November 2008 Archives

CREATIVE TIME = BRILLIANT


Tribute of Light (photo via kotobuki711)

It seems that every time we hear about a cool new public art installation and/or intervention going on in NYC, you come to find out that CREATIVE TIME is behind it.

They are non-profit and well funded, and yet, are still able to put profound challenging works out in the public realm but don't seem to surrender to the typical pitfalls of public art, typically the diminishing of meaning because of public sector committee and fear of negative public opinion.

One of my all time favorite works of public art is the Creative Time produced Tribute in Light on the six month anniversary of 9/11 (and subsequent tributes thereafter). A seemingly simple idea, two super powered spotlights placed where the towers once were, beaming strong and dignified into the heavens.

The Great Cities Spearkers Series is bringing Anne Pasternak, the Executive Director of Creative Time.

Anne Pasternak will be in San Jose on December 1st to speak about the role that artists can play in reframing people's everyday experiences of their surroundings, the importance of having artists involved in the dialogue regarding enriching public space, and the benefit to artists of providing opportunities for visual dialogue with the public.

Ms. Pasternak has been the Executive Director of Creative Time since 1994. She is committed to initiating projects that give artists the opportunity to innovate their practice and reflect on contemporary society while engaging millions of people with art that permeates everyday urban life. Creative Time derives its values from a historic impetus to foster artistic experimentation, enrich public space and the everyday experience, and forefront artists as key contributors to democratic society.

Creative Time: How Artists Enrich Public Space
Anne Pasternak, president and creative director, Creative Time
Monday, December 1st, 6:00-7:00 pm
Venue: San Jose Repertory Theatre, 101 Paseo De San Antonio
Free admission.

YouTube LIVE kicks off at 5pm. You can watch it all from their live cam feeds! They have a crazy lineup of artists and entertainment. Keep an eye out for David Choe... He'll be painting live near the red carpet.

http://www.youtube.com/live

Novo Mundo, a solo exhibition featuring new works by Stephan Doitschinoff, the Brazilian street artist also known as Calma opens tomorrow night in NY at Jonathan LeVine Gallery. Calma creates a unique visual language and style by embracing his eclectic influences. Themes in his work are inspired by an informed spiritual history and heritage, filtered through a distinctly urban point of view. The resulting imagery is rich in religious symbolism and often accompanied by Latin text as well as pixação (a style of graffiti writing, native to São Paolo). Having created a series of original paintings accompanied by site-specific installation pieces, Novo Mundo (Portuguese for: New World) marks Calma’s first solo show in New York (following his debut U.S. solo "Fim do Mundo" at Anno Domini in May of 2008). Inspired by religious street festivals popular in Brazil, such as São João and Nosso Senhor dos Passos, the installations were constructed using a variety of materials such as paper flags, silk fabric and hand painted kites, creating an altar and emulating traditional processional decorations.

Early yesterday morning, commuters nationwide were delighted to find out that while they were sleeping, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan had come to an end.


New York Times Special Edition Video News Release - Nov. 12, 2008 from H Schweppes on Vimeo.

See the full paper online: nytimes-se.com

Good just keeps getting better

Good Hustle will be headlining at the Cellar (below the Agenda on South First) this Friday, Nov. 14th with two other bands we've been meaning to check out for some time: Ambience, and Case in Theory. Show starts at 8pm, costs just $5 and is 21+.

Benjamin from GH also announces the release of a 2nd edition of Dirty Birdies, (which I hear through the grapevine also includes live recordings from his performance at Anno Domini gallery) which will be available at Friday's show. OR, if you can't wait, you can download it for free directly from Good Hustle here.

California comes up short on change...

It's been a week now since the morning after the reality of what we just accomplished as a country set in. To quote another American that once proudly found himself stepping across the threshold of history, it truly felt like we had just taken "One giant leap for mankind."

Yet, I imagine like many of you that woke up living in California on November 5, 2008, I found myself wondering how could a state so forward-thinking and innovative as ours be the first to use the Constitution to take away another human being's rights? I'm sure the irony wasn't lost on you either.

I hope you'll take a look at this commentary below (no matter how you voted) by MSNBC's Keith Olbermann on Prop 8, Marriage and more! It says it better than I could ever hope to.

Peace.

White Walls presents "Awful Mountain" a two-man exhibition by Jim Houser and Richard Colman opens tonight in San Francisco. We're big fans of Houser and Colman both (and the good folks at Whitewalls too). Make sure you make it by gallery before it closes on December 6th.

"Awful Mountain" by Jim Houser & Richard Colman
Opening Reception: Saturday, November 1, 2008 7-11 p.m.
On view through December 6th, 2008

Head over to BG Concepts at 775 N 10th Street #192 in San Jo today from 3-8 p.m. for the unveiling of the new "8 Series" performance bike by Shorty Fatz. Cukui Clothing will be their launching their first line of tees today as well and the first 100 guests get a free custom t-shirt printed on the spot! Not too shabby for a rainy day!