PxlDan
A hodgepodge of creative endeavors
The last time an art project garnered much nationwide media attention was probably in 2005 when Christo and Jeanne-Claude's "The Gates" was on view in New York's Central Park. One writer referred to the work as "a billowy gift to the city" and "the first great public art event of the 21st century".
It can be argued the this century's next great work of public art is taking place right now at Trafalgar Square in London. Artist Antony Gormley is inviting 2400 UK residents to take their place on the Fourth Plinth for an hour each. The plinth is to be occupied by someone 24 hours a day for 100 days - transforming the individual into a living monument and a representative of the city, Title "One and Other" the artwork is billed as a living portrait of modern London. What a participant chooses to do with their time on the plinth is entirely up to them. As I write this post, a middle age woman in a sun dress is saying hello to her "mum and dad". Want to know who's on the Plinth right now? Click here for a live video feed.
The plinth has generated a great deal of attention; with the public and media enthusiastically approving of the work and a handful of "art" critics griping about this and that.
Regardless of whether one likes it or not, the work succeeds at engaging the public to think about, and participate in, the arts. It may not be as entertaining to watch as a magician hanging upside down for 60 hours but, thankfully David Blaine is not scheduled for a hour on the plinth.
With a heightened sense of security and a slight mistrust of the arts (and general public at large), it would seem unlikely that this very public form of contemporary art could happen in the U.S. But why Britain? I was recently reading an article on the arts and culture in British life which tried to explain how the Brits felt about cultural life -"Take museums: in no other country is the idea of their ownership by the public, their status as a part of civic life, their role as the places we go to examine ourselves and the world, so strong. It is the deep-rooted idea that our national museums and our arts are the property of the people that has led to the widespread embracing of One and Other. Woe betide the government that attempts to introduce arts spending cuts."
In light of this public outpouring of participatory support, an organization called the British Art Resistance (B.A.R.) has declared this week "National Art Hate Week" to protest the business of culture. B.A.R. was founded by Billy Childish, also know as the founder of Stuckism - an International art movement supporting contemporary figurative painting. For the weeklong project Childish is asking participants to visit a local gallery and actively hate whatever is being shown there.
A recent article sums up the movement: "Where public opinion holds the likes of the Tate and National Gallery to be repositories of artistic value, National Art Hate Week largely considers them vacuous factories of business and bureaucracy."
Childish goes on to say "Only 20 years ago, people would have been outraged by this fourth plinth charade. Now, the public are robotically complicit with a manipulative elite who make culture homogenous and hateful."
The Art Hate website's statement of intent includes such jewels as "NATIONAL ART HATE WEEK has been instigated for the disruptive betterment of culture.", and "If a child offers you a painting during NATIONAL ART HATE WEEK you are to turn away in disgust." Visit the site to view the inspired propaganda posters and spread the word.
According to an AP story, about 60 percent of Americans have job based insurance, about 7 percent purchase individual policies and the rest are uninsured. That 7 percent who purchase coverage directly from the insurer find the cost to be quite high, in part due to the fact that insurers spend a significant amount of money to insure only the healthiest people [article].
Most artists know the high-cost of individual health care coverage all too well. In general, artists are 3.5 times more likely to be self-employed and earn less than others with similar educational levels.
Recently the NEA reported that Artists are unemployed at twice the rate of other industries. With a slumping economy effecting the arts and ancillary professions, artists have been hearing that their work is a luxury item.
However, for many artists, health insurance is a luxury item.
Some artist take on a second job for the health benefits or may be lucky enough to be covered under their spouses job. However, those who are not face the prohibitively high costs of individual coverage. Costs that are even higher if they have a pre-existing condition - that is if they aren't denied altogether.
Earlier this week, the health insurance industry offered to end their policy of charging higher rates for individuals who are ill. A policy that is considered responsible for millions of Americans being uninsured.
So why is the health insurance industry suddenly willing to reverse the policy? Under increasing pressure from an Obama administration and Congress is the insurance industry really ready to make meaningful concessions?
The truth is, the industry knows that a national health care system would be a direct competitor. Offering to make insurance available to all Americans seems like an altruistic step forward - but is it enough to convince congress that the private sector is willing to reach out to the 45.7 million Americans that up to now they considered untouchables?
The WSJ quotes Cigna Corp. Chief Executive H. Edward Hanway as saying "I think that if we as an industry are willing to make substantial changes, then the need to have a public plan is extremely questionable".
I think a public plan is past due. This industry offer would seem to be an attempt to influence lawmakers and water down a government run plan that could potentially undercut private insurer profits. As momentum builds towards a national policy we may see more increasingly desperate 'hail mary' attempts at proving that the private sector can fix the ailing system - and successfully scuttle talks of reform like they did 15 years ago.
As it stands now, The current proposal would seem to be too little, too late. Ending the policy of charging those who are ill higher rates is a good start. But, until insurance is actually affordable, we're not quite there - and we can't expect the health-insurance industry to cave on every point. Even this current proposal has provisions and loopholes. For one, higher health status pricing for their insurance coverage would end only if congress mandated that all Americans to purchase insurance (at what rate?), and higher rates would still apply for a number of population segments - including older americans.
A doctor once gave me an early lesson in how the insurance industry works. Knowing I was an uninsured student at the time he handed me my medication and told me he would not keep a record of the diagnoses so it wouldn't effect me when trying to get insurance later. In my adult life as an artist and entrepreneur, I have been lucky enough to be able to afford individual coverage for myself and my family, but I recently experienced insurer rejection when trying to join my wife and child under one plan (my wife is also self-employed). Not going to happen thanks to my own medical history.
Aside from good health, our current insurance system also requires steady employment to participate - but an artists income tends to be rather sporadic. An eight week theater run, a music gig, commissioned work, seasonal art festivals, etc.
Too many of our creative colleagues are not insured or are finding it difficult to carry the minimal insurance they have. Artists at all stages of their careers struggle to make a living - a struggles made worse by a sagging art economy.
In the U.S. there is no individual grants for artists at the federal level and although a number of non-profit organizations are available to assist financially struggling artists, very few of them make preventative health care their mission. Affordable health care would benefit all Americans, artists included.
An interesting sidenote: Has any politician in recent memory inspired so much original artwork? Above: Propaganda Artist Shepard "Obey" Fairey's Obama Portrait.
I wrote of Obama's Art advocacy: "As the author of two books, Barack Obama is no stranger to creative expression. His public stance on the arts has been to stress the importance of Arts Educations in terms of the importance that creativity has in the math and science skills needed to fuel the nations future. So in addition to an increased in funding for the NEA, as president, Obama has vowed to Expand Public/Private Partnerships Between Schools and Arts Organizations which would increase resources for the U.S. Department of Education’s Arts Education Model Development and Dissemination Grants. He has also promised to create an Artist Corps; young artists trained to work in low-income schools and their communities -- again linking arts curriculum to improved test scores."
Solid huh. You can download Obama's official Arts Policy Platform here: "A Platform In Support Of The Arts"
On the opposite end of the creative spectrum is John McCain who makes it quite clear that he would prefer to eliminate all federal funding for the arts. In 1999, McCain voted with, among others, Sens. Robert Smith, Jesse Helms, Strom Thurmond, Sam Brownback and John Ashcroft for the Smith-Ashcroft amendment. The amendment sought to cut all funding for the NEA from that year’s budget.
