Unstructured Day

Today is the first day of the rest of my life...or so it would seem. For that matter, each and every day can be described as such. However; today is the first day after a long list of projects and deadlines...all having been successfully designed, created, delivered and enjoyed by all.

The list looks somewhat like this:

Sculpture awards ( 4 in all) for the Rochester ImageOut LGBT Film and Video Festival. Check!

Sign and wall sculptures (9 sculptures total) for Banzai Sushi & Cocktail Bar, in the south wedge of Rochester. Check!

Autumn Memories series of Images to be applied in edible cocoa transfers onto Peanut Butter Honey Truffles from Hedonist Artisan Chocolates. Check!

7' steel totem "Community Cone" sculpture permanently installed in front of Hedonist Artisan Chocolates and Ice Cream shop. Check!

And now for my unstructured day...sleeping late, breakfast with my best friend Rcat, updating my long over due blog, listening to the wind howl through autumn leaves, thinking ahead to future projects, maybe take a nap.

My life mate and biker buddy Jack, taught me the importance of taking time to have an unstructured day...which is the equivalent of what most people would do on any given weekend. Since my weekends are always filled with working at my studio at Artisan Works and tend to work many weeks in a row without a break; it's important to have a day where there is nothing more to do other than let my mind rest and to go wherever my spontaneously creative mind wishes to take me.

I always feel more excited to go to my studio after I have had an unstructured day...or even half day.

Try it sometime. Best of luck, Mark

Gifts & Presents for GroaningMan

Happy Tuesday!Today I received my first phone call from someone I gave a GroaningMan invitation to at the recent Park Avenue Festival. The upbeat person was inquiring about what present would be suggested as a gift for Mark Groaning (yup, that's me) at the GroaningMan celebration.

The answer I gave is that no presents or gifts are required or even needed. Then I thought a bit longer, of course after I hung up and came to the conclusion that the only thing I really need is the money to host this party at Artisan Works.

Ideally, we need at the very least 300 people to pay the $10 door charge to help cover renting Artisan Works for 6 hours, having it staffed with security and parking lot people to direct traffic. Covering my expenses to organize and throw this event would be the best present ever!

Another wonderful gift would be helping to spread the word and invite your friends to this fun evening of music and art and dancing and merriment.

No other gifts are needed. Thanks for asking.

22 more days until GroaningMan is launched!

Mark the GroaningMan

GroaningMan

GroaningMan is one month away! What IS GroaningMan?

GroaningMan is an awesome art filled, music celebration of my Big FIVE OH !

Many of my friends are coming out to support me and help celebrate my 50th birthday. GroaningMan is also in honor of my life changing journey out to Burning Man in Nevada in 2010. www.burningman.org is where you will find all of the official news, information and photos of what Burning Man really is.

In short though, it's an immense, unbelievable art party that takes place is a 3 mile diameter city that doesn't exist until hundreds of volunteers arrive in the middle of a prehistoric dry lake bed, to build a city that will house over 50,000 people from all over the world. Describing it is like trying to describe the Grand Canyon to someone who has never seen or heard of it.

GroaningMan is my tribute to that amazing journey that I shared with my super cool nephew Ben Berry as well as the hundreds of people I met and the thousands of people I never met, but who helped make Burning Man happen.

Now, two years later I am turning 50 years of age and wanted to do it up in classic GroaningMan style. The party itself is taking place at Artisan Works, an immense museum/gallery/party house where my studio resides. Mark the date of Sept 14 (my actual day of birth) 6pm-midnight.

$10 admission at the door gets you into a 40,000 sf gallery of floor to ceiling art of all shapes, sizes and media. $10 also gets you the rocking Rochester band...The VEiNS who just opened for George Thorogood and the Destroyers on August 9th at Party in the Park, here in Rochester, NY. That same ten bucks gets you two super cool DJ's spinning into the night. DJ Nickl and DJ max, both great friends are spinning their own magic between The VEiNS sets.

