Recreational Aesthetics @ Darke Gallery

For the month of August, I have DARKE gallery for a studio as their artist in residence for 2012.  During this time, I will be working on "Enlight" an exhibition to open Friday, August, 30 from 6-9pm. 

Additionally, Saturdays in August from 2:00 to 4:00 PM are open residency days for "Recreational Aesthetics".  This is a time the gallery is open to the public both to see what's going on and to be distracted from such.  Refreshments and parking provided.
 
August 4: Please Don't Tell My Parents
August 11: "Water, Water Fresh and Clear" hosted by special guest Carrie A. Nation
August 18: How Galleries Remind Me of Churches 
August 25: Is that a Baby Ruth in the Swimming Pool?!
 

Location:
Darke Gallery
320 B Detering @ Feagan
Houston, TX 77007
713-542-3802
www.darkegallery.com

and The Kenmore's Artist-in-Residence is...

Sasha Dela!

Look for her work on Friday, August 31 from 6-9pm at The Kenmore within Darke Gallery.

Location:
The Kenmore
c/o Darke Gallery
320 B Detering at Feagan
Houston, TX 77007

Frank Billingsley discusses ShadeCloud; installation extended to February 24, 2012

by Juan Gonzalez and Alyssa Ramirez of J & A Productions

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_paPApjF1Yw&list=UUV7YT4XCau1C3D1i8UGS3vg&index=1&feature=plcp

ShadeCloud by Emily Sloan
a sculpture court installation of lamp shades
August 25, 2011 - December 31, 2011---extended to February 24, 2012
SCULPTURE GARDEN
Opening reception August 25, 2011 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Art League Houston is excited to present ShadeCloud, an outdoor installation by Houston-based artist Emily Sloan in the Art League Sculpture Garden, which weaves together a diverse selection of new and recycled lampshades into three cloud-like structures that suspend from the surrounding trees.

The installation not only references the dynamic weather patterns characteristic of the Houston area, but also provides a unique source of shade for the local community, especially with the extreme heat waves we are currently experiencing within our city.

Art League would like to say a big thank you to Boheme and Spacetaker for their support and generosity through the Cultured Cocktails program, along with Sunbelt Rentals, Inc., as well as the local community for their generous donations.
Special thanks to Jason Ash, Rob Greenstein, Matt Jackson, Jill Nepomnick, Crystal Owens, Linda Phenix, Helena Gijsbers van Wijk, and Jim and Vanessa Wodehouse.

Above: SHADECLOUD at night. Photo by Jennifer Ash.

ABOUT EMILY SLOAN

Emily Sloan is a Houston-based artist who received an M.F.A. in Sculpture from the University of Houston (2009), a M.A. in Painting and Sculpture from Stephen F. Austin University, and a B.S. in Sociology and Social Work from Abilene Christian University. She also attended the New York Studio School and the Ontario College of Art and Design.

Her site specific installations include Burning House located on Highway 59 in Polk County, Texas; Sabine Street Bridge Lamp at Buffalo Bayou Art Park in Houston, and To Whom It May Concern, located on a private lot next to Lawndale Art Center. She has completed residencies at the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, Vermont, and Labotanica and The Many Mini Residency at SKYDIVE in Houston, and is currently the Artist-in Residence at 14 Pews in Houston.

Sloan's performance art includes Napping Affects Performance (NAP), a participation and performance project, which is ongoing in Houston, as well as her Alta Ego performances as Zarvin Mindler. She has exhibited at venues including the Texas State Fair, the Cotton Bowl, the Dallas Contemporary, Lawndale Art Center, Redbud Gallery, Gallery 1724, and the Vermont Studio Center, and is currently the Curatorial Director of The Kenmore, a small, cold exhibition object measuring 36 x 24 x 24, which is located at BOX13 ARTSPACE in Houston.

"NAP Church: Exercises for Rebel Nappers"

Sunday, July 10, 1-3pm, at SKYDIVE ArtSpace as part of a Many Miny Residency.

"NAP Church: Exercises for Rebel Nappers" by Rev. Emily Sloan
Napping Affects Performance’s NAP Church will meet for a Sunday nap on July 10 from 1-3pm. In addition to napping, we will be discussing rebellious napping strategies. This B.Y.O.P. (Bring Your Own Pillow...and blanket, yoga mat, whatever suits you) event of “two or more gathered” to nap is open to all faiths!

