What are we looking for?

More than 200 Times readers have responded to the question the chief art critic Michael Kimmelman poses in his latest Abroad column:

What exactly are we looking for when we roam around museums?

On a recent visit to the Louvre, Mr. Kimmelman observed that “almost nobody, over the course of that hour or two, paused before any object for as long as a full minute.” His conclusion: “Tourists now wander through museums, seeking to fulfill their lifetime’s art history requirement in a day, wondering whether it may now be the quantity of material they pass by rather than the quality of concentration they bring to what few things they choose to focus upon that determines whether they have ‘done’ the Louvre. It’s self-improvement on the fly.”

Julie Bloom in the NYT discusses the comments and their meaning. The comments have a few good points (lack of benches, etc.) but most are full of high handed snobbery and sadness. Read it here.

I'm confused

I'm not sure if this review by the WaPo's Chief Art Critic is a good one or not.

There's not much to see in two art projects now on view in Baltimore. That's why it's worth rushing out to get a look at them before they close in the next few weeks.

In fact my plebian mind fails to understand the bipolar nature of the points in the review, wondering from negative to positive to negative again, and ending in positive (I think), all the while while seeming to praise the actions of a former art curator heading to the fold of a mad South American dictator while rehashing traditional critical arrows at the heart of art and style as if they themselves were new. I think that Blake may be somewhat brilliant in the way that he managed to confuse me, but then again, I could be wrong. Prepare to be confused here.

For an equally brilliant counterpoint, Richard Whittaker interviews Jane Rosen:

Jane Rosen: I want to make work that you don't have to have a Master’s degree in Art History to understand. When I lived in St. Martin there was something about the quiet and the water. I became interested in fishing and met an elegant old black man, Mr. Anstley Yarde, who was very tall and thin and had a great presence. He taught me how to fish. You use a can and string. He’d get me at six o’clock in the morning and we’d get these snails. We’d sit on a rock and drop soda-can lines and just sit there. I never caught a fish but he’d catch them. He’d hear them...and I thought, this man has knowledge. And one day, we’re sitting on the rock and he asked me what kind of art I made. I knew Mr. Anstley Yarde would not understand the art I was making at that time, and I realized I wanted him to understand it. It raised that question: who and what does my art address? Who did I want to talk to and what did I want to talk about?

... Theorists will start talking and I’ll start thinking, "O God. I’m illiterate!" But in actual fact, I’m literate about another range of experience, a range they are not connected to. It’s simply not an issue for them!

Read the interview with Jane Rosen in Conversations here.

Patricia Di Bella at BlackRock

I have always thought that the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown, MD has one of the most beautiful and dramatic gallery spaces in the region. With its impossibly tall gallery space, it opens itself to all kinds of great curatorial ideas. I am told that a new gallery director is coming to Black Rock soon, and hopefully the gallery will receive the attention to its web presence and curatorial care to the space itself, that it currently lacks.

Currently on exhibition are the paintings of Maryland artist Patricia Di Bella, whose large scale work, and uniformity of size give the viewer quite a good visual reception once one enters the large gallery space.

Curtain Falls by Patricia Di Bella
Di Bella's work is a swirl of frenzied theatrical activity and bedlam in a riot of strong brushwork and color impossibilities. In "Curtain Falls" (see above) we're greeted by an odd cast of characters in what I must assume is some sort of unusual narrative. But I am immediately drawn to the odd character on the lower right hand corner of the painting.

We see a female drummer, in dress and ample cleavage, messing around with the drum sticks and posing with them as horns. Is that Sly Stallone? Is it just me or does that face look like Rocky Balboa? Is it an accident of painting or has Di Bella put the Italian Stallion in there for a reason?

I'm not sure, but it certainly adds an unusual twist to this quizzical drama being played on not only on this canvas but also in most of the paintings. What is going on here? What is Di Bella showing us? Is that Bing Crosby crooning some mad song above Rocky? Why does he have wings in his fedora? Is that Monroe with a gag in the rear of the painting?


Running the Finale by Patricia Di Bella
Like any exhibition, some paintings are better than others, and in "Running The Finale" the artist has some issues with her technical facility as we note some issues with foreshortening and proportions. But even those are somewhat overcome by the interesting mayhem going on in the scene depicted on the canvas: it is another madhouse of actions and disturbing emotional ranges.


