Pre-Order Secrets of Rusty Things - Signed Copies

Hello again,

Just in....

I've just started taking pre-orders for signed copies of my book, Secrets of Rusty Things.

When the book is released you will receive an autographed copy...plus... I've designed a special book plate that will attach to the inside front cover. This customized plate will only be available when purchased through my website (in other words it will not be available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc.). Also included will be a deMengian Artist Trading Card. All this for only $30 (plus s&h).

If you're interested, click here

My assistant, Christine will be in contact to take your information.

You won't be charged until the book is ready to ship...sometime in May, but put your name in now, so we can order enough books.

I've had a few sneak peeks at the book during the design process...I love what I've seen..I'm quite excited. Hope you are.

thanks Michael

CHA, CHA, CHA

Hey gang,

I'm getting ready to head down to Southern California for the Craft and Hobby Association Trade Show. It's at the Anaheim Covention Center.

I'll be showing off the new book (or what is available to see) at the NorthLight booth. I'll also be sneaking off to Stamper's Anonymous' booth periodically to show off my new line of stamps. I think they look great.

So for those attending...here's some info you might find handy:

I'll be at:

F+W Publications. Booth Number #1509.

DEMO INFORMATION:
Sunday: 12:00 p.m.
Monday: 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday: 11:00 a.m.

F+W will be having a reception at the booth on Tuesday, January 30, from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Stop by and say "hey".

Michael

and the winner is....

Nicole and I had a tough time deciding. This is an indication that there were some amazing words submitted. I really was quite impressed that so many people spent the time and submitted very creative words.

Originally I said I would list the top 21 runner-ups. This changed when Melange said they would do a little spread about the contest. So everyone will have to wait until summer to see some of the inventive and in witty words.

Okay....

drum roll please

The winner of the big Word Off is

Andrea Davis....

for

CREATUITIVE cre·a·tui·tive [kree-a-too-i-tiv] –adjective

1. Combining the creative process with the internal mechanisms of intuition for artistic expression or products of invention.

2.Creative production and expression resulting from a direct perception of truth, fact, etc., independent of any reasoning process; immediate apprehension.

3. The creative ability and/or phenomenon leading to the transcendence of traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.; originality, progressiveness, or imagination by means of intuition.
4.
The non-conceptual process by which one utilizes creative ability.
—Related forms
cre·a·tu·i·tive·ly, adverb
cre·a·tu·i·tive·ness, noun

Congrats Andrea....nicely done. Maybe we'll play this again next year unless I can thing of some other interesting way to give a piece of art away.

Thanks to everyone who submitted. Nicole and I had a blast reading through the goods.

ciao,

Michael

Art and Soul Class Changes - Voodoo Dolls - not hats

Hey everyone,

There’s been a change in the workshop schedule at Art and Soul Virginia. The Mad Hatter class has been magically transformed into a Voodoo Doodad Doll class…don’t ask me how…it’s a secret.

If you’re interested in this class click below to enroll. The description follows.
http://www.artandsoulretreat.com/virginia-art-workshops/474/index.htm

Voodoo Doodad Dolls

9-4:30
Monday, May 7th

Time to do that Voodoo that you do so well. In this class you’ll be creating found object, mixed media Voodoo Dolls. Using techniques involving assemblage, collage, painting and anything else that pops in your head, we’ll be creating contemporary versions of this fascinating Haitian art form. What most people don’t know is that Voodoo dolls can be used for positive ends...love...money...success...etc. I can’t promise you that they’ll actually work but I guarantee they’ll look cool when you’re done.

NO BAD MOJO
Disclaimer: All Voodoo Dolls created in this class are intended for artistic and entertainment purposes only. Any use for ill will...no matter how entertaining that may seem.... is not the class intent.

This is a project workshop and students will all leave with at least one completed project (perhaps more).

I'm back...and I see a whole bunch of words!

