May 2006 Archive

Got paper? Paper Trail wants it

I told you briefly about Spector Gallery’s new website, Art Jaw, launching May 31, and the two-day exhibit Paper Trail (June 9 and 10) here. What I didn’t mention is that the gallery’s got an open call for paper for the exhibit. And if you make art, administer an arts program, curate, jury or write about art, you’re invited to participate. Artifacts like the aforementioned bills and rejection letters are invited. But so, too, are memorable emails, funny letters, and other administrative stuff that makes the art world go round. (My husband calls the phenomena administrivia and I think that ... More » »

Phil Collins on Turner Prize short list

Artnet News – artnet Magazine TURNER PRIZE SHORTLIST ANNOUNCEDThe shortlist for the 2006 Turner Prize has been announced, featuring a group of artists who are rather fresh, especially to U.S. audiences: 38-year-old Tomma Abts, an abstract painter who has showed at the Wrong Gallery and is presently represented by greengrassi; 35-year-old video artist Phil Collins, last seen in New York with an exhibition at Tanya Bonakdar Gallery featuring disaffected youths from the streets of Istanbul belting out karaoke renditions of songs by The Smiths; 33-year-old mixed-media artist Mark Titchner, known fohttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifr drawing on billboard art and corporate logos; and 41-year-old ... More » »

Crouching Spider

Crouching SpiderOriginally uploaded by libbyrosof. Louise Bourgeois’ Crouching Sider moved onto the front plaza in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art today. The event announcing its presence included–besides the obligatory gaggle of local school children from Philadelphia and Media– the creme de la creme of local power women: Director Anne d’Harnoncourt and COO Gail Harrity of the museum; and from Pew Charitable Tusts, President Rebecca Rimel and Director of Culture and Civic Initiatives Marian Godfrey. Contemporary Art Curator Carlos Basualdo and Modern Art CuratorMichael Taylor also were there to celebrate the installation. Robert Storr was an invisible presence thanks ... More » »

Ben Volta in Beautiful Decay mag

From Rob Matthews comes news of Ben Volta, one of the Church Studios artists, who’s art is written up this month in Beautiful Decay Magazine. Here’s Ben’s blog post with scans of the pages:Blog*Log: Beautiful Decay and Kristopher Monroe = Awesome* And here’s a link to the Beautiful Decay‘s website.

James Turrell lightens up

portrait of the artist in the desert light Artist of light James Turrell, looking rather like a rugged daisy* with his white mane and full white beard, addressed the annual meeting of the Fairmount Park Art Association at the Philadelphia Museum of Art yesterday evening. Turrell was speaking with a mission–to raise money. He had been asked by the Chestnut Hill Quaker Meeting to make them a new building. But it was going to cost them more than they could afford (the link above is to the Art 21 videos on Turrell). aerial view of Roden Crater, the volcano that ... More » »

A gallery takes a rest

Little Afif Gallery on South Street is going on hiatus. Owner Liz Afif-Zane and her husband Rick are moving to Fishtown, and are thinking they might reincarnate the gallery there…at some point. We hope so.

jameswagner.com: Brooklyn College MFA "Plan B Prevails"

Chances are you’re not all up on the brouhaha about what’s been going in with the Brooklyn College MFA show, which got shut down and is now back on track. James Wagner’s been all over this, and here’s his latest post on the subject: jameswagner.com: Brooklyn College MFA “Plan B Prevails”. Or just take a look at the main blog page and catch all the juicy pictures of other stuff along the way.

Rosanna Bruno on Heart as Arena

Proving once again that abstract art is alive and well, our friend in New York Brent Burket posts a great report of a studio visit he did with abstract painter Rosanna Bruno. If you’ve forgotten what a great prose stylist Burket is, here’s just one paragraph from the post–which has some beautiful photos, too: Bruno’s lines seem to trace the path of some unstoppable rhythm, every painting a new and complex song. Although de Kooning is an obvious influence, the painter I found myself thinking about most was Bonnard. Like the French master Bruno brings colors together that really shouldn’t ... More » »

Weekly Update (2) — Summer with Louise Bourgeois and William Pope. L

[The Weekly's Summer Guide issue this week includes my wrap-up of things to do locally and in Pittsburgh (let's look west for a change!). Here's the link to the art roundup and below is the copy with pictures.] Catching the WaveFrom a one-day-only traveling sideshow to a monumental bronze and steel spider, this summer offers an array of great art happenings. The Bugs of Summer Louise Bourgeois, Spider, 1996, cast 1997, bronze cast with silver nitrate patina. Here, sited on the National Gallery grounds in DC. I can’t find an image of the Crouching Spider but will take some tomorrow ... More » »

Weekly Update (1) – Space at Gallery Joe and FUEL

Lynne ClibanoffOriginally uploaded by sokref1. Lynne Clibanoff mini-environment in a small plywood box. Click image to see it bigger [This week's Weekly has my review of Gallery Joe's Drawing Spaces, the 2-person exhibit of sculpture and drawings by Lynne Clibanoff and Cheryl Goldsleger. There's also a sketch about the new FUEL Gallery. Here's the link to the art page and below is the copy with pictures. And here's Libby's post on Drawing Spaces. Stay tuned..more pictures in a moment. And see my flickr set for additional photos and Libby's flickr set as well.] All Spaced OutAn architectural show evokes both ... More » »