SUI GENERIS

Social issues are driven by currents of cultural transitions. At the core of this project lays the desire to understand how contemporary structures mold and transform individual lives, gender, social power, and the ideologies of class systems. 

Inspired by the Latin expression that translates to “of its own kind”, Sui Generis reveals shifting identities embedded in today’s social and cultural environments.

 

Approach

An experimental and progressive curatorial approach was developed in collaboration with interdisciplinary artist, Carol-Anne McFarlane, where the theory of intersectionality serves as paramount for advancing social awareness, inspiring solidarity on a trans-cultural, trans-generational, and trans-disciplinary level. 

A heterogeneous group of artists was invited to reclaim space, freely, without censure, presenting a wide range of multidisciplinary expressions of identity and sociopolitical discourse. Touching upon politics, migration, belief systems, self-analysis, and self-preservation, here the viewer is invited to reflect on ever-changing society, prompting questions of “who determines what is normal?”, “how do we establish new value systems?” and "how do we move from analysis into action?".

 

 About ArtServe

Named a “2020 Top-Rated Nonprofit” by GreatNonprofits, the leading provider of user reviews of charities and nonprofits, Fort Lauderdale-based ArtServe is an award-winning arts incubator that is advancing the arts for social good as a creative laboratory and hub for experimental artists committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Now in its 33rd year, ArtServe has won several awards for innovation in the arts and is supported in part by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council and Florida’s Department of State and the Division of Cultural Affairs. Each year, ArtServe programs contribute tangibly to the region’s economy, helping 2,000+ artists advance their practices, build businesses and engage the community.

Conversation with Hazel Dooney

Hazel Dooney is an artist in Australia. I discovered her and her work years ago on a podcast. I listened to that episode several times. Her approach to her practice inspired me to keep going. I followed her on social media ever since. A few years ago, she offered open edition prints to her followers who contacted her. I gave her my details and I received a print from Australia! I sent back a thank you note with photos of her print hanging next to mine! We've been in contact ever since.

 

In this conversation, Hazel and I discuss my experiences, and my practice.  Here is the link to the conversation.

 

Portrait of the artist by So-Min Kang Photography.

 

Here are the books mentioned in the conversation:

Book covers on this page link to Amazon listings. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

Beaver the Exhibition in a book!

This collection of 20 artists is the fourth iteration of the Beaver Exhibition Event. A group exhibition that brings together artists who delve into feminist perspectives on pornography, gender performance, and female sexual self-expression. See these artists' work in relation to each other, sharing their differing perspectives and working in various mediums.

Amanda Joy Calobrisi • Becky Flanders • Bonnie Lane • Carol-Anne McFarlane • Caroline Dare• Chanel Matsunami Govreau • Damali Abrams • Julia Kim Smith • Kate Kretz • Katrina Majkut • Keren Moscovitch • Kristen J. Sollée • Leslie Tucker • Michelle Young Lee • Mirabelle Jones • mothertongues (Meital Yaniv & Kim Ye) • Naomi Elena Ramirez • Rebecca Sutton • Tara Booth

 

The Book is available for pre-order now and ships in June!

Interview on The Circle

The Circle: LIVE with Niki Lopez is a weekly series sharing stories of our creative community, activists & social entrepreneurs. Tuesday 8:30-9 PM EST on: http://facebook.com/nikilopezcreative

 

In this interview, we discuss my start as an artist, my influences and experiences. We talk about the interactive piece that I create for the show At The Edge, which opens on March 1, 2019.

Thou Art Woman At The Edge

 

January was all about talking about my work.  I discussed an interactive piece at Nova Southeastern University Art Museum during the Thou Art Woman - At The Edge talk. I used an illustration that I created years ago. It was open enough for re-purpose and allowed for interaction in a different way. 

 

Thou Art Woman is an open mic event for LGBT+ women. To me, it is a celebration of different lived experiences.  It is a safe space and open space for women to share their thoughts and talents. 

It has expanded this year to a 3 day weekend now including visual art.  This was my opportunity to contribute to the space in a way that utilizes my art. I am grateful and excited that this space has created a space for me, in the way I want to communicate with the world. I wanted the piece for this show to be move interactive than intellectual engagement that people typically experience at an art exhibition. I wanted the viewers to bring something out of themselves and carry it externally. I created a prompt.

Here is the interview with Ghenete Wright-Muir the MC of Thou Art Woman and host of Queer Qonversations. In the interview, I tell early stories about discovering how art was a catalyst for positive change in human behavior. This is one of those interviews where you hear a lot of different things about me in one place. This interview allowed me to share more about me as opposed to just my artwork.
The interview is about 40 minutes long.


Enjoy the video below.

 

Photo Credit: So-Min Kang Photography

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January 2019 Top Ten NYC Artist

Art511 Magazine named me one of the Top Ten NYC artists working now. The article can be found below as a download. I talk about the work that I am making and working without a studio. thanks to Katie Cercone for the article and the Eminent Domain show at Robert Miller Gallery.

Download
Top Ten NYC Artists Now – Art511 Magazin
Adobe Acrobat Document 1.8 MB

Eminent Domain Video Recap

This is a recap video of the Eminent Domain show in New York last month. Special thanks to Katie Cercone, Scotto Mycklebust and Art511 Magazine for putting on an exciting exhibition!

Eminent Domain at Robert Miller Gallery

Milk and Night on the Real Housewives of New York

Here is the segment of Real Housewives of New York. One of the artists that participated in the Milk and Night show at SELECT is the daughter of Luann. You can watch the full episode on bravo.com. It is episode 7 of season 7. 


Thank you Coco Dolle and Gallery Sensei for the opportunity to show my work.


You can see my target painting at 1:10.


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Milk and Night at SELECT Art Fair

Milk and Night allowed me to show with them in SELECT ART Fair. Milk and Night shared a booth with Galeri Sensei. The artists that are showing explored the role of feminism in the art world.

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Girls Get Busy

A recent studio experience was the subject of this essay that I submitted to Girls Get Busy. Girls Get Busy is a feminist creative platform that supports artists, writers and musicians.  It is curated by Beth Siveyer.

 

I am grateful for this opportunity to share why I create this work, in an international platform, such as this magazine.

 

Often times I think about the experiences I have had that I haven't written or spoken about publicly. This is one where, through sharing, I am hoping to connect directly with those who are willing to have the conversation. I have come to realize that confronting stereotypes, gender roles, and other social issues directly, can come off as aggressive to someone unknowingly holding or practicing beliefs that I am commenting on. This is where art comes in. Art can be created to challenge and arouse.

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Hanging Rejected and Hoarded

Here is the beginning of hanging the Rejected and Hoarded show at the Lauderhill Arts Center.

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There are No Images in this Art Show

It has been a few weeks since I decided on the theme of my show at the Lauderhill Arts Center. I have done a number of things in preparation for this show. I designed the title for the show so that the marketing material will have a consistent  look and feel. I have created events on Google+ and Facebook and invited friends. I requested addresses and mailed physical invitations! Yes, good ol' USPS stamped invites with RSVP cards!

I discovered that I have somewhat of a mailing list. As I began to consider the people to whom I would send a physical invitation, my list began to grow. Not only did I send invitations to those that supported my art and career, I sent invitations to those that rejected me last year.

