Klublog

Arts Fest and Frank Lloyd Wright

2012-03-11T17:40:00.003-07:00

Image courtesy of the artist

For those of you who do not know me personally, I am the fine arts librarian at a community college in south Louisiana. This week the college kicks off Arts Fest 2012. This is an annual event where the campus hosts a variety of art related activities, exhibitions, and shows for the next two weeks. We in the library have been receiving calls every day asking the location of the gallery. This is where a display of student paintings, prints, and drawings will be exhibited (they were setting it up on Saturday afternoon), and based on the number of calls people are very excited about this. Arts fest is also going to feature a visit by Louisiana artist Kathryn Hunter. An example of her instaltion art is pictured above. The full schedule of events can be read here.

Arts Fest is a celebration of all art forms. There's to be theater performances, music recitals, dance demonstrations, movies screened, and of course visual art. I enjoy the collaborative efforts to combine all the arts. Too often, particularly in academic settings, I believe there is an effort to compartmentalize the arts by discipline. However, when these forms of human expression are brought together the results are usually amazing, more so than when presented individually.

For example, I have provided the following video link:(link removed from internet, hopefully it will be replaced later)

This was a collaborative effort between Los Angeles singer Simone White, and her friend Hideyuki Katsumata. It was created as a response to the terrible earthquake that hit Japan one year ago. I find the images and the singing to be a haunting reminder of the power of nature. And I think the execution of this piece, with both music and printed animation, adds a great deal to what is being communicated.

Finally, I wanted to include a story and link about a dog house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, even though it doesn't really fit with the theme of this post. The article can be found here. I enjoy this story. It's too bad Eddie never got to enjoy the house that was designed for him.

Art Show

2012-03-05T20:29:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday I went to a one-night all-night art show. To have the exhibition at night for one night only, added to the experience of the art. The painting above is an example of the art shown, created by William G Osborne III.

Osborne wrote, in his artist statement, that his art was meant to be experienced as it was. The works were not meant to be complicated depictions, but full representations of optical imagery. He stated that each image was based on something he had seen/experienced but that it was not important for viewers to know what. By exhibiting them for one night at night, the artist created an environment in which to focus solely on that art. If one were to step right outside the gallery, darkness and solitude would envelop.

The view up the street:

The view down the street:

There was little else going on.

I found the concept of the show interesting, but I was not terribly impressed by the art as it stood alone. I think that had this show been open during normal gallery hours, the impact of the work would not be as effective. In this case the exhibition was less of a show and more an installation piece.

Some upcoming shows that I might attend are below.

Encaustic Printmaking Exhibition March 10-April 6
Reception Saturday March 24

LSU Art Faculty Exhibition March 7-30
Reception Friday, March 9

New Mona Lisa

2012-02-26T20:01:00.000-08:00

Joaquín

Recently the art world was sent all a twitter by the discovery of a new Mona Lisa copy. Unlike previous copies though, it appears that this one was created along side the original in Leonardo's studio. The full article on this discovery can be read here.

Martin Bailey, the author, stated that there could have been any number of reasons for this to have occurred. He also stated that the work was most likely completed by a student studying under Leonardo, and that the close examination of this copy would shed new light on how Leonardo composed this famous painting.

I have never been a huge fan, however the Mona Lisa has fascinated other viewers for centuries. When I taught art history and art appreciation, no other single work of art was asked about more regularly than this one. With this new discovery more questions are sure to be raised. What I do find interesting is the hope to learn more about how Leonardo worked. All artists work differently and I think it is interesting to compare strategies and techniques.

Calls to Artists

Petroleum Paradox: For Better or For Worse?
Eligibility: Open to all US self-identified women artists.
About the Exhibition: Petroleum Paradox: For Better or For Worse is a collaborative exhibition with the Women’s Caucus for Art and Denise Bibro Fine Art. Please upload a current Bio and Artist Resume as the Denise Bibro Gallery will be promoting the artists selected and their work.

2012 Sequim Arts Juried Art Show
Sequim Arts, located in Sequim, Washington, is seeking entries for its annual juried art exhibit. Work in both 2D and 3D form will be accepted. Cash and merchandise prizes totaling over $1,500. The show will be hosted at the Museum & Arts Center in the Sequim~Dungeness Valley exhibit space and will run from May 1 to May 28.

Works on PAPER and of CLAY - 22nd Mid-Atlantic
The d'ART Center in Norfolk, VA is holding a Call to Artists for the 22nd Annual Mid-Atlantic Art Exhibition: “Works on PAPER and of CLAY”. This national art exhibition awards $3,200 in prizes! The juried exhibition is held at d'ART Center from April 27 - June 29, 2012.
Entry Deadline: March 6, 2012. Entry Fee: $30 for 5 entries.

2012 Maritime Art Exhibition & Sale' Call for Artists
International Deadline: March 15, 2012 - The Mackinac Arts Council of Mackinac Island, Michigan is pleased to announce an exhibition of maritime themed art to be held at the Mackinac Island Public Library June 30 to July 31, 2012. The submissions will be juried by the Mackinac Arts Council Jury Committee.

First Street Gallery, New York, Call for Artists: 2012 National Juried Exhibition
Eligibilty: Open to U.S. resident artists at least 18 yrs. old. Exception: Artists currently represented by First Street Gallery.

Eligible works include oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, drawings, prints and sculpture in any medium. No photography, video, film, installation, or mechanically reproduced artwork (computer, printer, giclees, etc.). The width of work, including the frame, may not exceed 30 inches. No height limit. Maximum weight of sculpture: 50 pounds. No wall hung sculpture. Sculptors must provide floor stand with a maximum footprint of 30″ x 30″. Maximum width or depth for sculpture is 30 inches. No height limit. All work must be suitably framed, wired and ready for hanging. Works on paper must be framed under plexiglass or glass.

Christo Project in Colorado

2012-02-19T19:57:00.000-08:00

The environmental artist Christo is working on another big project here in the United States. This time he wants to cover a few miles of the Arkansas River with a fabric canopy. NPR covered some developments in this project, and it is linked here.

Wolfgang Volz/Copyright Christo 2007

The NPR article discusses the major points of this project including the viewpoints of both those in favor of the project, and those against it. The author described how Christo works; creating sketches models and mock-ups of the project and then selling them to raise the funds necessary to put the project in place. Christo was interviewed and he again commented how the entire project is the art, including the people protesting, the permits, and everything associated directly or indirectly with the completion of the project.

I have always had a love/hate relationship with the work of Christo. On the one hand I can see the arguments that it is not art, and more a construction project. On the other, I like how Christo brings issues of land use into the realm of art. One thing is certain: he makes valid arguments in a creative way that really get people to respond, both positively and negatively.

How an artwork develops

2012-02-05T18:58:00.000-08:00

The above image is one of several that I sent off for exhibition in New York later this month. For this show I was looking at pipes. Each image is one relating to pipes, and the structures created supporting the movement of liquid though pipes. For this blog entry I could write all about my thoughts on pipes and why I was interested in creating a body of work focused on pipes, but I don't feel like posting that here. Most of that information is included in the artists statement for the exhibition, and I would rather write about how these images came together.

I spent the better half of the last month looking at pipes, thinking about pipes, and sketching pipes. I almost always have my sketch book close at hand, and for this show that frequently meant going out and sketching pipes. An example of these sketches is below.

This was one of the first sketches I made, and therefore one of the first paintings created for this show emerged from this sketch. Is it here.

I think it is interesting that for this project the first paintings nearly matched the sketches. As I got more involved in the the process however, the paintings began to deviate slightly from the sketches. Look at the example below.

This image was derived from the following sketch, but notice how it has slight differences.

From here I moved further into my own interpretations of the sketches I had made. For example this sketch:

helped to inform this image:

Some of the most interesting images, I think, are amalgamations of several sketches:

To be clear, the deviation from the sketches I made to the more imaginative paintings was not something that I conscientiously set out to do. I'm not sure why this happened, but I do think that the more I thought about pipes, the more comfortable I became in creating my own interpretation of their architecture. There were a few images in this set of paintings that I really like, including the one at the opening of this post, which is my favorite. This project has given me a lot to think about, not the least of which is how the more thought I put into an image, the more interesting it becomes.

Surreal Salon IV

2012-01-22T09:46:00.000-08:00

The posting for this week is somewhat of a followup from a previous posting in 2010. In that entry I briefly discussed a Halloween costume I wore for a party. It can be read here. That entry was and is my most-viewed post to date. This fact contributed to my decision to reuse this costume for the Surreal Salon IV costume party.

If you are unfamiliar with the painting portrayed, Rene Magritte's Son of Man is presented below.

The reaction to my costume was very positive. When I wore this to the Halloween party in 2010 I brought a printed copy of the painting with me to explain what I was. This time, not only did I NOT need to bring a copy of the painting, I was one of about a dozen Rene Margritte "apple people." People were very excited to see me, and I cannot recall another time when I had my picture taken by more strangers. At one point, myself and three other "apples" were grouped together for a group picture. See below.

The Surreal Salon IV was an exhibition and celebration of surrealist art featuring over 60 works by 54 artists from across the country. The costume party was an extension of the opening reception. More on this can be read here, with an article from The Advocate here. The event was very well attended, and the imaginative costumes present added to the fun atmosphere. An example is found below.

This event featured something for everyone. Outside the gallery the band Mobley kept things going with superb music. If you have time click the link and give them a listen. Prior to this event I had not heard of Mobley (from Austin, TX), but they are very good. In addition, there were drinks, and a chocolate fondue waterfall. An area off the main gallery also allowed participants the opportunity to engage in "Surreal Games." To top it all off, the art exhibited was excellent. I have included examples of some of my favorites.

The Surreal Salon has become an annual event. I had a wonderful time, and plan to attend the Surreal Salon V next year. I just need to come up with a better, more original costume. Any ideas?

The second two point post

2012-01-16T18:34:00.000-08:00

The above video from YouTube is the first of a two topic post. A written article from NPR describing this sculpture in detail can be found here. There is much about this work that I find appealing. Not the least of which is how Chris Burden (the artist) describes this as a means of getting away from the work he normally does. Burden typically works in conceptual/performance art. Taking time to get away from how one typically works and "playing" was the theme of last weeks post, and it is good to see others out there with a similar philosophy to my own.

Playing is an integral element of this sculpture, and for me, a sense of fun is derived from simply observing the video. I also like how something as simple as gravity and free-rolling cars can recreate the visual chaos of everyday humanity. The noise, the movement, and the cyclical nature of the cars endlessly looping are very descriptive of life in the city.

Courtesy Andrea Fuhrman

The second topic of this post relates to graffiti art. There is much written about graffiti art, with some artists even gaining recognition for their works. Bansky is but one example. The article, linked here, examines graffiti differently. Here images painted on railroad cars are examined, and then micro images are created from them. Andrea Fuhrman, the artist who produced this work, described how she got interested in working this way. Her insights are unique, and I found her story of how she became an artist interesting. The paths we take as artists, and what has lead us to them is always different, and I think it is partially what shapes each individual artistic vision.

Personalized Project

2012-01-10T14:45:00.000-08:00

I think it is important for artists to experiment and explore different ways of working without feeling pressured to produce a finished, museum quality work. I would add that artworks produced through "play" are just as valid as those works produced for exhibition. I recently adopted this approach in a self-imposed project that lasted from Dec 6 through January 6.

My goal was to complete a self-portrait everyday for 30 days. I allowed myself the opportunity to use any medium in any size. It had also been a while since I worked directly with dry media, so most of my images were drawings. Portraiture has always been a weakness of mine, so I felt that this project would afford me the opportunity to sharpen my skills in this area.

On the surface, the resulting images are terrible. Two examples can be seen below.

However, the value of these images is found not in the finished product, but rather in the process that created them. If you are looking for a new way of working, or just want to try something you have not done in a while, I recommend developing a project of your own.

When does an artwork fail?

2012-01-03T07:48:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!
I had planned on posting this before the holidays, but I was travelling and things got away from me. On a recent visit to an academic institution I observed the following:

This got me thinking about the success of visual works of art, and when and how they fail. I think a work fails when it becomes acceptable to place a giant planter full of plants, and all kinds of information boards in front of the work.

