I went all the way to Portlligat, Spain via light rail, airplane, Underground, train, bus, and by foot to make this video happen and it’s one of the best things I’ve done so far. This is what happens when I follow my internal compass, I would highly recommend it. It is likely my next trip in May is on hold but I still have tons of footage from October/November 2019 to edit into the next videos of TheRingOfDOOM’s YouTube series.
TheRingOfDOOM 00026: The Door To Opportunity
The latest in TheRingOfDOOM series was filmed in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle. I grew up in the area, left for a decade to work fun jobs seasonally, and have been a Seattle resident since 2007. This has me feeling like I’ve seen almost everything this city has to offer already (I know this is NOT true) which is why most of my videos are filmed elsewhere. My wanderlust is stuck on 11. Thankfully, the Street Artists of the world have helped to make my life a scavenger hunt of awesome and I find something new every time I’m out in the world.
I had seen this on Mows’ instagram a few weeks back and finally went to check it out yesterday. Worth it! Since I’ve declared myself to be a full time artist now, I’m working on actually opening the doors to opportunity instead of just putting it on a To Do list… so visiting this tiny door on the Fremont Bridge was perfectly timed.
TheRingOfDOOM series remains under one minute and instrumental for now but change is when all the best stuff happens.
TheRingOfDOOM 00025: Inside Dalí's Portlligat Studio
I’ll be splicing up my Dalí footage for the next few months because it was such a rad experience that I don’t want to be over. This is a dream studio to say the least. Salvador Dali’s moving easel alone would make it swoonworthy for most artists but for me the best part about this room are all the tiny details… like these 80s cassette/8 track players. I’m very curious to know what music he was playing on the radical round radio in the YouTube image… I’m thinking The Cars for some reason but I’m just making this up as I go along (seems like he and Ric Ocasek would have gotten along).
Dalí abandoned this house and the unfinished painting on the easel when Gala died back in 1982 but their magic remains. I was guided through the house with a group of 8 and our multi-lingual guide didn’t seem to think photographing a tiny lips couch next to a Dalí lips couch was funny but still let me do it. One of the German children on the tour thought I was the most interesting thing in Dali’s house so he’ll forever be in TheRingOfDOOM’s posse. Since I had emailed many people affiliated with Spain’s Dalí museums previous to my trip, they knew I was coming but have yet to roll out a welcome mat… I WILL have a collage art show on site somewhere in one of the Dalí museums eventually because I won’t stop trying. I had been at Museu Dalí in Figueres with my collages just two days earlier and was super respectful of their boundaries so I don’t think they were worried. I would love to see the security footage of me inside Dali’s house because that would have likely been the funniest thing about the whole trip.
In hindsight, I can see how filming my excitement about photographing my art inside Dalí museums would have been a wise move but I’m still hesitant to be the star of my own videos. I’ve pledged to myself to start doing that in the next few days because my overwhelming enthusiasm is the best part of the #MFDALÍ project. I’ve just realized that I’ve misinterpreted the mask/airplane metaphor and put someone else’s mask on… what happens next?
TheRingOfDOOM 00024: Bristolian Transformation
For quite some time, my internal compass has been telling me to take TheRingOfDOOM to Bristol to drink the water and have a transformation. I seriously fished my wish and was blessed to get drenched in the Bristol rain multiple times on my recent last minute photo adventure. The last minute trip was the most awesome thing I’ve done in my 41 years so far: the whole #MFDALÍ collages blessed on Salvador Dalí’s grave and in his house thing, Bristol, Shoreditch, my Street Art Tour with Josh from Alternative London, discovering Home Slice Pizza, (the irony), the Jam Baxter/High Focus Records show at Westbank, the giant Halloween Bristol Hip Hop rave, TheRingOfDOOM and his lips couch on Dali’s plastic lips couch near his pool and fountains, getting footage outside Aardman Animation Studios, pastries, salt beef on beigels, prosciutto sandwiches, the greens at the hipster steak place; very excited to top this adventure with the next. I plan on spending 2020 being at or creating all the most interesting art events in the world. Cue Heart’s “Straight On.”
My double Banksy & Soker photo would definitely be a two page image in my photo book.
