This blog is moving!

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:44:53 -0700

After much trepidation, I’ve decided to move my blog over to a new site: www.nemogould.com. I still plan to post the same sort of stuff, just in a new place. This switch means it will be easier for me to post more often. Please take a moment to click your way over there and subscribe to my new RSS feed.
I’ve also embedded a preview of the feed on the page titled “blog” in the menu above.
Once the dust is settled I plan to take the old “news” page down, so be warned.

Two new pieces added to portfolio

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:50:13 -0700

I’m pleased to announce that I have final images and video of two new pieces to share. The sculpture above is titled “The Race”, and the one below is titled “Party of One”.
Click the titles or images of each piece to be taken to its corresponding page. Scroll down this page for video. These pieces can also be found on my “for sale” page.

More press from Art at the Dump - 25th anniversary exhibit

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:42:48 -0700

Not too long ago I posted a nice little review of the San Francisco dump’s Artist in Residency 25th anniversary exhibit. Well, another one just turned up in the S.F. weekly.
Pasted below is the full text, or click here to be taken to S.F. Weekly’s site.

Garbage gallery: At Recology, turning trash into treasure
By Jonathan Curiel
SF Weekly
August 18, 2010
   Sixty years ago, when he was the world's most prosperous and acclaimed visual artist, Pablo Picasso would walk the streets of his French neighborhood and go through garbage bins. He created scores of sculptures from objects that were discarded or otherwise neglected. Bull's Head (1943) was made from the seat and handlebars of an old bike; She-Goat (1950) from scrap metal, a wicker basket, ceramic jugs, and palm fronds; and Baboon and Young (1951) from two toy cars (formerly owned by Picasso's son), cup handles, a jug, and metal. Dumpster diving has a long and honorable tradition in the arts, but San Francisco's garbage company, Recology, has codified it in a way that is unparalleled — at least in the United States.
   Every four months, a new group of artists takes up "residence" at the company's main dump by Highway 101, close to Candlestick Park. There, sculptors, painters, collagists, photographers, filmmakers, and composers sift through what Recology euphemistically calls "the waste stream." It sounds worse than it is. The artists are limited to items, bags, and boxes city residents have brought to the site, and when it comes to paints, Recology inspectors have already ensured that donations meet safety standards. The everyday trash and recycling from San Francisco homes never ends up in the artists' work — but what does is often astounding.
   How about tufts of red human hair? Photographer Patrick Haywood found them at Recology in 2005, put the follicles in a white envelope, set them against a black background, and took a photo that turned the thrown-away hair into an object of mystery and beauty. Then there are the antlers sculptor Nemo Gould chanced upon in 2007. He put the appendages on parts of other found objects — an electric sander, projector, vacuum cleaner, meat grinder, motorcycle clutch lever, bandsaw, and garlic press – and created Impala, a shiny animal with wheels that would delight any kid or art aficionado.
These are two highlights of "Art of the Dump: Twenty Years of the Artist-in-Residency Program at Recology." Almost 100 artists have participated since the program began in 1990, more than half of whom are represented in the retrospective. Whether it's called "garbage art," "found object art," "reinvented waste," or another name, the work on display at Intersection 5M is worthy of high praise. Not only is the art wildly inventive (and often profound or funny), it also prompts visitors to reassess their own discards — and to look at the possibility of art in objects they consider valueless.
   "We want to encourage people of all ages to recycle and think about their consumptive habits, [and] artists have always used recycling materials, so it's a perfect mix," program director Deborah Munk says.
   Joshua Short transformed glass, wood, chain link, a hammer, a condenser motor, a small unit to cool rooms, and a Budweiser can into Emergency Ice Cold Beer — a working, plugged-in device that keeps the alcohol cold until the owner is ready to extract it by breaking the glass cover. It could even be said that Short is the Picasso of found art, since his CV includes even more impressive creations, such as a living-room-sized bomb shelter and a working grill with a "Disco Ball turntable."
   Emergency is Short's only art at Intersection 5M, but "Art of the Dump" is proof that good garbage artists are ubiquitous in the Bay Area. Inevitably, their work finds a home far beyond the walls of Recology. Consider the works of two other local artists with pieces at the show.
   In 2003, Packard Jennings displayed his satire of the U.S. government's terror alert system, a "Terrorist Alert Today" sign made from wood and paint he found at Recology. The alert levels included "Fictitious" and appeared on the sidewalks of San Francisco, Oakland, and Los Angeles, causing people to "do double takes and lots of rubbernecking," he recalls. After composer Nathaniel Stookey developed his Junkestra at Recology in 2007, he took the music and its instruments — bottles, mixing bowls, pans, oil drums, saws, bird cages, shopping carts, and other assorted finds — to Davies Symphony Hall, where it was performed by the San Francisco Symphony. Junkestra is now available at iTunes and Amazon.
   At Intersection 5M, the audio station is directly across from the filmmakers' station, which showcases another worthwhile music-based project, Banker White's I Am Your Appetite. Beyond the array of notable background sounds (including Spanish guitar and Philip Glass-like minimalism), Appetite spotlights a man at Civic Center who wears a bread outfit and befriends pigeons and people.
   While it may sound like so much artifice, "Art of the Dump" is no freakshow. These are projects by recognized artists (White's most recent work is the nationally acclaimed documentary Sierra Leone's Refugee All-Stars) who happen to work at San Francisco's central garbage and recycling center for four months. No other city in America has a similar program, Munk says. More than 100 people apply every year for the paid residencies, which require the artists to display their output at Recology.
   The work at Intersection 5M is a highlights show that confirms what Picasso once called "the gift of metamorphosis." He was referring to found objects that are reoriented into new ones. Reimagining is what artists do every day. This filtering is more recognizable, more naked to the eye, at "Art of the Dump," which transforms the exhibit itself into an experience that is full of pleasant surprises.

