what have you got in your head? click here for sara's answer.via outrepart... [more]

As São Paulo's humid summer approaches, just in time to help cool things down an unusual pop-up restaurant/bar called Estação Antarctica Sub Zero opens this weekend in the bar-heavy neighborhood of Vila Madalena. Conceived to promote the Brazilian beer company Antarctica's new beer, the temporary venue celebrates their double-filtration process at 28.4 degrees Fahrenheit and the refreshing new drink. The space, an inflatable giant igloo divided into two areas holds a bar with food and area... [more]

by Kevin Freitas If drawing’s origins can be traced back to the Italian Renaissance and the Academies - its usage primarily as a means to an end - that is, as a form of visual note taking or sketch in preparation for the final work of art, it isn’t until the 18th century that it begins to acquire a certain autonomy and appreciation. Drawing materials and the techniques used in employing them haven’t changed much over the centuries either, case in point, ink drawings or sumi-e has been ar... [more]

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Tomorrow night at Subliminal Projects in Los Angeles, WK Interact will debut his latest solo show, How To Blow Yourself Up. Coolhunting asked WK to explain the title. Here's his response: CH: The title could be interpreted as how to gain fame, which people who blow themselves up in fact do accomplish. Was this double entendre made on purpose from the outset? 
WK: That’s a bit off the concept, a consequential accomplishment on their part... Funny, the double entendre is also consequent... [more]

Guest post by Jen Gillespie Walker Arts Center October 31, 2009- January 24, 2010 The Show was also at the Whitney and the MOCA Opening Lecture Saturday October 31st with the curators from all three galleries as well as the band Japanther. Last weekend I made a pilgrimage to see Dan Graham’s first retrospective in the United States, in its third and final destination, the Walker Arts Center.  The Walker is in Minneapolis, and if you’re from Chicago and you haven’t been, you really should... [more]

Guest post by Jen Gillespie Walker Arts Center October 31, 2009- January 24, 2010 The Show was also at the Whitney and the MOCA Opening Lecture Saturday October 31st with the curators from all three galleries as well as the band Japanther. Last weekend I made a pilgrimage to see Dan Graham’s first retrospective in the United States, in its third and final destination, the Walker Arts Center.  The Walker is in Minneapolis, and if you’re from Chicago and you haven’t been, you really should... [more]

Kindergarten, Beverly Vista Elementary SchoolTop Row, L-R: Gary, Debbie, Bill, Joyce, Joel, Sheri, Harry, Leslie, PhilMiddle Row, L-R: Keith, Dana, Leonard, Judy, Randy, Ellen, Joe, Nina, RiaBotton Row, L-R: Karen, ChuckI've been working lately with my ol' high school classmates on our upcoming reunion. It's next year, but we had to set a date so we could secure a venue. This is NOT an easy task, because we have NO BUDGET! Of course, we're looking for someplace on the Westside of Los Angeles, close to our beloved Beverly Hill... [more]

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Iris (We share our chemistry with the stars) MQ 2801 (2009) by Marc Quinn, via Mary Boone Gallery Currently on view at Mary Boone Gallery is Iris, featuring new paintings by Marc Quinn. Each work depicts large renditions of the iris of the human eye spotted and permeated with bright colors.  Such new works refer back to Quinn’s recurring themes of the body and identity, flesh and the spirit. The works examine the significance of the eye, which since Biblical times have been likened to representation... [more]

Iris (We share our chemistry with the stars) MQ 2801 (2009) by Marc Quinn, via Mary Boone Gallery Currently on view at Mary Boone Gallery is Iris, featuring new paintings by Marc Quinn. Each work depicts large renditions of the iris of the human eye spotted and permeated with bright colors.  Such new works refer back to Quinn’s recurring themes of the body and identity, flesh and the spirit. The works examine the significance of the eye, which since Biblical times have been likened to representation... [more]

Iris (We share our chemistry with the stars) MQ 2801 (2009) by Marc Quinn, via Mary Boone Gallery Currently on view at Mary Boone Gallery is Iris, featuring new paintings by Marc Quinn. Each work depicts large renditions of the iris of the human eye spotted and permeated with bright colors.  Such new works refer back to Quinn’s recurring themes of the body and identity, flesh and the spirit. The works examine the significance of the eye, which since Biblical times have been likened to representation... [more]

30 Seconds off an Inch THE STUDIO MUSEUM IN HARLEM November 12 2009 - March 14 2010 30 Seconds aims to show how this group of artists engages with the body and race in clever, subtle and astute ways. 30 Seconds will provide an overview of a generation of artists who use a variety of media, including photography, video, large-scale sculpture, figurative painting and site-specific installations. Featuring past Work Space residents: Sanford Biggers, Kabir Carter, William Cordova, Jennie C. Jones,... [more]