As for McCain's official policy on Art's education? Nada. The McCain/Palin website doesn't seem to address the subject. To be fair, McCain has been quoted as saying ”I have opposed federal funding for the National Endowment for the Arts because I believe it is not proper to use tax dollars for what many Americans feel are the obscene and inappropriate projects this organization has supported. I support providing federal block grants to the states for arts education and artistic endeavors pursued by state and local authorities, while assuring that federal tax dollars are not spent on obscene or offensive material.”
So while McCain opposes the NEA he does indicate a basic level of arts education as long as it's not offensive or obscene. However defining offensive within art education is a slippery topic. See example #1 and more recently example #2. This runs along the same lines as school libraries - who decides what's appropriate? I am quite certain the the level of art that I want my child exposed to is much more 'expansive' that other parents may feel comfortable with.
The candidates records on the arts are not going to define the election but I believe that arts and arts education are an important part of our society's well-being and a crucial aspect of our future financial strength. The importance of the arts education (music, visual, performing, etc) and creative development in general cannot be underestimated. No matter the industry, politicians included, creativity is a competitive advantage. Is it another educational advantage that our country is willing to cede to other nations?
BTW - In August of 2008, The Americans for the Arts Action Fund PAC released their congressional arts report card. It was nice to note that Colorado's standing has improved from the last time I reviewed the report in 2006. 2 A's 2 B's and 3 F's (2006: 1 A, 1 B, 2 D's and 3 F's) thanks to a one Dem (John Salazar) coming round and one less Republican. What does remains the same is that each F sits next to a Republican.
Photos from Fiesta Day in Pueblo Colorado
In addition to the parade and a multitude of acts around the fairgrounds we also checked out the Celebracion De Los Charro. The event featured Colorado's Charros de Las Delicias accompanied by Mariachi Vasquez. However, big draw of the event was the horsemanship and rope work of Tomás Garcilazo. The only regrettable part of the weekend was eating fried fair food for every meal - churros, fry bread and a deep fried snickers bar. This was the first time I had tried the snickers (last year i did the twinkie) - not impressed. My father tried the cheesecake - not bad.
I'll post some more photos when I have a chance.
Americans for the Arts Action Fund co-hosted an educational forum at the Democratic National Convention in Denver today in partnership with NAMM, the International Music Products Association. The event was held at the Museo de las Americas to discuss the future of the arts and arts education in America. The forum was part of ArtsVote 2008, a national initiative designed to promote the arts during the presidential election.
Moderated by Richard Riley, Former U.S. Secretary of Education and Former Governor of South Carolina the panel featured Miami Mayor Manuel Diaz, President, U.S. Conference of Mayor, Philanthropist Sheila C. Johnson, Musician John Legend and, previously unannounced, Congresswoman Louise McIntosh Slaughter.
This video has some of the highlights from the event - my favorite of which was the recollections of Congresswoman Louise McIntosh Slaughter involving the major budget cuts the NEA experienced during the Reagan administration. She closes with an inspirational concept "Children that create will not destroy"
Sorry about my shaky camera work. Flip doesn't have image stabilization.
Artist Jerry Vigil just sent me an email about his new book Day of the Dead Crafts: More Than 24 Projects that Celebrate Dia de los Muertos. Jerry is a MosaicGlobe member and a very active artist in the Denver area. The book looks great and the timing is perfect. With Dia de los Muertos right around the corner (November 1st and 2nd), it's time to start thinking about those little Calaveritas. Read more about Jerry in a profile we did of him a couple of years back and be sure to visit his website. Jerry will be at the Tattered Cover Bookstore on Tuesday October 14th but if you're not in the area or can't wait to get your copy (like me) head over to amazon for a good deal - even if they did misspell the title.
I just spent the better part of a Saturday evening (now Sunday morning) optimizing all the images of my artwork over at DannyVigil.com. I pulled down all the art from last year and this year and brightened them up a bit. For some reason they all seemed rather muted. See the rooster posted last week compared to the one on the other site. My palette tends to be muted but not that dreary. I am also realizing that I do not have a gift for naming my work. The all tend to be a very generic names: cup, dog, man on bench, etc. The painting here seems to want a introspective, inspirational title but all I can come up with is; flag, girl with flag or flag girl. Also, earlier today it hit me - some of these paintings need to be ready to hang next weekend and have yet to be varnished. There goes Sunday.
Perhaps, I forget the flag and go with "Red Boots".
I am finally getting around to photographing the new artwork. The paintings at the next show will most likely be wet :)
With years of figurative drawing classes in school, painting sessions at the arts league, and life study sessions with colleagues in the studio, come stacks and stacks of visual studies in charcoal, pencil, watercolor and oil. Each depicting a model whose curves and color the artists may know better than their own skin.
Those who haven't spent an afternoon analyzing a nude figure perched on a stool in a room full of people may not realize how little of them you actually consciously see. When your so busy scrutinizing over each minute curve, cast shadows and lost lines you often fail to appreciate the work a good model can accomplish. I recall my favorites as pros in their ability to strike and hold fascinating poses. A good model understands the instructional role of their "position".
Today's Seattle Post Intelligencer published an insightful article showcasing the work of one such model, Robert Treat. Robert has been modeling for 27 years. You can imagine the hundreds-of-thousands of drawings featuring his likeness done by hundreds of students and artists sitting among their stacks of life drawings all across the state.
I have a family reunion and Father's Day to deal with this weekend so I am not sure if I am going to be able to swing by this years Summer Art Market - but I intend to try and sneak it in if I can. Although Summer doesn't officially drop until the 20th -the Art Students' League of Denver is hosting their annual Summer Art Market this weekend (June 14 - 15th, 10-5 each day). There will be music, food, heat and tons of terrific art - really, like about 150 booths of creativity!
If your a collector, you know that this is the place to buy awesome works of art from up and coming artists for a percentage of their future value. But if your looking for some affordable artwork to brighten up your walls, this is the best place to find that perfect piece - and who knows, you may find an artist (or artists) whom you would like to start collecting from.
It's been my experience that the hardcore collectors show up early Saturday. Sunday afternoon tends to be a tad bit slower if you want to avoid the crowds. However, if it's particularly hot weekend you may be dealing with some frazzled artists ready to cut some good discounts on their remaining work (I know I let some pieces go for a song at the end of the last event I participated in). If you go (and you should) get in early before the pavement heats up and check out my good friend Jen Caskin's etchings. She is sharing her tent with a number of printmakers.
Location:
2nd and Grant St in Denver (2 blocks East of Broadway, near the Mayan theater)
Sat June 14 and Sun June 15 (Yes, Father's Day - Buy dad some art)
10:00am to 5:00pm each day
P.S. Let's support our local artists. If I see one more framed mall poster from pier one imports on a wall i'm going to puke.
