JaxCAL.org

NextGEN JaxCAL

2007-09-10T14:10:00.000-05:00

Folks the time has arrived. I'm been working on how to take JaxCAL to the next level, and well I think I'm there now. I thank everyone for their input on this little Blogger site. JaxCAL has grown up now and is now using Wordpress. Anything you want to do we can now do.

The new url is now http://www.jaxcal.org/.

This site will now be suspended. All contributors please go over to the new site and register by clicking here. Super easy. Once registered you'll be able to add posts and use the Events Calendar. Read the About page as it has a some instructions if you need them. It's really easy though. No worries.

You add an event to the Events Calendar the same way you write a post but at the bottom you'll see an option that says Event Editor. Set the time and date, and click publish.

Also there's a little chat feature that I think I would like folks to use. Really anything you want to do we can now do it on the new platform.

I also have a page at the top called Shows. I'm hoping it will turn into an Art Show Reviews section. Anyone who'd like to review shows please shoot fell free to. Shoot any reviews to jaxcaleague@gmail.com

Long live JaxCAL. Thanks everyone for turning this blog into a living breathing arts community.

2007 Soho Art Parade

2007-09-10T09:53:00.000-05:00

photo by N!fer

This is why I love Flickr. Great set of art parade pics here

and

here

and here

2007-09-07T06:54:00.000-05:00

Do you want your Art in Public Places??--Public Art Workshop

A FREE workshop describing the public art process will be held at the Ritz Theatre & LaVilla Museum on September 8 from 1-3pm. The workshop is for artists as well as those interested in learning more about the public art field. The artist Susan Cooper will specifically address the unique concerns of public art.

Ritz Theatre & LaVilla Museum Braided with PUBLIC Art

A new public artwork entitled LaVilla Braid has been installed at the Ritz Theatre & LaVilla Museum at 829 North Davis Street, as part of Jacksonville’s Art in Public Places Program. LaVilla Braid will be dedicated on Saturday, September 8 at 7pm. The Colorado-based artist, Susan Cooper will lead a nighttime tour showcasing the complete installation.

LaVilla Braid is Cooper’s visual interpretation of LaVilla’s history and culture in a multi-media art installation. The work is composed of three separate “braids” named for their locations at the site: the pedestrian braid, the motorist braid, and the community braid. Eight colorful, aluminum, wall-mounted sculptures, are the “pedestrian braids” (pictured). They represent film, music, art, the St. John’s River (from left to right), and will flank the entrance at the northwest corner of the facility.

The motorist braid, a sculpture made from woven, colored LED light tubes, will wrap around the southwest corner of the building (pictured). The community braid, an installation of crisscrossed lights, will be projected onto the top level of the building, displaying a braided pattern of lights viewable from a considerable distance (pictured).

For LaVilla Braid, Cooper was inspired by MaVynee Betsch, better known as the “Beach Lady,” who worked for over 30 years to preserve American Beach, the community founded by her great-grandfather, A.L. Lewis. Like Betsch’s complex braided hairstyle, Cooper weaves metal, color, and light to reflect the Beach Lady’s intertwining of history, culture, and philosophy.

To learn more about Susan Cooper’s work, visit www.susancooperart.com.

Jacksonville’s Art in Public Places Program (APPP) uses designated funds from city construction and renovation projects to purchase works of public art to display in the community. The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville administers the APPP on behalf of the City of Jacksonville. For more information, contact Allison Graff at 904.358.3600.

Vestal Show 9/7!!!

2007-09-06T17:36:00.001-05:00

Some entertainment for Friday night, the Vestal art and music show. Over 50 artists, a bunch of bands, drink specials, I think the last show generated of 1500 people, so be one of them!

Call for Shows

2007-09-06T10:59:00.000-05:00

Hi there, most of you know that I work here at the local art mag, Arbus. Well, we are begining to put together our annual "Holiday to-do" List, and I'd like to feature some art-related events...so, if anyone has anything exciting planned for Dec...email me at mp@arbus.com.

thx-mp

Art Group Calendar

2007-09-06T08:24:00.000-05:00

Hey artists. I've just created an art calendar using Google Calendars, something I just stumbled across. I know I know, pathetically slow to keep up with generation Y (or is it generation zzz). Once I started fooling around with the features of the calendar, it just seemed like a great way for the JaxCAL group to share events like art openings or face-to-face meetings all in one place. Recently, I found myself searching through archived blog entries trying to find that specific one where somebody mentioned a show coming up and that seems unnecessary.

I don't even think you have to join anything new (not sure). But I think by being on Blogger you're already able to use Google's calendar and I think I have it set so everyone can view, edit, and post events.

So if you guys are into it you can view it here Art Calendar and join here Subscribe.

The only event on there to see how it works is on November 9th, my own show the only event I knew of. So check it out, post an event, or even just let me know the links worked.

NAVEL GAZERS

2007-09-05T20:15:00.000-05:00

I'm ready for someone to say something nasty, not critical then followed by a "but I understand" kind of thing. I'm talking mean, spit in your eye, talk about your mama, pistol whip, kind of nasty. Name names! How about a drunken artist fight? I bet I could get Morrison to be in one corner. Who wants to go toe to toe?

We're all too nice.

Scott Allen posted a critical comment about the portent show, but then he wouldn't back up his words, then he almost apologized for making them, then he said he didn't like one person's work, but the rest was good. He should have stood behind his comments. He should have explained why he didn't like that particular artist work.
If you're going to criticize a show, explain why, then stand behind it. It's fine to tell a couple of friends on the way home that you didn't like the show, but don't blog about it.
Moreover, I would like to take Steve and Mark's comments to task.
I don't apologize for the portent show. I think it was the best show in this town in a while. And I don't think we were misleading anyone with the idea of really good things to come (portent). I also happen to think that I'm a damn good artist and I challenge anyone to prove me otherwise. The same goes for Mark and Steve and the rest of the Beaver/Pedestrian crew.

The line has been drawn in the sand. Who's stepping over it?

KP

Rick Rubin

2007-09-04T13:08:00.000-05:00

There's a great article in the Times about Rick Rubin: is he a man doing a mysterious bearded shaman shtick, or the real thing? It's a pretty long article, might merit printing out and reading over tea or coffee.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/02/magazine/02rubin.t.html?em&ex=1188964800&en=c39103cf9c12a7a8&ei=5087%0A

On this holiday weekend....

2007-09-03T10:48:00.000-05:00

another roadside bomb takes one of our dear trophy soldiers.......

While aboard the USS Denton, Petty Officer #FFCCCC got a lesson in Dan Read’s kindness. “He knew that my wife and I were broke and she couldn’t send very many care packages to me so he told his wife about it. About a month later I received two packages, one from her and one from their church,” Read wrote on a military bulletin board. “When I got them, I couldn’t believe that someone I had never met cared enough to send me something. I never thought that a bottle of shampoo could bring me to tears.” Petty Officer #FFCCCC, 21, of New York City, died at 7am EST Sep. 3rd , 2007 at Camp Tisch by a roadside bomb while entering the front gate.
Spread Awareness by posting a flyer

Portent, I said Portent !

2007-09-01T20:02:00.000-05:00

Portent, I said Portent opening photos by yours truly.

Opening photos by CREATEJacksonville.

Thanks Brittni. Great pics.

Thanks everyone for coming to the opening. What a great turnout. This show will be up through September.

Cheers.

bk

Inaugural Exhibition

2007-08-29T22:04:00.001-05:00

"Pedestrian Projects Inc. is delighted to present its inaugural exhibition, "Portent, I Said Portent". The show features artists Byron King, James Greene, Brittni Wood, Mark Creegan, and Kurt Polkey, and will include painting, sculpture, drawing, installation, and photography.

The title of the exhibit suggests a positive sign of things to come for the visual arts in Jacksonville. The unique work on display foreshadows a new, contemporary direction for the local cultural scene, indicating we are on the cusp of something exciting and progressive."

The artists extend the metaphor further by creating work that stands as a reaction to and against the ominous "portents" we read everyday in the news. All of the artists are young, many with young families, and their work conceptually and materially reflects their ever-present anxiety about the future.

7pm Thursday, August 30th SEGD Private Designer Reception
7pm Friday, August 31st Opening Reception

Location:
1535 San Marco Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32207. Click for Map.
Email:
PedestrianProjects@comcast.net

Silverstein: Retrospective

2007-08-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/082207/ner_192966415.shtml

A retrospective of Brad Silverstein's work opens Thursday night at JU. I met him briefly and was extremely shocked to hear that such a young talented artist has passed away. I was really hoping to work with him on some projects locally. Really sad news. Life is truly too short. My condolences go out to his family.

Here's a link to his web site:
http://www.bradsilverstein.com/

2007 Hipster Olympics

2007-08-28T22:55:00.000-05:00

"Hobos are the new Unicorns"..so true!

A protocol must be followed

2007-08-28T21:48:00.000-05:00

Juried Art Exhibition protocol

It’s very important that in conducting a juried art competition that a strict protocol is adhered to. With “FLOOD”, Beaver Contemporary Art Center’s first Juried Exhibition, a protocol has been defined and set. This is done to assure that the competition is fair and unbiased. Here are the steps of protocol we are taking for “FLOOD”:

An out-of-town juror has been selected to jury the exhibition. This insures that the juror is unfamiliar with the artist’s of this region.
The artists in the Beaver committee have agreed not to enter the competition.
Names will be omitted from all entries. Each entry will be given a number and transferred to one or more master disks for the juror. This way the artist’s names will not appear on the disks or disk covers. The juror will only receive the numbered digital images with the matching (numbered) sheet that indicates title, medium and size.
There will be no communication with the juror regarding the entries. If the juror were to jury the exhibition in person, our group (if present) would be trained on being silent during the selection process. No verbal or visual signals will be allowed during the selection process. We will do everything in our power to insure that the juror’s selections will be his own.
All entries that are submitted within the given timeframe and meet with the requirements on the prospectus are submitted to the juror.
It has not been determined whether or not the juror will come to Jacksonville to judge the prize winner. If he does, a same strict protocol used in the juryng process will be enforced. If the juror cannot come to Jacksonville to judge the prize winner, he will make his selection from the digital images.

Please feel free to comment on this set of protocols. We are very interested on how they may be improved upon.
Thank you,
Sharla T. Valeski
Beaver Contemporary Art Center

From Jacksonville's greatest (relatively) unknown (relatively) playwright

2007-08-28T16:23:00.001-05:00

I forewarn you that I was invited to add to this blog, so if you don't like my writing, don't blame me.

