Monday NEWS and LINKS

Welcome to the 100th post of the new and improved version of The Pit!

For this Monday's reading, we have world events, VIP Art Fair wrap-up, and some Gawker fun:

Finally, the wrap-up we've been anxiously waiting for...Ed Winkleman discusses the VIP Art Fair dealer experience (and it's not as detailed as we were hoping for)

Illicit Cultural Property blog is following the reports of looting in Egypt.

VIP art fair spam?? I could've guessed this one.

Using Flickr to rebuild the world virtually...down to the millimeter.

C-Monster's Digest (more links than I have)

Some funny Gawker reading to get you through your Monday...about that "cool" place, the ACE hotel.

TAGS: news

Fatta Cuckoo is OPEN!

HDB dined at Fatta Cuckoo the other night--here are some shots of her company (Leah & Marty!) and her flourless chocolate cake.

TAGS: mixedgreensartists

BREAKING NEWS

Wichcraft changed their menu. This news will mean more to some than others. (it might just be life-changing)

TAGS:

We love a good party

EFA Project Space is starting up the "Welcome To New York" Party for new artists in town. We love a good party, and love welcoming newbies. Kudos to EFA for this idea.

And speaking of a good time, word on the street is that there's gonna be a Flick Football Tourney next week at Partners & Spade...Mark Mulroney and other shady characters will probably be involved. I'd rate this a NOT TO BE MISSED event.

Do you think Banksy and Vik Muniz are celebrating over their respective Academy Award nominations??

TAGS:

VIP: Frustration

Talk about banging your head against a wall...

The VIP Art Fair has suffered a few setbacks. First, the slow factor. Second, the failed chat function. And now, the critics:

Wall Street Journal's Speakeasy blog.

Paddy Johnson's Art Fag City.

Artinfo.com

TAGS: artfairs / news

VIP: a few hurdles

The VIP Art Fair launched this weekend to much fanfare (and publicity). However, it seems to be encountering a bumpy start due to slow loading pages, slow loading videos, and a chat feature that's down for maintenance (see screenshot above of David Kordansky's booth--the red means that they are offline). As soon as the chat feature began to falter, I noticed that a few dealers posted a message with their email contact. Considering the chat feature is the only way for interested collectors to inquire about the works, I hope hope hope that VIP gets this up and running soon.



The chatter on Facebook is definitely that the site is suuuuper slow. But I guess that's to be expected when you have thousands of super high-res artwork images loading.

The visitors are still pretty optimistic, but I wonder how the dealers are feeling about these technical difficulties. Hyperallergic blogged about one such chat fail between Paddy Johnson and Postmasters gallery, not to mention the fact that VIP visitors' email addresses are being given to galleries upon entering a booth. ArtReview is saddened by the lack of free booze (aren't we all).

TAGS: artfairs

VIP Countdown Fail

Me-thinks someone mis-programmed the countdown for the VIP Art Fair's opening date on their website, because according to the above image, we're at zero hour and the fair doesn't open until 8am TOMORROW. Hmm...confusing. At least I hope the fair isn't open yet because the booths are only 97% finished.

TAGS: artfairs

(Meta) Screen Shot

James Fuentes gallery's homepage is a screenshot of his VIP fair booth. And above is my screenshot of his screenshot. It's just that kind of a day. (and if you look closely enough you can see the sites I've been reading today)

So there's obviously a lot of focus on the soon to launch VIP Art Fair. Paddy Johnson at Art Fag City has an interesting article here.


And just in case you've forgotten WHEN exactly it is you should be at your keyboard for the "opening" of the VIP art fair, the website kindly reminds you via COUNTDOWN that you've got only 1 day left of nail biting anticipation before the eventual "virtual" wonderment!

And, in other important news: Guggenheim showing Greek Tycoon's collection?!? (thank you James Wagner for this story)

TAGS: artfairs / news

Is this art?

I'll admit I've had a nasty run-in with bed bugs, and this is probably why I'm not so humored by Gavin Brown's upcoming exhibition, titled Bed Bugs. The half-assed sign (posted in Gavin Brown's window) advertising Nate Lowman + Rob Pruitt's collaborative project is an all-too-poignant reminder of infestations of the past, leading me to question: "Is this art?" Someone (other than me) will have to be daring enough to venture inside to find out. If you see a truck parked outside with a beagle on it, my advice is to avoid avoid avoid.

TAGS:

In the News

Oops! Shipping Happens.

Looks like I'm not the only one with a bad impression of the Art Exchange.

This is already old news, but it's still good for a chuckle. Jerry loses his cool on Tyler Green.

Shepard settles with the AP!

Ummm, the Los Angeles Times has an online SHOP???

