Long time no see

March 13, 2019

Life goes on as they say. The last time I posted I was going to Italy to work on a monumental scale cardboard sculpture. Which I did. Shortly after after the completion of that piece, while I was still in Lucca my brother died tragically. My brother, Owen, suffered from severe mental illness, Schizoaffective disorder, often abbreviated as SAD. A mental disorder characterized by abnormal thought processes and deregulated emotions. The diagnosis is made when the person has features of both schizophrenia and a mood disorder, in my brother’s case Bi-polar.

Needless to say it was quite a blow and unfortunately I began to associate the project at the Lucca Biennial with my brothers death. The piece titled, We All Fall to Earth, was a meditation on mortality and as the god of irony would have it my Brother passed on the day it was finished.

Though I have been keeping very busy I have also withdrawn from the online world to some degree. I am engaged with social media much less, but I’ve kept up to date on Instagram. Which I find less intrusive into my mental space than say Facebook. I would just rather work on art than manage endless online accounts. This website being the most neglected.

I’m considering a revamp on this site to maybe integrate some social media feeds into the content or possibly simplify down to a bare bones portfolio. I’m also considering working on the blogging aspect more because I have been teaching classical oil painting and I’d like to engage my students in a dialog. It’s all a bit much and I haven’t thought it through yet.

If you are interested in my work and happen to arrive here and see nothing new know I will be updating this site on a more regular basis. Fresh content shall be forthcoming. For now the best place to look for me is Instagram @myklwells.

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TWO! Great endorsements of my work in support of my GoFundMe campaign

June 7, 2016

The first comes from Lori Zimmer the author of the book, The Art Of Cardboard, who graced me with a profile alongside greats like Wayne White and Ann Weber

Support Mykl Wells’ Cardboard Creations for Cartasia

The Second Comes from Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild!

It’s amazing and humbling.

Thank YOU!

https://www.gofundme.com/Cartasia-Aid

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GoFundMe Campaign Launch

June 6, 2016

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The Art of Cardboard By Lori Zimmer

August 24, 2015

I’m pleased to announce that I have a chapter in this important new book, The Art Of Cardboard, by Lori Zimmer of ArtNerd NY fame.  It also includes such luminaries as Wayne White, Beauty is Embarrassing, and Anne Webber one of the pioneers of using cardboard as a fine arts medium. Plus way more artists and a whole section on projects, to introduce you to creating with cardboard. It’s a great book and it’s totally affordable.

Here’s an Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-Cardboard-Collaboration-Storytelling/dp/1631590278

Check it out!

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Never too early to be thinking about Cardboard Ballâ„¢

May 5, 2015

Traditionally held at the end of September the Cardboard Ball is recognized as the trademark Mykl Wells art event. Now is the time to start getting creative! The Cardboard Ball is a fun showcase for your cardboard and recycled art, fashion and culture. Have a crazy idea that you think will fit in with the theme of the Cardboard Ball, share it! That’s how the cardboard Joust became an integral part of the Cardboard Ball. Want to make a gigantic cardboard sculpture? That’s just what Jana McConnel did when she made the eight-foot tall Moositar and Mermaid. And lets not forget the incredible out-pouring of creative effort in the form of costumes and fashion, it’s what makes the ball roll. This year we’re planning on once again having the photobooth on hand to document your creative efforts, and expanded cardboard joust and lots of incredible music so you can dance the night away.

Keep your eyes peeled for dates and location, coming soon!

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Tucson Artists Open Studios, Studio Tour 2015

April 2, 2015

Saturday and Sunday, April 18 & 19, 2015 from 11:00 am until 5:00 pm

Come an join me for a day of fun in my studio. I will have a few works for sale and be available to answer what questions I can. I’ll have some cool beverages to drink and Waffles until the batter runs out.

http://www.tucsonopenstudios.com/ 

All the details and more.

Look for my Listing in Zocalo

See you there!

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Foundry and casting workshop registration closed.

March 21, 2015

The registration period for the foundry and casting workshop is over for the March 22nd and 29th workshop. I may host another workshop in the fall or next year in the spring. This workshop is also available as a package for corporate team building events or for schools. Email me for details if you are interested in hosting a workshop.

Thanks

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Foundry and Casting Workshop March 22 & 29 $120.00

March 5, 2015

Learn to build and use a simple charcoal fired foundry to cast aluminum.

Sunday March 22nd 11AM-3PM

Sunday March 29th 11AM-3PM

To learn more and sign up click here.

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CARDBOARD BALL 2014

July 15, 2014

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Tucson Sculpture Festival 2014, Hosted by Bicas.

January 29, 2014

A new cardboard sculpture to premier at The Tucson Sculpture Festival. Prince des Sots, made of cardboard, glue, staples and polyurethane, about the size of a Galapagos tortoise. This piece is a departure for me as I am leaving the raw cardboard look I have enjoyed in the past and am beginning to exploit the colorful printing and advertising found on boxes. Pertinent info can be found below the photo and a link to the facebook event is provided at the bottom of the post.

Link to Facebook event page. https://www.facebook.com/events/609173259119028/

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Opening Reception for Tom Baumgartner and Mykl Wells At Art House Centro

January 10, 2014

Join Art House Centro for an opening reception for the work of Tom Baumgartner and Mykl Wells.

