ink and graphite on paper
7”x10”
2010

full size version here.

So before I could formally read or write I developed my own written language to communicate with my imaginary friend at the time, Bacca. Bacca had the head of a pig, a human body, and lived in a forest with his family.

September’s print is my first attempt at recreating the language I used when writing him letters. When cutting the linoleum I was conscious of writing backwards so the print would render “correctly.” Also by using this process I was thinking about my youth as a reflection of where I am today.

The edition is limited to 5 because I’m still not sure if they’re any good or really why I’m doing them. I also might have run out of paper.

Cheerio,
Man 

Reminder! See the original post for details!

It’s shaping up to be pretty epic…

At precisely 12pm EST Saturday, August 28th, I am requesting the presence of all the Internet-friendly arts-related people I know and admire in New York City, for a one minute live family portrait to take place at Washington Square Park (at the monument). Get there early, as Lee will be apparently filming the monument for five minutes only (as part of a separate project; one of his cool “wappenings”). And as I’d like to only steal one fifth of the thunder, our group portrait must last ONLY one minute starting EXACTLY at noon. So really, get there early!

Paddy, I’m looking at you. Hrag, you too. I’d love for you both to be there to be immortalized together with us all. Along those lines, here’s initial/dream list of NYC’ers I want there (IN NO ORDER!):

@artfagcity (paddy!)
@hyperallergic (hrag!)
@veken
@joygarnett
@heartasarena
@edwardwinkleman (and murat!)
@magdasawon
@bhoggard (and james wagner!)
@jenophoto
@nogophoto
@gretchen_scott
@forwardretreat
@schnooder
@cmonstah
@kiangaellis
@NicRad
@art21
@twocoats
@gregorg
@lipstickcanary
@Powhida
@Jen_Dalton
@rwetzler
@TheodoreArt
@Artnewsmag (Robin!)
@eloisemoorehead
@jerrysaltz (the real one)
@Jason_E_Kaufman
@sarah_tos
@mrnye
@nicknormal
@Flux_Factory
@jenbee
@ppowgallery
@alanlupiani
@alllllie
@artcards_nyc (morgan!)
@clairenicole
@randomnumbernu
@artlog
@bhqf
@bigREDandShiny
@brooklynhistory
@brooklynmuseum
@DropoutWalks
@shell7
@imtopher
@juliaxgulia
@johnfekner
@lindsaypollock
@lunaparknyc
@metmuseum
@morganholzer
@miraschor
@mosscooper
@museummodernart
@museumnerd
@olympialambert
@ouicollab (becca and andy!)
@petitemaoiste
@pocketopia (austin thomas!)
@RachelFGreene
@resunlimited (Seb!)
@theartblog (the nyc contingent!)
@varonearts (even though you’re out of town)

How awesome would it be if all of us were present during that minute! Compiling this list made me happy to know that I know some really awesome people in this city. But who am I missing? Who did I forget? Invite them! And even if they’re on this list, mention them in a tweet. Spread the word like heckfire today, because this will really only be fun/interesting if a whole bunch of us show up tomorrow.

OK! Now let’s all get ready to smile for the camera!

References:
leewalton.com
artfagcity.com
prairie dogs
irascibles

My dad gave me the initial idea after I crowdsourced it and I’m running with it. Thanks Dad!

And thanks Paddy for the bait. See you Saturday! :D

Update: Forgot another reference, Astrid Bussink’s “Constructions of Happiness” which is actually opening tonight at Flux Factory!

Update 2: Crap I forgot @guggenheim and @zacharycohen! You’re invited too! And you! Who else did I forget?

Update 3: @newmuseum and @ranjit!

Update 4: Success! The project is now documented here. Thanks to everyone who helped make it happen! And if you missed it, keep an eye out for the next version in November. ;)

What do the news and laundry have in common? Probably nothing! But we’ll be tasked to see how the two play together…over the course of 24 hours in August.

#24hCycle is envisioned as an absurdist summer party, a communal laundry washing experience, and a reading/discussion of the most up to the second news. It’s an excuse to do laundry. An opportunity to become sickly saturated in the news. A reason to come to Long Island City to hang out/party/eat/drink in Flux Factory’s still raw-ish gallery space before the more “serious” gallery openings in Chelsea in September. 

You are cordially invited to attend, with no obligation to participate, at any time during the performance. For any duration. Notes will be taken. Laundry will be aired and hung to dry, accumulating in the gallery space around us. Arguments will be lost and won. Our comforts may be met with discomforts, and vice versa. Our private articles of clothing will be made public, and public news articles will be made personal.

For those who cannot be there in person, a live feed will be streamed, and developing interactions will be encouraged online at manbartlett.com/24hCycle. 

