Constructing Art Blog

Exit Through the Gift Shop

2010-06-03T14:30:00.005+10:00

Super excited for Exit Through the Gift Shop. For Sydney based Banksy fans it will be showing at Newtown Dendy from 24 June 2010. Although there is certainly a sense that Banksy is overexposed, there is no doubting how intriguing his cult following is. Definitely work a look.

Creative Sydney get inspired

2010-05-31T12:00:00.000+10:00

Very excited for Creative Sydney this year. Not only an amazing line up of events and talks but a gorgeous new website. Creative Sydney is cementing itself in the Sydney calender and in my heart. Although it is easy to be cynical about events rather than projects being funded it is these kind of events that can be great starting points for the arts community and excellent networking opportunities which is something Sydney definitely needs to be a lot better at. I will hitting up a lot of the events and tweeting from the talks, so make sure to follow me in the next couple of weeks. @constructingart

Less competition and more collaboration I say!

Career milestones big and small.

2009-11-16T14:49:00.003+11:00

Finally reached over 100 posts! Thanks for all the support and reading what I hope was interesting content over the last couple of years. As you may of noticed constructing art has been increasing its social interaction of late, so please make sure you are following me on twitter.

Speaking of career milestones of obviously slightly larger proportions Edmund Capon AM, OBE has released a book, "I Blame Duchamp" (Penguin Books, 2009) an autobiography which focuses on the collections he has been involved in and his relationship to art 'My musings on art could be described as a benign diatribe; one inspired by a genuine if watchful passion'. I am certainly hoping for some behind the scenes gossip - someone who has been in the role of Director and Chief Curator at the Art Gallery of NSW for so many year must have, this book will do little discourage rumours that Mr Capon may soon be moving on.

(Untitled) movie

2009-11-03T16:10:00.007+11:00

A new film has been released based on the contemporary New York art gallery world and the comedy that arises from it. (Untitled) stars Adam Goldberg as a young composer and Vinnie Jones as a veiled spoof on Damien Hirst and it takes a look at what is perceived be the absurdity of the art world. Although seemingly a little out of step with the massive burst of the art market bubble this time last year it is hard to tell yet whether this is the usual attack on the "crazy art world" or a genuine dig at the snobbishness of the New York art scene. Even Damien Hirst is no stranger to taking the piss with many critics suggest he is in on some grand joke "And now Hirst is basically saying it was all nonsense. He didn't mean it. He wanted to be a great painter all along. But, as any visitor to his show at the Wallace Collection can see, he's not." (Jonathan Jones, Monday 26 October 2009 The Guardian). The film is yet to be released so we are not sure what he thinks of it just yet.

ABC launches new arts website

2009-10-30T10:03:00.010+11:00

The ABC was all over the arts this week as it launched a new arts website and held the "Revealing the Arts" conference in Sydney. The event included much fanfare about their new social media connectivity and partnership with the Australia Council. The website will a portal for both the arts programs on the ABC as well other arts content from all genres. This seems to be part of a larger push by the Federal Government and the Government 2.0 project to get government organisations to get filter their content through "younger" eyes. Let hope these programs increase creative production and build relationships rather than just present what we already have. That being said they are a lot prettier than previous government websites!

Phantom New York City comes alive.

2009-10-10T17:34:00.013+11:00

This amazing new iphone application makes me 1. very happy and 2. at the same time very jealous. Why?

1. It is a remarkably clever idea considering New York must be one of the most redesigned (in theory that is) cities in the world and has had so many projects designed and exhibitions made about this great city just in the last couple of years. Rather than living in the past or the present the application shows user what might have been. Living under a dome or walking in the sky, the designs and projects will be presented as the user walks through the city streets.

2. Why now when I am not in New York?

The iPhone at work, detecting the Phantom City.
Images and research BLDG BLOG.

Museum of the Phantom City by Cheng+Snyder for the Van Alen Institute.
Images and research BLDG BLOG.

Check out http://phantomcity.org/for full project.

Stuff white people like - Bansky!

2009-10-06T19:18:00.005+11:00

This is an absolutely hilarious article about Bansky and the complicated relationship "indie white people" have with street art. I was lucky enough to go to a talk with Christian Lander (and have a photo with) the creator of Stuff White People blog and now book. He talked about going to ivy league universities and experiencing a certain type of white person obsessed with coffee, indie music no one has ever heard of. This of course hit a chord with me with my personal favourites being Architecture, Liking Bob Marley and Taking a year off.

Also hope are checking out my current project and the behind the scenes photo:
2042artonthest.blogspot.com

2042: art on the street

2009-09-28T20:21:00.006+10:00

I am so happy to let you guys know that a project I am working on is starting to ramp up. 2042: art on the street is a community artwork in Newtown where for one weekend (24-25 October) you will see the heart of Newtown turned into a giant 3-dimensional colouring book just waiting to be coloured by you and filled with your stories. Please visit the 2042 website for more information and I hope you will all join me on this adventure for the next couple of weeks. (I will also be cross-posting so you will be kept up to date on both blogs).

Sarah Scout Presents Andrea Tu

2009-09-21T19:37:00.010+10:00

Check out images from Andrea Tu's current exhibition at one of Melbourne's newest galleries Sarah Scout Presents. Andrea Tu is graduate of Monash University and a recipient of both the Australia Council for the Visual Arts, Barcelona Studio Residency and Gertrude Contemporary Art Spaces, Studio Artist Residency. These beautiful folded sculptures play with the patterned 2D works also included in the exhibition and demonstrate an exciting technical skill that really caught my eye. Sarah Scout Presents is also a gallery to watch in the coming months.

Andrea Tu, Black Flux 2009, installation view at Sarah Scout, Melbourne care of artist and Sarah Scout Presents.

Olafur Eliasson's 'Take Your Time' to come to Sydney

2009-09-17T11:44:00.011+10:00

Olafur Eliasson, One-way colour tunnel, 2007 (digital rendering of interior view); site-specific sculpture to be made at SFMOMA on the occasion of Take your time: Olafur Eliasson; stainless steel, color-effect acrylic, and acrylic mirrors; 100 3/4 x 70 7/8 x 413 3/8 in.; Courtesy the artist; Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York; and neugerriemschneider, Berlin; © 2007 Olafur Eliasson

This amazing retrospective of Olafur Eliasson's work 'Take Your Time' is coming to Sydney in December. A massive coop for the MCA the exhibition has been shown at the MOMA, NY and MOMA, San Francisco and an unlike the many times I have seen his work as one stand alone installation some of his most inspiring works will now be shown alongside each other. Below is a video that they showed at the media preview last night.

http://www.moma.org/explore/multimedia/videos/15

Only in his 40's Eliasson has created some my favourite public works including the waterfalls he installed in NY last year through the New York Public Art Fund. This is possibly the MCA's biggest and most expensive exhibition to date and I am personally so excited that an installation of this quality is coming to Sydney. The exhibition is set to include some of his maquettes and models which should be an amazing insight in the way his team of 30-35 staff members work.

Take Your Time, MCA Sydney
10 December 2009 - 11 April 2010

James Angus wins WA's most expensive public art commission

2009-09-15T21:10:00.009+10:00

Images (pdfs of proposal submission to situate prize 2009 by James Angus)

situate an international sculpture prize in Perth, Western Australia announced yesterday that James Angus' proposal has won a $1 million public art commission. To be located in Perth's CBD - it is the largest ever public art project in WA and will be produced by some of Australia's great public art and engineering talents. Although the principal artist and designer is James Angus, Douglas Knox (Principal Engineer), Peter Mclean (Lighting Engineer), Sebastian Adams, (Industrial Designer), Tony Oxley (from Oxley9 Gallery and Angus' representing gallery and project coordinator) and Jaime Marina, (Fabrication) will help the project to come to fruition and hopefully produce an artwork that the public really enjoy. Both a state and local council venture it is a glimmer of hope that often expendable public art funding is still available and open to new techniques and ideas. Check out the finalists online as the project has attracted some great proposals and concepts well beyond the typical promenade style city art.

Frieze Magazine "Whatever happened to art theory?"

2009-09-05T16:39:00.007+10:00

Frieze Magazine has dedicated its latest edition to the state of art theory. Although this might seem ironic coming from the magazine that has brought us a highly commercial and personality driven art fair, which champions seemingly superficial artists such as Damien Hirst. It is probably a good place to start when looking at the current ways in which artists and writers approach art theory. Sam Thorne the associate editor of Frieze has the lead article entitled "Back & Forward" which looks at the controversies and discussions around art theory that many modern art student are not exposed to. Artists who work within particular parameters are unlikely to be challenged on their view of art theory or history and as Thorne suggests "we should pay attention to its past – not only how it has been marketed and circulated internationally, but how it has been misunderstood." Essentially when artists do not have to question these artistic concepts on a base level they do not have to have the hard conversation and that is clearly where the best art theories have sprouted.

