Analytics Update!

So one of my goals for this summer is to take over the world.

In a sense...

I brought up Google Analytics in an early blog post about 'hits' on a website.

The artistic goal for this summer will be to LIGHT UP the map, and have a hit from every country in the world. I will do it the old school Kevin Bacon way of person to person networking. This project is more about outreach investigation than it is about fame, or notoriety.

We are becoming a global society - so what better way to start? :) I will keep you updated

Here is what my map currently looks like, for both the US and the WORLD! I have my work cut out for me...

wish me luck :)

www.joseojeda.com

Eagle Blessing

This is a short video that I took,

Short, but I argue, very powerful

I have only begun to know the full importance of the Eagle to native peoples. But beliefs aside, the sight itself is awe inspiring.

The Emcee said to 'bless yourselves' as the handler brought the eagle to each of the four directions. NAnd I did. I said a prayer and accepted the blessing

I have changed the way that I pray. While I am still very spiritual, it has certainly changed. having to deal less and less with any religion, and more with forces and feelings of the universe

I love this video because the eagle seems to flap with the beat.

I think it would be a great video to use with the connect VJ

Daily Drawings - THE BOOK!

Hey everyone,

I am excited to say that my first volume of "Daily Drawings" is now in book form,

and ready to order! if you have the desire and funds

It actually came together really nicely - I think the format works well with the images, and I really cant wait until I have enough content for Volume 2!

Take a look at this preview:

Daily Drawings by Jose Antonio Ojeda | Make Your Own Book

Latino Fashion Show

I had meant to post this a long time ago,

But I was fortunate to help with the latino fashion show on campus this year. I think that I mentioned it at some point.

I was especially happy because I was able to bring in my Bodega awning/signage and use it as part of the stage design.

I also built those 2 large silhouette screens that were used in other scenes, and that broke up the space really nicely.

This video is of the 'Urban Scene'

On top of La bodega awning, was projected imagery of actual bodega's and NYC street life

This was fun

People always ask me how I make my small metal pieces. Almost everyone assumes that I use a machine, or a laser or something. They are usually surprised when I say that I just use my hands and a jeweler's saw. Then I describe what a jewelers saw is =P It has a U frame, and the key is the very tiny teeth on the blades, which allow for cutting through metal.

I sped up the piece and put it to music

I chose daft punk because they represent this hybrid space between human and machine that I am really interested in exploring. And maybe even becoming.

After this past weekend, especially with the mind control device, I think that we are one step closer to this hybrid reality where the lines are blurred :)

I really want to take more footage of myself working. I recently bought a new HD webcam that I will utilize. This video was actually shot with the camera on my macbook pro. I propped it up and open with many a brick =P

SHOWS

Aside from the regular craziness that is finals, I will be participating in 2 art shows this weekend, Friday and Saturday.

Here is the poster with the information for both: *click*

This is a video I compiled with the footage of my first show that I had at La Bodega, which again is my hybrid studio/exhibition space at Stony Brook University.

I really hope the second show goes well!!

SUPER SHAWLLL

So remember that badass Shawl that I said I was making?

Here is a video of it being used in action, on one of the largest powwow stages in the country. Gathering of Nations, in Albuquerque, NM.

It is the dancer in all black. Black dress,

And the shawl is a black shawl with a colorful yellow/blue/red/white horizontal band going across it.

It was called the "Super Shawl" midnight special - yes, it was midnight at the time. And dozens of women competed, in a winner take all contest. The prize was $1000 and a trip to vegas!!

I an also posting this because to date, it is my most popular youtube video - with 2,494 hits! I know that might seem like chump change for some, but for me, that's amazing! I am almost in disbelief, but it is very promising.

The sky is the limit :)

Smoke Dancing - My favorite

I finally got footage of Smoke Dancing! It has become my favorite thing to watch at Powwows now, and I am borderline obsessed.

The dance is very popular with the Iroquois people, but it's popularity has expanded throughout Indian Country. And with this guy (thumbs pointing to self).

The name comes from the quick footwork, which looks like you are kicking up smoke moving your feet so fast!

I think it'll take me a while to get anywhere near good, but it looks like fun :)

Take notice of the little girl in the middle. I have seen her at a few powwows now - and aside from being cute and adorable, she is also very talented. I remember at one powwow, there was no one to compete for smoke dancing, so she went out there alone, and killed it! People even started walking up to her and throwing money at her feet in appreciation :)

This is smoke dancing, people :)

Asia de Cuba + Graduations

This Monday I was fortunate enough to go to my brother's Graduation at NYU. Again, he received his Masters in Sports Business and will be starting his new job with the Susan G Komen Foundation. I am very proud of him and I know he will go very far - because he already has.

