animation by BLU

ETERNIA: Get Caught Up Mixed by DJ LAW

E dropped me an email before the holidays with her latest mix-joint. I synched it to my ipod and proceeded to catch my flight home. If you haven't heard of this Toronto-based rapper ETERNIA, then you have to feed your head with a tasty treat as she drops another mix tape "Get Caught Up" mixed by DJ LAW containing some gems from the past and present. A mondomedeusah music recommended selection for your head-piece.

click here to listen on demand via mondomedeusah music // download this mix

ETERNIA 'Get Caught Up' Mixed By DJ LAW

Re-Introducing // produced by Ant B aka Mr Cincinnati
Dynomite (2005)
Foul Child (2009) // produced by Ant B aka Mr Cincinnati
Stuck Up (2000) // produced by Apathy
Spring Fever (2003) feat DJ Killajewel // produced by Simahlak
Real Frequency (2003) // produced by Jake One
God's Story (2004) // produced by Mercilless
Perfection feat Promise & Grimace Love (2004) // produced by Amir the Terrorist
Day in the Life feat Tona & Maestro Fresh Wes (2008) // produced by MoSS
Victorious feat G.Knight (2004) // produced by Mercilless
Destiny (2007) // produced by Apathy
On and On (2007) // produced by Mez
Balance (2004) // produced by Kenny "Bounce" Neal Jr.
Everything (2004) // produced by 9th Wonder
Herstory (2005)
Let's Go (outro) // produced by Ant B aka Mr Cincinnati

www.myspace.com/eternia

Chile Estyle

December 10, 2009 until December 23, 2009 // Carmichael Gallery of Contemporary Art // W. Hollywood, CA // Curated by Pablo Aravena

For the first time in North America, Chile Estyle will showcase work from a comprehensive selection of the top tier of Chile’s contemporary urban muralists.

From the end of the Pinochet dictatorship in the early 90’s until now, Chilean street art has literally exploded into a highly developed style, bearing strong influences from Mexican muralism, 60s – 70s political mural brigades, wildstyle graffiti and Brazilian graffiti and pixação (a unique stylistic cross-pollination with street art from Sao Paulo in the mid-90s). These influences, paired with Chile’s distinct history of propaganda art and muralism dating from the 40s, give rise to the myriad of strongly developed personal visual languages and artistic self-expression seen on the streets of Santiago, Valparaiso and other cities in Chile.

The Chile Estyle featured artists, Cekis, Inti, Horate, La Robot de Madera and the duos Aislap and Agotok, are representative of the first and second generation of artists that started working on the streets in the Post-Pinochet era. The exhibition will consist of new works on canvas as well as site-specific individual and group mural installations in the gallery.

Cekis, one of Latin America’s pioneering figures in graffiti and a seminal voice in Chile’s graffiti scene takes his inspirations from Latin American muralism and themes. His skill for figuration calls to mind the work of artists such as Botero and Diego Rivera, with a unique dimension added by his potent cultural interchange with Brazilian artists in the mid 90s. Murals by Cekis can be found in Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Valparaiso, Seville, Zurich and Hamburg, but it wasn't until he established himself in New York in 2004 that his work began to transform in concept, size and medium. It was here that he re-discovered his Latin American heritage and its graphic roots, allowing his themes to become more social and less personal. To date, he has had exhibitions at The Rotunda Gallery, Ad Hoc Art and The Aurora in New York and has participated in mural projects in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Baltimore.

Horate, another old school street artist with a background in stencils and graffiti now brings us a highly developed painterly style which explores themes of nature, animals and abstractions. While he works mainly in Santiago and Valparaiso, Horate for this show draws upon his experiences as a national park attendant in the famous Torres del Paine national park, creating a rich, Patagonia-inspired body of work.

Inti, hailing from Viña del Mar and working mainly in Valparaiso, works with a unique spectral albino iconography, which he combines with symbols and icons from pre-Colombian cultures to create sophisticated, near-abstract figurative work. He has exhibited and worked in Chile, Norway, Sweden and France.

La Robot de Madera from Quillota is a member of the second wave of artists to paint on the streets of Chile in the contemporary style. He has a distinctly personal figurative language, painting only human forms with text and abstract backgrounds reminiscent of the work of Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele and the political mural group Brigada Ramona Parra. He works mainly in Valparaiso and other towns in the V region of Chile.


Aislap are an internationally recognized duo from Santa Rosa in Santiago. This neighborhood has produced many of today’s leading Chilean street and graffiti artists. Aislap’s murals and canvas work are enhanced by their background in traditional graffiti; they have been present on the streets of Santiago since 1996. Known for colorful work which contrasts strong characters with symmetrical abstractions, they have been featured internationally in books and magazines and most recently participated in the TAG exhibition at the Grand Palais in Paris.

Agotok are a self-taught duo inspired by graffiti and the mural work of the Brigada Ramona Parra. Like Aislap, this collective comes from Santa Rosa. By incorporating Chilean folk and popular cultures with social and political themes, they create artwork firmly rooted in common people and their everyday lives.

This important exhibition showcases a very Chilean visual fabric that will dazzle and offer an insight into a powerhouse of South American street art. The selection is based on strong individual styles which, when grouped together, offer a perspective of the themes, styles and cultural flavor present in the contemporary Chilean street art scene.

