There's an old and dusty question kicking around metaphysics: what exactly is truth? Is something truthful if it corresponds to reality? Is something truthful if it is useful in describing the universe? I should approach this question with the appropriate caution: there is an answer there, but I am in no position to find it; I am an artist, not a mathematician or metaphysician. Formulating these sorts of truth finding equations has never been part of the job description. And yet truth, of some kind, does seem relevant to the way we talk and think about art.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Do Artists Today Need a Blog?
Do Artists Today Need a Blog?
The question-- Do artists need to have a blog in order to obtain the exposure they desire online? I’d say yes. If an artist, specifically an emerging artist, wants to reap the rewards of gaining exposure online it is vital to have a digital podium to stand on, so to speak. A blog devoted to your art is more important today than ever due to the popularity of websites such as Twitter and Facebook-- and other sites that cater to link exchanges and the delivery of information online. However, keep in mind that using a blog as a tool for exposure is only as strong as the content of your blog.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
MYARTSPACE.com has launched the 3rd annual juried MYARTSPACE Art Scholarship competition
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Superstition Aside, Art Can Be Powerful
Superstition Aside, Art Can Be PowerfulIt has been said that artists-- or at least their artwork-- have a way of bringing people together. However, the opposite can easily be said. After all, some artists make a career-- intentionally or unintentionally-- out of being forced into the role of social and political provocateur. One need only visit a New York City art gallery, read a mainstream art magazine, or visit any of the top art museums to take note of how controversial works of art dominate by seeping into our cultural dialogue. More often than not said works spur notions of hostility rather than some ideal of peace. Yet the romantic image of ‘the artist’ as great communicator and bridge builder persists.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
What Do You Want From Art?
What Do You Want From Art?
I read an article in passing recently that asked the question, “What does the public want from art?”. The article-- which, if memory serves me correct was featured in the Illinois Times, focused on current art market trends and the complications between what the public desires to view compared to what is coveted by art institutions and galleries. The piece targeted regional artwork and the local art scene-- however, this rather broad question obviously has global appeal. After all, in the last decade alone we have seen various forms of protest throughout the world concerning art and how and where it is viewed-- and what should be viewed.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Shepard Fairey vs The AP-- what is the fight really about?
Anyone familiar with the myartspace blog knows that I have issue with some of the opinions of Shepard Fairey concerning copyright and appropriation-- to the point that my opinions on the matter have been quotes by the Boston Globe and other news sources. I’m not going to go into detail about the Fairey vs. AP case because it has been covered before on this blog and the information is fairly easy to find with a mere Google search. However, I will make it clear that I do not think that-- as Fairey suggests-- his stance concerning the AP is one of “fighting” the good fight to “ protect the rights of all artists”-- as mentioned on his Obey website, http://www.obeygiant.com/
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Why every visual artist should have 5,000 friends on Facebook
Life today, in many ways, is driven by online social networking. Everyone from garage band musicians to presidential hopefuls realize the power of having a strong social network online-- and power in the online social networking realm is based, though I suppose would could debate this, on numbers. To put it bluntly, if you want to reap the rewards of exposure online you need to take advantage of social networking and that means having ‘friends’-- lots of them.
Monday, August 09, 2010
Art Space Talk: Lauren Utter
Born Drunk, Die Drunk by Lauren Utter
I decided to mark my return to writing for myartspace by interviewing one of our Featured artists-- Lauren Utter. As stated on Utter‘s myartspace profile, “New Jersey native Lauren Utter found her escape from the banality of suburban life through the subculture of punk rock. Though she briefly attended the School of Visual Arts, Lauren's work is more influenced by her adventures panhandling in New York's Lower East Side, hopping freight trains, and generally experiencing life in the gutter. Finding herself moved by the people and experiences encountered on the fringes of society, she seeks to share these stories through her work.”