I requested addresses vis social media for those that wanted a physical invite. I wanted people, for whom distance may be an ins sue, to have a participatory role in the show as well. The RSVP cards simply had two options:


1. I will see the show.
2. I will not see the show.

I also left space for comments. The RSVP cards collected before the opening will be displayed on the wall as another aspect of the idea of rejection. Anonymous.

Designing the marketing material,  highlighted the fact that there was no artwork to represent the show. Usually, the marketing material for art shows has an image of some sort. Images are on one side of the postcard with show details on the back. This time, this show had no image. How would a viewer perceive a print of an email on the one side saying, "...unfortunately you were not selected..." and  show details on the other side? I didn't want to confuse. I had to design the show title to communicate accordingly.

I am excited about the  fact that there is no image to promote or describe. It adds to the concept of the show. The absence. It is exciting for me to tell people that there are no images in the show. I mean really, how else would you describe it?

This show is in line with my thought process for producing artwork. The idea is always paramount. Everything else that is brought into the process is meant to support the idea.

The next item that I will work on is the catalog essay. I have to decide how much I am going to share about this very personal experience. Everyone will read this. Yikes! How do I touch? How far do I go in talking about my experience? These are the questions I am going to tackle this week as the opening date for Rejected and Hoarded inches closer.

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Rejected and Hoarded Show at Lauderhill Arts Center

As a resident artist at the Lauderhill Arts Center, I have the opportunity to curate exhibitions in the gallery space. My month is this March. I have known for months that I had this time to create an exhibition. I was not able to come up with a new project and work with the limited resources that I have. I dreaded moving forward.

 

I was not aware that I have been creating the content for this show all along. It took a year and had various collaborators. I concept for the show in March came to me early Saturday morning. What if I stopped reaching so far outside of me and work with what I have been dealing with the past year: Rejection. Yes, Rejection with the capital R. 2013 marked the year of rejection for me, save getting representation and being accepted into a workshop, I received email after email denying inclusion of grants, residencies, and exhibition opportunities.

 

When thinking about the last year, although I have been looking for spaces to share the work in various spaces and creating the work in the studio, the work never left the studio. The work in the studio is a reminder of ideas not exposed, stored small secure space, away from dialogue.

 

This show is about reveling this part of my life as an artist. This is another way to connect with my audience. This is a first for me in reveling the failures. More than just the private failures one experiences when creating art. These are more public failures since there are other parties involved. Those who knew the outcome before I did. The strangers that held a possible future experience for me. My secret collaborators.

 

The gallery walls will be covered in the disappointment, in the form of rejection letters. My studio will be filled with the work that was denied, hoarded unintentionally. 

 

This show will also include a performance. I am thinking about live-streaming the performance. The performance is tentatively scheduled for March 22, 2014.

 

I am collecting addresses to another collaborative piece to included in the show. If you are interested in participating, email your mailing address to me: artist@cmcfarlaneart.com.

 

Art Fallout 2013 | Girls' Club

I participated the one-night show at the Girl's Club in Fort Lauderdale. I had two prints, 24" x 18", of new work. My intention was to get public feedback on this new work.

 

The yellow Post-Its that you see, are from artists. The purple ones are from judges.

Here are the comments in no specific order:

Yellow

-These are so nice Carol

-I definitely see progress in your work love it.

-✓  (Yes, a check mark, just a checkmark)

-Nice to see your work in person finally I love it !!  -Marcos

-POWERFUL STATEMENT ON GENDER ROLES

-✓ (Another check mark)

-This is an outrage the way you portray women

-HI CAROL, [WE'RE] WALL MATES! NICE WORK AS USUAL! ⟵AC.

 

Purple

-JH nice new twist on this imagery

-"About the Artist" too bold! Prints for, "Maxim" perhaps too sexist for me.... The work with the men could use better design! PG

-CP would like to see better paper used - particularly for one ground - 100% rag. more textured perhaps buff color

- I done like your Artist's stamp being so prominant. Better paper. What are you adding to this conversation? AB

 

What are your thoughts on these comments? Do you agree? Share your comments with me below.

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Touch it, it's Magic

This piece originated four years ago, in a Target store in Atlanta. I was in town for my friend's graduation. As we shopped in the store, we walked through the toy aisle. I saw the wands and wondered if anyone else saw what I saw. I saw a phallus. It made me think wonder, what kind of toys are we giving our children to play with? I wanted to be very blunt and I thought about attaching these wands to male silhouettes.

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Make It Rain

We have all heard the songs and seen the videos, but have we stopped to consider the consequnces of the strip club and how it effects our perception of others?

X Marks the Spot

I was an an art event last week with a friend of mine. I was showing her my new work on my iPad when two artists approached us. They had glimsed the images and wanted to know more. The men asked a lot of questions about my work. The same questions I address in these videos. As I spoke about the work and showed them images, they wantedto know what sparked the work and what it was about.

 

As I carried on through the Targets and got into the Strip Club Signs, one of the men began to undertsand the work. The other began to justify the rationale of the prepatrator, as if my work was celebratory in that way. My friend was silent at this time observing this interaction. She saw my mounting frustration as this man continued to talk about how it was just natural for a man to see a woman as a sexual object.

 

We began walking and parted ways. My friend and I left the building for a moment in order to create some distance between them and us. She said that she could she me geting upset over the man's reaction. We spoke about me work and what it was like to be approached by men.

Drawn to the Ladies

I have decided to share my work in a new way. I made a few videos where I am talking about my work. This video is about the start of my work. I show a few of the begininng pieces that lead me on my current path.

 

These pieces are not on my website. I am not sure how or if I will use them later. There are more videos to come.

I have YouTube and Vimeo channels now. You can also subscribe there as well.

 

Feel free to comment, like and share.

 

Sign up for the newsletter and stay up to date!

 

 

New Work Coming

sketches, silouettes, tv, ladies

I have been participating in open creative sessions. It was a bit of a challenge to develop the work in an analog form, as I do not typically work this way. I used the camers to capture what worked and what I wanted to think about further. I printed the photos on my printer. The drum unit is malfunctioning, so there are horizontal lines on the prints. I didn't mind at first, but I began to think about the horizontal lines.

They remind me of the photos oof TV screens. This made me think of porn and wondered if y work was going to go there explicitly.

Look Attractive at University of Missouri Kansas City

I was invited to show pieces from my Targets series in the Look Attractive show at the University of Kansas City moissouri. I met the curator, Davin Watne, on Wednesday, November 7. We visited artists studios as well as his own. He is a great artist and super nice. The opening was awesome and I met a lot olf great artists and people in Kansas City.

 

Thank you to everyone that made my visit to Kansas City awesome!

 

UMKC Press Release

ART FALLOUT

ART FALLOUT is a an annual event where art venues in the downtown Fort Lauderdale area open their doors for one night. There is a free shuttle that takes people from one venue to another. There are galleries, artists studios and the Museum of Art that participate.

 

The photos below are from The Apprppiated Gender show at 1310 Gallery and ART FALLOUT: Drawn In at Girl's Club.

