Wow. Beautiful. I also regret not seeing this show. I left NY the day this show opened at Gagosian. Taaffe continues to interest to me for his ability to employ technology in painting, but make such “effortless” imagery. Despite his precise tools and preparation, his paintings appear so loose - as if they just happened naturally. The color, transparency, and complexity keep me looking. What are those red and purple shapes?
2 comments February 28th, 2007
Gordon Matta Clark Retrospective opens at the Whitney today! I regret not being born earlier, so I could see his building dissections on location. I believe he has been much more influential than anyone has ever acknowledged, and I think he is one of the few “Giants.” Why has his status remained relatively quiet for so long?
3 comments February 23rd, 2007
The top picture is the folding pattern for the final product below. This article is from Susan Orlean, in the latest issue of the New Yorker: “The Origami Lab, Why a physicist dropped everything for paper folding”:
Some started to study paper folding mathematically; others, including Lang, began devising mathematical tools to help with designing, all of which enabled the development of increasingly complex folding techniques. In 1970, no one could figure out how to make a credible-looking origami spider, but soon folders could make not just spiders but spiders of any species, with any length of leg, and cicadas with wings, and sawyer beetles with horns. For centuries, origami patterns had at most thirty steps; now they could have hundreds. And as origami became more complex it also became more practical. Scientists began applying these folding techniques to anything — medical, electrical, optical, or nanotechnical devices, and even to strands of DNA — that had a fixed size and shape but needed to be packed tightly and in an orderly way.
Check out Robert Lang’s website. And check out this site for lots of background info.
1 comment February 23rd, 2007
I came back from New York feeling experimental, so I decided to have the students bring their computers into life drawing class. After all, they are digital artists, so I thought, “why not?” It was a huge success! Suddenly, they all became geniuses.
Above is a picture of Ian figuring out some of the brush settings on photoshop, and how they can become pressure sensitive to the WACOM tablet, which they were all drawing on. I was really surprised how much their drawings looked like ink and charcoal on paper. See below.
I believe part of the success comes from the fact that they have more distance from these drawings. The image is smaller, so they can more easily identify proportion problems. Also, they can rapidly rescale or rotate parts of the figure with a keystroke. The computer unleashed their good observation. On paper, I found that they were not bold enough with their changes, but this project showed me how keen their observation can be.
I don’t think digital drawing should replace physical drawing, it couldn’t. But it sure is an interesting tool for exploring a different way of thinking. And the computer is capable of way more sensuality than it is given credit for.
4 comments February 22nd, 2007
This was our modest booth at CAA. It was simple, but served us well. People seem to understand the idea quickly. The major universities are understandably cautious, but are still interested in moving forward.
Interestingly, no one actually wanted to play on the computers - perhaps they didn’t want to feel “trapped.” In the future, we will probably just use an explanatory animation. Luckily, we don’t need much to sell the idea: an online system for gathering applicant portfolios. Actually, we are struggling to keep up with the demand. Here we come!
Below is an image from CAA’s prep room for exhibitors, check out the equipment, whoa.
This is another factor working in our favor: 35mm slides are being phased out, and projectors have been canceled completely. (And Powerpoint has been a standard for years) This convention looked like they bought all of the remaining projectors - keep fighting the good fight, ha!
It snowed the whole time, which I loved. Even though I was usually carrying 50lbs worth of equipment and luggage, the snow made me feel athletic and contemplative simultaneously. I also love how the snow seems to “erase” the landscape, leaving unlikely cues to the hidden terrain.
I stayed with my sister (above) for the first few days in Williamsburg. I was so impressed with how she has adjusted within only a year. She has a beautiful apartment, a good job, and many friends. She moved there with nothing - now look at her! I’m jealous.
I stayed with my good friend Evan for the last few days. That’s him above, proud of his new scarf. To the left is the view out his kitchen window. He lives further out in Brooklyn, but has HUGE pristine apartment with an extra room.
I wish I had more time to spend with everyone while I was there, but was very busy schmoozing for my business. Luckily I was able to visit the painting studio of HiLow, and had a great time talking about painting, the art market, and how artists live and work in NY. Some NY artists wonder if the sacrifice is worth it, particularly when so many “outsiders” are getting shows. Is it hard to get noticed in NY? I’m curious to hear stories. HiLow, PUT YOUR WORK ONLINE!
I was also moved by the pride New Yorkers have for their city. I have never seen anything like it. But I can understand - I fell in love last week, and aim to live their soon.
This was a picture taken by my friend Ryan, on our long 5 hour walk across the Brooklyn bridge and up the East side. This walk was one of the highlights of my trip.
8 comments February 21st, 2007
