deMeng de los Muertos 2009

Guess what is being planned as I type: deMeng de los Muertos 2009. We had such a great year (once again) in 2008 that Colleen and I are planning another trip. The specifics such as this year's Day of the Dead activities and tours and are still being worked out but I thought I'd throw a bone (no pun intended) your way. Here's the 2009 class description:

Calaveras y Diablos, y Santos…Oh My!

Translation: Skeletons and Devils and Saints…Oh My. My head spins every time I visit Oaxaca and see all the Day of the Dead toys and figurines made by the local artisans. I have a number of such purchases in my collection, such as a group of drunken diablos, a skeletal Frida on a bicycle, and of course my various Virgin of Soledad statues. So on this year's trek to the magical city of Oaxaca, Mexico, I thought that we would explore the process of doll and figurine making, and I should say, from my standpoint…the crazier the better. We will use everything from broken toys and found objects, to bizarre items like eyes and wings and halos from the surreal religious store La Ninas de las Posada, to handmade items using epoxy clay. For those who want to create little homes for your peeps, we will go over making a little nichos, as well as some metal embossing techniques for adornment. In this class you will be required to play…no fuddy-duddying allowed (and yes I did make up that word). As with previous years we will also create a class ofrenda (memorial shrine) to honor those we have lost and want to remember. Hope you decide to join me at my favorite place in the world, during my favorite festival…Dia de los Muertos…oh my!

for more info or to get on the list contact:
Colleen Darling
colleen950@hotmail.com
Home 805-688-1221
Cell 805-448-1509

Oaxaca 2009...deMeng de los Muertos

Hey gang,
Guess what is being planned as I type: deMeng de los Muertos 2009. We had such a great year (once again) in 2008 that Colleen and I are planning another trip. The specifics such as this year's Day of the Dead activities and tours and are still being worked out but I thought I'd throw a bone (no pun intended) your way. Here's the 2009 class description:

deMeng de los Muertos 2009

Calaveras y Diablos, y Santos…Oh My!

Translation: Skeletons and Devils and Saints…Oh My. My head spins every time I visit Oaxaca and see all the Day of the Dead toys and figurines made by the local artisans. I have a number of such purchases in my collection, such as a group of drunken diablos, a skeletal Frida on a bicycle, and of course my various Virgin of Soledad statues. So on this year’s trek to the magical city of Oaxaca, Mexico, I thought that we would explore the process of doll and figurine making, and I should say, from my standpoint…the crazier the better. We will use everything from broken toys and found objects, to bizarre items like eyes and wings and halos from the surreal religious store La Ninas de las Posada, to handmade items using epoxy clay. For those who want to create little homes for your peeps, we will go over making a little nichos, as well as some metal embossing techniques for adornment. In this class you will be required to play…no fuddy-duddying allowed (and yes I did make up that word). As with previous years we will also create a class ofrenda (memorial shrine) to honor those we have lost and want to remember. Hope you decide to join me at my favorite place in the world, during my favorite festival…Dia de los Muertos…oh my!
If you're interested drop Colleen Darling a line and get on the listcontact:
Colleen Darling
colleen950@hotmail.com
Home 805-688-1221
Cell 805-448-1509

Merry T-Rex-mas

I don't remember my first Xmas, but I do remember the first Xmas that I remember. I must have been about 3 or 4 and I recall waking very very early and sneaking out to the Xmas tree. Everything was dark except for the blue lights of the tree...this was my mothers kick, blue lights with flocking. All I could see was the silhouette of a Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton against the tree. Seemed huge then...now I know that it was about 5 feet tall. Quickly I ran into my parents room and said: I think Santa has been here (bear in mind I'm not certain that my grammar was quite this good but you get the picture). My parents get up (by the way my father is pretty much the father in Christmas Story), turn on the lights and low and behold a Styrofoam T-Rex with a little sign with red letters that read: REX. Up until recently, my parents would bring out old Rex and set him up next to the tree, usually with a Santa hat or Xmas bulb eyes. The only reason that Rex no longer comes out on the holiday is that with time his bones eventually deteriorated and packing tape could seem to hold him together anymore. He is still around, but up in a box in my folks attic...they don't want to throw him away...he spent to many holidays with us. It would be rude.

Xmas Toys for Girls and Boys

As promised, I said I would post some of the new toys on display at Tsunami in Missoula. So here they are:
This one is called "Canadian Fire Truck, aka Hoser"

Next is the one is my version of American Chopper.
She is called "Easy Rider"

And of course what's not to love about a pig-boy?
I call him "This Little Piggy Had Bones"

Ho Ho Ho....Ha Ha HaSantaland on the Holidays on Ice audiobook is a must! You must listen to the Santaland Diaries. I was recently recommended this by Debbie Bruggeman Shaner after mentioning listening to David Sedaris in the studio. I have to admit this audiobook is my favorite...thanks Deb. Its about his days working as an elf in Macy's Santaland. You must download it! You must! Of course you could also read it, but there is something about David Sedaris's delivery that makes it all the funnier. Check it out here at Amazon for the CD: Holidays on Ice . Or you can download it at Itunes.