Behind the Art of Fashion

2009-08-25T17:37:00.010+10:00

"It's a famine of beauty, honey," said Andre Leon Tally (editor-in-chief of Vogue) in The September Issue, a new documentary on Vogue and their biggest edition in history. However it is certainly not the case in Australia with our online fashion culture gaining momentum and producing some beautiful behind the scenes footage along the way. These videos (a few examples below) becomes art pieces and marketing opportunites all wrapped into one, but most importantly bring a little depth to online fashion.

There is a major clothes swapping event, Rethreads planned at Carriageworks at the end of September, through the Clothing Exchange with 2SER and FBI radio.

And the launch of Fashion magazine Tangent and its blog which has behind the scenes videos and photos.

Seaside Cultural Renewal

2009-08-18T12:09:00.008+10:00

Boscombe Pier, Bournemouth, Dorset. Bournemouth Borough Council architects, reopened in 2008. Photograph: Geoffrey Swaine/Rex Features, Guardian.co.uk.

The Guardian has released an article discussing the merits of cultural and artistic investment in England's impoverished seaside towns, Can art put new heart into our seaside towns?. And although Newcastle in Northen NSW could not be seen as a direct comparison - it is a city which main source of income has been mostly removed, and an economic situation that has resulted in many empty commercial spaces. Whilst the article discusses large and architecturally over the top investments, Renew Newcastle has taken a more grass roots approach and worked with the empty space directly rather than adding another possible white elephant. Clearly a top heavy cultural investment does not always best serve the artistic community despite increasing tourists.

NEW EVENT ANNOUNCED: ART MONTH SYDNEY 2010

2009-08-09T10:40:00.010+10:00

Vasili Kaliman (Co-Founder and a member of the Advisory Board for the event and Director of Kaliman Gallery) has announced via his facebook page a new art event Art Month Sydney. Art Month Sydney 2010 will take place from 1-30 March 2010 where "Fifty art galleries, art auction houses and public art institutions across Sydney will join together to demonstrate the importance and diversity of Australia’s art scene."

The event will function similarly to Sydney Design Festival as it promotes and links art events across the city. Although the elements have yet to be announced is will be very interesting to see the depth of this event and whether it will provide a real contribution to the Sydney art scene. Although I am very excited to see the what this esteemed group of galleries and art lovers will produce, we will have to see whether the Sydney audience can sustain enthusiasm for the many events that will happen across the year including the 2010 Biennale of Sydney in May.

ADVISORY BOARD

Julia Champtaloup
Kate Dernezaulds
Sarah Hetherington
Vasili Kaliman
Dr Dick Quan
Michael Reid
Andrew Rothery

PARTICIPATING GALLERIES INCLUDE:
Anna Schwartz Gallery
Annandale Galleries
Artbank
Australian Galleries
BREENSPACE
Chalk Horse
Charles Hewitt
Christopher Day Gallery
Conny Dietzschold Gallery
Darren Knight Gallery
Dominik Mersch Gallery
Eva Breuer Art Dealer
Firstdraft
Flinders Street Gallery
Gallery Barry Keldoulis
GRANTPIRRIE
Hordern House
James Dorahy Project Space
Josef Lebovic Gallery
Kaliman Gallery
Liverpool Street Gallery
Martin Browne Fine Art
Maunsell Wickes at Barry Stern Galleries
Michael Reid at Elizabeth Bay
MOP
Museum of Contemporary Art
N G Art Gallery
Rex Irwin Art Dealer
Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery
Sarah Cottier Gallery
SH Ervin Gallery
SNO
Stills Gallery
Sullivan + Strumpf Fine Art
Tim Olsen Gallery
Utopia Art Sydney
Watters Gallery

PARTICIPATING AUCTION HOUSES INCLUDE:
Christie’s Australia
Deutscher + Hackett
Shapiro
Sotheby’s Australia

ART MONTH IS SPONSORED BY:
King & Wilson
Best Cellars
Bresic Whitney

ALLIANCE PARTNERS:
Allens Arthur Robinson
MBT
Hayman Design
Tsuki

Information Art Month Sydney

McGregor Coxall Ballast Point Park Design

2009-08-03T10:29:00.024+10:00

McGregor Coxall is currently involved in some of Australia's most important and interesting Landscape Architecture projects including the Green Square Town Centre Public Domain, commissioned by the City of Sydney in which the landscaping and urban design will be an essential part of the puzzle in making Green Square a community environment. As well the redesign of the public space and landscaping at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra as part of the general revamp and a new wing.

However possibly their greatest project is the Ballast Point redevelopment which is one of Sydney's best new Harbour parks. Having grown up near Ballast Point I remember it in its unused and sad state that separated the other great parks surrounding it.

The highly successful Ballast Point Park revamp is being hailed as one of Sydney's best new public spaces and was an amazingly enjoyable place to visit especially with the great Sydney's weather of late. This beautiful space both acknowledges and goes beyond the sites original use as a Caltex Oil property.

Photos and Copyright held by Constructing Art Blog.
If you do share please remember to attribute and link back to Constructing Art.

Bravo's latest reality show based on the art world

2009-07-20T18:28:00.009+10:00

Todd Heisler/The New York Times

The New York Times is reporting that hundreds of people (across the US) turned up a to a series of casting calls for a reality TV show based on contemporary artists for BRAVO and to be produced by Sarah Jessica Parker. Of the hopefuls that turned up 13 finalists will be announced and one artist will win "a gallery show, a cash prize and a sponsored national museum tour". It is a little surprising to note that representation by a high level gallery is not part of the prize, although no specifics have been confirmed. This could be similar to the response the technical and skill based reality shows such as Project Runway and So You Think You Can Dance received where industry people were extremely skeptical until a few season in. The prizes therefore often increased once the show had proved itself and become reputable. It will be great to see how the contestants will be tested and surely that in itself will create some interesting TV.

40 years Kaldor Public Art Projects

2009-07-14T08:37:00.013+10:00

2 October 2009 – 14 February 2010
Art Gallery of New South Wales

An extensive review of works comissioned by Kaldor Public Art Projects is set to open in October '09 at the AGNSW. The exhibition looks at the amazing projects and performances that Kaldor brought (and continues to bring) to Australia as a pioneer of large scale public art events, that are now typical of Australian art galleries and festivals . These projects not only lifted the level of installation expertise and conceptual standards in the Australian art scene but most importantly brought memorable art projects to the general public. People still (well some people I unfortunately was not yet born) remember when Little Bay in Sydney was wrapped by Christo and Jean-Claude in their work Wrapped Coast (1969) or when Koons' Puppy (1995) (this one I do remember) was on the front lawn of the MCA , and that is something that is worth celebrating.

Puppy 1995
Copyright (c) Jeff Koons 1995

artnet Urban Art Sale

2009-07-11T12:12:00.007+10:00

Fairey Shephard Peace Bomber (Red Edition), 2008

Urban Art continues to be legitimized in sales across the world, although artnet Auctions is no Sotheby's is does represent a huge section of the online art market and therefore is especially suited to urban art which has found a special place online.

The Urban Art Sale which will be held until the 23rd of July sale will include work from today back to 1972, covering the spectrum of urban art of the last 30-40 years. Special mention goes to Fairey Shephard who shot to fame with the Obama "HOPE" poster and subsequent controversy on the ownership of the work, Peace Bomber, 2008 (above) is included in the sale.

ART & ELECTRONIC MEDIA

2009-07-04T13:18:00.014+10:00

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Homographies, 2006, Subsculpture 7, DVD documentation of installation at Sydney Biennale, 2006, video length: 10 min, loop, 24 light fixtures, motors, sensors, plasma screen, custom software.

Art & Electronic Media released this year by Phaidon Press is also being celebrated with an exhibition by bitforms gallery NY. The book by edited by Edward Shanken is as survey of over 150 artists working within electronic media . The book (and exhibition) includes work by Laurie Anderson, Jim Campbell, Tim Hawkinson, Michael Joaquin Grey, Lynn Hershman Leeson, Robert Lazzarini, Golan Levin, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Mark Napier, Manfred Mohr, Tony Oursler, C.E.B. Reas, Jennifer Steinkamp, and Lillian Schwartz. A video of Rafael Lozano-Hemmer's work at the 2006 Biennale of Sydney is included in the exhibition (see image).

On until 10 July

529 West 20th Street
(between 10th and 11th)
2nd Floor
New York, NY 10011
ph. 212 366 6939
fx. 212 366 6959
SUMMER HOURS
Open Monday - Friday, 11AM - 6PM

YINKA SHONIBARE MCA exhibition begins stateside tour

2009-06-29T11:06:00.009+10:00

Gallantry and Criminal Conversation, 2002
Courtesy the artist and the Stephen Friedman Gallery, London
Image: http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/turnerprize/2004/shonibare3.shtm

A developed retrospective of YINKA SHONIBARE MBE's work is currently on display at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. The exhibition was originally organized by MCA Sydney and curated by Rachel Kent.

Mr. Shonibare (who is British-Nigerian) has come to represent 'Post-colonial art' of the late 90's and early 00's. His work 'Gallantry and Criminal Conversation' 2002 was praised and analysed around the world when included in Documenta 11 in the same year and the 2004 Turner Prize. The exhibition's next stop is the National Museum of African Art at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC.