We took him out to eat at a restaurant called 'Asia de Cuba', a fusion place. The food was priced for midtown, but very worth it, very delicious. The folks enjoyed it too, which was also a plus.

I thought it was interesting seeing my brother walk down the street in his purple robe, and yellow and blue masters hood. It was a normal sight to me - clearly the guy was a recent graduate. But then it got me to thinking - a lot of the people must be baffled, as to why someone is walking down the street in this robe!

Is it religious? Is he a priest?

Is it a clansmen? or some other cultish group?

Is it simply a crazy person? or worse, an eccentric??

but in the end, the robe got him that nice cake :)

Congrats, brother!

En route to The Tank

I had the privilege of riding the train with Waylon down to the city.

I had not slept the night before (as suggested by Phillip, haha), but not because I was out partying, but because I was finishing up some work. I figured that I would work through the night anyways, knowing it would be impossible to wake myself up in time while on such little rest.

It was a good train ride though. I wont get into everything we discussed, but aside from the philosophical and brilliant, there were a lot of jokes and laughs to be had :)

@ The Tank - Group shot

I thought that this was a pretty good shot of all of our actors/performers

Taken at the end, right before the Q&A

They all worked really hard an deserved our praise and appreciation.

The show kept being refereed to as a "Mash Up", and this is true even in it's actors. They came from various levels of experience, different age groups, counties, different departments even

All coming together to take this new, American Decameron

@The Tank - Callibrating

The interesting question of "Is this all a gimmick?" came up, in regards to all our toys and technology.

It was speculated that it was. At least at the moment. In the end, the show was all about the stories. It was about the actors, on a stage, telling and acting out their fictions and realities to the audience. A mix between drama, music, and comedy.

But the potential is certainly there and i'm glad that we began to investigate it. Already thoughts have been stirring on how to make it even better. The technology just needs to be better integrated with the actual storytelling so that it enhances it, instead of distracting or overpowering the story. It might also be wise to have a separate dancer - who knows the story - interact soley with the kinect, leaving the actor free to best deliver their role

@The Tank - Images

The Tank was a fun experience. Crazy that we were right down the block from Daniel Radcliffe!

The space was smaller than I had thought, but only because it was mentioned to be just as large as the black box at Stony Brook - but I most likely misinterpreted that.

I was happy to take on the sound/music element of the show. I enjoyed cueing up music and fading it in an out between the scenes/stories. I miss putting on shows :)

@ The Tank - Photos

practicing his story in front of the kinect & projector

Limbering Up, getting in the zone

Phillip, demonstrating how to utilize the device for VJ'ing

@The Tank - Phillip Baldwin Intro

Our Professor, and fearless leader, Phillip Baldwin, kicks off the show! And explains the class, our process, and how we got to where we are now

Also featured is the amazing mind control device. We have only touched upon the very surface of its capabilities

A great kickoff to a fun and interesting evening

@ the Tank, Kinect test

And it all came down to this - whether or not our 'toys' would work in the space or not.

After some work, our center kinect was able to pick up and calibrate a person. It just has to be elevated some, and now the VJ software could work :)

AMERICAN DECAMERON!

The long awaited show!!

Here are a few photos taken from of THE TANK, in NYC

American Decameron Rehearsal - Photos

A few photos from the rehearsal

A lot of callibration

Taking a break from American Decameron

Here are just a few of the video textures that shot and thought were unique and interesting

American Decameron Rehearsal - Stories comingatcha!

Phillip demonstrating how to best utilize the Kinect to operate the videos

American Decameron Rehearsal - Even More Stories

Michelle manipulates the film with her body, using the Kinect

American Decameron Rehearsal - More Stories

More of the stories, as told by our actors

American Decameron Rehearsal - Stories

Here are a few of the stories that were told at the Tank, being rehearsed at Stony Brook University

American Decameron Rehearsal - Opening Dialogue

Here is the opening dialogue from the show

American Decameron Rehearsal - Thea

Here are previews of Thea's masterful singing :)

Certainly one of the highlights of the experience!

The Dress Rehearsal

Where it all started to come together.

Waylon and the Machine

Waylon did not have as good results with the brain device.

His brain waves were flatline... certainly no reflection on Waylon,

I blame the device. And lack of saline solution

Annika and the Machine

Annika tries out the MIND CONTROL machine!!!

