Friday, March 18, 2011

Exhibition Review: Art in Austin during SXSW

For those who don't know it, this is the last weekend for SXSW in Austin, Texas. I was lucky enough to be in Austin last weekend, and although I couldn't afford tickets to the festival- I was able to enjoy the atmosphere of this great city! I also got to enjoy the awesome art venues. Here is a review of the exhibitions I got to attend at Arthouse at the Jones Center and the University of Texas Blanton Museum of Art.

Arthouse


There were three exhibitions going on at the Arthouse that excelled at piquing the curiosity of its viewers. In the front room the walls showcased the private letters from a doctor to his patients. While in the center of the room a project displayed an intimate short Hitchcockian film displaying the relationship between a man and his only companion, a finch. There was also another projector displaying offset images of contrasting but related photographs. The entire display was organized as Two Birds, Eighty Mountains, and a Portrait of the Artist and displayed Lisa Tan's Les Samouraïs (2010), Letters From Dr.Bamberger (2001), and National Geographic (2009).

In the private room, for access by adults only, four screens flooded the viewers with a sensory overload of imagery pertaining to a sexually charged and provocative drug den. Dorian, a cinematic perfume by Michelle Handelman explores "Dorian’s hallucinatory journey through a deviantly decadent underworld roiling with ambition, seduction, and betrayal."

On the second floor sits Graham Hudson's Rehearsals at Astoria, a wonderful piece that plays with concepts of nostalgia, musical stimulation, and the concept of space. Set in a dangerous, mid-construction platform that echoes the architecture of the London's Astoria Theatre, the viewer is invited to climb along the structure while they experience the creations of the varied musical guests. Of the list of artists, one particular musician who performed in the space was Austin native Suzanna Choffel.

If none of these exhibitions sounds particularly interesting, then you may be tempted by two other features. First, thanks to Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis Architects the architecture of the Arthouse is absolutely amazing- the arts center lives true to its claims of being an interactive space. Second, it is free. Enough said.

The Blanton Museum of Art

It's no secret to anyone who knows me well that I am currently in love with all things related to Buenos Aires. But this is especially connected to the graffiti/street art that emerged in the 1990s, post dictatorship. Boy was I ecstatic when I discovered that the Blanton has a new exhibition called "Recovering Beauty: The 1990s in Buenos Aires." Life does not get sweeter (well, traveling to the city would rock). The imagery was bright and colorful. The styles varied from abstract, geometric, figurative, and sculptural. I especially loved Miguel Harte’s El Jardin Filosofico (The Philosophical Garden), La Intrusa (The Intruder), and Como una pierda que suena (Like a Dreaming Stone). His miniature worlds forced the viewer to get very close to the work in order to see all the intricate details of the half-man, half-fly creations. Other artists in the exhibition include Feliciano Centurión, Sebastián Gordín, Benito Laren, Jorge Gumier Maier, Marcelo Pombo, Cristina Schiavi, Fabio Kacero, Graciela Hasper, and Omar Schiliro. While you are there don't forget to venture upstairs and check out their permanent collection, it is much more expansive and impressive than I imagined.

Another opportunity to partake in is an interactive installation by a very good friend and artist, Tex Jernigan. He will be hanging out around town this weekend. He was one of the first artists I interviewed over a year ago, and he will be in Austin for SXSW with his big red dot to create images that celebrate Japan. He is setting up the Japan flag in the streets, and his crew is doing the Star Dollars at the Lose Control Party. Keep up with him on his twitter. On Saturday night he will be at Vice, a club on San Jacinto & 6th st. This is what they are doing: http://texs.org/lovemoneyHopefully you can run into him!

Friday, March 11, 2011

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Berlin Art Link, Artist Studio Visit Series: Romeo Alaeff

Hey Guys! I know it's only been a little while (well, less than a day), but check out another recent article I co-wrote for Berlin Art Link on artist Romeo Alaeff!

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Berlin Art Link, Artist Studio Visit Series: Ultra Violet

It's been a busy few weeks here in Dallas, but it is back to the daily grind. Check out my latest co-authored article for Berlin Art Link on one of the muses of both Salvador Dalí and Andy Warhol- Ultra Violet!