DON'T FORGET: this wednesday night!

Read all about my canvas kill live performance that takes place on December 7th, 2011.

You can also see videos and photos from past canvas kill live performances.

William Hessian kills canvas at Sample Night Live

Loungasaurus Rex will introduce me, the Smarts will play a mesmorizing improve accompanyment, and I, the CANVAS KILLER, will create and kill art. December 7th, 2011 is a Sample Night Live you will not want to miss. Dozens of other great local artists, musicians, theatre groups will be putting on a show as well. Tiny bite sized performances for your enjoyment.

For those that are unfamiliar with my art performances I create two works of art live on stage, and then let the audience decide which one survives and which one dies. I then destroy the losing painting. Each time I used different methods of destruction, and each time the work dies in a different way. My performances have been done at the History Theatre in St. Paul, the Red Hot Art Festival, the Adventure Festival and on web cam. You can browse other canvas kill live performances on this blog.



Here's my spiel and all the good info (including discount ticket code):

"William Hessian is proud to participate in Sample Night Live at 7pm on 12/7/2011 at the History Theatre in downtown Saint Paul. Sample Night Live presents a dozen short previews of upcoming performing arts events plus a visual arts installation on the first Wednesday of each month. Audiences use the playbill to opt in to the groups they love. It’s a great way to learn what is happening in the arts scene and discover something new! Everyone who shows up gets the opportunity to win a pair of tickets to the Guthrie as well as many other prizes donated by the groups performing that evening. Use Discount Code MEMBERS and get $5 off admission online. Buy tickets, check out the line-up and see the complete list of prizes at http://samplenightlive.com/.”

Out in the lobby I will also be displaying some new paintings, zines and free stickers.




Here are a few photos from past Canvas Kill Live performances:

Canvas Kill Live performance at Sample Night Live

"The Canvas Killer William Hessian is proud to participate in Sample Night Live at 7pm on 9/7/2011 at the History Theatre in downtown Saint Paul. Sample Night Live presents a dozen short previews of upcoming performing arts events plus a visual arts installation on the first Wednesday of each month.

Sample Night Live is a great way to learn what is happening in the arts scene and discover something new! Everyone who shows up gets the opportunity to win a pair of tickets to the Guthrie as well as many other prizes donated by the groups performing that evening. Use Discount Code MEMBERS and get $5 off admission online. Buy tickets, check out the line-up and see the complete list of prizes at www.SampleNightLive.com.”

I will be creating and destroying art in my 7 minute performance at Sample Night Live. Before, during the intermission, and after the show I will be displaying my artwork in the lobby at the History Theatre. On display will be my new paintings/drawing and an assortment of smaller affordable zines, prints and stickers.

You can watch video of my performance at last years' sample night live and see photos from past Canvas Kill Live performances. This performance will be much different.

backstage at sample night live

I recently performed an art killing at Sample Night Live. You can watch my 7 minute performance on williamhessian dot com. The web comic depicts the great things that took place backstage at the St. Paul History Theatre.

Kevin Kling, Khary Jackson, the Smarts who played during my performance, and all the other great acts. It was a blast.

William Hessian Sample Night Live videos

William Hessian at Sample Night Live from Kris on Vimeo.

William Hessin at Sample Night Live, Two. from Kris on Vimeo.

William Hessian at Sample Night Live, Canvas Killed. from Kris on Vimeo.

a big thanks to kris ericson for capturing and posting these for me.

William Hessian's performance at Sample Night Live

January 6th, 2010 the Smarts played some music while I spent 6 minutes speed painting two canvases. I then unsheathed my katana, and spent the next one minute asking the crowd to applaud for the best painting, the losing painting was destroyed by my sword. Right after the canvas killing, the audience was invited to enter the lobby and search for 10 of my original paintings hidden in the lobby of the History Theatre.

Thanks to those who came out and supported my work. Subscribe to this blog to get update about future canvas kill live shows, including the interactive webcam broadcasts.

Below are a few pictures from the event:




photo credit from matt semke's catswilleatyou dot com



photo credit Kris Ericson and his one photo a day blog.



close up of the winning painting. photo credit my grandma Helen, and her iphone



the history theatre lobby. photo credit my grandma Helen, and her iphone

Leaving Town

It is that time of year for me; leaving for Jamestown, North Dakota. For the last five years I have spent a portion of my year as an artist in residence in North Dakota. Before I go, I have one last art show, Sample Night Live:



At this show I will have a 7 minute art kill performance, I will be inviting the audience to an art hunt during intermission to find free miniature art, and also displaying new works in the lobby. Sample Night Live features 12 live acts from local groups and the whole thing takes place in the history theatre in St. Paul.

My 6 month residency in Jamestown will provide me a chance to do more Canvas Kill Live webcam shows and work on other projects. Make sure you are subscribed to my blog or on my mailing list to get all the updates. I have also been accepted to the North Dakota council on the arts roster, which makes me eligible for a wider range of residencies in North Dakota in the future.

As I begin packing and preparing for this Wednesday show, I hope you can make it out to Sample Night Live! It's is always best to leave Minnesota with a bang.

william hessian at SAMPLE NIGHT LIVE

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I am one of the twelve performances at the January Sample Night Live show at the History Theatre in St. Paul:

Sample Night Live
Artwork and Performance by William Hessian
January 6th, 2010
Sample Night Live
History Theatre in St. Paul, MN

Art killing performance
Art hunt
New works

One night only

Read more about my show, and the radio interview I will doing about it at my sample night live page.