186 N Meyer Ave Tucson, Tucson, Arizona, 85701

Opening Reception: January 11th 7-9 pm
Regular Gallery Hours: January 11th-February 1, Mon-Sat 10-5:30 Sun 11 to 5

Tom Baumgartner’s paintings are recent explorations of therianthropy, or mythical hybrids of humans with animal heads. Baumgartner is inspired by 19th century naturalists, their illustrations, and romantic approach to writing about nature. His works evoke a sense of awe and wonder missing from modern science.

Mykl Wells’ oil paintings of kittens, bunnies and internal organs are reminiscent of little golden books, wed with a neurosurgery journal. Overtly mining childhood landscapes and mythologies, the subject matter is both irreverent and philosophical.

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Survived another season of All Souls Procession Workshops.

November 8, 2013

Just a brief note to thank those of you who joined me at the Free Community Workshops in Support of the All Souls Procession. From the little paper mâché masks to the giant riderless motorcycle, it was for me a wonderful adventure and I’m happy I got to share my love of the creative spirit with you. I will probably be doing it again next year. Looking forward to a little down time.

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ALL SOULS PROCESSION WORKSHOPS now in session!

October 10, 2013

Every weekend in October myself and many wonderful and talented local artists will be running the All Souls Procession Free Community Workshops. It’s a place where we have space,talent and materials to help you achieve your creative vision for the All Souls Procession.

Want to make a mask, lantern, big-head puppet, or shrine. You can do that. Have a grand vision of a float, a marching band of the dead, a mobile temple? We can do that too! Get your self down the the workshops and help us help you to make the most of this incredible unique rich cultural experience.

When:

Every weekend in October Both Saturday and Sunday 11AM-5PM with special week night workshops announced on our facebook page adhoc.

Where:

Steinfeld Warehouse 101 W. Sixth Street Tucson AZ.

What:

Bring yourself and any kind of art, craft or building materials you might have Donations happily accepted!

How:

We will help you!

Now get your bad self down and get your Procession ON!

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Cardboard Ball, Saturday September 28th, Steinfeld Warehouse

September 3, 2013

The Cardboard Ball is a participatory art party, cardboard fueled super dance destroyer. Once a year local artists and the general public are invited to make art and fashions out of cardboard (or any recycled repurposed material) and come together in celebration and support of the creative spirit. All proceeds from the Cardboard Ball pay for the All Souls Procession Workshops. A free workshop series, open to the public that runs through October. Advanced Tickets Go on Sale September 7th at Yikes Toys in Broadway Village, Pop Cycle  on Fourth Ave. and Borderlands Brewery on Toole Ave.DJ’s and Live Music provide the sonic backdrop. Food trucks will be serving up some deliciousness and what better to go with that than a cold dark malty brew made specifically for the Cardboard Ball By Tucson’s own Borderlands Brewery. Perhaps wine is more to your tastes, which we have courtesy of Tucson’s Premier Beer bar, Tap & Bottle. A photobooth will be on hand to document your evening. And Art lots of Art! Over thirty artists are creating 2D and 3D works. Attendees are encouraged to dress up in their own cardboard creations,SO GET CREATIVE!

If you are an Artist, Maker, Creative, or Lunatic and you want to make a piece for the Cardboard Ball, it’s open to everyone who wants to participate. Please inform me info@myklwells.com that you would like to be part of the fun. Call o Artists is open until September 27th when your cardboard creations have to be dropped off at the Steinfeld Warehouse, 101 W. Sixth Street. Drop off is noon to seven PM.

Participating artists get free admission, though we encourage making a donation since it is a fundraiser.

FIND US ON FACEBOOK 

All Souls Procession Workshops Page:

https://www.facebook.com/AllSoulsWorkshops

Cardboard Ball Event Page:

https://www.facebook.com/events/338904652908263/

Cardboard Ball Call2Artists Event Page:

https://www.facebook.com/events/499981093417479/

Get ready, set GO!

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Thank you Love Letters to Tucson

August 27, 2013

Thanks to Rachel Miller for giving me the opportunity to share my feelings about a city I love. Thanks to Rebecca and Scott for letting me use your wonderful Tap & Bottle as the backdrop for my story.  You can read about it here.

If you are visiting from the Love Letters to Tucson Blog please check out my projects and portfolios section of my website to see what my art is all about.

And here is the link to my love letter to Tucson.

http://www.loveletterstotucson.com/mykl-tap-and-bottle/

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Cardboard Ball Black & White Flyer download and print it out, help spread the word!

August 23, 2013

Here it is, the new Cardboard Ball 2013 Black & White Flyer.

Below you will find a link to a PDF copy that you can download, print out and share. Just click the PDF symbol and your download should start. Once it’s downloaded it may look kind of funky on your screen, don’t fret, it’s designed to print beautifully. Go for it!

If you’ve got printer, especially a laser printer, please print out a few copies and help spread the word.

This event exists to create a fun judgement free environment where self expression can flourish.  I’m just making the space it really depends on your participation, so make something cool out of cardboard check out the facebook event page and Call2ARTISTS page and like the All Souls Procession Workshops Page for up to date information and news.

