Advice from Ira Glass

First, read the quote above, and take some time to process it with some humility.

Secondly, if you don’t already know, Ira Glass is a genius, and creator & host of This American Life, a weekly NPR radio show that features long-form stories centered around a theme.  I am a long time fan of the show.  It’s a great treatment for artist block.  Locally you can listen on 90.3 WCPN on Sundays at 11am, or on TAL podcast.  Here’s a nice gateway episode called Blame it on Art to get you hooked and on to the harder stuff.

Next, if you like what your hear, check out NPR’s Radio Lab.  Hosts Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich do a compelling job of uniting arts and science in a completely engaging and innovate way.

Finally, when you are in a position to do so, support your local NPR station and get a cool tote bag or coffee mug to show you like smart, creative stuff.

Zoo Trip: October 7

 

SOFA is organizing another FREE trip to the zoo to draw, paint or photograph.

Friday, October 7 from 10am – 5pm.

There’s a picnic scheduled for 1pm in the parking lot picnic areas.  Food will be provided by SOFA, but don’t be afraid to pring anything.  Please RSVP so SOFA knows has a rough headcount for tickets.  For more information download the flyer: zoo trip

Towards Hope & Restoration: Cleveland Photographers Respond

. . .

The Gallery at Trinity Commons is pleased to announce an exhibition of contemporary photography:Towards Hope & Restoration: Cleveland Photographers Respond (9/10/11 – 11/20/11).

Read curator James Wyman‘s article in the Campus District Observer on this exhibition.  This show is right across Euclid from CSU.  The exhibition includes Jeannette Palsa, Honey Lazar, Tracey Lind, Charles Mintz and Garie Waltzer.

Guggenheim Internships

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is currently accepting applications for 2012 internships, in particular for the spring semester (mid-January through mid-April). Guggenheim internships are available for-credit as well as open to students and recent graduates not receiving academic credit but wish to pursue practical training in a museum environment.

Click here to learn more: Guggenheim Internships 2012, and contact me for more information on arranging your course credit.

Spinning a Web to Catch an Eye @ SPACES

September 22, 6:30 – 8pm @ SPACES 

2220 Superior Viaduct, Cleveland, OH  44113


Spinning a Web to Catch an Eye: Online Portfolios
: Web portfolios are the new slide sheet. Don’t be caught without one. Get your work on the web for cheap or free so people can marvel at your genius. Instructed by Christopher Lynn.

Each workshop is $5 or FREE for SPACES and COSE members. Register online to secure a spot at: 
http://www.SPACESgallery.org/shop/tickets.

SPACES next More Art, Less Fart workshop is Full Court Press, learning the do’s and don’ts of approaching media about your art work. It will take place on Sep 29.

Photo Fictions at University of Akron

click for larger image of the flyer

Emily Davis Gallery on the campus of University of Akron
150 E. Exchange Street, Akron, OH 44325

Opening Reception: Thu Sept 22, 5 – 8pm
Exhibition runs Sep 12 – Oct 22
Gallery hours: Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat      10am – 5pm
Wed, Thu                      10am – 8pm

There are a bunch of gallery tours led by curator and University of Akron Professor, Penny Rakoff.  Since we won’t have classes on Monday, Oct 10 to observe Columbus Day we’ve decided to meet at the gallery that day at 3:30pm for a tour.  We can coordinate carpooling in class closer to the date.

Photographers have always understood that photographs possess intrinsic authenticity in the mind of the viewer.  Contemporary artists, seizing upon this phenomenon, take delight in creating their own realities.  Manipulation of the image can occur at many stages, from constructing or directing the scene, whether taken in the landscape or in the studio, to technical manipulation on the computer or in the darkroom.  The work in Photo Fictions: Staged, Constructed and Altered Images is diverse in style, ranging from monumental to small scale and incorporates various processes.

This looks to be an exciting show with many notable photographic artists.  The works in this exhibit come primarily from collectors Fred and Laura Bidwell  and John Williams (see previous post), with additional work from a handful of other local artists and collectors.

The 14 Most Influential Cameras of All Time

Selecting the all-time best of anything is always a daunting task, and that’s especially true of cameras, which have undergone a seismic paradigm shift in moving from film to digital. It’s also a great way to start arguments, generate irate letters and e-mails, and tick off your buddies at various camera companies.  Read: The 14 Most Influential Cameras of All Time from Adorama Learning Center.

CMA Contemporary Art Outpost

…Coming to the West Side!

Behold: the future of CMA's Transformer Gallery, on W 29 St., just south of Detroit.

…and it will specialize in contemporary photographic art.  Fred and Laura Bidwell, Akron-based art collectors and philanthropists , are buying a crazy old building in Ohio City to showcase their extensive collection. To get a better idea of what they’re about visit the Bidwell Projects website. Local architect, collector and personal hero, John Williams will be in charge of the renovations and expansion.  It is a joint project between the Bidwells and  the Cleveland Museum of Art.  The Bidwells will eventually donate both the gallery and their collection to the Museum.

This is an amazing development.  I mean, I don’t know how much more good CLE contemporary art/photography news like this I can take. For the full story read Steven Litt’s article in cleveland.com and CMA Friends of Photography blog.

Ingenuity Fest in the Plain Dealer

The coolest, most interesting, most distinctive and best arts festival in the whole world ever is this weekend in Cleveland.  Cleveland.com / Plain Dealer has more details about the festival.  Check out these links:

Cleveland’s Ingenuityfest kicks off Friday with an intriguing blend of art, technology

What to see at Ingenuityfest

For more details, including a schedule and map, visit:

http://ingenuitycleveland.com/

CMA Friends of Photography

Last night had the pleasure of visiting the home of Joanne Cohen and Morris Wheeler for a presentation by renowned photographic artist Roger Ballen.  The event was sponsored by Cleveland Museum of Art’s Friends of Photography. FOP’s mission is to “cultivate knowledge of the art and history of photography, to promote collecting, and to generate funds with which to acquire works for the museum.”  So, I finally joined, and I’m wondering what took me so long.  It was a great evening of stimulating conversation, viewing an amazing collection in the home, and listening to Mr. Ballen discuss his work.

I was a little surprised that he was such a formalist.  His work has always seemed like it was hyper-charged with dark, if ambiguous, content.  But I really connected to his creative drive.  Be sure to check out Roger Ballen’s website for more information on the artist and his work.

Friends of Photography is comprised of local photographic artists, art collectors, educators, museum staff, enthusiasts, and just plain great people from around the area.  Oh, yeah…and students.  A small contingent of photo students made their way from Oberlin College for the event.  Students get a special rate of $75 to join, but in order to join you also need to become a member of CMA.  The museum offers a 30% discount on Individual or Family Memberships to full-time students.  Please speak with me if you’re interested in joining.

A definite highlight of the evening was viewing Joanne Coheen and Morris Wheeler’s amazing art collection, which included many great names of contemporary photographic art, including Chuck Close, Gregory Crewdson, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Uta Barth, Ori Gersht, Damien Hirst (!),  John Baldessari, Andy Goldsworthy, William Wegman, Sam Taylor Wood, Cindy Sherman, Dawoud Bey, David Levinthal, James Welling, Tracy Moffat, Andrew Moore, Man Ray, Catherine Opie, Ed Burtinsky, Chris Jordan, Barbara Kruger, Michael Wolf …. (*big exhale*), and my hero, Vik Muniz (above).