I immediately thought of Doc Brown from 'Back to the Future'

Shadow Puppetry

A short video of one of my students,

She made a beautiful shadow puppet out of paper. We are trying to work out how to best tell a story - using this old tradition, in a modern time

Impending summer Part II

What to do? crap.

I am teaching the first summer session, so that is good. Gives me some sort of stability, and more teaching practice. Plus, it is a much shorter semester - meaning that I have to adapt the syllabus to fit within the time, but still have just as much meaning.

I JUST GOT 8!!!

What does that mean?

I just got 8 people to sign up for the course, so far. Which means, that it won't get canceled due to low numbers :D

I CAN TEACH!!!

Now for the second part of summer.... The traditional thing would be to find an internship of sorts to enrich my experience. I will try

But last resort (but fun resort) is to just make work and commissions for cash - continually enhancing my portfolio and my bank account, all the while trying to be more business savy.

The idea of going to business school has crossed my mind. I might start studying for the GMATS soon... because the art teaching market isn't looking too happy. But maybe i'm just not looking in the right places :)

Regardless, I am excited for this summer - and for a fresh start next Fall. Next fall will be a hit ! with non stop art making, art showing, pot stirring, and future forward thinking.

Stay tuned :)

impending Summer

Summer is allllmost here!

yay?

yay!

This year has been my worst year at Stony Brook. Haha, that is very dramatic. To be fair, I have only been here 2 years, and the first year was "better" because it was a more innocent and naive time. There were fewer visible "problems" and anything could be brushed away with "well, it's just our first year here"

2nd year has just opened our eyes a bit more to how things really are. Growing frustrations with our department, and unfortunately that has caused rifts between colleagues at times. Last year, we were all the best of friends! Maybe.

I loved this Theatre course though. Not to kiss ass or anything. But it was great to take a course in another department, and get away from the drama of my own...

Though I hear every department has their own drama.

This course was also the only one this semester that really challenged me and made me excited to learn and create. My photo class was ok, but I got a few ideas and moments of inspiration from it - and Gary is just a great guy to be around.

VAS was....

Theatre was not perfect, but hardly anything is. Perfect enough to be top dog of my course load, haha.

And now I will forever refer to my absent students as "bagging my gig, man"

Belonging

Communities.

What does it mean to belong to one?

Race - Ethnicity - social status - pedigree - location - proximity - age - interests,

there are many ways to group and classify a community.

But how does an "outsider" fit into a community? How are they accepted, or not accepted.

Using myself as an example - I am latino, Ecuadorian by decent. My girlfriend is Native American. I have been learning a lot about her culture, and Native culture in general through our time together. She has taken me to many a powwow and I love it! I would go to one without her at this point.

I was helping out a lot during this year's Dartmouth College Powwow. I helped with the t-shirt and poster design, I made them a banner, and helped with set-up and break down.

But I am still very careful of considering myself part of their community. Partially because of my ethnic background - even though my heritage has links to the Indigenous cultures of the Andes. I also do not want to "intrude" for similar reasons. My people have had their own history and experiences just as the Native peoples of North America have. But they are different and occurred independent of each other, and I guess I am just being respectful of that.

And I also have my own community - the Latino community. And we have our own biases and opinions towards "outsiders"

But in the end, we're all people - blessed with a story to share with each other.

Back in Hanover

Relationships make you do funny things.

I say funny, because they're not bad things. Not always the best things, but just funny :)

I find myself back in Hanover, NH for the day. The girlfriend and I were really stressed about our respective work loads and schedules - to the point where we didnt think that we could finish it all.

I have 2 shows, several stole orders, and final critiques by the end of the week. She has a similar seemingly impossible burden.

Yesterday (Monday) was my brother's graduation from NYU - he got his masters in Sports Business. I had already not slept from the night before (making work), and then I drove to the city. After the ceremony and lunch afterwards, I drove the 5 hours north to New Hampshire. At the end of it all, I would have been up for 34 hours. And as much of a struggle it was, and as much as it seemed like a crazy idea, I don't regret it at all

and not just because of the cheesy lovey dovey reasons of being with your significant other

But it's nice being in a different place - I feel like moving around keeps you on your toes, and you are able to be more productive. I have already accomplished so much, whereas if I had stayed in my studio I would have sulked about and done just about the same, if not less. Plus, it's beautiful here. Sort of rainy, but the trees are blossoming a brilliant light pink. I'd never leave here if I could help it

But i'll be coming back down tomorrow morning,

Spontaneous trips are the best.