Opening in Richmond todayTHINKSMALL5 the fifth biennial International Miniature Invitational Exhibition at art6 and artspace galleries located in Richmond, Virginia. 500 local, national, and international artists who have been invited to consider this challenge by the co-curators, Shann Palmer, Gallery Coordinator, art6 Gallery and Jessica L. Sims, Vice-President, artspace Gallery.Exhibition Dates: Friday, November 6 through Saturday, December 20, 2009Preview Reception: Thursday, November 5, 2009... [more]

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UPDATE: ArtNews' Robin Cembalest first broke this story with some simple, old-fashioned journalism work...she compared the lists: "there had been another quiet cultural move in the White House. Watusi (Hard Edge), which had been the only painting listed for the East Wing-and reportedly destined for Michelle Obama's office-was no longer on the list."__________________________Even though they're insisting that it simply didn't fit, and that the decision had nothing to do with the wingnuts' epic ig... [more]

Tiffany Tang writing for VINGT Paris Image Bruce Grant Centre Pompidou's annual Vidéodanse festival clocks up it's 28th year in 2009.  A five-week event presenting a selection of 200 films and documentaries including works by Marin, Decouflé, Forsythe, De Keersmaeker, Bel and Hoghe. The event also dedicates four days in homage to the late renowned figures in contemporary dance ­– Pina Bausch and Merce Cunningham – by retracing their works and their legacy shaping the present contemporary dance scene. Titled “Quand Le Ré... [more]

Left: the museum's David DeAnna, contract art handler Jorge Herrera, and Justin Chambers move the right gate into place. Right: Herrera, DeAnna, and Jerry Hovanec finish the installation. Our exhibitions' team was up and at ‘em early on October 27 to unpack and reinstall sculptor Albert Paley’s Portal Gates at the museum's Renwick Gallery. For the past two years, the beloved pieces were off-site as part of Albert Paley: Portals & Gates, an exhibition organized by the University Museums, I... [more]

LaughLaugh until the marketing shills have to change their tack. Laugh until all billboards are just polite requests. “Please investigate our new product online if you have a moment. We’re really quite proud of it. Thank you ever so much.”We didn’t have a TV for most of my childhood, and it’s scary to look back and notice its efficiency, before and after. Its introduction brought neediness; I found my young self distressed that I did not have all the toys and clothes I wanted. After I... [more]

drawing by marguerita"Barack represents a thousand different answers to what young people were looking for," he says. "Who he is, his background, the issues he's worked on, his vision, his style." Riemer and other strategists developed a campaign climate that kept volunteers coming back. Field organizers around the country built comfy offices that became rec centers for young people.To veteran activists used to running campaigns on a shoestring, Obama for America's volunteer-driven strategy wasn't rocke... [more]

BYE-BYE BLUE SKY (2009, 17 MB, 2:40 min) “09.11.01__”Good Bye Blue Sky” remix of the 1982 film by Pink Floyd, in response to the 9.11 terrorist attacks, footage remixed includes video filmed from my Brooklyn rooftop on 9.11.01…raw and heavy handed, but is indicative of the outpouring of emotional art made in response to the attacks by multitudes of artists.” By [dNASAb].... [more]

Heather Cook in Abstract Abstract at Foxy Production.Heather Cook at Foxy.Georganne Deen in Pink Panther, Amy Smith-Stewart's show at Kumukumu.Oscar Tuazon and Eli Hansen, in Wood, at Maccarone.Corey McCorkle at Maccarone. Detail.David Kennedy Cutler at Derek Eller.Katherine Bradford at Red Flagg. Last show at Red Flagg... they've changed the name to Coleman Burke Gallery.... [more]

Rebecca Tushnet has a good summary of the district court decision (mentioned earlier here) in favor of Daniel Moore in his lawsuit with the University of Alabama. She says "the Tiger Woods case is so on point that quoting big chunks of it got the court basically where it needed to go."Meanwhile, the Tuscaloosa News says "UA needs to walk away from Moore lawsuit."8-0 Alabama hosts No. 9 LSU this weekend.... [more]

  Fifty years ago designers Charles and Ray Eames assembled 22,000 images of common objects for Glimpses of the U.S.A., a film presented at the American National Exhibition in Moscow.  Despite any language barriers among the international audience, Glimpses of the U.S.A. successfully illustrated a thriving, post-war America because of the universality of the objects being shown. What’s The Rush? Topics On Convenience assembles an international group of artists who also draw inspiration f... [more]

In case you haven't noticed, right now in NYC the performance festival Performa 09 (watch out, noisy website) is going on. It seems to have expanded exponentially since the 1st edition to the point that there are now some -off Performa events, and even some -off -off Performa ones. It all looks confusing to me, but I'm not in NYC this weekend, I'm in LA where as usual some stuff is going on.To [more]

