TheRingOfDOOM 00022: Traversing The Dalían Islands

TheRingOfDOOM 00022 is my first completed and published attempt at stop motion video. Even though TheRingOfDOOM project started as a failed stop motion project, I’ve still only finished a handful of videos. I am in the process of creating an underwater scene for a stop motion animation music video in a cardboard box for a friend and have already made it over some of the technology hurdles in my way. I know this is a great skill to cultivate but my progress keeps getting delayed by overthinking what stories to tell… thinking about just making them dance for practice. I’m visibly enthusiastic about the infinite potential of this medium and hope to do it enough that I’m seriously fucking good at it. As you can see, this first one is mostly just a camera test and a way to show off this collage from my #MFDALÍ collection. It was made on the iMovie app before I realized utilizing the free Stop Motion app also would save me hours of work.

The full playlist of all TheRingOfDOOM videos I’ve created so far can be found HERE.

WTF IS #MFDALÍ

This spur of the moment analog collage was made with a thrifted Salvador Dalí art book containing smaller Dalí images from Reader’s Digest gifted inside. I loved it so much that I made it into a sticker, covered it with resin, and followed it up with a year’s worth of Dalían study via reading and cutting up all the cheap Dalí art books I could source locally.

The original MFDALÍ collage that started it all.

If you’ve been following my social media profiles, you already know that this #MFDALI project has turned my internal compass to Spain and I’ve photographed some of my smaller collages on the grave of Salvador Dalí himself in Figueres, Spain in the last month. This collage was too big for my carry on suitcase so it stayed home but I did photograph the sticker version outside Museu Dalí. Still holding onto all the #MFDALI collages in hopes I’ll be able to have a solo show at some point alongside some of the originals… also not sure about the legality of selling collages that are so obviously made with Dalí’s art. I’ve emailed all the appropriate offices in Spain about it and I’m still growing into the fish they’ll reel in when they’re ready… or I’ll reach out again soon. I get better with every collage I make and I’m truly grateful I’ve spent so much time on this project so far.

Unstuck stickers outside Museu Dalí in Figueres, Spain. This photo was Day 100 or #100Daysofstickerswith206lizpart3

At first, I was just cutting up the least offensive Dalí images with the colors I liked looking at the most but now I’m strategically cutting up the contents of the permanent collection of the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida… problematic paintings included, for the photo ops. I’ve sidelined this project for awhile to work on creating a lucrative art career for myself via music videos, stop motion shorts, Street Art photography, TheRingOfDOOM merch, my analog collage art, and a whole bunch more but the #MFDALI project won’t be over for quite some time.

The I Dream In Dalí sticker in it’s natural habitat.

I’m glad I waited to immortalize this project on my website because as usual, my ideas get better with age. Since these collages are intended to depict the Dalían dreams of my fictional character TheRingOfDOOM, I’ve started to develop the stories I created for each collage and the results are truly hilarious. I’ll be posting the collages in the order I’ve created them with the stories attached. I may try to animate the series at some point but I now present the text version of the story for the first in the #MFDALÍ series, I DREAM IN DALÍ, below…

I DREAM IN DALÍ by TheRingOfDOOM

My first Dalían dream was a trip to say the least. This first hallucination seemed to set a scene instead of tell a story but I had no idea at this point how truly weird my Dalían dreams would become and the legends they would begin to weave together.

I had fallen asleep while watching the clouds roll by and thinking about the plethora of life options ahead of me. I’m guessing the golden framed human shapes that appeared in a pitch black room are rooted in my deep love for my creator and the life we’re building together with our head in the metaphoric clouds. Seems like the reason I’m on both tables in the smaller gilded human shapes is because I’m still thinking too small and have yet to move into the infinite potential of my larger self.

Pretty sure the table cloths must be tousled because my content delivery is less than smooth at this point but I know I’ll get better with age. There’s little on the horizon because my main focus at this time is targeted on building a sustainable and happy life with my creator… very few distractions surround us because we’ve gilded our friendship and no one else can get in (or we’ve covered them with some messy tablecloths). Still working on whether or not this is a good thing… I know it’s vital to be able to deflect the bad energies of others but empathy also reigns supreme when learning how weave others into your internal tapestry. A truly interesting life will always be a work in progress until it isn’t so the journey is priceless.

Guessing there are two of me present because I waffle back and forth between sprinting toward our infinite potential and drowning in my To Do lists. Previous to this dream, I hadn’t been documenting my nocturnal visions but when they’re this photogenic… I gotta collect and share em all.

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 00020: Denver Street Art Tour

Day 7 of #100DaysOfTheRingOfDOOMvideos was made on my laptop using footage I made on my super long solo road trip. It would have been a shame to not use it at all but it has motivated me to try making a video with all photos so I can have some variety.

