Blog Updating

So many more things are worked on and now pretty much all the pages have been at least formatted to look the same. The latest full up date is the A.o.R.A. Monster page. Added some photos and there is a lot more to come for that page. But things are coming along and to keep myself active in the A.o.R.A. Words page I figured this info should be posted here then shared to the Acts of Random Art Facebook page. There will be a lot more to come so keep on checking back in!

Acts of Random Art 2015

The start to a new year. This is already under way, finishing some 2014 things, while starting 2015 off with the boring things. Just did the finishing custom jobs, first it was a Dungeons and Dragons Figures, then I just finished customizing a Ski Helmet.

Now finishing a second Crocheted Mask while updating all my blog stuff. 

What’s being changed on the Acts of Random Art Blog you may not really be asking? Well let me tell you...

If you look above, you can see the main Acts of Random Art Blog. And you can see a long bar with many titles such as, “Personal Work & Artist Statement”, or “A.o.R.A. Words”. Well each one is being turned into their own blog. This will be to ease finding all the writings from the past, my personal work, and other A.o.R.A. sub projects and categories. Along with access to all the various social media sites that are frequently used by me to spread the word of Acts of Random Art.

So right now those sites/blogs are being worked on or have been started up and roughly laid out. There is a lot yet to come for 2015. Both online and offline. So keep your eyes open and soon ears as well (hopefully by mid summer). 

Styrofoam. Not a Street Art Story.

This is one thing I thought should be shared and yet not related to art, my usual subject mater.

First, I just want to say that traveling across the country by Greyhound is always fun for me. This last trip was Freeport, ME to Salt Lake City, UT. The bus is a great way to see the country and note a few things along the way. 

The one thing that seemed to stick out this trip was as I left Maine and headed further west was how much Styrofoam was used to serve coffee. (I am sure it was also used for other things but I was mostly buying coffee on the road, so for the purpose of this note, that is what I will concentrate on.) Thankfully, for myself, I had a travel thermos that I would pour my coffee into. Living in Maine I often have a travel cup in hand or sit with a mug at the place I grab a drink. If I don't have my cup I know I’ll get a paper cup, either because that is what is offered or I can request one. That just makes me really happy about living in the state of Maine. It feels like far less foam is offered and if it shows up it is from a coffee chain or a gas station counter. 

Noticing the use of so much Styrofoam made me think of how happy to be proud I am of my home town of Freeport, ME. In 1990, it was put into the town law that no food or drink is to be served using Styrofoam. This was accomplished by kids who noticed on the bus rides to and from school that there was a lot of trash on the side of the road, especially fast food packaging. We also all attended nature camps and special classes and learned that Styrofoam did not biodegrade and was unhealthy to people at every stage – making it through eating from it, not to mention the bad impact on wildlife. So we went up against McDonald's coming to town to get them to stop using foam packaging (I was one of those who helped make protest signs for outside of McDonald's). Our activism not only got McDonald's to change their minds locally, but they brought that practice nation-wide. We also got the town to back us and pass the local ordinances that are still in place today. I was just looking over the rules that were put into action and couldn't believe that it has almost been 25 years since Freeport, Maine passed this law. 

I think that sometime in 2015 we should truly celebrate this. Not only was it something good for the environment, but also for our own health. A few years back Freeport's law was put up against a chain grocery store moving into town. They did not think the rule should apply to their deli. But at that time, we had a small grocery shop that already followed that rule and did not wrap meats in Styrofoam trays wrapped in plastic. After a battle from the people in town, we won keeping the law intact. This is also why we need to have some kind of "Styrofoam Free Zone" celebration. The town of Freeport should be very happy for this environmental and health accomplishment. Traveling across the country really made me realize how special a feat a bunch of kids accomplished. I just wish more towns and cities would follow our lead. It was a rather simple concept and it really would be healthier for the planet and every living creature and person.

If you would like to learn more about the "Styrofoam Ban" in Freeport Maine check Code number 33.

Freeport Maine: Ordinances and Codes (#33)


Originally Posted: February 17, 2014

Top 10 images 2013

Wow this year is coming to an end soon! It has flown by. I just wanted to let you know I am going to start scanning my images to figure out the to 10 images of 2013! And please flip threw my images on Instagram or Flickr (2013 images) and let me know which ones you think should be in the top 10. And just so you know the top 10 will be posted on January 2, 2014. Because I don't know what images are yet to come!

