This is not Junk Mail – Limited Edition Books by Washington Sculptor
December 18, 2008 at 4:59 pm | Posted in Music, Life, Art, News, Work | Leave a commentTags: Art, Artist, Artists, Book Art, Book Artist, contemporary, Daily, James Kelsey, Life, Metal Art, news, Opinion, personal, Photography, Port Orchard, public, Public Art, Sales, Sculptor, Scultpure, SEA SHOW, Seattle Artist, Seattle Sculptor, Thoughts
I try to support the artists I work with however possible, so when I got this information in my inbox about a limited edition book that is being released by the sculptor James Kelsey. If you are interested in his book, please read more about it here.
“Here are some of the pages. Don’t worry; in the end, the pages will be professionally bound into the portfolio, not strewn all over your floor like in the picture.
So HELLO to whoever is still reading,
For those close to me, you know I’ve been working on a portfolio project entitled, “This is NOT junk mail”. With the economy the way it is, this project was all but cancelled until a friend suggested I SELL a few of these portfolios to help pay for the $3,000 project, so, that is what I’m doing.
There are 160 Signed portfolios in this LIMITED EDITION project, and only 30 are being sold. The cost is $100 if delivered or picked up or $105 if sent to you. Number 1 through 18 are already promised or sold, so there are only 12 remaining.
If you purchase one of my portfolios, not only will it help a great experiment in marketing, but you will have something bound to be worth at least $100,000 at Sotheby’s after my death (don’t get any ideas – I’ve got my eye on you!); if it doesn’t end up worth $100k after my death, I’ll gladly refund your money, so there’s no risk for you.
BUT WAIT!!!! THERE’S MORE!
Um, okay, so there’s really not more, but I really wanted to say that.
Those who have already purchased one or more of these rare books did so sight unseen, but since they will be assembled THIS WEEK, I now have some images of the final product. These beautiful portfolios are approximately 5.5” x 8.5” and have laser cut stainless steel covers and backs. Every grind mark of every portfolio was done by my very own calloused, Band-Aid-covered hands.”
Whatever feels right
December 16, 2008 at 2:28 pm | Posted in Deep thoughts, Music, Life, Art, News, Upcoming Events | 2 CommentsTags: Art, Art Show, article, Artist, Artists, auction, Barack Obama, Beate Kirmse, Blog, blogger, blogging, commentary, Comments, contemporary, Contemporary Art, Daily, Diary, Events, Exhibit, Feelings, Gallery, Goverment, LACMA, Las Vegas, Las Vegas Sun, Life, Los Angeles, Love, Minnesota, MOCA, Modern, Modern Art, museum, Music, new york, news, Obama Art, painter, painting, paintings, personal, Politics, President Barack Obama, public, Public Art, Publishing, Romance, SEA SHOW, society, St Cloud, Street Art, Thoughts, writing
I have used the same keywords for my alerts since I started this blog, and I almost never see the same blog twice. One that had a nice clean design and a strange image drew me in. It was of a potato with a nail through it, and it was on the LACMA blog, which is called Unframed. Much like Art Basel Miami Beach, MOCA has been in the news, so anything art and LA related in the news stands out to me.
LACMA is an acronym for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. MOCA Los Angeles still manages to fuel speculation in the art world in spite of its current stalemate and the eerie silence on the part of the challenged institution. A blog on the possibility of the museum, discusses the controversial practice of deassession.
Art By Paper Monster
Las Vegas doesn’t pop up on my art radar for obvious reasons but today, I did read an article about the revival of a Contemporary Art Center, which, according to the article, Beate Kirmse helped rejuvenate over the past year. I found it a little disturbing that while informational and seemingly positive in its overall efforts, this article by the Las Vegas Sun paints a nice picture, but it doesn’t address the really important issue, which should be the establishment of some measures on her part to make sure that the artists continue to get the recognition they need after her eventual departure. The article closes with her saying, “Maybe I’ll go back to the East Coast.”
I blog a lot about public art and how art can intersect with and uplift metropolitan cities and serve communities, so this article on a public art project that gives young artists a chance to display public art was the subject of an article in the St. Cloud Times website. Just yesterday I blogged about Art with Barack Obama as the subject matter, and it turns out there is a book on the New York Times bestseller list dedicated to illustrations of Barack Obama.
Paper Monster is a graffiti/stencil artist in Los Angeles that is making a name for himself. The tragic beauties in his stylized and crisp designs create interest with their beauty, but you can’t stop staring because of the amazing colors and layered compositions he creates in various types of media. He has some Obama art on his website too.
Sometimes I just happen to stumble upon the most random blogs, only to be completely arrested by a beautiful image that I have to mention. You don’t need to be a fancy art blog or a big topic to be worthy of mention.
There is a lot of strange and beatiful things hidden in the strangest of places and I’ve developed a little knack for digging them up. This blogger Karl Jones has been blogging since before blogging was cool, I don’t know how well-known he is because I am new to online publishing but this guy knows what he likes. I dig his blog because its a funky mix of cool tidbits and his really cool digital designs that he makes into computer desktop wallpapers.