COFA Spring Fair stalls up for grabs

2009-06-23T15:38:00.008+10:00

This event is usually on a beautiful spring day with a friendly atmosphere and is a lot less sweaty than the COFA Annual. To be held this year on the 19th of September the COFA Spring Fair Art and Design Markets provide huge exposure for COFA's artists and designers. Stall priority is given to current students and then graduates. Stall holders take 100% of profits with a $25.oo stall fee, however with 5000 people visiting each year this does not seem much compared to possible profit. Contact the COFA Marketing Department for more info.

Free contemporary art e-cards

2009-06-20T16:13:00.006+10:00

In the middle of winter we all need a little bit of colour. Artbank has provided this service for a while but these FREE e-cards might be just the ticket to give someone or a group of friends a little colour in their inbox (beyond the usual spam and videos of Kittens falling asleep). The quality is a hell of a lot better than some poorly designed singing ones and promotes the work of whatever artist you pick. The choices are pretty varied and are changed over every couple of months.Current artists include David Griggs, Petrina Hicks and Lucy Culliton.

TimeBomb artist to present at Dorkbot

2009-06-16T17:11:00.006+10:00

Time Bomb - Interactive Graffiti (StupidKrap & Holler) from Mike Hill on Vimeo.

Many of you may have seen the interactive graffiti work Time Bomb which was presented at the Opening night of Creative Sydney '09, 2 weeks ago. One half on the TimeBomb team Lukasz Karluk will be discussing his work at a Dorkbot event in Sydney. Dorkbot Sydney is the local chapter of an international group which has artists and creative people in fields such as electronics, science and technology present on projects they are doing. Thus giving artists and people interested in working with electronics in a strange way a chance to collaborate.

The event where Lukasz Karluk will be presenting is on the 23rd of June at Serial Space in Chippendale. See dorkbotsyd.boztek.net for more info.

Biennale Round-up: Venice 09/Sydney 10

2009-06-09T15:14:00.010+10:00

Todd Heisler/The New York Times
“The Collectors,” an installation by Elmgreen & Dragset.

The New York Times is reporting that this year's Venice Biennale is a more somber, quiet affair with several budget cuts making the infamous parties and events more low-key. One of the biggest hits according to the Times was the installation, “The Collectors,” by Berlin-based team Elmgreen & Dragset who set up a house of dysfunctional family members including one dead in the pool. Installed in the Danish and Nordic Pavilions, it is clear that the North Europeans sure know how to despair well.

http://www.biennaleofsydney.com.au/bos17/

The Biennale of Sydney has also launched their 2010 theme and website. Entitled ‘THE BEAUTY OF DISTANCE: Songs of Survival in a Precarious Age’ and curated by David Elliott, the Biennale of Sydney will be held from the 12 May – 1 August 2010. According to Elliott, the title of the 17th BoS;‘Songs of Survival in a Precarious Age’ is inspired by Harry Everett Smith (1923–91)who compiled a historic recording, Anthology of American Folk Music, known to many blues and roots enthusiasts and released during the combative 1950's.

Resale Royalty debate continues to drag on

2009-05-30T14:19:00.012+10:00

Image SMH: Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri in front of his artwork Warlugulong, quoted in the article as an example of an indigenous artist who could have benefited from the Resale Royalty scheme. This work sold for $1200 in 1977 and then in 2007 for $2.4 million.

Louise Schwartzkoff reported in yesterday's Sydney Morning Herald on Peter Garrett's response to the Resale Royalties Bill Inquiry. Mr. Garrett has recommended (amongst other things) that the 5% royalty that would be given to artists with each sale of their work would not be placed on works that are currently owned by the collector and then sold, only on the second time around, "A retrospective scheme would be unfair to current artwork owners who bought works without knowing that a royalty would be payable on resale," said Mr Garrett.

However the art market is a fairly slow one and artworks are kept in families or collections often for decades. Therefore this was would not effect many older artists and particularly older indigenous artists whose works has steeply increased in value in recent years. However in the long-term this is great for younger artists who will make some money off the sale of their artworks as works gain value as they are sold and re-sold over time. The Bill has yet to go to the House of Representatives so we will not know for quite a while to full ramifications of decisions being made.

Creative Sydney Starts Tomorrow

2009-05-26T10:50:00.009+10:00

Creative Sydney starts tomorrow with events over the next 2 weeks, this event has really snuck up on me but should be a great fortnight of exciting and engaging events. I am endeavouring to go to as many as possible and will review any events I attend - to be posted during the next couple of weeks.Check out their website (click image above) for all their details or see their page on facebook.

Highline Project Update 2

2009-05-26T10:40:00.010+10:00

Photos courtesy of Joel Sternfeld
Rendered images courtesy of Diller Scofidio + Renfro
Inhabitat

The first Section of the New York Highline project in the Meatpacking District of Manhattan is set to open in a weeks time. I have kept you up to date on this project in previous posts and with the great photos by artist Joel Sternfeld. Check out the new photos out in conjunction with the launch of a documentary about the project which will air this week in America. This project never ceases to make me smile and I look forward to checking it out in person as soon as I can (the project was in very early stages last time I visited).

TV Moore wins Anne Landa Award 2009

2009-05-23T11:37:00.014+10:00

IMAGE CREDIT: TV Moore Nervous Sleep, 2009
video and mixed media assemblage (details). © TV Moore

The Anne Landa Award celebrates the increasing quality and variety of media and video art internationally and abroad and is honour of Anne Landa, who was a Trustee of the AGNSW before she passed away in 2002. TV Moore's video work has received attention particularly since his installation at the 2008 Biennale of Sydney, which was a stand-out at the amazing Cockatoo Island venue. The exhibition is an acquisitive award which hopefully increases the depth and credibility of the galleries contemporary film collection as well as the prestige of new media in the greater community.

Double Take: Anne Landa Award for video and new media arts 2009 is on at the Art Gallery of NSW until 19 July 2009.

John Waters: Director and Artist

2009-05-19T10:27:00.014+10:00

JOHN WATERS
Children Who Smoke, 2009
Chromogenic color print
8 photos: 20 x 14 inches overall (50.8 x 35.6 cm), Ed. of 5, Gagosian Gallery

Cult film director John Waters' (best know for the original Hairspray) photographic and sculptural work is currently on show at leading gallery Gagosian (Beverly Hills), under the exhibition title "Rear Projection". Waters utilises the medium of cinematography which he often uses absurdly and boldly in his own films to create hybrid stills which depict unreal or imagined situations. To Waters, "There is no such thing as a bad movie frame", although there certainly must be a disturbing one. Waters manipulates stills to include actors with cleft palates, speaking pig latin, holding product placements and a cheeky nod to the exhibition title, films projected onto bottoms (not all in the same still). Click here for a video of John Waters talking about his work and artistic practice.

JOHN WATERS
Pig Latin (detail), 2009
Chromogenic color print
8 photos: 14 3/4 x 86 3/4 inches overall (framed) (37.5 x 220.3cm)
Ed. of 5

Rear Projection
April 11 - May 22, 2009
Gagosian Gallery (Beverly Hills)

Broadway Malyan's Green Heart Centre

2009-05-17T10:34:00.007+10:00

This is the kind of building that makes me smile. In the centre of Singapore this Heart Centre will be sustainable not only in terms of materials and structure but they have also responded to the ever changing nature of the medical system by including building modules which can be replaced. Hopefully in the future all buildings will have this attitude as a normal part of the design process.

Image and info INHABITAT

Artists raking it in?

2009-05-12T14:51:00.014+10:00

Your Cash at Work - pdf link

The Herald Sun online has published two articles over the weekend damning the way Federal and Local Government agencies (in Melbourne) are allocating grant money to artists.

Entitled The many ways artists gain grants from government by Fiona Hudson and Carly Crawford and Savvy artists collecting multiple grants from federal and state government by Fiona Hudson questioned tax payer money being spent on grants while many other other budgets are being cut.

In the first article they criticize artist Christian Capurro who is currently in a residency in New York, although they mention that he exhibited at the Venice Biennale. Any athlete working at that level would gain funding or sponsorship if they were training overseas - to me there is not much difference. The second article questioned the grants system writing that "Savvy artists are collecting multiple grants from federal, state and local government honey-pots for an array of fringe projects." Both articles also link to a pdf entitled YOUR CASH AT WORK in which they have clearly found unusual projects to make it seem as though most projects that are funded are silly and/or irrelevant, although to me most seemed engaging, interesting and fresh.

These two articles are offensive for several reasons but most obviously the idea that artists are savvy by simply trying to have enough money to complete their work and still be able to eat is absurd. I am sure plenty of artists around Australia would like to know where this honey-pot is before it is used to make something much more "useful"...

