mnartists.org: James Allen

Simplicity

James Allen — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:06:05 GMT

Created for Mutual Design Playground's word, "Simplicity." Having worked with individuals suffering from mental handicaps, I have witnessed the simplest tasks portrayed as complex enigmas. I wanted to portray that feeling through something very simple, a 2-color digital collage.

Re-Inventor (Packaging)

James Allen — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:40:54 GMT

The idea behind the release was simple: No computers. I wanted to carry that idea over to the packaging - as well as making it an event to open (to get to the cassette, one must physically tear apart the layer of paper - which has been pre-slit, emphasizing the separation between "Re" and "Inventor"). The latter aspect seemed more important since the release would be limited to only 50 copies. Outer layer: Kraft paper stamped with the title in red; one slit vertical through hyphen, one slit underlining the title. Inlay: Linoleum block print in black on card stock with title stamped on spine in red. Cassette: Hand-lettered denotation. Special thanks to Gina Demm for general inspiration on the project.

[|||]

James Allen — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:02:57 GMT

Created as a submission for Mutual Design Playground, charged with designing the word, Supercharged. My take was to highlight tension with the use of bright, bold colors and elements. Method: Various brushes, layers in Photoshop CS3 over a photograph of a rotting door.

Birthing Alpha

James Allen — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:55:22 GMT

Created while reading [i]Brave New World[/i]. Created over the course of a month in 2007.

[Promo] Magus (08.30.08)

James Allen — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 19:59:22 GMT

[Promo] Great Movers & Shakers

James Allen — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:40:51 GMT

With Timmy Tapeworm's release, [i]Great Movers and Shakers of the 20th Century[/i], the feel of dirt and chaos were necessary. The overall sound is far harsher than previous releases and, for the first time in years, computers were kept to a minimum - used only for mastering.

too bad about the stomache

James Allen — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:45:24 GMT

From pieces found in notebooks and other in the month of February 2008. Compiled between the late hours of the 26th to the early bits of the 27th. Created as mail art - sent to DC Spaulding on March 7, 2008.

image: Back Face

or don't

James Allen — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:28:11 GMT

Created from bits of notebook material compiled across February 2008. Sent as mail art to The Emergence Project/Sarah Condon on: March 7, 2008.

image: Back Face

[Promo] Epic Instrumental Night, September 07

James Allen — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 22:34:50 GMT

A promotional poster for Radio K/Now Like Photographs' Epic Instrumental Night 4. Victorian etching (in public domain) with Adobe Illustrator CS2. Created September 2007.

[Promo] Return of Seth Vanhorn

James Allen — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 22:12:38 GMT

Promotional flier for the first night of performances welcoming sound artist, Seth Vanhorn (Overthruster, Abortionist, Disthroned Agony) back to the cities. Materials Ink on card stock; touched up color with Photoshop CS2 Created August 2007.

image: B/W Version

image: Edited Color Version

image: Edited Version By Hand

Skeletons of Mechanization

James Allen — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 21:36:53 GMT

A chapbook of seven original poems hand-lettered on card stock coated in ink and paint. Collaged elements of gears, a heart, and a sewing machine; an ornate ink rendering of a bee; rubber stamped elephants; a window framed by blue painter's tape. All add to the overall experience. Materials: Ink, Fabric Paint, Photographic Paper, Glossy Paper, Painter's Tape, on card stock wrapped in wire. Created in December 2007.

image: Back Cover, Wrapped

image: Opening

image: Opening - Accordion

image: Side A

image: Side A, closer

image: Side B

Automanipulator

James Allen — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 21:29:08 GMT

Late at night until early morning, channeling the feel of Crispin Hellion Glover's song of the same title. A collaged piece created on the eve of the January 12, 2008 Shadows and Sounds multimedia event, held in Minneapolis, MN. Materials: Glossy Paper, Photographic Paper, Ink, Stage Blood, Spray-painted Cardstock - on cardstock.

Vertigo; Filtered

James Allen — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 21:20:01 GMT

The feeling of vertigo is often caused by a peripheral vestibular disorder. I used painter's tape to create the repeating pattern, layered the uncoated areas beyond the height of the tape, removed the tape when drying was complete, continued painting and layering. Created in 2005 using acrylic and fabric paint, ink on canvas board.