ZEA: WORKS IN PROGRESS

Sketchbook: New Year

2012-01-02T16:39:00.001-05:00

I am your New Year's Resolution.

I am better than you.

January 2nd

December 30th

Sketchbook: Waning of the Year

2011-12-29T16:34:00.000-05:00

Getting through the hyper smog of the holidays with an ailing rapidograph. (third piece down gives evidence of the death sputters) A new one sits snuggled in its case, at the ready. I've got a concept design illustration to do for work, a small group of blockprints to cut for a business and a minicomic about a petulant, chainsmoking french girl sitting on my desk to finish in the first moments of the new year. Sets a nice tone...

Sketchbook: Her and Him

2011-12-16T16:30:00.000-05:00

Sketchbook entries. Early December. Prismacolor markers and Rapidograph pen...

Sketchbook: Nomember Decmember

2011-12-14T18:24:00.000-05:00

Sketchbook selection from late November and early December...

note the evidence of my fifth (sixth?) rapidograph getting ready to give up the ghost.

A New Minicomic Has Begun!

2011-12-05T15:00:00.000-05:00

Dave Grilli has written a new story we are converting into a minicomic! Hopefully this one will move at a better clip than Neonlove did. Using an illustrator who loves comics but isn't a big fan of squares and insists on reinventing the wheel and testing the mashy-ness of linear time doesn't do much for efficiency, but might come up with some novel ideas for 2D visual storytelling (we should be so lucky)

Here are some of the beginnings:

Mapping out the flow of the pages

Sketching page layout, with a little help...

Starting with midtones, {note: the neo-futurists pencil for extra inspirado}

Sketchbook: November

2011-11-27T13:56:00.000-05:00

November has tied me to an old dead tree
get word to April to rescue me

-Tom Waits

sketchbook entries from November

And Plus Like

2011-11-10T20:58:00.001-05:00

In a continued obsession with an idea for a fictional boutique for airheads, (a recurring motif in my drawings) and out of a continued angst over the general hideousness of the vast, boring expanse of my bag, last night, I painted a bag on my bag. That is all.

Sketchbook: October

2011-11-01T20:20:00.001-04:00

Sketchbook entries from the month of October.

All Fall Down Blog Piece

2011-11-01T20:16:00.000-04:00

on Bony Lil's Creation + Distraction

John Towsen of All Fall Down: The Craft + Art of Physical Comedy fame did a write up of the live screening we did of silent short film duet Bony Lil's Creation + Distraction in September as part of the Amuse Bouche Clown Festival in Brooklyn NY.

We put together a new live musical score with Clifton Hyde and Stefan Zeniuk, and Director Michael Pope and Animator and star Zea Barker provided the sound effects with a tiny table with too too many things on it.

All live action, and much of the animation, was shot on super 8 film and edited digitally. The animation is a self-taught method that Zea came up with through trial and error and trying endlessly to get this endless business of hand-crafted animation to go a bit quicker.

lookee here:

Bony Lil's Distraction from Zea on Vimeo.

{intermission}

Bony Lil's Creation from Zea on Vimeo.

Muse to Barnaby Whitfield

2011-10-28T19:48:00.000-04:00

The relentlessly talented Barnaby Whitfield has made an enormous piece featuring the googly face-parts of YoursTruly.

This Is A Foreground
2011
Pastel On Paper
60 by 40 inches

This is not the first piece Barnaby has used my mug for... maybe the ...sixth?? and certainly the largest. Pour through the top three rows of his incredible gallery of work and you'll find five others.

This one is on its way to Copenhagen for unveiling and possibly getting boughten.

PLUS, he's got prints of this one:

get yer grubby paws on it here.

Sketchbook: Autumn's Extenuation

2011-10-17T21:09:00.001-04:00

I Vermont NY

2011-10-14T17:14:00.008-04:00

A BENEFIT FOR VERMONT STORM RELIEF
BY VERMONTERS LIVING IN NYC
photo by Maverick Inman

"I Vermont NY" was born out of the heartache from the damage from Tropical Storm Irene on Vermont, the homestate of New York City residents and Blue Man Group co-workers Zea Barker and Isaac Littlejohn Eddy

Zea called Amanda Palmer, Isaac called the Brooklyn Bowl, Blue Man Group and Cabot Creamery donated funds to cover overhead and the work began to create a beautiful night to raise funds for Vermont.

Ed Koren, of VT and the New Yorker fame, designed a beautiful poster for the night {above}

Deep Mountain Maple set up a farmers market style stand inside the club. The silent auction quickly filled with donated items: Burton donated three snowboards and gear, Darkcloud hand-screened unique t-shirts and original art, Jennifer Kahn donated "Repairing Vermont" pendents, many artists donated prints and Vermont's Center for Cartoon Studies brought a box of comics, books and original art.

Isaac's animated piece about Liberty Hill Farm in Vermont posted on time.com leading up to the benefit:

The coup de grace came when Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary agreed to come do a few songs with Amanda Palmer in support of the cause.
photo @Vnend

The night was a great success and nearly $10,000 has been distributed to two VT funds: Vermont Disaster Relief Fund and Vermont Farm Disaster Relief Fund

Huge thanks go out to the performers who donated their time, the artists who donated auction items, the companies who donated their goods, the wonderful people at the Brooklyn Bowl, the scores of Blue Man Group NY employees who came out to make this night run smoothly and the hundreds of folks who came out to celebrate with us.

PRESS:
Photos from CMJ.com
The Herald of Randolph VT
Seven Days article

The Blue Men had a duet with Amanda Palmer covering a rawkus version of the Clash's Should I Stay or Should I Go.

Vermont sustained nearly 1 billion dollars in damage from the storm. Winter is on its way and damaged roads need to be able to carry home heating fuel trucks and snowplows, home repairs need to be completed, extremely far-reaching debris needs to be cleaned up. You can help by donating to the above funds, lending a hand daily details for how at VTResponse and by making plans to visit the beautiful state this fall and winter as gorgeous foliage becomes incredible skiing and boarding.

benefit site
twitter

Sketchbook Project: Book Online

2011-09-22T22:23:00.000-04:00

You might recall I submitted a sketchbook to The Sketchbook Project 2011 which then joined the other nearly 10,000 sketchbooks on an eight city national tour during the spring and summer.

