Numbers - Our Binary Code 07/12/2011
I have been putting a lot of thought lately into the idea of numbers and their correlation to our existence. Alright, alright…for those of you who really know me…I always think about numbers! But stay with me for a few ticks as I work this out with you all… It seems of late that I have had a strong desire to work numbers into my work. I reveal them, draw them, write them, spray them and stencil them as I work on through my many painting layers. Since you asked, here is what I have been thinking about - It seems to me that we are represented and identified by numbers at so many levels and in so many ways. From the time we enter this world we are measured by our weight and length – a set of numbers that verifies we are indeed here. We are then assigned a set of birthday numbers. These numbers will then follow us along year after year – growing as you go. Sure they will start out fun and innocent enough; but then they will evolve into landmark numbers. For example there is ‘Sweet’ 16 and the ever popular ‘Thank God I’m finally’ 21. Then of course let us not leave out the biggest identifier of all! The Social Security number! The magical number that identifies you as a legal and working citizen and is linked to some bank of dwindling numbers somewhere on the 3rd floor of the white house I think. I’m sure you have heard the giant sucking noise when they refer to it on the tele or in the news. That social security number then leads to other important numbers of identification such as bank account numbers. And even a passport number that will allow you to get through airport security and hopefully land you into a proper seat number. Hopefully a nice even number by the window, and not by a talky, smelly person with screaming child in tow! Numbers identify where we live - our house address, and certainly our zip code. And numbers are what are assigned to those beautiful little talky boxes we all carry around, but don’t like to talk into because texting is so much the better. Numbers identify the car we are driving, the license we carry to drive said car, and then the numbers are even kind enough to remind us how many miles over the speed limit we are driving. I especially like the digital orange, easy to read displays that glow warm at night. And if you care to notice, there are even number signs posted here and about to remind you how many miles over you are traveling and softly wink at how fast you should be traveling. Numbers mark the days of the month, the year and they even dare to tell us what time it is. Your shoe size, your ring size, your hat size, your shirt and pants size…hell even the size of your socks… Numbers, numbers, numbers. So I believe that it may not be just my love of math and numbers that has unzipped my sleeping bag of sub-conscious to creep slowly in its feety pajamas and onto the canvas; but a realization that numbers seem to have become the binary code of our human existence. Well now that we have gotten that out of my system, I will probably go back to cross-correlating Fibonacci numbers with Pascal’s triangle and then try to figure out what it all means to my life. RECENT NEWS!! Recently three paintings were accepted into the Annual Will Vawter Show put on by the Hancock County Arts Council. The three are Transitions, Take Control of you Horizons and Throw. Take Control of Your Horizons took First Place over-all in Mixed Media and Transitions took 3rd Place. So not a bad show of it! The artist reception was fantastic, and I always enjoy the opportunity to chat about art and techniques with new artists.  I also submitted and had work accepted into the Indianapolis Arts Council Show called Contemporary Figurative Work and held at Gallery 924 in downtown Indianapolis! I had two pieces accepted – Pleadand Find Your Place. This show was a great success and the artist reception allowed for some great artist networking; and I received lots of great comments and feedback on my work. A really great night indeed! Here is the 4 Star-review from NUVO: http://www.nuvo.net/indianapolis/review-contemporary-figurative-work-at-924/Content?oid=2290319. Here is a video re-cap of the show done by Dan Cooper for the Arts Council of Indianapolis. Check out my cameo appearance!  Reach - Mixed Media - 48x48" The show runs through July 29th so if you are downtown pop in and see it! It is an extraordinary collection of works from a great group of artists for sure! Not to mention the really cool space that holds it all! And finally, here is a first look at my latest painting, “Reach.” Do keep the comments and e-mails coming…Until next time! Rock on! 2 Comments Gallivanting Cagney 02/17/2010
Hello Art fans! It has been a while since we have chatted! I want to start off by sharing with you a really cool opportunity that came my way from Kunst Art in Belgium. They have a very cool website called Start Looking featuring artist’s videos and interviews, and they asked if my video from my show at Wug Laku’s Studio & Garage could be included! Of course I was very excited and happy to oblige! You can click HERE for the link to my video. While you are there be sure to check out the site…it is very cool! I love thinking I’m on an artist site right along side Chuck Close and Francis Bacon!! Let’s see…what next. Ah Yes! I was invited to attend an Artist’s Salon at the beautiful studio of Artist Elle Siskind. About six artists got together and we spent an afternoon chatting about art and reviewing each other’s work in progress for critique and input. It was awesome! I took a painting that I had been struggling with, as well as a painting sketch for a new painting. I got terrific feedback and know now exactly what I need to do to get the struggling painting back on track. Sometimes I get so close, and spend so much time on a painting that I forget to step back and really SEE it. I learned first and foremost – don’t forget to breathe, step back and LOOK at what I am doing. Oh that poor canvas…but no worries…I’ll fix it! The biggest fun for me was to be able to ‘talk art’ with a group of people with like interests. This made for a very enjoyable afternoon for me!  