Archive | January, 2012

19 January 2012 0 Comments

DOING SOMETHING RIGHT IN AMERIKA

http://tinyurl.com/7rgq7mb

Into The Zone,  The Cacophony Society – Zone Show,  Cacopolluza and our rally to restore absurdity in Santa Ana on Feb 4th is now officially endorsed by the Hollywood Liberation Front, the Silverlake Militia, Rats with Keys, The First Church of the Last Laugh and The Lurkers. We double dog dare you to come protest against us.

16 January 2012 0 Comments

DOG BUTT INSECURITY THREAT!

Portland Cacophonist Rev. Chuck Linville is on his way down to The Cacophony Society Zone Show: You May Already be a Member with his art car decorated with dog asses.

He emerged from his hotel room this a.m. to find the “offensive” vehicle draped with sheets.

The hotel management said they had gotten complaints and would “be praying for him.” Come see this unfairly maligned piece of automotive art Feb. 4 unless God and Homeland Security can stop him!

Get tickets to Into The Zone benefit preview: 
http://www.yosttheater.com/calendar/2011/into-the-zone-the-story-of-the-cacophony-society-benefit-preview-screening/

12 January 2012 0 Comments

DEAR DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

January 12, 2012

Dear Mr. Michael McCoy.

Yesterday, XXXXXX, forwarded this message regarding the opening festivities for the museum show “The Cacophony Society Zone Show” hosted by Grand Central Art Center.

Today I received a call from Mike McCoy, Homeland Security who issues permits for events from the City, with concerns about the February Art Walk and the association with the Cacophony Society. He spent some time looking at the website and is concerned about what will be presented to the public because the City of Santa Ana is co-sponsor of the First Saturday Art Walks. He is asking for a detailed description of what will be presented to avoid any issues with public complaints or controversy. I did not anticipate this but he is right. We do co-host the First Saturday Art Walks with the City.

Please send me the details of what is planned so we can inform Mike.

We understand the Department’s domain over public complaints and controversy in the arts as well as the precedent setting crowd control issues and threat of civil disturbance raised by the April 3, 2004 GCAC’s exhibition of art by Thomas Kinkade “Painter of Light.”

In cooperation with your request for further information, we are providing the attached list of public art and performance scheduled as part of our opening.

ART CARS
These are playfully customized cars typically decorated both with thrift store finds, and other colorful detritus, generally free of sharp edges or objectionable content. These Include Emily Duffy’s “Vain Van,” the Thingmaker’s “Tijuana Taxi,” Reverend Hotcakes “Jungle Truck,” and Reverend Charles Linville’s “Ass Car.” It should be pointed out that the visual and sculptural references in Reverend Linville’s “Ass Car,” are exclusively confined to parts of canine anatomy freely displayed throughout our country wherever dogs are found. Parked alongside the art cars will be an assembly of immense fiberglass dog sculpurues these fiberglass icons of The Cacophony Society depict only shoulder and heads of what is generally taken to be a Dachsund with no lower objectionable parts displayed or insinuated. If need be, photographs of these cars may be provided for DHS approval

THE ART OF BLEEDING AMBULANCE & CHUCKLES THE KLOWN
The Art of Bleeding is a performance art group offering faux educational programs in health and safety out of the back of an ambulance. They are joined by performer Chuckles the Klown offering a playful yet safe yet really playful demonstration on needle safety.

DR. SUNSHINE
Is an associate of The Art of Bleeding who uses uplifting humor to teach about hideous disfigurement and tragedy.

STRIP DREIDEL
Employs a phone booth sized replica of the Semitic top in a performance that crosses the beloved Hanukah tradition with the teen party game “Spin the Bottle.” The operator of the dreidel insures the level of striptease involved conforms to “community standards” as well as any additional standards DHS normally applies in its regulation of bookshops, adult theaters, nightclubs, or burlesque houses.

DO IT YOURSELF PROTEST AREA
One of the iconic activities engaged in by the Cacophony Society is mock protests over ludicrous causes. Honoring this tradition and as as a satiric nod toward the controversial nature of public discourse, we provide a soapbox, poster board, and markers to Society Members as well as enthusiastic passersby. These activities and limited use of bullhorns will be conducted in accordance with our understanding of issues of pubic nuisance and noise abatement and/or guidelines can be issued by DHS.

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
Musical performances will be provided by Fancy Space People, Creekbird, Clowns & Fetuses, and Phat Mandee. The diverse content and presentation of these musical acts would be difficult to describe in this context, but set lists, audio recordings and video links can be provided for DHS scrutiny. The ensemble Clowns and Fetuses has suggested that their themed performance on “Human Spontaneous Combustion” would feature a number of piñatas to be set ablaze. The piñatas would be of standard size and construction and ignited sequentially in a designated safe area. A moderate amount of accelerant such as barbecue lighter fluid would necessarily be employed. We are prepared to work with local fire officials and/or DHS in ensuring that appropriate fire fighting equipment and personnel is on hand and that no damage to person or property occurs.

