January 2010 Archive

Reclaiming Women’s Anatomy: The Visible Vagina at Francis M. Naumann Fine Art and David Nolan Gallery

Explicit views of women’s pudenda have never been in short supply in New York City but one found them on 42nd St. (before Disney arrived), not in established art galleries. Inspired by Eve Ensler’s Vagina Monologues, Francis Naumann began collecting work for an exhibition and when it grew too large, enlisted David Nolan to join him; the exhibition, The Visible Vagina, continues at both galleries through March 20.  The results include the entire range of responses one might expect from women to their own most singular parts, and respectful, appreciative study by men of the most mysterious parts of women.  ... More » »

Lynette Wallworth at the Sydney Festival

PREFACE: I write to you from Sydney, Australia, my location for the next 6 months where I am trying my hand at a new adventure before pursuing my MA in Art History in the Fall. I am discovering a whole new art scene and deciphering a completely new national discourse. Below is my first Aussie review, a reflection on a show by Lynette Wallworth presented within the Sydney Festival. While both the exhibit and the festival are now over, Wallworth’s works were too good not to share. And the venue, CarriageWorks, will surely showcase some more intriguing and powerful work ... More » »

Pothole challenge and two-sloth night–report from Costa Rica

Post by Barry Rosof My brother Barry and his wife Louise have fled Edmonton for the winter (good move) and are lolling in warmer climes–well not exactly lolling. Louise has traveling feet, and Barry is a serious hiker who is happy to accompany her on adventures. Here’s Barry’s report on the challenges of touring Costa Rica: — Libby I like to drive. Having a challenge is not necessarily bad. Driving in Costa Rica presents many challenges. The roads have exceedingly sharp curves. The curves can follow one another without letup, for kilometers. That is the start.

Events in Philadelphia and Elsewhere

An incomplete, biased and otherwise personal list of some of the events I hope to get to in the next two weeks: Tuesday, Feb.  2, 6 pm YOUNG-HAE CHANG HEAVY INDUSTRIES, a Seoul based web-art group, will be speaking at Temple where their work is part of Philagrafika. 126 AUDITORIUM, Temple University Architecture building,  1947 North 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122 Free and open to the public Who wouldn’t want to hear from artists who did a web piece called CUNNILINGUS IN N0RTH K0REA?  You can see it, and more of their work at their site.

Temple Philagrafika talk 2-5 today

I’m dashing toff to Temple Gallery for the artist’s talk inconjunction with the Philagrafika show there. The talk, featuring artists Carl Pope, Frencesc Ruiz, Barthelemy Toguo and YOUNG-HAE CHANG HEAVY INDUSTRIES, plus Curators Sheryl Conkelton and Jose Roca, sounds pretty interesting.

Chris Ofili at the Tate Britain

The Chris Ofili mid career survey at the Tate Britain reveals a sexually charged and scatalogical body of work reminiscent of Gilbert and George’s The Naked Shit Pictures. This survey contains overlooked sensations and under-exploited materials. The energies driving the early works have been tamed and the latest works are in an amorphous state of disarray. This could be one of the futures most exciting shows if Offili finds the new path he is looking for.

Museum of Kitsch

My friend Wendy, she who loves second hand stores and designer clothes, recommended Allee Willis’ Museum of Kitsch to me. She said she found lots of things that she wanted a little too much. Besides, the website is a Lily Tomlin pick for wasting time, according to Time Magazine. What interests me most about the museum is it’s a very personal online collection that often misses the mark on kitsch (she confuses bad taste with sentimentality). Better is her blog, where she collects images that people send in. Her readers’ finds expand and enrich the collection into something really worthy ... More » »

Exaltation! at ICA this Saturday

We’ve been exalted.  We are reading a children’s book by Maira Kalman at the cupcake and cocoa fest, Exaltation!, at ICA Saturday from noon-3 pm.  We’re not reading for three hours–don’t worry.  We’re part of a team of exalters reading from all of Kalman’s children’s books.  

Philagrafika–90 venues, holy smokes!

Philagrafika 2010, the largest international city-wide art festival in Philadelphia, celebrating the vitality of printmaking, opens this Friday, and with 90 different venues and events to consider; what’s an art lover to do?  Well, we’re going to help you here with some tips and picks.

Donate art for Haiti fundraiser at Green Line Powelton

This from Green Line’s Douglas Witmer We’re planning a Haiti benefit show on a real tight deadline and I wonder if you’d mention our call for artists on ArtBlog.  We’re asking artists to donate works for a silent auction.  Donation deadline is Feb 6.  Silent Auction and opening reception for the show is Feb 13 at our Powelton shop.  Full details here.