Time for a cull in the art world?

"Drew Conrad: Cowboys, Lovers, Losers and Nobodies" 

currently on exhibit at Get This! Gallery 

On January 11th of this year, Waldemar Januszczak's article, Time for a cull in the art world: The art world is plunging along with the rest of the economy.  Hooray!, was published in the London Times.  This morning I sat down and drank my coffee opposite my husband and read and then re-read the piece championing the idea of a recession as the only logical way to reign in the "ugly and worthless" state of the arts that has emerged from 20+ years of rising prices and collapsing values.  It was a big pill to swallow for an art gallery owner.

I do agree with Januszczak that the recession could ultimately produce a "leaner and meaner art world" that has to fight harder for the attention of critics and collectors, benefiting basically everyone.  The art becomes better, the artists more passionate about their work, and in turn, the dealers more motivated and enthusiastic about what they are selling.  

There's just one problem. That already exists.

Emerging artists, new youthful galleries that opened to simply create a forum for these artists (like the artist-owned Get This! Gallery), and cities that have not quite yet experienced the influx of a full-blown art explosion (Atlanta for example), are in direct opposition to the "soft, blubbery, arrogant, self-congratulatory and decadent" art world edifice that Januszczak describes.  These artists, galleries and cities are vibrant, accessible, articulate, inviting and utterly humble.  So, my advice is that he visit some of these cities, artists and galleries that already have a perpetual "fire in their belly" and re-think his attack on the art world as a whole.

In his introduction, Januszcak recalls an interview that he had with dramatic German painter, Georg Baselitz, back in the 1980s when the art business was booming and Baselitz was fetching astronomical prices for his paintings at auction.  When Januszczak asked him if he felt any guilt, he simply stated, "What is better than a painting.  Nothing."  And, all I have to say about that is....my sentiments exactly. 

Get This! Gallery just re-opened at 662 11th Street, on Atlanta's Westside.  They are open 11-6 Wednesday through Saturday.  Drew Conrad's exhibit will be on view through February 28th.

Pollock's Birthday

Pollock in his studio

Google logo for Pollock's birthday

Autumn Rhythm (Number 30), Oil on canvas, 1950

Lavender Mist, Oil on canvas, 1950

Full Fathom Five, Oil and found objects on canvas, 1947

As many of you may know (because you too have seen the Google logo), today is Jackson Pollock's birthday.  You can read more about his art and his legacy here.  Since he is one of my all-time favorites, I thought I would share some pieces I think are his most exceptional.  

You can create your own Pollock-inspired piece here.  So fun!

Enjoy and Happy Wednesday!

What would I do?

Jackson Pollock, "Lavender Mist", 1950

Check out my "guest appearance" on Style Court today...happy reading.

A cold, cold day

Andrew Wyeth in Chadds Ford, Pa. 1997

"Christina's World", Egg tempera, 1946

"Trodden Weed", Tempera on panel, 1951

"Winter", Tempera on board, 1946

Literally and metaphorically, it is a cold day in America today.  In Atlanta, for example, it is 0 degrees with the wind chill, and in Chicago it is actually 1 degree, but feels like -13.  Brrrrrrr.

Today is also a cold day in the art world.  Renowned American  artist, Andrew Wyeth, died last night in his sleep at the age of 91.  The cause of death remains unknown (see his obituary in the New York Times here).  Regardless of the often negative criticism he received from numerous art critics, Wyeth remained focused on painting his signature painstaking realism at a time when the Abstract Expressionists were quickly gaining acclaim, in the mid-20th century. Wyeth's portrayals of rural landscapes and sentimental subjects have been and will continue to be revered by a national and international audience.  

I was fortunate enough to tour the exhibit of Andrew Wyeth's retrospective at Atlanta's High Museum of Art in 2006.  The exhibition, Memory and Magic, included approximately 100 tempera paintings, watercolors and drawings, many from the personal collection of Andrew and Betsy Wyeth.  It was truly a treat and provided me with a deeper appreciation for representational art, specifically egg tempera painting.  Wyeth will forever be remembered as one of America's most recognized and beloved artists, whose work is as emotionally compelling as it is beautiful.   