Thursday, August 05, 2010
Rubbing Elbows or Breaking Arms: How Best to Respond to Art Critics in the Information Age
Rubbing Elbows or Breaking Arms: How Best to Respond to Art Critics in the Information Age
Before I venture into the grit of the topic above I wish to make something clear. I rank Edward Winkleman, Paddy Johnson, and Hrag Vartanian-- among others-- as examples of the top art bloggers writing today. While I enjoy their critical writings and insight-- I don’t always agree with their views. I’m certain they don’t always agree with me for that matter. That said, I have issue with a recent post by Edward Winkleman that I would like to tackle today. It is by no means a gesture of disrespect that I do so- and I’m taking it on because it is a topic I’ve wrestled with in the past. Game on…
Sunday, August 01, 2010
Open Question: As a visual artist-- what concerns do you have in regards to exhibiting and selling your artwork online?
- Have you had any overly positive or negative experiences in regards to exhibiting or selling artwork online?
- Do you have any advice about selling original artwork online?
- Where do you prefer to 'exhibit' your art online?
- Do you feel that the Internet is changing the 'landscape' of the global art market? If so how?
- What is more important to you-- gaining exposure and recognition for your artwork online or establishing an online business that is focused on your artwork?
Saturday, July 24, 2010
WWW Art Hijinks: Mel Gibson Rant
It is safe to say that anyone with Internet access or a television has heard about Mel Gibson’s recent tape rants. Needless to say, I could not resist posting these gems of hilarity. Apparently they have been floating around Facebook. What can I say-- the Art of Mel. How is that for social commentary?
Cow Tipping… Damien Hirst Style
Hirst's Mother & Child Divided (BBC)
BBC reports that a promotional model cow located near Damien Hirst’s exhibit at Torre Abbey in Devon has been stolen “several times“ despite an increase in security measures. The model cow-- used to promote Hirst’s Mother & Child Divided-- has been found in various places-- normally “grazing“ near the exhibit location. However, the cow has not been found since the last theft.
BBC reports that a promotional model cow located near Damien Hirst’s exhibit at Torre Abbey in Devon has been stolen “several times“ despite an increase in security measures. The model cow-- used to promote Hirst’s Mother & Child Divided-- has been found in various places-- normally “grazing“ near the exhibit location. However, the cow has not been found since the last theft.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Protecting Your Art Online
Protecting Your Art Online:
Since the advent of the Internet visual artists have been caught in a maelstrom between easy-- and accessible-- exposure for their art as well as the potential for images of their art to be used in ways they do not agree with-- in a sense, stolen. While it is true that the Internet has spurred a new form of art theft-- it has also paved the way for artists to gain exposure without the need for additional expenses that were warranted in the years before the World Wide Web. Thus, the desire-- easy exposure aside-- to protect ones work online is often a hot topic with visual artists from all walks of life and levels of professionalism.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
How has the Recession shaped the Art World?
How has the Recession shaped the Art World?
How has the recession-- and all the financial woes we have faced in recent years-- shaped the art world? Has the art market taken a step back or a step forward? Do emerging artists have an advantage or disadvantage due to the recession as far as making a name for themselves? Will we see an evolution-- or revolution- within the art world as to what is viewed as visionary? These are questions that I recently discussed with some of my associates.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Is Art the Only Statement an Artist Needs?
Is Art the Only Statement an Artist Needs?
Within minutes of posting “Artist Statements say Nothing when Plagiarism is Involved” I received some criticism on Facebook. The artist-- who asked to remain anonymous for this article-- stated that the artwork itself is the only statement that an artist needs. He went on to say that various forms of art writing by artists should not reflect more than the artwork itself. The artist went on to suggest that other forms of art writing, such as exhibit reviews and the opinion of art critics, are “point blank useless”. It was clear that this individual is of the opinion that artists should only speak visually-- and that art writing only serves as a means of mental masturbation, so to speak. I’d say that art writing-- at least some of it-- is of “point blank” importance-- and that some of us love to get ‘off‘.
