Wager #9 : This way.

This way., thread and graphite, 28 x 35 cm, 2009

Wager #8 : Bids

The current bid for this work is:

46 Euro

Wager #8 : Hugging the sky

Hugging the sky

14.5 x 15 cm

found photograph, part of an old invite to a show, 2009

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How to Hug (People)

1. Approach the person. Depending on the person's relationship to you, you might want to approach differently:
   
   
   • Family Hug: Approach kindly, but not too emotionally.
   • Friend Hug (girls): Approach caringly, sometimes humorously, and smile.
   • Friend Hug (guys): Approach genuinely, and make brief eye contact.
   • Crush Hug: Approach carefully, but do not seem shy. Smile slightly and perhaps say a caring word or two.
   • Lover Hug: It doesn't matter who starts this; either can make it just as romantic. When approaching, put your hands on their shoulders and look them in the eyes. Say you love them, how much you care for them, and how much you are loving every second with them. Then fall into each other and hug with all your heart.
2. Embrace. Lean forward and wrap your arms around the person.
   
   
   • Family Hug: You can keep talking when hugging; it will not ruin the momentum. Where you place your hands is not important; the hugged won't think it over too much. Press gently; it is not necessary to have head-contact. Stroke your hands quickly across the top of the hugged's back. Smile when letting go.
   • Friend Hug (girls): Close your eyes and think about how much you love your friend when hugging. Press as much as you feel like. (But don't squish!) Do not clap the hugged on the shoulders or such; it's too masculine and some girls think you don't like them if you do it the guys' way.
   • Friend Hug (guys): Embrace strongly, and clap each other on the top of your backs. If it's an emotional moment, keep in the hugged position for a brief moment and do not clap each other's backs.
   • Crush Hug: Press the hugged warmly towards you. If you are a man, remember that it is more masculine and more protective to fold your arms under hers. Her arms should be around your neck, and you should be embracing her around the waist. When pressing her against you, you can lift her up a bit, pressing her chest and upper stomach against yours. Keep it in that position for a while, and then let go. Look her in the eyes when you separate and continue the conversation naturally. If you are the woman put your arms behind his neck and press your chest lightly onto his chest.
   • Lover Hug: 1) Males: Carefully sliding your hands down from her shoulders, put them on her waist and slide them around her lower back. Put your head on her shoulder and press her towards you for as long as you like. If you want to, you can give her a small massage with your hands, and try to warm her. When separating, you can look into her eyes, smile genuinely and, if the situation is fitting, kiss her. 2) Females: Extend your arms toward him and hold them around his neck and shoulders. Lean as close as possible and press your torso against his. In situations of extreme intimacy, interlocking your leg in his is appropriate. Avoid holding your arms below his shoulders and/or embracing strongly and tensely, even if you're about the same height as him. It might seem weird but it'll work!
3. Don't hug too tightly. The best way to judge how tightly or loosely to hug is to let whomever you're hugging indicate what they want by how hard they squeeze. If they are soft, be soft back; if they like bear hugs and squeeze tightly, hug back the same way (but don't suffocate him/her).
4. Don't let go too early. A hug is a powerful way to communicate your caring for another person, as it can feel great and greatly improve one's mood. If someone hugs you, they may want a long, loving hug (maybe they are upset or down), so just go along with it and hug them until they let go or loosen their hold. If you try to end it early, it may seem awkward for both of you.

- Wikihow

Wager #7 : Sold

This work sold for:

125 euros

Wager #7 : After he thought about it.

Found black and white photograph, found wolf clipping, graphite, paint

20 x 23 cm, 2007/09

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The bidding is now open for this work.

Wager #6 : The Park

Digital Photo, A4 (21 x 29 cm), 2009

Wager #6 ...is coming soon.

Due to some unexpected circumstances - 

Wager #6 will be posted in 2 weeks time.

Sorry for the delay.

Wager #5: There.

29 x 42 cm 

(The overall work has a lot more white space around it than this scan makes it appear.)

Thread, graphite and found advertisement clipping from "Jours de France" (6 April 1963)

Wager #4 : Red Tape

20.5 x 29.5 cm, 2009
Found color photograph and some found chairs*
*The round back chair is cut out of the paper.