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Appropiated Gender

The Appropiated Gender show opened on September 15 at 7pm. This is a great show. The work in confrontational and thought-provoking. My work was talked about and a gallerist mentioned that my work was the best in the show, in his opinion.

 

The next public reception is October 6th, when 1310 Gallery will open again as a part of Art Fallout. During Art Fallout, several art venues open for the evening and patrons are transported from venue to venue via shuttle buses. For more info check out: Art Fallout.

 

I will also have work in the Art Fallout: Drawn In at the Girls' Club. I will be showing two pieces that have never been shown to the public before. This show is interesting because viewers are allowed to leave comments right next to the artwork!

I am in the Miami Herald!

Miami Herald article is here! Nancy Dahlberg covered the Artist as Entrepreneur Institute last June. In the article, I discuss the business aspects of art and what I got out of the event.

 

I drove around town looking for copies to purchase, when the article was printed. I bought 15 copies. Thanks to Nancy Dahlberg for the opportunity to share my insights with her audience.

 

Read the article here. Please read and share!

 

You can also download the PDF version below.

Download
South Florida program teaches artists how to become art-preneurs - Business Monday - MiamiHerald.com
South Florida program teaches artists how to become art-preneurs - Business Monday - MiamiHerald.com

by Nancy Dahlberg
South Florida program teaches artists ho
Adobe Acrobat Document 203.5 KB

Appropriated Gender

Appropriated Gender flyer

I am debuting a new work at this show. This piece was sparked years ago while in a retail store.  I sat on the idea until I had the space and purpose to create it. When I completed the piece, I discovered new contexts in which the work can be intrepreted. I love the work. I have not posted any pictures of the work until it debuts at this show. A few close friends have seen the work and they love it.  It is my first interactive piece that I have completed.

princess wands
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Carol-Anne McFarlane Fine Art Fan Pages

Carol-Anne McFarlane Fine Art has two fan pages. One on Facebook and one on Google +. Here are the links: Facebook and Google+.

 

Please like and +1. As always, you can continue to add comments to this or any blog post on this site. You can also leave a comment on either/ both fan pages.

 

Thanks.

Walmart to build in Wynwood

This petition is to stop development of a WalMart in the middle of the Wynwood Art District.

The Trouble with Girls All Female Revue

I participated in the The Trouble with Girls All Female revue in April. The show featured female artists and work that challeneged social constructs. There was a stage where bands performed. There were a few craft vendors outside that sold wonderful handmade goods.

Inspired by Words

The Insprired by Words show opened last night at the Lauderhill Arts Center. The show is a collaboration between the Write Side Poets and the Lauderhill Arts Center. Poems by five poets were interpreted by 26 different artists. Three of the poets were there and recited their poems for the guests.

 

After the presentation of the artist and poets, the studios opened up and people were allowed to explore each studio. The Write Side Poets studio space was opened and people explored that space too. Even the dance studio was opened. I invited a few friends and they really enjoyed the event.

 

I eventually opened my studio and began sharing my works. I started talking about the pieces that lead me on my current path. I got some good feedback and had some positive disscussions, whwich is what I want.

 

I discovered that I have fans. Genuine fans that love the work that I am producing. :D

That feels great!

Art Wynwood

This is a four day art fair during presidents day weekend. This is the first of this fair.
As I stood outside the fair, I wondered how the proposed Walmart is going to Shane the landscape and demographic of Wynwood. I have seen the explosion of retail shoppes in the area since 2005. Galleries that I used to visit in 2005, no longer exist. Yet, across from the vacant buildings are newly built shopping centers complete with hourly parking garages.


Both patrons of the shoppes and of the art events compete for parking, walking space, and food. I have learned to time my arrival to Wunwood, in order to get a parking space in a fairly short period of time.


Now the shoppes in the area aren't particularly high-end. There's a target and a Ross, pet supermarket, but I don't see Walmart fitting in this space. Can you imagine the streets filled with Walmart customers and fine art patrons? Competing for parking and walking space? High end luxury cars and economy cars side by side.


How will the art fair scene change? Fewer fairs or smaller clusters?

 

Now to talk about the actual fair. The work was no doubtedly interesting. There pieces that were just fun to look at and enjoy. Some of the work looked like it came out of Juxapoz magazine. That's what I remember the most.

 

I walked through the whole show and there was nothing like my work. Which is a good thing. There are so many different and original works in the show. The show was samll and I was able to see everything in two hours.

 

Do you attend Art Fairs? What do you think of them. Feel free to coment below.

5 Minutes of Fame

Last Wednesday, I had the wonderful opportunity to share my work. I was one of a few artists participating in 5 Minutes of Fame. MOCA of North Miami provides artists to share their work with others through a slide presentation followed by Q & A.

 

I discussed the work that lead me to where I am today in my art. I showed a few pieces that have never been shown in public before. My work was well received. I got a few shocked faces in the crowd, but people loved the work and asked very thoughtful questions.

 

A friend of mine recorded the presentation so that I can share it with you. Thank you, Ariel for your skills.

 

Thanks again to Lark Keeler and MOCA North Miami for giving me the opportunity to share my work.

 

If you want to learn more about MOCA North Miami and their events and shows, check them out here: http://www.mocanomi.org/

 

Please feel free to comment on this post or video.

Art Events this Month

A Reflection and Celebration

of the Black Historical Journey

through Art

 

Lauderhill Arts Center

5450 NW 19th STreet

Lauderhill, FL 33313

 

Opens February 4, 2012

6-9pm

Speaking Engagements

 

5 Minutes of Fame

MOCA North Miami

770 NE 125th Street

North Miami, FL 33161

 

February 8th, 2012

7pm

 

Black ART History Presentation

Lauderhill Arts Center

5450 NW 19th STreet

Lauderhill, FL 33313

 

February 11th, 2012

7pm


Miami Art Fairs 2011

Art Miami/Pulse
The work in here is incredible and inspiring. I keep thinking about my work. I don't see anything like the work that I do and the subject matter that I am talking about. I have attended more fairs this year than in previous years. I can see my work in some of these shows and selling well.
I am inspired by some of these paintings. They are done so well. It makes me wish I could paint better than I do. I haven't gone to art Basel yet, but I know that will be even more intense than what I am seeing now.
There aren't as many drawings here than I hoped I would see. I love line and am drawn to it ( no pun intended). I am wondering about my drawings and if I really want to make them something more. And I do. I want my drawings to communicate more than just beauty or technical accuracy, but I am not sure what I want them to say. I guess I have to figure that out first.
I am more convinced now that the work that I am doing should be large. The presence that the larger works coupled with a striking image can not be denied. I am excited about getting back to the studio! As always, I am constantly getting new ideas that I want to explore.
Art Basel
I bought my ticket Friday night from Walmart, since they are now Ticketmaster. It was easy and convenient to purchase.
I was on my way to Miami late Saturday morning. I arrived early enough to get into the parking garage right next to the convention center. The parking was cheap.
I walked up to the convention enter and entered the faint line for admission. Since I already had a ticket I didn't need to stand in the ridiculously long line to purchase one. I was surprised to see so many people waiting in line just purchase tickets in the hot Florida sun.
I walked around the convention center. There were some artists that I expected to see like, Warhol, Basquiat, Koons. I knew that would run into them along the way. There was a lot of artists there that were unknown to me and others that I would have liked to see again. I was surprised not to see Kara Walker. It was such a wonderful surprise to see her work at the fair the last time I attended.
I saw Kerry James Marshall and Radcliffe Baily. I enjoyed seeing their work in person again.
One idea that I kept coming to me as I explored the fair was the uniqueness of the work presented. There were so many artists there, yet each one was uniquely expressed in the space. There were a few galleries that were selling some of the same pieces from an edition, but it was seldom. Yes, they were selling. I saw red dots and overheard people asking about prices. I covered the convention center several times over. I left about 7pm. I pretty much spent the whole day there. I enjoyed the show and felt inspired in a different way. In a way that encouraged me with a feeling that my work be selling there soon.
Wynwood Art District
I met up with friends in Wynwood Sunday evening. We gallery hopped through the galleries there. Some galleries were open, but not most. The restaurants were packed. There were several murals been painted that night and we were able to watch a few artists work on their pieces. There was one large lot with moralists working with trailers. There were pop up galleries with various pieces inside.