Art by Karl Jones
Not PC is another blog that is not an art blog but has something out of the ordinary that got my attention because it had something interesting or useful about art in it. In this case, it was a venture into art & perception. I’ll be honest with you, my dear reader, I really don’t understand what his blog/mission is about. I wanted to include a short description in my mention of it but I am kinda stumped. Maybe you can figure it out. Its definitely not an art blog.
From the beginning, I had so much to say about the whole experience of diving into a relationship that went further than your casual observer with some of the most offbeat artists in the city. I’m never satisfied when obvious perks like wanting free videography or an attractive host might be yours as a result of my meeting and working with you. Sure, those things are tempting for an artist, but for me, I am making art. So I am thinking about other things too.
Its taken a lot of flexibility and patience as well as simple tact to get through some of these situations. I do know that artists are also busy making their own art, and it is somewhat of a stretch for them to give me yet another part of themselves and experience for the art I want to make. But it wouldn’t be the SEA SHOW without it. I am enamoured with the artists I have worked with from the beginning and who I continue to meet. To me, they are important.
The fact that the copius excitement that ensues with creative and intellectual interchanges occur is just icing on the cake. There really is a lot of potential, and its what’s really fueled my commitment whenever there have been challenges this past year and a half.
When I am in SF next month I’ll likely ponder these concepts and more in the Art of Participation exhibit at the SF MOMA.
Without speaking directly to circumstances, I am working hard to balance sensible thinking with my warm affection for the work and life of an artist. I think part of the constant challenge is finding that place where an artist can really step outside of his or her work, so that it can be elevated, heightened in a new way. This could be a flagrantly selfish pursuit, but I sacrifice and give so much that this is far too simplistic an observation or what motivates me. I suppose if you knew me personally, my motivations might make more sense. I know artists understand and like it, and as long as that is happening, The SEA SHOW must go on.
Its all Relative : Art. Travel. Thoughts.
December 15, 2008 at 7:37 am | Posted in 1 | Leave a commentTags: Art, Art Basel, Art Basel Miami Beach, art basel photos, art basel video, art blog, art blogger, art blogging, art blogs, art video, Artist, Artists, Blog, blogging, commentary, con artists, contemporary, Contemporary Art, contemporary art blogs, Daily, Events, Exhibit, Gallery, huffington post, Life, Miami Art, Miami Art Basel, Miami Art Basel 2008, miami art basel photos, news, Opinion, personal, pics, pictures, public, Public Art, SEA SHOW, Seattle, slideshow, society, stories, Street Art, Thoughts, Video, writing
I run from social obligations all the time, despite my foray into art producing and attending a copious amount of art events. I won’t go into detail, but let’s just say that the past two weekends have ended pretty pitifully. I can’t even work up enough courage to attend a party for the sake of a show. I did make it as far as the front door of Equinox this past Saturday. There were a ton of people, a binfire outside, and it looked pretty cool.
I noticed some of the exhibit was indoor/outdoor. I’m not sure what I was expecting, I definitely wasn’t dressed for it. I still dress like a Californian after living in Seattle for 4+ years. What can I say, I like to dress up. I wouldn’t dream of wearing jeans and fleece to an art opening. But that’s just me. The fact that it was snowing and I wasn’t dressed for it and the exhibit was going to close in 30 minutes convinced me to get home. Its 18 degrees today and still icy out there, but I should have taken one for the team and just went in. I’m just not used to the partying/socializing. The cameras and crew have become somewhat of a crutch of mine. Next week, it will be a top hat in addition to the Canon.
The public phase of this daily blog was launched on November 24, 2008. I’d been blogging for the previous year on the show’s myspace page. I also integreated a previous blog into this to show how much my life has changed since embarking upon the art journey. Its a big part of my world, and the new face of the show. So we hope you will subscribe to our blog.
This is in fact, a daily blog. It is trying to be, anyhow. This week I missed my first day since starting it. A cold this week hindered my writing efforts this week. Don’t believe anyone when they tell you that blogging isn’t a full time job. If you have a daily blog, and you haven’t updated it, you think about it all day.
The travails of con-artists is not a topic I think my discerning audience would be interested in, but I would say 20% of the artists alerts I get are breaking news stories on notorious deceivers. Why is it that deceit is an adjective which can only be exclusively attached to the word art. 
I’m just being silly. :->
I’d like to do more of the vlog (video log) but I don’t want to start releasing a bunch of unproduced 1 camera hand held video, compelling as the artist or your Humble Host may be. A lot of the footage I shoot is incorporated into into future pieces. Every shoot builds on a large peice, so these are mini documentaries in the making. A lot of work, but a lot of fun.
Village Savant is one of those blogs that I stumble onto while doing an image search or through some other random avenue. It looks like a nifty blog. Other blog entries I read, and I can’t say that it helps me understand art better. It doesn’t mean that the authors’ personal opinion isn’t valid, its just that sometimes too much conjecture can muddle things a bit. We’re not all art history major, so we have to give our audience something they can understand. I’ll explain more on how Dr. JohnnyWOW! successfully broke through a barrier to the audience. Granted, their attention spans didn’t hold longer than a few minutes, but they were engaged and reacting while they were there. I wish I had a second camera to record the audience while I was busy filming the doctor.