Pablo Aravena: Curator
Chile Estyle exhibition.

www.carmichaelgallery.com

Scope Miami Art Show 2009

Carmichael Gallery of Contemporary Art Invites you to meet at Scope Miami 2009 Booth # 127. Featuring works by: Simon Birch, Boxi, Case, Hush, Mark Jenkins, Nunca, Sixeart and daily site specific installations by Aakash Nihalani. Also limited edition prints available from The London Police and Ellis G.


VIP Preview Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at 11h00 until 18h00 // Please RSVP to: rsvp@ carmichaelgallery.com // 2136 NW 1st Ave. Miami, FL 33127

Open Daily December 3-5, 2009: 11h00 until 19h00

December 6, 2009: 11h00 until 18h00

Aakash Nihalani

Aakash Nihalani's artwork consists mainly of isometric rectangles and squares. He selectively places these graphics within his work and on the streets of New York to highlight the unexpected contours and elegant geometry of his chosen surface. Outdoors, all execution of a piece is done on site with little to no planning. “We all need the opportunity to see the city more playfully,” he says, “as a world dominated by the interplay of very basic color and shape. I try to create a new space within the existing space of our everyday world for people to enter freely, and unexpectedly disconnect' from their reality. People need to understand that how it is isn't how it has to be. My work is created in reaction to what we readily encounter in our lives, sidewalks and doorways, buildings and bricks. I'm just connecting the dots differently to make my own picture.”

Hush

Hush's work is a sensory assault of shape, color, and character. With a technique that involves building up and tearing down layers of paint and images as he works, he expose the conflicts between power and decay and innocence and sexuality. His content, which synthesizes anime, pop-infused imagery, graffiti, and graphic design, offers a unique perspective of Eastern and Western culture.
Hush trained as a graphic designer and illustrator at Newcastle School of Art and Design. He currently lives and works in Newcastle.

Simon Birch

Simon Birch's dramatic large-scale oil portraits are breathtaking in their scale and sophistication. Combining a refined treatment of color and astute awareness of textural rhythms, the artist's deeply personal style fuses striking figuration with abstract deconstruction. His ability to identify, shape, amplify and reduce raw physical and internal passion enhances his portrayal of fluid human motion and fragmented emotional states.
Born in Brighton in 1969, Birch's entry into the formal art world was singular. With no conventional training, he left the UK for Hong Kong in the mid-nineties, where he made his living as a construction worker in order to fully pursue his artistic goals and finance his early exhibitions. He has since established himself as one of Asia's most collectable emerging artists.

Sixart

Sixeart's mixture of psychedelic abstraction and comic book inspired figuration has become an essential element of the urban fabric in his hometown, Barcelona. His work has a childlike innocence that is combined with an almost hallucinogenic sense of second sight. Sixeart's highly personal visual language features a host of recurring figures and animals, which he applies to canvas and sculpture with equal flair. The dreamlike quality of his work shows an affinity with Surrealist artists, particularly Joan Miró, another native of Barcelona.

Boxi

Boxi is drawn to the incongruous narrative in figuration. A dark disillusioned romanticism pervades throughout his work, in which material boundaries are dissolved and perceptions are altered. He articulates confrontational themes such as paranoia, isolation, disappointment, love and grief through hand cut, multi-layered stencils, often life-sized, which offer a comforting solidity within his abstract landscapes.

Born in Kent in 1974, the artist completed his studies at the London St. Martins School of Art with a BA Fine Arts degree in Painting in 1996. He has lived and worked in Berlin since 1999.

Mark Jenkins

Mark Jenkins is an internationally acclaimed American artist known for the mixed media sculptures and street installations he places throughout urban and environmental settings, sometimes with, but often without, permission. Jenkins' process involves dry casting everything from fire hydrants and toy ducks to baby dolls and human “dummies” with clear box sealing tape, often dressing the latter to appear scarily life-like. Simultaneously camouflaging into their surroundings and eliciting spectacular amounts of attention from passersby, these sculptures have been observed lounging atop billboards, slumped over cafeteria tables, panhandling in the streets, emanating from street poles, drowning in bodies of water, clinging to statues, overturning street signs and more in locations such as Belgrade, Vienna, Washington D.C., London, Barcelona, New York, Moscow and Seoul.

Nunca

Sao Paulo based artist Nunca has developed a unique pictorial form of communication, employing bold colors and lines to evoke the ancient traditions of the Brazilian people. His works reflect what he sees as the inner character of the Brazilian people, fighting for survival in the modern metropolis, and create a timeless dialogue between ancient and modern. The faces Nunca depicts are based on members of the public whom he sees while walking through the city. Although they are created with acrylic or spray paint, they often have the look of ancient woodcuts or etchings.

case

Andreas von Chrzanowski (aka case) combines technical expertise with innovation and irony to investigate the parallels that exist between the conflicting states of convention and controversy. Widely recognized as one of the best photorealistic spray paint artists in the world, he manipulates beauty in a dark, thrilling and provocative manner. His groundbreaking technique has set new standards and established a global collector base and fan network.
Born in Germany in 1979, von Chrzanowski studied Art Restoration and Conservation at Erfurt University of Applied Sciences. He currently lives and works in Frankfurt.

www.carmichaelgallery.com

www.scope-art.com

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Parallel Realities: Aishan Yu's First Solo Show in the UK