Location:
SKYDIVE
2041 Norfolk Street,
Houston, TX 77098
info@theskydive.org

About the Many Mini Residency:
Many Mini Residency is a short-term residency program operated in conjunction with alternative exhibition venues in Europe and the United States. The name 'Many Mini' encompasses two main components of the project which is hosted in one room 24 hours a day for one week. The 'Many' describes the open call for proposals and the resulting multiplicity of responses and participants. The 'Mini' component of the residency describes the limited amount of time available and the scale of the room.

About SKYDIVE:
SKYDIVE is an artist run exhibition venue unique to Houston. Its mission is to broaden the spectrum of the dialogue in Houston by bringing in artists from outside of Texas. The aim of SKYDIVE is to host a range of art practices that push the limits of their material forms, including non-traditional methods of sculpture, installation, video, performance, and works that engage the viewer through participation, as well as text and web-based projects.

SKYDIVE utilizes an open and collaborative model for producing its programming. A group of artists, curators, and other professionals function as Advisors to help create shows, invite artists, and collaborate in the mission and programming of the space. Participants in SKYDIVE will be invited to Houston for a sustained number of days, previous to the exhibition to make their work, interact with the Houston community and see the sites in Houston and surrounding areas.

About Napping Affects Performance:
Napping Affects Performance (NAP) and NAP Church are interactive performance projects by 14 Pews artist-in-residence Emily Sloan providing community naps in collaboration with various performances, including (but not limited to) collaborations with sound, word, touch, and the delivery of naps to various sites and/or contexts. In May and June of 2010, NAP operated out of Art League Houston with six weeks of continuous performances taking place during Art League’s regular hours of operation. Since then, followers and napophiles began meeting once a month for a Sunday naps and naptisms during NAP Church services.

NAP Church meets monthly for Sunday naps.

Southern Naptist Convention Public Service Announcement

Nikki Araguz, Michael Galbreth, Mattress Mack, Stephanie Saint Sanchez and Cressandra Thibodeaux testify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmEQQQ5GYoM

What is a Naptism?

What is a naptism?
When someone believes in and is committed to a regular practice of napping, they are ready for naptism. Naptism involves an outward professing of this belief and then a ceremony of being laid to rest and doused with feathers. The believer then awakens to a new lease on life provided by regular restful, healing naps and the abolishment of any shame regarding napping.

Naptisms will be offered this Sunday, June 12 during the Southern Naptist Convention hosted by 14 Pews, 800 Aurora St., Houston, TX 77011.

THE NAPTURE!

The Napture is based on the prediction that humans are increasingly becoming insomniacs. There is already evidence pointing to it being true as humans stay awake for 16-18 hour stretches on average while most animals engage in napping throughout the day (just think of how much our pets sleep!). The invention of the light bulb has affected this change as have societal pressures. People staying up through the nocturnal hours fuels insomnia and increases the usage of environmental resources while daytime sleeping is demonized as laziness. Technology is also keeping people "wired" for longer hours.

Naptists believe we need sleep for survival. If not practiced, it is predicted that on the set date of October 21, 2011 non-nappers will be left awake in an insomniac hell.



About Napping Affects Performance: Napping Affects Performance (NAP) and NAP Church are interactive performance projects by 14 Pews artist-in-residence Emily Sloan providing community naps in collaboration with various performances, including (but not limited to) collaborations with sound, word, touch, and the delivery of naps to various sites and/or contexts. In May and June of 2010, NAP operated out of Art League Houston with six weeks of continuous performances taking place during Art League’s regular hours of operation. Since then, followers and napophiles began meeting once a month for a Sunday naps and naptisms during NAP Church services.

Napping Affects Performance, Universal NAP Church, and the Southern Naptist Convention are organizing the "NAPTURE: Don't be Left Awake!" event to be held in Houston, October 21, 2011 at 14 Pews. For more information, please visit: www.nappingaffectsperformance.blogspot.com

Southern Naptist Convention, Where Two or More Gather to Nap!

The Southern Naptist Convention is congregating Sunday, June 12 at 1pm at 14 Pews. Please join us for napping, naptisms, and preparing for the upcoming NAPTURE!

