Roger Anthony (Tony) Mapes; painter and performance artist was born and raised in Muscle Shoals, Alabama - "The Hit Recording Capital of the World" and the birthplaces of Helen Keller and W.C. Handy. The Muscle Shoals area was populated by an abundance of musicians and visual artists/painters. I began studying painting and drawing at a young age with local artists and was encouraged to develop my own unique vision. I was and still am inspired by the works of Picasso, Dali, Bacon, 60's POP artists, and old black& white horror movies. As an adult, my vision grew to become an abstract expressionist/surrealistic/sci-fi way of painting dreamscapes on canvas using acrylic paint, house paint, found objects, and assorted other media.
I interpret energies from spiritual, supernatural, and otherworldly forces. I read a lot of sci-fi authors such as Frank Herbert, Octavia Butler, and Vernor Vinge. I am also very interested in the channeled writings of SETH. These ideas and characters from novels and readings show up in my paintings as powerful and sometimes disturbing images in saturated, mostly primary, colors.
I consider myself an Outsider Artist. I work independently, responding to an urgent and personal need to make artworks. I don't self-consciously follow any tradition.
RESUME:
Collections and Shows:
2007: Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP Collection,NYC. Mixed media painting titled "A Heated Frenzy On A Snowy Day".
2007: Finalist for "This Urgent Moment", Fall 2007 Artists Wanted international competition in Chelsea,NYC: http://www.artistswanted.org/
2006-2007: Visual AIDS Online exhibitions. http://www.visualaids.org/
2005: Featured performance artist with Cirque Du Soliel in Brooklyn performance at Mark Morris Dance Studios.
2005: Roger's performance art was featured on The Dave Chapelle Show.
1997-2005: Roger Anthony Mapes performed as YOLANDA singer/songwriter/gender warrior with his/her band "Yolanda and the Plastic Family". Roger created the character "Yolanda", wrote the music, created the costumes, toured and recorded with his/her band. Performances at CBGB's mainstage, The Cutting Room, Webster Hall, and The Limelight nightclubs. For more information go to: www.yolanda.net
1997-1999: Roger's music favorably reviewed in Billboard Magazine 5 times. Larry Flick called him the "...best unsigned artist of 1999".
1995-1996: painting titled "Deva Of The Cornfield" in Billboard Magazine as cover art for 2 pull- out special music "zines" called "ON THE TIP"
1995-1996: Roger's paintings used as cover art of 2 cd covers on the "Strictly Rhythm" dance music record label.
1994-1997: Roger's paintings and performance works have also been shown at The Leslie Lohman, Ward-Nasse, CBGB Galleries, plus The Shelter, and The Limelight nightclubs.
Education:
MFA Performance Art, Vermont College, Montpelier, Vermont,1996
The American Musical and Dramatic Academy, New York, New York,1986
MA Theatre, The University of Memphis, Memphis,Tennessee,1983
BA Painting and Drawing, The University of North Alabama, Florence, ALabama,1980
