detroitarts: November 2006

Look! MOCAD in the NY Times!

The article is mostly about the architect Andrew Zago, the location and a description of the space. Great to see in the Times! Don't miss the slide show of artwork too!

..."By comparison, Mr. Zago draws inspiration from the squatters' houses, performance spaces, local bars and grass-roots art projects that have sprouted amid the disturbing stillness of the neighborhoods: a kind of forgotten underworld tucked into ruined houses and storefronts surrounded by lots that have been abandoned for so long that they have become overgrown fields."...nytimes

tradition and modernity of mexican culture @ caid

Don't forget downstairs at CAID is a group show of established Mexican artists - quite an opposite to the upstairs cranbrook show. The show of contemporary printmakers is a glimpse into the world of mexican art. I spent a lot of time talking with one of the curators, Gerardo Macias-Garcia (ccs grad), who said that this is some of the artists first time even showing in the US. Many of the artists are already being shown in Mexican museums so it is a rare chance to see some of these prints. All in all...I think it is strange because if I was not informed about the artists and background of the show I might pass by the works without giving them fair respect. To me the works, although contemporary, seem to be rich in traditional culture and printmaking practice. This show makes me want to look further into the contemporary art scene in mexico to see what else is happening.

Edgar Mendoza

Esther Gonzalez

Martha Chapa-Benavides

Alfredo Zalce

This should be good...

artist/toy maker

check this out:
fun fun fun

can I borrow your spaceship?

If I borrow your spaceship will it take me to cranbrook?? Probably - that said, there is an excellent show of cranbrook artists at CAID curated by laith karmo, also a cranny alum. Despite my cranbrook cynicism, a couple of my favorite detroit artists are in this show and I even have a Ballen of my own at home! Detroit has its art cliques and each has there own style whether it is cranbrook's fluorescent conceptual design or wayne's past figurative/wilbert style or ccs' current installation works or the gritty detroit recycled objects...it is only so apparent in this city because it is so small - every group can be catalogued and stereotyped.

ivin ballen...love, love his work and am glad he is still experimenting with taking new materials. this time deceiving the viewer with painted hydrocal with an inflated bag appearance.

Britton Tolliver - geez, how can this only be acrylic on panel? This piece is amazing in person...I wanted to lick all the colorful layers before they dripped off!

Chris Williams

sara blakeman - I was pleasantly surprised to see blakeman experimenting with drawing and mixing traditional materials with her usual puff-painted creations. I love the idea of having a drawing become a sculpture and move off the wall.

This drawing is taking a sculpture for a walk....

...but I think the sculpture made an accident ;)

In conclusion: Riding in spaceships is fun unless you forget your helmet....and by helmet I mean art imagination.

Dan Steinhilber

I think I am starting to fall in love with Dan Steinhilber! I saw this piece posted on MAN this morning and would love to see this windy creation in person!

welcome back...

Hope everyone had a wonderful turkey break!

Turkey Parts
Meyer Vaisman
1993, Polyurethane foam, latex, acrylic

Can I borrow your spaceship?...tonight at CAID

IVIN BALLEN, I.R.U.D., 2006 FIBERGLASS, ACRYLIC PAINT, 78 x 59 x 19

‘Can I borrow your spaceship?’: Ballen, Blakeman, Tolliver and Williams
Opening Reception: Saturday, November 25, 2006 6 PM-10PM at CAID

“…geometric monstrosities and structuralization will supercede their own motives and be caught in an artificial purgatory.” –Britton Tolliver

‘Can I borrow your spaceship?’ features the work of Ivin Ballen, Sara Blakeman, Britton Tolliver and Chris Williams. Their imagined landscapes run the gamut of media, from paintings, to objects, to installations and murals. Using a combination of techniques the artists all attempt to transport the viewer from real space to their imagined landscapes and worlds. Visually many of these artists use appropriated imagery or visual tropes from 80’s and 90’s pop culture, sci-fi and video games.

Space is the Place @ Cranbrook

There's a great show up at cranbrook right now - Space is the Place! I don't want to say too much to give it away...this is a show you need to experience. I think if I have to see a group show then it is all up to the curation of the show to bring it together and make it coherant and interesting - which this show did and included all mediums to express space exploration. This show left me feeling like I had gone back during the space race time!

jason rogenes - styrofoam and floresant lighting

adam ross (above, below) I really loved these drawings.

steve roden - (wine bottles, cd player, speakers) In this piece the artist uses an old Soviet vinyl recording of Yuri Gagarin's broadcast from the first orbital flight in 1961.

lia halloran (above, below)

aleksandra mir, First Woman on the Moon. This video is quite funny.....Go see the show!

Michigan Fine Arts Competition submission

Operation Best Buy

So if you are familiar with the RejectEffect here in detroit you might want to take a look at this. Be sure to scroll down and watch the video of the team dressed in blue shirts as they infiltrate a Best Buy store in ny.

"Improv Everywhere is a group of agents (pranksters) based in NYC who organize missions (happenings) in public space. Their intent is to bring excitement to otherwise unexciting locales and give strangers a story they can tell for the rest of their lives.
One of the group's latest missions took place in a Best Buy store and was carried out by more than 80 agents.
The group met at Best Buy, all wearing blue polo shirts almost identical to the store's uniform where after they entered the store and began circulating."
They did not claim to work at the store, however when a customer mistook them for an employee, they did their best to help out...

Artists and Collectors @ Oakland Gallery

I was a little surprised at first by the show at Oakland University Gallery. In contrast from the last show of minimal ny drawing, the gallery was filled with art on the walls, on the floor and in cases. Without knowing what was in store for the evening, it looked like a flee market of arts and crafts. After reading the curator and artists' statement it was apparent that this wasn't your typical show. The idea behind the exhibition was to compare and contrast the collection of two artists and the art they make. To draw conclusions that one influenced one another is difficult but still apparent. They collect mainly folk, old world, and memorabilia art while Hall (former cranbrook sculptor in residence) makes clean form modern sculpture and Glascock makes fauvist-style colorful paintings and narrative drawings.

Hall

This area behind the yellow chain ropes is a recreation of their drawing room and the art and furniture within it. Goody pointed out to me that some of the work in the room is estimated at $50k (like the oval painting)...which for me was surprising because some of it looked like art you would find at a garage sale ...but to tell the difference for me was nearly impossible!