I was invited to write here after I sent a cynical-bordering-on-cancerous E-mail to JaxCAL.org's blogmaster bemoaning the fact that, even though I do not create tangibly "physical" art, I think of myself as just as financially- and PR-deprived as any other artist in Jacksonville.

I have been, in various capacities, a local movie critic and playwright for the past 20 years. My movie reviews, at least, found a home -- at Jacksonville Beach's twice-weekly newspaper, The Beaches Leader, for whom I've critiqued for the past ten years. (Upfront disclosure: My wife is the newspaper's editor.)

By contrast, my long-awaited semi-fame for playwriting did not begin until the summer of 2005. At that time, I happened to watch a DVD of the venerably bad sci-fi cult film Plan 9 from Outer Space. When I found myself shouting corny responses to the TV screen as if I was at a Rocky Horror screening, I figured I'd better make something out of it. So I found a copy of the movie's script on-line, printed it out, and went to town satirizing it.

I hated to keep to myself something into which I'd poured so much effort, so I sent my "revised" version -- titled "Plan Nine from Outer Space: The Rip-Off" -- to every theater in town. The Jacksonville-theater circuit will tell you they are starved for low-budget, high-quality entertainment that they can produce without legal hassles. Don't you believe it. The only theater in town that showed any interest was Boomtown, run by the locally infamous Stephen Dare, who basically handed the theater over to me so that I could write, direct, and co-star in my first-ever stage venture. It was a moderate hit, and I and anyone in the cast could tell you how much fun we had.

Stephen called on me a year later to help resuscitate his Thursday-night program "Pulp Fiction Theatre," an excellent concept that was then being run into the ground by its wet-behind-the-ears cast. Stephen and I assembled a new cast from Plan Nine players and some other actors Stephen had worked with. Again, we had a blast. I wrote, co-acted, and co-directed three one-act playlets every Thursday night from January through April of this year. I quit only because I had a day job that didn't bode well for my Thursday-night late-night venture.

Boomtown has now moved to Hendricks Avenue and is in the process of trying to get its theater venue to co-exist with its newly-formed bistro. If the merger works, I will have a new play to launch at Boomtown in October. Stephen asked for an old-style-radio play, so I've written The Fairly Big Broadcast of 1937, a take-off on Orson Welles' famed War of the Worlds broadcast of Halloween 1938.

Why do I mention all of this? Because despite the fact that I am at least a semi-known quantity in Jacksonville theatre now, I can't get backing to save my life. My "advertising" consists of any free notice I can get in local entertainment publications (Folio Weekly, etc.) and any leaflets I make up and distribute and/or post around town.

I will never understand why it has to be like this. I do not beg well, which is why I don't try to obtain local grants or financed ads that they wouldn't let me have anyway. I used to review local theater for Folio, so I know how in-bred the local theater process is anyway. (You'll notice that Folio doesn't even do theater reviews anymore.)

I hope someone out there will notice this and take note of my admitted horn-blowing. I have tons of material that I wrote for "Pulp Fiction Theater" and never got a chance to even try out. I am more than willing to write new stuff, given the right incentive. Or would local theatre rather spend hundreds for the rights to "brand name" writers such as Neil Simon, or spend nothing for the rights to decades-old public-domain stuff that nobody wants to see anyway?

(While I'm at it, how is it that certain business won't even let me post leaflets for my Boomtown plays because I charge admission, while local theaters that also charge admission are allowed to post lavish posters that cost more than I have for even a single play's production budget??)

There, I've gotten all of that off my chest. If you want to check out my past and present work, here are some URLs of my stuff:

http://www.epinions.com/user-skad13
http://www.angelfire.com/scifi2/plannine/index.html
http://www.pulpfictiontheatre.tk

If you want to tell me what a blowhard I am, E-mail me at:

barbaraeberlyfan@excite.com

Thanks for letting me sound off!

2007-08-28T11:25:00.000-05:00

Looking for art events in Jacksonville…Need a place to advertise your exhibition...

The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville and nGen Works have created ExperienceJax, an online community calendar that encourages anyone to add art, cultural, or entertainment events in Jacksonville.

Visit http://experiencejax.com today and add your next event.

I Hear Many Voices--Revised

2007-08-26T23:22:00.000-05:00

Art Community stakeholders

Jacksonville’s art community is buzzing. Because of many conversations lately, I am trying to define the term “art community” by categorizing its stakeholders. Who is included in the art community? What is the motivation of each member of the community? Who are the consumers of the art?

Who are the stakeholders in our art community? Please consider producers and consumers. Individuals may often represent multiple viewpoints. Think of a person you would consider to be a member of the art community--is that person represented in the list below? Who is missing?

After school programs

Art commissions

Artists

Art professionals

Art sales

Art teachers

Business owners

Community educators

Consultant

Collectors

College instructors

College students

Cultural Organizations

Curators

Critics

Dealer/Agent

Designers

Donors

Downtown development

Event patrons

Gallery (commercial)

Galleries (display)

Grantors

K-12 students

Libraries

Media

Members of Cultural Organizations

Museums

Parks and recreation

Parents

Patrons

Program participants

Public Art Programs

Social service agencies

Tourism

Universities

Vendors/Suppliers

Volunteers

Writers

IDENTIFYING MOTIVATIONS

Below you will find a list of various categories. Each is composed of multiple stakeholders or consumers. For example, Art Production assumes an artist’s primary motivation/mission is to produce or create. Supplies are also involved in art production by providing those products or services required to materialize a work of art. Once the work is produced, it is displayed or purchased (or stored). An entire web of relationships, stimulated by the production of art, begins to intertwine stakeholders. Each category is motivated by unique needs and will require separate objectives. A stakeholder may have multiple motivations--this list attempts to focus on primary purpose.

Where are you on this list? Let me know your thoughts.

a. artists and ART PRODUCTION

· Display (galleries, museums, business environment)

o Consultants

· Sales (commercial galleries, corporate, collectors)

o Agents/Dealer

· Suppliers (material vendors, equipment, fabrication, installation)

· Art Professionals (specialists to assist with all aspects of production, display, sales, etc.)

· Support Personnel (marketing, non-art jobs)

B. access and Appreciation (enable access to art)

· Cultural Organizations

· Public Art and programming

· Libraries

· Parks and Recreation Programs

· Volunteers

· Critics/Writers

· Media

b. History

· Stewards (museums, archives, conservation, preservation)

· Research

· Writers

c. Education (Formal, informal, higher education, community, after school, professional development)

· Learners (early childhood, K-12, higher education, artists, adult (non-artist), seniors)

· Teachers (classroom, higher education, instructors, mentors)

· Institutions (Early Learning, DCPS, UNF, FCCJ, JU, Edward Waters, Art Institutes)

d. Human Services (Hospitals, at-risk children, crime prevention)

· Art Therapy

· Partnerships

· Social Services

e. Funding

· Public (city, state, federal)

· Private (members, event-based fundraising)

· Donors (grants, solicited)

· Corporations (sponsorship, partnership)

· Foundations

f. Tourism and Development

· Visitors

· Recruitment/Retention

· Economic Impact

· Downtown Development

John Cage and the masses

2007-08-24T20:38:00.000-05:00

Here is a great video-John Cage on an old game show- the game was canceled for his performance. I love his improvising with the radios.

And while we are on the subject of mixing popular and avant garde music:

2007-08-24T11:02:00.000-05:00

The Beaver Contemporary Art Center is accepting entries for their juried exhibition "Flood".The event, being held at Pedestrian Projects Gallery in Jacksonville, is open to all of Florida and Georgia residents.Installation, Video, 2D and 3D media accepted. The juror for this event is Jim Frazer. We will be accepting JPEG images on CD's.Accepted work may be either mailed or hand delivered. The schedule is as follows:September 17, 2007 - POSTMARK OF ENTRIESOctober 5, 2007 - JURORS NOTIFICATIONOctober 26, 2007 - WORK DUE TO GALLERYNovember 2, 2007 - OPENING RECEPTIONNovember 29, 2007 - EXHIBIT CLOSESNovember 29, 2007 - PACKING / SHIPPING

To download prospectus/call for entries form go to www.freethebeaver.org
For further information or questions regarding this event call or email us at 904 859-8281 pedestrianprojects@comcast.net

another roadside bombing.

2007-08-24T06:46:00.000-05:00

come see portraits of PVT #000000 and all of our fallen Trophy Soldiers at the very first opening at Pedestrian Projects.

Portent, I said Portent!
7pm Friday, August 31st Opening Reception
Location:1535 San Marco Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32207.
PedestrianProjects@comcast.net

City Support for Nonprofits in Jeopardy

2007-08-22T13:00:00.000-05:00

HELP SAVE OUR CITY!!

I hope everyone is aware of the finance committee debates about Public Service Grant funding for nonprofits in Jacksonville. As a newbie to city government myself, I am still learning about the effect of Governor Christ's property tax cuts on local budgets and city services. Here is a super quick synopsis.

In July, the Florida Legislature passed a bill that will require cities throughout Florida to rollback city budgets to the 2006-7 fiscal year amount. Added to the COJ's existing deficit, this legislation will create a $65 million shortfall in Jacksonville's city budget. The Mayor proposed a budget that would cut department budgets by 10% while adding fees for trash, storm runoff, etc. Visit coj.net to see the Mayor's entire presentation. Currently, City Council is "ripping to shreds" the Mayor's proposed budget. A final budget must be past by October 1, 2007.

The finance committee meeting to discuss Public Service Grants will be held Thursday, August 23 from 9-12pm at City Hall. Over $11 million in PSG funds are in jeopardy of being lost to offset the deficit. Visit helpsaveourcity.com
for more information about what Jacksonville will lose as a result of Christ's property tax legislation.

THE WHITE PAPER

2007-08-21T21:43:00.000-05:00

http://www.jaxwhitepaper.blogspot.com/

Poor Art House

2007-08-21T14:56:00.000-05:00

and JaxCore... A car ran into the building that housed both of these places late last night. Apparently the man who hit the building was shooting at his wiife, who was in another car at the time that he slammed into the building. JaxCore's ceiling has collapsed and I am not sure the extent of the damage to Art House. Mia was/is having an art opening on August 31st...this sure is going to put a damper on things.

Here is the link for more info:
http://www.urbanjacksonville.info/2007/08/21/roof-collapse-at-jaxcore-art-house/#comments

2007-08-20T20:01:00.000-05:00

There are going to be times when we can't wait for somebody. Now, you're either on the bus or off the bus. If you're on the bus, and you get left behind, then you'll find it again. If you're off the bus in the first place—then it won't make a damn.