The original version of this bill (defeated in 2006) was designed to allow non-profit and educational institutions (i.e. museums and libraries) to use images without the risk of being sued in situations where they could not find the owner of the copyrights. The U.S. Copyright Office defines "orphan work" as "copyrighted works whose owners are difficult or even impossible to locate". In an attempt to resolve this "orphan" issue, new versions of the bill have resurfaced:
"Congress is revisiting the longstanding problem of orphan works. These are books, films, photographs, music, and other creative works that cannot be reused by scholars and archivists because they are unable to find the works’ owners. Those who make use of the material risk incurring penalties for copyright infringement."
Excerpt: Andrea Foster, Legislation to Ease Problem of Orphan Works Is Introduced in Congress, Wired Campus, April 25, 2008.
While the bill has good intentions, and attempts to address valid concerns - the details have alarmed artists because it would allow anyone to legally use (and resell) creative works without license, monetary compensation or legal recourse for the creator.
Current copyright laws assume the artists has ownership. You created it. You signed it. You own the rights to it. No need to put a copyright mark on it - it's yours. No organization can display or resell prints of your work unless that organization has contractually licensed reproduction rights from the owner (The Artist). Should someone decide to swipe your creative work - you have the law on your side. At least for now.
If the Orphan Works Act were to pass, any organization could legally pinch and resell an artists work. If caught, they would only have to claim that they performed a “due diligent search” and were unable to find the copyright owner; therefore the art was considered "orphaned". In this case, a "diligent search" may be nothing more than an online post somewhere. Kind of like a "found cat" flyer posted on a light post nowhere near the owner.
Also, according to the bill, the penalty for being caught using images without the permission of the owner would be "reasonable compensation". What "reasonable compensation" is would be determined would be by the infringer. It would seem the fairest way to resolve the issue would be to let the lawyers work it out but, here's the punch-line, the copyright owner can not seek damages and legal fees. That's right, it would be nearly impossible for the vast majority of independent artists to pursue infringement lawsuits.
So what's an Artist to do? It would be up to the artists to prevent infringement by registering their artwork with an arts registry (according to the bill: a non-governmental databases of copyrighted works). So how would we do that? No Idea. See, these registries don't exist.
If these registries do come into existence they would be run by for-profit corporations, meaning the artist would be paying to protect their own work. I personally create well over 100 paintings per year, not to mention all the photos, sketches, illustrations, graphics and general design work. That's going to take a considerable amount of time to "register" and add additional expenses to an already difficult business.
It's important to note that these are initial drafts submitted to congress and will go through a number of changes as it moves through the process. It will be interesting to see if it makes it to a vote...
To honor the success of Denver's oldest continually operating artist co-op dedicated to promoting the art and culture of Chicano/Latino art, a month long showcase titled, " Return of the Corn Mothers: A 30 year celebration of CHAC" will begin festivities with a free Cinco de Mayo/ First Friday concert by nationally renown L.A. based musician Martin Espino from the band Mexika, a blessing ceremony by Aztec Kapuli Huehueteotl and a meet and greet with the shows featured artist , free food, and spectacular art show on May 2nd from 6-9 p.m. at the CHAC gallery.
The theme of the show is based on the Pueblo mythology of the Corn Mothers who were said to have sung in the essence of all creation including the sacred Katchinas of the South West. The shows content is said to be one of the most unique exhibitions to come to Denver. The focal point of the showcase is a photo journalist exhibition of women from Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas who have earned accolades for their community activism and creative endeavors. This photo display was the recipient of the prestigious 2007/08 Rocky Mountain Women's Institute fellowship award and will begin a year long tour with the premier at CHAC. Todd Pierson the shows photographer is considered one of Colorado's most skilled portrait artist and has spared no expense in putting together a stunning show, said shows curator Renee Fajardo.
I was reading that a rare Pablo Picasso watercolor done when the artist was in his early twenties was sold at auction yesterday. The painting "Etreinte" (Embrace), shows a nude Picasso entwined in an intimate embrace with his then girlfriend Louise Lenoir, known as Odette.
I am fond of reminding my cousins that show an interest in art that Pablo Picasso was a Ruiz (My mother's maiden name). His father was a Ruiz but professionally, he used his mothers name. Perhaps he was a mama's boy. As a young artist, Picasso's work had a profound impact on how I viewed and understood art (My cat, Pablocito, is a nod to the artists influence).
In addition to being the most recognized and celebrated artist of our time he would also seem to be the most quoted. So I thought I would post some of my favorite Picasso quotes along with why I believe that he is so admired among young artists - or at least me.
1. The Natural Talent - Like many artists, Picasso showed a knack for the arts at a young age, but under the guidance of his father, an academic art instructor, he developed the fundamentals required to truly excel as an artist. The most popular legend of his youth was his fathers vowing to give up painting upon seeing his child reworking one of his own unfinished sketches in a manner that was better than his own.
"When I was their age I could draw like Raphael, but it took me a lifetime to learn to draw like them."
2. The Lifestyle - Picasso's art is autobiographical. Today, a romanticized bohemian life is idealized in the mind of a young artist and Paris in the early 1900's was the epitome of artistic decadence and the advant-garde. This is the period that gave birth to Picasso's emotional, blue period. A somber analysis of poverty and instability marked by the suicide of his close friend and studio mate in 1901.
"One must act in painting as in life, directly."
3. The Bravado - In his lifetime, Picasso developed a series of ever-changing artistic styles that challenged the traditional conventions of the art world. He was also generally considered to be dominating and egotistical. It is this artistic bravado along with the masculine iconography employed in his work and the fact that he maintained a number of mistresses in addition to the occasional wife that lends to his allure of "Machismo" among young artists.
"Art is not the application of a canon of beauty but what the instinct and the brain can conceive beyond any canon. When we love a woman we don't start measuring her limbs."
4. The Prolific Creativity - Although he is best known for his cubist work, he has worked in a wide variety of styles and in many mediums: paintings, drawings, sculpture, theater and costume designs, ceramics, lithographs and etchings. I have always been partial to the neoclassical (the Olga years) period myself; but no matter the period, Picasso was amazingly prolific.
"Whenever I wanted to say something, I said it the way I believed I should. Different themes inevitably require different methods of expression. This does not imply either evolution or progress; it is a matter of following the idea one wants to express and the way in which one wants to express it."
5. The Fame - Choosing to study art is a risky decision most often equated with the tragic and tortured artist mystique. A young artist needs to believe that there is an audience that can appreciate the work. In his life time Picasso was a celebrity with street cred. In his later years, he was earning millions, and, upon his death, left an estate estimated at $1.1 billion, assuring his position as the richest artist who ever lived.
“I'd like to live as a poor man with lots of money.”
In Virginia, a local newspaper "The Virginian-Pilot" sponsored an art contest at the Chrysler Museum with a $1,000 prize, called The Virginian-Pilot Student Gallery. After the top winners were selected by the judges, the newspaper's publisher, Bruce Bradley, decided to reject their decision because he felt the art was inappropriate.
"While it’s true we don’t specifically address this in the rules and regulations, the concern I had was to have a 17-year-old girl do a self-portrait of herself in the nude,” Bradley said. “I thought that was inappropriate for the contest."
