Tasmanian Print Exchange

I've had the unique opportunity to take part in a print exchange with 9 other American arts and 10 graduate students from the University of Tasmania. The exchange required me to create an edition of 22 prints 5"x7" in dimension, of any media and subject matter Once collected each artist will get a print from each other artist, and the remaining 2 sets will go on display in the US and Tasmania.

I've been super excited about this for several reasons. First, I feel so honored to be asked. Second, it's been a lot of fun to get to back into printing. And third, This is the first time my work will be displayed abroad. I don't have details on when or where the shows will be held because they're still forming, but I'll definitely let you all know.

The piece I've created is a continuation of the running/body series I began in my thesis. It's a reinterpretation of the One Track Mind drawing from earlier in the year. This time I've connected the "shoe brain" directly to the body's nervous system. I really love the way it's turned out!

I can thank Hilary Lorenz for this awesome opportunity. I met Hilary through running and she was a guest lecturer for one of my classes at SVA. She's quite the accomplished printmaker (and runner!). She had an amazing experience in Tasmania, through a residency at the University of Tasmania, and currenly teaches at Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York.

Success!

The MFA Thesis exhibition came down this past Monday. I have been waiting to post on this until I had some pictures from the opening, but alas, I forgot my camera, and I've been having some difficulty getting images from friends. :( I couldn't keep you all waiting any longer, though. I had to say THANK YOU to everyone who made it out to the show especially to those who came to the opening. I had such a good time and felt so much love and support!

Posted are some pictures of myself showing my good friend Danny Jones the exhibition. (Pictures courtesy Mike Terry's iPhone).

For those of you that couldn't make it out, you'll notice I got a really great wall for the show. I planned on putting three pieces and a book into the show. Shown to my space in the gallery, I had to run back to my studio to grab another drawing! I had a great huge wall. On display were two pieces you've all seen, two new pieces and a new book that traces my whole thesis project this year.

All the work looked great in the show. I hope you all took the chance to check out the MFA Illustration website, because there was a lot good things happening in the gallery.

The best part of the evening was definitely when I found out I had a fan and got to sign an autograph. :)

Thanks again everyone. I'll keep you posted on any shows that may come in the future!

The Show is OPEN!

MFA Illustration as Visual Essay Thesis Exhibition 2009! (Take II)

It has been forever since I've posted last. I've been so busy preparing for the thesis show, I just haven't had the time! And it doesn't hurt that I've got some stuff that you haven't seen to put in the show now.

As promised, here are details. Hope to see you all there!

MFA Illustration as Visual Essay Thesis Projects

Curated by David Sandlin

Selected Works from the Class of 2009: Rachel Allison, Lisel Ashlock, Josh Bayer, Maria Berrio, You Byun, André da Loba, Matt Cavanaugh, Ray Jones, Yuriko Katori, YJ Lee, Youngsun Liu, John MacConnell, Joanna Neborsky, Anna Raff, Heejin Roh, Nu Ryu, Sybille Schenker, Russ Spitkovsky, Rich Tu, and Edwin Vazquez.

Reception: Tuesday, May 5, 2009, 6 - 8pm

Exhibition Showing May 1 - 16, 2009

Visual Arts Gallery

601 West 26th Street, 15th Floor

New York, NY 10011-3201

212 592 2145

Gallery Hours: Monday - Saturday, 10am - 6pm

Find a sneak peak of the work here!

A New Piece

A new piece, but I'll write about it later...

MFA Illustration as Visual Essay Thesis Exhibition 2009!

Mark your calendar folks! The show exhibiting my work from the past year is beginning to take shape and the dates are set for May 5 -15th at the SVA Visual Arts Gallery. Closer to the show I will post dates/times for the show opening. Also look out for a sneak peak into the work you'll see from myself and fellow artist!

Here is the postcard for the show. Each of us has created a portrait of each other. It was pretty fun and I think the results are fantastic. I got to draw my friend Ray Jones (bottom center). Can you find me? These drawings are cropped images that are going to be silkscreened into a limited edition poster. More details later. Stay tuned, true believers!

Nature Boy

Last week we experienced some really beautiful weather here in New York. It's not often that you see sixty degree days in February. When you do though, you have to find some way to take advantage of it. Of course my favorite thing to do in that kind of weather is obvious: run.

I made sure I got outside in my t-shirt and shorts for a day or two to appreciate the beautiful day. There's nothing like clean air filling your lungs and the warm sun on your skin.