Ken Kesey as quoted by Tom Wolfe in The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test (1968) Ch. 11

Crickets

2007-08-20T05:58:00.000-05:00

chirping...

ART CARS

2007-08-18T20:30:00.001-05:00

Anyone here remember the ART CAR event back in the late 90's that happened here?
Would be fun to have that happen again................
anyway here is a link to houston's art car event page
they have a full time staff and it runs all year long.
Very big thing for houston i would imagine
there are not many city's that embrace it.
maybe one or two other cities that do it...................

http://www.orangeshow.org/artcar.html

Call for Entries: Regional Juried Art Exhibition

2007-08-17T09:53:00.000-05:00

The Beaver Contemporary Art Center is accepting entries for their juried exhibition "Flood".
The event, being held at Pedestrian Projects Gallery in Jacksonville, is open to all of Florida and Georgia residents. Installation, Video, 2D and 3D media accepted. The juror for this event is Jim Frazer. We will be accepting JPEG images on CD's. Accepted work may be either mailed or hand delivered.

The schedule is as follows:

September 17, 2007 - POSTMARK OF ENTRIES
October 5, 2007 - JURORS NOTIFICATION
October 26, 2007 - WORK DUE TO GALLERY
November 2, 2007 - OPENING RECEPTION
November 29, 2007 - EXHIBIT CLOSES
November 29, 2007 - PACKING / SHIPPING

For further information or questions regarding this event call or email us at 904 859-8281 pedestrianprojects@comcast.net

Download prospectus/call for entries form at www.freethebeaver.org

YEOW Come quick!

2007-08-17T07:42:00.000-05:00

Howdy Partners! Mosey on over ta The White Paper Blog an take a gander at sumpthin' I posted up there on the post thing. Ponder it a bit an leave yer 2 cents, or a nickel, whatever. Thank ya kindly!

http://jaxwhitepaper.blogspot.com/

The Skyway

2007-08-15T19:59:00.001-05:00

was a blast tonight.

Went to the Cummer last night for the free night. Took my family. Loved looking at the Norman Rockwell there. It's my favorite in the Cummer. Watched a PBS documentary about Norman Rockwell a few months ago. I appreciate him a lot more now. Interesting how he would keep using the same models and you can actually see some of them age decades from painting to painting. My little girl loved the children's museum there. A little girl pushed her on her ass. I was pissed. Her parents didn't apologize. Went to MOCA Jax tonight for the free night also. Parked at the Skyway's Jefferson Station and took the train for the first time ever to Hemming Plaza station. 35 cents for a ride. It's a lot of fun. Like an amusement park ride almost. At least for me. For my little girl too.

MOCA Jax had the same work I've seen up already. I wondered what the concept of the bone of a horses leg on red velvet on an assemblage piece was. I tried to explain that sometimes artists are doing shout outs to other artists in art history and using that to tell inside jokes about each other to the art world to an eleven year old we are babysitting. I wondered why? I realized I'm becoming more of a fan of the Mexican muralist in my old age. Blatant symbolism is comforting. I love Rober Longo. Can't imagine printing lithographs that large. I read how he shot tennis balls at his subjects. Interesting how many types of black you can use in a piece to create tones. I checked out the the U.F. MFA exhibit. Wasn't to happy with it the first time I saw it. It's interesting how work can grow on you. I looked at the artist who does the assemblages for some time. They are new. Very different. Very zeitgeist.

My little girl ran all over the children's museum there also like a wild banshy. Then we took the Skyway back to our car and drove back to my home in Riverside. Anyways. I wanted to share with you all two FREE art filled evenings I had with my little family in Jacksonville. It was a lot of fun. It was scenic. Jacksonville is beautiful. I really mean it. I really can see what we have here and appreciate it. And see how in twenty years this will be an amazing city. I really hope sooner. I really want to help speed the maturation of the art scene here along so I can enjoy it in my thirties and not my fifties. But sometimes, like today when the sun was setting, and it's just perfect, you got to think to yourself who cares? It's beautiful here. I'm healthy. And..... everyting go-in bee ahite.

Interesting

2007-08-15T14:07:00.000-05:00

Though I don't think this is necessarily the forum for political discussions, a friend sent this to me and I thought people should see it.

What do we need?

2007-08-14T15:49:00.000-05:00

Is this enough? A blogger site to post things. I love it so far. Don't get me wrong. I posted last week about having the ability to do just about anything you all wanted as far as the web goes. I mentioned a chat room. There were no responses but I thought I'd put it out there again and ask if you all had any input on types of functionality to add to JaxCAL as I am seriously considering moving it over to my hosting provider and adding additional functionality.

I want to keep what we have here going and I'm going to import all of the content over if I do it. A page for gallery listings, a chat room, a photo gallery where users can openly submit images to show? Anything you think JaxCAL needs we can do with the Open Source tools that are available to us. I have a bucket load of tools I can use for free. I'd thought I'd ask again. Your input is definitely desired. Check out sites, like www.fecalface.com, and www.ourartsite.com to see how sites like ours can grow and grow. It's you guys who can make it happen. Afterall this is a community project. Really anything you can think of we can do.

Thanks...

bk

Worth Checking Out

2007-08-14T14:17:00.000-05:00

The photographs of Jennifer Morgan (she's a Jax. native): analog-places.blogspot.com

Art is Rocket Science

2007-08-13T20:50:00.000-05:00

I think anyways. Especially at the level of writing that Madeleine Peck writes about it in here sort of newish local Art Blog, Art Isn't Rocket Science. Please go check it out when you get a chance. She really does have an obvious knowledge of art history and a broad understanding of contemporary art. No shit. Really wish she would contribute here more often. Please keep it up Madeleine. Really.

2007-08-13T08:40:00.000-05:00

What people want... Do we care? Are we here to appease the public? kowtow to a socialites tastes for impressionistic throughbacks, a country kitchen rednecks lust for thomas kincaide or a ponte vedrans taste in 80's pastel vomit abstraction? We have been educated in art history and most of us have traveled far and wide and devoured every issue of AiA, ArtNews and American Painting. I say, WE are HERE to tell them what they want. We need to stand up for our knowledge and announce boldly the existence of art that is valid to these times and have context and meaning. I'm glad I got that out. I'm very tired now.

2007-08-12T16:19:00.000-05:00

Back to School for JaxCAL

2007-08-12T08:04:00.000-05:00

After reading Byron’s lament, his call to action in regards to helping the general public see contemporary art as a public good vital to civilization, and to also clarify why so many artists only create work that is sure to sell (be it seascapes or cute fuzzy monsters with antlers), I think it is time for us all to attend a special topics seminar. You won’t be graded, and it might be worth more that grad credit to you if you take the idea and run with it.

So enter the JaxCAL reading room and join me for a real discussion on what I believe is a fundamental issue- the image of the artist’s role in society.

Our reading selection today is by Dr. Carol Becker, Dean of Faculty and Vice-President for Academic Affairs at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, from her 2003 book of essays entitled “Surpassing the Spectacle: Global Transformations and the Changing Politics of Art”

The Artist as a Public Intellectual

“Of the multiple images that exist for artists in U.S. society, most continue to be fraught with complexity and contradiction. There is, for example, the romantic image of the artist on the fringe- wild, mad, alone, ahead of his or her time, misunderstood, somewhat like the prophet raging in the desert. There is the artist as bohemian, socially irresponsible, less than adult, immersed in the pleasure principle, at times able to create something truly extraordinary and at other times able to fool the public with work that passes for art but is really fraudulent—“putting one over on its audience”—or so esoteric that only a handful of people “get it” or want to “get it.” There are images of artists working out of their intuitive selves, in tune with the universe, envisioning the future. And there are also images of artists as shrewd businesspeople able to out-psyche the difficult, sophisticated and fickle art market, make a fortune, and live like celebrities. At the same time there are images of artists whose work never sells in their lifetimes, who die unacknowledged, poor, and depressed, only to be discovered later when others can make a profit from their vision and friendship. At times we have been known to revere artists, to think of them as unique or even superior beings who live deeply inside their creative selves, while the rest of us forfeit these more ephemeral aspects of ourselves for jobs that we may find less fulfilling, but that might provide us with more stability and a greater anchor to the reality principle. Art collectors or museum curators pay exorbitant prices for work that has gained market value—a type of recognition that often comes too late for the artist. These purchases often have everything to do with admiration for the work and little to do with attitudes about the artists who made them. We may revere the work, but we may still mistrust artists, imagine them as self-serving and lacking in the practical skills that would enable them to be statesmen or public personalities, capable of running the world. To further complicate these issues, U.S. citizens, still often seeped in a dominant though hidden puritanical tradition, may unconsciously fear the power of graven images and want to inhibit the right of secular individuals to create images that might become icons or focal points of adoration. Perhaps this is why North Americans largely do not condemn the moving images of pornography, degenerateness, violence, voyeurism of various kinds that appear on TV or in film, but become indignant when such images are frozen in time, transformed and manipulated by artists, the presented to a general public as art.

It is this ambivalence, predominant in the culture, that young artists enter into unwittingly. Such confusion causes ontological insecurity—a primal fear and uncertainty about their place in the world, an unstable location from which to meet an unarticulated and often precarious future. At the same time artists have played into these complex ambivalences, defining themselves as a subgroup, outside society, relishing their otherness, while often at the same time longing to be embraced by society, understood and acknowledged.

In our collective Western consciousness, and probably our unconsciousness as well, we do not have images of artists as socially concerned citizens of the world, people who could serve as leaders and help society determine, though insights and wisdom, its desirable political course. We do not typically ask artists what they think about social conditions or politics—the degeneration of our cities, our natural environment, school systems, or young people. We do not ask them to help solve these problems, even though problem solving and communication at the visual and spatial levels are much of what they are trained to do. Artists are also conscious of negotiating audience involvement and response, skills that are not taken into account when most people describe the work of artists.

I have tried for years in my own writing to articulate the vital place of artists in society because I believe in the educational process that produces them, a process that encourages the crossing of all creative and intellectual boundaries and affirms the importance of the work that results from such training. Artists have sensibilities that are distinctive and important to the well-being of society. Were artists taken seriously within U.S. society, were they sought out for their opinions and concerns and recognized as having rare skills, some of which are about how to see the world, they would enter their chosen profession with a much greater sense of confidence and self-esteem. Were society ready to accept them into its fold as fully participating citizens whose function, like that of intellectuals, is to remain on the margins, asking the difficult questions, resisting assimilation and socialization in the traditional ways, refusing to accept the simplistic moral values that reflect the present political climate, there would be a great deal of psychic relief for artists. Perhaps under such conditions artists would be less engaged in a frantic clamor to reach the top of the art world pyramid. Artists might be freer to focus on what they do best—concentrated visual experimentation that, when successful, advances society’s ability to see itself more clearly. “

Discuss amongst yourselves.

