reviews, artists, Authored Articles

How cartoons saved my studio from going up in flames

Yesterday wrapped as a "less-than-stellar" studio day for me; one of those days where every project I touched turned to dust between my fingers. Rather than torching my studio and giving up art forever, I chose to boost my morale by watching this video from Aardman Animations Ltd.


In times like these, I find that a good cartoon is usually the best remedy.

It's Spring! (Get outside and see some art already!)

Agreed, a light fortnight it has been for posting, patient readers. I've sorely missed these good times as I've been wrangling words for deadlines outside of the cozy blogosphere! Meanwhile, the veil of grey and chill has finally lifted from Providence, leaving behind a shiny blue sky and chorus of twittering birds to punctuate the sneezing of the allergy prone, as Spring swings into full bloom. I couldn't be more thrilled, because I love a good walkabout with gallery stops to fuel the way!

Providence offers its monthly Gallery Night this evening, and I can make a few suggestions, if you are so inclined to join in the fun. All of these shows will be up for some time, so consider it an open invitation to grab some culture!

"Adrift, The Boat Series" by William Schaff

5 Traverse Gallery presents a dual show, featuring large and small-scale mixed media works by Neil T. Walsh (esteemed Director of AS220) and William Schaff. Don't miss Schaff's "Adrift, The Boat Series" (pictured above) in the glass case by the front window!

"Do Cinderblocks Dream of Being Styrofoam?" by Shirley Tse at the RISD Museum

Above: "Do Cinderblocks Dream of Being Styrofoam?" by Shirley Tse

Also on the East Side, get a double-whammy at the RISD Museum (free to the public on Gallery Night!) To spark some conversation, they have "Evolution/Revolution", a textiles innovation and fashion show on the upper level, and the concise and environmentally controversial "Styrofoam" show on view in the lower gallery. Take it all in at 224 Benefit Street, Providence.

Recommended Local Dining: Hungry? Grab some killer sushi at Tokyo, where the rice is small but the fish is large (as it should be). Feel free to BYOB though, as they do not offer a bar menu.

Garbage Warrior: An Eye On The Future Of Dwelling

It must be in part my starving artist background that has provided me with the drive and enjoyment for finding creative ways to upcycle found materials in my own artwork, as well as fostered a sharp eye for methods with which to keep my own household's footprint as small as possible. Even with the everyday efforts of like-minded citizens, in our emissions-belching, stuff-hungry society, there is always room for improvement; and innovation, risk and creativity are the ingredients for impactful answers.

Garbage Warrior - A Film by Oliver Hodges

This is why I was particularly inspired and enraged by UK filmmaker Oliver Hodges' documentary Garbage Warrior; an in-depth piece on the ongoing materials, methods and community-building research by visionary architect and humanitarian aid worker Mike Reynolds, and the struggles he has faced in his quest to innovate sustainable living solutions for our increasingly endangered society.

Earthship - Biotecture by Mike Reynolds

In engineering his "Earthships", which are fully self-sustaining living solutions suitable for human occupancy in even the most extreme conditions, Reynolds has innovated some seriously forward-thinking construction solutions such as the use of packed-earth tires (as heat conserving core for structural walls) and the use of upcycled glass and plastic bottles as light providers and architectural art. Oh yeah, his housing developments often include built-in agricultural solutions, so that you can save yourself the gasoline you would otherwise spend trucking to and from the grocery store (buying sad, packaged goods that much to the oil companies' delight - have been trucked and flown in from the ends of the earth!)

Earthships - Biotecture

What infuriated me about the film was the exhaustive struggle that Reynolds faced in obtaining permission to practice the experimental investigations that have paid off in such promising advances. Legal opponents of his work, (which ironically, leaves utility-companies and red-tape-happy contractors pressing their noses up against the glass of his earthships) helped to revoke his state and national architects license for some years in the 1990's.  I'll leave it to you to watch the film, but coming up on tax time (as we are all doing here in the U.S.), it pained me to watch most of the scenes involving legislature holdups and bill management as he worked with due diligence to leave room in New Mexico's state law for experimental sustainable housing sub-divisions.

