I have been a bad blogger. I think everyone has good intentions and high aspirations when they start blogging….particularly as to frequency. I tend to over-think things…everything simple turns into a long (and probably uninteresting project). So in an effort to create more frequent posts and compelling reading, I am starting a new series of blog posts. Each week I am going to pick 10 things, mostly from the local art scene, but sprinkling in other interesting nuggets which I have come across during the week. And yes, I know that I am assuming that people care about my opinions and personal picks and that this format is tired…but I don’t care.
Enough rambling, here we go.
1. Minnesota Art Exhibition Series (MAEP) Annual Meeting I can’t think of another event that brings such a diverse range of Minnesota artists into one room…..and sometimes that leads to a very interesting discussion and debate. The purposes of the meeting are to report on the activities of the past year, to discuss the program, and to elect four new members to the artist panel. Three of those artists must live within the Twin Cities metro area, and one must live in greater Minnesota. The Meeting is at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts on Saturday, October 24th from 10:30am – 1:00pm. Come on out and participate! UPDATE: Congrats to new panelists Andy Sturdevant, Megan Vossler, David Petersen and Brian Frink!
Margaret Wall-Romana - "Painting Painting with van der Weyden"
2. ARTmn 2009: The Precious Object brings together 14 artists from locales throughout Minnesota in the inaugural exhibition of mnartists.org’s ARTmn visual arts series, presented in partnership with the Hennepin County Public Library. The artists — selected from a pool of more than 300 applicants by a panel of curators, artists, and critics — explore issues related to nature, simulation, craft, collecting, and fantasy. Exhibiting artists Margaret Wall-Romana, Kristin Van Dorn, Erik Waterkotte, and Michon Weeks discuss their influences – from pulp sci-fi novels to 15th century painting on Tuesday, October 27th at 7:00 at Pohlad Hall at the library. The talk and exhibition is free and open to the public. Here is also an interview with Liz Miller on her installation which invades the main stacks of the library space.
3. Vanilla Ice is big in South Africa ….who knew? He is even sorry about the hair, pants and parts of his career. Ice, Ice Baby is still the biggest selling rap single of all time.
Amy Sillman
4. Amy Sillman artist in residence at Minnesota State University: Painter Amy Sillman will be in residence at Minnesota State University, Mankato on October 26, 27, 28. Her public lecture will be Monday October 26th at 7 pm Ostrander Auditorium the Minnesota State University, Mankato Centennial student union. Well worth the drive from the Twin Cities!
5. Lookbook’s new video for “Over and Over” Lookbook is Grant Cutler and Maggie Morrison. They just released their new album Wild At Heart…and I can’t get these songs out of my head. Great band, awesome video…totally deserving of the recent local hype. Check them out in person with Solid Gold at First Ave. on November 13th and at the Walker Art Center’s After Hours for Event Horizon and Benches & Binoculars on November 20th!
http://www.vimeo.com/68607896. Rob Fischer at Franklin Art Works: Fischer’s exhibition Few Landmarks and No Boundaries flows throughout the main gallery and into the expansive back space of the Franklin Artworks mixing found objects, video projections, a sunken pool and a re-configured gymnasium floor as a props surrounding performances spread throughout the run of the exhibition. The exhibition is up through October 30 and there will be a closing performance and reception on October 29, beginning at 7 pm with live music by local band Dark Dark Dark.
7. Artists on the Verge 2: Northern Lights announces a second round of Art(ists) on the Verge commissions (AOV2). AOV2 is an intensive, mentor-based fellowship program for 5 Minnesota-based, emerging artists or artist groups working experimentally at the intersection of art, technology, and digital culture with a focus on network-based practices that are interactive and/or participatory. Follow the link for all of the details, deadlines and other info.
8. Hélio Oiticica Fire Fire destroyed or damaged nearly 90% of Brazilan Artist Helio Oticica’s work on October 16th. The work was in storage while a dispute over money the quality of the storage facilities was being resolved. Crazy and very sad.
9. Interesting Call for Exhibition proposals by apexart: Based on the idea of creating its own franchise, NYC based apexart is currently holding a worldwide, open call for 250-word proposals asking participants why the franchise should come to their town and provide all of the support necessary to produce an exhibition. The deadline is December 15th.
10. “Why the hell did I want to go here… again?” With blogs everywhere, and good engines to sift through them, every once in awhile you stumble upon (or get sent a link by a co-worker with Google reader) a post like this review/rant by a young art student after recent trip to the Walker. Apparently the experience of visiting the museum is comparable to binge drinking. The post drifts between the formal anaylsis of Chuck Close and snarky critique of Yves Klein. It was hit of the Education and Community Programs office for a few minutes on a rainy afternoon this week.
Until next week…
The thing about cliches applies: “Tired formats” are tired because they *work*. I ADORE Amy Sillman! Thanks for posting about her presence in our state, even if I’m not likely to make it to Mankato.
Comment by Julie Caniglia — October 23, 2009 @ 3:33 pm
Hey Scott. Looks like you’ve got a bad link/month for the MAEP meeting: it’s this Saturday, Oct. 24.
Comment by Paul — October 23, 2009 @ 4:11 pm
Er, tomorrow, I mean.
Comment by Paul — October 23, 2009 @ 4:17 pm
The news that so much of Helio Oiticica art was lost in fire is tragic . A huge loss for the world . His work is so inspiring and so slight that one forgets the objects themselves are material. It’s as if he dies a second time.
Comment by Frank Gaard — November 11, 2009 @ 1:24 pm
Hola Frank, your comment reminds me of an exhibition I once saw of Pablo Picasso’s hidden stash of work. The show was in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. It was a big deal and the show brought a whole of cash along with long lines and a killing at the Gift Shop. I was lucky and had a friend on the staff that arrange for me to see the show as often I wanted.
I learned a very important truth about an artist’s total output of work. I learned that what Peter Drucker had said about the work of Master Sumi E brush painters was right.
90 % of any great artist’s work is crap. Great crap relative to others; but crap none-the-less.
I found Mr. Drucker credible because he also included his own writing in that assessment. With caveat: \the challenge is to figure out what is the good 10% and keep only that!\
Happy Turkey Day Frank.
Bobo
Comment by Jimmy Longoria — November 13, 2009 @ 5:46 pm
jl – I don’t agree with your idea, it’s too glib too inside. Picasso lived a long while Oiticica lived a less long life and in a culture quite unlike Paris. His work was fragile to begin with and more unusual in materials and function; he was not so much a painter of a sculptor as he was a lover of the Samba. If you saw the Walker show of his material you might see the loss differently. Besides the idea that all work falls within some paradigm of failure is simply not reasonable. Oiticica was something else something only found late. Maybe I’m too emotional about this because I’m grown old but I do know how thrilling that show was and I know every rule has an exception.
Comment by Frank Gaard — November 19, 2009 @ 5:21 pm