blogs, links, events and art from the teens behind ►

Here’s a quick video from today’s mnartists.org Field Day.

and some photos!
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FRIDAY, MAY 15, 6 PM through SATURDAY, MAY 16, 6 PM (Closing Party at 8 PM)

ART-A-WHIRL WEEKEND!

Location: California Building, 2205 California St. NE, Minneapolis

Browse the schedule below to scope out which artists you most want to work with, or just show up and stay for the whole 24 hours! Drop us an email at teenprograms@walkerart.org if you want to participate in this 24 hour event featuring bands and activities led by local artists.

Grandmaster Schedule of Events

Friday, May 15

6 – 9 PM: BRETT & ERIN SMITH, Sister & Brother Design Duo

As the artists behind such sensations as Walker Mini Golf and many a maze made of mattresses, Brett and Erin Smith are sure to bring a double dose of sibling creativity and installation verve as they explore the California Building.

9 PM – MIDNIGHT: CHRIS PENNINGTON, Conductor of Cardboard Chaos

Chris Pennington is an installation artist/enormous party orchestrator with enough energy to power the Twin Cities. As a collaborator on The Soap Factory’s Haunted Basement, the 2008 Liberty Parade, The Soap Factory’s Ten Second Film Festival, and the Art Shanty Water Balloon Fight, join Pennington as he takes over the space with what’s sure to be the awesomest refrigerator box fort you’ve ever seen.

SATURDAY, MAY 16

MIDNIGHT – 3 AM: HARDLAND/HEARTLAND, Apocalyptic Art Collective

Hardland/Heartland are collaborative instructors of destruction, reconstruction and internet poetry. They have plans to recycle materials used by Chris Pennington in what may amount to the evening’s largest demolition project.

3 AM – 6 AM: BURLESQUE DESIGN, Rock-n-Roll, Rap, Raves, and Screenprinting

The boys from Burlesque are going to be keeping the insomnia alive with a 3 am rave party. They will also be creating a unique grid installation, projected on the wall and composed of album covers brought in by participants. Get ready to dance!

6 AM – 9 AM: ANDYMCINNIS, KRISTINA MOONEY, and CARISSA SAMANIENGO, Illustration, Architecture, and Printmaking

Kristina Mooney is coming in and tearing down the walls in her signature sheetrock slashing style. Andy McInnis and Carissa Samaniego join in to throw some screenprints and painyings into the mix, creating a chaotic, interactive melee.

9 AM – NOON: LIZ MILLER, Manipulator of Felt and Fabric

Liz Miller’s entangling, complex felt installations make a renewed appearance as she changes up her method of making art, just for this show. Her previous work, composed mostly off-site, will be turned into a group collaboration to respond to the changed space of the Don’t Sleep on It gallery.

NOON – 3 PM: SCOTT STULEN & ANDY DUCETT, Drippy Landscapes and Couch Forts

Scott Stulen plans to take over the event with a build of monstrous proportions. He is joined by Andy Ducett, crafter of giant contraptions, in an installation that challenges scale from all angles.

3 PM – 6 PM: ERIK BURKE, MIKE FITZSIMMONS, and JOHN GRIDER, Creatures, Spray Paint, and Stencils

The BrokenCrow Collective will be incorporating aerosol art with other visual elements and making everyone with a will to paint gets involved. Come and slap some paint on the wall!

8 PM: Closing Party

Celebrate the close of the event with a screening of a time-lapse video of the previous 24 hours and musical performances.

Here’s some photos from the second Polaroids, Prints, Projections class taught by Xavier Tavera. We started off the workshop by playing with the idea of a video portrait.

If you would like to see more photos check our flickr site by clicking here.

WANT TO PERFORM AT THE WALKER ART CENTER?

Seeking musicians (ages 14 – 18) to score films inspired by Andy Warhol. Selected musicians will work with young filmmakers to compose new original works to be performed live during the screening of the film. To enter, please submit your music sample to teenprograms@walkerart.org by Friday, December 12. Call 612.375.7628 for more info.

Related link: http://blogs.walkerart.org/ecp/2008/12/02/call-for-musicians-ages-14-18

CALL FOR ENTRIES

Multiples Mall: A Bookish Fair

DEADLINE: MONDAY, DECEMBER 15

This winter the Walker Art Center turns bookish with a season of events surrounding Text/Messages: Books by Artists, an exhibition of works from the museum’s collection and library opening on December 18.

