Wormwood'd

Stepping aside from all this artRiot rioting, I'd like to reflect on a gig we did, not long back, called WORMWOOD. It's not just a gig, it's a bit of a project for us, a canvas for experimentation and getting to know some awesome musical, visual and creative artists and thinkers. Our first Wormwood, actually #3, had us with three old school projectors- one behind the bands, one highlighting the mysterious staircase and an "apprentice" projector outside under the sprinkles open for the audience to dip their toes in the magic.

This is great for Punk Monks Vic, Clare and Jay who unlike the very talented alchemists Kate and Alex are just beginning our relationship with the overhead projector. I can conclude that it is very very messy, something will always get broken and that surprisingly less dye = brighter colour! If you want an acid trip sans acid then spend a night mixing oil, detergent and food dye in glass containers on top of a brightly burning light box and shine it onto a wall somewhere.

Ongoing monthly, we'll play with how we may extend the projections using ideas of shadow, audience + other performers interaction and playing with different surfaces for blasting with colour. Perhaps we'll introduce some video. If you were there and you have some ideas/feedback- welcome. Otherwise join us for the next one.

The very exciting lineup includes:

BANDS

The Walk on By
Crab Smasher
Jusgo Mosh

DJs
Lucas George (Whipped Cream Chargers)
Simo Soo

LIVE PROJECTIONS
Punk Monk Propaganda

POETRY
Mersey Sound Collective

HAIR ART
Creon - have faith! get your head shaved/cut by Creon!

GREENTOOTH
Turn your bluetooth on! We'll be sending "Fortune Cookies" out on the night!

Join the Wormwood group and ATTEND the event on FB. And hey guys: ITS FREE. Just bring some change to buy some absinthe and get that nice dreamy buzz going- not that you won't have enough help from all the sensory stimulation on the night.

experiments in HAIR revolution

Part three of our artRiot set of interconnected artworks involves grassroots action and HAIR. The hair represents creativity- the way that our current methods of interacting with our environment can be re-invented in symbiosis with mother nature. Our idea stems from the way BP is dealing with the oil crisis in the Gulf of Mexico- the spill in which they, along with the oil guzzling members of society that make up the majority, are responsible for. Matter of Trust, have laid in their hands an idea that minimises overall the further detriment of the environment whilst more effectively ridding it of the toxins imposed upon it- hair booms (see earlier post). They declined and continue to disturb the fragile ecosystem that is our endangered oceans.

Hair certainly is precious- would you sacrifice some to help save the environment?

Participate in our experiment, at artRiot beginning tomorrow night.

We'll be there with a host of other radical artists from Sydney involved in the fight for social change, including our good buddies The Lurkers who will do a set of bluegrass to inspire the masses.

experiments in moss art #1

Hessian and moss- two extremely meditative textural mediums. Hands connecting with dirt and spongey bright green life. Cutting through hessian, round shapes, sharp blade sends vibrations through the hand. Under the cloak of darkness, two of us put together phase #2 of our Gaia Retouched installation.

This is just a teaser, the full concept can be realised by you at artRiot in only two more sleeps (or if you are us, one very long day)....

The sunrise three times

Three sunrises in four days over Maroubra beach as I channel my inner Lilith and rage against man's greed for Punk Monk Propaganda's artRiot protest film. Symbolising man's destructive pursuit for profit over the environment and the breakdown of nature's cyclic abilities to heal it's wounds, our video piece will represent the crisis and violence of Oil.

Gaia Retouched is an experimental artwork that will evolve over time. Part 1, launching at artRiot this Sat 11th sept (starts 6pm) will involve not only our mobile shot video but a living installation commenting on the commodification of "ecologically sustainable" industry and will require creative interactivity as we experiment with alternative solutions for man-inflicted environmental disasters. Part of the inaugral Sydney Fringe Fest, it is available for your interaction for 2 weeks upstairs at The Annandale Hotel.

Punk Monk artists: Victoria Waghorn, Clare Devlin- Mahoney and Alexander Papasavvas

propaganda@punk-monk.com

Stills (above): Alexander Papasavvas.

rapunzel rapunzel let down your hair

rapunzel rapunzel let down your hair.

there's been an oil spill!

not only do worms eat hair and convert them to fertiliser, or become beautiful wigs donated to charities such as Locks for Love for people not as fortunate to have your luscious locks.... but your hair has the power to suck it up. by that i mean diminish oil in large scale spills and clean our water from the gunk of greed. treasure your hair and when you cut it off, think about where you might want to give it a new life purpose.

No, it's not a Yayoi Kusama penis furniture piece. It's a bunch of hair booms hungry for oil. (credit: matteroftrust.org)

i am now accepting donations of hair. i am also asking really nicely for any one with a knack for hairdressing or even someone to help out with that element to present themselves. gratitude forever...e-mail clare@punk-monk.com to get involved.

ArtRiot is part of the Sydney Fringe Festival. the more-than-just-an-art exhibition will feature artists/activists for radical social change including Punk Monk Propaganda as we meld our filmmaking, installation and science experimentation into one powerful art work. we invite you to come along and play.

abov vid is from a previous shoot: alex papasavvas behind the cam. clare d-m's hair in front. (+cicadas.)

green liquid light faerie rings

Absinthe + Psychedelia ? Music + live art ? Your Jive? Ours too!

Absinthe is a magical spiritual beverage made of the flowers and leaves of anise, fennel and wormwood. It's highly alcoholic inducing sensory bliss which will heighten the kaleidoscopic stimulation already present for you at WORMWOOD.

Punk Monk are joining in Green Faerie Kimberley Galceran's vision of monthly interactive events based on collective collaboration and creative vibes. Hosted at The Loft, a liquid light projectionists wet dream (tall white walls for canvas), we'll be experimenting with some of our inky techniques and developing some ideas each month in this new playground.

Thursday Sept 2:

Edgar J Hooves artistic immortalisation of your experience through live portrait scribblings

Punk Monk Propaganda creating live ink-bath projections

The Bang Bang Twins as psychedelic green fairies

Charlotte - poetry / spoken word

Whipped Cream Chargers, Strangers & Pregnancy - music for the masses

DJs Jack Shit & Catinabox - even more music for the masses

Absinthe - as always!

in coming months: Meme Me, Mersey Sound Collective, The Walk on By, StupidKrap, Psychonanny and the Babyshakers, Piano is Drunk, Jusgo Mosh... and.... you??

Contact the organisers: filthypillow@gmail.com.

shock and temptation

pretend these images are radical attempts to rouse shock and bring to the forefront the issue of oil. shocked? shaken into action?

now, understand this, these images are to sell garments, the same garments soaked in oil worn by sputtering, half dead mannequin humans choking and drowning in their own thickly applied oil. tempted?