And finally, I went to a Dr. Sketchy’s event that was held in Broadripple. Those events are always so much fun! Some of you may remember my interview with the founder of the Indianapolis Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School. For those of you who would like a little nudge reminder, or for those of you new to my blog you can listen to that interview below. Great time had by all, and it is so much fun to work from live models. Plus, the Burlesque troop really goes out of their way with costumes, themes and in keeping the evening lively! So, as you can see I have been keeping myself busy! (Which is good…I can’t get myself into too much trouble that way!) In-between I am of course working in studio and keeping things very messy there. As usual, I have very much enjoyed all of your comments and e-mails. Do keep them coming! Until next time, Rock on! Dr. Sketchy's Interview Part IDr. Sketchy's Interview Part IINow Showing! New Painting Video 10/22/2009
Things are back in full swing for King Studios! Needless-to-say, I have jumped back in with both feet and I’m off and running on several new projects. It took me a little bit to get back into a schedule again, but I think at last count I have about five paintings in various stages, each with their own energy and spirit that calls to me at various times. So…I am keeping myself very busy! I have been promising and hinting at a video about my most recent Juarez series painting. And ta-da! Here it is! I am calling this painting ‘Juarez Bass Man’ and it is a 36x72” Mixed Media painting. This fellow may very well be the last in the Juarez series – I am tossing and turning over one more that has been swimming in my brain pool – but I’m not sure. Of course if I do paint this last painting that is living in my head, then that will make a series of 6 paintings which is a very nice even number as opposed to 5 which is an odd and dodgy number. We will see what time and temperature bring my way! Maybe I will and maybe I won’t – but I probably will, maybe. In the meantime – enjoy this video! A now, a brief editorial rant, for those of you with above average intelligence that may find yourself offended or distracted by the opinions expressed here, read no further and enjoy your day. Keep your comments and letters coming, I absolutely adore them! For the rest, read on…for THIS is a small example of why Americans are such entertainment for the rest of the world. A friend of mine shared this link with me about a news story of a man, in his own home, who at 5:30 in the morning was spotted - by a woman and her son walking outside - going into his kitchen for a cup of coffee in the buff…IN HIS OWN HOME. The woman was apparently offended, as the yenta bitch took it upon herself to call the police and report the man. The very man, who was in his OWN F&@#$%ing home, minding his own F&@#$%ing business. And now IF charges are filed it could result in a misdemeanor and a possible jail sentence of one year. This is the kind of stuff that makes me crazy! Thus, the reason my friend shared this with me, as he likes to see me crazy. With all the things going on in our country that are so devastatingly horrid - such as gangs of kids beating honor roll students to death with broken rail road ties; armed gunmen shooting pregnant women; people busting into homes and slaughtering families for $20 and some change; armed boys sticking up children at bus stops for their lunch money and i-pods; women and men – not to mention old ladies; being mugged at ATM’s for their grocery money…does this really seem necessary? One, and let’s get this straight America – nudity is not a representation of evil. The body is a beautiful vessel in every shape and form and everyone has one, and depending on the model it may come with a vagina or a penis! (...and in some cases both) Get over it. Two – mind your own F&@#$%ing business! What in the hell gives someone the right, to a)peek into someone’s windows and judge the activity therein – especially at five-f’ing-thirty in the morning – and b)take on the responsibility to take action against this person. What is next!? Will she be errantly peeking into someone else’s window while walking the dog or her son outside, and notices someone watching an R-Rated video and turn them in to the police for watching a ‘dirty’ movie in the confines of their own home, in which someone in the film might have cussed or was naked? This is the kind of petty, backward, close-minded, pea-brained crap that makes me get that wrinkle in my forehead that won’t go away…the one that surrounds the little vein that pops out. I have suspected it for years, but now I know – yep…that little vein is indeed a stupidity detector, and unfortunately it is not going to go away anytime soon. Lights, Camera, Action - IndyStar Video 06/30/2009
Konrad Marshall from the Indianapolis Star paid me a visit in my studio to interview me for my Indianapolis solo show - Cagney@Wugs - I hope you enjoy the video interview! Cagney TV - May Vlog 05/03/2009
Cagney's first VLOG! 03/28/2009
Thought I would mix things up and give you guys some video love for this blog installment! Check it out! If you missed the WFYI broadcast with me as the featured artist...you can go to WFYI.org > Local Programming > Art of the Matter and hear the show for one week only. Poetry Pants...a painting! 01/21/2009
Yes indeedy doody! A finished painting...I think. Ok..yes. Maybe...alright...we will go with yes! At least I think so. OK...final answer - Yes. |  Cagney KingI am 98% Artist (110% at heart - but bad at math) and 2% human being. I keep working hard in the hopes that one day my art story will be like the great artist fairytale. You know the one - the one about how the poor, struggling artist rocking on the edge of insanity is toiling away in her studio day after day, when one day a handsome person comes to see her work, and decides that she should be rescued. From that day on they pay her to paint, pimp out her work and buy her beer. Everyone lives happily ever after. ArchivesApril 2012 CategoriesAll |