Even if I don’t have time to look at the story, I do look at most of the alerts I get. One of the things I find so interesting is about all the different topics people choose to blog on. The art blogs interest me of course, and the more niche they are, the more novel I find them. There’s some pretty cool stuff out there, like this blog on Obama Art. I’ve seen Barack Obama poster but a blog actually devoted to the realm of art about the President Elect definitely got my attention.
Joanne Mattera had a blog post with some reflections on Miami Art Basel, and I got a chuckle out of her blog. I find her art commentary to be to the point and humorous. Check it out if you haven’t already. The Huffington Post published an article with few words and a lot of photos called, :Reflections of Art Basel:. I’m sure it was an exhausting week, but it would have nice to include a snippet of some interesting conversation or something. The pics are cool but I’m not clear what the reflections were of, there’s not much commentary.I’m ok with just photo blog entries, but I like to see either just pics or some informational commentary to go with the pics. This is another blog that fell short on its art basel reporting. It seems like a strange trend, but it definitely illustrates the range of coverage on a given topic.
On the MarketWatch website of all places, I found information on the first public art project to use solar energy. I like little offbeat tidbits like that. California isn’t the only state where Art is intersecting with public life, Arizona too, is learning that there are ways to integrate art into the community.
It’ll be interesting when I compile the list of blogs I link back to for my own records. I would say at least a third aren’t art blogs. Hope you enjoy the variety of info, I do. I wasn’t sure whether to tweet or to blog about this strange art project, in which messages are sent to twitter when the baby kicks. Strange, isn’t it?
If I were in England,I should very much like to attend this event, a discussion on the value of Contemporary Art. With all the speculation that went on about sales at Art Basel Miami Beach, any collector or artist would find listening to this discussion worthwhile.
This blog, Grinding, is totally out there and I completely love it. The pics, how I wasn’t sure if it was an art blog in the first place, its all very cool. Culture Soak is another fun Art & Design website. Today they posted an article on a book about Emerging Contemporary Artists. It would be nice to get my hands on one.
I blogged about Macao and the Contemporary Art there, and noticed some other articles about Indian Art that I wanted to include. Art Market Monitor also posted some interesting comments regarding an Indian Artist and the collectors of his work. I might have a slighty sour tone in some of my art reporting, but its nothing like this scathing commentary on an Indian Art exhibit. Ouch. Does it really help an artist to be so cruel?
Street Art was a hitherto unknown art form upon starting this new segment of the blog. In Vallejo, California, a store selling graffiti supplies next to a graffiti art gallery is evidence that Street Art is definitely on the radar. There’s this discussion about whether or not Street Art is accepted in the larger art community. I would say that as much as I have read about it in the past three weeks that street art has nothing to worry about.
An art walk in the dark
December 13, 2008 at 2:56 pm | Posted in 1, Music, Life, Art, News | Leave a commentTags: 619 Western, Art Show, Art Walk, Arts, Artwalk, Blog, blogging, Contemporary Art, Daily, demonstration, Doctor Johnny WOW, Dr. JohnnyWOW!, Events, Gallery, JohnnyWOW!, Life, Modern Art, news, Opinion, painter, painting, paintings, Performance, Performance Art, personal, Public Art, SEA SHOW, Seattle, society, Thoughts, Video
Last winter wasn’t like this one. This is my second year producing my video and art show, and I expected this fall to be mellow and rejuvenating after spending most of my summer in the south bay, California.
I missed my dog, was behind on projects, and other constraints and my new freewheeling lifestyle demanded I start working harder at my freelance ambitions. Despite all that, I’ve been able to keep up the pace with the art. Lots of art events happen in the fall, especially in Seattle. While its not known for being a 24 hour city, there’s definitely a night life.
One like I have never seen in my 6 years in San Francisco, exposed to the painted writhing denizens of the underground art scene by the bay. That is home to an excess of decadence and disdain. I saw a few things in my time there as a student! I didn’t enjoy most of it.
I hoped Seattle would be a refreshing change. I really hope to meet more artists in SF but I’m usually so busy with classes or meetings its hard to find the time, so instead I just sublet lofts in the painted alleys of the Mission district instead.
Back to my promise last week, here are some shots from December 4, 2008
The Doctor wanted to try something different this month. He’s not content to have hoardes of young viewers shuffle through his studio month after month on the First Thursday artwalk. He wants a response, some feedback, perhaps a comment on how his art affects the viewer. This evening the Doctor was trying out some new art pieces and showing video of his new direction was part of the equation.
I rented a projector and showed video of my edit for his upcoming 28 minute episode on SCAN TV. The audience Johnny has a gripe with didn’t seem to react any differently than they are known to. Its a big warehouse full of artists, so everyone is always on the move.
The audience was actually commenting once Dr. JohnnyWOW! dived into his slasher presentation. I am incorporating this into the episode so that you have a context for it, so I’ll post this video once I get the new footage worked into the current edit.