Two pieces of awesome news: one is that the sketchbooks have returned and are living at the Brooklyn Art Library in Williamsburg where they can be checked out and perused. Secondly, for those outside of NYC, my entire sketchbook has been scanned and uploaded to my profile to be viewed online in entirety! GO SEE! {can't seem to get image to link to site so use "GO SEE" or this: http://www.arthousecoop.com/library/701 }

Bony Lil's Creation + Distraction Screening

2011-08-27T20:26:00.001-04:00

BONY LIL's CREATION + DISTRACTION
short film duet
silent comedy * hand-crafted animation * live music + sound fx

Amuse Bouche 2011
ComedyShorts - Clowns on Film
The Brick Theater - williamsburg brooklyn
September 16th - 10pm
tickets

Bony Lil rides again! This will be only the second time these films have screened in New York (the first being in the fall of 2008 at Joe's Pub) This time, they are joined by other great clown films of Jeff Seal and Morro and Jasp as well as an animation/live performance from the multi-talented Isaac Littlejohn Eddy. With each new screening of these films co-creators Zea Barker and Michael Pope look for new folks to collaborate with and create new music for these silent pieces. Clifton Hyde has stepped to the task and will be sure to bring the funk as this is not his first rodeo in the genre. All sound effects are done live as well by Barker and Pope and their bag of tricks.

This is a special night in the month long clown festival Amuse Bouche taking place at the Brick Theater in Williamsburg Brooklyn (Lorimer Metropolitan L/G) THis night in particular will be hosted by the fabulous Audrey Crabtree and John Towsen!

There are a bunch of great live shows happening all month. Check'm out!

Sketchbook : early august

2011-08-15T20:07:00.003-04:00

Stop the Gene Wilder Remakes! - PREORDER

2011-08-13T13:20:00.006-04:00

LONG LIVE THE ORIGINAL CINEMATIC WORKS OF GENE WILDER!
Ladies and Gentlemen! Order your Stop the Gene Wilder Remakes T-Shirts now!

There is currently a pre-order for Ts that end August 29th and ships September 2nd @ wireandtwine.com.

The wonderful folks that handprint the shirts over at wireandtwine are functioning on a pre-order basis now (just like the first two guerilla runs of the shirt I did myself!). They've let me rally a new batch so get your orders in.

*as mentioned by The Nerdist to Patton Oswalt!
*as pimped by yewknee.com
*as ranted by me in spring of 2008

*as sported by happy sexy creatures

I love all you guys, by the way

Illustration Portfolio!

2011-08-09T22:18:00.003-04:00

I have a spanky new site with the folks over at Cargo Collective.

I'm polishing up my work to see about making a living at illustration! editorial mostly, but certainly am not too choosy at this point in the game. It began in earnest while doing that 15 piece slideshow for the Atlantic Monthly. Loved doing it. Let me know if you know of agents or publication or beautiful archival printers or bands in need of graphix or people needing tattoos designed or... anything else you can think of.

check it out and pass it on!

xx

Sketchbook: July crotchpotcookin

2011-07-28T21:58:00.003-04:00

Sketchbook: sticky and fitful

2011-07-08T16:02:00.001-04:00

Sketchbook: June

2011-06-21T22:39:00.003-04:00

Sketchbook Project 2011: West Coast

2011-06-04T00:32:00.003-04:00

I made a sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project 2011.
The sketchbooks have been on an eight city that started (and will end) in at the Brooklyn Art Library in February. There are sketchbooks from around the world made according to a handful of different themes, mine was It Will Be Fun, I Swear.

The books will be arriving on the west coast shortly. Seattle is the first stop.
June 10th - 12th the books will be on display at:
Form/Space Ateller
2407 1st Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121

Then, June 16th - 18th:
Madrone Studios
1417 15th St
San Francisco, CA

If you live in either of these fair cities, do go see. It's blast.

Ask for mine by name and I will get a little notification on my phone that you did and it will make my day.

For interested parties, they are currently gearing up for the 2012 edition. You can submit a sketchbook for next year's international tour.

For those outside those cities, check out the upcoming dates and check out my profile on the site. Soon the entire sketchbook will be scanned and available for viewing online.

Sketchbook: May continued...

2011-05-26T16:14:00.001-04:00

Stop the Gene Wilder Remakes!

2011-05-25T02:07:00.005-04:00

Got a wonderful mention by Chris Hardwick on his great podcast
The Nerdist while chatting with Patton Oswalt!

available for you to get at!

Sketchbook: Spring

2011-05-14T12:41:00.004-04:00

Gate Creatures: New York City

2011-05-13T13:24:00.003-04:00

....New pastime: tracking personable gate guardians....

.................FOUND March 28th - L.E.S., Manhattan...............

Feb 28th - Brooklyn.................Mar 5th By Bri - Site unknown

................March 14th - Clinton Hill, Brooklyn...............

................March 28th - Clinton Hill, Brooklyn...............

Sketchbook: April

2011-04-24T19:55:00.004-04:00

Illustration for the Atlantic Monthly

2011-04-12T10:30:00.006-04:00

Sparking the Cosmic Imagination
RITA J. KING & ZEA BARKER - Rita J. King is the vice president of business development at Science House and co-director of IMAGINATION. Zea Barker is an animator, video director and performer. She has worked on music videos for Ben Folds and others.

Go see!

Rita has also posted it in all its intended verticality at her Imagination Age site! {RECOMMENDED}

Sketchbook: Later March...

2011-03-30T12:51:00.008-04:00

March 23rd................................................March 24th

March 26th..................................................March 28th

March 29th.........................................................

Sketchbook Tour: Maine, Atlanta, DC...