November 26, 2009 until December 18, 2009 // Peifen Fine Art // London, UK

Peifen Fine Art in collaboration with Piero Passet Gallery is pleased to present Parallel Realities, marking Aishan Yu's first solo show in UK. Yu's recent paintings intuitively explore her personal interest in photographic realism and non-representational textures. She explores the field of portraiture through this combination to express the inner emotions of modern day humanity. Chromatically muted but melancholically seductive, her paint touches wood only to reluctantly register some ghostly presence, like that of the white chemise in Revati (2009) which functions somewhat as the hollowed-out shell of an unseen, unidentifiable being. Revati incidentally is also the name of a princess in Hindu mythology whose adventures with her King-father to the realm of Lord Brahma the Creator - got her caught in a time dilation fix where time runs differently on parallel planes of existence. One minute in Heaven may be one year on Earth. No one really knows whether the woman in the picture is here or elsewhere, despite being locatable by her titular placement at the window or in the bathroom.

In one set of works, Yu's diminutive but precisely executed oil-on-board paintings feature a solitary female figure in some state of spiritual repose or quiet contemplation. Although by no means an unconventional subject matter, she has desired to imbue them with an emptiness that is simultaneously pregnant with an affective undertow.

Her Beck Forest series of paintings are also similarly evocative of this inhibition or introversion. A bald figure in an off-white trench coat set within a forest-scape is turned away from the gaze of the viewer and therefore of indeterminate sex and indiscernible expression. Such is the reticence that the figure could almost blend into the dense foliage and shadows. Does Yu mean for Nature to overcome Man? Or are we at the scene of a very human reverie or fairytale fantasy? These haunting oneiric images, pictures also deceptively fitting for a story book illustration, show the misty and moody influence of Tarkovsky's The Mirror (1975), Nostalghia (1983) and Stalker (1979). Tarkovsky's predilection is for discontinuous and non-chronological structures, where (fictionalised) memories enmesh with factual footage, but in Yu's paintings time appears suspended, held in some precarious balance between the different realms.

Aishan Yu was born and raised in Sichuan, southwest of China and currently lives and works in London. She holds an MFA from the Slade School of Art in London and a BA from Sichuan Academy of Fine Art in China. Her work has been shown in numerous group exhibitions throughout China and UK. She has been awarded several prizes, including FBA Emerging Artist Prize (2009), The Stations of the Cross commission St Andrew Church (2008) and the Chinese New Generation Artist Award (2004).

www.peifenfineart.com

Above: Interview from The Run Up

Often found hanging from power lines or melding with urban architecture, Above's site specific stencils, paintings, and installations push past the traditional expectations of graffiti. The evolution of his name from text to a symbol inspired him to explore less conventional media, leading to his trademark wooden mobiles. Whether subtle or massive, his pieces retain an innate sense of beauty through their dialogue with the surrounding environment. Refusing to show his work in galleries, Above has instead "toured" through Europe and North and South America to get his work up.



www.goabove.com

A Tribute to Tim Burton: A benefit for the film department at the Museum of Modern Art

Photos from last Tuesday by Chance Yeh / Patrick McMullan

Tim Burton

Picasso granddaughter Diana Picasso and MoMA curator Klaus Biesenbach

Twilight star Ashley Greene

Johnny Depp and Patti Smith

Designer Nanette Lepore

Actress Rose Byrne

David Choe Interview from "Dithers"

SATURN NEVER SLEEPS

Three evenings of Saturn Never Sleeps at the Gansevoort South Beach Hotel.
Live laptop performances by King Britt and Rucyl. Dubbed out vocals. Tiction, Glitch DS for Nintendo, and Monome, with ambient video backdrop.

In the lobby of the Gansevoort South Beach Hotel // 2377 Collins Avenue Miami Beach //
December 3, 2009 - December 5, 2009 // 19h00 to 21h00 each evening.

Live beats by RAS G, AFTA 1 // Vocaltronics by RUCYL // electronics by KING BRITT //
Live generative visuals by PETER KIRN // bass: ANTHONY TIDD // keyboard: DAMON BENNETT //
percussion: CARLOS IZAGUIRRE // Thursday December 10, 2009 // Painted Bride Arts Center
230 Vine St Philadelphia // doors @ 19h00 show @ 20h00

Saturn Never Sleeps New York monthly in Brooklyn.

www.saturnneversleeps.com

The Krink MINI

www.krink.com

Canadian Photographer/Artist Raphael Mazzucco

You've seen his photographic and fine art work in many ads such as Ralph Lauren, Victoria Secret, Guess, L'Oreal and French + Italian Vogue, just to name a few. Raphael's work is deep with feeling and emotion. You can view more great works from Canadian-born Raphael Mazzucco on his official site.



www.miconworldwide.com

Dan Witz: a sneak peek at some of his work since arriving in LA. (Dan Witz 'Dark Doings' opening reception tonight)

A sneek peek from the gallery in preparation for Dan Witz's 'Dark Doings' opening reception tonight at Carmichael Gallery.

