Seven Days in the Art World: The Fair

• -“… the desire to support artists is not about being rich, privileged, and powerful. “

• -“Occasionally meeting an artist destroys the art. You almost don't trust it You think what you're seeing in the work is an accident."

• -Galleries vs. “dealerships”--- “The former discover and develop artists; the latter trade in art objects.”

• -The future of contemporary artworks---“They won’t be definitive or influential. They will not have changed the way we look at art.”

• - "I'm an atheist, but I believe in art.”

Rupert Ravens Contemporary

Rupert Ravens, a massive contemporary art gallery nestled on Market St. in Newark showcased VESSEL, an exhibition consisting of 24 working artists. A few pieces in the show really caught my eye. The first was a Black Militant Golf Club installation by artist Charles McGill. After picking up golf, McGill began to view his golf bag as a canvas with which to express his thoughts about race relations and racism, and the place of the Black man in America. The work was very politically driven and placed in the front end of the gallery visible through the large window. People would walk by then stop to look at his installation of golf bags, Black Militant Golf Club t-shirts, plaques and automatic guns on display, and photographs.

Charles McGill

There was another installation by Ibrahim Ahmed. I actually had the opportunity to work with him (i.e painting the walls which were assigned to him and occasionally giving him my opinion on changes he considered making). His installation consisted on all found objects that he in turn painted and beautified it to the "gallery showing" standards. The objects weren't the only parts of his work, but the shadows cast from the frames to the walls also were. He used empty large frames then positioned them in a way where they framed the shadows. Every time I moved it was a new shadow being framed by the same frame.

Ibrahim Ahmed

I was also astonished by the large illustrations of Wayne Roth. From a distance his over-scaled illustrations looked like paintings. But upon closer examination, it was evident that they were digitally created. Layers upon layers of colors, designs, and brushes were used to together to create his intricate pieces. The image appeared to change as you walked up closer. It's amazing to see how something digitally made can resemble can be "painterly".

Wayne Roth

All in all I really enjoyed the show. My only critique would be to add some more photographic work. I think that photography especially digital is a contemporary medium that is pushed in all different directions. Combining 24 painters, sculptors, and digital wizards into one show would of course put on an intriguing show with something for everyone. Two thumbs up.

Potential Graduate Schools!

1. M.I.C.A
2.University of New Orleans
3. University of Arizona
4. California Institute of the Arts
5. Pratt Institute

International Center for Photography: Dress Codes

I had the pleasure of visiting ICP's third annual triennial of video and photography. The show was very effective, well organized, and thought-provoking. Immediately upon entering the space Mickalene Thomas's large color images of Black women looking provocative and poised with convidence confronts the viewers. On the wall adjacent to hers, the work of Olga Chernysheva rested politely. Hers were large as well, but were black and white and of the documentary type. Clearly a decision was mad to place these two very different works together to create a break in viewing the same types of work.

The exhibit really questioned what consituted a photograph by featuring collages, light-box transparencies, teared magazine pages, and other printed materials. Although the shows entire theme surrounded itself around fashion its relationship to society, it covered a diverse range of topics. From Black womanhood, alienation, the notion of gender roles, and urbanization, to consumerism, and classism. Two thumbs up.