The past few months I have either shot two times a month, in contrast to the 20 a month days or more I was shooting during the competition that started all this madness. This month, the most peaceful of all, see me leaving the state not once, but twice. The madness never ends.
More about next week’s excitement soon.
I missed the performances they had because I had to keep an eye on my equipment, but I did drop in, say hello, shoot a little footage downstairs on the 2nd floor, at Blank Space Gallery.
The artist behind Efflux Creations was there as part of the art show. It had been at least 6 months since I met him and he looked busy so I went back to my shooting.
Blank Space Gallery has a really nice space, and are working hard to put on some good art shows. Keep up the good work Mindi, Riley, and Leo,!
Cover Me : Wrapup of Art Basel Miami Beach 2008
December 10, 2008 at 2:01 pm | Posted in Miami Art Basel, Music, Life, Art, News | Leave a commentTags: 2006 to 2007 Blog, Art, Art Basel, Art Basel Miami Beach, art blog, art bloggers, art blogging, art blogs, Art News, Art Show, Artist, Artists, Arts, Artwalk, bloggers, blogging, commentary, contemporary, Contemporary Art, Daily, Events, Exhibit, Gallery, Life, Miami, Miami Art, Miami Art Basel, Miami Art Basel 2008, Modern, Modern Art, Palm Beach, Palm Beach Collector, Palm Beach Contemporary Art Fair, Palm Beach Gallery, personal, Public Art, SEA SHOW, Seattle, society, Thoughts, video log, vlog
I hope that I attract a wide variety of art lovers with many differing tastes, who all find enjoyment in the semi-coherent chatter I publish daily. I know a lot of you read or have visited many of the majoy art sites, I hope I can give you something new in the little goodies I find on the web. I don’t remember if I was doing a google image search or what, but this site was kinda cool. I’m not sure what the criteria is to make it on this virtual map, but it might be useful to some. You click on the little tags and it will tell you about current shows that are going on all over the US. I have heard about the Eventful website in the past, but I was surprised when one of my image searches led me to this website, which listed a lot of current art events in and around Miami and Palm Beach, which I just discovered is home to yet another sumptuous art gathering, the Palm Beach Contemporary Art Fair.
Google Earth Image of Palm Beach
In the past, I have known people who have been proponents on culling the less than intelligent portion of the population. Such an attitude is not going to win you followers! Better yet, lets raise the bar for readers and other art bloggers. Out of left field, came one of the most comprehensive and meaningful bits of writing about the week at Art Basel came across my virtual desk. While I had to wonder what might have motivated this well-thought out piece of writing, I had to appreciate it. I am blogging on a subject that is relatively new to me so I enjoyed this as I would a fresh Braeburn apple, and I savored every bite. Either I am not searching in the right places, because there are some art bloggers are offering us something more substantial than tasty but unfulfilling art hors d’oeuvres. Your humble host included. :-p Who know that men.style.com would have one the best blog entries on art basel miami beach I have read all week. This guy doesn’t mince any words, and his entry is humorous and well-written. Loved it.
In my wanderings along the shore, I overturned a stone and discovered this contemporary art blog. Another facet, how interesting. This person is a speculative collector, and unfortunately, he only updates his blog once a month. I’d like to see more. Art as Authority is another obscure blog that caught my attention, but sadly, this one isn’t updated much either. Looks funky, check it out.
I stumbled upon Wynnwood Art Magazine today, it offered a neutral rundown of events, decorated with praise for this annual fair. I learned something else new today. Having lived in San Francisco for six years, I remember seeing a lot of guerilla marketing. When I was younger I didn’t know how to discern between public art and advertising, I guess you won’t know unless you know who created the images. I saw a lot of stickers and spray painting in random places of an image inside a star, and one word: OBEY. He likes to party down with SuperTouch Art. Slowly, the peices of the puzzle are coming together. Digging around for images of the OBEY public art, I stumbled upon this pretty cool blog on public/street art with tons of cool photos – Global Graphica. GraffHead is of a similar vein, but this blog covers other topics, like fashion and music. Hey, this is fun!
This blog and foray into art has been a learning process, and I’ve blogged a few times about Street Art, because its the sort of emerging art form we enjoy. This entry didn’t clarify anything about the subject for me, so I’ll have to keep my eyes and ears open. In my image searches I find pretty cool things too that were related to Art Basel Miami Beach, like this photojournalist’s blog, Digital Light. There is something very immediately engaging about his pictures. I wonder if he ever attended Miami Art Basel. Check out his blog.
Photo from GraffHead
During the week, the daily blog is a bit of a production, it can take an hour and that’s if I’m not distracted by 20 different things and even more alerts that come in as I write. I’ll be sitting there doing my daily blog, and my blackberry will start buzzing, and 3 out of 5 times its some news alert that has to do with art or basel or contemporary something or other. Or as in the case tonight, I am capturing video for my next vlog and I’m trying not to get off track. This will be a 2 blog day, since the vlog is the hot new thing. And we’re hot, so of course we will vlog.
Meaningfully. On things other than Miami Art Basel. In the next post.
