Curator/Artist In Focus: John David O’Brien

by

0

Background on one of the curators, John David O’Brien, for “Meticulosity” at Otis College of Art and Design. Video not about current exhibition.

 

Where to see John’s latest curatorial collaboration:

April 28– July 7, 2012
Meticulosity
Curators: Meg Linton and John David O’Brien
Poets selected by Graduate Writing Chair Paul Vangelisti

EVENTS
Public reception: Saturday, April 28, 4-6pm, with live music by MUSE

Tour: Saturday, June 9, 11am – with Co-curators Meg Linton and John David O’Brien and the artists

Reading: Saturday, June 16, 2pm – with poets Guy Bennett, Dennis Phillips, and Martha Ronk

Meticulosity features the work of 11 Southern California based artists and 3 poets who work in genres ranging from painting to installation and ceramica and digital formats. Artists: Tanya Batura, Hilary Brace, Eileen Cowin, Linda Hudson (faculty member), Gegam Kacherian, Sandeep Mukherjee (’96), Ross Rudel, Linda Stark, Arthur Taussig, Elizabeth Turk, Samira Yamin. Poets: Guy Bennett, Dennis Phillips, Martha Ronk.

The title Meticulosity references both the technical/formal approach of the artists and the spiritual focus of their creative efforts — their tenacity and continuity. The premise for Meticulosity is that these artworks are created in a meditative mode or through a trance-like process, and that the painstaking exactitude expressed by these works is intended for the viewer to perceive along with the work’s conceptual values. We connect that visual meticulousness to a sense of the ineffable or that which is beyond words, and to the meaning of beauty.

Our interest is in bridging the way in which the conceptual and the visual seem to have diverged. The thoughtfulness (a conceptual dimension) of the geometric underpinnings in a Piero della Francesca painting such as “The Flagellation” are not in any way contradicted by the meticulously beautiful surfaces he has painted (a purely visual dimension). As curators, our self-appointed task was to avoid preclusions on either side of this divide. We are presenting exceptionally thoughtful artwork where the visual acuity is as important as the originating idea, and have selected a variety of genrBMG PAA Logoes to underscore the plurality of our point of view.
- Co-curators Meg Linton and John David O’Brien

This project is sponsored in part by the Otis Board of Governors, and supported in part by the Pasadena Art Alliance

The Punk Rocker in Alex Couwenberg

by

0

Great vid on what it means to be a professional painter in the cultural landscape of LA. Alex showed at William Turner Gallery earlier this year and at Beacon Arts Building last year. The shows were critically acclaimed. We will post more info in the coming days.

Docu-vid produced by EMS.

Fashion! Turn to the Right. “Madame X’s Strap”

by

0

“Portrait of Madame X is the informal title of a portrait painting by John Singer Sargent of a young socialite named Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau, wife of Pierre Gautreau. The model was an American expatriate who married a French banker, and became notorious in Parisian high society for her beauty and rumored infidelities. She wore lavender powder and prided herself on her appearance.” -Wikipedia

Read about the strap that caused a scandal. Sent Sargeant to London and almost sent Gautreau into hiding. 

Jane Chafin’s article at Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jane-chafin/strapless-the-scandal-tha_b_1389272.html

Stanford Art Review

http://www.stanford.edu/group/artsreview/cgi-bin/wordpress/?p=1373

Wikipedia Article

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portrait_of_Madame_X

We dedicate this song to Madame X. 

Image copyrighted. 

99% Event: Celebrity actors, Writers, Artists Come Together Saturday, March 31

by

0

This Saturday in Los Angeles, artists, musicians, writers, and activists will unite to amplify the voices of the 99%. It’s a rare opportunity that brings politics together with art and Hollywood. No matter what your politics are, this will be a fun event! In a daylong event of music, art, activism, and celebration. Take a look at the list of people involved, and you may be very impressed.

This isn’t your ordinary rally or day of action, it’s a celebration of the 99% that will bring Hollywood together with activists and artists from all walks of life. “All In For The 99%” is a one-of-a-kind melding of art and activism, and you won’t want to miss out. It’s an incredible art gallery featuring the work of Shepard Fairey and hundreds of other grassroots visual artists, plus nonstop action all day long from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at 400 S. La Brea Ave. in Los Angeles. You can stop by for a few minutes or the whole day if you want—there will even be some of LA’s best food trucks if you get hungry!

Performances will include Val Kilmer speaking as Mark Twain; a screening of the short documentary OCLA; Elise Whitaker, Margot Paez, and Julia Wallace on Why We Occupy, and a Funny or Die short film fest. Actor Jason Alexander from Seinfeld will be the Huffington Post’s roving reporter, and KPFK will be broadcasting live.