Figure Drawing 7/13/2011

Here are a few drawings from figure drawing last Wednesday.

Shows Coming Up

I am showing at the following locations later this month.

 

Red Eye

ArtServe

1350 East Sunrise Boulevard

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

Opening July 22, 2011 7-10pm

 

Art on the Boulevard

Greight Spaces
2611 East Atlantic Boulevard
Pompano Beach, Florida 33062

Reception: August 5th, 6-9pm

 

 

Creative Session at Lauderhill Arts Center

Today, as the closing event of the Small Works show at the Lauderhill Arts Center, the artists that hung in the show were asked to join the resident artists in a creative session, where we can socialize and make art together. It was a six hour event that conlcluded in hanging the newly created work in the gallery.

 

For the last two weeks, I have been thinking about what I would do for this event. I thought about revisiting unfinshed work or starting something new. I still didn't know what I was going to do this morning! The day of the event. I poured through old sketchbooks and rediscovered some forgotten ideas, but nothing that I could complete in 6 hours. I came up with some possiblitlities as I gathered my aterials. I thought about completing a mermaid. I have not completed a mermaid piece yet.

 

I chose a 22" x 30" piece of watercolor paper, charcoal, and a few figure drawings, and headed towards the Arts Center. I chose charcoal because I can cover large areas quickly.

 

After I got settled and greeted everyone, I began working. I intended to work background to foreground. The piece came along quickly. I learned a lot. In working with charcoal, one can't really touch the surface. This reminded me of painting. I started thnking like a painter.The piece started working with me and I completed it in time.

 

We hung our work after the pieces were completed. The pieces looked good on the wall and we celebrated our success with wine. The show will be up until the end of August.

 

 

Now Showing

I am currently participating in two galleries right now. Here are the addresses and dates.

 

Small Works

Lauderhill Arts Center

5450 MW 19th Street

Lauderhill, FL 33313

June 4-30

 

Legacy: What's Left Behind

1310 Gallery

1310 SW 2nd Court

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312

May 21- June 26

LEGACY: What's Left Behind

Legacy: What's Left Behind opened last night. I had 18 pieces in the show and took up the entire second floor. Photos from the opending are below. The show was written about in Artmurmur.

Self Lit

Here is a short video taken by a fellow artist in the show. Self-Lit was at 18 Rabbit Gallery in Fort Lauderdale, March 26th - April 30th. These pieces along with may others will be available in the Store soon.

 

-Carol-Anne McFarlane

Drawing Conclusions - the Rise of Drawing in the Contemporary Art Scene

Author: Mike Brennan

Not so long ago, drawing became the new painting. From small-scale and intimate to wall-sized, highly-worked or resolutely low-fi; whatever its format, the re-appearance of a once side-lined medium marked a dramatic shift in its fortunes and indeed, assumptions about art in general.

But why the change? Was it that, in an art scene increasingly driven by fads, drawing became du jour simply because it hadn\'t been for a very long time? Or were other, less obvious factors at work?

In fact, the re-emergence of drawing was far from market-driven, and its increase in profile a far slower process than any newly voguish status might suggest.

To understand something of its current impact, it\'s necessary to look back at the closing years of the 20th century. A time when, to the eyes of many, the art scene looked very different indeed.

Throughout much of the 1990s visual austerity and a certain restraint governed the work of a new wave of artists; many of them British, many high-profile.

Figures such as Darren Almond, Damien Hirst, Martin Creed, Rachel Whiteread and a re-discovered Allan McCollum typified an art scene driven by hands-off, conceptual practice and stringent theoretical undertow.

Even artists whose work, by contrast, seemed more ludic and theatrical - Maurizio Catellan, the Chapman brothers, an ever-enduring Jeff Koons - shared a taste for slick, expensive, mechanized output. And in fact, looking back, there\'s a certain synchronistic poetry to the fact that Marc Quinn\'s \'Self\' portrait, a principal icon of the era, quite literally froze the blood.

Further tendencies underpinned the general sense of pristine, chilly surface. Graphic design in the late 90s exulted in the hard edges of its newly perfect digital genesis, while on a popular level, serious flirtation with \'minimalism\' induced homeowners to replace comfort with pristine surface and spacious void.

Clearly, any attempt to rapidly define a moment in art history is doomed to over-simplification. A vast array of artists stand in lush counterpoint to Hirst\'s surgically steely cabinets or Whiteread\'s pale, negative spaces. The work of Peter Doig, Marlene Dumas, Daniel Richter and Jörg Immendorf - to name just a few - all manifest an obvious delight in exuberant mark-making or absorbed, painterly gesture.

Yet it\'s certainly true that what generally made the headlines - the dissected sheep, the on/off lights, the unmade beds - were essentially \'conceptual\' works that side-lined direct artistic intervention. And it\'s also true that, with the internet truly coming of age in the \'90s, such highly publicized aesthetics became instantly and widely accessible for the first time in any history. In the mass public eye, art had gained a hard, new edge.

Yet elsewhere, a wildly contrasting vision was being far less well documented. On America\'s West Coast, in particular, the long-gestating seeds of a brimming alternative scene were beginning to bear considerable fruit. Its influences were multiple and diverse, yet shared the fact that all lay well outside the contemporary mainstream.

In LA, for example, the \'underground\' drawings of Ray Pettibon - linked initially to the rock scene then distributed through short-run zines - had garnered fervent admirers throughout the late \'70s & \'80s. A major exhibition in 1992 succeeded in raising his profile both throughout the States and abroad.

Yet Pettibon\'s work was merely the best-known facet of a burgeoning counter-culture. One which, since 1986, had found a major advocate in the now legendary La Luz De Jesus gallery in downtown LA.

This space, located incongruously above an offbeat gift store, focused entirely on artists whose backgrounds and influences sprang from an array of popular cultures such as illustration, folk art, comics and tattooing. And this output, crucially, tended towards an intricate figurative craftsmanship more closely associated at the time with illustration than so-called \'fine\' art.

The gallery and its stable of artists proved a speedy and influential local success, and in 1994, Juxtapoz, a magazine founded by Robert Williams (himself an artist and friend of famed underground artist Robert Crumb) also began to showcase this growing wave of alternative art.

