Archive for March, 2009
Tuesday, March 31st, 2009
Hirst Decks
This Thursday, April 2nd at Supreme.
Monday, March 30th, 2009
Kehinde Wiley – World Stage:Brazil Lecture + Opening
Kehinde Wiley opens The World Stage: Brazil this Saturday, April 4th, at Roberts and Tilton, in Culver City, CA. The exhibit is the latest in Wiley’s ongoing World Stage series and further builds upon the artist’s ongoing exploration of modern black male identity. Wiley will discuss the project at the Getty Center, Los Angeles this Thursday, April 2nd, at 7pm. For information and reservations click here
Friday, March 27th, 2009
A Moment of Clarity – Defending Danziger
Fairey and Garcia’s Obama images at Danziger Projects. Image: Sara Krulwich, The New York Times.
A number of stories have surfaced this week concerning wire photographer, Mannie Garcia’s, image of President Obama, which served as the basis for Shepard Fairey’s Obama Portrait. More than once we have read articles that accuse one NY gallery of seeking to profit from the media frenzy surrounding Fairey by selling prints of the photo for $1,200.
On his own site this week, Fairey said, “The Garcia photo is now more famous and valuable than it ever would have been prior to the creation of my poster. With this factor in mind, it is not surprising, that a gallery in NYC is now (our emphasis) selling the Garcia photo for $1,200 each.” In the last day Fairey’s statement has been reposted by several online sources, ranging from larger media outlets like The Huffington Post, to numerous smaller blogs.
In an article published in The New York Times, Noam Cohen states the following about the image in question: “Taken by Mannie Garcia while on assignment for The Associated Press in 2006, the picture is now (our emphasis) on sale at a Chelsea gallery in a limited edition of 200. The prints are going for $1,200 a piece, and at least one has been purchased by a fine-arts museum.”
A moment of clarity – The gallery in question, Danziger Projects, was actually the first to attribute Fairey’s portrait to Garcia, as they were researching a photography exhibition of media images covering the rise of Obama and his campaign. That exhibit, Can & Did, was on display at the gallery this past Jan. 20 – Feb. 28. To be clear, the availability of Garcia prints via Danziger predates the recent firestorm of press surrounding Fairey’s appropriation of it. While TAC firmly supports Fairey, his art and his legal battle with AP, it seems irresponsible to suggest that he himself is now the one being co-opted for financial gain.
Hat’s off to Charlie Finch. Back in February he reflected on the situation for ArtNet, explaining, that it was in fact Danziger’s inquiries which led the Associated Press to claim rights to the image. Finch noted that the gallerist had already sold 29 copies of the print edition – before, not after countless media outlets began to report the controversy. In short, Danziger’s due diligence in crediting a photograph which appeared at his gallery sparked the current AP-Fairey legal battle and exponential rise in the image’s notoriety. That it would all come full circle and lead to accusatory fingers pointing towards his gallery is grossly misinformed and paints a story that is at its best inacurate, and at its worst defamatory.
Friday, March 27th, 2009
fishermen go where the good fish are
Image via Cope2
Randy Kennedy has written a piece for The New York Times, recounting the blow by blow from last weeks’ graffiti – Vandal Squad showdown at powerHouse Arena. The panel discussion featured former top officers of New York City’s Transit Police and writers Cope2, KET and street artist Ellis G. The event coincided with powerHouse’s release of “Vandal Squad: Inside the New York City Transit Police Department, 1984-2004.”
Best Excerpt :
As the evening wound down, attention was drawn to the fact that along with all the other people videotaping the event, there were some large men stationed across from the front door of the bookstore, taping it for themselves: current members of the police’s anti-vandalism unit. Mr. Maridueña [KET] called it a waste of taxpayers’ money and asked why it was happening.
“Do you fish?” Mr. Mona asked him.
“Do I fish?” Mr. Maridueña said. “I don’t fish.”
