Two New Live Paintings, First Guitar Painting, STELLAIRE Graphic and LVR Portrait Series

"There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth. Not going all the way, and not starting."

~Siddhartha~

When one can escape the everyday life for just a short time and explore the inner realities of dreams and passions, new realities are born. Traveling through Colorado in March with Derek VanScoten brought an inner peace as I experimented on the canvas in 4 towns for 4 consistent nights. "Follow Your Dreams" expresses the connections, inspirations and insights I had through out the tour.

"Follow Your Dreams"

Painted during:

Malakai, Derek VanScoten and Polish Ambassador at Three20South

in Breckenridge, Co 3.14.12

Derek VanScoten and OTT at the Aggie Theatre in Ft. Collins, Co

3.15.12

Govinda, Derek VanScoten and OTT at the Summit Music Hall

in Denver, Co 3.1612

Benny Loco, Derek VanScoten and The Polish Ambassador

at the Fox Theatre in Boulder, Co 3.17.12

For Sale: Base Price $350 Inquire at chapinmathews@gmail.com

Malakai, or Kai, came to me after the tour in request for a piece of art on an electric guitar he is rebuilding. I gladly jumped on the project and had an enjoyable, experimental first time painting on a guitar. Here is a photograph of the guitar finished with more photos available for your viewing pleasure on this album. Also, feel free to check out Malakai's music here!

"Kai" Painted by Chapin Mathews April 2012

In support for my friend Missy Stewarts hoop group, I created this graphic for their latest promo. STELLAIRE will be performing at the Jacksonville Superfest in Florida April 13th-15th. I wish you all the best of luck!

"STELLAIRE" by Chapin Mathews 4.6.12

The LVR Portrait Series is a photo concept comparing and expressing the contrast of the left and right sides of the brain or cerebral hemispheres connected by the corpus callosum. With the winter beard in full bloom, I shaved half my face to reflect these ideals and characteristics we associate with the two sides of the brain. Below is one of five photographs taken and edited by Joe Zalan. The whole series can be viewed at the LVR Portrait Series album here.

Chapin Mathews March 2012

" It is my purpose in this life to share my creative passions with the human race and inspire others to help cultivate the creative revolution needed in society."

Quote from Artist Statement 2012 CM♥

Upon my arrival to Colorado back in September, life has brought many surprises and changes which is expected to come when moving 1,800 miles. In October 2011 I started my first Colorado piece, "Kabudachi", which stands for a particular bonsai tree that has multiple trunks all growing from the same point, or root. I slowly worked on this piece at live performances and in the studio from October 2011 to April 2012, conveying the evolving emotional changes I went through during my locational change . Here is the final image of "Kabudachi". All forms growing from one point!

"Kabudachi"

Painted during:

Michael Garfield and other local electronic artists at Cervantes Masterpiece

in Denver, Co 10.25.11

Michael Garfield at the Aspen Lodge in Estes Park, Co

10.28.11

Virtual Boy, The Malah and Papadosio at the Summit Music Hall

in Denver , Co 12.9.11

Studio 2012

Sold

In a final conclusion, I am ecstatic to announce the beginning blooms of my 2012 summer tour with the addition as an official live painter at Wakarusa Music festival. This has been a dream of mine for quite some time and I am excited to collaborate on this voyage with so many other beautiful artists. You can check out the rest of my summer tour in the section labeled Schedule 2012 to the right. Many more additions are to come and I appreciate all the support and positive energy I have been receiving these past few weeks.

Thanks for tuning in and look forward to more production and tour information in the coming weeks. Aloha!

Chapin Mathews

4.8.12 ♥

"If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present."

~Lao Tzu~

Promotional Videos, New Graphics and Announcing a 4 Night Painting Run with D.V.S*

After creating my first album cover this winter, graphic design has become a prime artistic exploration of mine. Finally beginning to to pierce through the surface of the infinite possibilites in this creative dreamers world. Steve Owen requested earlier this year that he needed a design for the Richmond Electronic Collective's first album which included tracks by a various number of electronic artists from Richmond Virginia. I was quite thankful and honored to provide the first album design for Steve's first of many compilation albums. Here is the graphic and link to the REC: Richmond Electronic Collective Volume 1.

