Magic & Artistry

Hola! Jeff here in Bogota, Colombia!

I have been touring and doing my shows in South America in theaters and on the streets! One of the joys of travel is meeting other interesting magicians and getting them to be guests on our web-TV show.

Jeff McBride doing street magic in Botota

The recent topic: Street magic around the world

See this new episode, featuring some street magic direct from Bogota.

“Art is magic delivered from the lie of being truth.”
— Theodor Adorno

What is artistry? What makes an artist?

A few thoughts by Henry Miller:

But there is a class of hardy men, old-fashioned enough to have remained rugged individuals, openly contemptuous of the trend, passionately devoted to their work, impossible to bribe or seduce, working long hours, often without reward or fame, who are motivated by a common impulse – the joy of doing as they please. At some point along the way, they separated from the others.

The men I speak of can be detected at a glance: their countenance registers something far more vital, far more effective, than the lust for power. They do not seek to dominate, but to realize themselves. They operate from a center which is at rest. They evolve, they grow, they give nourishment just by being what they are, To live beyond the pale, to work for the pleasure of working, to grow old gracefully while retaining one’s faculties, one’s enthusiasm, one’s self-respect, one has to establish other values than those endorsed by the mob. It takes an artist to make a breach in the wall.

An artist is primarily one who has faith in himself. He does not respond to the normal stimuli: he is neither a drudge nor a parasite. He lives to express himself and in so doing enriches the world. (H.M.)

What is “artistry?” and what is it that makes the difference between an “entertainer” and an “artist?”

We will explore this next Monday on the show. I have been collecting interviews from illuminated magicians on my travels. You can experience the reflections of master magicians on the upcoming show and listen to their words of wisdom and experience. Join Tobias Beckwith, George Parker, Bryce Kuhlman and the faculty and friends of our Mystery School for an evening of Artistry and Wisdom.

Remember, “Monday is a school night!” – Monday, Feb 13 at 7PM PST.

“Art is magic… But how is it magic? In its metaphysical development? Or does some final transformation culminate in a magic reality? In truth, the latter is impossible without the former. If creation is not magic, the outcome cannot be magic.”
— Hans Hofmann

Wonderground – February 16

Tim Wise hosts the 8pm comedy magic show.

Christian Diamond will host the 9pm close-up gala show

DJ Shinobi spins the deep chill out grooves

Abbi will host the 10 pm “stage extravaganza!”

Leo Diaz
DJ Shinobi (aka Leo Diaz)
Tim Wise
Tim Wise

 

For details, directions and the full line up of amazing talent, go to: www.vegaswonderground.com

This month Scott Steelfyre will help Tim and Christian stream the show live on

www.mcbridemagic.tv. We will go live at 9pm Pacific/Vegas time.

“The art of art, the glory of expression, and the sunshine of the light of letters, is simplicity.”
— WALT WHITMAN, Preface to Leaves of Grass


From Tobias:

Jeff is still in South America as I write this, but will soon be back in the US. For those of you in the Chicago area, be sure to catch him when he is there for a special McBride Magic Experience, hosted by the Aces Magic Club. Our good friend Bill Cook is president there, and we’re looking forward to a fantastic weekend put on by Bill and the great team working with him. Learn more at http://tinyurl.com/mcbride-chi. Be sure and sign up early for show, lecture and workshop.

Then, April will be another “convention month,” as he returns to Hank Lee’s Cape Cod Conclave. One of the highlights of that weekend will be the special 4-hour workshop Jeff conducts on the last day. Learn more at

Finally, Jeff will be traveling to Italy for the 11th Saint-Vincent Magic Convention, taking place from April 19 to April 22 2012. He will be joined there by an allstar line-up including Juan Tamariz, René Lavand, The Great Tomsoni, Xavier Mortimer, Dean Gunnarson, Fielding West, Eric Jones, Danny Cole, Andrew Mayne, Mark Mason, Dani Da Ortiz and more. The program is packed full: 11 lectures, 5 Gala Shows, 2 International Contests, 5 Workshops, the escape day, street-magic shows, parties and after-nights. Again, Jeff is offering his special Super Session workshop. Learn more here.

For more information contact: news@mastersofmagic.it or +39348001125.

I’ve just checked, and it turns out we do still have one or two slots left for our Extended Master Class in March…but only a couple. This is the first extended class of 2012, and I’m sure it will be filled. If you’re serious about your magic, I urge you to grab one of the remaining spots now at www.magicalwisdom.com.

Until next time, then.

Magically yours,
Tobias Beckwith
tobias@yourmagic.com

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