July 2008 Archive

Weekly Update – Two great public art pieces in New York

This week’s Weekly has my review of two New York public art projects, David Byrne‘s Playing the Building and Olafur Eliasson‘s New York City Waterfalls. Below is the copy with some pictures. More photos at flickr. And see Libby’s post on the waterfalls. See more waterfall pix at flickr. See more Playing the Building pix. Olafur Eliasson, New York City Waterfalls, Governor’s Island Summer’s a great time to go on safari and see public art and right now New York’s got the goods: David Byrne’s “Playing the Building” at the Battery Park Maritime Building and Olafur Eliasson’s “The New York ... More » »

Slice, dice and fold–Art Alliance, Pageant and Fleisher-Ollman

Natasha Bowdoin, I am the sun in the morning, I am a dog at night, 2006; cut cards and gouache on paper, 36 x 54 x 9 inches.image courtesy the artist And now for the medium of the season, cut paper!! Three exhibits exploring the limits of paper as a medium are ripping up the town– Paper[space] at the Philadelphia Art Alliance, Thanks to Mom and Dad/The Chain of the Worlds at Pageant Gallery, and a cleaner heart a do it at Fleisher-Ollman Gallery, which dips into paper along with some other work. All three shows are worth the effort ... More » »

Report from China: The contemporary art scene

Post by Virginia Maksymowicz and Blaise Tobia View down alley at M50. All photos in the post provided by Virginia Maksymowicz and Blaise Tobia Like much of modern China, the infrastructure of its contemporary art scene has been based on American and European models. Anyone with experience visiting galleries and studios in Long Island City (New York) or River North (Chicago) or Brunnenstrasse (Berlin) can step right into the 798 District of Beijing or the M50 District of Shanghai and get right to business. Shopping Gallery, a new gallery representing young artists in M50 Former industrial spaces have been converted, ... More » »

Kiss for the new art czar

Post by our man in City Hall, Dustin Metz: [We've been waiting for this for six months--the re-establishment of the Office of Arts and Culture and the appointment of its head. Then, neither of us could make it to Mayor Nutter's announcement. So we asked Dustin Metz to go. Here's his report. (If you want to skip to the all important who, it's down after the subhead "Drum roll please...").] As I entered the Reception Room for the Mayor in City Hall the TV cameras were in the process of setting up and there were still a few seats open, ... More » »

Flash art show–PDF here and PDF there

Detail of a repeating swimmer from an internet-distributed digital art project It’s a wonder no one thought of this before–art that’s shown simultaneously around the world, based on the idea that technology can circulate digi art works faster than a speeding bullet. The show, PDF, which will be held simultaneously in 14 cities, from Tokyo to Oslo, and in each of the 5 boroughs of New York City, also has a Philly venue–Vox Populi, for the one-night-only event–Saturday, July 19, 6 to 8 p.m. The art, commissioned work from Fia Backström, Bozidar Brazda, Brian Clifton, Paul Ramirez Jonas, Rachel Mason, ... More » »

Steven Dufala and James Ulmer–They Climbed the Mountains

Steven Dufala, Shark, digital print My luck was with me! They Climbed the Mountains, a two-man show at Honeymilk Gallery, was extended an extra month. The two artists in the exhibit, Steven Dufala and James Ulmer, have sold a lot of the work, all of which are small, limited-edition digital prints. Steven Dufala, Kill Yourself/Fall in Love, digital print Dufala’s are fabulous and unexpected. Harking to Asian mountain imagery, fabric prints and old maps with monsters of the deep, Dufala creates a moody, somewhat threatening group of small landscapes, and seascapes (sort of) some peopled, some not. A shark lurks ... More » »

This Side of Paradise, by Nick Paparone

Nick Paparone, This Side of Paradise, installation at Copy. Image provided by the artist. That sly boots Nick Paparone wrote us a note declaring that his current installation at Copy Gallery was a “life changing experience.” I really like Nick’s work (not to mention Nick himself) and it probably was a good move on his part, given that I for one was less than likely to make it to this particular show. (I should mention in all fairness that Paparone is one of the founders of Copy Gallery, although I wouldn’t call this a vanity show). Well, turns out it ... More » »

North of the border

Steve, Stella and I are off to Montreal today for a short visit. This will be my first trip to Canada if you can believe that. Among other things we’ll be going to the Musee d’Art Contemporain de Montreal to see the Quebec Triennial, a show of 38 emerging artists from the region. I’m very excited about that. See you next week, and seek shelter all you Philadelphians — it’s going to be nasty the next few days.

New city culture chief a comin’

At long last, in what may have been the slowest appointment of the new otherwise damned efficient administration, Mayor Nutter has made a choice of who will head the city’s Office of Arts and Culture. I don’t know who yet. But the announcement is scheduled for Friday at 11 a.m. in City Hall. Can’t wait for the NOOOZ and will share as soon as I can. (Unfortunately, I will be getting a haircut at precisely that time.) A kiss for the mayor!!!

New Museum organizes Youthie triennial in 2009

Via Art Fag City and artinfo, the youth art boom gets its own triennial!! The New Museum will attempt to define the generation born around 1980 in an international show they’re calling “Younger than Jesus.” You know who you are and you’re wanted. According to artinfo, 150 “informers” are helping the NM curators unearth the talent. …here’s the report: NEW YORK—Does the art world need yet another festival? The New Museum of Contemporary Art thinks so and announced today that it is launching a new triennial next year. The first edition of the triennial, which bears the provocative title “Younger ... More » »