Frank Hyder’s Persistent Dream
Wanna go to a Philly opening tonight? The Persistent Dream is a mixed media installation by Frank Hyder at the Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia, curated by Lorie Mertes. The show opens tonight!
This exhibition brings together elements from Hyder's recent explorations of forms and dream-like images in both two and three dimensions. The majestic space of the College entrance lends a satisfying combination of dramatic exterior and interior views of these new works.
Moore College of Art & Design
20th & The Parkway
June 26 - September 2, 2009
Opening Friday, June 26 - 6 to 8 p.m.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Augusten Burroughs
I've come across an author that has kindled something that I haven't had happen to me since the 80s: A raging need to devour his books one right after the other.
It's a rather unhealthy habit, because one reads them too fast (wanting to get to the next book) and then, later on, one has to re-read them, just to see what I missed. I'm reading Possible Side Effects now.
Augusten Burroughs is a witty, intelligent, funny and eloquent writer with a well-honed set of literary skills and a superbly conditioned stack of writing muscles.
This is a visual arts blog, but every once in a while I meander around (I love that word: meander, especially when applied to the Greek architectural element that no one else knows about) to books, movies, etc.
In fact, his stories have given me some new ideas for some drawings... expect to see some Augusten Burroughs inspired art soon.
Read Augusten Burroughs now!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Mark Planisek
Just received the news that DC area artist Mark Planisek, who had a terrible accident over the weekend, has passed away.
I first met Mark when he used to hang out and exhibit at the eklektikos gallery in Georgetown. That gallery was in the same Canal Square location as the original Fraser Gallery. At that time, back in the mid-late 90s, there were seven art galleries in that square.
Mark was not only one of the friendliest and nicest persons that you ever met, but also a superbly talented artist.
A few years ago, both him and Anne, and I were staying at a common friend's house in Los Angeles. Mark and Anne were there for a week, and as I was over in San Diego at that time, I drove over to see them and spend the weekend at the house.
We were sitting outside in the garden, when Mark noted that some of the tiles in our host's house were loose. Suddenly Planisek was climbing the roof and to my amazement spent the next hour or so fixing the roof!
We will miss you Mark...
Opportunity for Artists
Deadline: September 18, 2009
Call for Proposals. Purdue University Galleries (West Lafayette, Indiana) is currently reviewing proposals for an exhibition of contemporary art relating to the Langston Hughes poem "A Dream Deferred" and contemporary socioeconomic challenges facing minorities in the United States. The exhibition will be presented in the Stewart Center Gallery from January 11 through February 21, 2010 in conjunction with a presentation of "A Raisin in the Sun" at Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette.
Work must be available to be exhibited at that time. There is no entry fee. All media are eligible, including new and emerging technologies. Exhibit will be curated from submissions and may feature a single artist or group of artists. Applicants should send cover letter describing proposed exhibit and estimated expenses, examples of current work (up to 20 jpegs on CD or DVD for time-based media - no slides), resume, artist statement, and SASE to:
Craig Martin
Purdue University Galleries
Yue-Kong Pao Hall of Visual & Performing Arts
552 West Wood St
West Lafayette IN 47907-2002
Or call 765-494-3061 or email cdmartin@purdue.edu
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Lisa Rosenstein's Top AOM artists
Alex Zealand - sculptor; she uses recycled/sustainable materials to create works of great delicacy and beauty. She was in a show with Adam Eig (another talented sculptor) at the new artdc.org gallery in Hyattsville. She had made a sculptural bowl out of grape stems that was so beautiful to look at, and the shadows it cast were just as nice to look at.
Barry Schmetterer - photography, deeply thoughtful and masterful works that give the viewer a space for contemplation.
Steven Reveley - glass artist; the first time that I saw this glass work my breath stopped at the combination of strength and fragility.
Sherill Gross - paper artist; the intricacy of her work blows my mind.
Jessica Hensley - collagist-self taught; very intentional fine workmanship, good compositions
Ben Toller - drawing; this guy is amazing. His eye and line are beyond belief. I saw his work at the O street studio a month or so ago. He's starting to paint, and already is above and beyond most; his work makes me think of Hieronymous Bosch.
Jeannette Herrerra - She's a little bit (actually a lot!) outsider art - very talented, self taught painter, very, very prolific. Both my kids bought her work at AOM last year with their own money. My son who was 14 at the time spotted her work first.
m. gert barkovic - saw this outrageous sculpture my first go round, had taken a pic and sent to the artist (whose name I then forgot). Just received an e-mail in response - yay! This one should have gotten one of those Renwick craft awards-Highest Honor.
Laurel Lukaszewski - just love her work.
Mark Planisek
Just received the terrible news that DC area artist Mark Planisek had a horrible accident over the weekend.
Apparently Mark was coming out of the Arlington Arts Center and about to was crossing the street, when a car peeled off, causing him to retreat backwards onto the sidewalk; he tripped on the curb and fell backwards, and was struck by a car and received a really bad head injury.
