Expanding my book!

Several months ago, my book Arts In Store: Rethinking the Relationship Between Art and Business was published. It had a small print run and was available at only a few places here in Southern California. The response was amazing however, and all of the copies quickly sold out!

Supportive and encouraging people have come out of the woodwork to help promote the book to new audiences across North America. What began as a small project supported by an Individual Artist Grant from the City of Pasadena has quickly become something much larger than I could have ever imagined!

Though I hoped that it would find a small audience of appreciative artists and curious entrepreneurs , many people have written me saying it is the 'best book of its kind!' (Seriously! Check out my website for some of the comments!) I never would have believed that things would turn out the way they have!

So after the overwhelming success of the initial pressing of my new book, I've decided to expand it by interviewing more people! Some of the people who have become involved are personal idols of mine, people I would never even dream of talking to, let alone sitting down with me for an interview!

I can't wait for the new edition of the book to come out in November! Please stay tuned!

Great article on my new show!!!

I just found out that I got a great bit of press for my new show at the Armory Center for the Arts! As a reminder, the show is up until August 30th, 2009, so still another month to check it out! Click on the image below to read the article.

The article appeared in The Architect's Newspaper, July 15, 2009.

Cross-Canada video online!!!

For those of you who can't view the video in person at my show currently on display here in LA, view the video online now! Please rate the video on YouTube and leave a comment on my YouTube page!



ABOUT THE VIDEO: In December 2008, I took a passenger train across Canada. Beginning at the Pacific Ocean in Vancouver, British Columbia, I traveled for two weeks until he arrived at the Atlantic Ocean, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I spent the entire trip drawing the landscape as it sped by, usually while seated in the observation car/caboose of the train. Several weeks later, while doing a two month residency at the Banff Center in Alberta, Canada, I transformed the drawings into a half dozen oil paintings. The paintings are currently on view at the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena, California (a neighborhood of Los Angeles), from June 28-August 30, 2009.

For information on the exhibition:
http://www.armoryarts.org/current-mez...

Order my new book now!

Order a copy of my new book right now!

You can now download a digital copy of the book or have a printed paperback copy mailed to the address of your choice! If you happen to live in Los Angeles, you can also go to the Armory Center for the Arts and buy a copy from the gallery attendant. While you are there, be sure to check out the exhibition of my new paintings!!!

Michael

Successful opening last night!

WOW! I had the time of my life last night! Hundreds of people came to the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena for the two exhibition openings, one of which happened to be my own! I had 150 new copies of my book to give away, and after two hours they were all gone!

Thank you to all those who came by to say hello and see my new paintings! I'm sorry that I wasn't able to spend much time with anyone individually, but I hope to catch up with you all one-on-one in the next couple of weeks.

Michael

Solo Exhibition opens this Saturday!

This Saturday, June 27th, from 7-9pm, I will officially unveil two dozen absolutely brand new paintings, as well as release my new book Arts In Store: Rethinking the Relationship Between Art and Business. It all takes place at the Armory Center for the Arts, in Pasadena California! The show will be up from June 28 through to August 30, 2009.

I've been working toward this day for the past two years. In 2007 I received an Individual Artist Grant from the City of Pasadena to complete a very ambitious project, of which this is the end result. I can't think of anything that I have dedicated myself to more fully than this exhibition, and I believe the work is very strong. We've been hanging the work all week, and the response from the gallery staff has been more than a little bit encouraging! If you are in the area, please take a few minutes to check it out!

My exhibition, entitled The Dynamic Landscape, opens in conjunction with Drama of the Gifted Child: the Five Year Plan, curated by David Burns, which opens in the Armory’s Caldwell Gallery. Artists in that show include Dan Bayles, Spencer Douglass, John Knuth, Julie Lequin, Julie Orser, Marco Rios, Amy Robinson, Christopher Russell, Kelly Sears, and Bari Ziperstein. With so many well known local artists exhibiting together, the opening night should be full of people, most of them familiar faces!

All of the artwork I'm exhibiting has been inspired by my travels through the landscape. I begin by making drawings while riding inside or on top of moving cars, buses, trains, boats and airplanes. Afterwards, I transform the drawings into dynamic paintings with vibrant colors contrasted with areas of exposed canvas.

Many of the paintings were created outside, in full public view at the courtyard of One Colorado, a historic mixed-use retail property in old town Pasadena. I interacted with families and individuals passing by, sharing my process and passion for art.

I am grateful for the support of the Pasadena Arts & Culture Commission and the City of Pasadena Cultural Affairs Division, without whom this entire two year odyssey would not have happened!

