GOD MUSE MONSTER- Art exhibition/solo show

GOD MUSE MONSTER- new works by John Fathom

A solo exhibition exploring veneration and idolatry as well as the fine line that exists between Gods & Monsters when the actions of man are inspired by GOD. The work is expressed through a variety of mediums including the dynamic light box paintings Fathom is known for, but also utilizes silkscreen works, and toy sculptures as well.

GOD MUSE MONSTER is my attempt at shifting the focus from Idolatry towards honoring the fundamental general laws that seem to guide our Universe. The bizarreness of nature being my muse and the universal laws manifesting themselves in all aspects of reality, gracing our paths and guiding our ethos..

Where- LITM
140 Newark Avenue, Downtown Jersey City, NJ 07302
From Brooklyn or NYC- L to 14th street PATH train to GROVE ST. Walk one block down Newark ave to 140 Newark. ENJOY!!

Tel. 201.536.5557
Email: info@litm.com
www.Jfathom.com

GOD MUSE MONSTER Exhibit
Works;
Cowboys & Indians; Vice Versa
Bisons & Bosons
Collision & Collusion

The tree fell
Star flower child
Independence

THEMES: God, Muse, Monster, contraction/expansion, Opposition, symmetry, veneration, reverence, honor, folklore,alignment, time, perspective, conquest, creation, beliefs, power, general laws, timeless principles, general nature of things.

**I will close with one statement for those believers who will see my work as an attempt at discrediting their faith; I do believe in GOD, this is merely my way of fine tuning my approach at distinguishing the difference between that which is contrived and that which is "real". I'm a neo-nomadic pilgrim paying homage to the God that blesses my travels and guides my ethos.
- Fathom

BATTLING MR.SELF- A brief interview with Artist Nyugen Smith

JF.You've been with 660 practically since it's inception. How would you define 660 and it's role with the Arts in Jersey City?

NS.Definition of 660: Home base. It's the NWA (during the time of Rick Flair, Lex Luger, Tully Blanchard, Arn Anderson, Dusty Rhodes and all ' them) to the WWF. 660 is another channel. People tune in to see what's happening. The program changes message stays the same. Sometimes it's 6 in the morning and the "do you know where your children are"? commercial comes on. Sometimes Snoop comes on. 660 is that kind of morning. Hot summers brings phone calls for charcoal ice and friends, cold winters require check-ins. Layer up, work steady. It exists as long as creativity exists among our friends, comrades, family, and some traveling through.

JF.When we first met you were doing paper garment sculptures inspired by the Tolkiens rugged aesthetic brought to life in the L.O.R trilogy. I noticed your work became larger almost instantly after you moved your studio here- can you talk about that initial departure from the garment sculptures into what has now become your signature style commonly known as "bundle house"

NS.Yep! Garment Sculptures. Those were great times. Once I moved my studio to 660 I had so much more space to work, so naturally I began to explore many more materials which led me to go bigger with my work. At that time I was still searching for how to express what I wanted to say and discovered that found materials brought me closer to articulation of my ideas. In 2005, I met an artist, Chenoa Maxwell and her photography from a body of work that she developed in Uganda made a huge impact in the way I began to view my work. That's when I began Bundle House.

JF.I've noticed that when you work here at 660 it's primarily sculpture and Bundle House related work, but when you work at home its typically the "SELF" series, which has many faces-talk about those faces, b/c in some you do battle with yourself and in others your clearly a character.

NS. Yes, at 660 I can use all the huge materials and all the good found stuff from my travels. At my home studio I feel like I end up working on SELF series. Reasons...at home I'm contemplative, personal items that are connected to other aspects of my life are all around, constantly reminding me of who I am, what I've done, what I plan to do, what I've learned, and what I haven't seen. So it's natural that I make SELF Series work here.
It's interesting you say sometimes I'm a "character" in the SELF Series, but it's all SELF. For me, that "character" is the same as any other depiction of myself in this series. that part of SELF that you're witnessing is a part of who I am. Sometimes I'm serious, sometimes I feel like a fool out of his mind. I love the freedom that comes with this work.

JF. Recently you've been tying the Bundle House work into the Self series, what convinced you that the two distinctly separate styles should be merged?

