JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Brian Austin Whitney Blog Sunday, May 21st, 2006

Hi Folks,

Well, another night with almost no sleep. This time because our 14 year old Black Lab got sick and we had to take him to the doggie emergency room and spend most of the night there and then back a few hours later this morning. He's having a bunch of tests and has a lot of serious health issues. I wonder if we'll end up having universal health care for animals before humans. Sometimes in this country I wonder.

Yesterday we went to the Broad Ripple Art Fair and I was very impressed by the innovative art I saw there. Often these small art fairs aren't all that great, but this was an exception. I did end up getting a unique piece of art for my office (yeah.. no more completely bare walls!). I will try to get a photo of it to show, but it's a 3D piece made out of woven silk that looks like a Birch Forest (which is amazingly life like.. I mean you have to see it to believe it). I've never seen anything like it. I spent way more money than I really could afford to spend, but I have no buyers remorse this morning. It looks great in my office and will stop visitors dead in their tracks when they first see it.. it's that cool. It made me think about how often I hear music that's truly something brand new and original these days. In the years we've done the JPF Awards, there's only been a handful of artists that truly seemed ground breaking. One of them was our 2004 Group of the Year Skamp from Lithuania. They cover multiple genres of music in multiple languages and can fluidly go in and out of extremely commercial sounds to completely off the wall arrangements. Another original is a group called Zen for Primates. I just happened to check out their promo DVD they sent for the awards and I was really glad I got to see them perform and talk in various interview segments. They're already multi nominees and won an album awards last time out, but I had never gotten to see them in person or live. They had an all star lineup of interviewees singing their praises and they remind of a refined Broadway-esque version of the B-52's with a lot more musicianship. Very cool group. I am not sure I've ever found a musician singularly original like the artist behind this piece hanging on my wall, but the search for one is part of the fun of doing the awards and traveling North America to see artists in person.

So who is the most original artist you've ever come across? It could be a musician or songwriter, could be a painter or some other brand of fine arts, could be a movie director or actor/actress and so on. Let's talk creative visionaries!

Brian

I used to do a program called "Songs You Can See," offered to the Chicago Public School System, with a visual artist named Peggy Lipschutz.

Peggy would draw pictures for a school assemply, using pastels on large paper, while I sang songs like "The Rock Island Line" or "Going to the Zoo" she'd draw in rhythm and be finished when the song was over. She would lecture the group about visual art, I would talk about music.

Peggy taught this to Pete Seeger who would often use it along with a capella songs in his performance.

Her art was simple and profound. She was the most unique arist I've ever worked with, actually combining static visual art with rhythm during it's creation.

Peggy Lipschutz was the most original artist I've come across.

All the Best,
Mike

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You have to practice improvisation. -Art Tatum

Mike Dunbar Music

brian...
http://www.2cre8tif.com

rock on.
r.

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http://cdbaby.com/all/chevyford

Richard,

I like your poster work. But I am not sure if it counts if you nominate yourself! = ) That said, you're an excellent artist! Perhaps we'll do something with you on our partnership project.

Brian