Utterly at odds with the rarefied, theory-led aesthetic dominating contemporary practice at the time, this new sensibility came to be regarded as a movement. Its roots and position were defined by not just one label, but two: Low-Brow, or Pop Surrealism.

Resolutely populist - bordering, even, on kitsch - its appropriation of popular style and content within a fine art context questioned long-held assumptions regarding the parameters of art itself. Revisiting the earliest tenets of Pop Art, it nevertheless totally dismissed that movement\'s later associations with Warholian mass production.

And in San Francisco, too, similar trends were at work.

In the 1990s a group of artists including Chris Johansen, Clare E Rojas and Barry McGee emerged to form a distinctive new scene. Their work, though sharing much with the Low-Brow phenomenon, differed in several important respects and became known as the \'Mission School\' in recognition of its essentially San Franciscan flavor.

Local influences contributed to a more whimsical, looser approach to image-making than LA tendencies at the time. Street art such as graffiti formed an intrinsic part of the scene, but was generally refined into a figurative rather than textual medium. The legacy of underground comics pioneered by the likes of Robert Crumb was also evident in cartoon-like characterization and a witty, humorous edge.

More importantly still, while painting lay at the heart of the Low-Brow movement, drawing was much more widely adopted by the Mission School artists.

In a nod to the hand-drawn agitprop and pyschedelia of \'60s Haight-Ashbury, they revived techniques such as detailed patterning, hand-lettering and découpage. Materials, too, were frequently unconventional; ball-point pens, markers, recycled paper, wood or metal all found a part in the Mission School look.

This \'regional\' distinction was clearly underlined in publicity for a 2000 show at LA\'s New Image Gallery:

SAN FRANCISCO DRAWING SHOW curated by: Alicia McCarthy and Chris Johanson. May 19 - June 17, 2000.

Straight out of San Francisco, drawings of over 15 artists will be exhibited .... Currently there are important artistic trends developing out of San Francisco. Drawing is at the root of this development.


Meanwhile, however, America\'s East Coast found itself forced (for once) to gradually acknowledge a nexus of creativity occurring elsewhere. While many commentators, curators and gallerists became increasingly aware that some kind of real cultural shift was taking place, others seemed slow or simply unwilling to recognize its impact or legitimacy.

Yet the growing appeal of Low-Brow and related work - especially amongst a generation of new and emerging artists - was undeniable. New galleries opened to deal exclusively in the genre, and Juxtapoz, along with many of its featured artists, began to acquire a cult following. Its international distribution and the broad reach of the internet helped ensure that this new sensibility filtered beyond the US.

The \'unofficial\' Californian scene gathering pace in the \'90s was intrinsically linked to a rejection of prevailing artistic practice - the notion, as Fred Tomaselli later put it, '...that people are a bit tired of the over-rationalism (sic) of the art world, this idea that you can get to everything through the cerebral.'

Yet its ethos was otherwise hugely democratic and unifying, a statement of validity for neglected or side-lined art. There can be little doubt that its emergence provided an impetus behind the current interest in drawing.

But this interest - and with it, the resurgence of a particular kind of artistic engagement - was not, of course, solely confined to America\'s West Coast.

Elsewhere in the States, Laylah Ali\'s first major show of meticulously patterned, faux-naif works took place at Chicago\'s MOCA in 1999 (she had been featured, along with Chris Johansen, at New York\'s Drawing Center in the summer of 1998).

Julie Mehretu, likewise emerging towards the end of the \'90s, fused painting with drawing in a myriad of complex mark-making, while Canada\'s Royal Art Lodge, formed in 1996, produced whimsical drawings, paintings and objects reminiscent of the Mission School\'s output.

In Europe, similar trends were also underway. As the 20th century drew to its close, Sweden\'s Jockum Nordstrüm was gaining recognition for his beautifully rendered, twisted tableaux of far from ordinary life. Switzerland\'s Marc Bauer produced vigorous drawings that exemplified the medium\'s strength, and in Britain the hand-drawn zine was adopted by Olivia Plender, albeit in a highly polished form.

While drawing, obviously, had never disappeared entirely from the gallery, these artists represent just a few of those contributing to its rapidly growing visibility towards the end of the \'90s. A resurgence now so evident that, though prompted by certain definable factors, it nevertheless seems organic, almost essential; a phenomenon that quite possibly identifies as well as answers very current needs amongst today\'s young artists.

And what are they?

Well to start with, drawing is cheap. For those struggling with the high costs of studio space and materials, it\'s a medium that\'s financially viable as well as a manageable means of production.

What\'s more, it\'s hugely inclusive. Everyone, at some point, has experienced the act of drawing at some level, a participation which affords even the most casual observer a sense of involvement in the medium; a visceral engagement in its use that conceptual art forms often lack.

Yet despite this refreshingly egalitarian glow, it also appears that much of today\'s output seems directed towards highly individual, even arcane expression, a practice exemplified by intricate, almost obsessive mark-making.

On the one hand, this wholly supports an ethos by which today\'s artists seem to demand an intimate, personal and evident engagement with their art.

Painstaking detail and labor-intensive mark-making represent artistic endeavor for which the artist alone is responsible. No third-party construction teams, no assistants on hand to dab a brush as directed. This art is about making in the purest possible sense.

A parallel explosion in use of craft elements - beading, glittering, collage, embroidery - as well as the growing popularity of zines and artists\' books - mirrors this quest for hands-on, highly personalized involvement.

Yet more intriguingly, demands for creative ownership may well serve needs besides a revision of artistic involvement.

Art, of course, has always been about reflecting and interpreting the world, but the early 21st century seems to have experienced a particularly profound re-appraisal of exactly what the world involves. The outlook is an uneasy one, marked by a growing sense of schism and dislocation, and in particular, the notion of circumstance veering out of control.

To return briefly to Pop Surrealism, true to its \'surrealist\' label the movement is marked by subversion of apparent reality. Typically, this takes on disturbing, anxiety-ridden form; bio-morphed figures inhabit scenarios laden with threat; an undertow of violence is darkly enhanced by imagery plucked from childhood.

And importantly, unlike Surrealism, which investigates the interior spaces of the human psyche, Pop Surrealism obliquely focuses on physical, actual realities. Those genetic hybrids, ruined landscapes and constant simmer of threat don\'t merely exist in our nightmares. They\'re with us now.

The movement itself may have had its day as far as the art market is concerned, but the zeitgeist it portrays is clearly here to stay.

Consider, for a moment, Jean Dubuffet\'s famous description of L\'Art Brut

'Those works created from solitude and from pure and authentic creative impulses - where the worries of competition, acclaim and social promotion do not interfere - are, because of these very facts, more precious than the productions of professions. ... we cannot avoid the feeling that in relation to these works, cultural art in its entirety appears to be the game of a futile society, a fallacious parade.'

Though written in the 1950s, the proclamation reads now like a perfect manifesto for the kind of anti-establishment art scene we\'ve been discussing. Yet quite apart from epitomizing a \'purer\' alternative to the mainstream, the kind of art Dubuffet describes now carries connotations far beyond those of his original assessment.

