What a year…

Yes, I am well aware that it has been 3 months since an entry has appeared in what is supposed to be a weekly blog. I humbly apologize. It has been an eventful year to say the least. These last 3 busy months have been full of madness and mishaps, including my laptop going to the “Mac Doctor” 3 times, internet issues and other computer mayhem, broken household appliances, minor injuries and illnesses, and well, major financial upheaval. There have been many highs as well, including pulling off decor and more for two major events as part of the Fantastic Hosts, a Denver event group I belong to. We had a Halloween event for over 900, and a massive holiday event (the 14th annual) for over 3000 of our closest friends. (you can see images & videos from both of these events on the Fantastic Hosts facebook page,  http://www.facebook.com/FantasticHosts ) Both of these events were a smashing success. Lots of study paintings have already been created (and sold) for the BMPP, and the photo editing is complete. Most of the images are now up on the BMPP facebook fanpage at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Welcome-Home-A-Burning-Man-Portrait-Project/169502786438429  I’ve been invited to be in a group exhibit at the Center for Visual Arts (http://www.metrostatecva.org/) here in Denver, and will be debuting the first “gallery” painting for the BMPP, “La Quema Muertos”. Opening day is February 2nd. I also managed to get all the required images, videos and papers to the Burning Man Organization on time, so I’m on track with the first stage of the “legal stuff” completed.

Our holidays were quiet and lovely, much of them spent snuggled up with the pugs catching up on this year’s movie releases, a much-needed respite after this crazy year. Looking forward to my hosting duties for the last Fantastic Hosts event of the year on New Year’s Eve, and looking forward to a 2012 full of success, prosperity and joy, and hopefully another trip to Burning Man in August…this time with my own really good camera.

Wishing you and yours the very best for the coming year,

-M

the Aftermath…

Miles traveled: 2248
Loads of laundry: 8
Days of cleaning: 3
Pictures taken: 682
Bruises: 13
Trip/project expenses: over $8000
Smiles & memories: innumerable

It was, simply speaking, the best Burn yet. The weather was near perfect, hot and mild with almost no wind (and therefore no blowing dust), the art was spectacular, the natives were friendly, and we had an amazing time. We returned home one week ago today, and it feels a bit strange getting back into Denver life. Still recovering in the aftermath of the mad adventure that is Burning Man, and slowing wrapping my brain back around living a “normal” life once again. Burning Man will do that to you, even if you’ve been many times. It’s amazing how quickly you get used to the joyful freedom, the kindness and generosity of strangers, and the loving acceptance of the Playa. People are just different there, and you want everyone to “out here” to be their delightful “Playa “ selves, and it is surprising, for awhile at least, when they are not.

The Portrait Project certainly had it’s challenges, as you know if you’ve been reading this blog, but it all worked out. It was much more time consuming than planned, as all things on the Playa tend to be, and should I continue the project next year (I am seriously thinking of doing so) it will be a bit less planned out than it was this year, and I will definitely be sure to go with a great high-res camera and a few good photography classes under my belt. So many lessons learned out there…I did get some lovely pictures to work with, thanks to the amazing photographers that helped me out in my time of need (www.antheachristensen.com and www.adamcamposphotography.com ) and think there will be some great paintings to come out of all this. I’ve been editing for a couple days now and already have a few images picked out to paint from.

There are so many great moments to remember. The amazing Golden Cafe’, an oasis of decadence in the desert with it’s bakery, gourmet supper club and the best cocktails I had out there. Just an incredible feat to pull off in the middle of nowhere. The art (over 250 installations on the Playa alone) that seems to one-up itself every year, most notably for me  the stunning Temple, which I think was the best yet, and “Charon” by Peter Hudson, this one will haunt my dreams for a long time to come. Friday night on top of the 3-story Purple Palace art car with friends, dancing and watching the big Trojan horse burn. Several delightful encounters and conversations with beautiful strangers. But I think what I’ll remember most is that feeling of riding out onto the Playa at night, the rush I got seeing everything lit up against the dark night, and the energy of 50,000 people having the time of their lives. This place, this experience, sticks with you like no other.

(Pictures will be posted on the project website www.aburningmanportraitproject.com , within a couple weeks.)

