The Finch Mob Arts Collective
We choose to live our lives as art, and we wish to create. We strive to collapse the distance between idea and action, breaking down the barriers that keep us from manifesting our creative force as a source for change in the world.

The Finch Mob is a collection of artists dedicated to collaborative, interactive and co-inspired creativity. We are artists, circus performers, musicians, writers, and performance artists. We seek to find venues in which to exhibit our art, show the work of like-minded peers, and enjoy the creative cross-pollination of connected, inspired artists. We welcome as much artistic diversity as possible in our efforts.

Contact us at will (at) finchmob (dot) com.

Future Projects
In the future, The Finch Mob will take over other spaces, transforming them into galleries for our shows, and courting new and known talent from around the Bay Area to join us. In addition to our organized exhibitions, we’ll also engage in not-so-random acts of art and mayhem, including public performances, community support and outreach, civic service, guerilla art activities, silent film festivals, and the like.

Learn how you can participate.

Will Chase :: Desert Finch

The question I get asked most often is "when do you sleep?"  After 12 years of managing software development, I found my way.  Today I'm the Company Manager for (Everyday Theatre), a freelance art curator and events manager, and the Webmaster and Art Department Operations Manager for Burning Man.

My art is writing.  And dabbling with assemblage of found and gifted objects, and a bit of drawing.  But mostly, my art is facilitating people's dreams.  I find ways to collapse the distance between idea and action, and to help people manifest their dreams as reality.  And thus, my own.  In that way, the Finch Mob Arts Collective reflects who I am, and why I'm here. Learn more at www.willchase.com.

 

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Jen Colasuonno :: Scarlet Finch

"Don't ask what the world needs, ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." - Howard Thurman

I use this quote on the bio page of my website cause it pretty much sums up where I'm at. I'm a happy little busy bee. Versatile performer, collaborator, teacher, and event manager is another way to sum it up. In the past 7 years, I have performed partner balancing acrobatics, physical theater, dancing, singing, fire arts, puppeteering, aerial arts, and circus sideshow internationally - as a soloist and as part of a troupe. I have become the performer I am through pure exploration and play and my drive is collaboration with others. A day in my life might consist of any of the following ... stage managing at Brava Theater, having a potluck brunch, managing the merry-go-round house/hostel I live in, rehearsing for a show, art modeling, teaching partner balancing, video editing, making dioramas or collages, or sitting in the sun with friends. Learn more at: www.jencolasuonno.com.

 

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Dicky Davies :: Trumpeter Finch

I used to think I was a painter, and while painting is what I love and where I find a real drive and sense of fulfillment, it's through connection and interactive art that I've seen the gap between my own vision and the actualization of that vision closing on a daily basis. I have an overwhelming need to offer interactive art be it visual, performance or otherwise in order to offer a new level of accessibility to the ideals of connection and the value exchange that comes with it.

I am currently enrolled at The San Francisco Art Institute with a focus on History and Theory of Contemporary Art, looking mostly at its relation to urban studies.

Current and past projects include showing visual works with ArtSFest, Anon Salon as well as other public spaces. Last year in collaboration with Logan Mirto I built and offered up The Dicky Box, an interactive conceptual sculpture at the Burning Man Art Festival. I am currently on the Advisory Board for the Black Rock Arts Foundation, a nonprofit civic arts foundation whose focus is on community based interactive art. My main current focus as an artist is bridging the gap in my own work between idea and action with the assistance of The Finch Mob as a core member and pure hooligan of the arts.

 

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Marcus Guillard :: Masked Finch

A constant searcher, never really finished. I attempt to live life with every facet approached creatively. To me life is art and therefore we can all be artists. It is only when one creates the difference between artist and themselves that they are no longer aware of the art around them. I want to always be learning and not be inhibited by not knowing.

I graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BA in Fashion Design and Merchandising, quickly learning that would not be my path. After moving to New York City and taking a job with Interview magazine my interest in photography peaked. For seven years I worked in New York as a photo assistant to some of the industries most known commercial photographers. Wanting to pursue fine art and collaborate with many of my closest friends including my brother, I moved to San Francisco where I have been a part of numerous performance theater shows, traveled to Bali documenting Kecak and Gamalon, and installed a 150 foot long string tree harp for and arts festival in Austin Texas.

