While in New York

I spend some time at the New Museum of Contemporary Art. The structure is magnificent architectural experience. On the roof, you see all you need to see: The City. The stairs, spaces, and movement approximates art to a true Kantian spiritual intimacy.

On view
Skip Museum as a Hub. The work by Paul Chain reminded me of Kara Walker. While the exhibition Double Album continues the discussion on installation, globalization, and culture.

Delightful Causalities at the Whitney Biennale 2008

As my hopes for something stimulating were starting to diminish I came across with Mika Rottenberg. Still from cheese wraps goats, hair, milk, and women in an installation that continues the dialog of women’s social position in the modern century. Inspired by a true story she portrays the life of six long haired women that use their hair to establish dominance in their goat farm. Further, their hair seems to have a surreal sensuality, as the wrap and caress it to stimulate the goats. They run around the goat farm. As they were trapped in a structure which sometimes goes out of control, but they know how to regain control fairly quickly.

2008 Time magazine 100 most influential people in the world

While growing in Puerto Rico, I had to define my sentiments towards Cuba. Both islands share a history of colonization, political oppression, and tumultuous relationship with the United States. After the Cuban revolution in 1959, some wealthy Cubans moved to San Juan, while the patriotism of the independent movement within my island was inspired by the liberation of Cuba from the United States. In high school, I wished that I could participate in a brigade to work in a farm in Cuba. But life molded me into an immigrant that ended up in the United States.

Yoani Sánchez’s blog Generación Y, http://www.desdecuba.com/generationy/, informs about the social and cultural realities of Cuba which has earned her international recognition. She mentions the trend in Cuba to name people weird names that start with Y. In Puerto Rico, there was also a trend of naming kids strangely like Nanushka, Nitroshka, Yerannia.

Candy Shop

Besides being enchanted by the new Madonna album, what I love the most about is the quality of the contemporary artists to redefine concepts. One of her songs is named Candy Shop.
Now, every time I hear does two words together, I will not have to think of that hideous 50 cent song!!!!

Dying Dog and Gallery Space

Dying Dog and Gallery Space

Art expression should not be restricted. Every artist brings a conversation to a space or situation, which may express a quality of a given time. It seems as the discourse of death seems to frighten people in such dynamics times.
Here are some flicks of the work by Guillermo Vargas Habacuc.

Blasphemous IKEA

My fabulous IKEA bed died with a banging.

File under beds one cannot make good love on.

Zoe Crosher: 1 Yr later

Although I bring a bad picture, I fancy this project because it speaks to the modern girl.

She took pictures of girls in their last year of high school in their bedrooms. The artist revisited the participants a year later to retake another picture and portray their transformations.

The Long Count, 2008 – Elia Arce

The Long Count, 2008 – Elia Arce

I am intrigued with the relationship between the post modern concept of identity and behavioral adaptation. The adoption of an identity creates a system of rules for the individual and group. People enjoy attaching their name to an idea that is culturally defined according to the environment. (That being Mexican, Texan, Black, Nigger, Blonde, Hispanic, Hispano, Minority, Majority, among many- but some like to belong and follow the rules of a group)



The Long Count recollects past identities in a participatory technological game. Her project investigates the artist’s roles and spaces throughout her migratory existence. With the aid of technology, we become part of the piece.

CALL FOR ART

Submissions for the 2009 Peace of Mind Calendar
Deadline April 21st
The Carson J Spencer Foundation is inviting artwork for its third annual calendar. The powerful vehicle of art can side-step the inadequacies of words, and nurture artists and viewers alike in a realm where hope and healing are possible.

Goals:

* To initiate awareness and social change within the community around the issues of mental health and suicide prevention with works of art that speak to hope and recovery
* To unite the various mental health and suicide prevention organizations around the country (i.e. National Alliance on Mental Illness – a major contributor to this project)
* To utilize the vehicle of social business as a tool to support the work of the Carson J Spencer Foundation


Criterion:

* 2 submission per artists is maximum
* Any two-dimensional medium accepted (painting, drawing, photography, mixed, digital, etc)
* New artwork preferred
* Concept: Art must portray the story of how the process of making art has served a window to your wellness, illuminating your story from struggle to recovery
* 100 word narrative ready-for-print (maximum) – succinctly delineates the concept of your personal story to aid viewers in understanding your work and process.
* No submission accepted with references to weapons and/or drugs, nor images of violence


Submissions:

* Please submit a high resolution Jpeg version of your work, accompanied by the 100 word narrative, and applicable contact information (emails preferred) to danneber@regis.edu
* 13 pieces will be selected for the 2009 calendar
* If selected, please note that you will need to send the image in a high resolution (300 dpi minimum) Tiff format with a color setting of CMYK on a CD
* Artwork will be judge upon the basis of artistic merit and adherence to the concept – all decisions are final


Benefits of Participation:

* The calendar will be sold in national chain stores such as Borders and Barnes & Noble
* As an artist you will receive three calendars as compensation and can purchase more at a greatly discounted rate
* Personal satisfaction knowing you have helped deconstruct the barriers surrounding these serious issues


Contact: Drew Anneberg
AmeriCorps Volunteer – Carson J Spencer Foundation
303-964-3643
danneber@regis.edu

My questions for the pregnant man

Let’s imagine.