So yes, I’ve been sick as a dog for three days straight and have blogged daily. Being hungover/tired is no excuse either. I am dedicated! :-> Now this new post on the Soul of Miami website has an event that might offer up some more substantial fare. Then I read the tag words “high-profile”, “VIP”, and “Exclusive” on its website as it describes it attendees and events, and I fear this is just a tiny art predator in the making. The Palm Beach fair has been around 12 years, and this is the first I’ve heard of it. I learn something new every day! This fair focuses primarily on Miami and New York collectors and artists, as well as some international exhibitors. I only saw two galleries from Santa Fe, a a few from California even represented in their list. The Northwest did not make it onto their radar. Perhaps we can help remedy that!
Before you mistake me, and wonder why I am championing the cause of art in the west, let me say that while I have spent the majority of my life on the east coast, I focus on artists on the west as a theme for pioneering, and now expand that to any coastal city near water or a beach. SEA SHOW is about the confluence of art & life, art & the myriad things that form modern life, and the beauty that ensues when those elements combine. It contributes to my happiness immensely!
Aftermath : See. Eat. Bye.
December 9, 2008 at 10:36 am | Posted in Miami Art Basel, Music, Life, Art, News | 4 CommentsTags: 2006 to 2007 Blog, Art, Art Basel, Art Basel Miami Beach, Art News, Art Show, Artist, Artists, Arts, author, commentary, contemporary, Contemporary Art, Daily, Events, Exhibit, Gallery, Life, magazine, Miami, Miami Art, Miami Art Basel, Miami Art Basel 2008, Modern Art, new york, new york mag, news, northwest, Opinion, opinions, personal, Portland, public, Public Art, publisher, SEA SHOW, society, Story, style, Video, writer
I’ve never spent a week reporting on an event, but I am glad I spent a week doing it, it was a exercise in journalistic bravery. If you know how to scan the web efficiently, can recognize an article posing as a thinly veiled advertisement, and know how to assemble words in an engaging fashion, it is possible to do reporting when you’re not actually at an event.
Photo by Carlo Fachini
Style Mag for example, used this week as an opportunity to make a special issue just for Miami Art Basel. We can’t blame them for wanting to capitalize on the event like everyone else is doing, but a more in-depth article with some images from the magazine would have been nice. Globatron was one of those magazines where my initial impression was intrigue, which was only heightened by my discovery that this is the website of a masked art critic. He was at Art Basel and has a ton of photos to show us. Was he masked during the fair? Does he not know anyone in the art world? Interesting questions to ponder.
I found some video from Art Basel Miami Beach on the Globatron website, and I couldn’t get through this video without laughing. I’m not even going to comment on the videograhy/inteview, its just not fair, since not everyone is as good as we are. Also, I’m a comedian at heart, so I find many things funny. I may make fun of something, but its only because I like to see humor in a situation and usually its the first thing that comes to my mind. In the beginning of the video is an interviewer with a gentleman wearing dark sunglass and whose voice is cracking from what might be too much shouting at a noisy party the night before. I’m just guessing thought. You be the judge.
Numbers are important, so the slew of articles I’ve seen today on Art Basel Miami Beach were more numerous than any other day this week. Maybe some were too busy assessing the facts on the ground before writing, wanted to read all the news about it before chiming in, or simply not including the right keywords. Either way, there is a lot for me to show you today. I’m sorry if you’ve had your fill I was going to go back to the interesting reporting I was doing on other subjects, but there was too much to not do a wrap up.
The New York mag article expressed its disdain for the lack of excess at this years parties, particular ones which are known for their lavish nature, were not up to this reviewers’ discerning tastes. Apparently they would like to see larger piles of lobsters on ice, or perhaps I interpreted the article incorrectly.
While at some point we would love to sell advertising and form partnerships with other art groups, my reporting is completely biased and based on my personal opinion. On the other hand, I’m sure the Miami Herald would love to see more action, visitors, and things to report on so their overall analysis was middle of the road and seemed in line with the public persona Art Basel wanted to maintain. I may be presumptuous but any writer knows, you need to have an opinion. Don’t hold it against me if you don’t happen to like mine, I’m just playing by the rules. Sorta.
I couldn’t help but chuckle when I started reading this entry in BlackBook. This person had a good time and say there are opportunity for artists at Art Basel. But of course! I don’t think anyone ever said there wasn’t. Getting there, or into a major gallery in order to be a part of it is an entirely different story. Let’s tell the whole story before we start calling anyone a hater. I like the variety of opinions, its made the week so spicy! My only question is, Would I be considered a hater?
The bloggers at Flavorwire aren’t the only ones who are die hard attendees of Art Basel Miami Beach 2008, they obviously get around, and know how to work it, giving the obligatory shout outs to the people they perhaps got business cards from and just had to include in their blog. Nice pics. Also they were complaining that they were too busy partying to get up early Friday and didn’t get to swim in the beach every morning they were there. Boo Hoo.
I was excited to hear about artwork from the Northwest respresented there this week by some artists from Portland, even if you did have to go off the beaten path to find it.