The Armory is loacted at 145 North Raymond Avenue, Pasadena, and is open Tuesday – Sunday, noon - 5 p.m. Admission is free. The Armory is easily accessible from the Gold Line Memorial Park Station in Pasadena. For information about Armory exhibitions and events, the public may call 626.792.5101 x122 or visit the Armory website at www.armoryarts.org.

I look forward to seeing you there!
Michael

New Book goes to print!

I've just signed off on the proof for my new book entitled Arts in Store: Rethinking the relationship between Art and Business. I have to say that it looks amazing! The official release of the book will be on Saturday, June 27th, 2009 which also happens to be the opening of my next solo show, at the Armory Center for the Arts, in Pasadena, California.

Cover illustration and design by Anna C. Robin

The book consists of interviews with local artists and business persons, including a well-known artist, an art writer, a marketing director, a business coach, etc. Our discussions centered around the ways that artists and business people can learn from one another, with a particular emphasis on how emerging artists can achieve success (however they may define it for themselves).

Also included is documentation of a project I have been working on, which is my attempt to set-up a temporary art studio in commercial spaces around Los Angeles, such as the department store Target. The book concludes with a long list of concepts and ideas I learned while talking to over 30 successful individuals.

By the end of the month, the book will be available on Amazon.com, as well as print-on-demand from Lulu.com. It will also be available through local bookstores and college campuses.

New Moon Project video!

Here is a video I made about my dream to go to travel to the moon, and stand on the lunar surface and make a painting.

1st Anniversary of 'Painting on the Moon' project

On March 19th, 2009, I will celebrate the 1st Anniversary of my 'Painting on the Moon' project. The goal of this project, which is really my life's work, is to travel to the moon, and while standing on the lunar surface, make a painting of the landscape.

I am currently working on a series of new videos which I will release on March 19th to help advance the project. This Friday I will be filming sequences at the Griffith's Observatory in Los Angeles, as well as at Mount Wilson Observatory in Pasadena.

Please check back next week to view the exciting next step toward achieving my dream!

LACE Auction May 6-21, 2009

I've been invited to donate an artwork to the annual Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE) art auction. Its quite the prestigious affair, with many of North America's top artists participating to support this venerable L.A. artist-run-center/gallery.

This year curators from the Tate and Whitney museum are curating the auction. I am humbled that I've been asked to participate, and honored to be a part of this worthy cause.

I'm donating one of my favorite artworks that I still have in my possession, and also one of the pieces that it seems other people enjoy the most as well. It is part of a series of four drawings I did while driving, retracing the footsteps of Jack Nicholson's character in the film Chinatown. It has twice appeared in curated shows alongside Ed Ruscha, and once next to Robert Rauschenberg.

The Chinatown Project; Day 1:
From the Bradbury Building to City Hall, to the Big Tujunga Wash
and ending in San Pedro
2002-2005
India Ink on Watercolor Paper
22 1/2" x 30" (57.2 x 76.2 cm)

The schedule of events is as follows:

Wednesday, May 6, 2009 LACE BENEFIT: OPENING RECEPTION

Wednesday, May 20, 2009 LACE BENEFIT: LIVE AUCTION

Thursday, May 21, 2009 LACE BENEFIT: SILENT AUCTION

More info on how to purchase tickets to the auction to come...

Painting in the Off The Wall auction

I have a new painting up for sale for a good cause at the "Off The Wall" Benefit & Biennial Art Auction, Saturday, March 14, 2009 at the Armory Center for the arts, in Pasadena, California. Doors open at 7:00 p.m., the Silent Auction concludes at 9:30 p.m.

(image of the painting coming soon)

For more information about the event, please go to http://www.armoryarts.org/offthewall.php

Exhibition this fall in Australia

I am pleased to announce an exhibition of my work in Australia later this year! "Bardo: The Golden Eternity" will take place in November at M16 in Canberra, the capital city. The exhibition is a collaboration of sorts with another artist named Amarie Bergman.

The theme of the show is based on the short book written by Jack Kerouac called "The Scripture of the Golden Eternity'. 2009 marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of the book, as well as the 40th anniversary of the death of Jack Kerouac.

For the exhibition I will retrace the route Kerouac traveled from LA to the cabin in Marin County that Kerouac shared with Gary Snyder and wrote much of the book in 1956. I will continue north to the fire lookout post in NW Washington (state) that Kerouac occupied later that summer in order to complete the book in isolation. I will produce a video and series of new drawings and paintings.

Amarie has actually been in contact with Mr. Snyder about possibly attending the opening, as well other possible venues for this unique celebration! I'll post more as things develop!

