Things that happen on the site, in the real world, and in all other possible worlds.
∎ NEWS ∎
Once Upon A Time at Hilbertraum until December 10th!
December 03, 2023
I'm in a great group show, Once Upon A Time, curated by Darren O'Brien, at one of my favorite project spaces in Berlin, Hilbertraum. The show announcements use a detail of my print that's in the show.
Skagen Residency!
November 17, 2023
I've been having an amazing time this week as an artist in residence in Skagen, Denmark. It's the northernmost part of the country, where the North Sea meets the Kattegat Sea. The light and the waves are intense at this time of the year. This image is typical of the midday sky at noon, about as light as it ever gets here in this season. It's been a perfect opportunity for research on the next wave-based prints I'll be working on. Many thanks to the Jeckels Hotel for offering the residency!
Hybridity exhibition up until end of April!
March 05, 2023
I have two prints up in the Hybridity group exhibition from the ANTE curatorial project. The show opened on February 28th and will be up until the end of April. It's part of ANTE's residency at The Yard in the Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Jailbreak Sale! Handmade Collages
December 02, 2022
I'm having a studio sale with the 30 small collages from the Jailbreak series. Sizes range from about 7.5”x7” to 3”x4”. All are from 2020, made with cutout vintage photos, acrylic paint, and archival adhesive. The whole series was reproduced at exact size in volume 06 of The Jesse Farber Library of Collage Books (my ongoing series of collage zines).
Each collage costs $150 and includes a signed Certificate of Authenticity.
Email me at jesse (at) jessefarber (dot) com for payment and shipping details. Shipping is free if you buy directly from me here.
To see the full set of available collages, head over to my Etsy shop. I’ve got the first 7 volumes of the JFLCB zines for sale there too!
Sign up for my mailing list at the bottom of this page to get notified about studio sales and shows and stuff.
Imprinted
November 03, 2022
My work is on the cover of the new issue of The Mobile Library. This is a print magazine (also available digitally) published by The Aerogramme Center for Arts and Culture. Inside this sci-fi-themed issue, I have six recent images paired with an essay by Antonio da Mata, which starts off with a quote from The Third Mind—a book that deeply influenced me in my early collage work with sound and images.
One Eye Opens Another, September 9th, 2022
August 19, 2022
I'll have several new prints in the three-person show One Eye Opens Another. I'm very excited to be showing alongside Inna Babaeva and Joy Curtis, in a show centered around materials and transformations. The opening is on Friday evening, September 9th, at Conduit Gallery in Ridgewood, Queens, NYC.
Torsades de Pointes, August 7-22, 2022
July 27, 2022
My solo show Torsades de Pointes opens soon at the Frizz23 gallery space in Kreuzberg, Berlin. The show will feature three new large-format prints from 2022, including this one, k§n∏§∏n§t.
〰️ SIGNAL 〰️
June 18, 2022
The SIGNAL exhibition from Site Site Parasite opened June 11th and 12th as part of my Open Studio, and remains open by appointment until the end of the month. I'm happy to have a few prints hanging with works by Lisa Di Donato and Olivia Martin Moore. I love the harmonic resonance between our works, and the different relationships to photography.
I'm Now at White Columns!
November 09, 2021
I've been accepted into the White Columns artist registry! White Columns is one of the original alternative art spaces in NYC and I’m honored to be a part of their amazing history.
You can see my portfolio here.
Thousands of Cool Noises
October 05, 2021
Thousands of Dead Gods in Bushwick, Brooklyn, now carries RNL! Highly recommend stopping by there to check out their selection of noisy cassettes and CDs. Right across the alley, you can find JFLCB zines at Better Read Than Dead.
Staalplaat's Got
September 07, 2021
Staalplaat, the record shop, gallery, and label based here in Berlin, is special to me. Their early cassette and CD releases by The Hafler Trio and other experimental artists had a huge influence on me in my formative years, and they continue to publish and support all kinds of interesting projects today.
I'm especially proud that Staalplaat has been carrying my zines and cassettes for the last couple of years or so, both in the Berlin store and in their online shop. They've just added my two most recent publications, JFLCB 06 (Jailbreak) and JFLCB 07 (Das Törchen), so please head on over there—virtually or in person—and pick up a copy or twelve.
