Marc Horowitz
Encyclopedia
Marc Horowitz is an artist, actor, writer, filmmaker, comic, and internet celebrity based in Los Angeles
, California
.
Horowitz is the son of Karen Meyer a schoolteacher and Burton Horowitz a pharmacist. At age eight, Horowitz founded his first company, a ghost removal and cleaning service. He had his first press at nine when he organized a breakdancing competition as entertainment for senior citizens.
At age fifteen, Horowitz left home. For a while, he lived in an actor friend's basement and attended high school in Newburgh, Indiana
at Castle High School, playing football and running track. At age seventeen, he attended Indiana University Bloomington
, receiving his degree in Business Marketing and Microeconomics. He went on to attend the San Francisco Art Institute
, where he studied under Harrell Fletcher
and Jon Rubin
.
In 2003, Horowitz and a long time collaborator, Jon Brumit, reinvented themselves as the business team of Sliv & Dulet Enterprises and opened an office in downtown San Francisco (at New Langton Arts
). They staffed their company with 30 people (artists) of various backgrounds to help them "develop a summer line of products and services," which they pitched to local businesses. Some examples included a fog removal initiative for the Golden Gate Bridge
, a full-service office in a tent, and a Swiss Army Cubicle.
In 2005, Horowitz gained national attention while working on a catalog shoot for Crate and Barrel
. He wrote "Dinner w/ Marc" along with his cell number on a dry-erase board featured in a home office shot for the catalog. When the catalog was distributed, Horowitz received more than 30,000 phone calls. He spent the following year driving across the country and having dinner with individuals that had called. This project was named "The National Dinner Tour". He was also given the distinction by People
magazine to be added to their list of the "50 Most Eligible Bachelors".
In 2007, Dazed and Confused named Horowitz's website, www.ineedtostopsoon.com, one of the 50 best sites.
Horowitz has exhibited his artwork internationally. In 2007, he had a show "More Better" at AMT Gallery in Como
, Italy
, "The Center for Improved Living" at Analix Forever in Geneva
, Switzerland
, and "Breakthrough" at Nuke Gallery in Paris
, France
. In 2008, Horowitz presented "The Me and You Show" at the prestigious Hayward Gallery
in London
, England
. He worked with Oliver Guy-Watkins
.
Horowitz was featured in Nissan’s national ad campaign, “Seven Days in a Sentra," where he lived in a 2007 Nissan Sentra
for seven days. The campaign was covered by the New York Times Business section and AdWeek
.
Soon after, Horowitz was hired by Crispin Porter + Bogusky
to play Mr. Track Town for a series of Nike
& NBC
commercials for the USA Olympic
Trials 2008 held in Eugene, Oregon
.
In the Summer of 2008, Horowitz completed "The Marc Horowitz Signature Series." The series chronicled his journey across America as he drove along the shape of his signature. During the trip, Horowitz made 19 stops to improve the lives of the citizens he encountered, albeit in his own unconventional way. For one of the stops, he started an "Anonymous Semi-nudist Colony" in Nampa, Idaho
. He stopped in Craig, Colorado
to bury people's problems in a public park plot. Horowitz also stopped in Memphis, Tennessee
to simply ask the citizens "Whaddaya love?" as part of the series. For his last stop on the series, Horowitz stopped at Wrightsville Beach where he froze a briefcase in the middle of a 7 feet (2.1 m) patriotic ice sculpture challenged passers-by to guess when they think the ice will melt. The winner was awarded the suitcase and the goodies inside. He filmed all his stops and they are aired as webisodes on Crackle
as "The Marc Horowitz Signature Series."
During December, 2008, Horowitz attempted to bail out the US's banks by creating action paintings that he gave to various banks to sell at auctions.
From November 2008 through February 2009, Horowitz broadcast his life live 24/7 on the internet for a live audience as Talkshow 247. During this time he faced eviction from his apartment, hitchhiked across Los Angeles
, hosted Thanksgiving Island, married his long-time true love and had several death threats from his downstairs neighbor.
From August 10 through August 18, 2009, Peter Baldes and Horowitz made the first virtual live-streaming broadcast cross-country road trip, calling it "Google Maps Road Trip." Using only Google Maps
, they drove from Los Angeles to Richmond, Virginia
. They were interviewed by NPR Weekend Edition for their innovative "vacation." They streamed live on ustream.tv.
In February 2010, G4 announced that Horowitz would be one of the hosts on a new series, It's Effin Science. They shot ten episodes.
From November 1–30, 2010, Marc crowdsourced his daily decisions on his "The Advice of Strangers" website. People were able to visit the site http://www.theadviceofstrangers.com and vote in real time on the choices he made everyday.
Marc was one of 25 artists to receive AOL's 25 for 25 grant in November 2010.