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Last week I had to go to the Auslaenderbehoerde (the Foreigner's Agency) to get a new residency permit.
These offices are the same everywhere; lines, waiting rooms, nondescript furniture, instant coffee machines. Then there are the employees - those people who have stuffed animal collections behind their desks and also those who hate their jobs (sometimes they are one in the same).
I had spent 2 weeks running around town prior to my meeting, getting forms filled out from different agencies and asking people to write letters for me stating my employment. Even though all my paperwork was in order, I felt vulnerable. My residency permit was contingent on someone who didn't know me. During these moments while I was waiting for my number (666!) to be called, I started to think about the economic crisis again. My permit request could have been turned down - there are Germans here who could do what I do... As I managed to work myself into a frenzy - number 666 flashed on the digital monitor.
I went to the room and met with the official. Fortunately I was granted an extension for now.

Wager #3 : Santa Barbara Burning

30 x 45 cm, Archival Digital Print
2009

I will never forget the Sycamore Canyon Fire of 1979 in Santa Barbara - it was dangerously close to my family home. My parents, sister and I had packed the car and we were ready to evacuate. The fire marshall kept driving through our streets warning us and the neighbors that we would have to go at any moment. Former World War II bomber planes had been converted to aerial water tankers and were dropping water on the scene. The air was hot and ash was every where. We even managed to see the flames as they shot up on the mountain behind us. It was devastating. Fortunately at the very last minute we didn't have to evacuate because the wind took a turn, but I had many friends who's homes were not saved.

Forest fires are a unfortunately very common in Santa Barbara County. About 2 months ago the city endured yet another huge fire. While there for the holidays, I toured the burned out areas. What I really don't understand is the way a fire moves. 'Dancing' has often been associated with fires. That word rang in my mind as I saw one house left standing on what was now a bald mountain side.

Wager #2 : Her presence

Her presence
Found color photograph, thread, magazine clipping from "Better Homes and Gardens" (circa 1950's), graphite
21 x 27 cm, 2008

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I have been in California for the past week. It is clear that the presence of the economic down turn is more pronounced here than in Berlin. I went to the Westfield Mall on Market Street here in San Francisco and the atmosphere was the usual holiday frenzy - people carrying multiple shopping bags - but that fever was mixed with sales everywhere. I don't really remember that being the case years before. Usually there are sales after Christmas and then you hit yourself because you bought that great present for cousin Jessie and now the price has been slashed to half of what you paid for it. Anyway - sales everywhere and if you didn't know Christmas is next week.

Questions

The first run of this project has brought up some interesting questions (and wonderful feedback) that I would like to take the time to respond to:

I have been asked what an 'appropriate' bid could be. This is something for each individual bidder to determine for themselves. There is no unacceptable bid. Anything is possible and that amount should be what you, as the bidder, feel is appropriate to you and your pocketbook.

Secondly I was asked to lengthen the amount of time for bidding - which I have done. The next round of bidding will last the length of time between the postings, which could be up to 3 weeks.



Finally - the next post will be on the 17th of December.

Wager #1 : The Economy Inn

The Economy Inn has sold to the highest bidder.

Thanks to all who put in a bid.

Welcome to Wager

As the economy has begun sputtering and spitting with what seems to be, at certain moments its last breath, I would like to present my new project Wager. I find myself in a precarious position as an artist. I am in essence the maker of a "product" that in times like these, is considered by many as superfluous. As art is considered a luxury item it is in essence one of the first things to stop selling. Galleries are closing, art fairs are not selling like they have in the past and artists are (very) nervous. In many ways Damien Hirst couldn't have had better timing. The British artist who went beyond the gallery structure and sold 200 of his works at a Sotheby's auction which grossed a staggering $125 million on the first day alone. All of this happened about a month before everything went all wrong; like the country of Iceland going bankrupt.

Keeping all of this in mind I have set up Wager. Once every couple of weeks a work will be up for sale on this blog. The work will be posted on a Thursday. Anyone has the chance to obtain the work by making a wager or bet on the work. The wager can be based on what the viewer deems the value of the work is. The basic structure will be that each person will only have one chance to make me an offer via email. The bidding will last until the next posting is posted. The person who has offered the most amount of money for the work will receive the work after payment has been made.

Earlier this year I finished a year long project titled The 38 Project. This project was set on the premise that a work would be made available for sale on a blog for the sum of 38 euros. The catch was that the buyer had to be the first one to email me for the work. The works always sold out the day of posting. As that project came to an end, I was getting offers to buy the work both for double or triple the price and sight unseen. The project created a sort of frenzy of buying. That was in June - pre-economic crisis.

It is through Wager that I would like to question the essence of the value of (my) work. Although there are many questions to ponder, the most prominent one for me is how the value of art work is determined - especially in an economic crisis like this.


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Here is the first work for Wager



The Economy Inn
Digital print, 40 x 50 cm, 5 + 2AP edition