Stick With Me
February 26, 2021
Updates coming soon, including info about a couple of recent sound projects, and a new RNL album, currently in progress. Stay tuned...
RouNdup List, Part 3
April 04, 2020
RNL's Conquering King Kong limited edition cassette is available from some cool stores!
Here are a few places you can find it, online or in person:
Bis Aufs Messer
Staalplaat
Motto Books
Image: RNL logo sticker, CKK edition. Available direct or through the VONCONFLON Etsy store.
RouNdup List, Part 2
April 04, 2020
RNL's Conquering King Kong has been featured on some podcasts!
Here are a few:
A Duck in a Tree by :zoviet*france:
Vital Weekly
Toneshift
Image: RNL logo sticker, CKK edition. Available direct or through the VONCONFLON Etsy store.
RouNdup List, Part 1
April 04, 2020
Some nice reviews of RNL's Conquering King Kong have come in!
Here are a couple:
Tabs Out
Vital Weekly
Image: RNL logo sticker, CKK edition. Available direct or through the VONCONFLON Etsy store.
RNL album released!
December 19, 2019
Conquering King Kong was officially released on Vonconflon on November 22nd, 2019.
The new album is available digitally for download and unlimited streaming at the RNL Bandcamp page, where you can also buy the cassette pictured here (with a bonus pin included). There are a couple of spots here on the site where you can listen from the embedded Bandcamp player, too, on the 4D and 5D pages.
You can also buy the tape (with download code and pin) directly from me by contacting me through email. Link is in my footer below.
There's a lot more to report about RNL and the new album from the last few weeks. More posts are on their way to keep you up to date.
Us.
September 29, 2019
While not a diptych, the two recent works 6cDdp_§ and ₽°6cDdp are a pair that go together, existing in more or less the same space. Let's welcome them to the crowd.
Meanwhile, brace for change. With the impending RNL album release, I'll be updating how the pages are organized here, to better highlight RNL's current activity. Despite all the cool material assembled for the printed arm of RNL, that project will be staying on the back burner until after Conquering King Kong has been released, at the very least. Ironically, the pieces that grew into CKK began with the intention of making a supplement to the RNL zine.
RNL CKK FF RW
July 09, 2019
CONQUERING KING KONG, the new RNL album, heads to production soon. Enjoy a taste of the cover art while I settle in to solving a couple of last mastering challenges...
Colorful Flat Things Made of Many Other Flat Things From Photos of Many Flat Things Put Together
March 11, 2019
The first 5 volumes of the JFLCB (Jesse Farber Library of Collage Books) are now available from my Etsy store, here: VONCONFLON
You can also buy each of them directly from me, with a direct email to vonconflon@jessefarber.com. This works out better for both of us: I pay less in fees, and you get the exclusive option of a special combined rate for volumes 1-5: only $30 plus shipping.
Be the first on your block to model this attractive, sporty, life-enhancing collection in its entirety, or in little pieces. Guaranteed to leave you scratching your head and just about everywhere else.
Two Exhibitions This Week
February 10, 2019
56 Henry, in NYC, and SCOTTY, in Berlin, both feature works of mine in new exhibitions this week.
The 56 Henry show, Notebook, is a sprawling show of a zillion ideas, organized by the great Joanne Greenbaum. Should be chock full of cool stuff, with a ton of great people involved. The show runs from February 9th to March 31st down in Chinatown, where so much good stuff seems to be happening these days.
Meanwhile, here in Berlin, Der Schein der Dinge (On the Appearance of Things) opens on Friday night, and runs from February 15th to March 30th. This is a very appropriate show for me to be in—it looks at deciphering appearances and surfaces, taking a critical eye towards reading the world through representation. Very happy to be part of this!
C O N Q U E R I N G K I N G K O N G
December 30, 2018
The new RNL album, CONQUERING KING KONG, is essentially finished, awaiting some final mixing and mastering. I'll be posting some excerpts from it here soon, as well as info about how you can order/listen to it. I'm hoping to begin releasing some of the RchIVaL material around the same time, as well, which you've heard a little about around here—experiments and live recordings, going back to the 1990's.
