Monday, June 29, 2009
Medicine on Canvas
Interesting collection of paintings concerning medicine, including Rembrandt's brilliant "Anatomy Lecture of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp," 1632, and Eakins's two Clinic pictures.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
From call for public art for new medical examiner's building
From the call for public art to be placed in a new medical examiner's building in downtown Orlando:
"[seeking work] that will embrace grieving families in a calming and soothing atmosphere as they come to deal with the passing of a family member.
"Site located on the intersection of two streets – Michigan Street and Bumby Avenue. The other corners hold an electrical substation, a storage facility and a strip mall with a pizza shop."
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Yeah, that was Mom's body all right -- at least I think so. Kinda hard to tell with it all flat like that. I want all you kids to understand exactly what this means: Pizza!! Let's go!!
"[seeking work] that will embrace grieving families in a calming and soothing atmosphere as they come to deal with the passing of a family member.
"Site located on the intersection of two streets – Michigan Street and Bumby Avenue. The other corners hold an electrical substation, a storage facility and a strip mall with a pizza shop."
--------------
Yeah, that was Mom's body all right -- at least I think so. Kinda hard to tell with it all flat like that. I want all you kids to understand exactly what this means: Pizza!! Let's go!!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
An Artists is an Artist is an Artist
Definition of artist according to the San Diego Municipal Code,Chapter 02, 06Division 07, Section 26.0702:
Artist means an individual generally recognized by critics and peers as a professional practitioner of the visual, performing, or language arts, or a combination thereof, based on that professional practitioner’s body of work, educational background, experience, past commissions, exhibition/ performance record, publications, and
production of artworks.
Barely-related quote: If that's art, I'm a Hottentot. -- Harry S Truman, in 1947 after viewing a group of paintings the State Department had bought for an overseas tour meant to demonstrate to non-believers that artistic creativity flourished best in America, under American capitalism. The works were hardly radical; none were abstract, let alone Abstract Expressionist.
Artist means an individual generally recognized by critics and peers as a professional practitioner of the visual, performing, or language arts, or a combination thereof, based on that professional practitioner’s body of work, educational background, experience, past commissions, exhibition/ performance record, publications, and
production of artworks.
Barely-related quote: If that's art, I'm a Hottentot. -- Harry S Truman, in 1947 after viewing a group of paintings the State Department had bought for an overseas tour meant to demonstrate to non-believers that artistic creativity flourished best in America, under American capitalism. The works were hardly radical; none were abstract, let alone Abstract Expressionist.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Web Design Warning
Because of the prevalence of malware sites, many surfers have JavaScript turned of by default. This means that if you have a JavaScript front page, these people will probably pass you by. Flash presentations on the home page are also problematic as people without high-speed connections will turn elsewhere.
It all depends on the function of your website, of course. Each site should have a specific primary purpose. If yours is to serve as a portfolio for potential collectors or high-end galleries who are likely to have the latest computer systems, and whom you send there, then a Flash presentation on the home page might be OK. Still, if a busy person has to spend too much time waiting for what they came for, they may move on. In general, you want your site to present your work with the same respect a good gallery would present it.
It all depends on the function of your website, of course. Each site should have a specific primary purpose. If yours is to serve as a portfolio for potential collectors or high-end galleries who are likely to have the latest computer systems, and whom you send there, then a Flash presentation on the home page might be OK. Still, if a busy person has to spend too much time waiting for what they came for, they may move on. In general, you want your site to present your work with the same respect a good gallery would present it.
Friday, May 8, 2009
More on Bedford Gallery Tackiness
TCA spoke with an artist who was at the Bedford Gallery opening where it cost $5 to enter. This artist reported that the place was packed, mainly with "art ladies," some of whom were friends of the artists in the show but many of whom seemed to be locals "who just love art." You know the kind. Many appeared to have had purchased new outfits just for the occasion, our spy reported.
Outside, some people who had come to the opening were complaining they didn't have $5, that they didn't bring cash when going to an art opening. There were also one or two "homeless guys" asking for spare change. Heck, I don't blame them. If I were down and out, I'd head over to a place where it was rumored that suburban ladies in new outfits were throwing money away.
Back inside: the artists who had work in the show were required to wear round labels with their names and the word "Artist." This is the type of label that sticks because of a tacky substance on the back.
The food and drinks we were meager and sub-standard despite the charge. I see someone commented on this already.
TCA also spoke to an artist who has had some connection with the Bedford Gallery for years. She was appalled at the idea that a fee would be charged to attend an opening and said she had never heard of such a thing before.
She did know about the charge the gallery levies for those who simply want to see an exhibit. She had been on the committee that discussed such fees, in fact. The original fee proposed had been $7 or $8, she thought. Those in favor of that amount pointed out that the Museum of Modern Art in SF charged more than that, but she and others argued that the Bedford Gallery was not SFMOMA and was not in San Francisco. She felt, as she still feels, that a high fee -- or any fee -- would keep out those who could benefit most from seeing a show: art students and young artists. It is, after all, a community gallery that is supposed to serve the people. The committee reached a compromise of sorts and set the entrance fee at $4. Now it is $5, more for "special." shows.
