Jacob Alexander Figueroa
| Jacob Alexander Figueroa | |
|---|---|
 File:Zander_by_Norell.jpg Zander onstage at the Summerset Music & Camping Festival, in 2012 | |
| Born | August 1, 1986 Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| Known for | Performance Art, Visual arts, Body Art, Mixed media, Multimedia |
| Notable work | Translucent Threads (2009) Karnak Gallery & Studio (2010) "All Over the Walls" (2011) X Fashion Series (2011) The Band Famous (2013 - Present) |
| Movement | Conceptual art, Expressionism, Surrealism |
| 🌐 Website | bandfamous |
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Jacob Alexander Figueroa, also known as Zander (born August 1, 1986), is an American body painter from Minneapolis who is based in Los Angeles.[1]
Early life[edit]
Figueroa was born in St. Paul, MN on August 1, 1986, graduating from Armstrong High School in Plymouth, MN in 2005. He is known for his art, and The Band Famous.[2]
Work[edit]
Figueroa acquired a small team of fellow artists in the realm of painting, photography, mixed media, etc. before opening an open platform art gallery on First Ave in the heart of downtown Minneapolis[3][4][non-primary source needed] when he was 23 years old. In the short time that Karnak Gallery was open in the Spring of 2010 the gallery held several art openings, and multimedia performances, even bringing in acts such as IDM ("Intelligent Dance Music") artists like Solvent, with Ghostly International Records. City Pages writer Andrew Flanagan described Karnak Gallery as a "forward-thinking-and-still-fun space".[5]
The story of Karnak Gallery & Studio LLC was told in the documentary, "All Over The Walls".[6] The film premiered as a "Work In Progress" screening at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival in 2011.[7] The documentary was also screened at the Minneapolis Underground Film Festival on December 4, 2011, and was reviewed in the Star Tribune.[8][9][dead link][10][better source needed][11][dead link] It later won several awards including Highway 61 Film Festival "Best Featured Documentary".[12]
Mixed media[edit]
His multimedia abstract creations - with nods to Expressionism and Surrealism - spanning years before bringing the paint brush to the human body, he received international acclaim by NY Arts Magazine in 2009/2010 for his mixed media artworks exhibited with "Translucent Threads" at Broadway Gallery. His works have been described as vibrant, intricately placed colors incorporated into exuberant designs with meticulous detail.[13] Many of his most notable artworks portray a fusion of futuristic landscapes and transformative ethereal dream worlds, such as Path of Passion (2009).[13] The Key to Life is Love was one work exemplifying a more luminous, ambient and esoteric feel within Alexander's work.[13] Suzie Walshe wrote that his mixed media works channel his fellow post-abstract expressionist, Ingrid Calame.[13][better source needed]
Body painting[edit]
Jacob Alexander only began body painting after years of creating mixed media artworks. His first time body painting was a live improvisation during an art show, where he experimented with several techniques and designs embellishing his first live canvases - several topless female friends - using various vibrant color combinations.[14]
His first attempt of body painting was such a hit in the Twin Cities community, that Alexander built a mini body paint empire with his Virtual Warrior Ink aka VWInk Agency body painting company - also known for the "Ink Girls", a collection of models who worked with Alexander for several body painting events.[15] He carried his abstract, romanticized style from his mixed media work to his body painting ventures. By 2008/2009, he had become well known as "the performance artist who works on human canvas" in at least a few regular venues downtown Minneapolis, ranging from Gallery 13, Epic Nightclub, Soundbar, and Aqua Nightclub, and other venues. He is presumed to be one of the first notable body painters to arise from MN, having performed most of his body painting escapades under his alias "Virtual Warrior Ink".[16][17][18]
"Being painted in nothing but a thong—or nothing at all—requires a great deal of confidence on the part of the model, and Figueroa is acutely aware of the sensitivity of the situation. 'It’s a leap of faith,' he says. 'You expose yourself and you’re hoping we’ll make you look like you’ve never looked before. And we will. But without trust, without confidence, it just doesn’t look as good.'”[14]
In 2011, after doing X Fashion for NY Fashion Week in NYC, he did the X Fashion Show in Minneapolis, where he worked with several models, including actress, model, and Emmy award-winning YouTuber, Spricket24, who is also karen24alloy on Youtube i.e. Karen Alloy.[19] His X Fashion combined body painting with aluminum tin foil, as well as other materials.[20][21][non-primary source needed]
