While I realize that we’re all being pulled in directions that are necessary for providing aid and care to the most vulnerable in our community in this moment.
To all of you who center themselves in creative practices as a means of navigating either personal or collective uncertainties:
Please keep making work, putting on shows, building and sustaining the creative networks that keep you and this place afloat.
From a performance at San Pablo’s Church in Midtown Phillips entitled Hardy Variety mounted 1 year ago amidst moving from my home of 20 years with my whole family recovering from norovirus, and bracing for the incoming administration and what we now know is an all out assault on our humanity.
Thanks for being home, Minneapolis. We’re a hardy variety.
Happy New Year! We're grateful to share 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘍𝘪𝘹𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 by John Marks and Crystal Myslajek.
To experience this work as a part of our ongoing project Evergreen, please make an appointment to visit us in Uptown, or view select works on ROMANSUSAN.ORG/EVERGREEN
A suite of three films, 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘍𝘪𝘹𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 began as a multimedia installation and performance based on projected moving images and sounds captured in the vicinity of the Roman Susan storefront space on Loyola Avenue. The moving image work draws on the artists’ relationship to Rogers Park and Edgewater, in relation to Roman Susan’s significance as a place in these neighborhoods. This project celebrates the artistic, relational, and geographic connections that the Minneapolis-based artists have made between themselves and this community as a result of exhibitions, performances, and gatherings made possible by the Roman Susan’s tenure at 1224 W Loyola Ave.
@johnwilliammarks is an interdisciplinary artist who locates his practice at the confluence of experimental film and electroacoustic music. His moving image and sound pieces center on time and place as materials for abstraction.
@cmyslajek is a composer and multi-instrumentalist whose genre-defying music is both lyrical and ethereal. On her albums with Moon Glyph and Water Wing Records, as well as self-produced releases, Myslajek layers looping vocals, keys and effects to craft expansive songs with geographical and environmental themes.
Together, Myslajek and Marks create audio/visual textures that manifest in multimedia performance and installation. Their collaborations have been presented in museums, festivals, galleries and underground venues throughout North America.
#Evergreen is partially supported by grants from Illinois Arts Council Agency; Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; Reva and David Logan Foundation; & Teiger Foundation.
#MovingImage #ContemporaryArt
I’m grateful for the opportunity to perform in a series I co-organize at a space that I call my own in the neighborhood where I live!
Come through, I’ll be listening with @iosisdrone and @dancey_flower with sound by @mrblaq and thanks to @jsswhtny
Thursday, September 25, 7pm
MirrorLab, 3400 Cedar, MPLS
I’m catching my breath after a breathtakingly wonderful week in Chicago working on a project to celebrate @romansusanart final weeks at 1224 W. Loyola Ave. I’m deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to make new moving image and sound works for their iconic gallery space, and to share a performance with the talented @robonbass and ensemble.
All my best to Kristin and Nathan Abhalter Smith in the next steps for their essential organization.
Thanks to @cmyslajek for joining me in the shade of the alley to make sounds in conversation with the ambience. Thanks to everyone who showed up in the heat!
John Marks and Crystal Myslajek: 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘍𝘪𝘹𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 — August 5 to August 9 at 1224 W Loyola Ave, Chicago IL — Open tonight at Sunset 🌇
Reception Saturday, August 9 from 2-5 PM
Performances at 2 PM with Ro(b)//ert Lundberg with Will Greene, Deidre Huckabay, Jeff Kimmel, Lia Kohl, and Sam Scranton
𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘍𝘪𝘹𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 is a multimedia installation and performance based on projected moving images and sounds captured in the vicinity of the storefront space on Loyola Avenue that draws on the artists’ relationship to the Rogers Park and Edgewater neighborhoods in relation to Roman Susan’s significance as a place. This project celebrates the artistic, relational, and geographic connections that the Minneapolis-based artists have made between themselves and this community as a result of exhibitions, performances, and gatherings made possible by the Roman Susan’s tenure at 1224 Loyola Avenue.
John Marks is an interdisciplinary artist who locates his practice at the confluence of experimental film and electroacoustic music. His moving image and sound pieces center on time and place as materials for abstraction. Crystal Myslajek is a composer and multi-instrumentalist whose genre-defying music is both lyrical and ethereal. On her albums with Moon Glyph and Water Wing Records, as well as self-produced releases, Myslajek layers looping vocals, keys and effects to craft expansive songs with geographical and environmental themes. Together, Myslajek and Marks create audio/visual textures that manifest in multimedia performance and installation. Their collaborations have been presented in museums, festivals, galleries and underground venues throughout North America.
#MovingImage #ExpandedCinema #contemporaryArt #SoundArt #Film #FreeEvent #RogersPark #FreeChicago
John Marks and Crystal Myslajek: 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘍𝘪𝘹𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 — August 5 to August 9 at 1224 W Loyola Ave, Chicago
Reception Saturday, August 9 from 2-5 PM
Performance at 2 PM with Ro(b)//ert Lundberg with Will Greene, Deidre Huckabay, Jeff Kimmel, Lia Kohl, and Sam Scranton
𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘍𝘪𝘹𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 is a multimedia installation and performance based on projected moving images and sounds captured in the vicinity of the storefront space on Loyola Avenue that draws on the artists’ relationship to the Rogers Park and Edgewater neighborhoods in relation to Roman Susan’s significance as a place. This project celebrates the artistic, relational, and geographic connections that the Minneapolis-based artists have made between themselves and this community as a result of exhibitions, performances, and gatherings made possible by the Roman Susan’s tenure at 1224 Loyola Avenue.