REC: Richmond Electronic Collective album cover by Chapin Mathews

A few weeks ago I came up with an idea I wanted to explore with photoshop. I started editing an image of an LED hula hoop a friend was playing with on St. Augustine Beach last summer. You may remember the reference from a previous publishing. I spent the next three days adjusting and tweaking the images and layers I selected until I found an acceptable balance. Here is my most intricate and ambitious graphic yet, titled "Light Offerings".

"Light Offerings" by Chapin Mathews

High Quality Prints available upon request at chapinmathews@gmail.com

Continuing to collaborate in Boulder has produced some new promotional material I never thought to create until I became close with Joe Zalan. A film student at the University of Colorado at Boulder, Joe has been exploring with traditional and artistic film techniques for years. He has been such a help the past few weeks filming and creating two new promotional videos for both my music and live painting. I gladly introduce to you these new, fresh perspectives in my artist promotions! Follow and check out more of Joe Zalan's work here.

Promotional Music Video from Chapin Mathews on Vimeo.

Clip from a track titled "Move" by Chapin Mathews

Video by Joe Zalan

Promotional Painting Video from Chapin Mathews on Vimeo.

Clip from a track titled "Narnia" by Chapin Mathews

Video by Joe Zalan

Lastly, I am extremely excited to announce I will be painting four shows next week with Derek VanScoten, aka D.V.S* on his Colorado run. If you have not heard his music please take some time to explore his albums and enjoy this beautifully technical electronic music. You can also check out his tour here. These are the dates and locations I will be performing with D.V.S* next week.

3.14.12: Three20South in Breckenridge, Co w/ The Polish Ambassador

3.15.12: Aggie Theatre in Fort Collins, Co w/ OTT

3.16.12: Summit Music Hall in Denver, Co w/ OTT

3.17.12: Fox Theatre in Boulder, Co w/ The Polish Ambassador

Thanks for tuning in and I look forward to meeting some new Colorado music and art lovers at the shows next week.

Chapin Mathews

3.6.12♥

Waking from Hibernation...

"Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen."

Ralph Emerson

Awakening from a cyber hibernation after a beautiful, creative summer in 2011. The fall brought an entire new type of adventure with my relocation to Boulder Colorado. The journey west brought some great camping in Kentucky, Missouri and Kansas. These three music video recordings below are from my favorite spot I came across, Wilson Lake State Park in Kansas. While your viewing the videos, feel free to get connected on my new vimeo profile.

"Travelin' Man" from Chapin Mathews on Vimeo.

"Decorated Smile" from Chapin Mathews on Vimeo.

Beginning to Set In from Chapin Mathews on Vimeo.

As I settled into the rocky mountain state, October brought an opportunity to paint three shows during the last two weeks of the month. I first finished "Direction Home" at Cervantes Masterpiece in Denver, Co on 10.14.11.

"Direction Home"

Painted 8.20.11 at Camp Barefoot Music Festival,

9.9.11 at The Camel in Richmond, Va for Silo Effect and Polycrons,

10.14.11 at Sonic Blossom, Cervantes Masterpiece in Denver, Co

The following show was on 10.25.11 during sets by Michael Garfield and other various local electronic musicians for a repeat experience at Cervantes Masterpiece. 10.28.11 was the last performance for the month during an intimate three set show held by Michael Garfield at the Aspen Lodge in Estes Park, Co.

Michael Garfield tantalizing our ears as Chaeli Cardenas and Chapin Mathews live paint at the Aspen Lodge on 10.28.11.

Photo by Danny Litin

Following the tail end of the year, Galaxy Dynamite requested my assistance in designing an album based from a painting created in March of 2011. This is the final, full three page image of the cover, back and inside from Galaxy Dynamite's "Live at the Jewish Mother" album released on 1.14.12.

