reCollect Creative

FUNdraising Starts May 29th!

2011-05-20T21:42:00.003-04:00

The parProjects Poster Drive and Phase 1 Fundraiser kicks off May 29th @ The Comet (4579 Hamilton Ave. Cincinnati, OH). This is an all day event featuring drink specials, LIVE music and good times!

Help build this Art & Education Center out of recycled shipping containers! Details about this project can be found at: http://TheRoadToRefresh.com

Brunch served: 11AM - 2PM
Dinner served: 4PM - 1AM

Scheduled to perform:
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Elise Hoffman ~> 1:30p - 2:30p
http://elisehofmann.bandcamp.com/

Kelly Fine ~> 3:00p -4:00p
http://www.myspace.com/kellyfinemusic

DJ/Act To Be Announced ~> 4:30p - 7:00p

The Comet Bluegrass All-Stars ~> 7:30p - 10:00p
http://www.myspace.com/cometbluegrass

DJ To Be Announced ~> 10:30p - 2:00a
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More information on purchasing posters will be available soon.

Welcome Fabricate

2011-03-26T10:37:00.002-04:00

...also featured on http://TheRoadToRefresh.com

Most Second-Saturday's, I visit Fabricate (Northside) to see their latest art-wall offerings, grab a Pabst Blue Ribbon or two, and chat it up. Plus, they always have THE BEST crafty odds & ends (from bags & bracelets, to handmade soaps). But, rarely do I feel the need to take pictures or jot down notes about their shows. "An Evening With Richard" -- their current art-wall-exhibition -- is/was a delightful surprise and a reason that norm has changed!

Heading into the show, featuring works by James Judd, I had no idea what to expect. So, when confronted with a rather aggressive installation, I couldn't help to think to myself "this really works ...especially in this setting."

In his own words, James Judd is peddling "Cheap Sh*t For Cheap F*cks," but the show really is much more than that. From what I've gathered, the artist creates a lot of small crafty pieces that transform into magnets, book ends, and really a host of "crafty" applications. Still his work shouldn't be dismissed. If nothing else it has flavor. He mixes "cutish" bulbous figures, with elements of grime and descent. Plus, he's not afraid to curse up a storm ...which, as risk-taking artist, I can definitely appreciate...

Within the show, Judd presents a mixture of elements. On display are stand-alone figures, figures adorned with elements (like umbrellas), figures that are part of their own micro-installations; plus he features a painting on canvas that ain't too shabby. So, when considering all of these elements work so nicely within a full-wall (spanning over 20 feet), one must be impressed.

Also, everything really is affordable ....even for the entry-level art collector. And while I can't quite comment on the archival qualities of the work (because I'm not exactly sure what materials he uses), I can say adorning your walls or refrigerator with his characters would provide many days of enjoyment. So, don't be shy to visit. The show is up through April 3rd, meaning you still have about a week to check things out.

More info can be found on Fabricates website at: http://fabricatestore.wordpress.com/

In closing, don't be offended by the following images...

Cheers!
parProjects

FUNKe FIRED ARTS

2011-02-18T16:29:00.007-05:00

A trip of sheer curiosity landed me at FUNKe FIRED ARTS -- a gallery, studio, and education space located in the Hyde Park/Oakley area of Cincinnati. Along the way (at art openings, etc.), I'd met a couple of people that work or worked in the space, so I decided to check it out for myself.

What a great decision that was [patting myself on the back].

At FUNKe, the atmosphere is quite pleasant and maybe even a bit jovial. Artisans are working privately. Open classes are being held around clay wheels. Preparations for upcoming exhibitions are taking place behind mystical curtains. Still, folks like Kirk Mayhew are willing to stop everything they're doing to show you around and introduce you to their education schedule and gallery offerings (currently showing the 3rd Annual Member's Show) ...the reason for this post.

The current exhibition at FUNKe FIRED ARTS was a bit of a treat. A slew of skill levels are represented, but the standouts do just that ...stand out.

Amongst the standouts was Lindsay Garrett, an artist who created a life size (37' long) whale sculpture from (what appears to be) a wooden armature, foreign canned-whale-product-labels and an exterior covering of clay and paint. Her piece, entitled The Value Beneath, comments on the overseas consumption of whale meat ...something I assume Garret has strong feelings against. Still, the dazzling part of the sculpture was its interaction with time. From what I gather, on opening day the piece was an intact whale, but as time has passed, it's slowly decomposed and begun flaking off to expose its "whale-industry-product" labels ...or the value beneath. So when visiting the show, viewers are now presented with an almost-rotting corpse of a whale ...which is a rather powerful visual to say the least. (Which reminds me of the Margaret Boozer show mentioned HERE.)

Beyond Garret's work, also on a larger scale was a dramatic piece by Clark and Kramer titled Conceptual Drainage. For me, this was a great, simple statement and testament to material. The subject matter is something that everyone can relate to and the scale, approximately four feet tall, was pleasant and eye catching. Unglazed stoneware pours from the mouth of a glazed, pipe-like vessel to create a bit of movement that could easily find comfort wherever it may land next. This is simply a well made work that contains a great deal of suggested motion and association with running water ...therefor maybe it comments loosely on the generalities of sustaining life.

On the smaller end, there was much more work (of a mixed bag nature), but I'd still like to single out the work of Julia Feld ...and another one of my favorite pieces, Despondency (a teapot). I point this piece out because it, unlike most others, demonstrates a high level of skill in both sculpture and painting. It's rare to see an artist who can combine such different skill sets, so hopefully more people other than myself appreciate her work. Her "teapot" was a true demonstration of craft. The overall form was pleasing. The images were well planned. And most importantly, both elements worked well together. Also, if usable as a teapot, this is even more of a gem.

So with that, I conclude. Visit FUNKe FINE ARTS when you have a little time to spare. You won't be dissapointed. The current show is up through February 27th.

Relevant links include:

http://www.funkefiredarts.com/

http://www.juliafeld.com/

21C at The Cincinnati Art Museum

2011-02-03T21:57:00.003-05:00

In accordance with the parProjects / www.TheRoadToRefresh.com newly adopted schedule (found HERE), today marks the day to post an "Independent Feature" that highlights a local artist or creative experience ...that, of course, can be related to our current Community Art Center drive.

With this in mind, I did a bit of Googling, and eventually landed on an exhibition that -- even if not relatable -- seemed like a good fit for today's exploration. That show was "Way We Are Now: Selections From The 21C Collection" (a collection from a rather "swanky" hotel I gather) down at The Art Museum of Cincinnati. It's on display until May, 15th, 2011 if you find yourself in Cinci before then. At any rate, it's a fun spirited show, that has many more highs than lows ...& is easily relatable (as long as you're not growing cobwebs that it is).

The show features some great photography (especially in the balcony area), a fun but somewhat disturbing sculpture ("Surrogate") by Patricia Piccini and a typically-consistant Kehinde Wiley larger-than-life painting.

But, the reason for this post was an amazing work, and the lucky find of the day by Shih Chieh Huang of Taiwan. Titled EX-C-FW, this kinetic work was quirky, electrically powered and simply fun to watch. It rotated slowly via fan power, had lights that blinked when triggered by a video (being retina-scanned) and featured inflating/deflating plastic cones.

Here's a video to give you a better idea of what I'm writing about.

Regardless of your artistic taste (if you have any sort of fun spirit left in you), this is a grat show to see. Its simply a good time ...plus being housed in a great museum, a worthy artful experience is a safe bet.

More info on The Cincinnati Art Museum can be found at the link below:

http://www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org/absolutenm/templates/exhibitionscurrent.aspx

Cheers,

parProjects

Continuing on...

2011-02-03T21:39:00.005-05:00

So, I've decided to continue blogging a bit here like I used to. I figure, I'm always writing about something, why not start relating it to my ways of old. But in the same breath, I've decided to have more fun with this blog than I used to. So please expect some of the old (artistic writings and such); but please also expect to see much more random postings such as sound bytes, random images and whatever else I come up with that's somewhat creative ....like maybe a haiku or two??

At any rate, and more importantly, I hope you've been following along over at: http://TheRoadToRefresh.com. We have a major project happening (pictured) over there that you should really get involved with!

Till next time,
Jonathan

Help parProjects build a new art center out of shipping containers!

2010-11-18T21:39:00.004-05:00

parProjects is aiming to build a contemporary art space using recycled shipping containers and you can help make this happen. Here's how:

Step 1) Visit: http://TheRoadToRefresh.com

Step 2) Enjoy perusing: http://TheRoadToRefresh.com

Step 3) Subsribe to: http://TheRoadToRefresh.com via an RSS feed, google follow or any other way you can think of ...and enjoy our daily updates. (and chime in from time to time).

Step 4) Tell a friend about: http://TheRoadToRefresh.com

Step 5) Tell that friend about Steps 1, 2, and 3.

Step 6) Repeat the first 5 steps as often as possible and join us for Pepsi Refresh Grant voting in December.

Cheers!

Jonathan

http://TheRoadToRefresh.com

Open Studios tomorrow 12p - 3p! (Saturday 10/30)

2010-10-29T19:20:00.000-04:00

Today we met with the two artists who will be holding open studios in conjunction with The State of Matter glass exhibition tomorrow. And as always, Jim Hazel of HazelGlas and Margot Gotoff of Gotoff Studios were great fun …plus, both were excited to be opening their studios up to the public.

So tomorrow, in our last day of programming, please stop by HazelGlas (4150 Hamilton Ave) and Gotoff Studios (1546 Knowlton Ave) from 12p - 3p to get a rare glimpse into two established artists' studios. Margot will be showing her unique techniques of transforming clay sculptures into glass, while Jim Hazel will be demonstrating his extremely specialized capabilities in glass blowing and lathe-working.

All three of our other venues will be open from 10a - 4p as well …and following, will be our final flame-working demonstration by Michael Goodman at Prairie (4035 Hamilton Ave -- above Take the Cake).

Addresses and our schedule can be found here.

And a short cam-phone-video-clip of some of what Jim Hazel does is below.

Thanks and enjoy!

The State of Matter press release

2010-10-08T18:10:00.008-04:00

parProjects presents: The State of Matter

October 23rd – October 30th (the three-venue exhibition and week of events)

October 23rd – November 23rd (the month-long showcase at Prairie)

On Saturday, October 23rd, 2010, parProjects will kick off a week of events revolving around the medium of glass. The three-venue exhibition will be presented in Cincinnati's Northside community and will feature live glass blowing, flame working demos, artist talks and open studios. All of the programming is intended to highlight glass-media as a true art form.

The initial exhibition will be explored in three venues — Prairie (gallery), our BEI Container Gallery Space and Hoffner Lodge — which are all located in the Northside Business District surrounding Hoffner Park.

The sculptures of Cincinnati and regional artists will examine and explore the variety of ways glass is used in contemporary art. Their work ranges from traditional to unconventional use of media and their level of experience ranges from emerging to established. Several artists involved are featured from Neusole Glassworks (Cincinnati), while the others operate out of a number of other Midwestern glass facilities.

Internationally recognized artist and Cincinnati native Margot Gotoff leads the exhibition with her unique techniques in glass casting. In addition, the other featured artists — John Capps (Louisville, KY), Zach Compton (Cincinnati, OH), Mike Davis (Cincinnati, OH), Brian Engle (Pittsburgh, PA), Jason Forck (Pittsburgh, PA), Michael Goodman (Cincinnati, OH), Doni Hatz (Cincinnati, OH), Zachary Herrmann (Cincinnati, OH), Jamie Payne (Cincinnati, OH), Scott Percival (Chicago, IL), and Jared Rosenacker (Cincinnati, OH) — help to represent glass art as a whole. The twelve artists will show a cross-section of various ways glass can be manipulated, including traditional glass blowing, sculptural glass blowing, flame working, mixed media and casting.

Our title, The State of Matter, is derived from the literal description of glass itself as a substance. In scientific terms, glass is suspended between a liquid and solid state. And from this standpoint, the week strives to illustrate both the beauty of the making-process as well as the magic of the substance …which is actually frozen in space.

Essentially, we are pulling a community and city together for an array of good times which will officially start with four hours of glass blowing in Hoffner Park on Saturday, October 23rd. During the week, we will take viewers on an artistic journey into the seductive media of glass and processes that have gone unchanged for several thousand years.

This is the new beginning for parProjects. We are a professional group of artists & educators operating at a curatorial capacity in conjunction with galleries, local businesses and organizations in order to bridge communities together through creative projects.

Schedule of events for parProjects upcoming exhibition in Northside!

2010-10-08T14:29:00.001-04:00

Below is the current schedule of events for our upcoming exhibition The State of Matter.

We're excited about this opportunity and look forward to seeing all of you who can make it out to Northside!

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Participating Venues
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Prairie - 4035 Hamilton Ave (2nd Floor)
The BEI Container Gallery - 4046 Hamilton Ave (in back)
Hoffner Lodge - 4122 Hamilton Ave (2nd Flr. above Post Office)
Happen Inc. - 4201 Hamilton Ave

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Schedule of events
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Saturday, October 23rd, 2010
+ 12p - 4p: Live Glass Blowing @ Hoffner Park
+ 12p - 6p: Family oriented viewing @ Prairie
+ 6p - 10p: Grand Opening Gallery Walk @ All Venues

Sunday, October 24th, 2010
+ 1p - 5p: All Venues Open
+ 2p - 4p: Flame-working demo @ Prairie

Prairie open Tuesday, October 26th: 10a - 6p.

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010
+ 10a - 6p: Prairie Open
+ 4p - 7:30p: The Northside Farmers Market (open)
+ 4p - 7:30p: All Venues Open

Thursday, October 28th, 2010
+ 10a - 6p: Prairie Open
+ 5p - 7:45p: All Venues open
+ 8p - 10p: parProjects model unveiling & film screening
@Happen Inc. or @Hoffner Lodge (TBD and launched next week)

Prairie open Friday, October 29th, 2010: 10a - 6p.

Saturday, October 30th, 2010:
+ 10a - 4p: All Venues Open
+ 12p - 3p: Open Studio w/Margot Gotoff @ 1546 Knowlton Avenue
+ 4p - 6p: Flame-working demo @Prairie
-------------------------------------------

Additional programming will be taking place at and Hoffner park (10/23), HazelGlas (TBD), and Thunder-Sky Inc. (10/29) ...all located along Hamilton Ave.

