Dave McClinton

God Mother, 2020 Digital Collage 36 x 24 in by Dave McClinton

God Mother, 2020 Digital Collage 36 x 24 in by Dave McClinton

A little over a year ago I interviewed artist Dave McClinton on my Austin Art Talk podcast. His work aims to tell stories, start hard conversations, and help visually define current and historical black identity and inner life. I admit I was nervous about having that conversation. Thankfully it went very well and is still one of my favorites. Dave generously answered all of my questions and I feel like I am a better person for having had that talk. More conversations like it are definitely needed.

Below is a quote from the interview, a player to listen to it, and the information and statement pertaining to his exhibition at Ivester Contemporary that I just photographed.

“The things that I think people don’t understand or misunderstand about me is that sometimes when I’m hanging out with friends or hanging out with piers, I can’t help but make a joke or a comment about race. Because it is literally always there. It’s just always there. It’s an odd thing to constantly have that in your face all of the time. It’s heavy. I think it’s why black men die sooner than everyone else. That psychological weight is always there. And sometimes I wish I could explain to my friends what that’s like. I wish there was a way to convey to people, and maybe that’s what I am trying to do with the art, what that constant pressure feels like, because it is literally constant”
— Dave McClinton - Austin Art Talk interview

Ivester contemporary - MAIN EXHIBITION SPACE

Absolute Relativism

New Work by Dave McClinton
December 5 - January 9
Reception to be held from 7pm - 10pm on December 5

Ivester Contemporary is proud to present Absolute Relativism, a solo exhibition by Austin based artist Dave McClinton. This exhibition represents a continuation of the artist’s Black Life series, an ongoing project which began in 2015 and aims to illustrate the inner life-cycle of Black people in America. McClinton’s single edition digital collages focus on the bodies and portraits of Black people embellished with textures of foundational elements, symbols related to trade and status, as well as text from historical documents derived directly from America’s long and lingering history of slavery and white supremacism.

McClinton’s work boldly initiates and engages with the realities of being Black in America. The artist encourages his viewers to acknowledge and empathize with the pain inflicted upon Black people over the course of the history of America and also to admire the power, pride, and righteousness shown despite. McClinton illustrates that no matter the realities cast upon their backgrounds and bodies; the figures depicted in his work are defiant, never ashamed.

How I Produce An Austin Enneagram Episode

Recording at Elizabeth’s gorgeous house. Two hosts, two in-person guests, and one on a computer through Zoom.

Recording at Elizabeth’s gorgeous house. Two hosts, two in-person guests, and one on a computer through Zoom.

Just produced another new episode for Elizabeth and Leigh over at Austin Enneagram. There was a new challenge this time since one of their guests was on Zoom. After doing some research I decided at the last minute to just allow Zoom to record the call on the computer while recording the guests in person with my equipment. Zoom allowed me to choose to save the audio of the remote guest on its own track. Luckily the audio had the same timing as my local recordings and matched up perfectly. It ended up sounding pretty good!

I’m already maxing out the capability of my Zoom H4N Pro recorder (not the same company), by recording 4 people at once using two XLR Male to Dual XLR Female Y-Cables connected to two Shure SM58 Dynamic Microphone’s for the guests, one Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB Cardioid Dynamic USB/XLR Microphone for Leigh, and an Audio-Technica BPHS1 Broadcast Stereo Headset for Elizabeth. Essentially recording four separate voices onto two tracks. Adding another element I thought might be too much, but it worked out. Looking forward to a likely upgrade to a Zoom PodTrak P8 soon.

As I have stated previously, my goal and responsibility with any production is to make sure that I capture the best audio possible so a quality episode can be created and shared. With the recorded audio in hand, I first use Audacity to split the stereo track created by the H4N into two mono tracks so I can edit the different voices separately. Then I drag those files into Garageband to do the second by second editing, and then finally run the full-size AIFF audio file through web-based Auphonic for algorithmic leveling, normalization, and encoding to a 64 kbps mono MP3. Makes it sound great and fixes a lot of voice level issues.

In the case of Austin Enneagram, I then add the final episode MP3 file to their Squarespace website by creating a new post, writing a title and episode summary, transcribing a quote, and customizing all of the back end settings so that the episode will broadcast properly and look professional. I even provide photos taken during the recording for use on social media. If you have any questions about this process let me know. I’m not an audio engineer but I will do my best to share what I know.

If you’ve ever thought about having your own podcast, but don’t have the time or inclination to buy all of this equipment and deal with the technical learning curve, let me know. Check out my post from October 20th for more about this podcast.

