16 aspects of Happy Birthday from Rafael

1/10/2019

On Thursday, January 10, 2019 I received a package from Rafael González emblazoned with rubber stamp letters wishing me "HAPPY BIRTHDAY".

Inside I found art that my amigo created just for me for my 61st birthday! I shot high resolution scans of numerous sections of the art, some very small. I isolated these pictures from the larger works and enlarged them, in effect creating new emphases and aspects of the originals, including scanner distortions and glitches, plus changes in exposure, contrast, and saturation.

Rafael's work is very rich in details and imagistic wonders to begin with, but I was happy when new, unexpected images emerged, some reminiscent of of the satellite-viewscapes of Don Campau.

17 Comments

Dylan Houser

1/11/2019 03:10:03

I was just thinking "these would make for great new artwork on an upcoming RafaeHal release"...and then I saw the birthday tape! 😮

Chris Phinney

1/11/2019 07:20:36

This is all just so wonderful & beautiful! Thanks for sharing this. Have fun this weekend wish I could be there, alas impossible.

Rafael González

1/11/2019 09:34:38

Hal, I love what you've done! It is great! Wonderful! Honestly, it is a great pleasure for me that my creations are reused, reinterpreted, modified, etc. I also love that the postal service has done the job well. Happy Birthday, amigo! Thanks for everything!

Hal McGee

1/11/2019 09:36:06

I was very happy to receive your package, Rafa!

Rafael González

1/11/2019 13:41:25

I'm very happy that you liked it and that it arrived on time! Enjoy a lot

Per-Arne Hognert

1/11/2019 21:20:16

Great stuff, Rafa! The perfect birthday gift for a friend like Hal! Soon (I hope!) , he will receive a copy of Radio Rafael also.

Rafael González

1/12/2019 05:27:59

Radio Rafael is amazing! A perfect birthday gift!

Jay Peele

1/12/2019 06:41:26

LOVE !!!

Wolfgang Dorninger link

1/13/2019 18:21:13

Late but from heart: Happy Birthday!

When we were younger: http://www.base.at/ccnl/content/5.photos/1.mb86/5.image-4.jpg

All the best
Wolfgang

Rafael González

1/14/2019 15:42:09

Great photo!

Hal McGee

1/14/2019 15:51:13

Wolfgang, thanks for sharing that photo! My birthday is on the 19th. Thanks for the birthday wish!

Leslie Singer

1/15/2019 14:06:18

Very beautiful-- and the cassette tape tops it off perfectly like a birthday candle!

Rafael González

1/16/2019 09:34:28

Thanks for your words, Leslie! I should have sent 61 cassettes!

Frank

1/15/2019 19:13:21

Also late(though, I thought it was 29 January)...

Happy birthday Hal!

Hal

1/15/2019 19:32:02

Thank you, Frank! My birthday is the 19th.

Frank

1/15/2019 19:38:59

Yes, still on time! Though, if I would've said something on the 29th... I would be late, again.(it's getting confusing)

Lumen K

1/20/2019 08:37:38

Who! Lovely birthday gifts!

Electronic Cottage
Editor
Hal McGee

I have been making my own homemade experimental music since 1981.

I was an active participant in the 1980s Cassette Culture scene, and I operated the Cause And Effect Cassette Distribution Service and label, and recorded solo as Dog As Master, and in a duo as Viscera.

From 1989 to 1991 I published six issues of the original Electronic Cottage print magazine.

In the last 36 years I have recorded, produced and released more than 300 solo audio works, collaborations and compilations.

email
website