Love and sloppy wet dog kisses.

Mykl
8.5X11BWFlyer

Download a PDF of the 2013 Cardboard Ball Flyer, Help Spread the Word!!!

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Cardboard Ball 2

August 19, 2013

So What am I up to you ask? Well organizing, making exciting new paintings cutting up boxes and making my poor wife crazy. Oh and I’ve got a fundraiser coming up, Cardboard Ball 2. This year it’s funding the All Souls Procession Workshops that I run, I hope. So please come on down and join in the fun. Tourists are welcome but this is a participatory art party, like much of what I do, we are trying to create a culture where creativity can flourish, where everybody gets to contribute in their own unique way.

Here’s what I can tell you about the event

The Cardboard Ball is a one night only art exhibition, grooving dance party and the premier fundraiser for the All Souls Procession Free Community Workshops.  The event features cardboard art on display, created by talented local artists and craftspeople. Ball attendees are encouraged to create cardboard outfits and wearable art. Last year, attendees were treated to some truly breathtaking cardboard costumes and installations and this year promises to be even grander.

This year’s event is on Saturday, September 28, 2013 at the Steinfeld Warehouse 101 W. Sixth Street. Doors open at 7:30pm.

Tickets* are $7 in advance and $10 at the door.

All proceeds benefit the All Souls Procession Workshops.

The call to artists is on going, right up to the event.

If you are an artist and interested in creating a work made out of cardboard and other recycled/repurposed material, please consider contributing a piece.

This is not a juried event or competition.  All submissions will be shown providing there is room.

Three-dimensional work is preferred and submissions can be standing sculptures, hanging suspended sculptures, or items to be hung on the wall.

IMPORTANT: Because existing lighting is limited, it is recommended that your work include its own illumination.

You are encouraged to sell your work.  A percentage of the selling price goes to support the All Souls Procession Workshops.

etup for the artists is Friday, September 27th.

You do not need to submit work before the setup day, however space is limited, so you do need to sign up in advance to contribute work. Please contact Mykl Wells at info@myklwells.com include a way and time to contact you!

*Tickets are free for participating artists and those who wear a costume or outfit made of cardboard, however because this is a fundraiser, donations from the artists and costumed attendees are deeply appreciated because they help us cover the cost of the All Souls Procession Workshops.

I’m working on several projects for the Ball. I’m trying to set up a photobooth, for so people can self document. I plan to make these photos available online through Snap fish or similar so people can order hard copies.

We have a DJ or maybe two.

I’ve got an application for a temporary permit to sell beer and wine at the event.

I have a sound system.

A couple of food truck will be outside serving up some yummy goodness.

There will be a merchandise table for MMOS

There is a possibility that one of the local breweries will be making a special beer for the event.

We are going to also have an art raffle, tickets will be a dollar or two and you can select which piece of art you want to be in the raffle for.

We will be printing a few posters/flyers and some postcards I’m finalizing the design in the next couple of days.

Pop Cycle on 4th Ave, and Yikes toys on Broadway  will sell advanced tickets starting at the end of August.

I have an interview at the beginning of September and we are trying to get on KXCI for an on air interview right before the event.

So that should give you an idea of what we are up to.

__________________________________________

Schedule

The The Cardboard Ball and Workshop Schedule

Friday the 27th of September, Art/drop off and install. Tables set up and ready. Sound system.

Saturday the 28th, the cardboard ball, doors open at 7:00

Sunday, 29th, Clean up and prep for workshops the following weekend. Artists may pick up their work if they wish.

AND LETS NOT FORGET WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT!

All Souls Procession Free Community Workshops run Saturday and Sunday 11AM-5PM each day. Thru October, 5th & 6th, 12th & 13th,19th & 20th, and the 26th & 27th. With special Cart Clinics announced during the course of the workshop. These will be held midweek evenings.

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All Souls with an interview of yours truly.

April 12, 2013

All Souls Procession Overview from Leslie Ann Epperson on Vimeo

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Tucson Open Studio Tour Spring 2013 this weekend April 13th and 14th.

April 11, 2013

This weekend stop by and visit durring the Tucson Open Studio Tour. Saturday and Sunday from 11AM-5PM. Located 1 block north of Grant and 2 and-a-half blocks east of Campbell: 2115 E. Spring street. Come in the front gate and slip along the side of the house to the backyard studio. MAPS and INFO about the City Wide Tour are available in this April’s Zocalo Magazine and at tucsonopenstudios.com Look for a big sculpture out front.

Would love for you to stop by and hang out for a spell.

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Spring Studio Tour 2013

March 3, 2013

I will be opening my studio up for the spring studio tour this year. I don’t even like it when my wife walks into my studio so this is a rare opportunity to come in to my inner sanctum. All the important details will be published on the studio tour website and maps and listings can be found in a special upcoming edition of Zocalo Magazine. Here’s a link: http://www.tucsonopenstudios.com/ 

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Izzy

December 23, 2012

Say hello to my new dog Izzy. She’s about six and is half Mexican Hairless (Xoloitzcuintli) though I’m not sure which half. She’s one of the gentlest creatures I’ve ever had the pleasure of hanging out with. Likes to hang out in the studio while I paint. I have kept Xolos for almost twenty years, I love them. She was at the Humane Society about to be euthanized, just couldn’t let that happen. The more I know people the more I like dogs.