I commented on this to a friend who was with me at the time, and she stated that in the many years she had visited this institution, she had never noticed that sculpture before. How long has it been there? How long has it been completely ignored by all who chance to see it?

I tried to find out more about the sculpture, by the attempted examination of the placard on the wall adjacent to the object. This was difficult because of all the items blocking the path. I managed to snap a quick photograph of the placard however. The quality is not that great due to limited space restrictions caused by other objects. It can be viewed below.

This post is not meant merely as a criticism of those that own the art. They have their reasons for posting information in that area. It could also be argued that this is a rationale for the periodic exchange of new works in any given space. A fresh update of several works a year would revitalize the area and provide a different feel each time the work was switched out. Rather, this post is meant as reflection on when a work of art has become tired, and has failed to capture the interest of the viewer.

As artists it is our job to communicate with the observer. Part of this conversation takes place in the context of how the art work is presented, which may or may not be in our control. However, the value of what is expressed in the work is under our control, and it is this issue that artists must focus on.

Upcoming Calls to Artists

January 31, 2012 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION $3000 in
cash awards; valuable prizes provided by Datacolor, global leader in
color management solutions and color communication technology; a group
show in Manhattan's .NO gallery; an online exhibition and a feature
article in IMPRINTS Magazine Spring/Summer 2012 issue. All mediums,
styles and schools of thought to participate. Experimental and mixed
techniques are welcome. Only 2-D work is eligible. Entry
fee. Click here for more info.

January 30, 2012 CALL FOR SKETCHBOOK PROJECT ENTRIES Art House Co-op
is proud to announce our brand new project: The Limited Edition
Vol. 1! The Limited Edition is a collaborative series of art books
created by 5,000 artists from across the globe. Anyone from
anywhere in the world can participate in the project. Sign up to
receive a blank sketchbook in the mail, then fill it up and send it
back. Your work will be cataloged in the Brooklyn Art Library in NYC
and published in the Limited Edition art book series. Entry
fee. Click here for more info.

February 1, 2012 INTERNATIONAL REALIST PAINTING COMPETITION In
addition to scholarships and hosting the largest online museum
dedicated to traditional painting, we hold one of the most prestigious
competitions for living artists who paint in the realist
tradition. This year we are offering $50,000 in cash awards including
$10,000 for Best in Show. Participants can compete in 6 categories:
Figurative, Landscape, Animals, Still life, Sculpture, and
Drawing. This year we are also introducing five new awards designed to
encourage creativity and ambition in the arts: Most Creative, Best
Social Commentary, Best Portrait, Most Ambitious Work, and Best Trompe
L'oeil. More info here.

March 31 2012 The St. Tammany Art Association announces the 47th National Juried Exhibit July 7-August 11, 2012. Juried by Miranda Lash, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the New Orleans Museum of Art. $2,500 in awards. E-mail info@sttammanyartassociation.org, call (985)892-8650, or send SASE to St. Tammany Art Association, 320 N. Columbia St., Covington, LA 70433. More info here.

Two point post

2011-12-07T19:25:00.000-08:00

Image courtesy Hibernia Times

One of the things I'd like to draw your attention to in this post, was the recent revelation that Vincent Van Gogh may not have committed suicide. The BBC reported this story here. The author of the BBC article outlined how two boys from the nearby town of Auvers-sur-Oise, France were possibly playing in the same field where Van Gogh was painting. The boys were described as carrying a malfunctioning gun as part of a cowboy costume, and the author reported that after these youths accidentally shot the now-famous artist, Van Gogh protected them from recrimination by taking the blame.

This is interesting, and casts a new light on the artist.

The second item I'd like to draw your attention to involves the work of Dave DeVries. Mr. DeVries draws his inspiration from the work of children. Nothing new in that, in fact it is widely known that Picasso was also very much inspired by the work of children. What is unique, is how DeVries uses this inspiration. He takes the illustration of a child and executes it in a realistic manner, capturing both the essence and the imagination of the original image. I think his images are amazing. A link to more about DeVries work can be found here. A sample is also pictured below. What do you think?

Image courtesy of Elezea

Bizarre art

2011-11-14T10:15:00.000-08:00

Iamge credit: http://chicagotrip.net/crown-fountain

The topic for this week is bizarre art. A recent news item relating to bizarre art was released, and this got me thinking about the way people react to art, in particular art that uses non-traditional media to communicate.

An article/vlog was put out by Yahoo! News. This video/article describes what the author has determined to be the top 5 most bizarre public art displays in the United States. Number one on the list was Crown Fountain in Chicago, Illinois. I am very familiar with this sculpture, and have seen it in person many times. Perhaps this familiarity has shaded my perceptions a bit, but I was very surprised to see this on the list.

If you have never seen this sculpture/fountain, it is a series of changing LED faces, eyes, and lips, enlarged and displayed on two large scale columns. Water cascades down the edges of these monoliths, and occasionally spray will emit from one of the faces lips. This sculpture is always a hit with tourists. The levels of interactivity draw people in and it is a particular favorite in the summer, when viewers can play in the water.

The other items on the list also offer some level of interactivity beyond the visual, and it seems to me that the criteria used to evaluate 'bizarre art' used by this author centered on these aspects. Art is meant to be an experience that surprises the senses. Most often that jolt takes the form of the visual, but I do not believe it has to be visually exclusive. Any form of communication that gives the user pause to think about what he/she is experiencing can be a delightful and eye-opening event. Experiences such as these are not easily forgotten, and I think they help foster knowledge about what can and cannot be done.

I enjoyed reading the list of bizarre art, but I think there are other works of art that could be considered that were not listed in this article. What bizarre art have you seen and/or experienced?

New Web Site

2011-10-23T18:45:00.000-07:00

I have not posted here in about two weeks. That is because I have been hard at work updating, revising, and moving the host of my Web Site. The new site (screenshot above) can be accessed by clicking here.

I am still going to need to do a few refinements and fine tuning, but I think the new site is great. It's cleaner, easier to navigate, and updated. I am very happy with it. After looking it over, if you would, leave your comments. I always try to get people to critique my Web Site but nobody ever wants to do it.

While working on this project I thought about digital media and the idea of new media. This is art that is made with technology. It usually involves the use of computers, but not always. More info here.

In general I am uncertain how I feel about new media. Perhaps this is because I have not seen any really fantastic new media pieces. However, I once asked the curator of contemporary art at a national museum what he thought about new media. His actual response was: "It's mostly crap." So it would seem that my perceptions are not far off the professional viewpoint. But it makes me wonder: Is there any fantastic New Media Out there? Have you seen any? Is it possible to create a new media work of art that really communicates to people? What do you think?

Ways to be an artist

2011-10-04T07:27:00.000-07:00

As the librarian in charge of the fine arts collection, I have created an online guide meant to help art students, faculty, and those wishing to browse in this area of the library. Some sample screen shots are included.

In this guide I have included information on how to find books and materials, appropriate databases related to art research, and sample images of titles in the collection. Links to Web Sites that might be useful are also included. In addition, there is information on how to contact the library, librarians, and request items to add to the collection.

A link to the guide can be found here.

I posted this guide to illustrate just one example of the numerous ways artists can practice their art making and not go the route of the "starving artist." Several years ago, after completing my BFA, I thought the only other route to viably producing art was to teach. I believed that in order to teach a subject one would have to maintain a steady practice of that discipline, and thought that teaching art would allow me the opportunity to continue this process.

While teaching art courses, at any level, certainly offers artists a steady income and the ability to learn vicariously through the students, it is not the only way. Throughout my undergrad and graduate studies I worked in different libraries, first as a student worker, and then in other roles. During this time I became aware of the Art Library Society if America (ARLIS/NA) and of art librarianship. I enjoyed the library environment, and the ability to combine art and libraries was very appealing. I enrolled in library school, and have now joined the ranks of librarians and information professionals devoted to the arts.

But there are still other ways. Part of my studies in library school included an internship at the Hanson Library in the Birmingham Museum of Art (mentioned previously in this blog). This experience exposed me not only to the professional world of a special library, but I also had the opportunity to interact with other departments and people within the museum. These people are also very active in the visual arts and have the same opportunities to learn, grow, and practice art making as those who teach.

There are those who may argue that taking one of these routes removes the artist from the studio. However, I have stated before that much of what makes the work of an artist valuable is the experiences that he/she has put in to the work of art. Creating art is a process that includes observation and experience as much or more as it does time in the studio making art. Art is not created in a vacuum and exposure to the resources in libraries and museums helps build a framework, a background, and a context from which to speak.

One other thing that I would like to start including in these postings is a list of calls to artists. I am on several listservs for such calls, and it would impossible to participate in every one. But by posting some of those opportunities here, perhaps you could find one of interest and participate yourself. Here are three such opportunities:

1. DEADLINE: Fri, October 28, 2011
3rd Ward Open Call for Art
Location: NY
Artists, This could be the next step in launching your career. You’re invited to join the 3rd Ward Fall 2011 Open Call, an international search for exciting, innovating and compelling artwork awarding over $25,000 in prizes, including a one month live/work residency in NYC, a $5,000 grant and your very own New York City solo exhibition. http://www.3rdwardopencall.com/?f=pam1 Plus, all participants will be considered for the $1,000 People's Choice Award Awarded to the artist whose portfolio garners the highest number of public votes.

www.3rdwardopencall.com/?f=pam1

2. DEADLINE: Tue, November 01, 2011
8th Biennial National Art Juried Exhibition
Location: FL
Punta Gorda, FL. Open to all traditional two-dimensional drawing and painting media. Juror: Dean Mitchell, A.W.S., N.W.S. Digital entry deadline Nov. 1, 2011. Show dates Feb. 4-Mar. 11, 2012. Prize total $6500. Prospectus: www.visualartcenter.org. Questions: vac@daystar.net. Located on Charlotte Harbor off Gulf Coast.

www.visualartcenter.org

3. DEADLINE: Thu, December 01, 2011
Flora and Fauna: Narrative through Icongraphy
Location: NY
Flora and Fauna: Narrative through Iconography A juried exhibit at Lockhart Gallery, SUNY Geneseo For generations, artists have used signs and symbols from nature to impart meaning in their artwork. Audiences of previous eras were well-versed in this seemingly covert language. Each icon usually has several different meanings; for instance a rabbit may mean fertility, longevity, femininity or rebirth. . . For more information go to: geneseo.edu/galleries/flora-and-fauna

www.geneseo.edu/galleries

Update on last week, and thoughts on art education

2011-09-25T19:35:00.000-07:00

As you can see from the image, I am back up an running. This is a painting that I started earlier this summer, but never finished. I'm glad to be working again, when I do not make art I get cranky. I think this will be the last of the large-scale flower images (at least for a while). It might be an interesting idea to pursue later, but for now it's time to let that idea rest.

The second part of this posting is going to be devoted to thoughts on arts education. In the UK options are being weighed for the elimination of arts programming in some schools. For more specific information click here. New curricula are being formulated that center on math, English, science, foreign languages and either history or geography.

While these subjects are important, I do not believe they should be the sole focus of an education program. In the article linked above, the director of learning at the Tate Museum stated that courses in art bring students into alternative ways of thinking and addressing problems. She stated that this is needed in contemporary times and that western society has always valued innovation going back to the Renaissance.

I agree with these statements. The arts develop creativity, and with creativity new directions in subjects like math, English, science etc. are realized. When I was teaching art appreciation, one of the things I tried to impart was how connected the arts are to everyday human thought and interaction. Students were often amazed when this was pointed out, and it was from this teaching experience that I learned how this occurs on a subconscious level. Until it was pointed out to them, students did not realize how art shapes individual thought and opinion. After the fact, I noticed that students were drawing these comparisons on their own and bringing a vibrancy to the learning process that was previously missing.

Whether this stayed with them after they left my class I cannot say. However, I believe if the arts were more present in the school curriculum at an earlier age of development students would be better learners by the time they got to middle and high school. The links between subjects and thought could be consciously drawn, and built upon, leading to new innovations and developments.

Making your mark

2011-09-19T19:52:00.000-07:00

For the fourth time this year I have had to pack up and move. The end result is pictured above. Fortunately, since the time this picture was taken, I have made progress and I've got some since of order back in place. I have not started painting yet (my poor easel has not been this idle for a long time), and it has been some time since I have posted here, but I'm making progress. This return to blogging is going to be about leaving your mark.

