:3 MEOW WOLF TRASHION SHOW RECAP
MEOW WOLFS TRASHION SHOW - Piece display 2003 Garage Sale
7/11/2024 James Daniels (AKA CLIFFSIDE FLOWERS) and I participated in Meow Wolf Grapevine's Anniversary Show that was an amalgamation of performances, fashion, drag, and games, that came together to form a “Trashion Show”. 
Our piece Titled "2003 Garage Sale" was created by collecting donated old electronic waste. This included everything from broken Xboxes, cell phones, wires, record players, you name it. Those pieces were one by one deconstructed to extract motherboards, chips, fans, and all the cool shiny bits that are underneath the typical beige and boring shell. The motherboards and chips were strung together, similarly to how chain mail is, in order to form an armored vest. Cell phones were linked into a chain with charms, the phones themselves acting as if they were jewels, despite their clunky nature. Old platform heels from high school became a collage surface for these green tech chips to be bolted into. I felt like the headless horseman, although instead of a pumpkin for a head, I had a 2003 gaming TV. We attached an N64 controller to give the illusion that I could be played.
I walked to a sound montage of snip its of our favorite old game cube games, such as Luigi’s Mansion that was a composition by m3 + my fwend Ava Blankmeyer. I walked onto the stage with the sound of of Luigi slipping with a “WOAH” and losing all his coins. I then turned on my TV that powered LEDS that made my eye SHINE.
The experience was colorful, overthetop, and carefree. Which is what I love about MEOW WOLF. All the other designers and modeled were insanely nice + cool. We are lucky we got to do this project together as romantic + creative partners!! Lets keep going. We even got a feature in The Dallas Observer which you can observe HERE
Costume by James Page Daniels + Kenley Turner
Model: Kenley Turner
Walk Track: Ava Blakmeyer + Kenley Turner
THANKS MEOW WOLF + SOUTHWEST AIRLINES FOR DOING THIS!
Playlist 5.27.24
Amateur Galaxy Weekly Playlist 5.27.24
Where did the time go? Here we are…
Yesterday I spent my whole day alone in my home working on art. The thing I’ve always wanted. But I was sad and lonely all day. What is wrong with me? When will I find the circumstance that is perfect for me? And why will I never be satiated? I am a spoiled brat. No matter what I get I will always want more and something will always be missing. Is that the curse of all artists?
Playlist 5.20.24
Amateur Galaxy Weekly Playlist 5.20.24
On a Roll….
I Need Somebody To Love - Sylvester
Nu Guinea- Disco Sole
Todd Terje - Preben Goes To Acuapulco
Maribou State - Midas
Parallel Dance Ensemble - Shopping Cart
Khruangbin - Evan Finds The Third Room
Parcels - Gamesofluck
DARGS - Lou's Tune
Flofilz - Inside Out
Arlo Parks- Eugene
Szymon - Feenicks
Nilufer Yanya - Hey
Maribou State - Vale
Maribou State - Manila
Klyne - Water Flow
Playlist 5.13.24
Amateur Galaxy Weekly Playlist 5.13.24
THIS CHARMING MAN
George Michael Freedom!
It Aint Over LEnny Kravitz
Dont Dream ITs Over Crowded House
Forget Me Nots Patrice Rushen
Smalltown Boy Bronski Beat
Just a Girl, No Doubt
A Forest, The Cure
(Feels Like) Heaven, Fiction Factory
Atomic, Blondie
Take Me To Church, Hozier
Have you ever seen the rain, Creedance Clearwater Revival
Hung Up, Madonna
Playlist 5.6.24
Bladee edition Weekly Playlist 5.6.24
ODE 2 BLADEE
hey bladee if ur reading this, this goes really hard. it reminds me of being 19 or 20 cuz thats how old i was when i listened to working on dying everyday. i really like the idea that i have grown up with you. Youre 30 im 25. in a lot of ways its kind of felt like youve been guiding me through challenges in my life. since i was a teenager its just like youve been there for me when i needed you. there were so many hard things you got me through, especially in collage. Nics drug addiction, Cecelia’s murder, Cole’s drug overdose. There were times when i felt so chaotic and painfully lonely. Because of all the turmoil, i felt like i couldnt trust any one around me, like everyone was ill intentioned. At the time, everyone was so selfish. But you were like my gaurdian angel. Somehow it feels like everytime you have come out with a new album to evolve your sound, i have increased a level and have evolved as a person. Its crazy, I even used to eat at mcdonalds everyday in collage bc I needed the dollar menu to live lol. I like the little banana you put as your mouth on the album cover.
COLLECTION MODE
Collecting experiences and being human, not an artist
Am I an artist because I am not sharing my work this month? Or haven’t been focused on making work? This self-pressure is felt by almost every artist I know. We constantly need to be creating work otherwise we are not perceived as an artist - something we need to be identified as. This is probably not explicit to just artists, but my peer group consists of mostly artists, so this is where I have the most insight.
Unless you are a full-time artist and don’t need to have a solid job to pay your bills (these people are of course unicorns) your time for art-making is very limited, and sacrifice is always implemented to choose art over exercise, art over socialization with friends and family, art overeating, and so forth. I can’t help but think - if art is not my full-time role for my time or day then how am I considered “an artist”? Am I just doing this as a hobby and I’m just like anyone else? This is crazy and toxic, but I think about this a lot. This is a very 1 track mind form of thinking, art is of course a part of my life and always will be. I am a multi-faceted person and can do lots of different things, and don’t have to shove art-making down my own throat to have this identity.
We can’t do it all. We need time to see art, see nature, see the world, see friends, see family. If you knew that you would die tomorrow, would you spend your last day laboring or would you spend it on your own life?
SO, I’ve been spending this month collecting, seeing, and soaking up the world. Like a sponge, I need food. My art will mean nothing if I am not learning and experiencing. People can’t just be focused on making and selling. Where will our value come from if our work is vapid, uninformed, and empty?