Michael Anthony García

201209_SDG423977.jpg

Most often these days the freelance photography work that I get asked to do is related to the art world. Images of artwork in galleries and other related events. As is the case when the other day I heard from my friend, Austin artist Michael Anthony García. His work is up at Ivester Contemporary until January 9th, and he asked me to capture some images at the gallery. I love art and working in a gallery is a nice place to be. Check out the details of the exhibition, statement, and photos below.

Ivester contemporary -

Project Space

OLAS DE PERTURBACÍON (WAVES OF PERTURBATION)

New Work by Michael Anthony García

December 5, 2020 - January 9, 2021

Reception & Performance: December 18, 7-10pm

“Olas de Perturbación (Waves of Perturbation), which features new work by Michael Anthony García, explores the perception and malleability of time through a lens of Latinx Futurism. It is an exploration of the artist’s personal history growing up in El Paso, Texas (unfulfilled past futures,) reminders for a future self and the potentiality in the present. Through video, sculpture, and installation, Michael Anthony García sifts through his youth growing up five blocks from the border, which was then an inconsequential line that barely registered physically or politically as a barrier to him. Now as an adult, possessing dual Mexican and US citizenship, he crosses the barrier of time--the only thing standing between him and the memories--to guide himself to/ using his current understanding.”

Here is also an interview I did with Michael almost three years ago. That might sound out of date but as with most of my interviews, I ask a lot of questions about a person’s origin story and how they became an artist. Michael is one of the most innovative, passionate, and courageous artists I know. His performances are especially moving and poignant, often addressing issues of inequality, and the inherent humanity deserving of all people. His vulnerability and integrity always play a central role.

“My practice manifests itself through performance, sculpture, installation, photography, video and the blurred areas between them, engaging via my own personal stories and experiences navigating the human condition. Much of my work explores my layers of identity, how they shape me and affect my perception of/ by the world, in a political expression of Latinx Futurism founded in emotion, and utopian projection.”
— Michael Anthony García
An portrait I made of Michael at his Continental Divide Exhibition.

An portrait I made of Michael at his Continental Divide Exhibition.

Day of Thanksgiving

I’m very thankful to be with my family on this day after a long stressful year. I’m thankful for all of the delicious food we consumed, and to every person that made having access to that food possible. From the farmer all the way to the grocery store employees, I hope they all are having a joyful day. Not everyone has food security and I don’t take it for granted.

If you haven’t read about the history of this holiday I recommend checking out the Wikipedia page. It seems like a given now, but the path it took to become a standard in the US is quite complicated. It definitely has grown out of many different religious traditions, but what I found most interesting was the time when it was more of a random or irregular event, based on the external circumstances of the world.

Me, my aunt, cousin, and his girlfriend.

Me, my aunt, cousin, and his girlfriend.

“A day of thanksgiving was a day set aside for public worship in thanksgiving for events believed to signal God's mercy and favor. Such a day might be proclaimed by the civil authority or the church.” The counter or complement to that was something called a day of humiliation or fasting, which was more of a punishment connected to the judgment of God. “A day of humiliation or thanksgiving might be proclaimed in response to a drought, flood, fire, military defeat, or plague. They might also be held before the undertaking of a difficult endeavor.” Seems related to what’s happening now in many ways!

Fasting is something I’ve been researching and I think that’s why this part of history caught my eye. After stuffing myself to the brim with food today, the idea of less or limits appeals to me. I’m considering occasional fasts, to rest my system, and to work on a healthier relationship with food. Too often I eat without being hungry and for emotional comfort.

This train of thought also reminds me of a Stoic practice promoted by Tim Ferriss, from the Moral Letters to Lucilius, Letter 18, On Festivals and Fasting. “Set aside a certain number of days, during which you shall be content with the scantiest and cheapest fare, with coarse and rough dress, saying to yourself the while: ‘Is this the condition that I feared?” This is how my mind works.

New DUCKblind Podcast Episode

Andrea and Jill recording the interview.

Andrea and Jill recording the interview.

In addition to producing a show for Austin Enneagram, I also occasionally record an interview for Jill at grayDUCK Gallery, here in Austin, TX. The episodes are to help promote the current exhibition and give people who have already seen the show or who want to visit the gallery, some extra context, and info about the art and artists. As with the other shows I produce, I capture the interview, edit and add music, write and organize the descriptions, and make sure it is published correctly to all platforms. With both shows, I also created the cover art and take pictures during the recordings for social media promotion.