NS. Tying the SELF Series in with Bundle House is an experiment I'm conducting right now. I haven't brought the SELF Series into the 3 dimensional realm much at all so far, so I want to push it. Working with the palette of what would also be Bundle House material to make these assemblages adds an interesting number of problems to be solved. It's great!

JF. Finally, tell us about your recent video work with the self series. Im digging this professor self, whats he all about and whats to come of this new expression?

NS. This series of videos I've been releasing, is a way to continue to satisfy my need to make work wherever I am. So many artists that I know just have to make work somehow if they placed somewhere with optional media at their disposal. We're a perfect match. It's immediate and to the point. Right now I'm dealing with race/class and cultural elements particular to those with darker skin-from warmer climates. True. They are all completed within a 3ft x 3ft space. One of my favorite aspects of these pieces is the challenge of keeping them simple. By simple I mean, limited props, bare-bones backdrop and no editing. These video pieces allows me to give work away. People love to receive art from others. I know I do. So in a way I believe people feel as though they are receiving art when they see the videos. It is my hope that after people see them, they share it with others.

JF. Thanx for keeping that chi up! Im sure its inspiring more then just the folks at 660. List your links so people can keep up with what your doing and follow the progress.

NS.Yeah man! More Chi. check out links to videos here: http://vimeo.com/18663032

New website coming soon. One Love!

660- It makes yer mom uncomfortable.

We designed 660 to make "serious adults" feel uncomfortable and old. I don't know why exactly, I think it was a by product of the original goal of a place for limitless self expression. Somewhere where everyone plays and has fun, without even trying. Cris leaves his studio via a fireman pole down to a stage, Alicia swings on the indoor swing on sunny days, and Ryan goes out to the rooftop to have a smoke, but really we all use these amenities daily. The fireman pole is part of Cris's everyday life. The big old wooden door that looks like its from a cobblers cottage in a story book happens to be the door that I walk in and out of everyday. My dogs howl at firetrucks. My tenants howl with the dogs too. There are skateboarders using their indoor halfpipe beneathe us and kids building out their recording studio so they can cut an album. If you come here for the first time you drive through a sketchy lookin neighborhood, go down a dirty dark hallways and end up at the top of the stairs staring down a 5000sqft BEAST. Helga as I like to call her is 206yrs old and used to be an old mill. For 8 winters I've been workin on her and playing with her. Sooo many talented people have come through here and left their indeliable mark and helped transform a barren grey beast into a hidden treasure.

I forget what normalcy feels like sometimes because the building is in Jersey City, so when I leave I bump into one of the 300 weirdos I know walking around this town so this to me is normal. I guess if this building were anywhere else, in a suburb or metropolitan city I could constantly be reminded of just how strange it is, but here there are a few different buildings that artists are gathering and working. So we're just a different take on something thats happening in a few places around J.C.

When I step outside of Jersey City or go to my "serious adult" friend's homes...I realize the difference between our lives, our cities, our friends. I'm uncomfortable in places where you can't be yourself, be dirty, express yourself wildly or stay up late. I feel like a kid when I'm forced to behave and I'm not one for behaving if behaving means stop doing the things I like to do. This place makes you feel like a kid and makes me feel like an adult, so I guess in a retaliation of sorts I designed 660 for those whom see that maturity simply means responsibility and as long as were taking our responsibilities serious...anything else goes.

I see "adults" faces when they come here. Some are excited to see it and others are just plain uncomfortable. The chairs don't match, there's sooo much going on, there's too many people or too much space. That thing over there looks dangerous, how many animals are here, who cleans this place up??? Sometimes I answer, sometimes I smile. Their adoration or discomfort equally make me happy. We are overgrown children, playing in a giant playhouse, influencing each other, collaborating and changing. It's not for everybody which is what makes the people whom can flourish here distinct, whether it be a 6months or 6 yr stint. We found a place where we can be adults that don't have to set aside time to have fun, bc it's part of our everyday, as it should be. 660 is a place for black sheep to feel a sense of normalcy and it may not be for everyone, but even if you wouldn't, ya probably kinda wish you could.

Artists- Self indulgence can lead to selfishness.

