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Admittedly rather silly roundup
Post #1017 • June 8, 2007, 11:11 AM • 14 Comments
Leonardo Magazine collab with Burning Man. (Supergirl)
Not long ago I lamented visual art's lack of influence on the world of science. We should cherish the exceptions.
Baby Tattooville. I have to compliment this on its innovation. It sounds a lot more fun than an art cruise, and it's not just another art fair. Plus, Baseman is involved.
"Dear Sir or Madam, I would like to make a small roller coaster in my friend's backyard."
Cat and Girl shoots and scores.
TV dinner never looked so good. Drawn! also links to a gallery of postcards by Mark Mothersbaugh.
Chinese writing may be 3500 years older than previously believed. (Kottke)
Dr. Sketchy, profiled this week on NPR, announces its first annual exhibition, which is open for submissions. Dont worry about the "anti" bit - they love art. Update: Next one in Boston is this Sunday.
Andrew Sullivan issues a Poseur Alert, normally reserved for political windbags, on an artist.
Unfortunate things are going down in Chicago regarding their public art program. (RP)
Freedom of expression in international news: a show shut down in Athens, and ten years of Hindu nationalists battling against artists. (both AJ) In April Johann Hari asked, Do you believe in the rights of women, or do you believe in multiculturalism?
Plug in free speech
for women
and iterate. Not incidentally, the blogroll for this site now makes plain its support of the ACLU, the Institute for Justice, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
Technical Question: Is there any archival harm in mixing dry pigment into an acrylic medium, either liquid or gel, to deliberately produce a non-uniform, grainy surface?
Department of Relocation: The DoR would like to announce that Artblog.net t-shirts are now $18, slashed from $24, price still includes shipping! Please, take these off my hands or we're just going to have to move them. (Plus, it's time to issue a new design.) Only while supplies last.
WDBA Working Group: I lost track - I think about twelve new entries in the Walter Darby Bannard Archive. Notable this week: The Unvarnished Truth about Art and Money from 1992.
Department of Skills: Badi Assad.
2.
June 8, 2007, 12:04 PM
Recently, someone paid $17,000,000 for a painting of dubious quality by a living artist. (in 1992.... )
So, what is it going for at auction today?
3.
June 8, 2007, 12:27 PM
Recently someone paid $72 million for a painting of dubious quality.
It goes on and on, until it crashes.
4.
June 8, 2007, 12:32 PM
Franklin, the chinese writing link needs a tweek, I think.
I have a baby neice who would LOVE Badi Assad...
Around these parts, the question of Where does artistic freedom end... has an interesting answer...
5.
June 8, 2007, 12:34 PM
My link needs a tweek as well, it seems...
6.
June 8, 2007, 12:50 PM
Both fixed.
7.
June 8, 2007, 6:14 PM
I'm no old pro, but I've made brush drawings on paper with ground charcoal mixed into acrylic medium, and paintings on board with ground pastel sticks mixed into acrylic medium. I didn't mix the powder into the medium, I dipped the brush first in the medium and then the powder, and applied it by the stroke. (Or sometimes used just the medium to rework was was already on the painting). I did it to achieve a rougher style of brushed effect, and I'm very happy with the results. I used pastels because I only needed to paint a certain image in the midst of a larger work, and couldn't justify the expense of buying raw pigments by the big jar.
8.
June 10, 2007, 6:20 AM
I am aware that ACLU is a strong supporter of artistic freedom but at the same time ACLU contribute to the chaos and insecurity in our society. I heard so many times when the local gang member were bragging about using ACLU against the Los Angeles city anti crime injunctions. The injunctions which would help working man go safely everyday to his work without the fear of being mugged by the gang members. The "ACLU fighting for our freedom" in such cases is only theoretical and academic oximoron. The "feels good" of upper income ACLU donor, driving BMW to his office and looking thru the car window on working class waiting at the bus stops, is the only mascarade for democratic values.
