Roy G. Biv

The Virtual Artist:

Roy G. Biv

Current Residency:

Santa Cruz

Medium (or Large, if he eats too much):

Full spectrum light macrame. Also knitting, crochetting and weaving.

Most Recent Work:

A three part performance based on the story of Rumpelstiltskin that involves spinning sunbeams into a room-full of balls of yarn. When asked about the deeper meanings behind the work, he answered: "I was making my own portable light sources. That way I can make sweaters wherever I am."

History:

Originally born in Seattle, his childhood experience of light deprivation often motivates his work. He attended the University of Arizona with a degree in Basketweaving (BFB), then with a taste in his mouth for the sciences (and the well-founded fear that he would flunk Organic Chemistry if he tried,) he earned his masters in Minneapolis in the Lite Sciences. (An MLS, you know, those guys that come up with lite foods.) Soon after his education he moved into a small loft in a smaller town outside of Minneapolis where he found himself involved in research on light boxes for people who suffer winter depression. Eventually he had to move to sunny California due to scarcity of materials in Minnesota. He has since then done much work to help the light-deprived in the U.S., England, Finland and Alaska.

Other Achievements:

A line of chic, unisex knitwear called "LaMpShAdE" that is regularly featured in fashion magazines, "...as light as it is warm...." ("The Fashion WeatherVain", May, 1995). "Gotta have a day job," was his comment to our reporters.

His Beret:

Roy felted it himself from fine fibers in the ultraviolet range which glow in the dark. He can be seen strolling the sunny streets of Santa Cruz with a big, curly peacock feather in the brim.

Submitted by Cwhav0c@aol.com, on Thursday, 1 June, 1995