Art O Mat Collaboration Preview

This is a sneak peak of a few of the blocks I collaborated with Took Gallagher for Art O Mat. There will be a lot more info about these blocks appearing as they make their way across the country into old refurbished cigarette machines.

Judging the Arts and Acts Festival

Northville, Michigan has an annual art festival called the Arts and Acts Festival (formerly known as the Northville Art in the Sun Festival). This festival is filled with artists of all disciplines, painters, sculptures, ceramic artists, fiber artists, jewelers, photographers and so much more. During the event live music acts perform, film festivals are held, and theatre and dance groups may perform. The three day festival transforms the cute little downtown area into a whirlwind of great activities fun for the entire family. This year they even had a carnival coinciding with the festival.

If you are new to me, William "The Canvas Killer" Hessian, my blog, or my artwork you might want to spent some time browsing around, googling my name, or going to my art website. During my travels I have become very familiar with festivals across the midwest including the Uptown Art Fair (MN), Red Hot Art Festival (MN), the Adventure Festival(MN) and the White Cloud Days (ND). My two biggest festival events are Art Hunts, or Art Battles. My art battles involve live art creation and then art destruction of the losing art, usually with axes, swords, ink filled super soakers or some other fun way to destroy things. My art hunts are a community project, like a scavenger hunt, where everyone searching for hidden miniature hand drawn artworks and win prizes for finding them. I have performed 28 art hunts all across the country in 8 different states in the last 7 years. I was in Northville, Michigan performing my second annual art hunt for the Arts and Acts Festival.

check out the ice carving

How I came to actually be one of the three judges for this years' festival was a bit unusual. My very good friend, and great artist in her own regards, Took Gallagher hosts me each time I come to Michigan, and this year she was a judge in the festival. All of the preparations that she helped me with for the art hunt actually had Took, unfortunately, fall under the weather. As a last minute decision I was asked to judge in her place. I was happy to do it, and I enjoyed both of my fellow judges very much. Our decisions were unanimous after only a brief huddle and the winners were awarded:

Best in show went to Blaise Antonio Peluso for his incredible rock carvings. The pieces themselves were amazing, and the rocks he had hand mined himself.

First place went to painter Kim Rhoney, for her big bright impressive paintings. Many of her works were done with palette knife and depicted sun flowers or landscapes.

Second Place went to the jeweler, . The designs were really incredible, the booth was beautiful and the prices were very affordable.

A big thanks to the Northville Art House for the entire event! Also thanks to the artist, and everyone that came out. Now you should read all about the Northville Art Hunt, or even go on the art hunt yourself (from your computer), you can see the new art o mat blocks I created while staying with Took, or read about the DAM garden party.

Guest Blogging at Fraught with Meaning

The Northville Art Hunt was this weekend. Which meant that I was able to visit my good friend Took Gallagher and invade Northville Michigan's Arts and Acts Festival to perform another miniature art hunt! I have a million photos and blogs to write about it, but it will take me a few days to get caught up. Especially trying to keep up with my King of the Pill daily web comic. Took Gallagher allowed me to be the first ever guest blogging on her awesome blog called, Fraught with Meaning. If you want to see some of the fun that has happened this weekend, including photos, descriptions and a bunch of silliness make sure to visit her blog.

Here i am hiding art for the art hunt!

I was also featured in today's blog post, One Chip to Rule Them All. I got to finish up my art hunt and art table at the festival and go on an adventure with Took Gallagher and Juana Moore to LIFT, a designer toy store, in Detroit Michigan. We got to meet the store owner Kent, and I got to see the Art O Mat machine there.

Here I am with some of the winner's of this years art hunt in Northville, Michigan

The art hunt drawing table was a big success. We made three six-foot murals in three days. Fully colored and incredibly detailed.

Here i am in the center of two great artists Took Gallgher and Juana Moore as we visit LIFT, the designer toy store in Detroit Michigan.

I am also featured in Fraught with Meaning Day 174 as we prepared for the Northville Arts and Acts festival. You can also see photos of the art hunt preparation in Fraught with Meaning Day 173.

Once again, I have had a blast in Northville, Michigan and I cannot wait to write about the DAM Detroit Artist Market garden party with Carla Morbito, being a judge for the Arts and Acts Festival, my 28th Miniature Art Hunt, the art hunt drawing table, and of course the adventures with Took Gallagher (who is always a blast to be around)! More blog posts on the way!