((( Cult of Vibration )))

:::: to make form ::::

::: to feel soundwave :::

:: to borrow energy aprons ::

: ring oh oscillator, oscillator :

((( Interspecies Metamorphoses )))

The feet of Erik Tidemann: one adorned with priests, the other, demons. Other tattooed highlights include a tee shirt tattooed on his torso and under, you guessed it, his tee shirt. He is using a room at LKV for the month of April and after I had greatly admired his real bear paw gloves at the Galleri Pluss-Minus opening last weekend, there is talk of making a film before I go. Other recent acquaintances who artfully inspire: Jason Havneraas, Per Kristian Nygård and Lasch.

King Olav | Icicle Longevity | Chaplin

Various Trondheim observances and sights:

I walk past this hair salon window masterpiece several times a day and it never fails to get my attention.

















The long season is dominating my brain, which has been inventing theories about ice formation in an attempt, I believe, to ward off seasonal affective disorder. The latest is trying to gauge the strength of winter's force by the length and stoic qualities of shaded icicles, which don't seem to melt on even the sunniest afternoon. Glacier territory, people. That is where I now exist.











The figure of KingSaint Olav is everpresent and only recently did I discover that the forboding, towering figure of him smackdab in the center of town was erected as an enormous, functioning sundial. That is, for when there might be some sun here!

¡¡ NEUE MUSIK !!

Aural sensations to grace, subvert and enlighten my head as of late. No black metal throwdown yet, but instead I got turned onto ARNE NORDHEIM , an early Norwegian electronic master, still alive and kicking, whose music revolves around the themes of love, solitutude, death and the landscape. What more does one need for inspiration? A thought that has crossed my mind quite often in the waning daylight that filters through my gjesteatelier and announces the dusk through blue hued suggestion.












Yesterday evening, after a long weekend of art openings, beer, haus parties, wine, DJs, whiskey, 8mm film screenings, slideshows and the like, I attended the 1000-year old Nidaros Cathedral for the Trondheim Boys Choir singing Mozart's Requiem. Granted, they were accompanied by outgrown choir boys doing the Basso parts, four adult soloists and an orchestra, but the haunting minor-toned lilting voices of these children sent ice and melancholy through my veins with an air of such levitating power that it was hard to witness and INCREDIBLE. Did I mention that none of the children had any lyrics or sheet music, it was all by rote?

FRETEX

OKAY. They have an incredible thrift store chain here.
Scandinavian teak furniture, anyone?
The one below occupies the basement of a mall and has a young man working there who
works the David Bowie circa Hunky Dory era look with a western touch.

Azure. Illuminates. Displacement.

The Installation View: BABEL

Several of you guys have asked for better shots of the show, and it's not the easiest one to represent, but here's a few
shots to give you an idea! We blocked out 1/2 of the windows for my new projection and for Gavin's piece, which was a composite of footage that he shot while here in Trondheim. He requested simply the back wall, which left me the whole front half. I greatly minimized what I had planned to exhibit, for the sake of minimalism and not to overwhelm his work or my own, for that matter. I hung only one of six mural prints I brought and a copy of "You the Vandal" shown on a TV. The other three installations were made in the last 2 1/2 weeks:

*DRAWN TO QUARTER: Vitriolic Auction Points for the contemporary Artist (the splayed outline of my body with "prices"- double click on a picture for a bigger view)
*LETTER TO ERIK RAUDE (the black branch with gold tips, black death pennant and a letter attached with flesh colored yarn to a letter addressed to the ship that is the Norwegian equivalent of the Valdez)
*ACTUS to POTENTIA: A study in heraldic projection (including the video (((LA MEZCLA))) shown a few entries below)

Voila!

At the BABEL opening!

MEIOSIS: In the landscape was well attended last Friday night! Almost all the artists from LKV came down, wishing us congratulations and looking very thoroughly at all the art! Ah, if only we took such time in the States! Cathrine introduced Gavin (pictured, with hat) and I in Norwegian to a round of applause and 'Skoal' as we toasted the crowd and waited for questions that never came! Compliments were routed through Cathrine, however, and people were impressed and thought the show 'mystical, peaceful and witty.' The trio of trouble, my new friends, pictured- (L to R) Øyvind, Hovårt and Stefffen rallied for the occasion and we wandered out into the wilds of Trondheim for birthday celebrations, storytelling, Cava, sled demonstrations and bouncer tiffs and loud carrying on at Bruk Bar, the local place that everyone seems to end up at. Quite a night!