Two performances at the Banff Centre!

Last week I participated in two major performances at the Banff Centre! Terri Hron and Sam Davidson asked me to the contribute visuals to a performance of theirs that they had organized. They also invited a dozen other musicians to improvise live with them in front of a large audience at the Bentley Music Hall on February 10, 2009. I cut out hundreds of images from National Geographic magazines and made a collage live in response to the music. A video camera relayed the collage as I made it onto a giant video screen on the stage next to the musicians.



The next day, I hosted a performance of my own in the Other Gallery. Over a period of several weeks leading up to the performance, I collaborated with an incredible musician named Bryan Davies, who plays trumpet with the celebrated Vancouver band 'Brasstronaut'. We practiced improvising musical and visual compositions in response to each others' artwork. Together we performed live in front of an audience, along with a couple of last minute guests, Marc Nelson on drums and Sam Davidson on clarinet. Together they made some incredible music while I drew on a large sheet of black construction paper with chalk, and eventually cut and tore into the paper until it lay in tattered pieces on the gallery floor. Afterward we went outside and burned the paper in the fire pit, cooking hot dogs and marshmellows in the process.

Head shaving video a big hit on the web...

The video I posted on YouTube just over a month ago already has 2,500 hits! Wow! That's almost as many views as some of my other videos have had over the course of an entire year! Thank you everyone for taking the time to check out my artwork online!!!

Mural at Kamloops Art Gallery

Over the past couple of weeks I've traveled back and forth between Kamloops and Banff, to complete a large 20+ foot tall mural in the main space of the Kamloops Art Gallery. It was for a show curated by Jordan Strom called 'Celebrities of the Self', which included young Canadian superstar artists Tim Lee, Shannon Oksanen, Kathy Slade, Dan Starling, Althea Thauberger, and Weekend Leisure. It was presented in conjuction with a show of Pop Art prints from the collection of the Vancouver Art Gallery, which to my surprise was actually very good!

Banff Centre Residency

A few weeks ago I started a residency at the Banff Centre for the Arts, located above the village of Banff, Alberta, in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. I've been having an incredible time, meeting all sorts of artists and musicians from around the world! It's also been a wonderful opportunity to spend time with world-reknowned artist Ken Lum, someone I greately admire. Even though I still have another month here, I'm already sad about having to leave!

Spending time at the campus pub called 'Props' with my fellow residents!
Oh I'm going to miss you guys!

Cross-Canada Tour-rama!

My cross-Canada lecture tour was a resounding success! I took the VIA rail train from Vancouver to Halifax, stopping in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Moncton to speak about my work at various universities and art galleries. Along the way, I also I made 90 drawings of the landscape. I had a fantastic time, meeting people, catching up with old friends, challenging myself artistically and of course witnessing the incredible beauty of Canada. Here I am delivering an artist talk at Les Territoires Gallery in Montreal. Thank you Montreal for the incredibly warm reception! I had so much fun!

Back on the train drawing in the Observation car.

Another view of the observation car on the train, going through the Rockie Mountains!

One of the drawings I made just outside of Halifax, Nova Scotia

One of the first drawings I did, right before we stopped in Jasper, Alberta. Of course I made another 88 drawings, which will eventually be on display at my big solo show at the Art Gallery of Calgary in 2010.

Monster Drawing Rally a Big Success!!!

"During the Monster Drawing Rally, Markowsky's untraditional drawing performance took center stage, surprising hundreds of art enthusiasts and producing equally surprising results."
Julie Deamer, Outpost for Contemporary Art (November 5, 2008)

Artist in Residence at One Colorado, Pasadena

Currently, I am the 'Artist in Residence' at One Colorado. The previous artist to occupy the space was Yoko Ono with her 'Wish Tree' project. My contribution is a part of my "Arts In Store" project, where I collaborate with businesses to share art with the public. The press release follows:

An artist who focuses on action and movement in his paintings is taking up residence in the One Colorado Courtyard through December 6, in preparation for his upcoming one-person show at the Armory Center for the Arts scheduled for 2009. For the next three weeks, Michael Markowsky will be relocating his studio outdoors into the heart of the Courtyard, bringing the artistic process into dynamic interaction with patrons.

At the same time as talking to the public and absorbing the influences from working in this high-traffic urban space, Markowsky is creating artwork for his Armory exhibition next year, June 28 to August 30, 2009. The artist welcomes conversations with passersby, and will be painting at One Colorado most days (except Wednesdays and Sundays) through December 6 from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M., often until dusk.

Markowsky’s residency at One Colorado is made possible through an Individual Artist’s Grant from the City of Pasadena Cultural Affairs Division and the Pasadena Arts & Culture Commission.