The image above depicts the most recent issue of Professional Artist. In it is an article by Matthew Daub, an art professor from Pennsylvania. Here he discussed the importance of creating works of art, and described how one should move to make his/her art stand for something.

To make his point, Daub drew comparisons between the work of a young art student at the Art Institute of Chicago, and the work of Goya (specifically The Third of May.). The author wrote how this student portrayed the then recently deceased mayor of Chicago, Harold Washington, unfavorably. The author stated that at the time, Washington was quite popular and his death came as a shock to residents of the city. When the work of this student was revealed Daub explained that outrage quickly gripped the city and the aldermen went so far as to pass a resolution to have the painting removed. When this failed several of these aldermen took it upon themselves to remove the painting, resulting in the paintings destruction, and ultimately a civil rights case with the ACLU (Daub 6).

The context of the work is central in this instance. Daub stated that now, more than 20 years later, if he were to show this painting to his art students in Pennsylvania there would be little reaction. By contrast, the author pointed out that Goya's third of May has transcended time. He wrote that in Goya's work it is relatively unimportant to know that the troops are French, and the civilians unarmed. The image speaks more broadly and addresses the horrors of war on another greater level (Daub 7).

Daub concluded by stating that it is unfair to compare the work of a student to that of an established master. However, the point addressed was very clear. As artists we have got to use our art as a speaking tool. Whether it is a statement of profound observation that speaks to generations, or an irreverent jab at society, art can express many points of view and artists should take a stand to leave a mark.

Daub, M. (2011) Marking Your Territory. Professional Artist September 6-7.

Scale (Again) and Google Earth Art

2011-08-07T20:09:00.000-07:00

Image Courtesy of Rueters

Since my last two postings had something to do with scale, I see no reason to switch topics now. A recent news item, that I found last week, described the creation of a large scale statue in Hamburg, Germany. This statue is described in the article as depicting a giant mermaid in Alster lake. This sculpture is intriguing to me, and I would really like to know how it was constructed. The coloration on it is fabulous. It is to be on display until August 12 (So if you can get to Hamburg before then, definitely do it). The full article can be read here.

This sculpture reminds me of another located in Washington, D.C. This second sculpture, called "The Awakening," depicts a giant male figure emerging from the earth.

Image Courtesy of Wordpress.

As I look at these, I am lead to wonder. What drives these artists to create large-scale figurative sculptures? Is it the lore of giants? Is it just a playfulness of scale? What about the way they are presented? One is half submerged in water, while the other is in the solid ground. Does this use of water versus land create a different context for each piece? I do enjoy looking at these sculptures, I would just like to know more about them. This is a positive reaction towards a work of art, and should probably be a goal of all artists when creating a new piece. What do you think?

The second item I wanted to post is not about scale. Rather, it is about using a tool (Google Earth) in a new and creative way. A recent NPR article profiled the work of Jenny Odell (linked here). She described her work as an examination of that which is often overlooked. She said that when the items are cut out of a satellite map, and placed adjacently to one another, they lose their individual context and a new meaning is formed that suggests fragility. The article went on to describe how it is human nature to break items down and to categorize them.

While this is true, I am fascinated by the creative use of Google Earth. I think it's great when someone can see a new and creative way of using something not intended by the inventors. Human expression takes many forms, and this is an example of building upon the ideas of others. The result is a sort of collaboration that communicates ideas in a unique way.

3 Part Post

2011-07-31T13:57:00.000-07:00

PART I

As a practicing artist, I receive several calls-to-artists every week. Last week I saw a particularly interesting call for book artists. I am not a book artist, and I am involved in several other projects at the moment, so I do not have time to explore this. However, I think it is extremely interesting. So if you would like to do this, I heartily encourage you to do so. The Athenaeum of Philadelphia is a museum and library devoted to books bound in unique formats. Among these include designs by Margaret Armstrong, Olive Grover and the studio artists of Decorative Designers. Using these designs as inspiration, the museum is asking for participation in the creation of new items. The full call for participation can be read here. If you do decide to participate please comment here, so we can see what you are doing.

Part II

Last week while traveling I stopped in Jamestown, NY. This is a unique community in Western New York, that among other things, features locally produced art works on the exterior walls of the buildings downtown. This is a group effort organized by the Jamestown High School, Jamestown Civic Organization, and Jamestown Community College. The images below illustrate this concept.

I think this is a fabulous idea. It showcases local artists, communicates unique ideas, and helps build a sense of community. This takes the gallery concept and brings it outdoors, where more people could potentially see it. If you are worried about damage to the art, this has been addressed and all pieces are protected from the elements by plexiglass. I would love to see this develop in other communities.

Part III

My last posting addressed the issue of scale. As I read through my post, I realized I forgot to include examples of the watercolor moving across the page. So for this post I am including two extreme art close-ups detailing the way aqueous media work. In the image below, a larger scale has been used, and the water has more room to run and drip.

In this second image, a smaller size paper was used and the water had less room to run down the page. This resulted in more color blending.

Another factor of this effect which I feel I must add, is the finish of the paper used. A smoother paper finish will also allow for more water to run. If you are using a rough watercolor paper, more blending will occur. These are things to consider if you decide to use this technique. That's it for now. Please leave your comments for next time, and thanks for reading.

Scale

2011-07-17T17:17:00.000-07:00

This week I thought I would post a little about scale. Scale, or the size that an artist decides to work with, is one of the first choices he/she will make when beginning a work.

Of course the image above is just for fun, because we are clearly not talking about that kind of scale.

In a recent discussion with a friend, my acquaintance mentioned one of my works and described it as large. The dimensions of the piece in question is 30" X 22". This is by no means small, but compared to my other works it is significantly smaller. I didn't say anything, but in the back of my mind I was thinking "Hmm...that's actually a smaller image." This got me thinking about my works, the sizes they are, and why I generally paint in large scales.

To answer these questions I think it's important to understand the way I work. For the most part I paint in watercolor. I like the freedom and ease of the medium, but I also like the nature of using water to paint. I like the drippy, sloppy, runny quality of the brush and paint. Frequently I will intentionally hang my paper on the wall as I work in order to get the drips of water to flow more fluidly. This effect is enhanced in larger scales. I have done this with smaller works, but often the paint just blends together. With a smaller scale the resulting image still contains the free flow of water, but lacks individual droplets.

This explains a little of why I like to paint on large surfaces. I think there are other factors, but I don't want this post to be overly long. I will therefore stop with what I have said. What do you think? What scales do you work in? What are the scales of some of your favorite works of art? Do you think they would still be effective if they were created smaller or larger?

Art News: Theft and Death

2011-07-08T21:31:00.000-07:00

I have been in the process of moving. This has meant that there was not a lot of time to think about the blog. So, for this posting I'm going to direct you to two recent news items involving the art world.

On Tuesday July 5, 2011 a Picasso drawing was stolen from a gallery in San Francisco. The full story can be read here. I'm not sure what can be done about art theft. It seems to be an ongoing problem. One of my favorite paintings (The Scream) was stolen a few years ago, and was eventually recovered. This is often the end result. I'm not sure why people would want to steal these items, as there is virtually no re-sale option, and it also robs the public of an opportunity to see art, but it does seem to be an ongoing issue.

This week also saw the death of artist Cy Twombly. I was not a fan of his work, and I often used it my "Is it Art?" game when teaching. However, his contribution to the art world has been recognized, and it is sad to see another artist go. The full story can be read here.

I welcome your comments, which could be used for future blog entries. So feel free to discuss these items, or even previous posts. I'll see you next time.

"Who Shot Rock and Roll" Opens at Birmingham Museum of Art

2011-06-26T20:06:00.000-07:00

The photography exhibition "Who Shot Rock and Roll" opened at the Birmingham Museum of Art this weekend. This show features rare, behind-the-scenes, and unique photographs of the history of rock and roll from the 1950's through the present. This show originated at the Brooklyn Museum in New York. It traveled to Birmingham from Columbia, SC. It will continue to travel through 2012. More information can be read here, here, and the BMA show here.

The show is excellent. I don't like to admit it, but I can be an art snob. Photography is one medium that I can not really get into, and I'm not one to seek out celebrities (especially rock/pop stars). But this show trumps all of that. There is something for everyone. It really is an amazing exhibition. Reviews far better than I could report are found here, and here.

This was my first experience working at a museum with the development of a major exhibition. There is a lot of work that goes in to producing these shows. It is not limited on one curator, or one department. The entire museum staff undertakes duties relating to the exhibition. It is truly a team effort, and I think the staff at the Birmingham Museum of Art came together to present an exhibition far beyond what was required. The show is as much about presentation as content, and the Birmingham Museum of Art adds to the entire experience.

Art Basel

2011-06-19T11:48:00.000-07:00

Image courtesy of Flikr swissestetix

One of the worlds largest international art fairs took place this week in Switzerland. Art Basel, as it is called, brings together artists, galleries, collectors and dealers for one show that highlights contemporary art from around the world. More specific information can be read here.

An article in the Huffington Post stated that sales for this year have been very good. It stated that these profits could be an indication that the art world is in an economic boom. A link to the full article can be read here.

As I was reading these articles I reflected on something that crosses my mind periodically. Why is art traded at such high prices? With the dollar amounts discussed in these articles, the art could be treated as an investment opportunity, rather than as a means of cultural expression.

When I taught art appreciation and art history, I used to tell my students that the monetary value of art was arrived at based on the one-of-a-kind uniqueness of each piece. I also explained that the name of an artist added a brand to the work, and often added to the price. While I think these statements are true, I believe they only answer part of the question.

That said, I'm not entirely certain what should be added to the answer. Part of me thinks that art is traded at high prices because people are willing to pay high prices. I do not like this line of thought however, because it would seem to add to the elitist attitudes so often associated with the art world.

Art is a form of communication meant to be expressed and interpreted by all. I have written about the barriers of the official "art world" before, and the thought that some art is worth obscene amounts of money adds to these divisions. These divisions distract viewers from the message communicated by the artist and reinforce works produced simply for the sake of making a profit.

Art Fair at Aldridge Gardens

2011-06-05T17:37:00.000-07:00

I attended a local art fair in Aldridge Botanical Gardens this weekend. It was very hot, but it was worth the visit. I have written about local art fairs before (click here), and I still think the prestige level of these types of exhibitions is probably not the best. However, there is a lot of amazing work that gets shown at these affairs, and many of the artists represented could outshine "established" artists.

As I was walking around, I was struck by the variety and creativity of the artists present. There was an artist that was selling stained glass, but she was not using the traditional stained glass methods. She had fastened glass to the surface of old windows, and then cemented the colored glass particles in place with grout. It looked amazing! Very innovative as well.

I ended up purchasing a small print from an Alabama Artist. His name was Maurice Cook. His paintings were fabulous! More can be read about him here and here. The print is pictured below.

I really enjoyed myself, and I got some interesting ideas to try in the future. As I stated in the previous posting about local art fairs, you never know who will show up to these events, and what will be inspired from being present.

Flap about Pope Sculpture

2011-06-01T18:38:00.000-07:00

The posting for this week is about a newly created sculpture that depicts former Pope John Paul II. The sculpture is quite modern, with very few features and a simplified form. Apparently it has caused an uproar, and the Vatican has labeled it "ugly." The full story can be read here.

To me this is a case where those who have ordered the art did not give much thought about the art. It is similar to the story of the Tilted Arc. Too often when the art is in the planing phase, those who ordered the art are not really listening to what the artist has proposed. I think this is particularly true for public art.

That said, I could go either way on this sculpture. I do not think it's great, but I also do not feel it is complete garbage. The lack of an identifiable face is not a new concept. When I was in art school, one of my fellow students never painted facial features. He stated that this allowed the viewer to define who the image depicted. Pope John Paul II was very popular, almost a people's pope. As a pope for the people I think it's appropriate to leave the face blank.

Salvador Dali

2011-05-19T17:23:00.000-07:00

Now that I have completed my graduate program (see here and here ), and graduated, I can get back to posting here with regularity. Last week was Salvador Dali's birthday (May 11). Salvador Dali was a prominent painter in the surrealist movement. While I was never a huge fan of his art, it is interesting and worth examining. As an undergrad my roommate was huge fan, and had posters of Dali's artwork on the walls.