Planisek is in ICU and we're all hoping and praying for the best, but I am sad to say that his family has been told to prepare for the worst.
Monday, June 22, 2009
If you got one...
The last "benefactor claimant asserted that he/she had mailed out 50 letters to AOM artists.
If you got one, either drop me an email or leave a comment.
Tammy Vitale's AOM Top 10
From DC area artist Tammy Vitale:
Wanted to give a shout out to some artists whose work I have really enjoyed this year. I hate to call it a Top Ten...mostly because I have others I really like. These folks, however, took the time to "talk" with me (via interviews on my blog), so I know them better and appreciate their work even more.
Patricia Hartnett: there is an underlying magic to the small paintings of a girl and a bird (birds), the twig tree - all things that call me in to visit with the work and hear it's stories. There are secrets here and I want to spend time learning them.
Tracey Clarke: also weaves a mythological land for her work. "The Guardian" caught my eye, the LLama with butterflies (whose title I don't know) kept me there delightedly smiling. I could live with any of her work forever (pretty much my criteria for "great art").
Krissy Downing - and not the first time. Her whimsical sense of humor always makes me smile. But this year, she added "Child in Branches"...not whimsical. More melancholy. Wonderful!
Alex Zealand - because I never quite know what it is I'm looking at. This year's piece was first rain, then harp strings, then a flock of birds. Doesn't get boring!
Jane Braoaddus - because her dolls are slightly wicked, and call forth the dark side. I like that (not to mention wonderfully and imaginatively executed).
Sofya Mervis: more dark side, pursuing a quest I visit in Body Politics: what is real beauty? why do women allow themselves to be co-opted by a marketing media that does not have their best interests in mind as it totes that "perfect" look? Pretty much: when will we (women) learn?
Susan LaMont - color. Lots of lush color. And underlying all that color, some tale is being told by juxtaposition of light and shadow. Mesmerizing!
Kim Reyes - always shows something that absolutely captures me. More often than not, several somethings. This year she has returned to her necklaces with ceramic focal pieces - the work that first caught my eye at AOM02. And Departing (ceramic and chicken bones) stopped me in my tracks. Reminescent of her work last year, it has to be a personal story, but there wasn't a tour for me learn the back history on it - my loss. (I don't have an interview with her but I have known and loved her work since my first ArtOMatic so I'd be remiss if I didn't mention her).
John Grunwell because I fell in love with his cat portrait at AOM02 and have enjoyed watching his style emerge and develop.
David Alfuth - His work amazes me. And he really really worked with me to get an interview in for my blog (computer troubles). I guess you have to have infinite patience as a characteristic to make his creations!
And like I said, there are many many more pieces I could cite and artists I could name. What I like about ArtOMatic lately is that one can watch certain artists as they move forward in their artistic process. Fascinating to watch unfold, inspiring to see their tenacious movement toward unrealized vision that is revealing itself as they go.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Dueling Benefactors
Remember when I pointed you to artdc.org for the fascinating thread discussion on Artomatic's "Benefactor?"
The WaPo's Reliable Source picks up the story and wrote a little piece on it here. This apparently stirred up a hornet's nest and now there are two dueling entities who both claim to be the "benefactor."
The first one is allegedly an older lady and she wrote this letter:
To Whom It May Concern:Which caused someone else to become an artdc poster and he/she added this on their forum:
I wish to convey my regrets for any concern I have caused the artists of Artomatic. I meant no harm. You may well imagine my surprise at seeing my small gesture reported upon in the Washington Post.
Allow me to explain myself. Since the passing of my husband of 43 years I have not been as socially active as I once was. My daughter, Margaret, accompanied me to the Artomatic Fair some weeks ago. I was enchanted by the work I was able to view. I was not able to tour the entire show but the work that I saw touched my heart and brightened my day. My income is limited so Margaret suggested I send a small token of my appreciation to some of the artists who touched me most.
I have asked Margaret to leave this note with the Directors of Artomatic. I do so hope that I have caused no lasting distress to all of the delightful artists in your show.
I wish you well in all of your future endeavors.
With warmest regards,
The Benefactor
I don't have time to make this rhyme:All the details here.
The letter "Rebecca" received was a fake
my letters are center-justified, the fake was left justified
I sent everything by US mail
the fake was delivered in person
I have sent out about 50 letters and I know to whom
can the impostor give you a list of all the artists that were sent letters? I doubt it
I would have ignored the fake letter, but I decided to clear things up when I heard Tammy V was offering art to the writer of the fake letter.
Please don't expect any response to questions or comments. I am only here to expose the fake.
I prefer the printed word to the internet.
don't worry, be happy
Thanks for the art
The Benefactor
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Robin Tierney's Artomatic picks
Robin Tierney is a freelance writer and art critic who writes for a lot of different magazines, newspapers and online outlets, including this one. She responds to my call for AOM favorites and sends the below report, which once again proves that my Billy Artsy critic caricature is imperfect to say the least!
