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Te x t b y T homas N icho la s ed i t ed by J ohn G l uc kman
M I CHA E L R EA02
INTERVIEW BY THOMAS NICHOLAS AND ANDREW ZEITER
P H O T O S B Y S A S H A F O R N A R I
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THOMAS���One of the things I noticed about your work was the detail that
is apparent in seeing your work in person as opposed to in photos. It’s
just so intricate. Do you have a background in woodworking?
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together.
ANDREW� �� The detail is just unbelievable though. The fact that you’re
mostly self-taught is just astounding.
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THOMAS���It’s great to be in here.
I think its kind of a fantasyland for
our generation. There is stuff in
here from all of the movies that our generation grew up loving. To be
honest these movies are in some way responsible for me getting into art.
I mean the Indiana Jones and Star Wars movies.
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ANDREW � So what would be your top movies growing up?
MICHAEL : :HOO�\RX�NQRZ�RI�FRXUVH�Star Wars��,�ZDV�LQ�VHFRQG�JUDGH�DQG�
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RI�&KLFDJR��$OVR��Return of the Jedi and of course Indiana Jones were
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THOMAS� � But I wonder if that will play itself out in future generations.
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mean it’s hilarious to us but it seems that the nature of that type of humor
might be too generational.
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the technology of motion pictures in quite some time. I mean you have
sound, color and now 3-D.
MICHAEL : ,�NLQG�RI�PLVV�WKH�GULYH�LQV��<RX�SXW�D�PDWWUHVV�LQ�WKH�EDFN�DQG�
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ZDWFK�ZKDWHYHU�\RX�ZDQW��ZKHQHYHU�\RX�ZDQW��9+6�ZDV�NLQG�RI�LQYHQW-
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WR�JR�WR�WKH�WKHDWHU�ZKHQHYHU�VRPHWKLQJ�ZDV�SOD\LQJ�WKDW�\RX�ZDQWHG�
WR�VHH�EHFDXVH�\RX�QHYHU�NQHZ�ZKHQ�LW�ZRXOG�FRPH�RXW�DJDLQ��
THOMAS : We used rent a VCR sometimes on the weekend and it was
this huge deal.
MICHAEL : <HDK��RU�VRPHRQH�\RX�NQHZ�ZRXOG�JHW�FDEOH�DQG�\RX·G�DOO�
NLQG�RI�FRQJUHJDWH�DW�WKDW�KRXVH��7KDW·V�KRZ�,�VDZ�Alien�IRU�WKH�ÀUVW�WLPH��
,W�ZDV�RQ�+%2�DW�P\�XQFOH·V�KRXVH��DQG�,�VDZ�LW�ZD\�WRR�\RXQJ��-RKQ�
&DUSHQWHU·V�The Thing was another one.
THOMAS : I love The Thing! (To Andrew) didn’t we just watch that a little
while ago?
ANDREW: Yeah I love The Thing. We rented it a few weeks ago but you
fell asleep right away.
MICHAEL : <HDK��.XUW�5XVVHOO�LV�VR�JRRG�LQ�LW��,�MXVW�ZHQW�EDFN�DQG�ZDWFKHG�
Deathproof��WKDW�7DULQWLQR�PRYLH�WKDW�KDV�.XUW�5XVVHOO�LQ�LW��+H·V�VR�DZH-
VRPH�� ,�ZDV�ZDWFKLQJ� LW��DQG� LW�ZDV�NLQG�RI�D�QHUGYLOOH� NLQG�RI� WKLQJ�� ,�
noticed that one of scenes has a reference to Big Trouble In Little China
^DQRWKHU�.XUW�5XVVHOO���·V�PRYLH`�
THOMAS���,�KDYH�YLYLG�PHPRULHV�RI�VHHLQJ�WKDW�ZKHQ�,�ZDV�ÀYH��
MICHAEL : ,�OLNH�ZKDW�7DUDQWLQR�KDV�GRQH�ZLWK�ÀOP��+H�KDV�OLNH�DSSURSUL-
DWHG�WKLV�VWXII�DQG�QRZ�KH�XWLOL]HV�D�FRPPRQ�ODQJXDJH�
THOMAS : So when you recreate these pieces do you use any type of
images from these movies you mentioned or are they just strictly from
memory?
