ArtPrize Still Sparking Debate On Twitter

Sorry, I have a ton of posts I need to do.

Paddy Johnson of Art Fag city is getting feedback about listing ArtPrize as on her top shows list.

"Over at WNYC, Carolina Miranda takes issue with my naming of ArtPrize as one of the year’s best exhibitions. Frankly, I’m surprised it took this long for someone to say something. The contest doesn’t exactly meet the standard criteria us Chelsea folk use to evaluate art; experts (and collectors) do not determine the worth of a work but two rounds of public voting will. You can imagine the quality of these results. Plus, ArtPrize promotion is the hokiest of hokey. Using a formula that exalts the power of democracy by invoking both American-Idol and Internet 2.0 euphoria, the “radically open” contest rhetoric couldn’t be more grating."

Follow the talk on twitter by looking for the #Artprize hashtag. Likely that more than 80% of the commenters, including myself have never experienced the event.

Cheapo Report From Miami

No, I am not in Miami but, I feel like I will lose readers if I don't at least give some nod to the goings on there. Thanks a lot AFC, for telling us that it doesn't suck that bad, which was the last bit of consolation keeping me from tears. But, I do notice that there is no mention of free cookies.

Here are a few AFC reports from Miami.

Here , Here, Here, Here, Here, Here, Here, Still, nothing about cookies!!!

The NY Art Book Fair

One of the best things I ran into in NY was the first NY Art Book Fair which was held in DIA's old Chelsea space and was totally free. I ended up there on Saturday while trying to jam in all kinds of other stuff, including a trip to the open studios at Hunter. Several other bloggers, like AFC and Barry and James have done wonderfull detailed posts on the fair. Most, like me really apreciated the mix of high end booksellers, non profits and all kinds of facinating DYI print projects and alternative press.

Here is a long quote from AFC.

"In a city where you have to pay to sit down, it is refreshing to attend an art fair that offers a few free goodies you might actually want. Pet Book, by artist James Sprez, (and published by Back East Press) is one of many such items that can be found at The New York Art Book Fair, this one packaged in a baggies that encourages attendees to smoke it. It may be that the plastic sleeves on books ranging from free to hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars, make a book seem so precious and alluring that I am rendered blindingly smitten, but I feel safe in saying that it is more than just packaging that has led me to the conclusion that of all the fairs I have attended this year, including The ADAA, The Armory, Scope, Pulse, and The Affordable Art Fair, The New York Art Book Fair is the best. The NY Art Book Fair succeeds because it satisfies the art snob and the art collector while providing a venue for less commercially driven endeavors. "

Another nice thing was that several galleries seemed to have arainged book related shows that connected well with the Fair. The two that I ran into that really worked were, the Dieter Roth show at Josee Bienvenu and Brian Chippendale's installation at D'Amellio Terras, just down the block from the fair.

Get Back in The Kitchen

I have a feeling that putting this thing out there, makes me some kind of politically correct activist. The blunt truth, is that the whole subject makes me ill. The only thing more sickening than endless tirades by woman artist's about thier treatment in the art world is seeing again and again that they are right. It will take a lot of flip flops to explain away this stink bomb. Thankfully some serious storm clouds are brewing out there. Having a small and very marginal gallery has made it murder on me to do any real outreach. I pretty much try to plan around the good artist's that aproach me and I have to admit that my gallery is not even close to being fully representative or diverse. But, these people have got some explaining to do.