2011-03-28T20:48:00.004-04:00

The mighty tour of the sketchbooks continues!
The Sketchbook Project will be hitting three cities by mid April.
Please do check out my sketchbook by name. I will get a notification on my phone that you have and it will make my day.
It Will Be Fun, I Swear

March 30-April 2
Portland, ME
SPACE Gallery
538 Congress Street

April 8-9
Atlanta, GA
The Granite Room
211 Peters St

April 15-16
12:00-6:00pm
Washington, DC
Hillyer Art Space
9 Hillyer Ct NW

Phontos: New York City, Almost Spring

2011-03-28T20:09:00.007-04:00

................pussiesandpansies...................................

...grandopeningcelebration.....................................................

................conehead..........................................................

...playing............................................................................

Sketchbook: Late March

2011-03-22T19:15:00.004-04:00

March 16th................................................................

March 18th.................................................................

March 20th.................................................................

Sketchbook: japan unfolds

2011-03-16T02:15:00.004-04:00

Sketchbook: Japan Earthquake + Tsunami

2011-03-11T19:56:00.000-05:00

Sketchbook: Changing of the Guard

2011-03-11T19:09:00.007-05:00

March 5th - I finished my sketchbook. Filled. I started that one the day of my first invited audition with Cirque du Soleil in Chicago in early December of 2009. A day equally full of joy and heart-wrenching disappointment. A day blessed by a cascade of pigeon feathers from a feasting hawk. An event to be repeated in the summer the first time I ran through my first solo show in front of people in preparation for the show's premiere and my move back to New York City. A big year.

THE OUTGOING
Finished over coffee at my favorite neighborhood cafe with some shiny new markers I got a few days before...
A really great sketchbookfriend. Feel free to relive the magic.

THE INTERIM
A small book a carried for a few days between books. These prismacolor markers are so exciting...

THE NEW
Here, my new sketchbook is receiving its new armor. I love these type because it oscillates between white and beige pages. And its big enough to house my marker experiments. I've made a wax paper sleeve for the pages underneath so I won't mar things with bleedthrough. ...and so it begins...

SPEAKING OF SKETCHBOOKS...
Mine is in a truck with 10,000 others on the way to SXSW Saturday and Sunday. If you are in Austin for the festivities, check it out. Ask for mine by name. xx

Ya Lost Me: the Fall RTW 2011 edition

2011-03-06T22:54:00.010-05:00

I've been trying to keep up with the fall ready-to-wear 2011 collections as they are unveiled in their various cities. It's a daunting task even when one is not on the tail end of 5 weeks with three days off (life of a freelancer).

So, as I was scuttling through the slideshows over at style.com, I was suddenly interested in that lightswitch moment of disinterest that leads me to give up on viewing the rest of the collection and, instead, move onto some other one. I picked the eight most recent collections posted today and tried to observe the absolute moment of throwing in the towel and giving up hope, and what pieces drove the nail in the towel-hope-coffin.

How it works is, you click on the link to a designer and then on the image they have posted for the collection. That opens a separate window where you can look at a slideshow of every look that came down the runway for that collection, usually in the order it arrived. But there are often 30-50 looks so it becomes a time commitment to see each one, even with zippy broadband.

On the chopping block were:
Akris
Alexis Mabille
Andrew Gn
Celine
Costume National
Givenchy
Hermès
Kenzo

feel free to play along at home.

Here we go:

body length caca suede

belted scarf and drape-head part

ooh. novelty. black AND wZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Doesn't Target already carry this sweater? Er right. no. throw pillow.

Tron

No

Models dressed by an infinite number of monkeys

Givenchy had me going for a while with their bizarre peek-a-boo panther skirts, but, alas, vanquished by the wreath sweater.

The winner is: Hermes
Entire collection viewed.

Flawlessly engaging blend of Erte meets Mongolian hunter (two personal fetishes of mine). And who can argue with head to toe dark green leather. Not I. And all that pandering sweetened me to accepting pretty silly pants as being tres chic and totes rockable.

Congrats, Christophe Lemaire! xx Send clothes!

NY Fashion Week: RTW Fall 2011 ...minus the collections

2011-03-02T12:07:00.010-05:00

A gathering of some images from NY Fashion Week; many elements that go into the tremendous undertaking and buzz of attention and not a stitch of the clothing presented.

THE TENTS
power...................................................

e.t. phone home...............models out back

OFFSITE

DKNY
japanese tv............................exiled press

lingering shutterbugs................................

PICTURES PLEASE
blue suit vs. random fur man......................

.....at least five hours later, fur man owning lincoln ctr plaza.....

DIESEL BLACK GOLD
studded boots...........restrooms for fancybitches only

standing room corral...............love+security

BACK IN THE TENTS

LOBBY
diligent press nook.....interesting design choice

BETSY JOHNSON

THE RISERS

Sketchbook: february

2011-02-28T20:51:00.003-05:00

Sketchbook Project: in Brooklyn!

2011-02-21T15:32:00.004-05:00

Opening Reception.............Barnaby Whitfield with my book

The Sketchbook Project 2011 has begun. Thousands of books are on hand for perusal along a number of themes from artists around the world!

They will be in Brooklyn until the 27th and will then be on their way on an eight city tour over the spring and summer.

It's an interesting experience; you walk in, get a library card, then check out sketchbooks by artist or theme or just randomly. You get two at a time then return them and get more. I think half the experience is just walking around glancing over people's shoulders at the books being leafed through.

I've got some scans up for those who are geographically challenged.

For those in NYC, get out and see. It's free. And I get an email on my phone every time someone looks at my book!

"Imitation"? Aptly named

2011-02-20T17:35:00.003-05:00

Tara Subkoff's collection 'Imitation' (formerly "of Christ" (now "of Zea")) in New York's Fall Ready to Wear 2011 certainly had some imitation alright. Those belts? I've got stuff published back in December of 2009 with that idea. This aggression will not stand *hairflip*

Judge for yourself:

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

eh? whaaaat? alriiiight.

The Sketchbook Project: Opening Reception!

2011-02-14T21:57:00.004-05:00

The Sketchbook Project 2011 is about to begin!

