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#75 in progress
In News onHere is a surprising development with #75. A few months ago I noticed a sculpture by a friend, Kim Matthews, which had an interesting color and texture. She described to me that she casted paper pulp to make the shape and she used a special paint which had metal powder in it. The painted surface reacted with rusting agent to make beautiful orange and brown rusty surface. The result was very effective in creating a curious blend of rough paper surface with rusty metallic hue. I’ve been wanting to try it out and when I thought of making #75, I knew it was going to be the piece. It’s a rather small piece but it also has a large, monumental feel to it. I thought the weight of rusty metallic look might be perfect for it. And it looks like it’s working very well.
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Ron’s ArtBBQ 2012
In News onOne of my favorite sculptors, Ron van der Ende, has an annual event of gathering artists’ music lists. Here is a link to my list. So far there are 45 artists in it. Enjoy.
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Drawing
In News onDrawing has been always an essential part of making for me. It can be a sketch to remember ideas. It can be a brainstorming process to come up
with ideas. It allows me to be physically connected to visual ideas. It’s fun. It’s also a making process to share the results of course. In fact, that’s
how I started. But I haven’t been so productive in that way lately. My drawings became paintings and they became sculptures. But I’ve been hoping
that I can bring back some drawing. They are faster and more flexible. It might show me more ways to explore. Here are a couple of such attempts.
The first one was published in “Sensorium”, a first publication by Skowhegan Alliance.
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Elise Ferguson at Halsey Mckay Gallery
In News onI really enjoyed Elise Ferguson‘s work at Halsey Mckay gallery. She’s very good at clarifying her message
without killing the subtle flavors. In fact, there are lots of flavors in the work. Not many artists really
understand that those subtle things can give life and integrity to the work. It’s highly recommended.It’ll be up till the end of the month.
C Sticks by Elise Ferguson
2011; pigmented plaster and silk screen on mdf panel; 24″ x 18″
Inverted Formal by Elise Ferguson
2012; pigmented plaster and silk screen on mdf panel; 24″ x 18″
Black Joey by Elise Ferguson
2012; pigmented plaster and silk screen on mdf panel; 24″ x 18″
Crab X by Elise Ferguson
2012; pigmented plaster and silk screen on mdf panel; 24″ x 18″ -
Pechakucha Night Hamptons 9/20/12
In News onParrish Art Museum has an event with ten show-and-tell presentations tonight.I will be one of the presenters talking about making sculptures. It’ll be fun. I hope to see you there if you
are around.
A work in progress
Web calendarFacebook inviteA few videos from past presentations here: https://vimeo.com/album/1784511 -
Raw + Material = Art
In News onTristan Manco is known for his books on street art. Raw + Material = Art is his first attempt at surveying contemporary fine art. In his own words, “The idea behind the book is to focus on the natural and found materials and low cost, low-tech methods that artists are being drawn to today. Our aim will be to generally inspire and explore the synergy between the artist’s work and their materials.” He certainly succeeds in presenting his theme in the context of contemporary art and the book does even more.
When I learned who would be in the book, I immediately felt that another aspect of this book is the introduction of artists emerging on the internet. For the past decade or so the internet has quietly moved into the traditional contemporary art scene with somewhat varied angles on both artists’ geographical origins and their approaches. Numerous image based sites have been inspiring countless personal sites. We’ve been exposed to many artists not necessarily affiliated with established galleries, museums, and other major art institutions. For the first time in the history of contemporary art, visual art is experiencing the true possibility of democratic participation. It is no longer a necessity to live close to a large city with major galleries and museums to explore some segment of visual art. The authoritative voices of art critics, major art collectors, and major art institutions often do not reach the common ground offered by the internet.
The new venue is not without its problems. The accuracy of representation through our computer screens will be an issue for some artists. Some art just does not present well that way. The same has been true in music. The proliferation of inexpensive personal devices and compressed music files has been a blessing for some music but not for the others, which I believe has been adding to the sad decline of classical music (Ironically, if you look at the high end audio world, this is the best time to enjoy classical music). Secondly, the emphasis on cheap materials and inexpensive ways of making might not be a coincidence since many of the artists are not supported by the art-as-investment-network of collectors, galleries, auction houses, museums and so on. The generous exposure some artists might enjoy online does not guarantee any form of financial reward. As the world faces the limitations of capitalistic pursuit, the art world and the artists keep searching for practical ways to make their contributions.
In any case, Tristan has nonetheless done a great job of putting together this wonderful book featuring 38 notable artists today in large format, 256 glossy color pages. It’s a celebration of the new era with the new artists. Anybody who enjoys looking around online for fascinating new art will find at least some artists to look at. I hope you enjoy the book.
Here are some snap shots of the pages, although they hardly do justice to the beautiful book itself…
Michael Johansson: michaeljohansson.com
Gabriel Dawe: gabrieldawe.com
Hiroyuki Hamada: hiroyukihamada.com
Aj Fosik: ajfosik.com
Klaus Dauven: klaus-dauven.de
Elfo: elfostreetart.blogspot.com
Ron van der Ende: ronvanderend.nl
Rosemarie Fiore: rosemariefiore.com
Henrique Oliveira: henriqueoliveira.com
Erik Otto: erikotto.com
Mia Pearlman: miapearlman.com
Peter Callesen: petercallesen.com
Luis Valdes: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lpower/
Felipe Barbosa: felipebarbosa.comMany more artists are included in the book. All of them are worth looking at. Here is a list of their websites.