MICHAEL : :HOO�PRVW�RI� WKHP�DUH� MXVW� IURP�PHPRU\�� ,�PHDQ�RQFH� LQ�D�
ZKLOH� ,·OO�*RRJOH� VHDUFK� VRPHWKLQJ� MXVW� WR� UHPHPEHU�ZKDW� LW� ORRNV� OLNH�
DQG�JHW�D�YDJXH� LGHD��2U� ,·OO� MXVW�JR�EDFN�DQG�ZDWFK� WKH�PRYLH�� )RU�
WKHVH�WZR�/LRQV�,�ZDWFKHG�*KRVW�LQ�WKH�'DUNQHVV��7KHVH�ZHUH�SDUW�RI�WKLV�
ELJ�:DONHU�^IURP�Star Wars/Robocop`��7KH\�NLQG�RI�KDQJ�RQ�WKH�VLGHV���
WKHVH�WZR�OLIHOHVV��FDSWLYH�OLRQV��7KH\�ZHUH�D�SDLQ�LQ�WKH�DVV�WR�PDNH�
ANDREW ��$QG�LW·V�D�SXUSRVHIXO�FKRLFH�WR�OHDYH�LW�DOO�XQÀQLVKHG"
MICHAEL : <HDK�LW·V�MXVW�NLQG�RI�UDZ��$QG�DOVR�LW�OHDYHV�LW�RSHQ�WR�PDNH�
DGMXVWPHQWV���LI�,�GRQ·W�TXLWH�ÀQLVK�WKHP��$OVR�QRW�PDNLQJ�D�FRS\�RI�VRPH-
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,�PHDQ� LW·V�KDUG� WR�EHDW�GLJLWDO� UHFUHDWLRQV��DQG�PDFKLQH� UHFUHDWLRQV��
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product.
THOMAS : I like that. You’re kind of leaving room for error.
MICHAEL : <HDK�DOORZLQJ�LW�WR�EH�QRW�SHUIHFW��7KHUH·V�NLQG�RI�D�EDODQFH�
RI�EHDXW\�WKHUH�� ,�PHDQ�\RX�FDQ·W�PDNH�VRPHWKLQJ�WRR�VKLWW\�RU�\RX·OO�
EH�XS�WKH�FUHHN��%XW�WKHUH�LV�NLQG�RI�VRPHWKLQJ�SRHWLF�DERXW�OHDYLQJ�LW�
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THOMAS : So are there any movies that you haven’t gotten around to
referencing?
MICHAEL : ,·YH�EHHQ�ZDQWLQJ�WR�GR�D�SLHFH�DERXW�The Exorcist�IRU�\HDUV��
,�MXVW�FDQ·W�ÀJXUH�RXW�KRZ�WR�GR�LW��8JKK��,�ZDV�NLQG�RI�WKLQNLQJ�,�ZDQWHG�
WR�PDNH�LW�NLQG�RI�LQWHUDFWLYH��OLNH�ZLWK�WKLV�JXQ�^IURP�Robocop/Star Wars`�
\RX�FDQ�SXW�LW�RQ�\RXU�DUP��,�ZDV�WKLQNLQJ�PD\EH�WKH�EHG�ZRXOG�MXVW�IDFH�
\RX�VR�LW�ZDV�OLNH�\RX�ZHUH�JHWWLQJ�WKH�DERYH�YLHZ��2U�\RX�FRXOG�NLQG�RI�
VWLFN�\RXU�KHDG�LQ�WKH�IDFH�VR�\RX�ZHUH�NLQG�RI�SRVVHVVLQJ�WKH�SRVVHVVHG��
$OVR�,·YH�EHHQ�WKLQNLQJ�DERXW�PDNLQJ�OLNH�D�Strawberry Shortcake car.
THOMAS : My wife would love that.
MICHAEL : YHDK�ZKHQ�,�ORRN�DW�DOO�WKLV�VWXII�LW·V�DOO�NLQG�RI�ER\LVK�DQG�,�WKLQN�
PD\EH�,�VKRXOG�GR�VRPHWKLQJ�NLQG�RI�IHPLQLQH��\RX�NQRZ��7KDW·V�PD\EH�
WKH�RQH�WKDW�,�KDYH�WR�VWDUW�EXLOGLQJ�NLQG�RI�VRRQ�RU�WKLQN�RI�VRPHWKLQJ�
HOVH�²�,�KDYH�D�VKRZ�FRPLQJ�XS�LQ�1RYHPEHU��,�WU\�QRW�WR�WKLQN�DERXW�LW�
WRR�PXFK�²�,�MXVW�KDYH�WR�JHW�LQ�WKHUH�DQG�VWDUW�GRLQJ�LW��
ANDREW : How long do these pieces take?