The opening reception is February 19th noon to at the Brooklyn Art Library! They will be there on display through the 27th. The Library is located on 103A N 3rd in Williamsburg Brooklyn.

There will be thousands of sketchbooks available for leaf-through.

Mine can be found under the theme: It Will Be Fun, I Swear. I gold-leafed the cover for easy spotting.

The national tour will begin soon after. Check the side bar for more details.

xx

Sketchbook: cusp of february

2011-02-01T01:27:00.001-05:00

Sketchbook: dec-jan

2011-01-27T19:18:00.007-05:00

december 11................................................december 16

january 20.....................................................january 27

NY Downtown Clown Revue

2011-01-20T00:48:00.004-05:00

As Lady Luck would have it, the entire line-up this month was women at the NY Downtown Clown Revue! We couldn't quite convince Christopher Lueck to don a dress for the occasion.
Brenn Swanson, Butt Kapinski, Amanda Crockett and the lovely stagehand Aquarium (and, of course, Bony Lil) brought the house down.

Jim Moore at vaudevisuals.com posted a blog with a bunch of fine pictures of the evening.

These are from that.

Sketchbook: Submitted!

2011-01-18T22:30:00.004-05:00

I sent off my completed sketchbook to be a part of the Sketchbook Project 2011!
It will be making an eight city national tour with thousands of others like it beginning in February through mid-year.
More info on the project and tour here
More samples of the book and the burgeoning social scene here.

Map of Tasmania Pubic ... I mean, Music Video

2011-01-14T17:33:00.005-05:00

Map of Tasmania is a new single from Amanda Palmer's Album for Australia. It refers to what some fellas might yell out a car window at some ladies. or rather. it is something they would request to see. Tasmania is shaped like this. So are female nether regions, in their 'nature state'. Thus the dance track you see before you.

This was my first time back working with Michael Pope and Amanda Palmer on a video since the days of Coin Op, Girl Anachronism, Sing and the Paradise DVD. I ended up shopping for twinkly things, consulting on merkin logistics, dressing an evolving cast of dancers and extras, pulling some scenic painting out of my bum the day of and doing some set dressing.

The video has an exclusive on Spin Magazine. Go check it out.

Here is the amazing crew:

Sketchbook Project 2011: Deadline Approaches

2011-01-08T22:47:00.006-05:00

About a week and oh so many pages to go til the deadline for the Sketchbook Project 2011. I am working feverishly to finish and have also posted a few more scans to the site!

Sketchbook Project 2011 - Preview Pages Online

2010-12-28T12:51:00.002-05:00

We are still a few weeks out from sending the filled sketchbook in, but I've uploaded a few pages to the Art House Coop site for public preview. Go see.

Bony Lil January - NYC

2010-12-21T21:56:00.004-05:00

Two performance this month in New York City!

BINDLESTIFF OPEN STAGE
January 3rd
Galapagos Art Space
DUMBO Brooklyn
8pm

+

NY DOWNTOWN CLOWN REVUE
January 17th
Dixon Place
LES Manhattan
7:30pm

Come on out! xx

Like Water

2010-12-14T21:41:00.003-05:00

So this is how best I can trace the unfolding of this realization today:

This morning Emily White tweeted about David Lynch talking about transcendental meditation. This is the first thing I saw, still toasty in bed. The idea that we can expand ourselves over time. The twinkle and excitement in him as he speaks about it.

This evening I read the yewknee.com blog and was caught by Michael Eades' response to this article on James Franco. Not usually something I would pay attention to but describing someone's life as having "fluidity" rather than "fixed identity" smacked me upside the head the way the man in The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill struck me years ago when he said he was not a careerist. Never heard of the concept. Before that was just being a bum or indecisive or developmentally stunted.

The resulting idea:

I have studied improvisation in every art form I use for decades, but I tend to beat myself about the head about the rest of my life. The transparency of the career/marriage/kids or the loopycareerartist never seem to line up properly with my life as is.

Although I am extraordinarily good at, I do not really enjoy beating the crap out of myself. I wrote a play [How to Give Up on Your Dreams, By Not Really Trying] about how goals ruin everything but didn't really have a solution at the end because I still want the things I don't have, so am still disappointed.

But what if I allowed my life to be fluid like i allow my art to be. What if I entertained the notion that tickling certain parts of yourself can enlarge your enjoyment of what IS in your life. What if I let it flow, as Bruce Lee said, like water. Control is different from Responsibility. You can be responsible. You cannot be in control.

Some magical combination of David Lynch and James Franco are freeing my fucking mind.

I am cool with this.

Thank you internet and mostly, thank you friends who pass things along.

<3

Here is a photo of a Mongolian marmot hunter. They dress in all white and a hat with ears and carry a tassle-y something. It mesmerizes the marmots so they can get closer to get a better shot.

Sketchbook: octovember

2010-12-13T13:44:00.000-05:00

Blockprint Holiday Cards!

2010-12-02T21:48:00.002-05:00

I've made blockprint cards for the holidays!

Squirrels are the best.

Here, we see, the extraordinary Blue Squirrels of Happiness in a birch tree generally supporting peace and love and beauty, printed in antiqued metallic ink and handcolored.

I've got about 30 at the moment, with envelopes.
5 cards - $25
10 cards - $40
shipping included inside the US
{if inside NYC cheaper still}

contact me at vaganthead at gmail dot com.
first come first serve. paypal.

To hell with virtual and digitally printed cards. Send them ones made digit-ally (x10).

Sketchbook: fHour + GangBurgs

2010-12-01T15:05:00.005-05:00

...the plot thickens...
I'm finding it's best if you read them aloud. Like you mean it.
......click to see bigger......

T-Shirts for the Gene Wilder lovers

2010-11-27T20:59:00.010-05:00

It began in March of 2008 as a rant about the too too many Gene Wilder movies that were being remade, then a graphic, then a guerilla campaign that saw my inbox filling with t-shirt requests from strangers around the world by word of mouth alone.

It has been just about exactly two years since the folks over at wireandtwine.com have been hand-printing and selling the shirts.
They are still available! Send along your Gene Wilder lovers!

