Written By: Catherine Wolinski

Last October, the New Museum in New York City presented Carsten Holler: Experience, the first New York survey of works by Carsten Holler, a German scientist-turned-artist who resides in Stockholm, Sweden. The exhibition, which will be open until Jan. 15, transforms multiple galleries into a world of research experimentation crossed with childhood fun. A firm believer in utilizing the architecture of the building where his art, its space, and its viewers will interact, the collection even includes a 102-foot slide that patrons can ride from the fourth to the second floors of the building.

Born in Brussels in 1961, Holler left his career as a scientist in 1993 to instead apply his knowledge and lab experience to

artistic concepts. Exploring themes such as safety, love, and doubt, Holler presents scenarios that force museum and museum goer into a conversation, connecting visitors to the environments he creates. By engaging the building as well as its inhabitants, Holler sends each person into multiple roles as they pass through each section of the exhibit, where they are faced with innovative structures, scenes, and tasks. Visitors are both the watchers and the watched as they make their way through the Experience Corridor, a stretch of space scattered with thought provoking activities that bring into question the conventional understandings of space, time and self.

By way of his participatory installations, Holler challenges human perception and logic by igniting, and perhaps overwhelming, the senses with interactive experiences.  Using the architecture of the building to map out these sensory events, Holler engages viewers with

the works of the past eighteen years of his career, chronicling numerous ventures that push the limits of human sensory perception. Such works include the untitled slide installation, which he describes as an “alternative transportation system,” Double Light Corner, a disorienting light installation that gives the impression the room is flipping back and forth, Mirror Carousel, a full-size swing merry-go-round that reflects and illuminates the space around it as it turns almost imperceptively, and finally, Psycho Tank, a “sensory deprivation pool” which literally puts the viewer into a pool—stripped naked—for a mind-altering out-of-body experience.

Carston Holler: Experience employs multiple disciplines to destabilize and reinvent viewers’ knowledge of the world around them, and how they fit into it. By using the scientific method in conjunction with his futurist design, Holler’s art forces viewers to see, feel, and understand art and space in a new way.

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President Robert Mugabe

When Owen Maseko decided to explore President Mugabe-related violence, he thought it best to gather the photos of missing people, the pictures of the mine shafts where they are allegedly hidden, and the reports that document the 1980 massacre of thousands of civilians in the western Matabeleland district. But, the police in Zimbabwe weren’t very amused with the exhibit, and they quickly shut it down by cuffing Maseko on incitement charges.

Attorney Kucaca Phulu reported that his client spent the weekend in jail as a result of all of the excitement.  Maseko reportedly sought bail the following Monday, but the courts postponed a ruling until Tuesday. The very next day, Harare Police reportedly pushed a human rights group to abandon another exhibit, which also employed photographs to illustrate the rampant Mugabean political violence. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who now works with Mugabe, condemned the police’s repeated attempt to seize the entire 65-photograph display. Tsvangirai believed that such exhibits were a portion of the campaign for national healing.

Owen Maseko hard at work

Today, with the death of Joshua Nkomo – Mugabe’s vice president – the allegiance is with Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change party. As more proponents for free-thought art jump onto Mugabe’s payroll, it grows ever more doubtful that a third violence exhibit will even have a chance to be torn back down.

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The teen team on the Sherman Oaks set of "Gloria."

Dominic Monaghan, as one of the two celebrities expected to participate in Fresh Films – the program aimed at providing teenagers with a summer-long filmmaking experience – arrived just seconds before the rookie crew of teenagers were even ready to shoot. Shouts of advice – like “work smart – not hard,” filled the background of the bustling set as the 17 winners of Reese’s Puffs‘ nationwide contest put their budding talents to the test of real-world movie making.

Two groups were formed, and issued the task of each creating a short film; In so doing, participants would gain an invaluable hands-on experience in almost every facet of the production process – from scripting to post-edits. Sarah Wendel, the sole Californian to be accepted into the program, said that she appreciated the ability to rotate into different jobs in order to learn the significance of things like continuity, lighting and sound mixing.

Monaghan admitted that his initial attraction to the program was the opportunity that it offered teens. He’s known for his roles in “Lost,” and “Flashfoward,” while Bobbie J. Thompson, the other celebrity to get involved with the project, may be recognized from his work with “30 Rock” and “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. In the short films, Monaghan portrays a rock god in search of his lost guitar, and Thompson plays a teen who won a chance to be a DJ for the day at a favorite radio station, only to discover the format of radio has changed entirely.

