After our successful 2nd Thursday event in May I got to thinking we can put on a legitimate show opening at the IRS studios so I have started planning an art opening for 2nd Thursday in October. I wanted to do September but there is not enough time so October it is! Plus the warehouse should be nice and cool by then. The show will have an open call to artists (any artist anywhere can submit), it will have a theme that the work should follow.
I don't really have anything else to say about art. Actually, I do. I just bought a dremel tool but so far have only used it to drill experimental designs into my studio wall. I have a lot of work to do to get this show off the ground. I also want to have live performance art. I plan on promoting the show extensively so that all of Philadelphia comes by. It should be really good. Everyone will be home from vacation by October and people will be in the city looking for good art shows. I'm pumped. So anyone from my family or friends reading this, October might be a good time to come visit :-)
Monday, July 26, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
HUBRIS @ Mobius, a successful 2 night performance venture
Tonight I am feeling very refreshed and rejuvenated, motivated and inspired from my trip up to Boston to partake in a performance art festival. My good friend EL Putnam, whom I went to the Museum School with for undergrad, curated the show. We started out as pals in a "Public Art/Public Action" class and then we started hanging out after school, and she introduced me to performance art. She showed me a video of her slathering herself in toothpaste and it was called "Commodity Fetish." I loved it and thought it was super weird at the same time. Oh how far we've come! (Or at least I'd like to think so...!)
The theme of the show was "HUBRIS" which is a form of narcissism. My idea was to draw portraits and more or less elaborate on myself instead of the subject while drawing. The first night went great and there was a lot of interest in my portraits. I did not have a lamp for my easel so I had some difficulty seeing. By the second night, I had gotten a booklight for my easel and set up a video camera at an angle where you can see my subject, my easel, and me. I got to talk to my subjects the entire time I drew them. Asking things about themselves and thinking about how those things related to me. I got to draw a full head of hair and make some physical adjustments on some drawings of my male subjects, making for some creepy looking drawings, especially when I got a picture of my subject right next to my drawing.
EL's performance was beautiful. It was almost messier than "commodity fetish." I'm hoping to see some video footage of it up on her website (www.elputnam.com).
The theme of the show was "HUBRIS" which is a form of narcissism. My idea was to draw portraits and more or less elaborate on myself instead of the subject while drawing. The first night went great and there was a lot of interest in my portraits. I did not have a lamp for my easel so I had some difficulty seeing. By the second night, I had gotten a booklight for my easel and set up a video camera at an angle where you can see my subject, my easel, and me. I got to talk to my subjects the entire time I drew them. Asking things about themselves and thinking about how those things related to me. I got to draw a full head of hair and make some physical adjustments on some drawings of my male subjects, making for some creepy looking drawings, especially when I got a picture of my subject right next to my drawing.
EL's performance was beautiful. It was almost messier than "commodity fetish." I'm hoping to see some video footage of it up on her website (www.elputnam.com).
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
my proposal for HUBRIS Event
After a long day of brainstorming about narcissism, and finding myself nosing through academic online PDF's of Penis Envy and Castration Anxiety, I came up with my submission for the HUBRIS performance event in Boston. (Hopefully I woo the curator with my glorious idea and get in).
I had done a performance in the past where I had drawn people's portraits where I imagined what their sexual organs looked like (whether that be a realistic idea or a thematically exaggerated idea). I was wearing nothing but a smocks and some old school sneakers. I always wanted to elaborate on the idea of drawing people, putting them on the spot, having them wondering and waiting how I perceive them, and then seeing their reaction to the final product. I also like the fair/festival-like connotations that short sittings have to them; cheap and quick; what does that person want others to see in them? A white toothy smile, flowing locks, vibrant eyes? What will they want you to leave out? A kinky nose, a mole? So this performance submission is asking for a piece focusing on Narcissism. What better topic for an artist...that's all we think about is ourselves. It's a lifelong plague that we struggle with, yet we justify it, because we feel it makes us more aware of who we are and what we want.
Here is my proposal:
Proposal for durational performance piece at Mobius HUBRIS Event
In an area of approximately 5’x5’, I will be standing comfortably with an easel, paper, and art making supplies (including but not limited to pastels, acrylic paint, and glitter). In front of me will be an inviting chair for event goers to sit down and have their portrait drawn in about 15 minute increments. I will encourage light to moderate dialogue between myself and the subject; information derived from such conversation may be used to supplement the visual elements in the portrait. When the subject is shown their completed portrait, they will see a drawing that more or less resembles myself, with only hints of their personal appearance. This piece will go on for the duration of the HUBRIS event, with occasional breaks for rest.
Artist Statement and relation to theme of HUBRIS
Portraiture has been known to allow, at the very least, a slight resemblance of the artist herself to show through in any portrait they draw; this includes not only physical traits, but also the artist’s ideas of the world around them. I intend on taking that theme to the extreme, letting narcissism take over the drawing (almost) entirely. The portraits created from this performance will be an exploration and an exploitation of my deepest narcissistic thoughts.