“I chose to paint at One Colorado, because for me it is the unofficial center of Pasadena,” states Markowsky. “The Courtyard especially is an important gathering place in the city. Already, a number of families with young children have come to ask me what I’m doing and, when I talk to them about my residency, they say that they want to come back and see how my paintings develop.”

Much of Markowsky’s approach to art involves action and movement in specific locations. “Over the past decade,” the artist has written,” I have been making landscape drawings and oil paintings while riding inside or on top of moving vehicles such as cars, buses, airplanes and speedboats. I have also made artwork following in the footsteps of a number of real and fictional persons. For instance, I have re-traced the infamous journeys of O.J. Simpson, James Dean, Errol Flynn, and Jack Nicholson’s movements in the 1970 film Chinatown. My paintings often have serpentine and flowing lines, flat areas of exuberant, bright color and patches of exposed canvas. Stylistically, my artwork is reminiscent of painters such as Henri Matisse and Paul Cezanne, as well as contemporary painters Peter Doig and Daniel Richter.”

Markowsky has also theatrically documented his art process with video and photos, and this activity has been compared by some critics to the performance work of Matthew Barney and Joseph Beuys.

The artist was raised in the prairie city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He graduated with honors from the Alberta College of Art and Design and studied at Cooper Union in New York City and the Royal College of Art in London, England. He obtained a Master of Fine Arts Degree in 2002 from Art Center College of Design.

Monster Drawing Rally

Monster Drawing Rally
Sunday, October 12, 2008, 3-7pm
William D. Davies Memorial Building in Alta Dena (located at 568 East Mount Curve Avenue Altadena, CA 91001 at the top of Lake Ave)

Outpost's annual live drawing and fundraising event where artists share their creativity and talent by drawing live and in person, and audiences have the rare opportunity to watch art come to life and purchase completed drawings for $75 each.

Artists Include: Cathy Akers, Kathryn Andrews, Jesse Benson, Olivia Booth, Brian Bress, Meg Cranston, Krysten Cunningham, Dorit Cypis, Alison Joy Goldberg, Emilie Halpern, Evan Holloway, Darcy Huebler, Joseph Imhauser, Stan Kaplan, Brian Kennon, Patrick Lakey, Michael Markowsky, T.Kelly Mason, Jill Newman, Bret Nicely, Aaron Noble, Candace Nycz, John O'Brien, Renee Petropoulos, Sarah Seager and Jim Shaw

http://www.outpost-art.org/specialevents.php

Group Exhibition in Baghdad!

I'm in a group show at the Qasim Sabti Gallery in Baghdad, Iraq organised by a good friend Peter Buotte!

www.qasimsabti.com

Vancouver show highlighted on FarmFresh Blog!

A friend just pointed out to me that my exhibition was highlighted as one of the summer's must see exhibitions in Vancouver!

Visit the link here.
Or cut and paste the link:

http://farmboyfinearts.com/farmblog/index.aspx

Nuvaring Ad rips off Alex Katz paintings!

Is it just me or has Nuvaring ripped off the artwork of Alex Katz for its new birth control ads?

Watch the Nuvaring ad.

Here's a link to Alex Katz website.

Judge for yourself!

New Exhibition opens in Vancouver!

This Friday, June 13th, 2008 marks the 216th anniversary of Captain George Vancouver's landing at Point Grey (where the UBC campus is now). On June 13th, 1792, Captain George Vancouver and his crew rowed ashore and had lunch just south of Point Grey, a place they called 'Noon Breakfast Spot'. After they ate, they entered English Bay, traded with the Aboriginals, and then rounded Stanley Park and sailed down toward Port Moody. They camped that night on the shores close to where Simon Fraser University is today.

This Friday also marks the 122nd anniversary of the great fire that destroyed most of Vancouver. On June 13th 1886, only a few months after Vancouver was incorporated as a city, a small clearing fire intended to make room for new development ran out of control, razing all but a few of the buildings.

This Friday also marks the opening of a new art exhibition inspired by Captain Vancouver's journey. The exhibition of paintings, drawings and video by artist Michael Markowsky also retraces the last few hours of actor Errol Flynn around Vancouver, before he died in Glen Gould's uncle's west end apartment.

Opening Reception, Friday June 13, 2008 8pm-10pm

Access Gallery
206 Carrall Street
Vancouver, BC
(604) 689-2907
Email: info@vaarc.ca
http://www.vaarc.ca/

Painting on the Beach!

