For all but 48 hours of the past 31 days, I have been sequestered in the Garbagetown neighborhood of Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Don’t ask. It’s work-related, in that I don’t have any work at home. So it is in these economic days. Fortunately, I shall be leaving this cesspool soon, returning to the somewhat less polluted Midwest with hard-earned money for the debt collectors, an acute back strain that is limiting my sleep and a forest of fires to put out back at the ranch. Let’s get at it.
Open Engagement is this weekend in Portland, Oregon. I will not be there (see above). Even if I had the loot and the free time, and although I was seriously considering attending for about a day and a half, I am glad that I won’t be making the journey to PDX. First of all, when taken to such an extreme and concentrated level, I worry that the social practice/aesthetiques relationnels loses much of its power and effectiveness. Maybe that is just me. I am willing to give Open Engagement the benefit of the doubt, mainly because I won’t be there, and also I don’t want this to sound like sour grapes because I couldn’t afford a plane ticket and I have to work to pay for my daughter’s everything. At least my half. I am only being skeptical and wary. And of course, critical, of what I fear is going to be a lot of preaching to the choir, followed by a lot of beer drinking, followed by plenty of hangovers soothed with Stumptown Coffee, which is pretty delicious.
Via email I am reminded repeatedly of the weekend-long festival that I have talked shit about on more than enough occasions. I would rather not relent now, but since I won’t be in the vicinity for the second consecutive year, I will lay off. Plus, there are a few positive developments that are attempting to subvert what is not much more than a massive flea market for those who have not been affected by these economic days (we are happy for you).
Although many of these events are happening tonight (maybe even last night), they are worth noting.
Location Books Release Party This is a new venture of Ruebn Nusz and Scott Nedrelow. A quarterly publication, it is ostensibly an art show that exists in the form of a fancy hardcover book. For their first release, Isa Newby Gagarin. Heck yeah. Tonight, 7-10pm @ 1618 Central Ave. NE, Suite 227.
Brock Davis at Creative Electric Studios Such an simple idea: make a piece of art everyday for a year and call it a show. Done and done. Friday-Sunday, California Arts Building, 2205 NE California St. I don’t have a suite number, but I bet you find it anyway.
Flocked, A Wallpaper Project Organized by Anna Tsantir, Nick Howard, et al, this is a large group project that is attempting to use the organizing artists’ studio as more than a boutique for the bourgeoisies, by creating a large wallpaper collage of drawing, print, etc. The only thing one could find flaw with in this project is the contributions of this writer. Friday-Sunday, Casket Arts Carriage House, 1720 Madison St. NE, #203.
Word on the street has it that Art of This will be closing it permanent space at 3506 Nicollet at the end of the summer. Having begun this rumor, I know that it is completely true. This gossip could prove to be false if anyone can muster the financial fortitude to make a tax-deductible donation to AOT in the amount of about $20,000. But until then, rest assured that AOT will no longer have a gallery/project space/office on Nicollet Ave. Armed with our expensive 501(c)3 designation, we will be reformatting to exist as an entity that knows no boundaries.
Fortunately, we have been terribly busy scraping by for the rest of our spring programming and gerry-rigging a summer residency program called Open Summer. It is pretty much ‘come one, come all’ and will exist less as a gallery space and more as a workshop that is an extension of the traditional artist’s studio. However, there will still be shows, and hopefully lots of them. Thus far, more than 30 artists have made the cut some of whom include Sam Hoolihan, Cara Ann Krippner, Peter Happel Christian, Rosemary Williams and the dance duo of Tamin Totzke and Dustin Haug. More information will soon be available on this blog, the AOT website, the AOT Blog, the AOT Facebook page, and perhaps your inbox. For more information, click me.
For anyone doing some last-minute blog reading, the Grand Opening of Opposing Thumbs is tonight! Seven O’Clock. Til 11. Come check out my rock sculpture that looks just like another rock sculpture. Seriously, how great does that sound? Two rocks that look alike! Just might turn the art market right around. Hallelooya!
