Alright so I don't actually stop the show, I'm just a really good artist participant. This year was a little nerve racking as my partner was one of the panel members who scored artists to be considered for the 2012 show and would not tell me how I scored or who the other artists being considered. However the wait is over and I received the email confirmation that I am in the Vancouver Recycled Arts Festival for a 4th consecutive season. I'm excited, especially since the Eugene, OR RE-Art show was cancelled for 2012, the Vancouver show may be my only show this summer.
I've been slowly but consistently making new work. Its times like this that I think Bridezillas have the right idea and shove a tube up my nose so I can save time by not eating. I manage to create one new piece a night and just as I'm getting into the groove, its time to wrap up and go to bed. While I rarely get a full day for creating work...I can only imagine what I could produce given a full 8 hours...but then in 8 hours one could take a nap and watch a movie.
Last year I bought two large sun tea containers filled with jewelry at Goodwill. They were half price and full of good crap to make artwork with. I have about 20% of it left. Its more jewelry than I've used in my lifetime of creating artwork, but damn its hard to find little metal bits. Its not like its sold by the gallon size bag at Value Village. I spent several years amassing a decent sized selection of metal junk to use on Creepy Babies and sculptures and now most of its been used. I kept all the misc hardware from setting up new bookcases last year. Its hard to pimp art without crap.
In addition to talking about my own art, I also think its relevant to associate art, and other forms of creativity to relevant topics of the day.
For example...the naked guy at the airport. Why is he getting fined again? In Portland being nude is considered an art form and is not illegal, except for any lewd displays in public. I may have the legalities incorrect but it was stated he was wearing traces of bomb making chemicals. I'd get naked too if it meant I could clear my name of being a homegrown terrorist. That's the last thing I need is being considered "dangerous" at all times, everywhere...no thanks TSA. But it does beg the question...what if I was carrying a nude painting as a carry-on and it exuded traces of questionable substances? How do you get a nude painting more nude than it already is? How do you cavity search a canvas?
And kudos to him, chunk monkey, for baring it all. When I gave a rat's ass and went to the gym it was always the same. The hot, muscular, well tone, ample chested, big armed, stud muffins, were wrapped up in towels from their neck to their ankles, or they arrived in gym clothes and left in sweaty gym clothes, sans shower, while the overweight, elderly, chubby, saggy, droopy, wrinkly, flabby eyesores were more than happy to walk around without a stitch on and always did. I'm starting to think that the longer a person carries extra pounds the more they become comfortable with their body. The fat is actually the voice of reason. "I'm not going anywhere you might as well show me off."
The other day I saw a facebook post...it was a placard held by a sporty young man and it stated:
"Its just as hard to be Ken as it is to be Barbie."
Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Look it up on the web...its usually affects women but has been affecting men in a exponentially higher percentage.
I make the assumption that older men (I'm seeing men in their 60's and up) not being concerned with body image. They didn't grow up with ken dolls and GI Joe. The toned, well defined action figures of the 80's and 90's gave an impression to boys across the nation that big arms, big pecs and 6 pack abs were the norm...and also to be exceptional, like a superhero, you must look this way to be accepted.
It may have not had the impact we all think it had as not every boy in the USA had these toys. What do you say about boys who had cars? I've yet to hear about guys who want to be 6-7 feet wide with limbs like huge doughnuts. Perhaps these are the men who talk fast, have anxiety disorders, ADHD and drive fast.
Studies upon studies can only tell us so much. Personally, I would like to have a more healthy looking profile, and despite working out for nearly 3 years, I have only managed to add 1.5 inches to each bicep. It was a lot of work and a lot of money spent on pre work out drinks, post work out drinks and meat.
When I wanted to look better, I never made the connection to Ken dolls. I just wanted to look better to feel better and to attract men. I attracted more men as a chubby looking tall guy than I ever attracted as a thinner college boy. The difference in weight from college to 3 years ago was approximately 50 lbs. I did manage some slight, and I mean slight, definition in my shoulders and biceps. I'm still carrying around 40 pounds and the weight loss is slow and metered only by diet. I just don't have time for exercise.
I barely have time to create artwork using the Ken dolls. Its still one of my favorite mediums. The familiar figure gets a lot of attention and I always sell out at shows in the summer. The more central the figure is to the work the more popular the piece is. The more animated the body looks the more attention a piece will draw. No one seems to get the irony of a gay man using Ken dolls for artwork.
Now that I'm on the verge of 40, my extra fat has converted what little body dysmorphic disorder I had in my teens into a strong self esteem and razor sharp wit. It never occurs to me that I might fail at something, it doesn't seem possible that I don't have good ideas and I am certain that my creativity has absolutely no boundaries. I continue to be more comfortable in my own flabby skin and I look forward to the day when I can say to myself "Big Daddy, you have no choice but to get naked and show all these cops that you don't have a bomb on you." Until then I will continue to make art, with Ken, but only one of us fully clothed.
JP