CALL FOR ARTISTS

2007-08-12T07:23:00.000-05:00

OPAQ Gallery is now accepting submissions for it's next
round of group exhibitions. OPAQ focuses on showing
contemporary art, especially new media and conceptual
work. There is still space available for Artwalk in
September. We've had amazing crowds all year;
it's a great way to get some exposure!

Please email images of your paintings, photographs,
installations, drawings, sculptures, videos,
prints, films, or other creations to:
opaqgallery@hotmail.com
or www.myspace.com/greenroomgallery.

Creativity and intelligence

2007-08-11T23:29:00.000-05:00

This is a long one but ITS SO BRILLIANT its a must see. Very entertaining also.

My favorite part is the fact that we are teaching children to fear mistakes. Making mistakes is the essential ingredient of human creativity.

An evening with the older generation...

2007-08-11T21:03:00.000-05:00

The more I deal with the Jacksonville art scene the more I realize how large our issues really are. Here's an example. I was at a family birthday function for my step dad tonight and I was telling a group of older folks, in their seventies about what has been going on in the Jacksonville arts scene lately. About JaxCAL.org. So on and so forth.

One of them asked me if the work we were showing was Cubism? I told them that it was contemporary art and they continued to tell me that that's not a good name and that we needed to come up with a good name for our movement? It went on for several minutes as they all decided that contemporary art wasn't good enough. It was sort of over the top really. They asked if we were showing Modern Art. Abstract Expressionism? You need a name they said over and over. I then told them that it is actually historically called contemporary art all over the world now. That it's actually global and wasn't up to us to rename it. They wouldn't have it. One man asked if there was going to be any Western Art and that he liked cowboys.

They really wanted another name. One lady asked me, "But isn't it all Impressionism really?" I must admit I was a bit perplexed and perturbed at this moment and I suppose it was very evident. They were astonished that I actually cared enough about what I am doing to take offense. I told them that there are many educated and passionate artists here who have dedicated their lives to their artwork. That it's a very serious thing. And that each time you mention you're an artist here in Jacksonville that this sort of silly conversation usually will take place.

Their mouths dropped. They quit laughing. Afterwards they all apologized.

I mean they were all drunk but dang if there isn't a ton of ignorance here in Jax about art. And these are all extremely educated well to do people. It really makes me question can we overcome it? Is it possible? Should we try? I can see why we all get down about it. I know I do. Situations like this make it extremely evident the obstacles we have in front of us. I mean we aren't only dogs to each other as artists here but we have that shit to deal with from the non artists.

Where do we begin? How do we educate the population on exactly what contemporary art is and where it is going? How do we get along with each other in the process? I really think we should be able to talk to non art types about our work. How do we as artists educate others who do not have an art history background or interest in the arts in order for them to take an interest in what's happening?

How do we make what can be conceived as an elitist activity and make them understand that contemporary art and literature is the evolution of our culture as we know it? Should we engage others or silently bow out of such conversations? If we want drastic change here, it will eventually have to happen with them. As one of them reminded me, he is a consumer. That they are consumers and that I have to be able to talk to them about my work? He had a point. Did I do a good job? Not too sure. I do believe I left them with a very clear understanding that there are a number of contemporary artists here and that we aren't some joke or movement. That we won't be taken lightly. I guess if they want to consume that, it's for sale. I hope that was enough.

cheers..

bk

You're the Man Now, Dog!

2007-08-11T13:10:00.000-05:00

Folks you have to read this great entry by our very own James Green. Looks like his blog is alive and well. Really happy to see you writing again James.

Click Here.

Community Development and Visual Art

2007-08-10T08:35:00.000-05:00

Incorporating Art in Jacksonville’s Neighborhoods

Slide Presentation, Discussion and Networking with Allison Graff, Art in Public Places Program Manager, Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville

Local Community Developers, Artists, and Architects gather to be inspired by visuals of art in public spaces and talk about how to incorporate art in Jacksonville's Neighborhoods.

Monday, September 17th, 2007, 6:45 p.m. – 9 p.m.

9th and Main Restaurant, 1850 N. Main Street, Historic Springfield

No cover. RSVP to 904.353.1300 x11 or awalker@liscjacksonville.org

SPONSORED BY: AIA, LISA, and Cultural Council

Art in Public Places--Public Art Workshop

2007-08-10T08:08:00.000-05:00

A free workshop describing the public art process will be held at the Ritz Theatre & LaVilla Museum on September 8 from 1-3pm. The workshop is for artists as well as those interested in learning more about the public art field. The artist Susan Cooper will specifically address the unique concerns of public art.

Ritz Theatre & LaVilla Museum Braided with PUBLIC Art

Cooper writes, “My work is strongly site specific ranging from murals to freestanding sculpture.” The artist has installed public works throughout Colorado, including the Regional Transportation District, City and County Building, Denver Public Library, and the Kaiser Permanente Rocky Creek Building in Lafayette, Colorado. Steel, concrete, wood, oil and acrylic paints, ceramics, glass, and light are some of the materials Cooper uses in her work. Regardless of location or materials, Cooper creates work to enhance the community and to, “stimulate the mind, attract the eye, and uplift life in Jacksonville.”

Susan Cooper integrates history and culture in her work. For example, her piece entitled “Recollection” is a 100-foot-long wall sculpture representing the Polish synagogues destroyed during World War II. For LaVilla Braid, Cooper was inspired by MaVynee Betsch, better known as the “Beach Lady,” who worked for over 30 years to preserve American Beach, the community founded by her great-grandfather, A.L. Lewis. Like Betsch’s complex braided hairstyle, Cooper weaves metal, color, and light to reflect the Beach Lady’s intertwining of history, culture, and philosophy.

To learn more about Susan Cooper’s work, visit www.susancooperart.com.

The Tragedy of the Commons (Part 1)

2007-08-09T15:33:00.001-05:00

"Hey all you paint-by-numbers-Picassos! Why don't you quit your minor-key moaning and disappear altogether? You're blocking my parking spot in front of the gym!"
-Dan MacDonald*

You shouldn't waste any energy getting incensed about it, but Dan MacDonald's snipe at ArtWalk just seems like more evidence that we are either living in a post common-good era, or that Art Walk should move to Friday night. Let's scrap ArtWalk altogether, McDonald says, because it inconveniences me, one man, for 15 minutes, one night a month. Jeez Louise, I say.

Read all about it in today's A.M. Stir (p. E-2) of the Florida Times Union. Quoth MacDonald:

"Art Walk has to go.
OK, maybe that is a little harsh, but it's what I think while driving around downtown for 15 minutes trying to find a parking space at 5 p.m. every first Wednesday of the month.
Art Walk avails artists and musicians a chance to show off their talents and brings people into the downtown core. Nice objective (even if most of the talent is, in my opinion, made up of too many minor-key moaners and paint-by-the-numbers Picassos). However, something needs to be worked out to make the many parking meters that are off-limits from 4 to 6 p.m. available on Art Walk day.
I'm a person who uses downtown nearly every weekday after 5 p.m. to either work out at the gym or socialize with friends. Art Walk and the lack of parking is a pain for us "regulars."

People being drawn into downtown because of art is a GOOD thing, Mac!
In my opinion you're a Mad-Libs-Ernie Pyle.

*paraphrased

Interesting read

2007-08-09T09:08:00.000-05:00

Keith Mayerson
The Abduction of Ganymede (Rescued from an Eagle’s Nest), 2006
oil on linen
48.5 x 61 inches

The New York Times has an interesting article about an artist-curated show (curated by the above-referenced artist)...it also touches on the myth of ideology and that of artistic integrity.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/09/arts/design/09elle.html?ref=arts

There's also a great article on "summer productivity," or the lack thereof.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/09/fashion/09Work.html?ref=fashion

Free The Beaver

2007-08-09T05:29:00.000-05:00

show

2007-08-08T20:29:00.000-05:00

Produce

some new paintings by
Jim Draper
opens 8/17/07
6-9
Stellers Gallery Annex
Neptune Beach

About the Cows.
My entire body of work can be divided into two overlapping yet distinct concepts. One concept, which contains images such as the serialized "Healing Palms" along with some
seldom shown figure work and the birds, I refer to as "Liturgy" because it reflects a spiritual connection to the earth. The other group is called
"Produce," because it is about our physical connection to the planet. These two groups of paintings overlap ; one painting may be considered in a context about either idea.
The cow as an image and as a concept is interesting when looking at the history of the Americas, especially the peninsula that the Spaniards called, "la florida." The conquistadors
left Spain with ship laden with livestock and seeds with which they were familiar in order to provide sustenance in the new world. This practice was redundant because
the land which they were invading was ripe with available protein, it was just unfamiliar to the European pallet. Various calamities led to the escapes of these introduced
specie from settlements until modern times. Remnants abound in the southeast such as feral pigs, wild horses on remote islands along the Atlantic, and the wild "Cracker"
cows of Florida. As the presence of these European immigrants progresses in the Americas, introduced animals and plants merge with natives in order to form a new landscape that seems
to be totally natural. This is very much the same way the invading peoples have claimed this country as their own, putting up fences and arbitrary borders and
waving their arms madly in the air about some "immigration problem." Which brings me to one major point in the body of work I refer to as "Produce" which is that ecosystems can't be viewed in isolation, void of human interaction.
What I do as a painter is to record this varied imagery in order to promote conversation about humans, their need for sustenance, and their place in the environment.

In the paintings I sample all of my heroes, from the clumsy stiffness of the Pre-Raphaelites to the masters of the Renaissance.
jd

While I Was Away

2007-08-08T10:22:00.000-05:00

I was wondering if the public art project we met about several months ago came together, and if so, if anyone has pictures.

PORTENT, I SAID PORTENT

2007-08-07T16:23:00.000-05:00

"Pedestrian Projects is delighted to present its inaugural exhibition, "Portent, I Said Portent". The show features artists Byron King , James Greene , Brittni Wood , Mark Creegan , and Kurt Polkey, and will include painting, sculpture, drawing, installation, and photography.

The title of the exhibit suggests a positive sign of things to come for the visual arts in Jacksonville. The unique work on display foreshadows a new, contemporary direction for the local cultural scene, indicating we are on the cusp of something exciting and progressive."