Look at all the happy customers! You'll notice by the preponderance of navy on yellow, these were largely early-adopters.

Happy Holidays and Stop the Remakes!

2010-11-20T20:49:00.005-05:00

The have finally begun my submission to The Sketchbook Project 2011. It's coming along nicely and I'm considering it a kind of test run for a honest-to-goodness book I want to make. A sort of part sketchbook, part abstract/stream-o-conscious art book maybe with some recurring characters.

As you might notice, I am using a similar technique that i used for my fine art pieces in the Sink series onaccounta the thin paper in the sketchbook.

The submissions up on the site are Pa-RETTY intimidating. Good to know the bar is set high! The tour will be fun!

Bony Lil's Recital

2010-11-19T14:55:00.003-05:00

This is from the 2008 NY Clown Theater Festival. This piece has been around in various forms since about 2003. It started with canned music and then the wonderfully talented Valerie Thompson {who composed an original score to the short film/animation Bony Lil's Creation} came aboard to compose and perform an original piece.

This was a cabaret night at the clown festival and you will see a nice introduction by Joel Jeske at the top of the clip.

Bony Lil's Recital from Zea on Vimeo.

Bony Lil in the Loop- Chicago

2010-11-12T11:10:00.007-05:00

Bony Lil - How To Give Up On Your Dreams - Lesson #14 from Zea on Vimeo.

An offshoot from the show I created for the NY Clown Theater Festival, "How to Give Up on Your Dreams, By Not Really Trying"

Spent an afternoon running around downtown Chicago with a camera.

Original music by Zebulun Barnow of B1g T1me. Chris Gummert on camera.

Sketchbook: Antleert Beefts

2010-11-09T20:21:00.003-05:00

*slow headshake*

Sketchbook: October

2010-10-27T13:11:00.002-04:00

...October 17................................................

...October 20................................................

...October 25................................................

Bony Lil's Creation + Distraction - on yewknee.com

2010-10-12T13:56:00.003-04:00

Many thanks to the wonderful Michael Eades for doing a nice write up of the Bony Lil's Creation + Distraction! If you didn't get at chance, check out the films, freshly released last week. Being the second, Creation, has been getting less traffic but is the one crammed full of hand-crafted animation in techniques never before seen! Check them out. Pass them on.

A Making-Of video with documentary footage and discussions with the filmmakers is on the way! Some great doc shots and a brief of the process can be found on bonylil.com.

Sketchbook: august, september, october...

2010-10-10T14:34:00.006-04:00

It's been a while since I've posted things from the sketchbook. Writing and performing a solo show and moving a thousand miles will do that to a person. You will notice a distinct lack of time to make all pretty colors.
Here, so it's like you didn't miss a thing.

august21..............................................

august29..............................................september06

october07..............................................

october08..............................................

Blockprints: In-Progress

2010-10-10T14:25:00.003-04:00

My wonderful friends at City Feed and Supply commissioned me to do a series blockprints based on the Chinese Zodiac. I've done a series of farm and cafe theme prints for them in the past. I have been working on five little prints and one big blister. I will post prints when they are complete.

In the meantime, head over to City Feed and order a #1 sandwich with avocado for me. mmmm.

RELEASE! Bony Lil's Creation + Distraction!

2010-10-03T23:51:00.004-04:00

Happy Birthday, Buster Keaton!!

Short film duet, Bony Lil's Creation + Distraction.
Silent Comedy. Hand-crafted Animation. Original Scores.
Watch online in entirety for the first time ever.

Zea Barker and Michael Pope present...

Enjoy!

Bony Lil's Creaton + Distraction! Tomorrow!

2010-10-03T10:05:00.005-04:00

Get Ready!
Distraction is 8.5 minutes and Creation is 10 minutes.
It's nice to take an intermission between them.

Movie time on the internet!!

Bony Lil's Creation + Distraction: TRAILERS

2010-09-28T13:03:00.002-04:00

In anticipation of the big release of the films on October 4th: the trailers!

Bony Lil's Distraction TRAILER from Zea.

Bony Lil's Creation TRAILER from Zea.

Bony Lil's Creation + Distraction is coming!!

2010-09-26T16:17:00.003-04:00

Bony Lil's Creation + Distraction is about to be released in entirety online for the first time ever!

Created by Zea Barker + Michael Pope

The short film duet blends live action silent comedy, unique hand-crafted animation and original scores by Valerie Thompson, Brian Viglione and a few talented musicians from Blue Man Group. The films explore two challenging sides of the creative process; Distraction is the classic story of girl meets blank sheet of paper and Creation explores the chaos of inspired creation and its various repercussions. Shot on black and white Super 8 film and digital, it features a unique style of hand-drawn and stop-motion animation devised by Zea Barker.

The films have been shown by Chicago Short Film Brigade, Blood From a Turnip Puppet Film Festival and the nationally touring Fuck the Back Row.

Soon: online for all to see!

October 4th - Worldwide
to celebrate the birth of master silent clown; Buster Keaton

tune in. It'll be a hoot.

Last Show! Saturday!

2010-09-22T14:29:00.004-04:00

How to Give Up on Your Dreams: By Not really Trying
premiere solo clown show by Zea Barker
Saturday 25th, 6pm, The Brick Theater, Brooklyn

photo by Joe Kolbow

It's been a blast to get the show in front of people. Big chunks of rewrites each night as the piece takes better shape. It is great when moments land as planned. Sometimes even better when an unexpected audience reaction reveals something new about the piece.

This festival has been a wonderful opportunity to share work and meet others with similar passions. Any bajillionaires out there looking to invest in pure awesome, this is the place.

Check out the review on NYTheatre.com!

And come catch the last show of the run!

Opening Night!