Currently I am working on further pursuing the Long String Instrument idea, wanting to learn more about tuning and performing. I am also still very active with my photography, always exploring new ways to print and show my work. The Finch Mob Arts Collective is something I have dreamed of being a part of for much of my life!

 

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Erin Johnson :: Heart-Sleeved Jester Finch

This rare variety lives mostly on the West coast. Originating from eastern Washington, this finch has also been found in a triangle with points at Seattle, Denver, and San Francisco.

I graduated from Seattle University in 2000 with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology. I discovered quickly that analytical psychology was not for me. So I took a couple of years off to play and find my way and discovered a passion for fire dancing, clowning and building stuff!! But as I am a slut for knowledge and helping people (and poor) I decided to go to Graduate school in 2004 with a more personalized focus. I discovered John F. Kennedy University's Masters in Transpersonal Psychology program was just what I had been looking for. A way to help people from the ground up...exploiting resources and not deficits. Helping people to see what they have, and not to focus on what they don't. I am currently working as a Marriage and Family Therapy Intern at the Holistic Counseling Center in Oakland, and filling my leftover time with friends and creative projects.

I have always been someone who looks for inspiration not directly at the subject matter but at the spaces between the objects. Not what it is, but what it does, or is but what it shares, reflects, and shines out into the space that surrounds it. I have always found that this is where the truth lies. My current focus is trying to help people to find a balance of work and play in their lives!!

 

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Bonnie "Bunnie" Reiss :: Spice Finch

Silly, Pepto-Bismol-pink-haired, circus girly from Colorado, transplanted here only a year ago, living and playing with wide eyes and an open heart.

I began doing design work eons ago and found myself moving out of the world of graphics and into the world of paint brushes. I finally cut the cord last year, packed up my Subaru and waved goodbye to the corporate world and my life as a commercial artist. My days are now filled with random acts of partner balancing, brilliant colors and fantasy worlds splashed on canvas, taking risks around every corner, going back to art school and an amazing new collective called The Finch Mob.

As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "All life is an experiment." And a beautiful one at that...

 

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Linda "Lulu" Steinberger :: Society Finch

Lulu is a beautiful and intoxicating finch who raises a beautiful pre-teen daughter, and creates fascinatingly bizarre hand-made dolls.

 

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Katie Sutherland :: Cherry Finch

Katie studied Art with an emphasis on graphic design and print making at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she honed her artistic skills working with highly toxic materials. She moved into the healing practices during a stint living in Lake Tahoe, including massage therapy and teaching yoga. Katie is a certified massage therapist at a prominent San Francisco spa, while working on the side to create art installations for exhibits, events and galleries.

 

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Benjamin Turner :: Tree Finch

Most generally, I'm a very helpful guy to have around. Originally from South Carolina, my species can be observed in a wide range of habitats and climates across the United States, usually stopping to roost on the border between large urban areas and pristine wilderness. Tree Finches often prefer communal living situations, which are more favorable to feeding and mating habits.

Artistically, finches like myself can be observed creating interactive celebrations of all kind. The uniquely recognizable almost human behavior of my species veers between dance, circus acrobatics, large-scale interactive sculpture, painting, music and urban gymnastics. Some rare performance footage of Benjamin Turner can be seen on his circus DVD: The Latest Show on Earth (www.monkpunk.org/circus). I will soon be taking flight for the summer on cross-country tour with The Carpetbag Brigade, and Oakland-based acrobatic stiltwalking troupe.

 

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Bex Workman :: Wild Star Finch

Part-time Secret Agent, Part-time Pirate, Full-time Trouble-Maker. I'm in constant search for balance in the universe, proof of UFO's, community and truth, ways to bring art to the world, fun new ways to blow stuff up, and finding a way to live the dream so it becomes a reality. I run a small cottage business to help bring my hand sewn and knit designs and creations to the world. I try to use recycled and found materials whenever possible and you'll often find me with needles clenched in teeth, brow furrowed, as my hands furiously work to get the idea in my head to come to life. Check out my website for more info: www.fiendishdesigns.com.