Saturday, October 24, 2009

Emil Robinson is Smithsonian Portrait Finalist

Congratulations to Emil Robinson who was named a finalist of the Smithsonian's Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition for Showered. You can find all of the finalists here.

My recent interview of Emil is here.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Marilyn Minter Interview on Huffington Post

Marilyn Minter, whose Chewing Color is currently on view at the Contemporary Art Center is interviewed by artist Kimberly Brooks on the Huffington Post.

Minter will open a show in Los Angeles this weekend at the Regen Projects.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Following Fairey Back to the CAC

In April I asked if the Contemporary Art Center was on the wrong side of art when they included Shepard Fairey in this year's exhibition season. The CAC responded quickly siding with the importance of presenting "different viewpoints and opinions."

As Fairey celebrates with Warhol, the AP reported the artist's attorney is admitting Fairey lied about which photo he used for his "Hope" poster and deleted images to conceal his mistake.

In other news, Fairey donates works to benefit orphans in Uganda: Artdaily

As with many artists who exhibit or work in Greater Cincinnati, I encourage you to continue to follow Fairey as he returns for a second visit to the CAC in February 2010.

Monday, October 12, 2009

A Telephone Booth in Yellow Springs

From the time I was a little girl, I've been fascinated by the phone booth. This has nothing to do with Superman (younger readers ask your parents), but about being old enough and tall enough to enter a phone booth and make a call. Unfortunately, as I grew, the old telephone booth was disappearing from our landscape and some being replaced by these. So I still get a little sentimental when I see a phone booth. While not so much nostalgia, the phone booth for me is a sign of modernity whizzing by.

Now with cell phones, I pay no attention to public phones. I couldn't tell you where in my neighborhood one is located. The only time I do notice them is when someone is using one, which is an uncomfortable sight. I think, "doesn't she have a cell phone?" How interesting it is to reflect the evolution of my reaction to the person at a public phone; at one time envy to now pity.

But the phone booth still fascinates as a public space for private communication. There is one in Yellow Springs, Ohio that is being used as a performance space from this month through September of next year. While I hope to see in person some of these site-specific pieces, there is a blog, the telephone booth project that will keep us connected. Thank goodness for modern technology....I think.

Friday, October 9, 2009

CAC's Sweets for the Senses

Not too long ago I responded to a commentary regarding a parent's concert over taking their child to a contemporary art museum in New York City. While I confess there are many times I avoid recommending fellow parents taking their children to the CAC, my post was a sincere invitation to parents to make a point to visit these galleries. Now is the time.

The CAC's recently opened Marilyn Minter: Chewing Color and C. Spencer Yeh: Standard Definition. I was fortunate to get a sneak peek at these shows almost two weeks ago and have not stopped thinking about them since. What was perhaps most enjoyable was walking the galleries with other art writers, curators and CAC Director, Rachel Platow. We discussed the styles, traditions, and supposed artists' intents. As a parent though, I was immediately struck by how enticing the work by both of these artists would be to children as well as adults. Minter's sugary subject along side of Yeh's inclusion of an older video game aesthetic attract viewers of all ages.

One discussion that came up among us during this preview was about the popularity and challenges of video as a contemporary medium. While this is not a new discussion, I find it to be one of the most interesting with which to deal during nearly every visit to a contemporary exhibit. These two shows have brought me closer to what is most intriguing about this new media. Somehow, artists like Minter and Yeh have found video and other technology as tools for creating sensorial art or art of the senses. Yeh's aural exploration and Minter's focus on taste seems to step away from art's home in the visual. Of course I don't believe contemporary artists are abandoning the visual. But I am seeing in these two exhibitions technology as a tool for artist to expand their ability to engage all of our senses.

This may be why I see these exhibitions as parent-friendly. So bring your children to the CAC. And if you are like me, you will be enticed to return for a second or third helping of contemporary art.

IMA Recieves National Community Service Award

The Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA) has been named one of 10 recipients of the 2009 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor for museums and libraries. The annual award, made by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) since 1994, recognizes institutions for outstanding social, educational, environmental, or economic contributions to their communities. The Indianapolis Museum of Art will receive the National Medal at a ceremony held later in Washington, D.C., and a$10,000 award in recognition of their extraordinary contributions.