Okay, signing off...Happy Holidays everyone. Stay warm...or if you south of the equator stay cool.

Gruss von Krampus

Okay kids hopefully everyone is playing nice out there....if not...big trouble from Krampus. Last year about this time I did a post all about Krampus....sort of the bad Santa. He took care of all the bad kids while Santa dealt with the good ones. Lumps of coal would be the least of your worries. It was sort of a good cop/bad cop relationship.

I found this photo...I dub him to be the Baron von KrampusI don't think the above photo is supposed to be Krampus....but he should be. He is one of the award winners of the mustache championship or world cup or whatever they call it. I'm just saying if this guy showed up on Xmas...I'd be a little concerned.

So assuming you have been good or you know someone else who has, I just wanted to let you know that a few galleries where my work is available over the holiday

First
Gallerie Chiz
5831 Ellsworth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
E-Mail & General Information: galchiz@hotmail.com I just sent Ellen some of my Matchbox Nichosif you're in Missoula
Tsunami
Susan@lepetitoutre.com
101 S Higgins Ave
Missoula, MT 59802
(406) 541-8699
Susan has my collection of deMented toys. My version of the Krampus...sort of a pig-man Krampus.Along with the collection you've seen in previous posts, I just brought her a weird boy in a pig suit, a strange firetruck man and a cyclopian-boat-bike-woman-with groom (yes its true...that is what it is). Photos to come later.
Also...Stop in also if you want to sign up for the Jan 25th class.

Happy Holidays

Oh...coming soon...the class descrip for Oaxaca for 2009...yes we are a go!

Six Million Dollar...man! and some Missoula stuff

Howdy,
So today's hand surgery went swell...no pun intended...so far no pain. Wheeled me in...a bunch of iodine on my arm...a whirl of the drill...and out the door. The surgery itself was 6 minutes...the metal post they put in my finger comes out in 6 weeks. I had them do a few modifications though...better, stronger, faster.

Thought a Dremel attachment might come in handy...once again no pun intended. Okay... it was intended.Hey speaking of the Six Million Dollar Man...remember the episode(s) with Bigfoot? Well, now I find out after all these years that they actually mad an action figure for him...if you recall he was really a robot.

Okay now...speaking of action figures....

deMented Toys Workshop in Missoula
coming Sunday Jan 25th. TSusan of Tsunami is helping me put together a workshop in my lil' ol town. She is also showing some of my dudes in her store as well...so if you're local or passing through stop in and see some deMented toys.

If you're interested heres some of the skinny

Island of deMented Toys
Description of workshop:

Remember the Island of Misfit Toys in the claymation epic "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer". Well that's nothing compared to what we're going to do in this class. You're going to bring all sorts of parts and pieces from a variety of toys. You round up everything from Barbies to Tonka trucks, to snow globes, to wind-up zeppelins, and reassemble them "into something rich and strange" (to quote Shakespeare's The Tempest). Don't worry if your toys aren't dismantled yet…we can take care of that…bwwwwahahahahahaha (evil laugh - in case you were wondering). Using various techniques of assemblage we will turn our classroom in to a laboratory of the weird. Barbie and Ken will never be the same….as I said before ….bwwwwahahahaha.
Student Level : All skill levels, age (18 up)

Date: Sunday, January 25^th 10am-5 spm

Location: Zootown Arts Community Center 235 North 1st Street West (Northside Missoula) www.zootownarts.com 549-7555

Enrollment Contact and Info:

Susan at Tsunami Susan@lepetitoutre.com
101 S Higgins Ave
Missoula, MT 59802
(406) 541-8699

or

Michael deMeng assemblage@michaeldemeng.com

Zootown Arts

The place where I'm teaching the above mentioned workshop is at a great new place right around the corner from my home. Zootown Arts which is a community center that offers art classes, artist studios, selling venues and tons more. If your in town check them out. I think its there hope they can turn the Northside into a great little arts neighborhood. That would be grand! Here's some info on them

Zootown Arts Community Center

235 North 1st Street West (Northside Missoula)

www.zootownarts.com 406-549-7555

in fact they have an event this weekend.

Support your local artists!

At a Theater Near You!

When I was teen I was a total James Bond freak. Ahhh....to have the James Bond life. What could be better than to travel to exotic locations around the world and be surrounded by beautiful women...hmmm....I guess that is kinda what I do now.

Well now it turns out I am actually a Bond villain...Malletfinger.
My recent injury is called mallet finger and may need surgery. Funny thing is that I didn't even feel it happen. I was working in the studio taking things apart, then I looked down and go "holy deformed digits, Batman!" No pain...weird. For the time being I got a little splint till they figure out what to do with it. Ironically I was getting ready to head to Cincinnati for a photo shoot, of which is mostly hand shots. So far it hasn't affected my typing or art making but what a pain that they might have to operate.
Beware the hook.

The Missing Link...or Have You Seen My Monkey?