MICHAEL : $ERXW���PRQWKV��,WV�KDUG�WR�WUDYHO�WKLV�ODUJH�VWXII�WRR���WKDW·V�
NLQG�RI�WKH�WULFN\�SDUW��
THOMAS : Yeah I can’t imagine. The shipping must be insane. How has
your work evolved over the years?
MICHAEL : ,� JXHVV� LW·V� EHHQ�DERXW� JHWWLQJ�D� QDUUDWLYH�PRUH� LQYROYHG��
/LNH�(GZDUG�.LHQKRO]�RU�&KDUOHV�5D\��ZKHUH�LW�LV�D�OLWWOH�ELW�PRUH�DERXW�D�
VFHQH��RU�WKH�VHWV��OLNH�\RXU�ORRNLQJ�DW�WKH�VWDJH�IURP�D�VLGH�YLHZ��6R�LW·V�D�
A Prosthetic Suit For Stephen Hawking w/ Japanese Steel, 2007
67
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ANDREW���,V�WKHUH�HYHU�D�KXJH�GLVFUHSDQF\�EHWZHHQ�WKH�ÀQDO�
project and where you start?
MICHAEL : <HDK�VRPHWLPHV�,�GRQ·W�GR�D�ORW�RI�VNHWFKLQJ���6R�
WKH\�FKDQJH�DURXQG�D�ORW��<RX�KDYH�VL[�PRQWKV�WR�GR�LW�VR�\RX�
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ANDREW : But it also seems really mathematic.
MICHAEL : :HOO�D� ORW�RI� WLPHV� WKH�QHFHVVLW\� IRU� VRPHWKLQJ� WR�
KROG�PRUH�ZHLJKW�RU�EDODQFH�VRPHWKLQJ�HOVH�ZLOO� LQIRUP�WKH�
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pull the trigger on this Strawberry Shortcake car though.
THOMAS : Do you have anybody to assist you with the work?
MICHAEL : 6RPHWLPHV��\HDK�OLNH�WKH�ODVW�WLPH�,�KDG�D�FRXSOH�
IULHQGV�FRPH� LQ�� ,W�ZDV�-DQXDU\�RU�'HFHPEHU�DQG� ,�ZDV� VWLOO�
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THOMAS : Well thank you so much for letting us visit. It’s really
wonderful to get to be in an artist’s creative space.
MICHAEL : <HDK�QR�SUREOHP��FRPH�E\�DQ\WLPH�� OLNH� ,� VDLG� LW�
JHWV�ORQHO\��
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Make a Living
Routine Examination
following page : Life’s Full of Choices
70
71
The Thief Comes in the Night
Our Gentle Teachers 1 & Our Gentle Teachers 2
A Clear Conscience
Late to Dinner
76
77
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THOMAS : One of the most amazing things about
your whole story is that you went to school to be-
came a biologist. What motivated you to go into
WKDW�LQ�WKH�ÀUVW�SODFH�DQG�WKHQ�ZKDW�PDGH�\RX�VWDUW�
a new journey into something else?
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through life doing what I was told and that got me
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something else.”
THOMAS : Do you feel that you always had artistic
tendencies growing up, or was that something you
began to discover once you were a little older?
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ing planes and he all of a sudden drew a plane in
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THOMAS : It seems like biology is still something that
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the Hindu type paintings also have this cellular ele
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ment to them. Like microorganisms. Is that a con-
scious choice or is it something that is now just part
of you that comes out in your work?
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see how certain paintings can look like microscopic
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interested in is what goes with the composition of
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THOMAS : I was looking at your work all day on my
computer and then I logged into another site and
saw that there is a scientist who was just able to
synthesize life in cellular form and kind of bypass
evolution by controlling the compounds of life. Did
you see that in the news?
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THOMAS : That’s interesting. I have always felt that all human beings are
kind of attracted to that super-colorful aesthetic based work. I feel like
everyone deep down gravitates toward that and yet it seems like a lot of
highbrow art is about denying that impulse that we have in us anyway.
It seems as if there are two art camps; the aesthetic based visceral art
camp and the conceptual camp and they are always at war with each
other and refuse to merge and become something. Whether or not you
want to incorporate aesthetics, they should still be acknowledged for
their importance.
THOMAS : Yeah I will forward you the link. It kind of blew my mind. The
ethics involved are staggering.
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THOMAS : If you don’t necessarily feel that science has a direct repre-
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Eastern religion. Is that something you’re exploring?
