Functional Magic

Functional Magic
Functional Magic could be defined as expertise and devices
(both seen and unseen) applied to a physical event intended to enhance and heighten the meaning and memory of that event by creating a sense of awe or enchantment.

He stood up, grew wings, and left the meeting



I have, and will continue to persue magic for my entire lifetime. 


Magical expectations
I have lived a life full of magical expectations. Both from the outside world and myself. I supposedly started it – the expectations – but something or some things must have happened for me to become so obsessed with the belief that magic and dreamlike environments and events do exist, and I must figure out how to craft them.
I suppose I am a Dr. Frankenstein type character in this pursuit – stitching together bits and parts of forgotten corpses to create monsters that can live, express,  and be mis-understood.
I still believe that some of the best training in visual design came from the magic lessons I took in High School. I had a great magic teacher (Bruce Spangler) that not only taught us about illusion and stage presence, but about the fundamentals of illusion – timing, visuals & focus.
Backstage for a magician is full of complex needs that the audience (hopefully) never sees – How do I make something appear larger, smaller, taller, or shorter? ….How do a get a handkerchief to look like a dove and a dove to move from it’s hiding place to the sky at the right moment?  The many design applications in a magic act are “do or die” (and boy did I die more than a few times…. Obviously I design for a living and am not headlining in Vegas).

Many creative people are unable to elevate there designs to a magical level because they can’t keep a secret.
To be a magician, you must be able to keep the secrets of the tricks. Once accepted duly in to the fellowships & organizations of magic makers, you are exposed to a huge plethora of “tricks” and “patter”. First the tricks. The secrets of a trick may be any one or combination of the basic forms:  mechanical, directional, mathematical, alchemical, optical or psychological. The second half of learning a trick is the patter. The patter, or verbal script, is different than a normal script, in that it -  A. Often involves audience action or reaction and B. May change based on the interaction and timing of the audience member, and or may change and adapt in timing or order in order to support the trick. Patter is meant to entertain, but also direct and shape the situation.

Magic confirms our existence, 
Inspires our fortitude 
Rights the wrong.
Magic allows us top forget how bad the food was on that last gig.
That triumph and mystery we feel during a magical spell may be a “life supporting illusion”. I will accept that. I’ll take the illusion. It lifts us up rather than pushing us down.
The good magician uses every point of advantage, no matter how small or subtle to contribute to his or her success. It is the accumulation of details that weaves the web of enchantment. Performing successful magic then becomes possible in an atmosphere that has “suspended disbelief”. The client has crossed the storyteller’s threshold.
In contrast, performing magic in an atmosphere of challenge and suspect is close to impossible.  

Many think of magic as “false”. False because it is “illusion” and created through trickery or cheating.
Magic is not trickery.
Trickery – meaning manipulations of reality, is merely one of the tools employed in magic. Trickery is over used and abused, and can give magic a bad taste.
Magic is truth. Magic is real. Magic is actually the highest reality – The highest expression of humanity. 

Thank You, Thank You...Both of you.

I AM AT A SPONSORSHIP CONVENTION, TRYING TO LEARN THE ROPES, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT I WOULD DO BETTER AT A QUANTUM PHYSICS EXAM THAN I AM DOING HERE. I COULD DO BETTER AT AN ARMY BOOTCAMP (or a mural on the moon). I WILL CONTINUE TO DO MY BEST. BUT IF YOU KNOW ME, EVEN A LITTLE, YOU KNOW THAT I AM WRITING THIS IN ALL CAPS TO MAKE YOU READ EVERY SINGLE LETTER ONE BY ONE. I never allow all caps in my work because it stops the eye. It does not allow words to flow in to one's brain without any hesitation. These are the the things I know. I admire all these people the people I have met are very nice and good at what they do, but I do not know if I can do what they do. That is the honest truth.

The River is Green

It is very cold, the river is green, and everyone over the age of 12 was drunk by noon. Welcome to the Chicago St. Patty's Parade day. I spent the day inside the Chicago Institute of Art filling my brain and soul with other types of mind altering substances.

Relief Stucco
Wax and pigment over plaster
Staff with beautiful crystal at the bottom
This is a prayer by Swami Vivekananda, delivered at the Chicago's World Fair Parliment of the World's Religions in 1893. Done in leds in colors of homeland security levels. 
wonderful to read the as you walk up three levels to the Impressionists.
Bugatti

Interesting clasp on Rennaissance era casket.
As you can see, I didn't enjoy the new contemporary section very much. 
I find contemporary art often depresses me, and classical art and craft inspires me.
Duh.