2010-09-18T14:56:00.003-04:00

The World Premiere of How to Give Up on Your Dreams: By Not Really Trying unfolded last night to a wonderful crowd at the NY Clown Theater Festival in Brooklyn. Two more shows to go.
September 20th @ 9pm and September 25th @ 6pm.
tickets

Check out the photo blog of the Show by Jim Moore at Vaudevisuals.com

How to Give Up on Your Dreams Premiere

2010-09-16T12:48:00.005-04:00

How to Give Up on Your Dreams: By Not Really Trying
my new solo clown show
premieres at the NY Clown Theater Festival

Friday September 17th 9pm

The Brick Theater, Williamsburg Brooklyn

info
and plus like --> {sidebar}

tickets

An interview about the show

New York City

2010-09-10T11:08:00.005-04:00

I've crammed my flickr account full and can't bring myself to either make room or pay for more space, so I will share my new phontos here!
Ladies and Gentlemen: New York City

mariachi....................................................batman cake

babbling stream...........................................stained glass

bottles..............................................contrapposto in red

NY Clown Theater Festival 2010 - Parade + Pie Fight

2010-09-08T10:55:00.005-04:00

RELEASE DATE: Bony Lil's Creation + Distraction

2010-09-06T18:17:00.003-04:00

I am thrilled to announce a date for the long-awaited internet release of the short film duet, Bony Lil's Creation + Distraction!

To celebrate the 115th birthday of the masterful Buster Keaton,
the films will make their internet debut on October 4th!

We are excited.

xx

SOON!: Bony Lil's Creation + Distraction Internet Release

2010-08-21T12:33:00.004-04:00

I'm working on the web pages for the release of the short film duet: Bony Lil's Creation + Distraction in entirety on the internet! These films began 5 years ago as an idea of Michael Pope and I. We shot in my apartment on black and white super8 and I started the mountain of hand-crafted animation. Two years later, they were complete and ready for their rounds of film festival submissions. So the internet waited. Then I applied for a grant to see if we could get some start-up cash to make dvds for sale. So the internet waited. Now, on the eve of the premier of my new solo show at the NY Clown Theater Festival in September, there is no better time to unleash them on the world.

COMING SOON TO A COMPUTER NEAR YOU!!

Crappy Things Kids Say to Each Other

2010-08-18T12:30:00.000-04:00

a series in the making

I have ideas for an illustrated series of Crappy Things Kids Say to Each Other. I've got five more on deck. As soon as I can either attain some scrap of financial stability or convince myself I don't need it, I will continue. I'm thinking limited edition screenprints, though I'm sure totebags would fly (*eyeroll*)

Feel free to feedback. I love that sort of thing.

Sketchbook: august...

2010-08-17T13:05:00.000-04:00

Here is a portrait of a sun bear from a recent trip to the zoo. The sign says she had jaw surgery for some serious health problem a few years ago, thus, the tongue. I love her.

Announcing: New Clown Show

2010-08-14T11:31:00.004-04:00

How to Give Up on Your Dreams: By Not Really Trying
an original solo clown show

Premiering at the NY Clown Theatre Festival 2010

How To Give Up On Your Dreams: By Not Really Trying
Bony Lil aka Zea Barker
Chicago, IL
http://zeabarker.com
So much struggle. So much heartache. Don't you think it's time to let those dreams go? Take it from a recent convert. Bony Lil takes you by the hand and leads you to a place where you don't need to try and strive...and cry. Give up on your dreams. You'll be awfully glad you did. 45 min.

Friday September 17th 9pm
Monday September 20th 9pm
Saturday September 25th 6pm

tix!

This year's line-up is wonderful!

The Brick Theater, Inc., presenter of the first festival of Clown Theatre in New York in over 20 years in 2006, brings the festival back this fall as the 2010 New York Clown Theatre Festival, performing September 3-26 at The Brick Theater in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This year’s festival will feature diverse clown theatre artists from the Ukraine, Israel, Wales, Mexico, Canada, and across the United States from California, Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Oregon, Chicago and New York City.

The festival will present 17 mainstage shows, 4 kid-friendly shows, 1 street show, and 5 cabarets, including a cabaret devoted to clowns over 50! The festival begins on September 3 with its traditional opening day parade from Union Square through the L line subway to Williamsburg, followed by an open-to-the-public pie fight at The Brick Theater! And it closes on September 26 with the traditional closing day Funeral, with clowns weeping and wailing in the streets of Williamsburg.

The NEW YORK CLOWN THEATRE FESTIVAL will run September 3-26 at The Brick (575 Metropolitan Avenue between Union Avenue and Lorimer Street, Brooklyn). Tickets ($15) are available online at www.bricktheater.com or by calling 1-866-811-4111.

UPCOMING!

2010-08-04T13:59:00.003-04:00

I'm happy to announce after over 3 years of film festival submissions and peppered nationwide screenings, Bony Lil's Creation + Distraction are getting ready to be released in entirety on the world-wide internets! Stay tuned for deets! Check out the trailers in the meantime.

ALSO, I am happy to announce the wondrous City Feed and Supply will be carrying greeting cards featuring the blockprints I designed for the opening of their new store on Centre St. in Jamaica Plain a couple years ago! Stay tuned for deets!

PLUS, I am happy to announce I will have a full-length solo show in this year's NY Clown Theatre Festival in Brooklyn in September. Stayed for deets!

Meanwhile, I am unemployed and soon to be homeless. I am not too proud to beg on "the street." Feel free to donate to the cause (of me: vaganthead(at)gmail(dot)com) as I endeavor to move back east in September and mount my show. I will send you a thank you card of my own construction for your mantel.

xZ

Sketchbook: July Histrionics

2010-07-21T14:52:00.002-04:00

Summer Mix Series 2010

2010-07-06T12:07:00.002-04:00

It's Summer Mix Series time again. The mixes are rolling in at yewknee.com. Folks are doing a great job coming up with themes as well as the awesome choices of tunes.

Mine is countrymouse citymouse. It is a journey from the racket and mayhem of the city to the depths of the country. It is bookended with topical Modest Mouse tunes to justify the "mouse" part.

Check out all the goodness! Make one yourself!

Thanks for the fun, Michael!

Saleo fArt

2010-06-29T13:47:00.006-04:00

I am selling my arts. These pieces have shown in a group show in Soho Manhattan and a cafe show in Chicago, some even were at the first solo show in Jamaica Plain. Others in the series sold for amounts the current economy cannot provide.

