My Project
First, I’ll Say this:
I’ve been slowly developing my lifestyle over the years since 2014, having first bought a van for $900 to begin living in it by the Spring 2015. Over these years, I have lived in very unconventional ways- a natural consequence of seeking to find alternative approaches to Life than what were being offered to me. It goes without saying that I have navigated through many different elements of the “identity dilemma,” experiencing firsthand the true nature of “social policing” in an effort to confine. There is much to say in this regard: of suicide, of programming, of conditioning, of abuse against any man who does not conform to a “Western Structure” of masculinity.
Of the 127 months between now and Jan. 2015, I have been in some type of rental agreement for only 5 of these months.
I’ve tried in the ways which seem natural and true (for me) to conform and enter into community. There are things which I am unwilling to compromise on for the sake of “being a part of the group.” You can call this my own flavor of “autism.”
I have recognized what I believe to be patterns which keep “communities” from progressing into new dynamics- one such being the inability of “community leaders” to communicate directly and openly about issues-if there is even a willingness to look at them.
Otherwise, Time is so constricted and confined in the lives of “adults” that there is simply no Space to even generate momentum towards solutions outside of short-term fixations. There seems to only be a furthering of momentum towards “money-generating” aims on a hyper-individualistic level or a “cult-like” industrial level. How survival has evolved artificially!
My question is: what are these people wanting to do with their money? Why are they doing this? What is the aim, what is the collective aspiration? Retirement looks to be a mausoleum, the reward for decades of career compartmentalization- the culture of sterilization, claiming this to be aging!
The point I wish to address here is patterns. Patterns generated in community, patterns generated through media; patterns endlessly reflecting themselves- claiming then to be the ultimate truth and the unavoidable reality.
My Desire at this Time
To follow, I outline the project I wish to launch at some point in my future, contingent upon receiving support and building momentum.
Before this project happens, I would like to understand how to generate support from others who see the value in the work that I do + who recognize the intention within my creative process.
As things currently stand, I am grateful for the van that I currently have (all things considered)- but am greatly limited within my creative process. It is a great space for sleep and for functionally holding my things, but I cannot create art in it- and so, I am at the mercy of public spaces (primarily libraries and parks).
Over these years I have come to develop my own relationship to my needs vs. comforts, and am grateful for the simplicity Because of this, I desire to build a simple design that allows for me to functionally have a mobile studio while also securing all of the things which I would need for this trip to be successful.
I am seeking to purchase a 2025 Ford Transit Cargo Van with factory modifications that bring the total cost to around $70,000 before I would begin to construct the studio space.
With that said, here are overviews for the project’s concept.
My Project: The Collective Overview
To travel around the globe over the course of ~20+ years by van, starting in 2031 (initially, the 2025 Ford Transit Cargo Van with modifications).
To connect with unconventional community dynamics aimed towards sustainable solutions and a return to our humanity.
To connect with the community leaders in these spaces, to record and document the work that they are doing (if they agree with my intentions)
To interview them, to build a personal relationship with them with the intention of weaving an international connection (which likely already exists, to some degree)
To collaborate with other creative people, to develop bonds with others on this journey; to come to understand their situations, to continue to “do what I do.”
To explore major urban environments in between, to develop my own perspective of each cultural region (and how much it shares or has taken on “Western Influence”)
To enter into “Artist Residency Programs” in cultural hubs across the World, to root into regions, to share my culture (in my own way), to take on the cultures (in my own way)
To build a database of my experience similar to an encyclopedia, with videos and “instructional walk-throughs,” etc.
My Project: The Personal Overview
To travel around the globe over the course of ~20+ years by van (ideally, the 2025 Ford Transit Cargo Van with modifications).
To live within unconventional community dynamics, to contribute to their projects, to learn new ways, to share what I already have to share.
To enter into “Artist Residency Programs” in cultural hubs across the World, to root into regions, to share my culture (in my own way), to take on the cultures (in my own way)
To continue to create art, to develop new styles by the “inspirational osmosis” which occurs with connection to nature- anywhere and everywhere.
To collaborate with other creative people, to develop bonds with others on this journey; to come to understand their situations, to continue to “do what I do.”
To learn new languages- to unlock this ability within myself (polyglot)- starting with Spanish
To organize experiences with those who wish to support this vision along the journey- if any of you would wish to simply hang out with me along the way
“Matt, why should I support you?”
You value the Creative Spirit which drives human ingenuity and celebrates the curious mind- even if, at times, it appears to be delusional and unrealistic.
You genuinely feel connected to my works as shared through this portal, are curious to see how my expression evolves in time, and wish to enable this “Human Experiment” into reality.
You recognize that this is living and breathing- is a relationship; that this project will grow with time and with me, and that I will share the fruits with you personally.
