Tracy Duran-Torres of the Des Moines Art Center

If you have read the paper today, please check out this online link.  My coworker Tracy Duran- Torres is one amazing gal.


http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20130701/LIFE/307020013/1039?nclick_check=1

Phyllida Barlow: Scree

Over the past year I have been wanting to review several shows at the Des Moines Art Center but because I am an employee I have found my opinions and reviews to be a conflict of interest for by blog.  I have decided to express my thoughts through poem and hope this to be a continued form of review on my blog.  Please give me some feedback - I'm new to this avenue of expression. 

 

Photo Credit: Des Moines Art Center Facebook
Check out their facebook page for more awesome pics of the installation!
 

 

 

 

Phyllida Barlow: Scree

 

The Strong is Rigid

Through a Rough Solid path

An Unyielding Boulder

Colliding a climb

Twine Ledge

Covers a crowded Spine

Powerfully Minimizing

Performing on Stilts

To a kind Web

 

 

The show is happening NOW at the Des Moines Art Center and closes September 22nd. 

Admission is FREE - so no excuses!

 

 

Phyllida Barlow and Gilbert Vicario Lecture

I am a big fan of Phyllida Barlow so I wanted to share this with you all:

http://www.desmoinesartcenter.org/aspx/events/event-detail.aspx?eventID=11505


Her show "Scree" is opening this Thursday evening at the Des Moines Art Center.  I had the pleasure of meeting the artist last week and was completely taken back by how kind and down to earth she is.  I think this is going to be a really great lecture.  Come!

Tuesday, June 16th @ 6:30 pm in the Levitt Auditorium of the Des Moines Art Center  FREE

Ashley Tape Fleming at The Lift

plant paintings by Ashley Tape Fleming at The Lift

 I am loving the current artwork up at The Lift right now in downtown Des Moines.  The artist is Ashley Tape Fleming and I believe this is her first solo show.  Her simplistic black and white cityscapes like "No Luke Just Skywalker" would make perfect backgrounds to Keith Haring figures and her still life plant drawings echo past voices of Matisse and Picasso's confident use of line.  Fleming has effortlessly captured the Des Moines vibe through her thick black lines and she's allowed our bike riding, Oldenburg loving, city to be animated two dimensionally onto her canvas.  The works, although simplistic, leave some interpretation to viewers but nothing is too abstract for those more inebriated patrons.  Works like "Jesus Lisa" show a cheeky sense of humor while delighting in the preciseness of its interpretation.  I can't wait to see what's next from both the artist and The Lift.

" Jesus Lisa"

"Kinda Blue"

"No Luke Just Skywalker"

Props to my friend Aaron who took pictures on his camera phone for me.

More Jun Kaneko

Check out this link to the Des Moines Greater Area Public Art Foundation website:

http://dsmpublicartfoundation.org/news-2/legends-myths-and-truths-jun-kaneko/

When I originally posted this blog, I thought that Millennium Park was in Des Moines (this shows how unfamiliar I am with my new turf, I'm figuring it out though people!).  I now realize that these works are up in Chicago.  I can't wait to check these out next time I'm there!

HOQ art preview

Thank you to all of the artist who submitted artwork for the new restaurant in the East Village.  The restaurant has chosen Celinda Stamy as their first artist.  Her landscapes look great in the restaurant and the folks at HOQ are so happy to have her artwork up on the walls!  Here's a sneak peak of her work:

Celinda Stamy, Home, O/C 3x6'

There will be more of Celinda's artwork installed throughout the restaurant and a second artist will also be featured later this month.   Check back soon for updates and artist info! 