You may also bring clothing/laundry that you’d like to get rid of; I’ll be donating it to a local organization in need. Some refreshments/libations will be provided, but you’re encouraged to BYO: Laundry, Laptop, Beverages.

What: #24hCycle
Where: Flux Factory (directions)
When: Friday, August 13th - Saturday August 14th 
8pm-8pm

—

New York based artist Man Bartlett creates performance-based works that take one task to the extreme for an extended period of time, while encouraging dynamic physical and virtual participation. These performances have been in diverse locations, such as a Best Buy, Winkleman Gallery, a former factory building in New Jersey, PPOW Gallery, and The Whitney Museum. He is also currently an artist-in-residence at Flux Factory, in Long Island City, Queens, New York. More info on him here.

A 10-minute video response to Untitled (300 x 404).

iMovie! 100% Saturation! Ken Burns! Drum roll! Screenshot! 

I couldn’t stop thinking about this for most of the day yesterday. Wasn’t sure why, or why I chose to defend Allen or chirp up in the first place (besides the fact that he seems like a nice/smart guy online). In making this video response I realized I did so because I believe in supporting what I view as a kind of digital populism (dopulism?) at work. It takes an image/artist that most art world folks are familiar with and seeks (in my opinion) to hold the viewers hand into the big scary world of digital theory. The rub is that some people already know all the tropes and history of digital art so to them it comes off as banal, well-trodden, dated etc. Understandable. Totally cool. However, and this is regardless of whether or not it’s “fine” art or not, I believe it’s important because in a small way it further “legitimizes” digitally inspired practices. Especially conceptually driven digital practices.

It’s one thing to make a painting in Brushes, it’s another thing to use conceptual tenets AND technology. In the end it’s not about the technology at all, but HOW the technology is used to make a point. I also don’t think it even matters WHAT that point is.

Ok there’s probably a lot more, but that’s all I got at the moment.

xo,
Man

P.S. The video is meant to play in the background while you read this post and associated links. Or a large projection on a wall, with people passing by.

Bushwick Open Studios starts today at noon and continues until Sunday 7pm. If you’re planning on checking it out, I’ll be around! Listing/more info is here.

Also, there will be an informal performance on Sunday from 4pm-5pm. I’d like to create a group drawing with you: For you virtual players send a tweet with any message and the hashtag #circleforme and I will draw a circle for you. Your message can be something that you hope for, something you want to get rid of, an opinion, a random message, etc. Whatever it is, I’ll put that into your circle(s). Send as many, or as few, as you’d like, from now until Sunday at 5pm. For those that are visiting IRL you’ll be able to draw your own circle (in a different section of the same drawing).

Ok!

xo,
Man

P.S. I’m still digesting last week’s Whitney performance. A bunch of scattered notes will eventually be making their way into a post. Maybe next week? I know, I know, you’re on the edge of your seat. :)

P.P.S. Oh also this weekend in Long Island City, Flux Factory is opening a show: The Science Fair! I’ve caught a sneak peek of the install (shh) and it looks pretty awesome. Check it out Saturday or Sunday 12pm-6pm.

Hi Friends,

Just a heads up the May print is now available here. Each of these (10) are hand-printed on 5”x7” 140lb extra white cold pressed watercolor paper (Aquarello).

There are also three Artists Proofs that are available if you sign up for the AP-a-Month club. Despite the super cheesy name (and calling it a club), it gets the idea across: Pay in advance to get one of three APs each month, for the next 12 months. The APs are also printed on different paper. This month it’s a 5”x7” Czech cold press with deckle edge. Photo here. And seriously, suggest titles other than “AP-a-Month” to studio@manbartlett.com. :)

Ok! Back to Everything. Hope you are fairing well and wise.

xo,
Man

P.S. I also created a time lapse video of me preparing (i.e. cutting) the block:

So after a busy few months* I have the next month and a half to silence my self promotion and just listen to the pulse. To quietly create work without having to announce it in a seemingly nonstop stream of tweets and Facebook announcements. Maybe you don’t mind, maybe you do. Either way…

But before that, thanks to everyone who came out for the opening for Systema Mundi, and to those who stopped by during gallery hours. It’s open another weekend (i.e. through April 11th). Stop by Saturday or Sunday b/t 12-3pm or make an appointment for anytime. I’m proud of it—not too shabby of a first NY solo show, if I do say so myself.

Oh, and this Thursday at around 9pm (dinner at 8), as part of Flux Thursday at Flux Factory, I’ll be doing a short performance called iShoot. Here’s a description: “An indispensable technological device will be martyred.”


Cheers,
Man 

* Since January 7th: Systema Mundi, #class, Brucennial, Housebroken, #Inpermatweet, X-Initiative, #Theseus, 24h Best non-Buy…