For San Francisco Art Institute AlumniI participated in the sale when i was a student and i sold ceramic skulls - they sold really well and i made good money!On behalf of SFAI’s undergraduate Student Union and the Legion of Graduate Students (LOGS), I am pleased to invite you to participate in SFAI’s 9th Annual Winter Art and Gift Fair. Traditionally the Art Fair has been a venue for students-only to sell their work. This year, however, the student body would like to make it a community-wide... [more]

ART SEASONS and Hui Xin cordially invite you to the Opening Party of HOUSE OF HAPPINESS - A Solo Exhibition by Hui Xin, on Friday, 6 November, from 7pm onwards. (Wine and light refreshments will be served.)  Welcome to the HOUSE OF HAPPINESS - your pleasure-dome of fun and excitement! Indulge the child in you or give in to your basic instincts. Let your senses be overwhelmed as you explore the different aspects of pleasure and happiness. Reminisce childhood fantasies or treat yourself to more adu... [more]

"Protesters calling for Parliamentary reform in the wake of the MPs’ expenses scandal are using Guy Fawkes day today to float an effigy up the Thames to the Houses of Parliament.The campaigners are setting off from an East London wharf pulling a 10ft high duck house to dock at the Palace of Westminster while they claim MPs are busy plotting to overturn Sir Christopher Kelly’s recommendations on claiming for mortgages and employing relatives."Source: East London Advertiser; 05 November 2009.... [more]

Back next week. Must look at art. [more]

DreamScape, curated by Jerri Levi and Brent Turner, opens at the LOOK Gallery on Thursday evening. The exhibit is described as:"A conceptual design exhibition that explores the symbolic references of our personal spaces through the interplay of fine art and high design. Seven top Los Angeles design firms will collaborate with a roster of LOOK Gallery artists to realize a series of installations within the gallery, incorporating various art media of surrealistic expression woven together with an... [more]

"IT'S OFFICIAL! Girls Write Now has received the 2009 Coming Up Taller Award from the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. TODAY, at the White House, First Lady Michelle Obama presented the award to founder and executive director Maya Nussbaum and third-year Girls Write Now mentee Tina Gao. This award distingushes Girls Write Now as one of the top 15 youth arts and humanities organizations in the country." As you know, I'm the chair of the board of directors and Girls Write Now is... [more]

Griffith Park Observatory (Photo courtesy of Intellichick)We recently asked ExperienceLA fans to tell us where some of the best parks are in Los Angeles to help us populate our weekly poll. Within a short time span, we received a great list of suggestions. Unfortunately on our poll, we can only show 4 choices at a time. However, a list this great must be shared. So, without further ado and in no particular order, here's a list of best parks in LA as suggested by our fans:Dalton Park, AzusaHansen... [more]

In the wake of the October auctions in London, Kamrooz Aram wrote a piece about the appendage of “Arab and Iranian” artists to Sotheby’s sale of Contemporary Art (full disclosure: I assisted Aram in the editing of his piece and ushered it up online).  Aram rightly points out that this was of course not the first time an auction house or other outlets have used ethnicity as a means to promote a broad spectrum of art works which might otherwise bear no connection to one another; nevertheless,... [more]

Washington Heights artist Hector Canonge’s work Tabula Lunar was the subject of the second in a series of projected exhibitions staged by Artists Unite in 2009. Canonge’s work serves as a public intervention and was a perfect match with the Projection Show series attempt to bring the experience of art directly to the public rather than through the venue of gallery or other specialized location. Canonge worked with a custom video mixer to combine his collected footage of things “lunar,” inclu... [more]

The trouble with Agreements and Contracts is that it attempts to state clearly, for however many parties are involved, responsibilities. This can protect all parties involved in business. Some however use it as a tool to trap innocent parties. This makes us wary when it comes to signing anything. Rightfully so and as an adult, you need to be aware and Read Everything you sign. If you read it completely and have questions you need to raise those questions Before signing contracts and agreements.... [more]

November 3, 2009. The current edition of the Performa biennial, just a few days out of the starting gate, has already produced two winners: a video by Israeli artist Guy Ben-Ner (of Moby Dick and Stealing Beauty fame - the latter reviewed here) and Icelandic artist/musician Ragnar Kjartansson, abetted by Alterazioni Video from Italy, who premiered the drolly anarchic Symphony No. 1. I was lucky to catch both events on Monday night, as they were scheduled a scant hour apart and threatened to overl... [more]

This was a lovely party, with champagne, art, music, dancing and views of the Seine. The title takes you to the gallery Virgil de Voldere.... [more]