I want them to go out into the world instead of sitting in the trunk.

Saying I'll take any amount for them never works, so I will say they are $40 each and you will have the cojones to tell me you want it for less or trade or only the cost of shipping. And I will give it to you.

They are mostly framed 9 x 11 with one exception.

There are pen and ink drawings on both sides of a single piece of paper; the front and the "submerged" back. They are framed between two sheets of glass so available light can bring out the submerged bits in even more detail.

The links on some the titles are more detailed close-ups of what they are. Close-ups of the remaining two and below.

Bunny..11 x 14...........................................

Director.................................................Fauxy Lady

Smurf.................................................Market

All these are shown backlit by the window to show the complete images. Below, you see what it looks like just hung on a wall. Very subtle and some folks won't notice there is more under the surface. But YOU will know....

Contact me at vaganthead@gmail.com if you can give one a good home.
I have a paypal account.

Thank you

Mouse Serial

2010-06-27T14:49:00.004-04:00

A POST MODERN BEATRIXPOTTER-ESQUE TALE
inspired by Morrocan Mint Iced Tea, Strawberry Rhubarb Pie and Douglas Adams - The Salmon of Doubt

THE END

here is the page in entirety:

Neonlove: fire one

2010-06-24T13:06:00.000-04:00

Here are page one and two and the beginning of page 3 of the comic I am illustrating written by Dave Grilli: Neon Love.

This is my first crack at comic illustration. I am doing all the layout and line work by hand and color and text in the computer. I am coming at this from a filmmaking stand point, drawing how i would shoot it and then tweeking the page layout to do things linear moviemaking cannot.

I've got another 30 pages to go and am kind of stunned how long this small step has taken me (a year, real life being a constant distraction) Reinventing the wheel probably isn't helping the rate of progress. I'm just hoping I will be able to hit on some evocative element I find missing from most comics in the process. The parts of humanity not containable in text and little boxes but available in physical expression, the malleable nature of time and complexity of the thought process.

Being a theatre artist by education and trade, I find it excruciating to wait so long for response to the work. I guess I'm looking for feedback of any sort.

Take a peek, if you have a mo.

Thanks!

*by the by, for some reason, the colors are much more muted when viewed in firefox, safari not so. might just be my old lady 'puter...

Sketchbook: June

2010-06-20T15:27:00.000-04:00

The Sketchbook Project!

2010-06-14T13:23:00.000-04:00

I am thrilled to be taking part in the Sketchbook Project 2011

I just got my blank sketchbook in the mail.

It goes like this: Each sketchbook has a theme. You fill the sketchbook along that theme and send it back. all the sketchbooks are filed with the others of that theme and the sketchbooks make a journey on a six city crosscountry tour next spring where folks can look at them and then they live at a library in brooklyn where they can be checked out forever more.

A supercool aspect is that the barcode on the back of each sketchbook means you can not only track where your sketchbook has been but also receive notifications every time someone looks at your book. notified right on your phone, even.

The theme I chose was "it will be fun, i swear"

yes, it will.

Sketchbook: Evelyn Evelyn Tour

2010-06-08T14:04:00.003-04:00

Vancouver...............

Tenderloin, San Francisco............

San Francisco...................

Somewhere In Wisconsin...............

Falling Asleep in Public

2010-05-15T15:40:00.005-04:00

I adore watching people falling asleep in public. People wrestling between states of consciousness. Body consciousness drifting away. Unhinged vulnerability. Here are some videos of folks falling asleep in public. It starts off with the wonderfully observed bit by Mr. Bean in church. then on to real-life examples; politicians, businessmen, bus patrons, and a ubiquitous cute baby animal thrown in.

As a follow-up, the beautiful work of a friend of mine, Brian Scott who has a whole corner of photographic work dedicated to the subject: look at the awesome here

MoustacheMay Love

2010-05-12T23:20:00.006-04:00

So, last year i got the chance to make a design for the very first official Moustache May t-shirt.

I got to see various folks popping up wearing it.
It was totally outta sight.

THEN, i was browsing around this year's Moustache Mayor page, where all the best photos are posted and what to my bugging-out eyes should appear? a beautiful tribute to the design by the tireless Tashy O'Toole.

I was knocked out.

Now I share:

Sketchbook: may begins

2010-05-10T16:55:00.002-04:00

..............may 6...............

..............may 7...............

Stop the Gene Wilder Remakes Tshirts

2010-05-01T13:11:00.001-04:00

TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY! {approximately}

It has been two years since the cry went out in the shadow of the movie remakes of Willy Wonka and the Producers, the new Broadway production of Young Frankenstein and rumors of Blazing Saddles' movements toward the stage. Gene Wilder's genius is not replaceable and needs to be preserved for future generations. So i got out my Sharpie and made some calls to screenprinting friends of mine.

The first generation of guerilla t-shirts grew from worrying if I would make the 12 shirt minimum to my inbox filling with impassioned pleas for shirts from around the world. News spread by word of mouth and internet posts until I was stuffing envelopes destined to New York, LA, and Tokyo. A second run (with maroon ink) was demanded after the first sold out.

The wonderful folks at wireandtwine.com caught wind of the design and asked to carry it and hand-print each one for eager customers across the land. i was delighted. I held an informal poll on new color schemes. (the colors of this first run needed to be kept sacred to those lucky enough to join early)

Even picking the perfect chocolate-y brown proved tricky.

Today the shirts are still available for purchase online.

In this time of when remakes seem to outweigh new original work {Clash of the Titans, anyone?} Let's make sure art history is not recorded over and let's make room for more new original view points, how bout.
LONG LIVE THE ORIGINAL CINEMATIC WORK OF GENE WILDER!

Much thanks to Shannon at Commonwealth Press, Michael at yewknee.com and Tom at wireandtwine.com and all the folks who told their friends for helping an idea become reality. xx

Sketchbook: aprilshowers

2010-04-24T14:24:00.007-04:00

..................................april 13th.................................

