David Petersen Artworks

Dear Diary,

Gadzooks, I have disappeared again. Where have I ended up this time? So much to say, so many feelings, mostly I just get overwhelmed and decide to snuggle with my collection of Furbies and watch Freaks and Geeks til dawn. This is heaven.

Anyway Diary, somehow I did have the fortune of finding New York City last month. On a sunny Sunday I borrowed a bike and rode across the bridge from Brooklyn into Manhattan. I felt like the wind itself, coasting down the bridge, gusting through Delancey’s four lanes of traffic. After gobbling two slices at Rosario’s (I could have had a whole pie, Diary!) I spent four hours at the New Museum (of Bad Architecture) and waltzed through some show touting artists who were Younger than Jesus. Which I am not. But I am not dead either. Sucks to be Jesus.

Other than the awkwardness of the building itself, and without nit-picking the fact that everything, absolutely everything, had some wealthy donor’s name on it, from the stairwells to the bathroom stalls, I had a delightful time taking in the art of youth. The first floor was a bit crowded with work, mostly cramping the style of the video work which I am biased towards, especially if there is a seating component. I also nearly slipped on a banana peel. They must have had to make some cut-backs with the janitorial staff. And when I got to the party that was the second floor of the show, the previous floor felt boring and academic. Someone even took a snooze. Floor 2 was about ambience and mayhem. Lighting and noise, drag queens and voodoo. All of which I highly endorse.

The third floor felt tall and so did much of the work. Or maybe I was just down on my hands and knees at this point, exhausted by the question of why on earth would you put art work, supposedly important art work, in a stairwell. Mind boggling. Still, this was some show, maybe ten artists too large, but since when are curators into counting? And as large and hyped up as this inaugural Generational exhibition was, it didn’t carry the pomp and spectacle of a biennial. Of course it was just the first one. And it’s a triennial, duh. Certainly during the next three years they can figure out a way to glitz it up and dumb it down. What do you think Diary?

Let’s get serious for a moment. Puh-leeze. At the end of the day, this website is all about me, David Petersen. That’s why you visit and that’s why I contribute. To take care of me. Yet I feel as if I haven’t given me much me time on this site dedicated to all things me. So I shall do so now:

First of all, Father’s day is coming up, so get me something nice. I bust my ass.

Seconds, the curating I do at AOT was recently referred to as ‘unpretentious’ by the lovely local news anchor, Robyne Robinson. In the City Pages. Read it.

Also recently, I had a short piece of writing published in Chicago’s Proximity Magazine. It’s all about back when it was cold. Touch it.

In sports, the South High Junior Varsity Tennis Team, coached by me, posted a 7-5 record this season. For a team (not coached by me) that once went five years without a team victory, that’s freaking sweet. Give it up for the kids. And then give it up for me.

Next, I received a Travel and Study Grant from the Jerome Foundation. I will be traveling to Greensboro, North Carolina in August, when its damned hot, to put in some work at the Elsewhere Artist Collaborative. Cash money. You will miss me.

That’s it for now, but don’t stray too far. There is bound to be much more news and accomplishment by me in the near future. And that’s what you want to hear about, right? Goddammright.

This time I am only pretending to be drunk. What’s up with, what’s it called, Artawhirl. How do you spell that? With some dashes, some a’s, some whirl? I think it is all this weekend. Huh? Nothing. I am going to be outta town.

The best thing about Art-OH-Whirl is the painting. There are gazillions of them there. And they are really good and everyone wants one. Why did I ever stop painting? It is the easiest thing ever. So easy. Buy a bunch of canvasses, pretty regular sizes, like 24×36, 44×56 and maybe some big boys at like 66×88. You could make them yourself, but why the F bother when the art store has them all stretched, gessoed and relatively square in a rack towards the rear. You already have a bunch of crummy brushes lying around and maybe some exotic painting tools like a roller or a putty knife or a sponge. Easel schmeasel, just set the canvasses on a pair of old paint cans. And paint, get some paint. You can’t go wrong here, with either fancy oils or cheap acrylics or dad’s leftover housepaint. It all sticks. So far you have spent maybe a hundred bucks, well below any credit card limit, and considering how many paintings you can make in an hour, I’d bet that for every 100$ you spend, 1000$ comes back. That is my kind of math.

Let’s look at paintings together now:

This little lemon is by Manet. It is called “The Lemon.” He must have been so rich.

Jackson Pollock was so drunk when he painted this. He was celebrating how easy it was to make a painting drunk and then call it “Number One”.

David Salle should have run for president of the United States after finishing this painting. He totally would have been the winner, just like this painting called “My Subjectivity.”

Barney, you just blew my mind. I want to be you.

As you can see as clear as day the painters of art-a-wirl have some big shoes to fill. My shoes however will be in New York City where there is almost as much painting as the Northrup King Building. Let’s look at the paintings I will see when I am in the Big Apple, and by that I mean West 24th Street:

Albert Oehlen is getting up there in age but he is still brushing that paint around like a hip 20-something. Luhring Augustine here I come.

Dana Schutz has some stuff lying around LFL. Everyone seems to love these, but I still don’t get it. I hope she makes more.

This painting is from a series called “Yardwork.” What the F does Gary Hume know about trimming the hedges?

Did Metro Pictures close?

Anyhow, obviously I have some homework to do before my trip. But when I get back let my painting career begin. While I am away, please send me pictures of all the amazing paintings you find o’er Noreast this weekend. I can’t believe I am going to miss it. You are going to have such a good time.