Sound Check, Teatro Diego by Patricia Di Bella
And it is this mayhem on canvas, with Marilyn Monroe being oddly referenced everywhere, that seems to be the unifying point in most of the work, with possibly the exception of "Sound Check, Teatro Diego," which appears to be a very intelligent homage to Diego Velázquez's "Las Meninas." A bravo to the artist for referencing what is (in my opinion) the greatest painting of Western civilization; it is not an easy task.

BlackRock Center for the Arts is located at 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown, Maryland 20874. Call them at 301.528.2260 for more info.

If you missed...

Tim Tate on "All Things Considered" on NPR, you can listen to the clip here.

Che Guevara drawing at auction

Ernesto "Che" Guevara de La Serna Lynch. Circa 1981. Pen and ink wash. 15.5 x 19.5 inches. By F. Lennox Campello
You can own the above Che Guevara drawing by yours truly by bidding for it here.

I created this drawing while a student at the University of Washington School of Art in Seattle, Washington and it is one of my hundreds of portraits of Guevara over the years.

This early original was acquired many years ago by a Texan collector and through the magic of the years and auctions, it is once again for sale. See and bid for it here.

All Things Considered

DC uberartist Tim Tate will be on the NPR program All Things Considered later today. on Monday around 4:20PM. Preview here.

How to survive the recession

Cut costs as quickly and as radically as you can. Speed is the most important thing. Don’t wait, don’t let it get out of control. Act immediately.” This is the advice of Karsten Schubert, the German-born London dealer, to galleries struggling to survive the economic downturn.

Read the AN article by Cristina Ruiz here.

Gallery woes everywhere

Art gallery owners across the country are finding they have a tough sell these days.

With houses going up for auction, unemployment continuing to rise and the threat of layoffs seemingly ever-present, many gallery owners in art communities such as Scottsdale, Ariz., Santa Fe, N.M., Portland, Ore., and New York City are closing shop, going broke to stay open or drastically changing the way they do business.

Read the article in here.

Capps on 14th Street Blues

Kriston has a good article in Art in America expanding on his teaser on the potential relocation of several of the DC galleries at 1515 14th Street, NW in DC. Read it here.

President Obama Gives Helen Zughaib's Painting to Iraq

President Barack Obama gave Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of Iraq, a painting by Arab American and DC area artist, Helen Zughaib, at the White House during his recent visit. As a gift between the two countries, her painting “Midnight Prayers” symbolizes the countries’ relations. Zughaib’s art work is currently on display at The Jerusalem Fund for Education and Community Development in Washington, D.C. as well as at Finding Beauty In A Broken World: In the Spirit of Frida Kahlo exhibition that I juried at the Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery at Smith Farm in Washington, DC (1632 U St NW or 202-483-8600).

For Zughaib, this is a notable development in her artistic career, yet it is not without precedent. Two years ago, one of her paintings, “Reconciliation,” was given to President George W. Bush by then Lebanese Parliamentarian (and current Prime Minister) Saad Hariri as an official gift from Lebanon.

Zughaib, who was born in Beirut, Lebanon, said the piece Obama gave to Iraq is about the prospects for peace she sees in faith. Zughaib was inspired by the Muslim “call to prayer one hears in the Middle East.”

She added, “The beauty of the call to prayer, combined with the rich detail of intricate Islamic designs in blues and greens, symbolize the beauty and lushness of the Arab world. As always, it is a painting that reflects my hopes for peace and tranquility in that region.”

Zughaib helped curate the current exhibit at The Jerusalem Fund for Education and Community Development. The exhibit is called "Gaza Conversations" and runs until September 4th. She helped put it together at the group’s Foggy Bottom-based facilities.

She said the exhibit “is meant to focus attention on the situation in Gaza.” There are three artists showcasing their work in the exhibit, which has drawn many visitors--further showing the artist’s increasing prominence.

Zughaib, like her art, has served as a bridge between nations. For instance, she served as United States Cultural Envoy to the West Bank, Palestine. She said, “My intention as an artist, especially after 9/11, is to further the dialogue between East and West, continue to try to understand each other and bring people together in conversation with the hope of mutual understanding, acceptance and respect.”