2 Days on the Playa…

THURSDAY: For all the joy and wonder that is Burning Man, there is another side. It’s the side that eats your plans. The side that breaks your equipment, injures you, swallows whole the things you need, and laughs in your face. It is extremely challenging to create a project of any kind here, as many Playa artists will attest to. Some thrive on the challenge, and I admire them. Some of us fall apart. This place has a way of amplifying anything you are feeling and dealing with, and well, it’s been a rough couple days for me and the Portrait Project. After many struggles with getting the booth in place and fighting the lighting, it now looks like the camera I brought to use is not going to work. It does take nice pictures (you can see two of them on the right), but they are not going to work to create paintings from. None of the photos taken at the booth yesterday is going to work. It’s something I couldn’t have known before taking them here. Thankfully there is a professional photographer here camping with us that has offered to work with me on Friday (she has a great camera), so it’s not a total loss. However there is still today’s shoot to content with. I will go to Media Mecca (that’s the central meeting place for photographers and video crews here at the event) and hopefully find some willing soul to help tonight. Sigh. Wish me luck my friends. This is one challenge I must overcome.

UPDATE: Just call it the magic of Burning Man…found a very nice photographer to help me out tonight with the shoot. It’s all going to work out…feeling better, having fun. Off to the shoot!

FRIDAY:
Shoot was much better yesterday. Adam from Connecticut, the wonderful photographer I found to help with the shoot, was amazing. What a sweetheart. Some of the connections you make out here on the Playa are just kismet. I hope we’ll be able to stay in touch for a long time to come. I’ll be posting all of his contact info on the website when we get back to Denver. Today is the third and final photo booth day, and Anthea, one of my awesome campmates (and just a gorgeous girl) will be helping with the shoot. She’s a photographer from LA, my birthplace. The weather has been fantastic, best weather I’ve ever experienced here. About 88-90 during the day and 56-60 at night. The wind has been minimal so no big dust storms. Just really great. Been trying to get some video footage and photos out and about, will get more tonight. Seems like we’re just settling into life here, and it’s hard to think we’ll be leaving in just 2 days. We’ve seen so many wonders and met so many great people. I still find it amazing that people come here from all over the world. We’ve met people from Australia, Bermuda, Israel, France, Switzerland & Scotland just to name a few. We’ve met up with old friends and had a couple fun celebrity sightings. (though everyone is a celebrity here) Got to see Beats Antik perform last night which was amazing, and just missed Crystal Method, but they are doing another set again tonight. Looking forward to getting out and playing later after the shoot. We’re planning to go “Deep Playa” and see more of the art installations out there. Tomorrow night is the big night, when they burn the man…

Here and there…

We are there, or rather we are here, and pretty much settled in. Got some desperately needed sleep last night, though still a bit road weary. (only got about 2 hours sleep in two days getting here). It’s hot, windy and dusty, typical Playa weather. Just finished the second cup of coffee and we’re off to set up the project photo booth, register cameras with Media Mecca, and get all the “business” of the project out of the way today. Tomorrow we shoot.

We did manage to get out a bit last night, and it is spectacular here. The art is amazing, a feast for the eyes wherever you look. It seems to get bigger-better-faster-more every year, a sort of one-upsmanship from the year before. It never ceases to amaze. We’ve only seen a tiny fraction of what’s here. I’ll try and get some pictures posted later. Our hosting camp, Whiskey & Dust, had it’s official Opening Night party last night, and it was great. A whiskey tasting, of course. The camp bar was packed with marvelous costumed revelers all night.

A big fat thank you to the people providing internet access here. I don’t know who you are, but thank you. Time to get to work.

8 Days, Delights & Disappointments…

Below is the infamous Beanie Baby Coat & Pants ensemble, perfect for those chilly nights on the Playa…

We leave in 8 days. Yes, I’m getting really excited now. The living room cum “Burning Man Central” is piling higher and higher with all the things we’ll be bringing on this great journey, with still more to come. Next week will be sheer insanity I’m sure with all the last-minute craziness. We’ll be picking up the RV a week from tomorrow and hitting the road late evening. We’re delighted friends Taj and Susan will be riding with us, helping with the driving and to alleviate the road trip boredom. (there is really nothing to see on I-80, just a loooong stretch of a whole lotta nothingness…) I have everything I need for the photo booth now in-hand, and pretty much everything else we need as well. Just one more stop at the grocery store next week. As you probably know by now, I’ll be blogging and posting images every step of the way and at Burning Man (daily, wifi willing) here on the blog and on the Facebook page so you can follow along and see what happening out there. Holy cow, 8 days!

