Let's be it at this: you're here because I have something special to show you. And it'll start out as if it's nothing, but it will develop in time. You'll be able to see this creation grow from the beginning. So here's your first clue:
Yes, those are beer cans, cut up and ready to be flattened. This is the easy part. It gets progressively more difficult as each step moves to the next. Be rest assured, though, this is a project worth following. The goal is to get the audience to see their own identity in a different way. I'm betting on this working.
The Residency
I arrive in Lisboa on January 1, 2017 and I leave on January 31. I'll visit Porto for a day or two, and maybe Isla Cristina in Huelva, Spain. I'm required to present weekly reports to the gallery owners at Zaratan and I'll participate with the gallery's events that happen every Thursday through Saturday. I'll learn how to do artist talks, but most importantly I'll be getting regular feedback from those who don't care about my feelings. This is good, constructive, professional feedback that I badly need, and I thank you for helping me get to this point.
Not only will I be working on the above beer cans, but I'll also be painting with oils and watercolors (and maybe some oil pastel as well), and drawing with charcoal. Some of you will receive some of these treats when I'm done.
I've been to Lisboa once before, for eight hours on a layover to Sevilla. The airport is very close to the city, so if you ever find yourself with a long layover then I highly recommend it. This time, however, I won't be seeing just the tourist sites (btw - walking from the Arch to the Mariner's Memorial IS NOT as easy as the tourist map suggests). Instead, I'll be diving in to the local arts scene, visiting galleries, attending openings, and networking across the board, not to mention practicing my Portuguese. I look forward to bringing you along for this journey, so check back about once per week starting in January (don't worry, I'll remind you), and let's see how this goes.
Greg Mason Burns
November, 2016
Not only will I be working on the above beer cans, but I'll also be painting with oils and watercolors (and maybe some oil pastel as well), and drawing with charcoal. Some of you will receive some of these treats when I'm done.
I've been to Lisboa once before, for eight hours on a layover to Sevilla. The airport is very close to the city, so if you ever find yourself with a long layover then I highly recommend it. This time, however, I won't be seeing just the tourist sites (btw - walking from the Arch to the Mariner's Memorial IS NOT as easy as the tourist map suggests). Instead, I'll be diving in to the local arts scene, visiting galleries, attending openings, and networking across the board, not to mention practicing my Portuguese. I look forward to bringing you along for this journey, so check back about once per week starting in January (don't worry, I'll remind you), and let's see how this goes.
Greg Mason Burns
November, 2016