Lurking within recent commentaries on ‘the big group shows’ one finds no uncertain antipathy to the idea of ‘professionalization’ in the visual arts. Most of the time, this gets written up as back-handed swat at art schools and the credentials they offer, the MFA and, now increasingly, the PhD. Holland …
Archive | June, 2009![]()
Wooster Collective Today At FIGMENT on Governor’s Island in New York CIty
Today, Saturday, at 3pm, Sara and I will be will be giving a talk and slide show at Figment, a free arts event on Governor’s Island in New York City. Join us if you can!
Madonna Nude
The nude Madonna and Guy Ritchie painting by Peter Howson ended up selling this week. It failed to sell at a recent contemporary Scottish art auction by McTear’s Auctioneers in Glasgow but has since been sold for more than the £15,000 reserve price.
McTear’s employee Brian Clements told the BBC “We were very confident we would find the right buyer for ‘Madonna and Guy’ and we are delighted to have secured such an excellent price for the painting. Although we cannot divulge the name of the buyer, we can confirm that the painting will be leaving Scotland.”
The 2005 nude portrait of Madonna and her ex husband Guy Ritchie is one from a series of the famous singer by Peter Howson. It’s not what I would call a flattering naked portrait of Madonna. She looks like a transvestite with funny fingers if you ask me.
Also in the UK, in Brighton, England the Impure Gallery (which calls itself “a naughty little gallery“) is showing some nude photographs of the young Madonna from 1979. New York Photographer, Martin Schreiber got Madonna to pose naked for just $30. I’m guessing that he would have to add at least a few zeros to that price to get the now super-famous Madonna to get naked.
Madonna Nude by Martin Schreiber
Madonna Naked by Martin Schreiber
HalogenLife Interviews Jan Vormann
HalogenLife recently published a terrific interview with Wooster fave, Jan Vormann. In the interview Jan explains his use of tiny toy bricks (not always Legos):
“I think the idea fits well in our times. First, of course, it is still a contemporary toy that kids play with. Secondly, architecture nowadays allows crossovers like these. Contemporary design has opened possibilities of understanding life in a positive, colorful way. The Lego brick has a nostalgic value amongst different generations worldwide, but at the same time it is all up to date. The combination of stone bricks and plastic bricks creates all kind of different contrasts that, in my eyes, illuminate relationships between esthetics and functionality. Undoubtedly the project bears depth in ways of perception of reality. But besides, it also just looks great!”
You can read the full interview here.
“Barrel Monsters”
Autoblog reports that a North Carolina State University student was arrested and charged with larceny for converting orange construction barrels into “Barrel Monsters”. The artist, who goes by “U Live and You Burn” is seeking support by asking them to write the prosecutor on his behalf:
Wake County Prosecutor C. Colon Willoughby, Jr.
Tenth Prosecutorial District
State of North Carolina
8th Floor, Wake County Courthouse
Post Office Box 31
Raleigh, N.C. 27602-0031
telephone (919) 792-5000
Our hope is that they treat him fairly, as they did Roadsworth in Montreal.
Save the Date: June 24th.. for The Rema Hort Mann Foundation 10% Charity Event
Save the Date: June 24th.. for The Rema Hort Mann Foundation 10% Charity Event. It’s a new great event during Gay Pride Week NYC.. focused on Gay Artists! Here’s the event website : http://www.rhmfoundation.org/10percent/index.html There’s A Silent Art Auction Featuring Over 70 Works Donated by LGBTQ Artists A fundraiser during gay pride week— open to everyone! And no, the auction is not a bunch of bull dyke and giant penis pictures. Wednesday, June 24th from 6 to 9pm at 28 Wooster Street, the former home of art recession road kill Guild and Greyshkul Gallery. Tickets $20 at the door. Plus…
Save the Date: June 24th.. for The Rema Hort Mann Foundation 10% Charity Event
Save the Date: June 24th.. for The Rema Hort Mann Foundation 10% Charity Event. It’s a new great event during Gay Pride Week NYC.. focused on Gay Artists! Here’s the event website : http://www.rhmfoundation.org/10percent/index.html There’s A Silent Art Auction Featuring Over 70 Works Donated by LGBTQ Artists A fundraiser during gay pride week— open to everyone! And no, the auction is not a bunch of bull dyke and giant penis pictures. Wednesday, June 24th from 6 to 9pm at 28 Wooster Street, the former home of art recession road kill Guild and Greyshkul Gallery. Tickets $20 at the door. Plus…
Banksy Versus Bristol Museum
‘Banksy Versus Bristol Museum‘ opens tomorrow but following hot on the heels of whats already been published on the BBC here’a a peek at what’s inside. This is just a small selection of the work on display – it looks like its Banksy’s biggest ever exhibition. You could spend a good hour just looking around his workspace alone.
The show runs for three months, opening Saturday 13th June through to Sunday 31st August. Start making your plans….
