paintings + drawings

Public Service Announcement (to run thru 06/30/08)

Public commissions. Ugh. But if you can negotiate the system then the Alameda County Arts Commission is now accepting submissions from Alameda County artists for 3 upcoming (including the chance to get a piece of your work into the local Detox Center. You know you're gonna end up there sooner or later, wouldn't it be nice to have your work there ahead of you?):

The Alameda County Arts Commission is offering new opportunities for Alameda County artists to have their artwork considered for the Alameda County Art Collection. Artists who make two-dimensional, low-relief, or wall sculptural artwork, and artists at all levels of professional development are invited to apply. More than $200,000 is available to purchase existing artwork and to commission artists to create new works of art. Qualified professional artists, including women and African American, Latino/Chicano, Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander artists and artists with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The Alameda County Arts Commission will administer these programs with "2% for Art" Public Art Program funds generated by County of Alameda capital projects.

ARTWORK PURCHASE PROGRAM
Application Deadline: May 30, 2008

SMALL SCALE ARTWORK PURCHASE PROGRAM at the JUVENILE JUSTICE CENTER
Application Deadline: June 30, 2008

SMALL SCALE ARTWORK PURCHASE PROGRAM at the SOBERING & DETOXIFICATION CENTERS
Application Deadline: June 30, 2008

Submission Process: Applications for these public art projects must be submitted online through the CaFE website. Search for "Alameda County." A separate application must be submitted for each project. Call (510)208-9646 or email artscommission@acgov.org to receive a copy by email or mail.

Money. Money. Mo-ney.

Want some money to cause trouble? Or maybe to just get some much needed dental work done?

Well, lucky you. SoEx is accepting applications for their 2008 grant program, deadline is June 13.

Press release sez: “Southern Exposure's Alternative Exposure grant program seeks to fuel the energy of the local visual arts community by supporting the vibrant artistic activity that occurs on the ground level - the collective, collaborative communities artists have formed for decades. Alternative Exposure grants provide direct support to projects that contribute to their communities and provide frameworks of support for artists to create and continue their work.

Alternative Exposure facilitates monetary awards to artists or groups of artists making and presenting work in a committed but informal way. It provides support to the work of unincorporated groups, burgeoning art venues and gathering spaces, publications, collectives, and events. Projects can include an exhibition or exhibition series, a public art project, a one time event or performance, the ongoing work of a venue or collective, the publication of writing directly related to the visual arts, an online project or publication, an artist residency, a series of screenings, and more. It seeks to support the public presentation of new work with the resulting project activities accessible and presented to the public.”

Or better yet use your grant money to create a program to help the artworld unlearn art speak (for example, see above). Good luck, we're counting on you.

Or better yet, get a job. SoEx has six openings - 2 arts instructors, 3 artist assistants, and a dev/comm assistant:

"Southern Exposure is seeking two Arts Instructors and three Artist Assistants/Interns for Mission Voices Summer (MVS) 2008. MVS is a six-week intensive summer arts program. It gives young people in the Mission District the opportunity to exercise leadership skills and participate in their community by exploring relevant social and personal issues through visual arts. Two arts Instructors and three Artist Interns will work with participating youth produce collaborative project with a united thematic focus. The program will culminate with an exhibition and opening at Southern Exposure the third week of August 2008." (deadline to apply for these is today. Sorry.)

"Southern Exposure seeks a dynamic individual to fill the position of Development and Communications Assistant. This is a part-time, 24 hour a week, contract position with the potential to become a full time staff position in 2009. The Development and Communications Assistant works with the Executive Director, Associate Director, Board and staff to assist with commnications efforts including managing the press database, press communications, promotional materials and outreach and community relations." (application deadline on this one is May 28).

Public Service Announcement (to run thru 04/27/08).

I’m not all that into Peter Doig. Really, I can take him or leave him. You might be into him though and that's alright with me. If so, then this is for you. From the press release:

“Kicking off the series of discussions between past MATRIX artists and curators is a conversation between artist Peter Doig, who was featured in the MATRIX program in 2000, and Heidi Zuckerman Jacobson, MATRIX curator from 1999 through 2005. Peter Doig is among the most important painters working today; his mid-career retrospective opened at the Tate Modern in early February. MATRIX 183 Echo Lake was his first one-person museum exhibition in the United States. Heidi Zuckerman Jacobson is currently director and chief curator of the Aspen Art Museum." Sunday, April 27, 3 p.m. at Berkeley Art Museum’s Theater. More info (like ticket prices) is here.

In the meantime, there are still a few days left of PFA's mini-retrospective of the films by Frank Tashlin - who, I do really like. And who, you may or may not know, was also an artist. Screening schedule is here.

Public service announcement (to run thru 04/26).

OPTIC ILLUSION
Southern Exposure Annual Spring Fundraiser and Art Auction
Saturday, April 26, 2008 7:30 pm - 11:00 pm
Location: SomArts, Main Gallery 934 Brannan Street

Southern Exposure's Annual Art Auction and Spring Fundraiser, "Optical illusion," is a live and silent art auction of work from 170 established and emerging artists, food and beverages and live musical performances.

