Artist Statement

My focus is on blues and folk music/culture. I'm interested in the historical context of certain music as well as the charged political, emotional, social, narrative and expressive nature associated with these styles of music. As a musician, I am inspired by the skilled and stylized playing. I am moved by the returning theme of nihilism and loneliness in the human experience that is personified through blues music and the historical moral narratives apparent in folk music. My interest is to re-interpret lyrics/concepts and create visual manifestations of them to continue in my development as a musician/poet/visual artist, as well and study the physical nature, evolution and cultural appropriation of this music.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Everyday

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Blues in My Breakfast
"Well my breakfast was a failure, just like my night
before. Well I man-handled that pan, just like I fell
out of that door.Oh my breakfast was a failure just
like my life before."

-Reed Thieme

"Well, good morning blues,
blues how do you do.
I'm doing all right well,
good morning how are you.

I couldn't sleep last night,
I was turning from side to side
Oh Lord, I was turning from side to side
I wasn't sad, I was just dissatisfied.

I couldn't sleep last night,
you know the blues walking ‘round my bed,
Oh the blues walking 'round my bed
I went to eat my breakfast,
the blues was in my bread."

-LeadBelly

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Blues Style


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Black Cat Bone

Black Cat Bone: From Hoodoo mythology, a mystical charm that is an actual bone from a black cat that has been ritually blessed. Carried for good luck in an individual's "mojo bag," the charm is alleged to attract money and ward off evil. The term is referred to in many blues songs, including Muddy Water's classic "Hoochie Coochie Man.

-taken from about.com

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Bottle of Blue

"now I stare into a shot glass and it's empty like your disguise"

-Reed Thieme

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I've Got a Stain

Monday, January 11, 2010

Found Media

"the blues impulse is examined in music, visual art, poetry and prose. The journeys consider a range of human movement—actual and metaphorical, voluntary and involuntary, long distance and short distance, outward and inward, historical and personal. People move from place to place as time and history evolve. A journey can be physical, spiritual and/or emotional. People move from a place or state of misery and pain, seeking something better. They are moved by force or circumstance. Sometimes the destination which may have held so much promise, is no better than the place of embarkation. The destination presents new problems, and some of the old problems. Blues relates and describes that state of being, that journey. Blues is a transformation—for survival, relief, joy, hope and understanding. Blues, as a transformative experience is useful and applicable to all people. Through this unit, the blues are seen in historical context, in an art context and are made accessible and relevant to young people."






Previous Work



This is an animation i created at my previous school.