I've been managing my building for 8 winters now. I started off with just the 2nd floor which has 6 private studios. I managed just that floor for 5yrs and have had the other 2 floors for about 3yrs now. With so many studios, Ive seen many people come and go and have observed the full spectrum of self destructive & self indulgent personalities. With artists everything is always a little bigger and alot more dramatic.

I grew up in Queens and for much of my life was the only person I knew serious about art. It wasn't until I moved to JC that I began intermingling with groups of artists and until I took over my building I certainly didn't have to depend on any of them for anything. Artists are wild cards. They can be hyper sensitive, but they can also be the most open-minded and positive people you'll meet. For those that decide to pursue art as their career;they have a tall mountain to climb against many obstacles. It's this piece of reality that tests them and requires their best to ensure survival, but not many give it their best. For those that don't do their due diligence, their chances at survival become lessened and when that happens they find themselves forced to watch out for numero uno. It's in these moments that you witness their self indulgence turn into selfishness. They abandon responsibilities, point fingers, withdraw from communicating and convince themselves it's the outside forces trying to get them. They can make you the enemy or just consider you collateral damage of some unavoidable catastrophe. It was unavoidable...but their self indulgence blocked their view.

You can't make clear decisions if your looking through foggy glasses. Artists intentionally fog up their lens's for a multitude of reasons. Sometimes it's to inspire, other times to forget, but either way the lens is fogged. I see selfish behavior all around me. Who doesn't?! Shit, I'm an artist too, I have my self destructive behaviors. My student loans keep getting deferred, but my belly demands winter lagers to fight off the cold!

Indulgence feels good. Selfishness can serve a purpose at times, but if your not doing right by the people that look out for you, you will be on the receiving end one day and suffer the wrath of being slighted. It doesn't feel good, but most of all it sours peoples perception of you once you've slighted them. If your an artist or maybe a drama queen, be selfish by being selfless more often, it actually will help you more then you think, and that's what it's all about isn't it?
It's all about you.

Fathom
* Photo of the "Fathom Girls" a promotional point of self indulgence at its best.

Accountability, Dread and concious thought

Im a fan of positive psychology; Not the new age "think positive and the Universe will provide" crap. I like the idea that psychology isn't just a way to identify symptoms of illnesses and behavior, but also psychology serves as the study of how the successful, the happy and the wise THINK and ACT. I believe that if you want to be happy you CAN. I'm obviously not talking about people born into slavery or extreme poverty, I'm talking about the millions of Americans that suffer from depression, or the people caught up in dead end jobs, abusive relationships and silly destructive patterns.

In this world and culture happiness is more then just an option, it's fuckin EASY. The problem is that it's even easier to get caught up in the drama and be held back by the unfortunate obstacles that come our way. Feeling sorry for ourselves should only serve as the catalyst to instigate change. Sure it feels better to point the finger or curse the Gods, but whats the benefit in that? I like being happy. I hate feeling angry, anxious, or taken advantage of. I despise jealousy and dread. There's too few days out there to waste on such things. I should know, I definitely wallowed in self pity in my past and still find myself repeating familiar mistakes, but I've always managed to pull myself up by my bootstraps and lately have gotten better at admitting when I'm fuckin myself over yet again.

I pay attention to things like behavior patterns and structure and dwell on idiosyncrasies that pop up repeatedly. I'm consumed by some of these themes so I feel personally responsible to instigate change if a change is desired. What good is being able to predict that lightening will strike your house if you won't leave or can't prevent it? That's where my dread comes in; I hate seeing the patterns play out that lead up to an undesirable situation and not being able to prevent the negative or instigate the positive. Sometimes we secretly want to suffer, or want to indulge in negative patterns but if you don't acknowledge when your doing that at the very least then you will find yourself repeating the same mistake in different ways for the rest of your life!! It's your responsibility to manage your life and create positive opportunities for yourself, to take advantage of what comes your way and put your personal positive spin on it. Everything that comes within your reach is effected by you, it's not just the outside influences effecting you. You do have power here.

