November 18, 2011 – 9:21 pm
Always curious about the aesthetics of our contemporary condition, I’ve come across these articles that aspire to describe where we are in relationship to everybody’s new favorite closed door, the postmodern era (call it late ’60s-late ’90s).
Nicholas Bourriaud’s Altermodernism, from the 2009 Tate exhibition, is hard for me to get my head around—this mini-essay reads like a curator who considers himself an artist with a manifesto that’s a marketing tool… pretty blurry to me…
Alan Kirby’s Pseudomodernism read to me as novel in its attempt to differentiate the current from the previous in the viewer’s / reader’s perceived role as integral to the production of works / texts. Not sure how well this model scales across disciplines, but it’s new and constructive, which I appreciated. I’m looking forward to more propositions like this one.
Timotheus Vermeulen and Robin van den Akker’s Metamodernism read to me as pragmatic, though dissatisfying, since I suppose I carry the hope we are transitioning into something new… Their argument that the metamodern, as the synthesis of the modern and postmodern, has that end-of-history feel to it… The-future-is-basically-the-present-but-with-more-of-it,-isn’t-that-great notion doesn’t really inspire me to try to push it along… Admittedly, some days it doesn’t feel like it’s worth the effort to argue against this position, but it can’t be yesterday forever… can it?
If anyone has other essays to recommend – please send them my way! I’d appreciate it.
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November 10, 2011 – 9:16 pm
I am honored, excited, and delighted to be participating as a panelist at a free artist entrepeneurial workshop being offered by the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts:
Perfect Pitch: How to Introduce Yourself and Your Work
Presenters: Adam Blue, Sarah Chaffee, Mary Harding
November 30, 9:30am-12:00noon
Plymouth State University, 2 Pillsbury Street, Concord, NH.
Please click here for complete details and for registration information.
It would be great to see you there!
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November 4, 2011 – 2:47 pm
I’m happy to announce that another AVA Gallery and Art Center public art project has launched!
Please click here for complete details.
As with previous, AVA public art projects, I am delighted to have both helped coordinate the session and to have participated as well. Enjoy!
October 28, 2011 – 1:39 pm
Oh winter wonderland… you’re as beautiful as you were in your previous 6-month-long visit. One quick favor, though — since I find myself materially, psychologically, and spiritually unprepared for your arrival — come back again closer to Thanksgiving. I haven’t even had Halloween candy yet. Much appreciated.
October 21, 2011 – 2:22 pm
Sculpturefest 2009
The opening for Sculpturefest in Woodstock, VT is one of my favorite evenings of the year. Great friends, family, fabulous art, a picnic dinner among the fall foliage… what could be better?
I was fortunate to carve out the time to participate in the 2009 Exhibition. It was a blast!
This wall-hanging batch of modernist arcs double as hula hoops of varying diameters for attendees of all ages. It was awesome fun seeing people shake it to the steel drum band, have big belly laughs, and then rehang the colored loops in new patterns on the barn.
Here’s a link to more images of works from the 2009 Sculpturefest Exhibition taken by photographer David Hearne. The page loads to a shot of the hoops, though do click around to check out the other work.
Additionally – though I can’t find any photo-documentation at the moment, I also partnered with all-stars Paulette Werger and Eric Schaller to install two interactive camera obscuras in the barn as well.
We’ll see if I can be part of the show again in 2012… Fingers crossed…
October 12, 2011 – 9:11 pm
A quick note – I’ve picked up a teaching opportunity at AVA Gallery and Art Center:
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Daytime Oil and Acrylic Painting
November 1–December 6, 2011
Tuesdays, 10:00am–1:00pm
Six 3-hour classes
Materials list provided.
Individual and group instruction will provide a creative opportunity for artists of all levels to explore new techniques while developing and enriching personal painting styles. The group will investigate a variety of subjects, with an emphasis on the inventive manipulation of paint, by working on “one-sitting paintings” and more sustained works.
Join us if you’re able!
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October 4, 2011 – 2:28 pm
This Friday night at 6pm, I’ll be making dinner from our organic garden and offering it as part of the Main Street Museum’s Box Social fundraiser.
The MSM was heavily impacted by the flooding during Irene. So – if you’re looking for a delicious way to support this phenomenal White River Junction, VT art space – please come out and join us!
Yum!
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September 27, 2011 – 5:42 pm
good times everybody!
A quick follow up about last weekend’s Assemblage Public Art Project at Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site – for the fourth straight year, it was a wonderful experience!
The weather was great, there were an estimated 550-600 people who attended the event, and the AVA Assemblage Public Art Project generated and documented a fantastic set of ephemeral sculptures made by playful community members of all ages and aesthetic sensibilities!
Special thanks to the organizations that made it happen: AVA Gallery and Art Center and Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site. As well, and the James Tasker Covered Bridges Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation – Upper Valley Region, which awarded a grant used to replenish the charismatic materials used in this public art project!
September 17, 2011 – 8:47 pm
a happy participant from 2009
Everyone – I’ll be leading a really wonderful Assemblage Public Art Project on Saturday, September 24, 11am-4pm at Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site in Cornish, NH. Please come be part of the fun – it’s free!
The event is AVA Gallery and Art Center’s contribution to Sculptural Visions, Saint-Gaudens’ annual celebration of sculpture in all its forms. Entry to the park is free, there’s tons to see and do: woodworkers, figure sculptors, clay, metals, stone carvers, a bronze pour — it’s quite a wonderful day in and among the fall foliage!
Hope to see you there.
A small selection of works from 2008-10 can be seen here.
September 12, 2011 – 4:33 pm
Rowan, pencil, 2006, private collection
hard to believe how time flies…
still hoping to make more consistent posts of new work, but between school staring again, fall clean-up, stacking wood, the garden, grant writing, and all good things at work, studio time has been scarce this month…