For the past few weeks I've been painting outside, in locations around Vancouver! I began one of the paintings by unspooling the canvas on the beach, and piled sand on the edges to keep it from blowing away. You'll see the finished paintings at my upcoming exhibition here in Vancouver on June 13th, at Access Art on 206 Carrall street (1/2 north of Carrall and Hastings, and across the street from the 'Gassy Jack' statue in the Gastown district). Visit the Access website here: http://vaarc.ca/ or call for more info (604) 689-2907.

Robert Rauschenberg Died Yesterday...

Robert Rauschenberg died yesterday at age 82. He was a great artist and an even greater human being. I had the opportunity to exhibit my artwork with him last year in Beverly Hills, and his foundation recently honored me with the Robert Rauschenberg 'Power of Art' award. He was a great mentor, ground-breaker and inspiration for me and millions of other artists. He was also an outspoken advocate for people with learning disabilities and a generous donor to many charities and worthy causes. He will missed by many people for a long time to come.

Two TV Interviews!

I filmed two interviews with journalists here in Calgary, and they are airing on television starting Today! They will air at different times over the next couple of days, as well as on the weekend. I was pleasantly surprised that they managed to do a wonderful job of introducing my work to the public! The first one is from CityTV (Channel 8) and the second video is from Shaw TV (Channel 10)

"My Goal, My Vision" New Video

This is a new video I shot. In this video I talk about my artwork in simple terms anyone can understand, as well as outline my vision and goals as an artist. The video last about 7 ½ minutes.

Artist to make painting on the Moon

Award winning artist, Michael Markowsky, infamously known for making landscape paintings while driving his car, announces plan to travel to the moon and make a painting by January 1st, 2030.
“I intend to live my dream by painting my way there,” he says passionately, adding that he plans to buy a ticket to the moon solely through the sale of his artwork. “If I can generate the $40 million or so that it will take to get there by selling my paintings, I will show people the power of the human imagination; the sky is NOT the limit.”

Michael, who recently turned 30, has gained international recognition for his paintings and drawings done while driving on freeways and highways across the world. His work has been shown in many well-known galleries and museums, is featured in numerous collections and has been awarded several major awards including a Canada Council grant in 2006. The public can see his new paintings at Access Art Gallery, in Vancouver, Canada from June though August 2008, as well as Axis Art in Calgary, Canada in April 2008. He will also release his second book to coincide with an art exhibition at the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena, California in March 2009.

“We’ve sent kindergarten teachers, billionaires, soldiers, doctors, scientists and other academics into space. Why not an artist?” Michael asks. Every great explorer from Columbus to Lewis and Clarke brought along an artist to record the experience. “What makes space travel any different? When you think about it, who better to communicate the experience and inspire the public? I’m honestly surprised it hasn’t happened yet.” Just last week the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) gave its full support to artist Mikael Genberg’s project to put a “red-house-on-the-moon” by 2011. The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is currently considering Michael Markowsky’s project.

Michael Markowsky was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. He studied art at Cooper Union in New York City, the Royal College of Art in London, and Art Center in Los Angeles.

WorldWeb.com travel guide to Artist Portraits

Michael Markowsky
CANADA:
May 1 to 12, Axis Contemporary Art, Calgary, Alberta

While art can often be dangerous, the practice of making art is rarely death-defying। Michael Markowsky may prove that theory wrong with his latest series of drawings and paintings which he calls “Driving Artworks।” Originally created on a sketch pad while Markowsky drove the freeways of Los Angeles, he quickly reconsidered that technique and enlisted friends to do the driving while he sketched from the passenger seat (or in some situations, while strapped to the top of his car). Remember that this is California, where anything goes. And the technique is not completely unusual — contemporary artist and envelope-pusher Matthew Barney recently completed a series of artworks sketched on the outside hull of a boat while he sailed across the Atlantic Ocean.

The results of Markowsky’s efforts make up a series of Impression-istic and very colourful scenes that move with a lightness and freedom that easily suggests the open road. Originally from Calgary, where he graduated from the Alberta College of Art + Design in 1999, Markowsky also attended Cooper Union in New York and the Royal College of Art in London before getting his MFA at the Art Center in Pasadena, California. Since then he’s been living and working in southern California, where the freeway systems and scenic drives provide an endless source of inspiration.