Melbourne's Neon Parc Gallery to be in London art fair

2009-05-09T13:19:00.008+10:00

Neon Parc is set to be part of the first annual FRAME, a section of Frieze Art Fair in London. This brand new section for 2009 will work differently in a couple of ways. Unlike the main event FRAME will have presentations of a particular artist curated by the gallery rather than a selection of different artists work. This bold and exciting program will only be showing young (running less than six years) international galleries with the selected galleries chosen by Daniel Baumann and Sarah McCrory who will curate the program. Neon Parc is the only Australian Gallery to be included so congratulations to them. For the full list of galleries see below:

* Altman Siegel Gallery, San Francisco
* Amp, Athens
* Ancient & Modern, London
* Balice Hertling, Paris
* Laura Bartlett Gallery, London
* Bugada & Cargnel (Cosmic Galerie), Paris
* Lisa Cooley, New York
* Gaudel de Stampa, Paris
* Hoet Bekaert Gallery, Ghent
* Hunt Kastner, Prague
* Ibid Projects, London
* Galerie Parisa Kind, Frankfurt/Main
* Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin
* Limoncello, London
* Lüttgenmeijer, Berlin
* Marz Galeria, Lisbon
* Andreiana Mihail Gallery, Bucharest
* Monitor, Rome
* Neon Parc, Melbourne
* Neue Alte Brücke, Frankfurt/Main
* Project 88, Mumbai
* Rodeo, Istanbul
* galerie schleicher+lange, Paris
* Galerie Micky Schubert, Berlin
* Seventeen, London
* Franco Soffiantino, Turin
* Supportico Lopez, Berlin
* 023 Sassa Trülzsch, Berlin
* Tulips & Roses, Vilnius
* Jonathan Viner Gallery/Fortescue Avenue, London

Laith McGregor - cover artist

2009-05-05T11:14:00.007+10:00

Laith McGregor's artworks are all over Australia's art magazines this month, having been featured on the cover of both the art guide and ART MONTHLY. There is something obviously enticing and interesting to viewers about this artist who uses biros to create magical and strange bearded people. To be upfront I am not the biggest fan of beards, but in a way these drawings both celebrate and poke fun at facial hair and its place in our culture. McGregor is currently on show at the MCA, Sydney as part of the I Walk the Line: New Australian Drawing and a solo exhibition of these latest works is opening this week at Helen Gory Galerie in Melbourne.

Images: artguide, Art Monthly and the artist, Laith McGregor.

Helen Gory Galerie
Prahran, Melbourne
Laith McGregor, So It Goes
5th - 23rd May 2009

I Walk the Line: New Australian Drawing
MCA Sydney
17 March - 24 May 2009

Sotheby's downsizing in more ways than one.

2009-05-04T10:08:00.007+10:00

Tony Cenicola/The New York Times

The New York Times has reported that Christies and Sotheby's (US branches) are downsizing their catalogues. Collector's shoulders will be thankful but for researchers and historians catalogues are also a great resource for studying an artist's work in the art market. Catalogues often include long (sometimes tedious) histories of the artists and their artworks but they can also be invaluable later on in reselling or studying a painting or object.

Christies are cutting down the size and page number, while Sotheby's are sending collectors usb catalogues which they can also view online, as well as maintaining printed catalogues. The quality and colour of prints can be extremely important when viewing an artwork for sale and the colour differences in screens could cause a problem but the online catalogue has its upsides. Both auction houses have searchable catalogues which are still useful for research, including condition report and background information but do not have the depth of knowledge usually presented in print catalogues. Catalogues are still a money spinner for auction houses, particularly high profile auctions so they will most likely never be completely discountinued, of which art historian are probably quite relieved.

Romance Was Born, with shoes

2009-04-30T18:57:00.011+10:00

I don't usually report on fashion events but I just could not go past the amazingly sculptural and ridiculously high shoes that were on display at the Lisa Ho Fashion Show, Romance was Born at Australian Fashion Week 2009. The show included an amazing of Marie Antoinette level extravagance. Surely the influx of "recessionistas " (which buy the way is a silly and absurd term and offensive to both the recession and people who enjoy fashion), would have been applaud. But isn't fashion more about having a little fun and adventure than being serious, although maybe not in those shoes. You can see the rest of the show online.

The Romance Was Born show at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week. Photo: Getty Images

The Cullen Hotel

2009-04-28T10:54:00.012+10:00

Image: APCB

With a recent cocktail preview of the Cullen Hotel currently being constructed in Prahran, Melbourne, the series of art hotels is back in the spotlight. The Cullen is the third of seven artist themed boutique hotels (the first to open was Tim Storier in Sydney, the second, The Makin in East Melbourne) planned by the Asian Pacific Building Corporation to be built around Australia. Other names to be included are Charles Blackman and Brett Whiteley and other significant Australian artists. Unfortunately not one female artist has been named - which is equally expected as it is disappointing. Although I am sure each of the artist represented is deserving I wonder why this decision was made. The inclusion of an artist's name clearly attaches the hotel to concepts of inventiveness, creativeness and vision - do no Australian female artists have these?

Marcus Westbury - new column at The Age

2009-04-23T18:59:00.011+10:00

Image: Brock Perks, The Age

Marcus Westbury has been named a columnist for the Age Newspaper. This is a great sign in what has been pretty dire times for arts writing in Australia, particularly at the larger newspapers. Although writers such as Elizabeth Fortescue and Andrew Frost are a little light in the current darkness so hopefully Marcus will follow this tradition. His columns will begin on 27th April 2009 every Monday. I have often covered Marcus's various other endeavours including community and TV projects here at constructing art. You can check out his other current projects at his website.

The Kingpins at Kaliman Gallery

2009-04-22T20:09:00.010+10:00

Image Care of Kaliman Gallery

In what is set to be the biggest opening is the next couple of months, The Kingpings continue to build on their international and national profile. Their work was also featured on the artlife on ABC recently and they continue to create great performance work that most performance artists are now compared against. Keep up the good work!

THE KINGPINS NO PROBLEM I’M A MATERIAL GIRL IN TOUCH WITH LIFE
2 May – 23 May 2009
Preview: Friday 1 May 6 – 8pm
Gallery hours: Tuesday – Saturday 11am – 5:30pm
Telephone: +61 2 9357 2273
http://www.kalimangallery.com
info@kalimangallery.com
http://www.thekingpings.com.au

Work AC: 49 Cities at the Storefront

2009-04-20T15:59:00.010+10:00

Work AC: 49 Cities is a review of the history of urban utopia, for hundreds of years the pursuit of the perfect metropolis has been a central driving force in architectural innovation and this exhibition analyses and demonstrates the differences and similarities between these various projects. You can also download a section of the catalogue online.

Work AC: 49 Cities is on display at the Storefront for Art and Architecture until May 30.

Storefront for Art and Architecture
97 Kenmare Street
New York, NY 10012

Roni Horn aka Roni Horn at the Tate Modern

2009-04-17T18:24:00.007+10:00

Roni Horn
Untitled (Aretha) 2002-04
The Museum of Modern Art, New York; fractional and promised gift of Kathy and Richard S. Fuld Jr.
© Roni Horn
Solid cast glass
15 x 30 x 30 in (38.1 x 76.2 x 76.2 cm)

This exhibition combines sculptures by Roni Horn similar to the resin works of Rachel Whiteread as well beautiful photographs which demonstrate the simple and clean style of photography that has become so popular over the last decade or so. Her works combine a number of different influences including doubling of images, the landscape of Iceland and natural and animal forms. You can also seen Horn discuss her work on the Tate Modern website.

Roni Horn
You are the Weather 1994-95
The artist and Hauser & Wirth Zürich London © Roni Horn
gelatin-silver print
64 C-prints and 36 gelatin-silver prints, 21.4 x 26.5 cm each, 100 units

Peter Zumthor wins 2009 Pritzker Prize

2009-04-14T10:42:00.004+10:00

Peter Zumthor has won this years Pritzker Prize, although this is not much a surprise considering Zumthor's contribution to contemporary architectural style and approach in recent years. Frankly I had assumed he had already won it. Many students and architectural nerds will have studied his thermal spa in the Hotel Therme located in Vals at some point in their education. The stone cladding and use of lighting in this building has also be appropriated in many others across Europe and the rest of the world. Zumthor continues to make great work, of which the architectural community can be very proud.

(Original image inhabitat)

Foster and Partners - Shanghai Expo 2010

2009-04-07T17:38:00.004+10:00

I am generally a fan of Foster & Partners work, they seem to very academic and research based in their approach and this is something that I respect. However I am not entirely convinced by their contribution to the 2010 Shanghai Expo. The nod to the sand dunes of the UAE, the country that this has be made for is a little obvious and the aesthetics are questionable to say the least. There have also been some fairly strong reactions on archi blogs although most are supporting the eco aspects of the building. Can't wait to see what the international reaction will be!

(Original post info designboom)

Hong Kong International Art Fair

2009-04-06T15:03:00.007+10:00

ArtHK 09, Hong Kong, 14-17 May

With so many Art Fairs not going ahead this year and with Hong Kong such a financially driven city I wonder how this event will go. However it is exciting to see high quality events a little closer to home. Some great galleries that I often feature here at constructing art such as Gallery Barry Keldoulis and Grantpirrie, and several other will be attending. So good luck to all of them. I am also very excited to see the work of Antony Gormley and Anish Kapoor, Cai Guo-Qiang and Jitish Kallat at the fair.