COMEDY & MAGIC
Comedian-magician Bieno Svengali as well as comedian Eric Cash will perform. Exact content of their sets is not confirmed at this time, though Cash is expected to preside over a mock raffle “giveaway” of an Afghani war orphan.

HOMELAND SECURITY HOSPITALITY STATION
In the spirit of free discourse and rapprochement, The Cacophony Society will dedicate a table to the display of introductory literature on the CS as well as whatever literature or materials DHS would care to provide. A live representative will be available for discussion. Coffee and donuts provided.

As with any live event, a certain level of spontaneity is to be expected, but the above describes to the best of our ability the art, performance, and activities planned for the opening of this museum exhibition. If you can provide further guidelines on any of the described activities, they would be much appreciated.

We look forward to working with The Department of Homeland Security to make this a fun, safe, and educational event.

Sincerely,

Al Ridenour
Founder, The Los Angeles Cacophony Society

John Law
Member, Suicide Club: Co-Founder San Francisco Cacophony Society: Co-Founder, Burning Man.

Jon Alloway
Director, Into the Zone: The Story of the Cacophony Society

12 January 2012 5 Comments

YOU MAY ALREADY BE A TERRORIST

Homeland Security in OC has their suspicions.

We received an email in relation to our museum retrospective that we are putting on in Santa Ana.

Here’s what they had to say:

Hi All,

Today I received a call from Mike McCoy, Homeland Security who issues permits for events from the City, with concerns about the February Art Walk and the association with the Cacophony Society.   He spent some time looking at the website and is concerned about what will be presented to the public because the City of Santa Ana is co-sponsor of the First Saturday Art Walks.   He is asking for a detailed description of what will be presented to avoid any issues with public complaints or controversy.   I did not anticipate this but he is right.  We do co-host the First Saturday Art Walks with the City.

Please send me the details of what is planned so we can inform Mike.

Sincerely,
XXXXXXX

3 January 2012 0 Comments

CACOPHONY SOCIETY EXHIBITION & FILM PREVIEW

 

Saturday, February 4, 2012

FILM

Into the Zone: The Story of the Cacophony Society
Benefit Preview Screening 4 p.m. at
The Yost Theate
307 N Spurgeon St, Santa Ana, CA 92701

ADVANCE TICKETS RECOMMENDED:

 

EXHIBITION
The Cacophony Society – Zone Show: You May Already be a Member
http://www.grandcentralartcenter.com/ArtGallery_gcartgallery.php

Grand Central Art Center
125 North Broadway, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Runs February 4 – April 15 (FREE)

SCHEDULE:
3:00 Cocktail reception (Yost Theater)
4:00-5:30 Screening  (Yost Theater)
5:30-TBD Q&A   (Yost Theater)
6.30-11:00 Block Party (Grand Central Art Center Plaza)
7:00-10:00 Exhibition (Grand Central Art Center Main Gallery)

 

THE CACOPHONY SOCIETY – ZONE SHOW  is Grand Central Art Center’s retrospective look at the Cacophony Society, a national collective of guerrilla artists, dada pranksters, and various eccentrics pursuing “experiences beyond the mainstream.” Dedicated to activities mocking societal expectations, sacred cows, and good taste, The Cacophony Society evolved from the San Francisco Suicide Club and its members were chief organizers of the Burning Man Festival in Northern Nevada. The Society’s pranking served as inspiration for the activities of Project Mayhem in Chuck Palahniuk’s Fight Club. The exhibition transforms the museums main gallery into a wildly immersive environment filled with photos, graphics, video, props, costumes, and original art from Society events. Exhibition runs through April 15. FREE!

BLOCK PARTY: The Feburary 4th opening will be celebrated with a block party featuring carnivalesque music and performance from artists associated with the Society, art cars, competing protestors, dangerous stunts, an on-call ambulance, and other surprises. FREE!

 

Hosted by Eric Cash
Staring:

Fancy Space People
Bieno Svengali
Dr. Sunshine
Creekbird
Clowns and Fetuses
Strip Dredel
The Dog Heads
Photoboof
Phat Mandee
& more.

  • FILM: This benefit preview screening of the documentary “Into the Zone: The Story of the Cacophony Society” will be held at the historic Yost Theater, only a few blocks from the museum.  From 3-4pm, a cocktail reception will be held at the theater’s bar, followed by screening and Q&A with Harrod Blank (Automorphosis.com) interviewing film maker Jon Alloway and Cacopony instigators John Law, Danger Ranger, Chuckles Klown, and Reverend Al.   The film features extensive rarely seen footage as well exclusive interview of Chuck Palahniuk on his experiences with the Society. Advance tickets advised. (Recently re-opened, this 100-year-old theater formerly served the area in a dual capacity: vaudeville palace upstairs and basement holding cells dedicated to Orange County drunks and criminals.)
Advance tickets: