The works are $100 each with $15 shipping normally, so if you have been considering purchasing a Borat to call your own you might want to take advantage of the offer and save a few bucks.

The offer will only last for about a week and is good for as many as you want, shipping will be completely free no matter where you live.

http://www.999borats.com

Oli here, back from a slightly mental summer and unfortunately some personal demands and other obligations resulted in the project falling behind schedule here a little. But the good news is that the site is growing, as it will continue to do, and I have reached the halfway point! 500 Borats!

True it may be a little off my original targets but that is part of the experience of the project, yet it is certainly not one that is ceasing. Far from it.

Probably the most thorough bit of press to be released in terms of a great explanation of the project has just recently been released at a great online magazine. It is “The Idea Factory Magazine” and I highly recommend you check it out for the other great stuff in all of it’s online issues to date and make a bookmark of it.

But here is the piece,

http://www.ideafactorymagazine.net/9A.html

thanks greatly to Lorette C. Luzajic for the interest and enthusiasm. I may post the full piece within the blog or news for easy accessibility. In fact it explains the project probably a little better than does the ‘About’ section right now!

I’ve gotten some other cool printed press, including a piece from IcelandAir’s in-flight magazine which I just got a copy of when family friends discovered it on a recent vacation and were kind enough to bring it back for me. I will be scanning and uploading too asap.

One big improvement that you may have already noticed is the inclusion of a really nice integrated gallery/shop - for the originals and now t-shirts as well.

I hope you enjoy browsing the many new works and the improvements I am adding to the site. I have an art show this weekend so huge progress on certain areas I have begun may not be up for a few more days, but SIGN UP for the chance to win what is now going to be a videocanvas lifesize Borat #1000 (yes it really is happening still!)

You can do that by the form or simply by sending a blank email to 999borats@aweber.com

All the best,

Oli

I’m sorry things have gone off the rails a little this week as I have had some unexpected stuff come up that has had to take brief priority but I am really truly about to be updating this site within hours and am really happy with the latest 125 portraits - in my humble opinion the best group yet

I will be posting a proper update with a variety of news about the project when I put the new works online sometime today.

But for the moment I wanted to go slightly off topic and include info about a show that I am having at my studio in Toronto for those of you who are in my neck of the woods. I will have select Borats on display too so it is a chance to see them in the flesh so to speak.

Anyway, here is the info, hope some of you can make it by!
Oli Goldsmith + Caroline Bacher

Art Exhibition ‘SMÄLL’

at Our Loft/Studio

It is Opening Thursday the 28th, 6pm-11pm

Will also be publicly open

Friday 29, 7pm-11pm
Saturday 30, 12pm-8pm
Sunday 1, 12pm-6pm
Monday 2, 2pm-9pm

‘The Smäll Show’ will feature mostly smaller scale works than are usual for me.

There will be around 30-50 new works on display, many sized between 8″x10″ - 30″x24″. This is the first show I have put together focused on smaller works. In addition to wanting to explore this size of the scale spectrum (where I have for the past year focussed on 4′x5′ and bigger) I wanted to have very affordable work available, which it will be - so whether you are interested in just coming to check out the work or have a chance to pick something up at a modest price it will be a great exhibit to come to if you can make it!

I will have a few larger news ones as well and am planning to have one of my early sample ‘video canvases’ (something I’ll be sharing more info about very soon) that if I have it ready in time will be something very cool to check out.

My Wife Caroline will have a selection of her wonderfully surreal works on wood panel available and on display as well at a similar size range.

For Some Added Fun We Are Also Going to Have Some Other Cool Stuff Available:

- If you haven’t heard about ACEO Art Cards think trading cards for art! The same size as a traditional sports card (3.5″x2.5″) and on a range of quality artist materials, Oli and Caroline have both begun producing original and limited edition ACEO cards, which will be on display and available for as little as $10

- Limit Edition DVD - Oli has put together a Special Limited Edition DVD featuring his experimental video work. The Limited Edition collectors DVD will be available and on display at the show!

- We will have a number of retail designer art toys available too!

It should be a fun and exciting show. Please pass around the info to your friends and anyone you think may be interested as I am trying to spread the word quickly!

And feel free to get in touch at smallshow@chostin.com response email with any questions or to request a private visit if you can’t make it by during public times.