The sponsor's cereal box

The films themselves will be available to view online at fresh-films.com from April 12 to 26, where viewers can vote for the winner. Each member of the winning team will receive a $1,000 scholarship and a portable Flip camera.

Technorati Tags: contest, filmmaking, fresh films, movie, reeses puffs, teenagers

A piece of calligraphy art on display

In lieu of the gloom revolving around Dubai‘s upwelling debt concerns, the city’s annual art fair still managed to earn record sales, drawing more than 18,00 visitors – a 28 percent increase from 2009. The four-day contemporary art show featured the works of world-famous artists from 31 different companies, which was also an improvement in the variety of geographical representation in attendance at last year’s festivities.

Art Dubai Advertisement

The success of some galleries, like Saudi Arabia’s Athr Gallery and Berlin’s Galerie Christian Hosp, which reportedly sold 90% of their inventories, stand in stark contrast with the suffering financial statuses of the local crowd. But it makes more sense to consider who attends the fair, said Joan Lee, head of Seoul-based SUN gallery, who admitted that most of the interested attendees are from royal families and collectors. That isn’t to say that they are all foreign interests; after all, Tessa De Caters of Isabelle Van Den Eynde, a Dubai-based gallery, said that the local community of collectors is expanding alongside an increasing international interest in Middle Eastern art. With all this attention, it wasn’t a surprise when Fabio Rossi of London’s Rossi & Rossi, asserted that the four-year fair is undoubtedly finding it’s place on the global art market.

Technorati Tags: art, contemporary, debt, dubai, fair, show

Shepard Fairey and his famed Obama portrait

Today, Shepard Fairey, the once co-founder of BLK/MRKT Inc. (1997-2003) – which worked with high-brow clients like Pepsi, Hasbro, and Netscape – is so popular from his HOPE portrait of Barack Obama that he’s walking door to door at Deitch Projects in New York, searching for building owners that will premiss him to use their exterior wall-space for his exhibition this May.

This is a new relatively new concept to this contemporary artist, who admits to being arrested, getting locked up overnight, and a sentencing of two years probation for his past (illicitly performed) building pastings, which he accomplished long before a retrospective at Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art.

The Museum of Contemporary Art in Boston

And, while many aren’t too keen on the artist’s vision, he tries his best to offer the building owners a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to contribute to the enhancement of the urban landscape, and to experience art as a part of the current OBEY phenomenon. Even though the over-sized stickers could remain for years to come, several cities have already granted the urban artist permission to paste in Boston, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. Now, as May rolls around the corner, millions of Shepard Fairey fans are hoping to see the newest exhibition of modern-day artistic talent.

Perhaps Fairey should bring Obama for some assistance; after all, he did get a lot out of the famed portrait.

Technorati Tags: Barack Obama, Deitch Projects, exhibition, HOPE, May, new york, Shepard Fairey

Woodstock '69 - Soul Sacrifice

On March 18th, the  human rights advocate – and internationally acclaimed musician – Carlos Santana recieved the 2010 Mayor’s Art Award from San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Over 300 attended the regal Green Room of the War Memorial Opera House.

The famed musician moved from Los Angeles up to San Francisco in 1961, where his father got involved with a mariachi band. Carlos graduated from Mission High School in 1965, and made his debut with The Santana Band at the Fillmore West theater on June 16, 1968. The following year saw their international success – via the stage of Woodstock ’69 – and the release of their self-titled debut album, which included the top 10 Billboard hit “Evil Ways.”

“Carlos is one of the greatest artists of our time and any time,” said Mayor Newsome during the two-hour long ceremony, “He is an international superstar who keeps his heart in San Francisco and has humanity of a social worker.” Santana embraced his flowery San Franciscan roots, claiming that he’ll always be a rainbow warrior – or hippie – at heart. He warned against the destructiveness of the ego, and closed his acceptance speech with a frank metaphor:

“Music is the water, people are the flowers and I’m a hose.”

Wise words from a wise guitarist who helped feed the flaming live performance of “Soul Sacrifice,” that fateful day at Woodstock al those years ago.

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Did you take my father's paintings, Salander?

Lawrence Salander, 60, appeared in the state Supreme Court of New York on Thursday, March 18th, to plead guilty to 28 counts of grand larceny, for which he faces six to 18 years in prison, and $120 million dollars in restitution. The multi-million-dollar scam has gained a great deal of publicity, as it has affected prominent art figures like John McEnroe, famed tennis star, and Robert De Niro, the Academy Award-winning actor, to name a few.

