Tag: live performance

Moving Forward

July 18, 2016 / Rick / 1 Comment

It only took a few hours of frustration to move this blog. That does not include the typo I made in the process, which locked me out of the old blog in nearly complete fashion. I took a few classes on relational databases when I was pursuing a computer science degree. Over a decade has passed since I had to practice database-related things, so this was a challenge. In the end, the knowledge was recalled and applied, and the move proceeded.

I now present “Rick’s Picture Corner” re-branded as “Richard Custer’s Blog.” I, of course, am Richard. This is my chosen artist moniker, but since we’re all on friendly terms, you can call me Rick. This blog is now more integrated into my artist website (www.artistrichardcuster.com), although the look and feel is much the same. I will soon be dumping the Rick’s Picture Corner domain as I start making more changes and updates to my main website.

Now with that bit of housekeeping out of the way, I’m pleased to announce that I will be exhibiting in my second show since graduating from the University of Houston. The show is going to be centered around hardcore, punk, and heavy metal music and features Houston-based artists. Here is the flyer:

The flyer (click to embiggen)

I found out about the show a few weeks ago. Given the short time left before the show, I placed a link to my work on the Facebook event page to ask to be considered for inclusion in future shows. The coordinator messaged me back the next day and told me he would find space for my work. It’s an understatement to say I was surprised, and was very happy when I found out that I would indeed be included in this upcoming show. I immediately went over installation concepts in my head. This will be my installation concept:

My installation concept (click to embiggen)

This is based on a wall space width of 4 feet. I will have to update this concept as I just found out that we will each have 5 feet, but it becomes a matter of moving the larger images out a little bit. As for the images themselves, the 2 larger images are finalized as shown. Each one will be a 12″ x 12″ print mounted on cradled wood. The smaller images, which have yet to be finalized, will be 4.75″ x 4.75″ and placed inside CD jewel cases.

Conceptually, the inverted cross is a reference to the adversarial nature of heavy metal music to religion and ideologies related to such, especially the Judeo-Christian belief systems that dominate the West. The live shots reflect the almost ritual aspect of the live performance and its importance in the genre. The jewel case “frames” for the smaller images signal the importance of the physical media format as CD sales outpace digital sales among heavy metal fans. The larger prints, as with the inverted cross, display the iconography often associated with heavy metal.

At this point, I will conclude this, the inaugural post of the re-branded blog. I have more updates coming as my activity in my chosen medium has picked up in the last month. To all of you, I thank you for your continued support. Feel free to comment below with any ideas or critiques you may have on what I’ve written this evening. I will see you all again soon. Until then, my faithful and not-so-faithful readers, I bid you goodnight.

Rock and Roll Work pt II

November 8, 2014 / Rick / 0 Comments

The call for entry for the Rock and Roll show at the Minneapolis Photo Center has been answered. I submitted a total of 6 images to this show. In the end I chose 4 performance images, 1 of a stage set detail, and another of the equipment sitting on stage, waiting to be picked up. This was by no means an easy decision, as I have hundreds of good quality images in my archive (from thousands taken) and I had to narrow down to around 5. I say around 5 because the entry fee allows for 5 images, with each additional costing US$10 per image.

These images were chosen for what they represent in the heavy metal genre on the side of the performer. King Diamond, with his theatrical stage show, brings forth as much fury and power as any other more aggressive band. The inverted cross represents the adversarial nature of relationship of heavy metal (and all of rock music) and religion. Depravis Nocturna of Spectral Manifest brings forth his own fury while maintaining a strict focus. As the most important instrument, the electric guitar is easily the most universal symbol of rock and roll. Even when it is not being played, the potential energy is barely contained within. Jeffrey Nothing epitomizes the horrific nature of some of the subject matter of heavy metal. There exists a certain mystique to the rock and roll artist in everything from the lifestyle to the live performance. Aaron Meyers, with the lights seeking him out, maintains and projects that mystique from the shadows as he plays his guitar during an extended solo.

I want to greatly thank Stevie, Brenda, and Justin for their help in curating this entry. Without them, I would have had a very difficult time focusing (and even beginning). And Stevie gets an extra thanks for bringing this call to my attention.

I am under no assumption that all of these will get in, but at least 1 would be nice.

So I guess the waiting begins. It’s time to go live my life while the juror makes his decision.

Rock and Roll Work

November 2, 2014 / Rick / 0 Comments

I know this rare burst of blog-writing productivity may come as a shock to some. Every once in a while I decide something is worth sharing.

I’m in the process of answering a call for entry to a show in Minneapolis that is all about rock and roll. In fact, that’s the title of the show, “Rock & Roll.” The subject can be interpretive. It can be pretty much anything to do with the music, although I think promotion shots may not be welcome so much. On that I would need to ask, since one of the images on the website (taken by the juror) is what appears to be a promotional shot. This looks like it’s going to be an interesting show, nonetheless.

Currently I’m curating my images for the show, and hopefully will have a collaborator on that soon. Right now it involves picking through about 6 years of work in order to find the best images. I have come across some that I honestly forgot I took. I look back on some of these and can remember how I felt when I was in those photo pits taking those shots. I want to share some of them with you. These may or may not reflect the final images that I submit (I can submit up to 5, with the option for more should I choose to pay more). These aren’t in any particular order and is only a small sample of what I am going through right now.

Click on each thumbnail to view the larger version.