The living adventures in Boulder have brought new collaborations along the way. A cooperative with my friend Nick Bitzer produced a groovy new electronic track titled "Transient Tea". Check it out and expect more collaborations in the near future!

Thanks for tuning back in to my creative world and catching up on some of the production I have been up to during the hibernating months. There will be another post next week including more winter productivity and news about a few shows I will be painting at in Colorado during the month of March.

Chapin Mathews

2.28.2012 ♥

The Remaining Summer Saga

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." Lao Tzu

When I look back on the summer of 2011, "blessed" is the first word that comes to mind. As I sat all winter and spring in my office job I never could have imagined that becoming unemployed would open the opportunity to spread my soul through a passionately creative journey across the country. All together from May to August I traveled over 12,000 miles, performance painted 6 music festivals and another dozen individual shows. From all the places I visited, the people were the best part. Those beautiful souls I gratefully met built a bright fire in my soul. No matter how simple our encounter, you positively affected my life and I hope to have in exchange done the same for you.

Last post I left off in early July at a small show I performed in Norfolk Virginia. About a week after the Norfolk show I embarked for my first "burn" experience at a festival called Transformus outside of Asheville North Carolina. If you are unfamiliar with the "burn" term, you may be more familiar with the event called Burning Man. Burning Man is a week long event held in the desert of Nevada creating the second largest city, Black Rock City, in the state for only a short period of time and then vanishes till the next year. A simple explanation of the purpose and concept behind Burning Man is community and participation. Bringing people together to not only enjoy the event but to create it as well.

Michael Garfield lecturing at Burning Man 2011

Participants on the macro level of the event are artist, musicians and organizers that provide unique characteristics to the festival such as art installations, live music, and various body, mind and spiritual lectures and events at what are called "theme camps" which are laid throughout the grounds with overlapping schedules. Everyone is encouraged to be a participant on any level possible and usually most of the people are successful in providing an interesting piece to the puzzle as most of the festival is enjoyed by visiting the mass number of theme camps created. The main event in the week though is on the last night of the event when the burning of the "man" is initiated. This years burning "man" was 104 feet tall! The center piece of the city that is practically worshiped throughout the week is burnt as a sign of an ending to a new beginning. This concept of the burning is understood as a time of renewing. Letting go of what we may or may not cherish to create a spiritually refreshing experience in our lives.

So after many years of the original Burning Man, "burns" have developed all over the country providing the same principles as Burning Man on a smaller, less populated level which opens an opportunity for these principles to spread further than the Nevada event. Transformus was a very new festival experience for me. I noticed most that instead of a main stage with bands and main acts like most music festivals, the whole festival ground was the main act. It was for you, the participant, to discover where and what to experience through visiting all the theme camps. Gifting is also a major part of the burn community. Not only did I receive a wide variety of gifts ranging from food to a new outfit from the costume theme camps, I gifted many pieces of glass jewelry, food, painting and great connections with the people I met all weekend.

Anticipating the burn!

And it begins....

Wallflower perspective of the main burn. So capturing.

My return from Transformus inspired my spiritual vision. I was determined to put as much focus and motivation as possible to expand my live painting schedule for the summer. I quickly got booked to paint Nomadic Roots Festival which was two weeks after Transforums in Gore Virginia. Meeting many great folks alongside my buddy Thomas who came and painted as well, I created two paintings over the course of three days that felt as a relief to manifest.

"The Maze Follows" Painted 7.28-29.11

Sold

Prints $10

"Freedom" Painted 7.30.11

Original For Sale, Inquire By Email For Pricing

Prints $10

One week after Nomadic Roots Festival I traveled with the Silo Effect to Logan Ohio for the Rootwire Music Festival held by Papadosio. This weekend I wanted to not only explore the incredible line up of musicians and lectures provided but also create one concise painting that evolved over the weekend. After painting at 8 sets over the course of two days, "The Path to Rootwire" was created and in my eyes opened a path to combining styles I had been only working on separately which in many ways worked well and was a clear evolution in my work.

