Balsa Betty being built at the 2010 Tiny Art Party

Are your Xactos sharp? Is your glue ready to stick? Got wood?

Actually I don’t care what your answer is come anyway, even if you only have an ounce of an idea and not a scrap of balsa. Supplies will be provided as will the creative spirit! You may walk away inspired or just have fun lending a hand to other tiny artists trying to realize their small dream.

This art party is welcome to Tiny Artists who are attending the main event or the Black Rock Balsa Regional. The Black Rock Regional Lead, Feral will be there if you have any questions about the regional or if just want to congratulate her!

San Francisco Tiny Art Build Party

Thursday Aug 18th
6:30pm to 11pm-ish
Location is near Guerrero and 16th St in the Mission. Email gro.namaslabnull@ofni for exact location.

Note to the allergy prone and the ailurophobic: there are cats.

RSVP on the Facebook event page

Build Party FAQ

• Will there be free food and booze?
  • Maybe but don’t count on it. While it’s not required, anyone who brings potluck food will be greeted with joyful squeals of glee!*
• Will there be art materials & tools for me to use?
  • The BPAF has donated some art materials (wood and glue) and tools (pencils, knifes, and rulers); however is is highly recommended that you bring your own art supplies/tools if you have a specific project in mind.
  • In-kind donations of extra art materials are always welcome!*
• Can I buy tickets, patches and stickers to help support tiny art at the event?
  • but of course! As long as we have received them in time.
• Can I hand deliver my art grant proposal at the event?
  • Yes! A representative from the Black Pebble Arts Foundation will be on present to accept art grant proposals.
• I have fear of leaving the East bay
  • There will be likely be an Easy Bay Tiny Art Party later this month.

*Particularly bountiful (or delicious) in-kind donations of art materials or shared food will be receive a special gift from the Black Pebble Arts Foundation.

We hope to see you and your creativity at the San Francisco Tiny Art Build Party!

Due to the minute amounts of these goals, donations can only be made in person (either directly to the artist or to a BPAF representative). We are beginning this wonderful program with two Teenystarters:

Teenystarter: The Cafe That Wanted To Be Art (Goal: $10.64)

Due to the BPAF shrug bylaw The Cafe That Wanted To Be Art did no get the full funding they requested. In order to make up the $10.64, QueGee has announced she will be raising funds at this Sunday’s San Francisco Tiny Art Build Party.

Of course, admission to Tiny Art Build Party is free. The CTWTBA Fundraiser will be hosted at the same location, with suggested donation of separate sliding scale of 1¢–25¢ per person with all proceeds going to the CTWGBA Teenystarter. QueGee will also be accepting small donations for her teenystarter in person prior to the event.

Teenystarter: Black Rock Balsa Man Regional (Goal: $20)

Steve Courtney will be having a fundraiser for the Black Rock Balsa Man Regional and his small camp Fandango this Thursday, 6-10pm, at The Sycamore (2140 Mission Street, SF).

Voluntary admission fee at the door, (pay whatever you want) and that will get you Happy Hour prices all night. If you come down and donate a few bucks to us at the door, you get to knock a buck off your beer and/or wine all night. Also, PBR is $2 and Miller High Life is $3. A percentage of the door donations go to the Black Rock Regional Teenystarter; the rest goes to Fandango so they can afford to buy a camp chair or two.

In addition: there will be a Balsa Man Regional “Build-Night” in the back yard. You can come down and build tiny art to be burned in the desert, even if you aren’t going. (Tiny art materials will be supplied, but feel free to bring your own if you have a specific project in mind.)

Fandango & Black Rock Balsa Regional Fundraiser Happy Hour
Thursday, Aug 19th, 6pm-10pm
The Sycamore (2140 Mission Street, SF)

UPDATE:

The BRD Balsa Man Regional received it’s first Teenystarter relatively large donor! Carnivillian, photographer and blogger of TheBlight.net has donated $6.66 towards their meager goal!

Wooden Horse by Suzanne Forbes (photo by mikest)

The Oakland Tiny Art Build Party also saw the appearance of the marvelous artist Suzanne Rachel Forbes. Suzanne is a distinguished Bay Area portrait painter, sketch artist, and illustrator… who just so happens to be an amazing balsa sculptor! In 2009, she made an exquisite balsa wood horse using only the scrap wood that the BPAF brought to the Tiny Art Party. Amazingly Suzanne crafted the horse freehand without a single reference image. Piece by piece it came together using nothing but glue, an X-ACTO, and whatever materials are on hand at the time.

Balsa Betty by Suzanne Forbes

This year, Suzanne has continued her tradition of refusing to ask for a tiny art grant. Instead, she comes to the Tiny Art Parties to build using whatever materials have been gifted. She is also pushing her tiny art farther this year: Suzanne has taken on the challenge of sculpting the female form—specifically the iconic Bettie Page, again using only scrap balsa wood, an X-ACTO and glue. It was truly astonishing to watch the hips, waist and bosom slowly gain form from her talented hands.