One Track Mind

This is another piece for my thesis. I was inspired to create this piece by the piece from two posts ago, although I had this idea quite a while ago. Really spent the time to render this one. Whew, glad that is over. Haven't worked this detailed for nearly four years and never at this scale. (This piece is 22x30".) There are a few meanings in this one; simply thinking about running and also allowing your mind to race through thoughts and ideas (particularly whilst running).

I feel this piece is really working for both veins of my thesis, which is great. Hopefully, I can keep that up.

Run the Dog

Been catching up on posting lately. This is one from my thesis. This is thesis 1.0. Well, really, more like 1.1. Those last three are sort of Thesis 2.0. All of them all have to do with running and slowly they are merging together (I hope).

This is part of my original plan to do a campaign for healthy living (Thesis 1.0), which has been simplified to a campaign for running (Thesis 1.1). This is pretty much done except for the type. It is just a place holder for the moment, until I have time to really go back and draw it by hand. I think the image is done and clear, though. I've decided that the campaign is just going to be filled with word/image-play and bad puns. Ideas I'm working on: Run with the Crowd and Run Your Mouth. Have any more for me? I'd love to hear them!

Machinelike

This piece is almost a companion to my perviously posted item. While the last piece showed a runner broken, this piece shows a runner at their strongest.

Running creates these times of elation and astonishment where one discovers their potential. These moments come after a creating a new personal record (PR) in a race, finishing a seemingly impossible workout, or covering more miles than you ever thought possible in a single run. These moments few and far between and are are nearly out of body. "Did I really do that?" often comes to my head. We often imagine ourselves weaker than we truly are and it really is uplifting and surprising when we see ourselves at our full potential.

On a side note: MacConnell is not the most common of names. It is close to several other names so it does not seem all to strange to most, but computers do not like it. They always are telling me I am not who I think I am and I am actually supposed to be Mr. John McDonald, Mr. John McConnell, or Mr. John Unknown. Occasionally, the spell-check get creative and throws something new at me. It was really was difficult for me to correct the spell-check the day that it confused me for a Mr. John Machinelike. I kind of like it. Anyway, story time is over. As always, tell me what you think!

Atrophy

As you may or may not know, I got a stress fracture in my foot from doing the New York City Marathon back on November 2, 2008. By doctors orders, I was on crutches for two and a half weeks, followed by no running for 7 weeks. During that time I did this drawing expressing the powerlessness and anxiety that I felt.

Fortunately, it has been 10 or so weeks since the marathon and I am once again free to run the streets! Luckily the road to recovery is in Central Park and filled with friends. :)

Keep Your Enemies Closer

This is from my thesis also. It has a couple different directions. Ask if you're curious.

the Labyrinth

A piece from my thesis.

Snap Crackle & Pop

This piece strangely seemed appropriate to post today. I actually created this over the summer when I was having problems with my knee. Whenever I take time off from running, the tendonitis seems to flare up as I begin to build up my miles. It's quite frustrating because the only thing that seems to help is lots of ice, Advil, and patience.

So, I'm definitely not a stranger to injury. I've injured/had problems with nearly every bone, muscle, tendon, and joint from the 5th metatarsal to the groin in my ten years of running. Today is a big day, actually. It is the first day I'm allowed to be off my crutches from my current stress fracture. Assuming today is pain-free, I only have four short weeks until I'm on the roads running again. Let's  just hope the knee doesn't act up again... 

The Bookshow

Opening Reception: Tuesday, November 25, 2008 from 6-8pm, Visual Arts Gallery.

In the Main Gallery, The Book Show is an exhibition of 20 books, curated by Marshall Arisman and Carl Titolo, including mine Living Dying. Living Dying is my final project from my first year in the MFA program of SVA. The narrative follows life from conception to death and shows the glories and defeats a full life brings. Copies of the book will be for sale at the event. Editions are limited so if you want one let me know and I'll reserve you one (two or three!).

Also opening in Project Room 3 is The Call of Cthulhu, curated by Viktor Koen. The show features a selection of narratives based upon the short story by H. P. Lovecraft. The shows are brought to you by the MFA Illustration as Visual Essay Department of the School of Visuals Arts.

The Visual Arts Gallery is located at 601 West 26 Street, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10001. 212.592.2145. Gallery hours are Monday - Saturday 10am - 6 pm.

For more information call the MFA Illustration as Visual Essay Department at 212.592.2210.

Thesis

Here is an image I have created for my Grad Thesis at SVA. I'm not entirely clear on what my thesis is right now, but it definitely has something to do with running. This piece is greatly inspired by poster design and might be the beginning of my work taking a more graphic twist. Let me know what you think.