The artists extend the metaphor further by creating work that stands as a reaction to and against the ominous "portents" we read everyday in the news. All of the artists are young, many with young families, and their work conceptually and materially reflects their ever-present anxiety about the future.

7pm Thursday, August 30th SEGD Private Designer Reception
7pm Friday, August 31st Opening Reception

Location:
1535 San Marco Blvd.

	Jacksonville
	Florida
	U.S.
	32207 Email: PedestrianProjects@comcast.net

Think Globally, Act Locally: An Inconvenient Truth @ MOCA

2007-08-07T15:01:00.000-05:00

MOCA JACKSONVILLE OFFERS SPECIAL PRESENTATION OF AN INCONVIENT TRUTH WITH LOCAL CONNECTIONS

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Jacksonville continues its film series “MOCA Summer Cinema” with a special presentation of the 2006 Academy Award winner for Documentary Feature An Inconvenient Truth on Wednesday evening, August 8 starting at 7 p.m. Following the presentation, a panel of environmental experts will be available for questions on related local issues for Florida.

A longtime advocate for the environment, former Vice-President Al Gore presents a wide array of facts and information in a thoughtful and compelling way. An Inconvenient Truth offers a passionate and inspirational look at one man's fervent crusade to draw attention to global warming and its dramatic effects on the environment. Interspersed with bracing evidence and future predictions is the story of Gore's personal journey: from an idealistic college student who first saw a massive environmental crisis looming; to a young U.S. senator facing a harrowing family tragedy that altered his perspective; to the man who almost became president but instead returned to the most important cause of his life - convinced that there is still time to make a difference. With wit, smarts and hope, An Inconvenient Truth ultimately brings home Gore's persuasive argument that we can no longer afford to view global warming as a political issue - rather, it is the biggest moral challenge facing our global civilization.

After the film, a panel of four local experts will answer questions relating the broad themes presented in the documentary to local issues of policy, conservation, and sustainability:

Berdell Knowles is director of government relations at JEA, following a 20+ year career with Gainesville Regional Utilities. Mr. Knowles’ responsibilities include monitoring and managing legislative and regulatory developments at the state and federal levels impacting JEA. Knowles is also founding president of the Florida Chapter of the American Association of Blacks in Energy, currently serving on its executive committee.

Jennifer McCharen is cofounder of the Jacksonville Carbon Neutral Initiative (JCNI), a local grassroots group working to stimulate public awareness and debate about global climate change. JCNI engages the public through education projects and working with the City of Jacksonville to encourage green initiatives.

Judy Landers is conservation coordinator with JEA, where she delivers programs that give JEA customers the tools and knowledge to help them use energy and water wisely. Ms. Landers has a BS in Environmental Science and Masters in Environmental Policy, and has worked in the government, non-profit and for-profit sectors, specializing in communications to promote behavior change.

Todd L. Sack, M.D., FACP was appointed to the Florida Energy Commission in 2006 and is a two-term member and chairperson of the Jacksonville Environmental Protection Board. Additionally Dr. Sack is a member of the Florida Department of Health’s Community Environmental Health Advisory Board and a member of JEA’s Clean Power Advisory Board.

In 2006 An Inconvenient Truth received two Academy Awards, one for Documentary Feature and one for Original Song ("I Need to Wake Up," music and lyrics by Melissa Etheridge). Directed by Davis Guggenheim, USA; 93 minutes, color, in English (rated PG for mild thematic elements).

Admission to MOCA Summer Cinema is $6 for members/students, $8 for non-members. The MOCA Jacksonville box office opens at 6:00 p.m. Film starts promptly at 7:00 p.m. Seating is limited; please arrive early. For more information about the MOCA Summer Cinema, please visit on-line at www.mocajacksonville.org/events/film.

MOCA Jacksonville is funded in part by the City of Jacksonville; Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville; the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs; The Florida Arts Council; National Endowment for the Arts; and through the generous support of our members.

Chat Box

2007-08-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

If we remain connected through the web what feature do you think would make it gel more? I was thinking if there was a chat room connected to this or a forum. There seems to be a lot of history over the last twenty years that I'm not aware of. I was thinking a Wiki would be interesting specifically so we could populate it with what has gone on, who we are, and where we are headed.

I have tons of Open Source tools at my finger tips (as do all of you) that are free and easy to install. If I knew what type of tools you all felt would take us to the next level I'll get started on putting it together. Maybe I should host JaxCAL and bring it into a real site versus Blogger?

I really think a chat room that was local and serious about contemporary art could be a very powerful tool. Chat rooms can be so silly but if used correctly who knows what types of collaboration and community building could take place.

MASKING TAPE BALL

2007-08-05T19:33:00.001-05:00

many years ago (5) there was a group called ARTSTOP. The idea was to create a sort of "Chamber of Commerce" for the arts. A clearinghouse sort of group that would inventory, promote, and inform about the jacksonville contemporary art scene. We found it interesting that Jacksonville sat right where two of the major federal highways crossed and that typically everyone we talked to usually said they had been "Through" jacksonville but never stopped. A la ArtStop! This group actually at one point "became" the 5 points merchants association or the 5 points merchants association became ArtStop. It was operated as a 501c3 under Riverside Avondale Preservation. There were many successful events and immediately there were hundreds of people / volunteers involved.

The group had a great idea for a fundraiser. Instead of a Masked Ball, we were going to hold a Masking Tape Ball, where something you wore was to be made from masking tape. Someone actually made a complete ball gown out of masking tape.
The event never happened............but it was a GREAT idea............
JAXCAL should continue the group on........I dont know where the groups stands now.

Viva la Revolution

2007-08-05T11:36:00.000-05:00

There is a really swell article on Jacksonville Arts today in the Times Union.

Click here for a read.

If you buy the paper there's a nice little graphic with CreateJacksonville's front page on it also.
All and all a really nice article about what we can do here together through the web to make things work for Jacksonville arts. There's a photo of my ugly mug on there too. I actually do smile every now and again. The photo makes me look like a tough guy of which I am not.

Take a read and tell me what you think. Things are moving in the right direction I think for sure. What do you all think?

Hope the Times Union keeps doing coverage like this. It could really be a step in the right direction by getting the printed media involved in what I think is a real developing scene.

Konrad great article. Really positive.

Cheers.

Byron

Another Tragedy

2007-08-03T06:45:00.000-05:00

SGT 1ST Class #6600FF

CAR WRECK

2007-08-02T21:14:00.000-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foDqm0NhWdY

2007-08-02T07:30:00.000-05:00

http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Packing-Tape-Sculpture

http://www.tapesculpture.org

...

2007-08-02T07:26:00.000-05:00

I don't even know what to say on this one...it's a sad story, so consider yourself warned. For some reason when I read this, it struck me and I had to share.

Jeremy Blake

PERFORMANCE ART

2007-08-01T16:19:00.000-05:00

Art Walk Block

2007-07-31T21:05:00.000-05:00

If you are in the neighborhood for Art Walk tomorrow I recommend walking around the Hayden Burns Library Block. The entire block. There might be something different for you to see. Actually I know there will be something different for you to see. So keep your eyes open.

The Revolution has begun. Well maybe not a revolution but definitely some evolution.

The Evolution has begun. And it will not be televised.

See you at Art Walk :)

Like A Knife

2007-07-30T15:39:00.000-05:00

Digital Media Group

2007-07-29T12:29:00.000-05:00

Folks this is going to happen at least on a very small level. It's not going to be a digital media lab at the moment but a digital media collaborative art piece.

Next step is to get the email address of all who are interested so we can start communicating about the next steps. So if you are interested please shoot your email to jaxcaleague@gmail.com and we'll get the ball rolling.

Look forward to working with all of you.

Cheers.

Call to Artists

2007-07-27T10:18:00.000-05:00

Seriously if you are interested in showing soon put your info in the comments field with a link to your web site or shoot .jpegs of your work to jaxcaleague@gmail.com.

There is a Contemporary Arts Center materializing with the future space being a very large building. Lots of space. Several shows need to be filled pronto, so if you have work for us to look at please post it or send it.

Thanks All...

By Jim Draper

2007-07-27T06:30:00.000-05:00

I think someone got their feelings hurt....
Seems he thinks that none of our work is intellectual? How bout that?
Makes me wonder how intellectual palm tree paintings are? Makes me wonder how seeing the same subject matter for the last few decades pushes the envelope in any nature and helps educate others about contemporary art.

Sure you can make a good living, but are you doing anything to open minds in a city that needs a reality check? Last time I checked it was 2007. And Jim we do look at contemporary art books. We have lived in New York, LA, and San Fran. And there aren't any palm tree paintings showing there anymore? You might want to go check it out.

Check out Jim Draper's post in response to this post:
http://jaxcal.blogspot.com/2007/07/i-see-you.html
that he put on www.CreateJacksonville.com.
.........................

Interesting approach. What do you mean by contemporary art? I think that maybe it is time to read a book or two or a few magazines if you want to be involved in the larger art world. Remember, nobody really gives a shit about Local Jacksonville Art. Without an intellectual component you would be laughed out of Atlanta, LA, Chicago, Miami or anywhere. Why not focus on bringing in some people and ideas that are not bound tightly by your on sphincter. "Contemporary" as it refers to art is temporal, not limitedto subject matter and style. "Funky-dunky-pseudo-hipster-derivative"is a style (apparently a movement).Without someone who matters, on a national or international level, looking at what you do, you becomejust a few more pieces of flotsam andjetsam in the backwaters of theinternational art scene. Just be aware that posting sentences like"The landscapes, palm trees, and fishpaintings have had their day in the sun." doesn't really do your cause any good.jim draper 07.27.07 - 9:23 am #

Two Shows: one near, the other far

2007-07-26T23:16:00.000-05:00

Che, by Arturo Cuenca Sigaretta, 87-88

When I was a wee lil monkey, my pal Grover taught me the the dif between "near" and "far". Well, thank goodness cuz now I am a master at "near and far" and can easily goto places that are either near or far with the greatest of ease. Thanks, Grover!

Assuming you also have achieved such mastery, I am recommending two art shows, one near, and one (sort of) far.

First, the far one:

Cuba Avant-Garde: Contemporary Cuban Art from the Farber Collection at the Harn Museum in Gainesville- well worth the trip! A rich variety of work including paintings, photography, conceptual sculpture, drawing, folk artsy stuff. Many works subtly critique the regime in Cuba. Apparently, depending on certain times, most were allowed to make all but the most blatant critiques. One of the artists in this show spent time in prison for defecating on a state newspaper in a gallery! If I had ever done that, I would plead insanity- " I thought I was a caged lil birdy, your honor! I swear!" That woulda worked I am sure. The show closes Sept 9th. UF even published a nice book for the show.