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Nice little article about my piece Snowdrop on Inhabitat.com

October 13, 2012

I’m always grateful for a little press. Check it out and help spread the word, I can use all the help I can get.

http://inhabitat.com/artist-mykyl-wells-builds-a-gargantuan-upside-down-head-using-recycled-cardboard/

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All Souls Procession Workshops

October 11, 2012

photo: Rosanna Salonia

WHAT:

Mask, lanterns, floats and help realizing large creative projects for the All Souls Procession.

WHERE:

425 W. SIXTH STREET Tucson AZ 85701

WHEN:

Every Saturday and Sunday 11AM-5PM, for the month of October. With special clinics announced on the facebook page.

HOW:

Just show up! Free to the Public, but please help support the procession and the workshops with a donation.

WHO:

Lead by Myself and founder of Pork Chop Press Joe Marshal. Facilitated by other local talents.

WHY:

As co-founder of the All Souls Procession it holds a special place in my heart. I want to see it grow and blossom for many years to come. That won’t happen with out community support I feel the best way to get that community support is to support the community. The workshops are non-commercial and free and inclusive. Everybody is welcome. We are here to help you realize your vision for the all souls procession, to make incredible floats, masks, lanterns… you dream it we’ll do our best to help it become a reality.
Please consider donating generously to help support the workshops. Below is a special link to Many Mouths One Stomach the organizing non-profit of the procession and our Umbrella organization. By using this link your donation will be earmarked specifically for the All Souls Procession Workshops.

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A little press on the GreenUPGRADDER Blog!

August 29, 2012

Nice article, I’m really fond of those lanterns too!

http://greenupgrader.com/21442/spotted-cardboard-art-by-mykl-wells/

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How I spent my summer vacation or “How I nearly killed myself making a giant upside-down cardboard head in the name of art”.

August 19, 2012

Cartasia is a biennial cardboard and paper art competition, resedency and month long exhibition held in the medieval walled city of Lucca, Italy. Lucca is just a few miles north east of Pisa in the rolling Tuscan countryside.

This story starts in August of 2011 I submitted one of my cardboard sculptures, Chimera to a website called Recyclart.org (http://www.recyclart.org/2011/08/chimera-cardboard-sculpture/), and it published shortly there-after. I received emails from several other artists who were also working in cardboard. One of them, Alessandra Fiordaliso, had also been featured on Recyclart (here and here). She told me about Cartasia and suggested I submit a proposal. I investigated http://cartasia.it and thought it was pretty exciting.

Chimera cardboard sculpture.

Model of my proposed sculpture.

I submitted a conceptual proposal and out of 148 submissions 28 were chosen to submit a feasibility study outlining a budget, timeline and various aspects of what it would really take to build the proposed sculpture. From this group 6 contestants were chosen and though it seemed unimaginable to me, I was one of them.

I’m a working artist. I don’t make much money and I live hand to mouth for the most part. The Idea of taking a month away from the work that keeps me fed and mortgage paid wasn’t looking too promising. Cartasia would cover my travel, lodging and materials but food was up to me. The artists competing weren’t paid. It’s rare in life that an opportunity like this avails itself and I wasn’t going to let it slide away. I turned to my local community with two fundraisers. I held a raffle for one of my paintings, and held a cardboard art exhibition and dance party called the Cardboard Ball. The raffle was a huge success and I raised the money I needed within two days. I was really deeply touched by the outpouring of love and support from my community.

CARDBOARD BALL Mykl Wells from Jeff Smith on Vimeo.

Half Scale version

During this time I also built a half scale version of the sculpture. To help galvanize support for the project and also to better understand what I was up against. This proved to be a very good idea.

At the beginning of June I left my home in Tucson Arizona and Flew to Tuscany where I got to work immediately building the most ambitious cardboard sculpture of my life, Snowdrop. Cartasia has a theme and this year it was Crisis and Rebirth. I chose to base my sculpture on the snowdrop, galanthus nivalis, a perennial bulb which cannot bloom until it has experienced the stress of the winter. The sculpture was also anthropomorphized by representing the bulb as an inverted head. It’s point of view was literally a world turned upside-down.

The sculpture was built in stages and was designed to break down in to smaller components which could be moved through gates and loaded on a truck.

The first task was to build an internal frame and base These were made with plywood since the sculpture would be displayed outdoors and it needed to be able to survive the elements and the public.

Daniele Corsetti -Assistant and all around good guy.

Internal frame and base.

The second task was to create the cardboard skin over this light frame. This is a very organic and meditative process. Sculpting organic forms out of cardboard is challenging but the results are impressive. This was a monumental task. Surface area cubes. Building a sculpture that’s twice as big is three times the job.

Working on the cardboard “skin”

Cinzia and Ellena. All the Assistants were so amazing, talented and a pleasure to work with. I declared them all my number one Italian wives.

The leaves and flower elements of the sculpture proved to be very challenging From my experiments with the half scale sculpture I knew that the flat leaves used in the original model would not hold up to the elements. The leaves were made triangular in cross section which made them much stronger, but also a lot more work.

