Comments on: Jay Van Buren and the Fursuit Portrait Project http://www.radioopensource.org/jay-van-buren-and-the-fursuit-portrait-project/ Christopher Lydon in conversation on arts, ideas and politics Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:23:24 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: earlyadopter http://www.radioopensource.org/jay-van-buren-and-the-fursuit-portrait-project/comment-page-1/#comment-87491 earlyadopter Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:18:48 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=1042#comment-87491 Since this article was put together, I've done 3 more portraits and the project has gotten some other press- a <a href="http://www.timeout.com/newyork/article/out-there/22922/to-fur-with-love" rel="nofollow">TIme Out New York article</a> and and article in the <a href="http://earlyadopter-j.livejournal.com/8832.html" rel="nofollow">Kansas City Star</a> Since this article was put together, I’ve done 3 more portraits and the project has gotten some other press- a TIme Out New York article and and article in the Kansas City Star

]]> By: earlyadopter http://www.radioopensource.org/jay-van-buren-and-the-fursuit-portrait-project/comment-page-1/#comment-54538 earlyadopter Fri, 27 Apr 2007 20:20:05 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=1042#comment-54538 Open Source should really do a whole show about the furry fandom. Its a huge international phenomenon and its growing quickly. There are many people in the fandom with interesting things to say about it, and i'd be curious to hear what any sociologists or other experts might say as far as how this relates to other subcultures both past and present and what its popularity says about modern society in general. Open Source should really do a whole show about the furry fandom. Its a huge international phenomenon and its growing quickly. There are many people in the fandom with interesting things to say about it, and i’d be curious to hear what any sociologists or other experts might say as far as how this relates to other subcultures both past and present and what its popularity says about modern society in general.

]]> By: Otin http://www.radioopensource.org/jay-van-buren-and-the-fursuit-portrait-project/comment-page-1/#comment-54536 Otin Fri, 27 Apr 2007 19:34:25 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=1042#comment-54536 First off, I am honored to be the chosen one of the Portrait Brotherhood to be in the limelight. Though out of the group that has been painted, I am by far the youngest (newest) to the Furry community. I stumbled across the fandom in June 2005 at Anthrocon (www.Anthrocon.org) in Philadelphia, PA. Now since moved to Pittsburgh. The adventure started from a posting I read on the official Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle website about Peter Laird (Creator of TMNT) attending this "Anthrocon". Being that this was one of my childhood heros, I had do get his autograph. When I arrived at Anthrocon, I was taken totally by surprise in what it was. A long time member of the Furry community introduced himself to me, and asked what my name was. I replied with my "real" name. He then asked me for my "fur" name, replying back I did not have one. Shocked, he asked me if I knew what a "furry" was. I said no. Needless to say the conversation turned into quite an interesting one, which gave me a "crash" course in the furry world. Cutting to how I decided on the Tiger Fursuit, was not totally from my imagination. The physical creation of the suit; head, body, clothing, was all mine. I must give credit to the one who inspired me on the character. Timothy Albee, creator of "Kaze Ghost Warrior" (www.kazeghostwarrior.com). I met him at Anthrocon, listening to what he had to say, and watching the video of what he showed of Kaze, struck me in a way I will never forget. I was going through some hard times then, and Tim really inspired me in that there is so much more out there to enjoy and do, than your 9 - 5 daily grind. I thank him for that. Since then, the tiger "Otin" has been retired, and another "fursona" is being constructed, that more fits my character. And I'm sure as it's completed, Jay will be giving me a call to be immortalized once again. -Otin First off, I am honored to be the chosen one of the Portrait Brotherhood to be in the limelight. Though out of the group that has been painted, I am by far the youngest (newest) to the Furry community.

I stumbled across the fandom in June 2005 at Anthrocon (www.Anthrocon.org) in Philadelphia, PA. Now since moved to Pittsburgh. The adventure started from a posting I read on the official Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle website about Peter Laird (Creator of TMNT) attending this “Anthrocon”. Being that this was one of my childhood heros, I had do get his autograph.

When I arrived at Anthrocon, I was taken totally by surprise in what it was. A long time member of the Furry community introduced himself to me, and asked what my name was. I replied with my “real” name. He then asked me for my “fur” name, replying back I did not have one. Shocked, he asked me if I knew what a “furry” was. I said no. Needless to say the conversation turned into quite an interesting one, which gave me a “crash” course in the furry world.

Cutting to how I decided on the Tiger Fursuit, was not totally from my imagination. The physical creation of the suit; head, body, clothing, was all mine. I must give credit to the one who inspired me on the character.

Timothy Albee, creator of “Kaze Ghost Warrior” (www.kazeghostwarrior.com). I met him at Anthrocon, listening to what he had to say, and watching the video of what he showed of Kaze, struck me in a way I will never forget. I was going through some hard times then, and Tim really inspired me in that there is so much more out there to enjoy and do, than your 9 – 5 daily grind. I thank him for that.

