Eric Stefani's Animation History and Research

'Flopdoodle X Switcheroo' - 2009 HOLIDAY PARTY

by Eric Stefani

On 11.21 artists Amanda Visell, Tim Biskup and Michelle Valigura teamed up to show new work at an Annual Holiday Party. They asked me if I wanted to play my accordion when they saw me performing at the Farmers Market. When they handed me the invite I was surprised to see that I had owned a book of hers "Popping Through Pictures: Painting by Amanda Visell".

I stopped by their studio ("Switcheroo") a few days before to see many 3D wooden sculptures in the middle of being made. It was the HelperCentaurEphunt a collaboration of Tim and Amanda. Visell mentioned they had done figures for a Simpsons couch gag in puppets, worked with the guys that finished one of Ray Harryhausen's Animated Stop-motion Short Fairytales, "The Tortise and the Hair"and had a hand in making their own line of vinyl characters. I was blown away.

The night of the party Valigura helped me bring in my equipment and showed me where they'd like me to set up my accordion, microphone and iPod speaker. After negotiations, Amanda offered to pay me a handsome $100 which was more than I've ever been offered to play for.

HelperCentaurEphunt

One of Valigura's Mustache Paintings

Michelle Valigura (37)

Tim Biskup (42)

Amanda Visell (32)

This character was two feet from me. He seemed friendly enough until I noticed his axe. I think he's made out of wood with some great colors choices that scream at you, I think this is Visell but could be Biskup.

http://www.myswitcheroo.com/

A switcheroo is a sudden unexpected variation or reversal often associated with a joke (sometimes "the old switcheroo"). I noticed only a few week before meeting them their studio is located very close to a nearby Walt Disney Industrial Building and Amanda Visell's cool paintings are sold at Disneyland and their galleries.

I played for three hours at the entrance to the studio and although I had gotten mostly positive feedback, someone told me that I should be playing Depeche Mode. Never the less I stuck to my handle bar mustache guns and pounded out my Disneyland Carousel Music set and most of book 1-7 from the Palmer and Hughes Accordion course books.

Here is an image by Tim Biskup. Notice the woman's skin is the wood grain. I did not notice this at the show until I found it online.

Perhaps the highlight of the night for me was receiving a paper bag with a Dragon Scout (value $85) and plush dolls including Pistol Pedro (gun), Brass Knuckle Bob and George and Gary Grenade . . . I was so happy and touched.

Thanks guys, your work is on fire and so inspiring! The Dragon Scout Art/Toy and Plush Dolls are awesome!

Images borrowed from Vinyl Pulse and someone at the show.

Lowbrow

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowbrow_(art_movement)