I had done a performance in the past where I had drawn people's portraits where I imagined what their sexual organs looked like (whether that be a realistic idea or a thematically exaggerated idea). I was wearing nothing but a smocks and some old school sneakers. I always wanted to elaborate on the idea of drawing people, putting them on the spot, having them wondering and waiting how I perceive them, and then seeing their reaction to the final product. I also like the fair/festival-like connotations that short sittings have to them; cheap and quick; what does that person want others to see in them? A white toothy smile, flowing locks, vibrant eyes? What will they want you to leave out? A kinky nose, a mole? So this performance submission is asking for a piece focusing on Narcissism. What better topic for an artist...that's all we think about is ourselves. It's a lifelong plague that we struggle with, yet we justify it, because we feel it makes us more aware of who we are and what we want.
Here is my proposal:
Proposal for durational performance piece at Mobius HUBRIS Event
In an area of approximately 5’x5’, I will be standing comfortably with an easel, paper, and art making supplies (including but not limited to pastels, acrylic paint, and glitter). In front of me will be an inviting chair for event goers to sit down and have their portrait drawn in about 15 minute increments. I will encourage light to moderate dialogue between myself and the subject; information derived from such conversation may be used to supplement the visual elements in the portrait. When the subject is shown their completed portrait, they will see a drawing that more or less resembles myself, with only hints of their personal appearance. This piece will go on for the duration of the HUBRIS event, with occasional breaks for rest.
Artist Statement and relation to theme of HUBRIS
Portraiture has been known to allow, at the very least, a slight resemblance of the artist herself to show through in any portrait they draw; this includes not only physical traits, but also the artist’s ideas of the world around them. I intend on taking that theme to the extreme, letting narcissism take over the drawing (almost) entirely. The portraits created from this performance will be an exploration and an exploitation of my deepest narcissistic thoughts.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
The Artist Hubris
I've been reminded about this event, which I thought I missed the deadline for...lo and behold, I have one more day to submit:
"HUBRIS is a two-day event that celebrates performance work that embraces the notion of self-grandiosity, emphasizing the most narcissistic and self-indulgent aspects of the medium. The event will take place at the Mobius Art Space (www.mobius.org) on July 16 and 17, 2010."
Mobius is a big deal to get into so if I submit and get in, I will feel a lot better about getting beat out by Black Pinto Horse at the gallery in Chelsea last month. HA!
Is it bad when your own artwork makes even YOU feel uncomfortable? I guess that's why people have journals that they don't let other people read. Because there is stuff in there that they don't want to admit to anyone, but you just gotta get it out of your system sometimes! I'd post pics, but I actually think they're gonna sit out to dry and then go hide in a vault somewhere far away from the eyes of my friends and family. It's so true, "artists have such pleasant things to say!"
"HUBRIS is a two-day event that celebrates performance work that embraces the notion of self-grandiosity, emphasizing the most narcissistic and self-indulgent aspects of the medium. The event will take place at the Mobius Art Space (www.mobius.org) on July 16 and 17, 2010."
Mobius is a big deal to get into so if I submit and get in, I will feel a lot better about getting beat out by Black Pinto Horse at the gallery in Chelsea last month. HA!
I somewhat finished a bunch of beatiful/angry artwork I started this winter. I could never figure out how to finish them. I either figured out the violent part or the beautiful part but not all at once. Some say a work of art is never truly completed. You can't brood on perfecting your art for too long, it's best to make it, and get out when the vibe is gone. But supposing they're on your studio walls for 6 months staring you in the face, I needed to finish these for better or worse. I need to move on thematically...God only knows what my new theme may be? I was thinking something between flowers and self portraits. But truly I have no idea what direction to go in from here. I just know I want to go in the right direction for me...
Saturday, May 22, 2010
heartbreak is the strongest aphrodesiac; failure is the biggest motivator.
I stopped in Viridian Gallery to check out the drawing show by Carol Benisatto, and also asked about the submissions to the juried show.
The receptionist said, "There were over 300 applicants so they're still not finished looking through everything. Why, did you apply?" I told her yes..of course I did! I had been hitting refresh on their website every day waiting for the red letters that said "Check back Mid May for Winners" to bear good news. Today I hit refresh and it said "Click here to view winners." I went through the list...
and my name was not there. On another note, the feedback I received from my open studios is that people REALLY like my self portraits. Information is power.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
our first 2nd Thursday event @ Indoor Rooftop Studios
The evening went fabulously well with about 60 people in attendance. DJ Brickhouse kept the people dancing until after midnight, everyone enjoyed the fancy keg of PBR and most importantly everyone enjoyed the artwork.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Flyer for 2nd Thursday Open Studio Event
Looks like it's going to be a full house next Thursday! I sent out the invite last week and there's already 55 people confirmed on Facebook. That gets me to wondering whether I should get two kegs! Hmm... What do U think?
Open Studio Event- URL
Open Studio Event- URL
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