Chanterelle

Chanterelle Cookbook

The gallery anteroom

Marisol menu cover--where it all started

Cindy Sherman menu cover, 1989

Cy Twombly menu cover, 1980

Robert Rauschenberg menu cover, 2004

Lousie Nevelson menu cover, 1986

Roy Lichtenstein menu cover, 1990

Ellsworth Kelly menu cover

Merce Cunnigham menu cover

Jennifer Bartlett menu cover

James Brown menu cover

Since today is my husband's birthday, I thought I would post about something that will always remind me of him and our first year of marriage.  On our first wedding anniversary, my husband flew me to New York City to dine at the restaurant classic, Chanterelle.  Although the dinner itself was the most exquisite, elegant and delicious meal I have had to date, he decided Chanterelle would be the perfect spot for our anniversary date for a different reason--their menu covers.

Chanterelle, owned by husband and wife team Karen and David Waltuck, opened in 1979 to great acclaim.  With David as the expert chef and Karen as the ultimate hostess, the restaurant was quickly touted as one of New York's best with the help of one very personal touch.  Since the two felt that art on the walls would draw the diner's eyes up and away from their meal, the couple began to commission contemporary American artists to paint their menu covers.  The first had a print by renowned TriBeCa-based sculptor, Marisol.  Since then, they have featured works by the likes of Roy Lichtenstein, Cy Twombly, Jennifer Bartlett, and Ellsworth Kelly, to name a few.  Changing the menu cover twice a year, the appearance of a new featured work has become something that guests inevitably anticipate.  The "retired" menu covers are each framed and hang in a small gallery anteroom where guests are seated as they wait for their tables.  

The menu covers are breathtaking and some of the pieces featured have even become famous works of art.  I have included many examples above, but you can see the entire collection here.

This holiday season, I received the new Chanterelle cookbook (also pictured above) from my husband, which shares the history of this fantastic New York mainstay.  For David and Karen Waltuck, art has become a part of their business, which they gladly embrace.  I strongly encourage you, the next time you visit New York City, to make a reservation at Chanterelle and make sure that you pay close attention to the menu cover (and your hand written receipt) which will likely feature the work of a noteworthy contemporary artist.  Oh, and the food is pretty good too!

Some artists aren't starving

Rex Ray postcard book cover

Rex Ray, Dolomite Loop, Mixed media on linen, 2001

An image from a postcard I have already sent (therefore do not have information for!)

REM poster for the Greek Theatre Show

My husband knows how much I love collage and for Christmas he gave me a postcard book with 30 cards depicting images of Rex Ray's collage work from over the years.  Rex Ray is a San Francisco based fine artist, whose collages, paintings and design work have been exhibited at galleries and museums, including The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, University Art Museum in Berkeley, San Jose Museum of Modern Art, and the Los Angeles Contemporary, to name a few.  So, Rex is obviously well-known and highly regarded for his fine art , but he is also a fantastic graphic designer and has certainly made a name for himself designing as well.  In this economy, many artists are being forced to find other sources of income, and it seems as though graphic design is a popular option.  In fact, many of my artists work as both fine artists and graphic designers.

It appears that Rex Ray is accomplished as both, evidenced by his extensive resume of museum and gallery shows as well as examples of design work that include over 100 rock and roll tour posters, including ones for The Rolling Stones, Patti Smith, REM, Bjork, U2 and Radiohead (which I absolutely love since I am music-obsessed).  It is quite nice to read that he has recently arrived at a place in his fine art career where his original artwork in finally paying the bills.  It is inspiring to know that this can be his single source of income; as I know many artists strive for that.

So, in honor of 'making art a career,' I am currently sending all of my correspondence (for the gallery and otherwise) on these Rex Ray postcards.  It is so personal to receive a postcard these days and Rex Ray is certainly a wonderful inspiration.