Red Carpet Walk (video)

The first part of my Red Carpet Walk went without a hitch... Well, almost. Here is a video shot by my lovely friend, Orlando Lopez, of me getting mowed off the road by two Montreal city workers. I guess they weren't into performance art.



I'll be posting my return route (taking place on August 14th) in the upcoming days.

((You can check out more videos of the performance on Orlando's YouTube page.))

COVER (video)

This is an excerpt from my new video entitled COVER. It is currently being shown at Eastern Bloc (7240 Clark) for the SIGHTandSOUND Exhibition - May 24-27.

COVER

v. To place something over or upon to conceal or protect.

n. (music) A rerecording of a previously recorded song; a cover song.

This video explores the play between two definitions for the word "cover". I perform a version of a rock song by singer PJ Harvey, by hugging a set of speakers against my body while the music plays. This gesture changes the sonic character of the music to produce a "cover" of the original song. It also serves to stifle some of Harvey's extreme vocals. By inhabiting this space between between repetition and protection, I hope to raise questions around the nature of performance, authenticity, and control within musical production.

remember tori amos?

remember the 90s?
remember vhs or CDs?
remember the relevance of narrative music videos?

slow grindin to for ladies only , for da ladiez

Strip Clip

ASCIImeo

These are screen shots of my Full Disclosure video which has been transformed into ASCII code through the use of an awesome video player called ASCIImeo. It was designed by Peter Nitsch.

Amazing!

[via today and tomorrow]

Alternorthern Exhibit

So... when did you figure out that you had AIDS? is one of three video works that I will be exhibiting as part of the Alternorthern exhibition at the LAB in San Francisco next month.

Here is an excerpted description of the show from the LAB's website:

“Alternorthern” was conceived in the tension that exists between nationalism, globalization, and individualism: the exhibition is a product of both cultural values and cultural hybridism. The nine artists in this exhibition function similarly in that they use their own identities to make gestures that transgress time and space. Each artist in the exhibition is Canadian, yet each creates work that speaks to issues pertinent to both Canadian and global geographic and political landscapes.

The show runs from February 12th to March 6th. The opening is February 12th from 6-9pm.

Hope to see you there!

new video work

COVER

v. To place something over or upon to conceal or protect.

n. (music) A rerecording of a previously recorded song; a cover version; a cover song.

This video explores the play between the different meanings for the word cover. For the duration of a song I will cover a set of speakers with my body. This gesture will muffle the sound and change the sonic character of the music, in effect producing a "cover" version of the original.

campfire music

Body Break Vernissage

David and I would like to thank everyone who came out to the Body Break vernissage last night at the Red Bird. If you missed it, then you still have three days to visit the gallery and see our collaborative and individual works. The gallery will be open July 24th, 25th (Friday, & Saturday) from 1:00PM to 7:00PM and July 26th (Sunday) from 1:00PM to 5:00PM.

Below are a few snapshots of the vernissage. We also got a great review on Midnight Poutine, a local (and awesome!) Montreal Arts & Music blog. Thanks to Jasia for coming to the show and chatting with me about the work!

Installation view

Installation view

Installation view - Full Disclosure by Vincent Chevalier

Installation view - Non-Stop Party by David Whitten

Installation view - Shit Piece by David Whitten & Vincent Chevalier

Beard Love!

Roundabout (full version)

2 video works

upcoming show

BODY BREAK: Performative works
by David Whitten and Vincent Chevalier

David and Vincent will be occupying the Red Bird Gallery for the month of July. The fruits of their labour will be ripe for the picking between July 23rd and July 26th. Vernissage: July 23rd, 7:00PM to midnight.

Red Bird Gallery. 135 Van Horne

mother by son

proto-Britney

Ahhh the 1960s!



This song is really catchy but also pretty problematic. It was written by Serge Gainsbourg for France Gall (seen singing the song at the Eurovision song contest in 1965) and it's basically about being a doll made of wax and sound to be molded by it's maker. In this case, Gall becomes the baby-faced, ingenue, doe-eyed, young, French, starlet, popstar doll to Gainsbourg's creepy producer/starmaker puppetmaster. For more on it check out the wikipedia entry.

There is another version of the song recorded on really early video technology. I love the way the sound has degraded, but it's pretty impressive that it has stood the test of time and can now be broadcast again via YouTube. You also get to see Gall actually singing, rather than lip-syncing like the clip above. And there's a live orchestra! Unfortch, the user has forbidden embedding, so you'll have to check it out by clicking on the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kigGTacRxh8

Enjoy!

one of my favorite things...

Boston-based photographer and video artist, Sean M. Johnson, is the hottest shit in my books these days, with his Beard Love series topping my list of sexiest, prettiest, and most touching video art doing the rounds these days. I came across his work quite accidentally one evening when I was feeling sorta lonely. I typed "hairy bear" into the YouTube search engine and his videos popped up. I fell instantly in love (and got really horny) watching his tender videos of men rubbing beards together in playful scenes of boyish play. I was so enamored with his work that I took out the plastic and ordered myself one of his DVDs from his MySpace profile at www.myspace.com/beardlove.

You can also check him out at his website:

www.seanMjohnson.com

In the meantime, check out his latest clip from his YouTube account. It makes my heart all aflutter with prickly loveness!

lisa loeb karaoke

avant-cart(e) walk

video stills (camera by donna akrey)

For more info on my 2x4x22, the site-specific art show that I am currently participating in, check out our blog at www.artx399.wordpress.com.

father by son

video art makes me uncomfortable...

Roundabout