Behind the curtain -

"Wife of the Wizard of Oz"
$50 Unframed - LUCAS GALLERY
digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

You wouldn't know it but I've spent the greater part of the last 3 or 4 weeks listening to some new and some old music while looking at a ton of art. Not the least of which was the Preview Reception last Friday morning at SUArt Galleries for the way fabulous retrospective "Impressions: Jasper Johns". My mind is still spinning from that sensory overload but it's not the end of the story. While busily planning my year end back-ups - along with a better plan for that task in 2008 - I was easily sidetracked into my new love, PDF Art Zines. As I began downloading and perusing zine after zine, it wasn't long before I was truly inspired and dropped everything to get to work on today's post. Long story short, it is said that Johns "always downplayed the importance of subject matter in his work and instead emphasized the techniques and processes associated with making art". My own method of working with digital tools runs parallel to that path, especially so in the piece you see here. Have at it ... I've got more artwork to drink in! :D

Illustration Friday: The Zoo -

"The Zoo"
digital collage by Mick Mather

As you can see, The Zoo, is our theme at Illustration Friday this week. It didn't take me long to follow back along the trail to the Greek Life at almost any college campus you might have as your own, personal reference. For me it was the University of Florida and Syracuse University with a research residency or two at the likes of Fredonia State, Cornell University and Ithaca College...but I digress. Who among us doesn't recall that one fraternity, forever etched in our memory in the film "Animal House", where the common room always smelled like beer and cigars and was generally speaking a mess. This particular house was, like the movie, always on the brink of losing its charter and because of the notorious parties, hazings and hijinx was more commonly known as...wait for it! The Zoo! :D

Thursday Challenge: School -

"Up the Down Staircase"
$50 Unframed - LUCAS GALLERY

digitally manipulated photograph by Mick Mather

My addition to this week's Thursday Challenge for the theme of school is this photograph of the main staircase at Syracuse University Downtown in The Warehouse. The building is an old storage warehouse, previously owned by the Dunk and Bright Furniture Company, that was purchased by Syracuse University and rehabbed to house the School of Architecture, The College of Visual and Performing Arts, The Goldring Arts Journalism Program as well as The Warehouse Gallery and the Community Art Wing where there are computer labs, meeting rooms, The Link Gallery and a wonderful cafe serving some of the best stir fry downtown. That concludes my little plug for the 800-pound gorilla - since I do staff an office over there a few days a week I suppose it's just and fitting to mention it. :)