Opening reception tonight: 19h00 until 22h00. The show runs until December 3, 2009. Carmichael Gallery: 1257 N. La Brea Ave / West Hollywood CA 90038

related posts:

http://www.mondomedeusah.net/mondomedeusah/2009/10/dan-witz-dark-doings-opening-reception-11509.html

Jago & Will Barras Interview from "The Run UP"

Wax Poetics and Adrian Younge present the making of the "Black Dynamite" score

Dâm Funk - Interview

Susan Hobbs Gallery (Toronto): Kevin Yates - New Cast Bronze Sculptures

October 31, 2009 until December 12, 2009 // Susan Hobbs Gallery // Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Kevin Yates‚ solo exhibition at Susan Hobbs in Toronto, features a selection of new cast bronze sculptures of vernacular architecture in miniature. Along the gallery walls, weathered clapboard dwellings sit in silent intervals on an invisible horizon line, creating a suburban landscape caught in quiet repose. Yates has painstakingly sculpted each building as a mirrored reflection of itself as if each one was partially submerged in water. These tiny, hermetic models exist quietly in the aftermath of a larger disaster, becoming impenetrable spaces to contemplate the psychology of this deserted community.

Kevin Yates was born in Owen Sound, Ontario in 1974. He has had solo exhibitions at Robert McLaughlin Gallery (Oshawa), Tom Thomson Memorial Art Gallery (Owen Sound), Artspeak (Vancouver), YYZ Artists‚ Outlet (Toronto), ODD Gallery (Dawson City, Yukon), among others. Recently his work was included in Comic Relief at the National Gallery of Canada. As well, he has previously participated in group exhibitions at Jordan Schnitzer Museum (Eugene), The University Galleries at Illinois State University (Chicago), Art Gallery of Nova Scotia (Halifax), and Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. In 2007, Kevin was a semi-finalist for the Sobey Art Award. He currently lives in Grafton, Ontario and is a faculty member in the department of Visual Arts at York University.

Susan Hobbs Gallery is open to the public Thursday to Saturday from 13h00 to 17h00. and by appointment. The gallery is located at 137 Tecumseth Street, Toronto.

www.susanhobbs.com

mondomedeusah creative arts group on facebook

video picks: k-os - 4 3 2 1

www.myspace.com/kos

Call for Artists: 2010 CALIFORNIA CLAY COMPETITION

November 2, 2009 until December 13, 2009 // Artery - Artist Cooperative of Davis //
Davis, CA

The Artery of Davis, California presents the 2010 CALIFORNIA CLAY COMPETITION. The Artery, home of the Artists’ Cooperative of Davis, has sponsored the Competition since 1990 to give California ceramic artists an opportunity to display their work during the California Conference for the Advancement of Ceramic Art. For information about the CCACA, phone John Natsoulas Gallery at 530-756-3938, or visit: www.natsoulas.com. The Artery is within walking distance of the John Natsoulas Gallery, which serves as conference headquarters. Many area galleries will hold artists’ receptions for ceramics exhibits on the evening of April 30, including the Natsoulas Gallery’s Thirty Ceramic Sculptors.

ELIGIBILITY

The competition is open to all California residents. Works accepted must be for sale, available for the duration of the exhibit, and made within the last two years.

JUROR

Stan Welsh:

Stan holds a MFA from New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in Alfred, NY. Currently, he is professor in Spatial/Ceramics at San Jose State University in San Jose, CA. He has exhibited in numerous solo and group shows and his work can be found in many collections. To see some of it visit www.stanwelsh.com

MEDIUM AND SIZE

Artworks must be made of clay; or mixed media, with clay being the major emphasis of the work. Functional as well as sculptural forms are solicited. The work must fit through a standard doorframe and weigh no more than can be easily handled by two people. Wall pieces should be ready to hang using wire and/or cleats. Space is limited; approximately 35 works will be accepted from an expected 400 entries.

AWARDS

Monetary and gift awards will be announced at the opening reception. Previous competitions’ award donors include Trax Gallery of Berkeley (for excellence in function), John Natsoulas Gallery of Davis (purchase award), Scott Hill Gallery of Dixon; and suppliers Aftosa, Alpha Fired Art, Ceramics and Crafts Supply Company, Clay Planet, Creative Ceramics and Glass, East Bay Clay, Industrial Minerals, Laguna Clay, Leslie Ceramics, Clay People, Quyle Kilns Clay Company, and the Association of Clay and Glass Artists of California.

TRANSPORTATION OF ACCEPTED WORKS

Works may be hand delivered or shipped via parcel post or UPS. Shipped work will be returned in the container in which it was received. The artist is responsible for shipping and insurance costs to and from the exhibition.

COMMISSIONS

The Artery will retain a 50% commission on all sales resulting from the exhibition.

CALENDAR

Submission of CD, fees, and entry form ... POSTMARKED by Feb 13, 2010

Notification of judging results: March 12, 2010

Accepted works received at The Artery: April 24-25, 2010

California Clay Competition opening reception at the Artery: Friday, April 30, 2010 // 19h00 - 22h00


California Conference for the Advancement of Ceramic Art (Natsoulas Gallery), April 30- May 2, 2010


California Clay Competition at The Artery: April 30- May 28, 2010

www.artery.coop

mondomedeusah creative arts group on facebook

Muzeum Narodowe w Szczecinie "Parallel Worlds" Solo Exhibition by Joanna Borkowska

October 23, 2009 until November 22, 2009 // Muzeum Narodowe w Szczecinie // Szczecin, Poland

The National Museum in Szczecin presents PARALLEL WORLDS, Joanna Borkowskas debut exhibition. The exhibition features twenty paintings that present and explore the worlds we navigate throughout our lives. Joanna Borkowskas sensitivity to colors and symbolism are the sources of her creative energy and vision. Bold use of colors dominates her work, demanding the viewers attention, delighting and hypnotizing. The harmony, order and clarity of her compositions jointly forge the character of her canvases. The subtle, yet consistent, language of Ms. Borkowskas style reflects an inner discipline that provokes a gaze that leads one to her intimate contemplative world, which offers a sense of inner peace and an opportunity for metaphysical reflection.

www.muzeum.szczecin.pl

mondomedeusah creative arts group on facebook

XO "All I Had" (LaLa)

Lil B - Im God [Heri Mkocha Video Re-Edit with Colin Tilley www basedworld com]

HVW8 Gallery: Michael, Kevin + Geoff (new works)

Michael, Kevin & Geoff

New works on paper from three old friends from Los Angeles.

Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009 // 19h00 until 22h00 // exhibition runs through December 20, 2009 // rsvp to: MichaelKevinGeoff@hvw8.com // HVW8 Art + Design Gallery: 661 N. Spaulding Ave. L.A. Ca 90036 // hours: Tues to Sun, 13h00 - 18h00


www.hvw8.com

The Self and the Other Portraiture in Contemporary Indian Photography

October 24, 2009 until February 7, 2010 // (North Gallery) ARTIUM, Basque Centre-Museum of Contemporary Art // Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain

The Self and the Other is an exploration of the photographic gaze that engages with personal and cultural identity. While personal identity can be viewed through different constructs of the Self, one cannot overlook the representation of the Other to understand the cultural identity of a people. Portraiture in Contemporary Indian Photography refers to the prism through which we will view the shifts, dichotomies and disturbances across the complex social fabric of life in India. The Self and the Otheroffers an intimate view of contemporary life in India through the lens of its most well known photographers and artists.

Produced by ARTIUM (Vitoria-Gasteiz) and Palau de la Virreina (Barcelona).

www.artium.org

JANI+ME: Jane Baxter

JANI+ME / a raw look at life, sex and art in life's candid moments

mondomedeusah creative hangs out with music artist and producer Don-Ray and drops a world wide exclusive Midnight Maraudaz Mix on mondo

mondomedeusah world wide exclusive release: Don-Ray (Midnight Maraudaz Mix)





download this mix

Donald K (mondomedeusah creative) recently hung out with Don-Ray, music artist/producer (Midnight Maraudaz Recordings) and talked about music, beats and life. We also dropped a world wide mondomedeusah exclusive Don-Ray Midnight Maraudaz Mix. Enjoy!

mondomedeusah: Don-Ray tell our readers how the whole music thing started and what

inspired it all?

Don-Ray: OK - it basically started at home with my parents love for music;
reggae, american RnB, soul, etc. Hip-hop came later with my crew in
Toronto (Big up!). I eventually, moved into various electronic music
from abroad; from the house sounds of Chicago to deep Detroit Techno
to UK jungle. I ate it all up. I really couldn't get enough music so I
branched out more. I started finding much older soul music inspiring,
jazz influenced music from Brazil to Germany, Afro-Latin flavoured
rhythms as well as European inspired orchestral pieces. I continued to
dig deeper and began appreciating the local ethno-cultural music from
Japan to South East Asia to India... it was a trip...

mondomedeusah: Are there any artists that inspired your music?

Don-Ray: There are many layers of inspiring artists which transcend several
points in my musical development. The earliest points of reference
would be reggae since both of my parents where ex-patriots of Jamaica.
Dennis Brown, The Scientist, Alto Ellis and Horace Andy were regular
favorites of my youth who's music still carry the torch of brilliance.
Eventually hip-hop made it's broad stroke into my life and I was taken
aback by UTFO, Roxanne Shante, and Art of Noise. Time and resources
allowed me to indulge in the likes of Eric B and Rakim, ATCQ, Public
Enemy and RUN-D.M.C. I, however, had an inkling that this too wasn't
enough and didn't really capture the entire spectrum of music that I
was growing accustom to with my travels. In the late 90s, I began to
be inspired by various niche sounds and found some real gems like
Azimuth, Roy Ayres, Jay Dee, Horace Silver, Bob James, Marc Mac, Ron
Carter, Joyce, George Benson, Ethel Beatty, Lynn Collins, Lalo
Schiffren, Tony Allen, Joe Bataan, and Jorge Ben. These musicians
captured the very essence of music to me and really challenged me on
several levels...

mondomedeusah: Tell us about the album that's about to drop. What can we expect from the album?

Don-Ray: I'm working on two at the moment. I'm not sure which is going to drop
first. One is focused on bringing my Midnight Maraudaz podcast to
another level. I'm deeply into soundtracks and have a fascination with
where they can take someone if they're put together right. I used
to spend hours listening to the Blade Runner soundtrack and analyzing
every piece for transitions, harmonic overtones, drones, etc. I
noticed that if done right, a mix can actually be as enthralling as
any other medium of story telling. I guess it was only a matter of
time before I began creating my own mixes. I'm currently looking for
original works of nu-jazz, neo-soul, broken beat, future funk,
dubstep, afro-latin house, soul-jazz classics, and orchestral music. I
hope the spiritual element behind putting together something of this
nature carries with it a message of universality. I'm not advocating a
one world approach to musicology just to the appreciation of music.
Luckily, I've received some great music already and when I've got all
the right material and arrange it, I'll put a CD out..

