High School drama for Beijing, 2008.

Dear CBC Sunday,

I watched your segment on the controversy over the Canadian Olympic uniform designs and material choices that aired May 11th, 2008.

Is this a joke? Since when does a uniform on an athlete become a political issue? As Ly explained, this is just "lounge" wear, so a fear of misrepresenting Canada within relaxing should only spawn from the most superficial of perspectives. Be mature, Canadian athletes and political figures, and realize that the true power of athleticism in Canada likes within it's athletes, not their look. This may exist in high school, but on a global scale, there has to be a few other countries and cultures groaning at the news of this.

I realize some ethical boundaries are broken from manufacturing in China, but let's hear wal-mart shoppers argue there. let's hear most cell phone users as well speak up against that. Hypocrisy is a growing trend these days, but it doesn't make it right. If, as Ly explained, technical conditions were better off for the clothing to be made in China and would better benefit the athletes, then so be it. As for the look of the collection, it looks quite fine to me. Whether or not it should hinder the pride or performance of an athlete is up to that individual, shallow athlete.

-Mark A

Per Down-low

SUPPLY, my second record, will soon be available on CBbaby.com, for anyone to download and listen at $11.99. I'll make a post when it and the other records are available on there.

MiSsiN the Point

Does anyone else hate MSN.ca??

There's an overall marginalization with MSN's homepage that just reeks of complacent consumerist wishes and in-demand product placements (right, Bell?).

Check out some of these astonishing headlines on shit people should not care about:

"Pamela Anderson cleans house"

Further insinuating that celebs do nothing more than pose and be stupid and that anything that ordinary common citizens of a developing nation can do is worthwhile of mentioning.

"Ashton Kutcher's porn rap"

Nuff said.

"Ways to work in a workout"

ummm, stop there. you do work in a workout. Where do you think the "Work" in workout comes from?? Physical exhertion!

"Today's Picks
10 gas-saving tips"

here's just one: Don't drive.

"Recession-proof your career"

Again, don't spend so much money. Save and invest wisely.

"Fight the fear: The scoop on plastic containers"

Fight the Fear? what does that even mean???


Again, MSN.ca has to boast it's lamebrain activities and postings. What could be figured out with a bit of reading and common sense is cleverly worked out for you MSN.ca. it's only practical information until you swipe your visa card somewhere.

Besides, i hate the CGI generated bell mascot. That beaver is the posterchild of the canadian; a fat slobbish wiseguy that has more channels to watch than you do. Watch out, global warming and declining economy, fatso is here to not give a shit!

Well Travelled

It's 12:21 PM. (Wait, blogger takes care of the posting-time for me, doesn't it?)

I don't know. I think it's always a great way to start these blogs. IT's like radio, i need to reassure both myself and you just where we are in the day in terms of time.

Just got back from st. johns yesterday in what i could call a great experience. Eatsern edge was mose than hospitalble and helfup with the events that took place (as well as with the Arts Council Awards that took place this past satuday night). Hey Rosetta opened with the inclusion of an inuit-inspired drumming ceremonial session to make a very amazing introduction to the show. (Case-in-point: give Hey Rosetta extra bass and drums and a more diverse rythym and you'll have this spectacular performance).

I'm also pleased to hear that Joel Thomas Hynes got the Artist of the year awards. I'm very proud of all the nominees, mind you, to both Reed and Angela i have the best respects in themselves and their artwork and i congratulate them on their achievements. I read "Right Away Monday", Joel's latest book last year and i'm very proud that one of our own in this province is able to be so forward and blunt in way of telling fiction. It felt like a story from a true newfoundlander in the grind of daily life and troubles. Congrats Joel on the win!

Also, the resistor remix project is seeing many great entries so far. hope to see more come in and i'm proud to tell you about a page on the markadamsart.com website dedicated to it:

Click here to see the RESISTOR Remix Project Page

also, recording for the new record is goind extremely well. Though i've mentioned an early 2009 release, this project's subsequent record could be released as early as September 2008. just keep your eyeballs peeled on this one, because i have no idea just how much i can get done in the next while, but if the last few weeks have been any indication, i can see myself with another solid release for 2008.

tomorrow, I also head out for fogo island. It should be interesting, as i have many different people to meet up with and a few different side projects to encounter and observe. I'll give the full report later, like i'm working for CBC or something.

Cheers,

Vacation Vocation

The above pictured are shots taken from one of my favorite places to go in corner brook, Brewed Awakenings.