Ok, so we're back to talking about simians again. That Strange Case of the Sacred Monkey just doesn't stop getting weird. Okay you all know the bizarro story of me finding that little monkey for the commish I did for my friends Joe, Dalynn and their son Julian (the monkey)...if you haven't, click here to get up to date. Here's the finished piece, Monkeyshines. (It weighs 37lbs and is about 4ft tall. The monkey sits in the little nook just above there heads in the center )

The recent turn of events adds to the oddity of this little ape. Remember the "One More Monkey Note" post where I was pondering who could have actually placed that monkey on the sidewalk? Here's the link to that post. Perhaps it was actually me who placed this little monkey for me to find. Get ready for a mind trip. Not long ago....(well over a month after I delivered the completed Monkeyshine piece, to Joe and Dalynn)...I stopped into another antique mall we have in Missoula. This one called the Antique Market. While I was perusing I came across a bunch of miniature ceramic animals, made by a company called Wade. In thsi bunch of animals I came across the same style orangutan that I used in the commish, so I bought it as a reminder of the weirdo experience. When I got it home I put in in one of my many printer trays where I store my smaller nicks and knacks. Well, the other day I went looking for that little dude...and he was gone. I swear I spent hours looking for him...and he was gone...vanished. So here is my theory...perhaps... Maybe what
happened is that I found the monkey that I purchased the monkey and then placed it into the past for me to find and work with
Another way to looking at it is, the monkey was left for me on the sidewalk by future me.
Its a thought...or maybe I just lost it...or maybe I never actually bought it and that was all delusion... ...nah, I'm pretty sure it was future me.

Gallery Walk in Missoula

Hey all you Missoulians,
I have some friends with openings this Friday. Stop by and say "hey" and check out the work.

Kathryn Dunn
Kate is having a show at Liquid Planet on Higgins...you know, the place where I pretty much wrote my book at. Music at 7 by David Boone. Check it out.

Also
Laura Blaker
Local artist and muralist extraordinaire is having an exhibit at Paradigm Architects on Main St. This is a series of oils and sketches from Italy....ah....Italy.

Look at art, drink their drinks and buy some work...see everyone there.
cheers

Mexico City and Upsy Downsys

Okay, just wanted to show you a few picture from Mexico City. So I ended up getting a screaming deal on Priceline for a hotel I've always wanted to stay at. If you have seen the movie "Frida" you will has seen some of this hotel...at least the ceiling...the amazing stained glass ceiling. In the flim Friday is supposed to be in Paris...but I'd know that stained glass anywhere...it is actual "El Gran Hotel" on the main Zocalo and across from the Presidential Palace and the Catedral. Amazing. I ended up paying a third of the listed price...don't ask me how.

Here is my veiw from the room window. The Zocalo. Catedral on the left. Presidential Palace on the right.
Here is the hotel looks like from outside.
and this is what I see when I opened my door.

Look up!Stay there if you can. Way cool. Even if you don't at least go in and look at the beatiful interior.



UPSY DOWNSIES
for those of you who were in my Oaxaca class...I know you're lurking out there somewhere. There was a conversation about a toy that I had when I was very young. Upsy Downsys. Some of you thought I was zooming on shrooms but here is proof.

the cast of characters:

Upsys

• Flossy Glossy - The Upsy Fire-Chiefess and her Elewetter Fire Engine
• Tickle Pinkle - The Upsy Beauty and her Bugabout Car
• Pudgy Fudgy - The Upsy Eat-Too-Mucher and her Piggybus
• Baby So-High - The Upsy Hero and her Airo-Zoomer Plane

Downsys

• Downy Dilly - The Downsy Mischief-Maker and her Footmobile
• Pocus Hocus - The Downsy Mixed-Up Magician and his Dragon Wagon
• Mother What Now - The Downsy Frazzled Mom and her Go-Getter Car
• Miss Information - The Downsy Opposite Directions Teller and her Miss Information Booth

and the physical evidence:So there...neener neener!

Return of El Charro

Well, I'm back. Back from "deMeng de los Muertos" in Oaxaca, Mexico. Just when I wonder if it is as magical a place as I seem to recall I am reminded that, yes, it is the most magical place on the planet. The class was swell...a wonderful group of 19 artists and adventurers, who, most said that the place exceeded there expectations. Well good...I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks so. And it looks like we will be doing it again next year. Stay tuned.

Some of you may already know, but I'm working on book numero dos. It is my take on Mexican art...so I'm not going to go into great details on some of the stories of the trip right now, since some of them may be good book fodder, but wanted to give you a few images to peruse.

Taking cemetary shots at night is a pain...but somehow this one turned out...if you have a Canon powershot...try the aquarium setting.


One of these things is not like the other:


This is Santo Domingo. This place just glows at sunset...the stones are so multicolored it is amazing...not bad a mid-day either.


Monte Alban...Zapotec...then Mixtec ruins. Read the story of Donaji in my book for more details but this is supposedly where Heaven and Earth meet. Just by looking at the photo, I think you might agree.

Ah yes, Zaachila church...where deMeng met the killer bee a number of years back...we did see bees, but nobody was injured.

As far as skeletons go...they are breathtaking

The Return of El Charro de los Calaveras...looking a little older.

Well thats it for now...stay tuned...more to come.

adios amigos
M