Nothing beats the east coast artists (you know who you are), but I have to say the weather is a bit of a step up.  And to those brave souls who tire of the snow and humidity, come visit me here in SanFran where the air is crisp, the rents are astronomical and locals are naked (seriously).

Here's the outside entrance to the Kala Art Institute. This building used to be the old factory for Heinz 57 Ketchup.

Here's the inside of Kala. Deluxe setup.

Here's me working in the acid room at Kala. This place reminds me a bit of Dexter...

Scrubbing away at a copper plate, fresh from the acid bath.

Test print.

Working the press is a serious job...

"Stockpile" Detail
Graphite on Paper
22 in x 30 in, 2012

“Winging It”

If you happen to be a bird fanatic, you’re in luck.  Come see my work at the Heiner Contemporary in DC for their new exhibition, “Winging It”.  This group show features some truly luscious work from a collection of amazing artists.   This exhibit is an ornithologist’s eye candy.

Colby Caldwell, Todd Forsgren, Justin Gibbens, Megan Greene, Jenny Sidhu Mullins, Roger Tory Peterson, and Beverly Ress
June 15 – July 28, 2012
Opening Reception: Friday, June 15, 6-8

Composite is a quarterly electronic publication aiming to showcase visual and literary works from guest artists, both emerging and established, focused around a specific theme. The latest publication "You Are Here" includes a write up about my paintings and drawings.

A stag with two skeletons holding machine guns as antlers, a golden coffin filled with colorful pills, two men with gas masks sitting in chairs facing each other while one is handcuffed; of course it can only be...

Artist Brent Birnbaum, a.m.f. projects

Just arrived in Miami this morning, and I’m having a great time at the fairs.  I will keep updating my experience on the blog with pics of my favorite work.  By  far the winner of Day 1 is “The Amazing Ultran”.  Mostly I’m upset because I didn’t think of it!  Pay one dollar and the Amazing Ultran will write you your personal destiny.  I had mine done and was pretty impressed.  The ‘machine’ wrote an entire page for me, and with a constant line of one dollar destiny seekers, The Amazing Ultran may have an amazing business plan as well.

The Amazing Ultran

Upside Down Goggles- Amazing contraption if you can feel at ease knowing they have your credit card in case you accidentally damage these $1500 contraptions.

This Thanksgiving break I was able drag my family over to Carsten Holler’s new exhibit, Experience, at the New Museum in NY. I’d been looking forward to this exhibit for quite a long while.  Perhaps ever since the words ‘deprivation tank’ were uttered, I was hooked on the idea.  Unfortunately, as I was warned, the show was a little too good .  After standing in line just to enter the New Museum, I was immediately told (with great sympathy by the front desk lady) that they would be accepting no more people for

the already impressive lines leading to the four story slide and the “Psycho Tank”, an eerie plastic deprivation tank where one can float alone and naked in a soup of New York humanity (tempting…seriously).

Unfortunately, the carnival aspect that made this show such a hit in New York was just a tiny bit too effective…complete with all the lines but non of the triple fried food.  Although a bit let down by the circumstances, I suspect if one was able to sneak into this show at odd hours of the weekday, it could be a completely different experience…

My favorite part. Viewers were able to take a pill. Most were empty...some had mysterious white powder...

Their words, not mine.  Radio press coverage of my latest show, New (Now). at the Hamiltonian Gallery on view now through September 10th.

WAMU 88.5:

August 12, 2011 – Five local artists are having a coming-out party of sorts, thanks to the Hamiltonian Gallery.

Speaking of nineteenth century religious leaders represented as feral monkeys…love this description of the Flashpoint show (sorry guys-shows over. But you can catch my latest at Hamiltonian this Saturday).