~

~

Which of the above images is A) from the awesome and provocative exhibit “Black Acid Co-op,” a massive installation shown last summer at Deitch Projects, in the rarified NYC gallery world, and which B) depicts the house fire that plagued the Pilsen residence known as the Whale (home to creative collective Order of the Lamprey)? Take your pick, link on your image of choice to learn the answer, then join the Facebook group to keep up to date and Save The Whale.

your ads here (468x60) - after 1st post.

~

[CHICAGO] Contemporary art, perhaps more than other classifications, can run the gamut, and finding a gallery or museum that you consistently enjoy isn’t always easy. Nor is finding an exhibit to please everyone in your viewing party. If this is a concern, fret no more. The Hyde Park Art Center in south Chicago never fails to delight with at least something among its six or so exhibits on display at most any time. A visit this weekend was a stellar example of this “something for everyone” success, and following are highlights of half a dozen strong exhibits. About 30 more images can be seen at my Flickr gallery:

• INSTALLATION “Notes to Nonself,” from Diane Christiansen and Shoshanna Utchenik. From the HPAC’s always wonderful (if a bit hard to read, due to tiny text type!) exhibit guide: “Wander the Ego Forest, wade through the Relationship Bardo and then take solace in the Temporary Refuge …” or in layperson’s terms: enjoy an illuminated pink octopus (below), a plywood forest festooned with new-age sentiments, Tibetan prayer flags floating in a sea of kite-like clouds, and more. But I don’t want to spoil the fun. Just go and enjoy, through May 2, 2010.

• PAINTINGS from Andreas Fischer, “Ghost Town.” Portraits (below) depicting “intangible mental characteristics excluded from an object-based historical archive.” Read more

~

[BRIDGEPORT, Chicago] Terrific art is not limited to the worlds of museums and traditional galleries, thank God, and lucky for us in Chicago, we have a world-class city with visual wonders exploding all over the place, and a broad definition of what constitutes art and inspiration. While Co-Prosperity Sphere in Bridgeport has been around a while (their graffiti show was a fantastic and mad highlight of last year), it really seems to be ramping up its act, and leading the pack in what truly seems to be an organically forming arts district (versus those elsewhere in the city promoted by private business – not that there’s anything wrong with that).

~

The current Co-Pro show, TYPEFORCE: The Annual Chicago Show of Emerging Typographic Allstars (extended through March 19, 2010), shows off an amazing array of beautiful and challenging lettering. Mechanically typeset, produced by hand, some barely legible but with merits galore to compensate, including one large piece (in the gallery window) of the likes I’ve not quite seen anywhere. When viewed from just about any angle, it may appear to be an abstract fabric installation or flight of fancy predicting the impending onset of spring breezes. (Let us pray, anyway.) But squint, and know what you’re looking for, and it’s a larger than life depiction of the show’s title/logo (which you can view on the Co-pro web page promoting the event.).

~

~

Shown here and on my Flickr page are just some quick highlights of some of the pieces I enjoyed the most, during a whirlwind visit on the day after the opening on Feb. 26, 2010. (While I love a good happening as much as the next guy and love chatting up the artists and other patrons, I often find it challenging to really enjoy the art and to focus on details, and especially to try to photograph if there is something I wish to promote for you, the gentle reader.) Read more

Check out a wide range of creative work – from fantastic hand lettering to poster design to artful web design work for places like Groupon – at the personal website of Chicago designer Will Miller. Will is part of the Firebelly Design family and one of my collaborators in last September’s group exhibition in Pilsen. He’s one of the artists showing at TYPEFORCE: The Annual Chicago Show of Emerging Typographic Allstars, in Bridgeport. Opening this Friday, February 26, 2010. Check it out if you’re a type fiend and in Chicago! More of my some of my favorite work by Will, after the jump: Read more

Ever wonder what goes on inside a day-long crit session at a top school like CalArts? Behind the scenes at Art Basel or the Venice Biennale? Inside the judging for the Turner Prize?

