Airborne

Flying out tonight and heading to Montreal, Canada for a week... no more storms while I'm gone.... please!

Uninformed art critic turns into misinformed opinionist

As someone who resolutely avoids the commercial side of the art world whenever possible and prefers to focus on the artwork itself, my impression of art fairs comes largely from written accounts. Fairs in places like Basel, Switzerland, Miami Beach and New York City have been represented as typically glitzy affairs in which most of the best work sells out during exclusive previews and to which the unwashed public is invited as a kind of afterthought. The idea of bringing this kind of art culture to Buffalo initially struck me, to put it nicely, as unexciting.

But judging only by a walk-through of the fair and of Larkinville Saturday morning, this sort of elitist vibe does not surface in Echo in any way. And while a typical complaint from attendees and exhibitors at other fairs is that they do not provide an ideal place to see or understand work, I found Echo to be a pretty extraordinary one.

This sort of initial misinformation/impressions - largely driven by ignorance - astounds me... how can someone be the art critic for a major city newspaper (we're talking Buffalo here; the second largest city in New York state!) and still has not been to an art fair in 2012!

He lives in New York state! A few hours away from the second largest epicenter of art fairs on the planet!

But more importantly for his readers, how can someone be a newspaper's art critic and still "resolutely avoids the commercial side of the art world whenever possible."

Yikes! And all along here we thought that Blake Gopnik was the only art critic who did that!

And where does that "typical complaint" come from? First heard for me...

Nearly everyone there... was extremely approachable and willing to talk to visitors about their work. That's something you don't get in many galleries...

 What??? Where does this gent get those impressions from? The 1990s?

There's more intellectual disservice to this Buffalo News readers in this article by  Colin Dabkowski and zero actual art review/criticism in the column... maybe I'm missing something, but his title is "Art Critic."

Makes my head hurt... Buffalo News, please send this guy down to NYC or Miami for the next cycle of art fairs so that he can open his eyes a little wider shut.

Heading back

I hear that electricity is back on in my neighborhood, so we're heading back...

Civilian tries to find solutions to the Corcoran's problems

As you surely know, today the Corcoran is in serious trouble, and your help and support is needed at this extremely critical time.

A quorum (not all) of the Board voted on June 5th to price the historic Flagg building that houses both the Corcoran Gallery of Art and the Corcoran College of Art + Design. The process to sell the building is moving forward at an extremely rapid pace and the community still has not been invited into the conversation.

Like you, we believe that the Corcoran/Flagg building is an historic cultural icon, deeply tied to the history of Washington, D.C and the nation. Its proximity to the White House, Old Executive Building and National Mall is ideal placement for an art school and a museum, as the location is at the center of national activity and public discourse.

It would be detrimental for the Corcoran to be sold because it not only represents a very important part of this city and our country's history, but it also holds a significant place in current art dialogue. The Corcoran Flagg building (17th Street & New York Avenue, N.W.) is a National Historic Landmark, one of only 2,500 sites and buildings in the U.S. designated by the Secretary of the Interior, and it should be protected and preserved. We believe the solutions to keep the Corcoran where it is can be found within the community that admires, loves, utilizes, and needs it.

Please go here to sign the Change.org petition.

See the below articles:
Maintaining the Artistic Vision of the Corcoran
- June 14, 2012 (The Washington Postl)

Comments on the above

Corcoran Gallery Considers Selling Building, Moving Elsewhere
- June 4, 2012 (Washington City Paper)

Link to all Post articles

Developers cool on Corcoran Gallery of Art reuse
- June 5, 2012 (Washington Business Journal)

Ideas, solutions suggestions should be sent to: savethecorcoran@gmail.com

Twitter: savethecorcoran
Facebook: SaveTheCorcoran  
website: www.savethecorcoran.org

Irish Review

I'm currently in a show titled Eureka! at the Blue Leaf Gallery in Dublin, Ireland. The show focuses on artists whose work incorporates technology into their work.

Deirdre Mulrooney has a nice review of the show in Vulgo; read it here.

Opportunity for Artists

Deadline: July 27,  2012. 

The Cleveland County Arts Council is accepting two and three dimensional art for an upcoming competitive exhibition based on the theme of baseball. The exhibit coincides with the 2012 American Legion World Series in Shelby, August 17 – 21, 2012. Artwork must pertain to or depict baseball. 

The American Legion Baseball Commission will sponsor a $500 Purchase Award. The winning piece of artwork will be placed in the Keeter Stadium. The Cleveland County Arts Council invites artists 18 and older to submit work to the “Baseball as Art” Exhibit & Competition. Work must be original, created by the artist within the last two years and not previously entered in a competition at the Arts Center. 

All two dimensional entries must be ready to hang with picture wire on the back. No saw tooth hangers. The Arts Council reserves the right to reject any entry that requires special installation. Entries may be two and three dimensional but limited to paintings, drawings, sculpture, print-making, photography, and fine craft. There is a $25.00 non-refundable entry fee for up to three (3) entries. Additional entries $5 each (max. 5 entries). Make checks payable to the Cleveland County Arts Council. Shipping to and from the Arts Council is the responsibility of the artist. Deadline to receive accepted work at the Arts Center is July 27th, 2012 and must include a prepaid shipping label or a call tag, check or postage for return shipping. Please include any special packing and/or installation instructions. Any work arriving in packaging not sturdy enough to return/reuse will be returned COD. Cleveland County Arts Council, 111 S. Washington St., Shelby, NC 28150. For more information, visit: http://www.ccartscouncil.org

Happy 4th!