"The Path to Rootwire" Painted 8.5-6.11 to Michael Garfield, D.V.S*, Emancipator, Silo Effect, The Malah, Papadosio, Damn Right and Invisible Allies

Sold

Prints $10

Shortly after Rootwire I was lucky enough to paint at the National again on August 12th for Boombox with the help of my buddies the Silo Effect who were opening up. A reunion for many of us who spent time together at Rootwire enjoying the moment and anticipating what was left for summer.

For the past few years there has been no better way for me to wrap up the summer then to attend Camp Barefoot Music Festival now held in Bartow West Virginia. Last year was the first festival I was ever an official live painter at so it was great to return again this year with a surprising growth in the number of live painters. There were close to a dozen artist this year compared to three from last year. I received the same creatively communal vibe this year as I did at Sonic Bloom Festival that I spoke of in the last post. It's quite moving to see such a large group of young people taking their part in the scene in providing visual art.

From my first festival encounter this summer with Thomas at Ad Astra Festival in June where it was only the two of us, to these larger numbers of creative minds joining collectively, it has been a blessing to be a part of this current movement of live painting. To know that Camp Barefoot was an ending to the most incredible creative summer I have experienced yet was in a way saddening but also created an ending for a new beginning just like the concept of a burn. It allowed me to purge past certain creative limits and reach new levels of creative consciousness. Running now with the concise vision I had discovered at Rootwire lent to a more peaceful and confident experience in performing.

"Augmented Senses" Painted 8.18-19.11

Sold

Prints $10

Collaboration between Thomas Robertson-Forrest and Chapin Mathews 8.18.11 at Camp Barefoot Music Festival

Donated

Process photo by Julie Steinberg from CB5 on 8.20.11

Continued at Silo Effect on 9.3.11

Still in Progress and For Sale

Taking you back to the last post I spoke at length about my wonderful experience as a performance painter at the Sonic Bloom Music Festival. Thanks to Michael Garfield, here is a montage video from the weekend which captures the experience quite well. There are a few clips of me working alongside the rest of the productive live painting crew.

Thank you all for taking the time to read and catch up on my rigorous schedule as an artist this summer. Blessed we all shale be to have the opportunity to experience such collaboratively creative events on an annual basis. Before I end I would also like to turn your attention to my soundcloud website where I post my music recordings. I have been spending an abundance of time recording written and improvisational tracks all summer and have started to post some of the recordings. "Move", "Auto Interlude" and "Sweet Summer Nectar" are recently posted tracks. All tracks are downloadable. I hope you enjoy. The next post will include many photos, videos and stories from my move across the country from Richmond Virginia to Boulder Colorado. 4 days of driving, 3 nights of camping and a mind expanding perspective of the land we call home. As well as some of the new creative experiences I am having in the rocky state thus far.

Thank you for all your support and stay creative!

Chapin Mathews

"When you are everywhere, you are nowhere. When you are somewhere, you are everywhere." Rumi

What a Time, a Time it Has Been.... Part 2

"When the way comes to an end,then change- Having changed, you pass through."

I-Ching

Recoiling to the depths of my memory. The summer is slowly fading away and many stories have yet to be shared. Part 1 left off at Ad Astra Music Festival, right before my departure to Colorado for two weeks. Returning Sunday from the festival to fly out at 7am that Tuesday June 14th constructed a small window of time to get ready and pack with all necessary supplies for travel in the state and painting Sonic Bloom Music Festival. I arrived to Denver early in the afternoon and was scooped up by one of my oldest friends I had not seen in 5 years, "D-Dot" or Todd, also a Virginia native.

When we arrived to his place we took his dog "Riggins" to Sloan's Lake which is practically a part of the neighborhood. Colorado sunshine radiates much stronger than back in the east. At a mile high in the Denver area, the sunshine awakens your bones and the air replenishes your lungs. As I took it all in, D-dot and I spotted a bald eagle which I felt was very symbolic of the journey. Conveying some sense of power to what lie ahead.