According to the paper's description of the first place work by Nancy "Beth" Reid she "is crouching, with most of her private parts hidden, except for a small portion of her backside". There is no photo of the art because the publisher decided to censor that as well. There is however a photo of the second place work by Jasmine Childs; a ceramic torso depicting a nude pregnant torso.A student of art history understands the role of the human form and would agree that Childs' sculpture is reminiscent of the some of the earliest female forms such as the "Woman from Willendorf" estimated to have been created over 25,000 years ago.
Both of these students have been excepted to Virginia Commonwealth University and plan to study art. How can our communities teach art appreciation (and awareness of all aspects of art) and at the same time punish students for their self-expression? Is it the job of the media to decide what topics are considered appropriate?
The publisher has agreed that the rules and regulations did not address these boundaries - which suggests that the judges were given the freedom to select the work based on artistic merit and that the rejection was based on nothing more than the publishers prudishness. If you going to put up the prize money - and your idea of acceptable art is rather narrow, than you had best judge the "The Bruce Bradley Student Gallery" show yourself.
In response, the more creative-minded members of the community that felt the paper's actions were unethical have begun raising funds to replace the prize money denied to the rightful winner.
The Chicano Humanities and Arts Council will be celebrating 30 years next month with the "La Familia 30th Anniversary" show. Artist Yoko Ono has contributed a limited edition iPod Touch inscribed with the phrase "Imagine Peace" and signed "Love, Yoko," along with a signed postcard picturing her and John Lennon's 1969 Montreal 'Bed-in' and a letter of authenticity from the Lennon-Ono estate Studio One in New York City. The donation will be auctioned during the event to help CHAC's community outreach programs.
CHAC, which was formed in 1978 by a group of visual and performing artists as a venue to explore visual and performance art and promote and preserve the Chicano/Latino culture through the expression of the arts.
The La Familia show will run April 2 to 26, with an opening reception April 4 as part of the First Friday Art Walk in the ArtDistrict on Santa Fe.
For more information or to make a donation visit the CHAC's MosaicGlobe website and read the article from this morning's Rocky Mountain News.
This collection of custom Playmobil characters are really over the top. Kill Bill, Kiss, Clockwork Orange plus super geeky superheroes, star trek and lord of the rings casts. Aside from a pale king of pop I personally like Jesus Christ and the KFC Colonel.
I have been meaning to finish and post this review all week but until now haven't had an opportunity. I'm in New Orleans where today is a pleasant 65 degrees, 70 tomorrow! I have had nothing but fried food since arriving. bluh. so while recovering from a Mother's po-boy:
Last Saturday was the opening day of "Inspiring Impressionism" at the Denver Art Museum. This coincided nicely with my wife's birthday so what better reason to go. Impressionism is a sure way to draw people into a museum; but this show, which was organized by the Museum rather than a touring exhibit, was slightly different. Alongside a number of great paintings (albiet not significant ones) by impressionist heavyweights such as Manet, Degas, Monet, Cassatt and Renoir are the works of Old Master's that may have inspired the impressionist movement - Titian, El Greco, Velázquez, etc. Although it is fascinating to learn how Dutch Masters and Academy Trained Europeans may have influenced the Impressionists, with these paintings mingling, it is even more startling to see what a drastic departure Impressionism was from the past. Isolated, it is easy to forget that Impressionist were quite shocking in their day. As the first real 'Modern Art' critics tended to agree that the work was rather ugly and when held next to the realism of a Velázquez you may re-examine the concept of beauty in art. Of the impressionists paintings in the show, I most enjoyed seeing the work of Camille Pissaro, the 'Father of Impressionism' and American Mary Cassatt (image: "Mrs. Duffee Seated on a Striped Sofa"). The connections made between these two periods are enjoyable to see and drives home an important point for any student of art: There is no better way to understand and learn from a master than to what they do and go from there.
A while back I had written a post about public art in Denver in response to Loveland's excellent public arts program and their response to the Kristen Kokkin sculpture called "Triangle". The post "The most reviled object in the local art world" looked at some of the more controversial public sculptures around town. Well now there's a new one to add to the list. Last night I was driving to the airport after dark to pick up a friend and was greeted by a 32 foot demon horse rearing above a hill overlooking Pena Blvd. where visitors turned to approach the airport. The sculpture is dramatically lit from below hinting at it's icy blue, zombie corpse skin. But most offsetting is the illuminated red eyes. It really is offsetting. Not the omen that jittery would be fliers are hoping to see. I had forgotten all about the Jimenez sculture and wasn't aware it was even delivered. The Artist is (was) the well know sculptor Luis Jimenez. The work was contracted by the airport when it opened in 1995 and was already controversial because it was already 11 years late and ran way over budget. The artist was originally to be paid $300,000 and the project resulted in a lawsuit when the city demanded delivery. But here's the kicker - While resuming work on the mustang ( I believe in his New Mexico studio?) the piece actually fell on the artist, killing him by severing an artery. So is this to become the Legacy piece. In the light of a post 9/11 world, the emotions stirred by the juxtaposition of this sculpture outside of Denver International Airport is probably not what the artist intended. But it should be the most popular airport come Halloween. (photo from Denver Post article where there are also some grumpy forum posts.)
While I don't generally discuss politics online, It's no secret where I stand. Obama crushed Hillary in Colorado last night by more than a 2 to 1 margin. Our local Caucus location was swamped and thankfully our precinct captain was an experienced participant (and also my local Mac sales rep). It was also a chance to see which of my neighbors were Dems and catch up on some block gossip (divorces, foreclosures and break-ins, oh my).
Seeing either of these candidates in office will be a relief and while the reasons for voting for any one hopeful are varied; below is an overview of each democratic candidate's position on the Arts.
As President, Hillary has vowed to reverse the course of the Bush Administration and increase funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities as well as increase the federal commitment to arts education in public schools. Learn more about Hillary's position on the Arts.
As the author of two books, Barack Obama is no stranger to creative expression. His public stance on the arts has been to stress the importance of Arts Educations in terms of the importance that creativity has in the math and science skills needed to fuel the nations future. So in addition to an increased in funding for the NEA, as president, Obama has vowed to Expand Public/Private Partnerships Between Schools and Arts Organizations which would increase resources for the U.S. Department of Education’s Arts Education Model Development and Dissemination Grants. He has also promised to create an Artist Corps; young artists trained to work in low-income schools and their communities -- again linking arts curriculum to improved test scores. Read more about Obama's Art Initiatives.
The Wall Street Journal ran an article today that attempts to answer questions concerning the seemingly unfair tax deductions available to an art investor/collector vs. the artist when work is donated to public museum. The article "Is Art an Industry or a Luxury?" was written by Daniel Grant. Mr Grant is the Author of "The Business of Being an Artist" which is undoubtedly the best book (of the few) written for the artist which details all aspects of the industry. It is an excellent read for the artist on the verge of a professional career and fills in most of the business gaps that an art education does not. The Wall Street article covers the tax law issues that effect the industry today.