Artist Statements say Nothing when Plagiarism is Involved
Artist Statements say Nothing when Plagiarism is Involved:
Since my involvement with http://www.myartspace.com/ it is safe to say that I’ve viewed the artwork of thousands of artists-- probably more in the hundreds of thousands-- online. I can remember days when it was not uncommon for me to view the work of at least 300 artists on a routine daily basis-- a constant search for potential interviews. Needless to say, I've viewed a lot of artwork and have read many artist statements as Senior Editor. Thus, I have learned to key in on potential problems concerning the statements of artists and the manner in which they gain exposure online.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Call For Artists -- Finding The Right Prospectus
“CALL FOR ENTRY”
I am gathering information to write about "Call For Entry” for visual artists. If you know of any contests, competitions or open calls with a deadline this summer or fall, send me the information. I am looking for museums, universities and brick and mortar galleries. Please no online galleries because MYARTSPACE has its own gallery devoted to selling works at NYAXE.
After doing some research, I am hoping to add some information to my blog and update it monthly.
I have had quite a bit of experience submitting my work to galleries and museums back when I was actively working in that direction. I know how frustrating it is to sift through all the crap out there. “How do we know what type of gallery is calling for entry?”
I used to look through Art Week for the latest call for entry; but they have gone by the wayside as of February 2010. Now, with the ubiquitous internet there are more and more scams. I will work very diligently to get some viable information very soon. In the mean time, I do know that some places are better than others in regard to visibility.
First of all, ask yourself why you want to show your work? Is it only to sell your work, or craving recognition, or just to get your art out there; "as we say in the art world?" Well, where is out there? If you look on the internet there are plenty of sites devoted to "call for entry" but most of them charge a yearly subscription. They aren’t too expensive but which one or two are the best?
I had friend of mine go through all the trouble in the submission process just to get into a tiny gallery way out in the middle of a wheat field in Nebraska. Not that there is anything wrong with Nebraska; but getting your art into show, after all the hard work put into making the art, preparing it to show and shipping it off, it seems like you would want to show in a place where plenty of people will see your art work.
Now, if you put in all that effort in making the art, getting it in order on CDs and DVDs, labeled, size/medium and all the other requests on the detailed prospectus, where are you going to show your work? It is always best to start close to home. If you are an emerging artist there are plenty of shows for artists who have just earned their MFA or have a limited number of shows under their belt. But for the people who have hit a ceiling and passed the emerging artist status, it becomes harder and harder to find quality places to submit work.
I know a woman who made up almost 300 portfolios and took them around to galleries in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Europe. She only got into one show and that was in Pacifica, California. Her work was great but no one cared to even look at it. She heard people laugh at her as she left a few of the galleries. I really felt bad for her. I don’t know what happened to her after she moved to New York but I hope she got off the ground.
I know there are many ways to get work shown but I will stick to “Open Calls For Entry” and “Artist’s Call For Entry.” Some of the “calls for art” may state their desire to look at an artist’s work for an upcoming show.
They may be looking for a certain theme or they want any genre of fresh art for an open call. Sometimes this work is shelved for future shows. They may be named, “call for entry” “call for art” “call for artist” but they all are requesting artist’s to send in examples of there work to their jury or selection committee. I am sure most of you already know this but I am just answering some of the questions from readers about this topic.
I will start with the competitions I know myself, do a bit more research and hopefully I will get plenty of information from "out there."
Of course I have to let you know about what MYARTSPACE has to offer in terms of competitions. The Scholarship competition is very successful for students and a few different competitions are coming up. I will keep you posted.
Let me know what you are interested in and what you would like to find out about art competitions.
I want to let you know about a “Call For Entry” in San Francisco where years ago a colleague of mind won and was almost sued for slander. I will just leave that information at that and move on. Look over the prospectus and see if your art would fit in the category.
Call For Artists: 2010/2011 Art on Market Street Kiosk Poster Series
2010/2011 Art on Market Street Kiosk Poster Series
CALL FOR ARTISTS: prospectus may be viewed at:
http://www.sfartscommission.org/pubartcollection/calls-for-artists/2010/05/10/call-for-artists-20102011-art-on-market-street-kiosk-poster-series/
APPLICATION DEADLINE: MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2010, 5:00 p.m.