I really do enjoy going there, with friendly staff that are mostly friends of mine and a comforting atmosphere. Plus, they carry local art (amongst them are one of my Retro monoprints being hung just by the doorway). I've been going there alot more lately since beginning work, but it feels more like a place where i can sort of relax and take in commentary of corner brook's arts and entertainment scene (when and where it disperses actively).

Whether they like it or not, intended or unintended, the place has become a social meeting ground for educators, musicians, actors, artists, business people and in those, many different people of different places, especially within the tourist season. i'm glad that such a small space can accommodate such appeal.

this are a few shots (of many) that i took a few days back after hearing the place needed some high quality photos for ads and such.

I hope laura, a manager of the place, likes them.

_______________________________________________________________

Dear Laura,

Please like these photos.

- Mark Adams
---------------------------------------------------------------


I leave for st. Johns tomorrow. thanks to the kindness of Mark Prier and barb hunt, both me and Gabrielle are going to see an exhibition opening at the Eastern edge Gallery. two nights in st johns sounds like a nice little break from the excess of school and work this month, that's for sure.

I would really enjoy my time just wandering about the downtown sector of st. johns. I imagine it being much more robust with cultural infrastructure and diversity. Course i'll check out the galleries, music shops ( is it true that fred's records has actually closed down??). I'll also need to take my camera, as i'm sure there will be many interesting sights and perspectives that'll gain.

ok, i'm off to:

1. get some tea
2. pack
3. sleep for 6 hours, then wake to catch a flight. wish me luck.

bye.

Phonie-copy

Giclee Prints are not actual paintings.

They're prints, or reproductions, actually. Prints actually derive from an image that doesn't exist as a finished image in another medium. In other words, the image is made as the edition is. Lithography, Serigraphy and intailgo are examples of this.

these little photocopies that your grandparents drool for are nothing but crooked copies. Sure, with a not-so-robust economy, a cheap print may seem like the budget way to go, but as an investment, you're just a lucky as with that metallica poster that your son owns in terms of longevity.

They say these Giclee Prints last around 30 years, making great, shriveled up gifts to your grandkids. Some sites (especially newfoundland ones) boast that the prints can last up to 70 to 100 years! this may be the case for a few "well made" copies, but giclees haven't been around long enough for anyone to truly know. Many cases have already heard of prints only lasting 15-20 years before the image is completely unreadable.

How is it that Giclees have become common practice and that it is commonly mistaken with printmaking techniques? Volume, Volume, VOLUME! If a student were to do an Epson commercial printer print-out of their painting (essentially what a Giclee is), many would call it bad copying. If many artists were to do it in orders of 450 or 500 prints done on film-gloss paper (not watercolor or more archival papers), they would be praised and collected by needy, dumb consumers of an undereducated market. I realize people need money to survive these days, but when an artist is trying to make ends meet on a car, a boat, a snow mobile, a pool table, a new plasma TV and a cabin then they ought to realize that the means aren't meeting a luxurious standard of living.

so zeller's shoppers, come to realize that the luxury you have in collectioning artwork will not go far surpassing the enjoyment i have in making it and also the actual finished works themselves, provided they are not, of course, cheep giclee prints.

Late Night Tales

Hey,

It's 1:39 AM.

I started work yesterday morning (ewing gallery, gallery assistant and now fill-in manager for the whole she-bang).

It's been great. Not that I should make a great deal of the judgment from only 4 hours of work so far, but hey, it isn't Sin Willful Greatful college.

I've spent the night looking up audio samples and loops. Yes, as an electronic musician, i do that. Don't be offended just because i hate you and your lame $200 guitar of all shittiness and believe Electronic music is as viable and credible as your mom's 60's vinyl collection (Bad analogy for credibility, come to think of it).

I'm pleased and am working on a new Album. did i just say that out loud?

No, i'll try again. I"M WORKING ON A NEW ALBUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There, now that was out loud.

btw, the resistor remix project is doing awesome. everything is awesome. It's going so well that it'll have a concert that everyone will go to, if not for the music's sake, then just to have a good time and some cheap beer (maybe).

I sort of like where i'm going with the next record, but i don't want to let out too much because - a. not many will actually consider it or, primarily, care.
b. This blog probably gets zero visitors, and comments by ghost visitors on posts deemed "Controversial". I should follow in that lesson...:

"Your mom is a Crooked Whore. I have evidence."

-Mark Adams

There, let's see those comments skyrocket.

Okay, enough of the jibb-jabb. I'm off to bed and then to work again.

I'll be steady at work with the new album and various other art related activities. Remember, Resistor remix EP out June 8th.

See if you care!