You and I know it’s a blast and it's for an essential Bay Area institution. Early on, I was lucky enough to be shown and supported at SoEx. Get over there and do your part to help out.

Buy your tickets online.

The contributing artists include: G. Cole Allee, Lauren Anderson, Marisa Aragona, Ellen Babcock, Michael Bartalos, Chris Bell, Andrew Benson, Amy Berk, Leo Bersamina, Michelle Blade, Jaren Bonillo, Val Britton, Heather Brubaker, ME, Jason Byers, Deric Carner, John Casey, Julie Chang, Ajit Chauhan, Kevin Chen, Youmna Chlala, Ishan Clemenco, Adriane Colburn, Serena Cole, Rand Colosky, Lisa Congdon, Alika Cooper, Christopher Culver, Timothy Cummings, Lauren Davies, Veronica De Jesus, Claire Droney, Chris Duncan, Ala Ebtekar, Amanda Eicher, Kevin Evanson, Kota Ezawa, Tia Factor, Harrell Fletcher, Tara Foley, Rhea Fontaine, Maria Forde, Dustin Fosnot, Emily Alden Foster, David Fought, Amy Franceschini, Benicia Gantner, Linda Geary, Renée Gertler, Maizie Gilbert, Jim Goldberg, Rebecca Goldfarb, Catherine Haley Epstein, Doug Hall, Michael Hall, Oliver Halsman Rosenberg, Nicole Hayden, Stephen Galloway, Tanya Gill, Cliff Hengst, Jonn Herschend, Scott Hewicker, Todd Hido, Elyse Hoch! stadt, Terry Hoff, Amanda Hughen, Suzanne Husky, Misa Inaoka, David Ireland, Jason Jagel, Packard Jennings, Chris Johanson, Kerri Johnson, Kathyrn Kenworth, Forest Kelley, David King, Ruth Kneass, Noah Lang, Yoon Lee, Katie Lewis, Michael Light, Frederick Loomis, Mark Luthringer, Nathan Lynch, Martin Machado, Michelle Mansour, Laura Mappin, Kara Maria, Vanessa Marsh, Christian Maychack, Christina Mazza, Chris McCaw, Sean McFarland, Dennis McNulty, Cheryl Meeker, Rebecca Miller, Kyle Mock, Mike Monteiro , Julio Morales, Apollonia Morrill, Jeff Morris, Paul Mullins, Kelsey Nicholson, Abner Nolan, Brion Nuda Rosch, Billy O'Callaghan, Kelly Ording, Kari Orvik, Alison Pebworth, Hilary Pecis, Stephanie Peek, Sasha Petrenko, Josh Pieper, James Pitt, Job Piston, Suzy Poling, Mel Prest, Basil Racuk, Albert Reyes, Lisa Ricci, Rigo 23, Lacey Jane Roberts, Thorina Rose, KC Rosenberg, Michael Rosenthal, James Sansing, Andrew Schoultz, Emily Sevier, Leslie Shows, Margaret Silverman, Jen! nie Smith, Casey Jex Smith, Sarah Smith, Tracy Snelling, Jessica Snow, Chris Sollars, Ari Solomon, Lisa Solomon, Tabitha Soren, Jennifer Starkweather, Estee Stevens, Michael Swaine, William Swanson,, Stephanie Syjuco, Owen Takabayashi, Charlene Tan, Margaret Tedesco, Weston Teruya, The Thing Quarterly, Hank Willis Thomas, Zefrey Throwell, Tracy Timmons, Bruce Tomb, David Tomb, Paul Urich, Andy Vogt, Catherine Wagner, Victoria Wagner, Carrie Mae Weems, Leigh Wells, Gail Wight, Megan Wilson, Jenifer Wofford, Lena Wolff, Sandra Wong, and Kelli Yon.

Auction artworks will be available for preview on the SoEx website starting April 18.

It's good for you.

Now shut up and go. Two events at Oakland Art Gallery (from the press release):

Artifact Poetry Series
David Buuck, Craig Santos Peres, and Leslie Scalapino
Saturday, March 22, 2008

Recognizing the need for a new experimental poetry and pros venue, Melissa Benham and Chana Morgenstern began the Artifact reading series, which has quickly become a vital social and artistic gathering spot for many Bay Area writers. To date, the reading series has hosted over 65 emerging and established writers and Melissa Benham started Artifact press, publishing a series of chapbooks and in 2007 launched Digital Artifact. OAG is proud to be the new home of this dynamic event.

ArtPrimer Lecture Series
Bay Area Critic and Author Jeff Kelley
Saturday, April 19th 2pm

Art Primer and Oakland Gallery are pleased to present a lecture by Bay Area critic and author Jeff Kelley. A published art critic since 1977, Jeff Kelley has written for Artforum, Art in America, Arts Magazine, Artweek, Vanguard, and the Los Angeles Times, among others. Kelley has also penned a book about Allan Kaprow.

Public Service Announcement (to run thru 02/14/08)

I’m a big fan of Ann Magnuson. Anytime she comes to town is a reason to celebrate, especially on Valentine's Day. At least to me and other Bay Area Bongwater fans.

From the press release: Beginning Feb 14, New York-based impresario Earl Dax brings his wildly entertaining, politically pointed, and always sold-out theatrical cabaret "Weimar New York" to SFMOMA for its West Coast premiere. Juxtaposing the aesthetics and music of Weimar-era Berlin with those of the contemporary downtown performance scene in New York, the show spotlights the uneasy parallels between Germany then and the United States now.

Besides Magnuson, the show features a super lineup of talent including former hometown hero Justin Bond.

The museum is hosting a boatload of related events, but their website (which is usually super easy to navigate) and press room make are currently making it a little too complicated to cut and paste. So start here to get all the info.

Public service announcement (to run thru 01/25/08).

Open your wallet for:

Creative Growth’s Iceland
Annual holiday exhibition and sale from December 7, 2007 – January 25, 2008. Get their early the good stuff goes fast. Opening Reception is Friday, December 7. Reception is free and open to the public. Also open Saturday, December 8 and 15, 11:00am-4pm. More info here.

NIAD’s Art from The Heart
Annual holiday sale featuring work from every single artist at NIAD, Bay Area artists, NIAD’s talented teaching staff, and generous volunteers. Up from now through December 21, 2008. Opening reception is December 8 from 2-5pm. More info here.

Blankspace’s Holidayland
Holiday sale of small works of art and fine crafts from a bazillion local artists – my picks include Kathy Aoki, Sara Blaylock, Michael Hall and Lisa Solomon. Show is on from December 7-Deecmber 17, 2008.  Holiday cheer receptions (translates to free booze and music) are December 7 from 7-10 pm, and December 16 from 12-5pm. More info here.

Public service announcement (to run thru 11/28/07).

Inside the Art World presents lectures by art world professional -- curators, gallery owners, museum administrators, and art critics  -- whose professions directly impact working artists. This fall, Art Primer’s popular lecture series will be hosted by Oakland Art Gallery.

First up is Oakland Museum of California's new Senior Curator Rene de Guzman on Wednesday, November 28th at 7pm. Admission is $15, pre-registration is a must.

I’m not really sure what he is gonna say, so you can sort the press releases mumbo-jumbo out yourself: “In his lecture, de Guzman will examine the roles and functions of museums in the context of local and global art cultures, sharing his observations about the burgeoning Oakland art scene. His discussion will focus on the ways that regional activities and ambitions reflect global trends and ideas, emphasizing strategies to assert local identity while placing Oakland and California in relationship to the international art world.” Emphasizing strategies to assert local identity??

For more info.

Public service announcement (to run thru 12/09/07).

Renovation         of the Art and History Galleries begins January 2 at the Oakland Museum of California. A special Off-the-Wall Weekend Celebration, Dec 7-9, offers programs and performances for visitors of all ages and interests.

The Celebration gets underway with First Fridays After Five (Dec 7) and continues through Saturday, Dec 8 (Access & Activism), and Sunday, Dec 9 (free Family Festival Day). All Friday and Saturday activities are included with museum admission. Complete schedule is here.

The museum will remain open throughout the renovation. The annual Lunar New Year Celebration, Black History Events, California Wildflower Show, Days of the Dead, and Fungus Fair will be held as usual, as will the popular First Fridays After Five. The museum will continue to present major exhibitions in the Great Hall through 2008 and 2009.

photo: Gallery               Lecture at the Oakland Museum of California. Photo Rue Flaherty.

Public service announcement (to run thru 12/01).

Arthur Huang writes:

"I am very excited to announce that the Unread Book Project will be installed at Southern Exposure as part of their annual juried exhibition Grounded?

The exhibition runs from November 9 through December 15. The installation of the Unread Book Project will be a pared down version of what was installed at Mercury 20 due to space constraints.

If you would like to participate and haven't already done so, please stop by.  Also, please feel free to pass along this information to others that might be interested in taking part in the Unread Book Project.

As a reminder, to participate in the Unread Book Project, please bring an unread book to donate to the collection as well as answers to the following questions:

1)  How did you come to acquire this book?
2)  Why has this book remained unread?

For more information, contact me or visit my website at:

unreadbookproject.blogspot.com

There is an opening reception on Friday, November 9th from 7 - 9 pm. I will be checking in unread books and chatting with visitors during the opening reception. If you get a chance, please stop by and say hello
and check out all the other artists in the exhibition.

If you can't make it to the opening reception, I will also be checking in books at Southern Exposure on most Saturdays during the course of the exhibition.

I will be at Southern Exposure on the following times and dates:

November 10th and 17th from 2 - 6 pm
December 1st, 8th and 15th from 2 - 6 pm"

photo: Ryan Christopher