The flower stalk proved to be a nightmare.  The size of this sculpture was pushing the cardboard to it’s structural limits. The original design of the stalk was not strong enough to support it’s own weight and it failed. I tackled the problem first by making a new flower stalk with and internal frame of wood. This proved to be to heavy to be supported by the cardboard in the head and base. I finally settled on a solution by making the stalk out of cardboard but making it smaller and lighter and supporting it in two places.

My hands were beat to hell

Bit by bit all the elements of the sculpture came together. Water proofing was a huge task. How do you make a cardboard sculpture water tight? I used polyester resin over a water-based polyurethane so that the resin would not discolor the cardboard. The resin is horrible stuff to use by the end of the two days I  worked with it I was suffering neropathy in my fingers and toes. Even using a proper mask it was by far the worst most toxic job. Never again.

When I make a proposal I intentionally over-reach. In this way I push myself to make more challenging and remarkable work than I might otherwise. But I also often retreat from that original position I still end up making something more exceptional but I don’t kill myself. On this project there was no retreat.
All in all I worked sixteen to eighteen hours a day for a month, I took one day off. I would wake up around five-thirty, ride a bike to the studio work for an hour or two get coffee and a bite when the cafes opened, work until lunch, come back work until dinner, return to the studio and work until exhaustion stopped me, usually one or two in the morning. I have never been so tired in all my life.

Starting to take shape

At times when I need to dig a little deeper I thought of all the love and support my community gave to me, I thought of this once in a life chance, I thought of  the handwork and money that made this possible, I thought of the city it’s people and it’s history, and I was able to draw strength from that.

Together for the first time in the courtyard of the abandoned tobacco factory where we worked.

There is a film by the great Russian director Andrey Tarkovskiy called Andrei Rublev. In it there is a young boy, the son of a bellmaker who claims he alone possesses his late fathers secrets of casting. He is tasked with a huge project which grows in cost and complexity. Through it all he confidently asserts his knowledge, making risky decisions. In the end the casting is a success and the bell rings true and clear. At this point the boy collapses to the ground, sobbing and he admits his father never told him the secret of casting a  bell. By the end of construction of my piece, Snowdrop, this is how I felt. Somehow through natural talent and faith it became a reality, I’m still not entirely sure how.

Installed on-site.

At the beginning of July mine and 6 other artworks were put on display. At  the end of the month It was announced that I had won the competition. I am deeply honored. This was an  astonishing and transformative experience I feel that I lived Crisis and Rebirth in making this journey.

Scrap cardboard, by the end of the project I went through four gallons of glue and 300 snap blades for the box-cutter.

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American Artist Mykl Wells Wins Cartasia 2012 International Paper and Cardboard Art Exhibition in Lucca Italy.

August 7, 2012

Snowdrop, Cardboard Sculpture, Lucca Italy, Cartasia 2012.

The Cartasia (http://cartasia.it/index.php) Selection Committee announced Monday August fit that Tucson artist Mykl Wells is winner of Cartasia 2012 for his monumental cardboard sculpture, Snowdrop. As such he will awarded a cash prize of 2000 euros. Every two years artists are asked for submissions, out of a field of 157 submissions six were chosen. The artists were then brought together in Lucca Italy from all over the world. They had one month to create a work of monumental proportion out of cardboard and paper based on the theme of Crisis and Rebirth. Seven sculptures were created, six in the competition and one honorarium. Mykl Wells’ piece was selected above the others based on technical proficiency, expression of the theme and aesthetic merit. The public also had the opportunity to vote by paper ballot and online  which was counted as twenty percent of the total.

Of the selected projects, Mykl Wells was the only American in the competition. Other artists included Andrea Marcianò and Stefania Giannici from Italy. Zsuzsa Horvath of Hungary. Ines Hubacher from Switzerland and an honorarium piece by American artist Andrew Scott.

Each Cardboard sculpture had to be made on site and had to survive exhibited outdoors for the month of July at the end of which the winner was selected and announced.

Mykl Wells released this statement:

Cartasia was the most challenging artistic endeavor of my career. To build a sculpture like this takes commitment and community. The general public has no way of knowing how much of their souls each artists put into making their work. Every artist who participated in Cartasia deserves to win.

 

For my part I felt that I owed it to the people of Lucca who opened their arms and embraced me as a brother, all the people in my community without who’s generosity I couldn’t of afforded to come to Tuscany, to the history and beauty of this amazing walled city, to the other artists who’s remarkable work deeply inspired me and to the people who organized this unique event, to do my very best.

For a month I worked 16 and 18 hours a day, every day, taking only one day off in that entire time. There is a film by the great Russian director Andrey Tarkovskiy called Andrei Rublev. In it there is a young boy, the son of a bellmaker who claims he alone possesses his late fathers secrets of casting. He is tasked with a huge project which grows in cost and complexity. Through it all he confidently asserts his knowledge, making risky decisions. In the end the casting is a success and the bell rings true and clear. At this point the boy collapses to the ground, sobbing and he admits his father never told him the secret of casting a bell. By the end of construction of my piece, Snowdrop, this is how I felt. Somehow through natural talent and faith it became a reality, I’m still not entirely sure how. But know this, I gave everything I had to create a piece that would honor the people and the place. I have more grey hair than I used to. I humbly and gratefully accept this honor. Thank you for this astonishing and transformative experienceof Crisis and Rebirth. Thank you.

