9/24/10

Enter to win a "Spooky Steampunk Bag Of Awesome" from artist Myke Amend

Image courtesy of Myke Amend
Some of you know what a big fan I am of Myke Amend & his fantastic creations.

Heptameron by Myke Amend
 Myke likes to mix his mythos, with fun combos like steampunk & Lovecraft,

The Antarctic Experiment by Myke Amend
 steampunk & Wonderland
Mach Turtle by Myke Amend
and steampunk & horror (perfect for Halloween).

Undeath From Above by Myke Amend
I'm sensing a theme here.... Myke also mixes surrealism, pop culture, robots & other great stuff on both his website, MykeAmend.com and his Etsy shop, EttaDiem (which he shares with artist Bethalynne Bajema). 

So what does this have to do with the new Thursday Giveaway?

On 10/14 Myke is giving a "Spooky Steampunk Bag Of Awesome" to one very lucky winner. According to the artist: "Each bag will come stuffed with interesting things – prints from our Cirque Acirca project, and other interesting things… some will even contain hand-made weirdness and all will be packaged with some beautiful hand-made love, fine paper, sparkles and ribbon. The rest is a mystery, but a good mystery. "  

To enter this random drawing, simply leave a comment on this blog before 1 a.m. (EST) on 10/14. It is that easy. This drawing is open worldwide & prize ships free to winner.

Can't wait until the 14th? Need a Bag Of Awesome right now? Myke is selling them on his site for $15+ shipping (click here)

Why is Myke doing this? 
Because He and Bethalynne are working with other creative types on an amazing mixed media (& I do mean mixed- visual arts, music, performers, you name it) extravaganza, Cirque Acirca and they need all the help (& donations) they can get.

What is Cirque Acirca?  
It is the wonderland of art & events these fun folks are putting together  for the ArtPrize event/competition happening now until October 10 throughout Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

From the Circque Acirca site: "ArtPrize, a radically open art competition, will host Cirque A Circa, a confluence of artists, designers, musicians, and performance artists creating a multi-use space to showcase an eclectic variety of turn of the 19th century inspired gallimaufry, art, metaphysics, magic, and music. Seven nationally known artists......Brought together by a love for Circus & a mission to help teens in trouble. Their entry is art installation, 2D, 3D, musical, interactive, performance, variety, fashion & most of all it’s as life affirming as it is death defying. Have you ever felt like a freak? On the outside looking in? Maybe from another place or time…Welcome home."

Why is this so important?
"You know we love art & ArtPrize & probably you are nonplussed about our connection to Circus or even SteamPunk… but there is a more important reason why we are doing this & though we are usually not comfortable talking about “What It Means’ we realize that in order to get the message out we need to talk about, well, what it means…

It is our belief that Mental Health issues are at the heart of the cause & the effect of all of these things that affect our young people. Affect us. All of us… The seven of us doing Cirque Acirca have had very different lives but we have all been personally affected by suicide, abuse, self/substance abuse & Mental Illness of every kind & probably, so have you. We are the lucky ones. Each of us has found our own ‘Circus’. A reason to Live, to Laugh, & to Love… & that is our message." - from Cirque Acirca site. Click here to read more about Cirque Acirca & the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan.
 
Click here for their website, additional info, or a schedule of events.

What is ArtPrize?  
From their site: "ArtPrize is a radically open competition. Open to any artist in the world who can find space. Open to anybody in Grand Rapids, Michigan who wants to create a venue. Open to a vote from anyone who attends."  Also, toss ArtPrize into google & you can find all sorts of press coverage.

Readers, thanks for sticking with me. I know I'm a bit verbose today.  Just remember to leave a comment before you go to enter the goody-bag giveaway.

If you have some time please check out a few links, enjoy the art &  learn more about this ambitious project. If you like what you see, spread the word.

And if you are lucky enough to be in Grand Rapids, be sure to enjoy the variety events at ArtPrize & Cirque Acirca. (And then drop me a line & tell me all about it - so that I can live vicariously through you, okay?)

32 comments:

  1. Real awesome drawings. As a roleplayer and hobby writer I am very inspired by the mixture. I think this art does not only put a whole different light to what we would call classic Steampunk, but also invites people to break free from standardized views and perspectives.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yay! Mysterious prizes of cool stuff! Please enter me . . . In the contest, that is.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have followed Mike's art for awhile now and love all of it...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Fabulous cause and fabulous prize. Love the art. Would love to win that! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love mysterious steam punk bags of awesomeness... sign me up!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love Mike's artwork too especially the Lovecraft inspired ones.

    ReplyDelete
  7. lordy, lordy---would i love to have a bag of spooky awesome steampunk!

    going off to check more of myke's art creations!

    marilyn g

    ReplyDelete
  8. The event sounds so fabulous. I wish I could attend and experience this for myself! I totally agree about the need to express oneself in a positive, creative fashion. Mental health is such a hidden issue with our teens...our youth!!! I applaud the efforts on their behalf!!
    Absolutely art his art!!! Fabulous!
    Hugs
    SueAnn

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a grand event, and fabulous art you've shared here. Thanks for sharing with us. Off to check out the link! Happy Creating!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I LOVE the Steampunk Alice in Wonderland prints...fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Such incredible artwork. Thank you for sharing it. I would love to enter the draw, too.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love the drawings! Please count me in the drawing too :)

    Tisa.Agloro at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I've lost some dear friends and beautiful people to suicide (over depression, addiction, and chronic pain), and there were dark enough times in my life to tempt me too. Do whatever you can to get the message out to people on the edge: Hold on to hope, and reach out for help -- counseling, antidepressants, even a friendly voice or hand to get you through the night. Just know that the awful times don't have to last forever. And you can swim a long long way underwater if you just come up every so often even for a moment to take a breath.

    ReplyDelete
  14. This looks exciting! I'm getting into Steampunk and would love some things to jumpstart my home decor. Thanks for the chance to win a bag of awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  15. THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY kytah00@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Love it! I think it's one of those rare occasions where both my partner and I would both love the art :) Fingers crossed and thank you for the giveaway!

    Kate1485 at hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh, wow! I love her work! And what a fabulous prize opportunity!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wow Stacey, you always post the most incredible things. Very inspiring and exciting. I need to go check out the website now... it's raining so it's okay... right? ;o)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Stacey,
    This is wonderful! I love the artwork and what's behind it.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Beautiful artwork and sites. Made me think of my Nemo days...loved it.

    Smiles

    ReplyDelete
  21. Groovy artwork...would love to own such work~!! May you continue to shine...peaces...xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  22. Beautiful art and a great cause - we are all vulnerable, but young people especially so, brilliant work x

    ReplyDelete
  23. sign me up, looks cool!ipf

    ReplyDelete
  24. What a great idea! I have really gotta start paying more attention to my blogroll-- look at all the fascinating things in this post alone!

    carapacenator(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. What a perfect giveaway for this Halloween time of year! Please enter me.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Always a fan of Myke's work. He even let us use one of his pics for background of our first SPATSFEST poster. Thanks again, Myke!

    ReplyDelete