Then there is my personal album. It's been years in the making. I've
been doing a few other things that have distracted me so I hope to
have it finished soon. But again, I'm not going to force it because,
when the times right, it will happen. It will incorporate various
musical elements that I feel echo the growing one world essence of
rhythm and sound, but it will be on a more personal level than the mix
CD.

mondomedeusah: So why don't you walk us through the entire process when making an
album. Does it come from an inspired thought and span around that
topic or is it just a creative collective of music that you feel will
inspire the listener?

Don-Ray: I wont deny it... I believe it's a mixture of the two. You've got the
germination of the idea of the album which could be because of a track
you made or a collective ensemble of music you've created over time
which contains similar elements. I rarely go in with a clear idea of
what it will turn out to be...it's a process of creation and critique.
Some songs are right for a time, but don't carry through when
compiling the album. This can be for various reasons such as
establishing a theme, fitting the length, licensing, or something
along those lines. Songs that are tracked with singers or live
instrumentalist take a bit longer. It requires several interactions,
sometimes online, before the songs are actually finalized. This can be
a tedious process if you're not a lover of making music in general.
I've collaborated on songs that have taken month's to years to
complete do to scheduling and whatnot. The latest song "Breathe" on
Deborah Jordan's album, released this year, was created in 1997! It
took 12 years to complete.
Music making today is not for the faint of heart - it's tuff out here
and looks like it will only get tougher. Many have already jumped
ship, but I understand that the motivation isn't there. I respect the
ones who have continued to put music out and push the envelop.
Anyways, once the music is done, then it's mixing and mastering. Today
you can get Universal Music mastering for only a faction of what they
used to charge...it's hilarious. After that I finalize the credits and
liner notes. It's important that one gets this part right. I've
forgotten to place credits for an artist on my last CD and that artist
has continued to give me flack lol!! Artist's have big yet fragile
EGOs, so it's important to give them credit when credit is due.
Nowadays, most skip the CD creation stage and just place it online for
free. Kenetic, Ian Head, and the Dollabin crew do it up just like that
and I've done the same for a while now. My current doctrine is to
upload before you download. I've also heard the Brazilians are
encouraging this mantra..

mondomedeusah: So how long have you been working on your new album?

Don-Ray: About 3 years now. It takes a while if you want to do it right...I'm
hoping I don't pass the 5 year mark with it, however, it may be out of
my hands and god willing it will be ready before then.

mondomedeusah: Are there any singles currently out from your forthcoming album?

Don-Ray: Right now there's a single called "Rising" with Replife... it's
available at my soundcloud page for free. It's not from my album, but
it's one of the latest things I've done. Replife and I were both away
from home on Christmas in 2008 so we got together online (he was in
San Francisco and I was in Montreal) and quickly put together a
broken-beat track. Took no time. I threw in a couple of vocal samples
I had laying around from my previous sessions with Lady Alma and
everything came together in about a week. I made sure to let L.A. know
about it and that was that. It's part of my homage to the new world
order of music, if you taketh, giveth...
www.soundcloud.com/marauder-music

mondomedeusah: Will you be touring anytime soon in the future? Tell our readers where they can catch you.

Don-Ray: Touring is something that is definately in my mind at the moment. I've
been getting mad luv in several spots around the world including
Italy, South Africa, Brazil, Japan, and the UK. I hope to make it to
all these places, however, I would like to bring something to the
people that have supported me all this time so it's important for me
to finish one of my albums soon. Fans can stay up to date by going to
my sight on Facebook... www.facebook.com/donrayz

mondomedeusah: Dope, yeah we checked it out, love it! Tell our readers where they can buy your music?

Don-Ray: Anyone can purchase my older releases on iTunes...just look for
Don-Ray. Vinyl may be a bit harder to get but Groove Distribution is a
good bet. I'm also getting ready to upload my old catalogue to Juno
Records and I have a DJ chart there as well at:
http://tiny.cc/DRjuno


...if you want actual CDs, hit me up!

mondomedeusah: Now you are currently based in Montreal, did you grow up in Montreal?

Don-Ray: Montreal was sort of where I found my groove. Toronto was where I grew
up but T.O. was limiting in many ways. I found that although there was
a rich pool of musicians and DJ's very few were internationally
recognized. Toronto wasn't reflective of the reality of the rest of
the world, the struggle that was necessary for most artists to reach a
higher level was missing. I was speaking to Sacha Williamson this past
summer about my thoughts on Toronto after being away for 10 years and
moving back for the summer. I told her it felt like the city was
becoming a graveyard for talent. I, however also believe Toronto was
becoming very international thanks to various advances in technology
and due to a growing immigrant population. Montreal has always been
international thanks in part to its bilingual culture; it was part of
the reason I moved. There are real world challenges here. This city
opens one up to various cultural nuances that not only inspire me
musically but socioeconomically and politically as well. All the same,
I hope to reach out a bit further beyond caring so much about where I
reside physically. The internet sees no borders....

mondomedeusah: So about your record label, how did this all evolve?

Don-Ray: I created a record label for myself in order to help get music out.
It's called Marauder Music and it's representative of our modern
"thieving" ways. But, it's not all about theft, it's about what modern
copyright law has conceptualized as theft. In the past one would quote
music from a revered musician and that was thought of as paying one's
respects. This, I believe is a natural thing for us to do. However,
our modern society has twisted this and imposed duties on quoting from
inspiriation. It's almost like a form of taxation without
representation. Instead of musician feeling happy about being quoted,
they feel deserved of monetary recoupment. I'm not saying it's wrong,
however, I'm saying that this is the day and age we are we're living
in. We are all Marauders.