Parental Advisory

I live under a really loud family. It frustrates me.

now, when i say "live under", i simply mean that i'm in a basement apartment and above me are a family with two kids. Now, it's not so much that i hate the family themselves, but the cultural ideologies they follow. No, wait...that's absolute bullshit covered up in a general overview of a population more-so than these fine freaks of nature. I hate the family.

And you may ask "but Mark, you aren't living WITH them, nor are you related to them" and i say Yes, that's true. However, my apartment lacks sound-proofing. I love hearing nearly every word they say just as much as the thought of them hearing every word i speak and move i make. It's a very comforting atmosphere here.

The trouble i have is their kids. These kids, i'm sure, are nice little rascals at times, but a greater majority of the time permits them as being loud and obnoxious and when i say loud, i mean "every word out of their mouths is like a drunken frat guy at a hockey game after every goal", again, loud and obnoxious. Here's the kicker: the parents, who have many problems with this, try and control the situation by being LOUDER.

Great strategy, wise-asses. Now, let me fill you in on some basic psychological idealogies: First off, Kids will ultimately learn and imitate the behavior of their parents. Sorry, mah and pah, but your kids didn't get that loud from Elmo. Secondly, teach your children how to talk their problems out, not scream it as though their vocal chords have diarrhea, because if they can whine their way out of doing school, then they dont't deserve social security later.

Raising kids is tough, i know, but it gets easier when you KNOW HOW TO DO IT! Just think the next time your little ones dare to scream at you that they want no more cereal that it's a mirror reflection of the same activity you'd be likely to do with your wife's well cooked meal: whine and complain that it doesn't taste like Swanson microwave dinners. Keep in mind that shitty kids equals shitty parents and that the more you treat a kid like a friend of yours, the more enjoyable they'll be to be raising. Problems? give me a call, look me up. I'll be up with bells on that i can beat some sense into your heads with!

Oh, and by the way, stop putting your autistic dog in front of my bedroom window. It's cruelty moreso on a human level than anything else.

"it's like a horse practicing hypnosis while on acid."

This has to be one of the most strange and bizarre videos i've ever seen.

If you're the type to hate both mcdonalds and techno music, then you won't even get past the 30 second mark on this one. how anyone could even listen to the SOUND of this and think "It's amazing. it's going on youtube" astounds me.

However, I dare everyone out there the watch this for the full 5 minute and 18 second duration that this video has (it's more painful than it sounds).

Broadcast Your Worst

Youtube videos whould be left to just VIDEOS.

Stop making terrible photo slideshows that feature low-quality pictures of a memorable event or terrible parody of something of pop culture. Save these for the powerpoint presentations in the social history class you intend on failing.

Puck Off

Hockey is not poetic.

I'm sorry. It just seems to me that, with every 102nd beer commerical played comes an idiot who thinks "you know, I could write poetry on a hockey player. I believe i know exactly what he/she is going though".

What is it with canadian culture that manifests this property that hockey becomes the most graceful sport or most interesting sport by poets and english masters? It's quite a popular sport, do doubt on that, but there is an unsettling connection between the numbers of hockey writers and the number of hockey fans; apparently, it's equal at the begining of every damn game and dwindles down to whoever is sober on the fan side by the end.

But how can there be THAT subjective an experience? Grenfell prof Randall Maggs, whos latest book connects him with Hockey Goalie Terry Sawchuck, seems primarily like a impovitization of the goalies tasks and career highlights. It really sounds like an effort of such arrogance, doesn't it? To believe you have the insight into a player or any professional's motive and judgement is like assuming you're going to have a good flight aboard Air Canada.

And this is in no way a downgrade on people who watch the sport. For something that takes 4 hours of your life every weekend, then 15-20 mins each morning after the report on high gas prices, and the every night at 6 when you avoid the kids and spouse and snore away the news events, it's a serious thing to us canadians. It's amazing just how many 'Facts' get pushed out and read mentally by viewers of hockey and asking any true fan about the sport would bring a surge of detailed information about their very favorite team and their position in the ranks.

If only most people were like that with History, Math, Literature....you know, school subjects.

Ring-a-ling

Cell phone users and their culture. It's somewhat fascinating, i must say.

Now, before you try and classify this as "Cell phone hatred", let me fill you in on something that i both hold with nobility and shame. I have a cell phone. Right, it's really no big deal, or is it?

They're still trying to completely uncover the adverse health effects that come with the heavy use of one of these cellular devices. it's strange, but something that we deem as "the item we now can't think with on the idea of living without it" actually can have the potential to be quite dangerous.

Cell phones have shown the evidence to increase likelihood of growing a tumor. you know, extraneous cancerous cells that bundle up and have no where to go like a crew at studio 54. It's also said that the tumor is most likely to grown on the side of the head of which the phone was most used on.