Minnesota artists are invited to submit an application for participation in the fair portion of Multiples Mall. Organizers are looking for work that exists within the elastic discipline of book arts, including artist-made books, chapbooks, fine press work, graphic design, artful zines, and multiples that claim a relationship to the form or concept of the “book.”

Each selected artist will have 4 feet of table space to display their wares and the opportunity to have work for sale by the Walker shop during the event.

SUBMISSIONS PROCESS

Participants will be chosen based on the appropriateness of their work for this event by a panel of

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INVITED AUDITION

David Gordon Pick Up Performance Company (NYC)
UNCIVIL WARS: MOVING W/BRECHT & EISLER

Audition: Thursday, November 6, 6 – 9pm
Walker Art Center’s McGuire Theater

David Gordon is looking for a cast of local community members that “look like the world that we live in.” All ages, sizes, shapes, ethnicities. These cast members will be part of the last scene of Uncivil Wars which takes place in a courtroom, and calls for a look of a general population. Stage experience is not necessary but you do need to have the ability to listen and respond to direction and information.

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This is the time of the year when WACTAC sorts through the a huge number of applications. This year’s batch of apps was quite impressive…so impressive that it made me dig through the archives. Here are some of my all time favorites.

Eric Luken, WACTAC 1999-2000

Shannon Joyce, 2005-2006 WACTAC member.

Blue Delliquanti, WACTAC 2006-2007 (you can see Blue’s full application here)

Laura Gantebein, WACTAC 2005-2006

Image:
Paul Chan Score for 7th Light , 2007
ink, collage on paper (15 sheets) 15 sheets, 14 x 11 in. Collection Walker Art Center Miriam and Erwin Kelen Acquisition Fund for Drawings and the T. B. Walker Acquisition Fund, 2008

Paul Chan is no stranger to the Walker – his film Baghdad in No Particular Order is playing daily in the Lecture Room and his piece Score for 7th Light (above) is being displayed in the galleries as a part of The Quick and the Dead. Chan is coming Walker for an Artist Talk (Sept 17) and WACTAC asked him if he would be willing to meet up and chat.  Yesterday, we took a look at some of his past projects and thought we would share the links with you.

Great New York Times article about Paul Chan’s Waiting For Godot production in New Orleans

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/02/arts/design/02cott.html

A portion of Chan’s Happiness (Finally) After 35,000 Years

http://www.nationalphilistine.com/happiness

Short descriptions and small clips of Chan’s videos

http://www.vdb.org/smackn.acgi$artistdetail?CHANP

Chan’s website

http://www.nationalphilistine.com

Are you a young artist (age 15- 19)?Apply to be on the Walker Art Center Teen Arts Council!

Deadline to apply: FRIDAY,  MAY 29!

What is WACTAC?

The Walker Art Center Teen Arts Council (WACTAC) is a group of 12 students who work with the Walker to produce programming that connects teenagers to contemporary art and artists. Past projects have included teen art exhibitions, performances, film screenings, artist talks, workshops, events, and marketing materials.

Who is eligible to apply?

We art looking for opinionated, self-motivated teenagers with a wide variety of experiences, interests, and skills.

What are the benefits of being a WACTAC member?

Meet and work with world-renowned visual artists, performers, and filmmakers. Collaborate with other teenagers from a wide range of backgrounds. Receive free tickets to Walker exhibitions, performances, and films.

What is the time committment?

Meetings are held weekly during the school year and last approximately 90 minutes.

How do I apply?

Provide your contact information (name, mailing address, age, school, phone, e-mail), anwer the questions below, and mail to: Teen Programs, Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis MN, 55403

1. Why do you want to be on WACTAC?

2. Do you participate in other groups or activities? Please describe.

3. Are you an artist? If so, what media do you work with?

4.  What are three events or workshops that you  would like to see happen in the Twin Cities?

5. Tell us about your favorite artists, writers, thinkers, or social leaders.

6. If you are an artist, please provide a sample of your work. This can be a sketch, music sample, collage, photograph, URL, poem, video, etc. DO NOT send original work. We are looking for something that tells us more about you and your interests.

Here’s a quick exercise that we did with Xavier’s friends La Changa, a rock and roll musician/entertainer, and Anselmo, professional clown.

Anselmo the Clown

WACTAC just finished shooting their screen tests yesterday, inspired by Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests. We put together a little teaser of the footage we got on video. You’ll notice that there is a major element missing: a soundtrack. That is where you come in.

