J. Karl Bogartte
What matters most is what occurs not only in the center of that place where the images come from, but even more importantly, where the images are not... Somewhere in the middle there is a meeting place, a rendezvous, where something makes love to nothing, where what should be reflected is not, and what can be seen through is not on the other side.
EMPIRICAL BIOGRAPHIC STATEMENT
"Bogartte's work is like the point of a lightning rod that simultaneously attractsthe legendary storms of the past and those which are to come...
He is affecting the machines that will dream." Edouard Jaguer
It took me 30 years to get to the computer, and to see it as an enchanted device by which one could wreck havoc on the limiting and restrictive structures of realism... by opening things up to a more substantial degree, by using layers and cloning, to cite only a few, and thereby allowing the mind to interface, and evolve along with it... a machine of reconnaisance par excellance, especially when used as a weapon. As a tool for the artist, it has no peers, and is much more exciting to use than an ordinary brush with oils. DaVinci would have loved the computer... and Matta was beginning to explore with it just before he died. The computer allows one to feel less like an "artist" and more like an explorer, and a navigator.
In 1973 I accidently discovered that by moving things around on the ordinary copy machine (and in effect, subverting its intended purpose), strange conjunctions revealed themselves. I found that by moving things faster (or slower) than they would normally be moved, conjuring with them, molding and gesturing with them, and even setting fire to them... divining for some imaginary solution glittering in the depths, I uncovered a new world, and a new way of seeing. For thirty years I explored this other, more all-inclusive world by a process I chose to call Photomorphosis, and invented the words morph, morphing and photomorph to best describe the results of this activity.
At the beginning of 2000, I just as suddenly abandoned this process and leaped into the 21st century, exploring the computer and the realms of digital surrealit. The process of seeing through the facade of the everyday became a reality of its own. The layers of this reality were such that movement between levels of perception became an adventure unknown to explorers of even a decade ago. Transparency unveils a psychology of multi-dimensional movement and activity, a conjuring that appears as maddened and delirious, and all the while remaining passionately calm...
All this might indicate an adventure which wrecks havoc on the usual means of perception, and in so doing, arouses the spirit, which opens up to every direction, as would a solar storm. It might also indicate a perception which appears at first light to be naturally against all that preceded it, and by this very nature an act of mayhem.
Notes:
For a further explication of the process of photomorphosis, see the complete text of The Secret Art of Photomorphosis, and the little treatise What is Photomorphosis?
See also the text by Edouard Jaguer, from his important book on photography and surrealism Les Mystres De La Chambre Noire.
SELECTED EXHIBITS
2007 Paradise Remixed. Various Riverwest Galleries. Curator Mark Lawson. Milwaukee, WI
2005 Experimental Psychologies Virtual Exhibit Series I - Gallery Art. Chrudim, CZ.
2004 Marvelous Works of Unreasonable Beauty Living Room. Milwaukee, WI.
J. Karl Bogartte Digital Prints Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. Milwaukee, WI.
2002 J. Karl Bogartte KM Art Milwaukee, WI.
2001 ROOMS OF OUR ANCESTORS Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. Milwaukee, WI.
1999 Surrealismus - Mythologie - Mystery - Magie Atelier Paul Surma.
Surrealistische Galerie. (http://www.atelier-paul-surma.de/index.htm) Germany.
1998 SUMMERIE (hermetic) Gallery. Milwaukee,WI.
1997 SALVATION & DAMNATION: Artists Take on the Spiritual. Crossman Gallery,
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. Whitewater, WI.
1996 TOWARDS 2000: Art for the Millennium Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design.
Milwaukee, WI.
ART AT THE SANCTUARY Sanctuary - Gothic Nightclub. Milwaukee, WI.
1995 OF SURREAL SOURCES Walkers Point Center for the Arts. Milwaukee, WI.
ART FOR THE NEXT CENTURY Art Museum, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.
DREAMS AND VISIONS Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. Milwaukee.
1994 LE COLLAGE AVANT 1995 Galerie 1900-2000. Paris, France.
RESTLESS PAUSES - THE HAGGERTY MUSEUM CELEBRATES TEN YEARS.
Haggerty Museum of Art. Marquette University. Milwaukee, WI.
SOURCES Bogartte and Fetherston. (hermetic) Gallery. Milwaukee, WI.
DEGENERATE AND OUTSIDER ART IN THE CULTURAL MECCA OF MILWAUKEE
Fine Arts Gallery, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. Milwaukee, WI.
LUMINOUS VESSELS One person exhibit. University of Wisconsin Center. Manitowoc, WI.
1993 ATLAS SYMPOSIUM SERIES One night exhibit and lecture series. Milwaukee, WI.
1992 CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN PRINTS Haggerty Museum of Art,
Marquette University. Milwaukee, WI.
1991 RECESSION-PROOF ART Peter Miller Gallery. Chicago, IL.
VERGING ON EMERGENCE: INVITATIONAL EXHIBIT OF MILWAUKEE ARTISTS
Two person exhibit. Art Museum, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. Milwaukee, WI.
1991 DEGENERATE AND OUTSIDER ART IN THE CULTURAL MECCA OF MILWAUKEE
Fine Arts Gallery, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. Milwaukee, WI.
1989 FROM IMPULSE TO OBSESSION: A LIVING WISCONSIN TRADITION Madison Art Center.
Madison, WI.
1988 PHOTOMORPHS One person show. Woodland Pattern Book Center. Milwaukee, WI.
COLLAGE AT N.A.M.E. N.A.M.E. Gallery. Chicago, IL.