And check out what the top ten images of 2012 where.

Top Ten 2012

Originally Posted: December 11, 2013

Snail Mail, New Studio/Office and so much more from this summer and into the future...

Hello!

Quick reminder for the next Snail Mail Event! - Bring Back the Stamp!

Here's all the info! Including a link to the Facebook invitation.

Snail Mail Event! Bring Back the Stamp! September 3rd 2014

On June 1st 2011 this was on going multi place event started! Lets try and make it a movement this year!

Thank you every one for taking part in the past Snail Mail Event! - Bring Back the Stamp! More information about this even below.

Everyone likes to get a letter! Suggested Theme this time is (drum roll!) "Flags!" Any kind of Flag will do.

Other wise here's the idea. On the day of the event send one, two, three or as many people you know a postcard, letter or something in the mail. We get enough junk mail. Send mail to many people! Invite your friends and family and anyone you know to take part in the event! Everyone is invited!

This is officially a Acts of Random Art Event! And please if you haven't joined A.o.R.A. join in at http://www.facebook.com/actsofrandomart

And if you want to mail to Acts of Random Art send to

Acts of Random Art
PO Box 182
Freeport ME
04032

Now on top of the up coming Snail Mail Event! Acts of Random Art now has a new studio/office. And I hope to have it in full mobile action for next summer! It's very exciting. I will be posting images of the progress on Instagram which will also show up on all other social network formats.

This is a 1969 Aristocrat Lo-Liner. I am looking forward to this project.

Other things from this summer.

KahBang (Bangor ME's Music Art Film Festival) 2013 was a great and wet time. I was able to bring something new to my work and to KahBang involving yarn. Yes I took my yarn bombing work to the fine art end of my life with adding as a artificial plant life with small monsters. I am in the midst of planning some further and larger scale work. Possibly for the winter but definitely for KahBang 2014.

             For images of these check out this link here KahBang Sculpture 2013

Other then that there was a couple shows this summer one at Frank Brockman Gallery in Brunswick ME and a few at Peloton Labs in Portland ME. Being Peloton Labs' Artist in Resident will be coming to a close as this summer closes. It has been a lot of fun but time to move on. Two years was a long time. And I hope to still get to show every now and again there down the road.

But this summer is not over yet. Even though people think Labor Day is the end of a summer, we still have most of September to get threw. And I'm sure with the way this summer has been going, there is more to tell at the official end of Summer 2013. Enjoy the rest of yours folks! 

And for September 3rd and like they say "Put a bird on it." on Portlandia, "Put a Stamp on it! (Address will help too)" for the next Snail Mail Event.

Originally Posted: August 30, 2013

Street/Public Art talk brought back from the archives

Do you remember about 2 and half years ago when Portland had a great Panel Discussion about graffiti? No? Or you do but you missed it? Well after a short mentioning of it yesterday I thought I would pull it up from the archives and share it once again. It was a very good talk. And if you like all things street/public art, well this is a talk you should listen in on. And please leave comments and share with others. It's always a lively discussion.

http://actsofrandomart.blogspot.com/2011/10/paca-creative-conversations-whats-that.html#.UbZYG5W4m2x

Public Bike Art Project - P.B.A.P.

“Public Bike Art Project - P.B.A.P”

The next step for the “Acts of Random Art - A.o.R.A.” is on the way!

The original A.o.R.A project was supposed to be a twitter project with daily or random pictures of public art and that would be that. But I quickly went on to Facebook, Tumblr, Flickr, Instagram, and well as

blogspot for occasional writings.

This next step is bringing A.o.R.A. to a mobile platform, showing art on either my bike trailer or tricycle. One board will be used at a time – painted over each week if it is not purchased. It’s going to just be about being public art, not on anyone else’s wall, and brought around town randomly. It will not necessarily be only flat work and might also include sculpture - kinetic or static. It will be an interesting art experiment presenting art to the general public while using a working bike. I do like to make my work for the people, so keep your eyes open for the “Public Bike Art Project” and please give me feedback if you see it!

Originally Posted: June 3, 2013