First Art I've Seen Since Moving To Chicago

I went to this grad student reception thing at school (SAIC) the other night - it was in their (I mean OUR) new huge exhibition space  (where I will be having my MFA show, some day).  They opened the space with two shows - "Ahh....Decadence!" and "Department(Store)".

To be honest, I didn't get the best look at the whole Decadence show - there was free food, the place was huge, and I had to catch a commuter train.  But I'm going back later.  The show explored themes of ...decadence..in many forms, tying together the sorts of mania that comes along with doing anything over-the-top.  So there were lots of crazy colors, fast videos, sex, pink, orange, shiny things, spastic things, and pink.   It seems especially relevant, given the status of ..things..and the easy distraction of the public by shiny, fast things, what with this election and all.  Maybe that's a stretch.  But it's important to understand our relationship to the gaudy, staged, "decadent" forces in our lives.  

Ok, and now the Store. Exciting! A huge warehouse - size exhibition space filled with rows of empty display cases like the kind used in retail.  They are also shiny and attention-grabbing, but in a more apocalyptic way.  The "store" apparently refers, in part, to the building's historic use in retail.   The plan is to allow people- students, whoever - to submit proposals for displaying things in these cases.  This allows people to interpret the situation of a room full of retail cases as they wish; I'm assuming it will go along the lines of obsession, artificiality, economic issues, and exhibitionism.  

This week we had a chance to see Atlanta's "Art in Motion" exhibit at the Botanical Gardens in Piedmont Park. Much of the sculptures were metal mobiles of different sizes and shapes. Most of the work was geometric with hard lines and straight edges. Yet much of nature is soft and curvy so there was a noticeable disconnect. One artist's work was smart on how they used the idea of motion and connecting inertia with nature. The favorite works allowed audience participation. There has been a strong pull in contemporary art to acknowledge the viewer as the most effective component to complete a piece. Although many of the structures left much to be desired, we found a few that made the visit worth the price. These public pieces were at least accessible if not always warm, but the gardens themselves were inviting and peaceful. We strongly suggest a stroll through the green houses and around the grounds to all the fountains. A question that we asked each other was "Is nature drawn to symmetry?" We could site arguments for yes and no. What do you think? 

Monster of a Show

The latest Monster's Ball was  a highlight event this summer. All the "Well-to-do" monsters were in attendance. The success of this event was the strong line qualities, comic timing, and the live performances. The strongest concepts dealt with the monsters from within. The work was fierce and excited. Pieces ranged form childhood traumas, cartoon imaginations, Hollywood glamor, and homemade nightmares. It was refreshing to see this much enthusiasm in art. The one objection was that the curators could have done some serious editing. The best part was the LIVE performance by the New York based band: Balthrope Alabama. This band was as odd and wonderful as the show that surrounded it. 'Balthrope' even projected LIVE illustrations (in the making) of songs the band was performing. 

Pam Rogers show

After enjoying the Stand Alone Gallery, facing the impressive an big sculptures of the artist Pam Rogers was the closing of an art night in Atlanta.

Stand Alone Gallery in Atlanta

On Friday August 22 in Castleberry on a parking spot Daniel T Quinn stand his potable gallery. An ephemeral space that make questions about art's spaces and institutions. Daniel T Quinn Owns a gallery that he can stand when need it .

http://www.standalonegallery.com/





This are the kind of projects that Atlanta needs.




This is an artwork from Vicky Kelly an sculpture student from SCAD.

Friday 22 08 Opening at Strokes!!

Group Seven. On Friday 15 - 2008

Last Friday we went to a this interesting show. Almost all pieces were made by 8 artist, each piece was rotated by all this artist hands. Group seven in national collaborative process between different artist. Each piece has different materials.

One piece of the artist Antonio Daren was an electric pink piece that trick the viewer. It makes think the viewer that is plastic but is stainless. He plays with what the viewer thinks that they are seeing. Do you believe in every thing that you see?