Also, and this is not a shot at my friends over at Midway, but I have not been very excited about their shows as of late (seriously, this is not a shot) but last night the doors were opened to view Isa Gagarin’s first solo exhibit that she has named BERU. This is a wonderful show and it is wonderfully viewer friendly while also being very engaging and sophisticated. Somewhat I am a bit jealous that BERU is not at AOT, however our little space on Nicollet Ave. may not have been as accomodating as Gallery 1 at Midway, where there was plenty of room for the work to inhale and exhale with one another as well as the throngs of lucky gallery goers who took in the opening reception. Get over there and check it out for yourself, you won’t be disappointed. Come on!

As if I was not already spread rather thin with my duties/responsibilities/overwhelming amounts of leisure, I have begun contributing to the newly launched AOT Bloggy. The Art of This Blog. It has not been decided as to what my precise role will be for this Blog, however I am looking forward to the challenge it shall present me, its ability to distract me from the real business at hand, and opportunity to eventually ignore it all together. That said, I hope you all enjoy the shenanigans. Check it out now!

http://aotbloggy.blogspot.com/

BlogBlog          BlogBlog          BlogBlog

With so much coming and going these days, it is a wonder that we have resorted to clichés. Like train derailments. You know what I mean.
Possibly, there is too much going on, and that with the absence of Intern Jim - he forgot something in Basel so we sent him back to get it - we are unable to keep our heads on straight. Thus, nothing is getting done.
Meanwhile, there have been shows galore going around town. Downtown, Uptown, West Bank, Northeast, Southside. Of course, we are partial to the Southside, home of the rolling stop and the Rolling 30’s. Gotta love em.

Another fabulous highlight of the Southside is Casey’s Bar. Located conveniently right next door to Art of This, Casey’s has undergone some transformations throughout the past few months. This began with the new owners, still mysterious and unknown. They didn’t exactly gut the place, but they did refinish the floors and update the pool tables. Then came some lovely new staff, which basically means ‘two dudes that I know.’ Link and Steve. Nights and days, respectively. These fellas are quite unlike the other staff that felt it was cool to yell at customers to leave, just because they wanted a beer 40 minutes before closing. I mean, the nerve. Anyway, Tuesdays and Thursdays when I should be in the basement of the gallery penning pleasant poetry to Executive Directors of local foundations, you can instead find me right next door, at my new favorite bar, hanging out with my new favorite bartender. Nicollet Avenue is starting to totally rule.

The five-week, post-residency hiatus has come to a conclusion. We are back. Living in the basement on Nicollet, but we are back. Ain’t seen us around? Keep looking, we are down here.

Upstairs, something all together different and unusual is going on. Cluttering and clammering, hollering and hammering. My money is on a quartet of homunculi. Also, what sounds like the ‘Back to the Future’ trilogy.

So come on over, we are having the time of our lives. It’s sorta potluck, though, so maybe bring some warm soup or a 12-pack of something cold, and be in a good mood for crying out loud. It couldn’t possibly get much better and we are not about to let it get any worse.

What a fantastic time it has been here in Dresden @ 7.Stock. To all my gracious hosts and new friends, thank you thank thank you. Danke schön, danke schön, danke schön!

Until we meet on the top floor again..Long live 7.Stock!

Today we were also treated to a tour of ‘Geh8,’ by local artist Tina Beifuss. Another of Dresden’s artist-run spaces, Geh8 occupies an abandoned train yard warehouse and has a large common area, plenty of private studios and an unbelievable basement that made me so jealous I could have died. Here is what we saw:

We have lost track of the days and nights. How long we have really been here is anyone’s guess. When we are leaving is no longer even in question. There is no leaving Dresden.

Maybe we have spent too much time indoors watching American television. Maybe what little time has been outside of the building we live in has been at the mall. Maybe in the end this will all have been a pleasant dream. Maybe I just need a cup of coffee.

At long last, the day of the presentation has arrived. Tonight will be the culmination of all my efforts, here and at home, as well as of those who have participated in the project. For those who don’t even know whose work will be presented tonight, here is the list. Brennan Vance, Katinka Galanos, Pete McLarnan, Vada McKur (hey boys!), Hardland/Heartland, Andrea Stanislav, Matt Bakkom/Mark Wojahn, Sarah Petersen, and Aaron Steffes. These folks all deserve our thanks and gratitude. You should buy them a drink when you see them out and about.

Also this evening, in addition to screening videos, I am being entrusted with entertaining and informing the crowd with tales of my work, the glory that is Minneapolis, and what’s the deal with Art of This, such as what it means to me, the artists and the community that have come to depend on its Saturday nights in the basement. I have prepared a slide show but will not dance.

There is also going to be a brief and intimate Q&A with Grit and Konrad, who will be recording our conversation for a radio program that will air in January. Although everyone here speaks English beautifully and beyond fluently, they are demanding that we only speak German, which I learned last night just for the interview. I’ll bring home a copy.

However, the festivities will not begin until we feast on lentil soup and whatever else they traditionally cook up for dinner to commemorate the culmination of a residency project. These Germans, they know what they are doing, that’s for sure. Thank you Germans!

So that’s what should be that. Now if only some people show up and hang out. Sunday night parties and art events can’t be the most popular thing in the world but this isn’t exactly an everyday occurrence that some kid from across the pond has something to say and to show. So get on over here! Tonight!

And if you cannot make the show, cause you live somewhere crazy like the United States, you can watch live on a web-cam @ http://www.intermobil.org/doris/net/kfz/kfz_cam_auswahl.xml?x=170&y=91
Cut and paste this crazy website into yer website box, and then click on ‘Wilsdruffer’ at right of the map. We are towards the top left in the light blue glow!!