Steve Brudniak

Steve Brudniak (Born April 9, 1961, Topeka, Kansas) is an American artist, actor, filmmaker and musician. Known for highly crafted and unusual assemblage sculpture, his visual art career spans nearly four decades[1]. His music, acting and filmmaking endeavors emerged during childhood[2] escalating professionally in recent years. Brudniak spent his elementary and high school years in Houston, Texas eventually moving to Austin, Texas, where he currently lives[2].

Art

Brudniak's art incorporates, often pioneering, unconventional media and scientific elements such as high voltage electricity, Tesla coil technology[3], magnetic ferrofluid, gyro mechanics, biological preservations, fiber optics, and lasers.[1][4][5][6][7][8]

Steve Brudniak and Noumenon sculpture, 2005

He integrates disparate found objects in the construction of his art, however the finished pieces do not resemble collage[6][8]. The assemblages generally give the appearance of being functional machines or ritualistic objects that are indivisibly "of a piece," albeit of indiscernible origin and purpose[4][8]. Spirituality, psychology, and biology are common themes in his work. [1][4][5]

Noumenon Objectifying in Four Parts 2005, assemblage with emanating reflection optical lens, 48” x 19” x 6” (collection of Dr. Donovan and Catarina Sigerfoos, Austin, Texas)

In 2008 his Astrogeneris Mementos became the first assemblage sculptures exhibited in outer space, taken aboard the International Space Station by entrepreneur and astronaut Richard Garriott.[1][4][6][7][9]

During the 1980s Brudniak was an active member of the Houston Alternative Art scene, working from several studios in the historical Heights neighborhood and represented by four different galleries during this time [1]. In 1988 he moved to his Bouldin Creek, Austin, Texas art studio in Austin, Texas[2] continuing to produce art that has been exhibited in over 100 gallery and museum exhibitions.[1]

Brudniak's work is included in the collections of The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston[1][5], The San Antonio Museum of Art[1], the El Paso Museum of Art [1][10], and The Art Museum of South Texas at Corpus Christi [1][11]. He is currently represented by the Davis Gallery in Austin, Texas.

His Treatise, Saving Beauty: The Painful Rebirthing of Visual Aesthetic in Contemporary Art, is a scolding commentary on the diminishing importance of visual beauty and craft in postmodern, contemporary art.[8][12]

Art Books and Documentaries

The monograph, The Science of Surrealism - Assemblage Sculpture of Steve Brudniak was published in 2013 documenting thirty years of the artist's career in photos, essays and commentary. It was edited by Anjali Gupta, with a forward by Guillermo Del Toro.[1] Books and documentaries featuring Brudniak's work are listed in the bibliography below.

Acting and Film

Brudniak began acting in and directing his own short films at the age of 13 [2] and has appeared in dozens of films, notably Richard Linklater's Waking Life and Robert Rodriguez Red 11; in video production and television shows including the Reelz Channels Murder Made Me Famous, AMC's The Son and El Rey Network's Rebel Without a Crew[13][14]. In 2009 he produced, acted in and co-directed Eric Frodsham's Moments The Go feature film [13][14]. He has appeared in advertising for Texas Tourism, Capital One, Indian Motorcycle, Cox Business and others.[14] (Filmography Below)

The Vagus Leviathan, Steve Brudniak, 2008, assemblage with photograph, fiber optic lens and kinetic mechanism, 50” x 21” x 6” (Collection of John Little)

Music

In 1976 he and guitar player Gerry Diaz formed the psychedelic rock group Spiny Normen and recorded an album at the Alvin Community College which was released decades later on RidingEasy Records in 2018.[15]

In 1981 he opened the Victorian Recording Studio in Houston, recording many of Houston's alternative, metal, folk, skate and punk groups. [2] He also recorded and performed in several bands there and later in Austin. He continues to record with Diaz in an experimental effort called Psylobison, playing theremin and Wavetech sound wave generator.[16] (Discography Below)


Bibliography

Bunch, Robert Craig, The Art of Found Objects: Interviews with Texas Artists. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2016.

Chemeketa College Art Faculty. Art for Everyone, Salem, Oregon: Chemeketa Press, 2016.

Gupta, Anjali ed., The Science of Surrealism - Assemblage Sculpture of Steve Brudniak. Austin TX: Merrid Zone, 2013

Brenner, Wayne Alan. Minerva’s Wreck: Austin Arts Anthology, Austin TX: Café Armageddon, 2010.

Branwyn, Gareth. Device Volume 2: Reconstructed, San Diego, CA: IDW Publishing, July 2009.

Reese, Becky Duval. Texas 100: Selections from the El Paso Museum of Art, El Paso, TX: El Paso Museum of Art Foundation, 2006.

Otten, William G. and Michelle W. Locke. The Legacy Continues, Corpus Christi, TX: Art Museum of South Texas, 2006.

Morton, Jennifer. Belong: A TV Journalist's Search for Urban Culture: from Beirut to Bamako, from Havana to Ho Chi Minh City: Stories and Photos. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Insomniac Press, 2004.

Greene, Alison de Lima. Texas: 150 Works from the Museum of Fine Arts. NY, NY: Harry N. Abrams, October 1, 2000.

Hendricks, Patricia D. and Becky Duval Reese. A Century of Sculpture in Texas 1889-1989. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press, 1989.

McEvilley, Thomas. Another Reality. Houston, TX: Hooks-Epstein Galleries, June 1989.

Video Documentary Bibliography

Ulteriaphobia: The Art of Steve Brudniak. Dir. Luke Savisky. Austin, TX: Klaus und Hans Productions, 1995, Video documentary.

Indie Live Austin. “Steve Brudniak: Interview with Diana Brochin.” Austin, TX: ACTV, January 2010.

