[arts]
Art school sux Total Fest exhibit puts the visual in audio by Erika Fredrickson
work, exposing independent DIY artists that don’t really have a chance to show elsewhere in Missoula—to bring something new to the valley.” The 14-piece exhibit features collage, paintings, woodcuts, drawings and one 3D work. Images include a painting of a tiger with the legs and breasts of a woman, holding a tambourine. Another is a photograph of a bloodied Mark Heimer from No Fi Soul Rebellion—a former Missoula, now-Bellingham band that often plays Total Fest. In the spirit of punk bricolage, a few pieces feature things like dried noodles and everyday garbage rather than more high-brow materials used by the average gallery artist. There’s a Xerox style to other works that hearkens to the way zines were made before blogs became popular. Some artists in Visual Audio are primarily known in the music scene as either regular show-goers or members of bands, such as Lukas Phelan of J. Sherri and Dane Hansen, a KBGA DJ and the musician behind Bad Naked. Some of the exhibit’s artists—Adelaide Every and Jack Metcalf, in particular— are already established in the Missoula arts community. “I don’t think any of us make a living off of art,” Metcalf says. “Most of the artists work at record stores, bars, radio stations and coffee shops.” Metcalf, whose work was exhibited a few months ago at the Crystal Theatre in a show titled A Synthetic Spring, has designed the stage on which the exhibit will be displayed. Ultimately, the entire Michael Workman’s “Over Achiever” is one of 14 pieces by exhibit will be relocated to the VFW’s various artists that will be on display First Friday for the stage where, like Browder’s installation, show Visual Audio. it’ll be showcased during Total Fest, can find the DIY aesthetic among the merch tables which begins August 15. Visual Audio was juried by Ian Vanek and Matt where bands show off their screen-printed T-shirts, patches, album art, buttons, tote bags and koozies. Ad- Reilly of the Brooklyn band Japanther, which has played ditionally, an anonymous low-brow zine called Dog Dick Total Fest a handful of times. The decision to have them choose the pieces makes sense: Vanek and Reilly formed sometimes shows up for attendees to peruse. Last year, however, art made a much more high-pro- their band while attending the Pratt Institute and are file appearance when Missoula native and current known to play at art museums. There’s a rebellious feel to the pieces in the exBrooklyn artist Amanda Browder sewed together a “rock” cave installation called Spelunca. The art piece— hibit—the kind of “art-school-sux” attitude and crass made of more than 100 donated rock-themed T-shirts— humor that often goes hand-in-hand with the punk served as a backdrop for one of the Total Fest stages, scene. But even in Visual Audio’s most provocative and all weekend the colorful stalactites and stalagmites pieces there’s a sweet playfulness; you won’t find any G.G. Allin-inspired shock art here. added visual spice to the concerts. “I don’t think there’s anything offensive,” Metcalf This year, Total Fest organizers have decided to set up a First Friday exhibit in a downtown band practice says. “It’s pretty all-ages, just like Total Fest is. The [art space featuring DIY art that pairs well with the festival’s pieces] range from sarcastic to satirical to just really colphilosophy. Visual Audio Club: The Art of Total Fest XII orful. And it doesn’t take itself too seriously.” Visual Audio Club: the Art of Total Fest XII is a kind of random assortment of punk and amateur opens with a First Friday reception Fri., Aug., 2, art inspired by music. “We wanted to make Total Fest more total, and have from 5 to 9 PM in the band practice space in the an art side to it,” says Kari Workman, the Total Fest art alley between Spruce and Pine on the block west coordinator. “There are always musicians coming of Higgins. J. Sherri plays and there will be live Tthrough that are also artists—they press their own shirt screening. Free. records or make their own shirts. So we wanted to take efredrickson@missoulanews.com the whole Total Fest mission and translate that into art
F U N IS
Photo © Noah Clayton
Missoula’s Total Fest is all about listening. Each year, the three-day independent music festival showcases bands from the far corners of the country (and beyond), with styles ranging from sludgy two-person outfits to raucous experimental party bands to straight-up metalheads to spastic punk rockers to the occasional poppunk acoustic guitarist. In addition to this sonic onslaught, a visual art aspect seeps into the event. For several years, Seattle-viaMissoula artist Tom Dewar has created popular poster prints to advertise each festival. And during the fest, you
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