And the near one:

" I Love Her, She Loves Me", Matt Allison at Opaq Gallery
I am VERY excited about this one. Matt has been super secretive about what it is gonna be but I have gotten some hints. Here's what the press release sez:

 Matt's work is a provocative blend of media, ranging
from the humble and discarded material of life, a grape-fruit peel,
a scrap of animal fur, a shredded snakeskin, to the glorified
and venerated symbols of Catholic iconography, religious
paraphernalia, and mythology.  Matt's work explores our relics
and remains, the ways in which we see our past, and
they way we look to our future.

 Art Walk, August 1, 2007, 5:00- 10:00 P.M.
Artist Reception, August 11, 2007, 8:00- 11:00 P.M
Closing Reception, August 18, 2007, 8:00-11:00 P.M.

Uh oh, Matt is gonna explore our "remains"?
I am too young to die, Matt!


So, go practice your near and far skills and go see these shows!
 Maybe we can discuss after.

Jax Media Collab

2007-07-26T09:42:00.000-05:00

I am interested in starting a multimedia lab for artists and others who are interested in creating their own short films or digital projects in a collaborative setting. I'm interested in seeing how many artists and others out there with traditional fine art backgrounds would be interested in learning web design, 3-d modeling and motion graphics software in order to enhance their own artistic practices.

Schools are too expensive for most, or me, to afford. They are inconvenient and the rate of learning is at a snails pace. The concept for the media lab would have folks from all types of backgrounds assemble at their leisure to engage with a group of like minded knowledge hungry individuals who are interested in learning new technology and seeing their vision come to life.

In the future there might have to be a small monthly fee for it to work. What's the most a month that you would pay for something like this to come to life? Ideally their would be workstations with all needed software for students to use at their leisure and possibly discounts on buying workstations for home use with all needed software.

Of course this is just a brain fart, but if there was something like this here in Jacksonville I myself would be on it like white on rice. It would grow the knowledge base of traditional artists in Jax and allow cross pollination between artists from other fields. There's no telling what type of artwork would come out of it in the process.

Zune + Arts + Microsoft = Strange Brew?

2007-07-24T19:04:00.000-05:00

Art is communication; advertising is communication. Rarely do the two exist within the same space without infringing upon each other. Usually one takes center stage ahead of the other, and both will lose a little because of it. There are exceptions to every rule though, and that's where Microsoft's Zune Arts campaign comes in. Basically, the agency, 72andSunny, hands the artists/companies a simple brief: do something about music with the theme of sharing. The results are some awesome videos that are more artistic short film than commercial.

For those of us that work in the commercial world with our talents, I think we can learn something from this campaign. It shows that when an artist is let free something really great can come of it. In Jax, it would be nice to see some local companies embrace this and sponsor campaigns like this as well. It serves the dual purpose of bringing awareness to the local artists here, but also awareness for the company and their product. If Microsoft, quite possibly the antithesis of good design/art, can do it with something like the Zune, then I'm convinced the product or company doesn't matter, it could be anything or anyone.

Check it out...would love to hear what you think.

www.zune-arts.net

2007-07-23T18:20:00.000-05:00

Photograph by Brent Valeski

location...somewhere in Georgia

Lets make this happen!

2007-07-22T13:01:00.000-05:00

I've felt for many years now that what was holding back the Jacksonville visual arts growth and progress was that the universities here did not offer an MFA program. If JU or UNF had an MFA program there would be a tremendous boost in the visual arts. I grew up in Dallas, Texas where a wealthy family loved sculpture and funded the MFA program at SMU. Each year, the hand full of graduating MFA students would be featured in the newspaper with bios and samples of their work. These people seemed like superstars to the public. There was such an excitement generated by this program and their works. There was so much public sculpture around Dallas, on the streets, in the malls ...it seemed that every available space yielded something wonderful and creative. So, can we do something about this? I've spoken to JU admin/staff and they say that funding is needed. What if we created awareness, wrote letters, got endorsement by the museum curators and others?... then approached the Davis family and anyone else to raise funds... Anyone interested in helping me take this on?

Peek -a - boo. I see you.

2007-07-18T20:34:00.000-05:00

If you are a contemporary artist who has work that you think is kick ass please shoot me an email so I can get a growing list of artists who are interested in showing for future shows that will be coming up. Spaces are appearing now.

There is an obvious movement toward viewers wanting to see contemporary works here.

The landscapes, palm trees, and fish paintings have had their day in the sun.

It's now time for something new. A city is defined by it's art. Art defines culture. If Jacksonville wants be seen as a truly up and coming progressive city of culture that is worth investing in then it needs to invest in itself before another creative generation leaves for truly creative cities such as Atlanta. Times a ticking.

Enough hiding. Come out, come out, wherever you are....

2007-07-17T22:09:00.000-05:00

I just got back from New York and it's looking run down. I think it’s taken this long for the accumulative affects of 9/11 to show. The roads are in ill repair and the subways are looking rather sad. Aside from that, I am impressed with the Met. Particularly the Egyptian/Greco-Roman exhibition. The Met really knows how to show iniquities. I had seen many of the same statues at the crowded British museum in 2005 and I’ve got to say the Met made it all look better and grander. The Richard Serra sculpture at MoMA was amazing. It was like walking through metal canyons. At times I felt uncomfortable and unsafe next to the heavy, teetering slats of steel and felt emotionally altered in each twist and turn. My favorite was the life-size (about 40’ high), metal, sculptured trees in Madison Square Park by artist Roxy Paine. You know the old saying, “only God can make a tree”… well not anymore. My buddy Bruce was snapping away with his camera so I got lazy about taking my own. I will get some pics from him soon. I’ll end this post with my opinion and I hope not to offend…I left NYC with the feeling that the museums there are working hard to rehash and reconfigure the glorious art of it’s past, but they do very little for what’s happening now. I believe the "art center" has moved to more fertile ground…perhaps London, Tokyo, Miami and maybe West Coast. But it’s not in NYC anymore. Upon returning, I felt extremely optimistic about living and working here in Florida.

2007-07-17T13:07:00.001-05:00

Where did Mactruque go? Has anyone heard from him lately. I'm interested because a few years ago the media was covering him like he was the only artist in town and lately I haven't heard a peep from him.

Also, I've been wondering why folks like him haven't participated in the whole blogosphere phenomenon. Seems the web has sort of united other Jacksonville emerging artists.

I wonder why local well known artists haven't participated?

Akeelah and the Bee at MOCA

2007-07-17T12:10:00.000-05:00

MOCA in the Middle continues this Wednesday. Our film this week is Akeelah and the Bee. It is a great movie to bring the whole family to. If you missed it in the theater, don't miss your chance to see it now.

Roger Ebert's review on the film says it all. "In our winning-obsessed culture, it is inspiring to see a young woman like Akeelah Anderson instinctively understand, with empathy and generosity, that doing the right thing involves more than winning. That's what makes the film particularly valuable for young audiences. I don't care if they leave the theater wanting to spell better, but if they have learned from Akeelah, they will want to live better."

Having Trouble Selling Out? (Part Deux)

2007-07-15T18:13:00.001-05:00

I've been meaning to share this with everybody for a while. File under: art as commodity (seems apt, given the abundance of art commodities that have graced Jacksonville's artblogs as of late...

Introducing Slopart.com, a Maine-based fine art catalog/retailer modeled after big-box stores but featuring a nationwide selection of fresh contemporary artworks.

It's hard to miss the tongue-in-cheekiness of the site, (the sweet printed catalogs evoke Target or Kohl's Sunday circulars only feature works of cutting-edge contemporary art) but it raises a lot of issues worth thinking about, especially as we navigate the treacherous straights of being contemporary artists in a culture dominated by consumerism.

Started by a fellow University of Northern Iowa (my alma mater) alum Brian Reeves (MFA from the University of Wisconsin Madison), Slop Art has been around for at least 10 years, touring the country putting on exhibition installations that mimic the feel of a retail chain stores, with conspicuous Wal-Mart-esque yellow price tags accompanying each piece, and friendly Slop Art 'employees' helping gallery-going 'consumers' make their art buying decisions. These guys even run a Slop Art TV ad (and include their printed circular in local newpapers) in each community they visit. The big question is, would anyone down here recognize the satire in this?

Check it out and see one artist's (albeit cheeky) attempt at creating a pseudo-serious contemporary art retailer.

2007-07-12T08:58:00.000-05:00

I just joined JaxCAL and wanted to share my latest painting entitled "Texas Border Rest-stop" 48" x 36" acrylic on canvas. If anyone remembers the Pedestrian Gallery near Five Points... it's been resurrected in a new location. Steve Williams' new space/gallery across from Bistro AIX is a perfect place for Juried and curated exhibitions. I am so excited at the prospect of having juried exhibitions because it gives exposure to new artists and artists whose work is considered too progressive or non-marketable. More info coming soon!

Sculpture Park Anyone

2007-07-11T06:21:00.000-05:00

My friend Natalie Schoof just got back from Seattle and was inspired by this new sculpture park. Check it out Jax. Look what could be possible on the St. Johns River if we had the funding and the follow through.

For more info:

http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/visit/OSP/AboutOSP/default.asp

Fried Eggs are Flying at MOCA

2007-07-10T12:53:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow night is MOCA in the Middle and we have a great film and special guest for our film series. When Fried Eggs Fly gets its big screen Jacksonville premiere Wednesday night. This is a funny, inspiring, upbeat film highlighting the impact of arts in education. This is a full-length feature documentary of a NYC public school’s arts project created by music teacher Bruce Mack. Using his skills as a teacher, he took on a challenge that few others could: he made a commitment to get 162 eight-year-olds to compose, perform and record original music with their parents. And he did it. Throughout the process, Mack fights the same battle everyday that teachers fight everywhere – boredom, apathy, and lack of confidence while teaching the most elusive of skills – self-discipline and self-esteem.

Bruce Mack will be here for a Q&A after the film and returns on Friday for an encore performance and Q&A at 1pm.

Wednesday night's film starts at 7:00pm. So come early and have dinner or drinks or BOTH before the film.

Interesting Read

2007-07-10T09:58:00.000-05:00

I found this on the Salon.com website...it's an interesting summation of a new book, "The Trap," that looks at the disparity between "our" generation and previous ones, especially those of the 60s and 70s.