The next six days I spent scooting through Denver, seeing a Rockies game and catching up with other friends I know that live in the area. Just having a good ol' taste of what Denver had to offer as well as checking out small towns like Golden and Morrison where Red Rocks Amphitheater is. Right outside of Morrison there is a beautiful 5 mile hike in Matthews/Winters Park with a great overview at the top. Here are a few photos from the hike.

Our little friend we met along the way.

Sunset on the summit.

Summit which looks over Red Rocks.

After my adventures through Denver I took the bus to Boulder and stayed with my great friend from art school, Jake, who is also a Virginia native. He has continued his passion for glassblowing in Boulder full time so being in the shop with him was just like old times. My stay in Boulder was a restful one. I think after 6 days of running around in Denver I needed to catch my breath. Literally, the altitude will get to ya!

Boulder is such a quaint town with Colorado University at the center. There are two farmer markets a week which I got to enjoy during Wednesday's set up. All week we ate great home cooked food by Jake and his girlfriend Marie which was the replenishment I needed to prepare for a long weekend of live painting in Georgetown.

The spontaneity of this trip never seemed to bother me. There were obvious obstacles that for some reason I did not pay much attention to. There was the point that I had no tent for the festival, or blankets, and better yet no ride to the festival. And some how it all worked out beautifully. D-dot solved one problem by lending me an old tent he had in the basement. Jake and Marie lent me a blanket and pillow so that I did not freeze at night. Michael Garfield who was running the live painting set me up for a ride with Mackenzie, one of the other live painters. At about 2:30 in the afternoon on friday June 24th my ride arrived and I was extremely amped to be painting a festival in Colorado!

The artists had an amazing area of display consisting of two 20 foot domes that one served for merchandise and display and the other as a more relaxed and meditative room of display with beds all around the floor. The nights were cold! Easily in the 40's. Which surprised my attire a little bit. I did have the basics of socks, pants and a jacket but it was like a Virginia winter out there. Dancing while painting though is a great way to keep a center of warmth going. It did get toasty during the day but the mornings stayed nice and cool for ample sleeping time.

Around 8pm each night I would set up to paint by the main stage with all the other painters and stay going till about 2-3am. There was a great sense of community during those three nights of setting up with the painting crew. There were about 12 of us set up all in one long line like a hallway of artist. Walking down the line of artist through the bright lights, it was not only our artwork displaying as the gallery but as performers we were also a part of this living, breathing organism of artists taking life at night. A "live gallery" I will call it. I had never been part of such a large group of live artists at one time. For each of the three nights I painted a piece. This weekend I felt like purging all my creative energy into multiple pieces instead of taking the approach to working on one piece for multiple days as I will do in other cases. It served well to getting fresh ideas out that I am still using and working on currently. Here are photos of the finished work.

"Tied To My Heart"

6.24.11

Original $250

Prints $10

"Eyes On The Land"

6.25.11

Original $150

Prints $10

"Maze of Your Mind"

6.26.11

Original Sold

Prints $10

Artist Gallery

Picture of myself and a few other painters from Sonic Bloom's website.

When I was packing to leave Colorado I realized I could have booked another week to stay in the state and still could not have done everything I wanted to do. Completely satisfied with what I experienced on the journey, I am looking forward to my next visit to the Rockies which might be more of a permanent stay than a visit.

Soon after my Colorado excursion I had two shows to perform during the next two weekends. The first was at the National in Richmond Virginia invited by People's Blues of Richmond. I was accompanied by my other painting friend Thomas who always lends to great company, good conversation and inspiring creative insight.

"Sunshine of Your Love"

7.1.11

Original $150

Prints $10

The second show was at the Jewish Mother in Norfolk Va during Galaxy Dynamite and Silo Effect. Thomas was able to join me during this evening as well which brought a copious amount of communication with the audience confined by our small area to set up. In certain situations at shows it's so great to be painting with in the audience. Other times it can be a little overwhelming and difficult to hold one's own space. This evening everyone was extremely kind and respectful.