Day 5 : American Salon is Art Basel Miami Beach
December 8, 2008 at 9:25 am | Posted in 1 | Leave a commentTags: 2006 to 2007 Blog, Art, Art Basel, Art Basel Miami Beach, Art News, Art Show, Artist, Artists, Arts, Artwalk, blogging, China, Chinese Contemporary Art, commentary, contemporary, Contemporary Art, Discussion, Impressionism, Life, macao, Manet, MOCA, Modern Art, museum, Music, news, Opinion, Performance, personal, Post Impressionism, Public Art, Salon De Refuses, SEA SHOW, Seattle
Just when you thought you couldn’t get enough, here is one last post on all things Art Basel. While I did not attend the week’s festivities, I’m not the only writer to report on the event without ever setting foot on the sands of Miami.
It turns out my clumsy conjecture may not be so off point after all. Things didn’t look good for Art Basel, but it was not the funeral everyone predicted, as this Indian Reuters article suggests. In these other websites, its not so clear what is going on. I like the clean design of this site, which mentioned Miami Art Basel. After checking out the link, I was not really sure what this website was about. Then I realized its a fashion blog and these darlings had the pleasure of attending the festivities at some point in the past week. If this is the future of fashion, then I’m scared. I didn’t get anything out of this site at all.
In my art coverage, I was also directed to the Take Part website for their Miami Art Basel 2008 coverage, which is yet another one that is new to me.
During a stint as a travel writer a few years ago, I was interested in Macao and since 1999, when China gained control over it and made it a special administrative region, it has become the Las Vegas of the far east, when it had been a formerly Portuguese colony since the 16th century. I don’t imagine that the buzz has quite really caught on, but Contemporary Art is working on creating a foothold there. Is this a future site for Art Basel? Are we going to keep the ocean theme? How about inviting the SEA SHOW for a multi-disciplinary art performance and roundtable discussion? :-> I came across a page for a gallery in Macau that had links to archives of previous exhibitions in my search for images of Contempory Art in China .
When I look at a painting, especially one by a local artist who I might know personally, I cannot help but think of the Salon de Refuses, which was set up for the famous impressionists who gave so much to modern art, as they were repeatedly turned away from the Salon. In a broader light, I can’t help but think of Art Basel in the same light. So many that purchase and influence descisions about art don’t create it themselves, and so its almost inconceivable that they would buy art from an unknown and undervalued artist, or and do whatever can to help them. I don’t think the art world has worked like that since the Rennaissance, if ever.
Paintings by Dr. JohnnyWOW!
When I see a painting in front of me by a talented local artist, I see a Manet in the works, and the art is precious to me, because of the effort of the art. If it weren’t like artists who I know first hand who would create art even if they were homeless or you would think there was no way for them to create, find a way. And I think its beautiful. If there is a collector like that out there, please let me know.I have to say, I do applaud the efforts of the man trying to help MOCA. But imagine if everyday artists had access to that. What would happen? Surely something more exciting than the uninspiring reports I am reading from Miami Art Basel.
Day 4 : Green Basel
December 7, 2008 at 4:45 pm | Posted in 1, Art Exchange, Miami Art Basel, Music, Life, Art, News, Travel Updates, Upcoming Events | Leave a commentTags: 2006 to 2007 Blog, Art, Art Basel, Art Basel Miami Beach, art commentary, art criticism, Art News, Art Show, article, Artist, Artists, Arts, Artwalk, commentary, contemporary, Contemporary Art, Daily, Events, Life, Miami Art Basel, Miami Art Basel 2008, Modern Art, Murakami, museum, news, painting, paintings, personal, public, Public Art, SEA SHOW, society, Thoughts, writer, writing
So its been exciting for me since starting this daily blog that some of these stories that I pick up on pop up in my alert box, sometimes the very next day!
This is a great article with a great rundown of the fair- its straightforward and portrays the event in an accurate light. There’s plenty of read and its useful info, please enjoy.
If you’ve managed to fight off the hangover, get over to the new Frost Museum and indulge with breakfast in the sculpture garden Sunday morning. Artchival is a website that I just came across. In late October, they posted a run-down of events to enjoy. Definitely one to check out! Since the fair started, we’ve had celebrity sightings all over Miami, with Pam Anderson got in on the action and was spotted enjoying some art yesterday, too.
A particular article from Murakami jumped out at me since he was in the news recently, so I paid a visit to a blog called the Pursuit Aesthetic which comments on fashion and culture, and had mentioned this event with this artist. Ther and linked to this website, which had a link to an event stranger website on fashion and footwear, that also had pics from the the artist’s night in a costume.
I will give Art Basel some props for its eco friendly efforts. I hope the Paint the Town Green party that went on Friday to celebrate the Green was also green.
I just reported on CasaLin yesterday for the first time, since I am intrigued by Public Art and stuff outside the norm. I was reading through my daily posts when I scanned an article with this gorgeous image of what looked like an entrance to Narnia. It was the public art display that I commented on yesterday. Pretty cool!