I've got some catching up to do around here, so expect a few more updates over the next week...!
Humann or Humineral?
September 18, 2018
In JFLCB news, I Believe My Receiver is almost off to the printer. This is the bound, orange and blue version, which is really almost a sculptural work.
In RNL news, the new album—tentatively titled Conquering King Kong—is really moving along. I'll be posting an early sample soon.
An Invitation...
September 04, 2018
...To say hello!
If you like what you see around here, feel free to click the envelope icon below and drop me a line. (You may need to scroll down a bit.) It's always interesting to hear what people think about all this.
Meanwhile, more news: Staalplaat and Supalife in Berlin are also now both carrying the JFLC (Jesse Farber Library of Collage Books). I highly recommend stopping by both shops if you're interested in cool visuals (and audio, in Staalplaat's case.)
Jesse Farber Library of Collage Books, Volume 2
August 06, 2018
I GET SO, Volume 2 of the JFLCB, is in print and available!
Right now, you can walk into Motto Books or B_Books in Berlin and pick up a copy for a paltry sum!
More locations to be announced this week, and direct ordering options are also on their way.
GLASHAUS Exhibition + Book Launch in Frankfurt
July 22, 2018
The Flog Flays of Flummer are here!
I'm in a group show in Frankfurt am Main this coming week, at Ausstellungshalle 1a. The opening is Thursday night, and it'll be up and viewable through Sunday the 29th.
The show commemorates the exhibitions at the now-closed Gallus Zentrum, and it is also the launch party for a new catalog documenting the history of the space.
It's all part of the Sommer Gäste series at Ausstellungshalle 1a. Check out their website for more details: www.ausstellungshalle.info
Operation
May 10, 2018
Another short RNL excerpt here, from the longer 1994 piece, "Cry." The original work is about five minutes long. This section is a strange, almost lyrical interlude that buffers the respectively anxious and intense opening and closing sections.
Exciting work continues on the new RNL album, some of which may be previewed this summer as part of an outdoor installation.
Inskirts to Outskirts
May 01, 2018
A couple of little pieces of news:
Infallible Instants is now available at Motto Books in Berlin. Other locations will follow, including an online shop here. The next volume in the Jesse Farber Library of Collage Books is on its way to the printer now, and many more will follow. Thanks are due to VONCONFLON (actually me, again) for publishing.
I've also begun work on a new RNL album, which is developing in some very exciting directions. In particular, it's looking like this will be a sequence of longer, connected pieces, unlike the shorter works that appeared on the CEPH album.
As always, this new RNL material mobilizes the mystery of indirect collaboration over time and space.
Growth Industry
March 15, 2018
I attended a fantastic workshop on slime molds and biocomputing last weekend, and my colonies are looking great, especially thanks to the food coloring they've been ingesting. So, check out my future collaboration partners!
Interview on Artslant!
February 24, 2018
Artslant is featuring an interview with me at the moment. I thought it came out really well, and explains some of what's motivating my work in a clear way.
I was also happy to be able to recommend the work of some really cool other artists.
Here is the interview.
Jesse Farber Library of Collage Books, Volume 1
February 13, 2018
First printing of Infallible Instants completed today! Other installments to follow shortly, as I continue to set the files. These are to-scale replicas of the collage books which I have been making for several years (some of which you can view under the BK tab here.) I will be distributing these through a number of outlets, both in the flesh, and online, including in my own shop here. More info to be posted very soon.
Land Scrape
January 30, 2018
Another small detail from a collage book/portfolio series, this one still ongoing.
The compositions in this grouping are based on mimicking, and then rolling right over and exploding, boring web design layouts.
You know–divs, padding, rounded corners, and so on.
I mean, it mostly gets covered up by the time these are done, but that's the starting point, anyway.
A Taste of RNL RchivaL Audio
December 30, 2017
This is quite a simple piece, a short excerpt from a long cassette called George III.
The full tape contains quite a variety of invented techniques and sounds, some of which are fairly complex.
