Lou Hatoum

See the story on artnet by Charlie Finch

Above left, 2006-08, Liza Lou. Above right, Mona Hatoum, 1992-93. There are other examples like the cages.

Who came first?

Maybe it's the Wall Street antics that have my mind on honesty and how it translates to art. Where is the line drawn between being inspired or when an artist just hijacks something? I think there is no definitive answer except the smell test. In the examples above I do have to say that I think a case could be made that weaving simple shapes like these can be found in many cultures throughout history. But when you know a contemporary of yours is building on that, is it worth repeating at the same time or a few years later? In music when someone does a cover song at least they attribute the original to that artist.

I don't know who brought forth the idea of using igloos and weaving monolithic forms into contemporary art, Martin Puryear or Mario Mertz. But of course Mr. Puryear has claimed ownership simply by the fact that he is more famous. Why that is the case is a whole other topic.

Above left, 1989, Martin Puryear. Above right, Mario Mertz, 1986. There are better examples to compare, but I can't seem to find the images right now.

Tara Donovan

Today the New York Times has a story on Tara Donovan and the $500,000 "genius award". I am sure there are many disappointed artists and scholars out there, but I think they made a good choice.

Like all prominent artists, Ms. Donovan is one of the most copied sculptors out there. I guess this in inevitable, after all, it is much easier to "appropriate" something good than to create it. The thing that is more disturbing to me is that major museums and galleries who know that work is derivative still support artists who steal.

I wish that her traveling museum survey was coming to NY or Philadelphia, but it's about time I make a trip to Boston to visit some galleries and this show at the ICA.

Work at Uarts

A couple paintings of mine will be on view at the Uarts Building near the library and Rosenwald-Wolf Gallery on the ground floor of Anderson Hall, 320 South Broad Street. Visit the gallery to see the work of Mark Campbell, Peter Rose, Anthony Rose, Anthony Angelicola, and Eoin Burke. Through Oct. 10.

Shows Around Town

Following are a few shows and events that have come to my attention that you might want to check out.

Between 2 and 5 on Saturday, September 20th, Crane Arts will be hosting a family-friends event in the Green Space at the back of the building. They will supply the beer, food is potluck style.

The Edge Gallery at 72 N 2nd Steet, is showcasing the work of abstract painters, David Novak, David Freeman, James Leonard, and Ray Mantella (image shown above), through the 28th of this month.

Almost next door at the 3rd Street Gallery, are paintings by John James Pron and Carol Wisker, closing September 29th.

In Bella Vista at the DaVinci Art Alliance, are Nikolay Milushev and Plamen Veltchev. September 6-28th. They have transformed the space with this beautifully hung show.

And coming up on Friday, October 3rd, Scott Ratinoff will be showing a new collection of paintings in an exhibition titled The Places That We Live. Lickety Split, 401 South Street, Philadelphia. Music performances by Fishstick and Nowhere to Follow.

Greg Brellochs at AxD Gallery

AxD Gallery features the work of Greg Brellochs that opens Friday, September 19, 2008 and continues through October 11.

I walked by the gallery one day this summer and was stopped in my tracks by this beautiful space that I didn't at the time. It is located at 265 S. 10th Street in Philadelphia which is a neighorhood that has a number of small restaurants and a couple hardware stores.

So go and enjoy a meal, some art and pick up that can of propane while you are at it.

Above, Abtaxis, ink and varnish on panel, 24 x 24 inches, 2007. By Greg Brellochs

Ghosts and Shadows, documentary

I think you will see from the video that this show took a great effort on the part of the organizers, partners and the artists to bring together. The results speak for themselves (in one case literally so). But watching the movie is not a substitute for experiencing the work on site. Pick the weather that suits you and take a walk around the grounds and enjoy the site that has been transformed by each artists individually and as a group.

The exhibition will be up until January 2, 2009. The Schuylkill Center’s Second Site is located at the corner of Port Royal Ave and Hagy’s Mill Road in Philadelphia.

Above, work in progress, Marisha Simons.

Part 1, Quicktime
Part 2, Quicktime
credits

Steve Reich's "Daniel Variations"

I haven't had a lot of time to listen to music lately, but when I do the first thing I have to play is Daniel Variations, by Steve Reich. It is about Daniel Pearl, who I think everyone knows is the writer kidnaped by Islamic militants who taped his brutal murder. This piece of music doesn't attempt to tell the story in a narrative style, but does use a chorus in my favorite movement titled My Name is Daniel Pearl (I'm a Jewish American from Encino California).

One critic in a web review thought that the phrase "My Name is Daniel Pearl" was mundane. I found the opposite to be true for a number of reasons. When anyone is help prisoner and is brought before a camera the first thing they do is to say their own name. How they say it tells a lot about their mental state and countless other things. These words were also written in Arabic, superimposed over his picture on the video of his death. Reich handles the phrase in a variety of ways and ends with a loud crescendo of many voices. But the mood of the piece itself is nuanced, mixed with beauty, a sense of dignity and with seriousness of course.

There is also a film, "A Mighty Heart: The Brave Life and Death of My Husband Danny Pearl," taken from a book written by Daniel's wife Mariane Pearl.

Larry Spaid at Snyderman

One artist that you can always count on to deliver subtle imagery and beautiful surfaces is Larry Spaid. His show will be up through September 27, visit the Snyderman Gallery website for more images and details on the exhibition.

Above, Med #6, acrylic on wood, 22 x 18 inches, by Larry Spaid.

New Work

I have been working on sculptural pieces that I can use for future installations along with my paintings and possibly videos. In the work you see here I use the same basic materials that I do for my recent series of paintings, like sand, pigments, charcoal and gesso, but with the addition of plaster. They range in size from approximately 10" up to 24" in circumference. Use this link to see a larger image.

Gabriel J. Shuldiner, artist

Above, Happy Guy, 8 x8 x 3 inches by Gabriel J. Shuldiner.

I first saw Gabriel's work on Lynn Dunham's blog Art News.

Gabriel has a show up in New York at the New Art Center through September 30th. Go to his website and check out the "News" link for details. And while you are there take a look at his sculptural work too.