February 2008 Archive

Bambi Biennial and In the Beginning

Alan Prazniak Revenge of the Innocents (detail), 2007, charcoal on paper, photo courtesy of Bambi Gallery, © Alan Prazniak Two juried shows are currently on view in Philadelphia with different aims and in different contexts. Bambi Gallery in Fishtown is showing it’s tongue-in-cheek titled Bambi Biennial through March 16. The 18 artists were selected by Roberta Fallon and Libby Rosof – yes – Artblog‘s Roberta and Libby. Lest this seem like an insider job, I’m planning to discuss the artists, not the selection, except to say that Fallon and Rosof favored artists whose work they didn’t know and had lots ... More » »

Conversation with collector Dennis Scholl

About a month ago, I met with Miami collector, Dennis Scholl, at the Galleries at Moore. Excerpts from the Debra and Dennis Scholl collection are featured in In Repose at Moore, now through Mar. 14. Below is my writeup of our conversation. Miami art collector Dennis Scholl, talking about the Miami art scene on internet Plum TV. I arrived at Moore College for my appointment with Miami art collector Dennis Scholl just behind a youngish-looking white-haired gentleman who went through the door and signed in at the guard’s desk. When I said my name to the guard, the man turned ... More » »

Blackhole, the movie

Charles Burns’ Black Hole is going to be made into a movie, and the director is… Check out this item in the Hollywood Reporter, passed along to us by none other than Rob Matthews, the king of Philly art gossip. Tracy Matthews, quoted by Rob after she read the item: “Charlie Burns?” A total Hollywood moment.

Wooden "gunfiti" spotted on northeast telephone lines

Visual reminder of the violence in Philadelphia? An artistic plea for peace? A grave marker? Or just a take-off on the classic shoefiti? Looking at this I am reminded of predecessors to the thrown-over art movement such as the Skewville brothers: Extended Browsing: Shoe Tossing

Life on Mars: Carnegie International 2008 artists announced

Here’s the list of what’s bound to be another wonderful International in Pittsburgh at the Carnegie Museum of Art. I don’t know if you’re as excited about this show as I am but the lineup looks great (lots of wonderful familiar names and many that are unfamiliar), the theme (what it is to be human) is solid and I’m raring to go. Thanks to Madelyn Roehrig at the CMOA for passing on the press release! From the release… The show, on view from May 3, 2008, through January 11, 2009, will include works by 40 emerging and established artists from ... More » »

The three Fridas–the telenovela, and so much more

This is the third in three posts about Frida Kahlo, an exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.To read about films and books available on Kahlo, go to post 1 here. To read about the merchandise at the exhibit gift show, go to post 2, here. The Frame, Self-Portrait, (ca. 1937-38). Oil on aluminum, under glass and painted wood, 28.5 x 20.5 cm., Image licenced to Nancy Meyer Walker Art Center by Nancy Meyer, © CNAC/MNAM/Dist RÈunion des MusÈes Nationaux / Art Resource Frida Kahlo painted herself into her paintings as the heroine and high priestess of Mexicanidad, as well ... More » »

The three Fridas–In the gift shop, saints, indulgences and pardonable kitsch

This is the second in three posts about Frida Kahlo, an exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. To read about films and books available on Kahlo, go to post 1 here. To read about the show itself, go to post 3 here. There’s nothing I like better than promotional merchandise except art and my family maybe. Best of the best is art merch. The Frida merch in the gift shop at the Frida Kahlo show at the Philadelphia Museum of Art is like dying and going to heaven. Here are some photos: Here she is, Saint Frida of the ... More » »

The three Fridas 1: films and books on Frida

This is the first in three posts about Frida Kahlo, an exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. To read about the merchandise at the exhibit gift show, go to post 2, here. To read about the show itself, go to post 3 here. Frida Kahlo The Two Fridas (1939) oil on canvas, 67 x 67″, Collection Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico City The bibliography on Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) is long, but of recent vintage. Worldcat lists over seven hundred books with Frida as subject; I scanned the first hundred and none pre-dates 1982. Those first hundred titles include the ... More » »

Survival of the fittest at Penn

Libby noticed it first. A group of students had stopped dead in their tracks on Locust Walk near the Claes Oldenburg Button and the group was getting bigger. What was going on? We got closer and saw it — a small hawk was there on the grass eating its lunch — a squirrel — seemingly nonplussed by the onlookers, most of whom whipped out cell phone cameras to take a picture. As for the students they let out collective eeeeuuuw’s as the bird chowed down in its bird-like fashion (don’t ask). “Ten new vegetarians are born,” Libby quipped. “It’s a ... More » »

Weekly Update – In Repose’s Poses

This week’s Weekly has my review of In Repose at the Galleries at Moore. Below’s the copy with some pictures. See Andrea‘s and Libby‘s posts for more. Gender the WorldEighteen female artists in one amazing show at Moore. ”In Repose” at the Galleries at Moore College of Art & Design demonstrates that women artists are continuing to ask questions about gender, identity and power. Janine Antoni. Ingrown, 1998. C-print. 18 1/8 x 16 3/8″ The provocative group show of photos, videos and installations by 18 up–and–coming and established women artists is full of stage– managed portrayals of women and young ... More » »