About this project
ANCESTOR - SILENCE, MACHINE, MEMORY brings together sounds and images of post-industrial places and works to achieve new listening experiences possibilities for an audience. Made solely with the photography, field recordings and minimal-collage compositions by Thomas Watkiss. The project initally was to be released as one 60 minute album with a set of gallery-ready photographs, but was split into three parts to be released once every year, to then accumulate into a select set of performances held around the world. Quickly the project recieved acclaim in the music press, has developed enthusiastic global distribution in many genres including ambient, eletronic, industrial, heavy metal as well as gaining respect in the contemporary art world. Thomas has performed the material already in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Bergen Norway and Oslo with a special set of live dates proposed for summer 2011.
FOCUS ON VINYL! The main goal of the project is for it to be realized in the form of limited edition vinyl albums. This is done in part to put a focus on the physical presence of music rather than a digital, disposable download. The audio work is specifically mixed and mastered for pressing to vinyl records, and the photography and layout are prepared for the oversize format. 1 of the 3 records have been realized, "Phase I : Silence", which was hand-numbered and strictly limited to 500 copies in a beautiful full color gatefold cover, and both Phase II : Machine as well as Phase III : Memory are in need of completion in the vinyl format!
All project administration including press relations, web and performance schedules are organized and paid for by the artist including studio recording fees, instruments, softwares, hardwares and travel. The artist is specifically asking for backers in assistance with the vinyl realization of the project. Everyone who contributes gets a piece of the work!
Timeline:
2007:
The first installment, a 7" vinyl single, of the project was released on the significant date of 07.27.07 as the artist was 27 and this was the actual 7th album release from the artist. Record release concert was held at St. Marks performance space in New York City.
http://thomaswatkiss.net/ancestor.html
2008:
The full length album was completed in Boston and released first on Digipack CD (limited to 1000) and soon after the Gatefold LP version was ready for Summer.
http://thomaswatkiss.net/silence.html
2009:
ANCESTOR II : MACHINE was released on 09.29.09 with a special record release party held at the infamous "The Room" Listening party held two weeks later in San Francisco and in-store at Sound Fix, Brooklyn.
http://thomaswatkiss.net/machine.html
2010:
Album production currently underway with a project completion date of 10.10.10. A special series of concerts are in the works for 2011 were the audience can experience the project in a live setting.
http://thomaswatkiss.net/memory.html
Project release and COMPLETION date: 10.10.10
The majority for funding for will be needed by: 10.01.10
Total cost of project: 18,000.00
Funding that I have raised thusfar: $8,100.00
Minimum needed to get the vinyl in production: 5,900.00
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
8
Backers
$1,415
pledged of $5,900 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Unsuccessful
This project reached the deadline without achieving its funding goal on October 9, 2010.
Pledge $10 or more
Recieve a limited digipack edition of PHASE III : MEMORY weeks before the press and public release date this October.
Pledge $10 or more
SECOND $10 OPTION: Recieve a copy of PHASE I : SILENCE or the ANCESTOR 7" that includes a special b-side track!
Pledge $15 or more
Recieve a copy of PHASE II : MACHINE that includes a bonus disc "Live at Lydgalleriet"
Pledge $20 or more
Recieve a copy of the 2xLP version of Phase I : Silence (NOTE: this options minimum pledge amount is $35.00 for all overseas contributors due to postage)
Pledge $25 or more
Recieve a copy of PHASE II : MACHINE 2xLP (2xLP limited to 500 hand-numbered copies and COLORED VINYL!) when it is complete. You will get this approx 30 days ahead of press and public release date. (NOTE: this options minimum pledge amount is $40.00 for all overseas contributors due to postage)
Pledge $25 or more
Recieve a copy of PHASE III : MEMORY (2xLP limited to 500 hand-numbered copies and COLORED VINYL!) when it is complete. You will get this ahead of press and public release date. (NOTE: this options minimum pledge amount is $40.00 for all overseas contributors due to postage)
Pledge $50 or more
Name in special section of the printed thank list in the DIGIPACK CD verison of PHASE III : MEMORY (Needed by September 1, 2010). You will get the other discs from the set at one time as a box set in special hand-made packaging.
Pledge $100 or more
Name in special section of the printed thank list in both 2xLP versions of PHASE II : MACHINE and PHASE III : MEMORY (Needed by September 1, 2010). Recieve all THREE 2xLP vinyl versions at the same time as a box set in special hand-made packaging. (NOTE: this options minimum pledge amount is $125.00 for all overseas contributors due to postage)
Pledge $150 or more
Test pressing of PHASE I : SILENCE LP or the ANCESTOR 7" vinyl with a hand written artist statement of work and notes on each track, previously not published. Choice of color print of artwork from series.
Pledge $250 or more
Recieve an original 12" x 12" black and white artwork on paper. Matted, in a 2mil poly sleeve and sent in a box. No two will be the same!
Pledge $500 or more
Recieve an original 12" x 12" artwork, acrylic on wood. No two will be the same!
Pledge $1,000 or more
Recieve a large Ilfochrome print of one of the photographs from album art that you may select from photo series, plus full set of records.
Pledge $5,000 or more
Commission: Special work of visual art, special 60 min mix of the material or A/V installation. As a comissioner, you decide where and what. Two awards are allotted to donors who would like an artwork (large print or painting, bringing together elements of the three records. This commissioner bracket allows you a piece of atrt (up to 48" x 72" Can be used as a special invitee-only performance with a special mix performance, anywhere in the US. (7000 anywhere in the world)
Pledge $10,000 or more
Recieve a Glyph drive of all audio files, outtakes, photographs and press materials on project, for a personal collection or private usage. My personal journals from the project including sketches, tablatures and ideas from 2007 collected from Stockholm, Oslo, Bergen, Boston, New York City, etc.
Project By
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Thomas completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh (’03) and his graduate work at Konstfack University of Art and Design in Stockholm (’06). He has completed independent and professional residencies in Göteborg, Sweden (’03) and in Bergen, Norway (’08). He is a 2009 stipend recipient of the Bergen Council. Thomas now lives and works in New York City.
The work of Thomas Watkiss greets an audience with an experience of foreignness and vulnerability--allowing for their own imagination, curiosity (and even fears) to lead them. Both his visual and sound works go without human presence, only to focus on organic manifest of form by degrees of growth, decay and time. Simultaneously, he is not short of releasing blunt visual statements or social critiques in constantly alienating the role of man in his work.