James Paterson - Harvest

2009-03-26T08:40:00.004+11:00

Installation View
left: The Rotten Fruit Tardis, 2009
right: paintings from the Code Smell series, 2009

Combining personal diary entries, online animation and performance James Paterson's work certainly covers the gamut in this NY exhibition. Originally presented online it demonstrates the increasing acceptance of online exhibitions and genuine platforms for artists to work on. The exhibition is on show until April 25 2009. Paterson also maintains an amazing online gallery in which many of his drawn characters exist.

James Paterson
Harvest
March 12 – April 25, 2009
bitforms gallery, 529 West 20th Street, NYC

Paper and font nerds brace yourself

2009-03-24T17:56:00.008+11:00

Originally posted on nubby twiglet, was this delightful mix of massive font nerdiness combined with the self-righteous and delicious allure of a moleskine product all wrapped into one. Design Milk is also now reporting that the product, a font book of Helvetica designed by Moleskine may be available before sale. This is gratuitous only at this point, but you can't help wondering how both Helvetica and Moleskine have managed such a cult following amongst artists and writers and those who attempt to be.

Between Site & Space at Artspace

2009-03-17T18:43:00.006+11:00

Installation view of Paramodel, pilot plan — p class architect office — , Artspace, Sydney, 2009

Installation view of Paramodel, Paramodelic CC [Car/Construction] Parking Space P.CC.P., Artspace, Sydney, 2009

Between Site & Space
This exhibition is a great example of the great work that comes from many collaborations between artists and architects, as well as the joy that comes from a free flowing dialogue and open mind. The use of small cars, animals and other unusual materials make for a very youthful but still engaging exhibition. Currently showing until the 18 April 2009.

With artists EXONEMO, ALEX GAWRONSKI, PARAMODEL, GAIL PRIEST, TIM SILVER, HIRAKU SUZUKI the exhibition is a culmination of a collaboration between Tokyo Wonder Site and Artspace and curators Reuben Keehan and Hisako Hara.

There will also be a conference held at the end of the exhibition on the 17-18 of April, entitled
SPACES OF ART. Where a discussion on institutional / post-institutional curatorial and related practices in contemporary art will take place. See artspace.org.au for more info.

Australian Stencil Art Prize Winner 2009

2009-03-12T17:11:00.003+11:00

Fleur Porter under the name Miss Link of Surry Hills, NSW, has won the Australian Stencil Art Prize with her artwork titled 'Nesting'. You can see the finalists of the Stencil Art Prize at Oh Really Gallery in Newtown, from the 12th - 26th of March.

GRANTPIRRIE continues artist's winning spree

2009-03-10T14:03:00.006+11:00

Image: http://www.thearchibaldprize.com.au/finalists/archibald

Ben Quilty, There But For The Grace Of God Go I No. 2, 2009

Sydney gallery GRANTPIRRIE is certainly having a great week, Lionel Bawden just won the Wynne Prize last week and artist Ben Quilty (who they also represent) was stated by The Australian to be part of the final two paintings considered for the winner of the Archibald Prize for 2009. Quilty has now won the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize for $150,000 with a painting of Jimmy Barnes, similar to one entered into the Archibald There But For The Grace Of God Go I No. 2.

Lionel Bawden Wynne Prize 2009

2009-03-09T10:45:00.003+11:00

Image: http://www.thearchibaldprize.com.au/winners/wynne

2009 Wynne Prize winner

Lionel Bawden

The amorphous ones (the vast colony of our being)

This beautiful sculpture stood out among the usual landscapes and was certainly presented in a prime location. The work was also a nice break from the strong personalities of the Archibald and some of the overwhelming painting techniques. The work was well crafted and a joy to look at. The natural shapes explored our emotional connect to landscape and was a great representation of a contemporary take on this genre. Lionel's speech was very sweet and humble, congratulations to him and his representing gallery GRANTPIRRIE.

ACTIVATE 2750

2009-02-26T20:20:00.004+11:00

Activate 2750 (named after the Penrith location of the work) is contemporary art project by artist Ash Keating and is supported by the MCA and several Western suburb galleries and council which makes up C3. The project consists of eight days of sculptures, processions and performances and is created out of commercial and industrial waste from the 26th February until Friday 6th March 2009 in front of the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre.

C3 West cultural partnership is between the MCA, Penrith Regional Gallery & The Lewers Bequest, Casula Powerhouse and Campbelltown Arts Centre.

Climate Cars

2009-02-24T19:59:00.004+11:00

Images and link Via Inhabitat

Climate Cars are picking up a lot of attention amidst the recent reports of the redesign of London's iconic buses. Climate Cars are a fairly new company trying to tackle the pollution that the other London transport icon Black Cabs (the Tube would probably be the third) is contributing to London's carbon footprint. The Cabs are hybrid cars and are carbon off-set.

Renew Newcastle launches with Marcus Westbury's help

2009-02-20T09:43:00.005+11:00

Renew Newcastle launches this weekend with an event at Renew Newcastle HQ, 3 Morgan St Newcastle this saturday 21st of February at 11AM. Marcus Westbury will then lead a tour of the first of hopefully many projects taking place in and around Newcastle's Hunter Street Mall with Lost At E Minor, Gallery Raw, Emerald Arts and Loop Space some of the arts groups involved.

View Larger Map

Guerilla Gardners

2009-02-18T11:54:00.005+11:00

Image: Wolloomooloo Guerilla Garden by Mickie Flick - Flicker

Guerilla Gardeners premiered last night on Channel Ten but is getting some not so great reviews from local councils. As I mentioned in a previous post the Guerilla Gardening phenomena has been around for quite a while although has recently had a revival. It seems once again Channel Ten is trying to make money of cool and dangerous activities (similar to breakdancing on SYTYCD?) and The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that Marrickville Council is not happy with the structure that was build is a Newtown park, many other Councils have already complained. Below is an image of the Guerilla Gardeners attempt at cleaning up the start of the Express Way in Woolloomooloo - its certainly educational is term of spelling but the cynicism from people responses seems to be more to do with Channel Ten than the gardens themselves.

ABUNDANT: Highlights from the Australian Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale

2009-02-14T15:52:00.003+11:00

Image: Abundant at Venice Biennale 2008.
Courtesy tom$ Flicker.

Abundant showcases contemporary Australian architects who exhibited in the 2008 Architecture Biennale in Venice with the theme - Beyond Building. Object will be the only Australian gallery showing the exhibition which demonstrates the breadth of architectural work in Australia and the way in which architects can both problem solve and push forward conceptually.

Until 5 April 2009 at Object Gallery in Surry Hills.

Joel Sternfeld - Photographs of the High Line

2009-02-12T11:44:00.003+11:00

Joel Sternfeld, Looking South on an Afternoon in June, 2000, Negative: 2000, Print: 2009
Digital C-print, 40 x 50 inches, Printed in editions of 7 with 3 APs. Luhrig Augustine Gallery.

Luhrig Augustine Gallery is presenting photographer Joel Sternfeld's images of the High Line in New York before it is redeveloped. The works will be presented at the Art Dealer's Association of America's, Art Show in New York whom with the gallery has a long relationship with, this month. The work represents the preservation done in an attempt to save it by The Friends of the High Line who engaged Sternfeld to document it. As I mentioned in a previous post the project is currently in its second stage and as you can the photographs are a nostalgic look at why the magical location was saved in the first place.

NewPark Station wins Live the BOX competition

2009-02-09T08:46:00.012+11:00

Felix Heidgen and Thomas Nagy from Princeton, New Jersey have won Live the BOX with the scheme NewPark Station . The competition by AIA Newark and Suburban and the Young Architects Forum looked to find "innovative, visionary and compelling proposals for container constructed multi-family mixed-use project". The use of shipping containers is not an entirely new design invention and has been used as a space for displaying art and architecture for several years now. Recently Art Basel Miami used them to present the Art Positions - Young Art by The Beach however in this case the construction material is a great starting point for the architects who have created a scheme with the local community and keep their real needs in mind.

Terra Nullius Now Showing in Germany

2009-02-06T11:41:00.003+11:00

The German Federal Cultural Foundation has funded an exhibition of Australian Art which begun on Australia Day. Terra Nullius: Contemporary Art from Australia is curated by Deborah Kelly (Australian) and Frank Motz (Germana) and has an amazing array and quality of artists and mediums and is an example of the increasing relationship between Australian and German contemporary art galleries. The exhibition will be showing at ACC Galerie Weimar until 22 March 2009 and then move on to Halle 14 in the Baumwollspinnerei Leipzig from 1 May - 26 July 2009.