"Aloha"

7.9.11

Original $200

Prints $10

Thanks for reading and stay connected for many more stories I have to share from my 10,000 miles + of travel this summer.

Stay Creative,

Chapin Mathews

"All the works of man have their origin in creative fantasy. What right have we then to depreciate imagination."

Carl Jung

What a Time, a Time it Has Been.... Part 1

It has been quite some time since my last publishing and there has been a plethora of experiences and events to catch up on. Upon the beginning of May and just after my last post, a gift came to me. Some may not see this situation as a gift, and I did not at first either. I received a call late afternoon Monday, May 9th right before I was going into work that our shift had been laid off. I had been employed by Brown-Greer law firm for close to 5 months reviewing claims for the British Petroleum spill that occurred back in April of 2010. I really had enjoyed the work environment and the job emphases on monetarily compensating people in need. At first I was upset and spent the whole week planting a new garden, putting all my energy and feelings into it. This week humbled me to see the light in the situation. Find the good. All at the same time my relationship came crashing down and all I could see was black. I had to...... escape. I did not want to run or hide. I just felt like bursting.

All that had been consistent, was, no more.... To many of us, consistency equals comfort. And in many cases consistency has brought me comfort. At this time though I realized that a transitional period was occurring and I came back to this notion that I read a few years ago, stating "change is the only constant." I realized that my comfort was inside the way I was to change and so I started to travel. This intuitive and spontaneous decision became a beautiful and reflective timeline of healing, opening the motivational path to continue traveling through out the summer and share my live creativity with as many people as possible. And it begins.....

First I spent a few days breathing and relaxing by the ocean in Virginia Beach where I am grateful enough to have a little apartment to escape to thanks to Dad and his Real Estate escapades. The ocean is what calms me. I have been in the water swimming and surfing since the age of 3. It brings me back to my youthful center always. A kid again and always at heart.

On may 20th I trekked back to Richmond to paint for the Polycrons and Silo Effect at the Canal Club. This event had been planned for a while with a huge array of artists, decorations, and an opening Dj session by my buddy Miles Milner, all put on by our good friends TeePee Crew Promotions.

"The Mood was Set"

Installation by Sarah Sage and Walker Willow

A shot of me working next the the TeePee

Thanks TeePee Promo for the photos

The Polycrons played a great opening set for my first experience with the band. Silo Effect closed out the night with 2 electrifying sets with 2 special surprise guests. Andrew Lutwin sat in for 2 covers over the night, "Naive Melody" by Talking Heads and "Fame" by David Bowie. Andrew killed it to say the least! Also during the second set Sam Brouse of Papadosio sat in with the Silo Effect coming in on Kasyapa> Cheministry which is a new song for the boys. After the 4 sets that night and working on the piece over the next 2 weeks while I was traveling, here is the final product from the 5.20.11 show.

5.20.11

Original $170

Prints $10

Just a few days after the 5.20 show I drove down to Jacksonville Florida to visit some very close friends of mine for two weeks and also to catch a free Herbie Hancock show during the Jazz Festival over Memorial Day weekend. What a treat it was to see a living legend in a dramatic but simple trio. Not to mention he busted out the "key-tar". Here is a clip I found from the festival in the middle of a jam during "Chameleon".

Jacksonville is always a much needed vacation. I don't ever need a real big excuse or event to come down. I always feel at home when I go and visit my long time friend Alex and his lady Missy in their sweet hospitality. Always some sort of debauchery occurring. It's never a dull moment with those two. During the last weekend of my stay we went down to St. Augustine about an hour south of Jax where Missy's father owns a beach condo. We planned for a very festive stay and not much sleep. We had music instruments, a battery powered IPod player for dancing on the beach and LED and fire hoops for our visual entertainment. Not to mention the beautiful moon and stars all laid out as a blanket for our eyes to wander. I caught some great shots of Missy and a friend with the LED hoops and one of the beautiful sunrises from the weekend.

