the irony of hotness

like the previous posted has already stated, it's hot out. First Backyard is hot—scalding hot.

now there's media out there who seems to believe it too.

hot art days

The heat is descending upon us and I know that maybe this seems that it would be impossible to continue an entirely outdoor art event held on a concrete pad that retains and amplifies all of the heat from the sun that has been beating on it all day.

But you would be wrong.

First of all, First Backyard highly recommends and is now officially endorsing baking soda as your drug of choice to combat the usual seemingly unavoidable stinkiness that comes with this time of year. Don't ingest it, of course, but powdered on instead of deodorant and we swear, although you may still sweat and occasionally have to combat white phantom rings, you will no longer smell like a horse.

So, keeping this in mind, try conjuring up that next great project you've been wanting to play around with to share with our intimate First Backyard audience. The sun and heat, if not producing hallucinations, have and can still inspire great works of performance, spoken word, sound, installation or participation. Stay tuned for examples of such inspiring works.

We will even provide a large vat of baking soda, seeing as it is available for the artist-friendly price of only 99 cents.

Send a short description of your project along with a web link or other images to: furryjenusATgmail.com

FB in Capitol backyard

I wanted to feel things out to see if anyone is interested in creating a performance, staging a reading/discussion/thinktank in relation to the recent SB1070 events.

Given First Backyard's proximity to the capitol, i feel like i've been part of all the events going on. if i'm not at a rally at the capitol, i can hear one happening from my backyard. a Fox10 helicopter spent an entire 2 hours hovering over my backyard on the day Jan Brewer signed the law.

Does this give anyone some ideas? If it does, let's talk about it here or on the Facebook First Backyard discussion board and get something happening now!

1stBY#2!

The 2nd First Backyard event on April 16 brought together a performance where both the artist and viewer were made to consider the experience of time; vegetable garden perusal; hopscotch; art submissions; art solicitation; cheese; fresh-baked cookies; Hall and Oates; parachutes; post-its (that i'm still finding in the oddest places) and the energy of Join and Cast brainparents Jen and Catherine.

If you couldn't make it, i'll give you this short moment to feel disappointed that you weren't there...

and now, some photos:

thanks to Christy Puetz, Kristin Fukuchi, and Join and Cast for the photos

preparations for 1stBY#2!

it may not look like much now, but on Friday, April 16, this sad little square of concrete will transform into performance space, video screening, parachute play area, art exchange and social launchpad.

i'm working on the final details for my performance "taking a long time to get somewhere" and Join and Cast Ventures is making final preparations for their "official, super fun-time, give us your art, party". They'll have parachute games, participatory guide handouts, possible live music and of course snacks. From 7-9pm on April 16 you can get your submissions off your hands and into theirs!

Hope you can make it to the event...and here's the map to help you get there:

2nd 1stBY event! "taking a long time to get somewhere (a 1 minute act in 1 hour)", April 16

The next First Backyard event (1stBY#2 ) is ready to go for April 16 (Third Friday to you Phoenicians):

taking a long time to get somewhere
(a 1 minute act in 1 hour)
a video and performance by Jen Urso

April 16, 2010 (Third Friday)
7–9 PM (performance begins at 7 PM and will last 1 hour. audience can come and go.)
1341 W. Woodland — PHX (map is on this previous post)
(southeast corner of 15th Ave and Van Buren, in the backyard)
In this 2nd event for First Backyard, we also welcome Join and Cast Ventures, a Phoenix Art Community publication where Artist Book meets a Participatory Zine.
Stop by for this one-night only performance and to find out more about the 
Join and Cast Ventures project.

For this piece (thought up after a rare 3-hour afternoon nap a few days ago) i will record myself doing something for 1 minute, then stretch the video out to an hour, then perform the action at the 1-hour pace during First Backyard. Video of both the real time action and the slowed-down footage will be shown while i perform the task.

First Backyard is now on Facebook!

look for First Backyard's very own page, now on Facebook!

it's a new day

spring is here. the weeds are growing. the cats have emerged from under the blanket.

time to think of doing an outdoor performance, project, video screening or interactive piece. and the perfect venue is this lovely slab of concrete you see in the column to the right.

in case your thinking "well, i had this idea but i don't know if it's what they'd be looking for" the answer is YES, IT IS. and the action to take is to send a short proposal with a link or some images of previous work to the email below. if you don't normally work in the arts, just send me something that will make me believe you'll follow through with the project. our last (and first) First Backyard-er, Adam Murray, had never done an installation before but look at the great project he came up with!

send all ideas, questions and proposals to furryjenusATgmailDOTcom (symbols spelled out to avoid spammers)

Reaching Out documentation!

