MI fine arts at the bbac
Maybe it was the rainy weather. Or maybe it was because of my recent trip to NY with galleries/art still vivid in my head, but last night I was in a fowl mood and I am blaming the city this time! I love going to openings but I was so disappointed in the art opening's work quality and also the limited things to do in this city. OK, visiting NY is probably to blame but I always try and stay positive about our city but last night was a different story.
The event was well attended...truck loads of bham and bloomfielders made their way out...couldn't we just ambush them and take them to a guerrilla style show to show them what real detroit/MI art is?
So this was the MI Fine Arts Competition at the bbac....this was a curated event and they even brought in a curator from Missouri! This is MI fine arts?? What? This was a student show with a few gems but they were so far buried that they even looked plain. And there were prizes...yes that is cool but look at what won. Am I missing something?
The event was well attended...truck loads of bham and bloomfielders made their way out...couldn't we just ambush them and take them to a guerrilla style show to show them what real detroit/MI art is?
So this was the MI Fine Arts Competition at the bbac....this was a curated event and they even brought in a curator from Missouri! This is MI fine arts?? What? This was a student show with a few gems but they were so far buried that they even looked plain. And there were prizes...yes that is cool but look at what won. Am I missing something?
gilda snowden...how can gilda's work be shown with student work?
gail mally-mack
...and a nice sunflower bouquet?
Interesting pieces...but the alphabet? OK, maybe I am being harsh on the bbac...I know they are not the type of gallery that would even host a cutting edge exhibit but as the number of galleries dwindle in Detroit, the more I expect from the ones that are still open.
posted by art blogs are fun at 10:46 AM
10 Comments:
Glad to see I am not the only one upset with the progress of MFAC over the last three years or so.. This exhibition was bad and the hanging of the shows still shakey.
Why not try hosting MFAC at its original home at the DIA again? Perhaps it would be less owned.
Perhaps it would help instigate the museum to show more local art?
It seems every year the MFAC has its shoe-in people who are awarded the prizes and included in the show. To many conservative polotics at play!
An Art Center should be working to Empower Artists and hooking them up with the people for education.. Not about herding so the Ranchers can have full pay and benefits while sheep are just fed upon.
i saw the show, and disagreed with every one of the prizes given....I couldnt believe it! Bland, ordinary, predictable. Who was this juror, anyway?
Maybe it cant be at the DIA but why not have Maryanne Wilkinson be a juror? She has an eye for art. The BBAC is digging a hole for itself. Watch. Next year no one of any worth around here will enter it, and the show will become not the Michigan Fine arts Compettition, but will be the early version of the Ann Arbor Art Fair.
Mary ann Wilkinson knows jack crap!
Who is Jack Crap?
To have Mary ann Wilkinson as juror would be fine. There have been really challenging / exciting jurors from this area including Nancy Mitchnik maybe eight years ago or so. Then director Janet Torno made it a priority to get exciting people such as Larry Rivers who also ended the night with his Jazz band and Dancing which I thought was awesome!
Torno's last Juror around 2003 whose name I unfortunately cannot remember now was a great juror and lecturer. He was a sculptor and installation artist working in the landscape and interiors.
Simultaneously he had a show at The Hill Gallery in Birmingham which was what all Jurors had when juroring MFAC in the past under Janet Torno. It created a solid event which truely functioned well as education and a valid glimpse at what was happening in Michigan.
Too bad the DIA cannot host some similar showing. Perhaps because that is the status quo for Big Museums. They don't get their hands dirty in that way.
I have heard some great stories from the Old Timers about MFAC in the 1950's and 1960's at the DIA.. Another great experience that has expired.
Their were great opportunities at the BBAC not to long ago with some truely innovative things happening
but the stigma from the rest of the area was that it was a corporate environment. Quite ironic as now so many local artists want to teach there and that open freedom that Torno and former director Ken Gross had is not in fashion.
This is really disappointing to read. This was not a 'student show'. In fact,the juror being from Missouri had no knowledge of who was and wasn't affiliated with the BBAC.
At a time when galleries are closing all over, I must say that the attendance and spirit of MFAC was great. As far as education, the BBAC is very progressive in this area-more than most. I know many people that work at the BBAC and must say they work hard and definately do not 'feed off the sheep'. In fact, they work to keep the organization healthy and thriving so the surrounding communities can utilize the center and 'the sheep' can continue to collect a paycheck. Between instructors, exhibitors, gallery shop, and art festival artists the BBAC absolutely plays an important role in the support of artists and education.
It would be great to see some of the commentors step forward to actually do what it takes to put a show this large together and get on the necessary committees that make this show happen. But maybe there just isn't time for that... only enough time to comment, from a distance, on a blog.
Whoa Ann you sound so angry. What's up - didn't make it into the show.
and i thought art appreciation was personal and subjective. hmmmm. and the juror didn't know any of the entrants? hmmmm.
I must say that whoever took these pictures did not do the artists justice...they are horrible!
The BBAC does not need praise for poor performance. Because people work hard to put it on does not mean its good! Good or great artists are only teased by the money for prizes. Plain and simple the show sucks! The art community knows that. There has been little credibility from their shows. There has been some good work over the years good but hard to find in a show poorly hung. Artists that win awards that are never seen again or even rarely seen in any shows in Michigan??? Nancy Mitchnik never curated a show before and it showed. Larry Rivers was more interested in his band playing and what was with the Larry Rivers art work look a likes. Artists from NY NY do not always make good judges. Makes a good trip for Janet Torno to go to NY. Gee wiz when was the last time I saw Maryanne Wilkinson go look at art in a local show. Come on you sheep. The show has to earn respectability not be given it because a committee works hard to put it together. And for the education, its cheaper to take classes st OCC and you get credit also. Education should improve your art, enlighten and make you a better artist not subsidize bad or mediocre art. Nice facilities, but lacking education and of course Horrible Shows. No accountability! New slogan: Art is not Democratic. viva revolution! Keep grazing down that path.
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