This website, Arrested Motion, had tons of photos from the Pulse Miami fair. It prompted me to do a comparison with some of the art I saw at the artwalk since they looked so similar. If Seattle artists with no gallery representation can create art objects that are so similar to the same art that sells every year at Art Basel Miami Beach, it really puts it into perspective. The Salon was slow to accept artists who were working outside the norm, and it was a catalyst for the early impressionist and post-impressionists.
This competition underscored the disdain for experimentation. Master Art will always do well at auction, because of its universal appeal. The emerging/Contemporary artist is always one step ahead, but becayse of this he or she has to push past accepted boundaries. If one day some of these other artists and art experiences were to make thier way to Miami Beach during Art Basel, then I feel like the art world would experience an incredible amount of excitement, and the event can really be worthy of something besides being seen as something which it is now, the fair and its related commentary completely focused on parties and sales and established players, but what I feel is very little on intellectual progress for the art world to enjoy and benefit from; broad discussions and genre exploration.
LEFT IMAGES : Miami Art Basel 2008 Gallery Peices – December 2008 RIGHT IMAGES: Seattle Artwalk at 619 Western Artists’ Loft – December 2008
As I was drafting this latest post, a flurry of strange alerts and notices made themselves known to me. One article felt on the need to insist that there is more to Art Basel than the art fair itself. Why yes, that’s true, but there wouldn’t be any crowds if it weren’t for the main fare. I think it will be a long time, if it ever happens, that Art Basel will begin to be known for the variety of art experiences that you won’t find on any elegant satin finish card. Heck, we could even find a way to integrate and benefit talented young local artists who study the craft. Being in the proximity of Art Basel Miami Beach is not going to get these art students any closer to the Contemporary Art world, for reasons that were clear to me early on. I give Art Center Sarasota a gold star for hosting an opening of political art this fall. Those guys are fighting the good fight.
Art & Absinthe is a cool looking site that I found good information and not so good images of another one of the satellite art events. So Sunday is the last day, I’m sure it will be a flurry of more last minute buying and feverish sales, so it should be pretty interesting to write about; this is fun!
Day Three: Art Basel Miami Vice
December 6, 2008 at 12:42 pm | Posted in Miami Art Basel, Music, Life, Art, News, Upcoming Events | Leave a commentTags: 2006 to 2007 Blog, Art Basel, Art Basel Miami Beach, Art News, Art Show, Artist, Artists, Arts, Artwalk, blogging, commentary, contemporary, Contemporary Art, Modern, Modern Art, news, Opinion, personal, Public Art, society
There was not as much Art Basel action for you, maybe all the private parties start now, and there will be less public events, or everyone is too hungover to keep up with the reporting while they’re enjoying the week at Miami Art Basel.
Art Observed is a sleek art blog that got my attention today with its clean commentary and pics. Another New York site is getting my notice as well for its nice photos and tasteful coverage. I am assuming my discerning art readers know or visit most of the links I include.
Contemporary Art is often colorful, and I like virtually strolling through the galleries with nice slideshows of the event I happen to stumble onto.
Despite gloomy predications, this article on ArtInfo gives the impression that sales are steady at Art Basel Miami Beach. Why anyone would be surprised that die hard collectors would be the last to pass on this opportunity to get valuable art with fewer buyers to drive up the price is beyond me. Even if you don’t follow art news, its no secret that art is still a solid investment. On the other hand, an entry in the Miami Herald downplays the brou haha and one of its articles focuses on the subdued sales at Art Basel Miami Beach 2008.
Like so many arts, the events and news are open to interpretation, and the week isn’t over yet. I can’t say that I have a ton of experience with reporting on large art fairs, but I try my best. I can only pray that my wit and charm carry me through it gracefully.
I’ve been seeing and hearing a lot in the press about design and Art. If you’re in the hip locale of Dubai, then you will want to visit this opening. Fans of Hans Jean Arp that can make it to France this month can enjoy the opening of his work in Strausberg, which will have over 180 peices on display.
Art by Hans Jean Arp
Pakistan has got an artist whose work I really enjoy, Mashkoor Raza reminds me of an artist who explores similar concepts like power and whose art work also has a lot of nudes, Seattle’s own Dr. JohnnyWOW!. In China, the alarm is more pronounced, and the situation for contemporary art looks bleak, at least for the bad artists, according to this article.
It might be a week-long hangover for many attendees, but its important to get around, talk to people, and really try to make something out of the week. Tomorrow is the mid-point, so it’ll be interesting to read and report on the commentary at days’ end.
I would be most impressed if one day the art world hosted a roundtable, for dealing with all the uncertainty, questions, and disputes in the art world. Drama is definitely good, but to what point? Maybe some like to end their year with a kick. I for one, wish for nothing more than quietude during this time of year. I want to experience nature and absorb everything that’s happening. I’ve split my time between two states for over a year and sometimes I just wish the world would slow down for me. My growth depends on reflection and thought, not just action. I want to enjoy art, not just mechanilly produce it. I love this project, and some of the most blissful moments I have had, we doing just this. Living the Arte Vivant, full of vigor and a open vision of a bright future, optimistic for the future of art, and the importance of the supporting deserving artists.
