Friday, October 28th, 2011
Mike Leavitt is building an art army of toy figurines! So is he making action figures of the art superstars of the world just for fun? Or is he making a bigger statement? The answer is: both!
Leavitt said he has been interested in comics and toys since childhood. He’s using his love for the two along with his awesome sculptural skills to create this radical art army. While this has been a fun and interesting project for Leavitt, he also expressed that he’s making commentary on the state of the contemporary art world where only a selected few really “make it” – the art superstars.
This is what Leavitt had to say about the state of the things: “I think the contemporary art world’s mystification of the artist has been a sad fallout from too many wrong-doings for too many years, I understand that much of it is necessary to build up a mythology and market value for an artist’s work. But there’s a balance to strike between the economics and wider mass appeal for the art world.” Right on, dude, right on.
Leavitt just had a solo show at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery featuring all of the figurines. The sculptures are made out of polymer clay and other mixed media and are made in editions of 10, so you probably can’t get one, sorry!
Thursday, October 13th, 2011
Many artist and designers are paying homage to Steve Jobs and creating some beautiful art to pay tribute to an amazing man. Here are some of the best we’ve seen circulating.
By Artist Richard Davies
By Kristen Hay
By ReplaceFace
By Charis Tsevis
Thursday, October 6th, 2011
So what’s going on globally in the art world? Here’s some tidbits
Celebrate! – Obama just made October the National month of Arts and Humanities. We should REALLY be celebrating art everyday, but this is a way for Americans to realize the importance of art and celebrate it and take an active role.
Get Naked! – So there’s some controversy around this, we think it rules, stop being so uptight people!: “The Australian Centre for Contemporary Art at Southbank will be clothes-free for an hour while artist Stuart Ringholt, who will also be naked, guides guests through the artworks on display.” Read more about the nakedness and the art in the Herald Sun.
The most important art fair is coming up (kind of ) – Art Basel Miami is December 1-4. There will be over 250 Prominent art galleries from America, Europe, Canada, Asia, and Latin America…so pretty much art from EVERYWHERE, you will see more art here than if you were to spend a life time traveling around hunting down the best in contemporary art. While this is taking place at the convention center, there are a number of satellite fairs that focus on emerging talent, sometimes these are more fun and interesting then the convention center, so check em. There’s also going to be a ton of parties and other galleries open in the Miami area. It’s like Christmas!
Image from Art Basel Miami 2010
Tuesday, October 4th, 2011
Fall rules! The weather is starting to get nicer (Hell yes!), so it’s a perfect reason to get out and check out what Orlando has to offer in the scope of visual art.
October 6 - 1st Thursdays: Oh! – 6-9 pm at Orlando Museum of Art : celebration of the letter “O” and the number zero, with themed, contemporary works of art. $10
October 15 - Bacon: The Experience – 7-11 pm at Say It Loud : Doug Rhodehamel’s artistic interpretation of his favorite food. We can only imagine what this will be like. $5 suggested donation.
October 20 - Third Thursday Gallery Hop: City Arts Factory – 6-9 pm : Monthly stroll through the Downtown Arts District, with new openings at various galleries. free
October 21 – The Last Art Show on Earth : 7-10pm at Twelve21 Gallery (WOOO!) Art by Paul Finch, Jasibe Cure Twede, and Ted Leary. You may ask yourself: “Why is this the last art show on earth??” Well, apparently this is when the world is going to end..again..or something. So come celebrate with us!
Sweet treats will be provided by BabyCakesNYC and the gallery will be providing beverages from Tim’s Wine. The exhibition will be up until November 18th (if the world doesn’t end).
October 22 – The Very Queer Portraits of Heyd Fontenot at Cornell Fine Art Museum.
This exhibition showcases Heyd Fontenot’s portraiture and nude figure artworks. Fontenot has a distinct style and focuses on portraying the personality of his subjects focusing on their flaws and imperfections questioning ideas of human beauty.