According to authorities, after investing in Arshile Gorky’s “Pirate I and II,” McEnroe soon realized that his share had simultaneously been sold to another collector. Prosecutor’s mentioned that several paintings by De Niro’s father were sold without the actor’s documented consent, and that several other victims reported losses totaling several millions, including:  Earl Davis, son of the American abstract painter Stuart Davis, who lost $6.7 million; Bank of America ,reportedly lost $2 million after Salander used paintings that he did not own to secure a loan; and Hester Diamond, mother of Mike D (Beastie Boys), suffered $6 million in total losses.

Salander appears before the courts looking rather unhappy.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said, “Lawrence Salander’s desire for an extravagant lifestyle turned long-time friends and trusted business colleagues into his personal piggy banks.” Salander is expected back in court on May 20, 2010, in order to proceed with the plea agreement of restitution, which will lighten the 25-year prison sentence he could have faced if he were convicted.

Technorati Tags: John McEnroe, Lawrence Salander, million-dollar scam, Robert De Niro, Supreme Court of New York

Art Therapy for the Elderly

Art goes beyond the mere act of rubbing color onto canvas, or scribbling words onto blank pages, it is a form of expression that provides a physical manifestation of emotional perspective. A recent concept erected onto this emotional foundation has some discovering that art can not only help people express their true feelings while dealing with personal problems, but that the very act of creativity can be literally be a healing process. The American Cancer Society supports the belief that art therapy can actually help cancer patients cope with their emotions.

Art therapists describe art therapy as a way for people to express hidden emotions by providing a sense of freedom in an environment that minimizes stress, fear and anxiety. Although the American Cancer Society admits that art therapy has not been scientifically proven to have therapeutic value for people with cancer, several clinicians have documented instances where participants reported significant benefits.

Art therapy at Barcs, Hungary

One patient explained that art therapy occupies the patient’s mind, allowing them to focus on something other than the physical agony and emotional conflicts that they may be encountering during their treatment. She said that art offers great insight for the therapist, who may consider different colors, mediums and proportion to help them paint a better picture of the patients.

Technorati Tags: american cancer society, art, art therapy, cancer patient, emotion

Celebrating the month of March - GO ART!

Continuing a 12-year-old  tradition, The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council is celebrating “Art Awareness Month” where local businesses, artists, schools, and cultural organizations will present a wide array of different performances, exhibitions and programs all throughout the month.

A performance of an African folk tale by the Forum Players kicks off this week at Genesee Community College, followed by a Batavia Players’ rendition of “Richard III,” and Genesee Chorale’s presentation of “An Irish Celebration.” Some of the activities will include a visit from best-selling author of “A Tale of three Counties,” Garth Stein, who will attend four discussions and booksignings in Orleans, Genesee  and Wyoming counties.

Garth Stein

Kelly Kiebala, the executive director of GO ART!, admits her astonishment with the quantity of high-quality art and cultural programs that she has encountered during this year’s “Art Awareness Month.” To celebrate the event, GO ART! has opened several brand-new gallery spaces, and plans on presenting their annual decentralization grant awards ceremony this Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the GO ART! Cultural Center (201 East Main Street). These grants are awarded through the state Council on the Arts’ decentralization program – locally managed by GO ART! – which will help finance close to two-dozen artists and art/ cultural organizations.

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"Animals, Then and Now"

Lions, and tiger, and bears…oh my!!!  The North Dakota Museum of Art is bringing them to life through an extraordinary touring exhibit, “Animals, Now and Then”.  The museum features artists’ works in the form of captivating video, stunning photography, numerous paintings, and sculpture.  This contemporary exhibit highlights the work of twenty artists from across North and South America, and was put together by Museum Director, Laurel Rueter

The art that has been assembled paints a picture of the complexities of the animal kingdom, and reminds us that we (humans) are but one of the nearly 10 million species of animals inhabiting this planet.  The exhibit reveals contrasting points-of-views and conflicting visions of life.  The North Dakota Museum of Art, through their careful selection of pieces, has assembled an interesting and unique showing.

This is a worthwhile exhibit for any of us, but students in particular are encouraged to take a tour.  Schools within a 50 mile radius are eligible for reimbursement for the cost, so no excuses.  The North Dakota Museum of Art has painstakingly put together this amazing exhibit for our enjoyment and appreciation.  Take a walk on the wild side!

Technorati Tags: animals, art, art exhibit, North Dakota Museum of Art