Males that have their cell phones in the pockets or on their belts are also at a greater risk of creating less-viable sperm cells. Kinda scary, but then again, the vasectomy was made for a reason. We can consider this the slower, less noticeable way of diminishing sperm in numbers.

Also, it was said that cell phone radiation caused CCP (or colony collapse problems) in amongst bee colonies. Kinda scary as well, but the original publisher of the findings only made the research based on cell phone towers and nearby bee habitats. not to say it's less detrimental this way, but still. I see just as many bees with a cell phone as i did without one. I'd see more if the phone was Yellow....;P

Here's the shocking bit, though. Over 500 million cell phones, used or broken or dead, are just left like that, or what's called e-waste, and are filling up landfills at a staggering 2 million phones each month. To believe that people go through phones like bars of soap is astonishing. Especially when the life expectancy of a phone can be 3-5 years. Style isn't everything, people. We really need to take measure against the way people cycle through these phones.

But around the culture aspect of it, people literally have these devices rule their lives. That, my friends, is the scary thing. I'll admit, i could go without having my cell phone, but it has gotten me through some sticky situation, between myself and with other people, all having some sort of problem where a call made is a step towards a resolution. This also states that i don't get out enough and that my cell phone is a tool, not a social weapon.

does this mean I'm a tool? perhaps....but it's irrelevant now. What's more relevant is the way these impact you. Mine? i might drop it next year. we'll see.

in some good news this week (at least for a fan of his music, like me) moby's releasing his new album "Last Night" in april! you can grab the excellent album sampler mp3 at moby.com.

well, another day of the week is here. I find it difficult, even though the institute is built as a public one, to make out or even try to decipher the small culture around university students. yes, there are many faces, many different backgrounds and alot of people in the one spot, all learning and interacting, but i still feel sometimes apart and distanced from a majority of the republic formed within the school, especially within the fine arts.

i don't know. i'm not exactly sure just what it is i have to do. i mean, i'm comfortable enough there. It's just...i think my values are different from others, not lower or higher...just different. perhaps i'm not recreational enough, not ski-ing or snowshoe-ing enough. I'm not sure, because one of my favorite past-times is making art.

I guess i'm just hoping i'll find other students like that.

Howdy there, partners.

I believe my computer is on it's steady, casual decline of the windows operating system.

It's true. I feel as though most computers go through the rapid aging and slowing-down of processing times with the added luggage of the average computer user, paired with multiple files for media, entertainment and software bundles/updates getting bigger all the time.
It was this time last year that i lost my machine's hard drive to a page error (yeah, no joke. a simple page error in IE6). I took my machine down to a costly repair function and restored it. It was like getting the machine brand new again. I bought myself a 60gb ext hard drive to store my media on and it has since been my saving grace. Still, with this aside my machine, the new hard drive implanted still manages to get some files for itself and i'm about 20gb in on an 80gb hard drive. I know, i know. it's not much to complain about, but still ( you would notice a difference too).

I was thinking to other day about a fellow around town that I kept sawing. Everytime i did, he held a paperback novel-type book and was reading it in the eastern canadian sunlight, usually at a table or bench somewhere in town. It wasn't so typical (co'mon...corner brook, remember?) and the kid was from the university. Still, it led me to thinking about how people react to others reading. it's an old fashioned occupation or hobby now, isn't it? i still marvel at how my employer picks up the Globe and Mail every day (each paper being at least $1.50) and not knowing about the great way of getting his news, custom featured, via email.

I just think and believe that human beings enjoyed being look at whilst reading. i think it's a momentary cover up for most. I know sometimes i take a book, mostly for the pleasure of the interest and not having my mind wander about to strange places. Then times i have the book, it seems as though i want people to see me reading this pile of information. An attractively covered, nice conditioned book and i'm set for the foolin'. There is also this merit one gains fro being seen in public with the book, one marked with intellectuality and of being the most knowledgable within a 20m radius or so.

However, i'd rather value the one to read weblogs, online news and things of that sort. Sure, paper versions can be more tangable and readily available, but as machines capable of tapping into the web get smaller, we'll all soon be reading the Globe and Mail from our pockets, and it may not even concern the change needed to buy a mass bundle of the newsprint.

My new music video for "Quarantine"

Here's my directed video for my song "Quarantine". Find out more about the music i make at Markadamsart.com, peeps.




I found this video to be particularly interesting, too.