Felipe Barbosa: felipebarbosa.com
Andres Basurto: Atenaestudio.com
Zadok Ben-David: zadokbendavid.com
Robert Bradford: robertbradford.co.uk
Peter Callesen: petercallesen.com
Monica Canilao: monicacanilao.com
Klaus Dauven: klaus-dauven.de
Gabriel Dawe: gabrieldawe.com
Baptiste Debombourg: baptistedebombourg.com
Brian Dettmer: briandettmer.com
Elfo: elfostreetart.blogspot.com
Ron van der Ende: ronvanderend.nl
Aj Fosik: ajfosik.com
Rosemarie Fiore: rosemariefiore.com
Faile: faile.net
Fumakaka: fumakaka.com
Sayaka Kajita Ganz: sayakaganz.com
Jose Enrique Porras Gomez: olaganandoespacio.wordpress.com
Hiroyuki Hamada: hiroyukihamada.com
Haroshi: haroshi.com
Valerie Hegarty: valeriehegarty.com
Luiz Hermano: Luizhermano.com
Florentijn Hofman: florentijnhofman.nl
Michael Johansson: michaeljohansson.com
Anouk Kruithof: anoukkruithof.nl
Jae-Hyo Lee: leeart.name
Luzinterruptus: luzinterruptus.com
Maria Nepomuceno: victoria-miro.com
Henrique Oliveira: henriqueoliveira.com
Erik Otto: erikotto.com
Mia Pearlman: miapearlman.com
Lionel Sabatte: lionelsabatte.com
Chris Silva: chrissilva.com
Lucas Simoes: lucassimoes.com.br
Yuken Teruya: yukenteruyastudio.com
Luis Valdes: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lpower/
Felipe Yung: flipink.blogspot.com
Carlos Zuniga: carloszuniga.orgRaw + Material = Art is published by Thames & Hudson Ltd (UK) in April 2012
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Anish Kapoor in NYC
In News onLast week I saw two outstanding shows in New York City. Both of them are by Anish Kapoor (Gladstone Gallery on 21st Street and 24th Street).
The works are effortlessly graceful with plenty of formal delights and profound weight. It’s great to see his bold yet delicate methods let the
materials flow and glow in their own rights.One show has multiple towers of cement (Gladstone Gallery on 24th Street). Take your time and walk among them. You start to see character
in each tower and you realize that they are not just random piles. Then you start to see the vision of the artist who let these strange
magical towers appear (here is an article about the interesting making process).
Anish Kapoor at Gladstone gallery, 24th Street 2012
Anish Kapoor at Gladstone gallery, 24th Street 2012
Anish Kapoor at Gladstone gallery, 24th Street 2012
Anish Kapoor at Gladstone gallery, 24th Street 2012
Anish Kapoor at Gladstone gallery, 24th Street 2012
Anish Kapoor at Gladstone gallery, 24th Street 2012
Anish Kapoor at Gladstone gallery, 24th Street 2012The other show places a large round steel structure that fills up a large open space (Gladstone Gallery on 21st Steet). You get the “wow” feeling
as soon as you walk in the room, and as you walk around, you just tell yourself “wtf”. It’s also fun to see how people react to the piece and
interact with it. It’s great to see people being so happily awed and overwhelmed by the piece. It gives confidence to anybody who loves and believes in art.
Anish Kapoor at Gladstone gallery, 21st Street 2012
Anish Kapoor at Gladstone gallery, 21st Street 2012
Anish Kapoor at Gladstone gallery, 21st Street 2012There was one more thing. My friend and I walked in one of the churches on our way to the galleries
(St. Thomas on 5th avenue). Ah, what a space to get away and immense yourself in the quietness with the church organ.
Everything just stopped and my mind was reset, at least for the moment.A city needs a place like that or great art to make you feel that you are connected to something big and mysterious. A great city
like New York has both.
Saint Thomas Church -
“of WHITE” at Nuartlink
In News on
#56, 2005-10, 41 1/2 x 41 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches, enamel, oil, plaster, tar and waxVenturing into the abstract while suggesting simplicity and
light, White can create a special harmony and resonance.
~ opening reception February 16th, 2012, 6 to 8 pm
Nuartlink is pleased to present “of White”, a group exhibition of works by artists
pushing the boundaries of their media using the limitless color white.
As contrasting as their approaches are, these artists share the same dialogue. They
skillfully manipulate their materials to reflect ideas and emotions, encouraging our
minds to seek a deeper vision of their work.
Bringing together a diverse range of media, “of white” engages the viewer’s
intellectual curiosity in exploring the unique visual possibilities “of White”.
203.858.2067
info@nuartlink.com
vida@nuartlink.com
nicholas@nuartlink.com19-b Post Road East, Westport, CT 06880
(Parker Harding Plaza – Entrance next to Starbucks on the river)
Tuesday- Sunday 11-6 p.m. and by appointment