For those who couldn't make it to First Backyard this weekend (or made it after we were experiencing technical difficulties), below is the video (with sound!) documentation of Adam Murray's sound installation Reaching Out before the torrential rains hit us.

just click on the play button below.

not rain nor wind nor hail will keep us from arting

so if you weren't able to make it to First Backyard on the first day of Art Detour, you can surely meander over here today. fresh baked cookies, friendly conversation and multiple layers of sound await you. umbrella assistance is available if necessary.

this is the type of piece that really needs to be experienced first hand and not through documentation.

THIS WEEKEND! "Reaching Out" by Adam Murray

It's Art Detour weekend and the premiere for First Backyard with sound artist Adam Murray's installation Reaching Out.

Check out the map below to find your way to the Backyard and check out Grand Avenue's website to find out about everything happening along Grand for the weekend. GAMA also created a great map to help you find your way around.

sense of purpose

Just returned from a trip to New York with a renewed sense that First Backyard has the potential to put on some great projects intermingled with my exhaustive hope that many artists will do that project they've always wanted to do but didn't know where.

After seeing the Whitney Biennial and especially the 100 Year overview of performance art at PS1, it is only more apparent that, as artists, we have to continually take risks and sometimes try what doesn't generally make sense but specifically is perfectly logical. Kate Gilmore had a piece at both shows and is a perfect example of an elegant idea executed simply without overproduction.

stormy preparations

Even a stormy, rainy day won't deter us from having First Backyard ready for it's premiere installation. Adam is out there, working until the rain starts again, to get his project "Reaching Out" ready for Art Detour.

Have an idea for a project that would go perfectly in my backyard? send it over to furryjenusATgmailDOTcom.

Brainstorming on a future First Backyard project of my own: one where i will teach interested people how to properly fold a fitted sheet.

PRESS RELEASE for "Reaching Out" by Adam Murray

In its premiere installation, First Backyard welcomes sound artist Adam Murray who will utilize this raw, outdoor space to create a new interactive installation that taps into personal and universal issues of loneliness, language and communication.

Reaching Out utilizes materials such as cardboard, wire, speakers and an audio mix of static, frequency changes and murmuring in a primitive attempt to connect the internal to the external world.

Art Detour hours:
Saturday, March 6, 10am-6pm
Sunday, March 7, 12pm-6pm

First Backyard
1341 W. Woodland (through the gate and in the backyard)
Phoenix, AZ 85007

Be sure to visit First Backyard during Art Detour for this premiere and one-time only exhibition.

great idea...Join and Cast Venture

I received a call for work from a group (or person) called Join and Cast Venture. I've heard of mags like this before that are limited edition, containing unique art contributions and have always thought it was a great idea. I love this kind of work that can be very raw and diverse. So glad we will have one in Phoenix!

I put them on the blog roll to the right, submitted an altered map i made about a year ago for my Perimeter Walk project and can't wait for the first issues!

send me some submissions!

For those that haven't seen this call for work yet or who would like a reminder, here's the info for sending me a proposal for First Backyard. I'm excited to see what people will come up with!

Site is a small-scale flat outdoor space for an intimate audience. Can be used to create temporary pieces, attempt new works, test audiences and push boundaries. Filming of performance or piece will be provided. Site is located in the Grand Avenue arts area.

Possible proposals could include projected videos, ephemeral sculpture, interactive performances, process-oriented work, performance art, and experimental theater. You could use this space to try out a new piece or share an older, lesser exposed one. The piece will be performed for one night only.

To submit your work, please include:

• a one-page proposal including the concept and intent of your work. Please indicate what type of resources you may need.

• resume (no longer than 2 pages)

• the following types of work samples: link to a website; up to 4, 3-minute works on DVD; or 10-15 jpeg images on CD. Submit what is necessary to understand your work better (a combination of samples is acceptable). Include an image list and descriptions. Images should be no larger than 5"x7" at 300dpi (1200–1600 pixels is fine)

• additional materials: relevant press; sketches or story board of proposed piece; artist bio

Submit materials to:

Jen Urso—proposals

1341 W. Woodland

Phoenix, AZ 85007

Deadline is ongoing but would like to receive first submissions by October 30, 2009 to begin scheduling for January or February.

Please contact Jen Urso with any questions at furryjenus@gmail.com

we HAVE a First Backyarder for March!

to kick off the First Backyard series will be local audio geek and sound artist (and i'm sure he won't be offended by me calling him that, right?) Adam Murray.

for the March Art Detour weekend, Adam will present Reaching Out: A new installation at First Backyard utilizing space and sound to reflect on communication and connection with other people.