Remember the deadline and follow the prospectus. After you read all the details you will see how much you have to do to “GET OUT THERE”
Feel Free to email me @
jennykterry@gmail.com
best,
Jenny Harris
Senior Editor
MYARTSPACE.com
I am gathering information to write about "Call For Entry” for visual artists. If you know of any contests, competitions or open calls with a deadline this summer or fall, send me the information. I am looking for museums, universities and brick and mortar galleries. Please no online galleries because MYARTSPACE has its own gallery devoted to selling works at NYAXE.
After doing some research, I am hoping to add some information to my blog and update it monthly.
I have had quite a bit of experience submitting my work to galleries and museums back when I was actively working in that direction. I know how frustrating it is to sift through all the crap out there. “How do we know what type of gallery is calling for entry?”I used to look through Art Week for the latest call for entry; but they have gone by the wayside as of February 2010. Now, with the ubiquitous internet there are more and more scams. I will work very diligently to get some viable information very soon. In the mean time, I do know that some places are better than others in regard to visibility.
First of all, ask yourself why you want to show your work? Is it only to sell your work, or craving recognition, or just to get your art out there; "as we say in the art world?" Well, where is out there? If you look on the internet there are plenty of sites devoted to "call for entry" but most of them charge a yearly subscription. They aren’t too expensive but which one or two are the best?
I had friend of mine go through all the trouble in the submission process just to get into a tiny gallery way out in the middle of a wheat field in Nebraska. Not that there is anything wrong with Nebraska; but getting your art into show, after all the hard work put into making the art, preparing it to show and shipping it off, it seems like you would want to show in a place where plenty of people will see your art work.
Now, if you put in all that effort in making the art, getting it in order on CDs and DVDs, labeled, size/medium and all the other requests on the detailed prospectus, where are you going to show your work? It is always best to start close to home. If you are an emerging artist there are plenty of shows for artists who have just earned their MFA or have a limited number of shows under their belt. But for the people who have hit a ceiling and passed the emerging artist status, it becomes harder and harder to find quality places to submit work.
I know a woman who made up almost 300 portfolios and took them around to galleries in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Europe. She only got into one show and that was in Pacifica, California. Her work was great but no one cared to even look at it. She heard people laugh at her as she left a few of the galleries. I really felt bad for her. I don’t know what happened to her after she moved to New York but I hope she got off the ground.
I know there are many ways to get work shown but I will stick to “Open Calls For Entry” and “Artist’s Call For Entry.” Some of the “calls for art” may state their desire to look at an artist’s work for an upcoming show.
They may be looking for a certain theme or they want any genre of fresh art for an open call. Sometimes this work is shelved for future shows. They may be named, “call for entry” “call for art” “call for artist” but they all are requesting artist’s to send in examples of there work to their jury or selection committee. I am sure most of you already know this but I am just answering some of the questions from readers about this topic.
I will start with the competitions I know myself, do a bit more research and hopefully I will get plenty of information from "out there."
Of course I have to let you know about what MYARTSPACE has to offer in terms of competitions. The Scholarship competition is very successful for students and a few different competitions are coming up. I will keep you posted.
Let me know what you are interested in and what you would like to find out about art competitions.
I want to let you know about a “Call For Entry” in San Francisco where years ago a colleague of mind won and was almost sued for slander. I will just leave that information at that and move on. Look over the prospectus and see if your art would fit in the category.
Call For Artists: 2010/2011 Art on Market Street Kiosk Poster Series
2010/2011 Art on Market Street Kiosk Poster Series
CALL FOR ARTISTS: prospectus may be viewed at:
http://www.sfartscommission.org/pubartcollection/calls-for-artists/2010/05/10/call-for-artists-20102011-art-on-market-street-kiosk-poster-series/
APPLICATION DEADLINE: MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2010, 5:00 p.m.