More details can be found at http://www.parProjects.com

The Northside House is now parProjects!

2010-09-27T20:09:00.004-04:00

Hello all. Please note: We're continuing on with The Northside House programming (and more) under our new name "parProjects," and our new website/blog can be found at: http://www.parProjects.com.

Of course, I'll continue blogging about shows, events and what not (eventually). But for now my energies will be focussed on parProjects. So please check us out when you have a moment. Our momentum and energies are only growing at this point!

See you next time!

Ugh..

2010-08-19T23:20:00.007-04:00

Last time I reported, it was about our great new situation.

Regretfully, things somehow suddenly became something different.

I wish I understood, but I don't.

But if you like can read more about it at:

http://www.TheNorthsideHouse.net

Just be sure to take a look at all the good we had drummed up in such a short time.

Thanks again,
Jonathan

The Northside House OPENS in one week!

2010-07-10T00:06:00.008-04:00

In one week: A GRAND OPENING is what we'll be having to celebrate our joint venture! It will be held at our new gallery space, The Northside House. It will be catered by Honey (http://www.HoneyNorthside.com). It will provide one of Cincinnati's most creatively-driven areas with a new gallery space ...to pair nicely with Praire.

Details of the blogs future will come soon, so for now please enjoy our press release and website: http://www.TheNorthsideHouse.net.

We hope to see you at the Grand Opening ...or a closing coffee-reception.

The Northside House - 4034 Colerain Ave.

Northside! Cincinnati, OH 45223

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Inauguration

July 17th - August 23rd, 2010.

Life

July 17th - September 13th, 2010.

Grand Opening reception: July 17th, 7p - 11p.

On Saturday, July, 17th, 2010, an additional gallery space will be opening in the artistic and culinary district of Northside. The newly renovated, contemporary art gallery, aptly named The Northside House, is located within the walls of a historic shotgun-house -- built in 1880 -- and is set to showcase exhibitions of fine art created by local, national and international talent.

Through months of calculated planning and construction, the owner and operators of The Northside House have created a two-level space designed to showcase refreshing selections of artwork and unique objects to the public. The gallery is set within one of Cincinnati's most creatively driven neighborhoods, and is pleased to provide an exceptional community with another venue to appreciate the arts, in hopes of becoming a Cincinnati mainstay.

The grand opening, taking place on the 17th of July (2010), will feature a number of master-level paintings in oil, acrylic, and collage, as well as drawings and mix media installations (Inauguration). The exhibition space also opens to a number of uncommon, sculptural items from West Africa (Life).

The artists of Inauguration -- Steve Amos (Chicago, IL), Jon Payne (Dayton, OH), Ellington Robinson (Washington, DC), and Alice Pixely Young (Cincinnati, OH) -- represent an impressive diversity of ideas and skill-sets. Including layered graphical renderings, grid based organic studies of value and color, urban-influenced pieces, and research-based installations and drawings, the work represented in Inauguration is linked by its tendency towards abstracted subject matter and thought provoking usage of color. The show is mainly comprised of medium to large-scale paintings. In exception, Cincinnati artist Alice Pixley Young offers a new body of drawings and wall-hanging installations.

Life, on the other hand, is an exhibition of fine, West African ceremonial and everyday use objects created by carvers of The Dogon Tribe, The Lobi Tribe, and other tribes of West Africa. Small to medium scale works will be featured in the show as The Northside House attempts to expose its patrons to fresh, artistic visual concepts, highlighting influences of unique cultures. Often overlooked details, such as the intent of the carvers, should be appreciated. And the recognition of these features in traditional ceremonial pieces is paramount.

The Northside House kicks off its first exhibition season with Inauguration and Life opening simultaneously. Inauguration will run through August 23rd, after hosting a closing reception on Sunday, the 22nd. Life will run through September 13th, hosting its closing reception on Sunday, the 12th. Exhibitions will be staggered for the remainder of the season, with different opening and closing dates. The gallery will be open weekly, Thursday through Monday, to provide additional convenience to its patrons.

I hope to see you there!

Jonathan

http://www.TheNorthsideHouse.net

Yikes!!!

2010-07-09T17:50:00.003-04:00

I signed onto blogger today and realized it's been almost a month since my last post. Yikes!

So you have my apologies. An out of town wedding + an out of town funeral + plus trying to help coordinate a new venture (mentioned previously) from out of town = me on blog-pause.

Not to worry though, I'm back now, and my next update is on the way.

Thanks for your patience,

Jonathan

...

2010-06-10T23:35:00.000-04:00

...hopefully things settle by the 14th.

See you soon.

This is The Northside House...

2010-06-08T09:10:00.004-04:00

Details about The Northside House and the reasons behind my brief blogging-lull will soon follow.

Have a good one!

~> Jonathan

Happy Memorial Day.

2010-05-31T23:50:00.004-04:00

It's a holiday. Hopefully you found a good plate of grilled food.

~> Jonathan

SOS Cincinnati sneak peak...

2010-05-27T22:17:00.006-04:00

SOS Cincinnati starts tomorrow (Friday)...

It's a major event. And at reCollect Creative, we have the scoop...

Today I dropped by Art Academy Cincinnati and caught a bit of a sneak peak of the show, and now realize just how much work is involved ...and all designed/created to promote peace and justice.

Woven throughout the 5th and 6th floors of the Art Academy building, I found a surprising amount of good to great work being and/or already hung. As I mentioned in a previous post, unjuried shows on such a large scale like this (anyone who applies gets in), are often overrun with more bad than good. But I'm happy to report that this, the 8th installment of SOS, is a show worth seeing (...and multiple events worth attending). Of course there are a some "misses" along the way, but because it doesn't happen TOO often, the good to great work is still given the opportunity to shine, and be recognized a bit more. My guess is this is due to the show's previous success, but once I recognized the work of local University professors (Xavier and Dayton), I realized this is an event that will continue as long as the motivation stays alive. And from my conversation with Saad Ghosn -- the organizer/coordinator of the event -- I feel like that won't be anytime soon.

Back in 2003, shortly after the Cincinnati riots (2001), Saad brought it upon himself to give the artists of the Greater Cincinnati a place to voice their opinions dealing with peace, justice, and the social commentary within. And since, a number of topics, from the conflict in Iraq, to our own immigration laws have fueled the work found in these shows. Thankfully, artists are still participating and helping to further the discussion ...beyond simple aesthetics. And as Saad pointed out, SOS is a great place for artists to break out of isolation with their feelings and views. Plus the fact that their will be musical performances and poetry readings in addition to the art only solidifies that people who attend will leave happy ...and hopefully motivated to positively influence the world.

SOS ART 2010 ends on June 6th...
Below is the schedule of events:

Friday May 28
6pm: Opening of the Art show

7pm: Introductory notes by Jan Brown Checco, artist and community art activist, followed by Gallery Walk/Artists Talk.

8:30pm: Potluck reception and Music Entertainment with Vanessa Arrington and the “Lastboppers”

Saturday May 29
7pm: Poetry reading facilitated by Gary Walton, poet and professor, NKU

9pm: "A Picture with a Thousand Words: Spoken Word & Images of War & Peace", Performance by Nathan Ruggles

9:30pm “WANTED: Freedom!, Dead or Alive”,
An exploration of the depths, fights and flights of freedom seekers via movement and mask-work by Aretta Baumgartner, songs and dramatic readings by Daryl Harris, and visual art by Hans Schellhas.

Sunday May 30
3 to 6pm: “The Artist’s identity in the post 9/11 world”,
US and Arab Films showing followed by Panel discussion facilitated by Anna Kipervaser, artist and founder of “On Look Films”, with panelists Dr. Denise McCoskey, Associate Professor of Classics, Miami University and Thomas Lynn, host of Radical Analysis, WVQC 95.7 LP-FM, Cincinnati.

Friday June 4
7pm “PeaceWorks: Teaching Art for Social Justice”
Documentary, Power Point presentation and discussion by Marie Lindsey, art teacher

8pm: "On the Fast Track"
Movie (83 min) directed by Traven La Botz and Alexandra Kuzik. The movie follows the tribulations of a young man down on his luck in our current hard times.

Saturday June 5
7pm: Poetry reading facilitated by Mary Pierce Brosmer, poet, writer and founder of “Women Writing for (a) Change”

9pm: “Earth in Pain” Modern Dance Performance by Tadashi Kato, Japanese dancer and choreographer, and Didgeridoo Music Performance by Heather Hughes.

Sunday June 6
3pm: “America as a Piece of Art: The America I Love”
Panel discussion facilitated by Jerry Judge, poet and art activist, with panelists Dan La Botz, historian, and others TBA.

4:30pm: Artists discussion and closing potluck reception.

=======================================

Art Gallery Hours:

Tuesday - Thursday: 9am - 6pm

Friday and Saturday: 9am - midnight

Sunday: noon - 6pm

1212 Jackson St (downtown), Cincinnati 45202

=======================================

Please enjoy the event,

Jonathan

The Carnegie of KY (cam-phone pics)

2010-05-24T23:38:00.006-04:00

I find, from time to time, it's good to appreciate work for what it is. Will it make the blog? Won't it? Is it good? Isn't it? Sometimes the subconscious decides to ridicule ...sometimes not. Processing another's raw emotions can be challenging in itself. So, when you know you'll be comparing it with others, to jot about, pressures easily find their way into the equation.

With that said though, it's still, and hopefully will remain, easy to enjoy simply good paintings. As the true art form itself is (well seems to be) becoming a dying breed, "good" paintings for me, are becoming that oftentimes, pleasant surprise or toy in the C.J.B. Pause. This is where Ki Jong Do enters the equation.

His paintings, that are currently on display on the second floor of The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center (http://www.thecarnegie.com/), strike me as simply, well done work. If you're looking for the latest and greatest in Haunted-House-Installations, you won't find them here. If you want to be perplexed on "how" someone did something, again, not here. But if you want to see an artist who is working through his daily routines, and covering canvases with that ooey gooey stuff we call paint, this may be your place. And Ki Jong Do may be your man.

What I see in his work is an artist being an artist. He enjoys his craft, so he's investing time into it. None of the canvases in this show are "perfect," ...per se. But if you dare to look closely, and not quickly judge what you're presented with, it's not hard to see and appreciate the artist's efforts. Within the space, Ki Jong Do gives viewers his slightly skewed perspectives on everyday scenes. When figures are involved, they're in isolation. When trees are involved they're without leaves. What exactly this all means is for, you, the viewer to decide. And for the most part, the artist gives you plenty of room (within the work) to think about it.

So when you have a chance, visit The Carnegie at 1028 Scott Boulevard, Covington, KY 41011 and do some creative thinking. They have a number of shows and rooms filled with work. And definitely worth a mention, is the first floor space including works from the Print Club of Northern Kentucky University. The work of this group, comprised of faculty, alumni and student printmakers will be open for free viewing (as will the rest of the gallery): Monday - Friday, 10am - 5pm and Saturday, 12pm - 3pm.

Thanks again,

Jonathan

Dr. Seuss is in town (cam-phone pics)

2010-05-20T23:27:00.006-04:00

So what do you do when you here original Dr. Seuss prints are on display in your area? Hopefully, like myself, you check them out.

After gitting over how nice of a space I was approaching and entering the Malton Gallery, I was struck by how many versions of "all-things-familiar" filled the space ...and immediately realized it may take a moment or two to sift through the work in front of me.

The show: The Art of Dr. Seuss, A retrospective and Museum Tour was just that. And given that title, it's worth preparing for. (More gum.) I saw, I learned, I enjoyed. And at times, I admitedly found myself overwhelmed with the amount of information I was taking in during the "Museum Tour" portion of the experience. But as I weaved through both large and small-scale pieces of Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuess), I also realized how nice the option is to be able to own a piece of history. If you're like myself, you've enjoyed a few different Seuss tales in your day, so why not addorn your walls with a piece of that collection (if you have the means)?

Also, since a brief overview of his life-story is well told, and on display as well, you almost owe yourself the pleasure of checking out the show. Maybe, I should be more studied in Seuss, but I never realized Geisel ever created things like political/war-related cartoons, the "adult book" Seven Lady Godivas (1939) or that in his sculptures, he sometimes included authentic beaks, antlers and horns. Honestly, I didn't even realize he created 3-dimensional work at all. (I guess that's just a classic example of true artistic progression.)

Still, amoungst and beyond the historical stuff, lies a nice collection of colorful work. Familiar large scale images can be found, as well as a few never-before-seen works. And almost all of the framed prints can easily be enjoyed. Scenes from "Green Eggs and Ham" and "Oh The Places You'll Go" not only decorate the white walls, but also help to get thoughts floating down memory lane. Pleasant surprises came from time time within the painterly works. And darkly portrayed, sharply contrasting/criptic images of the Grinch are now saved in my memory banks as well.

With a bit of refinement, a bit of youthfullness, and a bit of education, the display at Malton gallery remains something worth spending a moment with. You'll probably see a lot that you're expecting and a lot you aren't. But regardless, when you stand back and take it all in, you can really gain a new appreciated for how important Theodor Seuss Geisel really was.

So, by all means, check it out if you have the time. The show will be on display at Malton Gallery until June 5th. The gallery hours are 11am to 5pm Tuesday through Saturday (Sunday and Monday by appointment). And they can be found at their new location: 3804 Edwards Road Cincinnati, OH 45209

or via telephone at (513) 321-8614.

Cheers,

Jonathan

SOS ART 2010 in less than two weeks...

2010-05-17T23:23:00.007-04:00

It's officially eight years in, so hopefully those in Cincinnati are gearing up for this years installment of SOS ART. As an implant, I'm looking forward to the event that, by description, reminds me of DC's Artomatic (You can read a little about it HERE). Plus, by title, it speaks to our current artistic climate, which may be even a little more significant in 2010.

SOS ART 2010: A community art show and event of sociopolitical expressions for Peace and Justice is a two weekend-spanning creative venture brought to us by Saad Ghosn and hosted at the Art Academy of Cincinnati. The event is filled with promise as it features over 100 visual artists and a handful (well more than a handful) of poets and musicians. And all in the name of peace and justice, it caters to multiple levels of art/creative appreciators and will be free & open to the public. Yes. FREE.