"Here's the longest-playing drama: After a 1969 change in the tax law, artists, writers and composers could deduct only the cost of materials when donating their work to museums, libraries and other nonprofit institutions. In every Congress since 1970, there has been a bill to allow these creative types to take a full fair-market-value deduction on their taxes for their gifts. Museum directors bellow that the disincentive has made artists unwilling to donate their work, thus depriving the public of access to it."
The article explains the issue in detail by looking at the concerns of the collector as well; namely a high 28% capital-gains tax for the sale of art and the restrictions of fractional gift donations.
"In effect, reducing the capital-gains tax rate would be a gift to the wealthy that doesn't add anything to the overall economy. Mr. Burman, director of the Tax Policy Center of the Urban Institute, opposes changes to the law on fractional gifts for the same reason: "Letting wealthy collectors retain things they supposedly donated and allowing them to take larger deductions for the gifts year after year is a step in the wrong direction," he said. And as for artists' donations: "Deducting actual costs make sense . . . because you shouldn't be able to deduct income you've never earned. That would end up giving artists a double deduction." He added that changing the law "helps wealthy artists, but wouldn't do anything for the starving artist." Encouraging donations to museums by artists and collectors is good public policy, but changing the tax code to do so may be bad economics."It is rather fascinating to imagine works of art being purchased, held and traded as a commodity. From the studio to the locally owned gallery to major public, private and corporate collections – Art is a taxable industry.
Last weekend was the 2007 Art Show to benefit the Hispanic Chamber of Colorado Springs. The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Colorado Springs was founded in 1988 to promote and assist in minority owned small business development, specifically Hispanic owned businesses in the Colorado Springs area. It was a great opportunity to once again show with Evelyn Valdez Martinez, Doug Candelaria and the event organizer Anthony Archuleta. It was also great to meet a number of artists from the Colorado Springs area including Gene Sanchez, Maria Pacca and Chris Alvarez all of whom are associated with the Cottonwood Artist School. There was some amazing work at the show. I forgot to take my camera so check out their websites.
I wasn't able to attend this years 'Dia de los Muertos' show at CHAC gallery on first friday but last night I got a chance to see the show before it comes down. CHAC Norte was jammed packed wall-to-wall with papel picado, alters, shrines and calaveras. Add to this music and hordes of people and opening night must have been amazing.
Side Note: There was a large number of Daniel Luna paintings and pots all over the gallery. If any artist can represent Latino art in Colorado, my money is on Luna. He is amazingly prolific, has been producing for years and has such a unique and identifiable style. His work is also very affordable. I have so many Luna's they're piling up in a corner. Tony Vecchio is spreading the rumor that he is using immigrants in his basement to produce so much work. [ click here for an example, but we need to get some more Luna art online]
Regarding Dia de los Muertos, CHAC's executive director Crystal O'Brien was quoted in a local paper; "We see a lot of unity and people from every culture coming out to learn ... because art transcends any border." The writer went on to say "Perhaps the growing popularity of Day of the Dead among non-Latino Americans is a sign that, despite the hurtful debate over immigration, cultural inclusiveness may still be an important American value."
This next Saturday (2-4 pm) at CHAC is 'Poetry y Mas'; the monthly open mic poetry night. Jack Kerouac will be the theme this month in partnership with the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs and Denver’s Poet Laureate, Chris Ransick.
The organization has started a long poem scroll, inspired in part by Jack Kerouac’s 12 foot typewritten scroll and his time in Denver (read more). The idea is to create Denver’s Longest Multi Lingual Poem by asking folks to add their poetry as a way for individuals to connect with each other through poetry and create a meaningful artifact of civic engagement. The office is encouraging free speech and the use of any language, but only ask that folks not use profanity or hate speech. Each person can add something that relates to what is written before, or add something unique of their own.
I don't know if Chris Ransick will be in attendance yet. If your in Denver, and want to contribute, contact the gallery for more information.
I have had no time to post recently so I am going to squeeze in some updates. Spent a weekend in Pueblo for the State Fair where I had some work in an exhibit that tied in with Fiesta Day. Above photos are some highlights of the Parade and a photo of the Fiesta Queen, Candace Montoya, standing in front of my work (more pics). A big thanks to Charlene Garcia Simms, the show organizer for inviting me to the event. I met some amazing talent in Pueblo. This was my first trip to the state fair and it was much fun. Note: deep fried twinkies are alright but at $3 a pop they're not all that. Next weekend we're going to go back to Pueblo for the Chile y Frijole Festival and to get some Pueblo grown chiles freshly roasted. An autumn treat! From Pueblo, we keep going south to Santa Fe, New Mexico for an extended memorial weekend. By coincidence, we met some friends there who were also celebrating an anniversary. However, since returning it has been non-stop work. MosGlo update: JRAY integrated Aksimet into our blogs to filter out that annoying spam. He also set a Quit date so go over there and give him some support.
Last weekend my wife and I helped Steph hand out these hats at the gate of the Denver Zoo. The event was a private party for National Jewish Hospital employees and their families and we gave out 600 of these hats in under 30 minutes. Then we got to stroll through the zoo at twilight. Much Fun...Thanks Steph.
On the horizon, A number of my paintings will be at the annual Art Exhibit in conjunction with Fiesta Day (September 2nd) at the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo. In addition, one of the paintings has been selected to grace the cover of this years event guide. The State Fair attracts more than 460,000 people over 11 days and Fiesta Day is a celebration of Colorado's Hispanic heritage. The day kicks off with a parade and includes mariachi music, dance, charros, the crowning of the Fiesta Queen as well as a concert by Los Lonely Boys. The art exhibit will be at the Colorado 
Heritage Center with an artists reception on September 1st. I don't know who else is showing this year, but last years exhibit included some terrific artists that I have known and/or shown with before such as Pamela Acosta, Estevon Lucero and Evelyn Valdez Martinez.
This afternoon ends my month long showing at CHAC gallery where I also serve on the board. It is also the first time I have had a show in a couple of years as I have been busy with MosGlo. Serving liquor (wine and beer) is something one typically finds at any opening I have had or have attended. However, as I had mentioned earlier, recently the city of Denver remembered it has an ordinance that prohibits businesses from offering their guests any alcoholic beverages during a public event. For-profit businesses that is. Non Profits (such as CHAC) can apply for a special license that would allow serving liquor at special events (12 per year I think).
No one has ever suggested that gallery drinking has become excessive but it now it seems that most galleries are no longer serving wine and beer fearing possible punishment. According to a Denver Post article Tennyson Gallery's Trina Hoefling posted a sign that in part read "Though she's refused to tell us for sure, Mayor Hick's Director of Excise and Licenses, Helen Gonzales, has apparently determined that it's necessary to interpret an arcane state statute so as to make it illegal for you to enjoy a complimentary glass of wine while you visit our gallery ..."
The fear is that less people will be attracted to the "Art Walk" concept which for many includes a dinner and a stroll to view art and have a drink. For artists and business owners along Denver's first friday hotspots (Sante Fe Drive and Tennyson) the increased foot traffic is a crucial make or brake evening for the bottom line. Such is that case at CHAC where a poor night in "donations" could effect other programs.
A recent article in Westword declares that "Denver's Art District on Santa Fe remains officially dry" and quotes Jack Pappalardo, president of the district and owner of Habitat Gallery as saying "We're trying very hard to dispel the reputation of just a big party."