Remember the deadline and follow the prospectus. After you read all the details you will see how much you have to do to “GET OUT THERE”
Feel Free to email me @
jennykterry@gmail.com
best,
Jenny Harris
Senior Editor
MYARTSPACE.com
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Universitys' Master’s Thesis Shows
Monica Lundy 2010
California College of Arts & Crafts, Oakland before attending to San Francisco State University
gouache on paper, 2010
May is a busy time for Universities. In the art world, the Master’s Thesis Fine Art Exhibitions is one of the most pivotal moments in an artist life. Millions of art collectors, patrons of the arts, curators, critics, other artists and friends descend on campuses to view the art of students just about to enter the competitive art market. Because these students have been studying innovative ideas, collaboration, style and refinement of their work for the last two or three years, their art may be on the cutting edge waiting to be to be scooped up by collectors. Students will use this work to contact galleries and competitions to start, or extend their art career.
I looked up MFA Thesis shows and found a few in the Bay Area. The three I picked are not a reflection of the best art work in this area; but they are the shows I had time to visit, read about or view online. I did notice most of the artists did not have their own web page -- to easily access through their University’s MFA show web site. Or could I find them on any social web site. I believe having a place to share their art would be an important tool for student to learn in this age of social networking.
It is a well know fact, if you want to start collecting art -- go to MFA Thesis Shows. Student artists are very interested in selling their art, at no commission to a gallery, for great prices.
Don’t be surprised if you run into artist egos because these students are coming off a high where they were on top of their world.
Exhibition Dates: May 2−30, 2010
My first adventure was to
Nic Buron, Joey Castor, Chris Fraser, Dana Hemenway, Kija Lucas, Bobby Lukas, Monica Lundy, Kate Stirr, Adam Vermeire and Doug Williams.
Monica Lundy 2010
271, gouache on paper, 2010
Monica Lundy's investigations of historical California criminals manifest, of women who were in prison, in a series of paintings and sculpture that explore identity perception in relation to systems of social classification.
This body of work was inspired by prison archival photographs from the California State Archives in
These oil and gouache portraits of female inmates and the application of wet clay to the gallery wall diluted paint that pools, bleeds, and separates as it dries, creates an effect of staining or erosion; or wet clay on the wall that leaves as evidence only a trace of what was there before. “Working in this way conjures mental parallels to the corrosive nature of time on material things,” Lundy said.
Lundy has already had numerous exhibitions and has studied in painting in
This work and the other 2010 MFA student’s work can be seen through the end of this month.
Mills College
Tuesday-Sunday 11-4 pm
Wednesday 11-7:30 pm
San Francisco Art Institute MFA Exhibition 2010
Runs through: 15–22 May 2010
If you can only make it to one show and really want to see a cross section of what’s happening in the contemporary art world you can’t miss the “San Francisco Art Institute MFA Graduate Exhibition, Vernissage. This show will feature work by nearly 100 artists graduating from the SF Art Institute this year.