More of Suzanne’s stunning art can be found on her website, Flickr, and Etsy. She also is a writer for the sex-positive website CarnalNation.

Due to the record number of tiny art stomping incidents last year, Balsa Man 2010 will have a Deep Playa Protected Art Area fenced off to protect from the potential danger of participant feet. Also this allows for a better viewing of all the tiny art on display! Tiny artists are still allowed to place their art in the Inner Playa Stomping Grounds, but should do so at their own risk.

Speaking of Tiny Art, the Black Pebble Arts Foundation is eager to see your Tiny Art Grant Proposals! Send them in today!

This party is open to tiny artist going to either Balsa Man or the Balsa Man Regional in Black Rock Desert, NV.

Oakland Tiny Art Build Party

Sunday, August 8th from noon till 8pm
Two blocks from Rockridge BART.
Contact gro.namaslabnull@ofni for exact location (same location as last year’s Oakland Build Party).
facebook event page

@likethegoddess paints tiny houses for her project House on Fire

Build Party FAQ

• Will there be free food and booze?
  • Maybe but don’t count on it. Bring your own and while it’s not required, anyone who brings potluck food will be greeted with joyful squeals of glee!*
• Will there be art materials & tools for me to use?
  • The BPAF has donated some art materials (wood and glue) and tools (pencils, knifes, and rulers); however is is highly recommended that you bring your own art supplies/tools.
  • In-kind donations of extra art materials are always welcome!*
• Can I buy patches and stickers to help support tiny art at the event?
  • but of course!
• Can I hand deliver my art grant proposal at the event?
  • Yes. A representative from the Black Pebble Arts Foundation will be on present to accept art grant proposals.
• I have  fear of crossing the Bay. Will there be another Tiny Art Build Party in San Francisco?
  • Ideally yes. We are still searching for a location for a San Francisco Tiny Art Build Party. If you are interested in hosting and live in San Francisco (ideally close to public transit) please contact us at gro.namaslabnull@ofni.
  • Also, if you are interested in organize another East Bay or South Bay or North Bay Tiny Art Build Party please contact us at gro.namaslabnull@ofni.

* Particularly bountiful (or delicious) in-kind donations of art materials or shared food will be receive a special gift from the Black Pebble Arts Foundation.

We hope to see you and your creativity at the Oakland Tiny Art Build Party!

World’s Smallest Postal Service

The World’s Smallest Postal Service (WSPS) is a teeny tiny transcription service and roaming post office. Artist Lea Redmond is the Postmaster, setting up her tiny mobile office in cafes and shops where passers-by can write a letter and have it turned into a “world’s smallest letter.”

Your letter is transcribed on a miniature desk in the tiniest of script, sealed with a miniscule wax seal with the sender’s initial pressed into it, packaged up with a magnifying glass in a glassine envelope, and finished off with a large wax seal. It is a double delight: for both the sender and the recipient.

When: Saturday, March 13th from 2pm to 6pm
Where: The Curiosity Shoppe – 855 Valencia Street (twn 19th & 20th) – SF
Cost: Free to watch letters being made, $8 to order your own.

(via FunCheap: World’s Smallest Postal Service)

Miniature cities on household objects

The senior thesis exhibition, at the Kyoto University of Art and Designhas some amazing small works on display which perfectly fit into this year’s theme, “The Forged Village.” I wish I could go to Kyoto myself and see these wonderfully detailed cities atop common household objects.

More info and photos at Spoon and Tomago: Student Work | Kyoto University of Art and Design.

(via Boing Boing: Miniature cities on household objects)

Balsa Man Regional was, by all accounts, a fabulous little event. At 5pm, in front of Ardent Heavy Industries (3:50 and Adapt), a crowd grew around the collection of tiny art that had yet to be unpacked. Earlier that day one of the Giant Man KCrew delivered an actual Toe of the Man. Rumor has it that “The Toe” is a leftover piece of lumber from That Other Man.

Tiny Star Tree (photo by Kristen Ankiewicz)

The population clearly wanted to be involved, and several volunteers quickly began building the L’il Trash Fence. We assembled The Toe with the L’il Balsa Man Head, not too far from the L’il Temple. We joked about having the man “from head to toe”. Silliness abounded. Cali brought her Tiny Star Tree, which added considerable class and swank to the event. The Tiny Star Tree was an art piece with many adventures in its future, since it was the only piece to attend both the Regional and the actual Balsa Man event.

After a tiny portion of an hour, we began the arduous task of digging mini-trenches for the Tiny 2piR. However, our spoons wouldn’t make a dent in the playa, so we decided to leave the fire effects above ground. That worked fine for everyone, because mere moments later a couple of tiny drunken slugs and a l’il raver penguin were on the platform. We’re not sure where the tiny bottle of Jose Cuervo came from but it turns out everyone dances better when drunk.

