performaction

2012-01-24T21:32:00.000-05:00

Today's drawing. Skype Portrait of Luisa, pencil, 5" x 7"

VENT 2011

2011-10-20T09:32:00.015-04:00

What a fantastic festival this year. For details on all the artists go to ventfestival.com

It was a two day extravaganza, with strong work from Brooklyn and beyond.

Here's a taste:

Enchanted Karaoke III: Slow Time Spell

2011-10-20T09:18:00.006-04:00

So the third in the Enchanted Karaoke series in in process. The spell to learn here is how to slow down time. If you haven't seen the first two yet, click HERE.

For the Slow Time song I was aiming towards David Bowie, but ended up a bit closer to Joan Jett. Not complaining.

Video coming soon. . .

Spring fling

2011-03-21T11:39:00.008-04:00

A lot is going on over here on the west coast.

FUSE at the Vancouver Art Gallery went well. And I was honored to show with the amazing Amber Dawn, Cindy Mochizuki, and Lesley Ewen, curated by the ever talented Vanessa Kwan.

I will also be teaching a Performance Art for Video Master Class at VIVO Media Center over two weekends in April, so tell all your Vancouver friends!

And curated by New York curator and writer Nicole Caruth, my second Enchanted Karaoke piece will be debuting and at a new Center for Book Arts show, titled With Food In Mind. Atom will be performing her work Consume Love at the opening. The show runs April 15th - June 25th.

Also, I have a new website up, which I think is much easier to navigate -phew, seriously multi-tasking.

My spring fling with Vancouver is almost over -welcome home NYC.

The Wet West Coast

2011-02-06T15:10:00.005-05:00

I'm in Vancouver for the early part of 2011. I'm teaching a performance art / video class at the wonderful Vancouver Art School Emily Carr. I have some excellent engaged students; if you'd like to read our class blog, please tune in HERE.

I'm also a resident at the newly established Gene studios where I'm working on some new drawings as part of my practical magic series, which is evermore growing into a multifaceted project. Along side the drawings, I'm working on the second in the Enchanted Karaoke series to be screened at the Center for Book Arts in NYC this

coming April; I'll put it up on my website in May.

Happy Year of the Rabbit!

ACTING OUT: Dec 3rd, 6pm - 9pm

2010-11-05T11:59:00.008-04:00

Acting Out at the Bronx River Arts Center Opens Dec 3rd. Please join us for the opening from 6pm - 9pm. My new work I've got you under my spell 1: Radical Judgement Transmutation Forcefield Song the first of the Enchanted Karaoke series will debut.

See you there!

m

Postscript: Video viewing click HERE

Lots of Luck Given

2010-11-05T11:43:00.004-04:00

During the Art in Odd Places Festival 2010, a few Ladies of Luck provided the desiring public with a temporary Luck spell. Many people requested and received luck granted directly from the High Counsel of Luck.

m

Enchanted Karaoke

2010-10-18T18:04:00.005-04:00

I've been conjuring a new series of works, part of which is title Enchanted Karaoke. The first work will debut at Acting Out a show curated by Erin Riley Lopez, opening December 4th at the Bronx River Arts Center.

Below are two video stills from the first video of the series titled I've got you under my spell 1: Radical Judgement Transmutation Forcefield Song.

VENT 2010 = YES!

2010-10-18T17:58:00.003-04:00

Check out the VENT site and blog to see some of the events held and artists that participated!
Thank you all who came out and supported the festival. More to come.

Maya

Good press for Lady Luck

2010-09-07T00:05:00.002-04:00

(click me)

Shows upcoming

2010-08-05T10:55:00.006-04:00

This fall, along with the festival VENT at the Soapbox gallery, I will be participating in the Art in Odd Places festival with a playful Luck Be a Lady piece, where three Ladies will be magically imbuing people with the power of LUCK. Also coming in the December, I will be previewing a new piece for Acting Out at the Bronx River Arts Space curated by the fabulous Erin Riley-Lopez.

Stay tuned for more (as there is more in the bag, almost ready to be released).

*m

VENT at Soapbox

2010-08-05T10:47:00.005-04:00

I am curating a performance series at the Soapbox gallery this September, titled VENT. I'm really excited about all the fabulous artists I've been speaking to and whose work I've been looking over. Curating is a lot of work, but it's rewarding and inspiring.

The show will consist of four installation style performances with durations of between three and five days, and a Soapbox Saturday Cabaret that exhibits artists work riffing off traditional soapbox oratories, rants, speeches and manifestos. I'll be emceeing the cabaret night.

Check out the website, and come and enjoy!

Review of It It and the Gimme Box

2009-11-20T18:28:00.004-05:00

I met with Journalist Paul Willis, and had a great conversation about the work.

Read it HERE

*maya

It It and the Gimme Box (excerpts)

2009-11-03T23:25:00.003-05:00

It It and the Gimme Box is a playful look at our relationship with consumer objects. Using video, sensors and interactive programming It It and the Gimme Box renders portraits of three objects, each a ubiquitous item from the contemporary urban lifestyle: a house key, earbuds and a paper trail (receipts, bank statements and so on).