I am desperate wanting to have a child but I cannot have children. While reading the paper, I come across with an article that explains a procedure that would allow my husband/boyfriend to get pregnant. Would I ask a man to get pregnant for me??

Hell No!!

My concerns with this pregnant man have nothing to do with Christianity or morality. When it comes down to it, we all have the right to make our own choices. However, the behavior of Thomas Beatie (pregnant man) poses questions on the credibility of transsexuality and gender roles in contemporary culture.

There was a young girl that felt like a boy. She felt such passion that decided to change her appearance by wearing different clothes, acting more masculine, and modify her name. Not feeling adequate enough, she opt for a different transformation by taking testosterone to deepen her voice, get more muscles, facial hair, among some of the alterations that testosterone bring to the female body. Thomas decided to go through an operation to remove her breast. All in her quest to find himself in a body. After 6 years without a menstruation, she gets pregnant.

My question: What is your conception of a man?

In terms of gender, conceiving is the one thing that separate females from males. (Even menstruation can be seen as a case of hemorrhoids)

I wonder if her years of hormonal plays will affect the development of the child.

Refer to:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/04/03/wpregnant103.xml

Adaption and the Music Industry

Between downloads and sound systems I have forgotten to buy new CDs. Although, I still enjoy going to Ameba to get a discount on some well sound used music. I rather listen to a record put it on my iPod and roll along. The internet has brought the power of music back to the people. We will not let go. What is left to do for the CEOs of record companies who worry that they are not getting any richer? What we have been doing for years Adapt.

Live Nation has partnered with some of the most captivating artists in what portrays a new reality of business in the music industry. Their contracts focus on live music and benefits from new technologies. Ultimately, we will never be able to download the experience of live music. Instead of fighting a ridiculous battle against downloads Live Nation promises to move forward.

Let’s hope everyone can afford the tickets.

References:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/03/arts/music/03jayz.html?ref=arts

First impressions

As I walked into ¨How Artists Draw: Toward the Drawing Institute and Study Center¨ at the Menil Collection I realized, I have seen this before. I was refreshed by the always-ingenious Picasso while engaging in Ernst’s provocative imagery. I kept maneuvering by the bombarded walls, only to be encounter by Rothko, Kelly, Twombly, Rauschenberg, Johns, the list seems never ending. At this point I wonder is this a conspiracy? What can go wrong in a show that includes over 200 pieces of so many masters?

Nothing,

I understand the desire of the institution to reemphasize the diversity of meanings that the craft of drawing took in the 20th century. I enjoy the beauty of legacy, but the piece that captivated me the most was a 2006 Gober. For an institution that embraces the contemporary arts, I left wanting to see more works that capture the contemporary meaning of drawing and how new artists are challenging what previous these artists established.

http://www.menil.org/exhibitions.html

Must Watch: Persepolis

How many of us have experienced war in our countries? Although I grew up in a modern day colony, I have not. Certainly I have been bombarded with the ideology to create violence and upheavals abroad, but never clearly understood the selfish motives and the condition of man in a state of war.

Marjane Stratrapi's animated adaptation of her acclaimed graphic novel Persepolis is playing at the Angelika only to entice our minds and spirits. The noble aura of the story is complemented with a romantic imagery. This autobiography tells the journey of a girl growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. She was forced to move to Vienna to face her condition and that of the foreign culture. The piece can be described as the elegant Franco-Belgian comic style meets Art Spiegelman's social consciousness in modern Iran.

For those who read the books, you will not be disappointed. The artists were keen at being loyal to the style and portraying the essence of this modern tale. For those you have not read it, go watch it. You will discover that even those that we are taught to hate have to endure social oppression but share the desire to one day live in place where we can trust justice and proclaim individual freedom.
P.S. Marjane will be in Houston in 4/12/2008

FotoFest Is Near

Announcements for Fotofest are starting to be seen. Individual Artist Award Grant recipient Sergio Santos promise a mysteriously glooming composition excited by Kelly Gale Amen. I am awaiting to perceive the expression of their jointed melodies.

Agustina’s Little Polymorphous: where minimalism is transformed by Freud.

Agustina Nuñez’s Little Polymorphous drives between the minimalist trace and Falkor from The Neverending Story. Her simplistic forms navigate through the space in fantastic childish imagery. It covers four walls with the interplay of images. As I walked in I was faced with a dragon with a hand-shaped tail painted with yellow, blue, red and black. The dragon was about to swallow a little boy with his boxing gloves. On the opposed wall there where two cradles that are meant to be left alone in the despair of repressed libido. She translates’ Freud’s theory with aid of a minimalist composition. Little Polymorphous is a mural at DiverseWorks which the title instigates our repressed sexual fantasies, not necessarily those which are composed by children, but those in the middle of the absurd.




www.diverseworks.org