Life may feel like a game of dodgeball with you in the center at times, but there are ways to WIN at dodgeball. You have to be ready to participte, be present, focused and not afraid of what happens if you get hit. If you let fear guide your decisions you will only become more scared. It's when we move forward despite our fears that we experience any real growth. You can't be afraid to live, or be afraid to be happy, or worse yet, afraid that someone will take your happiness away from you. Facing your demons and pushing yourself is your own responsibility. You will be helped along the way like you were in school, but in LIFE you choose your teachers and grade your OWN tests. This may sound like a cruel joke but it's the most rewarding type of education you will ever have. If you don't force yourself to get up each morning and test yourself, everyone else you meet along the way will be happy to test you FOR YOU, and chances are you won't like it.
Remember: Sadness is a reaction. Happiness is a state of being.
-Fathom

Crazy Stacey Ransom. WWWHHHHATT?!???

I don't know what else to say about the work of Stacey Ransom. It's worth it to flip through all the categories of her portfolio.I love everything about it, from the set design to the lil plush human flesh furniture pieces. The film production category isn't as exciting for fan browsing, but there's plenty to digest in the Purebred category to make up for it. Do yourself a favor and spend some time on this site, it's a trip through an imaginarium that will leave you inspired and maybe a lil grossed out too.,

http://www.purebredphoto.com/
http://staceyransom.com

takes one to know one.

The only official self portrait I've done since H.S. It's still incomplete.
-Fathom

2002-2010- swimming upstream

I'm not one of those artists that does self portraits. I am self indulgent enough as it is and I rarely use visual art as a medium for personal introspection. When I paint its more about themes, theories and ideas about the forces of nature that I feel personally connected to. Some truth that seems hidden and getting it to reveal itself . This new years I guess I inadvertently revealed a truth about myself while painting and in essence accidentally created a self portrait.

Early in the year I had experimented on a painting that was a bit more figurative than I tend to do. More specifically; while painting in my usual style I found the shapes and forms that I had smeared onto the plexiglass seemed to resemble a large catfish or coy. It was so clear that I decided to go with it and let it become that fish that it was revealing itself to be, but then midway through it, I wasn't sure that was such a good idea. I tried to change it, but couldn't undo what was done, so I frustratedly put it away and forgot about it. I came across it a few months ago and decided this time I'd give it another go. I tried once more to change it, but it was impossible to save the interesting elements about it if I didn't let it be a fish. I worried if it was hokey or lame, but wasn't willing to abandon it again, so I accepted that it was a fish and nothing could be done other then support it as the subject of this painting and create the best environment to surround the fish in.

It was in repeating the words of the title in my head- " It started to look like a fish, so I let it be a fish, but then I decided I didn't want it to be a fish so I tried to change it, but what could I do? It was already a fish". -that I realized: Hey I AM this fish!

The struggle with this painting and my resistance to let it be what it wanted to be could be likened to my parents seeing me grow up to become an artist. In the beginning they praised my artistic efforts, and got me all the great art supplies a kid could want. Art was the only thing I was really good at. I was an ok B- student with serious difficulty in math and not much good at sports. Somewhere along the line I think my future as an artist became a point of concern for my parents whom probably saw my dreams of being a huge success as an inevitable disappointment for us all. They attempted to change the fish as I did- to no avail. It was too late. The confidence I developed from their early praise was only emboldened by their lack of confidence now.

The only thing I was good at was being creative. If I were to give up then, I would have been miserable. So I refused their advice, b/c I felt like I was someone who wanted more and was willing to suffer to get it. I may not have realized it then but every decision I've made has led me towards me being here now, which is where I am happiest. Not all professional artists are famous. Why should they have to be? I eat well, I have a roof over my head, and I do sell paintings from time to time. So don't worry and be proud of yourselves- you raised a perfectly successful fish.
_Fathom

2002-2010 The make me or break me years

. Just about every New Years I'm completely in the dark as to where I will be going and how I will be ringing in the New Year. This yr wasn't any different, as I toiled over choices, not feeling connected to either choice and not exactly knowing why. It appears that over the years I have developed a guilty responsibility to keep my celebrations & progress balanced in perfect harmony. That is to say; if I feel I haven't been doing what I'm supposed to do, then I don't deserve to be celebrating as often. My mom used to restrict how often I went out, often telling me "you had enough fun this week". I remember thinking what a ridiculous reason to not allow me to do something; b/c I'd be enjoying myself too much. Despite my thinking such; I carry that with me I suppose. Self-checking every so often to make sure that I'm working as hard as I'm playing. These days I prefer to think of going out for drinks as miniature celebrations. Sure, everyone drinks for different reasons, some to celebrate, some to forget, but for me going out with friends and spending your hard earned money should have cause. You should feel content with how much you've done with your day, week or month so that you can truly cut loose and unwind. If you don't have that sense of contentment, self destructive behavior can ensue. There are so many angry or sad drunks out there, why be another one of them?