We'll have a cash bar, munchies and Lizzie of the Le Petite Poutine truck will be on hand serving up delicious fried potatoes with gooey cheese and gravy. Joe Bean Coffee will be handing out samples of their custom brewed deliciousness, Hedonist Artisan Chocolates will be on hand with taste tempting, mouth watering, amazing chocolate for you to taste and Piranha Sushi Bar and Grill will have yummies as well. All of these people are my friends and part of my chosen family. All give aways are while supplies last. Come early, stay late...enjoy the night.

More soon...Mark Groaning IS the GroaningMan

GroaningMan is a 21 and over party and I welcome everyone to come on out and enjoy an evening of Art, Music and Merriment. Remember though, Artisan Works has a maximum capacity of 500 people. We're expecting to max out, so come early as tickets are only available at the door.

More info soon! You can also check me out on Face Book as Mark Groaning and the GroaningMan events page.

Summer Solstice

It's here...the Summer Solstice event not to be missed. At 7:09 PM on Wednesday, June 20 Summer will officially beginband to celebrate this auspicious event, Joe Bean and Mark Groaning are having a Summer Solstice party at Joe Bean Coffee Roasyers (and MORE !)

Summer Solstice Fun Wed, June 20, 7pm Free Samples from EATME ICE CREAM Plus 20% off Mark Groaning Art Gallery.

This evening of fun and friendly people and delicous tastings will also mark the closing of the Mark Groaning "Coffee Romance" show, currently on display at Joe Bean, 1344 University Ave. Rochester, NY.

The show remains intact until Monday 25th of June and then comes down. Don't wait! Come on in and get your samples of EATME Icecream and 20% off any Mark Groaning item in the Joe Bean gallery.

See you soon! MG

Touchdown!

After numerous months of designing and redesigning Crossroads_Daydream in the studio of my mind and three solid weeks of hands on welding, grinding, more welding, spontaneous accidental burnings of myself, sleepless nights and long, long, way too long hours in the studio...the day of installation has finally come!

The official unveiling of Crossroads Daydream will be Saturday, June 2 at the Fairport Canal Days Festival!

I am very, very happy and relieved that the sculpture is installed, secured and ready to be seen by young and old alike.

Now it's time to get ready for the show itself!

MG

Final preparation

The day of installing Crossroads Daydream is here! I am in final preparations for moving it to and installation in Kennelley Park, Fairport, NY.

The access panel is removed here, so I can work on the new improved solar lights on the inside. Oh yes! It lights from the inside at night!!!

Stay tuned. Transportation and installation to commence in 1 hour.

MG

Crossroads Daydream

[caption id="attachment_25" align="alignnone" width="179"] Street side 1 & 2[/caption] What is 12' tall, made of steel, is wind and solar reliant, kinetic and will delight onlookers for at least one year?

My newest sculpture entitled Crossroads Daydream...that's what!

I am very excited to announce that Crossroads Daydream will be completed by this weekend and will be officially unveiled at Fairport Canal Days, June 2, 2012 at noon.

This is my first showing at Fairport Canal Days and I am looking forward to showcasing  my newest works in Window View Paintings, Steel and glass sculptures as well as many smaller items in the $10-$35 price range.

Please come on out and enjoy artist demonstrating their working techniques live and in person! Demos to be held in Kennelly Park...where Crossroads will live for the next year (at least)...right there near the gazebo near Moonlight Creamery. I look forward to a great show and seeing all of my friends and neighbors in Fairport and beyoooond!

Cheers!

Tag Team

Joe Bean Coffee Roasters celebrates their One Year Anniversary at 1344 University Ave. Rochester, NY on Friday, May 4thg...tonight!

This also "marks" the opening of my newest showing of works in glass, paint and steel...                 COFFEE ROMANCE.  All of this happening on the night of First Fridays in Rochester, which is a city wide event that takes place in many art galleries and studios around the city. Come on out and see whats happening as Joe Bean and Mark Groaning team up to celebrate art, coffee and a new beer and wine menu for Joe Bean!

See you there!