I skimmed it, It looks pretty good.
Archive for June, 2008
here’s the stupid link
From March 27 – August 17, the Art Institute of Chicago is featuring their first ever exhibition dedicated to graphic design. The exhibition focuses on the work of London based Graphic Thought Facility (Huw Morgan, Paul Neale, and Andy Stevens). Its impressive that the AIC selected a relatively unknown firm (at least in the US) for their first show, when I am sure that they could have easily put together a show by one of the icons of American design.
This exhibition is another reason to visit Chicago this summer. I just wish that it would not cost $1,000,000 to pay for the gas to get there.
08
Jun
sidewalks = democracy
I’m sort of off topic here and just regurgitating things I have read in the NY Times, but I can ‘t stop thinking about a recent interview with Enrique Penalosa. Penalosa was formerly the mayor of Bogota, Columbia and is famous for forcing a ban on sidewalk parking in that city (and developing an enlightened plan for the city).
“A sidewalk is a symbol of equality.”
He currently advises other city’s administrations on planning and growth. He largest recommendation usually is to build accessible sidewalks and guarantee access to waterfronts and greenspaces.
My recent residential experiences have made me think more and more about sidewalks. Previously, my family and I lived in an old (civil war era) house downtown. The neighborhood had sidewalks and I would walk the block with my children several times a day. We knew everyone who lived on the block and would often stop to talk.
Currently, we live in a newer home in a suburban neighborhood (we needed a house that didn’t require constant work, we do have three children). Our new neighborhood does not have a single sidewalk. Going on a walk requires that you travel on the road. I spend a lot of time convincing my children to stay out of the street because it is for cars, but when we go on a walk, I take them to the street. We wave at our neighbors but I don’t know their names or stop to talk. I’m sure I would if we met on a sidewalk.
Not only are sidewalks fair, but they build community.
The other day, I read an article in the NY Times about the Art Basel festival ( I like to keep my finger on the pulse of the art market) and stumbled on the recent sale of two Cindy Sherman prints. Each went for $150,000, that’s $300,000 total. I’m just saying …
03
Jun
being a vj
Last friday night, Robb (my partner in [ fladry + jones ] ) and I had a very successful night at Studio 1403 in Nashville. We worked with various dj’s, the most famous of which was Justin Long from Chicago. I had an incredibly good time and have spent some time thinking about being a vj and what it means for my “art” practice.
There has been quite a bit of discussion / murmuring amongst artist as to whether or not vjing in a dance club counts as “art”. I have wondered quite a bit about that myself. After my experiences friday, I am convinced that being a vj (even a club vj) is an important and valid part of my artistic production. I am even much more comfortable with the title vj now.
The on the fly aesthetic decisions, the process, and the immediate audience response of being a vj is unlike anything else I have experienced as an artist. It’s process art for the new century; Pollock as he should have been. It is easily more pertinent and certainly more entertaining than performance art, and it comes with a beat you can dance to. The non-art venue and the non-art audience does not stop the work from being art. It probably makes it more important.
I believe that live video performance is the perfect medium for our times and the vj is the perfect artist. We process, manipulate, comment, and conceptualize the world we live in in real time. Our response to a world full of image and sound may be the only logical one