Luckily, I've worked with several labels in the past and continue to
work outside of my own label. I think that in this day and age it only
makes sense to go beyond. You don't even have to set up an official
label. Just put out what you've got.

mondomedeusah: So what artists have you worked with in the past?

Don-Ray: I've worked with several artists. The biggest was working with
producer Daniel Lanois. This guy had worked with U2, Peter Gabriel,
Bob Dylan, Sinéad O'Connor, and many others. Real heavyweights in
music. It was total luck that he walked into my mother's African store
in the early 90s and I chatted him up. Next thing I know, we're in a
24hr none stop studio session that lasted several days long. It was
crazy! He didn't seem to need sleep or food. Just music...I was amazed
at the level of dedication and found it truly inspiring.

Lady Alma was one of my first international artists upon moving to
Montreal. We eventually got together on my first album because we had
a mutual friend in common. She did such an amazing job on "Hold it
Down" as well as "Adore" that I had to work with her. We had a great
time in the studio in Montreal and hung out afterwards speaking about
the music business and where it was going. A truly deep angel of
musical inspiration.

Fertile Ground came through the same connection I had with Lady Alma.
I heard a song called "Let the Wind Blow" while at a spot in Toronto a
few years ago and I knew they were a unique ensemble. I was lucky
enough to be given a remix to do of their music and we got along well.
This led to working with Navasha Daya (the singer of Fertile Ground)
on a song I produced called "I Know". I don't think there are too many
singers our there that have been able to transcend so many genres of
music yet still remain unique - you know her sound and that's
something.

Deborah Jordan, to me was a late comer as I had never heard of her
until the Silhouette Brown album. However, that album was enough for
me to want to try something and Replife was good enough to hook us up.
We worked over the internet on "Breathe", her in London and me in
Montreal. She was so professional about the vocals. I hadn't had a
singer know so much about the technical side of music and still be on
top of her game as a musician. It's these rare qualities that speaks
volumes about her and why she will continue to be an important voice
to look out for...

Right now I'm remixing for Ai Laika out of Brazil and the Polyshufflez
from Tokyo Dawn Records. Things are really great and I love that I'm
connecting with so many musicians from various countries on so many
levels. Here are a couple of recent releases I've been associated
with:

Deborah Jordan "The Light" Album Feat. Atjazz, Jneiro Jarel, Simbad
and myself. Remixes by Domu and Masirah
Replife "The Unclosed Mind" Album Feat. Dego (4Hero), Kaidi Tatham
(Bugz), Mark de Clive Lowe, Atjazz, Arch-Type, and myself..

mondomedeusah: Hey we really dig your podcast, tell our readers where they can download it.


Don-Ray: Cool, everyone can download it to there iPod from iTunes by going to:
http://tiny.cc/DRpodcast

they can also find it on several net radio spots:

www.danceandsoul.com/news.html

www.sevenskiesradio.com

www.giantstep.net/jukebox

www.soundcloud.com/don-ray

mondomedeusah: Just out of curiosity what's currently playing in your ipod?

Don-Ray: I'm embarrassed to say, but I tend to listen to my mixes alot!(laughing)

I'm always re-evaluating myself...it's the only way to get better at
what I do. However, I do listen to Marc Mac's Soul Arrangers podcast
on iTunes...deep stuff.

mondomedeusah: Nice. What musical artists are you currently feeling right now?

Don-Ray: I'm feeling quite a few so I hope peeps don't think I'm restricting
myself when a drop names...I'm feeling
Georgia, Crazybreed, Skye, Ye:Solar, J.A.M., and Sleepwalker at the
moment. But there are really so many more.... If the readers would
like to know what I'm feeling, they should tune into the podcast and
goto www.myspace.com/allmassive for the tracklistings...

mondomedeusah: Don-Ray, thanks for taking your time out to hang, we're loving the music, keep doing what you love!

Don-Ray: Thanks for having me Donald, you run tight ship. Your site is where
it's at when it comes to creative arts and culture so I'm glad we
could finally link up. I look forward to working with you more - let's
continue to build.

mondomedeusah: Thanks DR!


// end of interview

Don-Ray's Discography

ALBUMS

As Don-Ray “Foundation” (working title – in production)

PRODUCTION

Deborah Jordan (4hero, Silhouette Brown, Bugs In The Attic) “Breathe”
for the Album “The Light” also featuring production by Atjazz, Jneiro
Jarel, and Simbad as well as remixes by Domu and Masirah, Futuristica
Records


Replife (The Politik) Feat Ki Allen“Out Of Soul” for the Album “The
Unclosed Mind” also featuring production from Dego (4Hero), Kaidi
Tatham (Bugz), Mark de Clive Lowe, Atjazz, and Arch-Type, Futuristica
Records


Replife “Rise Up” All Massive Productions

X-Ray “Blue” Guidance/Subtitled

X-Ray “The Blue E.P.” Guidance/Subtitled

Maxelle “The French Connection” E.P. PTR

Maxelle “Maxelle” E.P. M3SD/WOMB



REMIXES


Ai Laika “Hit de Verano” (in production)