Wanna go to an opening tomorrow?



Aylene Fallah - Meet her at the Opening Reception on Sunday, August 2, 2009
1:30 p.m.—3:30 p.m.

Airborne


Heading back home today... have spent three of the last four weeks in California and Nevada; but today airborne from Vegas to DC, with a stopover in St. Louis, where Albert Pujols is a god.

14th Street Gallery Blues

Jessica Dawson has a really informative article in the Washington Post on the issue of the various 14th Street gallery cluster in DC that are facing relocation due to rising rents.

Good news is that G Fine Art is not closing, as previously reported, but relocating.

The article had a mistake on the monthly rentals that has been corrected since it was published. The corrections are at the top of the article here.

New BMA Curator

Doreen Bolger, Director of The Baltimore Museum of Art, has announced the appointment of my good friend Kristen Hileman as Curator of Contemporary Art and Department Head of this important collection. Currently Associate Curator at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, Hileman will begin her position at the BMA on November 2, 2009.

"Since its inception, collecting and presenting contemporary art has been an important part of the BMA's mission" said BMA Director Doreen Bolger. "Kristen Hileman continues this incredible legacy, bringing experience working with artists on collaborative projects and a familiarity with Baltimore's cultural community that will serve the Museum well as she guides our contemporary program for future generations."

During her eight years at the Hirshhorn, Hileman undertook projects on the work of Cai Guo-Qiang, Jim Hodges, and Oliver Herring in the Directions series in 2004, 2005, and 2006; organized the exhibition Ways of Seeing: John Baldessari Explores the Collection in 2006; and co-organized with other Hirshhorn curators The Cinema Effect: Illusion, Reality, and the Moving Image-Realisms in 2008, publishing an essay for the catalogue. Most recently, Hileman organized Strange Bodies: Figurative Works from the Hirshhorn Collection, which is on view until November 9. On October 8, 2009, the Hirshhorn will open Anne Truitt: Perception and Reflection, a major exhibition which she has organized and for which she has written the catalogue.

Hileman began her career at the Hirshhorn as a fellow in 2001, was named an Assistant Curator in 2003, and Associate Curator in 2007. Before joining the Hirshhorn staff she was a Curator at the Arlington Arts Center in Virginia. She has also held positions as an adjunct faculty member at the Corcoran College of Art and Design and George Washington University. She is a graduate of American University with a MA in Art History from the University of Maryland at College Park. In addition to her responsibilities at the Hirshhorn, Kristen has served as a juror for many exhibitions in the Mid-Atlantic region as well as a visiting critic at the Maryland Institute College of Art and at Virginia Commonwealth University. She has also published numerous articles and reviews.

One of Hileman's first projects will be coordinating the BMA's showing of Andy Warhol: The Last Decade, first U.S. museum survey of Warhol's late paintings. This five-venue nationally touring exhibition is organized by the Milwaukee Art Museum and scheduled to open in Baltimore in October 2010.The Museum has one of the largest collections of late works by Warhol in the United States and is a major lender to the exhibition.

Congrats to Hileman!

Artomatically speaking

Artomatic 2009 came to a triumphant close July 5, smashing records and making headlines. During the 28 days of art, music, and revelry, AOM had over 76,000 visitors to the 10th anniversary event - a new record high!

Need more proof that Artomatic 2009 was the hottest ticket in town?

AOM filled 10 floors and 275,000 square feet of space with displays by over 1,000 artists. They rocked it out, danced it up and had a grand ol' time with over 600 live performances, 20 artists tours and two socials. There were even a record-number of events for the younger set (aka artists in training), with 54 kids workshops ranging from dioramas to mobile-making.

"I'm Also a Beauty Queen" by Brian Lusher
And currently "The Best of Artomatic" is attracting attention at my old gallery, check out the most recent review here.

DC gallery to close relocate

Just read at G.p. that the District's G Fine Art gallery will close at the end of the current show.

Update: Dawson in the WaPo writes that G will relocate, not close, as interpreted by me from the G.p. post. Relocation due to rising rent

Update 2: Capps expands on his post here.

Examiner

I was on page 27 of the Washington Examiner last Sunday discussing the sobering work of Diane Kahlo at the current Frida Kahlo influenced exhibition that I curated at the Joan Hisaoka Gallery in DC.

