More evidence of the wake effect

Followers of this blog are familiar with all the writing that I've done over the years about the aggregated effects of doing art fairs... And how what I have coined as the "wake effect" of the art fair is perhaps the single most important reason why artists must participate in art fairs....

And here's another example... This time sent in by my good bud and DMV artist J.T. Kirkland...

A gallerist who was exhibiting at Scope Miami 2012 saw my work in my NYC gallery's booth and it caught their eye. They followed my work for the next year and decided that their interest stuck and they wanted to represent me. They reached out, we talked on the phone and over email, and in January we finalized all the details. 

I sent them about 40 pieces representing works on wood, canvas and paper from the past 6-7 years. We're doing a big show in October and hopefully a couple of art fairs. The gallery is in New Orleans (www.guthriecontemporary.com). 

So over a year after the fair, I got a big bite. Who knows who else is thinking about my work right now? I believe in the wake effect!!

Spotlight on Wellesley College

In case you have missed it... there is an art controversy in Wellesley College over this statue of a sleepwalking man in his underwear by artist Tony Matelli.

A realistic-looking statue of a man sleepwalking in his underwear near the center of Wellesley College has created a stir among the women on campus, especially as more than 100 students at the all-women’s college signed a petition asking administrators to remove it.

 And now, Sarah Mahmood, Editor-at-Large, Wellesley College has written this piece for the HuffPost that calls for the removal of the piece.

She writes:

We don't want the statue moved because we're prim and proper prudes, but because we'd rather avoid looking at a creepy, potentially triggering sculpture on our way to class. Would you want that sculpture in your backyard for the next five months?

I'm already lost... "triggering sculpture?" what does that mean? The answer comes a few paragraphs later, which is not only a fail for structuring the article, but also surprising, considering the source is an editor.

Apparently there's a petition to remove the work of art, and we learn from the petition that:

"This highly lifelike sculpture has, within just a few hours of its outdoor installation, become a source of apprehension, fear, and triggering thoughts regarding sexual assault for many members of our campus community. While it may appear humorous, or thought-provoking to some, it has already become a source of undue stress for many Wellesley College students, the majority of whom live, study, and work in this space."

 That answers my "trigger" question, but it does not answer the stupifying (and well-documented in this blog) and never-ending string of art censorship issues that continue to astound me.

At least Sarah Mahmood (in years to come) can claim the excuse of youth in her over-reaction on the wrong side of this issue, but the lesson here for her, and for all of those whose opinion aligns with her, is simple: "Art censorship is NEVER the answer."

My kudos to the Director of the Davis Museum and the President of Wellesley College for sticking to their principles and declaring that they have no intention of removing the statue until July 20, the duration of Matelli's exhibit.

Putin's gonna be pissed!

All I'm saying is that someone was heading to Siberia a few minutes after this happened...

Cough, cough...

Novie Trump Installation at Art Wynwood

The DMV's own Novie Trump will have a 20 foot wall installation at Art Wynwood next week; the image to the right is a detail of the ceramic work, titled "The Way Home."

We will also feature several new pieces by Trump in booth C-9.

Anyway... the van is packed with artwork and tomorrow Audrey Wilson heads out to the Art Wynwood fair where we will have work by Audrey, Dulce Pinzon, Simon Monk, Tim Tate, Sean Hennessey, Michael Enn Sirvet, Elissa Farrow Savos, Novie Trump and me... 

Not sure how it all fit in the van... But most of it did!

Art Wynwood next week!

This is the first time that we've done this fair in Miami, and we're really looking forward to another successful Miami fair.

We have a large booth (C-9) and we're showcasing mostly DMV artists: Audrey Wilson, Tim Tate, Sean Hennessey (all associated with the Washington Glass School), plus the amazing Novie Trump and Elissa Farrow-Savos, who kicked butt and took names at the last (e)merge art fair. Also for the first time we're showing several spectacular new pieces by the DMV's Michael Enn Sirvet. And we're as usual bringing our top international artists: The UK's Simon Monk and Mexico's Dulce Pinzon!

Sirvet is a contemporary sculptor, designer and structural engineer who creates two and three-dimensional works using metals, hardwoods, plastics and other materials. Michael’s vision makes use of industrial and hand processes to restructure and fuse the organic chaos of nature with the crafted precision of man-made construction. 

Fair Hours for 2014

Thursday, February 13     
VIP Preview: Access for Art Wynwood VIP Cardholders & Press

GENERAL ADMISSION: 6:00pm-10:00pm

Friday, February 14     11am - 7pm
Saturday, February 15     11am - 7pm
Sunday, February 16     11am - 7pm
Monday, February 17     11am - 6pm

Main Office: +1.305.432.2855 or info@art-wynwood.com

Location:

The Art Wynwood Pavilion
Midtown Miami | Wynwood
3101 NE 1st Avenue
Miami, FL 33137

Next week in Miami

"Red Bastion I"

2013

Powder-coated Aluminum

32" x 31" x 9"

By the DMV's Michael Enn Sirvet will be in booth C-9 next week at Art Wynwood in Miami.

Drop me a note if you'd like some passes to the fair...

Art Wynwood 2014 will feature 70 international galleries presenting emerging, cutting edge, contemporary and modern works and will have its own distinct identity and design. A unique feature is the highlight of street art, murals, pop surrealism and other genres from the contemporary underground movement. Art Wynwood is perfectly positioned to further the growing worldwide recognition of this movement by providing the enthusiast and seasoned art world traveler alike a distinctive opportunity to explore, learn and collect one of the most significant art movements of our time.

Art Wynwood 2014 will coincide with the 26th edition of the prestigious Yacht & Brokerage Show in Miami Beach (based less than five miles from the Art Miami Pavilion), which transforms Collins Avenue into a multimillion-dollar presentation of yachts and super-yachts. The Boat Show is known to attract qualified buyers from all over the U.S. and around the globe, including France, Brazil, China, Colombia, Russia, Argentina, Mexico, Italy and Sweden.

The 2013 edition of Art Wynwood attracted more than 26,500 visitors during its five-day run, with 6,100 collectors and art enthusiasts attending the Opening Night VIP Private Preview. The fair showcases a diverse range of fresh and edgy works by established, mid-career and emerging international contemporary and urban street artists from around the globe.

Art Wynwood shines a spotlight on Midtown Miami and the Wynwood Arts District as an international cultural destination flourishing yearlong. The fair will continue to distinguish the Wynwood Arts District as Miami’s epicenter where art, fashion, design and the culinary arts intersect.

Another old piece found

I must be getting to the age (mid 40s... cough, cough...) when people start emailing me asking "Is this piece yours?" - I'm now averaging about one a month... a few from the UK (where I lived from 1989-1992), but most from the US.

The vast majority of them are from the mid 90s, when I was an art-producing machine (I did 32 art shows in 1995!) or from my art school days, as I used to sell all my art school assignments at the Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington.... I sold thousands of works there between 1977-1981.

Here's an old friend from my senior year at the University of Washington Art School... this is a pen and ink wash from 1981... images courtesy of the current owner, who bought it at an auction in Hawaii.