...................................april 17th................................

..................................april 21st.................................

.................................april 23rd.................................

Sketchbook: marchapril

2010-04-07T16:48:00.000-04:00

performance reel 2009

2010-03-18T14:11:00.001-04:00

selected performances 2004-2009

featuring:

*NY Clown Theatre Festival 2008
*"Stagehand"- Voltaic Vaudeville 2005
*"Stagehand"- Dresden Dolls Live in Paradise DVD 2005
*El Circo Cheapo 2009
*'Wanted' original clown show 2009
*'Bony Lil's Creation + Distraction' Short film duet 2007
*"Stagehand"- A Stupendous Display of Kickshaw Hibernaculum 2004

Sketchbook: march

2010-03-15T16:52:00.004-04:00

fall10RTW: Rebel Yellow

2010-03-14T14:07:00.010-04:00

galliano.......................................miumiu

I have been reviewing all the fashion from the Fall10 Ready To Wear collections. I spend hours on style.com clicking on all the slideshows. I only made a small dent, covered my favorites, discovered some new-to-me. I found some nice pieces. I was inspired to empty out my locker full of fabric all over my apartment. I bought grannypanties from the Sears so i could dress like dolce & gabbana.

One thing i found particularly and viscerally striking was a color used in a couple collections. Galliano was the first i saw. In amongst the piles of frosty grey, there was a shock of bright-rich-yellow-orange. I see this as today's reincarnation of Elsa Schiaparelli's shocking pink. But, it transcends gender. To me it felt like a call to rebellion. It is Vivienne Westwood's gorgeous hair.

But it's not angry.

It's finding motivation in intense positivity.

revolution through in-your-face love and smiles and humor.

This is the color of my freak flag.

And this is my call to arms, abrazos.

I call it: Rebel Yellow

balenciaga..................viviennewestwood

Video Archive: Romance

2010-03-06T15:13:00.004-05:00

Dug up this vintage footage circa 2003, playing the Straight Man to Brian Viglione's overwrought romantic. A belated Valentine to the world.

Dream: gunball

2010-02-15T00:27:00.005-05:00

I dreamt I burst into a crowded bar with some sort of a machine gun in one hand and a piece of paper in the other. I yelled to announce my arrival, and when that failed to garner much attention, I shot some holes in the ceiling. I started to wave the paper around and demand to know who wrote the few partial sentences on it. It was some sort of half-baked philosophical statement on human existence. It became clear, and somewhat bewildering to my lucid self, that the primary reason for my toting a gun into a public place was to engage people in a philosophical discussion. The bar patrons were not interested. Most ignored me and my gun. A few started to leave. I shouted about how they couldn't in my best wild-west, to no avail. Not wanting to kill anyone I shot at an outward bound calf muscle. I then learned that my gun shot what appeared to be white gumballs at a very sluggish velocity. I gave up.

Sketchbook: january, february

2010-02-10T13:17:00.003-05:00

jan17....................................................................jan19

jan28.....................................................................feb07

Monsters of Their Own Bedrooms

2010-02-03T14:33:00.002-05:00

I don't know what to say, really. but, this seems to be what people want to see. no irony. no glossy stardom. "reality." jerry springer, reality tv, american movie, youtube clips, monsters of their own bedrooms. celebrities are too easy to knock down. eminem's winning rap in 8 mile.

or don't bother with my psuedo-anthropological meanderings and just enjoy some good flop-crotch.

Bill Watterson: interview

2010-02-03T13:33:00.003-05:00

I used to fantasize about making a "Searching for Bill Watterson" sort of documentary, driving around ohio in a van. But, I thought about how upset he'd be if I showed up on his lawn with cameras rolling. So I didn't do it.

But he's an interview with him.

via yewknee {happy birthday!}

And Another Thing!

2010-01-23T14:46:00.006-05:00

Yesterday's rants as evidenced by my facebook feed:

If glaxo smith kline gets to make feature-length advert... 'documentary' about how its product, (with an unbelievable, beyond-satire list of gnarly side effects), is best, and political campaigns just became an official commodity, we've got the drugs covered, the funding of glitz and sexual deviations is covered, WHERE THE FUCK IS THE ROCK + ROLL!

Oh right. That's my end of the bargain. Stock up on panties and lighters, folks. I WILL NOT FAIL YOUZ!

and then four hours and some more NPR later...

And another thing! Have y'all seen how the list of side effects for drugs takes the lion's share of the commercial length and far surpasses any attempt at satire? They are asking people to pay huge sums of cash to maybe die very unpleasantly because it COULD make you feel better. Let's suppose that art was allowed a FRACTION of that legal leeway? Artists! Let's step up to the plate. People are willing to suffer intensely to maybe feel better. We can definitely help them with that, am I right!

So a major pharmaceutical company gets featured at Sundance Film Festival. I view this as a blatant breach of medium. Maybe artists should start making up some different stuff for people to ingest that might kill them or at least make them shit their pants. So politicians get mad funding and will get as much moral backlash as Ms. Spears for transgressions. Oh wait, that already happens; men's bathrooms, hired escorts, spooj on blue dresses, etc.

So the politicians are rock stars, the athletes are rockstars and the real rockstars are giving it away for free online.
Tragedy only makes good news if there is "looting" and "unrest". (I listened to this newswoman on the BBC HARPING on this correspondent to give some evidence that people were going lord of the flies)

SMILE BITCHES! It's ALL showbiz NOW!

Welcome to the 20TWEENS!

BEIGE: the saga continues

2010-01-18T14:23:00.002-05:00

A year and a half ago, found myself living in the oil to my water, Orlando FL, for six weeks. It drove me a bit batty. I made a video about it: Beige

Last month, I found myself in the same predicament again and decided to continue the saga.

Presenting BEIGE REDUX:

beige redux from Zea on Vimeo.

...aaaaand the director's cut

beige redux: director's cut from Zea on Vimeo.

.......aaaaannd a little bonus somethingsomething

hotel from Zea on Vimeo.

I am safely back in Chicago, now.