~

Author Sarah Thornton takes the reader inside each of these phenomena of contemporary art in Seven Days in the Art World (W.W. Norton, 2008). In addition, she takes us along for a visit to the studio of art world superstar Takashi Murakama, unveiling a masterpiece for museum curators for the first time; we spend a day inside the pressure-cooker world of influential Artforum magazine; and we get a front-row seat at Christie’s auction house, inside the minds of bidder, artist and auctioneer alike.

~

Each chapter is a fascinating glimpse of the multi-billion dollar world of contemporary art. From the CalArts students with their eye on the big time, to those who have made it, each story weaves a complex global tale of power, money, ego, beauty, history, publishing and politics. Though Thornton said in an interview with ArtWorldSalon that “I was never trained as a journalist,” the book comes off as impeccably reported. (My view as a journalist who has taught much about the craft.) Stories are told out of fairness from multiple points of view; the author never judges. Colorful details abound from her interviews with more than 250 people were interviewed. In the end, a “you are there” feeling prevails.

~

Some favorite quotes from the book:

• Artist Keith Tyson, winner of the Turner Prize in 2002, at the Christie’s auction: “Unlike gold and diamonds, art has this other value, and that’s what makes it fascinating. Everything else is trying to sell you something else. Art is trying to sell you yourself. Read more

CHICAGO}  Just when I’m about to give up on Facebook and all its trivial distractions, along comes along a cool breeze of inspiration to keep me coming back. This morning was treated to this wonderful photo collection, the portfolio of my friend Tom Slazinski who is the creative director for windows and interiors for the Anthropologie chain of stores. (Tom is based in Chicago but many of the images are for other locations.) A few of my favorite images are presented here, Read more

CHICAGO} Visiting the historic Chicago Cultural Center? Have an interest in outsider art (and/or an open mind in general)? Then don’t miss a visit to the studios and gallery of Project Onward, a unique and fascinating surprise tucked away in the middle of the building’s ground floor. Here’s the description from their website:

“The mission of Project Onward is to support the creative growth of visual artists with mental and developmental disabilities. Project Onward provides studio space, art supplies, and professional guidance to emerging artists in a communal workshop environment. With the program’s support, Read more

~

[AMSTELVEEN, Holland] Was lucky enough on a summer art sabbatical to Europe and the Middle East to visit the Cobra Museum, home of contemporary work by artists of the COBRA movement (from Copenhagen, Brussels and Amsterdam). Karel Appel is a favorite, so I was excited to be able to visit and learn more about this movement. A few highlights of the exhibits, and the facilities, can be found at this album.

~

From the exhibit signage:

“The biggest source of inspiration for the Cobra artists were children’s drawings and the art of early cultures, in which the doing of something, or process, was more important than the final result. In this way, the artists established themselves in direct opposition to art theory.

~

“The group grew quickly. Adherents of Cobra thought included not only painters, but sculptors and word-artists. And people worked together on projects; Read more

[Photo by Ron Reason]

~

A surprise finale to a 4-week tour of Africa was being routed home on Air France, which allowed me to extend my layover in Paris. I only had a day, due to commitments back here in Chicago, but what a day it was. Finally got to visit the wonderful Centre Pompidou, and you can see highlights of what I liked here. Link here to another photo set, 24 Hours in Paris. Weather was fantastic – the first nice day in ages, I was told – and I look forward to returning this summer, for a longer stay!

Always love catching up with my pals at the M2 Studio in the Kibera slum while traveling through Nairobi, Kenya, and today was another great visit. (Such encounters are one of the upsides of having to put the Chicago gallery to sleep over the winter, as I focus on travels and photography pursuits.)

The M2 guys were excited about the prospect of procuring the deed to their studio. It’s a ramshackle, 2-story shack, basically, but it’s a wild explosion of colors and materials and spirit, and in my eyes, an amazing  anchor of life and hope in this little corner of the 1-million population Kibera.

They also showed more of their political portraits, including some fun new Obama stuff; talked about bursting at the seams with participating artists; and shared their excitement over an upcoming show in Nairobi. You can view a photo set of the artists and their current art here. You can see a previous set of photos here, from spring 2008.

within(Reason) is proud to have supported the M2 guys via donation to help them purchase the deed and make the home a permanent one. For information about seeing more of their art, procuring anything you might see here or in my albums, or sponsoring the studio, email me at any time, at ron@artwithinreason.com