The future?

Right now in Miami, three major collectors have their private warehouses open to the public:

Margulis Collection
Rubell Family Collection
De La Cruz Collection

These warehouses are set in a Museum setting and have a very impressive collection. Historically artwork has been cared for by different institutions beginning with the Royalty/Imperial to Religious Institutions up to the current keepers of art which are the capitalist institutions and the national/ government/ city run institutions. My thoughts is in the new shift. An extention of the capitalist institution which is the private collectors.

Recently NPR did a story on one example: Private Museums

Conceptual Realism

It does sound pretentious but there is something in this term Conceptual Realism that I find holds true. I will allow Robert Williams to continue:

Applying Realistic Art to Conceptualism – A Statement of Intent

For many years modern artists have intended to create paintings that fit into the understood explanation of conceptual art, and not all of it has simply been pop art. However, the majority of modern paintings have tried to slip under the safe recognized title of “pop.” Although pop has been the most obvious refuge, there are some real problems with this idiom. Pop art needs, and totally depends on appropriation – copying something popular. The need to reference itself back to the population’s common favoritisms encumbers art’s ability to experience the entire spectrum of the hypothetical. In other words, it’s very limited. Copying, or just recreating an object in a larger size suggests an atrophied imagination.

With the exception of pop art, there is a problem with the acceptance of realistic fine art painting into the formal art world of conceptualism. Basically it’s the contemporary art world’s hatred of craftsmanship. Facie dexterity has been frowned on and discouraged for almost sixty years. At best, it has been classified as the quaint expression of a hobbyist, more suited in the quest for a blue ribbon at a county fair. Unfortunately, because of many artists who have timidly restrained their imaginations this dim view has proven justified.

Acceptable or not, craftsmanship and the ability to draw and paint without the aid of computer or photography is a positive human compulsion, and is just as valid a virtuosity as singing with a beautiful voice, or a piano concerto played with nimble fingers. All representational painting shoud not be categorized with sentimental and innocuous works that placate the requirements of modest morality, something on the order of eyewash.

A well executed oil painting with intelligent purpose should not find itself the exclusive trappings of the interior decorator of the sanctimonious moralist espousing public and family values.

The key word is supposition, It must be suggested that art inspired by over-imagination, rendered in precise clarity, and compelled to masquerade as conceptual art can only flourish if it represents itself honestly in the service of the purely hypothetical.

Here is a link to his site if you want to see more, Robert Williams.

Haitian Disaster

Just a quick note if anyone would be interested in dontating funds to help out in this earthquake disaster here are some links:

Action Against Hunger
Salvation Army
Red Cross

And if you want to do research on where you want to send your money go to Charity Navigator.

MIA-Art Fair

After the wonderful spectacle that was Art Basel and all its events it is nice to have a fair that eases us back to reality. The MIA Art Fair is more like the after party where you see familiar art work and faces. For me it's a lay back summary of last year’s events from its homage to 25 years of Cuban American Art to new and exciting Art Stars which include the Artists of Primary Flight and the Spinello Gallery. I was amused with the Federico Uribe installation RISK and it’s cleaver use of disposable objects.

I believe the show will do well due to the phenomenal weather conditions that are taking place up north; there are a lot of snow birds down here. This fair is a sweet spread, much like a buffet, there is a little something here for everyone.

Photo above provided by the Miami Art Exchange

Is it OK to taste snow

This is a sketch book drawing I did sometime ago based on a photograph taken in Washington D.C. My girlfriend and I went there for vacation and she had never seen snow before. So as it began to snow she asked me whether it was Ok to taste it. In all honesty I don’t know if it was or wasn’t but I’ve seen enough movies to know that it was not going to kill her so naturally I said yes. It is one of those Kodak moments and although I’m not a fan, this one was a bit too personal to pass up from using as a drawing.

The noodles guy was an after thought because she also likes to eat noodles; it kind of works in an offbeat way.
Can see a larger version here

Eirik Solheim

One year in 40 seconds from Eirik Solheim on Vimeo.

Pretty Cool.