Kicking off Friday, May 28th (@ The Art Academy of Cincinnati, 1212 Jackson St, downtown Cincinnati 45202), the event opens at 6pm and will be briefly introduced by Jan Brown Checco, immediately followed by a Gallery Walk/Artists Talk at 7p. The opening night reception and Music Entertainment with Vanessa Arrington and the "Lastboppers" commences at 8:30p ...and the 10 day event will be off to the races. The schedule is below so, with this, I encourage you to look through it, and select at least one event to attend for your personal/creative growth. From panel discussions, to film screenings, to poetry readings, their is a nice balance of creative ventures to see, hear, and participate in, aside from the ordinary observation of art.

SOS ART 2010 ends on June 6th...

Friday May 28
6pm: Opening of the Art show

7pm: Introductory notes by Jan Brown Checco, artist and community art activist, followed by Gallery Walk/Artists Talk.

8:30pm: Potluck reception and Music Entertainment with Vanessa Arrington and the “Lastboppers”

Saturday May 29
7pm: Poetry reading facilitated by Gary Walton, poet and professor, NKU

9pm: "A Picture with a Thousand Words: Spoken Word & Images of War & Peace", Performance by Nathan Ruggles

4:30pm: Artists discussion and closing potluck reception.

=======================================

Art Gallery Hours:

Tuesday - Thursday: 9am - 6pm

Friday and Saturday: 9am - midnight

Sunday: noon - 6pm

1212 Jackson St (downtown), Cincinnati 45202

=======================================

Please enjoy the event,

Jonathan

Pleasantly surprised at YWCA (cam-phone pics included)

2010-05-13T23:04:00.009-04:00

Sometimes it's the hunt that makes the inspiration you find worth even more than you bargained for. As most of us already know, creativity can be found in museums, galleries, restaurants, office buildings and even on local walls and signage. But if you aren't willing to recognize it for what it is, or the importance it may hold to others, then you may want to reinvestigate how you see creativity as a whole. I mention these thoughts to set up this next post, which is about some unexpected-hallway-findings at the Cincinnati YWCA (Young Women's Christian Association).

Lowly-lit in not the most flattering of spaces, lies what I found to be important photographical jewels by internationally recognized artist/photographer Joyce Tenneson. From her series Wise Women, the local YWCA purchased 40 large scale sepia-toned prints for their permanent collection and proudly displays them year-round on the first floor of the center (below their main gallery space).

Upon first glance, these beautiful portraits struck me as somewhat ordinary (for well-done photography that is), but then I started recognizing the women involved, and realized their was a little more to this collection than I had originally understood. Celebrities, including but not limited to, Judi Dench, Coretta Scott King, Angela Lansbury and Cicely Tyson were represented throughout the space along with individuals and mother & daughters that I had never laid eyes on. All were photographed to portray women as vital and energetic beings, instead of frail creatures. And the photographs -- capturing women of their third phase of life (age 65 to 100) -- represented a multitude of ethnic backgrounds as well (which is/should always be appreciated in my eyes). And thankfully so, as a personal favorite depicted two Native American women in full-length, understated gowns ...one age 74, the other 92.

Also, and almost as important as the ages and diversity of women, is the fact that each print includes quotes and/or thoughts by the women portrayed. For viewer's, these words give life to each and every image, and through this, hopefully inspire those who take the time to read them. Some were humorous. Some were poetic. And some were filled with the kind of inspiration that you can take home with you to reflect upon. But each and every one was valid and extremely important in humanizing the portraits. It's as if the women really were in the room with you, once their words were included. And such a small touch, that's not often seen in the realm of fine arts, was definitely appreciated in this space and setting.

Of course, as an artist, I would have enjoyed these images more if they had been given more room to breath ...and maybe even a more apparent location. But in the same breath, I'm happy that the portraits are up for the world to find (indefinitely). It's refreshing to know that little pockets of goodness exist in the city. Plus, this experience will only help fuel us at reCollect Creative to report on the not-so-oftenly-metioned.

So with this, I hope you manage to find your way into the doors of the YWCA. Historically they've represented diversity and equality for women of Cincinnati since 1868. And personally, being that they're the largest women's organization in the world, I'm a bit saddened that it took me until now to find out about their efforts. But hey, a creative search led to this discovery, so I guess I can't be terribly upset about it all. But please look into yourself, as the rewards are great. The Cincinnati chapter is located at 898 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 ...and on-line at http://www.ywca.org.

Thanks again,

Jonathan Sears

First Friday in Covington (cam-phone images)

2010-05-10T23:43:00.004-04:00

If you keep up with the reCollect Creative events calendar (to the right), you may have guessed today's post would be about the Convington, Kentucky arts scene. This past weekend they had another monthly installment of First Friday, and I'm glad that it wasn't a waste of time. Until this past week, I had never stepped into any doors in Convington, or heard anything substantial about its art scene, so I was pleasantly surprised to find it blog-worthy. And I dare to say, their First Friday is a bit stronger, as a potent/creatively-focussed entity, than Cincinnati's Final Friday (which is a bit more hit or miss, primarily due to the higher number of "galleries" involved).

With Covington, I was impressed by the organization and variety of destinations, that seemed to be selected/designed around having a good night of creative-fun. In a nutshell, this time around at least, Covington offered six galleries, three bar & grilles, a student creativity building, and two eclectic shops where you can find a variety of handmade wears ...to help you accessorize for the next First Friday (of course). My one personal regret though, is that I didn't allow myself enough time to absorb it all. Comfortable conversation took over along the way and unfortunately a few spaces I thought would be open the next day (Saturday) were not.

So with that introduction out of the way, I'd like to highlight a few of my stops, the first being at The Artisan's Enterprise Center (25 West 7th Street, Covington, KY 41011) -- which from what I've gathered is the hub, and the fuel for the Covington Arts District. Currently showing at the AEC, in Secret Stage Identity & Display, is a group of photographers (Anita Redmond, Clarissa Peppers, and Spencer Sturr), who all approach the media through completely different lenses. But in the end all finished with framed, digitized products. From a bit creepy & photoshopped to a more traditional process, this show wraps the open space taking guests in and out of sanity and back home again. And to spice things up a bit, one of the artists, Anita Redmond, was present at the opening with an approximately 6' x 4' wooden box (that was a mainstay in most of her works) for guests to climb into, have their photo taken, and become part of the photographer's artistic journey ...which is not a bad to touch to help personalize a monthly event like First Friday.

Regretfully, the next space I found myself in, The BLDG, was having a closing reception (as was the Sandra Small Gallery), but I will say the show was impressive, and hopefully an example of the quality of shows to come. On display was a rather outstanding show by art collective, The London Police -- a British street-art group currently based in Amsterdam. Filled with black and white prints and paintings, their work was definitely a highlight of the evening. And in true-to-form street art style, you can still find remnants of their show on the backside of a street sign just outside the gallery (30 W. Pike St., Covington, KY 41011). The below video will give you a better idea of who they are, but I'd rather not dwell here too long as the show is closing after all.

Returning to Covington's artistic ventures though, I ended the night on more of the craft end of the spectrum. At Cuvington Clay studio and gallery (16 West Pike Street, Covington, KY) I watched a few guests put the finishing touches on a few hand-made tiles that I later learned would soon find their way into a larger mosaic, to be installed in the city.

At this space, guests can shop the gallery area, take a number of pottery classes, or even rent studio space at a modest price. And while this may seem out of the norm to report about, it further shows how Covington is building an artistic community. Plus, a good number of works at Covington Clay were extremely well made ...which is great to see in a world where the whole idea of craft seems to be slipping away.

So all in all, I had a great time and would recommend First Friday to anyone looking to get their feet wet in the Greater Cincinnati art scene. You won't be disappointed as you hop around from gallery to gallery and pub to pub winding away the worries of your week. And the fact that crafty-fashion shops like The Flying Cat (713 Main Street, Covington, KY) and Julie's Inspiration (608 Main Street, Covington, KY) even have works to throw into the mix, is a prime example of how the community has the right idea in mind.

To advance the arts is to advance ideas.

(at The Flying Cat)

(at Julie's Inspiration)

Thanks again,

Jonathan Sears

Another hit at Solway...

2010-05-06T19:06:00.008-04:00

(Untitled, 1988 - Matt Mullican)

While I was a bit reluctant to write about the current show at Carl Solway Gallery (simply because we mentioned them not too long ago in THIS post, a few weeks back ), I can't deny their importance to the art seen here, in Cincinnati.

In a show simply titled Works From The Gallery Collection, they've done it again ...and done it well. The show features over 60 modern-day/contemporary artists. And some of the names are a bit staggering. In the same space, works by Jim Dine, Damien Hirst, Jasper Johns, Sol LeWitt, Roy Lichtenstein, Ed Ruscha, Frank Stella and Andy Warhol are all on display ...which is OUT, OF, CONTROL! Really, this kind of collection is something the Smithsonian would house, but I found myself finding it in a local gallery. OUT, OF, CONTROL.

(Year of the Dog, 2008 - Judy Pfaff)

At any rate, the collection does make my job as a reporter-of-most-things-good rather simple and allow me to keep this post nice and short. It's simply a "Go see it." type of situation. It's at 424 Findlay Street Cincinnati, OH 45214. And for the first time, this post takes place in the same building as the post just before it. So enter Carl Solway through the first floor and then go up a few flights of stairs to Aisle Gallery and you'll have a great day of art viewing.

Also, be sure to check out the second floor of Solway. It's a much smaller part of the space (and accessible through the back of the gallery), but works by Judy Pfaff (pictured above) and the likes of Martin Puryear can be found here. So definitely be sure to check out the Findlay Street family. And below, in order, are works by Ben Patterson (A Short History of Twentieth Century Art Final Edit Revised And Bigger -- 1993), Vik Muniz (After Motherwell (Pictures of Ink) -- 2002), Christopher Wool (My House I, II, III -- 2000), Jean Dubuffet (Presence Fugaces (Yellow Background) Degenerator -- 1973) and Alan Rath (Brand New Little Running Man -- 2006).

The show will run through July 31, 2010.

Please Enjoy,

Jonathan

Visiting Aisle Gallery...

2010-05-03T23:12:00.012-04:00

When I set out for Aisle gallery last weekend, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. With a name like Aisle, my guess would have been a gallery of cramping proportions and two long walls. Luckily this was not, exactly, the case. While the gallery is somewhat quaint, it has two open areas, and two spacial divisions that give viewers enough breathing room to walk around and enjoy the work that is currently on display ...by Mark Patsfall and Terence Hammonds.

The first work, in the larger/more open space, is by Patsfall. And in quite the array of creative processes, he's able to present a body of work that I won't call seamless, but I will say was of the same thought patterning. In his five or six piece installment, I was especially impressed with the artist's range. Everything from prints to photography to animation and sound are represented here.

The most impressive is a piece entitled Analogue Requium. A work that utilizes eight static-filled television monitors, copper striping and stripped-down speakers to send the viewer into a dreamlike world that focussed on iconic imagery of our time. In this piece, the aforementioned monitors, had been individually painted to silhouette recognizable symbols of our time such as a pouring Coca-Cola bottle, an atom bomb explosion (likely Hiroshima), and even the moon landing. And when video-static filled these units, a sense of nostalgia easily takes over "...I remember the first time I saw... Wait, I remember..." etc, etc. This was a multi-tiered piece though. Set above the monitors was a two-part drawing made from copper striping depicting the imagery of children changing channels and a broadcast tower (to transmit that very signal of course). And when you, the viewer, get close enough, sounds of Mozart's Requium along with some vague narration are heard coming from speakers attached to the wall-drawing. So, in essence, Patsfall cleverly runs sound frequencies relating to the piece, through the actual piece itself. Brilliant, I say. "Brilliant!" Moving along...

In the same space, worth mentioning, was a hyper-color painting on canvas that wove together colorful lines of abstraction to form a satisfying composition if nothing else. The piece named Sting Theory depicts well-rendered and repeating imagery of turning faces, male & female busts, human brains, floating hands & feet along with skeleton torsos (upon closer investigation). And through this gives a vague narration possibly dealing with life cycles and the beginning and end of man kind.

Also, as another point of interest, was a series of large-scale digital photographs that worked well to add dimension to the show. And being an artist that often practices in the realm of installation, the use of space was especially appreciated. To clarify, in the bricked-in window bays of the gallery, were two images of digitally manipulated cityscapes set behind weathered windows. So with these, the artist had opened up the inclosed space, into different worlds of false reality. And from a distance, one of the scenes was somewhat believable, while the other -- what appeared to be a site of ancient Mayan ruins -- was a bit otherworldly. Still, pieces like these demonstrate how one can transform and completely control a viewers spacial interactions with proper planning. And while the "cleanest" use of digital tools wasn't demonstrated, the thought and idea carried the pieces enough to make them work.

[End Scene]

In the other (opening) division of Aisle Gallery, the more aisle-like space of the two, was the work of Terence Hammonds. Another, Cincinnati-based artist, Hammonds' work greatly contrasted that of Patsfall in media and thought process being that his images were about protest and organized demonstration. But, now thinking about it, underlying references to time and history can easily link the two shows. This new work was simply much more of the civil-rights movement era. But thankfully, it wasn't terribly preachy. To note: as a black artist in my late twenties, I typically don't enjoy seeing young African American artists overly speak about things we have no "true" reference to ...like slave ships, the lynchings of the early 1900s and past-time segregation. While it's important not to forget history, it's also just as important to progressively speak about the now. We must continue the conversation into how things are better and/or worse ...and relevant ...exhale.

Still the graphite drawings of Terence Hammands are what impressed me the most. Here he flashes the viewers back about 40 years to civil rights protests and demonstrations of CORE (Congress Of Racial Equality). With a heavily weighted hand, Terence depicts partial drawings of buttons that demonstrators wore and held dear to them. Imagery of "Support Sit-Ins" and "Freedom Now" surely sent people (I'd estimate 50 years or older) down memory lane to how things really were ...and hopefully into some of the progress of today. And the intense emotion that can be found in the ever-dulling, lead-strokes works perfectly to hint at struggle and reform ...two rough and oftentimes heavy handed processes.

