New Matthew Barney Action Figure by Mike Leavitt

Artist Mike Leavitt has just released an action figure of Matthew Barney (sort of an amalgam of several of Barney's characters from the Drawing Restraint and Cremaster series, it includes two Jacobin Pigeons from Cremaster 5 as accessories) as the latest addition to his Art Army series. The figure is available from Jonathan Levine Gallery in New York City, where it will be exhibited in an upcoming show. We're not sure of the price for the Barney figurine, but others in the series sell from $900 - $1200.

Matthew Barney to Premier Drawing Restraint 17 and Receive POV Award in San Francisco

Matthew Barney will receive the Persistance of Vision Award at the 54th San Francisco International Film Festival. The Persistance of Vision Award is given yearly to a filmmaker who works outside of traditional narrative filmmaking. Previous recipients include Errol Morris, Guy Maddin, and Kenneth Anger.

Barney will receive the award at the North American premier of Drawing Restraint 17 at 5 pm on Saturday, April 30 at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas. The award will be presented by critic and curator Glen Helfand, who will also interview Barney before the audience. Admission to the interview and screening is $25. For more information and to purchase tickets visit http://sffs.org/content.aspx?pageid=2145

Matthew Barney's Whaler Recalled to Port

The New York Times reports that the Nisshen Maru (aka the Nisshin Maru), which Matthew Barney fans will remember as the setting for much of Barney's Drawing Restraint 9 has been recalled to port after repeated harassment from anti-whaling organizations.

"The [Japanese agriculture] ministry said the group [Sea Shepherd] had harassed the Japanese ships by shining laser beams to temporarily blind crew members and throwing flares onto the whaling vessels. Agriculture Minister Michihiko Kano told reporters on Friday that the decision to recall the fleet was made to ensure the safety of the crews and ships. The ministry said its whaling fleet had often been able to simply outrun the environmentalists. It could not do so this year because Sea Shepherd had faster vessels, the government said."

The Times goes on to note that the, "demand for whale meat is declining. Few Japanese eat whale anymore, and the meat from the hunt has piled up in freezers, or been given to children for school lunches."

Creminem Mash-Up

Video mash-up of Eminem's Super Bowl ad for Chrysler with the trailer for Matthew Barney's Cremaster Cycle. Of course, Chrysler Imperials (and the Chrylser Building) play important roles in Cremaster 3, but we can't help wishing they used clips from the Khu video.

Matthew Barney Performances in New York City?

In a recent article, 032c magazine reports that the next segments of Matthew Barney's Ancient Evenings series will be performed in New York City. "After the upcoming Detroit KHU premiere, Barney plans on doing a series of performances in New York City that would encompass the next few of acts of the opera, bringing his latest project back to his old creative stomping grounds." We'll keep you posted as we receive more information!