Featuring Robyn: "Konichiwa Bitches"

I ran into this on a list of best videos for 2007 made by Pitchfork. It was most virtually pleasing, though it could be said that this list exhuberates only the vastly benine, greatly obscure of bands with inate attempts at posting their music in the most retrosexual of fashions.

Yeah, that was a play on some of the diction seen on a typical Pitchfork page. Couldn't help but make that call. Yeah, just at first when i thought music might be slipping away to some great detrimental wave, there is hope in something so subliminally "bubbly", that it pretty well kicks ass, even if you're not in the mood for the cartoonish attires and sets.

Plus, i'vce adopted "Konichiwa Btiches" as a half-decent catch phases to use amongst colleages. go me.

A Return to CB

So after riding on a DRL bus that looked like it came out of a movie from 1971, I arrived to my apartment with a mass amoutn of luggage only to find that my door was blocked by...

A mega-mass of snow (the luggage was no competition).

Seriously, this was ALOT of snow. Up above my knees i had to tred into as i made hurdles towards the glass screen door of my apartment. The lights out and the lack of vehicle in the driveway told me of no roommate being there, hence the digging out had to begin before i could even open my luggage.

But eventually, I made my strides in getting all the snow shovelled, even without my own shovel to do it (i'll thank my nieghbours for use of thier shovel).

I enjoyed the rest of the night, in pondering what could be done to the living space to make it better to live in or just different from my half a year being there so far. Plus, it's 2008, why not make a few changes to stir things up some.

I eagerly anticipate the start of the school year for SWGC, january 7th, though i know i will hate being dedicated towards the hours of instruction needed to get through the classes and then to my degree. At least I know there will be people there to comfort, generally and generously, all students upon their return. With hugs, tugs and many more waves "hello", there is something for everyone.

And on the fun forecast, I party this saturday, then leaving me to work on an upcoming exhibition for 2008. i'll have a date soon.

New Years Resolutions for 2008

You hear many of the news and media outlets spouting about how people choose Weight loss as a new years resolution, then fall from the goal, only for a majority to hoard into another batch of crispy cremes come valentine's day.
for myself, i've set a few new year's resolutions that are achieveable, namely due to a bit of determination and some forgetfulness. Did the forgetfullness part through you off? If it did, I wouldn't blame you, but it's in the name of a good resolution.

Resolution #1 - Exhibit artwork in group and solo exhibitions.

I've been meaning to do this for some time, but i've never felt the readiness that i have for the last several months. 2008 will be a year where i take first hand into the experience of exhibitions and the hussle and bustle they provide. I really do want to do it, just as an exercise for myself and to show that others can do it too, with a bit of planning and lots of creative effort.

Resolution #2 - Cut back on caffiene.

it's true. I'm a nut for Tea, even treating coffee as the greater vice (and active energy drink). So much so that i feel a need to vacation from it, perhaps permantently. I believe it's with the advent of Brewed Awakenings in Corner brook as coffee and tea not only become a thing of diverse interest, but of a sport, almost. Now, i don't blame BA's influence on the increase, but it certainly has helped. Now, i feel as though a specialty tea once and again is just enough.

Resolution #3 - Hide Credit Card.

This is where "forgetting" fits. I'm always one to use my credit card, almost sure there's funds available, then putting away solid cash. Why do i do this? I should hide the one easy-spending card away, making more cash ro no cah for the wallet to hold. That way, my confidence in spontanious buys dies off, while i retain specific amounts of money for what i truly need in the shopping experience. It should work with ease, as i'll still have a debit card for emergencies.


OK, so i have 3 resolutions, but i'm sure there are more in mind. some smaller things, donations to charities and such. i would like to also take more photographs of my daily life, since larger memory sizes and sites (like flickr and facebook) certainly make it more and more easier to store and display mass amounts of photos. So why not? might as well use the new technological waves.

to you and your resolutions, i hope they see fulfillment in the new year.

Website Changes for 2008

Hey everyone,

If anyone is wondering about some of the old style - new style changes for the website (www.markadamsart.com) then here's my explaination, in all granduer and exquisite detail:

i'm revamping the website.

I know, it's not complete. I am certainly taking my time towards getting this matter resolved, but no worries, as i do have my time now to sort through the knots and kinks made in this websnarl. I'll have it well done and up-to-par for 2008.

With that in mind, i'm heavy into works for exhibtion in 2008. All i can say is that you should keep your eyes peeled, as my work may be on display at a gallery near you. As i face the uphill sturggle that is making art, presenting it, explaining it and then carrying a well-rounded straight face afterwards without seeming slightly frustrated, i wish for everyone a great 2008 and prosperity and good ness in this new year!

Thanks and happy 2008!