MATTEAH BAIM
— I spent quite a bit of time at the copy place when I was a kid. The process would start with me collecting all the things I found interesting that day in my room; this may or may not have included records, books, trash, rocks, clothing, photos, matches. I’d pack it all up in my bag and take the bus over to the copy place. Once I was there, depending on how much cash I had managed to scrape together, I’d either head to the color machine (preferred) or the black and white one (usual). Then, I’d just line up all my “items” on the glass and copy away, marveling at how much more beautiful it all looked once it had gone through the photocopy machine… smooshed into some kind of 2d tableau. I have no idea what this whole thing looked like to the people there for legitimate copy needs. A pre-teen laying out old bottle caps, an empty twizzlers wrapper, and a shoe on the copier could not have been the most normal sight. To my fellow customers’ credits and the staff’s, no one ever said anything to me and I was left in peace (and joy) at the copy place.
It remained this way until one day, while waiting for a machine, my most loved/favorite/admired local band walked in (I can only assume to pick up flyers or posters). They were probably no more then sophomores or juniors in high school but it was like a light from heaven suddenly shown down on the copy place. I don’t think I have ever been (before or after) more star struck then that moment. I remember the lead singer sorta of winked/hair flipped at me when they were leaving and I am actually surprised I didn’t have a heart attack. For a second, I felt like my little world collided with the big one. The one inhabited by heroes.
I don’t think that moment really ever left me… cause as I look around my work space now, I find myself surrounded by some strangely funny (?), subtly altered photocopy montages I have made of several of my heroes. Whether this an absurd attempt to interact with these people or some sort of subconscious high five I need to express for the moments captured in the photos, these photocopied combos bring me so much comfort, cheer, and hope on a daily basis that they have become some of my most prized possessions.
1. A Light
2. Fosse
3. With and Without Johnny
4. Jim Bead
5. Gordon Matta Clark/Fire Cracker
6. Jay Adams Yin Yang
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Matteah Baim is a New York-based artist whose career bridges both music and visual art. After receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting and drawing from the San Francisco Art Institute, Baim moved to New York and formed the self-described soft metal band Metallic Falcons with Sierra Casady. Their 2006 debut, DESERT DOUGHNUTS, was released on Touch and Go Records. She went on to record her first solo studio album, DEATH OF THE SUN at her then-home in Venice Beach, CA in 2007 for DiCristina/Revolver USA. LAUGHING BOY, her second solo album, was recorded and released two years later. Her upcoming album, FALLING THEATRE, will be released June 2014 through Kobalt Music.
Baim has performed at ATP UK, Neil Young’s Bridge School Benefit at the Shoreline Amphitheater, and at The Meltdown Festival as part of events for the 2012 Olympic Games. She has also performed in conjunction with Antony and the Johnsons’ US tour of The Crying Light as well as with Devendra Banhart, High Places, Sharon Van Etten, Lower Dens, Lucky Dragons, Jim Jarmusch, Liturgy, and Vashti Bunyan. Her work has been included in exhibitions at MoMA PS1, The Kitchen, Agnes B, The New York Armory Show, Gavin Brown Enterprises, and White Columns.