The Garbage Can Project

It's another slow week for art. This is the time of the year when there are few openings and most galleries shut down - and this is when art blogging becomes more challenging with the lack of stories/openings/excitement out there. Bare with me for the next few weeks as I try and dig up art news that is worth checking out!

Chicago artist, jonathan gitelson might have an obsession with trash cans. He has a nice site. "The idea for the Garbage Can Project came from the frequent theft of the city-issued garbage carts that are in front of my apartment building. Each time the carts were stolen, I would call the City of Chicago and they would eventually bring more carts to replace them. After months of observing this cycle, I became interested in the phenomenon of the garbage cart thefts...

In October 2006, I began filming the garbage carts twenty-four hours a day. Each day I view the footage from the previous day, creating digital video clips of any instances of people interacting with the carts..." jonathan gitelson

workin' on a saturday

Because I am stuck at work on a Saturday, here's Adam McEwen's "Untitled (Sorry) and Untitled (Closed)" from his 2003 Wrong Gallery installation. You can buy your very own miniature Wrong Gallery door and related art works to display within it at cerealart.

McEwen is the same guy who did the parody celebrity obituaries in the '06 Whitney Biennial. And who co-curated the recent "Beneath the Underdog" show at Gagosian.

Now back to the grind ...

tonight

don't forget ...

detroit industrial projects has "voices" - an Oakland University/Alternatives For Girls/DIP collaborative presentation from 6-9 at their russell space.

555 gallery has "good wood" - a skate deck show with (potentially dubious) "extras" to entice the crowds; 9-2.

and mocad's drive-in movie night series kicks off at 9:30 with "cry dr. chicago."

ElimiCurate

curator: aniko erdosi; artist: gabriela galvan

curator: paul mchale; artist: jose muchaypina

the two pieces above are from apexart's "the most curatorial biennial of the universe."

the idea behind the new york gallery/organization's "biennial" was to have an open call for curators to submit pieces for the show and then sell them via online auction. they seem to have selected something like 250 curators, with each submitting one or two works. so, as the press release even hedges, the show is "extremely varied" — but there are a few interesting pieces.

it's up until aug. 11 if you live in nyc, and I assume that's when the online auctions end as well. I'm not sure how I feel about an exhibition that combines two things generally hurting the art market (the "anyone can be a curator" syndrome and eBay-style online art auctioning), but I try to be open to new ideas ... and they say the money will be going to charity.

[found via Vulture — NY mag's culture blog]

yuri masnyj @ metro pictures

look, even drawings are leaning canvases. despite my sarcasm, I still like the show at metro pics.

artist escape

Amir H. Fallah - from LA Confidential, Artnet:

"...Amir H. Fallah, who is also the editor and founder of Beautiful Decay Magazine, exhibits photographs of "forts" that he created with other male L.A. artists.
Fallah and his conspirators got handy, dipping back into their childhood fantasies of making dens out of old blankets and available furniture. Not only do the photographs reveal cool little hangouts, they also dot the i’s and cross art teachers’ t’s with pleasing formal qualities..."
(All 20x20 c-prints) These photographs are so rich in color and texture... and escapism, I love it! Maybe I am just sentimental because as a child I made forts out of an old corduroy couch we had and stayed in there for hours and hours. I think I really thought I would live there forever too until my parents tore it down at the end of the night so they could use there couch and blankets again. Now that I think about it, I was always making self contained environments to live in: don't ask about the igloo I build one winter and went out at night to read magazines in.

go to venice in a day

There is a crazy good site that takes you through the venice biennial by country and/or pavilion. Then it even separates it by artists.....check it out!

nominations for michigan arts/culture

If you know of an individual or organization that has shown a true commitment to supporting the arts, we've got great news - the deadline to submit nominatations for the 2007 Governor's Awards for Arts & Culture has been extended!
Thanks to this extension, you now have until 4:00 pm on July 27 to send in your nomination(s) in any of the following categories:

Arts and Cultural Organization (large and small)
Arts Educator
Michigan Artist (all artistic disciplines are eligible - visual performing & applied)
Nonprofit Arts/Cultural Leader
Arts Education Organization
Civic Leader
Exemplary Business

For more information and for a downloadable nominations brochure, visit out Web site: http://www.artservemichigan.org

top 200 collectors

The ARTnews top 200 collectors is out. Michigan collectors that made the list:

Lila and Gilbert Silverman - Fluxus and Conceptual Art

Marianne and Alan Schwartz - Old Masters and Modern Prints

Maxine and Stuart Frankel - Minimalism and Abstract Expressionism

Jane and Richard Manoogian - 19th and Early 20th Century American Art

making out with twombly

MARSEILLE, France - A woman has been arrested on suspicion of kissing a painting by American artist Cy Twombly and smudging the bone-white canvas with her lipstick, French judicial officials said Saturday.

good curation?

I like this statement about curating by Saltz. I have been to sooo many shows where there isn't a rhyme or reason behind the work up which when you are looking at a big group show definitely helps with the viewing and finding a common ground for the works. I also am a strong believer that less is more and when it comes to more, then make sure it's over the top and intentional.

