Heart of Chaos Art Exhibit

Years ago my friend Michael Denning and I began using new and different media in order to express ourselves as artists. I picked up a camera, a film M7, and he picked up some magazines, scissors, glue and canvas. Years later, we’ve both expanded how we are are using our artwork. Michael has become one of the leaders of the Art of Chaos Group, and even teaches art to children in juvenille hall through the Catalyst for Youth program. On Friday I had the pleasure of seeing work from him and other artists at the Third Annual Art of Chaos show held at First Street Billiards in San Jose, a very dark location.

With the above photo, I was trying to capture the grit and toughness Michael discovers in his art, even when I was shooting it I was thinking in black and white. I then in Photoshop post processing used both desaturation and intentional noise introduction to artistically modify him, to me it came out well and reminiscent of a photo from a printing press.

Michael’s first art piece was on display. I had been there for some of the many hours in which he cut out words and phrases for this large autobiographical piece, much of it focusing on his recovery from drugs and alcohol. In a few short months he will be celebrating his sixth year of sobriety.

When I first heard about this event, I wondered how well art, including pieces being created on scene by the artists, would work out at the same time as people playing pool. It turns out it worked incredibly well, often with the players stopping to notice the artwork during their games.

One of the best parts of the show was getting to see the artists making artwork at the time.

Different artists had different ways of dealing with the darkness of the rooms. The artist above brought his own spotlights. The next artist used a hat with a light on it, similar to those worn by miners and sometimes also by early morning runners.

Some more of the amazing work produced by these young artists:

Michael’s work tends to be social in nature. When he created the first piece I remember hanging out with him and others as he would often bounce a few ideas for words off his friends. He was doing that again on his mini pieces, the magnets (which often were inspiring messages for the artists in all of us).

One final closeup of his hands, words and finished pieces. I’m really inspired by the words he is using here, “Imagine living the life you’ve always dreamed of.”