— Jill Sawyer

Read the original article

WHERE Calgary magazine blurb

Editors' Picks: Art & Antiques

A selection of exhibitions, artists and gallery profiles

by Chloe Jones and Lindsay O'Reilly

Michael Markowsky, Cimcumbendibus, oil on canvas, 2007
Image © Courtesy Axis Contemporary Art

DRIVING ARTWORKS

Instead of standing in front of an easel to capture the gentle rolling landscape of the French countryside, Michael Markowsky opts to let it whiz past him. As Markowsky sits next to the bus driver he draws hastily to show the motion of the passing buildings and trees on the route. By the end of these four to five hour bus rides, he can have up to 50 sketches done. Markowsky then combines these series of sketches into a semi-abstract oil painting. Sometimes he creates a painting from one sketch, other times he mixes as many as 30. “The paintings capture not just a single moment in time but the experience of an entire journey,” Markowsky says. See the paintings of his travels in Europe May 1 to 12 in the The Driving Paintings: The French Riviera & The California Coast exhibition at Axis Contemporary Art.

Click here to go to the WHERE Calgary magazine website.

Upcoming show in Calgary

Michael Markowsky

The Driving Paintings:

The French Riviera & the California Coast

May 1-12, 2008

Preview – First Thursday, May 1, 5–9pm

Reception – Saturday, May 3, 2–5pm

Dozens of new paintings, to be shown for the first time anywhere
at Axis Contemporary Art, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Check out the Axis Art website!

Watch My NEW Video!

Here's a couple of stills from my new video! You can see it now on the web by clicking Here! Here! I shot the footage last year while I was Venice, Italy. I am making a drawing while riding around on a water taxi (Vaporetto) as it speeds along the Grand Canal. The video and the drawing you see me working on, as well as many other artworks will be on display in my next big solo exhibition in Calgary, April 2008.

Interview in Arroyo Monthly

I was interviewed last week for an article on Side Street Projects,
a community arts group in Pasadena that I took a grant writing
workshop with in early 2007. Here is an excerpt:

Side Street's fluidity inspires artists it works with to aim for self-sufficiency in their own careers. Michael Markowsky is one of them. After attending a host of well-respected art schools for seven years– including Art Center College of Design in Pasadena – Markowsky was wary of filling out grant applications. “There was such a fear associated with them. Where do I start? How come they're so long?” he asks.

Side Street's four-weekend workshop paid off instantly for Markowsky, who soon won an individual grant from the City of Pasadena as well as a prestigious Robert Rauschenberg Award. He's says he's busier than ever. “Now, it's exciting,” Markowsky says of his jump-started career. “I'm seeing the bigger picture. I feel like I have more confidence about what I what to do – and how to do it.”

Click HERE to read the whole article!

Sally Smith, Lab School founder dies

I have very sad news to report; Sally Smith, founder of the Lab School in Washington D.C. passed away. Earlier this year, I had the honor of receiving "The Power of Art" award from her at a special ceremony at the Corcoran Gallery next to the White House. I had the chance to speak to her at a small gathering at her house afterwards, and within an instant she made me feel like member of her family. She was a magical person who changed the lives of thousands of people, who in turn affected the lives of everyone around them.

I'm dumbstruck at the moment. I only discovered the news several minutes ago. I know this may seem like an outrageous exaggeration or hyperbole, but she truly was one of the greatest human beings, at least in my own simple experience. She represented an alternate world where being an Artist was the most noble profession a person could aspire to. She was a true hero.

NPR radio story
Washington Post article

New Studio & Paintings!

I've been very busy this past weekend, creating four new paintings that people seem to really like, and have also moved into a temporary studio space until I go back to Calgary, Canada next week.

New Record Cover Art!

My best bud from back in Calgary and his band The Pine Tarts just released their new 45. The little drawing in the middle of the record is one of mine! It's from a series of drawings I did several years ago for my radio-play "After the New Color".

"Joshua Tree" video surpases 2,000 views!

My video, Joshua Tree surpasses 2,000 views on YouTube!
Check it (and other videos of mine) out HERE.

My Outdoor Studio!

Where I have been painting!

Here's a couple of photos of my studio this past weekend. I just finished this painting today! I'm super excited because I've been cursing at it all summer long...

"On the Road" Marathon Reading!

Please come and join me and many friends at BEYOND BAROQUE!

20 October, Saturday - 12 PM to Midnight
ON THE ROAD: THE ORIGINAL SCROLL - A MARATHON READING

this is what I'll be reading from!

Jack Kerouac's On the Road, one of the most innovative American novels of the 20th century, has become in turn one of the most influential American books ever written. Originally typed in a three-week frenzy of creativity in spring 1951, it chronicles trips taken between 1948 and 1950 across the United States. It was created without paragraph or page breaks on a 119-foot scroll of nearly translucent paper. The new 50th anniversary edition replaces edited out sections and uses the original's character names, restoring its living reality. We honor Kerouac, spiritual founder of the Beats, with a weekend tribute to Kerouac's influence and importance, in photographs, a marathon reading of the scroll text, and a panel discussion.