The Band Famous[edit]
Band and software[edit]
City Pages writer Jared Fagerberg writes: "Self-produced trip-hop group the Band Famous exist to uplift you, even if they sound a bit wacky when they do. They may not be self-actualized enough to dispense good advice, but their new single 'Emotional Scatter' tries, dammit. Directed by TBF members Norell and Zander, the video tries to play motivational speaker, but when the band mixes in goofy lyrics and a mooning gnome toy, it’s hard to take them totally seriously. Which might be the point: Stop taking yourself so seriously and enjoy the jam." [22]
The Band Famous premiered their self-produced music video for their trip-hop single "Emotional Scatter" on City Pages Music on October 22, 2019.[23]
The Band Famous has been interviewed on radio, magazines, online and in print, and has even appeared on international television on China Central Television, as found archived on the band's official website under "Latest Headlines".[24]
It was at the "High Seas Heaven" body paint, music, and art exhibit that took place at internationally known DJ and techno producer DVS1 in his personal recording studio and production space in Minneapolis, MN where Zander first met Norell, his then body paint model.[25] Following the collapse of the gallery, Jacob Alexander aka Zander then extended his body painting into the Band Famous. While Zander continues to body paint occasionally for events and so forth, at least as of 2013 he became a key contributing member to a group of artists, musicians, and software developers, the Band Famous, adding violin to synthesizers.[26]
The musical group formed in 2013 when a mutual friend introduced Zander and Norell to a fellow musician, artist, and app developer, "Terrance Clifford". The very first meeting spawned an improvised jam session, as Norell - an aspiring singer and artist at the time - took the lead after finding several synthesizers, instruments and microphones in Terry's home. That very first spontaneous improvised session was also recorded and simultaneously live-streamed over the Internet. They continued to record in an improvised manner for several sessions thereafter, and thus "the Band Famous" was born.[27]
In addition to body painting and creating various other art mediums, Jacob Alexander studied and applied gained knowledge of mobile development, deploying a native iOS app on the iPhone App Store in June, 2014. "The Band Famous" was built and released with the help of his bandmates, Norell and Terry, to release their debut album, "Last Words" with nine songs total, a featured game, and other media in a virtual platform they called the "smart album", with music, lyrics, and more available offline once the app has been downloaded to iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.[28] The Band Famous is the first and possibly the only known band in the world to live-stream free in-app concerts through an app that they develop themselves. In 2015 his band won a Sennheiser wireless D1 microphone from MusicPage.com as part of a "gear giveaway contest". Writer and fellow musician Erik Jarvis wrote a feature on them.[29] Upon invitation by comedian and cult icon Tom Green, TBF is going to be performing live on the Tom Green Show in the near future.[30][non-primary source needed]
The Band Famous received their first full feature press article in November, 2014, by writer Jay Gabler of Minnesota Public Radio - a sub-division of NPR - on the KCMP The Current Blog as well as notable mention on The Local Show with David Campbell and Jay Gabler.[31]
TBF aka "The Band Famous" has also received support from various music and technology gurus, including Kim Dotcom, who reached out to the lead singer personally about being on his next album, to Emergency Broadcast Network's Special Agent G, and co-founder of Adobe After Effects and the Hoverboard program, Greg Deocampo, who showed his support to the Band Famous by sharing The Band Famous app on his personal blog, as well as in an app review on the App Store.[28][better source needed]