1985 PHASES Galerie Verrire. Lyon, France.
1982 SURREALISM IN 1982 Guild Books & Periodicals. Chicago, IL.
1981 LIMAGE EN FLAGRANT DLIT (PHASES) Epinal, France.
PERMANENCE DU REGARD SURRALISTE E.L.A.C. Lyon, France.
1980 ESPACES SURREELS Chteau De La Napoule. Napoule, France.
PHASES Galerie Verrire. Lyon, France.
1979 PRESENCIA VIVA DE PAALEN (PHASES) Muse Carillo Gil. Mexico City.
SURREALISM UNLIMITED Camden Art Center. London, England.
1978 SURREALISM IN 1978 Ozaukee Art Center. Ozaukee, WI.
1977 SURREALISM IN 1977 Hyde Park Art Center. Chicago, IL.
SURREALISM IN 1977 Gary Art Center. Gary, IN.
1976 WORLD SURREALIST EXHIBITION: MARVELOUS FREEDOM Black Swan Gallery.
Chicago, IL
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
EXHIBITION CATALOGUES
Salvation And Damnation: Artists Take on the Spiritual University of Wisconsin - Whitewater, Crossman Gallery. 1997. Whitewater, WI.
Kaleidoskop #3 & #4 (PHASES) Sune Nordgren, editor. Page 27. 1985. AHUS, Sweden.
Performance Du Regarde Surraliste E.L.A.C. Lyon, France. Page 25. 1981.
Griffon Galerie Verrire. Lyon, France. Page 7. 1980.
Surrealism In 1978 Ozaukee Art Center. Ozaukee, WI. Page 23. 1978.
BOOKS
Rosemont, Franklin. The Forecast is Hot Volume 1. Tracts & Other Collective Declarations of the Surrealist Movement in the U.S. 1966 - 1976. Black Swan Press. Chicago, IL. 1998. Pages XLI, XLII.
Matthews, J. H. Seven Surrealist Photographers J. Karl Bogartte: Show me something I havent imagined before. Forthcoming(?). Susquehanna Press. Syracuse University. Pages 200-251. Four reproductions. With Man Ray, Hans Bellmer, Pierre Molinier, Magritte, et al.
Jaguer, Edouard. Les Mystres de la Chambre Noire J. Karl Bogartte. Flammarion. Paris. 1982. Pages 4, 132, 199-201, 215-216. Two reproductions. Writings.
Brio, Adam and Passerons, Ren. Dictionaire Gnrale de Surralisme Fribourg: Office de Livre. Switzerland. 1982. Page 331. One reproduction.
PERIODICALS
Salamandra #8-9, September 1997. Journal of the Surrealist Group in Spain. One reproduction.
Dergam, Roman; et al. ANALAGON #17 Journal of the Czech and Slovak Surrealist Group. Prague. 1997. One reproduction.
Rammel, Hal; Litherland, Gina and Bogartte, J. Karl, editors. Counterclockwise #1
Milwaukee, WI. 1997. One reproduction. Writings.
Woodburn, Judith, editor. Art Muscle Milwaukee, WI. Cover reproduction. December, 1992.
Peters, Nancy Joyce, editor. Free Spirits City Lights Books. San Francisco, CA. One reproduction. Page 104. 1982.
Buhle, Paul, editor. Cultural Correspondences Providence, RI. One reproduction. Page 86. 1981.
Rosemont, Franklin, editor. Surrealism & Its Popular Accomplices City Lights Books. San Francisco, CA. One reproduction. Page 43. Writings. 1980.
, Octopus Typewriter. Chicago, IL. One reproduction. Page 2. Article. 1980.
MISCELLANEOUS
EVA DESTRUCTION John Kruth CD cover and insert. 2007 Crustacean Records .
JOHN KRUTH AND BOB HOLMAN PRESENT: Philip Lamantia: Becoming Visible
Thursday, October 28, 2005. 10pm - $8. Featured Performers:
Genesis P-Orridge (Throbbing Gristle) /Gordon Gano (Violent Femmes) /John S. Hall (King Missle) /Edgar Oliver /Taylor Mead /Janet Hamill /Shawn Randall /Tree Swenson /Bob Holman /John Kruth /Leon Gruenbaum /Dave Dreiwitz (Ween) /Andy Demos
Dance by Alice Farley
Visuals by J. Karl Bogartte
Masks by Jeff Way
The Bowery Poetry Club 308 Bowery @ Bleecker St, NYCSECRETS TO TELL YOU CyberChump CD cover and inset. 2005 Internal Combustion.
ISTARS ASCENT KYLYRA Gothic music CD cover and inset. 1999 Darkworld Productions.
SUBNORMAL EPISODES INFINISYNTH Gothic music CD cover and inset. 1999 Darkworld Productions. Minneapolis, MN
SHADOW AND SHADE INFINISYNTH Gothic music CD cover and inset. 1995 Darkworld Productions. Minneapolis, MN
BECOMING VISIBLE Philip Lamantia. Cover. City Lights Books. San Francisco, CA. 1981.
AWARDS
Arts Midwest Fellowship 1990. Works on Paper.
Milwaukee Artists Foundation 1990. Individual Artists Fellowship Grant. Visual Artist.
COLLECTIONS
Haggerty Museum of Art Permanent Collection. Milwaukee, WI.
University of Wisconsin Center Permanent Collection. Manitowoc, WI.
Milwaukee Art Museum Permanent Collection Milwaukee, WI. (2002 purchase)