Like so many random artists I find and think would be perfect for the show, PosterBoy is your odd pick of the day. Pretty cool public/underground art.
Art by Poster Boy
It seems like there’s always a new twist in the discussion over the fate of MOCA, a Contemporary Art museum whose fate and challenges are the concern of one of the largest metropolitan communities in the nation, that of Los Angeles.
I will have to report on the art show I took part in/filmed Thursday at the Seattle Artwalk in another post since this is devoted to one of the biggest events in the American Art scene, Art Basel Miami Beach. If you can’t make it to Miami this year, but happen to be in Quebec, you can check out this exhibit at an opening of Contemporary Art.
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December 23, 2008 at 3:24 pm | Posted in Graffiti, Miami Art Basel, Music, Life, Art, News, Public Art, Travel Updates, Upcoming Events | Leave a commentTags: 2006 to 2007 Blog, Art, Art Basel, Art Basel Miami Beach, art blog, art bloggers, art blogging, Art News, Art Show, Artists, Arts, Artwalk, Blog, blogging, California, California Art, commentary, contemporary, Contemporary Art, Daily, Events, Exhibit, Graffiti, Life, Los Angeles Art, Los Angeles MOCA, Los Angles, MOCA, Museum of Contemporary Art, Music, news, Opinion, Palm Desert, personal, Public Art, San Jose, Santa Barbara, SEA SHOW, society, Thoughts, West Coast Art
We’ve been blasted with winter snow for the past five days and its been a busy month as I prepare to travel yet again. I always come back with trips with even more on my plate than I already have, so I’ve been distracted for a few days as I try to wrap up some projects before my business trip. This is my first lapse since my daily efforts about a month ago. I started a new blog, am sleeping odd hours, and have a twitch in my left eyelid.
Photo on Dec 22, 2008 from the deck
The word Basel is associated with banking and a city in Europe close to the border of France, Switzerland, and Germany. I’ve seen the long trail of news articles and blog entries with this word in it comes across my desk, and some of them are rather interesting. Between the mid-summer event in June in Europe and its Miami counterpart, bloggers can feed on the continual supply on art news. Since I am intrigued with this event because my interest is Contemporary Art and Beyond , its been the subject of many blog entries.
Recent news has shifted westwards since the end of Miami Art Basel in Early December to the west. It looks like the MOCA stalemate has finally ended. I just discovered that the fellow who offered a bailout for the beleagured MOCA (Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art) is one of the founders, and the latest news is that this morning (Tuesday, December 23rd) the museum will release news about its financial plan and new officers. You can be sure there will be a flurry of commentary after this, in fact it has already begun.
A very innovative use or incorporation of art into a public space is this library in San Jose that is using illuminated cell glass art that should be a model for public buildings. Tree Hugger also has an article on this new library. Artists exist and work regardless of whether or not there is a venue for them, but when it becomes available, as in the case of a property owner in Palm Desert who paid an artist to decorate signal boxes that belong to the city.
If I had attended Miami Art Basel, the stuff going on over at the so called Wall of Fame would have been ground zero for me, I always am interested and pursue awesome artists who resort to interesting measures to get their art seen. Its the future. Fecal Face is an awesome site has its finger on the pulse, with a ton of pictures of the gorgeous graffiti art that went on display by this core group of artists during Art Basel Miami Beach.
The city has moved to regulate any future artist who choose to do the same. I went to an alternative public high school, so I was interested to read about a new public art school in Los Angeles for high school students that is supposed to open in 9 months. Hopefully it will represent a broad spectrum of students from all across Los Angeles. The San Jose Mercury chimed in on the ongoing debate about public art with its own commentary about the need for art in public spaces, adding richness to the experience of city living. The city of Santa Barbara is setting a great example in its work to recycle used items that would otherwise become trash and educating youngsters in the process. I guess my main gripe with events like Art Basel Miami Beach and the traditional Gallery/Museum scene is that there is very little of this interchange with the public.
Its really sad that the artists in Miami work tediously in the hope that they will have an audience for their art, but the community has no way to benefit from these art events and fairs. There is so much richness and excitement in the artists who I work with who are on the fringe and half of their work as an artist is just finding an artist or struggling to pay for materials. It is a touching experience and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I’ve often compared Seattle to a third world city in its rampant building. I was over in the Eastlake neighborhood, and I counted no less than nine cranes in my frame of view. Public Art is actually one of our initiatives that we are working on here in Seattle, in regard to the non-stop building that is going on, since our real estate market does better than most of the country. New Dehli is taking command of its public spaces for contemporary art. The push by local artists to create and preserve public art is a model for cities like Seattle whose face is being changed in a way that the common citizen has little or no control of.
I like the Visuals and concept of the slow painting website. Its got links to other art history website and blogs, and you can read about an exhibit on Greek Vase Painting in Manhattan in this recent post. Moco Loco is another cool art blog that I just discovered. I haven’t gotten in depth yet so I don’t know quite what its approach is, but its a modern and contemporary art blog with a clean design and colorful and cartoony art that I enjoy so much in today’s entry.