Enjoy

www.salon.com/books/review/2007/07/10/trap/

Social Dress New Orleans – 730 Days After

2007-07-07T07:56:00.000-05:00

For Immediate Release

Social Dress New Orleans – 730 Days After
Public Art Installation by Takashi Horisaki
Unveiling at Socrates Sculpture Park, NYC
Free and open to the public
3201 Vernon Blvd (at Broadway) in Long Island City, Queens

Opening Reception: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Sunday, July 29, 2007
Exhibition Dates: July 29 - October 28th, 2007

Displayed on the East River overlooking the New York skyline, Social Dress New Orleans – 730 Days After is a ghostly full-scale latex replica of a demolished Lower Ninth Ward shotgun-style home.

Sculptor and performance artist Takashi Horisaki (b. 1974, Japan) is pleased to announce the unveiling of a public art installation at Socrates Sculpture Park. The culmination of a three-month effort at 1941 Caffin Avenue, in the still-devastated Lower Ninth Ward neighborhood, Social Dress New Orleans – 730 Days After opens Sunday July 29th in Long Island City, Queens. It will remain on view through October 28.

Beautifully juxtaposing the bustling New York skyline with physical remnants of destruction in New Orleans, Horisaki has envisioned a way to make this tragedy tangible to those far removed from the disaster. It is the artist’s hope that his project will inspire further support for Louisiana’s recovery efforts.

Tuesday, July 10th, marks the completion of Horisaki’s mold casting and peeling process in New Orleans. He applied layers of latex mixed with paint to create a textured 3-D print of a house that will be demolished within weeks by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Later this month, the thin but strong rubber skin will be transported and stretched over a full-scale frame that mimics the original structure. Horisaki has worked with great urgency to complete the project. Racing to complete the mold casting, he has mobilized a community of active Louisiana artists, friends and volunteers. Since the project’s inception this spring, the struggle for the artwork’s creation has been documented on the artist’s blog (http://socialdress-neworleans.blogspot.com.)

In March Horisaki was granted permission by former residents to use the property, and soon afterward he learned of the Army Corps’ plan to level the house. Because 1941 Caffin was in danger of collapse and situated in an area of the Lower Ninth Ward heavily damaged by the storm, it was scheduled for demolition. Not sure how to legally complete his project in time, Horisaki met lawyer Bruce G. Whittaker, who read about the art project in the New Orleans’ Times Picayune. Whittaker volunteered to negotiate with the city so that the house could stand while Horisaki finished the latex mold.

Exposing some of the social, political and environmental systems at work within this fragile landscape, Horisaki’s project explores contemporary terrain shared by Gordon Matta-Clark, Christo, Maya Lin, and Robert Smithson. Social Dress New Orleans – 730 Days After monumentalizes the tragedies endured by past and present Louisiana residents. “A former professor told me how difficult it is for him to make his own artwork still, and so I wondered if I– a neutral observer, not exactly an outsider, but with some distance and perspective on the situation –could express their feelings through my sculpture,” says Horisaki. The artist spent his first three years in America living in New Orleans, eventually earning a BFA from Loyola University.

Driven by the desire to preserve coastal wetlands in the Gulf area, Horisaki explains, “Every day working at the house I can see so many lizards, bugs and creatures that I have never seen in other places. There is a variety of life that is unique to this place. It is rather beautiful, but it will disappear if the wetlands erode.”

DC Stimulates Artist Communities

2007-07-04T08:46:00.000-05:00

The Cultural Development Corporation (CuDC) is a private, nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC. We engage artists and arts organizations in community development and neighborhood revitalization efforts to stimulate economic growth, expand the city's cultural horizons, and improve quality of life in the nation's capital.

CuDC’s artist housing program seeks to counteract the fact that many artists are often priced out of the city, resulting in a loss of valuable creative capital to the District. Providing affordable spaces for artists to live, work and create is crucial to retain the creative and cultural capital that enables our city to thrive. Helping artists continue to live and work in the metro area preserves valuable access to the arts for area residents and encourages economic development and community revitalization.

Their latest project is the Douglas Street Project. The CuDC has partnered with Manna, Inc., to develop approximately 40 affordable work/live housing units for artists and their families at 2414 Douglas Street, NE, in the Woodridge area of Washington, DC. The intent of this project is to create work/live artist housing — units designed primarily as functional studio space with basic living space as an ancillary use. The renovation of an existing warehouse plus new construction will provide units ranging from approximately 700 to 1,050 sq. ft., in addition to 1,390 sq. ft. of flexible space for communal arts activities. To maximize artist eligibility, units will be available at two price points suitable for a range of low- and moderate-income households as defined by DC’s Department of Housing and Community Development. CuDC and Manna anticipate that units for low-income households will be priced starting in the mid-$100Ks. Units for moderate-income households will be priced starting in the mid-$200Ks.

If you got the Munny Hunny. We got your disease.

2007-07-02T06:16:00.000-05:00

In the jungle.

Welcome to the jungle.
Watch it bring you to your shun n,n,n,n,,n,n,,n,n,n,,n,n,,n knees, knees.
I wanna watch you bleed.

Here's Urban Jackonville's post on the show with more info. Here. If the show is as hot as the flyer this will not only be a great art show but a kick ass design show.

Maybe this would be a good place for us all to meet up and discuss future projects?

The Most Important Of All?

2007-06-29T14:55:00.000-05:00

Because it just seems a little, er, excessive to post two entries on my blog in one day, I’ve decided to post a link to this Newsweek article by Peter Plagens, which poses the question (with a multiple choice anwer): Which Is the Most Influential Work of Art Of the Last 100 Years?

Here’s the link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19390212/site/newsweek/.

Enjoy.

Gynormous Crawly Things = GENIUS!

2007-06-26T23:54:00.000-05:00

Road Trip

2007-06-25T19:08:00.001-05:00

Baltimore is cool. It has history. Real history. It goes back hundreds of years. Has great universities. Has world class hospitals. And it's convenient. And it's not nearly as hot there with four seasons! Affordable too. Compared to New York and such that is. The architecture there is wonderful. Old and new. The harbor is great. Actually the inner harbor shares the some of the architecture of the Jacksonville landing. People are everywhere. Federal Hill is great. I have family that lived there decades ago. Their old brownstone is now worth over a million I'm sure. Really, Baltimore is a cool town. And it's smack dab in the middle of the northeast. You're a stones throw from DC, Philly, New York, and Richmond. If art is your thing that's a good place to be.

And then we meandered down to Lynchburg, Virginia. A small little town. 65 thousand souls. It has a couple of universities. Jerry Falwell's Liberty University is huge there. And everyone
loves and misses him dearly, liberal and conservative. Seems he did a lot for Lynchburg.
The only thing I could compare it to is how Tallahassee would react if Bobby Bowden died. It would be a sad day in our states capital. Anyways. I really thought Lyhcnburg was going to
be lame but it snuck up and bit me. It's affordable and historic. They've done a great job restoring their downtown. It's thriving. Loft apartments and little cool restaurants. We ate Indian for lunch. A really great children's museum called the Amazing Square. Also, I saw
a really great artists coop building across the street. Ten stories tall with contemporary art galleries and 25 artist's studios. Also housing an art store. Really, really cool. Right on the water. And there are hills, and it's really just a great little town. Liberals are thriving there. It's a miracle.

And then we stopped through Asheville. I want you to know I've heard chatter about Asheville
for close to ten years now and have never had the chance to visit. I expected a lot out of Asheville after all of this talk, and it delivered. It's just an amazing little town sitting right at
the foot of the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains. You can see wonderful scenes with billowing
mountains right from downtown. Breath taking really. Not to sound giddy. But it's really
awe inspiring for someone like me who's from Jacksonville to see mountains. And the architecture is great downtown. The very contemporary right next to the very old. People walking around all over downtown. All over. Musicians playing on corners. Jazz, blue grass, folk. Right there. Like waiting for a subway in Times Square. All free. All culture. We ate at a vegetarian restaurant that had an entire menu of wonder. Everything could be ordered vegan also if so wished. They even brewed 6 organic beers.

I mean if Jacksonville had a place like this it would be a landmark. And in Asheville it's just another restaurant. The parking was affordable and easy to get to also. To sum it up I was so impressed with Asheville that it took me a day or two for it to register. They even have a really cool arts district in a warehouse area down by the river. The only thing negative about Asheville I might have to say would be that it's too cool. One could easily feel uncool. I did feel a bit old.
But it really is made up of all types. Sort of like Atlanta, San Fran, or New York. A microcosm of culture at the foot of the Blue Ridge mountains.

And then we had a little visit in Greeneville, South Carolina which was an absolute surprise. I had no idea that Greeneville was as frickin cool as it is. I mean for Pete's sake they have a waterfall creek running smack dab through downtown. Kids and such playing all over swimming and screwing around. The river park goes for like half a mile! Along the stream are several band shells shaded by trees. The downtown is really developed. I mean many many blocks. Enough developed blocks that we were tired as hell after walking for three hours. There's a trolley car that goes all the way down Main street. There's even an arts district right on the river where several artists have rented studio spaces. I mean it's developed. Big money. Great restaurants. Great hotels. Very historic. Historic markers all over with associated statues. And while looking at the real estate for the city I found houses for 150K. New construction. Really amazing to find deals like that in a city with that much culture.

And if that wasn't cool enough after messing around in Greeneville for a few hours we drove only about a half hour or so and we were up in the Blue Ridge Mountains to watch the sunset. I want you to know those mountains are amazing. They aren't as impressive as the Rocky Mountains, but they are gorgeous in their own right. Not a bad batch of mountains to have in your backyard. The mountain biking there must be out of this world.

So anyways. That's it. A little road trip. Several cities with bustling downtowns. What are they doing that Jacksonville isn't? How long will it take before we can catch up? Are we playing catch up? If so, why? Hope you all get to get out of Jax for a bit when you have a chance. Check out the other cities. Get an idea of what works there, and bring that idea back here and implement it. Our Southern neighbors are doing it. Let's use them as examples of how it can be done here.

Cheers....

Summer Cinema at MOCA

2007-06-25T14:38:00.000-05:00

How does everyone feel about our summer film series? We have it on Wednesdays because of our Target Free Wednesday Night and partly because of ArtWalk. The Museum is already open late so it is a good fit. Also, movie goers can come early and see the gallery space for free courtesy of Target. Is 7:00pm a good start time? Has the movie selection been interesting? Is there something that you would rather see? How can we sell out EVERY week? Do you like the new Q&A on the second Wednesday? If so, what else would you like to see that night? Does anyone have a lead on a dynamite special guest? We are still working on our last Q&A for the summer. The movie is An Inconvenient Truth.