I never felt comfortable with ACLU activities. If you can imagine political spectrum as a circle, the far right and far left (ACLU) are holding hands. As an artist with moderate politica views I believe in the freedom of artistic expression and good taste, and I'd never ask ACLU for help. This is a democratic society and we have a lot of options if such problem arises.
One times I heard from ACLU admirer a following comment: "Capitalistic society without ACLU organization is a fascist society."
Any body want to stand shoulder to shoulder with such crowd? Not me.
9.
June 10, 2007, 7:55 AM
Derek, for all its political shortcomings (it's famous for standing up for the First Amendment and neglecting the Second) and although in any of these big charitable orgs you have to wonder how efficiently money is being used, the ACLU has a good track record defending individual liberties. They've been screaming about habeus corpus since it got revoked last year, have been trying to close Gitmo, and I have thus far agreed with every free speech position they've taken. For balance, you might go look at the Institute for Justice (linked above), which is more concerned with limiting government, and occasionally files oppositely the ACLU (particularly on school choice). Go have a look at EFF too.
10.
June 10, 2007, 9:41 AM
Franklin, I have pictures that are 40 years old where I mixed dry pigment into water-based acrylic medium that are doing fine. What happens when you do that is that the pigment does not thoroughly disperse, as it would in a mulling machine at a factory. Thus, there are lots of little clumps in the final paint film that are surrounded by acrylic. Because they are not "wetted" they retain more of the intensity of the dry powder. (Just about every pigment is more brilliant in the powder state.) Some colors that are intrinsically dark benefit from the addition of diatamaceous earth (filter powder available at tropical fish stores). One of my faves to include as dry powder is Ultramarine Blue.
If you want more thorough dispersal you could try wetting the powder with water or ethelyne glycol first. But that cuts back on the brilliance.
When I add dry pigments to spirit acrylic, I usually wet in turps first.
11.
June 10, 2007, 4:38 PM
Why doesn't anyone ever discuss the anal excellence that is displayed in the paintings of LOUIS ULMAN? He is soooooo excellent - I can't understand why he has not had a solo show at the MET ? Google him, admire him, adore his work.
12.
June 11, 2007, 1:16 AM
I allege that the alleged downturn in Chicago's public art program isn't a silly topic, though I almost missed it after dejectedly returning from the cute kitties link.
I read the city ordinance in question (in my very unlawyerly way) and thought that it indicated a shift in accountability - the Department of Cultural Affairs used to rely primarily on local artists' or arts organizations' opinions and approval, but they would now like to consult more *broadly* amongst the specific community where an artwork is slated to be installed. Is the protectionist anxiety of Chicago's artists and arts organizations justified? It seems they mostly fear that friends of the mayoralty will benefit even more substantially off cultural investments. I would myself be rather afraid of the public, since they are so busy staring at the potholes in the street on a moment to moment basis that they'd hardly notice new street decor, never mind actually approve an enhancement to their environs.
In my city, the business community already devours the lion's share of any public art commission. It's nearly a truism among serious sculptors here that a public commission won is money lost, and probably no less a truism for the contractors and consultants here that any city commission is a laughing run to the bank. Of late, experienced artists don't bother applying, so many of the very-democratically juried artworks end up badly sucking.
The sad part is that the city looks the worse for it, despite their mandate (not to mention the money spent) to improve the place.
13.
June 11, 2007, 7:36 AM
Unfortunately the Chicago artist's complaint, as represented in the "Art Letter" link, is so badly presented that it is possible to read the whole thing and have little idea what it is all about.
When something like this happens there is always a reason. The artists have to find out what the reason is - who stands to gain, who engineered it and why, etc. - and then go at it from that angle.
14.
June 13, 2007, 12:18 AM
Martin Kippenberger is still the best contemporary painter.
1.
opie
June 8, 2007, 11:28 AM
I have often mixed dry pigment into acrylic mediums. I thing George Bethea does it regularly. Olitski did it. There's no problem.