EUGENE FINNEY AND GLORY AT SEA

Today, at the SMFA, we met (among others) Eugene Finney who, trained as a painter, now makes some pretty wonderful sculptures that he likes to call "post apocalyptic design theories." His works included a shelter made out of wood scraps from a an old brownstone that was being renovated as well as a boat made of scraps and found objects (complete with skids for a base and a projector screen for the front sail). I didn't get to see the pieces in their full glory (pun noted for later), but was rather forced to view them in his cramped 3rd year SMFA Masters studio. For this reason, I propose that anyone who wants to come with me should go to the MFA Thesis Exhibition at the Tufts University Art Gallery sometime between December 4th and 21st (2008). It will be a great time.

Honestly, these works really interested me not only because they were assemblage sculptures meant for very distinct functions (taking assemblage to a new level), but mainly because the sailboat reminded me an incredible amount of Court 13's Glory at Sea:

Glory at Sea is a tale with elements of magical realism that depicts a small town outside New Orleans who discovers that they can visit their lost loved ones who still remain very much alive in the ocean. Once realizing this, they band together build a makeshift ship out of "the flood's" wreckage and attempt to discover "where the dead people go."

So, naturally, to round out this entry of shameless plugs and inspirations, I bring incredible news (at least for Family Family Tree). The following has been posted on the McSweeney's website:

Wholphin No. 7 will feature a short film by Gus Van Sant based on a William S. Burroughs short story; a documentary exploring autism from the animators of Waking Life; Field Notes from Dimension X; the SXSW award-winning Glory at Sea; and a curious documentary about men living in relative isolation on Bodmin Moor, one of whom in particular subsists on a strict roadkill diet. Issue 7 will also include a special bonus disc containing a highly controversial interactive scientific experiment in retroactive causality, in which the Wholphin audience, just by watching, will help to determine the role of consciousness in the establishment of a physical reality.

AWESOME!