LOOK INTO MY OWL

During Art Basel Miami Beach we caught a screening of the rough cut for this remarkable film (covered here). Since then, director Tamra Davis and crew have shown the finished piece at the Sundance Film Festival.

Tamra Davis, Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child, still from video, 2010.

Big fans of Basquiat will leave theaters with the feeling of seeing an old friend after a long time apart. Artists will have difficulty calming the immediate desire to paint.

Tamra Davis, Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child, still from video, 2010.

It seems that since our viewing the legendary Adam Horovitz and Mike Diamond have been brought in to handle the music. Nice. No news on a release date yet but I will keep you updated as more information is made available. In the meantime, check out the trailer below. Thanks to doghed for the link.

Each year in early March, a mild mania sweeps through our mountain town. Frozen Dead Guy Days is a bizarre celebration that draws thousands for some morbid fun. We stopped in for the parade this year and took some photos.

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2010, Nederland, Colorado.

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2010, Nederland, Colorado.

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2010, Nederland, Colorado.

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2010, Nederland, Colorado.

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2010, Nederland, Colorado.

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2010, Nederland, Colorado.

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2010, Nederland, Colorado.

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2010, Nederland, Colorado.

More photos after the jump.
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In the summer of 2013, Christo will bring “Over the River” to our home state of Colorado. The recent passing of Jeanne-Claude, Christo’s wife and partner was felt deeply by the art community but her legacy will surely live on through this awesome artwork.

The project consists of nearly six miles of silvery translucent fabric suspended horizontally over various parts of the Arkansas River spanning the forty mile stretch between Salida and Cañon City. “Over the River” will be viewable from two vantage points. Motorists will be able to witness it’s grandeur from US-50 and rafters are encouraged to float directly under the fabric panels. The temporary artwork will be in place for a mere two weeks. The image below is from a test conducted on private property near the Colorado/Utah border.

Christo and Jeanne Claude, Over the River, Life-Sized Test, 1999.

“Friends of Over the River” is a grassroots advocacy organization in support of the project. I just joined and encourage you to do the same at this link.

From “Friends of Over the River”:
“Becoming a ‘Friend’ is easy and can involve as little or as much time as you are willing to give. At a minimum, the group typically asks their participants to help by discussing the project with their friends and neighbors and by submitting a written comment during the permitting process. Those who want to get more involved can do so by writing letters to the editor, volunteering at events or attending the Bureau of Land Management’s public hearings, to name a few activities. It’s up to you how much you participate, and there are plenty of different ways to get involved.”

Christo and Jeanne-Claude
Over the River
scheduled for Summer 2013
Arkansas River, Colorado

“Twenty Paces” from Debra Hampton opened last night at Priska C. Juschka Fine Art in NYC. The exhibit is a mixed media affair with two dimensional collage based works as well as some excellent sculptures.

Debra Hampton, From Profit to Protection, magazine cut out, watercolor and ink on paper on board, 2009.

Our culture has for some time been sprinting toward a technological singularity. The imagery in “Twenty Paces” currently arouses parallels to science fiction but advances in robotics and artificial intelligence may make these pieces, with time, resemble fact.

The very real possibility of being confronted with “living” machines may be frightening but we have proven that we can become accustomed to the most unusual impacts progress has on society. Ten years ago, a person talking alone on a street corner would be cause for alarm. Today we may still check for the earpiece but it is assumed that the conversation is not a solitary exercise.

Debra Hampton, Suit of Armor #2, recyclable plastic containers and lids, glue, spray paint and clear glaze, 2010.

Recycling plays a strong part in the construction of all of Debra Hampton’s work regardless of media. “Suit of Armor” (above) literally gains it’s form from used but not forgotten plastic containers. The collage work recycles advertisements from magazines that adorn her figures with an activated consumerism that reminds the viewer of the future as well as a primitive past.

This is one of those exhibitions that I decided to cover a while back and have since had it recommended to my inbox many times from folks across the globe. Head over to Priska C. Juschka and find out what all the fuss is about for yourself.

Debra Hampton, Gold Rush, magazine cut out, watercolor and ink, 2008.

Debra Hampton
Twenty Paces
25 February – 3 April 2010
Priska C. Juschka Fine Art
NYC

Another even year has arrived, time to get Biennial. The seventy-fifth installment of this barometer for what’s to come opens to the public tomorrow and runs through the end of May at the Whitney Museum of American Art. For those of you that can’t make it to New York or refuse to wait for a taste, enjoy this preview. Huge thanks as always from myself and all that frequent this blog to Alanna Sarti for taking the photographs.

David Adamo, Whitney Biennial, 2010.

Aurel Schmidt, Whitney Biennial, 2010.

Aurel Schmidt, Whitney Biennial, 2010.

Hannah Greely, Whitney Biennial, 2010.

Aki Sasamoto, Whitney Biennial, 2010.

Aki Sasamoto, Whitney Biennial, 2010.

Aki Sasamoto, Whitney Biennial, 2010.

