaviors; and the silliness of our demoralizing, hypocritical, degradation of these same such images publicly.
Would you think I'm a pervert if I said I thought these images were sexy?
Instinct, curiousity, human nature, and pleasure- all seem to be direct contradictions to societal expectations- these pieces are just an extension of some of those never ending human struggles.
Don't worry mom, I do OTHER things with my art too.
Because of my avid documentation practice, I got a bunch of fun photographs during my working too! I just cant do one damn thing at a time I guesss...

THE LAST GREAT american NOVEL

I feel like a pretentious bastard to say this, but I am writing THE LAST GREAT american NOVEL. Really now though, I am. I will be leaving on the 22nd of SEPT, and will be going on a one year trip to CALIFORNIA. Me and my two partners in crime, DYLAN ZYLEWSKI, and BRIAN OLSEN- are leaving Milwaukee with an enormous van, my parents pop-up camper, about a thousand bucks, and all the necessary implements of destruction we will need to survive and create art along the way.
It is sure to be the adventure of a lifetime, and along with the intent of moving to California and fleeing from the Milwaukee winter time- is the intent to write a novel based on the experiences we have along the way. We have a few people in a few states that we will visit, but for the most part, the journey is entirely improvisational. We most certainly do not have enough money, and part of the adventure will be having to find random jobs along the way.
A blogspot much like this one, has been created to detail EVERY aspect of the trip as it unfolds. This is including a list of our materials along the way, random thoughts or observations, character profiles of people we meet on the road, future/current plans, updated financial details, excerpts of the in process novel as well as various other photography, writing, sculpture, drawing- basically, the blog will serve as an interactive format for others to monitor our travels, our adventure, and our thoughts at the time. PLEASE CHECK THIS BLOG OUT! I PROMISE WE WILL KEEP IT UPDATED ALMOST DAILY! ALSO, I have already posted the first draft of the PREFACE on this site. It can be seen at: www.THELASTGREATamericanJOURNEY.blogspot.com


BRIAN OLSEN a.k.a. "B.O."
DYLAN ZYLEWSKI a.k.a. "D- MONEY"

Joseph R. Reeves a.k.a "Joseph R. Reeves Esq."

DONT FORGET TO FOLLOW AND MARK THIS BLOG! ONCE AGAIN, THE SITE IS:
www.THELASTGREATamericanJOURNEY.blogspot.com

Installment #1 of "CELL PHONE PHOTO GALLERY" (curated by Joseph R. Reeves Esq.)

The "CELL PHONE PHOTO GALLERY," is an idea concocted by currator Joseph R. Reeves Esq. with the fueling notion behind it, to take any curratorial decisions based opon personal opinion in both aesthetic and professional senses- and throw them out with the trash! This is a gallery opportunity for the everyday american who ALMOST DEFINITELY has a phone with a camera on it (even my mom has one).
By relieving this curratorial power from the hands of the gallery, we can see for once, an honest show of photography that reveals not only what the average person wants to see in a gallery, but the converse agenda of contributers who expose photos annonymously in an unintentional effect of revealing exactly HOW ELSE camera phones are being used. No matter what variation of personal meaning the unknown 'artists' ACTUALLY have when contributing their photos, the actual treatment of these works in a serious gallery context- and among clusters of many many other cell phone photos- strangely transforms these beautiful, odd, humerous, and always interesting photographs into something you might find in a fine art photo show normally. This also leads to a beautiful and transformative reality for the everyday american, to understand that art is anything, and anywhere; and the term artist, is really just an umbrella term.
Another key aspect of this piece for me, is using the idea of curating as a medium almost. I littered my target areas with fliers that asked people to send their favorite cell phone photos to me, and I gave them my number and e mail to either send it via e mail, or simply by sending it directly to my phone. The ease of contributing to this photo show is what made it so successfull, I got about 150 submissions in 2 days!!!
I plan to continue putting fliers up around the united states as I travel for the next year, and hopefully, one year from now I will have a MASSIVE cell phone photo gallery showing that will take place. Ideas for a book of the ongoing collection are also in the works. E mail me with suggestions or contributions! WWW.JOEMAMMAXX23@yahoo.com.
Here are a few of the raw photos too!