The Band Famous app was demoed live on Tom Green's Webovision on Friday, July 17, 2015, showcasing the first app to feature free in-app concerts,[32][33][non-primary source needed] built by the Band Famous. The app was demoed by Norell, lead singer of the Band Famous, who had previously established rapport with the well-known comedian and actor.[34][35] As of November 25, 2015, the band has made "The Band Famous" app cross-platform on both the iPhone App Store and Android Google Play.[36][non-primary source needed] The band and their app has since received acclaim and endorsements from multi Grammy-winning recording artist B.J. Thomas, who wrote a five-star review for The Band Famous app album on March 31, 2016, saying, "This is my favorite new music. This girl just steps up and sings her heart out. I love that. BJ".[37][38], but who also follows and regularly retweets them on his Twitter, including as recently as June 2020, following his "BLACK LIVES MATTER" tweet. The Band Famous app album also received praise from Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s daughter Kick Kennedy, who wrote her first app review ever on August 18, 2015, saying, "This app is magnificent. How are you people so creative and talented its disgusting. Music beautiful, love the game, everything excellent, all around winner, A+. LOVE TO THE BAND FAMOUS. Download this app now its a game changer. Bravo! I have never even written an app review and this is how compelled I am. Norell is an angel from heaven and Zander is WILDLY talented too. Keep it coming guys!".[39][non-primary source needed] Internationally acclaimed Polish artist, Olek (artist), has called The Band Famous her "fav band"[40] and recently featured the song "Escape" from The Band Famous debut app album as part of her VR Virtual reality art installation in New York City in March and April, 2020.[41]
While their debut album Last Words remain exclusive to The Band Famous apps, The Band Famous released their Awakening - EP on February 2, 2020.
The Band Famous was published in the Trademark Official Gazette as of December 5, 2017.[42]
Live music venue[edit]
The Band Famous band and software is also a private venue in East Los Angeles[43] and since their venue opening they have hosted and produced benefit shows and benefit music festivals for several charities and causes. The Band Famous raised awareness and proceeds for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, My Friend's Place helping homeless youth, and past benefit shows - with artists they feature in their online music collective they call the "Hall Of Fame", and online radio "TBF Radio" - aiding American Heart Association and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. The last benefit music festival The Band Famous hosted, produced, and performed in took place on Friday, January 17 (all ages), and Saturday, January 18 (18+), 2020, titled, TBF Presents: "LIVE + FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS" Benefit Music Festival. The Band Famous has gone on record publicly with Voyage LA Magazine as of March 18, 2020 about the length and severity of hardships, struggles, and sacrifices both band members made in order to be the first known band to not only have their own software they programmed and maintain, but to open and run their own private music venue in Los Angeles, CA as an independent trip-hop music duo, where they record and produce their music, in addition to hosting, producing, and performing benefit shows and music festivals with artists from their "Hall Of Fame".[44] They feature a diverse collection of music from multiple genres. They have a history of supporting black artists, Native American artists, Korean artists, Japanese artists, and other minorities and people of color. After the January benefit music festival, The Band Famous began promoting the "One Love Fur All" Benefit Music Festival which was to take place on March 27th and March 28th, 2020 to raise awareness and proceeds for the Los Angeles LGBT Center, and LA Animal Services, but then the COVID-19 pandemic broke out and like all other mainstream music events and festivals that were scheduled to take place, The Band Famous had to adapt their March festival to live-stream only, not allowing guests inside the private venue out of concern for public health, and postponing the full festival until further notice. The Band Famous is a known advocate for LGBT and all minorities, featuring many black artists and people of color in their music collective thus giving people of color a stage and platform to share their voice. Both members of The Band Famous have been active and vocal in the Black Lives Matter movement as well.[45][46]
Some artists featured in The Band Famous Hall Of Fame are Billboard-charting artists.[47][48][49][50] On June 4, 2020, The Band Famous added to their "Hall Of Fame" acclaimed artist Annalé, who made the top 20 Billboard charts with her debut single "Roses" from her self-titled debut album released in 2016;[51] adding her collaboration "Half of It" featuring R&B singer songwriter Musiq Soulchild to TBF Radio.[52][53][54]
References[edit]
- ↑ Voyage LA Magazine (March 18, 2020). "Meet Jacob Alexander Figueroa and Mary Norell Jackson of The Band Famous". Retrieved June 7, 2020.