An opening is a great way to meet friends, colleges and potential buyers. CHAC did have a license to serve for the event (as a fundraiser) and the gallery was packed. As a board member that was terrific, The gift shop and wine/beer sales that help fund our cultural programing were brisk. However, as an artist showing in a "Gallery" it was too crowded. The license meant we had to police the doors to make sure no one
left with a cup which created traffic issues and increased
the number of people milling around. Wall to wall people meant no one could see the walls or the art that was hung on it. Potential buyers couldn't get in the door and if they did glimpse some art finding a gallery representative was difficult.
It's interesting how a non-issue can become an issue when we're told we shouldn't be doing it. First Fridays are about art and community and if alcohol was becoming a distraction then the galleries would police themselves. Which is what most galleries were already doing. Many galleries along Santa Fe Drive had already stop providing drinks altogether and CHAC was closing the bar early.
It's been a hectic couple of weeks. Went to Seattle last week for a baptism (I'm a godfather!). Although I am out there frequently it was a nice chance to actually do some touristy things. I swung by the new Olympic Sculpture Park and while Richard Serra's massive steel behemoth 'Wave' was impressive I loved the more contemplative Louise Bourgeois sculpture/fountain titled "Father and Son". I'm told the story behind the work is that there was a million-dollar bequest to the city of Seattle which stipulated that it be spent for a fountain which featured one or more realistic nude males? Ok, while that may cause some politicians to fret, the money was well spent on this commissioned work. Among the many great sculptures spread through the park there is an orange Alexander Calder piece titled "Eagle" that frames the space needle nicely and Claes Oldenburg's familiar Eraser which overlooks highway 99. I also swung by the Japanese Garden within the Washington Park Arboretum. I was last there in 1994 (wow). The Koi have gotten huge!
Also, last weekend was Frida Kahlo's 100 birthday. Or it would have been her 100th birthday. CHAC held a nice birthday party at which I had some amazing food prepared by Artist & Chef Tony Vecchio. This mans Creativity knows no limits.
(Check out the Photo Journal for pics of Seattle and Santa Frida)
This is a time of year I always look forward to because of the annual Salon d’Arts show at the Denver History Museum. The show, which had replaced an equally exciting review, has historically showcased the finest contemporary realists nationwide. After branching out to include a more non-representational selection last year the event is a no show this year. .. sad : (
But on Saturday we went to the Greek Festival at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Although this was it's 35th year in the Mile High City, it was the first year I've attended. Our friend Joni was working a booth at the event serving flaming cheese! aka. Saganaki. The event is a fund raiser for the church, which is gorgeous. I posted some pictures of the painted dome in the photo gallery. It was nice to sit in the cooled church and take in the smell of incense while viewing the iconography covering the dome. I'll be attending a wedding here next week so I'll have to get some exterior shots. Then on Sunday night we went down to City Park for the weekly Jazz Concert and on the way back to our car I happened to glance up a witness a sparrow about 3 floors overhead drop a turd aimed right at us. I stopped and took a step back as the crap landed at our feet. It was like some serious bullet time event dodging an incoming bird turd...
It seems the scandalous Serrano days a well behind us. Last Month the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, which sets the initial funding level for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), approved a $35 million increase for the NEA for its FY 2008 spending bill.This morning, the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee approved a not quite as hefty $9 million increase for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in its FY 2008 spending bill.
The NEA is currently funded at $124.4 million and has only seen increases of under 3% for the last several years.
In making the case for more robust funding for the NEA for 2008, Rep. Norm Dicks(D-WA), the chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior qouted a grammy speech by actor Richard Dreyfuss:
"Perhaps we've all misunderstood the reason we learn music, and all the arts, in the first place...It is that for hundreds of years it has been known that teaching the arts, along with history and math and biology, helps to create the well rounded mind that western civilization, and America, have been grounded on. America's greatest achievements - in science, in business, in popular culture, would simply not be attainable without an education that encourages achievement in all fields. It is from that creativity and imagination that the solutions to our political and social problems will come. We need that well rounded mind now. Without it, we simply make more difficult the problems we face."
There will most certainly be attempts to weaken the bills as they move closer to consideration by the full House and Senate.
Urge Your Members of Congress to Support the House Level.
I don't know that wine was served in the caves of Lascaux but where there is art hanging on the walls there is usually a drink in stemware to be had (or a plastic cup full of wine served from a box ... or a cold bottle of beer from the fridge in back). Art appreciation and wine are two great tastes that taste great together. However, with the growth of Denver's art district's popularity and First Fridays art events in general, there has been a growing concern among the gallery owners and operators that the stream of liquor might get some bad attention. So it wasn't too surprising when the rumors of court appearances started surfacing after a local paper wrote "A river of alcohol runs through these nights" in regards to Denver's art openings.
Apparently it's unlawful to consume alcohol in a public place without a license. Thankfully nonprofits can apply for an arts-organization liquor license (10 events per year) but that requires some organization. The article and it's subsequent attention prompted a reply from Jack D. Pappalardo, president of Denver's ArtDistrict on Santa Fe "One would hope that reasoned thinking will prevail, among gallery owners and at the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses, so that the prudent serving of wine at small art openings is not dampened at a time when the arts in Denver are just beginning to come into their own and garner well-deserved national attention." -Cheers
Denver's ArtDistrict on Santa Fe Drive is home to CHAC gallery where I am a showing artist and board member. Today someone told me that CNN's travel department had recently listed the Santa Fe Arts district as one of five SoHos of tomorrow. Along with Atlanta's Castleberry Hill, Boston's South End, LA's Culver City and Philadelphia's Northern Liberties.
One thing each of these areas have in common is that they were once neglected areas of their respective cities. According to ColoradoBiz "Not too long ago Santa Fe Drive was a rough neighborhood near the railroad tracks. Now it boasts the largest concentration of galleries in the United States, 40 in a few blocks". The concern of any veteran gallery is the cyclical nature of arty neighborhoods. Denver's "LODO" area was once an artists haven of warehouses and galleries and Denver's north side (especially the Highlands area) is another neighborhood experiencing gentrification. The Santa Fe arts district was a result of the 90's "LODO" birthing when galleries were priced out of the area and moved to the mostly Latino community along Santa Fe.
Could this happen again and could the amazing success of the ArtsDistrict actually speed up it's demise? The district receives an estimated 4,000 visitors for each First Friday Art Walk and has attracted national attention. This also means more businesses are ready to move into the area; driving up property value and rents. New restaurants, office spaces, apartments, condos, archetectual firms etc. Last year the Denver Business Journal took a closer look and the areas growth and future development. Smaller galleries and Ma and Pa shops may be the first to go when larger organizations need to get in or expand. Denverites need to look no further than upscale shopping district Cherry Creek to see examples. The small locally owned boutiques that gave the area it's distinct character are being replaced with national brands that can be found in any metropolitan area. The unique flavor of the Arts District has changed as well. La Bota de Oro still sells mexican imports but stays open on first friday to sell art. There once was a Panaderia (Bakery) near CHAC gallery that served the community. No one seems to know what became of it. On the other hand family owned restaurants such as Noa-Noa and the spectacular Taco de Mexico have benefited from the exposure.