So when 2011 approached I briefly considered what kind of celebration I deserved for how I spent my year. A low key familial celebration or a balls to the wall/ all out brawl of a night out.. Neither seemed to appeal to me. Instead I thought of the bills, the garbage, the unfinished paintings and construction I would be taking with me into 2011, leftover from 2010. It wasn't a celebration worthy feeling. In fact, it made me feel unfocused, because I knew I had time in 2010, but didn't use my time as wisely as I could have. I imagined myself knocking even one of those incomplete projects off my list and how much more rewarding that would feel then shitshowing it out on the town.
I got more done then I expected spending my NYE in the studio and it would probably go down as my 2nd best NYE to date, simply b/c it was the first NYE that I actually contemplated the year before. This year was more then that actually, bc this year I found myself contemplating all the years before. Snapshots of all the little steps that led to this time in my life. Every failure, every success and all the subtle lessons that develop your personal philosophy for life. I had been fighting for so long to forge a life for myself against the odds of the outside world and those obstacles I created myself from scratch, that I forgot to stop slashing at the reeds in my path and turn around to see how far along the path I had come. Choosing Art as a career when you haven't yet been discovered is a risky choice. You're destined to face obstacles and demons you hadn't considered the moment you naively imagined your names in lights and across magazine covers being declared as the next great American artist!

...I guess it's been 8 winters since I first came to Jersey City to lease a giant empty warehouse with dreams of becoming a successful painter. 8 winters in a cocoon waiting to be something. It took 2011's arrival for me to realize I could put down the machete for a minute and realize the path has been forged and I am already here. This is what it feels like, this is what it tastes like at this point. It's not at all what I imagined, and it certainly can get better, but its wonderful all the same.

*Untitled Painting- Dec 31 2010
_-FATHOM

Skip the NYE partys and finish what you started!

I've been deliberating back and forth over whether I should go to a great party in BK for NYE or stay in JC and keep it low key. I can cross 2 rivers in the packed NYE subway system or be a whirlwind of whisky fueled debauchery?

On a night guaranteed to be full of beligerent shouts and drunken mishaps, do I really wanna add to that mess? Do I need another night where I come home with empty pockets and forgotten memories? If I evaluated 2010, would I tally up all my experiences and say; "ya know what?- I dont think I got in enough partying this year, I better make sure I get in one more before 2010 is over." In fact when I think of 2010 all I see is unfinished projects. An unfinished coccoon room, 3 unfinished paintings, a greenhouse awaiting construction, unpaid bills, a Gallery sitting empty, a play in the writing stage, an apartment awaiting renovations, and jeez so many more projects that wish they weren't competing for my attention.

So that being said; This NYE I vow that I will avoid my usual bass jump into the caverns of mayhem and opt to finish a project that begs for my attention instead. FINISH it is the key word. Tonight I complete something from 2010 by midnight and then begin a new project at 12:01am. Something brand new will get started and NEW is always exciting, but so is finishing something you start. Tonight I want both, and thats my resolution for the New Year- To finish more of what I start, faster, better and on time. Have fun for me out there!
Stay tuned for pics.
-Fathom

Aliens ARE robots ?Either way they stole my house and ate my baby.

If ALIENS are more intelligent lifeforms..and our intelligence is headed towards A.I then wouldnt the lifeform that lands on our planet be some form of hybrid species built specifically to recon Earth?

If an advanced species from another planet that travels via craft and has a humanoid construction were to visit Earth it would make more sense to use expendable lifeforms rather then the way we currently use our best and brightest Astronauts to go into space/the unknown. The virtual option is the more intelligent/evolved option, and if these are advanced species...