Mr. Mona said, “I don’t either, but I’ve been told fishermen go where the good fish are.” He added, “There’s probably someone here tonight with a warrant.”
Hmm. Do you think Mona read KET’s blog post prior to the event?: “Here is the information if anyone wants to come down (rsvp). Those of you with warrants might want to skip this one.”
Full article here. COPE has put up some images from the event here.
Thursday, March 26th, 2009
TONIGHT :: 112 Green Street Reemerges
The Combine celebrates it grand opening tonight, at 112 Green Street, NYC. The new space seeks to commemorate the historic and artistic relevance of the address, while providing a new venue for the exhibition of art and multi-media, performance based events.
Work to Do installation in progress. Image: 112 Green Street
From 1970 – 1980, 112 Green Street was the home of the 112 Workshop, a studio and exhibition space that fostered an influential group of artists including Laurie Anderson, Joseph Beuys, Louis Bourgois, Chuck Close, Spalding Gray, Phillip Glass, Richard Serra, William Wegman, Dennis Oppenheim and countless others. The 112 Workshop eventually relocated and reemerged as Chelsea’s White Columns Gallery, while the original underground space became the headquarters for Green Street Recordings, which was at the forefront of the 80s and 90s hip-hop movement, recording Kurtis Blow, Afrika Bambaataa, Run DMC, Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, and De La Soul to name a few.
Now, 112 Green reopens as The Combine, to host a new generation of artists who carry on the ideals of the address’ influential past. The inaugural exhibit, Work To Do, opens tonight, with a live performance by Afrika Bambaataa and Soulsonic Force.
Participating artists include: Endless Love Crew, Moody AA, Cabahzm, Cake, 2Easae, Avone, Chris RWK, Veng RWK, Brando * Nev1 * Sinatra Smart Crew, AVOID pi, infinity, Deeker, Keeley, El Celso, Dain, Pufferella, Skewville, Royce Bannon, AnerA, Abe Lincoln Jr., Ellis Gallagher AKA Ellis G., Matt Siren, Overconsumer, Kosbe, Aiko, Abby Goodman, Hush, Alone art, Bast, Ben Jackson, Bobby Hill, Buildmore, C. Damage, Chris Brennan, Christopher Gordon, Dark Clouds, Deeker, Destroy and Rebuild, Erica Faulke, Keely, Pufferella, OHM, Smells, Stikman, U.L.M.
WORK TO DO
March 26 – April 16
Opening Reception: March 26, 6-10pm
Featuring a live performance by Africa Bambaataa + Soulsonic Force
The Combine at 112 Green St. Studio
112 Green St., NY
RSVP: rsvp112@gmail.com
Wednesday, March 25th, 2009
French Street on Italian Walls
Alëxone
Milan’s recently opened Don Gallery presents AliFrance, featuring the work of three well-know French street artists, WK Interact, Alëxone and Space Invader. Exhibit runs till April 20. Read on for more images from the show. Read the rest of this entry »
Tuesday, March 24th, 2009
Chelsea Goes to Havana
Andrew Schoultz will be exhibiting with Morgan Lehman Gallery as part of Chelsea Visits Havana. Image: Pulse Art Fair 2009 via TheArtCollectors
For the first time in over twenty years, New York art galleries will have a presence in Havana, Cuba, at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes. The exhibition, Chelsea Visits Havana, opens March 28 as part of the 10th Havana Biennial, and will include twenty-eight NY galleries, along with thirty-five represented artists. The event was organized by Fundacion Amistad, a U.S. based non-profit dedicated to “fostering better mutual understanding and appreciation between the peoples of the United States and Cuba.”
As noted by The Art Newspaper, in 2004 the Bush administration heightened travel restrictions to Cuba, effectively ending cultural exchange programs. Since then, numerous Cuban artists have been denied visas to the United States to claim prizes or fellowship opportunities, and efforts by the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes to bring U.S. artists to the country have continually been blocked. Abelardo Mena, a curator at the museum, said, “I don’t believe this exhibition would have been possible under the Bush administration. I hope the new president and his secretary of state recognize the value of cultural diplomacy based on mutual respect, and the free exchange of cultural goods (Art Newspaper, March 2009).”