Artists include: Maia L. Anderson, Luca Nino Antonucci, Alexis Arnold, David Bayus, Pete Belkin, Pamela Belknap, Tyler Borenstein, Percy Cannon, Reece Camp Carter, Richard Bluecloud Castaneda, Carlos Castro Arias, Alma Chaney, Kim Cook, Christina Corfield, Liz Corman, Ian Coyle, Taylor Crawley, Nicole Crescenzi, Donald Daedalus, Xiao-long Dai, Tyrone Davies, Kate Dipietro, Emily Dippo, Stephanie Dodes, Mercedes Dorame, Jason Driskill, Sara Eliassen, Carrie Elzey, Rashin Fahandej, Catherine Anne Fairbanks, Laura Boles Faw, Michael Robinson Fleming, Ferdinanda Florence, Aryk Gardea, Lindsay Gardner, Brynda Glazier, Jono Goodman, David Marc Grant, Casey Gray, Robin Griswold, Ashley Harris, Lauren Hartman, Melkorka Helgadóttir, Michael Hilt, Chris Hood, Tsen-Chu Bamboo Hsu, Neil Jernstrom, Lindsay Jordan, Hyunsun (Yuri) Jung, Amelia Layton, Jack Leamy, Ko Woon Lee, Hava Liberman, Cathy Chih Lu, Christine Lund, Julie Mallozzi, Romy Leanides Mariano, Susan Alta Martin, Margaux McAllister, Christopher Walton McLean, Carling McManus, Sonja Meller, Nicholas Conrad Miller, Mimi Moncier, Amy Morgenstern, Robert Moya, Muistardeaux Collective, Crystal Am Nelson, Karl Nelson, Jennifer Odell, Ian Alan Paul, Eric Petitti, Scott Polach, Carissa Potter, Ernest Eugene Regua, Lina María Rincón, Eric A. Roman, Lisa Mitchell-Schmaltz, Jesse Eric Schmidt, Gretchen Adelia Schneider, Stephen R. Shearer, Daniel R. Small, Marta Spurgeon, Magda Stanová, Mary Jakse Strebinger, Jen Susman, Amy R. Sweeney, Michael Ten Pas, Angela Thornton, Krissie Tosi, Paulina Velázquez Solís, Kheng-li Wee, Cascade Wilhelm, Megan Wynne, Michele Wysocki, Rochelle You, Amber Jean Young, Daniel Yovino, and Eric Zeigler.
Paulina Velázquez Solís
Solis was born in Puebla, México but moved to Costa Rica, where she obtained her BFA in Visual Arts at the National University (UNA) in printmaking with teachers such as Adrián Arguedas and Rudy Espinoza.
Her work is focused at the moment in the symbolism behind games and playful actions, using techniques such as printmaking, as well as video, animation and three-dimensional objects. In her thesis work she found discarded objects on the sidewalks in a couple of
She plans to go back to
She has also shown her work in such places as Casa de las Américas in
Vernissage
(
Gallery hours: daily from 12:00 to 6:00p.m.
San Francisco State University 2010 Thesis Show
Through May 14
Seven emerging, prolific artists present new work in textiles, sculpture, painting, conceptual and information arts, photography and printmaking. Showcasing the creativity and diversity in the SF State Art Department’s rigorous, competitive three-year M.F.A. program, these artists all exhibit their works actively throughout
Bren Ahearn, Luke Damiani, Aaron Granich, Matt Kennedy, Taryn McCabe, Jeff Ray, and Holly Williams.
Luke Damiani 2010
Luke Damiani’s wood and metal sculpture presents as a statement on industrialism’s crude beginnings. These machines would have little use with today’s rapid farming practices. Along any highway in
Damiani say,
Gallery Hours: Wednesday - Saturday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Through May 14th
Closed Sunday through Tuesday.
Fine Arts Building Room 238
More On Thesis Shows:
After all the research I did through the internet I found it difficult to find accessible images of students’ work at University MFA Programs. The Master Thesis Shows' Art should be easy to find and the artists work displayed. I didn’t have all that much luck in the Bay Area finding good web sites. But I did find two from other states -- that go right to the MFA students’ thesis show. Why do most colleges neglect to have students work easily available to view on the internet? Shouldn't learning how to display their art on the internet be on the curriculum? There are too many unorganized, ugly, non-productive sites around that do more harm than good for the visibility of fresh art from the energetic group of recent graduates.
Go to these sites to see if they are easy to look through.
Emerging and established artist need to understand how to show their work through the World Wide Web.
http://www.class.uh.edu/blaffer/exhibit_2010_thesis.html
http://www.massart.edu/Galleries/Featured_Exhibitions/MFA_Thesis_10.html
Jenny Harris
Senior Editor
MYARTSPACE.com
Saturday, May 08, 2010
Appropriating Shepard Fairey's Art
Appropriating Art For Fun
Someone has stolen Speperd Frairy iconic art, “HOPE.” But I don't think he can do anything about it. A web site is already dedicated to allowing people to add their image to the “HOPE” design to render an image similar to Frairy’s work.
