Damien James' photostream  

About Damien James? What about him? About me? Will this really give you any insight about me, clue you in as to whether or not i am one particular person (are any of us one person?) or a conglomerate of others, a small piece of the whole, maybe one strand of individual color amidst millions of other colors all calibrated to cancel each other out? Am i an artist or a ventriloquist or someone who just likes to party? Who are we? Are we connected? Are there other Damien James’ out there as of yet unaccounted for? Do we complete some larger picture, some ultimate self, some singular person? Are there more me’s? And are there more me's with different names, different genders, darker or lighter reflections slighly skewed or warped by environment, history, culture?

i think there might be many more.

About Damien James The Artist:

(First of all, just remember : You reflect what you see.)

i like to draw and collage and use an X-Acto and write things down that may or may not make any sense to anyone, myself included. i've been collaborating with others, calling myself an artist, and feeling pretty good about it all. Art makes me happy, and often unhappy, but i’ve been fortunate enough to figure out why it makes me unhappy, and then fix the problem, which eventually leads to happiness of one kind or another, which is all i really want. Most of it comes from my two daughters and my paramour. They are part of the base for the place in me that's able to make art.

About Damien James The Ventriloquist:

Damien James has been performing professionally for 12 years (since the age of 12). His interest in magic started when he was six after his mother bought him a simple Magic Book. Later that same year, Damien received a Tommy Talker ( pull-string dummy) from the Sears Christmas catalogue... a present his parents (we mean Santa Claus) regret to this day! Damien is formally trained in Ventriloquism, Magic and Special Effects Makeup and has performed throughout Canada. Damien James currently resides in Vancouver but travels extensively performing his award-winning act. Recently, Damien began training under Academy Award Winning Special Effects Makeup Artist, Dick Smith. What sets Damien James apart from others is that he uses movie technology and animatronics to bring his puppets to life. Damien creates all of his own new puppets for his show and also custom designs puppets for television shows and other performers. He has the ability to create professional puppets that closely resemble celebrities or any other people. He has won several major awards for his excellence in performance and is a popular, repeat comedy act with corporations, associations, and social events.

“I would recommend him to any group looking for a good, clean night of hilarity!"
-Canadian Natural Resources Limited?! (Question mark and exclamation
point mine.)

And you need to make sure you see the QuickTime Video on his/my website. It is incredible.

About Dameon James The Weed Guy:

yes yes wazzzup is this not one sweet ride?

50 cent!
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Some places i have or will be seen:

10/2011 : "Coyote" at the Flat Iron Building - Chicago, IL
07/2011 : Solo show at Human Thread Gallery - Chicago, IL
02/2011 : Heartland Alliance Art of Human Rights - Gruen Gallery - Chicago, IL

10/2010 : Morning Glory Studios "Anamnesis" - Chicago, IL
10/2010 : Deadline Projects "Neither Here Nor There" - Happy Dog Gallery - Chicago, IL
06/2010 : Morning Glory Studios - Chicago, IL
04/2010 : NFO XPO / Version 10 @ Co-Prosperity Sphere - Chicago, IL
04/2010 : Vegan Gallery - Chicago, IL
02/2010 : The Art of Human Rights - River East Art Center - Chicago, IL
2010 : The Sketchbook Project Library : Brooklyn, NY
2010 : "The American Dream" - Schaller + Jaquish Projects - NYC, NY (online)

10/2009 : Around the Coyote fall festival - Wicker Park - Chicago, IL
10/2009 : Deadline Projects "Hands On" - Happy Dog Gallery - Chicago, IL
07/2009 : "The American Dream" - Schaller + Jaquish Projects - NYC, NY (online)
07/2009 : Frasca Memorial Works on Paper - Around the Coyote Gallery - Chicago, IL
07/2009 : Deadline Projects - Aldo Castillo Gallery - Chicago, IL
07/2009 : Barbara & Barbara Gallery - Chicago, IL
06/2009 : Vegan Gallery - Chicago, IL
06/2009 : smART Show - Flat Iron Building - Chicago, IL
05/2009 : Around the Coyote spring festival - West Town - Chicago, IL
05/2009 : National Self-Portrait Exhibit - 33 Collective Gallery Online
04/2009 : Vegan Gallery - Chicago, IL
04/2009 : Deadline Projects - Happy Dog Gallery - Chicago, IL
03/2009 : The Sketchbook Project : Brooklyn, D.C., Atlanta, Philadelphia, Boston, etc.