The notion of creating imagery based on the subconscious is not an easy feat. I have tried to do this a few times and have not been pleased with the results. I most recently tried to do this with my last painting. I found a piece of paper that had been scuffed. In these random markings I could make out elements of Greek architecture, and I decided to take this paper home in order bring out what I was seeing. As I was working other elements began to emerge, including a dancer, and an overgrowth of weeds. The image can be viewed below.

Although I do not like this painting, I am presenting it here in recognition of Dali and the surrealists. What do you think? You can comment on the painting, Dali, Surrealism, or whatever. I'll be posting again next week.

Walking with artists

2011-03-27T17:52:00.000-07:00

I am a fan of NPR. I listen to it constantly. Today, they ran a piece on "Studio 360" about Maira Kalman, an established national artist. One of the things she does is maintain a blog for the New York Times. it can be read here.
I was interested in the NPR story because of the the way the artist described her working process. Much of her subject matter derives from walking around the city and making careful observations. She will take photographs, interact with shopkeepers, and try to take in as much as she can.
It is my impression that many non-artists are amazed by how artists think about the world around we live in, and how this leads to inspirations. This perspective is over thought. It doesn't take earth shattering experiences to create art. One has to just look around. Kalman is one artist that does this very well.

Lack of recent postings

2011-03-18T12:59:00.000-07:00

This post will be brief, however I will explain why the postings on this blog have been sparse of late. You may recall my posting last fall about being enrolled at the University of Southern Mississippi. If not, you can read it here. Anyway I have, as part of my program, undertaken a practicum in the library at the Birmingham Museum of Art. It is very exciting, and I enjoy it very much. I am required to create a blog detailing my experiences, and it is the blog for this practicum that has cut in to my blog time here. If you would like to read my library blog you can do so here. I will try to update here more frequently. Thanks for your support. The image is a screen shot of my other blog. Cheers!

Google Art Project

2011-02-09T07:09:00.000-08:00

Last week the folks at Google unveiled what they have called "Google Art Project." This project apparently presents artwork from museums around the world in an online format. Viewers can even tour portions of each museum virtually. Try it out here.

Reviews have so far been mixed, some have argued about copyright. but overall I think this is a positive development. This technology allows more people to see and experience art, and that's one of the main things art tries to do. A very good review of this project can be read here.

Censorship and Art

2010-12-11T12:57:00.000-08:00

This week I am going to post two links regarding the recent censorship issues at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C. The full story can be read here.
An official Q and A put up as a result of all the protesting can be read here.

As a general rule I am opposed to censorship. There must be guidelines on what is, and what is not acceptable artful expression. For example animal cruelty or child pornography would clearly fall under the category of unacceptable.

But far too often, as in this most recent case, the public has rejected expression based on emotion rather than sound thought or judgment. Most of the protesters have probably not even seen the video in question, and are basing their opinions on the ideas of one perspective. Many of the protesters stated that they did not want their tax money supporting this type of expression, despite the fact that this exhibition was put together with private funds. The core issue here is the development of an informed opinion.

I will add as a christian and a Catholic I can understand the protesters viewpoint, but I believe it to be misguided. First: there could be a whole variety of interpretations of the ants on the crucifix, and not just the negative anti-Christian views expressed. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, this is not that different than the bible story of the golden calf. If we confuse our faith relationship with God and the icons that represent those relationships, then our belief is not really based on anything. Our individual relationship with God is what matters, not the physical objects and imagery associated with that relationship.

Two types of art

2010-11-24T17:20:00.000-08:00

The first of this weeks posts addresses the idea of New Media in art. An art professor has implanted a camera in the back of his head, and the video recorded from this camera will be offered as part of an opening of performance art. Read more here. To me this serves as an example of New Media. Although New Media has been growing since the mid to late 20th Century, it has sprung up recently in the last decade or so in a more prominent way. As an artist, I do not have an issue with New Media, I am all for experimentation and exploration. However, I do think art is something that is meant to be understood across a variety of eras and spectrums. How will this stand up to time? After the apocalypse of the modern era, how will archeologists and art historians of the future be able to interpret this type of work? And, is it important that they do? Perhaps my understanding is biased in an unproductive way. What do you think?

The second post for this week addresses human creativity. A graphic was recently released detailing the NFL wins and losses for the season. This image was so popular it went viral. Read about that here. I think that a graphic design created spontaneously and recognized by a wide audience as useful qualifies as art. Again, as an artist I can only wish that an image I have created and posted on the internet would go viral. That would be amazing! Too often I think people perceive art as an abstract high culture activity that only the upper class understand. I believe this to be incorrect. Art is the spirit of creativity, and this graphic represents one example.

Graduate Studies in Library Science

2010-11-03T18:03:00.001-07:00

This year marks the first full year that I have been enrolled in the LIS graduate program at the University of Southern Mississippi. This program is ALA accredited, and the specifics can be read here.

As part of my studies I am enrolled in LIS 558 Internet Resources and Applications. This course examines on-line tools, and social networks in the library. What I have learned thus far, both in this class and in the others I have taken, has been amazing. Librarianship is a fascinating subject.

Since the majority of postings on this blog are about art, and art related issues, I will close by adding that I hope to one day use my degree in an Art Library. More information about art librarianship can be found at the Art Library Society Web site. A link is here.

Temporary installation art/Public art

2010-10-29T11:11:00.000-07:00

The above image is an example of public art. From the looks of things I would guess that it is also probably impromptu public art. This is art created freely and spontaneously.

Another example of this type of art was posted in the New York Observer . This story was about an abandoned area of Long Island. Artists took over and made it their own. The full story can be read here.

Spontaneous creation is good for artists and non-artists alike. I think it opens the mind and frees space from random thoughts. The creativity also offers an opportunity to grow in terms of expression. Your thoughts?

Artists and documentation

2010-10-14T08:52:00.000-07:00

Recently an artist decided to visually depict how a Mc Donald’s hamburger and fries does not decompose. The full story can be found here. I think it is interesting that it was an artist that decided to illustrate this point, and I also think she did a nice job.

The idea was to keep a McDonald’s burger and fries, and photograph it each day. It has been six months and there has been no change in the way the food looks; no mold, no breakdown, nothing.

This was a very effective way of making the point that this food is not in any way healthy. Artists have historically documented ideas and experiments, but it has been centuries since this role has had a significant impact. The reaction from the public, as well as from the corporate offices of McDonald’s has been swift. I’m not saying artists should look for ways to anger or frustrate people, but I do think they have a responsibility to get people thinking and talking, and this project did exactly that.

Painting unearthed

2010-10-09T21:21:00.000-07:00

A painting by Giovanni Boldini was recently discovered in a Paris apartment. The apartment had been locked up and unoccupied for the last 70 years. The news item can be read in full here. Information about the artist can be accessed here.

This discovery has made the value of Boldini art increase. In addition, on-line searches for this artist have also risen. I think it is interesting that one painting discovered in a Paris apartment could cause such a stir. I also think it is interesting that more people have become curious about the work of Boldini. I like that an artist can create a sense of buzz about their work, years after death without much more occurring than the unlocking of a closed door.

A sample of his work can viewed below.

Doodles

2010-09-24T09:07:00.000-07:00

This posting is about doodles. I have been thinking about doodles, and why people make them for some time. I find it interesting that someone who claims he/she cannot draw will instinctively start doodling on the page in a distracted moment. I think this furthers the thought that drawing is automatic, and part of the human experience.

This thought on doodles has lead me to incorporate a series of doodles into my most recent work. I have been collecting doodles from people for about a year. I have assembled them together in a collage, and this will be applied on top of another image. This collaborative effort reflects my thoughts as well as the thoughts of the people who created the doodles. If you doodle, what do you include?

Trouble in Venice

2010-09-08T11:19:00.000-07:00

This weeks post is about a controversy brewing surrounding an Irish artist that is to be represented at the Venice Biennale next year. The full story can be read here.

Essentially, the artist and the Representative selected to curate the Irish contribution to this international exhibition come from the same gallery in New York. The article explained how decisions were made, and elaborates on why this is such an issue.

The major issue is the accepted practice for the juror to be unbiased when selecting artworks for inclusion in a exhibition. This is not the first example contradicting this practice that I have come across. It has been my experience that if the artist knows the juror, and especially if the juror is very familiar with the artwork, then chances are very good that that artist will be admitted.

Major exhibitions should be based on double blind admissions. However, the contemporary art world is pretty small and I'm not sure how one could guarantee anonymity. Perhaps if a show relied on average art enthusiasts instead of established art historians, art critics, and gallery owners as jurors, a true blind submission process could be established.

How Artists Work

2010-08-16T09:51:00.000-07:00

On a recent road trip that went through the Quad Cities area, I was listening to a radio interview with the Arts Educational personnel at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, IA. (A link to the museum website is here.) It was a very interesting interview that discussed art as communication, relating art to the everyday world, and how both children and adults responded to art. I was in agreement with much of what these educators had to say. However the discussion on artists and the way artists work was an area that I could not see eye-to-eye, and feel I must comment.

A member of the Figge staff was explaining her view on the relevance of art in relation to how artists remain productive. She commented that distractions and outside personal commitments could sometimes slow production. She also added that when the artist is not in the studio everyday devoting 100% of his/her time to art making this represents the beginning of giving up.

I disagree with this line of thought. Much of what makes art successful is based on experience and observation. I believe that an artist must spend an equal amount of time outside the studio observing and experiencing life and human interaction as in the studio working. It has been my experience that art making is a successive process that builds on the ideas and thoughts of predecessors in much the same way science is built on previous scientific discoveries.

A favorite artist of mine (John Piper) once described production down time as opportune for artists to explore and research the ideas that influence how he/she works. I would add that by engaging in this method of working, a context for the art work is established. If an artist truly spent all efforts in the studio the quality of those works would be lackluster.

Garage Sale Find

2010-07-30T06:22:00.000-07:00

According to several news outlets, a California man (Rick Norsigian ) claims to have unearthed a number of original Ansel Adams film negatives. The story from the BBC News can be read here.

Verification on the authenticity of these negatives is in dispute. People from both viewpoints have commented on this issue. From the article, it seems that the central theme of these arguments is whether or not Mr. Norsigian should profit from his find.

Establishing the dollar amount of any one work of art is often an inconsistent process. Many factors go into this decision, including the “brand name” of the artist. Artists’ names fluctuate in popularity just as companies on the stock market. I would add however, that this is unimportant.

I have often made the comparison between the visual arts and literature. Both are forms of communication, and they are both frequently used to tell a story. With regards to the visual arts, I think how that story is told and how the viewer responds to the story has far more value than a monetary sum. The same could be said for literature as well. While original manuscripts from authors have a high dollar amount, people don’t really purchase and trade these items. They are reprinted and people acquire their favorites because of the content.

To own a work of art, regardless of the media, only for its dollar amount is not a wise decision. If one enjoys the work, let that be the reason to own it. Do you agree?

Juried Art Shows

2010-07-20T12:08:00.000-07:00

My work was recently accepted for an upcoming juried art exhibition. I am very excited about this, but feel I must also address the nature of juried art shows. Usually these shows are juried by a panel of experts or one individual art professional. Although firmly established, this process seems somewhat arbitrary. For this show 230 works were submitted, and only 33 were accepted. I understand the idea of promoting only the best work, but should this determination be made by only one individual or group?

Art, especially my art, is used as a means of communication, and I strongly feel that the best messages are conveyed to a broad audience. If work that is meant for a large spectrum is only viewed by a select few, is the message really being sent? These are open ended questions. I don’t really believe this process is going to change, nor am I certain that it should. These are just thoughts to consider as an artist. What is your opinion?

Art on reality TV

2010-06-15T07:17:00.000-07:00

I wanted to comment on this last week, but did not get the opportunity to do so. Last week the Bravo network unveiled a new reality show. This show entitled “The Next Great Artist” has a number of people competing on a weekly basis to win $100,000 and a solo exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum. The specifics, and TV schedule can be found here.

I have to say that I don’t watch much TV, and the shows I do occasionally see are not reality-TV-based. Back when “American Idol” first premiered, and everybody went crazy over it, I was puzzled. I hated it. I couldn’t understand why anyone would tune in. At the same time I thought to myself, what if they weren’t singers but rather visual artists competing for gallery representation? Would that make it better? Would that be something I would want to try myself?