Since then, the tiger “Otin” has been retired, and another “fursona” is being constructed, that more fits my character. And I’m sure as it’s completed, Jay will be giving me a call to be immortalized once again.

-Otin

]]> By: earlyadopter http://www.radioopensource.org/jay-van-buren-and-the-fursuit-portrait-project/comment-page-1/#comment-54516 earlyadopter Fri, 27 Apr 2007 17:38:22 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=1042#comment-54516 oh, yeah, one other thing... The comment about the Tiger head-- the point was really that Otin's head is very, very realistic. You should see it, its a thing of beauty! I had this fear reaction that was coming from some kind of lizard-brain place like "you're a tiger! eek!" - Importantly this is somewhat unusual in what i've seen -- most of the fursuits out there are more cartoon-like than life like- which is what i meant by the comment saying that this phenomenon seems to me like moving toward nature through culture-- to nature through bugs bunny in some way. Or to nature through a childlike- lense? ON "the mouse problem" i had totally forgotten that sketch- Its really funny. The humor there is the absurdity obvioiusly (like all of Python -bless them)- and for me that is part of the appeal too. I love the idea of doing something that is obviously kind of absurd but just doing it anyway and doing it all the way because you love it. oh, yeah, one other thing… The comment about the Tiger head– the point was really that Otin’s head is very, very realistic. You should see it, its a thing of beauty! I had this fear reaction that was coming from some kind of lizard-brain place like “you’re a tiger! eek!” – Importantly this is somewhat unusual in what i’ve seen — most of the fursuits out there are more cartoon-like than life like- which is what i meant by the comment saying that this phenomenon seems to me like moving toward nature through culture– to nature through bugs bunny in some way. Or to nature through a childlike- lense?

ON “the mouse problem” i had totally forgotten that sketch- Its really funny. The humor there is the absurdity obvioiusly (like all of Python -bless them)- and for me that is part of the appeal too. I love the idea of doing something that is obviously kind of absurd but just doing it anyway and doing it all the way because you love it.

]]> By: plnelson http://www.radioopensource.org/jay-van-buren-and-the-fursuit-portrait-project/comment-page-1/#comment-54513 plnelson Fri, 27 Apr 2007 17:06:05 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=1042#comment-54513 Back in 1969, Monty Python, created a sketch called "The Mouse Problem" featuring an underground culture of people who secretly go to private clubs where they dress up like mice, squeak, and eat cheese. The sketch features a grainy video filmed by a "BBC cameraman dressed as a vole". Back in 1969, Monty Python, created a sketch called “The Mouse Problem” featuring an underground culture of people who secretly go to private clubs where they dress up like mice, squeak, and eat cheese. The sketch features a grainy video filmed by a “BBC cameraman dressed as a vole”.

]]> By: earlyadopter http://www.radioopensource.org/jay-van-buren-and-the-fursuit-portrait-project/comment-page-1/#comment-54509 earlyadopter Fri, 27 Apr 2007 16:48:58 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=1042#comment-54509 Hey, Jay here, i just wanted to add to this that as an artist its the challenge of trying to really paint both the person inside the suit and the personality of the fursona at once in none painting that attracts me to the subject. Also, i think that in creating these suits, the fursuiters are tapping into something with real mythic power that and that is part of what i'm trying to capture in these paintings too. I'm proud to consider all six of the people i've painted so far as my friends, and i'm hoping to go to EuroFurance this fall to see more of the European side of the fandom... oh.. also there's a whole other part to this which is that a big part of what this project is about which is the absurdity of what I'm doing- The first person i painted, Rappid T Rabbit, videotaped me painting him for his (cable access) TV show, and being videotaped made me think of the performative aspect of what i was doing- putting on my little appron, mixing up the paint, engaging enthusiastically with this totally obsolete technology, for no good reason other than that's what i love to do. The paintings are painted from life and from close by because its about two people doing something they love to do. More about the project here: <a href="http://earlyadopter-j.livejournal.com/743.html" rel="nofollow">http://earlyadopter-j.livejournal.com/743.html</a> Hey, Jay here, i just wanted to add to this that as an artist its the challenge of trying to really paint both the person inside the suit and the personality of the fursona at once in none painting that attracts me to the subject. Also, i think that in creating these suits, the fursuiters are tapping into something with real mythic power that and that is part of what i’m trying to capture in these paintings too. I’m proud to consider all six of the people i’ve painted so far as my friends, and i’m hoping to go to EuroFurance this fall to see more of the European side of the fandom… oh.. also there’s a whole other part to this which is that a big part of what this project is about which is the absurdity of what I’m doing- The first person i painted, Rappid T Rabbit, videotaped me painting him for his (cable access) TV show, and being videotaped made me think of the performative aspect of what i was doing- putting on my little appron, mixing up the paint, engaging enthusiastically with this totally obsolete technology, for no good reason other than that’s what i love to do. The paintings are painted from life and from close by because its about two people doing something they love to do. More about the project here: http://earlyadopter-j.livejournal.com/743.html

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