This was the sixth edition of Cartasia. More information is available on the website http://cartasia.it, Mykl Wells may be contacted at 520 665-8025 or email info@myklwells.com Visit his site http://myklwells.com

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Protected: Cartasia Support

May 27, 2012

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AND WE HAVE A WINNER!

May 20, 2012

Mr. Bob Paltrow of Bellingham Washington will be getting himself a fabulous new piece of art from the Amazing Painting Raffle in support of my Cartasia project, Snowdrop. Bob is the person who first taught me the ins and outs of the Macintosh operating system, how to properly do color matching for 4 color jobs and a host of other things. I’m very happy that he won. Congratulations BOB!

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CARDBOARD BALL, Sat May 19th Doors open at 7:30, 35 E. Toole

May 8, 2012

THE FIRST ANNUAL CARDBOARD BALL
Fundraiser in support of the Cartasia Sculpture Project

Saturday May 19th Doors open at 7:00pm
$5 dollars at the door. Show up in a fabulous Cardboard outfit, hat, headdress, full on dress, etc… you get in free. Also Anyone who bought a Raffle Ticket for the Cartasia Fundraiser Amazing Painting Raffle is on the guest list.

Galactic Center 35 E. toole ave (Big Building next to Solar Culture with the arches, One shop in from the corner of 7th and Toole.

For one night Artists will converge on the Galactic Center, conveniently located at at 35 E. Toole in the heart of Downtown Tucson’s Arts District, and transform it into a cardboard menagerie. Artist can do what ever they like as long as it involves cardboard. Ramping up into a full fledged super dance destroyer party. Every one who wants to participate can. If you want to make some cardboard wack-ness send an email to info@myklwells.com with “Cardboard” in the subject line and you’ll get the details. Cardboard fashions are especially encouraged! Show up in a fabulous cardboard outfit, headdress, what-have-you and eschew the $5 cover. For more info call 520 665-8025 or email info at myklwells.com.

Local Artist Mykl Wells is one of six artists competing in this years Cartasia Biennial, A paper and cardboard art festival held in the medieval city of Lucca, Italy. It is a great honor to have been selected out of one hundred and forty applicants. He will be flown to Tuscany at the end of the month to build and install his proposed sculpture, Snowdrop. To help pay the bills for the month and a half while he is gone he is also raffling off one of his original oil paintings. Tickets will be available at the Ball as well as online.
http://myklwells.com/03/05/2012/cartasia-fundraiser-amazing-painting-raffle/

Link to more information about the project:
http://myklwells.com/04/04/2012/from-tucson-to-tuscany/

Link to the Cartasia Website:
http://www.cartasia.it/intro.htm

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CARTASIA FUNDRAISER AMAZING PAINTING RAFFLE!

May 3, 2012

Working on a small scale version of what I will be building in Tuscany this summer.

For those who don’t know I’m one of seven artist selected to compete in this years Cartasia, a biennial paper and cardboard art festival in Lucca Italy. In the next couple of weeks I will be doing some fundraising to help me cover my expenses while I’m gone.

If you’d like to contribute some money to my cause, then please give as generously as you can.

This Contest is CLOSED

The amount is up to you. Everyone who donates will get a little something from me as a thank you. For every $10 you donate you will get one chance to win one of my paintings. Your choice of one from a group of six including the Beet and Ghosts of the Congress! These are major paintings, the retail value for Ghosts of the Congress is $1200! That’s nothing to sneeze at.

I am seeking to raise $2000 by the end of the month. The money is mostly going to cover my financial obligations here in Tucson while I am away for a month and a half. Mortgage, utilities and such. Some of the money is to cover any material and tool expenses over the small budget provided by the organizers of this event. This is likely to happen and I want to make sure if I need an extra gallon of polyurethane I can afford it.  Cartasia covers my travel and lodging but not my food so that is where the rest of the money will be going. Any leftover (which I doubt will happen) will be used to help me establish this years All Souls Procession Workshops. I am setting up and organizing these workshops upon returning from Italy. More to come on that!

This is an amazing opportunity for me, Those of you who know me, know that I contribute a lot to this community. Now I am asking my community to give a little back. Help me make this project a reality and lets show the world that there is more to Arizona than hate.

Thanks sincerely

Mykl Wells

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From Tucson to Tuscany

April 4, 2012

I am pleased to announce that my proposal for this years Cartasia paper and cardboard art festival has been selected. I will be competing with a handful other artists from around the world in this unique biennial art event. This summer I will travel to Lucca, a medieval town in Tuscany where I will have to build a giant cardboard sculpture. This is my most ambitious piece to date. Each year a theme is proposed for Cartasia. This years theme was, “crisis and rebirth”. My proposal, “Snowdrop”, is based on, galanthus nivalis, (or snowdrop) a perennial bulb that cannot bloom until it has experienced the stress of the winter.

More details to come!

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Artist’s Reception, Hive Hair Studio and Gallery Feb 18th 7-9pm

February 8, 2012

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Busy little bee!