We also heard directly from an artist who has significant gallery representation and thus has not entered juried shows in several years. She was approached by a member of the staff and asked to submit to the show because, according to that person, they had not had many good submissions, and wanted some good work in the show. She declined. But then was asked again -- as a favor, please. She agreed and was charged $35 to submit her work. (TCA is aware of the practice of inviting artists to show along side of those who had to submit their work to the jury process, but this is different; such artist are usually honored, not charged.) She was accepted, so had to take her work to the gallery, a good three-hour round trip if all went well. After dropping off her work, she asked if she could take a look at the current show in the gallery. She was told yes, then charged $7 for the privilege.
Outside, some people who had come to the opening were complaining they didn't have $5, that they didn't bring cash when going to an art opening. There were also one or two "homeless guys" asking for spare change. Heck, I don't blame them. If I were down and out, I'd head over to a place where it was rumored that suburban ladies in new outfits were throwing money away.
Back inside: the artists who had work in the show were required to wear round labels with their names and the word "Artist." This is the type of label that sticks because of a tacky substance on the back.
The food and drinks we were meager and sub-standard despite the charge. I see someone commented on this already.
TCA also spoke to an artist who has had some connection with the Bedford Gallery for years. She was appalled at the idea that a fee would be charged to attend an opening and said she had never heard of such a thing before.
She did know about the charge the gallery levies for those who simply want to see an exhibit. She had been on the committee that discussed such fees, in fact. The original fee proposed had been $7 or $8, she thought. Those in favor of that amount pointed out that the Museum of Modern Art in SF charged more than that, but she and others argued that the Bedford Gallery was not SFMOMA and was not in San Francisco. She felt, as she still feels, that a high fee -- or any fee -- would keep out those who could benefit most from seeing a show: art students and young artists. It is, after all, a community gallery that is supposed to serve the people. The committee reached a compromise of sorts and set the entrance fee at $4. Now it is $5, more for "special." shows.
We also heard directly from an artist who has significant gallery representation and thus has not entered juried shows in several years. She was approached by a member of the staff and asked to submit to the show because, according to that person, they had not had many good submissions, and wanted some good work in the show. She declined. But then was asked again -- as a favor, please. She agreed and was charged $35 to submit her work. (TCA is aware of the practice of inviting artists to show along side of those who had to submit their work to the jury process, but this is different; such artist are usually honored, not charged.) She was accepted, so had to take her work to the gallery, a good three-hour round trip if all went well. After dropping off her work, she asked if she could take a look at the current show in the gallery. She was told yes, then charged $7 for the privilege.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Tackiness Among the Wax
Walnut Creek is a city of 65,384 about 30 miles northeast of San Francisco. The median household income is $106,122. As of July 2006, the average price of a detached single-family home was $857,136. In the 2000 census, 83.1% of the residents identified as White, 1.1% Black.
The city's Bedford Gallery, supported by taxpayers and presumably charged with cultural enrichment of the community, is currently hosting a juried show of works made primarily of wax. It cost $35 for artists to submit images for judging. That figure is above the national average, but not outrageous. What is different and new and outrageous is this:
The gallery charged people $5 to attend the opening, which was last night, May 6. Artists who have work in the show having paid a $35 submission fee and sometimes hundreds of dollars in crating and shipping), however, were treated with great magnanimity: they got in free. Not only that, they were allowed to bring one guest without charge. Isn't that nice? Two, guests, well, that is $5 and three is $10, and if you invited your collectors and friends and relatives and 15 showed up to support you, the Bedford Gallery benefited $75 from them.And the friends and relatives and collectors will forever remember that opening and the Bedford Gallery and you.
I get to see perhaps 50 invitations a month and have seen thousands during my lifetime. This is the first time I have seen a fee charged for an opening. Have you ever? I mean, have you ever!
The city's Bedford Gallery, supported by taxpayers and presumably charged with cultural enrichment of the community, is currently hosting a juried show of works made primarily of wax. It cost $35 for artists to submit images for judging. That figure is above the national average, but not outrageous. What is different and new and outrageous is this:
The gallery charged people $5 to attend the opening, which was last night, May 6. Artists who have work in the show having paid a $35 submission fee and sometimes hundreds of dollars in crating and shipping), however, were treated with great magnanimity: they got in free. Not only that, they were allowed to bring one guest without charge. Isn't that nice? Two, guests, well, that is $5 and three is $10, and if you invited your collectors and friends and relatives and 15 showed up to support you, the Bedford Gallery benefited $75 from them.And the friends and relatives and collectors will forever remember that opening and the Bedford Gallery and you.
I get to see perhaps 50 invitations a month and have seen thousands during my lifetime. This is the first time I have seen a fee charged for an opening. Have you ever? I mean, have you ever!
Copyscape - About Online Plagiarism
A useful site about plagiarism, copyright and related subjects, it has a service that lets you enter a URL to check if anyone is making extensive copies of that site.
Copyscape - About Online Plagiarism
Copyscape - About Online Plagiarism
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