In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Viking Press publication of ON THE ROAD, a defining work of the Beat Generation, join some of Los Angeles's most noted, poets, writers, actors and artists for the FIRST EVER marathon reading of the legendary scroll from which the published version of was crafted. Surprise guest readers!

I will be reading at around 6pm, Saturday night!

BEYOND BAROQUE
(http://www.beyondbaroque.org)
681 S VENICE BLVD, LOS ANGELES, 90291
(a few blocks south of Lincoln, in the city of VENICE!!! NOT downtown LA!)

Thalians Exhibition; honoring Sir Roger Moore

The poster to my next exhibition!

I am honored to have been invited to participate in a unique exhibition and charity auction in support of The Thalians, an organization that funds mental health care and break-through research at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

My artwork will be showcased in the Gala Ball, on Sunday, October 21, 2007, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, in Beverly Hills.

Every year since 1955, The Thalians have honored a major celebrity with the Mr./Ms. Wonderful Award. Past honorees include such stars as Lucille Ball, Frank Sinatra, Carol Burnett, Bob Hope, Shirley MacLaine, Liza Minnelli and the list goes on!

This year Mr. Wonderful is Sir Roger Moore. ("It’s 007 in 2007!") The host is Neil Sedaka, as well as a long line-up of celebrity guests.

Tickets range from $300 to $1000 per person.

For more information, visit www.thethalians.com

Arts & Ideas Festival Guide

On Wednesday evening, the new edition of the Pasadena Weekly hits the stands. Inside you'll find the Art&Ideas Festival Guide, an 8-page pullout that I designed and created over the past several weeks. I want to take this opportunity to thank Terry LeMoncheck, the Director of the Pasadena Arts Council for entrusting me with this great responsibility! It has been a wonderful experience and I am very grateful to have had this opportunity. My understanding is that they will publish around 80,000 copies of the festival guide!

Filmshoot continues!

Me with Azrael and Cuali

On Sunday morning, with the help of a couple of young superstars, I filmed another scene from my movie, "Out of Cloud". Those crazy helmets I made are very uncomfortable and have limited visibility, which makes acting with them on quite a challenge. But Azrael and Cuali did a great job and moved me that much closer to finally finishing my long awaited film!

The "Spaceship" set in my studio

Group exhibition opening this weekend!

The 1950 Ford Show

Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
September 22, 2007- January 8, 2008
Curated by Anthony Easton

Edmonton artist and curator Anthony Easton takes American Pop-Conceptualist, Ed Ruscha at his word. Ruscha's 1977 drawing: WILL 100 ARTISTS DRAW A 1950 FORD FROM MEMORY plants the seed that Easton cultivates by actually soliciting 100 artists to concretize Ruscha's Conceptual fantasy.

The results range from café sketches through pop commix renditions to highly crafted illustrations. The ensemble makes for a delightful installation, reasserting the primacy of mark-making and reconsiders the Conceptualist implulses in contemporary art.

Visit the Art Gallery of Alberta website

Read the CBC News Online article

Lets Check the Numbers...

Between April 1st, 2007 and August 31st, 2007 my website had 857 'Unique Visitors', which means; around 6 new people check out my site every single day! Okay, I'm not breaking any records here, but that is very exciting for me!

More importantly however, is that visitors are sticking around. Visitors to my site view an average of 6.5 pages, and anyone familiar with the technical side of web will tell you that that is particularly great news! Commonly people only view 2.5 pages of a website before getting bored and leaving. In other words, if I was selling advertising space on my website I could make a lot of money! Hmm...

Thank you for spending that extra bit of time to browse deeper into my site!

BEWARE OF THIS E-MAIL SCAM!

THIS IS A COPY OF AN E-MAIL I SENT TO THE FBI:

On August 24th, 2007, I received the following e-mail;
____________________

From : Anthony Barris <anthony_mukhela@yahoo.com>
Sent : August 24, 2007 12:35:06 PM
To : mmarkowsky@hotmail.com
Subject : i need a painting

Hey,
Good day to you. I just moved inn to my new apartment and i need an artwork or any other form of art i could display on the wall for decoration. I would be glad if you could within your professional capacity recommend a painting or artwork or any form of artwork which could serve this purpose.I am considering a budget range of between $500-$950 exclusive of shippment cost. I would be gald if could get back to me very soon. Thank you ,i hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely
Anthony.
__________________

I was suspicious because he seemed unfamiliar with my artwork and yet seemed to be in a hurry to acquire some of it. Nevertheless, I thought, if he was willing to pay for my art, then what harm could come (It turns out that this is EXACTLY what I'm supposed to think!).