"The alchemy of good curating amounts to this: sometimes placing one work of art near another makes one and one equal three. Two artworks arranged alchemically leave each intact, transform both and create a third thing. This third thing and the two original things then trigger cascades of thought and reaction; you know things you didn’t know you needed to know until you know them; then you can’t imagine ever not knowing them again. Then these things transform all the other things and thoughts you’ve had. This chain-reaction is thrilling and uncanny..."

the real thing?

I think machines-as-art tend to be pretty interesting, considering that everything these days seems to be machine-made...why not have artist commentary using science-like experiments. They're not a medium we typically think of as "art" but I can definitely respect the ideas and craft behind them. This machine-as-art, entitled "The Real Thing," (2006) is by Dutch artist Helmut Smits. Described by the artist as "An installation to filter Coca-Cola into clean drinking water," and seems pretty politically intentioned. It also reminds me a bit of Roxy Paine's SCUMAK no. 2 (2001), as shown at MOCAD's inagural show in Oct. '06. Randomly, Smits is repped by a gallery in Culver City, L.A., but most of his other work looks a bit too ... gimmicky.

Smits' work was recently featured on this website, vvork.com, which I've recently started checking out. They seem to like this kind of stuff a lot. Maybe a little too much.

at mocad tonight

Today
Wednesday, July 18 at 6pm
PRESPECTIVES ON COLLECTING
What is it that moves people from the realm of viewer to that of collector? This event will feature discussions with several local collectors to learn how they make decisions on their art, their patterns and perspectives on art collecting. Presenters will include: Burt Aaron, Ruth Carter, George N'Namdi, and Sharon Zimmerman. Moderated by Dick Goody.

The Every Piece Of Art in The Museum Of Modern Art Book

NY artist Jason Polan...

The Every Piece Of Art in The Museum Of Modern Art Book contains every piece of art that was visible to the public at the museum from January 19 to January 31, 2005. It is 50 pages and perfect bound.
The Every Piece Of Art In The Museum Of Modern Art Book $20

I recommend the deluxe version that comes with a walking tour and a hot dog or pretzel!

Focus: Woodward at 200 / Crain's Detroit / Urge to Create

Check out Crain's Detroit Business to see who made the culture/arts list:

http://crainsdetroit.com/assets/PDF/CD23458715.PDF

Submission for Midwest Artists

The Midwest Contemporary Art Museum
Focus Midwest 2007
Call for Submissions

Description: The Midwest Contemporary (MiCo) will be accepting submissions from contemporary fine artists working in the Midwest for an upcoming exhibition, Focus Midwest 2007. This exhibition is open to artists residing in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Missouri. All media are eligible, including painting, sculpture, installation, photography, video, drawing, sound, fibers, ceramics, and printmaking.

GO HERE FOR DETAILS

RUNAWAY @ yacht club gallery

Just pics for now....but the show turned out great!! If you missed out, we will be opening the doors Tuesday 7/17....6:30 - 8pm.





Britton Tolliver
Postpone Death


Britton Tolliver
Burning Star Core






Britton Tolliver
Swedish Underbelly


Britton Tolliver
Presenting…Diamondface


Brent Fogt
Crescendo
Plants, hand crochet netting





Ben Shaffer
Where the Demons Dwell
Plaster, wood, fire


Ben Shaffer
Where the Banshees Live
Plaster, wood, fire


Ben Shaffer
Levitating the pentagon with an unknown force
Mixed media


Ben Shaffer
Destroyer
Mixed media




Runaway
2007
Video, sleeping bag, headphones








Steven Matthew Brown
Together Forever-Birthday Cake
1488 words

don't forget - yacht club opening friday 7/13, 6-10pm

chris pottinger @ motor city

art-speak-newsweek

This little column in Newsweek made me laugh this morning!... It's funny how many people perceive the art world...man, you can just hear the cynicism!

WHAT'S ART-SPEAK FOR 'UGLY'?Museums have a way of making everyone feel insignificant and inferior. To wit, a glossary of terms to help you while you're shopping for that new Matisse:

GALLERINAS: The lovely young ladies, usually wearing simple black dresses, who attend the elegant reception desks at high-end art emporiums.
GALLERIST: A term, popular in Europe, that makes a gallery owner seem like some kind of artist, creating meta-artworks by scheduling shows.
INSTALLATION ART: A lot of weird stuff—or maybe just a few somber items—put in an empty room, allegedly with great significance.
THE LONG MARCH: Occurs for artsies every 10 years (2007 is one of them) when the Venice Biennale, Documenta (in Kassel, Germany) and Sculpture Münster (also in Germany) mega-exhibitions take place in the same summer.
M.F.A.: Graduate degree, but a career ticket only if it's been issued by Yale, UCLA or CalArts.
POSTMODERNISM: Modern art's idea of "progress" is over, so it's time to play dress-up in the granny's attic of art history.
CURATOR: Formerly, a scholar in charge of caring for an art collection; currently, an impresario of exhibitions who possesses a large Rolodex.
© 2007 Newsweek, Inc.

TRANSLATING TRANSIENCE @ mark moore

Srdjan Loncar
Campfire With Log, 2006
styrofoam, digital prints, steel
30 x 60 inches

....there is a show at mark moore gallery in LA that I noticed because I have seen or posted on the artists before...the show really reminds me of the curation style of the yacht club. I like this sculpture today because I had to start a campfire in my backyard. My neighbors must think I am insane when it is daylight and 90 degrees and I am waving a sleeping bag over a smoky fire.