Now that someone else has come up with this idea, and actually put it into production, I can say with conviction that this is something I would not be interested in pursuing. Reality TV is far too kitschy to have any real impact. I think this true for all the reality based TV shows. Previous winners of “Project Runway” do not have influence in the fashion world, “Iron Chef” winners aren’t world class cooks, and even the winners of “American Idol” fade from the public memory. These types of programs work for entertainment purposes, but serious minded artists, chefs, singers etc. will need to travel the road from obscurity on their own.

Secondly, art is a process that develops from thought. An artist spends a good deal of time thinking. Great art is about an issue, or an idea, or some message that is trying to be communicated. This is where creativity takes shape. How the artist can best communicate his/her idea most effectively is something at the forefront of what the artist is doing.

The type of art produced for this TV show stifles creativity. Rather than focusing on the issues, these artists are going to try and figure out how to cater to the judges. It is interesting to note that the same could be said of art schools. In that environment, art students attempt to cater to their teachers. The end result in both examples is the same; mediocre art. What makes art schools more acceptable is that the creativity of art students is controlled for intellectual and developmental purposes. The same could not be said for the TV show, and I expect the level of work produced to reflect this. Please share your comments, and I’ll see you next time.

Sketchbook, Art, Art projects.

2010-05-21T11:25:00.000-07:00

The post for this week is a sort of promotion. I have entered a project that exhibits artist sketchbooks on a permanent basis in the Art Library of Brooklyn. The full project has been developed by the Art Hose Coop, a not-for-profit arts organization. I have participated in some of their projects in the past, and they are a pretty good organization. If you would like to find out more, or participate yourself, the information can be found here.

There are several themes available to the artist participating. The theme selected is up to the artist, however participants can also ask to be randomly assigned. I selected the dirigible and submersible theme. I'm not sure how I will fill an entire sketchbook addressing this idea, but it should be fun coming up with something. What are your thoughts? Which theme would you have selected?

Mark Bradford

2010-05-11T08:06:00.000-07:00

The post for this week is about the artist Mark Bradford. He was a recent recipient of the MacArthur Genius Award. An interview from The Art Newspaper was conducted, and can be read here.

Bradford's work is interesting in that he assembles media found on the street into layered imagery. The result is meant to explore issues of community, street culture, and society. Bradford is the one of the few contemporary artists that shares my view on art, how it can be used for communication and how it can be used to build community. I am not a fan of installation art, but Bradford has recently been involved in a series of installations that reflect and interact with the communities in which he is presenting. The above article explains more specifically what he is doing. What are your thoughts? See you next time.

Book Review

2010-05-07T06:27:00.001-07:00

This book, edited by Steven madoff looked at where art schools have been, and what type of art and artists were produced as a result. Madoff also explored how an education in art could be changed to meet the diverse needs of the 21st Century. If you would like to read a copy of this book, it can be purchased here. The nearest library with a copy can also be found by entering the title here.

The author described how the majority of those who studied art (particularly those who earned M.F.A. degrees),later became instructors or teachers of art. His argument was centered around the idea that if artists were to become teachers, they should be more prepared and adept to the many resources and tools available to communicate the lessons of art. He added that this was not happening, and as a result art works have become lackluster in quality.

Madoff was succinct in his writing, and it was not difficult to follow his thoughts. His observations on what happened to students when they left art school were particularly interesting. I agree that the majority become educators and I would add that as educators, these artist/teachers have perpetuated a flatness that has affected the art world in recent decades.

Art has long been a descriptor for the societies that produced it. If art in this century is to maintain a significance, change in how artists learn and think should be considered. Please leave your comments,and I'll see you next time.

Art Fairs

2010-04-26T11:48:00.000-07:00

I recently entered a local art show/fair for third time. Some artists that I know refuse to display their work in art fairs. They have said that it's too local, too small-time, and the quality of work represented is not very good. I'm not sure this is a correct assessment, but I will take any opportunity to show my work.

I think that generally speaking the work found in local art shows (regardless of the region in which you live)does tend to be of poor quality. However, I am also of the opinion that much of the art in recognized gallery settings is also lacking great value. The bigger issue, at least for me, is the opportunity to have your work seen. The more you show, the more you will be recognized. I would add that one never knows who is going to show up at these shows, and what exhibition opportunities may result. Art is a form of communication and the more venues used to this end, the better.

Bibliography of the History of Art (BHP)

2010-04-21T11:32:00.000-07:00

The Bibliography of the History of Art (BHP) is a searchable database dedicated to art, and art history materials. It has been called the second most frequently accessed art database right after JSTOR. Until recently this database was owned and maintained by the Getty Institute in California. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal however, reported that the Getty was dropping BHP due to budget cuts. The full story can be read here.

While I think it is unfortunate that this database will be lost, I must admit that I have never used it, and until this news broke, I hadn't even heard of it. From the newspaper article it also sounds as if this data source is not as complete as it could be. If the planned return by the Getty Institute when more funds are made available becomes a reality, then this may be the change needed to revamp this database. What do you think? Have you used this resource?

Neon Art to Dazzle London Underground

2010-04-14T11:36:00.000-07:00

No this post is not about Star Trek. I selected the above image because this posting is about neon art, and I like this image. According to a recent article from the Art Newspaper, a California artist is set to place a giant neon installation right in the London Underground. The article can be read in full here.

Before I read the article, I was of the mindset to oppose this idea. I was dismissing it as what I have often referred to as "academic art" (which if you know me, you know I hate.). However the author of the article mentioned how it will bring a dose of bright light to a place that is often dreary. London is damp and dreary, and the underground represents the dampest, dreariest part of this city. What better location could you place a giant white light? I'm all for it, and I look forward to the day I'm blinded as the subway car I'm riding passes through this location.

Last Supper Paintings and Portion Size

2010-03-31T11:34:00.000-07:00

Last week the Internet was a buzz about the portion sizes of the food depicted in various last supper paintings. An AP article about this issue can be read here. Another article covering the same issue can be read here.

The issue at hand, was that over the years portion sizes in the various images have increased. The articles both explain the process of how these images were analyzed. They also both went into an explanation of how this has related to portion sizes and overeating. However, form my point of view this is another example of the ideal vs. the real.

Many of the paintings analyzed were created hundreds of years ago. The food making process has changed considerably since then, and therefore the ideal of what food should look like has also changed. I think that this issue is less about portion size, and more about what the ideal food should look like.

Art, reality, and a little on Toyota

2010-03-12T05:43:00.000-08:00

The post for this week is structured around the ideas of reality and art. I have long been a fan of Plato's take on reality and art, and I will explain his philosophy on this issue again, if you are unfamiliar with it. The topic for this week was inspired by Toyota's bad luck of late, and a news report filed by ABC News. To read that report in full, click here.

The ABC News report was about the braking issues that Toyota is experiencing. A professor at Southern Illinois University (GO SIU!) reported to a congressional hearing on the braking issue, and how he re-created some of these problems in the lab. The tachometer that monitored the revving engine was filmed twice. Once during the actual on-the-road test, and then again in a stationary position on blocks. The second filming, when the car was on blocks, was easier to see. The vibrations of the car made visibility in the on-the-road test difficult. Since the footage of the test on blocks was easier to see, this was what was used in the final report. Toyota has taken issue with this presentation, and said the conditions of each test would produce different tachometer readings.

To me this all relates to reality, and how reality is depicted. I said I would relay the thoughts of Plato and reality, but in the in the interests of keeping this blog entry at a reasonable length, I will refer you here. What does all of this have to do with art? Art is reflection of reality. Even if the theme of the work is fantasy, that idea is based on some reality or another. Additionally the issue with ABC News was based on an aesthetic decision. Reality in art, and more widely in aesthetics, is based on decisions made by individuals. How those individuals are communicating their vision of reality is the real issue. Post your comments, and I'll see you next time.

2 for 1 post

2010-03-03T11:07:00.000-08:00

The topics (There are two! It's a two for one deal.) this week were sent to me by a friend. One discussed art produced on skateboards, and the other examined the work of Theodore Geisel AKA Dr. Seuss.

The article on skateboard art can be read here.
As I read this, I was not so critical on the artists descicion to paint an image on skateboards (as the argument of the article seems to describe) rather, I was more interested in why he chose skateboards. As I have often posted here, I firmly belive art is a tool meant for communication. The idea being expressed should be a part of all elements within the work. When I was in art school an artist and fellow student decided to produce his imagry on televisions, suitcases, hatboxes, and various other objects rather than paper or canvas. The image painted on thses items somehow related to what that object was. The result was a complete work where all aspects of visual information applied. I'm less certain of why this artist is painting on skateboards. It seems like he is only interested in making money. If that was his intenion, then I agree with the argument of the article. My reasons for agreement however, are quite different.

The second topic came from another blog. The full story can be read here. This discussion expressed surprise at learning about some politicized imagery produced by "Dr. Seuss." I have to say that I am not surprised. That time period (WWII years) was very politicized for all artists. I've seen similar works produced by Charles M. Schultz from that time period. What would have surprised me would have been to learn that this type of cartoon was produced well afet the war years in private. This is not the case however.

Thats all for this week. Leave your comments, and I will respond. See you next time.

Mathematics could be used to detect forgeries

2010-02-21T19:33:00.000-08:00

The other week (I can't really be certain time runs together lately) I heard a story on NPR about a mathematician that developed an equation that could detect if a work of art was genuine or fake. That story can be read and heard by clicking here. I had read about this several years ago, but had not really given it much though since then.

I think the important thing to keep in mind is that the equation does not really detect forgeries (despite my title). It can however, be used to gain a general sense of the marks on the surface when compared to similar marks made on a known work of art. I think math is interesting. I wish I were better at it. I'm glad to see a relationship between maths and art because I think the two seem somewhat compatible. Math can be pretty creative when the right type of person is solving the equation. What are your thoughts on math vs. art?

Caravaggio is 400

2010-02-08T18:09:00.000-08:00

I recently found out that is 400 years since Caravaggio's death. There are to be a number of Caravaggio exhibitions throughout the year to commemorate this artist. So I decided to post three images here, in homage. I got these images from flikr so there shouldn't be any infringement issues. What are your thoughts on Caravaggio?

Paintings in the news

2010-01-31T17:22:00.000-08:00

This week two paintings were in the news. It isn't often that paintings make the papers, so I thought I would respond to these news items. The first is about Picasso's The Actor, and the second is about the Mona Lisa, and Leonardo DaVinci.

Earlier this week a lady visiting The Metropolitan Museum of art tripped and fell into Picasso's The Actor. This resulted in a rather severe tear. The full story can be read here. I find this type of thing humerus. While I feel very bad for the woman involved and would not want to be in her shoes, I think this incident serves as an example of the impermanence of things. I think this is especially true for art. Far to often galleries, museums, and collectors view their art as this precious item, that is meant to last forever. Nothing lasts forever, and this proves it. Things can be damaged, destroyed, or stolen. Nothing is too sacred as to be permanent. A photo of the painting before it was slashed can be viewed below.

The second item concerns the Mona Lisa, and the painter that created it; Leonardo DaVinci. Apparently, new evidence has come to light that may show how this painting is actually a self portrait. There are some Italians that want to exhume DaVinci's grave and run some tests. This story can be read here. In my opinion this is just silly. Who cares if the Mona Lisa was meant as a self portrait or not? Is that really going to change the painting? I doubt it. There will always be those that disagree with whatever the outcome of the tests is, so this exercise isn't going to solve anything. I'm including a picture of the Mona Lisa as well (although I'm sure you already know what it looks like.)

Those are my thoughts on these news items. What do you think? Leave your response in the comments.

Latest Painting

2010-01-24T13:12:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I have posted anything here. But it has been a while since anybody has read anything posted here. So I guess we are square. This is my latest painting. What do you think? Do you have any comments or suggestions? I had some trouble with the background. I didn't really know what to do with it. I eventually decided to work with color, and I think the color in this composition works very well. This was based on a sketch I did several years ago, and the sketch includes more of the figure. I may try this one again later, in order to get the full image of the dancer. The original sketch can be seen below.

