While taking the subway from between Oakland and San Francisco, I began to draw people on the 2 x 2″ screen of the iPod touch.
I drew them “betweenstops”, the time we were on the train together and they were visible to me. That is how my betweenstops.wordpress.com blog got started
The thing I noticed consistently and appreciated most was how people’s 6th sense could know they were being drawn even though they could not see me.
I created this situation of 8 double sided mirror walls on wheels so images could bounce around maze-like and people could draw other people incognito.
The deYoung provided me with 5 iPads for the museum guests to draw on. They also gave me 5 assistants who taught the museum folk the drawing program.
I had a couch where I drew 96 people. I talk with the people who sit so it is more of an experience for both of us. Because of this, often I can get an internal portrait as well.
The guests drew their portraits which were printed out and exhibited in the gallery on the wall opposite my portraits. 244 people did portraits. We held a closing exhibition where people got to take the portraits they drew home with them.
The 24 x 68′ space has a wall of windows facing the park. Additionally in the gallery space there are 3 floor to ceiling glass panels. I had tech help and so these portrait slideshows could be seen all night through the big windows. In keeping with the glass walls and the mirrors, I installed some of my illuminated glass and mixed media sculpture. It was a magical place.
It was a fun place to hang out for a month. January 2012.
Because of this experience when the David Hockney Bigger Exhibition was at the deYoung a few years later. I was involved in the iPad drawing and painting part of that show and was one of the Friday Party Night featured artists throughout the duration of the exhibition. (way fun)
Digital portraits began on the subway between Oakland and San Francisco. These developed into a residency at The deYoung Museum with hundreds of portraits.
For more info on The deYoung Museum residency and to see more portraits please go to www.danazedportraits.com
