.

Carceral City

The Carceral City is a continuation of my ongoing investigation into the architecture of incarceration and soul reformation, specifically my interest with the Metropolitan Correctional Facility located at 71 West Van Buren Street in downtown Chicago.

Sculptural towers, projected light, and cast shadows reconstruct an imagined view of the outside world as seen from the perspective of the confined. Alienation and detainment arrive as metaphors for the pervasiveness of the shared human circumstance. Lighthouse and church signifiers are pressed up against the image of a guard tower, placing focus on the dualistic capacity that ideas of protection can offer, both a beacon of hope and an oppressive potential.

more information at
http://www.popupartloop.com/

Prison Without Bars

Public Light & Space: Ben Stagl

During evening hours, the seemingly binary pattern of windows on the face of the MCC will be digitally projected into the plaza below. The windows shapes are filled with images of blue sky. Participants will be encouraged to stand within these slots of light and contemplate the presence of this austere and cryptic building, and its function in our city. This gesture is meant to cultivate the engagement of a caring public.

Approaching the Nanofax Singularity

special thanks to Tom Burtonwood and Holly Holmes for all the help making it happen!

New work involving light, shadow, and laser etched facades. Physically unfolding virtual space.

Unfolded Memory
USEFULNESS. Construction, De-construction, Reconstruction
Exhibition curated by Cecilia Vargas

January 28 - February 26, 2010
SAIC
Sharp Building, 37 South Wabash Avenue

Tracing Eames at Learning Modern




















Tracing Eames, 2010
7 vehicles, 3 styles
produced in collaboration with Nicole Seisler and David Lakein

Stereoscopic GIF Animations (.gif)




These stereo animations were shot with an antique ViewMaster camera.  The 2 stereo images it produced were digitally scanned before the ViewMaster reels were assembled.

Work produced in collaboration with Jon Springer.

Let there be IRON - 26Fe



15 sponsors and a whole slew of awesome artists and community members later WE DID IT!!! Our new Cupola "Rosie" tapped her first iron on the evening of August 15th and poured 700+ lbs for us all to behold and take home!

Thanks to everyone for helping make Portland's First Annual Iron Pour a huge success! Thanks to these efforts we can be sure to see more awesome foundry workshops and pour demonstrations happening in Portland in the coming months!

We are already in the early stages of organizing Portland's Second Annual Iron Pour next Fall and will be posting more updates as information becomes available! Rumors of Ice Molds and Thermite melts have been tossed around as well as the idea of a nightime event! Stay tuned for more...

Here are some links covering the event-

http://www.portlandmonthlymag.com/blogs/culturephile-portland-arts/art-event-081709/

here are Joe Wirtheim's pics on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joe-seppi/sets/72157622059808680/

and Brendan Cohara's pics

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brendancohara/sets/72157621981373119/

here are some video links

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8mGUsXZJec&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCWtK_wuZ2c

and here is Rob Wilcox Promo for the event

http://portlandorusnow.blogspot.com/2009/08/august-15-iron-pour.html

I want to extend an especially huge thanks to our sponsors:

The Oregon Arts Commission
The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
Vancouver Iron and Steel
Bridgetown Cores
Harbison Walker Refractories
Willamette Graystone
Portland State University
Mt. Hood Community College
United Western Supply
Gallery Homeland
La Grande Industrial Supply
Silverton Foundry
Oliver Ortiz

***and especially***

Tool Shed PDX http://www.toolshedpdx.org

Guest Artist Dan Matheson (CHICAGO...pictured above)
and Bridgetown Cores Owner Beth Knipple

The Tool Shed will be hosting many more foundry workshops in the coming months including Bronze and Aluminum casting as well as many more exiting fire related events! Without the participation and resources these folks brought to the plate without question or compromise none of this would have been possible! Go to their website for more info on coming events.

And last but not least thanks to all the participants and volunteers for making this dream a reality for us all! You each have my deepest appreciation and respect... you know who you are...

all my love,

Ben

Thank you Portland.

Portland Iron is proud to present its first ever community Iron Pour Demonstration, providing Portlanders access to and awareness of the art of iron casting. Organized by Ben Stagl and Caitlin Moore the pour will also include the expertise of visiting artist and veteran iron caster Dan Matheson.

The Portland Iron pour is modeled on an art making tradition of "iron pours" currently being upheld at colleges, conferences, and artists' studios around the nation and the world. Many institutions have built this art making process into their curiculum, holding pours annually and sending teams of students to iron conferences like the biennial International Conference on Cast Iron to take part in lectures, workshops, and compete in furnace building and operation. It is an active, diverse community with a fascinating process that only a few in Portland have ever taken part in. The Portland Iron pour is an opportunity for people to witness this fantastic aspect or contemporary art making first hand.