Visions of Paradise at Sonoma Valley Museum of Art

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 11:59:58 -0700

I’ll be showing my sculpture “Above it All” at the exhibit “Visions of Paradise”, opening this Friday at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art. This promises to be a very interesting show encompassing the work of many artists over many generations. Curator Virginia Breier continues to be a champion of art made with a sesitivity to craftmanship.
I’m afraid I will not be able to attend this opening but will post photos as they become available.
Sonoma Valley Museum of Art
551 Broadway | P.O. Box 322 | Sonoma, CA 95476
phone: 707.939.7862 | fax: 707.939.1080

Creatures of Industry at Device Gallery San Diego

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 11:50:58 -0700

I’m honored to announce an upcoming group show featuring myself, Greg Brotherton, Jeremy Mayer, and Guillermo Rigattieri at the illustrious Device Gallery in San Diego. This show will have a short run, September 3-5 and with the reception on Saturday September 4th from 7-10 p.m. Sadly I will not be able to attend this one, but will post photos as soon as I have them.
Device Gallery
1815-B Main Street, San Diego CA 92113
619-278-8455

Video from Artists talk at 5 Claude Lane

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 11:41:00 -0700

For those who missed the opening of “Machinations” at 5 Claude Lane there was an informal gallery talk with the artists (myself, Jeremy Mayer, and Benjamin Cowden) moderated by the awesome David Pescovitz from BoingBoing.net. If you missed that too, well here is a video of the discussion:

Artists talk at 5 Claude Lane Tuesday Aug 3rd

Sun, 1 Aug 2010 10:48:01 -0700

For those who missed the opening of “Machinations” at 5 Claude Lane there will be an informal Artists talk this Tuesday, August 3rd at 6pm (featuring myself, Jeremy Mayer, and Benjamin Cowden). We are proud to have David Pescovitz from BoingBoing.net acting as moderator to keep us on track.

From the gallery:
Join us in exploring the worlds of three distinctive artists! Interact, learn, and exchange ideas at 5 Claude Lane, leaving behind your traditional notions of lecture. Moderated by David Pescovitz, the evening will be an exploration into the creative drive fueling Machinations and it's sculptors.  Featuring the distinctive elements of re-use transformational sculpture while exploring human interaction and objectification. “Machinations,” is a cunning reference to the shifting and subjective definition of what constitutes art. A variety of kinetic based art is on display—ranging from whimsical creatures and life size scupltures crafted from twisted metal bits, to interactive machines.
...    5 Claude Ln., San Francisco, CA 94108 (415) 956-1310 tel 5claudelane.com

The Race

Sun, 1 Aug 2010 10:31:48 -0700

A while ago I found a nice big two page photo of a desert motorcycle race in a 1970’s Life Magazine. My immediate thought was to cut out a long strip of the image and wrap it around a motorized scroll to create the effect of the riders flying past the viewer.