For a non-profit like CHAC, the foot traffic has been nothing short of amazing as the gallery is experiencing unprecedented growth and interest in it's community outreach and cultural art programs. It is the Arts that has built up the Neighborhood and let's hope the Neighborhood will continue to support the Arts.
I am often asked to donate a painting for a charity auction to support any number of causes, and I often do donate to non profit organizations that I am involved with or have close ties to. Organizers of these events will always tell me the work is tax deductible. However, the truth is, it isn't. The organizers often don't realize this themselves. If I were to sell a painting to a buyer and that buyer donated the work, then they could deduct the fair market value of the painting. However, If i donate the same painting directly I could only deduct the materials (a small fraction of market value).
There is currently a congressional bill that would allow Artists to deduct the full value of their donation to non profit organizations that purchase the work to retain in their collections. This would be public institutions that depend on donations to build their collections. However, what isn't clear is how this effects works of art that is donated to a non-profit for a charity auction. At any rate, this is a worthwhile effort to support. Visit The Americans for the Arts website for a simple way to urge your members of Congress to Co-Sponsor the Artist Deduction Bill.
Well I finally got around to updating the paintings on my other site. I added a number of recent paintings and photographed some of the paintings I did last year. I don't have as much time in the studio as I used to have so when I do get in there I don't want to spend my time photographing the work. But I needed to do it because I like to take shots before I varnish the paintings to reduce glare, and with an upcoming show I will need to start varnishing soon.
The Americans for the Arts Action Fund put out their Congressional Arts Report Card today. The report card addresses the U.S. House of Representatives based on arts-specific activities. The report is available for download as a PDF file.
House Members received grades chiefly based on vote on arts funding, introduction or cosponsorship of arts-related legislation, Signatures on “Dear Colleague” letters to the Appropriations Committee, asking it to increase funding for the NEA or for arts education and Membership in the Congressional Arts Caucus with major votes counting most heavily.
So how do Colorado representatives rate on their support for the arts, culture and arts education?
| District | Representative (Party) | Score | Grade |
| 7 | Beauprez (R) | 0 | F |
| 1 | Degette (D) | 94 | A |
| 5 | Hefly (R) | 6 | D |
| 4 | Musgrave (R) | 0 | F |
| 3 | Salazar(D) | 25 | D |
| 6 | Tancredo(R) | 0 | F |
| 2 | Udall(D) | 72 | B |
Overall Colorado ranked a very average C with Vermont ranking #1, followed by Maine, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Delaware and New York. At the bottom was Wyoming and Arkansas. What is your state's rank?
Want to know your candidates position on the arts? Americans for the Arts Action Fund PAC conducted candidate arts surveys from 12 of the more competitive races are now available online for your review. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem that any Republicans replied to the survey so I don't know how helpful they will be.
This weekend guerrilla artist "Bansky" placed a life-size replica of a Guantanamo Bay detainee beside the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ride at Disneyland in California where it stood for over an hour before being removed. Last week Bansky smuggled 500 deface Paris Hilton CD's into the market. See samples here.
No, not the upcoming movie - although the timing is pretty good. Philadelphia's Art Commission has voted that the statue of Rocky Balboa made for the films be returned to the top of the steps in front of the city's art museum. The statue was donated to the city by Stallone in 1990 and was moved from the art museum when people actually started to wonder why a movie prop was in front of the art museum. The Commission voted 6-2 in favor of the statue with one dissenting voter saying "It's not a work of art and it doesn't belong there." What will attract the most visitors to Philadelphia: "Rocky" or Rodin's "The Thinker"?
I have spent the last week swamped with work and trying to get the MosaicGlobe Creativity Competition wrapped up. I am really pleased with the quality of work that was submitted. Each individual in the final rounds of judging were really talented and deserving of recognition. Check out Recipients (I'm taking a cue from the emmys and not using the word 'winners') on the MosaicGlobe website. Next week we should have time to launch a new competition.
In a win for enlightenment, the inspiring sculptural piece called "Triangle" that some have deemed lewd was finally installed as originally planned, despite Loveland community members that felt that it was "not appropriate for children to see and that it does not reflect Christian values". One Loveland resident was quoted as saying “It is arrogant of (Kokkin) to force her pagan culture on the Christian community of Loveland”. The sculpture Triangle by Kirsten Kokkin shows a nude man and a nude woman holding a nude woman above them. It was placed in a round a bout near where a church is being built.
Something similar yet entirely different is happening in the City of Brotherly Love. The bronze statue of a boxer (Sylvester Stallone) from the movie Rocky was donated to the city of Philadelphia by Mr. Stallone in 1982. It was originally put on the museum steps for a few months then moved to the sports arena (go flyers!) and now it's in storage. An attempt to have it moved to the Philadelphia Museum of Art was meet with strong objections. "It's not art," said artist Moe Brooker, a member of the city's art commission. "It was a prop." While that is a valid point - this "prop" is why hoards of Philly tourist climbs those stairs.
I was just reading an article about the current show over at CHAC and thought I would post a excerpt that I liked. The show is called "Finding Common Ground" and is a collaborative show between The Chicano Humanities Art Council and the Sankofa Arts Collective to explore commonalities between Chicano and African American culture.
Sankofa’s Executive Director Marquis Price says that both Chicano and African American artists exhibit extraordinary strength and pride in their culture and family and the richness that both heritages bring is a celebration. “This show is important for those who enjoy the diversity of art in this city but even more so for the children to see the value of who they are. The stories that come from within these arts reflect our history and the beautiful stories being told today,” she said.For those interested in the show here are some details: The show opens in three locations on June 28, closes at CHAC on July 15 and closes at the Blair Caldwell AARL and Sankofa on July 30. CHAC is located at 772 Santa Fe Drive, the Blair Caldwell Library at 2401 Welton St. and Sankofa’s Back Do’ Studio at 3030 Downing.
From: Chicano, African American Artists Collaborate To Find Common Ground
Denver's Urban Spectrum, July 06.
Some may consider it to be a small art town, but Loveland Colorado boasts an impressive collection of public sculptural art (over 200 pieces). It helps that Loveland is home to what is generally considered the best bronze foundries and bronze sculpture artisans in the country. However, it seems that a new sculpture entitled 'Triangle' has some residents upset because the proposed location will be near where their church is being built. The three nude figures in the sculpture are arranged in an acrobatic triangle that the artist says represents the need for people to support each other for humanity to succeed. According to the City of Loveland Visual Arts Commission the three figures symbolize Health, the Environment and Security. The photo here is a small version of the final, which is currently in a Loveland foundry. There is a detail photo of the unfinished work here.
The artist, Norwegian born Kristen Kokkin, is influenced by the European tradition of figurative sculptors such as Michelangelo and Rodin. Personally, I would love to have this piece in my neighborhood. More often than not our public art is along the lines of wild horses, children fishing and the frontier family gazing bravely into the future. Which is fine and makes sense given that public art is often a memorial to how us tax payers that purchase the art want our civic pride portrayed. However, doesn't it some time seems a bit banal? When considering these sentimental memorials and feel good work the undoubtedly talented Regional artist Glenna Goodacre comes to mind. There is a reason this work is popular, but I am thankful that there is room in our community for different (and sometime controversial) voices. 