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 00016: The Venerable VHILS

I made this video at LaGuardia Airport while waiting for my flight to board but didn’t post it because I knew I could have done better. Time to let it go so I can move on.

Wandering upon the Vice team filming VHILS and his team carving a new mural was one of the most magical things I’ve ever experienced. So happy that I spent time in New York and I can’t wait to go back. 

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!

Top 10 Museum Crashing Photos

I could never have predicted that I'd develop a hobby of photographing a fictional character in museums and next to Street Art. Since for most of my life I've been a follower, I've only recently feeling better about embracing my weirdness. Taking the time to figure out what my thing is has been priceless. The museum crashing started when I bought a ticket to Europe to take my first solo vacation upon leaving AEG. My method of handling the burnout I worked up to in the corporate music industry was to go to Europe and take a picture of @TheRingOfDOOM in the Landscape Room at Tate Britain where Banksy once hung his own works and changed the art world forever. Still funny to me that this was premeditated because I have zero history in the Street Art world but I'm pretty sure it was rooted in figuring out what kind of mark I wanted to make on the world. I love that since I'm just setting something on the floor and taking a picture of it in museums where photography is allowed, I'm not actually doing anything wrong. I've gotten some pretty weird looks but mostly people tell me it's "cute." Only time will tell what I'll end up doing next with @TheRingOfDOOM...

Random landscapes at Tate Britain in London

The FAILE installation at Beyond The Streets in LA

Fall Of The House Of Usher by Mario Merz at the Museum Of Modern Art in New York

Over The Influence Gallery in LA

The Last Supper by Andy Warhol at Museum of Modern Art in New York

Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh at Museum Of Modern Art In New York

The Retna entryway to Beyond The Streets in LA

Yayoi Kusama Pumpkin in the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden in Washington DC.

Cardboard cassettes at Beyond The Streets in LA.

Super big dude at Hirshhorn in DC

TheRingOfDOOM 00012: BEYOND THE STREETS

TheRingOfDOOM went to LA recently to experience Beyond The Streets himself, ride scooters at Venice Beach, and eat all the tacos he could find. He’s always in search of an eleven on his vibe-o-meter and he found what he was looking for the moment he emerged from the portal in Los Angeles. He loved it so much he handed his rental application to the landlord of Faile’s castle in hopes of living across the street from some of his heroes; Banksy and Basquiat. I can’t wait to see what he does next...

@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 0010: Let The Magic Moss Be Your Guide

I found a weird and hilarious way to combine my love of nature and live music footage. Nobody's tryna take their moss-led alien fictional character to rap shows in underground venues right now... except me. This is when I do the weirdest stuff I can think of and see who my people are.

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.

@TheRingOfDOOM

I've created an entire universe for the clay figurine I made that wears my MF DOOM ring. The repeatedly broken and superglued back together again masked hoverboarding hero is on Instagram and YouTube with physical media on the way. 

@TheRingOfDOOM came to Earth from his galaxy to prove that our planet is more than just the laughing stock of the universe. He is documenting the planet's art scene and sending it back to his team at UWWN (Universal Wide Web Network) for universal distribution. MF DOOM's mask is worn because he knows that those who recognize it can guide him towards Earth's most creative and interesting beings. The friendly alien visitor is currently overthinking how to raise the balance on the Intergalactic Travel Fund and whether or not he should upgrade to a newer, less superglued body. @TheRingOfDOOM is confident he'll get his momentum going soon because he knows the force is strong in him. 

The above photo highlighting a @Madvaillan piece was captured in Brooklyn while on a food mission mid merch booth set up while on tour with Brother Ali, Sa-Roc, Last Word, and Sol Messiah. Finding this wall in my few hours of free time was one of the highlights of the whole tour. I have tons of photos of the Madvaillan wall on my @206liz Instagram feed because it also contained works by Meg Zany, Voxx Romana, Rx Skulls, Hektad, JC, Consumer Art, SacSix, Sophie Lambda, Dee Dee, and more that I have yet to identify. @TheRingOfDOOM will be publishing a video in his travel documentary series about his Brooklyn adventure in 2018.

Shortly after starting this project, I took @TheRingOfDOOM on a pilgrimage to the Landscape Room at London's Tate Museum; the gallery in which Banksy hung his own creation and changed the art world forever. Needless to say, I have high hopes for this project and look forward to pulling the details of the alien's universe out of my brain. 

This is @TheRingOfDOOM in front of a Banksy piece I randomly walked past while listening to @RaptasticVol1 and wandering the Street Art Gallery that is London.

Once the Intergalactic Travel Fund is flowing, @TheRingOfDOOM & I will be departing for our global photo expedition and documenting every step of the way. We've brainstormed a collection of truly amazing ways to share cool stuff with you and can't wait to see which ideas we execute. 

Follow @TheRingOfDOOM on Instagram to see the weirdness as it develops.