The Event Will Be Taking Place At Our Studio Near Dufferin and Dupont (just north of Dupont, West off of Dufferin):

99 Chandos Ave. (signs will be posted on the building)
here is google map:

http://tinyurl.com/3y77j5

All are welcome and we hope to see you here!
(and bring a friend)

Thanks!

Oli Goldsmith

ps - There will be a selection from 999 Borats on display as well!

Being the human that I am (or at least was once told I am something like one

And this project being undoubtedly a majorly intense one in terms of the amount of work involved, I ended up having to sleep for a while to recharge a little last night. But If you are a list member you will still be getting instructions on accessing the latest 125 portraits sometime later today (would rather not predict an exact time as I don’t want you to look when it’s not there yet, but around late afternoon (EST) is what I expect).

I have decided that I will from here on be including the access info each week on the members only ‘Special People’ page to make it simpler all around. So you can check that later if you like as it is where the info will be, but maybe best just to keep an eye on your email later this afternoon or eary evening when I will be sending out the specifics.

Sorry for the delay, but getting all the work into the computer is rather time consuming at times as I try to make sure it is as accurate a representation as possible on screen, colours are right, etc. So bear with me and I’ll let you know right away when the week 3 round is online and available to you very soon!

Thanks,

oli

For the first time this week an entire new batch of 125 portraits are being released all at once for the Sunday members preview. I have a whole new set (portraits 251-375) that have not been put on display as of yet and decided to publish them all simultaneously to site members (999 Borats Special People) this week!

If you haven’t signed up yet, you can use the form here:

http://www.999borats.com/signup.html

Members will be given the access info later on tonight for how to log in tomorrow.  I will probably be, if not this week then next, sorting out a permanent set of login info so as to minimize the number of emails I end up sending, (though I am trying to keep it to the one each week), as well as one other cool surprise if I have time to finish it off. You can sign up at any time today or tomorrow and get the login info to see and have dibs on the latest round. As usual they will then be made public on Monday at

http://www.olibrand.com

There are some really cool ones that I’m excited to share with you. I’ve been trying to get the revisions to the site up as well, but wanted to focus on the new works first. The changes will definitely be online in the next couple days at the latest.

That’s all for now, I hope you enjoy the latest batch when I get them up!

Best,

Oli

http://www.999borats.com

I’ve been really busy getting new Borats made and also working on some really cool updates to the website that are going online soon.  I’m working on a more engaging yet in some ways simpler site interface that will have new features (like multiple ways to view the work in the gallery section - as an interactive flash gallery / slideshow similar to what is here now, also as an image wall/matrix, and also as an embedded eFolio or FlipAlbum (for this a browser plugin is required).

As well I am planning some new ways to get involved (ie. a remix element to the project, the specifics of the idea are still brewing but details will come soon).

And if you haven’t yet had a chance to see the new online storefront for original borats (the first 250 are available for purchase there now at only $100 each) definitely check it out here.   I will soon have other art items including originals, my print shop for limited ed. archival giclees, limited ed. DVDs, books and more all in the same place.

I look forward to sharing the new site with you shortly, and showing you the latest round of portraits.  Here are a couple recent ones I am particularly happy with

Talk to you soon,

oli

You’ve probably seen some gradual changes to the site, but there will be some more major ones, including a major overhaul in terms of how the main gallery is presented, very soon.

For now I have updated a number of cool new Borats you should definitely check out. Some nice new styles and experiments! (they may seem to be coming along slowly, but I am actually on track and have loads in progress right now, and a few more finished ones to add too later today. It’s going really well!).

I am about to be updating the server feed shortly with a cool new video treatment of the latest round. So if you have the screensaver installed you can expect a new visual treat in a few hours. If you don’t have it turned on, put it back for now… or if you haven’t installed it yet, grab it from the downloads page on the main project site. You’ll definitely want to not miss the cool things I have in store for it these next 2 months! Some good surprises for sure.

I also added a downloadable flipalbum (interactive portfolio of portraits 1-200) for site members, so if you’ve signed up you should have gotten access instructions sent to you about login info for the members area where you can download it (make sure to confirm the email link when you sign up). I will be updating the ‘eVolume’ as the project progresses, so there will be a new version made available every once in a while I will let you know about.