A party of one

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:23:37 -0700

In 2007 while working as artist in residence at the San Francisco dump I made what would become one of my favorite pieces. Alcohologram (see below) sadly, was destroyed in transit to a client due to sloppy packing by a gallery and the kind of violence that only UPS can inflict on packages.

Praying Mantis comes home to Ripley’s Believe it or Not San Francisco

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:56:57 -0700

A while back I had the good fortune to sell my giant Praying Mantis sculpture to the Ripley’s Believe it or Not museum franchise. I crated and shipped the sculpture off to their headquarters in Florida and made peace with perhaps never seeing it again. Well, last night was the grand re-opening of the Ripley’s museum in San Francisco and wouldn’t you know it, my Mantis is back!

Machinations review at Visual Art Source

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:52:37 -0700

There is a nice little review of “Machinations” over at Visual Art Source.com by Cherie Louise Turner.

Photos from Machinations at 5 Claude Lane

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:12:26 -0700

Last week was the opening reception for “Machinations” a group show featuring myself, Jeremy Mayer, and Benjamin Cowden (shown below left to right) at 5 Claude Lane Gallery in San Francisco. I’ll attach a few photos of the event here, but be sure and visit my MobileMe gallery to see them all.
If you missed the opening we will be having an informal artists talk at the gallery Tuesday August 3rd at 6 pm.

Photos and Press from Art at the Dump Anniversary show

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:01:37 -0700

Last week the San Francisco Dump’s artist in residence program celebrated its 20th anniversary with a big retrospective exhibition. It was a great looking show, and the house was packed with eager viewers. Below is a slideshow of the event. Scroll down for a write up that appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle the following day. Naturally I’m pleased with their choice of image, thats my Impala piece from when I was in residence there in 2007.

Group show in S.F. July 22

Fri, 9 Jul 2010 08:36:45 -0700

I’m very pleased to announce a three person show opening at 5 Claude Lane Gallery in San Francisco on Thursday July 22 from 6-9 pm. I’ll be showing along side my good friends and fellow Applied Kinetic Arts members, Jeremy Mayer and Benjamin Cowden. I will have my new pieces “Albert” and “Drill Baby Drill” on display along with a few old favorites.
I’ve made a Facebook Event if you’d like to RSVP.
There will also be an artists talk at the gallery on Tuesday August 3rd at 6pm.

Three new pieces added to portfolio

Fri, 9 Jul 2010 08:16:31 -0700

I realize that I just posted the piece above as “in process”, but I’m pleased to say it is now finished and properly documented. The title is “Albert”, named after the early monkeys used in the American Space Program.
Also posted is “Drill Baby Drill”, my Narwal inspired sculpture. As well as another entry into my ever growing Octopus family: “Deep Blue”.
Click the titles or images of each piece to be taken to its corresponding page. Scroll down this page for video.

Space Monkey in process

Mon, 5 Jul 2010 13:38:31 -0700

I’m pleased to announce another new piece on the way. This one will commemorate the first monkey in space: Albert II. The poor bugger never made it back to earth alive and he deserves a memorial.
This piece will be the latest entry in my series of boxes. Similar to the previous “Drill Baby Drill” piece, this one is viewed through a brass portal window.

Small Commissions

Mon, 5 Jul 2010 13:29:31 -0700

I recently did a couple of small commissions for some offices of subsidiary branches of the the San Francisco Dump (Recology). I thought I would share the results here. The Octopus piece shown above (“Deep Blue”) is still currently unclaimed, so if you are interested in it please contact me. The piece below (“Sturgeon General”) has found a home and is no longer available.

Photos from solo installation at 555 12th street Oakland

Mon, 5 Jul 2010 13:22:16 -0700

A few weeks back I had a solo installation at the Oakland Museum of California’s off site venue: 555 12th Street. Well, I’ve finally gotten around to putting up a photo gallery. Click here to see it.

