Blago's Out and I'm Sellin' Prints!!!

Hey, Everyone! Somewhere in the midst of my crazy schedule, I've managed to fashion a run of prints based on my recent piece, "caduceUS", which was featured in the "Manifest Hope: DC" competition...



Though I wasn't able to attend the opening, it was well-covered on various blogs and news outlets. It was a star-studded affair, with guests such as Heather Graham, Michael Stipe of R.E.M., Rosario Dawson, Moby, and host Shepard Fairey. Hey, there they are now...



Back to the prints: I'm offering a limited edition of 35 11" x 17" reproductions, presented on 80 lb. card stock. Each is signed and numbered, and can be purchased for $30 (Priority Shipping included)...

The "caduceUS" prints differ only slightly from the original in that the artwork has been reduced 2% on the display area to allow for my printed signature, which appears as a watermark at the bottom (the original was signed only in pencil as a 1/1 work). If you click on the image below, you can see what I mean...



If you have a PayPal account, feel free to place orders that way. Otherwise, you can e-mail me at ian_simmons@comcast.net with the number of prints you'd like and I'll contact you about paying by check. As always, each print will be accompanied by a hand-signed letter of thanks...

Thanks again to everyone for their support and encouragement. 2008 was a great year for exhibitions (I think my art appeared in six shows), and the new year is looking better and better! Take care...

Credit Where Credit is Due: The gallery and opening-night pictures above appear on NOTCOT and SuperTouch. They have tons more photos and info on the proceedings, and have not endorsed this blog (though they haven't not endorsed it, either)...

Note-for-the-Sake-of-Making-this-the-Longest-Post-Ever: I still haven't put up a proper store, so for now this will have to suffice. I may sell some prints on ebay as well, as that has worked very well in the past...

Hope (DC) Springs Eternal...

I got a phone call a couple hours ago. On the other end of the line was a representative of the Manifest Hope: DC contest, who'd called to inform me that I am one of fifteen grand-prize winners (technically, as there are three categories, that makes me one of five); this was startling news--as you can see in my post below, I was unsure of how my efforts would be received--and I have only the assurance of my wife to convince me that I wasn't a complete bumbling idiot during our brief conversation...

In the next twenty-four hours, I have to get the piece printed, framed, and shipped to Washington, DC, where it will be on display next weekend as part of MoveOn.org's inauguration festivities...

It's a thrill, knowing that my work has been judged favorably by such a distinguished panel, including Shepard Fairey--who created the iconic Obama art that defined the look of his presidential campaign--and director Spike Lee, who has been one of my cinematic heroes (even though I haven't seen nearly as many of his films as I should have)...

I assume the full list of winners will be posted later this week, so feel free to check back with the MHDC site for updates...

On another contest note, I've also won two tickets to an advances screening of My Bloody Valentine 3-D on Tuesday night. After the crushing disappointments of The Wrestler and Slumdog Millionaire (yeah, I said it), I'm looking forward to the low-brow splatter of a mad-miner slasher flick...

I'd like to wish everyone (both of you) a Happy New Year. The art has been spotty of late, I know, and I can't say whether or not things will pick up, but I'm trying to stay productive. This piece, "caduceUS", is my submission to the new "Manifest Hope: DC" contest; MoveOn.org sponsored this event to draw attention to the issues of the green economy, health care reform, and labor support. The winners will have their work displayed in a DC gallery in the days preceding Obama's inauguration. Do I have a chance? That's difficult to say. The project has gone through a ridiculous amount of changes since I conceived of entering the competition...

I spent $40 at Blick Art Supply with the intention of entering one 15" x 20" piece in each of the three categories; these were to be grand, painted things with my typical inking flourishes over the color. Due to a relentless cat-sitting schedule (involving the force-feeding of pills four times a day to a feline who loves to hide), I had to seriously adjust my expectations. Monday, I settled on putting out one solid painting in the health care category. By Wednesday, I'd decided to work in the computer, with colored accents and inked lettering. Today, I ended up where I usually do, inking on tracing paper and scanning art into the laptop,with Photoshop text. I still don't know what to make of the finished piece. I think the stress and fatigue of the week has caught up with me, and I'm not even to the weekend yet. Woe is me. Whatever...

On the bright side, my lovely wife made me a stunning coffee table book of my political art (spanning 2006 up to the "Kneeling Jerk" piece) as a Christmas present. I plan to re-work some elements of it--taking out the mushy dedication on the inside-back dust jacket--and fashion a for-sale version for anyone who may be interested in owning such a thing. I shouldn't be sharing this stuff; I have a bad habit of blowing off expectations and hating myself in the morning. Happy New Year! Again...