We began e-mailing each other back and forth, and he seemed very evasive when I asked him about himself or how he came upon my website/e-mail address. He did offer his address (25 Hill Street, 2nd Floor, Torrington, Ct 06790). I Googled his name and e-mail address and found some hits with in reference to other types of e-mail scams. Big red flag, right!

Then the phone calls started. I ignored them, thinking he'd realize that I had figured out it was a scam and he'd run away. But this guy is persistent. Then on Friday, September 7th, 2007, I received in the mail a cashier's check for $3850.00, in an envelop lacking a return address, and mailed from England. He hadn't even selected a specific artwork yet, and even then I had quoted him about $2000.00 for some drawings and a small painting. He somehow mistakenly sent a check for twice the amount we were talking about... MAJOR red flag!

When I told all this to some friends, they said this is scam and that I should contact the FBI. Apparently there was something on Dateline NBC about this within the last few weeks. The scam is that the check I get from him will initially clear at my bank, then he'll ask me to wire him back the extra amount, and then several days later his check will bounce... Ouch...

So, I e-mailed the other people that the Scammer had CC'd in his original e-mail (Okay red flag, he sent a mass e-mail to artists with e-mails beginning with the letter 'M'; how did he get this e-mail list!). Some of the other artists had also received checks in the mail from him, and some were even told to buy plane tickets to fly out and deliver artwork to him, photograph parties for him, have an exhibition at his place, etc.

Anyway, on Friday I got a call from 'Anthony', phone number (910) 000-0000, and it was very brief. He mentioned that USPS had notified him that the letter had been delivered. I lied to him and said it had not been delivered. He hung up on me when I said the check hadn't arrived yet. Our call lasted no more than 25 seconds. He was likely trying to avoid having his call traced. He spoke with what sounded like an African accent.

On Sunday, Sept 10, I also received a call which I believe was from him (843) 615-8159, but I didn't answer because I was busy; he left no message. He even sent me a couple of new e-mails asking me to update him. Needless to say I haven't responded, nor have I cashed the check. On Monday I sent a letter to the FBI through their internet crime website www.IC3.gov.

I'll keep you posted on how things unfold!
Michael

Artists In Residence reception

Mellon Truck on the road to Giverny, Oil on Canvas, 2007

On Saturday and Sunday, September 15 and 16, from 1-4 p.m, there will a reception for the "Artists in Residence" at the Armory Northwest.

Myself, along with four other artists (Stephanie Allespach, Chelsea Dean, Hataya Tubtim, and Nicola Vruwink), have occupied the giant space, and we've all made a ton of new work for the public to come see! I look forward to sharing my artwork (paintings, drawings and films!) with everyone!

We'll have drinks and BBQ, so come out and celebrate the end of summer with me! (Also, September 15th, is my 30th birthday...)

THE ARMORY NORTHWEST/965
965 North Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, California 91103
CLICK HERE FOR THE MAP

LA RIVER Tour!

I just returned from an amazing adventure; a tour of the Los Angeles River! What's that?! Los Angeles has a River? You mean that concrete ditch was once a River?! Yes! Yes! YES! Wow, we spent the day with our guide Jenny Price, an environmentalist who has written extensively on the LA River, as well as representatives from FoLAR (Friends of the L.A. River), and also from the Los Angeles City Council. I also befriended a pair of writers working on a screenplay taking place in the River, and a CalTech PHD candidate with a little time to kill!

photo by Kory Kinder

I cannot recommend this tour highly enough. The tour travels to some places you would never expect existed here in Los Angeles, for good and bad. But it was an experience I will never forget!

For more information, visit www.FoLAR.org

Amazing Film Shoot in Memorial Park!

photo by Trish Garcia

On Saturday morning I shot some new footage for my film "Out of Cloud", with a couple of my former students. I had Cuali and Azrael (whose mother Trish Garcia happens to be registrar at the Armory where I teach) dressed in these really outrageous space alien costumes that I made, and then run around a maze created from tiles laid in the grass.

I'll post production stills as soon as possible!

Film Premier at Pasadena Library

We just had our big movie premier at La Pintoresca Branch of the Pasadena Public Library, and it was a resounding success! The film, called "The Eyes Have it..." was shown for the first time to packed, standing-room-only audience that included many important local officials besides family and friends of the high school students I worked with to make the movie. We even had a red-carpet leading into the screening room, and a popcorn machine! It was a dream come true for the students, as well as for me! Its not often a person has the chance to participate in such a remarkable event.