You desire to come into community in ways which are genuinely rooted within our humanity- rooted in COMMON SENSE, not the “INTELLECTUALISM” rooted in FEAR and SURVIVAL.
You desire to extend your relation with humanity into new spaces of “family;” to feel the openness with others in the same sense of freedom that is often only reserved for “family.”
You wish to support a dream and a vision that has been a seed within me since I have been 20 years old; this isn’t just coming to be birthed, but it is now coming to be opened further.
You have the means to contribute to this vision and simply wish to aid a young man fulfill his dream, however ridiculous and overarching it appears to be.
The Global Dialogue! My Plan of Action’s Preamble.
As is evident, the World is changing in ways that are obvious- and in many ways which are veiled. Because of this, I wish not to “put the cart before the horse,” as they say, when it comes to every element of this equation. It is not my aspiration to become esteemed as a “World Champion” or the “Savior Artist the World NEEDS;” at the same time, I recognize the value of such an undertaking for two reasons: I believe this is what the World needs, because I believe it is what I need.
Pragmatically speaking, does the World NEED this? No, it will continue to go on turning and turning endlessly into the “Oblivion of Potential-Without-Meaning-Until-We-Make-It. “ In the same train of thought, do I really NEED this? No; I will continue to exist, continue to create, continue to flow forward according to the Nature of my Current. Unrelated, but related, did my Father NEED for an intervention to call attention to his own destructive patterns and how they are impacting his family (re: The Shattered Series)? No, he continued to exist within his patterns of addiction; overdosing on heroin, falling further and further down to where he lies currently: incoherent and incapable of connecting. There is an inextricable agreement which binds the Ethereal and the Corporeal, recognized otherwise as “Natural Law.” It is language, it is dialogue; it is action, it is reflection, it is consideration, it is adaptation- otherwise, it is stagnation which furthers into decay. I don’t make the rules here, pal!
With that Said! My Plan of Action’s Overview: First Phase (“New World”)
Launch this project on the Spring Equinox of 2031
In the years between now and then, I intend to purchase the van and build it; from there, I will begin to structure a new approach to traveling and practice it within the United States.
In these years I will also continue to develop my art to a degree of distinction which will allow for me to be accepted into international artist residency programs.
Seeing as this is many years out from the present, I do not wish to become fixated on minutia but rather have a general concept outline- to then have the details fill in with time.
I would essentially follow this formula into South America: to establish anchor points with residency programs in cultural hubs, to then extend into connections with the regions.
Mexico City, Mexico
Merida, Mexico
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Managua, Nicaragua
San Jose, Costa Rica
Caracas, Venezula
Rio de Janeiro + Sao Paulo, Brazil
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Santiago, Chile
La Paz, Bolivia
Lima, Peru
Quito, Equador
Bogota, Columbia
Between Now and Then
My intention is to sell my artwork to then purchase the 2025 Ford Transit Cargo Van (~$70,000), build it with a simple design that is functional for my aims (not some overly-engineered monstrosity; I use a bedroll, and mainly desire space for a work desk + “garage space”), upgrade my technology to be able to process all of the data + photos + videos in order to log the journey. Ideally, I am able to transform all of the artwork I have created up to this point into the resources to sustain this First Phase.
And so, to put this down into simplified points- my aims to achieve between now and the launching of the project:
I Would Return to the United States in ~9 Years from Launching (2040)
The aim at this point would be to consolidate the work that I created up to this point, to then reset and begin to build into the Second Phase. I would likely pivot towards this type of exploration into Canada for a period of time while the plans begin to build for Europe + Africa + etc.
Due to the restrictions as they currently stand for transporting a vehicle across the Atlantic, it might make most sense at this point to build a new van at some landing point in Europe, then begin from there. Naturally, all of this would be dependent upon the support of those who see the value of what I have been able to achieve between now and then. Who knows? Ferry services might begin to open up across the Atlantic- or even across the Bering Straight- between now and then.
This journey would not be just connecting dots from one point to the other but would be fluid as it unfolds within its design. Some points would likely be changed, and new points would come to be incorporated through interactions + connections.
Sell my artwork at hand presently (ideally, all of the works I have to fully reset and restart into “my next phase”)
Purchase the 2025 Ford Transit Cargo Van, as I have modified through their website ($70,000)
Build the van into the design which would be functional for me to achieve these aims
Upgrade my technology (laptop, simple video + audio recording, etc.)
Learn Spanish to a proficient level at first
Continue to develop my art, to begin to practice and experiment with the next set of skills needing to be integrated
I realize this is a lot to take on for a person, but I believe it can be done. This is my main focus and aim, and as momentum would build I would begin to layer more details- just as the details come into sight as one approaches what was once in the distance.
This is where it starts! Thank you for taking this in; please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
-Matthew