Aside from the drawings were prints of Hammonds. And while I wasn't terribly impressed with the colorful variety, a series of plates definitely worked well to support the ideas that the drawings had depicted so well. Plates from The Quite Riot was the name of this series. And on vintage grey and green plates (of the time) were images of protests and the sub arrests. The materials agreed with the imagery seamlessly. And being that these three works were at the end of the gallery space give a good sense of how protests often end ...with people being locked up.

So with that, we say fair-well. The shows (the nature of time and In Protest) will both be on display at Aisle gallery through May 21st, 2010. I encourage you to visit them Monday - Friday from 1p-4p at 424 Findlay Street, Cincinnati, OH 45214. They are also open for appointment via 513-241-3403.

Thanks again,

Jonathan Sears

Happy 1st Birthday...

2010-05-03T12:14:00.004-04:00

Since our last post reCollect Creative turned 1 years old. "Hooray!" Of course, this is no major milestone, but we've come a long way, put in a lot of hours and have been enjoying the little bit of "success" we've gained. Plus over 1,000 people have clicked our profile since. And we don't consider that too bad of a start for artists who began throwing events and writing on a whim ...and just recently started promoting this site.

So below is a section of one the first posts and how we started. Since reLocating to the midwest, we thought we'd share a major event we helped the art conversation with in DC ...and the organization we hope to soon bring to our new audience. Please enjoy...

"For those of you who are new to the blogging of reCollect Creative (picking up where Woodman Studios of Silver Spring left off), welcome. Pictures in the above photo gallery are from Laced: The Art Show. This was the most recent event curated by yours truly, Jonathan Sears, in conjunction with the SolSource Group of Washington, DC ....and essentially the jump-off point for what is now reCollect Creative."

12 Questions: A Conversation with TODT

2010-04-29T17:05:00.010-04:00

The questions & answers below are from an interview conversation we had with one of the members of art collective TODT. Most of the answers found below are paraphrased from our longer, relaxed conversation we had with one brother of the art collective.

Thanks again (TODT) for sitting down with us.

#1: Is the TODT collective still active and are members located here in Cincinnati?

TODT: Yes, the collective is still active. One member has relocated to Cincinnati and the other two members currently reside in Philadelphia and New York.

Also to note, we have absolutely no plans to separate.

#2: So what prompted the move to Cincinnati?

TODT: Desperation due to external factors of space, studio costs and the New York art climate led me to Cincinnati. In addition, the collective had alternative studio space and art storage in the city.

#3: Who are the members and how does the collective operate?

TODT: Originally starting with four members, the collective now has three operating members. Maintaining anonymity, the members remain the two brothers and their sister. (The former member was the sister’s husband.)

The collective operates based on expertise and subject influence. “We operate much like a prosetic or a band would.” The brother goes on to say that they are so in-tune with each others roles and talents that it is much like second nature for them to create together …also the family relationship deepens that connection.

#4: Do any of the members have work outside the collective?

TODT: No, the collective always operates together. “TODT is elastic enough to venture into their own projects”… he continues… “We are able to gain expertise without leaving.” Because of this, all works that are produced independently or together remain under the collectives name, TODT.

#5: TODT currently has a selection of works at the Synthetica Gallery, in the show The Cruelest Month and an overlapping exhibition opening on May 1 at Semantics Gallery called Pleasure Center.

Can you explain the selection process for the shows and how they relate?

TODT: The two shows are a dialectic or juxtaposed ideas within a range of interests. The work selected for the show The Cruelest Month, at Synthetica, is an overview or grouping of past works that pick up where the group left off in Cincinnati. These works are more mechanical and Cruel.

The show at Semantics, Pleasure Center, will juxtapose the work at Synthetica by being more natural. We will also highlight different materials including a broader range of plastics. The work in Pleasure Center also uses a more economical approach to making. The complexity of parts found within the sculptures and artworks in Pleasure Center (at Synthetica) are subdued.

#6: What role does death play in your work?

TODT: “Death and Art are bedfellows,” ...He continued on about how the role of negativity and dark humor play into their work, and how it is somewhat Kafka influenced. He also mentioned “...the work is not dead if people engage and continue to talk about it... Through conversation the work is alive.”

#7: Are there reoccurring themes in the work of TODT?

(Several themes in TODT’s work were discussed including fear of technology, people vs. state, and soldier vs. farmer. The discussion of the fear of technology was directly addressed.)

TODT: The use of human hands and need is a basis for the perpetual growth of technology ...like a reproductive element.

Questions 8-10 directly reflect on work currently on view at Synthetica Gallery “The Cruelest Month” through mid May.

#8: In the piece Pincers, and some of TODT's other free standing sculptures, there is an absence of the figure. Do you see a specific operator of these devises?

TODT: There are no "specific" operators in mind for Pincers. These works “...prompt questions that generate a lot of readings and lend to interpretation.” One question often prompted is “Does it do anything or does it have a purpose?”

#9: In the freestanding sculpture titled M.A.M., what does the acronym stand for?

TODT: “The Acronym stands for, Mean Age of Menopause.” He continues... Several of our sculptures have a gender line with material use.

#10: In the piece Commode, what are the images and ideas surrounding the piece?

TODT: The imagery in Commode includes a large image of the moon landing and the object is a prison toilet. He Jokes, “...taking it to the moon.” ...He continues to say that there is a point in the process of an artist's career where you've built up enough work you begin quoting yourself.

#11: Being an artist that has traveled and showed worldwide, do you have a favorite street or district to party and/or let loose in ...or a most memorable event?

TODT: There was one memorable event, or rather an exhibition opening that we had in Japan. He explains that they had selected Pearl Harbor Day for their show opening date. Several of the pieces in the show were apocalyptic. In particular there was a fall-out shelter using standard issue military crackers and other works utilized American flags and skeletons. He then spoke about how excited they were to see how they would be received (on that day, in Japan) ...but after in was all said and done: not one person came to the exhibit opening.

As far as partying "..nothing has topped New York City in 80s." He ads it was a mixing-pot for the uprising of many new things ...everything from the art scene domination to the rise of hip-hop and graffiti was happening ...and all at once.

#12: And finally, based on your observations, knowledge and experience; do you have any suggestions for young artists currently living in Cincinnati?

TODT: He explains how having the time to "fuck around" and the inexpense of the city allows people the time to do things and make work. Jokingly, he then talked about how if several (now famous) draft doggers can come together in a nothing-town to create major artworks and several young guys can put (small town) Compton on the map, then why not Cincinnati?!

More specifically... “If rap music can come out of Compton and Dada can come out of Zurich to change the world, the right combination of elements could happen anywhere.”

(Some images from the show at Synthetica Gallery are in our previous post)

Thanks again,

Chris Hoeting &

Jonathan Sears

TODT at Synthetica and beyond... (cam-Phone pics)

2010-04-26T15:02:00.010-04:00

When I set out for the TODT show, The Cruelest Month, currently showing at Synthetica gallery (www.syngallery.com) in Cincinnati's Brighton District, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I had heard that the collective TODT was an extremely popular group of artists from the early 70s through the late 80s and that they were beginning to reemerge in Cinci after a bit of a break from the art scene. Truthfully though, that bit of information didn't excite me terribly. (Because as most of us know, "famous" artists come and go, as that's just the nature of the beast.) What did spark my interest though, was learning that a few pieces that would be on display at Synthetica were involved and last shown in the 1985 installment of the Whitney Biennial. And being that that time was during the height of New York, New York's artistic rise and domination, the bar and my expectations had been set rather high, for both the gallery and the artists involved. So with that, a note in the reCollect Creative calendar of events was made -- as is the case for their next show, that will be opening right down the street from Synthetica, at Semantics Gallery ,this Saturday (May 1st) -- and I was off.

So after being stunned by the first notable piece upon entry, and the work that can be found under the groups moniker (pictured), I knew that this would by no means be a "fluffy" show, but rather work from a group of artists who made exactly what they wanted, when they wanted. Plus, since that first piece depicted imagery of both of the assassinated Kennedys flanking an image of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who suffered the same fate, I knew that nothing would be off limits in the show. And being that this unique piece was thought provoking, to say the least, as television dials were replaced with stripped-down revolvers, I already didn't mind whatever it was I would soon embark on. A confident sense of expression is always enjoyed.

Next up, in what I'm considering "a show of fascinating, well constructed works of sculpture that show a brief history of the collective," was a piece called M.A.M. (or the Mean Age of Menopause) which was another assemblage made of torpedo-like cylinders adorned with the expected wires & dials, as well as some not-so-expected items like the rubber nipples. This, like most of the other works, seemed to be created with an aggressive & specific agenda, that still remained somewhat vague in it's exact intent. And as I observed a calculated arrangement of objects sitting upon a rolling stand of gizmos, gadgets, and electronics, my mind took off in a random assortment of directions, as questions and statements in the tune of "Is this a dangerous representation of a baby-mama? Who fucked who (up) to inspire this one? Haha, a booby trap!" rolled through my mind. But still, the fact that I probably spent the most time with this piece just trying to figure it out makes it a success in my mind. Plus visually, my discerning eye couldn't find any particular eye-sores or "flaws."

As I continued to scan the room, with beer in hand by this time, I noticed a piece or two that didn't terribly excite me (so they'll remain unmentioned), but after that brief lull, I landed on a wall-hanging sculpture entitled Law-A-Lie that was just disturbing enough for me not to forget. This sculptural wall hanging, which by the title & supporting visuals, suggests ideas of entrapment, persecution, and disclosure, had my mind racing again. "Are the incorporated needles those of medicinal injection or maybe even government tattooing? Is the figure screaming as they meet there demise or were they tortured to this point? Should I be reading the flesh as sunburnt ...and where are they being shipped to (as the white areas resemble/or were Styrofoam)??" And while these assessments continually bounced in-mind, the recognition of the heavy machinery in relation to this maybe-once-delicate figure, knocked me back to reality ...and I began to understand how TODT could have easily gained popularity in the 80s with this sort of imagery. I mean, I've seen a good amount of disturbed situations in my reality and through film & media ...but this work, had once again, stolen my ability to easily process or dismiss what I found in front of me. Therefore, I can only imagine it's impact on the pre graphically-violent television, film and video game society we find ourselves in today.

The last specific piece of the 12 piece show -- that I'll mention -- another freestanding, electricity involved sculpture titled Pincers (which I recently learned could possibly be in reference to a military-style, frontal attack HERE) didn't shy away from the dramatics either. This, a well oiled death machine, if you will, provoked thoughts of combative machinery taken too far. And while it's definitely not "too far" in the way of an artistic creation, I can't help but to think what if the wrong group of people got their hands on a working contraption like this. And what could they or would they use it for? And while the answer "could" be something as simple and practical as "to trim multiple garden hedges and bushes simultaneously," my, maybe tortured, mind once again got lost in ideas about human sacrifice and subjects of that nature. And once I noticed the red illuminations, that were added to accentuate some of the cold metals, I'm rather certain that these kind of thoughts would not be at all exclusively held by me.

So with that, I rate this show a good one to see, to re-familiarize yourselves with TODT if nothing else. The Cruelest Month will be open at Synthetica Gallery (2157 Central Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45214) through the first two weeks of May (by appointment at 513-602-2574). The visuals and electronics are extremely thought provoking and the subject matter is creatively disturbing. Plus, overall, the work is rather impressive and should serve as a nice retrospective, of sorts, just before TODT's opening at Semantics Gallery entitled Pleasure Center (also in Brighton -- from May 1st - 29th) ...which will be showing much more of the collectives recent work.

Oh and our exclusive interview with TODT is on the way ...so be sure to RSS us, follow us, or just check back often.

Thanks again,

Jonathan

Welcome to the new reCollect Creative

2010-04-26T12:22:00.005-04:00

Welcome to the newly reDefined

reCollect Creative.

Our latest offerings will soon follow, but first we wanted to give you a quick listing of what you can expect from this point on.

+ Updates on openings, events and/or reviews will be posted every Monday & Thursday to help you prepare for the weekend and help you look forward to artistic happenings as you start your week ...so please rss or follow us.

+ Interviews and studio visits led by Chris Hoeting will soon begin filtering into the discourse.

+ A biweekly list of shows we've visited and rate will soon populate our sidebar.

+ Embed-able photo galleries with links will soon accompany our favorite blog posts.

+ And finally, a place for promoters and galleries to post information about their upcoming events (and advertisements if desired), in addition to our calendar will soon follow.

Thanks for your time and hopefully we'll see you soon!

the rC staff<~

Finding our way...

2010-04-23T11:15:00.004-04:00

We're officially here now. Our business cards are printed. Our mission has been defined. And we think we've finally figured out how to be more of an asset to our faithful followers. Now that we're officially a team of members, please feel free to begin getting familiar with us.

Starting next week, we'll be offering our current-show ratings, interviews and studio visits to go along with our event promotions and postings ...both short and long-winded as before.

So, please stay tuned as further reCollect Creative developments continue. In Cincinnati, we are Chris Hoeting and Jonathan Sears. In Chicago, we are Steve Amos and his budding network of artistic contributers.

And as always, thanks for your time.

~>Jonathan

of reCollect Creative.

a re-defined Prairie

2010-04-05T20:29:00.011-04:00

When I first heard about Cold Comfort, Phil Spangler's current show at Northside's Prairie gallery (Cinci), I wasn't sure what to expect. I was told that the young artist had recently presented a rather impressive work in the Camera Obscura show (also at Prairie) that highlighted his competence in machinery, so I admittedly showed up to 4035 Hamilton Ave expecting something that "worked" if nothing else.

When I arrived, I wasn't let down. The first piece I stumbled on (after touring the special projects space, grabbing a glass-o-wine, and entering the main gallery in batman like fashion -- through the side door), was an interactive work by Spangler titled Right Back Where We Started From. This sculptural work, like the rest in the show, utilized materials/objects that can be found in nature, but upon removal, were presented in ways that differed from the norm. But more specifically, I found myself looking at a revolving landscape of brush that was controlled by the viewer. Clever, clean, functional and thought-provoking all describe this work.

