The final version of the animations I began making during my time at the Arts Commons Lightbox Studio, presented as a looping installation at the festival bar. This was the first rodeo since founder and local hero Michael Green passed away. The piece ended up featuring a long rendering of Michael Green's iconic parlour piece, a performance called "The Whaler" where, nude other than a pair of yellow cleaning gloves, he recites a dramatic poem and dunks his head in a bucket of water. The animation turned into more of a tribute to the two members of the One Yellow Rabbit ensemble who passed away previous (and during) my time working on this project: Richard McDowell and Michael Green. The bar had a sort-of tribute section on one side, with my piece and portraits of Richard and Michael by Chris Cran.
The animation, the first three portraits of Denise, Andy, and Blake at least, were drawn on paper; the portraits of Richard and Michael were done digitally in Photoshop. I had to source footage of them from the community, Karen Hines helping in particular, as I was unable to get either to sit for a portrait session. Richard passed before I started the project, and Michael passed a few days before I had an appointment with him. Michael Green passing away really re-contextualized the whole thing, at least for me. It was a tragedy for sure. But when I was making this piece, I had a window studio at Arts Commons that everyone at his funeral passed by on their way to the Jack Singer Concert Hall. It was weird and sad and I had to figure out some way to capture the essence of these departed members of the community, to the presented at the bar to their patrons, friends, lovers...
Having it as an installation at the place closest to the subjects was interesting to watch. They seemed to like it, but it played every night on a loop for weeks. I wonder if they ever turned it off.