John Marks is an interdisciplinary artist who locates his practice at the confluence of experimental film and electroacoustic music. His moving image and sound pieces center on time and place as materials for abstraction. Crystal Myslajek is a composer and multi-instrumentalist whose genre-defying music is both lyrical and ethereal. On her albums with Moon Glyph and Water Wing Records, as well as self-produced releases, Myslajek layers looping vocals, keys and effects to craft expansive songs with geographical and environmental themes. Together, Myslajek and Marks create audio/visual textures that manifest in multimedia performance and installation. Their collaborations have been presented in museums, festivals, galleries and underground venues throughout North America.
#MovingImage #ExpandedCinema #contemporaryArt #SoundArt #Film #FreeEvent #RogersPark #FreeChicago
I had the distinct pleasure of working with the Walker Reader to curate a selection of sound pieces that relate to, are in conversation with, or are inspired by specific locations within the built environment of the Twin Cities. The project is now live, and exists as an interactive map with all new work by Nikki Pfeifer, IOISIS, Dameun Strange, Matthew Hiram, and Mary Hanson Scott. My deepest gratitude goes out to these artists for taking a leap of faith in working with me on this unique project, and to Jake Yuzna, editor of the Walker Reader for the invitation. I’m pleased with the way this turned out, and proud to be a part of such a vibrant community of creators supporting each other in this way.
Listen with us at: /magazine/twin-cities-sounds
@walkerartcenter@glitchygriot@iosisdrone@_tekknikk@dulceveeta@matthewhiram
Next up . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁
alone-a, @cmyslajek + @johnwilliammarks , and @studiostrange_
Saturday, April 26 at 7:30pm
At @themirrorlab (3400 Cedar Ave Minneapolis)
$10 at the door / PWYC
alone-a is the solo exploratory sonic project of Alana Horton. It explores the limits of memory and moment through vast tapestries of voice, digital delays, and densely rich signal processing. Every sound comes only from her voice, transformed through an ever-evolving Max/MSP instrument to surprising, chaotic, and ecstatic ends.
Crystal Myslajek is a composer and multi-instrumentalist whose genre-defying music is both lyrical and ethereal. On her albums with Moon Glyph and Water Wing Records, as well as self-produced releases, Myslajek layers looping vocals, keys and effects to craft expansive songs with geographical and environmental themes. John Marks is an interdisciplinary artist who locates his practice at the nexus of experimental film and electroacoustic music. His moving image and sound pieces center on time and place as materials for abstraction. Together, Myslajek and Marks create spectral sonic textures that manifest in multimedia performance and installation.
Dameun Strange is a sound explorer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and sound designer whose conceptual electronic and improvised electro-acoustic works focus on stories and themes of the African diaspora, often using surrealist and afro-futurist aesthetics. He is currently a graduate student in Composition at the University of Minnesota School of Music and lives in the Frogtown Community of Saint Paul, MN with his wife, Corina, and their inquisitive daughter, Ezra.
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
Hardy Variety: an evening of projected moving images and sound in collaboration with @cmyslajek and @dulceveeta on Sunday, January 12 5-7pm in the sanctuary of St. Paul’s Church in the Midtown Phillips neighborhood.
The event is free and open to all ages.
“This piece seeks to celebrate my neighbors’ expressions of care for the place where they live. All of the images were collected during 2024 within a one block radius of my home on 14th Avenue South, and draw attention to the trees, plantings, and vegetable gardens that somehow find a way to flourish in this rugged inner-city environment. Crystal and Mary will bring their meditative musical textures to the conversation with my films and sonic improvisations.”
The opening portion of the event will feature images made during the installation of a stunning new mural created by the youth of the Semilla Center for Healing and the Arts led by Sofía Padilla and Heather Hinrichsen with Lynda Acosta. Special thanks to Pastor Hierald Osorto.
Hardy Variety
Sunday, January 12, 5-7pm - Free
In the sanctuary of St. Paul’s Church
2742 15th Avenue S, Minneapolis
*John Marks is a fiscal year 2024 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board.
A few images from the Golden Hour concert at Wood Lake Nature Preserve last weekend. It was a lovely event in a beautiful place with inspiring artists.
Thanks again to @matthewhiram and @mcnubby for performing and organizing, @stolacemusic for their mindful set, and to my budd @caseydeming for the collaboration.
Amy’s son, Vincent took these excellent photos.
Looking forward to sharing time and space at THE GOLDEN HOUR | Outdoor Listening
w/ performances from
VISIBLE LIGHT (Matthew Hiram & Amy McNally)
Flute / cello / synth sound shapes
FRIPP & BUDD (John Marks & Casey Deming)
Modular / magnetic minimalism
STØLACE (Michael Tangen)
New music for mindfulness
FREE - donations accepted
Wood Lake Nature Center Amphitheater
6710 Lake Shore Dr S, Richfield, MN
Saturday, August 17th
Seating 6:30 pm | Music 7:00 pm
No food or alcohol. Sorry, no dogs!
@matthewhiram@mcnubby@caseydeming@johnwilliammarks@stolacemusic
