Under the Same Shadow, Upstate

Last weekend I went upstate to Wassaic where there is an artist' residency and installed the latest Under the Same Shadow piece.  Under the Same Shadow is a collaborative project I do with Alexander Demaria.  It was incredibly hot the first day and then rained seemingly non-stop for the remainder of the three days.  Because most of what we make is composed of wood and electronics the rain was a real pain in the ass and, when raising the 20' pole of logs bolted together, pretty dangerous.  We did finally get the project done with the help of Jamie Horgan who works with Alex on Middle Kingdom.  The piece still has some wiring that needs to be done, but we thought it wouldn't survive two weeks if the storms continued and are going wait to finish it off until we go up for the festival.  It's based on a Malaysian burial pole and slightly resembles a giant birdhouse.  I guess this is okay.

Aside from working on some cool art, we got to camp in a field next to a train, go swimming in an abandoned quarry, explore Civil War era kilns and hike around in the forest.  I found some ribs and destroyed my hands cutting up dead fall with a hatchet.  I've tried to post images of these things and have not yet figured out the interface between Blogger and my phone.  Too bad.  It's nice to get out of the city and see nature, it reminds me of where I grew up and is relaxing, but ultimately the small community and rural life don't have the same appeal to me as something larger.  Rather than the more obvious choices of say Agalloch or Burzum, I found Cannibal Corpse to be especially nice on the train ride up and Oranssi Pazuzu on the way back.  George Corpsegrinder is incredible.  He and I share a birthday incidentally, December 29th The Day the Earth Gurgled.

The show is officially open for the Summer Festival in Wassaic August 5-7.