U.S. Senator Richard G. Lugar (IN), who nominated IMA for the National Medal, said, "Congratulations to the Indianapolis Museum of Art on winning a 2009 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. The IMA provides the Indianapolis community with valuable arts programming, education, and many special exhibitions through the exploration of art, design, and the natural environment. It is truly a treasure in Indianapolis and very deserving of this prestigious honor."

U.S. Senator Evan Bayh (IN) said, “I congratulate the Indianapolis Museum of Art for this important recognition and for its service to Indiana and the country. The National Medal for Museum and Library Service is a fitting tribute to the museum. For more than 125 years, IMA has served not only as a center of culture in our state, but also a center of community where generations of Hoosiers can explore art, design and the natural environment.”

“The Board of Governors, staff and other supporters of the IMA are deeply honored to receive this prestigious award,” said Maxwell L. Anderson, The Melvin & Bren Simon Director and CEO of the IMA. “Since 1883, the IMA has shared the best of the world’s creativity with the people of Indiana and our visitors from around the world. More than 125 years on, our mission has remained profoundly relevant to our community through multiple initiatives putting our mission into action.”

“Every day, the Indianapolis Museum of Art makes a real difference in their community,” said IMLS Director Anne-Imelda M. Radice. “Their exemplary programs respond to community challenges, positively impact people’s lives, and serve as models for the nation’s museums. I applaud their outstanding efforts and encourage others to follow in their footsteps.”

Art Daily has the whole story here.

Friday, October 2, 2009

The Secret is Out: Arts in Covington, KY

Earlier in the year, I mention venturing out beyond Cincinnati's art communities to explore art just beyond our city. Since then, I finally visited the Indianapolis Museum of Art and Yellow Springs, both of which have become my mandatory venues for art viewing. While enlarging this little art bubble of mine, my "home art base" has quickly and easily included Covington, KY. Whenever anyone asks me where to go to see local art, I eagerly encourage the short hop across the river.

This week both Jane Durrell and Jackie Dremaline write about Covington's series of October art events called Full Spectrum. With each the weekend spotlighting the visual arts, performance, film October sees art roads leading to Covington.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

OAC Listening Tour will Visit Cincinnati in January

The Ohio Arts Council is hitting the road again this fall to find out what Ohioans value about the arts, creativity and their communities. The OAC’s Listening Tour will travel to seven more communities in fall 2009 and early winter 2010. This is in additional to the seven communities visited in fall 2008. The goal of the tour is to discover what the arts, creativity and imagination mean to elected officials, arts professionals and citizens in large and small communities across the state.

“The Ohio Arts Council wants to hear from Ohio’s citizens in order to improve the way we serve Ohio,” said OAC Executive Director Julie Henahan. “The Listening Tour provides an outlet for Ohioans to tell us how they think the arts and creativity can be a bigger part of their community.”

The findings from the first half of the Listening Tour last fall helped illuminate the impressive accomplishments, driving aspirations and daily struggles of communities around the state. The meetings also provided an opportunity for Ohioans to share the vital role they believe the arts, creativity and imagination play in their community as they pursue a wide range of economic development strategies to retain and attract existing and new business, especially knowledge-based industries.

A small group of staff from the OAC will lead three meetings in each town to discuss the arts, creativity and aspirations for the residents’ communities. During the morning meeting OAC staff members will meet with elected officials and business and community leaders; the afternoon meeting will be held with members artists, arts administrators, other members of the arts community and educators; and the evening town hall will bring people from all backgrounds together to discuss the arts and creativity and the role they play in community.

Information gathered from this tour will provide the agency with a better understanding of a broad range of Ohioans’ needs, including communities that have traditionally been underserved by OAC’s public funding, and assist the agency in developing the 2010-2013 Strategic Plan and the State of the Arts Report II.

Communities to be visited this fall and winter will be: Cincinnati in late January, Cleveland on November 6, Columbus on December 10, Dayton on September 18, Kent on November 5, Mansfield on October 13 and Wapakoneta on October 8. More information and registration details can be found at the link to each city name. Dates for city visits and additional information and itineraries will be added as it becomes available.