Besides, controversial public art serves the important role of sparking public discourse over the meaning of art. Or even what is art anyway? Dissing art is part of what makes art fun too. For example, Denver's "Dancers" frolic in front of the Performing Arts Center like two jubilant giant aliens. The Jonathan Borofsky sculpture cost $1.58 million to construct; making it the city's most expensive public artwork by a long shot. The area was originally intended as a sculpture garden but any new piece would be dwarfed by the six-story tall spectacle. Borofsky is well known for the "Hammering Man" projects; such as the piece in front of Seattle's Art Museum. Denver's ‘Dancers” does have it’s supporters and, well…
A new piece of public sculpture planned for the Denver Performing Arts Complex may yet displace the goofy entrance canopy at the Denver Art Museum as the most reviled object in the local art world. If the winning entry in a recent competition--Jonathan Borofsky's as-yet-untitled monumental six-story-tall sculpture of conventionalized dancers made of white fiberglass-coated steel--is ever actually erected on the DPAC lawn, the only question left will be whether to laugh or cry. - Westword 1998
Salon d’Arts is the show I look forward to seeing each year. It is typically an exhibition of work from some of the most exceptional representational artists nationwide. Although this years line up is not as strong as in years past, the show still features local favorites Quang Ho, Ron Hicks and Daniel Sprick. However, this years show also includes nonobjective artwork for the first time? This year's sale proceeds will benefit the non-profit, Colorado UpLIFT, whose mission is serving Denver's inner-city youth.The exhibition is open to the public, free of charge at the Colorado History Museum, June 10 – June 29, 2006
House republicans voted to reduce the federal government's financial support for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting by $115 million to eliminate taxpayer funds that help underwrite children's educational programs such as "Sesame Street," "Reading Rainbow," and "Arthur" as well as popular NPR programming. My alarm clock is set to PBS and I wake up to Arthur every morning. I set it to that station in a rush but never changed it because the sounds of children's programming first thing in the morning seems cheerful. Anyway, the cuts represent the most drastic cutback since Congress created the nonprofit CPB in 1967. The CPB accounts for about 15% of public broadcasting's total revenue and past attempts to cut CPB budgets have been reversed. (sign a petition)
Last Night I went to see The Da Vinci Code. I had read the book a couple of years ago so I don't recall all of the details. Therefore I probably enjoyed the movie more than those who have just finished reading the book - like my brother who was visibly frustrated by the inconsistencies during the film. However, the book is light on the type of action that makes a good film so I expected changes. The movie also seemed to back away from controversy regarding the catholic church by emphasizing that the films bad guys were a rogue 'Council of Shadows' rather than more directly tied to the Vatican. Now I want to go back to the Louvre for another visit. I believe they moved the Mona Lisa to a larger room. When I was there the crowd was so thick in front of the painting it was impossible to get close to the painting for a good look. The traffic jam was in part due to the fact that it was placed in a room with only one entrance/exit. As magnificent as the Louvre was, I have to say that the greatest surprise for me was the passionate work of Camille Claudel at the Musee Rodin. Her work is as emotional engaging as the life work of Frida Kahlo ( I heart Frida).
It seems that everyone is going to see the BodyWorlds show and have had wonderful things to say about it. I however have not been able to attend because I seem to have an adverse reaction to cadavers. Even if they look like they are having fun on a skateboard.
If you have ever done any silk screening you may remember the fun of emulsions, tins of ink, cleaning screens and squeegees. Popularized by Pop artists such as Warhol, I am sure there are a great number of silk screeners still out there. More than airbrush artists? But until recently, I had never heard of the Gocco screen-printing system. Apparently the manufacture recently announced the discontinuation of the product that they had been selling to Japanese families for over 25 years. This has resulted in savegocco.com, a grassroots fanclub making a case for saving their beloved printing kits. This reminds me a bit of the Lomo story. I came across these Gocco prints at the Wurst Gallery and had to have a couple of them, including the one pictured here. This online gallery has a great collection of artistic oddities. The hand painted Russian nesting dolls are also amazing. I really would have loved to get the Trish Grantham series.
Last night was the Milagros Del Corazon silent auction. Proceeds benefit the cultural arts programming at the Chicano Humanities Arts Council. Member artists, local celebs and others created special works of art using wooden heart shapes. I picked up a print by Jerry Vigil and my wife got a heart from the mayors office signed by Mayor Hickenlooper.
Today President Bush submitted his FY 2007 budget request to Congress, beginning the yearly appropriations process for the nation's cultural agencies and programs.
For the sixth consecutive year, the President's budget has eliminated funding for the Department of Education's Arts in Education programs, which include funding for model arts programs and collaborations with schools, teacher professional development, and arts programs for at-risk youth. Americans for the Arts President and CEO Robert Lynch responded to the Administration's budget request with the following statement:
"Rather than zeroing out the Department of Education’s arts education programs, President Bush should ask for an increase. His State of the Union address recognized that we need to prepare a 21st-century workforce by fostering talent and creativity. While his American Competitiveness Initiative would substantially increase investments in math and science education, we also believe that one of the best ways to nurture creativity is to have children learn and actively participate in the arts. Studies show that students who participate in the arts are not only more likely to participate in a math and science fair but also out-perform their peers on the SATs by 87 points."
Additionally, the Administration also recommended a $53.5 million cut to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
The President's budget is the first step in the appropriations process. Congress has the power to set its own priorities and change these funding levels.Support the arts and write your Members of Congress to tell them to support increased funding for the nation's arts programs.
A number of art organizations depend on donations to make ends meet and the artists associated with those organizations often donate artwork for fundraising auctions. However, those artist are not allowed to take a tax deduction for the fair market value of works that they created and donated. They can only deduct the cost of the materials used to create the works, whereas if a non-artists donated a peice of art from their own collection they could deduct the works’ full value. Urge Your Members of Congress to Support a bill that would correct the inequity under which artists now labor by visiting 'Americans for the Arts' (ArtUSA.org) website and filling in there 'Take Action Now' form. Americans for the Arts is a nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America.
I haven't had the chance to get in the studio for several months. While I have been concentrating on MosaicGlobe, we have also been doing some remodelling in the studio and I hope to get back in front of the easel come fall. However, I added some of paintings to the site although my other site will still concentrate on the brush stuff.
I didn't show any paintings at this years Chile Harvest Festival, but I did make it down to visit some of my friends and fellow artists. It was a terrific weekend for a stroll through the Denver Botanic Gardens. I have posted some images to the Photo Journal and of course more can be found at the CHAC website.
Mittens, sweaters and cozys are what someone typically expects with crochet. However, the needlework of german scultor Patricia Waller definitly redefines the genre. Patricia Waller describes her artistic intention in the following terms: "Wool is often classified as inferior in terms of art and art history. It is not a material of which major works of art are made. We women artists who work with it, reflect our status in art, culture, and society, from this material and method that one can call genuinely feminine."