Marc (MFA '12) is currently enrolled at University of Southern California
Roski School of Fine Arts as a graduate student earning his MFA
degree.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Horowitz is the son of Karen Meyer a schoolteacher and Burton Horowitz a pharmacist. At age eight, Horowitz founded his first company, a ghost removal and cleaning service. He had his first press at nine when he organized a breakdancing competition as entertainment for senior citizens.
At age fifteen, Horowitz left home. For a while, he lived in an actor friend's basement and attended high school in Newburgh, Indiana
Newburgh, Indiana
Newburgh is a town in Ohio Township, Warrick County, Indiana, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 3,325 at the 2010 census, which also recorded a population of 342,815 for the entire Evansville metropolitan area.-Geography:...
at Castle High School, playing football and running track. At age seventeen, he attended Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington is a public research university located in Bloomington, Indiana, in the United States. IU Bloomington is the flagship campus of the Indiana University system. Being the flagship campus, IU Bloomington is often referred to simply as IU or Indiana...
, receiving his degree in Business Marketing and Microeconomics. He went on to attend the San Francisco Art Institute
San Francisco Art Institute
San Francisco Art Institute is a school of higher education in contemporary art with the main campus in the Russian Hill district of San Francisco, California. Its graduate center is in the Dogpatch neighborhood. The private, non-profit institution is accredited by WASC and is a member of the...
, where he studied under Harrell Fletcher
Harrell Fletcher
Harrell Fletcher is an American artist in Portland, Oregon who creates socially engaged interdisciplinary projects.-Early work:While completing his degree at California College of Arts and Crafts, Fletcher began collaborating with artist Jon Rubin...
and Jon Rubin
Jon Rubin
Jon Rubin is an American artist living and working in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. He's also professor at Carnegie Mellon University. His work "explores the social dynamics of public places and the idiosyncrasies of individual and group behavior."...
.
In 2003, Horowitz and a long time collaborator, Jon Brumit, reinvented themselves as the business team of Sliv & Dulet Enterprises and opened an office in downtown San Francisco (at New Langton Arts
New Langton Arts
-About:New Langton Arts was a not-for-profit arts organization focusing on contemporary art founded in 1975 in San Francisco, California. Part of the first wave of alternative art spaces in the US, New Langton Arts was a leader in exhibiting new media forms in art, and involving artists in the...
). They staffed their company with 30 people (artists) of various backgrounds to help them "develop a summer line of products and services," which they pitched to local businesses. Some examples included a fog removal initiative for the Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, the structure links the city of San Francisco, on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, to...
, a full-service office in a tent, and a Swiss Army Cubicle.
In 2005, Horowitz gained national attention while working on a catalog shoot for Crate and Barrel
Crate and Barrel
Crate & Barrel is a 170+ store chain of American retail stores, based in Northbrook, Illinois, specializing in housewares, furniture , and home accessories. Its corporate name is Euromarket Designs, Inc. The company is wholly owned by Otto GmbH.-Founding:Gordon and Carole Segal opened the first...
. He wrote "Dinner w/ Marc" along with his cell number on a dry-erase board featured in a home office shot for the catalog. When the catalog was distributed, Horowitz received more than 30,000 phone calls. He spent the following year driving across the country and having dinner with individuals that had called. This project was named "The National Dinner Tour". He was also given the distinction by People
People (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
magazine to be added to their list of the "50 Most Eligible Bachelors".
In 2007, Dazed and Confused named Horowitz's website, www.ineedtostopsoon.com, one of the 50 best sites.
Horowitz has exhibited his artwork internationally. In 2007, he had a show "More Better" at AMT Gallery in Como
Como
Como is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy.It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, "The Center for Improved Living" at Analix Forever in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, and "Breakthrough" at Nuke Gallery in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. In 2008, Horowitz presented "The Me and You Show" at the prestigious Hayward Gallery
Hayward Gallery
The Hayward Gallery is an art gallery within the Southbank Centre, part of an area of major arts venues on the South Bank of the River Thames, in central London, England. It is sited adjacent to the other Southbank Centre buildings and also the Royal National Theatre and British Film Institute...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He worked with Oliver Guy-Watkins
Oliver Guy-Watkins
Oliver Guy-Watkins is a British writer and artist.- Background :Guy-Watkins was born and raised in Gloucestershire, England. He attended Beaudesert Park School and St. Edwards School in Cheltenham, before moving onto Gloscat to study English and Drama...
.
Horowitz was featured in Nissan’s national ad campaign, “Seven Days in a Sentra," where he lived in a 2007 Nissan Sentra
Nissan Sentra
The Nissan Sentra is a compact car produced by automaker Nissan Motors and is generally a rebadged export version of the Japanese Nissan Sunny. The name "Sentra" is not used in Japan....
for seven days. The campaign was covered by the New York Times Business section and AdWeek
Adweek
Adweek is a weekly American advertising trade publication that was first published in 1978....
.
