Filed under: The 22 | Tags: 2012, 22, break, brooklyn, december, in, magazine, new, review, the, york
We at the 22 are taking a year-end break (Dec 19th-29th) to give everyone who works and helps out at The 22 time to spend with their loved ones and reconnect to the world, without a mouse at hand. It’s a time of rest and refreshment. That being said, we will be doing some pick up work including reading and reviewing the many submissions we’ve received for the collage volume.We will be accepting submissions until January 30th, and highly encourage you to send them in during the next 2 weeks if you can!
Thank you again, for all the amazing support and kindness you have shown this project. We couldn’t have done it without you, each and every one. We are truly looking forward to what the New Year brings and are wishing love, happiness, and the ability to listen and understand compassionately for everyone this holiday season.
And now, The 22 Blog, 2012, in review…
One
Who wants for nothing
Whose life was spent
As a shadow
Doesn’t wish
To hear
The rebukes
Of the wise,
Only the songs
Of fools
~from THE WIND THAT FLATTENS THE FLAMES, by Joshua Bocher
Filed under: ART, DESIGN, INTERVIEWS, WHERE (we) LIVE, WOOD | Tags: 19th, 20th, 21ST, 22, 22nd, BAM, brooklyn, december, funiture, interview, live, magazine, new, prview, the, valencia, victoria, we, where, with, woodworking, york
On Dec 19-22nd So Percussion will combine the wonderfully unique voices of Ain Gordon, Greg Mcmurray, Martin Schmidt, and Emily Johnson with an alternating artistic “performer” each night to creatively explore the idea of a home onstage in Where (we) Live at Brooklyn Academy of Music. Artists will include, Paula Greif (ceramics), Marsha Trattner (blacksmith), Ricardo Vecchio (painter), Victoria Valencia (woodworker.) These performances are part of BAM’s 30th Next Wave Festival.
PREVIEW INTERVIEW WITH VICTORIA VALENCIA
By Nell Whittaker
THE 22: I wondered if you could expand a little on how you treat disused spaces and how you approach the challenge of trying to fill them with something suitable.
VICTORIA VALENCIA: A disused space to me; a space you want more from. Sometimes you want a space to hold a feeling, a purpose. Sometimes that purpose is function. Function of a piece can come in many forms. To be pleasing to the eye, hold a feeling or memory, to sit on, rest and think, have a meal, a drink, or get to work. I make things that fill those spaces. My work holds stories, those of its life before this form, marks from who used them before. The stories of why these trees have fallen.
22: Your designs are like a meeting between the natural and the man-made. If the raw materials you use dictate the shape of your final product (‘ the imperfect intentions of [the] varied sourced material’), what purpose does the man-made serve?
VV: I respect its original form, not trying to make it too different. The raw materials are beautiful in themselves. A slab of tree can tell you why it fell or how fast it grew, marks of age. The raw material is nature’s art. The me-made is my art. Its my compliment to the nature.
22: What affect does Brooklyn have on what you create?
VV: I love this place. I use the wood from old watertowers. I use trees that grew in Brooklyn and fell in Brooklyn. I ride my bike through its streets and find inspiration.My friends and fellow artist in Brooklyn inspire me.
22: What is unique about your creative process – what do you think will make it interesting to an audience who has no familiarity already with your work?
VV: I work backwards sometimes…sometimes, I have the material before the design. I have a stack of wood that I’ve collected and been given. I get inspired and it moves forward. If I design (think too much) nothing happens.
22: On the other hand, do you think the audience or the atmosphere will affect what you are creating on the night itself?
VV: Yes. I have ideas of what I can do on that Saturday night, but no plan. I may just be handplaning the whole time. Working a rough piece towards a finished state.
22: Do you have a clear idea of what it is you will make at the show?
VV: Something with wood since it would be a bit complicated to weld on stage. My clear idea is I want to be comfortable, I want to have fun, I want to play.
22: Do you think that being self-taught has enabled you to work without restrictions?
VV: Its enabled me to be in my process. I learn something and I work at it until I feel I’ve improved. Then I move on to the next skill. I’m learning slow but well. I learn what intrigues me, while bypassing the “shoulds.” I learn from the materials, my peers and my experience.
22: What impact do you think a conventional education in furniture making would have had on your work?
VV: I wouldn’t have had the experiences I’ve had. I wouldn’t have lived in many places and found my passion through my love for challenges. I would have judged myself because I am not a traditional classroom student. I probably would know more design history. I would be been more in debt and felt like I need to make my work rather than want to.
Filed under: MUSIC, THE PLAYLIST | Tags: 2012, 22, 5, 5th, and, animals, Consciousness, december, Excerpt, from, Plant, plants, PLAYLIST, the
The 22 Playlist #5 Plants and Animals
(Dec 6th, 2012)
Devoted to cruciferous cohorts and bestial bellowers in sonic communication, “Plants and Animals” is an homage to the unearthly noises emitted by our plant and animal brethren. Combining the podcast, “Plant Consciousness & Communication” by Carlo Patrão (Zeplim Radio), with sounds from Timothy Shepard (UK), Squid Lid (Canada), Dokuro (Poland), Jef Brown/Aaron Moore (Brooklyn), Lushlife (Brooklyn), Polypus Acephalous (Russia), and TriReeval (Washington).
Listen below or on SOUNDCLOUD.
Check out the comments section for track credits.
And as you may have noticed we have a new format for the playlist this week. We think it’s pretty cool, if you like, or if there is something you simply loathe about the new setup please hit us up with comments/suggestions at the 22magazine (at) gmail (dot) com. Otherwise, enjoy!
Filed under: The 22, VOLUME ONE | Tags: 2011, 22, 22nd, a, and, art, artist, artists, arts, at, book, books, brooklyn, center, city, collage, december, festival, film, magazine, music, new, ny, nyc, one, performance, photography, show, sign, surreal, symbol, the, Video, volume, with, writing, york
Things are about to get fun. We’ve finally finalized our list for Volume 2/11! We’ll be wrapping up our showcase of Volume One contributors as the new models roll off the line for Vol 2/II: Sign and Symbol. I love this part, two ships creaking and swaying, as they pass each other in the night, and I am particularly excited about the fresh perspective in our upcoming volume. Our mission remains a showcase of contributors and luckily this volume has a real kick to it. The combination of emerging and established talent is gorgeous and I can’t thank anyone or everyone enough for sending work in or for helping us develop the blog. For me, this project makes it feel like Christmas every day of the year. As always it is your support and talent that makes it worthwhile.
Here’s what you can look forward to!
September-December 2011 (Wrap of contributor showcase for Vol 1.)
November 1st, 2011 (CONTRIBUTOR REVEAL BEGINS ONLINE)
December 22nd 2011 (Vol 2/II: Sign & Symbol goes live online)
Early 2012 (Really exciting announcement about the future course of the 22!)
Parties and events come as they may, often without warning, so we’ll keep you updated in the next couple of months on your chance to celebrate with these amazing folks.

























































