Steve Brudniak – Noumenon. Dir. Wiley Wiggins. Austin, TX: 2008, Video documentary.

Steve Brudniak. Dir. Andrew Nourse. Austin, TX: Andy Nourse Productions, 1998 Video documentary.

Filmography

Film

YearFilmRoleDirectorNotes
2018Red 11Head DocRobert Rodriguez
2018CeceliaLordLiz Tabish
2018The Iron OrchardBrokerTy Roberts
2017CallingMr. CallisterArtemis AnastasiadouAustin Film Festival Selection
2017One Last TimeBossJaime Gonzales
2017FallenDoctorJack Nassif
2017Bonafide BeautyNigelSamantha Schell
2017The Long Road HomeJoshuaAlex Winker
2017Valentine's Day Open MicGangsterBen Toomey
2017WatchersMr. TatumAmadeus Gonzalez
2016PsychotropicalHowardLiz Tabish
2016ClampsMayorZach Scott, Jill Bailey
2016ComfortFeliciaKC Coker
2016The BridgeHarryColton Constanzo
2016The Dying LightThomasJack Nassif
2016ShadowsTerryColton Constanzo
2016PromisesGerald PainterMelody Brooke
2015Bunny and Non-BunnynessNicBen BlanchardCannes Selection
2015Ghost ValleySheriff Bill RaymondGeorgetown RayAssociate Producer
2015HipsterPolice OfficerUniversity of Texas Film Program
2015Little Green MenSheriffRob Larkin
2015Door to DoorBounty HunterJarrod Yerkes
2015SauceSauce EaterGavin Tabone
2015WartornEric BukowskiHarold Fisch
2014CarjackerStanTaylor Camarot
2014Last MessageDoctorDuane Humeyestewa
2014Bully BullyHomeless ManDeRae Logan
2014Bye Bye BlackbirdCamera GuyGaia Bosignore
2013Moments the GoCrayEric FrodshamCo-Director, Co-Producer
2012Camp KickitooCopRick Sternberg
2002AbsintheBoy FriendMarta BandaProducer
2001Waking LifeGoatee ManRichard LinklaterRotoscoped
1998Two for TexasSoldierRod HardyUncredited
1997Parts of a WomanPsychoKathleen Collins
1996WaitingApt. ManagerUniversity of Texas Film Program

Television

YearTV ShowRoleDirectorNotes
2018Rebel Without a CrewSelfSeries
2017AnnihilatorMarshal Grooms LeeJulio QuintanaSeries Teaser
2017Is Game of Throngs a Soap OperaSir DaveyRooster Teeth Short
2017Murder Made Me FamousDr. Herman TarnowerBrad OsborneSeries
2016Alabama ShakesHomeless ManZach Scott, Rachel ImmarajSpec. Music Video
2016Good FieldMr. JohnsonZach ScottMusic Video
2004Sir RichardSelfDocumentary
1995AustinSelfDocumentary

Voice Over

YearTitleRoleDirectorNotes
2017KingsileVarious CharactersVideo Game
2016RedeemerVarious CharactersVideo Game
1985Jack Mack and Rad Boy Go!Various CharactersWes ArcherAnimation, Sound, Score

Discography

Albums

Spiny Normen. Spiny Normen. RidingEasy Records. 2018 (Recorded 1979)

Singles

Spiny Normen. The Sound of Younger Times. Brining It All Back Again (Compilation). Shroom Angel Records. 2010 (Recorded 1979)

Spiny Normen. The Bell Park Loon. Brown Acid: The Second Trip (Compilation). RidingEasy Records. 2016 (Recorded 1979)

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Gupta, Anjali ed. (2013). The Science of Surrealism - Assemblage Sculpture of Steve Brudniak. Austin: Merrid Zone.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 McGahey, Sean. "Interview with Steve Brudniak". JPG Magazine. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  3. ↑ Hendricks, Patricia D.; Duval Reese, Becky (1989). A Century of Sculpture in Texas 1889-1989. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Bunch, Robert Craig (2016). The Art of Found Objects: Interviews with Texas Artists. College Station, TX: Texas A&M Press.
  5. 1 2 3 Greene, Alison de Lima (2000). Texas: 150 Works from the Museum of Fine Arts. New York, NY: Harry N. Abrams.
  6. 1 2 3 Brannon, Mike. "Psychedelic Surrealism Texas Style". 71 Magazine. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  7. 1 2 Colan, Joann. "Steve Brudniak: Interview with Joann Colan". Rocketboom.com. Retrieved March 8, 2008.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Corbin, Michael K. "Steve Brudniak: Assemblage Sculpture". Art Book Guy. September 2016.
  9. ↑ Challenger Center. "Richard Garriott Space Video Blog: Conservation of Momentum". YouTube. Challenger Center. Retrieved March 11, 2009.
  10. ↑ Reese, Becky Duval (2006). Texas 100: Selections from the El Paso Museum of Art. El Paso, TX: El Paso Museum of Art Foundation.
  11. ↑ Otten, William G.; Locke, Michelle W. (2006). The Legacy Continues. Corpus Christi, TX: Art Museum of South Texas.
  12. ↑ Brudniak, Steve (2014). "Saving Beauty: The Painful Rebirthing of Visual Aesthetic in Contemporary Art". Art Book Guy. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  13. 1 2 Brudniak, Steve. "Steve Brudniak IMDB". The International Movie Database. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  14. 1 2 3 Brudniak, Steve. "Collier Talent Agency" (PDF). Collier Talent Agency. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  15. ↑ Lewry, Frasier. "Everything You Need to Know About Spiny Normen, Texas's Great Lost Psych Band". Classic Rock Magazine. January 2018.
  16. ↑ "Psilobison New Year's Eve at Super Happy Fun Land 12-31-16". YouTube. Ess Dot FX. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
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