Community Involvement begins with a series of pattern making workshops on Aug 10th, 12th, and 13th at Watershed PDX (5040 SE Milwaukie, Portland, OR 97202). On the day of the pour there will be blank molds or scratch plates that will be cast for spectators to personalize and take home with them. And those who come to watch the pour will be treated to a crowd pleasing display of artistry and the awe-inspiring process of turning scrap metal into sculpture.

Unfolded reviewed on UltraPDX!

click the link to see review by Lisa Radon!

http://www.ultrapdx.com


Check out more images form the show on these blogs

http://www.openwidepdx.com

http://pdxart.blogspot.com

photo: Calvin Ross Carl at OPENWIDEpdx.com.

UNFOLDED

WHAT: New sculptural, print and video work by Portland artist Ben Stagl.
WHEN: Friday, June 5th to Monday, June 29th
Opening Reception, First Friday, June 5th 6-9 pm
WHERE: galleryHOMELAND
2505 SE 11th Avenue
Portland OR 97202


Exhibition Statement:

Ben Stagl's new body of work is a playful examination of both the architectural and philosophical concepts surrounding the fold and the act of folding. Influenced by the thoughts and writings of Gilles Deleuze, Edo era Japanese origami, and Chinese paper folding traditions of Zhe Zhi. Stagl's work pursues questions about separation, relativism, potential realized and latent, subjectivity and notions of space.

Collaboration plays a vital role in Stagl's process, and is a recurring element in his work. These new works involve collaborations with Alison Heppner, Jon Springer, Angela Dawn, and Matthew Allen Wooldridge.



For more information please contact Paul Middendorf 503/819.9656 paul@galleryhomeland.org

document photos courtesy of Jon Springer * www.jonspringerphoto.com *

above: Emerging - a collaboration with Angela Dawn

below: Curtain Room - a collaboration with Jon Springer
Object/Room/Performance
to be continued...

I am currently participating in this LA/PDX group show which is opening in the Portland area this weekend.

When:
7:00pm - 10:00pm Sat, Apr 4

THE STILL LIFE SHOW:
Two Simultaneous, Collaborative Exhibitions in Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon
Curated by Anna Fidler

EXHIBITION DATES:

Milepost 5
900 NE 81st Ave. Portland, OR
Opening: SATURDAY APRIL 4, 7-10pm
April 4-26, 2009
Gallery Hours: Friday-Sunday, 1-5pm

Five Thirty Three
533 Los Angeles St. Los Angeles, CA
Opening: SATURDAY March 21
March 21-April 18, 2009
http://www.fivethirtythree.org/

Still Life Show:

The premise of The Still Life Show involves a pairing of eighteen artists from Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon. Portland’s ebb and flow of dreary winter and resplendent summer, fascination with experimental music, European-influenced urban planning, and bicycle riding seems far removed from LA’s vast, sprawling pocket neighborhoods; each island-like and different from the next, U-turns, car tans, canyons, and fiery Santa Ana winds. I feel that there is much to be gained by an exchange of sorts between these fascinatingly dissimilar cities that I have lived in; united by the commonality of art making. This exhibition was created to incite a curious dialogue between artists, schools, writers, and spaces.

Each artist was told to find a box of any size and fill it with contents of their own whim and discretion. I paired the artists and sent each a corresponding address. Nine artists from Los Angeles sent boxes to Portland and likewise nine Portland artists sent boxes to LA. Artists were instructed to install the contents of the box they received as a ‘still life’. Only items placed in the box could be used.

Similar to Japanese ikebana, ‘still life’ in this context serves as a unifying force. Whereas usually a painting or drawing would be made from a still life, in this case the arrangement itself is the work of art.

This exhibition represents an overall mixing of emerging and established, West Coast north and south, craft and anti-craft, desert and forest, public and private, domestic and wild.

-Anna Fidler, Curator

ARTISTS:

PORTLAND ----------------- LOS ANGELES

Holly Andres ------------------- Erik Bluhm
Damien Gilley --------- Patricia Fernandez
Sam Gould --------------------- Amy Green
MK Guth ----------------------- John Knuth
Jessica Jackson Hutchins -- Laura Owens
Melody Owen -------------- Juliana Paciulli
Patrick Rock ----------------- Jenny Phelps
Ben Stagl ------------------- Noah Thomas
Storm Tharp ----------------- Ami Tallman

Above: Ben Stagl interpreting materials by Noah Thomas



Above: Noah Thomas interpreting materials by Ben Stagl