Everything isn’t all peaches & cream. Unfortunately the fundraiser event last weekend did not go to plan, and due mainly to major issues with the venue, the income from the event was a fraction of what it should have been. It was a lot of fun, and everyone that came had a great time. I am very grateful to all the wonderful friends who came out to help and support the project, but now I am honestly under-funded for this adventure. If you’d like to help out, and am very happy to accept much-needed donations for the project, just click the “Donate” button below. Thank you so much for your loving support of the arts.

DONATE

I’ll try and get one last blog in before we leave on the 27th. Oh, and if you happen to be hungry in Denver tomorrow (Saturday the 20th), come visit me (and my paintings) at the Cherry Creek Food & Wine event on Fillmore Plaza in Cherry Creek North, 5-9pm. I’m honored to be one of only two artists asked to be a part of this great event. (and frankly I am wondering how the generally wealthy but conservative Cherry Creek crowd will react to the full frontal nudity in my paintings It will a fun evening! Here is more information on the event: http://www.cherryarts.org/foodandwine/grand-tasting

the Devil’s in the Details…

16 days and counting…admittedly the heady mixture of excitement and panic has taken over in my brain. There are a million little things to get done. Every time I make a list to stay organized, there are more lists that need to be made. Details details details. It’s so easy to forget what a massive amount of planning goes into a trip to Burning Man, let alone to do a project at Burning Man. For those of you that don’t know, this event is literally in the middle of nowhere. There is no Home Depot, no 7-11, no nothing. Every single thing you might possibly need out there must be brought in, right down to nails and toilet paper. If you forget something, you must go without. Hence all the lists. Not to mention getting the house in order and ready for the dog/house sitters. Yes, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. OK, a lot overwhelmed. It will all get done though, I always manage. Started the serious packing yesterday. The living room is “Burning Man Central”, slowly pilling up with bags, boxes, bins and bikes. The camera is now in-hand and I am slowly learning it. I’m halfway through building the reflector stand, images and banners have been ordered, getting the canopy (photo booth) Sunday, halfway through making the camp sign, bike has been furred, Playa coat and costumes done and packed, first run to Costco done, meeting with the house/dog sitters today (cleaning the house now)…still so much to do! Sigh. I’m trying to enjoy the preparations, though the impatient me wants to just go already! Or at least have a little time to relax and daydream about the Playa. Let’s get this show in the road! But oh, all those devilish little details must be dealt with…

Follow “A Burning Man Portrait Project” at www.aburningmanportraitproject.com

Exposure, Camps, & Bling, oh my…

We leave for the Playa in 41 days, and each passing day brings a heightened sense of excitement and admittedly, panic. The To-Do list seems to keep growing, but it’s all good. It will all get done and we’ll be ready to go on August 27th. I’m sitting here in the living room writing this, looking at two bikes ready to be “Playa-fied” a box full of l.e.d.’s, blinky-lights, glue guns and duct tape, faux fur, and a crazy beanie-baby coat I made for any chilly desert nights. Yes, we are in full Burning Man mode.

The bigness right now is the upcoming fundraiser event, “Exposure, Faces of the Desert” on August 5th, the final fundraising effort before Burning Man. This is what has captured most of my time and attention for the last month. The music, entertainment, DJ’s, art, food, photo booth and help have been booked, and we are ready to go. It’s going to be an amazing evening! You can read all about it on the website HERE, or on the Facebook page HERE. If you can’t make it to the event you can still place absentee bids on the great Silent Auction art. See all the art HERE.

Our Burning Man camp, Whiskey & Dust, (the home of the Portrait Project photo booth) received our placement. We got a great location at 7:30 and Divorce, and more space, so we’re very happy. Here is a map of this year’s layout: Black Rock City  Remember the photo booth will be up and running from 5-7pm Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, so come get shot!

The bling is in! It looks great. All of you who donated to the Kickstarter will be getting your bling soon. If you’re local I’ll try and get it to you in person, and you can get it from me at Exposure.

