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Check out the finished present by clicking here!!! ----------------------------
Yes, it's that time again....
On August 24th Michael McDermott will celebrate another birthday...which means, of course, it's time for the 5th Annual McDermott Birthday Celebration -- a joint effort to make Michael's day just a little more special, by all of us in the pauper community -- and that includes not just fans, but friends, family, management...in short anyone and everyone who shares an appreciation for this amazing artist and his incomparable work. As many of you know, last year we created "The Album Jacket" -- a unique and multi-faceted creation designed to offer a bit of celebratory speculation into Michael's newest album -- or what we then thought/hoped this might contain -- and a McBirthday gift Michael himself said was the "best one yet". As it turns out, however, the incredibly prolific artist himself has already finished and scrapped the "mystery" album we were then awaiting -- and has since created yet another "mystery album" -- which we are awaiting now. Thankfully, during the interim, Michael has still given us much new music to enjoy -- and old music to rediscover -- over the last year via his page at MySpace.com... That Gal of Mine
It's therefore this (rather dauntingly) bountiful gift from which we're going to compose this year's pauper project to give back to him. And, of course, it's hoped once again that the finished product will prove a fun and meaningful creation that will add a little something extra to an already special day. That said, I must add here that to prevent any chance of Michael finding out what we're giving him before his big day arrives, as with the "2004 McBirthday Bash" and 2005's "Album Jacket", this year's finished product -- its title, its theme, its construction...everything -- is once again going to be a complete surprise... and that means a surprise to even all of its participants!
However, I can tell you that the basic item around which the gift will center is one that indeed has a very strong basis in Michael's work. I can also tell you that (with your help, of course...after all, it's really all of you who make the project...I just add my one submission like the rest and assemble the pieces) the finished product will be unique, interesting -- and I hope a bit of fun. And, I hope as well, that by combining various concepts from Michael's artistic life thus far, our collective past McBirthday projects -- and a look toward the aforementioned new work yet to come, we will succeed in creating a gift that will indeed prove a most welcome present when Michael opens it on August 24th.
The 2006 McDermott Birthday And, in order to make this whole thing happen, the following are the items I need from you (which, incidentally, I realize will sound VERY familiar if you've participated in the birthday projects of prior years. However, I assure you, this year's work will result in an entirely different finished product...it merely once again incorporates elements of these prior celebrations in its construction. After all, the common thread all of these projects share is use of the gift that is Michael's music and his insightful lyrics to create something new and different and special by applying them to a gift we in return can give to him -- as our thanks for all he's given us, and a celebration of the unique individual who is the artist himself):
Each person chooses a line from a Michael McDermott song appearing on his myspace page during the last year as listed above (there may be one or two more than I've noted, and new ones are, of course, being added each week, which may be used as well -- but the list should give an adequate selection to choose from). I've included links to a few of these songs' lyrics among the list for anyone needing those. Moreover, I completely relate to the impossibility of narrowing so many great lyrics down to only one! BUT, you do need to choose just one, and as quickly as possible, since, as always in these endeavors, time is of the essence. Then,
decorate the line
you've chosen in any way you like (just remember that keeping it "small"
is the operative concept here since we'll be combining everyone's efforts in And, under the unreleased McDermott line you've created, sign your name as, of course, we want Michael to know who his work has inspired to be a part of this project.
The 2006 McBirthday Celebration (Please include your e-mail address if you would like to be notified of your submission's receipt.)
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: ALL SUBMISSIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY AUGUST 18th TO ALLOW TIME FOR THE FINISHED PRODUCT'S CONSTRUCTION AND MAILING TO MICHAEL!!!
Lastly, I just want to add that if you're new to this whole process and want to check out the past three years' projects before getting involved, just follow the links below... Paint Michael A Song (2002 Project) The Pauper Road (2003 Project) The Album Jacket (2005 Project)
Of course, before sending the finished product, I will photograph it and subsequently post the image here on artistinsane.com, explain the theme, etc., so everyone who has participated can see at last the completed gift Michael opened on Aug. 24th. (Obviously, keep in mind I can't actually post the photo until after the 24th...just to make sure a certain someone doesn't see it before that!!!) Well, that's
the idea! What do you
think? Any thoughts, suggestions, comments? If so, please feel free
to contact me with those anytime (though I warn you in advance, don't bother
asking me to reveal to you the surprise!!!)...just drop me an e-mail at mil@artistinsane.com. THANKS!!!
"See" you at the "party"!!!
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Item/Step 1:
another phase of the project,
and it's important that there's room for everyone's contributions...once
again this year it is especially imperative that the
decorated line should be no larger
than 3" square, 2" x 6" long or something very close
thereto. NOTE: Any submission too large
to be fitted in whole will be edited as needed.). You
can use colored construction paper, plain white copy stock, ruled notebook
sheets, post-it notes, fabric, metal, plastic...pretty much anything your heart desires as long as it's
flat. As for the decoration, again, pretty much anything
goes....calligraphic writing with formal pens, brush strokes with kids'
watercolors, plain printing with an ordinary ballpoint...whatever you wish
(...the illustration shown here offers just one simple example, using a
pre-designed/printed blank business card). .jpg)
Each person must
once again buy Michael a birthday card (of average size. Or, you may
wish to create a homemade one...or, if you prefer, you can simply write a letter
expressing your appreciation of his work, wishes for a great year, etc.
Or, you may send a small -- VERY SMALL -- gift [remember, the finished
product has to include ALL of our collective submissions and still be of a size
suitable for mailing!] . In any case, it's your choice...the point is
merely to submit some form of birthday greeting/celebration of Michael's life
and work. 