LEVER means LIVES in Norwegian, but I have to love the idea of a Jesus Lever, like a big on/off switch.
Don't be excessive, now, turn your Jesus off.

trim fur time: before and after = sass junction

Who knew that Norway was the land of JAZZ?

Perhaps even jazz hands! Usually renowned for its Black Metal scene, which I have yet to tap into, for the lack of funds, I have explored some other avenues, that is, last Saturday evening. Below do find a clip of the aforementioned Stian Westerhus in Storås Utested playing in a duo with Erik Andersen, free form heavy loud jazz noise freakout! It cured my post-opening hangover in no time! Afterwards, I went to Bar Blåest to see Bushmen's Revenge and The Thing, two lovely bands with mysterious names! WHY. In any case, BR, as I'll have to call them from now on, is a local instrumental trio, slightly prog and awe inspiring. Note their bows at the end of the set in the middle video, totally Norwegian. Not the first time I've witnessed The Bowing!...The Thing! is 1/3 Swedish emotive sax dude, 1/3 hyper and sweaty stand up bass genius and 1/3 full on jazz kit drum solo extravaganza man on the skins. All wearing matching American BBQ black T-shirts, that no one could really explain? I also discovered with delight that a whiskey is only a fraction more than a draft beer. Ah!

Former Residents from all dimensions

Every Tuesday here at the Lademoen Kunstnerverksteden, there is a big pot of soup brewed up and we gather around the long table at noon and take a break from our respective toils, trials and triumphs d'jour. All the artists here are very sweet and sharp, often speaking English so I won't feel left out. Thursday is Pastry-and-Tea-Day and last week, I was directed to the work of Juhana Moisander, a Finnish artist who did a residency at the LKV a few years back and whom my work reminded them of. The conversation found its way into the supernatural energies of this space, of which I hear there are many. I have had no personal sightings yet, but I am ULTRA wary of the basement under my flat, where I have to go in the middle of the night for the bathroom, and I am also on the lookout for "3 men in uniform strolling the hallways" of the giant studio building, a leftover from forced occupation during ole' Dubya Dubya Two. Huh. Note to self: Pick up some sage in town.

Are you KIDDING me?

Just when the park was almost all green (!) and the dank blanket of hibernation melted in the sea, our will and endurance have to hold on for another spell of white blindness. Hello Nordic Spring.

All I can say is WOW...

...is it too early to make a Christmas wish list? The green Yeti suit, not the grenade bomb, obviously.

Amid the icy gouche, there is no shortage of character amid the grains. I love the Grandpa walking his dog whilst cross-country skiing. (note: best to stay well off the ski paths unless you are looking for trouble!)

Got to Love That Diamond in the Rough

Last Thursday evening, I ventured down with Gavin to the Nova theater complex to see Werner Herzog's "The White Diamond" for the second time. A fascinating documentary, it still leaves me wont for his bolder films. It is worth it just to hear his magical voice with the exaggerated pronouncement of Bavarian inflection. The most special part of this experience, however, was thus: Spooked by the expense of a Cinemateke membership that we needed in order to go in, Gavin hoofed it home. I sprung for it, my heart set on the dark hug that is the movies, only to discover that with membership comes a free film! I ventured into the theatre, where I sat in absolute hedonist abandon. I fancied myself at a private screening, as I was the only one in the whole theater! Amazing. For those of you NOT living in crowded NYC where every film screening is practically full or sold out, you may be missing how incredible and special this was. Just trust me.

Jan Freuchen

 

BABEL art space gallery here in Trondheim is a space for works in progress and established exhibitions. My show with Gavin Peacock entitled "Meiosis: In the Landscape" is up right now, after opening on Friday night. The previous show was the third part in a series called Newspeak. The piece pictured above was entitled "Sa hatten til koppen," by Jan Freuchen , a young Norwegian artist, whose brilliant wit combining art babble, a hat and coffee cup, with obvious references to Beuys. The sound piece installed within made a lasting impression that kept my busy brain occupied for a good while.

EXPANSE

Very apparent how visionary design, literature, rites and culture have been forged from these ancient lands. mesmerizing and not only because you can see your breath, but my eyes gaze with more majesty after spending a number of days under these skies.

Even the supermarket here is fascinating, in a random-grab-n-guess kind of way. My nut allergy has taken an attitude out of lack of defenses.

(Look, Mom! They heart bacon too.)