The \'simplicity\' of naïve or folk art harks back - in popular nostalgia at least - to carefree, less complex times in which a sense of place and purpose were clearly defined. It\'s little wonder that its revival coincides with acute apprehension regarding our own, turbulent times.

By contrast, much outsider art is clearly associated with not belonging - a characteristic most evident in its embrace of art produced by the mentally ill.

Yet here again there\'s a definite connection. Such work often originates through its use as a therapeutic tool; a fact that throws interesting light on the intricate, involved delineation of much recent drawing and painting. Indeed, in its conspicuous efforts to order, pattern and negotiate space, such complexity provides almost casebook examples of conflict-solving Gestalt.

More interestingly still, a significant proportion of contemporary practice doesn\'t just seek to interpret complex realities, but actually sets out to create them through construction of highly personal, alternative worlds.

Paul Noble\'s well-known drawings of fictional \'Nobson Newtown\' are devoid of human figures, yet imbued with visual invention and idiosyncratic textual comment. A clear intention is to provide a reflection of the mind of their maker: as Noble himself puts it, 'town planning as self-portraiture'.

Other artists\' fictional worlds provide similar arenas for grappling with issues that echo or parallel our own.

Michael Whittle, a recent graduate from the Royal College of Art, creates intricate drawings melding religious iconography with motifs garnered from heraldry, alchemy and science. The resulting images, snapshots of impossible states, underpin the artist\'s own desire to 'make sense of reality' while also investigating '... man\'s attempts to come to terms with existence'.

Camille Rose Garcia (whose practice, though largely identified with painting, includes much drawing) is well known for deceptively enchanting visions of what amounts to a near-dystopia. A recurring cast of characters battle to save or destroy a poisoned, dying world. The baddies, unfortunately, seem to be winning.

Art today appears to be grappling with a spiritual, political and therapeutic function that arguably, it hasn\'t reflected quite so clearly for centuries. And the fact that drawing, the most immediate and spontaneous of mediums, forms a vital aspect of the interpretation of a complex world should come as no surprise.

Postscript: Drawing right now - who we\'re liking

The energy of the California scene continues apace, with San Francisco still arguably the epicentre of new drawing - check out the wonderful work of Sara Thustra, Sacha Eckes, Andrew Schoultz and Simone Shubuck (a San Francisco native, though now resident in New York).

LA practice remains particularly diverse, but artists who make exciting use of drawing include Travis Millard, Adam Janes and Gina Triplett.

Elsewhere in the States, we enjoy the work of Carter, Aurel Schmidt and UK-born Dominic McGill (best known for his epic, 65ft \'Project for a New American Century\').

In Europe, Richard Höglund produces interesting drawings informed by semiotics, and in the UK, artists of note include Sarah Woodfine and Adam Dant (the latter have both been recipients of the Jerwood Drawing Prize.

Most exciting of all, newcomer Laura Oldfield Ford creates large-scale, beautifully rendered drawings with astute political commentary at their core, as well as the cult zine \'Savage Messiah, an extraordinary foray into the psycho-geographic terrain of London.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/visual-art-articles/drawing-conclusions-the-rise-of-drawing-in-the-contemporary-art-scene-398914.html

About the Author

With a background in advertising, copywriting, illustration and web design, Mike currently works freelance as an SEO consultant and web content writer.

His most recent project, clickspiration.com, is aimed at the online advertising and affiliate scheme publishing sector.

Modern Art Vs. Contemporary Art

Author: Suzanne

The success of a piece of art depends on how deftly it connects with the audience. If an artwork successfully communicates its message, it is considered to be a masterpiece. Some of the most artistic works of art began flowering in the 19th century till 1970. The flowering of modern art thus began in this era consequently leading the artists to move away from the traditional practices and emphasize more on portrayal of emotion on canvas. Post 1970, modern art preferred being called contemporary art. This includes any art that has been created after 1970 till the present age.  

Modern art is not synonymous to contemporary art. The former encompasses only those works that have been created in the first half of the 20th century. Cubism, Futurism, Constructivism- they all form a part of modern art. Contemporary art, on the other hand, signifies those works done at the present time or in the very recent past. The best thing about today’s art is that it is bound by no rigid tradition and has the liberty to experiment with various styles.

Ever since the two world wars took place, there has been a surge of art movements- Abstract Expressionism,   Pop Art, Post-modernism, Minimalism, and Feminist Art. The number of art movements has grown in numbers in recent times. It’s now common to come across avant-garde movements surfacing with new names every year. The one movement that created quite an uproar in recent times was that of Abstract Expressionism. The followers of this movement believed that art was created just to convey their own feelings and had no relation with the external world. 

However, there is a section of people who does not consider modern art as art in the true sense of the term. Many people consider landscape and nature portrayals as the true art form. When modern and contemporary artists create something that challenges their imagination, they question the idea of their being an art.

As a matter of fact, abstract art needs proper understanding and intellect to decode its hidden meaning. Understanding the concept of the artist and appreciating the work on that basis lays the foundation for a successful modern art representation.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-articles/modern-art-vs-contemporary-art-731983.html

About the Author

Suzanne Macguire is an expert writer and art connoisseur. Her articles have covered a lot of information on fine art and abstract art gallery.

Contemporary Art: How to Buy for Pleasure and Profit

    With the internet making it easier than ever to source artworks, it\'s relatively simple these days to build up a great-looking collection.

Author: Mike Brennan

The fine art of collecting - how to collect contemporary art for pleasure and profit


While prices for unique works are increasingly beyond the reach of many, limited editions of, say, 150 plus are financially and widely accessible, making it possible to acquire pieces by major artists for reasonable prices.

There can be a downside, however. While little beats the pleasure a signed work can bring, generally speaking, the larger an edition, the less likely it is to appreciate in value quickly - or even substantially.

Nevertheless, the contemporary art market is full of contradictions, and with growing demand at all levels, recent trends have often seen this assumption overturned.

As an obvious example, Damien Hirst\'s early prints for Eyestorm consistently fetch $10000-$16000 at re-sale, a very subtantial profit on their original price. More recently, prints by Banksy and other urban artists have proved equally lucrative.

In other words, it's becoming increasingly possible - although by no means a certainty - to make substantial profits quickly with relatively little outlay; although the trick, as always, is knowing what to buy and when to sell.

Buying for fast profit

The art world has a curious attitude to speculation. Buying and selling purely for profit is still regarded as just a little unsavoury, even though the entire art market is dedicated to this pursuit. Perhaps it's because art has such a curiously dual nature, combining aesthetic and cultural worth with a commercial value that can reach very high sums indeed.

Whatever the case, it would be difficult to consistently make money from art without some genuine appreciation and an insight into what will stand the test of time. And many dealers are themselves collectors, at least partly funding their own acquisitions through trading.

Yet it's certainly true that, with contemporary art consistently showing remarkable returns on investment, it\'s also become an attractive proposition to a very wide range of buyers.

In general, non-specialist speculators often trade in the work of artists whose frequent media coverage makes them well known to the public. And as shown by the two examples mentioned above - Hirst and Banksy - this can certainly reap substantial rewards.

