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MWF is a pseudonym of Mark Flake (born 1960, in Memphis,Tennessee) is an American painter and sculptor, and musician.
His surreal and expressionistic oil paintings have been exhibited across the United States, and his graphic art appears on album and compact disc covers throughout the States and in Europe and Australia.
MUSIC
In 1999, he founded Wood Records and gave compact disc releases of his back catalog, and has continued to release his own works at the rate of approximately two discs per year. The music runs through a wide variety of stylistic categories that includes everything from folk and experimental rock, to avant garde jazz, punk and noise, to serious chambercompositions and music concrete.
MWF is also known for a number of albums that parody other styles including metal and hip-hop. Radio Revolution described his work as "the perfect blend of Leonard Cohen and Captain Beefheart".
His best known recordings are probably Selling Grit (1997), a satirical pop rock album, and Singles on Wheels, (2001) a self-selected greatest hits compilation that included an edited version of the song "Monster Karaoke" his best selling single. As a performer, he is best known as an electric guitar soloist and improviser, but has also released acoustic guitar albums. As a guitarist, he has been part of a number of music ensembles, including the Blenders, the Willards, EllenM, and the Ants. His own live group, the MWF trio, has had a shifting line-up that has included performance artist and cornetist Barry Arthur and harmonica virtuoso Paul Whitaker. He has also produced a variety of collaborative works with artists such as San Francisco guitarist Ernesto Diaz-Infante, Indiana multi-instrumentalist Zed Salt, and North Carolina experimentalists The Optimysticals. In 2008, he worked as half of the duo, Wonderhell, with percussionist Emmanuel Sortito.
LABEL
His Wood Records music label has given release to albums by many artists from the U.S. and Europe, most notably Sweden's Johnny J and Italy's LAM. Flake has also appeared on a variety of tribute albums from other labels such as Blod Records of Canada's Tribute to the Eighties, tribute albums to Phil Ochs, Bonzos, Roky Erikson, Nina Hagen, Barnes and Barnes, Nilsson , and Daniel Johnston.
ART
His paintings have been compared stylistically to those of the [German Expressionists] and to the Surrealists. They can also be characterized by a rich impasto and muted colors, particularly black and white mixed with earth tones.
His sculptural works are mainly found object pieces in the manner of Marcel Duchamp and temporary installations reminiscent of the Fluxus movement. The content of his art, particularly his early work, has focused on a unique ability to find beauty and hidden meaning in the mediocre and banal. His more recent work, since 2010, has been more limited in color, often monochromatic, the impasto combined with more transparent washes and empty spaces unpainted or realized in only white.
curriculum vitae
Mark Flake
selected exhibitions, competitions, and screenings:
(2024)
Still Life 2024, Las Laguna Art Gallery, Laguna Beach CA
(2023)
Trauma-In-Place, University of Eastern Kentucky, juried show
Naturalist Gallery, Washington DC, juried show
Life and Death, Toronto CA, exhibition and publication
Sweetpickles’ Rattlesnake Rodeo, Warped Witch Film Festival, Lafeyette LA, screenplay
Blood Bank, Budget Horror Festival, Milan IT, finalist
(2022)
Mayberry Dark, New York International Screenplay Awards, award winner
Swamp Critter, Midnight West Fest, Cheyenne WY, screening
Swamp Critter, Independent Horror Movie Awards, screening
Swamp Critter, Budget Horror Fest, screening
(2021)
Artists Teach, Cumberland Arts Council, Fayetteville NC
Protest Signs, Boseman Gallery, University of NC Wilmington
2021 National Multimedia, Wilson Arts Center, Wilson NC
Monochrome, 311 Gallery, Raleigh NC
Swamp Critter, Gorst Underground Film Festival, Port Orchard WA, screening
(2020)
Swamp Critter, Film Strip Fest, Atlanta GA, screening, award winner
(2019)
Monsters and Cars solo exhibition, Rosewood Gallery, Kettering OH
Fusion Mid Atlantic, Virginia Beach VA, award winner
(2018)
Rancho Mysterio, Camp Feast Film Festival, Cumming GA, screening, award winner
Mollinka, (screenplay) Maine Film Initiative, award winner
(2017)
Monsters and Cars exhibition, Delurk Gallery, Winston-Salem, NC
Intermission exhibition, Iredell Arts Council, Statesville, NC
(2016)
Rancho Mysterio (film) featured selection and screening, Cheyenne Zombiefest Independent Horror Film Festival
Sweetpickles’ Rattlesnake Rodeo (screenplay) selection, New York International Film Festival, New York, New York
Mollinka (screenplay) semi-finalist, Low Light Features Independent Film Festival, Orlando, Florida
(2015)
Monsters and Cars, solo show, New South Gallery, Statesville, NC
Sweetpickles’ Rattlesnake Rodeo (screenplay), finalist, Woods Hole International Film Festival, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
(2014)
“Venus Flytraps”, sculpture, permanent collection, Inner Self, Hanes Corporation, Charlotte NC
Intermission (solo painting and sculpture show), New South Gallery, Statesville NC
(2013)
Rancho Mysterio, (film), screening, New South Gallery, Statesville NC
Rancho Mysterio, (film), featured selection and screening, East Carolina Film Festival, Winterville NC
(2011)
Studio Gallery, Newton NC
(2009)
MCC Faculty Show, Statesville NC
(2008)
Health Tips (solo), Western Piedmont Community College, Morganton NC
(2004)
Local Showcase, Gallery 1688, Memphis TN
(2003)
Mark Flake (solo), Mercer Gallery, Garden City KS
(2002)
New Paintings and Sculpture (duo show), Carnegie Center, Dodge City KS
(2001)
KS Art Educators Exhibit, Carnegie Center, Dodge City KS
In the Land of Good and Plenties (solo), Blas Bleu Theatre Gallery, Fort Collins CO
(2000)
Paper Rock Scissors (3 person show), Johnson City TN
(1998-99)
East TN State University Faculty Show, William King Museum, Abington VA
(1997)
Paper In Particular, Columbia MO
First TN Bank Exhibition (awarded prize), Johnson City TN
Bristol Arts, Bristol VA
Memphis Arts Festival (awarded prize) Memphis, TN
Ah Men, Barrington IL
Spilled Milk (solo), Slocumb Gallery, Johnson City TN
Trouble at the Old Mill (solo), Cheyenne WY
(1996)
13 Oil Paintings (solo), University of Memphis
Numbest XXX , Plan B Gallery Memphis TN
Solstice, Earlville Opera House, Earlville, NY
TN All-State, Parthenon Gallery, Nashville TN
Men at Work, Barrington, IL
(1993)
Boys and Girls , Marshall Arts, Memphis TN
(1990)
Paul Edelstein Gallery Oil Exhibit, Memphis TN
(1989)
Metalwerks Gallery, Memphis TN
education
(1999)
Master of Fine Arts: East Tennessee State University
(1997)
Bachelor of Fine Arts: University of Memphis