Space Center Performance - 1983

In 1983 I was granted a residency at the Space Center in Alamagordo, NM near White Sands. My project was to create a multi-media performance in the planetarium dome using lasers, videos in a bank, a talking computer, and an electronic keyboard. The theme was space or related to manned space exploration, as interpreted by an artist. In these photos you see components of the performance and this first image shows the heavens projected on the dome as I (in the white light area) work with the computer speech while a video of a shuttle plays in the background. The following image shows me at the keyboard followed by images of the video. The technical script is included.

Look how old the computer equipment looks!

Space Center Residency Press

Art in Space Launch Press

Art in Space Launch - 1984

Art in Space Launch was a live performance event held outside of San Francisco with Sam Samore, Aron Ranen, Mike Mages and some help from Walter Alter. Our purpose was to send art into space for the first time.

We knew it was controversial and probably illegal but we decided as a group to move forward. We devised a plan to put out posters and news to gain an audience. To get the city off of our backs if they got upset when they saw the news, we would designate a location and apply for a permit, going through the proper channels. Of course we expected a decline and arranged to send people to a construction site outside city limits. At the last minute the "very nice" city permit department called to say we couldn't do the launch and wanted to hear what we were going to do about it.

I responded with something like, " Oh no! We'll have to just do it anyway."  The police arrived at the park with paddy wagons ready for a surly group (as reported by our map and shuttle crew) but we were gone by then.

Sam continues his visual art works, Aron teaches documentary video and is best known for Did We Go? claiming the moon landing was a hoax, Mike is an engineering manager at Apple Computer and Walter is a experimental artist (you can see more about Walter on my InterDADA 84 blog).

Photos are by Steve Caravello except for the close cropped ones are by Catz Robmaw, and the last image is by Judy Dater.

If your art was on this first launch and you didn't get your certificate let me know where to email it.

Wanna Be An Astronaut?

Performed at the Victoria Theater during the Inter DADA 84 festival is the song, Wanna Be An Astronaut, with a back-up band.

Retrogrades Perform at La Mamelle

The Retrogrades was 3 person electronic and multi-media group that was part of a series of performances I call my "Space Series" that existed for a short period in 1983-4.

Umbrella Art - 1984

Poetry - Comix - Comics

This is a cover for Steve Abbot's book with my photos.

In my very early years in San Francisco, Steve and I were roommates in a house located on a hill in Noe Valley. Steve was editor of Poetry Flash at the time and it was through him I met many of the Beat poets and neo-Beats as well. He (not me - I didn't know anyone yet) would have weekend parties at the house and the group would have impromptu  "open mike" sessions in the kitchen or try out new works for feedback with Andrew Hayes and Jeffrey Cook amongst the group. Also on a regular basis S Clay Wilson (he grew up with Steve) and other comix artists would be there. Several stand-up comics, like Sinbad and Robin Williams, would show up as the parties progressed - you can imagine what a great time the parties would become.

I created illustrations for several issues of Steve's SOUP magazine - both covers and inside pages.

Photography Press - 1979 to 1983