January 9, 2012

I lost a month recently as I had vertigo. It was horrible, if I moved my head even slightly I’d get so dizzy that I felt like I was falling, like in a dream. I couldn’t drive or paint or do much of anything for almost five weeks. So now I’m playing catch up.

This winter has been very mild, though it’s a bit chilly this morning as I sit on the couch bundled up with the Xugar the hairless dog and sip my coffee. looks like a perfect day to spend in the studio.

I plan to mix up a pallet of greys and layout the under painting on several new panels. I have eight new paintings in the works and one old one that I love but it’s not working. I might just sand off the half that’s not coming together and re-conceive it. I hate to do it , when you consider the time you’ve already put into it, but when you get stuck sometimes it’s best to tear down and start fresh.

I’ve been developing a big cardboard sculpture project. It may or may not be happening so I don’t want to say anymore  so as not to jinx it. I’ll know more in February. Keep your fingers crossed!

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WordPress 4 Artists Workshop Canceled Nov 19th and 20th 2011

November 15, 2011

Lack of interest has left me without enough students to make this pay for it’s self. Those who are interested I will try again in the spring. Maybe I can get a grant to help subsidize the costs and we can make the workshop more affordable. Without at least 5 participants I can’t afford to run this workshop. If you are interested in setting up an online portfolio you can contact me directly.

Thank You.

Myklwells

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All Souls Procession, Big Calaca Lantern.

November 8, 2011

photo: Rosanna Salonia

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Seeking help and support to realize a large scale project.

October 21, 2011

In 2008 Michael Carroll, Don Spaulding and I developed a shadow theater for GLOW.  Michael was the brains of this adventure, I only provided a sculptural element and some advice. Don made many of the Mechanical elements. The end result was truly breathtaking. I have spent the last three years developing a more robust version of this that I would like to take to Burning Man and other night time festivals around the U.S. There is a lot that goes into an animatronic show like this. Controllers, DMX lighting, Power supply, Steel, Stepper and Servo motors, Speakers and wire. I estimate that this project will cost in the neighborhood of $5000. Since I don’t have the complete parts list I don’t know exactly. I could use some support in the form of Technical Assistance, materials and funding. If you are interested in getting involved in a project like this, please contact me.

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All Souls Procession Lantern Making Workshop!

October 17, 2011

ALL SOULS PROCESSION LANTERN MAKING WORKSHOP!

Contact: info@myklwells.com or via Facebook

Held on the Dock at Dinnerware Artspace
Sunday October 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th
From 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM each workshop.

In the Mexican tradition the Day of the Dead is a time of celebration. Unlike many other traditions that surround death and mourning, it is not a time of loss, but a time when we feel the presence of our loved ones and enjoy their company. So it is in that spirit of fun, remembrance, community and celebration that I am happy to announce this year’s All Souls Lantern Making Workshop.

If you have materials or some money to contribute to this year’s workshop, please consider doing so. We need big pieces of cardboard, white glue or something similar, paper, snap blade box cutters and extra blades, things like plastic flowers for decoration and poles; I use yucca stalks and bamboo, but even an old broom handle will suffice. If you can’t contribute in that way please come down anyway. We always manage to have enough. I’m available to pick up materials before the workshop or just bring them down. Any money donated will go to buying materials. If there’s any left over it will be donated to Many Mouths One Stomach, the organizing entity for the procession.

We will be making the cardboard lanterns that I designed and developed after Artist Paul Bagley’s 2006 lantern, in which he honored his family. Many of you are familiar with this design and have seen them in the Procession, at GLOW and also during Luminights. These are beautiful lanterns and photos can be inkjet printed and glued into the windows. They can be lit with LED lights available from dollar stores all over town, flashlights, Glow-wire, etc. This style of lantern takes a few hours to construct so get to the workshop early.

For those of you who would like to try their hand at something more challenging I have taken the basic principals of the basic lantern design and advanced it so that you can make much more complex forms. These take time so expect to contribute a couple of Sundays to crafting one of these.

Finally, I lost a very dear friend this year to cancer. In his honor I am making a large sculptural lantern which will be mounted on wheels and towed. This project is already underway. It’s a big project and time is short, so I can use all the help I can get.

My friend was a member of the LGBT community, or as he put it a “filthy old queen”. He was a real forerunner in the activist community, being a member of the Cockettes. He was one of the original 60’s Flower Children which, for those who aren’t familiar with the history, was originally a group of out gay and lesbian hippies who adopted flower names for themselves. Only later did the term become generalized to mean the rebellious young people of the time. Snapdragon was the moniker my friend adopted though we just knew him as Snappy. He spent his life in the company of artist and thinkers on the fringe. He told of dinner parties with John Waters and of knife wielding drag queens down in San Francisco’s Tenderloin in the early seventies. At the end of his life he lived with and cared for long time friend Bill Bowers, well know photographer and AIDS survivor. To me he was a dear friend and endless source of delight. Snappy was a lot of fun and he wouldn’t want us to be all sad and weepy, well maybe a little but then he’d want the party to begin. So it is my hope that this project not only honor Snapdragon Mukluk, but also any one who stands up defiantly and unapologetically as who they are.