Change in scenery is healthy.

-Jose

New Age Watering hole

This is an older post that I never transcribed from my recent trip to New Mexico,

About how I discovered the 'watering hole' of the 21st century digital age.

Power. As in, electricity. And connectivity. It's what we need, it's what we thirst for.

I was sitting in the airport of LaGuardia Airport in New York city. Our flight had already been delayed several hours due to inclement weather around the country. So more people than usual were starting to fill the terminal. Tensions were getting higher, the temperature rose, there was a mugginess in the air... kind of disgusting.

The modern day traveler (as well as many modern day people in general) come well equipped with a myriad of electronic devices that they rely on. The cell phone - the ipod - the camera - the ipad - the laptop. After many hours in an airport, these devices start to drain themselves of their life force. Especially after the many calls to loved ones and employers, explaining how they are stuck in New York, accompanied by frustrated obscenities.

The airport has set up powering stations, near the seating area, where people can plug in. There are actually several of them scattered about. Some are like pillars, and some more like tables. But no outlet was left un-tapped. Imagine dozens of people, both sitting and standing next to these stations with their devices, strapped in as if with an umbilical chord. If there were no more taps, people looked elsewhere and got creative.

Underneath the pay phones. In a hidden corner. Near a vending machine. A plug that would normally be used by the cleaning staff when plugging in a vacuum cleaner.

While at one of these watering holes, I made 2 friends. One was John, the other Kate. We told each other stories of our lives, shared internet videos, and bonded over our halted journey's. And now we're even facebook friends, so you know it's real. They say that we are losing our humanity because of technology. I think that we're not losing it, but it's just changing. What we do need, is more time to stop and interact with the people around us, even if we are still plugged in.

Cheers!

I am off to Seattle to dramaturg two shows for Greenstage Theatre this summer - both are Shakespeares: Antony and Cleopatra and The Tempest. Greenstage has been a favorite theatre company of mine for quite some time - they've been doing free Shakespeare in the Park shows for 23 years and generally I can claim that for each show presented A Splendid Time is Guaranteed for All.
I am about to embark upon a cross-country road trip with my sister-in-law Linda who has been in my life since 1974. First we'll drive up to Martha's Vineyard to meet up with her sister then we'll start the trek west from there. Exciting stuff!
This week after my foray into off off Broadway with American Decameron, I managed to pack another 5 boxes to send to Seattle and finish up another nifty pair of flip flop socks!
Ahh, me dogs ain't barkin' no more!

American Decameron review

http://waylonlenk.blogspot.com/2011/05/american-decameron.html

Here are the parting thoughts on the show that I posted on my blog. Onward!

Annika, Jose and I drove into the City.

Working hard or hardly working?

American Decameron

Love in the time of the Plague - the plague of the blood-sucking undead, that is.

Inside the Tank

Jose and Ryan do things with machines. It was actually a cozy little place. I want one just like it.

Outside the Tank

Here we are outside the Tank. You know what would be a cool space for projections? That big barren wall.

And guess who was performing down the street. I'll give you a hint - it was Daniel Radcliffe.

Super Secret Mind Contol Device

Sequestered deep underground, armed guards stationed invisibly on the parameter, a group of performative scientists work feverishly for their Lord and Master, the Mad Scientist Phillipus Baldwinmanius. What is Professor B's latest plot to conquer the earth and enslave all mankind? Could it be? No! A mind control device! 'Zounds, whatever can we do? We are helpless against the Professor's mental prowess as it is, but with this spidery device augmenting his alpha, beta and gamma rays, he is well nigh unstoppable! Oh, that we weren't so quick to turn on Mercury, our city's hero and defender! If only he could get it up and wasn't sexually frustrated! He was the only one who could have saved us, and now he too is a villain!

Baldwinmania

You tell Prof. Baldwin that he's on camera, and he just can't help performing. Oh this is going to be a fun show.

Ford Taurus

http://www.theonion.com/video/ford-unveils-new-car-for-cashstrapped-buyers-the-1,14381/

Mine's actually a '99 Taurus, so it's way better than this one. The body is is in great condition, minus a few scratches. It can get me from coast to coast, which is way further than the house I rent with a crowd of other guys and my job (because I have one and I don't need to go to the unemployment office.) And it cost nearly five times as much as the Taurus in the video. All in all, I'd say I'm living in the lap of luxury, in spite of Phillip's scoffing.