Earthship sustainable biotecture

Ultimately, Garbage Warrior is a film worth watching, however riled up it made me. Earthships may not be your idea of a dream home, but there is insight and inspiration to be gained from watching this film, even if just to remember never to let the *man* throw you down for having your own point of view, or to ever subdue your creative fire.

 

REVIEW: Whitney Biennial 2008

I'm not going to be so presumptous as to present a formal and exhaustive review on the ever-anticipated, ever-harrassed Whitney Biennial. While traipsing my way around Brooklyn last weekend, I overheard a sidewalk conversation that went something like: "Oh yeah, the Biennial...again. They might as well just hold it every year, and forgo the Biennial affectation, as we barely have time to process the last one before the next one smacks us in the face. What it lacks in content it makes up for in hype..." and so on and so forth.

Ouch.

Given the attitude at large, and the admittedly impossible task of pleasing everyone (everyone in the art world, to boot), I've decided post-processing to simply point out the few pieces in this edition that stood out to me amongst the usual chaos, crap and crowd distraction.

Of course, there is an expected and increasing lack of formal, pretty work in favor of multi-media, video and de- or re-constructed debris-happy work. The one "pretty piece" I saw in this edition greeted me on my first stop (as always, floor #4), a perception-shifting wall piece by Isreali-born, New York artist Seth Price.

Seth Price - "Untitled" 2007 from Whitney Biennial 2008

Realized in the negative space between several glossy pieces of laminated, burled wood, the act of spoon feeding between two figures was not immediately obvious to me in Untitled (2007), which I found very satisfying as the cliché map in my minds eye shifted.

Past that instant gratification, eye-candy intro, what I found compelling enough to spend some serious time with turned out to be video work, which I often lack patience for at crowded shows. My favorite works in the Biennial, videos by the L.A. duo Julia Meltzer and David Thorne, featured (fantastic) Syrian performance artist Rami Farah. Rivetingly upfront and humanly engaging, despite an English subtitled Arabic script of questioning political and quasi-religious content, the pieces I saw rode a fresh line between documentary, monologue and traditional storytelling. I simply could not get up and leave, and I would very much like to visit with this work again.

Rami Farah appears in Julia Meltzer and David Thorne video: "not a matter of if but when..."

Another video that kept me riveted from stem to tip was Javier Téllez' Letter on the Blind For the Use of Those Who See (2007), which debuted at the Biennial. Drawing on an ancient Indian parable (The Blind Men and the Elephant), Téllez presents a compelling case with his depiction of six sight-disabled persons experiencing and describing their first individual encounters with an elephant (who stands mostly patiently in the center of a disused Brooklyn public swimming pool as the sightless explore his leathery skin and foreign sillhouette one by one). The film reminded me of the sheer wonder and preciousness of every new experience, and to appreciate how every being experiences the same thing in a unique way.

Javier Téllez: Letter on the Blind For the Use of Those Who See (2007)

Given that, I'm sure that everyone who attended this edition of the Biennial will have their own favorites, opinions and horror stories (mine would have to be a claustrophobic experience in Mika Rotenberg's hairy goat pen when the exits were blocked by line jumpers!) I would look forward to the 2010 edition, but I fear it will be here before I have time to blink!

REVIEW: "Sit Down" at Gallery Z

If you haven't yet made your way over to explore the culinary and boutique delights of Providence's Federal Hill neighborhood, tonight's March installment of Gallery Night is the perfect opportunity.

Table by Kallie WeinkleImage: "Table" by Kallie Weinkle

Students from the prestigious RISD furniture design program will host an opening reception for their revealing show "Sit Down - The Process of Furniture Design" at Gallery Z, from 5-9pm. This exhibit, curated by RISD senior Kallie Weinkle, is a rare opportunity for the public to climb inside of the minds and creative processes behind the future stars of furniture design. With selections created from an array of materials ranging from reclaimed industrial scrap wood to newspaper, the exhibit holds discoveries for every taste.

CLICK HERE to read my full exhibit review, written for the March/April issue of Artscope Magazine.


Gallery Z is located at 259 Atwells Ave. Providence, RI 02903. (401) 454-8844

Recommended local dining: Sicilia's Pizza, Costantino's Venda Ravioli

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