Then again some theorists may say that what each organism on our planet actually is part of the Alien manufactured petri dish, chock full of organisms all designed to collect data and convert resources. Humans at the bottom of the work force ofcourse.
-Fathom
*Artwork from CANCO Lofts exhibition. "floating house"- fathom

1/18/11- I stumbled on this lil vid that talks about aliens sending "robots" to scout the earth. hmmm

How to Insulate a Cave

The sounds of gusty winds outside our walls, the frigid air and layers of clothes make me think of primitive man. This building our cave, and our priorities focused.

The telephone ate the internet and the internet ate everything else.

I've been thinking alot about the notion that technologies carry an essence. One that can be observed historically via a time line and then perceived as a whole. Meaning;scratching on walls gave birth to writing on scrolls, which eventually led to the fabrication of books and then books branched off to magazines etc; In some cases the evolution stacks on top of its predecessor, branching off at some points, while the predecessor remains intact and still valid. Like in the above mentioned example BOOKS would be where this form of communicating and chronicling reached its peak. Its value remained strong despite the various branch offs it spawned, therfore BOOK is the whole. The BOOK carries the essence of that timeline.

My next example is the TELEPHONE. The telephone clearly had predecessors like the telegraph and perhaps morse code, but it's communicative essence peaked with the telephone. The telephone evolved over the years to the cordless phone and eventually the cell phone, but where the telephone surpasses other evolved technologies was in its absorption of neighboring technologies. It absorbed the television, the internet, and music by way of consuming the power of the internet. In the early stages of development the telephone, radio and television were 3 great new technologies that shaped our culture and enhanced many peoples standard of living. They existed seperately like the clock and the automobile. The telephone consumed the CLOCK first and then became increasingly powerful. Its usefulness and compact-ability took precedent over the other technologies quickly. Eventually the phone became something everyone needed to carry with them at all times and now something so powerful it consumed the massively powerful INTERNET as well.

No matter how great the internet gets, it will always be linked now to the phone. We want all the same information on our phone that we can get on our home computer. There was some concern over whether the internet would kill the telephone...Im not sure that's even possible. There are certainly some benefits to eliminating the land line and replacing it with a broadband connection via your home computer, but once the pocket computer merges with the telephone and essentially offers the same style service that the phone does, it becomes a telephone. It could eliminate all prior technologies used by the cellphone and replace with its own technologies, but if you are still communicating in the same way (talking or texting) you are using a telephone in one of its forms.
I-pads and I-pods and I-touches are great tools individually but their existence will always share space with a phone that can do it all. That is until either we all become telepathic or our technology evolves to the point of THE SINGULARITY.
-Fathom

If Santa Claus means Saint Nicholas-WHo the hell IS Christopher Kringle?

Or Kris Kringle..however it's spelled. Was he just a character from Miracle on 34th st? Does it mean "Christ kind"?? Who can keep up with all the American Christian folklore of our holidays anymore. So what if Coca-Cola was the one who decided Ol Santa Clause wore a red outfit, doesnt mean he aint real! Apparently J.Ruddy whom was traveling through a small town in Southern Italy claims he saw the church where the body of Saint Nicholas was entombed. So that means you can tell yer kids that Santa existed and it can be proven. I wonder though what the spirits of Jesus and Saint Nicholas think of how their images have been reworked and their messages hijacked. Whats the point of doing something great if after you die they just hijack yer identity and use it for their own purposes, like selling cola, boosting the economy and forcing children to behave out of guilt and fear of HELL or even worse...NO PRESENTS.
Even Colonel Sanders lived to see his company and his image taken from him. I believe he actually died destitute and unable to sell any type of chicken product or use his name to sell anything!! Would Saint Nick or Jesus be happy? I doubt it, but maybe they'd be ok with everything bc of all the children that were made happy despite the sinister reasoning behind the corrupting of their message. You may be like me and be straying further and further away from feeling the sentimentality of X-mas, but dont forget- it's you whom gets to corrupt the message of christmas for your kids this time around. So corrupt the message with the best of intentions and build a tradition worth looking forward to ea year. Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas!
_Fathom