Now that I’m finally weaving together the narrative of all my adventures into easily consumable content, the #MFDALÍ story will have a chance to break out of its cocoon in my brain. I could easily create tons of content every night in my hotel room while I’m hydrating in but I prefer to hoard the footage/photos because I haven’t been able to travel as much as I hoped to. Since I’ve declared myself to be a Street Art Photographer (as well as Artist/Music Industry Swiss Army Knife/Creator of TheRingOfDOOM & MusicVideoPedia), I like to keep reminding people all over the world how great both of us are. I’ll be moving all my stuff into storage at the end of the year when my lease ends, leaving for a brief Merch Manager gig with some of my favorite humans, and heading out on an epic multi-month road trip adventure with at least one artist friend. It’s time to go all in on Plan A, so here’s another few pieces of it…
TheRingOfDOOM and the Greta Thunberg mural at Aldi on North Street in Bristol.
The reason I was blessed to find Dame Emily park is because the previous day I had met a Street Art Tour Guide who has been a Bristol-based Graffiti photographer since the 80s after being spotted with TheRingOfDOOM at a Banksy mural and a stencil piece by JPS. He introduced me to his tour and I gave them all stickers while I realized my elevator pitch for TheRingOfDOOM has been neglected far too long. He directed me to the Stokes Croft neighborhood as well as North Street and I was able to make some seriously beautiful photos. Since I’ve returned home, he’s helped me to tag artists in my Instagram photos and follow the internet wormholes of Bristol Street Art. I plan on making all kinds of ridiculous mini movies with the Bristol footage in the coming weeks. Sharing a couple of my favorite photos in this post because that’s what one does when aiming to publish a series of Street Art Photography books. If I had not gone to Bristol, I’d have never had the opportunity to learn so much about its Street Artists, eat that pho, have the transformation in rain, meet Johnnation, sing in that tunnel, or leave a few my Ghostface stickers circa flyers for his upcoming show there. The seeds I planted on this trip will blossom into giant redwoods because I’ll be back in May and fertilize the MF out of them (I can only say that publicly because I’m a woman).
TheRingOfDOOM and Banksy’s Well Hung Lover in Bristol, UK
TheRingOfDOOM and JPS Street Art in Bristol, UK
I know I’ll step out of my comfort zone into YouTube myself very soon but for now TheRingOfDOOM series remains instrumental and starring just my tiny fictional character. I keep thinking about asking someone’s opinion about how to move forward… but who? Aside from the obvious influences of MF DOOM and everything else I’ve ever seen, this project remains 100% me and I’ve truly enjoyed being able to be the sole creator of an entire universe. Some of my favorite humans are those who have created epic characters and built on them all the way to sequel/prequel film status. Repotting this project into a larger setting helps it to grow and this is still only the beginning. I’ve already asked some rad humans to become part of the story and time will tell how TheRingOfDOOM and I’s story develops.
If you’d like to watch me learn how to use iMovie, the full playlist of TheRingOfDOOM’s tour videos can be found here. 00025 is in the works…
TheRingOfDOOM 00023: Head East For Mae West's Lips
My favorite thing about this video is that I went all the way to Museu Dalí in Figueres, Spain with some art from my #MFDALÍ project to make it and that this art installation is so MF awesome. Experiencing something in person is infinitely more life-changing than reading about it and/or watching a video about it. I currently have many things in my possession that I’m saving to recreate my own version of this but I’m taking a different route and using moss for the hair… that’s as far as I’ve gotten; looking forward to fleshing out that project when the time is right. Most likely, the next version of this will be created three-dimensionally in a cardboard box or in the woods.
An #MFDALÍ moment in Museu Dalí in Figueres, Spain.
I made the #MFDALÍ collage featured at the end of the video with three of the same Salvador Dalí images to give the original an alternate reality. This is one of the first I did back when I was still wary of destroying a masterpiece and didn’t want to ruin the integrity of the original. Now I realize that each collage becomes more of my own masterpiece the more I cut it up and that abandoning the composition of the original creates the most interesting results. The point of the whole project is to learn so I’m grateful to have made enough collages to have figured this out.
On this day, I did not bring TheRingOfDOOM’s lip couch with me but I’m so grateful to have made the photos of my own collage work inside the museum that I really don’t care about missing one photo op. I did get to photograph the tiny lips couch the next day in and outside of Dali’s house in Portlligat with other versions of the lips couch… video on that part of the adventure coming soon.
I’m very much looking forward to seeing how I scale my art endeavors as I learn, grow, and create bigger opportunities for myself.
TheRingOfDOOM 00021: New York
It’s been a minute since I’ve completed, posted, and promoted content from TheRingOfDOOM series due to the overwhelming knowledge that I still have a long way to go to achieve mastery of the iMovie iPhone app. I’m grateful to have created a platform to learn and to see my progression… also grateful that very few people are watching me learn at this time. I know that as usual, NOT using my voice to it’s maximum power is slowing my progress and I have plans to start literally using my voice in the series and other video content soon. My YouTube videos are now solely created on my iPhone because when asked to cooperate with my laptop, my laptop politely said no thanks, I’m full and much too old for such an adventure.