I am also going to be adding some more video content to the site, showing my working process and talking a bit about the project. So look for that shortly.

Although the current 999 Borats Art Shop, where the first round of originals are currently for sale is a big improvement on what was there earlier, I am also in the midst of setting up a more comprehensive e-shop environment that is easier to browse. But for now the page works great, let me know if you have questions or experience any trouble if you are trying to buy a portrait. It uses PayPal’s standard, super-secure checkout at the moment for order processing.

oli

At 7pm EST today (Monday June 4, 2007)
The first 125 original portraits from the 999 Borats project will be made available for purchase online!

There were some technical difficulties getting the online storefront up and running yesterday and so I have  given the site membership (999 Borats Special People) extra time today to have first dibs on the works.  Sign up for your chance to have the same privledges in weeks to come :)  There have been sales made, but lots of great work will definitely still be up for grabs.  More details will follow but keep an eye on the site today for the original artshop to go live about 6 hours or so from now.

The first selection of 125 portraits, includes the most important early pieces from the series as well as a great mixture of original art right up to the most recent. There is a diversity of styles and a quality first round.  Though the project will roll-out with 125 portraits a week for 8 weeks this one is particularly important and special as it includes the early works that got the ball rolling on this crazy and awesome art adventure - and there are still as of this moment some of (in my opinion) the most important early originals available.

Works are $100 each with shipping discounts and bonus bundled item details revealed in the completely secure, PayPal checkout shop.

So check back later today!

best,

oli

http://www.999borats.com 

the time has finally come

I thank you all for bearing with me these past few days while I’ve bee ironing out logistics issues and other tech stuff to do with the roll out of making portraits available for purchase. I wanted to make a quick posting though to affirm that the selection of the final 125 first portraits to go on sale, along with their FINAL numberings, has been completed.

Sorry it has lead to some delays in getting other new works up on display, but more of those will come today too for everyone to see (and a couple never before seen ones snuck their way into the 125 available today too).

Today is the very first time the originals are being made for purchase.

Though I know I am repeating myself a little here, today (Sunday June 3, 2007) the members of “999 Borats Special People” will receive a couple emails. One within the next hour or so with the exact procedure and password for today’s special access to the shop - where you can browse and buy originals with first dibs on a wonderful selection of artworks, including a selection of most recent additions as well as the ones that began this crazy project in the first place!!

It’s not too late to get access, just sign up and check your mail for confirmation.
You’ll get the access instructions forwarded almost immediately via email.

I will be following that important message with one shortly thereafter with the previously promised link to access the member’s only download area where you can grab the bonus efolio pt 1 and some special new surprises.

But let me go take care of the final details here, I just wanted to assure you that yes indeed today is the day and to keep your eyes on your email over the next couple hours as the password and link to the shop will be in your inbox shortly! (if you want to make sure not to miss it allow any messages with 999borats in the subject line to pass through your email filters)

wishing everyone the best,
thanks for your support and have fun checking out (and maybe staking your claim on?) the official 999Borats week1 001-125 today!

The password will be removed and link made public tomorrow (Monday June 4th) and instructions will be added to the site home page, along with additional news and updates!

Best,

oli

If you were hoping to grab a Borat to call your own on Friday I’m afraid to say plans have changed (but only moderatly) and you’ll have to wait until Sunday… my apologies, as I have decided on the final process for making originals available for sale (125 works - a surprise which ones - will be made available each week for 8 weeks in a row) and Sunday seemed a better day to launch the new ones on, thus I have decided to wait until this weekend to put up the first set in the online shop area I have been putting together. Sign up on the site and you’ll receive the password to get special access on this Sunday and those to come (everyone else will have to wait until Mondays to see what is available) and definitely keep an eye on the site over the next few days for a whole pile of additions (both new portraits and new site features). Including a cool new gallery implementation.

BTW, I continue to keep the original 999 Borats Flickr group, where this all began, updated too (and will continue to)… so you can always check out the portraits there too. While you are there check out my overall Flickr pages to browse through all my other work - I have a more thorough portfolio there currently than on my website (oligoldsmith.com) with over 1200 works to peruse on Flickr.

But back to Borat, there is a brand new PRweb news release about the project you can check out here.

And lots to look forward to on the site today and tomorrow, so make sure you bookmark 999 borats and check back again soon!

oli