Edgar Cleijne and Ellen Gallagher, Whitney Biennial, 2010.

Edgar Cleijne and Ellen Gallagher, Whitney Biennial, 2010.

Alex Hubbard, Whitney Biennial, 2010.

Scott Short, Whitney Biennial, 2010.

Scott Short, Whitney Biennial, 2010.

Curtis Mann, Whitney Biennial, 2010.

Lorraine O’Grady, Whitney Biennial, 2010.

Ania Soliman, Whitney Biennial, 2010.

Ania Soliman, Whitney Biennial, 2010.

Marianne Vitale, Whitney Biennial, 2010.

Emily Roysdon, Whitney Biennial, 2010.

Jim Lutes, Whitney Biennial, 2010.

Babette Mangolte, Whitney Biennial, 2010.

Martin Kersels, Whitney Biennial, 2010.

Robert Grosvenor, Whitney Biennial, 2010.

Kate Gilmore, Whitney Biennial, 2010.

Kate Gilmore, Whitney Biennial, 2010.

Thomas Houseago, Whitney Biennial, 2010.

Storm Tharp, Whitney Biennial, 2010.

The Bruce High Quality Foundation, Whitney Biennial, 2010.

Whitney Biennial
25 February – 30 May 2010
Whitney Museum of American Art
NYC

“#class” is an interactive, multidimensional exhibit organized by artists Jennifer Dalton and William Powhida. The Winkleman Gallery has bravely given over their space to encourage the public to engage in dialog concerning the current state of contemporary art.

Jennifer Dalton and William Powhida, #class, installation view, 2010.

No clear goals have been set for this project; however, participants will be manipulated by various speakers along the way. Check here for the full schedule of events.

The art world has been forced to endure a lot of negative hysteria over the past year. The rise of social media has coupled with stress brought on by poor economic times to create an immutable hostile chatter. We seem to move from one “crisis” to the next with nothing to show for the effort. Stepping back, the field often resembles the Serengeti. Scavengers have been picking rotten flesh from one kill in order to gain enough substance to carry them to the next carcass.

Everyone has different hopes for this project. My wish is to see an erosion of this tunnel vision. There is no fine line between critical and cranky, it is open space and never too late to turn back. There will be some brilliant people offering insight throughout the term of the show and my trust is with them to soften some of the harsh edges. Look in for yourself as the action will be streaming live during gallery hours, Wednesday – Sunday, 2-8 pm.

Jennifer Dalton & William Powhida
#class
19 February – 20 March 2010
Winkleman Gallery
NYC

An exhibit of eighteen paintings from Dawn Frasch opens tonight at Haas & Fischer in Zurich. The first international solo show for the artist will be on display through April 3rd.

Dawn Frasch, X-Mas Special Featuring Ratty, oil on panel, 2010.

Frasch has invited the viewer into a familiar world recalling the imagined horrors that shift through the safe confines of a child’s bedroom after dark. Her approach to this content strikes at the root of the creative mind. It’s a sad slide when, on the verge of sleep, the boogie man transforms into the mundane trepidations that arise with maturity. These paintings can take us all back to the waking dream.

Dawn Frasch, Armchair Anarchist, oil on canvas, 2010.

The explosive application of paint mates well with the recurring theme of uncontrollable creation. Large brushstrokes work against minute details to develop these intriguing spaces. A sense of time is instantly felt in the frenetic arrangements. Speculations concerning before and after the evidenced moment serve as a nice corollary to the artist’s video and performance work. Have a look for yourself here.

Dawn Frasch, Pussy Pizza Party, oil on canvas, 2010.

Dawn Frasch
18 February – 3 April 2010
Haas & Fischer
Zurich

Valentine’s Day marked the opening of “Icons” the latest show from Mr. Brainwash. The line was around the corner for the opening at the 15,000 square foot building in the meat packing district. Special thanks to Alanna Sarti for taking these excellent photographs.

Mr Brainwash, Icons, NYC, 2010.

Mr Brainwash, Icons, NYC, 2010.

Mr Brainwash, Icons, NYC, 2010.

Mr Brainwash, Icons, NYC, 2010.

Mr Brainwash, Icons, NYC, 2010.

Mr Brainwash, Icons, NYC, 2010.

Mr Brainwash, Icons, NYC, 2010.

Mr Brainwash, Icons, NYC, 2010.

Mr Brainwash, Icons, NYC, 2010.

Mr Brainwash, Icons, NYC, 2010.

Mr Brainwash, Icons, NYC, 2010.

Mr Brainwash, Icons, NYC, 2010.

Mr Brainwash, Icons, NYC, 2010.

Mr Brainwash, Icons, NYC, 2010.

Mr Brainwash, Icons, NYC, 2010.

Mr Brainwash, Icons, NYC, 2010.

Mr Brainwash, Icons, NYC, 2010.

Mr Brainwash, Icons, NYC, 2010.

Mr Brainwash, Icons, NYC, 2010.

Mr. Brainwash
Icons
14 February – 31 March 2010
415 W. 13th Street
NYC