10 works that I enjoyed at Artomatic by artists I’ve never written about before:
* Edward Hahn’s photographs of a wrecked sailing vessel in Oregon, eroded moorings in Ocean City and other images in the series “The Planet Fights Back.”
* Tracey Clarke’s oil painting of The Guide with her telling of new mythology.
* Johanna Mueller’s intricate prints of animals in mythical and mysterious settings that suggests really good fables and dreams.
* Pam Barton’s “I thought you loved me” metal art in her motif jewelry display.
* Lisa Schumaier’s raku-fired, papier mache, mixed media sculpted beings. Eerie and wondrous stories there.
* Deb Jansen’s fiber Homewrecker Dolls $100 per skank accompanied by Catharisis & Karma open letter. Ouch. Oooh. Fury, the great motivator.
* Jenny Walton’s big monotypes that seem to visually articulate some deep thought. Or maybe just random ones. In any case, she snagged a Pyramid Atlantic residency.
* Nabila Isa-Odidi’s acrylic of the little girl in “Yellow Dress.”
* David Alfuth’s funny surreal cut-paper stories. Go on be snarky...some folks like reality TV; I like things that tell stories.
* Noisebots by Elliot Williams. Artful, amusing science projects/audio sculptures. Photocells respond to light. Did you move the mic around? Flip the switch? Go back and check ‘em out. Nice view of the new stadium from there too.
And while not exactly enjoyable, Antomatic by Rebecca and Eric Gordon calls attention to the plight of the bumble bee. The world is losing the bees pollinate the crops that feed us. This easy-to-miss multimedia installation prompts thought. A good addition to the sensory arcade that makes Artomatic worth multiple visits. Go.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Less bucks?
Journalists like to think of their work in moral or even sacred terms. With each new layoff or paper closing, they tell themselves that no business model could adequately compensate the holy work of enriching democratic society, speaking truth to power, and comforting the afflicted.Read the CSM article here.
Actually, journalists deserve low pay.
Wages are compensation for value creation. And journalists simply aren't creating much value these days.
Until they come to grips with that issue, no amount of blogging, twittering, or micropayments is going to solve their failing business models.
Opportunities for Publication panel
This weekend I'll be participating in a closed discussion panel titled "Opportunities for Publication" as part of the 2009 International Arts Journalism Institute in the Visual Arts, a program sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the U.S. State Department and hosted by American University.
The panel is moderated by Michael Wilkerson, who is the Director, Program in Arts Management at American University.
The other two panelists are András Szántó, one of the founding members of Art World Salon and the one and only Culturegrrl, Lee Rosenbaum.
Gopnik on the Venice Biennale
As always, the Biennale is certain to set out plenty of junk. And a handful of gems.Sounds a lot like Artomatic, doesn't it? Anyway, read this really excellent article by the Washington Post's Chief Art Critic here.
Break a leg!
Put on your poodle skirt, bellbottoms, hot pants, miniskirt, or granny dress. Just don't miss my baby daughter Elise Campello in "Sixties Chicks," a musical celebration of the women who reflected and influenced a decade of transformation through the power of rock'n'roll.
Opening night is tonight and it is sold out! Details here.
That's Elise to the left, with Melissa Fleming in the background.
Pat Goslee's Top 20
DC artist Pat Goslee responds to my call for Top 10 Artomatic artists and she sends a list of 20 artists who interest her and about whom she never heard of before and discovered at AOM:
Christin Boggs
Rachel Thern
Megan Van Wagoner -- damn fine installation, fine fine artist, fine fine designer.David D'Orio - (Executive Director of DC Glass Works) I had never heard of him before.
m. gert barkovic
Michelle Soy Sauce Chin
Richard J Bailey - my favorite installation that I can't capture with my camera so y'all just have to go back and experience it for yourself if you missed this
Alex Goldschmidt - lots of bargains @ $25
Megan Rall - lushishly liminal
Lizbeth Kaufman
Matty Burns (Hickling) Danny: The Astronaut Deer
Shawn Behling -- all pieces cost no more than the equivalent of minimum wage for time spent on the piece.
Susan Chapin
Christian Tribastone
Jessica Van Brakle
PRANG
Corwin Levi
Sean Welker
Yelena Rodina
Kate Foley -- she really did a nice job with a unique display system for her photographs
Meinir Wyn Jones (Sunderland UK artist)
By Lizbeth Kaufman; she says:The work I am exhibiting at Artomatic are photographs I've taken over the past year and a half. Originally the photographs had nothing to do with each other. But as I arranged them for this show I realized that they come together into some kind of evidence, like snapshots from the scene of a crime.Too bad Lizbeth Kaufman doesnt seem to have a website; she uses a 4x5 view camera... strange and beautiful takes. That is what struck me -- these disparate images were weird, part of some unknown whole.
I grew up in New York City, and I graduated from Yale University in 2008 where I studied Chinese and Photography. I now live and work in Washington DC.
- Pat
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