This is a very busy weekend as the Southern Baptist Convention is also taking place!

The Southern Naptist Convention is open to all faiths!

For more information, please contact Emily Sloan at 713-582-1198 or emily@emilysloan.com or visit: www.nappingaffectsperformance.blogspot.com

About Napping Affects Performance: Napping Affects Performance (NAP) and NAP Church are interactive performance projects by 14 Pews artist-in-residence Emily Sloan providing community naps in collaboration with various performances, including (but not limited to) collaborations with sound, word, touch, and the delivery of naps to various sites and/or contexts. In May and June of 2010, NAP operated out of Art League Houston with six weeks of continuous performances taking place during Art League’s regular hours of operation. Since then, followers and napophiles began meeting once a month for a Sunday naps and naptisms during NAP Church services.

Napping Affects Performance, Universal NAP Church, and the Southern Naptist Convention are organizing the "NAPTURE: Don't be Left Awake!" event to be held in Houston, October 21, 2011 at 14 Pews. For more information, please visit: www.nappingaffectsperformance.blogspot.com

About 14 Pews: Located at 800 Aurora St., Houston, Texas 77009, this Houston landmark is the oldest white wooden church in the Heights. Built in 1924, it has housed the Sunset Heights Church of Christ, Aurora Picture Show, and is now home to 14 Pews. 14 Pews is a non-profit microcinema providing regular screenings of independent documentaries and feature films, along with 4 annual film festivals and several affordable film/video educational classes. For more information, please visit: www.14pews.org

Zarvin Mindler at the Art Car Parade

Zarvin Mindler visits the Houston Art Car Parade 2011 to support this amazing Houston event and share appreciation to the Art Car Artists for their dedicated work!

Above: Meow for the pick-up pussy, THUNDERPUSS! (A La Chicana Laundry Production expertly crafted by and Richard Solis and Henry Lozano.)

Greeting and thanking Stephanie Saint Sanchez for her dedication to (you-guessed-it) picking up pussy! Thanks for looking after those that stray!

Wow! Zarvin really liked this style of wearing underwear as outwear! It's contagious!!

Zarvin greeting Karen Olds with Bubbles LaRue!

Zarvin with Bonnie Blue! Bonnie, the Rock Lady, organized a group of over-the-shoulder-boulder-holders in support of breast cancer survivors! She rocks!

Zarvin with the breast cancer survivor group. Some in the group decided to refer to Zarvin as "Dr. Zarvin" due to the clean white suit!

Zarvin taken for a ride.

Bonnie Blue sharing the wealth of pink beads.

Rochelle's view...

Bonnie in mirror.

Bonnie's husband on a bike. Check out that crowd! A fabulous turn-out!

More amazing cars:








Special thanks to Bonnie Blue and Women Who Rock!

Funeral Party

Performance: Entwined

Entwined is a performance of hair giving. It was performed on November 19 (the Friday before Thanksgiving) with a group I have worked with as a Healing Artist for approximately a year and a half. To bound our relationship even tighter, I offered everyone in the group a lock of hair they could cut off and keep as a memento of me and a passing on of power.


Above: We are discussing Victorian traditions of hair saving, exchanging and hair work. In some cultures and stories the sharing of hair is a sharing of power. Hair is also significant as a part of the body which will not rot.


Reading 19th century sayings such as "when this lock of hair you do see, think of me."




Above: A selection is made from the nape of the neck.




Above: A participant gives me a lock of their hair.

Photography courtesy of Crystal Owens.

Rebirth Ritual

"Rebirth" is a ritual event that took place at El Rincon Social on Sunday, November 14. A truck bed filled with blessed fluid was utilized for participants to be buried/submerged in and then reborn as part of a ritual of beginning anew.

The rebirthing process...












Photos courtesy of Michael Brims and Emily Sloan. More photos to come.

Water Break

Water Break: pick-up truck, tarp, water, release
Action took place following a performance of "rebirth" at El Rincon Social in Houston, Texas on Sunday, November 14.

Truck before:


Unidentified woman near water hose/umbilical cord as the truck is being filled with water.



Water Break:


(Above photo courtesy of Heili Geistert)

Red Sheet placenta was released as well.