The artists participating are:

Vernon Ah Kee
Tony Albert
Richard Bell
boat-people.org
Jon Campbell
Destiny Deacon & Virginia Fraser
Julie Dowling
Tina Fiveash
George Gittoes
Claire Healy & Sean Cordeiro
Gordon Hookey
Dianne Jones
Mike Parr
pvi collective
Tony Schwensen
Merran Sierakowski
Soda_Jerk
Squatspace
Natascha Stellmach
Judy Watson

40 x 40 x 40 at Dickerson Gallery Melbourne

2009-02-03T10:43:00.006+11:00

40 x 40 x40 is a group show of you guessed it works with dimensions 40 cm by 40cm (2d) and 40 x 40 x 40 (3d). With a mix of gorgeous mediums this looks like a fun and enticing show to start off the year and a smart but not totally subtle way to create affordable works for the current temperamental market.

40 x 40 x 40
4 February - 22 February, 2009

Dickerson Gallery
44 Oxford Street
Collingwood Melbourne VIC 3066

MOS architects win PS1 Young Architects program

2009-01-30T12:15:00.004+11:00

PS1 and MOMA have announced the winning scheme as afterparty by architectural collective MOS for their 10th annual Young Architects program where an installation is created in the front courtyardspace of PS1 in Queens, NYC. The installation is a series of concrete curved towers which use wind to cool them during the summer. The previous courtyard installation was a series of outdoor gardens and will be replaced with afterparty as part of PS1 summer program where the installations as used as a bar and music venue during the summer months.

Another year, Another Warhol

2009-01-27T15:39:00.008+11:00

Despite Andy Warhol's death just over 20 yrs ago new and reconstructed exhibitions of his art are still happening on a regular basis. Andy Warhol's place in history as a Jewish artist (his original family name was Warhola) and his place in the history of the many famous gallerists who supported him start off the Warhol exhibitions for 2009.

Warhol's Jews: Ten Portraits Reconsidered exhibition is about to conclude at the Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco and was organised in conjunction with The Jewish Museum, New York. The portraits include Sarah Bernhardt, Louis Brandeis,Martin Buber, Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud, George Gershwin, Franz Kafka, the Marx Brothers, Golda Meir, Gertrude Stein.

Presented alongside original photographs and sketches for the portraits as well as source material and reviews from the time of lays the basis for interpreting the original 1980 exhibition Warhol's Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century shown at the Lowe Art Museum in Miami and The Jewish Museum in New York.

At the same time a private collection of his Warhol's works Warhol from the Sonnabend Collection will be exhibited at the Gagosian in New York until Saturday, February 28, 2009. Ileana Sonnabend was one of Andy Warhol's strongest supporters with some of his most well known series exhibited at her gallery in Paris including Death and Disasters (1964), Flowers (1965), and Thirteen Most Wanted Men (1967).

Nuage Vert

2009-01-21T11:30:00.003+11:00

Photo by Antti Ahonen, 'Nuage Vert by HeHe'.

HeHe
Nuage Vert
22-29 February 2008, Salmisaari, Helsinki, 5pm to 10pm

Check out this amazing new artwork Nuage Vert (Green Cloud) which follows the emissions of a power station, adjusting the size of the cloud by whether the emissions are lessened or not. The artists HeHe (duo Helen Evans and Heiko Hansen) are asking the local community to reduce their energy consumption to effect the size of the cloud.

White House Redux

2009-01-19T11:54:00.003+11:00

With the inauguration of President Elect Obama just around the corner the Store Front Gallery's Project White House Redux which asked architects to re-design the White House and a subsequent book has found a second wind. The project was undertaken in early 2008 long before Obama was confirmed as the Democratic nominee, however is now receiving a new wave of publicity The New York Times reports and the winners have cleary taken a very different look at the White house;

The winning entry, “Revenge of the Lawn,” submitted by J. P. Maruszczak and Roger Connah with assistance from Ryan Manning, skirted the White House structure and instead tackled the subliminal associations of its green spaces. “We found a kind of resonance in the lawn between the public and private,” Mr. Maruszczak said, “and we were trying to get around the problem of the White House as such a potent symbol that no one could ever erase that.”

Also check out a video of the judging panel's decision making process in New York and the way in which the architectural projects were discussed in relations to American politics. Many of the other projects also tackle to concept of a more involved voter and citizen which surely aligns with the new President's ideals. Many of the works were more of a prediction than just a response to the brief and can be seen at whitehouseredux.com.

Unpredictable Forms of Sound and Motion

2009-01-14T14:07:00.007+11:00

Tim Knowles and Pe Lang + Zimoun
Unpredictable Forms of Sound and Motion
bitforms gallery
January 24, 2009 – February 21, 2009

Image:
Courtesy bitforms gallery nyc.
Pe Lang + Zimoun
Untitled Sound Objects, 2008
400 prepared vibration motors in wooden type cases
39.5 x 39.5 x 3” / 100 x 100 x 8 cm
edition of 6

Check out a YouTube video of the work Untitled Sound Objects, 2008 in action.The work sounds like a river running towards you and is a very intriguing sound work. This exhibition is set to be a beautiful collaboration between the artists, Tim Knowles and Pe Lang + Zimoun.

CARRIAGE- ART- WORKS

2009-01-13T10:46:00.003+11:00

The South Sydney fringe is stepping up - as I mentioned in a previous post, reaching from Newtown, Surry Hills to Redfern this part of Sydney is increasingly leaving some of typical Paddington and Eastern Suburbs galleries looking a little of out touch. Hopefully this art fair will be a great example for the young and more available artworks on the market. The event will be held for a week and there will be some great events on at Carriageworks over the weekend and are worth checking out.

Design not on such hard times

2009-01-12T19:49:00.004+11:00

With the current global economic climate it seems that consumerism is well and truly alive. Early this year with the sales just about to finish up it seems many people are still spending just in a more conservative manner. But where does design stand in all of this? New York Times is reporting that it could be a great opportunity. Of course there is less spending on high-end interior design and architecture but tough times in society have created some of the world's great inventive designers and designs. No doubt that creating environmentally sustainable,well-priced and beautiful designs will be this generations design cross to bare.

Highline Project Update

2009-01-09T15:07:00.006+11:00

The Highline Project in New York has always been one of those magical architectural projects - I was always wondering will it really happen? However the 2nd phase is set for completion this year and is definitely worth keeping an eye on! This video explains a little about what the Highline is and what it will become from Friends of the Highline.

Early plans for this caught my eye back in 2004 and it is great to see the project moving forward. With architects diller+scofidio involved it is sure to be an amazing and innovative success and their website is one of the coolest looking portfolios I have ever seen.

Foster + Partners and Aston Martin design new bus for London

2009-01-07T11:25:00.005+11:00

Having always loved London double decker buses, I could have be a little concerned about a redesign. However the design that was created by Foster + Partners and Aston Martin really captures the spirit of them whilst still updating them in a very considered, environmental way and takes into considered practical user issues. They actually remind me of the when London is shot on film as 30 or 20 years in the future - different but the same! Check out the early artistic interpretations.

The Americans @ Bose Pacia New York

2009-01-05T17:16:00.006+11:00

Gauri Gill's The Americans looks to be an amazing start to Bose Pacia's program for 2009. Exhibiting from 9 Jan - 7 Feb The Americans is a photography project which took place from 2000- 2007. Gill took photos of Indian immigrants (one of the new waves of immigrant to American) capturing their adaption but also firm held traditions, from Silicone Valley to Middle America. This new type of American is similar to Australia in the 1990's so it is interesting viewing these works in sort of removed manner. Gill as an artist currently working in New Delhi however these work hold no judgement or idolization but beautiful documentation.

XMAS at the TATE

2008-12-29T14:59:00.003+11:00

A bit of Christmas cheer before the end of the year! Check out this year's Tate Xmas Tree, Make Your Own Xmas by Bob and Roberta Smith.

Make Your Own Xmas, 2008 Copyright: Bob and Roberta Smith Photo credit: Sam Drake / Tate Photography.

MCA Building News

2008-12-11T11:16:00.008+11:00

Sam Marshall of Marshall Architects has been revealed as the Principal Architect to create the $50 million extension to the MCA, Sydney. The project is set to be completed in 2011 with a focus on better educational facilities and people circulation throughout the building.

Images to come although from first look it a relatively tame extension all be it a very sophisticated and clean one with the original building not being overwhelmed by the new. This project has been hotly anticipated so I will update as soon as any new information becomes available.

Virtual Art Basel Miami Beach

2008-12-10T18:53:00.006+11:00

If you didn't make it to Art Basel Miami Beach this year you can check out the galleries and artists that exhibited on artnet. You can also revisit galleries and artists that you enjoyed, if you were able to attend. It has an interactive map and you can search artists, galleries and look at the different curatorials sections throughout Art Basel Miami Beach. This interactive look at Art Basel Miami will be on artnet from December 3, 2008 until February 7, 2009. Worth a look.

Desperate times at the ADAA?

2008-12-08T16:24:00.008+11:00

On receiving an email regarding the ADAA Collectors' Forum The Global Economy and the Art Market: A New Perspective in Uncertain Times it seems that judging from this collectors and dealers are definitely struggling with uncertain economic times especially in the USA.