As I stared at, through, and around the piece, I found the conversation in my head working out the whys and hows, and I remained pleased. From my angle, Spangler was commenting on repetitive cycles that we, as beings, are in control of, and how they often lead to the destruction of our mother, nature. And the fact that he gives the viewer control over this dry, desolate imagery only confirms this for me. Aside from interpretations, I also found myself enjoying the simplicity of the construction. The piece was built using a combination of rubber tires, hand made wheels and crank arms. Cogs and ball-bearings were also utilized versus any sort of complicated pulley systems. And an open framework solidly held everything together, leaving few guessing games on how things worked, which in my mind, is rairly a bad thing ...as this typically helps assure audiences that the concepts within the work have enough strength to stand above simple fascinations and guessing games on how something is constructed. Plus, it's hard to fake craftsmanship when you don't hide anything.

So as I continued to bounce around the quaint space, the next piece I noticed was Everything I Thought I Knew ...a living (or slowly dying) piece made from plastic-container-planted wheatgrass bunches, florescent lamps, and another visually fascinating system -- this time one used to water the plant-life from four bright orange Home Depot buckets. While studying the work, I again felt within, but removed from nature, but this time around more of a lab-rat feeling overwhelmed my psyche, as I watched the wheat-grass slowly but surely meet its demise (as it was much more brown and dead then I remember from opening night). But again, Spangler's ideas and feelings toward human-invaded natural habitats was revisited. And the fact that the piece may have gained visual interest (still debating) as the tall spears began draping over the controlled environment only helped solidify my interest. And truth be told, I may check out the show one last time close to its closing to see where things are then. The color variations and maybe even smell, may finalize my overall feelings about this one. Regardless, the comments on what our world may eventually become -- an abandoned, laboratory reproduced/manufactored existence, much like what's found in Pixar's WALL-E -- defintely brought home the show's title Cold Comfort.

The show's theme continued to gel as I approached the final piece worth mentioning, a bronze casting of a deer scull, that has been covered in a "good" amount of borax crystal "bling" (only 212 days left Weezy), that sits rather nicely in the space, when not crowded. As the work begged for conversation, I found myself asking "Am I now officially on a deserted prairie (please excuse the pun) or still trying to shine within a newly defined metropolis?" This is just one of the questions I posed to myself, as I looked over the piece. And since the casting seemed to capture every bit of detail within the scull and antlers, as I circled it, I admittedly was a bit dazzled as light bounced off intricate particles of the crystalline surface. Though, thinking about it now, I do wonder if some of the viewable interior's details, in bronze, could have helped the work at all??

At any rate, the show is/was surely blog-worthy, so please check it out when you have a moment. It will be running at Prairie, located next to/above "take the cake" in Cincinnati's Northside district through May 8th. The address is 4035 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45223 and more info can be found HERE.

Enjoy!

-Jonathan Sears

Sneak peek at Casting Arts and Technology...

2010-04-02T16:50:00.007-04:00

First off my apologies (as always) for the hiatus ...but hey, new towns bring unexpected new adventures, twists and necessary life adjustments/preparations.

Now that that's over look what I found ...err, what I was whispered to about. If you all aren't familiar, this is a bronze casting of the famed jazz musician Eric Dolphy ...and the sneak peek, EXCLUSIVE-EXCLUSIVE, is here at reCollect Creative.

Set to be unveiled at Le Moyne College (Syracuse, NY), a few days from now to commemorate the 40th anniversary of "Dolphy Day," this is the first ever life-size sculpture of the man/legend who played sax alongside every major jazz musician during the late 50s and early 60s. It's a rather nice piece, with high levels of detailing that will surely satisfy students and faculty alike at Le Moyne.

Briefly about the sculpture:

It was created in Cincinnati, OH at the city's premier fine art bronze casting facility Casting Arts & Technology by a number of well trained, highly skilled art technicians. The original piece, from which this casting was made, is/was complements of Cincinnati's own, identical twin sculpting duo, Kyle and Kelly Phelps. And the form they provided was broken up into over 25 individual pieces, later to be cast separately in bronze.

From there, parts were welded, ground and polished to create this unified sculpture, where details were carefully worked and reworked by the skilled craftsman on hand. When finished, a patina of potassium sulfide and ferric nitrate was applied to achieve the weathered/non polished look you see in the photos. And finally, an industrial, outdoor wax was applied to permanently hold the colors and the condition of the piece at its current state.

And with that, please stay tuned for updates to the blog and reCollect Creative calendar. More reviews and exclusives are coming your way soon enough.

-Jonathan

Rounding up the graffiti...

2010-02-25T23:34:00.003-05:00

As the graffiti theme comes to a slow halt, I wanted to share a couple more. I'm including these because I always enjoy seeing businesses alloying the artist to add creative touches. And these two were amongst a long line of tags.

Please enjoy.

Thanks,

Jonathan

Shepard Fairey ...EXCLUSIVES?!?

2010-02-22T14:58:00.008-05:00

In case you don't personally know me (or even if you do), I'll let you in on one of my philosophies of life. It goes: If you approach people with honesty and kindness and actually listen when talking to them (vs waiting to speak), you're often rewarded with pearls of goodness (knowledge-wise), and sometimes even a little extra. It's simple, I know; but not the most common thing in our world today.

At any rate, I only say that to say "Thank you!" to the good people at the Contemporary Art Center of Cincinnati.

As I mentioned in my last post, I was off to party with Shepard Fairey and the masses at his opening (and I must admit, he did a pretty good job DJing -- during his set). Drinks flowed into the night. Art folks congregated …good times!! At any rate, there (or just before), I learned he had created a bunch of wheat-paste murals around the city …and I thought to myself "perfect!" as I knew I'd be wrapping up the graffiti search-topic this week. Long story short, the C.A.C. didn't have a map/list of locations when I checked on-line (as they had literally just finished installing them). But when I visited and conversed with a few employees, they seemed to be interested in my enquiry. Needless to say, and with a little patience, I was introduced to someone who had the scoop. And when he/she dug around in their personal email to find me a list of locations, I was more than excited. I was appreciative. So thanks again (I won't mention your name -- as I'm not sure I was supposed to be given the list).

But with no further delay, the images below are what I found touring the city ...along with the addressees in case you'd like to catch them as well.

-->>Downtown had…

^^At 609 Walnut^^

^^At 210 East 8th Street^^

------------------------------------------------------------------------

-->> Over The Rhine had…

^^At 1401 Reading^^

^^At 1401 Reading (details)^^

^^At 1401 Reading (just around the corner)^^

^^At 212 East 14th Street^^

^^At 1301 Main Street^^

------------------------------------------------------------------------

-->> Northside had…

^^At 4041 Hamilton^^

^^At 4041 Hamilton (detail)^^

^^At 4156 Hamilton^^ (it's the face -- took a bit of acrobatics to get the shot)

And if you're roaming the city, and see one of these balloons floating off of a fire hydrant, you MAY be close to another. And each is worthy of your attention, so don't be afraid to pound the pavement!

Also worth noting: There may be more around the city, but this is all he/she was able to help me out with at the time. And don't fret, I'll periodically check the C.A.C.'s web site, to see if they post any (or any additional locations).

Thanks again for the follow,

Jonathan

Tonight at CAC

2010-02-19T15:30:00.002-05:00

Tonight the Contemporary Arts Center is hosting a Shepard Fairey event that should be a good time. It's open to the public from 8p - 11p. Details are HERE!

River City Works was a blast...

2010-02-19T14:54:00.004-05:00

A few posts ago, I briefly mentioned I was heading out to a local, glass blowing event at River City Works (in affiliation with Cincinnati's Art Academy). Well, I did and I must say "It was a blast!" The folks over there really know how to have a good time. Though I was a little too late to enjoy the food (yes, it was actually catered), I did stay to enjoy the free show, as schools from Bowling Green, Louisvile, and Cincinnati engaged in a glass blowing competition to create the most creative/innovative mug for the upcoming BockFest, here in Cinci.

Plus, the fact that they had an awesome DJ, spinning 45s AND a crowded after-party (thanks again to Jamie for lending your place for the good times), only solidifies this as a solid event that I'll try to catch again.

...At any rate, I was able to get a few shots of the good times

...My favorite is definitely the last.

And if you were part of the event (or just in the building like myself), and would like a FREE copy of any of these images (at full resolution/without the watermark), just send and email to EmailUs@LangurMedia.com. The files were simply too large for the blog.

Thanks again for the interest,

-> Jonathan

Jay Bolotin at Carl Solway

2010-02-18T12:44:00.015-05:00

As I roamed the space of the Carl Solway Gallery I was taken aback a bit. I had heard through one of those, oh so informative, vine-o-grapes that this was one of the--if not THE-- premier gallery spaces in Cincinnati, but like most new things I was admittedly skeptical. And now I know, I was wrong to doubt the masses ...as this is one of the nicer spaces I've visited since starting this blog approximately eight months ago. Through conversation, I learned that they host three or four shows a year and change the design/layout of the space to cater to each. And when I started roaming, I noticed the walls were clean & well lit, the staff was more that helpful with any of my questions, and most importantly, the art was rather exceptional. And since that's what this blog is all about I'll go ahead and get to it.

The work that I had heard about, and was consequently there to enjoy was by local "Cincinnatian" Jay Bolotin. The show Leaves From A Cast Paper Novel contained 33 drawings by the artist, set up throughout a room-filling installation, that was both heavy in concept as well as skill level. And as my eyes danced around the room, it was obvious that Bolotin not only had developed a style of drawing fairly unique to itself, but he had also perfected it. With each composition, Bolotin's characters sprung to life while trapping me, and I'm sure most other viewers, in a place similar to, but definitely not of this world ....a parallel, puppet-master's universe if you will. In each drawing, his use of bulbous characteristics, paired with oftentimes chiseled features created extremely interesting tensions within his figures. He utilized this technique to transfer insinuated moods into most objects found within the picture plane as well. And the fact that, when thumbing through the gallery's press kit, I learned the drawings in this first room are preliminaries for Bolotin's next animation, I can only look forward to a continuation of what I saw next.

Just off the second room of Leaves From A Cast Paper Novel is an extremely inspirational animated film by Jay Bolotin, made in conjunction with a number of assistants and museum sponsors. The piece THE JACKLEG TESTAMENT, PART ONE: JACK & EVE (part of a trilogy) was created using an unfathomable number of woodblock prints that were scanned/photographed (??) and set to an originally composed soundtrack ...which gives a bit of insight into the depth of Bolotin's creative breath. (To note: Jay Bolotin is an accomplished composer in addition to being a successful visual artist.) Visually, each scene is set in a 3-D world, complete with a vast number of characters, each with carefully orcestrated movements. During the three act film, viewers are taken through an abstracted narrative that features everything from doo-wap singers, to puppet shows, and of course Bolotin's version of Adam & Eve. Multiple languages and visual affects are utilized along the way as well. And being that everything started as two dimensional prints, you can only imagine the amount that went into the project. (And being an artist who does more than dabble in video/animation, myself, I can TELL you this is an extraordinary piece and something EVERYONE needs to see.) Along with the masterful use of audio to carry viewers from scene to scene, the oftentimes, seemingly-effortless animation and sometimes whimsical scenes do more than just entertain ...deeper meanings are often present. To give you a better idea of things, a clip (from the piece) I found on YouTube is below.

And if the video and the drawings weren't enough, Bolotin's final group of featured work consisted of a number of hand-cast paper pieces, set in box frames, behind glass. Presented in a low-lit area of Carl Solway Gallery, these pieces showcased a much more delicate side of Bolotin. And while similarities, between these pieces and his illustrations can be made; the pieces here could easily be considered a show in themselves.

Again bulbous features dominate these works, but in the same breath, everything is much more delicate in this series of pieces. Swooping, abstracted forms oftentimes suggest a sense of freedom ...reminding me of free-float jellyfish, in their own ocean of openness.

It really is surprising the same mind came up with such an array of work. But, I guess, if you've been in the "art-game" as long as/successfully as Bolotin, you have every right to surprise your fans at will.

So with that, please enjoy the show. It will be up at Cincinnati's Carl Solway Gallery through April 10th. Solway's hours are 9a-5p on Monday-Friday and 12p-5p on Saturday. Link to their site HERE.

Cheers & thanks again for the warm welcome Cincinnati.

-Jonathan

The train roles on...

2010-02-17T16:38:00.002-05:00

Here's a video clip of some graffitti compliments of VivaCity Russian-Tower. It was quite the unexpected overseas donation so I had to post it. Some say Twitter is useless, but hey, this is another great thing I've gained from the wonderful folks of Tweet Tweet land ...thanks again.

5 Minutes V.10/01 from I Love Graffiti on Vimeo.

Hopefully this next/last week of graffiti images will be as successful as the previous few. I'll try to post another user-submission as this subject matter at reCollect Creative winds down.

And don't worry I'm currently gathering info/clips and typing away at my first Cincinnati review of the year. I've admittedly been caught up enjoying snow days and all outdoor activities associated with them of recent. (A special thanks goes to Doug and Shoshannah of Honey for the awesome luge we were able to build in your backyard -- AWESOME TIMES!)

Till we meet again in the bloggoshere,
Jonathan

Humorous graff into the weekend...

2010-02-12T16:43:00.004-05:00

As today was a rather nice one (between snow-showers of course), I decided to hit the town in search of MORE interesting wall art. And again, I stumbled upon a good one. So with a little humor, here it is. This little ditty was found just off of Harrison Avenue, in the treating-me-oh-so-well-so-far, Cincinnati.

And as a side note, I'm starting to understand why/how my travels have landed me here in Cinci ...There's simple more art to appreciate ...along with a few, slightly different, yet cohesive and immensely creative art scenes to fit into.

So on that note, I'm looking forward to spreading my findings with you all over the weekend. But for now, I need to start preparing for a glass-blowing demonstration I was just informed of ...happing downtown at River City Works (part of Cincinnati's Art Academy). It's from 6:30 - 9:30p for all of you Cincinnati-ers.

Graffiti from abroad...

2010-02-09T22:51:00.009-05:00

As the snow continues to fall in the midwest/eastern US, today's (graffiti) image-of-the-day comes to us via a reader submission. The photos are from another seemingly snowy-land, more specifically Bratislava, capital of Slovakia (central Europe) ...and are rather unique in their depiction.