- ↑ Kelly Higginson (February 2015). "Native Apps". Plymouth Magazine. No. February 2015. Tiger Oak Media. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
- ↑ Blue Bridge Media. "All Over The Walls". Documentary. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ↑ http://phonixintl.com/karnak.html
- ↑ Andrew Flanagan (June 16, 2010). "Downtown's Karnak Gallery throwing a Star Wars free-for-all". City Pages. Archived from the original on February 11, 2015. Retrieved February 11, 2015. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Euan Kerr (April 13, 2011). "Film fest bigger than ever -- and more Minnesotan". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ↑ Euan Kerr (April 6, 2011). "Pumping up the Minnesota in MSPIFF". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
- ↑ Colin Covert (December 2, 2011). "Minneapolis Underground Film Festival". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ↑ Colin Covert (December 1, 2011). "Movie spotlight: Underground film festival". Star Tribune. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
- ↑ Mike Everleth (November 4, 2011). "2011 Minneapolis Underground Film Festival: Official Lineup". Underground Film Journal. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
- ↑ "All Over The Walls". MPLS Underground FILM Festival. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
- ↑ hwy61 (October 12, 2011). "Highway 61 Film Festival winners". Highway 61 Film Festival. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Suzie Walshe (2009). "Threading It Together". NY Arts Magazine. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Jamie Thomas (March 21, 2009). "Live nude art". Twin Cities Daily Planet. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
- ↑ Jamie Thomas (September 24, 2009). "The Atlantis Exhibition: The under-the-sea erotic art party Minneapolis has been waiting for". Twin Cities Daily Planet. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
- ↑ Jessica Armbruster (September 23, 2009). "The Atlantis Exhibition". City Pages. Archived from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Virtual Warrior Ink on ModelMayhem (July 9, 2009). "Virtual Warrior Ink". Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ↑ Virtual Warrior Ink on Blogspot (2006). "Virtual Warrior Ink official blog". Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ↑ Karen Alloy (September 19, 2011). "Modeling and other projects". Spricket24 aka Karen Alloy's Personal YouTube Channel. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
- ↑ Karen Alloy (September 19, 2011). "Modeling and other projects". Spricket24 aka Karen Alloy's Personal YouTube Channel. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
- ↑ Jacob Alexander (December 29, 2011). "X Fashion Show - Body Painting Runway Show 2011". Jacob Alexander's Personal YouTube Channel. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
- ↑ Jared Fagerberg (October 22, 2019). "Gnome butts, isolation rituals, and Tijuana drug deals in this week's Top 5 MN music videos". City Pages. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ↑ Jared Fagerberg (October 22, 2019). "Gnome butts, isolation rituals, and Tijuana drug deals in this week's Top 5 MN music videos". City Pages. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ↑ China Central Television (June 14, 2019). "[华人世界]一味一故事 美国 东坡烤鸭：用美国鸭子做出地道中国味". China Central Television. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ↑ Voyage LA Magazine (March 18, 2020). "Meet Jacob Alexander Figueroa and Mary Norell Jackson of The Band Famous". Retrieved June 7, 2020.
- ↑ LOVE BODY ART (July 11, 2014). "Jacob Alexander Figueroa (aka the artist Zander)". I Love Body Art: Body painting from around the world. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
- ↑ Jay Gabler (November 20, 2014). "Music making, body painting, app building: Meet the Band Famous". Minnesota Public Radio The Current Local Current Blog. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Jacob Figueroa (May 29, 2014). "Official App on iTunes".