20 year anniversary exhibit from S.F. Dump Artist in Residence Program

Mon, 5 Jul 2010 13:12:28 -0700

I’ve posted before about the San Francisco Dump Artist in Residency Program. One of my favorite things about the San Francisco Bay area in fact. Well, this illustrious program is now 20 years old, and to celebrate they are putting on a big retrospective exhibition. The reception will be Wednesday July 21st from 6-8 pm. The show will run July 21 to September 25 and is free to the public. As if this all weren’t enough to entice you, they have also produced a book including each artist from all the years of the programs existence, for sale at the reception.
Location: Intersection 5M, 925 Mission Street @ 5th St. San Francisco CA 94103
This event has also been added to my Calendar.
See below for the full press release.

Quicksilver Scooter featured at Hell for Leather

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 12:47:10 -0700

It’s been a while since I had any news pertaining to my Quicksilver scooter project (Which happens to currently be on display at 555 12th St. in Oakland CA). I made the thing a few years back as an entry into the world of motorcycles. Since then I have maintained a quiet obsession with custom two wheeled rides, the stranger the better. My favorite daily source for this stuff has been the blog Hell for Leather. You can imagine my joy then, when Grant and Wes from HFL asked if they could come have a look at my scooter while they were in town for the TTXGP race at Infineon Raceway a few weeks back. I was a little nervous about what they would think about such a humble little bike next to the high performance machines they are used to reviewing. None the less they seemed to perfectly understand the intersection of art and vehicle that I was shooting for, and were kind in their impressions (can’t really say the same for some of their readers remarks however). Check out what they had to say here.
(Photos Grant Ray)

Arac-No-Vac

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 12:32:43 -0700

I recently moved into what I can only describe as my “Dream Home”. The experience has been pretty terrific. The place has exceeded all hopes etc. There has been but one snag. Big, scary, sub-tarantula spiders occasionally appearing from nowhere. They’re not timid either, casually cruising along the bedroom wall as if they owned the place. They are big enough that killing them can be both messy and a little traumatic. I don’t relish the taking of life, especially when it makes an audible “pop” as it expels its innards into a tissue. This ritual became so distasteful to me that I set aside some time to come up with a more humane and clinical solution.
I remember once seeing a suction device for catching bugs, I believe over on the Instructables website, though I couldn’t find it when I looked again. Years ago I found a big ‘ol plastic lab syringe for measuring fluids. A few hours of machining aluminum and a vague memory of this device and I was able to come up with the “Arac-No-Vac”. Creep up close to your prey with the narrow end, yank back on the plunger and voila! The critter isn’t harmed, and can then be plunged right back out into the yard.
I am once again King in my castle.

Interview for Makezine

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 12:24:52 -0700

As some of you may know, I helped found a collective of artists working in a similar vein to myself called Applied Kinetic Arts. The people at Make liked our display at Maker Faire this year and decided to to interviews with us. Here is mine, and here is Jeremy Mayer’s. More to come...

Narwal in process

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 14:00:14 -0700

I’ve long harbored a fascination for sea creatures, but it seems I give unfair preference to Cephalopods. I’m trying to set things right with my latest homage to critters of the deep. This one is a Narwal, one of those examples of nature being stranger than science fiction. Mine gets its body from a hair clipper augmented with instrument tuning keys, vacuum cleaner parts and a cork screw. The video below shows some of the mechanical work that goes on behind the scenes to activate the whole environment. What is not yet shown is the twisting cork screw and much of the lighting effects I have yet to work out. Im also not entirely convinced that I’ll stick with the volcano background image though I do kinda like it.

Solo installation this Thursday

Mon, 24 May 2010 15:19:35 -0700

I just thought I would re-post the fact that I have a solo installation opening this Thursday from 5-7 pm at 555 12th Street in Oakland, CA. Below are some images of the set up process.
Many thanks to the fine folks in the art handling department at the Oakland Museum seen here toiling on my behalf. See the full exhibition announcement flyer at the bottom of this page.

Photos from Maker Faire 2010

Mon, 24 May 2010 14:50:16 -0700

Last weekend was Maker Faire 2010. My fourth year, and the third year for our collective “Applied Kinetic Arts”. This year we had work by Myself, Benjamin Cowden, Christopher Palmer, Mark Galt, Alan Rorie, Jonathan Foote, Reuben Margolin and Jeremy Mayer. The event was crowded as ever, and full of great projects and exhibits. Below are a few images. You can find more here.