Each image is of a random, vacant building, that has had its windows infiltrated by one, or a number of creatives. In each window opening the artist(s) involved have created a number of faux situations ...some involving things you'd see in everyday life (i.e. gazing residents and animals), while others actually feature master-study paintings ...and/or window treatments. All in all though, they're all creative usages of space and yet another take on what most of us consider graffiti.

So please enjoy these images (especially) as they are the first out-of-country submissions ...to this particular blogosphere. A special "Thank you!" goes to E, for your submission and involvement in this movement. Hopefully your fearlessness to contribute will spread to others ...as the coversation continues.

Cheers!

-J

Drive-by graffiti to end the week...

2010-02-05T18:45:00.005-05:00

Before the snow hit, this full-wall tag was observed in route to a gallery I'll soon be blogging about. It can be found on Westwood Northern Blvd for those of you in Cincinnati.

At any rate, till we meet again.

Happy Weekend. Happy sledding!

•*¨*•.¸¸ ¸¸.•*¨*•.¸¸ ¸¸.•*¨*••*¨*•.¸¸ ¸ ¸

~> J

Todays graffiti from video

2010-02-03T17:59:00.005-05:00

Todays graffiti pic is (actually) from a video interview I recently found of tag-artist turned gallery-artist, WestOne. He speaks about his introduction to the art-world through graffiti and how, through the influence of abstract-expressionists, his work transformed into what he now creates within a contained picture plane.

I found it to be worth the approximate 8min pause in my day.

It's below, or HERE. Please enjoy.

-Jonathan

Good graffiti to start the week...

2010-02-01T13:23:00.005-05:00

Todays OUTSTANDING mural comes from the Brighten area of Cincinnati. This has to be one of my favorite large-scale tags I've found in the area. And since it's obviously season related (and on a white background), I have a good feeling it will be painted out, and change at some point soon.

At any rate, thanks again for your interest and submissions!

(link to the right)

Peace.

Today's Mural

2010-01-28T13:12:00.003-05:00

Today's mural is another from the downtown Cincinatti area. I'm still unsure of the rhyme/reason for it. It is well done though.

As I continue to explore this town though, I'm hoping to stumble upon more of the underground tag/graffiti scene. How about you? ...I guess only time will tell.

-Jonathan

Mural/Graffiti of the day

2010-01-25T12:11:00.003-05:00

Today's mural is from a building in/around downtown Cincinnati. It's quite the trompe l'oeil painting if you ask me. And to be honest, I'm not 100% sure that the windows to the right are even real! ...I know the stairs aren't.

Stay tuned for more findings and/or reader submissions.

Thanks.

Openings tomorrow in Cinci

2010-01-21T16:18:00.003-05:00

At least three openings worth your time are happening in Cincinnati tomorrow night (1/22/2010).

In alphabetical order:

The Carl Solway will be hosting a group show, featuring artists Jay Bolotin (drawings) & Jerry Uelsmann (photography). The show will be up from January 22nd to April 10th, 2010. The opening reception is tomorrow from 5-8p. The address for Carl Soloway Gallery is: 424 Findlay Street (in the West End), Cincinnati, Ohio 45214. Click Here for more information.

--------------------

The second opening on the list will be taking place at Manifest Creative Research Gallery and Drawing Center. It's a group show featuring works in a variety of media, from 15 artists representing 11 states and Hong Kong. The show will run through February 19th.

The reception will be from 6p-9p. Manifest is located at 2727 Woodburn Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio 45206. Click Here for more info.

--------------------

And finally, worth mentioning, is the Faculty Exhibition taking place at Xavier University. It features six professors/artists from Xavier University. The show will be running from January 22nd through February 20, 2010.

Tomorrow night's opening will be from 6p-8p in the Xavier University Art Gallery (Cohen Center -- behind the Cintas Center). Xavier U's campus is located at 3800 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45207. More info can be found HERE.

Got "interesting" graffiti?

2010-01-20T13:25:00.004-05:00

Hey! Are you a fan of quality murals and graffiti like myself? If so, please do us a favor and find a good piece, whip out your fancy (or not so fancy) digital camera or camera phone, take a picture, and email it to reCollectCreative@gmail.com along with any crediting info needed (i.e. the city/location, artist/tagger, and/or you).

The hope is to gather some good wall-art from different areas of the country (or even world--Hey hey Barry of Scotland), post it, and give/get some feedback. Not too tough right?!? The above drive-by-photo is a work in progress I found in Cincinnati "O"

Thanks for your help!

Cheers to change in 2010!

2010-01-13T15:14:00.005-05:00

During the holiday season, I did a lot of thinking about how to make this blog a little better/more valid. While I get a lot of positive feedback (and "thank you"s) about my entries, for the most part, it's just me giving my two cents -- which frankly is barely enough to keep myself interested in myself. Go figure?!? Of course I enjoy the search for blog-worthy artwork, galleries & events, but that's surely not enough to get REAL conversation happening ...and we all know the more discourse, the more better!

Soooo, this 2010, I'm going to start asking some of YOU to help make this blog a bit better with some of YOUR own contributions. And since I get a decent amount of hits, I know you're out there ...so why not add to the conversation? I'm not after tagged "comments" or anything like that. I'm more interested in unique findings and/or communicable ideas ...you know, things you find interesting that you'd like to share (but don't already have/want a platform to do so).

Your first chance to help will be here "soon."

Thanks,

Jonathan

(image by: Bob Dob. Cheers. 2005)

A Simple Link

2009-12-17T19:47:00.003-05:00

While I rarely use this blog to report on my own activities, every once in a while I get the urge to share my goings ons through most (if not all) of my online outlets. So below is a link to my current, in-progress PROJ3CT. I hope you don't mind.

...just CLICK HERE

More blogging on my recent gallery visits is coming soon.

Thanks,
Jonathan

Join the discussion on Hillyer Court

2009-12-07T16:54:00.003-05:00

Taking place this Thursday, December 10th, at International Art & Artists is another round of critiques. From 6:30p - 8:30p join fellow creatives and critics to reflect on the works of 12 specific artists, who submitted portfolios prior, for review.

This will be my first time attending one of these events, so I can't make any promises, or even give you the specific format. I do know that I've enjoyed some of the recent happenings down on Hillyer Ave., so I'm willing to support this movement. Plus DC's own Renee Stout will be the evaluator this time around, so my guess is it'll be a worthwhile creative experience to be a part of. I guess we'll see.

International Arts & Artists (http://www.artsandartists.org) is located at 9 Hiller Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 (behind The Phillips Collection). If you're a fellow creative, I hope to see you there!

-Jonathan

The Walls sing in Norfolk (Palm Treo 755 pics)

2009-11-30T23:37:00.014-05:00

When I discovered one of my favorite galleries in the Hampton Roads area was closed due to an excursion down to the events going on in Miami this past week (i.e. Art Basel, Red Dot, etc), I was left floating around town searching for a space that avoided the craft-fair and honored diligence of the "true" artist. And if you're a follower/RSSer of this blog, you already know that in this area of southern Virginia, that isn't the easiest thing to come across. So after scanning the local scene with not much luck, other than my post from a week or two ago (and again, Modern Cowboys at Art Gallery in Norfolk, VA is a good one to check out in this area), I decided to visit a space that I had never had any luck with, Walls Gallery, also in Norfolk, VA. And the fact another area gallery owner I recently spoke with mentioned it, I thought, "hey why not?"

Since this was my first time actually making it in to Walls, I had had no idea what to expect. And to be honest the art/artist (reason) that brought me to the space wasn't the most positive either. It was to check out local, Hampton Roads, four year old "sensation" Hallie Marie Arnold. She apparently has been named a local phenomenon and has already had a couple of shows in the area. I wasn't really inpressed though, and because I believe the whole thing is more exploitation than prodigious art making, I'll stop here, and just redirect you to an article I found --> http://hamptonroads.com/2009/11/born-paint-second-solo-show-4yearold ...she doesn't even sign her own canvases yet. SMH*. Hopefully she'll keep up with it though, and we'll see her shine in the years to come!

Sooo, with that, (and Like Jay-Z says in his most recent project) "On to the next one" we go. And the next one is Andreas Mueller. Now let me pre-vi the rest of this post, with stating Walls isn't my favorite style of gallery, as it rents wall space out to artists (at $65 p/month for approx. four to six horizontal feet of wall space), and will show pretty much ANYTHING. But in these tough times, I can't really blame them too much, and the fact that I found some decent work (post-sifting), I don't mind giving them a shout out ...and since they do contract artists for "feature" shows, they're kind of a melding of gallery styles ...exhale.

Andreas Mueller was the first respectable artist I stumbled upon. His work consisted of photography described as Metallic Photography Print by process. And though I'm not 100% sure what that means, his images did speak volumes. Each told stories of life through the simple capturing of everyday scenes ...paired with thought provoking titles. I'm pretty sure his works all had run-ins with photoshop (so my hope is they're archival printed), but I'm ok with that as I thoroughly enjoyed the way the metallic surfaces interacted with the colors he's decided to accentuate. Most works focus on city scenes, that most of us have experienced. Still, he's able to keep interest in his pieces with the compositional framing. But again, the color choices are rather outstanding.

Up next was more photographic work, this time by Joel Hall. He was another photoshop influenced artist whom I didn't mind. This time the process was described as High Dynamic Range Photography. And I must say the word dynamic should not be taken lightly. His compositions focused on mainly desolate scenery, so when that was paired with mystical colorings, a lost, dilapidated fairy-tale world is what I found myself stuck in.

In regards to his process, predominately, a desaturated, black & white palette is used for each piece. Afterwords, semi-transparent layers of color are added to accentuate certain ideas, or bring focus to specific items. Skill and discretion is used to create these enchanting works, therefor they can be appreciated (again, hopefully printed with archival methods). To note though, a much larger scale would probably help these works advance to a broader, more sophisticated audience. But with the ability to produce such color treatments and capture expressive, dreamworld compositions the way Joel does, I'm pretty sure he'll be able to navigate his path successfully.

The final artist I'd like to mention is Walter Davenport. He was one of the few artists showing at Walls, who worked on large scale pieces. Plus, I actually recognize and respect his process ...especially given it's oftentimes toxic nature! He worked with resin, layered onto water color on canvas. And he did so in multiple compositional fashions ...sometimes simple abstraction, sometimes non-objective, and other time his pieces teetered on realism.

All in all though, his handling of color -- sometimes psychedelic in nature -- could be appreciated for its boldness and fearlessness of exploration. At times dry brush techniques were used, with others wet-on-wet application processes were employed. But with each and every stroke, you could tell he was sticking to a predetermined set of rules or guidelines. Also, not to be forgotten was his use of patterning in most of his works. Again Davenport's usage varied from piece to piece, but I'd have to say each time he took this route, success was gained. With the patterning barriers were sometimes put up, evoking questions of the underlying subject matter; while other-times it was the actual pattern that contained the recognizable information. Therefor a sense of control resonated throughout. Each piece was different. But each was created using the same artistic skill-set.

A lot different art was viewed ...some good to great, some not so much. And that quickly sums my trip to Walls gallery in Norfolk, VA. Again, my reactions to the space at a whole remain mixed. But the fact that I found "good" work to appreciate sits well with me. So if curiosity of the "stellar" four year old draws you there, so be it (just don't expect too too much). But if you're an artist like me, on the prowl for inspiration, go for it. Walls has some good things to offer. More info can be found HERE.

* - Shaking My Head

~> Jonathan

(my apologies Andreas Mueller, previously noted as Andrea)

Looking forward to Modern Cowboys!

2009-11-20T18:43:00.005-05:00

In the Hampton Roads area with no plans for tomorrow night? Whether you're young, old, an artist, or just a sometimes-art-appreciator, you should be able to have a good time at tomorrow nights opening of Modern Cowboys, featuring works by photojournalist Mike Wood. The show takes you on a journey, and into the life of the graffiti artist...not just their work. And being that I snuck in for a preview a couple of days ago, I must give the show a resounding thumbs up!

The opening will be tomorrow (11/21/2009) from 7p -9:30p at Art Gallery, located in the Ghent area of Norfolk ...more specifically at:

424 W. 21st Street, Suite 101, Norfolk, VA 23517. And below is the text from Lorrie Saunders' press release:

Graffiti, we all know it when we see it, but we don't always understand why it's there. Is it art? Is it vandalism? Or is it simply a primitive means of communication? Whatever the answer, graffiti has been around since ancient times. In his latest project, MODERN COWBOYS, photojournalist Mike Wood examines the little known world of graffiti through the lives of one crew of writers and the bond that unites them.

Wood, a photojournalist and a freelance photographer, is a 2002 graduate of The Art Institute of Philadelphia. His photographs have been published in a variety of newspapers and magazines including The Virginian-Pilot, Newsweek Magazine and the prestigious photography magazine, Photo District News.

So at this point all that's left to say is "See you there. And let's hope there's enough cheap wine and cheese for eeeeeeeeveryone!"

Oh, and did I mention, the price points are quite affordable? And Christmas is coming folks. So, if something for a loved one, or a treat for yourself ....buy, buy, buy!

Wink wink,

Jonathan

2009-11-19T00:00:00.001-05:00

On the road again

2009-11-18T23:59:00.000-05:00

ReCollect Creative is traveling around and about again ...as always searching for inspirational artwork.

Stay tuned!

Tonight Tonight Tonight!!!

2009-10-22T10:57:00.003-04:00

Tonight should be a great night!

To the left is the announcement for DC artists Billy Colbert and Kelly Towles show, The Dirty Green. It promises to be a strong showcasing of painting and print work by the two.

(Oh & if you notice it's a sponsored event so make sure to pad the belly as fluids will be stuck on pour!)

Also next door, Longview Gallery is having a grand opening for it's new space. I was down there the other day as they were starting to put the finishing touches on the space, and all I can say is "Oh MY!" It looks to be quite the exceptional NEW gallery space in a town where things seem to be crumbling a bit. Any who, info on that one is HERE.

