The New Obsolete

Since we went to Guilford College, I watched Mark make amazing things. First he played with windmills, bikes with wings, leaning sculptures, bass guitars. I thought it was cool, but never imagined it was vital. Then came my CONVERSION. In Denmark I learned black smithing. Molten metal changed my life. It was if Thor struck me with a hammer. Things I thought were static, were actually dynamic. Solids were liquid and became solids in new shapes. It didn't happen all at once,
but I began to observe and wonder how things were made. I know I wouldn't be content to be a mere observer. I had to make things myself. When I returned I entered an intensely creative environment of a pack of musical college sophomores largely without girlfriends or store bought booze. That pack was English Hall. Ridiculous projects were adopted and executed with the speed and grace of a flock of birds turning at an unseen magnetic signal. Situations like that are necessarily temporal, but the idea remained.

Mark advanced in his writing and depth of his sculpture projects. I began to take more note and even awe. At one point on the christmas tree farm, Mark taught me to weld. I started becoming interested in architectures and working on furniture projects. I got work in a sweltering metal fabrication shop and would stick scrap metal together at lunch. Eventually, I made a small geodesic icosohedron. Mark had already made a 8' diameter, 3 frequency geodesic. Then I made something that had no mathematics or practical application. It was determined to be my first sculpture. I

worried that I was treading too much in Mark's arena and was also way outclassed. Mark's writing

had a key " I don't care if it's been done, it hasn't been done by me!" This is a great way of freeing thought. I advanced without a shadow.

Mark began to make more and more complex sculptures. These sculptures began to play with light and sound. They interacted with the audience, they caused people without skills to participate in music. When I visited him in Pittsburgh, I watched him make the drum machine, a circular disk that you program with bamboo skewers to make solenoids beat. He made a typewriter that uses light trippers to play a piano.

In November, Mark asked about bringing his band Invisible to Durham. I've never done show production, but jumped at the suggestion. Simultaneously, a new group of friends decided to resuscitate a existing arts non-profit we call Anomaly Inc.

I met Mark on the train platform with a bicycle donated by Seven Stars. We brought Mark on a wild ride showcasing and looking at abandoned storefronts, making contacts and finding a space.

Of course we found adventures on the bikes

We debated the potential of the spaces to activate street fronts and enhance the cities streetl life.

Got panoramic views.

Visited other artists like Al Frega and David Solow and the Downtown Storefront Project folks.

Mark got to ride the train sunrise to sunrise.

A lucky break came when Tom Merrigan, architect and mobile urban pianist secured us a ideal spot at 108 Morris Street.

The old bowling alley/ hearse maker/ nightclub had plenty of space and working toilets. Mark can bring in his 10' tall music makers and we can accommodate an audience of 150.