And now for my shameless plug. This week is Iron Giant. As David Edelstein put this week on Sunday Morning, it is "a sci-fi movie, set in the fifties, about a kid who befriends a colossal robot from space that the government wants to destroy. In its sense of wonder, "The Iron Giant" is worthy of comparison with Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. Spielberg influenced (writer/director Brad) Bird in all the right ways, like the way characters seize the foreground: Even in 2-D, they pop out." The Iron Giant is based upon the 1968 story, Iron Man, by the British poet laureate Ted Hughes. Bird's newest movie, Ratatouille opens this weekend so come out to MOCA Jacksonville this Wednesday for MOCA in the Middle and get your magic started. And if a movie isn't your thing, don't miss tonight's musical guests… The Bath Party. Grab a drink and enjoy the great music in the Atrium. Or better yet, come for early for happy hour. Listen to the great music. Have some drinks. Get dinner at Café Nola AND then take in the movie… a perfect evening to give you a break to your busy work week.

2007-06-19T07:51:00.000-05:00

Last week's launch of MOCA in the Middle was a great success. I hope everyone had a great time. I would love to hear your thoughts on the night. The movie was wonderfully made. And having Damian Lahey in the house made the evening.

Summer Cinema continues with Tsotsi. It is a story about the leader of an unruly, callous gang that resides in the segregated slums of Johannesburg, South Africa. With reckless abandonment the gang members harass, steal, and kill. One day, just for mere pleasure, Tsotsi decides to kill a woman and steal her car. It’s not long before he realizes that the woman had a child who is still in the back seat. Tsotsi reveals that she just may have a moral sense after all as she inexplicably decides not to abandon the baby, but rather to keep it. Indeed, this is an unfamiliar challenge. Tsotsi has never truly had another person to care for, let alone a small child.

This film won the Academy Award Winner for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year as well as a slew of festival awards. Check out the official site for more info.

TONIGHT @ OPAQ!

2007-06-16T06:27:00.001-05:00







!!!THIS SAT NIGHT!!!

     Opaq gallery we will close Nestor Gil's
interactive installation "footprint" with a special
screening of Cody Hughes short video works at 9 pm.
THEY ARE NOT TO BE MISSED. We invite you to come by
and celebrate Nestor's lifetime of commitment to
Jacksonville's art community.


OPAQ Gallery is located at 333 E. Bay St.
(above TSI) and our hours are
from 8-11pm (w/free entry before 9.)

Hey MOCA I have a Question for You

2007-06-12T19:23:00.000-05:00

I was wondering if anyone from MOCA would like to comment or share more info on the newly appointed director, Deborah C. Broder. I have already read flog, in what I am assuming is a press release, BUT does anyone have any info on Deborah as a person? Who is she? Is she from outside of Jacksonville or inside the community? What does this mean for MOCA? Plans?

Thanks in advance.

MOCA in the Middle: Cocaine Angel with Q&A

2007-06-12T12:33:00.000-05:00

Wednesday night, MOCA Jacksonville launches MOCA in the Middle. We are trying something new. Imagine that! Here's the scoop. Everyone could probably use a break in the middle of the week so we have decided to host a little happy hour. And to make the happy hour a little happier, we have Shawn Lightfoot on Guitar in the Atrium from 5 – 7 pm. and free makeovers in our lobby courtesy of Daniel James Salon for those of you having a tough week. And to top it all off we are launching Wednesday Night Dinner at Café Nola.

But the biggest news comes from our Summer Film Series. Through the end of the summer we are planning a little something extra on second Wednesday for our film series. We have Q&As with special guests.

In June, Cocaine Angel captures a grinding and tragic week (day?) in the life of a weary young drug addict who is clinging to the remnants of his once hopeful existence amidst the stink, the sweat, and unforgiving heat of Jacksonville, Florida. This film sold out at the film festival last year… twice. And we will have writer/producer/star Damian Lahey in the Museum for a Q&A after the film.

The film starts at 7:00pm. So come early and have dinner or drinks or BOTH before the film.

Mildred Interview

2007-06-12T09:45:00.001-05:00

Check out this brilliant interview with Mildred on Our Art Site:

http://www.ourartsite.com/interview/mildred.php

It's like Andy Warhol does Street art meets Beavis and Butthead.

Felix Gonzalez Torres

2007-06-08T13:11:00.000-05:00

I just found an interview online that I am really excited about. It is a reading by these two poets of an interview from 1993 between the artists Tim Rollins and Felix Gonzalez Torres. Its such a personal, raw interview. So many things are said that hit home for me. I could listen to it a thousand times and not get bored. It comes in two parts here:

Here are some images of Felix's work.

UPDATE: FGT is representing the USA at the Venice Biennale.
He died in 1996

Concepting Anyone?

2007-06-08T06:17:00.000-05:00

Lately I've been thinking more and more about using the space of the Artwalk as an art project. Would any of you be interested in collaborating on a concept for a piece that takes the entire Artwalk space or a block of it, and turns it into an art piece? Maybe it's performance, installation, or something site specific?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Site-specific_art

If we really wanted to make drastic change here in Jax I feel we should try and use what space we already have and what audience we already have to try and define contemporary art to the masses who have no appreciation for it. It'd be great if we could all pool our resources and minds and come up with something that folks would never forget.

Anyone game? I'm down with meeting Friday at the Riverside Starbucks. Maybe we could start on a concept at this meeting?

At Opaq Wednesday Night

2007-06-05T22:03:00.000-05:00





















Where does destruction end and creation begin?
Who's watching you?
Who's watching them?
These are a few of the questions raised by
Nestor Gil's interactive installation entitled
"footprint," opening at OPAQ Gallery on Wed.
June 6th (artwalk) from 5-10pm. The exhibition
reopens on Sat. June
9th from 8-11pm, and will close on Sat.
June 16th with a screening
of Cody Hughes' short video works.

OPAQ Gallery is located at 333 E. Bay St.
(above TSI) and is free to
the public on artwalk, and before 9 pm on Saturdays.

Note: Image not related to current show.
Its from a previous Nestor Gil installation
at Kent Campus Gallery. Documented image by
Catina Jane Gray.

The Devil's Backbone

2007-06-05T09:51:00.000-05:00

Wednesday night, MOCA Jacksonville continues its Summer Film Series with Guillermo del Toro's gripping film.

The story takes place in 1939, at the end of the civil war in Spain. A ten-year-old boy (Fernando Tielve) is left by his tutor in an orphanage in the middle of nowhere. He is shy and has problems making friends. The orphanage is run by a curt but considerate headmistress and a kindly professor who are both sympathetic to the doomed Republican cause. Despite their concern for him, and his gradual triumph over the usual schoolhouse bully, the boy never feels completely comfortable in his new environment and soon discovers that there is a dark presence in the house.

In this tale of love and betrayal, Del Toro masterfully communicates the horrors of war as it effects people, especially children.

The film starts at 7:00pm. So start ArtWalk early and then drop by the Museum for happy hour before the film.

Any of you interested in meeting?

2007-06-04T14:29:00.000-05:00

Maybe in person? Since we can do so. Since we
all live in Duval county? Put a face with a name?

Maybe set up a monthly meeting? Or at least have one?
Could be a good idea. Could be a bad idea.

What's good about this blog is that we all live relatively
close to each other. I think we should take advantage of it.

Art Agenda

2007-06-02T09:40:00.000-05:00

I came across Art Agenda last year and subscribed to their email newsletter. It's free and it is another great way to stay current with what's happening across the globe in contemporary art. Every few days or so (it varies) you get an exhibition announcement with who-what-when-where, a picture of the art, and a brief yet insightful paragraph or two about the artist. There's no critique or opinions, which is nice, it's only an announcement of a recent opening.

Pretty Darn Swell Group Show

2007-06-01T15:39:00.000-05:00

Go buy a print and support the Scleroderma Foundation

Art Competitions

2007-06-01T09:24:00.000-05:00

I've been told by a dealer from Texas and by more than one gallery that my resume should have awarded art competitions on it. So let's see, we have to show a growing exhibition list, reviews and publications, the right grants and fellowships, membership in professional societies, who's collected you, and now art comps. Sheesh!

I see here young man, that you've showed all over the country and have a well-developed series of art. But you didn't enter, and win, the Western Virginia art competition to paint the indigenous Singing Fica Bush. Hmm, too bad.

Not that I think the art competitions are of ultimate importance. I do give them a little bit of effort. So I was wondering if any of you have come across quality competitions. Most of the ones I find take a whole bunch of time to find out they're a scam.

I'll start. Here are some sources I wanted to share.
ArtDeadline It's a great list of grants, residencies, art comps, etc.

And some competitions that look good.
Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition
Art Kudos International Juried Competition

Having Trouble Selling Out?

2007-05-30T07:17:00.000-05:00

Then some of you may find this helpful, or at least interesting.

"The Web 2.0" has given us blogs, myspace, YouTube, flickr, and a host of other community-based personal networking sites where one can promote themselves, share their work and meet others like them all over the world. There's even Xpeeps, a personal networking site exactly like myspace but for... porn stars (!), both professional and amateur. ..

In the same vein, the notorious British ad-executive-turned-art-gallery-superbrand) Charles Saatchi has started up a personal networking (you show me yours I'll show you mine) site for young contemporary artists. Called Stuart, (a mashup of, I assume, the words Student and Art) the site works kind of like myspace, except far less fluidly. Nevertheless, I posted a few images on there last winter and so far I have recieved minimal spam, updates on ways I can sell my soul to the Saatchi enterprise, and, actually, some helpful feedback on my work from people in other countries. I was recently asked by someone who saw my work on Stuart to be in a show in Berlin.

The best thing about Stuart is that you can scan student works from hundreds if not thousands of young student artists. While a little nauseating, Stuart is one way you can Art It Up in the global sphere while seeing what else is out there.

Just puttin that out there.

Art Open House May 5 & 6 1951 Market St photos

2007-05-28T20:58:00.000-05:00

photos by Renee Parenteau Photography

2007-05-25T15:01:00.000-05:00

Waking up

2007-05-23T11:49:00.000-05:00

Lately I feel that it is my responsibility to make artwork the addresses current socio political situations. Specifically pertaining to the War in Iraq. I have been ignoring any sort of heavily weighted work having to do with the war in my work over the last several years. My work has tended to be more personal and introspective since 911.

Do any of you feel the same urge to make work that addresses specific current events or situations? In a sense I do feel as if I'm waking up out of a fog. I'm hoping others are ready to wake up too. Or maybe I'm the only one who has been asleep?