When in New York gathering the photos for this episode in Summer 2018, I was still super depressed from my recent brief visit to Washington DC. The negativity required to make my Washington DC video (TheRingOfDOOM 00013: Contemptible Capitol of Corruption) drove me further into depression while I was already working through personal issues. I learned that I must focus on solution based lighter-hearted sci-fi content for my own sanity even though TROD 00013 is one of the best in the series (IMHO). The DC experience caused me to NOT get any New York video footage at all during the trip because I was super excited about documenting Street Art via photo and I felt the need to run toward the light.
TheRingOfDOOM 00021 is Ken Burned AF and ready to consume. This video is by far the longest because it is MF New York and I’m still working on my video editing skills (and life). I promise to keep getting better and learn new skills with every episode.
TheRingOfDOOM 00019: Throwback Thursday
Looking forward to getting some new footage but still clearing out the old. I love the shot with the steam over the tracks… Day 6 Of #100DaysOfTheRingOfDOOMvideos
TheRingOfDOOM 00018: Search For The Space Stones
I filmed this back in April on a photo shoot for #100DaysOfTheRingOfDOOMcollages. Thanks to this #100DayProject, I’m finally finishing stuff! I realize none of these videos are perfect but I had a great time making them and I learn a ton via the editing process; the whole point. It was made entirely on my iPhone 8+ and it reflects my own life more than I originally meant it to.
These are the “stones” that were on the end of @TheRingOfDOOM’s staff when he filmed his Sun Ra tribute in the desert and this video was intended to be a prequel of sorts…
TheRingOfDOOM 00017: Hangin' At Hirshhorn
Yet another video that has been fermenting in iMovie way too long. This was the museum in which one of the security guards told me he liked my @TheRingOfDOOM belt buckle more than most of the art in the museum so I’ll always remember it fondly… even though it was in DC. So glad I’m doing this 100 Day Project so I can use all the footage I acquired over the last few years via overextending myself for my camera roll.
TheRingOfDOOM 00015: Making Memories With Marilyn
This was intended to be 00013 but I lost my mojo for a bit there. This is truly one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen and it is in an alley that smells like pee. Crazy how that works.
TheRingOfDOOM 00014: Lord Of The Pez
This video is Day 1 Of #100DaysOfTheRingOfDOOMvideos. I have been procrastinating this too long so today is the day. The video was made purely on my iPhone. Still haven’t figured out how to get all the videos from my phone onto my laptop but I’m pretty sure that is because my laptop is full. In the past, my computers have died before I had the chance to fill them up. Cheers to my Mac for that one! At some point, I’ll start making some IGTV vertical videos but I’m starting here now. I’ll be posting them daily on my website with a promo image on @TheRingOfDOOM’s Instagram... but you can always subscribe to my YouTube channel if you’d like to see them the moment they are finished.
TheRingOfDOOM 00013: CONTEMPTIBLE CAPITOL OF CORRUPTION
I almost gave up on video completely because this DC footage hurt my heart. If something is hurting your heart, you must process it and release it. Yes this video is a downer but reality is even worse. We can’t stay quiet while the president and his cronies are detaining children, killing black people, and allowing rapists to walk free. Of course I prefer to spread positivity but there are children in cages!
@TheRingOfDOOM 0011: COSMO QUEST TO THE NEST
I sat down with the @TheRingOfDOOM recently to talk about the impetus of his Sun Ra tribute, what's up with the string on his hoverboard, and what he's got on deck. Thanks to the mask's built in universal translator, we had no issues communicating despite the fact that he's from another galaxy.
LizMarquis: What's up, thanks for agreeing to meet with me!
@TheRingOfDOOM: Psssshhh. They know I'm always in your pocket, we don't need to front.
LizMarquis: I know but I'm trying to share your story in a new way so play along will ya.
@TheRingOfDOOM: Aight cool. In the name of progress, let's do this.
LizMarquis: Thanks so much for agreeing to premiere your new video on my website. Is there anything you'd like to say about your new short film before we watch it?