Read it here (go to p.27): here.

West

I'm still out West and heading home tomorrow... it has been over 100 degrees every single day that I have been here (first week of July and the last two weeks).

They don't call this area the "Desert Empire" for nuthin'.

Opportunity for young curators

Deadline: 7pm, Friday 30th October, 2009

MARCO/FRAC Lorraine Award for Young Curators: Call For Applications - Organized by the MARCO, Museo de Arte Contemporánea de Vigo, Spain and FRAC Lorraine, Metz (Fonds regional d'art contemporain de Lorraine), France, the purpose of the MARCO/FRAC Lorraine Award for Young Curators is to offer participants the chance to execute an exhibition project to occupy MARCO's first floor and the exhibition venues at FRAC Lorraine. Entries will focus on the field of contemporary artistic creation and contemplate the participation of two or more artists.

The exhibition project will have a budget of a maximum sum of 30,000 Euro for each venue. The exhibition will take place from May to September, 2010 at MARCO Vigo, and from October, 2010 and January 2011 at FRAC Lorraine. Proposals that include works from the Collection FRAC Lorraine shall be taken into account. To visit the Collection click here.

All curators born in and after 1970 are eligible to enter the competition. If an entry is a group creation, one person will be chosen from that group to represent it and act as mediator with the institution. Curators will not be allowed to participate as artists. Entries must be previously unpublished and must contemplate the participation of two or more artists. No more than one project per entrant will be accepted.

The curator of the winning project will sign a contract with the Fundación MARCO and FRAC Lorraine, agreeing to comply with the functions derived from curating an exhibition, the characteristics of which will be specified in the contract. These will include the selection and location of the works, the design and supervision of the installation, and the writing of at least one text for the catalogue. The curator will receive the sum of 7,000 Euro, tax included, as an honorarium.

A jury made up of professionals of the art world will select the winning project and two finalists in November. The jury's decision is final. The jury may declare the award void should they consider this necessary. The criteria for evaluating the entries will be based on quality and suitability to the characteristics of the first floor of the MARCO as an exhibition space and exhibition spaces at FRAC Lorraine.

The jury will be composed by:
Beatrice Josse, FRAC Lorraine Director
Iñaki Martínez Antelo, MARCO Director
Kevin Muhlen, Casino Luxembourg – Forum d'art contemporain Director
Agar Ledo Arias, MARCO Head of the Exhibitions Dept.
Pedro de Llano, Art Critic and curator

The jury's decision will be made public in November 2009 and all participants will be notified.

Entries must be exclusively and simultaneously submitted, PDF format to the following e-mail addresses info@marcovigo.com and fraclorraine.coordination@wanadoo.fr, subject: 'Award for Young Curators'. In case of sending additional information, please send it to: MARCO, Museo de Arte Contemporánea de Vigo. Rúa Príncipe, 54. 36202 Vigo (Pontevedra), Spain and 49 Nord 6 Est - FRAC Lorraine. 1 bis, rue des Trinitaires. 57000 Metz, France. Dossiers received in only one venue will not be accepted. Projects must be preferably written in English, although Spanish, French or Galician languages are admitted.

The closing date for the reception of entries is 7pm, Friday 30th October, 2009. Dossiers received after this time will not be accepted.

For more information:
http://www.marcovigo.com
http://www.fraclorraine.org

Blee on Cleary

Lyrical, and full of grace and light, the recent pastels of Manon Cleary dazzle with their technical bravura at the Addison/Ripley Gallery in Georgetown (1670 Wisconsin Ave. N.W., Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.) Who else can make a rat’s ear (literally!) into a visual poem? And who could possibly make it as beautiful?

John Blee is such an elegant art critic... and it takes elegance and depth of historical knowledge of the DC area art scene to know what a powerful presence Manon Cleary has been in DC for decades.


Manon Cleary photo by Tom Wolff
Cleary is perhaps the capital region's most talented incarnation of a Renaissance master whose brush translates the greatest achievements of Western realism into a modern contemporary dialogue and whose art mortally wounds the argument of those who claim that painting is dead.

Read Blee's review here and do not miss this show! It goes through August 22.