Sunrise

Missy and friend with LED hoops

Missy Stewart

Hooper for Hire

A few days after St Augustine I packed my bags, said my goodbyes, and drove the long 9 hours back to Richmond to then hop back in the car with the Silo Effect the next day and travel to Ad Astra Festival in Big Island, VA. As I walk up to the main stage area I saw my new painting buddy Thomas Robertson-Forrest who I had met in Richmond during a few events. From that point on we have been soul brothers. We busted ass on our canvases Friday night till 11pm when the music stopped and continued early the next morning painting from noon to 11pm with our casual breaks. It felt like a purge of creativity to paint at this length. It was the highest high I had felt in a long time. Soaking in my own creative aura. And with great vibes and motivation from my new buddy Thomas.

"Flower to Flower"

Painted @ Ad Astra 6.10-11.11

Original $150

Prints $10

This was my set up at the festival. The piece on the easel was from the second night and is still in progress.

As for now, Part 1 is over to hold you in anticipation for Part 2. The next post will include my two week trip out to Colorado where I was able to perform at Sonic Bloom Music Festival, creating 3 new pieces! You can sneak preview them in the slideshow above. Plus 2 new shows from the National in Richmond with Peoples Blues of Richmond and the Jewish Mother in Norfolk with Galaxy Dynamite and the Silo Effect since my arrival back from Colorado. Keep it cool everyone, it's hot out there.

Light and Love,

Chapin Mathews

"You don't change the world to travel, you travel to change the world." Dedrick D.L. Pitter

To Charleston We Go! Unfortunate Experiences in the Scene, New Live Painting and Acoustic/Electric Tracks

The past few weeks have been a flash. Many new perspectives brought to light in culture and self. April 29th, I embarked on a trip down to Charleston South Carolina with my great buddies and local Richmond Virginia band, the Silo Effect to a small music festival called Jamz Island promoted by SoCf Entertainment. Silo Effect was to play a 10-12pm set while I painted alongside. It was a beautiful spring day; The kind that makes you want to grab the air and pick those lush trees in bloom and take a bite. As we descend south, the tree families begin to change slowly. The big, bushy and tall trees we see blooming in Virginia begin to become these lush tropical families that seem to weep from the moisture. As we get closer, our smiles grew larger.

We arrived in the late afternoon, confused on the exact location of this place, the Brick House Kitchen. We passed an entry with police at the gate and realized that was the entrance. The cops were of no bother, though it was a relative message for what was to come though we did not know it at the time. The festival grounds were small and haggard to say the least, normally just a restaurant during working hours. Not the best space for a festival. The few people that were present though were smiling and so were we, always looking on the positive side of things.

Photo of "Headstash" by Chapin Mathews

The disorganization of the festival started and grew slowly, and then exploded. First it was the parking and unloading for the bands. A huge mess. We made our way over to the second stage early to avoid any issues unpacking in time. The stage they were on was running behind most likely due to the sound man who seemed to be struggling. The soundcheck finally became good enough for Headstash to play a set of electronic trance and then another Dj came on. I was working on the background of my piece over this time and awaiting the spaceship that was to take off for this festival once Silo went on. For the most part, all the acts were dj based so Silo would be a great unique flavor of four to light up the electronic scene that night. The dance area was just shy of empty with about 100-150 people at the festival in total. That included staff, vendors, bands and show goers.

"The people there were having a good time regardless."

"Headstash"

We all at this point are wondering what the hell is going on in this place? The Dj continued for a lengthy duration as we all got ready for show time. Finally, around 12:30pm, Silo Effect was setting up and awaiting to start. I was posted up right next to the stage with another really nice fellow painter. He was painting on these old framed canvases that were pealing and falling apart. The style was very spacey and the texture added an intriguing quality that motivated the viewer to investigate closer. He was a riot and had some sort of juice concoction he gave me that I am still not quite sure what was in it. We were laughing and talking it up. I love meeting the great wandering souls within the music and art scene. A light on the shadows that were about to abrupt.