Perhaps because of its simplicity, I think this piece gives a concise picture of the RNL aesthetic.
I'm still perfecting the RNL carbon dating system, but I would estimate this to be from late 1991 or early 1992.
I'll continue to post short excerpts of these tapes here. Before too long, you'll also be able to get the full cassettes.
More RNL Design
December 20, 2017
OK, the truth is RNL is probably generating way too much material for the first issue of its zine.
This is a small detail of a new logo image, which will probably appear opposite the credits.
An embarrassment of riches–too much cool stuff to use! There are worse problems one could have.
Candle
December 15, 2017
From a series of layout montages.
They will turn up somewhere...be patient...
Tune In
November 21, 2017
Another preview here from the collage books I photographed recently. I'm in the process of editing the photos to post them here.
They'll also soon be printed as editioned artist books.
This one is probably the weirdest part of the I Believe My Receiver series. It's a sort of crusty book-object that can't be completely opened or closed.
The series as a whole focuses on the act of tuning in.
RNL: Audio Archives Pt. 2
November 07, 2017
Another RNL cassette cover collage, this one showing its age a little more.
I'm continuing to digitize these archival RNL recordings, with an eye towards releasing them in 2018. This live cassette is one of my favorites, featuring live mixing of sound beds, found recordings, synchronized loops, and imaginative live "instruments."
Looking forward to sharing it with you.
--> Books --> Books --> Books --> Books
November 01, 2017
Merrily they roll along. Currently working on editing some of the photographed book works from the last few years.
Here's a close-up detail from a series still in progress.
After editing and laying out the photographs, they'll be published, in reproduction, as artist editions.
Available soon, from this website, and (I hope) from finer artists' book distributors around the world.
Jörg Simon
October 20, 2017
Was very happy to go to Frankfurt this week and shoot some of Jörg Simon's collages for the forthcoming issue of RNL.
This image is cropped slightly here; in the print version of RNL his works will appear un-cropped.
Jörg is a great artist, and it was a thrill to see a pile of new works.
You may also recognize him as the other half of CEPH.
RNL: Audio Archives
October 03, 2017
RNL began as a small art and sound collective in the early 1990s. Though we were quite active, the material we produced remained almost entirely private. Not even most of my close friends ever heard, saw, or even knew about it.
Now, with RNL in an active state, I'm working out plans to finally make some of these projects available after all these years.
This image is the collage cover I made for an eight-minute "promotional" cassette, around 1993.
More release information and download links coming soon.
Print collaboration at 65Grand
September 25, 2017
Jasmine Justice and I collaborated on this image (shown in detail) included in Philip Von Zweck's current exhibition at 65Grand. I believe our vector file was used to cut a panel that functions as both a floor tile and a printing plate. Prints from the plate are also hung in the gallery (or will be soon.)
I might have this all wrong, so just go to Chicago and check it out yourself, or try these links:
65Grand's homepage
65Grand's shots of the work in progress on Instagram
Shoot them up
September 12, 2017
Photo session scheduled soon to document a bunch of book works from the last few years. I'm excited to finally share this stuff, since hardly any of it has ever been seen.
Once the documentation is finished, I'll be moving forward with a plan to release limited edition artist books from these works. More info to come soon.
RNL: New sticker/button designs – Issue #1 getting closer
September 05, 2017
New RNL stickers and buttons will be arriving soon!
There are new logo stickers, as well as stickers and buttons based on the design you see here.
In addition to appearing soon on random surfaces near you, these will be included with the first issue of the RNL publication, which is now almost completed. Check out the RNL page, if you haven't already, for a preview. Ordering info to be posted soon.
Quietly getting ready for a full launch
August 29, 2017
Welcome! The site is live, but let’s keep that quiet for now, while I’m still uploading new works.
There are still a number of newer book projects I haven’t documented yet, lots of other new and old audio works, and other good stuff to come.
Watch this space for announcements about new projects and additions. I’ll also regularly be putting up odds and ends here, like this image from 2016.
I had done a series of these works a few years earlier. I'll post more of these as a portfolio at some point, so look for them in the Books section. This one measures 57 x 73 cm, a digital print edition, like all the works in the series.