Teaching Perspective

2010-01-03T16:57:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all! The first post for the New Year is about another teaching experience I had. Before school let out for the holidays I taught basic perspective drawing to some Jr. High students. I believe they really enjoyed the exercises. This is important, because the school I was in does not currently have an art program. Therefore, my teaching is the only true exposure to art and art making these students have. The samples below are from some of their work. Unfortunately I did not get to see the fully completed projects. These examples are how the students started.

As you can see we started out by drawing simple shapes that recede into the distance. I think they did a very nice job here. For the second part, I had the students draw their ideal room. They were free to fill this room with whatever they wanted. The two examples above, although nice, are incomplete. I do hope they finished them after I left. What do you think? Leave your questions and comments, and I will see you next time.

Communication through art

2009-12-12T11:37:00.000-08:00

Before reading this post, visit this website: Click Here.

The paintings on this website are very good examples of using art as a tool for communication. Let me begin by saying that I do not agree with the artist on most of what he is saying. The way the painting is executed is also not my favorite style. However, the fact that he is creating imagery to convey his thoughts on issues of the day is excellent. This is what I believe art is for, and what it should be about.

Breaking News

2009-11-25T21:01:00.001-08:00

I found out today that Jean Claude, the artist and wife of Christo, has died today (11-25-09). You can read the full article from the NY Times here.

She and Christo worked together on a variety of projects worldwide. While I am not a fan of their work, I do admire them as artists. I'm not sure how this will affect their current projects. She and Christo have had a significant influence in contemporary art, and I have often referred to them when teaching. It will be interesting to see what will happen next.

2009-11-24T13:39:00.000-08:00

Recently I taught a group of Jr. High students about pattern, and how it is used in art. The above images are some of the projects they made. The goal was to create as much pattern as possible, ultimately trying to fill the page. I had the students start by folding the page lengthwise and writing their name on the creased paper. They then had to fold the page over and create a mirror image of their name by rubbing the back of the paper. The result forms an image from which to start. The students then picked elements from that image and repeated them throughout the composition. It's a simple project, and one I that I think produced excellent results.

2009-11-16T20:45:00.000-08:00

This weeks post is in reference to a recent article found in the current issue of Art Calendar. The article is by Elena Parashko, and addresses the idea of being persistent in communicating with galleries and other arts professionals.

Parashko began her article by reminding readers to know the difference between persistence and annoying. She explained that it may difficult to know exactly when one should give up on a prospective gallery, but commented that relentless pursuit is probably a path towards resentment.

She said communication is essential, but not to overwhelm patrons. One suggestion she expressed was to develop an online address book of gallery owners, clients, and other art lovers. Then put together a monthly or bimonthly newsletter that could be sent to these individuals. She offered this as a way to keep in touch with potential prospects without having to be in constant contact.

I found this article interesting. I think a newsletter is a very good idea, but I'm not sure it would work in every situation. When I was in art school I was taught that artists should wait to be approached by galleries, not the other way around. If an emerging artist does not have many contacts, to whom is he/she going to send a newsletter? Parashko did not really discuss options for artists just beginning their career. As there are many artists at this level, I think that this is something that could be considered.

Parashko, E. 2009. Being Persistent or Being a Pest? Art Calendar. December 2009 January 2010

Recent work ideas

2009-11-11T20:29:00.000-08:00

Recently (approximately three weeks ago) I decided I would paint one image of a face per week.

I enjoy creating imagery of the human face. We use our faces as our identities in this world when we interact with one another.

I also enjoy the range of emotions and they way color influences the eye, and the overall interpretations of those emotions. Anyway, these are the first three I have done. Comments? Questions?

Creativity and Halloween

2009-11-04T10:01:00.000-08:00

I took a bit of a break from the blog in October. I am back now, and should have weekly updates. This week I thought I would address the idea of Art/creativity and Halloween. I'm not a huge fan of Halloween, I don't hate it, but I can more or less take it or leave it. I usually wear this pin on Halloween:

But a friend of mine yelled at me over the e-mail this year. She said I'm an artist, and I should be able to come up with something. So this got me thinking. I had to do something fun. Too many costumes are run-of-the-mill. I eventually decided to go as Magrittes Son of Man. Here is a pictue of that:

This costume was fun, and very easy to make. Not to mention inexpensive. I guess my friend was right. I should focus more on the fun creative aspects of Halloween. I wonder what I should do next year. See you next week.

Turner Prize

2009-10-14T21:04:00.000-07:00

So it's Turner Prize time again. If you do not have any idea what this is about Let me briefly explain. It's a big award for an artist in the UK, given annually. It's named after J. M. W. Turner, a leading British artist (one of my favorites). Here is a link.
I'm also including a link to an article about this years potential winners. Let me know what you think. Potential Winners link. Sorry about the short posting. I'll do better next time. Cheers!

Three Part Blog

2009-10-01T09:10:00.000-07:00

When I originally set out to make this blog, I intended to update every weekend. I seem to be falling well behind that goal. Oh well. Such is life. This posting comes in three parts. I don't think I have done a three part post in a while, so that might help make up for my lack of recent updates. : )

PART 1

Last time I wrote about a work in progress for a show in Atlanta. I have since finished that piece, and have sent it on its way. It arrived at the gallery yesterday. At least that is what the tracking information is telling me. I thought perhaps you might want to see what the finished painting looks like, and for those of you who are not in the greater Atlanta area, here it is:

If you do happen to be in the Atlanta area check it out at the Art House Gallery December 11. It should be a good show.

PART 2

In addition to being an artist extraordinaire (Hah!), I do some substitute teaching. There is one teacher for whom I fill in, that allows me to teach an art lesson while there. This past Tuesday we did a project on creative problem solving. The students were asked to create an object capable of getting one sheet of paper as far down the adjacent 100 ft hallway as possible. They were free to be as imaginative as they liked, the only limit was in the materials they could use. They were allowed two sheets of paper, three inches of tape, three inches of string, and two paper clips. Some ideas worked better than others, and the ultimate winner got her project roughly half way down the hall. The following pictures were some of their designs.

PART 3

When I taught Art Appreciation, we would occasionally play a game. This game was called "Is it Art?" Now that I am no longer teaching this class I see no reason to let a perfectly good game rot away. So I thought we could play it on this blog. Here is how it works: I have an official "Is it art?" folder. Here is a picture of it:

As you can see it is full of images. Occasionally I will pull out one of these images and post them on the blog. These images could be anything; a painting, a drawing, or perhaps the internal working mechanisms for the landing gear of a 747. We really have no idea what these images are going to be. Your job is to look at the image, scrutinize it for a bit, and come to some conclusions as to weather or not you think it is art. Post your thoughts in the comments section. I will announce weather it is or is not art in a later blog entry. There is a wide variety of art made these days, so in order to eliminate some confusion here are some other rules. First if the image is art it must be claimed by an established, recognized artist, and be exhibited in gallery, museum, or some other official setting. Secondly, I will never present a photograph. While photography is art, there would just be confusion if I showed a photo of a tree or something. You must look at the object within the image, and decide if this is the art, not the image itself. If you are confused, or have questions post those in the comments as well. Here we go with "Is it Art?" See you next time.

Recent work

2009-09-21T12:22:00.000-07:00

So, I didn't post last week. It was quite hectic, and there was a lot going on. This week I am posting about my most recent project. This December I will be part of a group exhibition that had asked everyone to produce a depiction of "chair." I decided to use the idea of Chair as in chairman, or chair person.
The way I approached this idea was to examine Chairman Mao. Portraiture is not my strong point, and I'm not sure how it is going. But the above image is meant to illustrate how my project is going. it may not look exactly like the other images of Chairman Mao, but I definitely think it has that look and feel of communist leader portraiture. What do you think? I have to submit this image by the the end the week, so I need to finish it up. Post your comments. I would love to see how people respond to my work before it is finished.

Teaching artists

2009-09-08T21:16:00.000-07:00

This morning I was reflecting on the art courses I have taught. Ever since the first day I enrolled in art school it has always been my desire to be an art professor. They seem to have the perfect job for an artist. They get to teach and interact with other artists, which helps develop work and ideas, they are required to participate in exhibitions and showings of their work, which builds their professionalism and recognition, and they have the benefit of salaried employment.

I have recently begun to move in another direction away from teaching, and I'm not sure what, if any, affect this will have on my art. When I completed my B.F.A I went on and earned an M.S.Ed in College Teaching with a specialization in Art. One would think this would be perfect for teaching art at the collegiate level. But all I have managed to secure in the last four years since graduating is a series of adjunct, part-time teaching positions. I have had interviews, and I have had more than one person tell me that they either cannot hire me, or they will not hire me because I do not have an M.F.A. I find it ironic that a field that prides itself on forward thinking, originality, and problem solving is mired in old traditions. I am also sure I am not the only art instructor with a passion for teaching that has been passed over for full-time jobs. The policy makers of education, not just the education of artists but educators as a whole, need to expand their thinking. I'm going to close this posting with a few images of past student works. Post your comments, see you next week.

Response to "Patrons Support Artists on the Web" in New York Times

2009-08-30T12:12:00.000-07:00

This weeks post is a response to an article sent to me from the New York Times. The full text can be read here. The article is about Kickstarter, a unique online donation tool for visual artists, musicians, and other aspiring individuals of the arts.

Jenna Wortham, the author of the article explains how this organization works. Through the internet artists with a project idea post their concept. They are then matched with individuals who would like to make a contribution to the proposed project, but cannot fund the entire operation. By combining their resources these donors help get the projects off the ground. The contributors are then often treated to an additional tangible gift as well. Perry Chen, one of the founders, identified his organization as a sort of marketplace of goods and services based on the arts.

I think that this concept is interesting, and without further thought, I might be tempted to sign up for donation support. But I also foresee some potential problems. Any time you open your project idea up for funding from individuals, they are then going to gain a sense of ownership to that project or idea. Their vision may not be the same as that of the artist, and they may become unsatisfied with the outcome. This could lead to arguments among the artists as well as fellow donors.

Another problem relates to the idea of intellectual property. By posting an untested idea on the internet, which is available to anyone, there is a potential for someone who has funding to steal that idea and launch it as their own. There would be no real way to prove who came up with the initial idea.

These problems aside, I think this donation concept has merit. Too often it seems that Americans are uninterested in supporting the arts and cultural development. To see a group who is actively seeking and supporting artists is gratifying. To learn more about Kickstart, click here. I'll see you next week.

Economics of art

2009-08-23T12:45:00.000-07:00

This past week I sold a painting for the highest sum to-date for one of my works. This got me reflecting on the prices and values that society places on art works. My question is why are the prices so high? With most object-De-arts there is little use other than visual pleasure (or disgust). Life does not depend on these items. So why are they perceived as precious?

This is a thought that I have asked my art appreciation students to consider. In class, I taught that the value of a work depends on who the artist is, what his/her intention in making the art was, and what other viewers think about the work. In a broad sense this is true. These are the basic foundations for why critics and the public value a work, and why people would pay 6 million for a Van Gogh. But the real question of why or how these values are place on these objects isn't really answered. Would Van Goghs' sunflowers still fetch such a high price if it was instead painted by Joe Blow? I somehow doubt it.

This is a problem that I have thought about before, and I have no real answer. I don't know if I will ever completely understand this issue, but it is one that I think should be addressed. What are your thoughts? Post them in the comments, and we'll see you next week.

Response to Artist Squatters on NPR

2009-08-16T14:21:00.000-07:00

This weeks posting is a response to a radio broadcast on NPR. A link to the full broadcast can be found here. This news piece explained about a situation in Berlin involving a bombed out building from WW II that has been taken over by artists.

The story explains that upon the fall of the Berlin Wall in the late 1980's, a community of artists developed in what was once a large department store. This store had been heavily damaged by allied bombing at the end of WW II, and remained neglected throughout the Cold War due to its close proximity to the Berlin Wall. Eric Westervelt, the NPR reporter, explained how after the wall fell, artists moved in to the building and used it as a makeshift community to create and sell art. They have been doing this for the past 20 years. The reporter went on to describe how the buildings current owners now want to evict the artists and set up a new commercial tourist district on this site. The artists have banded together and are refusing to leave. It's become a legal issue and is set to go to court.

I found this piece interesting, but I do take issue with one thing that Westervelt said. He identified the artists as "squatters," however if you listen closely, the artists have always paid rent. It was a very low rent, but they have always paid their part. I don't necessarily think they could be labeled as squatters.