Willis Nelson (poor guy has been buried by Willie):"The major problem of today's artist is to create a timely reality, to manifest the "new poetry" that scientific discovery has added to the visual and non-visual worlds. Whether he manipulates form from an existing reality and uses it metaphorically or attempts a disassociation from illusion of forms that do exist is not the important problem. To present his way of feeling and thinking and to confirm his individuality in each new work within t... [more]

The show, currently on view at H Gallery in Bangkok, includes photographic works on acrylic panels, a wallpaper installation (collaboration with Jason Pickleman) and a backlit film installation. [more]

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where peoplemail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard.See more secrets. Follow PostSecret on Twitter.-----Email Message-----I'm studying Hindi, so that when I meet your parents, I can tell them I love you.The new book is available from bookstores and online.... [more]

Two portraits of Vladimir Mayakovsky by Alexander Rodchenko, via paris.blog.lemonde.fr Amazon.com Widgets James and I have been listening to this excellent box set of vocal music from the former East Germany. The widget above plays a sample of Friedrich Schenker's "Leitfaden fur angehende Speichellecker" (Guide for bootlickers-in-training) composed in 1974. The text is based on a 1927 poem by Vladimir Mayakovsky, in which the poet provides a satirical "guide for toadies" and at the end rips off the mask and says te... [more]

“I traced out that Morandi drawing … Traced that son of a bitch out on a blank piece of paper, and I said, ‘There’s the artwork.’ ” Who says curators aren’t badasses? Read, via Greg.org,a brief yet fascinating account of curatorial license by the legendary Walter Hopps—all with the noblest of goals in mind: to promote the work of Giorgio Morandi, who in the late ’50s/early ’60s was mostly unknown, at least on the West Coast. At an early stage of his long and illustrious caree... [more]

“I traced out that Morandi drawing … Traced that son of a bitch out on a blank piece of paper, and I said, ‘There’s the artwork.’ ” Who says curators aren’t badasses? Read, via Greg.org,a brief yet fascinating account of curatorial license by the legendary Walter Hopps—all with the noblest of goals in mind: to promote the work of Giorgio Morandi, who in the late ’50s/early ’60s was mostly unknown, at least on the West Coast. At an early stage of his long and illustrious caree... [more]

10/29/2009 - 11/15/2009 zee.jpg New York Premiere Produced by FuturePerfect and 3LD Art & Technology Center In association with Performance Space 122 dates: October 28 - November 15, 2009 Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 5-9pm Saturday, Sunday 2-9pm Project begins on the hour and the half hour; approximate time 20 minutes venue: 3LD Art & Technology Center, 80 Greenwich Street near Rector St.,... [more]

Stickers 2 is a collection of the most stunning contemporary sticker designs curated from around the world.The book presents 700 of the best ephemeral, subversive and humorous sticker motifs and urban applications by over 150 international artists who are expressing themselves through this versatile medium.Stickers 2 takes readers on a visual journey around the world through the world’s most exciting cities and rural areas across the USA, Brazil, Australia, Singapore , Europ and Iran. Essays and contributions by artists and connoisseurs of the scene prov... [more]

I talk to a lot of people on a regular basis who want to make money with the internet, and blogging is often the preferred method. While it is certainly possible to earn a living with your own blog, it’s a lot more work than most people anticipate, and the percentage of bloggers who stick with it long enough to make any real money is very small. One of my typical recommendations to these people is to start building a blog of their own, but do some freelance blogging at the same time. Buil... [more]

If you are interested please leave a comment here (or contact me at m a r k (at) m a r k d i x o n . c a ). [more]

I tried to create some kind of framework for looking at Liam Gillick's show "Three perspectives and a short scenario" now on view at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago. I didn't want to just explain what each element supposedly "meant," which wouldn't be true anyway, since describing an object's origin does not describe its meaning. Nor was it possible to jump into analysis without A) research on the artist—his ideas, the ideas of others he is interested in, and the ideas others have about... [more]

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METAL Inclinations2 International Juried Exhibition 2010-11 will include selections of the most exemplary fine metal art jewelry created by metalsmiths, silversmiths, goldsmiths and jewelers all over the world. METAL Inclinations2 is sponsored by the Hauser and Miller Co. Refiners and fabricators and produced and presented by the Society for Midwest Metalsmiths, a non-profit organization with a mission to promote, educate and exhibit metalsmiths and jewelers. [more]

Tactile Text Singapore Management University (SMU) LKCSB Seminar Room 2.5 (Room 2012) Friday, October 9, 2009 1 - 4:30 PM Continuing on some of the experimental work being done for my Concept Development course at RMIT University Vietnam, I've decided to expand the visualizing information exercise into an arts workshop during my arts residency at the Singapore Management University. Beginning with the poetry of Singaporean writer Cyril Wong, workshop participants will interrogate the text for... [more]