Solid Pleasure “Solid Pleasure” (DRʼs Remix) Afrokats

Dennis Ferrer “Lost Tribes” (DRʼs Remix) Gotsoul Records

Fertile Ground “Come 2 Me” (DRʼs Naked Remix) Gotsoul Records

Esthero “Heaven Sent” Sony/Work

Nigel Hayes/Abacus “Charlie Brown” Indepedent

Lazybatuzu “Last Nite” Emunity


COMPILATIONS

SOUNDS OF FASION AS MAXELLE “FRENCH CONNECTION” MUSICA ALTERNATIVA

GLOBE LA COLLECTION FERTILE GROUND “COME 2 ME” DRʼS NAKED REMIX GOTSOUL RECORDS

TRIP INTO DUB AS 21 GREEN “EOM” HYPNOTIC

JUNGLE STRUT AS X-RAY “EOM” UJAMMʼN/FLYIN

CODE 416 “BLACK MALE” PTR

CODE 416 “CHECK MY STYLES” PTR

BLUE NIGHT NETWORK AS MAXELLE “THE FRENCH CONNNECTION” PTR

other links to bookmark

Facebook: www.facebook.com/donrayz


Myspace: www.myspace.com/allmassive


Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/don-ray


iTunes: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=152831295&s=143441


Podcast: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=195897661


Twitter: www.twitter.com/donrays

"The L.A. case" a solo exhibition of new work by Germany's case

The L.A. case // opening reception: Thursday October 8, 2009 / 19h – 22h // October 8, 2009 until October 29, 2009 // Carmichael Gallery 1257 N. La Brea Ave W. Hollywood CA 90038

The L.A. case is an exhibition of new works on canvas by German artist case. case’s new body of work references imagery from elaborate, self-staged photo shoots using spray paint on canvas. Combining exacting technical expertise with an innovative hint of liberation and irony, he investigates the parallels that exist between the conflicting states of convention and controversy, manipulating beauty in a dark, thrilling and provocative manner.

case is widely recognized as one of the best photorealistic spray paint artists in the world. His groundbreaking technique, detailed in the book Ma’Claim: Photorealistic Graffiti, Falk Lehmann and Steffen Petermann, Publikat Verlags und Handels GmbH and Co. KG, Germany, 2006, has set new standards and established a strong international collector base and fan network.

Born in Erfurt, Germany, in 1979, case has exhibited his fine art in galleries in the UK, Germany and US. He achieved his Diploma in Art Restoration and Conservation from Erfurt University Of Applied Sciences. case is also a founding member of graffiti crew Ma’Claim, a group of artists renowned throughout the world for their striking photorealistic murals. He currently lives and works in Frankfurt.

www.carmichaelgallery.com

Farewell Avery new works by Esao Andrews

October 9, 2009 until October 30, 2009 // opening reception: Friday October 9, 2009 // 19 h - 23 h // thinkspace 4210 Santa Monica Blvd Los Angeles, CA

www.thinkspacegallery.com

Seamlessly Lost: Bingyi

October 3, 2009 until November 15, 2009 // Erna Hecey Gallery // Brussels, Belgium

Erna Hecey presents Seamlessly Lost, which is the first solo exhibition of Bingyi in Europe. Hailing from China, Bingyi is known for her large-scale conceptual painting projects, which she terms "largescape". Seamlessly Lost is a one-piece 40 meters long and over 3 meters high linen canvas. The painting sprawls over the entire wall of the main space at Erna Hecey Gallery. This is an exhibition that must be seen.

www.ernahecey.com

Exit Gallery New York: Regina José Galindo

October 2, 2009 until December 19, 2009 // Exit Art Gallery // New York, NY

Regina José Galindo received the Golden Lion award for Best Young Artist at the 2005 Venice Biennale for her work titled Himenoplastia (Hymenoplasty). Other solo exhibitions include those at prometeogallery by Ida Pisani, Milan, Italy; Galerie du Jour Agnes B., Paris, France; Artpace, San Antonio, Texas; Museum voor Moderne Kunst Arnhem, Arnhem, The Netherlands; and Modern Art Oxford, Oxford, UK. She has been included in more than 85 group exhibitions on five continents. As a poet, she has published in several international anthologies. This is her first solo exhibition in New York.

Regina José Galindo - the second exhibition in Exit Art's SOLO series and the first in the Performance in Crisis program - is a ten-year survey of performance and installation work by the Guatemalan artist Regina José Galindo. The highlight of this important retrospective is the New York premiere of a new work, Cloth, to be performed only once: on the opening night of this exhibition. Cloth is part of a performance trilogy titled Crisis, for which Regina José Galindo will enact a series of transactions that reference and critique our current moment of economic instability.

www.exitart.org

Simon Birch A showcase of new works

opening reception: Thursday October 8, 2009 // 19 h – 22 h // runs October 8, 2009 until October 29, 2009 // Carmichael Gallery 1257 N. La Brea Ave West Hollywood CA 90038

Simon Birch’s dramatic large-scale portraits are breathtaking in their scale and sophistication. With a refined treatment of tone color and astute awareness of textural rhythms, the award-winning Hong Kong based painter and multimedia artist’s new oils on canvas dazzle and excite in their glorious portrayal of fluid human motion and fragmented emotional states.

Born in Brighton in 1969, Simon’s entry into the formal art world is singular. With no conventional training, he was encouraged by his parents to develop his early promise and, upon moving to Hong Kong in the mid-nineties, made his living as a construction worker until he had secured the means to fully pursue his artistic goals and even finance his first exhibitions.

www.carmichaelgallery.com