The stage had been...... CLOSED. After a long look of confusion, anger, frustration and disappointment we found out that these promoters, SoCf Entertainment, did not actually have proper permits for the festival to stay running into late hours. The cops at the front we believe were just paid enforcement that would act as a back up for as long as they could hold off the noise complaints. The verdict was that Silo was not going to play, the festival was to shut down, and they were not going to pay anyone. At this point its nearing 2 am. We have travelled and set up for the entire day to be pushed away as if nothing happened. It is by far, one of the most shadiest moves I have seen in the scene. As a show goer we see cultural highs and lows all the time. I am new to the business side of the music scene, but to all our perspectives, this is not a normal vibe that we experience in our music scene in Richmond or anywhere else we have travelled to perform. No apology or contact from the promoters to the Silo Effect has happened still to this date. Check out the comments on the "Jamz Island" event page. So my first conclusion in this post is, please second guess any business with SoCf Entertainment!

Charleston, we still love you for so many reasons! That night we were kindly invited to a beach front house at Folly Beach by a few friends in town which was the savior of the trip. The frowns that a few of us possibly were still displaying soon became upside down with great hospitality and partying. As the night slowly crept away a few of us that were still awake set up on the porch star gazing and conversing. Around 5am the moon rose as an orange glowing fingernail clipping, it's last appearance before the new moon the next day. Soon after that this mystery star that we soon found out was Venus rose up under the moon in full sparkle. I took the camera out for a few photos while the sun came up and brought light to all this beauty that concluded the night. Thank you mother moon, mother ocean and mother earth for reminding us how small but powerful we all are.

"Right when the sun was starting to peak and close out our beautiful night."

The following Friday, March 6th, I had a second chance to fulfill my live painting fix during Santa Kilmagik, RaRa Rasputin, and Silo Effect at the Camel once again. I set up the canvas I started in Charleston and was excited to dive deep into the idea I had based upon a sketch from a few weeks prior. The night followed with the good grace of talking with many of my local friends and a few new people I met that evening. Jamie Morgan, aka "Jams" from Charlottesville Virginia was posted up next to me with a painting she had been periodically working on for over 6 months. It was filled with eye candy and many pockets for exploration. The night grew late fast as it always seems, and another enjoyable live painting experience came to an end. A little less intense than the week prior.

Looking back at these two experiences can only express the duality we are constantly finding in our everyday nature. Duality plays a very important metaphorical role in the way we perceive the world. It can be found heavily in religion, culture, spirituality, science and philosophy. Good and evil. Love and hate. Expansion and contraction. Light and dark. We must only learn from these dualities and understand both parts separately so that we can be at peace with the whole. To experience the "bad" or unenjoyable parts of the music scene bring light and appreciation to when things work out beautifully. We must always try to stay positive during not only the great and ordinary times of our lives but especially the times when we are tested for this is the time when a higher power is teaching and allowing us to learn upon experience and perspective.

5.6.11

Original $200 OBO

Prints $20, 2 for $30

(Detail)

In between the past few weeks of traveling, painting and setting up a new garden, I have been hard at work writing and recording new electronic tracks. "Antahkarana" is one I am particularly excited about. The title is defined in the esoteric dictionary as "That channel for energy and consciousness which the evolutionary monad builds through its own activity between its triad units and envelopes as a ladder to climb up to ever higher consciousness and ability. The antahkarana has its lowest anchorage in the crown centre of the etheric envelope." Basically indicating that it is the channel that we follow to evolve to higher chakras or consciousness. I think the song can relay some feelings of this. I also have posted "Temptuous Esoterica" that relates to "the thoughts of all the unknown river ways, paths and experiences that are to come to us in life". Check out my Soundcloud to see and download all my available tracks.

Thank you so much for reading and stay well and positive my friends. It is a wild ride out there!

Chapin Mathews

"There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness." - Nietzsche