The work plays with our relationship as consumers to the objects we consume. We disregard objects that surround us, often knowing nothing about the process of their production or decay. Yet we nonetheless become attached to these things, imbuing them with personality and meaning.

The heart of It It and the Gimme Box is three original songs presented as playful music videos within small booths or “portals” placed around the gallery. As the viewer raises his or her hands within the portal an infrared sensor activates the video. In order to view the entire music video the viewer must keep their arms in the raised position, acting as a form of currency between the viewer and the work.

This piece has been produced with the support of Harvestworks Digital Media Center, The BRIC/Rotunda Fellowship and the New York State Council on the Arts.

It It and the Gimme Box: Opening October 22

2009-10-14T13:05:00.001-04:00

The exhibition will run from October 22nd - November 28th
Opening reception Thursday October 22nd, 6pm - 8pm

AC Institute [Direct Chapel]
547 West 27th Street, 5th Floor
#519-529 & North Alcove
New York, NY

video still

2009-09-11T12:58:00.001-04:00

Editing It It and the Gimme Box. Introducing Paper Trail.

*m

Fun at the Gowanus Studio: My Shoes Are Made In China

2009-08-31T17:27:00.005-04:00

This past Saturday the Gowanus Studio held A DAN KLEIN HOSTED EVENT: YOU, ME, AND ALL OUR FRIENDS.

Screening a film from Cannes veterans RED BUCKET FILMS, performance art by ME and DAVID CIERI, piano stylings from ERIC MARCH, video art by ANGELA CONANT, music from Noah Britton & Jen Page of NOAH BRITTON IS HOT, interactive video by DEIRDRE MCCONNELL, laughs from living UCB legend ROB LATHAN, beats and rhymes from rap group SNAKES and wall art by TOM WATSON & ANDREW CLEARY.

I performed one of my original cabaret tunes, written in 2002, titled My Shoes Are Made In China. It is about a "North American Girl" shop shop shopping while others are drop drop dropping. This was the first time the song has had accompaniment, and it was a whole new, magical animal.

I've given up on thinking that my art will mysteriously streamline into a single medium; I do many things, and that's just the way it's gonna to stay. This performance reminded me how much I love cabaret, and that I've got a ton more cheeky songs where that one came from. I'm sure a musical is not so far up my sleeve. I'll have to start making offerings to my Camp song-sewing hero, Richard O'Brien.

*m

Skype Conversation with Melanie, May 12th 2009

2009-08-12T21:33:00.002-04:00

48" x 40"
Colored Conte
Almost done.*

Exhibition October 22 - November 28 at AC [Institute Direct Chapel]

2009-07-13T11:57:00.005-04:00

I'll be having a solo show in Chelsea at AC [Institute Direct Chapel] from October 22 - November 28th, 2009. The exhibition will include It It and the Gimme Box (a three channel interactive video installation), produced through the support of Harvestworks Digital Media Center, The BRIC/Rotunda Fellowship and New York State Council On the Arts.

Please attend if you are in New York City, and thanks for your support.

The Opening will be on Thursday October 22nd, 6-8pm

AC [Institute Direct Chapel]
547 W. 27th St., 5th floor
New York, NY 10001

*Maya

Open Studio Fun

2009-07-13T11:29:00.014-04:00

Thanks everyone for coming to my open studio. I had a great time, and it was fantastic to get everyone's feedback.

Open Studio -July 8th, 2009

2009-05-14T13:16:00.006-04:00

Please join me for my open studio.

I'll have a preview of my upcoming work It It and the Gimme Box; including the interactive mechanism (sensors/MaxMSP/video), designs and perhaps even some samples of the songs.
Also, I'll have photos, drawings and video projection on view.

Come see my newest work, have a sip of something tasty and some good conversation on a summer evening.

Wednesday, July 8th 2009 5pm -9pm 119 8th street, Brooklyn Suite 202, Between 2nd and 3rd Avenues

See you then!

*maya

Drawing!

2009-05-14T12:39:00.002-04:00

Wow, I forgot all about drawing. I've been drawing again for the first time in 7 years (other than blind contours of people on the subway, or phone-doodles), and am loving it. Who woulda thought? 2D?

*m

Studio

2009-04-06T15:48:00.003-04:00

Yay, I'm so excited. I've moved into my new studio at the Gowanus Studio space. It's a great location, a beautiful building, and a fabulous space to get work done. A little later in the year I'll be having an open studio to show off some of the new work I'm developing. I'll keep you posted.

Maya

Portraits of My Friends as Divine Heroes as Supreme Existence

2009-02-28T20:27:00.007-05:00

I started a piece I've been thinking and talking about for a while, Portraits of My Friends as Divine Heroes as Supreme Existence. So far I've done two studio shoots; I used a digital camera, an analog still camera and a SD video camera. The portraits are created by first having my subjects answer a questionnaire containing random (slightly absurd) questions about themselves and their beliefs. Then from their answers I create a backdrop and costume. Here are two of the digital shots, both of South African artists: Nina Barnett and Lawrence Lemaoana. More to come.