10/2008 : Chicago Art Collectives Show @ Parts & Labor - Chicago, IL
10/2008 : Around the Coyote fall festival - Plumbers Hall - Chicago, IL
08/2008 : The Unicorn Cafe - Evanston, IL
06/2008 : National Self-Portrait Exhibit - 33 Collective Gallery Online
06/2008 : Deadline Projects - Happy Dog Gallery - Chicago, IL
06/2008 : Infidel Group Solstice show - Heart of Gold - Chicago, IL
05/2008 : Around the Coyote spring festival - Riverwalk Gallery - Chicago, IL
04/2008 : Deadline Projects - Happy Dog Gallery - Chicago, IL
03/2008 : Around the Coyote Select - Flat Iron Building - Chicago, IL

10/2007 : Around the Coyote fall festival - Preferred Lofts - Chicago, IL
07/2007 : National Self-Portrait Exhibit - 33 Collective Gallery Online
07/2007 : National Self-Portrait Exhibit - 33 Collective Gallery - Chicago, IL
02/2007 : Around the Coyote winter festival - Preferred Lofts - Chicago, IL

12/2006 : Multiples & Miniatures - Around the Coyote Gallery - Chicago, IL
10/2006 : Chicago Art & Antique Market - Plumbers Hall - Chicago, IL
09/2006 : Around the Coyote fall festival - Preferred Lofts - Chicago, IL
07/2006 : Expansion of You Are Beautiful mural on State Street - Chicago, IL
04/2006 : T Gallery - Seattle, WA
02/2006 : Around the Coyote winter festival - Flat Iron Building - Chicago, IL

09/2005 : Around the Coyote fall festival - Lubinski Building - Chicago, IL

Corporate collections, because that seems important:
Brainforest, Chicago, IL

As a talking head:
EMPAC in Troy, New York, with Ryan and Trevor Oakes and Michael Benson
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As quote unquote writer:

art21.org:
Uncertain Spectator @ EMPAC
A brief bio...
Connecting - Part 1: Art as transportation
Connecting - Part 2: Usefull junk
Connecting - Part 3: Ceci n’est pas une Twinkie
Connecting - Part 4: All spin of one kind or another
Connecting - Part 5: Effortless
Connecting - Part 6: Postscript and postmortem

The Chicago Reader:
Cover story on Ryan & Trevor Oakes

Bad At Sports:
Interview with Matt Woodward & Linda Warren
Lora Fosberg @ Linda Warren Gallery
Half the sky, all your attention - Part 1
Half the sky, all your attention - Part 2
The last thing I have to say about CHF, dammit.
Beatrice Fisher in memoriam
Chicago Humanities Festival half way...
The Yes Men in Chicago
Chicago Humanities Festival Preview
(Said some swell things.)

Saatchi Gallery Online:
Around the Coyote
Deadline Projects

New City:
Riva Lehrer @ Printworks
Artflopolis wrap-up
Lori Nix @ Catherine Edelman Gallery
"Finished" @ Linda Warren Gallery
The Yes Men @ Glass Curtain/Columbia
Howard Finster @ The Cultural Center
Jason Middlebrook @ Monique Meloche
The Object of Nostalgia @ Columbia's A+D Gallery
Lauren Gregory @ Swimming Pool Project Space
Top 5 Films
Review of Ricky Jay @ The Royal George
Ricky Jay @ The Royal George
Beatrice Fisher @ Woman Made
Middleground @ Lloyd Dobler
Open letter to an art thief, by, um, me.
Heartland Visions @ Intuit
Lucia Fabio and EC Brown @ mini dutch
The Tract House @ Three Walls
Beautiful Beasts @ Almquist Gallery
Text Off the Page @ Sullivan Galleries
Liza Berkoff & Liliana Porter @ Carrie Secrist Gallery
Pictures of Nothing @ Lloyd Dobler Gallery
Selina Trepp @ Old Gold
The Art of Democracy @ Loyola University Museum of Art
Riva Lehrer @ Printworks
Portrait of the Curator : Allegoric
Portrait of the Artist : Pamela Johnson
Amanda Browder @ Green Lantern
Michael McKean @ Three Walls
Jeff Abell @ Vespine Gallery
Busted Amp @ Columbia's A+D Gallery
David Hockney & Lawrence Weschler @ MCA