TAGS:

Tuesday: the opening!

TUESDAY: the opening (and Peter Segerstrom's sound installation) from Mixed Greens on Vimeo.

The line to get inside!!


Jennifer Marman & Daniel Borins' Google 2.0 google eyes are following you.


A few installation shots...




Detail of Heather Rasmussen's sculpture.


Detail of Joy Drury Cox's Old Man and Sea


The aftermath...

And lastly, a SHOUT OUT to Art Fag City for this lovely listing!




TAGS: installation / opening

TUESDAY: the installation continues

An injured Rob Carter has found a way to style-up his cast: with modified Mixed Greens gloves.


With his broken hand he hammers away, using a crowbar to break through the wall. (This proved of course to be too painful, and Courtney had to take over)


Jennifer Marman & Daniel Borins install their wall sculpture, "Google 2.0". You can check it out in person beginning tomorrow, 6-8pm, at Mixed Greens.



TAGS: installation / robcarter

When "Art As Investment" Gets Tricky

Today's art news headlines include a story on the Art Exchange, essentially a stock market for art. This French company's insistence that participating galleries continue to show and actively represent the artworks on the exchange (to support and increase their value) reminded me a lot of the working model for the Artists Pension Trust, which led me to the MutualArt website.

What I found on the MutualArt website was a tad disturbing. On the "About" page's right hand column I linked to a CNBC video--an interview with MutualArt founder Al Brenner. The financial reporters asked questions I would expect from financial reporters--they asked about annual returns, "why buy now", and the not unusual "how do I go about unloading this stuff?" This is normal-speak for financial advisers, but absolutely unheard of for art advisers and art dealers. The worst part of the interview is that rather than explaining why a collector shouldn't go about unloading a work of art a year after he/she purchased it, Mr. Brenner goes on to suggest that a buyer can expect an approximate 10% return annually on investment. WHAAA?? What happened to reinforcing the idea that a collector should buy what he/she loves and enjoys most? When the TV reporter says, "I just don't get this--I don't understand it", I wish that Mr. Brenner would have said "well, you don't have to understand it. Buy what you're interested in--what holds your attention and speaks to you" rather than suggest that she wasn't enjoying it because she hadn't done her research on its auction history.

ALSO, I found it especially irresponsible for Mr. Brenner not to point out the problems with "flipping" artwork purchases. This can be totally destructive and detrimental to an artist's career (it can ruin an emerging artist's market). Since MutualArt is acting as a "source of art information" and apparently a guide to art collectors, it should certainly reinforce important art market guidelines, such as LONG-TERM INVESTMENT as well as the lesser known rules, hurdles and "buyer-bewares" (right of first refusal, authentication, condition, etc.)

My two cents.

TAGS:

In the News

Reading/Watching for today

This video is an absolute MUST WATCH. Read Ed Winkleman's thoughts on the Arizona tragedy here.

If you're looking to buy something expensive, read this list of what NOT to buy first.

Top 5 Most Underreported Stories of 2010 (according to CNN)

We will lose the obelisk in Central Park??!!

TAGS:

SHOUT OUT: The Ministry of Artistic Affairs

I'm SHOUTING OUT today to The Ministry of Artistic Affairs, and to Randy Gladman, for awesomely spreading the word about our upcoming group exhibition Tuesday, curated by mr. and mrs. amani olu.

The Ministry of Artistic Affairs--check it out. It's gooood readin'.



TAGS:

TUESDAY: the installation begins

Above: Michelle and Rob are assembling Heather Rasmussen's work.


Above: Joy Drury Cox gets some help installing her wall-sized installation.

Mark your calendars because TUESDAY, curated by mr. and mrs. amani olu, opens this Thursday, 6-8pm (Jan 13th) at Mixed Greens.

TAGS: exhibitions / installation / robcarter

Frame Fail

Clarification: We won this at a benefit. This was not framed by our framer. IF you want a great frame, go to Pranayama Art!



TAGS: funday

Friday is Fun Day

Don't think I forgot about Fun Day! Steven's got on his new snow boots today--just in time for Round 2 of The Snow Storm. Just thought I'd share.

TAGS: funday

Let's talk about media.

New Media v. Social Media


NEW MEDIA: let's consider new media to cover websites, blogs, any respected digital space or feature, really--an app, a video stream, a podcast. This media will, for at least the next 50 years, probably still be known as "new media" because it took practically as long to be adopted by the arts community as mainstream. This is an industry that is at once forward-thinking and technologically challenged (Flintstones-style). Kudos to those working with new media!! Below I am listing examples of new media that should serve as reasons for why this is so super important for the art world:

Art Fag City (blog): Why? Because it's humorous and critical. And it's on top of the lowest of the Lower East Side. How else would we get daily updates on the goings on of the emerging art scene? Blogs are updated with far greater ease than websites. How else can international art news be spread efficiently and cheaply? Thank goodness for the web-log!