My second comment relates to something one of the artists interviewed said. Kuri Haran, an artist from Japan said that this was a unique place, but I'm not so sure it is. I know of several cities and towns in the United States that are trying to establish themselves as artist communities. These cities offer artists low interest loans to develop their studios and galleries in what are often historically important examples of American Architecture. The hope is that artists will move in, and bring a vibrant new life to communities that are struggling. As far as I know, these new artist communities have been met with some success. This is very similar to the community established by the artists in Berlin.

I'm not sure the artists should be removed from the building in Berlin. I think the established community of artists could work closely with the buildings owners to create a new environment to work and sell their art. Perhaps the art towns of the United States could serve as an example. If you have comments, leave them below, and I will see you next week.

Southern Illinois Artists Open Competition

2009-08-11T09:22:00.000-07:00

This weeks post is about my experience in the Southern Illinois Artists Open Competition and Exhibition (SIOAC). The website for this exhibition can viewed by clicking here.

I'd like to thank the judges and the staff of Cedarhurst for allowing me to compete in this exhibition. Although I didn't win, the display of work was exceptional, and I feel humbled and honored through my participation. I would include some images from the show, but I do not have any. Instead, if you are in or around Mt. Vernon, Illinois I suggest you stop in at the Cedarhusrst Center for the Arts and view the show for yourself. It's very good.

Thats it for this week. Post your comments, and I will respond.

Why don't art schools teach presentation?

2009-08-02T12:57:00.000-07:00

As you may recall, I was embroiled in a framing conundrum last week. In case you didn't read last weeks posting (which is most people) I had my work accepted in a fairly prestigious state art competition. The deadline to deliver works was this past Friday (7-31-09). My entries were of an unusual size and required special order frames. I had prepared for this; I placed my order at the beginning of July. However they weren't delivered as of last week. I went into panic mode and began looking at alternate framing methods. Last weeks posting gave a pretty good indication of my frustrations. This weeks posting is all about the aftermath. The images below illustrate the state of my studio area post-framing mode.

As you can see, it's quite a mess. I was working on constructing frames as soon as I got off work, around 5PM, well into the night. In the end my frames arrived Friday afternoon, and the museum hosting the competition agreed to allow me to deliver my works on Saturday. If they hadn't allowed me to do this, I'm not sure what I would have done.

All this lead me to reflect on my art school experiences. I was never taught about presentation. My classes covered techniques, styles, different types of media, and plenty of art history. However, presentation of our work was something that was never really discussed. Now, having taught art classes at two different colleges and familiarizing myself with art school curricula I have to ask; why is presentation not central to the program? As far as I know this is not taught in any art school. I think this is an interesting question. I will be researching this, and I may post what I find out. If any of you have an opinion, or are knowledgeable on this subject please leave your comments. I hope to do a follow-up on this issue in the future. See you next week.

Framing your work

2009-07-28T19:42:00.001-07:00

My work has recently been accepted for exhibition in a fairly prestigious state-wide competition. I am very excited about this. To prepare for this, I had to get my work framed. The paintings in question are rather large and require larger-than-standard frames. I therefore, placed my order with Frame USA in early July, thinking they would be here well before the deadline to deliver the works. That deadline is now upon me, and the frames are not here. After a conversation with the company, I was informed that the frames are not even shipping until tomorrow. The photo below should indicate just how this makes me feel.

I am further enraged, because after I learned my frames have not yet shipped (and will in fact arrive too late to be of any use ) I cannot cancel or return the merchandise. I am crafting my own frames made of wood, and hoping they will look halfway decent. This has been my unfavorable experience with Frame USA. I would be interested to hear other experiences with this company, so if you have dealt with them, leave your story in the comments. As always see you next week.

Art Show at Southern Illinois University

2009-07-19T19:16:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine (Luca Cruzat) recently had a joint exhibition of her work with another artist in the Vergette Gallery on the campus of Southern Illinois University. I attended the reception for this show on Friday. I enjoyed the display very much, and will use this weeks post to reflect on what I saw.

Luca is a printmaker. Printmaking is an art process that is not for me. The few times I have decided to make a print I rely on one of two methods. These methods include lino-cuts and collograph techniques. I was therefore very excited when I discovered that Luca had done a series of prints using the collograph technique.

If you don't know, the collograph technique is one that prints an image from a variety of objects assembled together in a composition. This may include bits of paper, coins, string, or just about any sort of flat object that can be sealed to the surface of a board, and run through a printing press. I asked Luca how she made her images and she explained that she used paper and thread. She said that thread holds the ink prior to transfer of the image better than the paper. She therefore sewed or stitched thread to the paper to help outline the figures, and complete her image. The result was fantastic. Below are some images from the show. The black and white is the collograph by Luca.

More examples of her work, and upcoming exhibitions can be found here. I am interested in your thoughts about printmaking, particularity using the collograph technique. Leave your comments below and thanks for reading.

Do Climate and environment affect the artist?

2009-07-12T17:42:00.000-07:00

The other day I was asked if I thought the environment and climate in which an artist works affects the work produced by that artist. I think this is an interesting question, and it's one I've been mulling over for a while. I will provide my answer, but I would be very interested in what you, the readers (Dawn) think.

In my opinion, the environment and climate in which an artist works has an indirect affect on the work produced. I say this because the environment will contribute to the mood of the artist, and this will in turn affect the outcome of the work. I have two stories to back this up.

When I was in Scotland, I met an artist from the United States who had spent the first six months (this was early June) living and working in Scotland. He was having an exhibition of his work from that six month period. The work from late February had a particularity somber palette. The subject matter also took on a drastically morbid character. When asked about this, he commented that at that time of year (Scotland is further North than any of the contiguous States)the sun sets at 2:30 0r 3:00 or something. He said it was always dark, and he was sick of it. His painting strongly reflected his mood.

Story number two. When I was in art school I began as a ceramics major. I later switched to 2-D media for several reasons. One of those reasons however, was the environment of the classroom where ceramics were taught. There were very few windows, and of these they only let in a minimum amount of light. It was dank, all the walls were gray cinder block, and it was near the blacksmith studios, so there were a number of air filter stacks from all the fires used to shape and bend metal. It was a rather unpleasant place to spend any period of time. This environment shaped my mood, and my work suffered because if it. I had to get out of there, so I switched specializations.

So there you have it. Two stories about environment affecting the work artists produce. I am very interested in your thoughts. So leave your comments in the comment section, and I will see you next week.

Resposne to Akarova and the Belgian Avant-Garde

2009-06-29T09:14:00.000-07:00

Andrew, N. (2009). Living Art: Akarova and the Belgian Avant-Garde. Art journal, 68(2) 26-49.

This week I will be responding to an article found in the most recent issue of Art Journal. The article by Nell Andrew, examines the link between avant-garde Belgian Art, and the avant-Garde choreography of Belgian dancer Akarova.

Andrew explains first the connections between the art movement in Belgium of the early twenties, and the dance movement of which Akarova was involved. Post World-War I Beguim, as Andrew pointed out, was influenced by many of the countries it bordered. This included Germany, France, and the Netherlands. As a result the art being produced was following the trends in these countries, including Symbolism, and German Expressionism. The daughter of an architect, Andrew explains how Akarova grew up surrounded by her parents literary and artsits friends who strongly influenced her decisions as she began to study dance. Andrew argues that, with particular influence placed on the 7 Arts group, it was this movement that caused Akarova to take her dance in a more avant-garde direction.

Andrew went on to explain, as the ideals of Futurism, Cubism, and Constructivism entered Belguim, Akarova adopted traits associated with these movements. These traits include an emphasis on lighting, design, space, audience experience, political content over the more traditional dramatic contexts of theater. Andrew explained how the idea of movement without motion became central to the way Akarova danced. The author described how Akarova re-formed music in the service of dance rather than separating music from dance, as many modern dance choreographers were doing at that time.

This article was well written, and thought provoking. From my perception it isn't often that two types of art are explored. I find the arts to be very compartmentalized. This article however, nicely explored issues of the visual arts and modern dance.

If the expressive content is similar, i.e. motion and movement why are the arts so distinctly divided? I think it is due to the way creative people work. As a visual artist I like to work alone, on my own thoughts, and in my own way. I also think that this is not uncommon. As the creative process begins in a solitary exploration, this idea of working alone continues throughout to the end of the project. That said, I think It would be interesting to see more collaboration between the arts.

Canceled exhibition

2009-06-22T19:08:00.001-07:00

Last week I mentioned this exhibition. It had been my intention to blog about it this week. However, it was rainy this weekend, and the show was canceled. I therefore have nothing to blog about this week. Instead, enjoy this image of the Statue of Liberty in the rain.

Response to Madonna Nude

2009-06-14T20:06:00.000-07:00

This weeks posting comes in two parts. The first part is a response to the blog Madonna Nude, the second covers an upcoming exhibition in New york City.

In the Madonna Nude blog we are presented with three images of the pop diva Madonna in the nude. One is a painting, and the other two are photographs. In my opinion, it is a little difficult to understand what this blog is actually about. Are we meant to be looking only at the nude images and comparing them, or are we meant to be thinking about how the use of a famous person in a work of art will greatly influence the price of that work? I'm going to discuss the former rather than the latter.

If we are meant to be comparing the images, I think that only one comparison can be made; that being a somewhat distorted perception of Madonna. Two different media are being used, the painting is more of a stylized interpretation of the relationship between Madonna and Guy Ritchie, and less about the pop star herself, and the photographs depict a very young Madonna before she was a sensation. If one considers this when looking at the photographs, then this too is less about the woman and more about a stylized interpretation of Madonna.

As for the works themselves, I much prefer the painting. I think the painting is more visually interesting. In one thousand years when Madonna is unknown to popular culture this painting will carry more significance than the photographs. In this context the images could be depicting anybody, and the painting holds a narrative, while the photographs do not. This is significant because the narrative can be interpreted by many people and comparisons can be drawn between the viewer and the work.

The second part of this posting promotes an exhibition in New York City. If you live in and around New York, you should definitely check out the "9/11, city, country, memories" exhibition in Battery Park on June 20. Below is the official flier that provides more details. If you have any comments or questions about this weeks posting, place them in the comment section, and I will see you again next week.

Art D Tour not a D light

2009-06-07T20:44:00.000-07:00

This past Friday (6-5-09) I took an art tour of several galleries, and Museums in St. Louis, Mo. The details of this tour can be read here. This tour turned out to be a disappointment. I was expecting more because I went on the same tour in April, and it was fantastic. I think there are several reasons why this particular tour went so poorly, and I think there are ways improvements could be made.

The initial problem turned out to be traffic. The continued closer of interstate 64 has made getting around St Louis difficult for some time. This situation is made even worse during rush-hour each morning and evening. These factors combined with a scheduled Cardinals baseball game brought traffic into the city to a crawl. While on the bus, our guide even commented on how difficult it was to navigate the city streets that night. It became such a problem, that one of the scheduled gallery stops was deleted, as there was no convenient way to get the bus to that venue. In future, this event should be planned with more care given to the anticipated traffic pattern for that evening. The closer of interstate 64 was anticipated I'm sure. However, I have difficulty believing the other traffic issues were taken in to consideration when this event was planned.

The second issue was a lack of food. For each stop there was to be a variety of food and beverage samples. As outlined in this flyer:

However, I happened to be on the last bus in the convoy, and for each stop made the food had been consumed. There was hardly a scrap left for anyone. As I picked up my advance tickets I was told that they had sold out, and that the buses were quite full. The number of people on the tour should have been anticipated. This tour should either be advance purchase only, or additional tour dates should be put in place.

These two issues alone would not have ruined the evening. However, the art at each stop was also a disappointment. In April, the tour included examples of a wide variety of works. From old masters' paintings to contemporary sculptures, the array of works displayed featured something for everyone. This tour by contrast involved an excess of contemporary art, including video works and installations. I am not opposed to this type of work, but focusing solely on these ideas makes for a very dull tour.

All of these issues combined made for an unpleasant experience. These situations could have easily been prevented if more thought had been given to the planning of this event. The promotion of art and the culture of art is a positive thing. However, if it is not done correctly the public support of the arts will erode even further than it already has. This blog has discussed how the art world has alienated the public and unfortunately I think this serves as another example. If you disagree, or have other ideas to contribute please comment. I'll see you next week.