*maya

SHOOT

2008-10-18T11:56:00.004-04:00

Video Installation loop

Near Sighted Far Out -post notes.

2008-09-28T15:48:00.009-04:00

Thank you all Near Sighted Far Out video artists, performers, organizers, volunteers and audience!

Each night had it's own share of shining moments. On Wednesday Uncle Bob (at right with video respondent Margaret Vendryes) brought us some fabulous guests and insight into works by Elizabeth Axtman, Nanna Debois Buhl, Amy Lynn Kazymerchyk, Jefferson Pinder among others; Thursday saw performance artist Coral Short's work Stationary (see video), followed by a dynamic line up of animation and video pieces by artists such as Nina Barnett, Kambui Olujimi, Lauren Kelley and Alexander Reyna; and on Friday Tommy Mintz offered us his amazing Public Toilet Map (which lists 250 free public toilets all over Manhattan), after which Lilly McElroy's work Hugs and Shelly Silver's incredible documentary/love letter to New York in complete world, was screened to great success.

Thank you Nicole Caruth for your fabulous curatorial vision, I can't wait to see your next alchemical project.

*maya

Helmet Yes!

2008-09-17T23:09:00.008-04:00

Thank you so much to everyone who helped with Helmet Piece for this year's Conflux Festival hosted by the Center For Architecture. It was very well recieved; Daily Candy used an image of Helmet for their spotlight on Conflux, and there were a couple of blogs that mentioned it posted in the first two days (1 & 2) . Unfortunately the second performance was rained out, but never fear, we will indeed take a rain check, so keep your ears open. Apparently the Director of the Center for Architecture was very enamored with us; I will be in touch with her about perhaps performing it again in their space.

Extra special thanks to Kleoni Manoussakis, Tommy Mintz, Adrian Saich, and Marc Sandau for donning helmets and making compositions with their internal sounds.

This performance was extra special for me because I got to listen from the outside for a change. Yay!

* * maya

Near Sighted, Far Out

2008-09-02T22:34:00.005-04:00

Harvestworks Digital Media Center's 5th video festival is coming to NYC! September 24, 25 & 26.

Three nights of new video works by Elizabeth Axtman, Nina Barnett, Patrick Bergeron, Nanna Debois Buhl, Alan Calpe, Tirtza Evan, Brendan Fernandes, Natalie Frigio, Stephani Hough, Esther Johnson, Amy Lynn Kazymerchyk, Heidi Kumao, Lauren Kelley, Lilly McElroy, Shelley Silver, Kambui Olujimi, Jefferson Pinder, Alexander Reyna, Federico Solmi, Donna Szoke, Traci Talasco, and Mai Yamashita and Naoto Kabayashi, among others.

Performances by Danielle Abrams, Coral Short and Tommy Mintz.

Curated by Nicole Caruth.

I've been assisting Nicole to program the screenings and have curated the performances. All events are FREE. Harvestworks is located at 596 Broadway, #602, New York, NY (map).

(view press release here )

See you there!

*maya

NYSCA Grant!

2008-09-02T18:53:00.004-04:00

Very exciting news in Maya's Art world; I've been awarded a New York State Council for the Arts Independent Artist's Grant for my upcoming work It It and the Gimme Box, a playful interactive video installation that toys with our object obsessed culture.

Keep an eye out for it Fall of 09.

*maya

Helmet Piece @ Conflux

2008-09-01T19:21:00.005-04:00

HELMET PIECE @ CONFLUX
http://confluxfestival.org/conflux2008/helmet-piece/

Helmet Piece will be performed at the Conflux head quarters on September 11th at the Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place New York NY (map), from 4:15 - 5:15. And again on September 12th, on East 10th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenue from 6pm - 7pm (map).

You can come and go as you please; experience the work for 2 minutes, 10 minutes or an hour, however you like it.

Come enjoy!!!

call it an introduction

2008-01-05T13:49:00.003-05:00

Tantruming is something I don't think I did much as a child, but have learned to love as an adult. If not as an activity to "get what I want" but as an one to enjoy sumptuously. Mmmm. Now I'm in New York, a world of newness is open to me; many new sidewalks to kick, new air to throw my fists around in, new birds who turn up their beaks at my gritted teeth growls.

My work The Tantrum Project (video clip @ www.mayasuess.com), a collaboration with Sepideh Saii, was what gave me this new found appreciation for pointed flailing.

The Tantrum Project began our video/performance duo "the Conversationists," a playful and expressive action based collaboration-ship. However, now that the Conversationists live across the Atlantic from one another our conversations are limited to much needed gossip and hilarity. None the less we're both still making conversations. I know mine are with my work, the city I live in, the people who cross my path and my viewers.

I'd love to hear responses and ideas from other artists and interested people about performance, new media's role in contemporary art and life in general.

Please some back often and feel free to email me @ mayasuess@gmail.com.

Yay.

*maya