I would suggest that it is the more unpredictable or less committed collectors that would perhaps be buying less art or being cautious. Buyer's with serious collections and knowledge would understand that this is the time when some serious bargains are to be had (and to use some economic jargon) a bit of a readjustment period.

The Art Dealers Association of America (ADAA) which is holding this forum seems to be made up some of American's oldest and established galleries and dealers with speakers from Yale, The Guggenheim Foundation and one half of Luhrig Augustine Gallery, Roland Augustine (President of the ADAA) all speaking. Clearly this is a genuine example of the seriousness in which the art market in American is taking this financial crisis. On the upside, if there is one, I hope that younger and emerging artists will benefit in more investment due to their lower prices - here's hoping.

ADAA Collectors' Forum
The Global Economy and the Art Market:
A New Perspective in Uncertain Times

Saturday, December 13, 2008 10:00 am-noon
New York Historical Society December 13, 2008

Manfred Mohr - Klangfarben Series

2008-12-03T19:59:00.007+11:00

P-1272_19001
2007-8
pigment ink on paper
15.75 x 15.75” / 40 x 40 cm

Bitforms, NYC presents Manfred Mohr's collection of works based on the geometry and multi-dimensional aspects of cubes. Although I probably understand little of the maths behind these works the exploration of shapes and composition is always engaging and these works are a clear link with the abstraction art of the 1970s to today contemporary painting. The exhibition will mix paintings and video images of Mohr's work, which is also currently exhibiting at PS1 - the contemporary satellite venue of MOMA New York.

The Klangfarben series will be on show from Dec 6 - Jan 17, 2009 @ bitforms and Mohr's works will be part of a group show on Reductive art @ PS1 until the 19 January 2009.

Portraits stay popular

2008-12-02T19:46:00.005+11:00

Portraits have always been popular with Australian audiences, with the Archibald Prize at the Art Gallery of NSW being one of its biggest exhibitions every year. Even overseas, Annie Leibovitz's exhibition at England's National Portrait Gallery has been doing extremely well with audiences although her celebrity connection probably helped out in this area. It is no surprise then that the Government has sprung for a new National Portrait Gallery in Australia. Located next to the National Gallery in Canberra it is set to change the precinct which is populated with many other museums.

The work on the new gallery has been going on since mid-2006 and the design and construction process is up on the NPA website and is a great look at the way galleries are built. The gallery opens on Thursday the 4th of December with My Favourite Australian from 4 December 2008 - 1 March 2009 in conjunction with the ABC program and is set to be another crowd favourite.

Cildo Meireles at the TATE MODERN

2008-12-01T18:49:00.005+11:00

Showing until the 11 January 2009 at the Tate Modern, Cildo Meireles is part of some of the very engaging exhibitions that I had the great pleasure to see this year. The interaction with viewers and public programs that I have spoken about before really comes to play in this exhibition. One of the founders of conceptual and social art Meireles's works are also very enjoyable and relatable.

It was the simple works that completely captured the audiences' imagination. From Mission/Missions (How to Build Cathedrals), made from gold coins and communion wafers or Southern Cross a tiny sculpture I saw a woman nearly step on. This exhibition demonstrates the excited and joy that contemporary art can bring.

Cildo Meireles
Mission/Missions (How to Build Cathedrals) 1987
Daros-Latinamerica © Cildo Meireles
Approximately 600.000 coins, 800 communion wafers, 2000 bones, 80 paving stones and black fabric
235 x 600 x 600

Art Basel | Miami 2008

2008-11-30T16:36:00.015+11:00

Art Positions - Young Art by The Beach is part of a series of events put on by Art Basel Miami and is set to be part of the new and young art galleries peppering the usual suspects. Zoo Art Fair in London and the number of street art fairs blooming across the world indicate that fresh young galleries are in high demand and counteract the monopoly that many gallery "brands" have over festivals. At our own Art Sydney, Off The Wall and Next Generation exhibitions within the overall presentation are always a highlight.

Image: One of the artist at Art Positions
Rivington Arms: Darren Bader, as = poaching the poachers.
(Back Room Installation Shot), 2007. Mixed media, dimensions variable.

COFA Annual 2008

2008-11-28T08:48:00.004+11:00

Roaming the sweaty hallways of the COFA annual is was made abundantly clear that the artistic taste for multiple layers was not going to work, and that is it very hard to look cool while sweating through a red beanie and black leggings.

The typical COFA visitor seemed to be around 23 yrs old and it is at these events that I discover that I have absolutely no individual dress sense since there are are about 1000 people dressed exactly like me. However as usually the art is interesting and engaging with the touch of the self absorbed but overall a very inspiring outing.

This exhibition is always worth a look and a great place for talent spotting. As usual the sculpture department on the Ground Floor really shines and visitors seem to really get involved with works. Although enthusiasm usually starts to wain by the 3rd floor so any comment on this area is bound to be off.

Soda_Jerk @ Primavera

2008-11-21T15:13:00.008+11:00

Primavera at the MCA, Sydney is once again a fun and interesting look at the work of young somewhat unknown contemporary artists around Australia however the contribution by the not so unknown Soda_Jerk was a standout. Having seen a little of their process of mixing different films together on Not Quite Art I was so excited to see an example of this process at the MCA.

Soda_Jerk (with Sam Smith) Astro Black: A History of Hip Hop (Episode 1) (video still) 2008 digital video, 6.35 minutes. Courtesy and © the artists

PRIMAVERA 2008: EXHIBITION BY YOUNG AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS is on until the 30 November 2008 so don't miss out.

GRANTPIRRIE

2008-11-18T15:45:00.007+11:00

... is set to open tomorrow night with two great exhibitions and really seems to be continuing the great work coming out of the Redfern and Waterloo galleries including gbk, BREENSPACE, Anna Schwartz @ Carriageworks and the usually Danks St gang. This stuff is definitely making it worth the schlep out there - good work!

GRANTPIRRIE
19 November - 20 December 2008

Lionel Bawden
New works on paper

and through the square window

Cash Brown
Priceless

Degree shows coming up!

2008-11-08T17:43:00.006+11:00

From November onwards it is degree show opening season all over Sydney. These exhibitions always remind of the start of the x-mas season and are lots of fun especially if you like cheap white wine and squashed sweaty hallways but on the upside these shows are filled with some amazing and exciting new works. There are of course a few that are a little school (high that is) art show but in saying that the good overwhelming out ways the bad. The big three coming up are:

The COFA Annual, Paddington:

Opening on Thursday 27th Nov
Thu, 27 Nov - Sun, 30 Nov 2008

Sydney College of the Arts, Rozelle:

Undergraduate Degree Show
Opening on Tuesday 18 November
Tue 18 Nov - Sat 29 Nov 2008

Postgraduate Degree Show
Opening on Tuesday 9 December
Tue 9 Dec - Wed 17 Dec 2008

National Art School, Darlinghurst

Opening on the Friday the 5th of Dec
Fri 5 Dec - 13 Dec 2008

Not Quite Art

2008-11-03T14:44:00.004+11:00

The first series of Not Quite Art was the most talked about arts programs amongst my friends and colleagues that I can remember. The second broadens the scope of discussion to our understanding of cultural change within the arts. The old story of "how the Internet is changing everything" through the eyes of Marcus Westbury is a fresh take on somewhat stale the subject.

It seems that Australia as a geographically isolated country has certainly been affected by this change and very quick to jump on the bandwagon. Frankly many aussies are over having television series presented late at night and months behind and artists who are apparently protected by copyright laws seem just to want to get there work out there. As usual there are few scrooges raining of the creative parade although most artists just pop up there umbrellas and keep creating - good on them.

Side note:
Not to make this the Marcus Westbury fan club but he is also involved in a great new project Renew Newcastle which he broached in the first series of Not Quite Art. Marcus also has a blog http://www.marcuswestbury.net/ which has lots of updates of what he is up to.

Modern art education

2008-10-28T15:57:00.013+11:00

The Tate galleries have added some interactive works in their exhibition that actually jump a few hurdles in engaging audiences and thank god for that.

The inclusion also of both interactive games and interactive screens as well a lot of opportunities for feedback is another great addition to the gallery experience.

The feedback area for The Turner Prize 2008 was an amazing inclusion and frankly much more memorable than the actually prize itself. The level of engagement with these interactive spaces was what really surprised me. The usual cynicism that goes along with arts education was completely removed and people genuinely wrote what they thought (good and bad), watched videos, drew and played and read the information available to them.

This was so much more fun that my childhood gallery visits. Thankfully art and fun is finally being combined!

The Musée des Arts décoratifs

2008-10-18T07:06:00.004+11:00

This newly renovated wing of the Musée du Louvre, Paris - The Musée des Arts décoratifs is a perfect example of how a museum can be renovated to create an amazing experience for the viewer. Having been in the swing of visiting many galleries in a row this museum was a breath of fresh air. As each floor dedicated to a different era and the evolution of design is clearly demonstrated without being didactic. In particular the collection of chairs from the 60s is an installation in itself. The perfect visit for the history of object design.

