Mingering Mike now lives at The Smithsonian American Art Museum
Secret_Chimp
915 Posts
Yes, you read that right. It hath been taken there.
I???m happy to announce that Mingering Mike has a new and permanent home at The Smithsonian American Art Museum. It???s the best possible scenario and the one we???ve been hoping for all along - Mike is well taken care of, the collection stays intact here at home in DC, and ultimately millions of people will see Mike???s work up close and personal for years to come. The museum is ecstatic about the acquisition (over 150 pieces total) and they???ve scheduled a dedicated Mingering Mike show for 2015. Already a team of conservators is working its magic to make sure that those faded, cardboard records last forever.
It???s hard to believe that this story began 9 long years ago, in January of 2004! Huge thanks to all of you who have helped us out in various ways over the years. I certainly couldn???t have taken it this far on my own. I haven???t posted here in forever, but I do still lurk on occasion and have a big sentimental connection to this place. It seems only be right to announce the big news here first.
I really hope that some of you are able to see the albums in person one day. Even after all this time, I guarantee that they will blow your fucking minds.
Dori
I???m happy to announce that Mingering Mike has a new and permanent home at The Smithsonian American Art Museum. It???s the best possible scenario and the one we???ve been hoping for all along - Mike is well taken care of, the collection stays intact here at home in DC, and ultimately millions of people will see Mike???s work up close and personal for years to come. The museum is ecstatic about the acquisition (over 150 pieces total) and they???ve scheduled a dedicated Mingering Mike show for 2015. Already a team of conservators is working its magic to make sure that those faded, cardboard records last forever.
It???s hard to believe that this story began 9 long years ago, in January of 2004! Huge thanks to all of you who have helped us out in various ways over the years. I certainly couldn???t have taken it this far on my own. I haven???t posted here in forever, but I do still lurk on occasion and have a big sentimental connection to this place. It seems only be right to announce the big news here first.
I really hope that some of you are able to see the albums in person one day. Even after all this time, I guarantee that they will blow your fucking minds.
Dori
Comments
So serious. I guess this is why you didn't show up Sunday. Can't wait for 2015.
Can't wait to take my daughter up to see it!
this is huge news. congratulations to Mike and all involved. i feel genuinely happy about this!
Will the exhibit include a printout of the Soulstrut thread where this discovery played out in real-time?
is that available, still, or was it before the mythical SS re-launch?
^ this. i would love to read this literature.
You can find OG banter here at this archive:
http://web.archive.org/web/20040411174212/http://www.soulstrut.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=21709&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=7&fpart=2&vc=1
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/02/arts/a-well-imagined-star-unearthing-a-trove-of-albums-that-never-existed.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm
peace, stein. . .
I do have the thread but it's a formatting nightmare. When I have a chance I'll clean it up and post it. It's a goldmine.
???I am betting, this guy was not a musician, and never showed his art to anyone. I bet he went to work, then went home and created his alter egos. And I guess he went to the record store some too.. So did any one see "The Throne" at the National Portrait Gallery. I don't know if it's still on display somewhere, but I saw it there in the 80's. The story, as I recall, was this postman went home every night for years, and worked on this incredible altar he was making in his garage. He had a whole religious world view that was driving his work. As I recall it was not discovered until his death."
After Mike's show in 2015 selections of his work will actually be on permanent display right there in the same room as James Hampton's "The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations' Millennium General Assembly.", quite possible one of the most amazing pieces in the whole museum. Facemelt does not even begin to describe..
I immediately pictured Mike's work along side "The Throne...." when I opened this thread. So tight!
you should be really really really proud. props.
Ah, that brings back memories.
The waybackmachine seemingly only has page 2 of the thread...
...I would have loved to re-read my post in which I denounced this all as completely ridiculous.
RAJ, what was the daily viewcounter of the forum at the height of this story blowing up on the web?
I've had a pretty shitty past 24 hours, but this pic has wiped the slate clean. Can't wait to check this out in 2015!