That’s it for now. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, and see you at “Exposure” or on the Playa!
-M

The Man Burns in 71 days…

Yes yes, I know, I am behind on the weekly blog entries. What can I say? It’s been a very busy month. So what’s been happening? Well we now have tickets in hand, and lovely tickets they are. Somehow having the tickets makes it feel all the more real. Our good friend and animal lover Jordan has agreed to pug-sit for us while we’re gone, which is a huge relief. I know my ‘children‘ will be well cared for. Still working on the bling design, I really want it to be special. Fear not, those of you getting bling will still receive them before the Burn. We had our first official Camp meeting last night, and everything is looking good. We mapped out where all the different elements of the camp will go, including the Project photo booth. Looks like our camp has grown to about 45 people. That’s a pretty large camp. The big news for this blog is I am putting together a fundraiser event which will take place on August 5th. Yes, more funds are still needed to do this project up right. It’s going to be an amazing event, with a big DJ driven party downstairs and an art show/silent auction upstairs, with food, live music, performers, really something special. More details and ticket information to come! On a personal note, my busted ankle is all healed up now, and I’m back to the “Insanity” workouts. Didn’t lose as much endurance as I feared I would, and should be back up to speed in another week of sweating and grunting 2 months to go, and still time to get in great shape before we leave for the Burn on August 27th. The Man burns in 71 days…

A 30-day Whirlwind…

Well we did it! With your amazing love and support, the project has enough funding to get it off the ground. I am so touched by the overwhelming enthusiasm for this project, and am so very excited to be underway. I’ll have the tickets in-hand this weekend, and am starting to order needed supplies. Right now I am catching up from the 30-day Kickstarter whirlwind, getting the house back in order and getting back to my “day job”, painting. (by the way, you can sign up for my client newsletter and get first peak at my new work. Guest Book ) I’ve also been working on some things for our adopted theme camp, Whiskey & Dust, namely a camp logo. Still figuring out the best way to light the models at the photo booth, and thankfully my good friend and great photographer Anthony Camera (yes, that is really his name) is assisting me. We’re meeting next week to iron out the details. I’m also working on the the final “bling” design for the model and backer gifts with the help of my ex, affectionately known as “Blingmaster Russ” I am so fortunate to be surrounded by such talented friends! It takes a village to raise a Burning Man Project

I am still happily accepting donations to support the project and honoring all the backer prizes. The Kickstarter fundraiser got it off the ground, but the project expenses will be much more. Thank you for supporting the arts! Support the Project

That’s it for this week’s update. Thank you so much for your continued interest in this project. Now back to work…

A Final Plea…

Photo by Anthea Chistensen

The Kickstarter is going well, but still behind. As of this writing we’re at 55% funded with a scant 2 days to go. It’s crunch time! Please take a moment to support the project by making a donation. Great rewards start at just $10. There are rewards from custom project “bling”, to books, prints, studies, and paintings. There is also a drawing for a $500 giclee’ print for backers. Please help make this dream come true and make this great project a reality. http://kck.st/htFqDA

We had two meetings this week, the first with our theme camp leader to discuss logistics and such. We’ll have a great spot in the front of the camp for our project photo booth. Shoots have been set for 5-7 Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday on the Playa. I’ll be posting the camp location as soon as we get our assignment. We had a great meeting this morning with a videographer to help with the filming and editing of our little documentary short for the project. It’s looking good! He’s very excited about the project. It will be great to have help with the video, and will be a much better video with the professional help.

Oh, and we’ve received our official approval to shoot on the Playa from BMorg! So we’re all official now. Also found our there will be two other professional photographers at our camp which will be a great help when I need advice. Everything is coming together. The feedback from people has been amazing. I am so happy people are excited about this project. Over 800 “likes” on the Kickstarter!

On a personal note, the ankle is healing nicely. I should be back to normal in a few weeks. I debuted the new White Series at Walker Fine Art on Friday night. It was a lovely opening night. You can see the paintings here:  http://www.vlasicstudio.com/vlasicstudio.com/Studies.html

I just want to say, thank you all for your interest in the project. It has consumed me, become my obsession, and is going to be an amazing painting series and book. And it’s going to be fun.