Oil @ Adamson (pics via cameraPhono)

2009-10-22T10:40:00.006-04:00

When I first read about Oil, by Edward Burtysky, I admit I was immediately intrigued as the description in the emailer from Adamson Gallery was rather thorough. It highlighted the overall concept of the show. It gave a brief description of the artist along with some of the collections he's landed himself into (the Brooklyn Museum of Art and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum to name a couple). It also spotlighted an individual piece or two that would be on display at the show ...And they did all of this in five paragraphs or so which gave just enough information, while boosting my personal levels of curiosity. Good job Adamson. I had to to attend the opening ...so thanks-a-bunch for having the rose' bubbly. It was delicious. And the fact that you all had enough to last the duration of the opening gives you a check plus in my book!

Sooo, upon arrival, I was struck by what ended up being my favorite piece of the show, and if I remember correctly, the only vertically oriented of the large-scale photographical works. The piece has a rather simple approach -- (the breast if you will of) a rusted, statuesque, american-flag-baring oil tanker that's being serviced, while two other large ships flank either side. And standing over 60 inches tall, the ship takes on humanistic qualities as it towers above it's viewers. My favorite part about the piece though is the tiny figures that can be found upon close investigation. They are obviously part of the crew laboring away on this beast of a vessel. And the expressions they show (or lack their of) are raw with emotion -- sadness, struggle, determination. So when the rubble of the excavated ship's surroundings is taken into consideration, one can only image the feat ahead of these laborers ...to me, just scratching the surface of one of these vessels seems comparable to saaaay ...sweeping a regulation football field with a small household broom (not even a push-broom) maybe??. At any rate, I was overwhelmed with feelings of service and hardship while viewing this piece. Great vessels truly must require great maintenance from great men (and women).

As I continued to meander about the space I was shown multiple entities of an industry that I had never really put much thought into. Oil, as the shows title suggests does just this. It takes you on a bit of a journey, weaving you in and out of our -- as Americans at least -- most valuable resource. As one travels the space, a journey from shipyards, to transportation truck-stops, to airfields, to the vary highways used to transport the black gold transpires. At times Burtysky captures emotion with his large-scale prints by introducing human form or by showcasing bruised and beaten cargo planes used in operations. At other times, the artist keeps things more simple and subdued by depicting images such as a sunset over an off-shore drilling site or a sunrise over Canadian oil-sand fields. And as I spoke with a fellow opening-goer at the show, when you boil it all down, once the technique is mastered, the subject is brought to the forefront of importance when dealing with modern/digitized photography. (And as a classically trained photographer, I must say I do miss the days of the darkroom as it added a bit of skill-set process that our generation has lost.) Regardless though, with each photo, captivation ensues if you have the willingness to take some time to "look" rather than "glance." So in the long run, Burtysky has without a doubt done his job.

Technically, the work is strong as well. Compositionally, Burtysky has the ability to keep the eye bouncing from place to place & corner to corner of his work. And as the subject of each piece is different, while sticking within the basic parameters of oil/oil transport that is, the viewer is given plenty of eye-candy to enjoy. And though a lot of the work reminded me of things that may have been shot in classical ways of the F-22 group (keeping everything in focus), I didn't mind too much as, again, there was enough interesting material being displayed to keep my mind busy. So go and check it out! The show will be on display at Adamson Gallery until November 21st. More info on the gallery is HERE.

Again, my apologies.

2009-10-21T23:59:00.000-04:00

If you've been keeping up with this blog, by now you understand that lapses happen from time to time. I'm an artist (who enjoys writing -- not reeeally a "writer") so what can I say, other than "sorry again." These things happen though. I don't get paid for this (or for most of the things I do with my time for that matter), so I have no problem making and breaking my own unwritten posting rules from time to time. And while I know it happens and will continue happening from time to time, I don't enjoy disappointing the few fans I have. For me, I just like keeping things honest and positive ...hints why there are rarely negative postings here. I'm not the type to sneak around and plot on galleries in an effort to break them down. I'm not the type to publicly (or privately) bash artists because I don't agree with their message(s). I simply let things be as I know how tough it is to live creatively.

But hey, I'm back to the blogosphere after about a month. So here we go again. The saga continues...

Keeping It Simple @ Art Gallery

2009-09-28T22:47:00.005-04:00

While in the Hampton Roads area (regretfully for a funeral of long time family friend), I decided that I would keep my explorations alive and visit a Norfolk, Virginia gallery that was, previously, unheard of to me. Apparently at some point along the way, curator and Art Gallery (the actual name of the space) owner, Lorrie Saunders caught wind of the rC movement and decided to add reCollect Creative to Art Gallery's mailing list. And though skeptical at first, upon arriving I'm happy that she did. While quaint (not "small"), her space definitely has a lot to offer budding/emerging artists.

Art Gallery, which is located at 424 W 21st St (Suite 101) in the Downtown/Ghent area of Norfolk, VA is a rather nice space that showcases local talent as well as artists from around the country (if not the world) in it's five to six annual shows. Blessed with a young, go-gittter of a owner, the space seems to be going in the right direction in featuring moderately risky work that remains "sellable" in an area that is just discovering fine arts ...finally moving away from solely placing value on the crafters -- a practice that seemed to dominate the scene during my childhood years. And with this show, Lorrie offers smaller, yet well-crafted/solid work at affordable prices. Meaning, both young and established collectors can easily add something good to their collections for under $500 for the most part. And since art IS one of the safest investments one can make, especially in times of recession, why wouldn't you visit Art Gallery?!?

At any rate, Keep It Simple is a collection of works by John Rudel, based on the ideas of simplicity and creating an "archeology of color," as the artist puts it himself. In creating the works for the show, Rudel started by applying multiple layers and colors of paint to, mostly, found objects. He then, sanded into these works revealing layers of paint in appealing designs and patterns, creating the previously mention "archeology." And to note, this archeology isn't one of standardization. The layers of paint aren't always continuous. They often stop, start, and pick up old and new colors to add to the composition along their seemingly predetermined path. And for me, and while not (almost surely) the artist's intent, I was taken aback to the days of the Giant Gobbstoppers. I vividly remember, as a kid, purchasing one of the candies form the mall's candy shop and attacking it over a number of hours to reveal as many layers and colors of flavor as possible ..while rotting a tooth or two away I'm sure. And while Rudel's works are much more sophisticated, my hope is drawing a comparison to the delicious candy-coated experiences of my youth will take nothing from them, but instead highlight ideas of vibrance and joy ...which can both be found within the sanded layers of Rudel's colorful offerings.

As stated before, most of the items in the show are sculptural works created from found objects. Most of which seemed to be inverted serving dishes of some sort, bringing thoughts of giving and hospitality to mind. And while some of the forms were more recognizable than others, it's easy to understand how the artist could/can find these various forms in local pawn and thrift stores ...and probably even on the street and in dumpsters ...similar to the two women of Wool 100% (an artistic, award-winning Japanese film created circa 2006). But when teamed with ideas of simplicity, as the show's title suggests, these previously discarded items become a key factor in the work, taking viewers into the realm of "why?". With this and his simple pairings of elements, viewers are then allowed to enjoy conversation about some of the most basic, and important elements of design, shape and color ...and what thoughts these basic elements can provoke. Plus, since the final pieces are often comprised of just two or three basic elements, form-combination along with the sanded layers, rather simple techniques -- as far as process is concerned -- are brought to the forefront as well. And because it's so often that we as viewers are bombarded with artistic gobs of falsetto (yeah, yeah, I know what I said -- in this case, meaning attention grabbing elements that, regretfully, often add nothing to a global conversation), it's a bit refreshing to see work like this ...based on ideas of simplicity ...of concept and technique. Plus, for the pro-worlders out there, technically, this IS green art, as it utilizes the recycled elements of the artist and seeker.

So, with that, I encourage you to check out Keep It Simple if you find yourself in the Hampton Roads, VA area before October 31st. The show is a good one that craft lovers as well as seasoned collectors can easily enjoy. Even the few 2-d pieces (also incorporating the sanding technique) are worth a viewing ...and would actually be perfect for an office environment.

More info on Art Gallery can be found at www.ArtGalleryLS.net. Please enjoy.

-Jonathan

No art ...just a moment of silence

2009-09-11T15:39:00.003-04:00

I'd just like to take the time to ask all of you to hit the pause button for a moment today. While the tragedy of September 11th, 2001 is years in our past, I feel it's something that should never be forgotten. For my generation, it's easily the single most memorable moment in our nations history (even with the awesome/awe-inspiring election of President Obama).

And as I had family, who we couldn't get a hold of for a while, living in NY at the time, I know I'll never forget that day. For me it was the Kennedy or Dr. Martin Luther King moment of my lifetime ...you know, a tragic moment in history when your whereabouts, mood, actions, etc (when word reached you) will never be forgotten. For me it was design class at Barton College ...all classes were cancelled and a professor rolled in a television so we could all see what was going on. How about you?

Peace and a moment of silence to you on this day....

...Thanks,
Jonathan

A good duo at Project 4 (pics via Camera Phone)

2009-09-04T15:08:00.003-04:00

Styrofoam, oils, canvas, wood and automotive paint can all be found in Project 4's current show make/shift. In a good showing by artists Andrea Cohen and Christine Gray, Project 4 is displaying a selection of pieces that truly work well together in the rather intimate, split-level, gallery space.

While Gray offers a number of oil paintings, I found myself focussing more on the delicate sculptures of Andrea Cohen. In an art world where "cheating" has not only become acceptable, but seemingly the norm (yeah, I said it), it was good to stumble upon a sculptress working with styrofoam and other light-weight materials the old fashion way ...by hand ...void of expensive technology, designed to render CAD drawings into 3-dimensional forms ...which completely rids work of the subtleties, happy-accidents, and mistakes only an artist's hand can create. And at first, even I wasn't convinced that some of her offerings were not some of these same fancy-pants machined-extrapolations, so I made sure to check with the interim gallery director (nice "tats" by the way) to confirm or correct my thoughts. And with a bit of relief, hand-carved/created was the call. So with a revisit to the cavity-filled-foam-forms, more enjoyment came as well as an appreciation for the hand-made, wooden bases each was perched atop. And covered in high-gloss automotive paint, these hand-crafted structures acted as perfect feet to help ground the lightweight forms.

The pink foam forms were my favorites of Cohen's work, but something is to be said about the freeness of (what seem to be) the built/essembled foam sculptures. Filled with twists and turns, these forms are rather complex and had me trying to view them from all angles looking for "the best" vantage point. The color changes were fun and sometimes unexpected. And the balanced movement was definitely enjoyable. Plus, one of the two (of this version) had the most interesting base of all ...which worked with the form extremely well. So be sure not to miss the 2nd level of Project 4.

Not to go discredited though, was a strong showing of paintings by Christine Gray. Set in mystical worlds, her large-scal canvases dominated the space of the gallery upon entry ...and her smaller works weren't bad either. Unfortunately, I missed the artist statement while at Project 4, so I'm still a bit curious as to what the meaning behind her fascination/usage of ropes and pulleys (in every work) is all about. At any rate, her images were well painted. And her attention to detail and understanding of craft should surely be appreciated. Brush strokes were visible when & where she wanted them to be. And her palette helped to confirm presence in the land of "mysteria" that the artist entended the viewer to get lost in.

To note though, the show will be closing next Saturday (9/12) at 6p, so you still have time to make it down to U Street. And if interested, Project 4 will be hosting an artist talk @ 4:30pm on that final day (9/12/2009).

The space is located at 1353 U street NW, Washington, DC 20009 (3rd floor). And as it's a bit tricky to find, you can give them a call at 202-232-4340 just in case. Or link to their site HERE for more info.

Enjoy!

-Jonathan

G is for Good news.

2009-09-02T10:07:00.006-04:00

Yesterday, it was brought to my attention that Annie Gawlak of G Fine Art isn't throwing in the towel just yet. As I posted a few weeks back, G Fine Art of DC is/has closed its doors at the 14th street location, but apparently the show(s) must go on.

On September 26th, afrom 6:30 - 8:30, a show featuring Jose Ruiz and Jefferson Pinder will be opening at G Fine's temporary (at least for now) location: 625 E Street NW Washington, DC. It's good to hear they're back! More information is HERE ...I hope to see you there.

Oh, and for the record, G Fine is now (well, at least temporarily, again) to be referred to as El Museo Del Ghetto ...which is unfortunate as I had just thought of a good theme song for the artists of G Fine ...well the hardcore/hip-hop one's at least. Click HERE if you dare ...LOL!

Till next time,
Jonathan

8 Bit (reCollected from BBC)

2009-09-01T15:52:00.005-04:00

Remember that great post-it note stop animation that was post here, on reCollect Creative, not too long ago? Well here's another installment of fabulous stop-animation. I guess it's in style these days. And since this one was reTweeted by a fellow DC area designer -- thanks K -- I thought it would only be fitting to reCollect it as well.

I found this one roaming around the Billionaire Boys Club website (I think). Any who, enjoy the flashback, 8-Bit graphics in this one. They're quite enjoyable!

So just CLICK HERE.

HIGH-YA!

-Jonathan

Honda's done it again!! (reCollected from ArtisticThings)

2009-08-24T16:33:00.009-04:00

So yeah, Honda has officially done it again. With the help of Wieden + Kennedy's Amsterdam, Honda has created another great commercial! A special thanks goes out to Artistic Things for hipping me to this clip, so I could reCollect it for the followers of this blog.

Click HERE to link to the commercial.

And if you've yet to subscribe to this blog, it's now a lot easier thanks to the new link on the sidebar ...so what are ya waiting for??

Till next time,

Jonathan

Chemistry of Color (in Cincinatti -- camPhone pics)

2009-08-21T11:22:00.005-04:00

Opening tonight at the Taft Museum (Cincinnati, OH) in their 5/3rd Gallery is a show featuring a collection of established African American artists. The show, The Chemistry of Color: The Collection of Contemporary African American Art, is a collection on loan from The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), located in Philadelphia. Notably (for the DC readers) is a Sam Gilliam piece or two that is on display ...and I believe it's one of his more recent large scale works. Also showing is Benny Andrews, Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence, Howardena Pindell, Faith Ringgold, Betye Saar, and Raymond Saunders. While I was in town, I was given the opportunity to take a sneak-peak at the show as it was being hung ...and I must say it won't dissapoint any of you who find yourself in the area. A couple of my quick camera-phone pics are below.