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can grow.
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what exists on the most basic level and then
what we can grow to appreciate in our life-
times as we evolve as people.
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interview and text by Thomas Nicholas
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or did you begin working as an artist in a different medium?
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TNH : Do you come from an artistic family?
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TNH : Yeah, that seems like what all parents
do, though. So what would you consider to
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TNH : What are you exploring with your faux-
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the Institute of Esoteric Research?
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dormant.
TNH : This series suggests a lack of trust in the ability of photographs to
document fact. Is this something that continues to be relevant in today’s
society?
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TNH : In contrast, you seem to be exploring a
similar theme with Lapis Philosophorum (Phi-
losophers Stone). While things like alchemy
might be considered pseudo-science now,
they were, in their day, precursors to the
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times. On your website under this series of
photographs you have a great quote from
Alexander Jodorowsky’s The Holy Moun-
tain, “You are excrement. You can change
yourself into gold.” How did you explore this
thought into a series of photographs?
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come about?
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of this and see what it looked like in
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THOMAS : The life cycle of these
groups sounds similar to that of the
house. On the way out.
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I wanted to take a moment to stop
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THOMAS : That’s a beautiful way to think about the life of a building.
It doesn’t feel like homes are built the same way today. Back then
it seemed intensely personal. Someone actually laid their hands on
each board and carved each nook and left part of themselves in
each construction.
BRENDAN� ��7KDW�ZDV�WKH�RQH�DVSHFW�RI�WKH�WKLQJ�WKDW� ,�VRXUHG�RQ�D�
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lived there.
THOMAS : So you bond with the house through that experience.
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THOMAS : Do you have a favorite memory from one of these ses-
sions?
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THOMAS : Tell me about the session
that you had in Louisville at Leonard
Wood’s house. What was it like when
you came upon this house?
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completed all of the production in your backyard, its kind of unreal.
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hung out with Leonard a lot in the nursing home and so he was tell-
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THOMAS : I love the idea of creating an event in a place that’s been
condemned, especially in a house with such an eccentric history.
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THOMAS : So you saw this house being torn down and then you recre-
ated it in your yard right?
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THOMAS : That’s crazy. How long did it take?
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THOMAS : When you were actually in the place did you get a sense of
how Leonard thought that the house would be able to save his wife’s
life from cancer?
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to convince God that this was worth while. It had this real cathedral-
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than science.
left and above : photos of the recreation of Leoard Woods’ homeprevious : Brent Green on the set of Gravity Was Everywhere Back Then
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THOMAS : What happened to Leonard?
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stop-animation?
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is going to seem like the most important part of the staircase to them
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the most prominent.
THOMAS : That feeling must have been what inspired you to have live
music accompanying each screening?
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and honest.
THOMAS : How did you meet up with the musicians that you use in the
process? I noticed that you use some members of the Chicago band
Califone. Did you have a dream group of people you wanted to work
with or did the collection of people that you put together kind of come
about naturally?
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Meat��:KHQ� ,� ÀQLVKHG�P\� ÀUVW� ÀOP� ,� GHFLGHG� WR� VHQG� LW� WR�P\� �� ID-
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He was almost trying to
earn a miracle
or
convince God that this was worth while.
He was trying to
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Nick **** Thatʼ’s not the definition of a hero... a hero is a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength; a champion: someone who fights for a cause. This guy is none of that. He is a selfish prideless, p.o.s. who will be caught and turned into someoneʼ’s lilʼ’ bitch in prison. My idea of a hero is a soldier that holds a new found orphan while he sleeps because thatʼ’s the only thing that keeps him from crying. A policeman who puts his life in danger everyday to uphold the law. A fireman who rushes into a burning building to save some-one heʼ’s never met. A father who kiss-es his baby girlʼ’s boo boo.. These are heroʼ’s and you shame them by claim-ing this joker is one! Heʼ’s a fugitive, a crook, a theif, and doesnʼ’t deserve to be called anything but totally wrong in all his efforts and ventures. Shame on all of you for allowing him to be called a hero!
Topic: if heʼ’s a folk hero, than Iʼ’m the queen of England
Michael ***** im 40 yrs old..had my own illegal adventure when i was 19 (borrowed and crashed a police car)...paid for it with 18 months of my prime...walked the line ever since!!! lol but that was NOTHING compared to this guy..unfortunately he and his mom will prolly come out of this in 5 years better off than they are now.....go figure lol.
about 1 month ago
1 week ago
3 days ago
Posted by Ben Nicholas
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