Rothko at the Tate Modern

2008-10-09T19:52:00.003+11:00

To say this is one of the most emotional exhibitions I have ever seen seems like a bit of an odd comment but it was. Despite the busy crowd and large number of works Rothko's canvases completely immerse the viewer. A bit of an agnostic, Rothko's deep paintings capture amazing spirituality without being condescending. The murals which were intended for the Seagram building but never used due to Rothko's withdrawal from commission for the very posh restaurant of the Four Seasons are an amazing changing addition.

I spent 2 hrs in this exhibition and would have spent more if the gallery wasn't closing. The audio tour is also fantastic and you can listen to some of the music that he painted in the background. Information and displays which explain the conservation and content of his painting technique is the best presentation of this that I have seen. This is a complete must see!

More photos of Tate Britain and the very interesting public programs to come.

Jeff Koons on the Roof of the Met

2008-10-08T07:20:00.004+11:00

This exhibition located on the top of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY and was very popular with visitors although the view from the roof may have help this along. Jeff Koons is commonly know as the artist who started out in advertising and shines (no pun intended) in this arena. Despite having seen these balloon works before, the location and subsequent reflections created in the works makes for interesting viewing. On until the 26th of Oct it is definitely worth the lift up to the 5th floor.

See the website for more

Catherine Opie @ The Guggenheim

2008-10-02T08:04:00.004+10:00

Catherine Opie: American Photographer.

September 26, 2008–January 7, 2009

The Guggenheim itself was a little disappointing. What looks like a majestic climb from the outside was a slightly awkward and hardly spiritual experience. The large void in the middle does little but bring all the noise from the foyer into the gallery spaces. These letdowns were easily fixed when I stumbled across Catherine Opie's epic retrospective. This exhibition in a word is genius.

Although contemporary portraits are all the rage at the moment Opie's portrait lend themselves to a much more thoughtful rather than Vanity Fair appearance. Her most recent collection of personal photographs explore the understanding of gender is the most natural and real way. Her landscapes are mesmerising as they take on their own personality and mystery. It is worth listening to the audio tour for this as Opie personally discussing each separate series.

CATHERINE OPIE AT THE GUGGENHEIM

Funny Finland?

2008-09-30T10:44:00.006+10:00

PS1 - Arctic Hysteria: New Art from Finland
June 1, 2008 - September 21, 2008 (although it was still on when I went on the 29th of September).

This exhibition which brings together some of Finland's wackiest and surprisingly funny works. The stand out work was a collection video taped performances of workshops undertaken by artists Tellervo Kalleinen and Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen with a variety of groups across the globe. These workshops create comic songs derived from complaints brought up at the community workshops. Discussing serious political complaints in Singapore to wondering why the beer is expensive in the Birmingham, England city centre.

The joy derived from these works shouldn't be underestimated - sometimes people connect more discussing the things that annoy them more than the things they love. Brillant! Check out all the performances at www.complaintschoir.org.

Architecture exhibitions at MOMA NY

2008-09-26T23:25:00.005+10:00

Dreamland: Architectural Experiments since the 1970s
July 23, 2008–March 2, 2009

This exhibition on the Architecture and Design Level of MOMA, NY captures the inventiveness that the New York architectural landscape inspires and the invention of a modern city. This collection of imagined and real buildings captures the Utopian concepts that emerge out of such a large and busy city.

Home Delivery: Fabricating the Modern Dwelling
July 20–October 20, 2008

The fabrication of buildings has been the modern dilemma for architects and this beautifully curated exhibition demonstrates the variety as well the bizarre concepts in the creation of quickly built homes. The collection of models and a large life size pre-fab post-war building captures the lack of character in these buildings. Images of Japanese and other nationalities buildings are very interesting in comparison.

Olafur Eliasson Waterfalls in NY

2008-09-24T23:55:00.003+10:00

This amazing installation by Olafur Eliasson in conjunction with the New York Government has put together these waterfalls all around the Brooklyn bridge area. These amazing waterfalls use the water from the river and then pump it back. The sunlight catches the flow of water and rainbows are created. It is quite spectacular. The industrial nature of the works means that it actually hard to tell it is an artwork as opposed to just water recycling but that does make the work very interesting. The work will only be on until the 13th of October check out the official website http://www.nycwaterfalls.com/

BCAM AT LACMA

2008-09-23T04:15:00.005+10:00

The LACMA in Los Angeles has recently undergone a big renovation so my timing in visiting it was pretty perfect. However in what seems to be an amazing addition is the Broad Contemporary Museum of Art. Broad, (named after the benefactors Eli and Edythe Broad - not as in general art) is an astounding collection of what is basically the best and comprehensive contemporary & pop-art collection I have seen.

Including works by Damian Hirst, Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein, Ed Ruscha, Andy Warhol, Ellsworth Kelly, Cindy Sherman, Jean-Michel Basquiat, John Baldessari, Jeff Koons, Chris Burden, Mike Kelley, and Richard Serra.This private collection which has been donated is not only a whos who of names but some of their most astounding and important works. This collection is basically gasp after gasp for those of us to don't live next to the MOMA or a similar institution.

Clearly it is Eli Broad's intention to make this rival and it does the likes of New York or London in terms of the collection and breadth of works. The security obviously was very tight, so I couldn't take photos however check out the online collection at the LACMA website.

the getty - LA

2008-09-17T13:27:00.009+10:00

My first international post from lovely LA:

The Getty Center is on top of an LA Hill looking down on the massive 405 Highway and the rich houses of Bel Air. This building just screamed the money and donations that American's contribute to the arts here and this building has the best of everything and the nicest tram leading up to the gallery I have ever seen.

Although the Getty Center by Richard Meier is an style an amazing piece of Modernist architecture has some classic modernist moves. From the eaves "that represent what the building purpose is", to the geometric use of squares and light coloured materials.

This is a really awe inspiring building and the although the museum's contents have absolutely nothing to do with Modernism it is still an amazing example when people have too much money and too time but do something great with it.

I heart Shaun Gladwell

2008-09-14T13:56:00.003+10:00

Finding this hilarious sticker on the back streets of Chippendale was amusing for a few reasons. One the person who wrote it had enough knowledge about him to spell Shaun correctly. Obviously it can be spelt Sean and a variety of other spellings.

The second amusing thing about this is that this sticker is obviously homemade & I haven't seen it anywhere else and the HATE is filled in.

The sticker could have been put there by a skater - although Gladwell is usually the poster boy for the urban dwellers. The skater kids might not be feeling the love.

Gladwell is one of those artist who have also risen to "fame" quite quickly and reasonably well-known by the general public. Although he has been a little overexposed you can't hold that against him and some of his recent works have been very engaging. Shaun should probably take this as a compliment at least people know who is he enough to hate him.

The art of shopping

2008-09-12T11:49:00.002+10:00

Walking around Sydney shops recently it made we wonder how much design has infiltrated our public spaces. Although crazy shop front windows have always been a sales technique, the front of any well heeled designer stores are starting to look remarkable like some kind of art installation but with more clothes.

This may well be a case of shops becoming more savy but mostly it is a bit of fun. Many fashion labels now work with artist in the creation of t-shirts and shoes and other customized items. But one has to wonder how much artists are getting paid for their contribution to these ventures - rather than the more traditional designers.

Check out these two shop installations - one for the Spring in David Jones and one for Louis Vuitton.

Both seem to grasping on to some coolness factor here although the age bracket viewing the Spring Fashions at David Jones was a little more interested in the Birds of Paradise (the flowers). Louis Vuitton seems also to be grasping at straws a little, my motto withstanding - CCTV is all over the art scene at the moment so they are at least on the pulse.

Surprise attack gardening

2008-09-11T16:09:00.001+10:00

A trend that seems to around at the moment is "guerilla gardening" which was started in New York in the 1970's, but is currently undergoing a revival. This random joyful expression changes public spaces and involves groups of people getting together to create gardens quickly and in strange and unusual urban spaces. The beauty of this seems to be that completely unwanted and unloved spaces are used and with rent and space pressure a little garden could go a long way. There is a story about this in the current YEN magazine and a website tropolism has a decidated section to pop-up gardens in New York City. I wonder however are there any Sydney Guerilla Gardeners out there?

Sydney Design Week 2008

2008-09-10T16:00:00.001+10:00

Sydney Design Week recently rolled around again and the unbelievable may have happened, my undying love of laser cut jewellery may finally be over. I do love the stuff however there are so many one can see in a day. Many of the designers at the Young Blood Market although they seemed very talented and had great work on offer - the repetition from booth to booth and from this year to last year was not especially inspiring. Some very interesting artists had taken over the bottom courtyard and were creating artwork on the spot for donations. This was a great addition and added a bit of spontaneity to an otherwise nice day out for a bunch of yuppies. Thank God for artists that need a bit of cash!

Welcome!

2008-09-10T15:39:00.005+10:00

Welcome to constructing art! I hope you enjoy my posts about Art, Design & Architecture in Sydney & Australia. Please feel free to email me through the about me section regarding any upcoming events that relate to my blog, inc. exhibition openings and talks. I look forward to all your comments & hope you enjoy my international posts from next week.