But it's also important to remember that, in an increasingly novelty-driven world, the next big thing is usually just around the corner. "Celebrity" artists often take on the nature of a trend, and fads can become outdated with dramatic speed. Knowing when to sell such work is vitally important.

Ups and downs in the market aren't just related to artists with familiar public profiles, of course. The art world itself frequently generates its own, "flavor of the month" buzz. A few years ago, Martin Kippenberger\'s prices rose dramatically, then levelled just as quickly. Chinese and now Indian contemporary art have been subject to the same kind of intensely fashion-led markets.

Clearly, money can be made through quickly identifying and speculating on trends, but you'll need to have your finger firmly on the pulse. Knowing what's considered exciting is essential, but you'll also have to determine how long this excitement is actually going to last.

Long-term investment - knowing your artists

When it comes to collecting art, you'll often read the following: the safest way to build a collection is simply to buy work you really like.

Such advice seems tailor-made to shield less knowledgeable collectors from potential disappointment, and perhaps even encourage sales of less desirable work. Buy a piece you love and if the value falls no harm has been done. If it gains in price, that's a bonus.

At modernedition, we prefer to look at buying art a little differently.

Of course it\'s important to purchase work you want to own and view.

But since contemporary art presents real investment opportunities, it makes sense to think carefully about what to add to your collection. After all, look at almost any online art site, and you'll see that prices for fairly standard pieces are often equivalent to what you'd pay for work with far greater investment potential.

Although there's obviously no way of predicting future value for sure, the key is to familiarize yourself as much as possible with the background of artists you\'re drawn to.

How long have they been practicing? Is there a theme or thought process behind their work? Has this evolved coherently over the years?

Artists with at least some degree of complexity and persistent "vision" are generally more likely to gain steadily in appreciation and price.

You'll also want to know if the artist has achieved some kind of recognition. Is their work held by collections, galleries or museums? Has it been exhibited consistently?

Professional opinion is yet another important factor in trying to determine an artist's long-term prospects. If a large number of critics and academics coincide in their high opinion of an artist, this is another good sign that they will retain or even gain value.

Mid-career artists can be judged much more easily in relation to their existing work; and after all, good art isn't just about something that happens to look nice on a wall.

It's about a certain kind of commitment and an obvious path of development. If all these factors are present, buying probably makes sense. Limited editions by Jeff Koons, for example, were relatively inexpensive 5 or 6 years ago, but with recent record-breaking prices for major works, have also shot up in value.

Even artists who disappear temporarily from the art market radar are much more likely to re-emerge at a later point if they show the "right" kind of commitment and passion.

Emerging artists and the schlock of the new

New young artists are often fizzing with ideas, many of which can seem ground-breaking or even radical, but the problem is that they have yet to prove their long-term worth.

This said, you can certainly gain an insght into potential by applying the criteria above. It\'s especially important to determine if they have something genuine to express or are simply employing methods that could, over time, increasingly be seen as just a gimmick.

Of course, if you're looking to make a high return on investment, rapidly emerging artists can prove highly lucrative.

In such cases, it's probably a good idea to invest in as substantial a piece as possible, although as we've seen, editions and multiples can also prove money-earners.

But keep a close eye on auction prices and signs of market fatigue. Such artists might be the talk of the town right now, but will they fulfill their early promise?

If, after a few years, their work appears stuck in a rut and prices seem to be leveling or even dropping, it's time to think twice about their long-term appeal. On the other hand, if they do continue to create great work, any pieces bought for relatively low sums at the start of their careers should steadily rise in value.

Spreading your bets

If you're lucky enough to have substantial sums of money to spend on art, newer artists, as we've just seen, can produce significant return on investment.

But perhaps the best way to offset the risks that they may never fulfill expectation is to "spread your bets" across a selection of up and coming names.

Buying the work of several different artists might mean settling for less significant works, but with the right kind of knowledge - and luck - hitting a jackpot is still potentially viable.

If you've done your research, the chances are fairly good that at least one - and hopefully more - of your chosen artists will gain in recognition.

And given the phenomenal increase in prices for contemporary art, if that happens, eventual profits could far outweigh the costs of initial purchases, even if other works fail to make the grade.

It's worth remembering that many well-known collectors buy huge amounts of work by new, "promising" artists.

Charles Saatchi is a particularly good example, and although he is famous for the apparent strength of his collection, a sizeable proportion of artists he has bought over the years have faded into obscurity (you won't see these listed on the website).

However, the phenomenal rise in value of those who went on to beome major names - Peter Doig, for example - have reaped him many millions of dollars in overall profit.

And if those are the rewards, you can probably afford to make the odd mistake.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/visual-art-articles/contemporary-art-how-to-buy-for-pleasure-and-profit-483446.html

About the Author

Mike writes for modernedition.com, a contemporary art resource which specializes in information and news on contemporary art as well as the sale of limited editions and multiples by leading artists.

Framing Fine Art

When people consider buying a work of fine art, they usually focus on what kind of artwork they prefer - whether sculpture, painting or photography would be best for the space they have in mind - and then the details of what would be right within the medium, for example whether to choose a wooden sculpture or a metal one, an abstract painting or a figurative one.

Author: Kathleen Chester

When people consider buying a work of fine art, they usually focus on what kind of artwork they prefer - whether sculpture, painting or photography would be best for the space they have in mind - and then the details of what would be right within the medium, for example whether to choose a wooden sculpture or a metal one, an abstract painting or a figurative one.

All of these decisions are important, and getting them right is the only way to end up with something you\'re really happy with at the end of the day. It\'s worthwhile taking your time, discussing with friends or family, and going around galleries or searching online, such as on Art-Mine.com, to see what\'s out there.

However, once all of these decisions have been made, there is often another decision, which is also important but often not given the consideration it deserves. That is the question of framing. Of course, this generally won\'t arise if you\'ve chosen a sculpture for your room, but paintings and photographs, for example, do usually require framing.

The kind of frame you choose will have more of an impact than you might think. It actually influences the impression of the work itself, and how it looks on the wall and the kind of atmosphere the piece as a whole contributes to the room. For this reason, it\'s important to choose the right frame - right for the piece, right for the room, and right for you.

In some ways, picking a frame is a personal decision in the same sort of way buying art is something special to each individual. Some people can\'t stand gilt frames, or anything ornate, while others hate thin frames, or dark ones. Never choose something you\'re not going to be happy to see on your wall every day.

However, there are also aspects of the artwork that need to be taken into account. Not every frame will suit your piece - for example, sometimes a detailed, visually complex work will be best set off with a plain frame, as an intricate one will only detract from what\'s most important - the work itself.

Your own sense of what is appropriate will be valuable here, but for guidance or for an indication of what sorts of factors are worth considering, you can speak to the person or organization you bought the work from. An artist will be able to tell you what he or she imagined for the piece when they created it, and although this isn\'t necessary binding, it\'s definitely something to consider. Similarly, a dealer or gallery director will be able to explain the formal considerations they take into account when framing works in their own space. They\'ll also have years of experience which will help them work out what\'s suitable and what\'s not.