@TheRingOfDOOM: I'm so glad you asked because it's a pretty cool story actually. Last summer I went on a 6 week road trip in a Spacecruise Ship with someone who was trying to sell random stuff she bought at Goodwill on eBay. Included in this pile of weirdness was an eight headed mink scarf, a bunch of costume jewelry, and a sequin dress. A few miles down a dirt road near Goblin Valley, Utah and all these items magically became a Sun Ra Tribute to the tune of "All You Zombies" by The Hooters on repeat. Since no one stepped up to give the song a Hip Hop Remix and the lyrics are sus, we ended up using Sun Ra's song "Quest" and "Explanations" by Sir Withers with much respect due to the unknowing artists. I think you'll like it as much as I do...
LizMarquis: Holy shit! That was amazing. That outfit kills me in the best way.
@TheRingOfDOOM: I know right, the moon clip for the win. There's actually a prequel in the works about the origins of my jeweled staff so be on the lookout for that.
LizMarquis: Rad, I can't wait to see it! I've been noticing a string attached to your board for awhile now. What's the story behind that?
@TheRingOfDOOM: When I was in London and first got my hoverboard, I decided I wanted to make skate videos all over the world to the soundtrack of my favorite Underground Hip Hop and R&B in cities with beautiful Street Art all over the world. Since I haven't been able to update the hoverboard app so it can actually fly due to your planet's primitive internet situation, I tried going manual. I had two failed skate video attempts; one at the site of the Banksy & Robbo feud off Regent's Canal in Camden and the other under the art of Invader and Shepard Fairey in Shoreditch. Since the hoverboard doesn't actually fly right now (I plan on faking it til I make it), my creator tied an unraveled string from inside her jacket and tied it to my trucks so she could pull me in front of the "hovercam." I quickly learned that I was going to need to become supersquad with superglue because I kept falling at every imperfection in the ground due to the cosmetic nature of my hoverboard's wheels. After a few more attempts, I cut most of the string off but kept a little to remind me of all the places my hoverboard has taken me so far.
LizMarquis: Why have wheels on a hoverboard anyway?
@TheRingOfDOOM: Because it's hard enough for humans to contemplate a 3" masked alien skateboarder; throw in flying and they'd lock me in a bin to do tests on me like they do in the movies. They do work on some surfaces; like paper and anything else flat and smooth to the touch. I should try skating exclusively marble or something just to be bougie. For real though, I do have some unedited footage of my failed attempts at the skate videos with me. Ultimately, I think my creator is afraid to let the ring fly too high because it is precious to her (Blatant L.O.T.R. reference).
LizMarquis: Awesome, so much history in that video. I love that shit! I can't wait to see the prequel for the Sun Ra video. What else is coming up for you?
@TheRingOfDOOM: I've just begun another 100 Day Project so I'm pretty excited about that. It's super ambitious but as you may already know, that's how I roll. #100DaysOfBridgesWithTheRingOfDOOM was so fun but this time around I wanted to start showing some of my art and also start producing finished products more quickly than I have been. I started #100DaysOfTheRingOfDOOMcollages to show you some of the places my mask has taken me that humans aren't able to perceive. I think at the end of the 100 days I'll have an art auction to raise funds for my Intergalactic Travel Fund so I can go back to Europe. I'm feeling the draw of so many European cities right now and hope to make it to Paris, Rotterdam, Copenhagen, Giant's Causeway, Bristol, Florence, and everywhere else really. When I manifest my lofty goal to get paid to document my adventures as a journalist, I'll be able to unite the whole planet via art through the lens of an iPhone.
LizMarquis: Im right there with you every step of the way my friend. Thanks again for premiering your latest travel documentary on my website. Can't wait to see what you do next!
@TheRingOfDOOM: (projects the Star Trek hand gesture emoji from his mask and transports away)
TheRingOfDOOM 0009: "Underground" Joey Bada$$ Show At The Brown Lodge
How will you use your pocket-size super computer? My Plan A is to make a living shining light on the artists that inspire me so I'm using my iPhone to tell the stories only I can tell and sharing it with whoever is interested. I've learned a lot already and love that I've found a use for the hundreds of hours of footage I have acquired over the years.
@TheRingOfDOOM has discovered that moss can lead him to great underground music (past, present, and future) so he'll no doubt be following the trail again soon. Since these underground clubs are on a whole different scale than Earthlings are used to, space is limited to those with good vibes only.
TheRingOfDOOM 0008: The Dragons Are Not What They Seem
I've been spending way too much time overanalyzing what should come next for TheRingOfDOOM (and everything else) so yesterday I started and completed the next installment of the series (0008) all in one day. I'm very happy to say that I was the weirdest one in "Twin Peaks" yesterday as I was the one flying a dragon over my fictional character in the parking lot of Twedes. The video was made solely on my iPhone; I hope it encourages you to use what you've got and take a step towards Plan A today.