We extended the deadline for high school musicians to score our film until Wednesday, December 17th. Send a link to your myspace or email your demos to teenprograms@walkerart.org. If you are selected you will have the opportunity to perform live at the screening of this project in February. GET YOUR SUBMISSIONS IN! This is a great opportunity. You can rap, read poetry, submit as a band, submit as a choir, make a beat, etc… just get it in by the 18th.

On October 23rd, I went along with the Teen Arts Council to see the Builder’s Association’s “Continuous City.”

The advertising picture was a little different from the performance. Not to say I felt cheated in any way. Because I always do. Life is a gamble, you know? Sure, you can buy a scratch n’ win, but that doesn’t mean you’ll never lose. They should be called “Scratch n’ win sometimes.”

Anyway. I was expecting more of a non-linear, less narratively structured abstract performance. You know, doin’ it up Walker style. Instead, I was served up a 2 hour long play utilizing screens and newer technology to create interactions between characters on and off stage.

Even though, visually, the performance was pretty dimensional, I thought that overall, the storyline and objective was pretty plain. A half hour through, you had a good idea of what it was about, and an hour in, you knew what the directors/artists were getting at. The extra hour was kind of unnecessary. But I guess without it the whole play might have seemed rushed.

I came back from vacation and found my desk covered in cellophane.

I will get my revenge…after I find out who did it. Maybe it was this guy.

Check out some of the films that will be shown on Saturday at the All City Youth Film Festival.  You may be able to see them on youtube, but come on, what’s better a crappy low-res youtube video or a full screen version in the Walker Cinema?

Karma by Hannah Bates

Writing Backwards by Jack Anderson

Being on WACTAC for the past 2 years has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had in high school. So when Witt asked Kaitlyn (2nd year WACTAC member) and I to attend the Generation O: Conference at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, I was more than thrilled to accept the offer. Although I was excited about the trip, I didn’t really know what to expect. I knew we would be meeting teenagers from around the country who were involved in similar museum related programs but I wasn’t sure what they would be like, and what I could gain from meeting these people.

Day one in Boston was a bit tiring. As soon Kaitlyn and I arrived in Boston, Witt immediately took us around the city to look at some colleges, and kind of get a feel for the area. It was Kaitlyn and my first time in Boston and I have to admit, it’s a gorgeous city. We met Rosana, the Teen Programs director at the ICA that night at dinner, as well as some other teen representatives and museum directors. It was nice to get a chance to meet people before the conference kicked off but I was too busy stuffing my face to really have a valuable dinner conversation with anyone. We ordered so much food that night. I had probably eaten enough for the whole weekend at that point…

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The Walker’s summer teen workshop, Fake It, For Real, has started and the students are doing some pretty cool things. Largely based on film, video, and new media, the workshop is led  by  Tectonic Industries duo Lars Jerlach and Helen Stringfellow. The workshop kicked off with introductions, an awesome tour of the Tectonic Industries studio, and the first assignment, a potrait without self. 

The following class day, the students brought in the projects and we looked at what everyone had made. Drawings, videos, animations and photography were just a few of the different mediums the teens worked with. Looking at contemporary artists whose work addresses the same ideas, both in the galleries and books, allowed them to get inspired for further investigating their projects. That day ended with a work time to start the next project using video cameras, cell phones, voice recorders, and other neat technologies. 

Check out our flickr for photos of the workshop!

Last month WACTAC was ready to present 13 Most Beautiful Young Artists, a multimedia performance featuring original music performed live by 8 groups of young Twin Cities’ musicians. Unfortunately, on the day of the show we had 6″ of snow dumped on us and had to postpone the performance for a later date. Fortunately, we snuck in a tech check before the snow fell. Check out the photos.

Blizzard, sleet, or snow, we hope to present the performance on Thursday night!

Thursday, March 26, 6:30 pm
Walker Art Center McGuire Theater
Free Admission

Inspired by Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests and Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips’ 13 Most Beautiful . . ., the Walker Art Center Teen Arts Council (WACTAC) created 13 original films and commissioned young musicians to compose accompanying soundtracks. Join us for the resulting collaboration—a raucous night of live performance and film. Musical performances by Nakami Green, Daudi Long, MMMs, Henry Misa, Dylan Perese, Jon Mitchell and Denis Terzic, and Shallow Creek. For more info call 612.375.7683 or check out teens.walkerart.org

From the moment I stepped into the big gray building, I was lured into a world of croisees and leaps, hip rolls and splits, breaking and popping. There were dancers at every corner of the space – and the tapping and sliding of feet along the marble floors became the only sounds in my existence, each and every subtle movement setting off a pulse in my veins. For Choreogrpaher’s Evening, widely acclaimed routines and respected dancers will fill the hallways of the Walker Art Center and the McGuire Theater for a night of exceptional independent dance.