- ↑ Erik Jarvis (September 2, 2015). "Final Contest Winners". Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
- ↑ Tom Green and The Band Famous (July 17, 2015). "Tom Green's Webovision With Ben Seidman, available as subscription service at connectpal.com/tomgreen, referenced from The Band Famous Official Instagram". Retrieved September 23, 2015.
- ↑ "The Local Show featuring Andrea Swensson and Jay Gabler". The Local Show on Minnesota Public Radio. November 23, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
- ↑ Tom Green (July 17, 2015). "Webovision With Ben Seidman". Tom Green's Webovision. Retrieved July 21, 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ The Artist Zander (July 17, 2015). "Singer Norell demoing our app on the Tom Green Show". "Tom Green's Webovision. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
- ↑ Tom Green (March 12, 2015). "Episode #5 The Tom Green Podcast". The Tom Green Podcast. Archived from the original on July 31, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Tom Green (March 28, 2015). "Harland Williams - The Tom Green Webovision Show". Tom Green's Webovision. Archived from the original on April 29, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Phonix Intl (Nov 25, 2015). "Official App on Google Play".
- ↑ App Store (March 31, 2016). "The Band Famous Ratings and Reviews". Retrieved June 7, 2020.
- ↑ BJ Thomas (April 17, 2020). "BJ Thomas still stands with his statement regarding his five-star review of The Band Famous app album". Retrieved June 7, 2020.
- ↑ App Store (August 18, 2015). "The Band Famous Ratings and Reviews". Retrieved June 7, 2020.
- ↑ oleknyc verified Instagram (January 1, 2020). "The Band Famous Testimonials". Retrieved June 7, 2020.
- ↑ oleknyc verified Instagram (March 27, 2020). "Give Light, And The Darkness Will Disappear Of Itself. 🎼 @the_band_famous". Retrieved June 7, 2020.
- ↑ Trademark Official Gazette (December 5, 2017). "USPTO TMOG Search". Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ↑ Google Maps. "The Band Famous Live music venue". Retrieved June 7, 2020.
- ↑ Voyage LA Magazine (March 18, 2020). "Meet Jacob Alexander Figueroa and Mary Norell Jackson of The Band Famous". Retrieved June 7, 2020.
- ↑ The Band Famous. "@the_band_famous Instagram". Retrieved June 7, 2020.
- ↑ The Band Famous. "@TheBandFamous Twitter". Retrieved June 7, 2020.
- ↑ REG THE RULER (January 21, 2018). "Smith and Hay's Jazz [Deluxe] hits #1 on Billboard Jazz Charts". Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ↑ Landon Buford (December 7, 2019). "Ranna Royce – Money Rose". Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ↑ Christian Vind (November 21, 2019). "Visionary Multi Charting Billboard Artist Ranna Royce Plays Various Roles In The Entertainment Industry". Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ↑ M.MUSA (January 9, 2018). "#1 BILLBOARD CHARTING ARTIST RANNA ROYCE PREPS COMEDIC HIP HOP LP". Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ↑ Billboard. "Annalé Billboard". Retrieved June 7, 2020.
- ↑ The Band Famous (June 7, 2020). ""The Band Famous® on Twitter: "We are so happy to feature @annalemusic in our music collective, the Hall Of Fame. Her song "Half of It" ft. @MusiqSoulchild is now playing on TBF Radio! Check out the music video: Annalé - Half of It (Feat. Musiq Soulchild) [Official Music Video]"". Retrieved June 7, 2020.
- ↑ bandfamous.com (June 4, 2020). "The Band Famous Latest Headlines". Retrieved June 7, 2020.
- ↑ bandfamous.com. "TBF Radio". Retrieved June 7, 2020.
External links[edit]
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