Interview with Andrea Mellard. Crit Group Artists: Annie Arnold, Rakhee Jain Desai, Lydia Garcia, Sean Ripple, Alexandra Robinson, Saul Jerome E. San Juan, Michael Stephen, and Cheyenne Weaver

The Contemporary Austin's Crit Group 2020

  • grayDUCK Gallery

  • Exhibition dates: November 14 - December 13, 2020

  • Gallery Hours by appointment

Down the Rabbit Hole

This isn’t exactly an internet rabbit hole I’m talking about. Much better than that. It happened this way.

I’ve been following The Tim Ferriss Show for many years and it’s one of my favorite podcasts. The other day I listened to Tim talk with author Mary Karr, who I really didn’t know at all, and found her delightful. Very funny and straightforward. She is someone that would be great fun to hang out with I suspect. And even though we both grew up in Texas, based on what I heard she had a much different experience than I did.

Growing up in Austin is not like growing up in a small east Texas town it seems. Mary’s parent’s style of fighting and raising kids, shared in the interview and book, reminded me of what Matthew McConaughey said about his childhood in Greenlights.

The Art of Memoir
By Karr, Mary

Turns out Mary is pretty well known and she wrote a book called The Art of Memoir and is a teacher. Since I’m creating this blog to get better at writing, and it is somewhat of a memoir at times, it seemed like a book I would like. What’s wonderful is sometimes when I go to find a book on Libby at the library it’s available! Then I don’t have to wait and can start it right then.

In that book, Mary speaks very highly of and read excerpts from Richard Wright’s Black Boy. That book was also available! As soon as I finished Karr’s book I started Wright’s. And who knows where it will go next. So good.

One silver lining to the fact that I have a job driving 20+ hours a week is that I can listen to a lot of books. This week while following this train of content, I had a moment of excitement about life I’d like to share. Think about all of the books, and people, and places, and things there are to experience and learn about! I hope I can fit all that I desire to pursue, into whatever time I have left. It gives me a lot of optimism and joy to consider all the possibilities. What gets you excited about life?

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support.

New Austin Enneagram Episode

Just produced a new episode for Elizabeth and Leigh over at Austin Enneagram. What that first means is I met with them and their guests to record a conversation. My goal and responsibility with any production is to make sure that I capture the best audio possible so an episode can be created and shared with the world. Once we have the recording, I then edit and tighten it up to create a more succinct and articulate version, worth of any listener’s time. Finally, I add the podcast to their website and write a summary along with tweaking all of the back end settings that make it broadcast properly and look professional.

If you’ve ever thought about having your own podcast, but don’t have the time or inclination to buy all the equipment, and deal with the technical learning curve, let me know. Learn more by checking out my post from October 20th all about it.

What Is The Enneagram? Ever Heard Of It?

If you are into personality type tests and learning more about why you and your family and friends do the silly things they do, this will I suspect be of interest to you. If you want to go deep, there is a lot to learn, and I think it is really interesting.

“The Enneagram of Personality, or simply the Enneagram is a model of the human psyche which is principally understood and taught as a typology of nine interconnected personality types.”
— Wikipedia

In addition to being a photographer and creating my own podcasts, I also offer my knowledge and expertise to help others realize their own podcast goals. One of those is the Austin Enneagram podcast, hosted by Elizabeth Chapin and Leigh Jackson, both of whom have apprenticed under author Suzanne Stabile. As they state on their website, “we find the Enneagram to be both a practical and transformational tool and hope to share it with others in a way that is narrative, inclusive, and accessible.”

When it comes to who I produce podcasts for, I recently realized I only want to work with clients whose goal is to help others and attempt to make the world a better place. Maybe that is idealistic, but that is where I am at. It’s also fun when the subject is interesting to me and could help enhance my own journey. The more I learn about Enneagram, the more compassion I find I have for others, and the better I understand myself. It’s been great being a curious fly on the wall with recording equipment.

So last week I showed up at Elizabeth’s fabulous house to record episode 15, got all of the equipment set up, and it turned out one of the guests was not showing up. I just happened to be the same number as them. I fit the requirement and became the guest. It was actually a nice experience that if had I known about it ahead of time, probably would have made me a bit anxious.

If you know nothing about Enneagram I would recommend listening to their series on all 9 types, the first 10 episodes. See if any of it resonates with you and maybe start figuring out your own number if you don’t already know. Once you get your bearings, have a listen to #15, a great conversation about the dependent stance, with a lot of honest sharing.

If you are interested in starting your own podcast let me know and maybe I can help. One of my goals is to assist those who want their own show but don’t have the time, interest, or money to acquire the knowledge, skills, and equipment needed to create a great sounding professional podcast. Email me at scott@scottdavidgordon.com or call/text 512-470-1574.