BRD Balsa Regional Participants (photo by Kristen Ankiewicz)

The beauty of the Regional was the high level of participation from attendees. People started rearranging the tiny attendees (mostly slugs, penguins, and frogs). Smuckles von Smee and several of his slug friends were enjoying the event from the ground level.  A couple of Regional rangers kept order around the perimeter. Many photographers were taking photos with macro lenses. I doubled as media volunteer, and gave attendees carte blanche to document the heck out of the Regional. Of course we reminded everyone that in keeping with the spirit of the main event, BALSA MAN REGIONAL RETAINS ALL RIGHTS TO ALL THUMBNAILS OF ANY PHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEO, OR FILM THAT IS TAKEN AT THE EVENT. Several people with bullhorns helped narrate for those who weren’t as close to the front lines.

About half an hour into the event, it could only be described as wonderful, beautiful chaos. The Garden of Tiny Delights evolved (as it should) beyond my initial designs. The attendees of the Regional moved the little frogs and penguins out to the trash fence; the zombie penguin was poised to attack the Temple; the Obelisk was placed out by L’il Mural. The S&M penguins embodied radical self-expression, and were causing quite a stir with their public flogging—scandalous! Tiny parachuters landed onto the playa, dust storms started kicking up thanks to Rubin’s can of compressed air, and people started clamoring to burn things. Alas, one of the little parachuters landed funny, but after some quick thinking by Eddie (a Regional burner), a tiny helicopter came to medi-vac the injured little parachuter guy out of there.

Balsa Man Regional - Head to Toe (photo by Neil Girling)

At 5:45 the event culminated with the burning of the L’il Man + Toe. Although he’s made of balsa and kitchen matches, we decided to douse him in fuel just to make sure he’d really burn. All it took was a carefully aimed magnifying glass to set the thing ablaze. For a few minutes it was calm enough for one of the attendees to toast a marshmallow. Pretty soon a raucous group of people started chanting and dancing in a circle around the L’il Man, and one or two people even jumped over him.

Finally, at nearly 6, we burned the L’il Temple. The crowd grew solemn, with various people hushing and shushing and yelling DOWN IN FRONT. I believe a few tears were shed. We doused the structure in fuel, and used Edrabbit‘s flame effect/flame thrower to light it on fire. Laughter erupted as the flaming ball of temple flew ten feet off the platform onto the playa. I doubled as DPW and cleaned up all the ashes.

Lots of people exchanged hugs and vowed to come back next year, with more art, and more ideas. Perhaps we’ll recruit a pyrotechnics expert to strap down the burning items.

Pants Are Necessary Things - Seriously!

We, the Citizens who think Pants Are Necessary Things, Seriously! (PANTS) are concerned that tiny-person nudity is an epidemic sweeping the nation, causing wanton licentiousness, suggestive hoopla, blindness, and a corruption of the morals of our most precious asset, the children! Some little people have been known to lie around for days, weeks, nay sometimes months completely naked! I shudder to think what sort of lascivious thoughts might come unbidden to the unformed and malleable mind of a child who unwittingly happens upon such an obscene display! With just a tiny $2.69 donation for a tiny cause, you can ensure that such a scene will never mar the dignity and minuscule majesty that is Balsa Man! PANTS will fight tiny-person pantslessness with several specially-developed tools, including our PANTS Trebuchet and our PANTS Cannon, designed to render the pantsless incapable of exposing their hairless, bland crotches to the unguarded eyes of innocents. We will provide pants to any tiny-person without them, and will “convince” those who might be obstinate with the use of our arsenal.

In the name of decency,

Signed, The Puny Pants Posse, aka The Society of Pants for the Wee, aka What Part of Pants Don’t You Understand!

At first, the BPAF art grant review committee was hesitant to award monetary funds to “theme camps,” lest these “theme camps” become popular and get out of hand. However, we can all agree that pants are a necessary thing, and the word alone makes one giggle. Puny Pants Posse: APPROVED. pantspantspants!

YOU CAN PANTS IF YOU WANT TO – YOU CAN LEAVE YOUR PANTS BEHIND

And if you do happen to leave your pants behind, the Puny Pants Posse would also like to invite you to “The Party In Our Pants” which will take place at Balsa Man, from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Pantsocolodas will be served – BYO tiny reusable cup! Come admire the wall of tiny pants (pantitos?) and fire a pair of slacks from the pants trebuchet!

Anyway, we had Joseph check the Balsa Man bylaws and it doesn’t say anything about how many temples Balsa Man is supposed to have. So, Balsa Man 2009 might go down as the year of the dueling temples: The Temple of Minor Irregularities Vs. the Temple of Pet Peeves.

Congratulations Sophia & Ray! The BPAF has granted you a tiny art grant of $2 for your Temple of Pet Peeves or whatever it is you are planning on building.

Now remember we gave you a grant so uh… if the gnomes tell you to do anything bad to us—or our pets—don’t listen to them!

As unfortunate as this is, we did not fret long for in the mail we found this joyful grant proposal!

A homage to bit Michael Christian and Cute Overload! I didn’t know that was even possible! Our dispair dissipated, everyone on the BPAF grant review committee instantly raised their hands in favor of awarding Rachel and her art project Fleck a tiny art grant of $5.

UPDATE

Rachel has already crafted her adorable Fleck which can be seen here: Fleck on Flickr