For more info: http://www.allinforthe99percent.com/

Schedule of Events

10.30am Doors open
10.30am – 1.30pm DJ sets curated by The Embassy
11am Aerial art project with Interconnected (all welcome to join, just show up with friends and family)
12.30pm – 1.30pm Building the Movement for the 99%: Meet ups, activations and trainings led by Rebuild the Dream
1.30pm – 2.30pm Funny or Die curated short film screenings
2pm Roving reporter for Funny or Die: Jason Alexander
3pm – 4.30pm SLAKE Magazine readings
Val Kilmer performs as Mark Twain
Reading by Natasha Vargas Cooper
Reading by Erin Aubry Kaplan
Reading by Vanessa Carlisle
Reading by Sam Slovick
Screening of short documentary “OCLA” by TakePart
Elise Whitaker, Margot Paez and Julia Wallace: Why We Occupy
Recording star and The Voice finalist Vicci Martinez performs
4.30pm – 5pm Van Jones to speak
5pm Building the Movement for the 99%: Meet ups, activations and trainings led by Rebuild the Dream
5pm – 6.30pm DJ sets curated by The Embassy

ARTISTS
Aaron Axelrod, Aaron Rose, Adam Bravin, Adarsha Benjamin, Alex Bacon, Alexandra Conn, Alexis Amann, Alia Penner, Alison Dyer, Amanda Demme, Anne McCaddon, Anthony Lister, Antonio Mendoza, Art Not War, Ashley Campbell, Ashley Snow Macomber, Augustus Thompson, Becky Stark, Cali Thornhill DeWitt, Cheryl Dunn, Chris Lux, Chris Pastras, Chris Dean, Chris Johanson & Johanna Jackson, Clayton Brothers, Cleon Peterson, Clint Woodside, Cole Sternberg, Corita, Craig Stecyk Daena Title, Dan Monick, Daphne Vega, David Ford, David Ellis, Deanna Tempelton, Deedee Cheriel, Destroy All Design, Edward Cao, Elisa Linda Saether, Elisabeth Fried, Eriberto Oriol, Erica S. Nicotra, Erik Otto, Ernesto Yerena, Estevan Oriol, Gia Coppola, Glen E. Friedman, Graham Metson, Grant Shumate, Ingrid Allen, Ione Skye, j.frede, James Gallagher, Jeff Canham, Jena Malone, Jeremy Corbell, Jill Greenberg, Jillian Kogan, Jordin Isip Joshua Leonard, Justin Kemerling, Katrina Bea, Kellie Bowman, Kelsey Brookes, Kimberly Brooks, Kio Griffith, Nonstndrd, Lawrence Inglee, Leba, Lenny Silverberg, Mai Anh, Marcelo Gomes, Mark Blackwell, Mark Cross, Matjames, Matt Furie, Matthew Salata, Maya Hayuk, Maya Mercer, Megan Whitmarsh, Mel Kadel, Melodie McDaniel, Michael Muller, Neck Face, Nicola Vruwink, Patrick Hoelck, Patrick Martinez
Paul D. Miller aka Dj Spooky, Peter Glantz Ramsey Dau, Ray Noland, Retna, Rich Jacobs, Richard Louderback, Rick Rodney, Robbie Conal, Robin Fleming, Ron Regé, Jr., Sacha Baumann, Sage Vaughn, Sandow Birk, Sandra Low, Shannon Donnelly, Shawn Doster, Shepard Fairey, Skullphone, Spencer Lowell, Steve Greenberg, Swoon, Tansy Myer, Ted Soqui, Travis Millard, Vanessa Prager,Yehonatan Koenig. Lorna Mills and Yoshi Sodeoka, Zohreh Partovi
HOST COMMITTEE

Aaron Rose
Aimee Mann
Amanda Demme
Amy Schur
Arturo Carmona
Ben Goldhirsh
Bill Przylucki
Bridgit Antoinette Evans
Danny Goldberg
Edward Norton & Shauna Robertson
Eric Garcetti
Glen E. Friedman
Jason Alexander
Julie Bergman & Stuart Sender
Julie Bowen
Kimberly Brooks
Lawrence Bender
Lawrence Inglee
Lisa Edelstein
Marge Tabankin & Earl Katz
Marisa Tomei
Mark Webber
Michael Bearden
Moby
Paul Haggis
Rain Phoenix
Rashad Robinson
Robbie Conal
Rosemary Carroll
Russell Simmons
Val Kilmer
Van Jones

Artists, musicians, writers and activists unite to amplify the voices of the 99%, demanding an end to Citizens United and calling for real campaign finance reform. The ALL IN FOR THE 99% gallery will be open to the public with music, readings and visual art from some of the nation’s most celebrated.