42nd Annual Student Juried Student Exhibition at Drake University

My husband Andrew and I attended Drake University’s 42^nd Annual Juried Student Exhibition opening at the Anderson Gallery last weekend.  Although we missed the award ceremony (we were busy filling up at the Library on bloodys and breakfast) we did catch the tail end of the opening and were pleased to see a couple dozen people attended the opening.  The exhibition was juried by the Des Moines Art Center’s Senior Curator, Gilbert Vicario.  Gilbert did a great job of picking a wide variety of mediums which highlighted Drake’s strongest students.  Works ranged from large triptych paintings to mixed media sculptures of all sizes.  I have chosen to highlight a few of the pieces that resonated with me based on a personal connection.  Because there are no wrong or right answers when writing about art, I tend to stick with my instincts and base most of my critiques on feeling.  All of our opinions on whether something is beautiful or ugly are based on our own personal experiences and memories.

"Dear Agony" Shoshanah Holl

When I saw this piece I thought of a friend of mine who is into suspension and body modification.  She posts pictures of herself and friends attending gatherings (for lack of a better word) where people have long hooks penetrating through their backs, forearms, stomachs, and chests which are connected to some type of chains which suspend them in the air.  I’ve also seen a picture of my friend with a “corset” on her back which looked like piercing holes with criss-crossed ribbon going through them to form a corset like the painting. I’ve never participated in these events but my understanding is that it provides a euphoric sense of freedom.  Here’s a link to a flyer I found online demonstrating suspension: 

http://www.wastelandsuspensions.com/events.cfm#

Her photos always provoked a strong feeling of anxiety for me.  I couldn’t help but think “What if those hooks tear through their back and that person falls and bleeds all over the floor?!”  Of course this thought is because I am ignorant to suspension. When I saw “Dear Agony” I was flooded with memories of my friend’s photos on facebook.  That pit of anxiety returned to my stomach and was immediately followed by appreciation of art and it’s abilities to evoke such strong emotions. 

Unknown Artist and Title - Mario

Chances are this image has already brought back memories for you.  Remember how hard the castle level of Mario Brothers was when you were a kid?  I swear that level had the best background music!  What this brought to mind for me was the recent announcement by NY MoMA that they intend to acquire 40 video games for their permanent collection.  Here’s a link to an article on their website, I strongly suggest reading the comments:

http://www.moma.org/explore/inside_out/2012/11/29/video-games-14-in-the-collection-for-starters/ 

This provoked banter back and forth between me and my husband debating the topic whether or not video games are art.  Andrew’s point of view “Video games are definitely art!”  Mine: “I don’t get it.”  But just because I don’t understand it doesn’t mean it’s not art.  I just haven’t thought about its true purpose in the museum yet.  What do you think?  Also, I want to apologize for not getting the title and artist of this piece.  The picture I took was too fuzzy and I was unable to zoom in on the wall text label.  

"Projecting Rigidness" Katlynn Sammons

"Projecting Rigidness" Katlynn Sammons

 

There’s a lot going on here.  First I thought the subject looked like a girl named Rhiannon that was friends with one of my college roommates, Jesse.  It’s not her, but it looks like her.  In fact, it could be anyone, the downward gaze and ambiguity of the female subject makes the piece relatable and makes us want to turn our heads to the side and do a double take to see if we might know her.  Once I got past studying the projected person and their identity, I thought about the mesh sculpture itself.  The shape to me looks like a futuristic mini dress with an outer space influence. The use of negative space with the mesh sculpture and its effect on the projection behind it are well thought out.  I would have liked to be there to see the artist turn on the projector and fiddle with the focus and size of the projected image.  Her use of light and dark with black and white in contrast to the bright pink of the subject’s tshirt demands gallery goers to stop and take notice.  For this factor alone, I think the piece deserves respect.

There are lots of great pieces I did not touch on that were featured in this show.  Drake is certainly pumping out great artists who should not be overlooked.  Here is a link to the exhibition catalogue:

http://www.pdfdownload.org/pdf2html/pdf2html.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fartsci.drake.edu%2Fandersongallery%2FJuriedShowBookletv3.pdf&images=yes 

Show Ends April 5th