Art Vs. Academic Art II

2009-05-31T20:40:00.000-07:00

For this post I am going to respond to a comment regarding an earlier post dealing with art and academic art. The commenter suggested my criticism of Thomas Kinkade ( and that of Robert Smithson, as I was comparing both artists' work) was based on his (Kinkade) popularity, and not his style.

Popularity has little to do with weather or not an artist is creating what I call academic art. There are many artists whose work is quite popular with art scholars and the public alike. One example: Andy Warhol. He was practically a pop icon himself with legions of fans from all walks of life, and I would definitely categorize his work as academic art. The term academic art refers more to how the artist is working, and how the end result of his/her work reflects the idea the artist is exploring. That aside, I believe there is a much wider issue here: that of the polarization of the art world.

Look at the following examples:

The images in the top row can be found here.

The bottom cluster can be found here.

As we look at these images we notice that the works by Smithson (Shown on the top) are all distinctly different. Each work represents an exploration of the artist into an idea or an issue (I am not going to go into the ideas behind each work here. If you want to know more about these works click the links and read directly from the artists.). Conversely the work of Kinkade is all very similar. Smithson does not claim to be the artist of anything. He moves from idea to idea, and creates work based on how he best feels he can communicate that idea with his viewers. Kinkade says he is the "painter of light." However, if that were so, he would consider all aspects of light i.e. particle vs. wave theory, the fact that all color is derived from white light, the way a single candle light can hold back the dark light etc. This doesn't appear to have happened. As a result, all of his works explore the same idea, from the same point of view leaving the viewer with a collection of images that are nearly identical. The subject matter has changed, but the overall idea of the work has not.

This is not to say one work (or artist) is any better than the other. That is a judgment that is left up to each individual viewer. What it suggests from my point of view, is that given these two examples; Smithson creates academic art while Kinkade does not. For me, these artists serve as examples to the greater issue: the polarization of the art world.

In my opinion there is far too much academic art being made. This has clouded the definition of art, and alienated those who lack a background in the visual arts. The end result has been a backlash, and created an environment for an equal abundance of simplistic art to proliferate. I am not suggesting that these types of art (academic or simplistic) should not be made. I believe an artist should create works in the manner that he/she best feels expresses his/her ideas. Simultaneously viewers should respond to artists they most identify with. However, I think artists need to spend more time thinking about how they can reach a broader audience that brings these two camps together, and viewers need to reflect more on how artists are communicating with them.

As a final note if you live in or around St. Louis, Mo there is an excellent art event taking place next Friday June 5th. "Art D Tour" takes patrons around the city for an evening of art, food, and socialization. Ten museums and galleries, representing all types of art will be visited. Details can be found here. See you next week.

Book Review

2009-05-25T20:47:00.000-07:00

Rooney, K. (2008) Live Nude Girl: My life as an object Fayetteville: The University of Arkansas Press.

For this weeks entry I am going to review a book. The book is by Kathleen Rooney, and is titled Live Nude Girl: My life as an object.
This book is the first person account of being a nude model for artists. The book is divided into six chapters. Each chapter examines the authors experiences beginning with why she chose to model nude. Chapter two reflects on the sexuality issues associated with posing nude, both historically, and through her own time spent on the model stand. The third chapter examines issues of mortality, and how figurative work extends an individuals presence on earth. Chapter four is devoted specifically to modeling for photographers. Chapter five discusses gender issues, and chapter six offers the authors concluding thoughts. The book was very well organized and the author was succinct in her thoughts. I enjoyed reading this book, and have gained even more respect for the men and women who aid artists in their artistic endeavors by posing.

One of the things that most surprised me was the variety of artists Ms. Rooney worked with. In her reflections she talks about working with everyone from college professors in classroom situations, well established artists in their studios, to those who are experimenting with art making. As I define myself as an artist it is interesting to see how others are doing the same, but in a different way. This was not a part of the narrative of the book, but it was something extra that I gathered as I read through each chapter.

I would recommend this book to any developing or established artist. Apart from the relevant topics Ms. Rooney addresses, their are a number of other issues present, such as the one I identified. The artist/model relationship is important to the continued development of the visual arts, and this book does much to further these relationships.

Art Vs. Academic Art

2009-05-17T18:20:00.000-07:00

This weeks post is going to address the question that invariably comes up: What is art? I'm not going to give a definition of art, and explain how works, and/or artists fall into this definition. I think that the definition of art is constantly changing and always in motion. I also believe that this is as it should be. I have often said that art is a tool for communication, and one of the great things about this concept is that art is an adaptable tool that changes with each artist that uses it. In that context, what I am going to talk about is the current state of "Art," and how that relates to what I refer to as "Academic Art."

In my art appreciation classes I reinforce the idea of art as tool for communication multiple times. One of the initial ways I do this is by telling students that anytime they come upon a work of art there are two essential things they should keep in mind when observing that work. The first is that they need to consider why the artist did what he/she created. In other words, what was the idea behind the work? The second consideration I tell my students, is to find out what other observers think about that specific piece if art. Art is a two person operation. One person makes the art, the other observers it, and without this dynamic, art is just a series of useless objects.

The first consideration address the artists intention in making the art. Typically, in the professional art world, an artist makes a work of art because he or she is exploring a concept, philosophy, or idea. This is key in my art-as-a-tool-for-communication definition of art. Using art in this context assumes that the artist is considering an idea over what the final work will look like, and ultimately what the final piece is used for. In addition, the body of works created over an artists lifetime will vary as the artist moves form idea to idea.

The second consideration address what the viewer thinks about what he/she is observing. When each individual looks at a work of art he/she brings with this observation references to things experienced, and things remembered. Therefore, the interpretation the viewer perceives may not be exactly what the artist intended. In this regard a sort of conversation has taken place, started by the artist, and completed by the observer.

Look at the following images:

The one on the left is from the Robert Smithson Gallery and can be found here . The one on the right is form the Thomas Kinkade gallery and can be found here.

Both of these works are distinctly different, and both will elicit a different response depending on who you ask to comment. Robert Smithson is a professionally recognized artist worldwide. The work of Thomas Kinkade however, is regarded with more suspicion by art professionals. One of the reasons for this goes back to the artists intention. The work of Smithson in this case is examining the flow of lava from volcanoes, and is trying to emulate nature similarly to the way landscape painters emulate the terrain they paint. He is exploring an idea, and illustrating his findings from his explorations. Kinkade states that he is the "Painter of light" however, the fact that his images are placed on mugs, mousepads, collectors plates and other items suggests that this artist has an entirely different motivator for making art. One that seems less like an exploration of ideas, and more like a desire to make money.

I am not trying to suggest one work of art is more legitimate over the other. I believe that is something best left up to each individual observer. What I am trying to explain is the way that I perceive why some works of art (and artists) achieve a level of professionalism in the "Art World," and others do not. Which brings me to the term I have coined: "academic art."

It is my opinion that the current "Art World" is fractured. In my perceptions of contemporary art most professional artists create works that explore an idea but the artists themselves, and possibly a few other individuals with art backgrounds, are the only people who truly recognize the artistic merits. Because one needs an academic background in art to appreciate these types of art, I refer to them as academic art. People with a less academic understanding of art are going to understandably turn away form these types of work. I think this has opened up an opportunity for some artists to create works that focus less on an idea, and instead focus more on meeting the needs of this alienated group of viewers.

Since I have stated again and again that I believe art is a tool for communication, I think artists need to reflect upon they way people communicate. When I was in grade school I was taught to write in a way to reach a broad audience. I think contemporary artists should consider this. In my opinion, they are not reaching out to a broad audience, and the image of artists, and art professionals is suffering as a result. What do you think? Please leave your comments in the comment section, and I will begin another discussion next week.

Artists' Statements

2009-05-03T18:22:00.000-07:00

Recently, I was discussing artists' statements with a friend. My friend stated that artists' statements were completely unnecessary. As an artist I will say I do not like writing artist statements, either for individual works or for my work as a whole. That said, I would not go so far as to say they are completely unnecessary. As I have said before, and will probably state in the future, I firmly believe art is a tool for communication. Artist statements just add another layer to the conversation. When a viewer examines a work, he/she is going to bring his/her own interpretation to that viewing. This interpretation may be entirely different from what the artist intended. By including an artist statement, the artist has the opportunity to set the mood/stage for what the work is about. In this regard the viewer and the artist can relate to one another in a way they may not otherwise be able. I'm sorry I have no images this week. I am traveling, and am away from my computer files. As always, please leave your comments for me to respond to. See you next week.

Edvard Munch Show & Bannanas

2009-04-26T21:09:00.000-07:00

Greetings!
This weeks post comes in two parts. In part one I will discuss my thoughts on the Edvard Munch Show at the Art Institute of Chicago. In part two I will discuss the recent uproar at the Scottish National Gallery involving bananas and urine.

PART 1
First let me say that Edvard Munch is one of my favorite artists. I waited for my opportunity to view this show with much anticipation. Unfortunately I did not find out about this exhibition until three weeks before it closed. I therefore had to hastily make arrangements to get to Chicago and return without interfering with my work schedule. That aside, the Art Institute did a tremendous job.

The show encapsulated the life of, and influences surrounding Edvard Munch. Entitled Becoming Edvard Munch, this exhibition not only showcased Edvard Munch, but it also had works by other artists that Munch collaborated with. It was very interesting to see the work that had a direct influence on Munch. By presenting Munch side by side with his contemporaries it became clear how Munch was very much in control of his work, and the direction it was taking. It was almost like stepping through time and observing the artist as he worked.

One major flaw I felt, was in the final room of the exhibition. In this last room the viewers were presented with a few family photographs throughout Munch's life. Next to this was a wall-sized map detailing the locations Munch lived and worked. I think this should have been placed in the opening space of the show. As viewers entered the exhibition we were greeted by a large self portrait of the artist. If this portrait were linked directly with the photographs and the map, viewers could get a clear idea of where and when Munch was working.

Overall, I found this exhibition quite good. I had the opportunity to view several works I had previously seen only in books or in class. I also got the chance to observe works that I had no idea Munch painted. The Mermaid was one work in particular that I had no knowledge of, but really enjoyed.

Part 2
I would next like to briefly address the issues taking place at the Scottish National Gallery In Edinburgh. You can read about the entire issue here.
To sum it up: an artist placed a standard bunch of bananas in the gallery, claimed to have injected them with urine, and presented them as his work. To some, the whole issue here is whether or not this could be considered art. I think that yes, it could be art, based on the premise that one individual is communicating an idea. However, more than one person is involved in the on-going display of this work, and in my opinion that alters what this object actually is.

The article in the Scotsman clearly explains how the curators have to go to the store and replace the bananas every 2-3 days due to the fact that bananas rot. If the original bananas are not present, and the artist had nothing to do with placing the new bananas in their current location, who is responsible for this project? It seems to me that this is more a sociology/psychology experiment based on trust, rather than an actual work of art. Especially when one considers that the newly placed bananas may or may not actually contain urine. This fact only adds to the suspicions about who to trust. The gallery? The Artist? Whose word is the viewer to accept as genuine?

If this idea of confusion and collaboration with the gallery owners is part of the artists intention, then this is a very successful and unique work of art. However, I doubt that is the case. Let me know what your thought are, and I will post a new discussion next week.

2009-04-19T15:15:00.000-07:00

This begins what I hope will be a discussion blog on all things related to the visual arts. I would like to begin this first blog by introducing myself, describing some of my background, and briefly explaining my work. I am an artist and an educator living in the Midwest. I have taught art courses at two different colleges and have exhibited nationally. I have also participated in several community development fundraising visual arts projects. These experiences have influenced my perceptions of art in American culture, and have enriched my own artistic endeavors. I strongly believe the visual arts are a tool for communication.
The idea of art as a tool for communication is a topic on which I have much to say, and I'm sure this will develop into a reoccurring theme. My art making is partially based on this idea and is meant to help communicate my memories of places I have been, and events I have experienced. The above image is an example of one of my recent works. It is titled "Church...going." Please feel free to comment or ask questions about it. This week I will be attending an Edvard Munch exhibition and I will be critiquing this show next week. More examples of my work can be found at www.peterklubek.com