Soon after, Horowitz was hired by Crispin Porter + Bogusky
Crispin Porter + Bogusky
Crispin Porter + Bogusky , a member of publicly-traded MDC Partners, is an advertising agency that currently employs around 1,000 people. It was founded in 1965 by Sam Crispin.. Crispin then became partners with Chuck Porter and Alex Bogusky...
to play Mr. Track Town for a series of Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
& NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
commercials for the USA Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
Trials 2008 held in Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
.
In the Summer of 2008, Horowitz completed "The Marc Horowitz Signature Series." The series chronicled his journey across America as he drove along the shape of his signature. During the trip, Horowitz made 19 stops to improve the lives of the citizens he encountered, albeit in his own unconventional way. For one of the stops, he started an "Anonymous Semi-nudist Colony" in Nampa, Idaho
Nampa, Idaho
Nampa is the largest and the fastest growing city in Canyon County, Idaho, USA. The population of Nampa was 81,557 at the 2010 census. Nampa is located about west of Boise along Interstate 84, and six miles west of Meridian. Nampa is part of the Boise metropolitan area...
. He stopped in Craig, Colorado
Craig, Colorado
The City of Craig is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Moffat County, Colorado, United States. The population was 9,189 at the 2000 census...
to bury people's problems in a public park plot. Horowitz also stopped in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
to simply ask the citizens "Whaddaya love?" as part of the series. For his last stop on the series, Horowitz stopped at Wrightsville Beach where he froze a briefcase in the middle of a 7 feet (2.1 m) patriotic ice sculpture challenged passers-by to guess when they think the ice will melt. The winner was awarded the suitcase and the goodies inside. He filmed all his stops and they are aired as webisodes on Crackle
Crackle
Crackle is a digital network and studio, featuring commercially supported streaming video content in Flash Video format. It is owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, and its content consists primarily of Sony's library of films and television shows...
as "The Marc Horowitz Signature Series."
During December, 2008, Horowitz attempted to bail out the US's banks by creating action paintings that he gave to various banks to sell at auctions.
From November 2008 through February 2009, Horowitz broadcast his life live 24/7 on the internet for a live audience as Talkshow 247. During this time he faced eviction from his apartment, hitchhiked across Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, hosted Thanksgiving Island, married his long-time true love and had several death threats from his downstairs neighbor.
From August 10 through August 18, 2009, Peter Baldes and Horowitz made the first virtual live-streaming broadcast cross-country road trip, calling it "Google Maps Road Trip." Using only Google Maps
Google Maps
Google Maps is a web mapping service application and technology provided by Google, free , that powers many map-based services, including the Google Maps website, Google Ride Finder, Google Transit, and maps embedded on third-party websites via the Google Maps API...
, they drove from Los Angeles to Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. They were interviewed by NPR Weekend Edition for their innovative "vacation." They streamed live on ustream.tv.
In February 2010, G4 announced that Horowitz would be one of the hosts on a new series, It's Effin Science. They shot ten episodes.
From November 1–30, 2010, Marc crowdsourced his daily decisions on his "The Advice of Strangers" website. People were able to visit the site http://www.theadviceofstrangers.com and vote in real time on the choices he made everyday.
Marc was one of 25 artists to receive AOL's 25 for 25 grant in November 2010.
Marc (MFA '12) is currently enrolled at University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
Roski School of Fine Arts as a graduate student earning his MFA
MFA
MFA may refer to:An academic degree or professional field:* Masters of Finance and Accounting* Master of Financial Analysis* Master of Fine Arts* Material Flow Accounting* Material Flow AnalysisA concept or phrase:* Made For Ads...
degree.
External links
- Marc Horowitz's Official Site
- Marc Horowitz Select Work & Projects on flickrFlickrFlickr is an image hosting and video hosting website, web services suite, and online community that was created by Ludicorp in 2004 and acquired by Yahoo! in 2005. In addition to being a popular website for users to share and embed personal photographs, the service is widely used by bloggers to...
- Marc Horowitz and ’The Center for Improved Living‘ - Time Out article on "The Me & You Show" at the Hayward GalleryHayward GalleryThe Hayward Gallery is an art gallery within the Southbank Centre, part of an area of major arts venues on the South Bank of the River Thames, in central London, England. It is sited adjacent to the other Southbank Centre buildings and also the Royal National Theatre and British Film Institute...
- profile at the San Francisco Art InstituteSan Francisco Art InstituteSan Francisco Art Institute is a school of higher education in contemporary art with the main campus in the Russian Hill district of San Francisco, California. Its graduate center is in the Dogpatch neighborhood. The private, non-profit institution is accredited by WASC and is a member of the...
- A man, a mule and a mission -- Conceptual artist Marc Horowitz tests a new/old way to run errands through the streets of San Francisco - San Francisco ChronicleSan Francisco Chroniclethumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
article - "The Marc Horowitz Signature Series" - article on Monsters & Critics
- Marc Horowitz is represented by Analix Forever Gallery
- http://www.googlemapsroadtrip.com/