I was so excited I looked up who is using it and found an interesting mix of people joining in on the fun. It is sort of like doing graffiti art on the internet.
So go to http://obamiconme.pastemagazine.com/ and get started on your own piece of history. You will be immortalized.
Some of the design templates reflect the “HOPE” poster closely and others just give it a hint of Frairy's work. The more I looked around the more I found uses of his work as a money making operation. An appropriation via an iconic piece of artwork. If you would like to see some more information on what you can do to get a copy of an artists work and mess with it, like painting a mustache on the “Mono Lisa,” see what Paste Magazine has to offer.
Paste Magazine says in a short explanation of what the site did after appropriating Fairey's work:
"Paste Magazine launched Obamicon shortly before President Obama's inauguration in January. The site allowed users to make images of them in the style of Shepard Fairey's iconic "Hope" poster. 
The site received over a million visitors in its first month, with over 1.25 million webicons created to date. Iranicon is the third official webicon, following "Luvicon" and Obamicon. Paste has also produced webicons for Green for All and the Atlanta Hawks." I wonder what Fairey thinks about this? This magazine is raking in the bucks from advertizing because of the interest in this little project.
Over a million webicons created. Now we have a new word for the dictionary webicons?
HOW I FOUND THE OBAMICON
Someone sent me an attachment of this band that has exploded the Internet with their music. The neo-punk-rap-rave-band Die Atwood (The Answer) has no respect. They not only took on the adoption of Frairy's work they use it for advertising for their music. However, Die Antwoord says they have no respect for anything political or commercial. Like punk and rap music, Die Antwoord spews its share of profanity at the audiences and airwaves. Some of the portrayals are sort of corny for me like their use of the Ninja. It is funny and goofy but some how it works. Their message is clear there language is not.
I spray painted over a word on the poster to the left because it is one of the seven dirty words a journalist is forbidden to use (thanks George Carlin). Although it is not the same spelling as in our culture it translates the same. If you haven't guessed what that word is I can give you the first letter, f. It would give me a lot of joy to have left the word as it was, but heck just Google it. Some people are very offended by these words so we must obey the law or should I say perceived law.
A bit of information on this band -- the members grew up in the same trailer park in
Let me get back to the art work the band evokes. What is interesting, besides the uses of Frairy's “HOPE” poster, was their visual art in their videos, posters, and mostly from their fans. Their Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/DieAntwoord is set up for fans to comment, share photos and to display some of their own art work. It looks nothing like my family's Facebook page, by the way. Some of this work is very good but you have to sift through a lot of band photos to get to pieces like the one below of Yolandi.
The artist is a fan and admirer from
Just because the art is coming from the influence of music and it may be appropriated by armature artist. It could be classified into a genre of art much like Frairy’s graffiti art. The groups parody of contemporary genres of art and music. It funny and fresh. I can't say I am going to follow their current popularity on the "inter-web" Internet, but I do have a lot of questions about why they decided to use Frairy's work to portray their image. Maybe it just crossed the minds of the band members. Almost every aspect of this band is an appropriation. I am sure they would just say “F--- it.
It is very important to note sometimes the truth is better told by artists. The issues of racism in
“As
I hope you have time to take a peek at Paste Magazine and do yourself up into a piece of artwork. Send me your images as you do them and I will collect and post them to this blog.
Thanks to Speaperd Frairy we all have hope.
My Facebook friend Steve took advantage of the Paste Magazine Obomicon me web site and did a nice job on his self portrait.
If you like to email me or send me your Obomicon me images send it to:
jennykterry@gmail.com
Jenny Harris
Senior Editor
MYARTSPACE.com not con.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Our Blog Has been restructured
myartspace has been blogging for more than 4 years. We have a collection of hundreds of interviews, articles, and interesting nuggets of information about the contemporary art world.
Due to some technical changes at Blogger, we've done some restructuring of our blog. Hopefully all will run well, but please do let us know otherwise.
Due to some technical changes at Blogger, we've done some restructuring of our blog. Hopefully all will run well, but please do let us know otherwise.
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