DRAGNET: Call for Artists

I am a member of Sage Projects and wanted to help get the word out about the upcoming show called DRAGNET. Click the image above to enlarge it to a readable size. All the information for artists is below and everything can also be found on the Sage Projects website. Photographs by Heather Phillips.

Call For Artists
Artist Agreement Form complete details, please read)
Artist Work Form (fill out and bring with artwork)
Press Release

Artist Greg Stewart

I saw Greg Stewart's work online and wanted to share to with you. He combines science with nature in surprising ways that I really like.

Soapbox: Send Emissaries

These are hard economic times for everyone including artists. Artists need to have money to afford a roof over their heads, eat like everyone else, and pay for supplies, studios etc. In addition, artists need to have enough time left over to make artwork. Creative types are usually good at juggling all these balls, but have to live closer to the edge than many other people. So when the arts community asks artists to join them as a members, donate a piece of art, write their elected officials on their behalf, to buy a ticket or an ad, they are asking a lot. It seems obvious that these groups want the support of the artists. If so, then they should show some interest and support in return.

On a recent trip to Chicago I opened an arts publication that had a full-page ad from one of the major museums announcing a new talent exhibition featuring "local" artists. I have seen similar programs in other places where I have lived. I know there have been a couple attempts at this locally, but they are always targeted at the same groups. There needs to be a more inclusive approach if you really want to get the artists on board. Why not organize a large area survey show like those held in the past? Another idea is to offer artists special discounts for admission into exhibitions and events. I am not picking on the big institutions. This problem runs through every arts organization large and small.

One idea I propose to help the situation is for these places to send emissaries. Come out to artist receptions, outside of your normal clique, it doesn't cost you any money and you will build some good will. Say hello, leave a business card and talk about the art. You got into the art biz because you liked it so you will most likely find it interesting and fun to get out and enjoy what the artists have to offer.

There are countless other ways to show support - invite representatives from galleries, coops, art centers and individuals to attend a summit to talk about the state of the arts in Philadelphia. What about studio visits? None of these ideas are outrageous or even unusual and many could be done without spending a dime. Come out, be an emissary, support each other in these hard economic times, and it will be rewarding on a number of levels.

UPDATE: I just read that The Philadelphia Museum of Art has hired a new chief executive officer, Mr. Timothy Rub of the Cleveland Museum of Art. In the Inquirer article on the point about raising money Mr. Rub says the "key for me has always been: Are you passionate about what you are asking people to support? If you believe in the thing you are talking to people about helping, whether it is education or an acquisition or the fabric of the building, people are going to be moved by the passion and the value they perceive to the community and the mission of the institution." I think this speaks to my whole point.

As seen on the Cleveland Museum of Art's website they have a number of community outreach programs, some that even include visual artists. So maybe there is some hope here.

Here are a couple of lines I pulled from The Museum of Contemporary Art in Cleveland

The Cleveland Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), located behind the Cleveland Play House on Carnegie Avenue, hosts eleven temporary exhibitions each year, featuring emerging international artists as well as notable artists, in all genres, from Northeast Ohio... The Museum of Contemporary Art supports the Northeast Ohio community that supports them. The museum offers FREE admission to its exhibits, lectures, and most special events for Cleveland State University and Case Western Reserve University Students.

X-initiative

Jerry Saltz writing for artnet.com gives a big thumbs up for "No Soul For Sale," where Phase One runs from June 24-28, at X-Initiative in NY. Saltz sees this project as another way that organizations and artists are making the most of the bad economy.

These groups and individuals seem to have figured out that one of the big secrets of the moment is that the only thing that has really changed about the art world is that money is out of the picture.

He gives us a sense that there is more openness in the selection of artists. In fact there are even 2 groups from Philadelphia that are included but not mentioned here.

"No Soul" is a tremendous exercise in inclusiveness with a very high level of quality. There are organizations from Hong Kong, Dublin, Barcelona, Trinidad, Reykjavik and Marfa. What’s so thrilling about "No Soul" is that it proves that groups of young people all over the world are carrying on despite the economic hardships and exhibiting interesting new work.

Check out the X-initiative website for more information on the current and future shows.

Above, Christian Holstad, Light Chamber (Part 2), 2009.

More on the Biennale

The Daily Serving is other site doing a great job of covering the Venice Biennale.

Above, Djahazi, 53rd International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia - Comoros Islands Pavilion - 2009 by Paolo W. Tamburella.

Romaniello @ Surface Library Gallery

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Also see link on sidebar for more information.

Biennale Coverage

Above, Miquel Barceló representing Spain at the Venice Biennale this year. There is a lot of good coverage of the Biennale but my favorite so far is from Contemporary Art Daily. What can I say, I like to see the actual art on display and they have done a great job with their images. Use the links at the bottom of the post that say More.

And of course Artnet is there with Impressions by Jerry Saltz.

Artinfo has a lot of tweets going from Venice. I like this... "In 1910 the futurists declared "we repudiate the ancient Venice extenuated by morbid secular voluptuousness, though we have loved it long..."

And here is Mr. Kimmelman from the NY Times.

Add your links to the comments section.

Great Project

The image above is from Extinct Machines: Artifacts from the Private Collection of Dr. Helen Daubmannus which I found through artist Anne Percoco. I recommend checking out both sites.

Frederick Hammersley, 1919-2009

Frederick Hammersley died on May 31, 2009 at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Sante Fe New Mexican has a nice piece on Mr. Hammersley.

Hammersley, still painting the day he died, was known primarily as an abstract painter and recognized as one of the Los Angeles-based "abstract classicists," along with John McLaughlin, Lorser Feitelson and Karl Benjamin.

read more

Messy Studios

My studio is pretty messy right now by my standards, but I found this site called Have Some Tea that has an amazing photography collection of artists studios including some that have me beat. You have to go to the second page to see the messy studio of all time, that of Francis Bacon. I love how he tests his paints out on the walls and even the outside of his door, the one that faces the hallway.

UPDATE: More great studio shots at
You Have Been Here Sometime.

Below, messy shoes with Pink and Green Furrows, 64x96 inches, pumice, dry pigment and gesso, 2009 by Vincent Romaniello.

Culturehall

I have just added Culturehall to the blogroll on the sidebar. Artists often ask me where a good place to have their work shown online and although I receive a lot of email offers from sites, I am usually disappointed. I am happy to say that not only is Culturehall well designed, but you will find yourself in the good company of artists with strong portfolios from around the country and world. And if accepted you get to post your work and information about yourself for FREE!

Above, Everything That Rises Must Be Our Own, 2007, Foam, Cardboard, Wood, Latex Paint, 80x40x8 inches by Alex Granwell

Marc Brodzik wins PEW

Back in April of 2006 Romanblog told you about the then new "Hard Coal" from filmmaker, Marc Brodzik. I am glad to report that Marc is a winner of a PEW Fellowship in the Arts for 2009. I am really happy to hear that he has received this honor, I don't know all the other winners but as usual some are more deserving than others and Marc is one that certainly earned this award. Learn more about Marc Brodzik at Woodshop Films and Scrapple TV.

UPDATE: The official list released Monday, June 3, 2009 from the PEW site.

Music Break with Jim Pugliese

Give a listen to musician Jim Pugliese on his myspace page. I am a sucker for anthems and his "Maria's Anthem" is especially haunting. And tonight, right before bed, put "Igino's Lullaby" on loop and dream on.