Another aspect to consider - and to let the artist or director know about if you\'re talking to them about the issue - is the wall that the painting is going on. If it\'s a yellow wall, for instance, you might not want a light wooden frame, as the colors might not show the painting or print to advantage. Or, if it\'s a relatively small wall, you might not want to go for a thick frame, which could clutter your visual space. Take a photo of the space in question, and show it to the person you\'re asking for advice, so that they have an idea of what to suggest.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-articles/framing-fine-art-3607817.html

About the Author
Find contemporary fine art for sale by Agora Gallery. Visit Art-mine.com for more information.

Tips To Embellish Your Life With Contemporary Fine Art

Contemporary fine art are artwork pieces that possess the power to stop you in your tracks and cause you to view the entire world anew.

Author: AROLD AUGUSTIN

Contemporary fine art are artwork pieces that possess the power to stop you in your tracks and cause you to view the entire world anew. The large majority of painters would agree that they do put together art to enrich the everyday life every person that views their artworks. There is nothing more inspiring for an artist to find out that their pieces of artwork are valued. A reputable and well seasoned artist would have high hopes that their art pieces would be hung in home for a long time to come.

There are a decent amount of capable folks worldwide who know deep down inside there is some kind of art talent waiting to be revealed. It only takes a really courageous person to get to a point precisely where they would want to disclose their artistic talents with the entire world. Numerous very creative folks would agree that the most powerful inspiring element is motivating men and women in a condition of peace and worldly bliss. Contemporary fine art takes you on an experience that will provide you with a completely new and advantageous perspective with regards to your own personal life.

There is a lot of working specialist who rely upon the natural beauty of their environment to keep them motivated. Surrounding themselves using wonderful contemporary fine art serves as a sure approach to achieve this if they discover an appreciation of a specific art community. Whether or not they adorn their living space with their most favorite artwork or take the time to visit art galleries the benefits is in their personality when it comes down to living.

An art gallery is definitely an event that allows men and women to get up close and personal together with the featured artist. This can be mostly pleasing when you buy a work of art that speaks to you leaving you with unanswered questions. This form of art will bring surprising rewards on your behalf and your loved ones for years to come. Contemporary fine art is a medium that bridges individuals from anywhere in the world together.

Artists strongly encourage lovers of fine art to create multifaceted lifestyles. When you consider the quantity of men and women in search of approaches to beautify their lives most of them have a desire for getting contemporary fine art. Taking the time to know what precisely art can do for you in your own home and business office would certainly amaze you. Folks across the world can come to an understanding that inspirational art can be something that creates a sense of balance in our environments.

School of art can certainly be a launch pad for success for different self motivated artists. It is very crucial for those talented people who quite frankly need the help of a professional to really encourage them. An institution that helps an art student improve what they have is often an immeasurable gift to creative folks that take joy in contemporary fine art.

One can find unique mediums in the niche of art that is occupying the stage of those that have been around for years and years. Advance technology has launched brand-new paths of opportunities for people who create and those who recognize the value of the process. This can be a winning scenario for both if you think about that the emotional forum evolving is that of motivation by means of contemporary fine art.

Contemporary fine art may possibly be the bridge between everyday life and what makes the world splendid daily. Absolutely everyone reaches a place in their lifetime when they let themselves to be moved by the unanticipated without resistances. A wonderful fine art piece that drives a new perception can mean that it belongs with you.

 

 

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/visual-art-articles/tips-to-embellish-your-life-with-contemporary-fine-art-3705329.html

About the Author

Arold Augustin is an artist. He has been involved with art for most of his life. If you want to find out more about Contemporary Wall Art, then you can visit his site at http://www.great-artworks.com where you can find about Contemporary Fine Art to decorate your life.

Red Light Show

I attended the RedLight Show last night. The opening was from 7-10 at the 1310 Gallery.

 The opening was from 7-10 at the 1310 Gallery. The show was about erotic art and exploring sexual boundaries. There were a lot of photographs in the show and few sculptures and paintings.

 

The Burlesque show started at 9pm. It was really interesting. After the burlesque show, there were live musical performances. Since I arrived just as the performances began, I was not able to see the work. During the live musica performances, I browsed the gallery and looked at the work presented. I thought much of the work was not pornagraphic.

 

One of the most interesting pieces was a series of photos of drag queens. The photos were printed on tranparencies and mounted on plexiglass and suspended away from the wall. The light passed through the images and the shadows cast upon the white wall created a black and white version of the photograph. It was an interesting idea that I think the artist could have pushed to another level, leveraging the cast shadows.

 

Overall, I think that it was a good show.

Ignite! Fort Lauderdale

Ignite at Collide Factory
Ignite at Collide Factory

I attended the Ignite event last week in Fort Lauderdale. Ignite is an event that happens in various cities across the world. It spans about a week. Speakers are given 5 minutes and 20 slides to talk about their subject. It is a fast paced way to create discussion.

 

The theme of the Fort Lauderdale event was Creating a Creative Community in Fort Lauderdale. Fort Lauderdale has an budding art scene, however it is not as prominent as Miami's art scene.


There were many different ideas that were discussed by the speakers. Ideas about networking, cultivating a creative economy. There were examples for creatives reaching out into the community to build communication and trust with the public.

The most prominent idea that stuck in my mind was the idea that creativity is based on risk. Creativity thrives and is willing to take risks when surrounded and supported by a community that loves and supports it. This idea can be expanded from one's personal experience to any other area that we interact with.

 

It can start with our family and friends and extend into the workplace. Our interaction in social networking sites can also cultivate a space for sharing our gifts with those that love and support us. This support boosts confidence and allows us to take risks. Risks can lead to innovations and different levels of expression.

 

Artists are a critical part of the community. They create culture and taste. Artists have the special ability to respond to the cultural needs of the community. Together with the community that they interact with, artists can create real and lasting change.

FAT Village Artwalk

I went to the FAT Village Artwalk last night. The FAT Village is in the Arts District in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

I went to the FAT Village Artwalk last night. The FAT Village is in the Arts District in downtown Fort Lauderdale. It is a cluster of galleries and artist studios of various sizes. I found 18 rabbit gallery. I was not  aware of it's exact location. I saw the Sound Art show. It was very interesting to see the approaches to sound and art. There were a few pieces that included viewer participation.

 

The warehouse for the Women's Theatre Project was open and people wandered into that space too. There were all kinds of set props, from giant guitars decorated with glitter to wooden ships.  There were sections with a collection of fabrics and a room filled to the ceiling with costumes.

 

The Party Lofts is enormous. The large paintings displayed inside, were dwarfed by the size of the space. There was a live band playing and interactive sound works.

Being Square

I am in the Be There Be Square show at the Bear and Bird Gallery, opening this weekend. All of the pieces in the show are square.

 

 

I am in the Be There Be Square show at the Bear and Bird Gallery, opening this weekend. All of the pieces in the show are square.

The piece that I entered is based on personal experiences. It is a digital print from an original marker illustration.

Mommy, I want this

 

This piece is a reflection on the fact that racism still exists in today’s world and the seeds of color discrimination are passed on from generation to generation. This work is inspired by my memories of kindergarten, where, one of my friends had suggested that children should only play with dolls that look like them, as in, of the same skin tone. I also noticed in numerous toy stores that even though children do not care whether a doll is black or white, their parents corrupt their innocence by insisting that they go for the white dolls.