Briefly: The show was originally organized as a collection of the ARCO Chemical Company when, then President, Harold A. Sorgenti and his wife were with the company. Upon retirement, Sorgenti and his wife ultimately purchased the collection and donated it to the previously mentioned PAFA. The show will be on display at the Taft Museum until November 1st, 2009. More information about the show and tonight's opening can be found HERE. The Taft Museum is located at 316 Pike St., Cincinnati, OH 45202-4293. If you find yourself in that area, hopefully you'll be able to check it out and lend a comment or two.

Thanks,

Jonathan

SIZE MATTERS!!! In Chicago (pics via camera phone)

2009-08-19T15:40:00.014-04:00

As I wandered around Chicago aimlessly (well without a specific goal in mind other than to locate a bit of the city's creativity) I admittedly started to get a bit frustrated. It was hot and noticeable sweat patches had started forming on my garments. And while my reason for visiting the city wasn't for the art, I at least wanted to find something worth viewing, and the fact I was able to allot a few hours in the summer heat to roam, pretty much solidified my mission as a "go." So street after street, block after block I roamed. The only direction I had been given was to head to Randolph street, and I'd have NOoo trouble finding some good things to look at. The problem was the few not-to-be-named galleries I had found were closed--or "open by appointment only in the month of August". And as this was a spontaneous art search, I had no map and even elected not to use my phone's web-browser to search for anything. My creative findings would solely be based on chance ...Then I stumbled upon Harpo Studios (home of Oprah's show), shot a picture and enjoyed the fact that this wasn't a complete waste of a trip. I had found something!

Afterwords, and fast-forwarding through the trials and tribulations of my then adopted ask-at-random-those-who-look-in-the-know (a.k.a. attractive women) strategy -- and after sifting through several conflicting pieces of directional information -- I finally saw a gallery sign and shouted a quiet "hooray!" to myself. It was that of one Packer Shopf Gallery, located on West Lake Street in downtown Chicago. And while I quickly learned it wasn't terribly close to any other (open) galleries, I was happy to have found what looked like a promising show. The show which regretfully is now over (sorry to all you G-4 owners who were surely going to take a quick jaunt to the windy city) was entitled Size Matters, and at first glance I indeed saw an array of large scale pieces ranging from paintings & tapestries, to free standing & wall-hung sculptures.

An assortment of vibrantly colorful works was also found in the grouping. And by the youthful (yet extremely talented) vibe most of the pieces radiated, I have a feeling the opening was quite the spectacular event as well. And in speaking with the gallery worker, who was on duty at the time I arrived, I learned all of the artists represented were from Chicago ...so again, I reeeally hope they partied it up and celebrated a good show (...you know, with an unlimited supply of wine and/or beer along with plenty of cheese/snacks.) In total 12 artists or groups were represented on the main floor of the gallery. And by what I could tell, a loose theme of "Size Matters" was the only binding-agent within the show ...nevertheless, it was a success. The selling point for me was that not only was each artist talented in their own right, they all seemed unafraid to stray away from the norm (or comfortable subject matter) with the work they had in the show. Even the photo-realistic painter (Renee McGinnis) took a chance by incorporating winged babies within her tightly-rendered composition.

Overall though, my favorite works were by Mark Crisanti and Victoria Fuller. And while both of these artists are sculptors, their work is really nothing alike ...but again aesthetically pleasing to yours truly. For the show, Crisanti offered a series of figures made from hand-cast resin that he titled Fall. Each form was painted with a thin coat of black paint and then set against a length of white wall. From a distance I was lured in simply by the intriguing pattern, the casts were mounted in. The grouping was rather asymmetrical in design, and I still wonder if their is/was a specific reason they were arranged in such a way. Aside from that though, the true beauty came from what each figure is/was -- falling businessmen with the heads of birds. The intended meaning was left to the imagination, so a few questions popped into my head. "Were these figures afraid of the fall (as the bird-faces lacked recognizable expression)? Is this a symbol of false-hope and/or leaping faith or more of just an exploration into abstract thought? Or am I misreading the piece entirely, and the figures were flying in the fall (Autumn) and not 'falling' down at all?" Each cast had enough detail and the overall form was pleasing enough to let the mind wonder. And while my questions are still unanswered, the fact that I had/have them is only a testament to the artist in creating a provocative piece.

As stated before, Victoria Fuller's piece (Safety Star) was valuable to me for completely different reasons. Again abstract thought was utilized, but the majority (or majority of the viewable surface) was made of everyday objects -- traffic cones. The shape she was able to form reminded me of a jack I used to play with (or hurl across the classroom) as a kid, but it was over six feet tall. So of course I had to get a closer look, and when I did the most enjoyable part of the experience took over -- the smell. I'm not sure if she purchased the "freshest" cones possible or if it was just because so many were in such a concentrated area, but the fragrance they created was remarkable ...and unexpected. Don't get me wrong though, the form was clean, striking and well done. And the interior armature proved that the artist was definitely in control of the medium. But I the smell is still lingering in my head. I do wonder if there was more to the piece than what I saw though.

All in all, and again, it was a fine showing. Thanks Packer Schopf Gallery for being open the day of my little adventure ...and thanks Jud Bergeron, Don Cameron, Mark Crisanti, Victoria Fuller, David Hooker, Laurel Roth/Andy Diaz Hope, Catherine Jacobi, Renee McGinnis, Michael T. Rea, Rebecca Ringquist, Doug Smithenry, and Jenn Wilson for the outstanding work. You all made my sweaty, seemingly endless trek well worth it.

-----------------------------

And not to go unmentioned, Packer Schopf also featured a smaller, dimly-lit show in their basement level gallery space. While a bit different from the Size Matters show a few pieces should be mentioned.

My favorite artist they had down there was Brian Dettmer. His work consisted of carefully cut and bound encyclopedias. The final pieces were both wall-hung and free standing. All of them were extremely intricate and meticulous in their craft. An all demonstrated a great amount of planning and attention to detail. The layering was remarkable. Now I'm wondering how large Dettmer goes with these sculptural pieces.

And the last person of mention is Mitch O' Connell. I simply enjoyed the layering of his imagery as well as the overall graphic qualities.

-Jonathan

reCollected (from: Adventures of Hoogrrl!: Warhol was a natural tweeter!)

2009-08-18T12:40:00.002-04:00

Adventures of Hoogrrl!: Warhol was a natural tweeter

Click above to link to a nice audio clip about Andy Warhol and his Cambell's Soup can reproductions. It's definitely worth a listen if you appreciate/respect the mark Warhol made in the history of the arts.

Thanks Hoogrrl!

Manifest in Cincinnati (pics via camera-phone)

2009-08-14T21:19:00.011-04:00

While I was in the midwest spreading the word about reCollect Creative and learning about possible, rentable, art-bash-venues, I had the chance to stop by a quaint, yet impressive gallery by the name of Manifest, located in the "lovely" town of Cincinnati. At the time they were exhibiting their third installment of Master Pieces, which is a show comprised of work by recent MFA graduates.

Of course this type of show is happening all over the country right now (especially with the absurd number of MFA graduates that the country is currently producing at an alarming rate!!), but this gallery's struck me a bit differently though, as it didn't feature any work from ANY local schools. Every artist featured was from an out of state school, which for me brings a more interesting/more validating feel to such a common show. Plus, it shows that someone (or a group of someones) knows how to keep things fresh in a gallery scene which often teeters along the line of same-ol'-same-ol', blandland-celebration of the locals.

The show was rather successful as well. Both wood & metal sculptures, lithographs, oil paintings, digital photography and ink illustration were all represented in the show and worked worked well together. Some pieces delved more into the abstract world, while others were documentary and even representational. Again, a variety of work was not hard to find ...all crafted well ...and all showing why they belonged in this out-of-state MFA showcasing.

At any rate, the show is regretfully over, but I felt it still should be mentioned. Manifest, which considers itself "A Neighborhood Gallery for the World" should also be mentioned ...as they have something good going on right now. Currently closing up their 5th season with the show NUDE, Manifest is one of the few Drawing Centers and research galleries in existence. They hold workshops, full courses, model-sessions and much more all catering to and centered around drawing.

If you're in the Cincinnati area you definitely should know about this place! More on the space, who they are and what they're all about can be found at: http://www.manifestgallery.org/index.html

-Jonathan

G-Fine: Sad to hear you're leaving us :'-( (pics via camera phone)

2009-08-14T14:31:00.007-04:00

Though, it hasn't been documented on their website, the word is that this is the last day for one of DC's best galleries. Apparently when the doors shut for the current show good people, bad behavior, G Fine Art in DC will close for good as well (at least their current location that is). I must admit I was a bit saddened when I heard the news, as for me, this is/was a great place to view consistently "good"artwork in a town where that increasingly becoming tougher and tougher. But with the economy the way it is, my guess is that, regretfully, more and more closings will continue to happen.

So hopefully you had a chance to see the show. And while I would have hoped the gallery would have ended with a bigger bang, the show featuring recent work by VCU's MFA candidates in Sculture + Extended Media is still a solid one.

More info on the gallery can be found at: http://gfineartdc.com/

-Jonathan

Jules Feiffer at the Katzen Atrs Center till 8/16 (pics via CameraPhone)

2009-08-06T19:15:00.005-04:00

If you needed a little more reason to visit the Katzen Arts Center of American University before August 16th (other than Margaret Boozer's Dirt Drawings that is), I have one...Jules Feiffer.

In a show featuring 40 years of political cartoons Feiffer's work is also on display until August 16th. A large number of his politically charged comics & illustrations present a refreshing break from ordinary gallery findings. From Nixon to Clinton, Veitnam to Obama, a satirically trip down memory lane ...and into the present can easily be enjoyed.

The craftsmanship and progression of process over time, is an aspect that can only be appreciated in person. The Katzen Arts Center of American University is open Tuesday to Sunday, 11a - 4p @ 4400 Massachusettes Ave. NW Washington, DC 20016. The numbers are: 202 885 3420. And their web is: http://www.american.edu/CAS/Katzen.

More info on Jules Feiffer can be found at:

http://www.julesfeiffer.com

-Jonathan

Margaret Boozer at American University Museum (pics via camera-phone)

2009-07-28T18:18:00.013-04:00

"Art for art sake" is the cliche' phraseology I'll start this next post with (oh, and sorry for taking so long between postings--twas just life, I guess). So with that, along with the creation of Dirt Drawings (the name of the show and a seemingly un-sellable medium), Margaret Boozer creates just that ...art for the sake of making good art. Of course one could possibly delve into the intellectual properties of it all if they'd like.

I'm sure clay-pairing philosophies could somehow be related to the balance of life, the quest for understanding and mending of times ...yada, yada. But, as I'm not a philosopher nor a historian, I'd prefer to keep things (for the most part) focussed on the aesthetic. And Margaret spent countless hours and efforts (assisted by the efforts of others) working to let her true creative spirit run wild in a fairly large & beutiful gallery/museum space--knowing that nothing (well an extremely limited amount of things) could be "sold"--so she should be commended for it. Plus, the show IS rather awe-inspiring.

I admit, when I was told about the show of dirt drawings, I was a bit skeptical. I, of course, had played in dirt and sand growing up--making a few remarkable sketches I might ad--so my fear was that the show wouldn't go much further. Or that the show would resemble Buddhist sand drawings or something similar that I'd seen before. So, shame on me for not doing any research about the artist and almost missing a good one.

The show Dirt Drawings features large and small scale works, made from various hues and consistencies of clay ...all gathered from the same location--Stancills, Inc. in Perryville, MD. In the show Boozer demonstrates a mastery of her material as she lays, crumbles, pours, and arranges these elements into thought provoking patterns and configurations. The variety of surface qualities she's able to attain is rather remarkable. And while I hate to admit it, I found myself aimlessly staring a bit more than normal ...not even really thinking about anything in particular ...kind of just letting my mind wander as I observed the variety of flows, cracks, and unexpected lines that these sometimes complex clay drawings created. The lines and form she creates simply allow this kind of loose thought to take over.

The sheer fragility of things should definitely be noted amongst the aesthetics as well. If not paying attention, a lot of hard work could easily be lost by a passing kid ..or stumbling student ...or just an ordinary Joe on a mission to make it to the artist talk on time (haha I saw that--no harm no foul though). And this lack of permanence, again, makes me appreciate the work more. Visually, it's light and refreshing at times, while stable and unwavering at others. Yet, the idea that the works should be respected for their delicacies shouldn't be forgoten. Plus when you factor-in the pieces that utilized poured/pumped slip (a soupy consistency of clay and water) and constantly changed as they dry throughout out the show, you have on your hand s an extremely dynamic grouping of works.

So yeah, check out the show when you get a chance. It'll be showing at American University's Museum until August 16th. 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016

Scott Hutchison @ AAC (pics via that camera on my phone)

2009-07-06T19:24:00.010-04:00

Though PARADOX NOW is currently the headliner show at Arlington Arts Center, I must remind readers not to forget to go upstairs if you decide to visit the space before August 22nd. You won't regret the decision.

Arlington Arts Center (AAC) resident artist, Scott Hutchison is currently displaying a number of works in the upstairs corridor/gallery. In this particular grouping of graphite on paper drawings, Hutchison explores contortions of the face and body with a great level of skill and craftsmanship. Oftentimes using the mouth as the main area of focus, his drawings stretch, bend, contort and shift reality on the picture plain. For the most part, in what I believe to be self portraits, the work on display draws a lot of emotion out of of extremely simple actions like the blowing of a kiss. Some images are singular in structure/composition, while others use repetition to create movement. All have no problems capturing various nuances within their chosen expressions. Again, these are well done/rendered pieces.

My only regret is that in reading up on the artist, I learned that the work on display at AAC is probably just a basis for his other, more in-depth explorations. And none of Hutchison's paintings or animations were featured ...which is a bit of a downer as it turns out he creates complex and realistic animations utilizing the same sort of detailed paintings and drawings that are featured in the show.

At any rate, my guess is that if you time your visit just right, interaction and maybe even a private tour of the artists studio isn't out of the question.

More info on Scott Hutchison and his work can be found on his website at:

www.scotthutchison.com

...and on the Arlington Arts Center at:

www.arlingtonartscenter.org

-Jonathan