"Complete With Illustrated Manual" - Performance February 17

TAMPA, FL – "Complete With Illustrated Manual," a performance piece in the format of an infomercial will take place Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 8:00pm at the William and Nancy Oliver Gallery. This work follows Valerie Hartman, a woman who is determined to maintain control of her life, as she attempts to share her new product, "The System".

With a dry sense of humor, this performance addresses resisting change and grasping for control. Viewers are invited to participate as the live studio audience for this infomercial. Following the performance, video footage of the event will be on view at the William and Nancy Oliver Gallery, February 18 - 20, 2009 from 11am to 3pm each day.

Collaborating artists include Toni Billick, Clark Brooks, YvelIsse Cedrez, Ami Sallee Corley, Robb Fladry, Robbie Gomez, Phil McCollam, Ellen Mueller, and Nicole Smith. Further information available at http://EllenMueller.com/complete

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Ellen Mueller presents "Complete With Illustrated Manual" Date/Times: Performance: February 17, 2009 at 8:00pm Video on view: February 18 - 20, 2009 at 11:00am - 3:00pm Daily Location: William and Nancy Oliver Gallery University of South Florida 4202 E. Fowler Ave Tampa, FL 33620 Website: http://EllenMueller.com/complete

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Photos from BREAKDOWN

"Take control."

"This is my stand."

photos by Nikki Devereux

http://ndevereux.carbonmade.com

Postcard image for BREAKDOWN, and a great studio visit

My next performance will be on Friday, January 30, 2009 at 8pm at the William and Nancy Oliver Gallery as a part of BREAKDOWN: A Mental Incursion.

I'll be premiering a character I've been developing the past few months, Valerie Hartman. She'll be giving a brief intro to The System, and explaining why you should attend the infomercial on February 17 at 8pm.

In other news, I had a really great studio visit with Diana Al Hadid yesterday, and was pleased to have a mini-epiphany about the arc of the narrative for my upcoming piece, "Complete With Illustrated Manual," which features the above mentioned Valerie Hartman. To read more about Diana Al Hadid, you can find a lot through Google, or check out her recent article in the January 2009 issue of Art News, where she was listed as an "Artist to Watch." (sadly, Art News hasn't put this article online)

BREAKDOWN: A Mental Incursion

My next performance will be on Friday, January 30, 2009 at 8pm at the William and Nancy Oliver Gallery as a part of BREAKDOWN: A Mental Incursion.

I'll be premiering a character I've been developing the past few months, Valerie Hartman. She'll be giving a brief intro to The System, and why you should attend the infomercial on February 17 at 8pm.



BREAKDOWN is:
Private acts and thoughts expressed in public spaces.
"Madness" and "vulgar" emotion; i.e., unrestrained grief.
Anthropomorphism.
A celebration of unseen/ignored elements of humanity.
A confrontation of human (un)consciousness.
Social awkwardness.
Insidious laughter.

LIVE PERFORMANCE:
Friday, January 30, 2009 at 8pm.

Confirmed guest artists include:
Natasha Marin (Butoh) + Aaron Roth (flute)
Anastacia Tolbert (indigo madness)
Ellen Mueller (Valerie Hartman/Time travel with The System)
Ashaki M. Jackson (Cannibalistic poetry/Altar-making)
Becky Flanders - (Ana Suromai - Female Genital Revelation)
Khadijah Queen (Fearful Beloved) + Zak Hemsteger (drums)
More TBA...

BREAKDOWN is organized by Khadijah Queen.
Multidisciplinary artist and writer Khadijah Queen is a graduate fellow in studio art at University of South Florida. Her first book of poetry, Conduit, was published in 2008 by Akashic Books. She has performed and exhibited nationally, and curates an annual multi-genre performance series, "Courting Risk," in NYC.

2010 Art Inter/National Exhibition

 

I'll be showing two pieces from the Calendar Series, "1 of 31" and "15 of 31," at the 9th Annual Art Inter/National Exhibition at Box Heart Gallery in Pittsburgh, PA.  This juried group exhibition features 20 artists from all across the US as well as Japan, Norway, Austria, and Korea.  If you know anyone in Pittsburgh, please spread the word!

The exhibition runs January 5 - 30, 2010.
The reception is Saturday, January 9th, 5 - 8pm.
Box Heart Gallery
4523 Liberty Ave
Pittsburgh PA 15224