The show began with an installation called “Dances You Might Remember” by Galen Treuer. Dancers lined the hallways leading up to the McGuire Theater, each with their own unique style. Once everyone was seated in the theater, a video called “..Found You” by Patrick Pryor, featuring dancers/choreographers Emily Tyra and Caroline Fermin, showcased dancers that utilized paint in their choreography. This combination of mediums is representative of the beauty of a place like the Walker. I could feel that this was going to be a great performance… and it was. The show, curated by accredited dancer Sally Rousse featured 13 diverse performances. There were a couple of performances which I felt lacked substance while other performances really struck me. One of my personal favorites were the “Battlecats”. Their spin moves, popping and breaking was truly impressive and the choreography was exceptional. Their dance was entitled “Revolution” and featured music by Damien Marley. Their dance was not only fit to my taste, but also seemed to ignite the entire audience. Another one of my other favorites was, “The Evolution of Story” by Dustin Haug & Tamin Totzke, which is also merged mediums – theatrical as well as musical. The concept of multi-disciplinary was an overarching theme for this year’s Choreographer’s Evening. Choreography is more than a collection of movements; it is visual art, theatre, music, even film. I would like to congratulate curator Sally Rousse in her success and encourage you all to check out more performing arts events at the Walker.

Tetsumi Kudo: not as conventional as he looks.

At the risk of sounding trite, Tetsumi Kudo is one dope dude. In the Walker’s exhibition “Tetsumi Kudo: Garden of Metamorphosis” (October 18, 2008 – March 22, 2009) I saw, what in my mind is true contemporary art. In describing Kudo’s work, a lot of different words come to mind- abstract, simple, complex, revolting, alluring, inspiring, incongruous. The exhibition is undoubtedly one of the most interesting solo artist shows I’ve seen at the walker, displaying a variety of objects, sculpture, installation, drawing, and painting—covering the entire path of his career, from the late 1950s through the late 1980s.

Some of my favorite pieces within the exhibit were the birdcages, the cocoons, the room full of penises, the photos from his giant installation a penis carved into the side of a rockface, the walk in box filled with blacklights and neon flowers, and the many other components that’s made you ask yourself, “What the hell?”

There is footage of Kudo 40 or so years ago with some friends explaining that in 20 years the penises in his work will not be seen as penises, but simply as symbols. As insightful and thought provoking such an ideology is, they still look like penises.

Go see this exhibit and spend some time to take it all in. Just don’t plan a meal right afterwards.

Not to be confused with the yet to evolve Ponyta, the pony tail is a hair term. Well, I guess it is also and animal term.

The ponytail is a simple and easy way to make your hair look good, and, gosh darnit, stay out of your eyes. I wanted to learn more about ponytails, so I turned to the smartest man in the universe, Charles Wikipedia III. Here’s what it had to say:

“In the late 1980s, a short ponytail was seen as an edgy, “in-your-face” look for men who wanted to stand out from the crowd while keeping most of their hair flat and functional. Steven Seagal’s ponytail in “Marked for Death” is an example of such.”

Woah! I completely forgot how badass Steven Seagal did look with a short ponytail. How embarassing would it be to get your ass handed to you on a shiny platter of fists by a slightly large man in a pony tail that looks like he might spend his off time learning the bar chords to the old Star Trek theme? You have to be a man to embody that look… And the only way you can become that kind of a man is to rock a PONYTAIL!!!

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Emmanuel, I read you loud and clear, but I want to stand out from the crowd.”

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There are a ton of art related projects/protests scheduled for the Republican National Convention in Saint Paul on September 1st through the 4th. A bunch of activities are being planned at theunconvention.com

One project is being organized by artist Sharon Hayes. Hayes is asking for 100 volunteer performers to recite (as a chorus) a 10–15 minute text about love, politics, gay power, and gay liberation (written by Hayes) over a period of approximately two hours. The performance will take place in a public space in proximity to the Convention.

If you are interested, submit the following information by email to rnc@creativetime.org:

1. Contact information: Phone (home/cell) & e-mail address

2. Do you have any additional resources that you would like to bring to the project?

3. Are you affiliated with any organizations that would be interested in spreading the

word?

4. Do you have any technical or stage management skills?

For more information about the project, click here.