vincent comparetto.

Frieda and I collaborated on a film for a video exhibition on display right now at the Belmar Labs. Frieda scored it with a bunch of found sounds. Check it out if you get a chance. Here's what the Lab has to say about the show.



RUCKUS, REPEAT, RUCKUS is The Lab's latest Poop Deck Project, a video art exhibition that explores the spectacular and dynamic dimensions of the digital art medium. Artists in this exhibition find artistic forms that engage with the widespread and fast-paced display of media in mass culture. The metaphor of noise is meant to suggest an urban environment, a background feature that nevertheless persists in making its presence felt - an aesthetic experience that is neither contemplative nor decorative, but continually draws attention to itself.

Frieda with a very beautiful Amanda Marie painting in the background. Frieda and Ian Cooke played and it was awesome they both sounded amazing. Thanks so much guys. I plan to post video of there performances shortly.







Holle and Owen reppin'







Dudes kickin' it, Ethan my master silicon blaster




Sid Pink their tan man servant and Kat in attendance. Hey Sid thanks for spending thousands of dollars on art on the show before my show, that was awesome, call me if you need help hanging.



Scott lefavor's skills get scoped. these two pieces were the stars of the show for me.



A sax player and two of my favorite bosses











The install was fun the show looked great and the opening night was a several hundred person party in the true tradition of Andenken. Thanks to all you suckas who bought art and to all you playas that said you were thinkin' about it just to impress the ladies.



I was going to make this into a QTVR but then I remembered I have no idea how to do that.

Let the records show Andenken still throws the craziest party/art exhibitions in Denver. Thanks to everyone for helpin out and to Jeremy for the awesome install and to Amanda Marie and Scott Lefavor for seriously bringin' it and settin' the bar mighty high, and to Tom for curating and having my art in the first pace. Thanks a bunch.

Please visit www.beautyandthestreet.org for more pieces of the show and availability of the art.

Here's a sneak peak at some of my work, my studio, and a glimpse at the process involved in preparation for my show next Friday June 6th at Andenken.

Robert Rauschenberg

October 22, 1925 May 12, 2008

Inspiration comes in waves but nothing was more profound in my life to when I saw Robert's work for the first time. It was like being hit by a truck, it changed my life, completely altering my concepts of art, the potential of an artist, and how an artist should interact with the world. He is highest rung on the latter I climb. I remember when my mom and I went to see his retrospective at the Gugenheim, just starting from the top and spiraling down through his immense world. The vastness of his legacy was mind boggling. The sheer lattitude and range was unlike any artist. We as artists have to remember how important innovation is and how important it is to occasionally abandon a direction just because we know where that direction goes. Robert taught us that consistency in art can quickly lead to stagnation. He always found a smaller riskier branch and climbed out onto it without fear. I remember once standing in a gallery called Rule in Denver it was loud and crowded, filled with snooty people talking to each other many of which could care less about the art on the wall. I had been standing perfectly still for quite sometime faced with a photo of Robert Rauschenberg photographed by Chuck Close. I felt closer to Robert in a way at that moment, I wanted to talk to him, Mostly I just wanted to thank him, and I wanted to take the photo home and use it much like a shrine. It was shot recently and like many of Chucks photos it seemed more in focus that anything optically possible. As if I could see the ideas churning behind Robert's honest eyes. My friend Evan was standing next to me, "you like him"? "Who Robert, yeah, he's pretty much my hero."






Robert I will miss you thanks for the education. The torch you handed me to carry is kind of big do you have anything smaller?

I am in the studio working like a banshee preparing for my june 6th show at Andenken. I am in the process of completing 11 pieces for this show. All are lightboxes based on my experiences in different cities around the world. I will be showing with Mandy Ploegsma and Scott Lefavor. It's gonna be an amazing show. I can't tell you how good it is to be back at it. It's been too long. Please attend this show if you can.

Thank you to all who attended my premier here is the video for your online viewing pleasure. It was an honor working with Ian Cooke.



DIRECTOR / PRODUCER
CONCEPT / SET DESIGN / RIGGING
VIDEOGRAPHY / LIGHTING
ANIMATION / EDITOR
/ ETC:
Vincent Comparetto

LIGHTING / KEY GRIPS / CAMERA ASSIST:
Mary Grace Legg & Emily Crenshaw

EDITING ASSISTANT:
Ian O'Dourgherty

CLOTHING DESIGN:
Carolyne Janssen / Frieda Stalheim

SET DESIGN ASSISTANTS:
Ethan Andrews / Craig Lehman / Andrew Hocknenberry

CAST:
Ian Cooke, and the brave Kursk sailors:
Nicholas Andrews
Miles Dierolf
Nixon Johnson
Miles LaBarge
and Jack Labarge

THANK YOU:
Mary Regenold / Matt & Allison LaBarge / Ian O'Dourgherty / Ethan Andrews / Peter Bergman & Ian Cooke

I will be premiering my latest video for Ian Cookes fantastic song "Kursk" this coming weekend at the Esquire theater at midnight both Friday the 29th and Saturday March 1st. The video will proceed Mathew Barneys expensive Drawing Restraint 9. It was a honor to work with Ian and I would very much like to share this video with all of you.



The Esquire Theater

590 Downing Street
Denver, CO 80218
(303) 352-1992