As a side note, The Art Collectors are particularly excited for Morgan Lehman Gallery’s participation in the exhibit with an installation by Andrew Schoultz, whose visual commentary on U.S. government, capitalism and the military industrial complex should be particularly appropriate. Stay tuned for pictures…
Monday, March 23rd, 2009
American Realities to feature McGee, Rojas, Wright
Image: Ratio 3 Gallery, A Moment for Reflection: New Work by Lydia Fong, 2008
American Realities, featuring Clare Rojas, Andrew Jeffrey Wright and Lydia Fong (yes, that’s Barry McGee) opens this Saturday, March 28, at New Image Art in Los Angeles. We hope to see some collaborative installation efforts, given the close relationship the three artists share (Rojas and McGee are married, and Wright has collaborated with, written about, and lent his silkscreening skills to McGee’s REDCAT Larceny zine).
Friday, March 20th, 2009
Transparency in Deaccession
Image still from IMA’s online Deaccession Database
While the debate over museums’ rights to relinquish works of art continues, the Indianapolis Museum of Art has taken a step in the direction of full disclosure, launching an online database of deaccessioned or soon to be sold works from its collection. Along with detailed sales records, the site also allows comments from the public, who wish to weigh in on the museum’s decisions. As reported by Culture Grrl, IMA already has plans to improve these listings with information regarding how funds raised from the sale of specific works are applied to the acquisition of new art.
IMA Director and CEO, Maxwell Anderson commented on the endeavor, stating, “In light of the recent economic downturn and the resulting financial strain experienced by museums, the topic of deaccessioning has become a front-burner issue, making institutional transparency more vital than ever. This searchable database will evolve to include information regarding how the IMA uses funds from deaccessioned works to enhance and shape the Museum collection.”
In a further mover towards transparency, the museum has published its Deaccession Policy, which clearly abides by the Association of Art Museum Directors code of ethics, stating that “funds received from all sales of works of art will be used for the purchase of works of art from the same period or culture.”
The IMA’s initiative comes in the wake of recent controversy concerning both the National Academy and Brandies University’s sale of art to meet operating costs. After The Academy sold two Hudson River School paintings this past December, The Association of Art Museum Directors implemented sanctions barring the institution from borrowing from other museums. Last week the AAMD met with National Academy representatives to discuss how they could achieve financial stability without further deaccession. A joint statement published 3/11 on the AAMD website, indicates the Academy “will begin a process to restructure its governance practices” to “include more rigorous fiscal oversight,” and halt the sale of “additional works of art as was originally proposed.”
Thursday, March 19th, 2009
Couples Do It Better :: Ed + Deanna Templeton in Europe
Installation view of Ed Templetons’ Strange New Feelings in Belgium.
Ed Templeton opens Strange New Feelings, a new solo exhibition of photographs, paintings, and sculpture, tonight, at Tim Van Laere Gallery in Antwerp, Belgium. (Thanks goes out to The World’s Best Ever for the reminder.)
Deanna Templeton is also currently showing a new body of photographs in Europe, at NRW-Forum, in Dusseldorf, Germany. In Scratch My Name on Your Arm, Templeton presents her series on body autographs.
Read on for more shots of Ed’s installation in progress.
Ed Templeton – Strange new Feelings
Opening Reception: March 19, 6-9pm – May 2
Tim Van Laere Gallery
Verlatstraat 23-25
2000 Antwerp, Belgium
Deanna Templeton – Scratch Your Name on My Arm
April 4 – May 10
NRW-Forum Kultur und Wirtschaft
Ehrenhof 2, 40479 Düsseldorf, Germany
All images via Ed Templeton.