M.N.V

Worked a bit last night on this 4' x 5' painting for my 'Binge' (M.N.V ) exhibition. I was originally going to hire models for this image, separately, and then ...digitally compile a reference photo to paint from, but the end result would have just looked like pornography and that's the wrong vibe. I mean- yes, it *is* supposed to be sexual (everything from my MNV series is about sex, really) but hiring people to collage them into an insinuatory image-- nope. I can't bring myself to do it...it just feels too creepy. Since the exhibition I have planned, for after my 'Binge' show, will have a large Barbie sculpture, I figured I'd do something to bridge them thematically. So, I went to Value Village and bought some Barbies... tried arranging them...it looked too sterile...got frustrated...chucked them in a pile, threw the pearl necklaces at them and was like- wait a minute; that captures the vibe pretty well. Anyway, my musical muse gets the day shift so I think I'm going to go rent a cello now.

*Day 3 of 10* of my version of the '10 day art challenge': I'm doing 10 days about the 10 things I've divided myself into, so that my Facebook posts will be a b...it less confusing, due to my different art aliases and music projects. Art alias: M.N.V Around the same time I had started the Gerri series I also started *this* series of work. I started it for a few reasons but the main one was: I was tired of people looking through the Krista Acheson- series paintings and saying " oh.. you're getting better at painting faces, eyes etc...". At that point, in my art practice, anyone that knew me already understood I was uneducated and knew pathetically little about the art world; ( I'm a self taught/outsider artist), and I was beginning to glean that my cartoon-y art style was being viewed as an amateurs' attempt to draw people. But, what no one knew, not even Pat, at that point: I've always been naturally able to paint realistically--I just find it very boring. So, in 2013, regardless of my personal feelings about realism, I decided to start a new series for viewers who are more drawn to technical painting skills and to forever 'put to bed' the question of whether my illustrative art series would ever "improve". As to why M.N.V.? It was just M.y N.ewest V.enture at the time. Also, as MNV, I could sign the work with consummate V's (cheers to anyone that gets that reference) as well- initials hide the sex of the artist. The work is intentionally cold and representative; I use it to express my opinions and observations. I format some of the work so that it acts like advertising: a white background, certain things colored to draw attention, colors chosen according to color psychology etc.. Every exhibit is based on consuming-- how we consume each other, why we consume, what influences our desire to consume etc. *A lot* of sexual innuendo, idioms, food as metaphor and such. Food is never really food in this series and so far the series is mainly about sexuality. Since 2013 I've created around 96 pieces for this series. Responses to painting FAQs: -The paintings are acrylic on panel--not collages or cut outs -No, I don't use a projector. - I hire models and work from photos - I use very small brushes, water down my paint and layer color in a tiny circular pattern-like a tattooist ---------------------------------------------------------------- So--this has been 3 days on why my art posts are so stylistically disparate and why you sometimes see me tag myself as Gerri Harden or M.N.V I don't have split personalities, I'm just compartmental. I have a series for documenting life experience, another for feelings and the last for opinion. Anyway, tomorrow: 'Beacon Gallery' and *then* onto explaining all the music projects.

Just finished some wall sculpture pizza slices; part of my upcoming 'Binge' exhibition.

Finished up another sculpture this morning, and that's enough cigarettes for this exhibit- now I'm going to work on a big fish. Also- it was really cool to ha...ve a few visitors at the studio gallery/art house this week! (5!) It's not really an official gallery or anything (at the moment, at least) it's more just a space to install my completed exhibits or to develop new work... but, at some point, it will hopefully be more professional and I'll get better at managing stuff ... maybe be able do more "polished" tours of our weird art laden house and the work in the Beacon gallery/studio space... I just need to find a way to go from panicked rambler to art museum docent, asap. Snuffed 23 x 6 x 4 Mixed media M.N.V 2020

Finished a big cigarette sculpture, for my 'Binge' exhibit. Just wanted a drag 16" x 10" x 29" Mixed Media ... M.N.V 2020 See more

Just finished up a total re-do of a wall sculpture I had made in 2017. Originally, the sausages had casings made out of non-latex condoms *but*, when I went to ...get them out of storage, I was surprised to discover that plastic condoms degrade reeeally fast; additionally there may have been a reaction between the paint and the lubricant residue. (it had tinted the blue to a golden brown in some places) So- into the trash they went. Pat recently posted the sausages for a 'Larrys List' "art in a room" challenge, and the designer who had designed the room actually posted it in their Instagram story- which was kind of cool, so I figured if the piece was actually likeable, I should at least salvage it. I'm not sure whether to risk re-casing these new ones. I've read that latex condoms would last pretty much forever... but still don't know whether lubricant residue could react with the paint over time. For now, this is the uncased redo of: 'Working Blue' 1.5" x 5" (x9) Plaster, acrylic, nails M.N.V 2017-2020