So, I’m sending out a special request. If you are a member of the LGBT community or if your life has been touched by by someone special like Snappy, for whom the cutting edge is but a fleeting glow in their rear-view mirror, then come down and make a lantern, contribute some of your time to honor our rebels and renegades, and remember those who mean the most.

Thanks

P.S. A SUPER SPECIAL THANKS TO DAVID AGUIRRE for letting us use the dock at Dinnerware Artspace this year.

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LANTERN MAKING WORKSHOP CANCELLED This Sunday oct 16th!

October 13, 2011

I am very sorry to announce that this Sunday’s All Souls Procession Lantern Making Workshop has been cancelled.

ALL OTHER SCHEDULED WORKSHOPS ARE STILL ON!

workshops will be held on the 23rd and 30th of October from 11 AM-4 PM at Dinnerware Artspace 119 E. Toole.

I am trying to get an extra workshop squeezed in before the procession. If I succeed  I will announce it here, on facebook and twitter.

My Sincerest apologies.
Mykl Wells

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WordPress for Artists

October 7, 2011

WordPress is a personal publishing system. It allows you to manage the content of your website without costly software. WordPress is blessed with an active user and developer community. It is open source software and free to use and modify.

Themes influence the look, feel and function of a WordPress website. WPFolio is a theme for WordPress. It was specifically designed for visual artists and takes full advantage of the powerful communication tools built into WordPress.

This is an introductory 2 day workshop for visual artists. We will be using WordPress and the WPFolio theme to build an online portfolio. The workshop will give an introduction to WordPress. Participants will follow along on their personal laptops as we build a basic portfolio website. This workshop is geared towards visual artists. Writers, musicians and performers are welcome to take this workshop but it will not address the special needs associated with those practices.

Registration

This workshop is limited to 10 people. Slots will be filled on a first come first serve basis. There is a $20 non-refundable deposit required at the time of registration. Deposits go towards tuition. To Register send an email to register@myklwells.com. You will then receive confirmation that there is an open slot and further instructions within 48 hours.

Deadline for registration is November, 4, 2011 11PM

Tuition

The Workshop is $180.00 and includes one years free web hosting ($80.00 a year there after) and WordPress with the WPFolio Theme pre-installed. Participants must provide their own domain name. Participants may use their own webhosting but I can not offer any breaks on the tuition.

Dates and Times:

November 19th and 20th 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (with a one hour break for lunch).

Location:

Dinnerware Artspace 109 E. Toole

Workshop Preparation:

Participants need to bring the following to the workshop.
• A Wifi enabled laptop (Mac or PC) with image editing software such as photoshop or GIMP installed.

• At least 12 digital images of your work. Images should be at least 900 pixels wide or larger.

• Have a domain name, Hosting with WordPress already installed and WPFolio in the theme folder. If you don’t know what that means or are unsure I am available to help you by appointment. Participants not taking advantage of the free webhosting package are responsible to make sure the webhost they use provides the necessary functionality (PHP 5 or higher and MySQL). I will still install WordPress on your host whether i’m hosting it or not. It’s very important that we all start on the same page.

• If you go with your own webhosting I recommend Dreamhost.I have used them for over ten years with little or no trouble.

The free webhosting included in the package is also on a Dreamhost server. I rent a server from Dreamhost and resell space on it to cover it’s operating costs. I am able to offer yearly hosting for less than Dreamhost and I manage all the technicalities for you. I will be happy to discuss this setup with you and what it includes but it is far too much too include here. Suffice it to say that the hosting is more than adequate and if you have a hosting problem you can call me, a real live person and I will take care of it.

IS THIS WORKSHOP RIGHT FOR YOU?

If you are a visual artist and do not have an online portfolio,or have a website that you can not manage yourself,or are paying someone else to upload images to, or would like to move your website to a content management system –Then YES!
This workshop is a hands on workshop so if you don’t have a wifi enabled laptop there is no point taking it. Most of the work we will be doing will be online.

HOW MUCH WEB EXPERIENCE DO YOU NEED?

Not much. A basic understanding of how to work a computer and some internet skills. if you can operate a word processor you can use WordPress.
Some familiarity with what WordPress or other CMS’s are will really help. Even Better if you are familiar with WordPress, Drupal, Movable Type, Blogger, Tumblr or similar.
Familiarity with image editing software like photoshop. You should understand Terms like “DPI”, “Screen Resolution” and “Pixels”.

IF YOU ALREADY USE WORDPRESS AND WPFOLIO…

This is probably not the workshop for you. If you’ve taken any of my previous workshops then this is not the workshop for you. This is a starting from zero ground up introductory workshop. This is not for advance technical support or advice for people already using/familliar with WordPress. If you are not sure you can always ask me and we can determine if this is right for you. I do plan to offer more adanced workshops in the future and they will be geared to users who are ready to move on to the next stage.

Questions? Call ME!

Or dial 520 955-9019

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Big Sculptural Lantern

October 4, 2011

For those of you who are interested in my lantern making workshop  (or on Facebook) and especially those of you who want to work on the big sculptural lantern with me. I thought you might like to see what the wire framework looks like. It’s a little hard to tell in the photo but it’s a giant calavera. This is going to be covered with a fabric or paper skin illuminated internally and mounted on a bicycle cart.

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