Okie dokie, the words are in! Now it's time for Nicole and I to rummage through them and announce a winner...wooooo hoooo!

There are some very cool words and it will be tough to nail them down. Good job.

Here's a little treat...
I will post the winning word and inventor on my blog....the other words I'm keeping in a vault until July. Why? Well because Somerset Studios wants to feature some of the words in the July/Aug edtion of Melange. Don't know how many they will use, so I can't promise you that yours will appear (especially since I had so many entries), but it will be something to look forward to.

On Jan. 19th I'll announce the Master of the Word.

stay tuned.

ON ANOTHER NOTE
I've been away for the last three weeks hangin with a friend. First in S.F. then to New York. I had a great time. In NY we managed to see the ball drop on New Years Eve, and hooked up with a bunch of Cortona, Italy workshop attendees...what fun.

In S.F. I came across an alley in the Mission District filled with murals, so I thought I'd share them:

The Big Give-away.

Appropriating Words

It’s the holiday season and in the spirit of this time of year I have decided to give away a piece of my art. Last year I had a similar event where I asked everyone to email me on a particular day, at a particular time. I opted not to do this method again, considering it caused quite a problem with my email provider when hundreds of emails hit them all at once. This year it will be a competition of wit and intellect. Are you up for the challenge?

This year’s competition is a competition of words, in particular, creating new words. This idea came to me after my friend and artist, Nicole McConville invented a word to describe her work: sigilation. In her case she took the word sigil and modified it to suit her own meaning, in a different form. Check out her site at www.sigilation.com I was fascinated by the concept of inventing a word to describe one’s art. This is nothing new,really, artists have been doing it for a long time. Dada, Modernism, Montage are a few examples of artistic inventions. Your challenge if you choose to accept it, is to invent a an word pertaining to art.

It could be a noun, verb, whatever, but it MUST be original and not appear in any dictionary.

Submission guidelines READ CAREFULLY!!!!!!!

• Invent a word. It must somehow relate to art, artists, the artistic process, or creativity.
  
• It can be any type of word, noun, verb, adjective, adverb, etc.
• The submission must be original and not appear in any dictionary.
• You can create it from an existing root word. For instance: Neo-shrinalist (a term I jokingly use to describe my art) would be acceptable or as in Nicole’s case: sigilation from the root sigil.
• A nonsense word would also be acceptable (Dada would be an example of an invented nonsense word).
• The word must be submitted as an actual dictionary entry.
• It must have a pronunciation key. You might need to cut and paste the symbols into your entry.
• Your submission(s) must be emailed to me at assemblage@michaeldemeng.com by January 3^rd 2007
• THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT: The subject line of the email must read: artspeak (it needs to be one word, in lower case. Any variation in the above spelling will never reach the selection committee.
• Two submissions per person…that’s it no more.

The Selection Process

The judges will consist of Nicole McConville and myself. The entries will be judged on the following merits.

1. Is it original?
2. Does it pertain to art, the art process, or some aspect of creativity?
3. Is it inventive or witty?
4. Does it roll off the tongue?
5. Is it catchy?
6. Did the entrant follow the submission guidelines?

The Prize:

Keeping with the theme of the competition I have created an assemblage piece using a old dictionary. It is valued at $500

The Winner

The winner will be announced on January 19^th via email. The winner’s entry and the entries of the twenty-one runner-ups will be posted on my site (www.michaeldemeng.com) and on my blog (www.michaeldemeng.blogspot.com).

Good luck and happy wordsmithing,

Michael deMeng

Changes

Hey

the prospectus for the give-away will be posted in a few days. A few things have to be figured out.
I just finished the piece of art for the prize. It's an assemblage book-shrine. I will post an image with the info.

Also I've changed my site a bit. I'm getting it ready for some changes that will be happing in May.

thats it for now, I need to get ready for some skiing...snow is everywhere....woooohooo.

for now I'll give you something to look at...a recent commission.


ciao,
Michael