McSweeney's:
www.mcsweeneys.net/links/lists/march.html
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Some press:

Sept 2006 - Lumino Magazine
www.luminomagazine.com/mw/content/view/1424/4

Dec 2006 - centerstagechicago.com

Feb 2007 - Crains Chicago Business
chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/mag/article.pl?article_id=27229

May 2007 - "Thirsty Artist" documentary at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BqNxbIV9Iw&feature=related

December 2007 - Chicago Tribune Magazine
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Some very good links for you to link to if you're feeling like, well, linking: (And don't stop after the links, either.)

www.aroundthecoyote.org/ Good people doing good things. They need your support.
33collective.com/ In the Zhou Brothers Complex. A great Chicago urban art space.
www.mcsweeneys.net/ An indie publishing house that is actually changing the world.
www.wholphindvd.com/index.php Child of McSweeney's, films you need to see. Now.
www.shawnstucky.com/ Chicago print-maker who is going many places very quickly.
www.slideshowplayers.com/ If they come to your town, see them. Don't let me down.
www.thejeffreylewissite.com/ If not the new Dylan, he's definitely the new something.
www.you-are-beautiful.com/ Saying simply what's important because someone has to.
fireworksinthedaytime.com/ Misha Maynericks site of unity, coincidence and beauty.
www.chrissilva.com/ True artist. Zen master. Good human. Fortunately, my friend.
www.laurenfeece.com/ The yogic earth-mother of all young Chicago female artists.
www.sfettingis.com/ It's possible that Sandra is reinventing Mod. Get it while you can.
www.nikkihollander.com/ Strangely retro paintings that make me happy to be alive.
www.scottdavidjohnson.inartlab.com/index.html Sophisticated and perfect work.
gabrielmejia.com/index.html Gabe is a prince of a man. He makes good art too.
secretagentmartens.com/ Ross is one of those creative types who does it all, & well.
www.flickr.com/people/69332974@N00/ Alyse has a great eye. Hope it sees you.
www.ericmecum.com/ Erics paintings look better than life. And life looks beautiful.
www.hhmosaics.com/ i really didn't like contemporary mosiacs until i saw these.
www.flickr.com/photos/webcite/ The kind of person you like to like your work.
www.gwynnejohnson.com/ Gwynne makes people happy, and we all need happy.
lizaberkoffphotography.com/ Her love bomb is one of my favorites. Go find it.
www.dmoberto.com/ Darrens talent is literally shocking to me. i'm not kidding.
www.mjt.org/ The heart of soul in Los Angeles. You should go there immediately.
www.fourfingerfive.com/ Some good friends of mine making music worth your time.
www.dannypowell.net Danny may be the hardest working artist in show business.
www.deadlineprojects.com/ A Chicago artist collective that may save the world.
www.hamonthebone.com/ Brent Houston has much to say. i think we should listen.
www.businessjones.com/ Fine artist Russ White completely validates the south.
www.flickr.com/photos/aaronwooten/ Painter Aaron Wooten is indeed quite a fellow.
www.flickr.com/photos/jeremibialowas/ He is a master of the expressively blurry line.
www.flickr.com/photos/28657610@N00/ Dark, lush, Hitchcockian photos by Ania.
www.kimfrieders.com/ The sweetest abstract painter i've met in at least 31 years.
www.urbanspectacles.com Mad genius Scott Urban's work will make you weep.
www.oakesoakes.com/ Ryan & Trevor are literally helping to change the way we see.
www.hockneypictures.com/ He's re-writing art history. Makes nice paintings too.

Rest in peace, Mr. Scanlon - www.solvesolvesolve.com/

9/6/08 : Banned from a flickr group called "The Biggest Group Eva." Probably a good thing, right?

9/28/08 : Finally FINALLY realized i could use my tags on Flickr as another way of posting my thoughts. What was i waiting for? It's like having a weblog. Which is what they're called. In fact, keep reading below. Go on. Find out a bit more about me in the "A bit more about you..." section!