"Radio Flyer Flag" by Ross Palmer Beecher

La Cerca

In Spanish, fence is cerca, which oddly enough is the same word for "near."

A big chunk of our back fence was wiped out by a large tree branch which fell during Derechogeddon 2012 and darn nearly took out the entire section of the fence.

Feh!

Hoyo

You are looking at the hole on our roof caused by the fact that Derechogeddon 2012 broke off the top of our neighbor's tree, which then fell on our roof, poked this hole, then rolled off, taking out the gutter in the process, and now lays in our backyard awaiting the insurance man to come over and see what happens next.

Still no power in the house or neighborhood.

The Spanish word for hole is hoyo (pronounced o-yo).

Ouch!

Derechogeddon 2012

Derechogeddon 2012 devastated our backyard, from what pics the neighbors have sent us... no power and no water and no Campellos... a visiting friend staying at the house is now holding up the fort.

Krispy Kream, Belsano, PA

Krispy Kream Drive-In, Belsano, PA... oh yeah... the ice cream was as good as it looked...

Oil City, PA

Oil City is a city in Venango County, Pennsylvania that is known in the initial exploration and development of the petroleum industry. After the first oil wells were drilled nearby in the 1850s, Oil City became central in the petroleum industry while hosting headquarters for the Pennzoil, Quaker State, and Wolf's Head motor oil companies. Tourism plays a prominent role in the region by promoting oil heritage sites, nature trails, and Victorian architecture. The population was 10,557 at the 2010 census.

 We're here for the wedding of a friend; lots of DMV area artists are also here... pictures later.

Born today...

Peter Paul Rubens, Flemish painter is 435 years old today... and King Henry VIII of England was also born on this day.

But neither one of them can stand up to the genius of Mel Brooks, who was born on this day in 1926.

Mazl-tov! It's good to be the King!

Sister Mary Malbec

Sister Mary Malbec, 10x4.5 inches, charcoal and conte on paper

Thomas Kinkade Museum

In the months before his death, Thomas Kinkade was "extremely focused" on establishing a museum of his artwork at his Monte Sereno home, his embattled girlfriend said in court papers filed Thursday.

"Thomas appreciated that while his art never received critical acclaim, he had legions of fans who were moved and uplifted by his art," Amy Pinto-Walsh wrote in a declaration filed in Santa Clara County probate court. "Thomas wanted to create this museum for his fans."

Pinto-Walsh said Kinkade took her on several trips to art museums -- including the Getty in Los Angeles -- for inspiration.

I can think of at least six artists whose work never received any critical acclaim but now have museums dedicated solely to their work... can you? Read the whole article quoted above here.

Sister Mary Merlot

Sister Mary Merlot, charcoal and conte on paper, 10x4.5 inches, c. 2012

Mid Atlantic Competition

Deadline for Submissions: August 3, 2012

October 9 – November 2, 2012
Public Reception: Sunday, October 14, from 2-4pm

The 2012 Hoyt Mid Atlantic Juried Art Exhibition showcases artists from the Mid Atlantic Region: Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, West Viginia, Virginia and Washington, DC.

Juror:  Yours Truly

2012 Mid Atlantic Prospectus page 1
2012 Mid Atlantic Prospectus page 2

Winging it in Europe

Winging It!-In Europe: An Empty Nester's Plan for Travel: Designed for Those Young at Heart but Older of Body by Linda Stringer and Jim Stringer

I did a ton of illustrations for this book back in 1991 when I was living in Scotland and the authors were traveling around Europe gathering data for their book, which has become an underground classic of European travel tips... get a copy here. 

 

Wanna go to an opening tomorrow?

Painting into Sculpture is an exhibition (at Marlboro Gallery at Prince George's Community College curated by John Anderson) of "painting that embraces the physical space beyond the rectangle. The featured work explores the terrain where painting becomes sculptural through various methodologies: stacking panels, activating negative space, stripping the medium from the support, using objects that function as paint, shaping the canvas, and reducing the brush stroke to an object."

Featured artists include Dennis Dake, Don Kimes, J.T. Kirkland, Donald Martiny, Eugene Markowski, Kris Scheifele, and Dan Tulk.

The exhibition runs through July 19, with a reception June 28, 6:30 – 8:30 P.M.

Gallery Hours
9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. Monday – Thursday
9:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. Friday
Contact: John Anderson, guest curator,
301-322-0959, andersjj@pgcc.edu
Or Tom Berault, Gallery Curator,
301-322-0967, beraulta@pgcc.edu

Returning to Aqua in December

A couple of days ago I was invited to exhibit at the 2012 Aqua Art Fair in Miami Beach; this will be my second Aqua and last year's was not only a terrific fair, but also a lot of fun!