Walker Art Museum (cell phone audio tours): Why? It's certainly easier to use your phone for an audio tour than to wait in line to check out an audioguide. It seems like a big money saver for the institution as well. And what could possibly make an exhibition more engaging, more informative, more exciting than hearing about the works from the curator (or sometimes even that artis!)? As Martha Stewart would say, "It's a good thing."

The Exhibitionist (iPhone app): Why? Because it will significantly cut down on your paper usage: no more printing out maps to plan your gallery-hopping routes. This will be one of those tools where a year from now I will wonder how I ever managed without it. Aside from listings and reviews, this helpful application maps out your route, which you can then share with your friends.


SOCIAL MEDIA: This is something I consider to include social networking, Twitter, Flickr, Foursquare, ASmallWorld, etc. I categorized blogs as being outside social media because at least a few of them are recognized art world authorities. But then of course there are the hundreds if not thousands of hobby-bloggers who provide a great deal of content and interesting (outsider?) criticism to the art world. Aside from these bloggers, I'm not sure that social media provides as much of a lasting significance as new media does. Other than increasing viewership and visibility, Arianna Huffington suggests that sometimes connecting is just for connecting-sake. And that doesn't really make much of an impact when it comes to art.

MoMA's Facebook page: It provides the same visitor info you find on the museum’s main website (opening hours, exhibitions, etc.) The Twitter feed proudly announces news of great importance such as, “We’re open until 8pm tonight with DJ Andrew Kuo, bar & $28 prix fixe dinner) The YouTube tab must be filled with all sorts of goodies because it was taking so long to load that I eventually gave up. But the fact that 621,583 “People Like This” is hard to ignore. That number will surely be higher by the time you, reader, are reading this. It’s, um, well liked. People know what MoMA is. This Facebook page seems to share with the viewer that MoMA is something that is KNOWN and if you don’t already know it, you probably should. I don’t know if this type of page serves MoMA as much as it serves Facebook users. I’m sure it’s fine for MoMA to add yet another fan to it’s list of thousands, but John Doe gets to show off to his friends that he’s a fan of MoMA, and is therefore a pretty cool, cultured guy...who’s benefiting more here? And is this benefit in any way furthering the museum’s mission? Me thinks not.


TAGS:

Events, Events, Events!

I hope you've already purchased your 2011 calendars, because it's time to start marking them up with a flurry of events happening:

Visual AIDS 13th Annual Benefit POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE, January 7th (TOMORROW!) @ CRG Gallery

NYFA MARK: Deadline January 14, 2011. What is MARK? Why should you be applying? Find out here. I wouldn't be mentioning it if it weren't worth it!

The Not-Rob-Pruitt's Art Awards: get your nominations in ASAP!

TAGS: benefits / event

Oh Rats!

Upon leaving my apartment this morning I was confronted by a full-on rat fiasco on Spring Street. One ran right towards me--we were both trapped on a narrow sidewalk between leftover piles of snow. I eventually had to leap over the oncoming rodent. The rat above is definitely cuter than the little guys I encountered this morning. Obviously I had to share this minor heart-attack experience, and to keep it art related see the links below:

Rats in Art (mostly all "good" rats)
Rats in a Museum (the Hermitage!!!)

TAGS:

In The Know

Seems there's a lot to know about these days:

Lindsay Pollock is the new Editor-In-Chief of Art In America

Word on the street is that Partners & Spade will be hosting a Flick Football tournament...and those of us at The Pit are dying to be invited.

Art Stock Exchange???

TAGS:

Happy New Year from The Pit

Welcome to 2011.

It's time to reflect on the past:
- I'm sure many of you had one of two of these over the years.
- 2010 Artinfo.com Reading Roundup (the iPad was a popular story!)
- Great White attacks boat!

As well as look forward to the future:
- Mark your calendar for this event!
- Not sure if this is something to look forward to, but it is something to make note of for your taxes this year.



TAGS:

Rob Carter...back in The Pit

He's baaaaaacccckkk! With a few broken bones, but we'll take him.

TAGS: robcarter

Koons on the Attack!

I got word over the holidays that Park Life gallery (San Francisco) received a cease and desist letter from Jeff Koons' lawyers calling for an "immediate cessation" of the reproduction, advertising, distribution, and sale of its own Balloon Dog Bookend.

Whoa, there, Koons--isn't this what you're all about? Does Koons own the image of a Balloon Dog? Afterall, his famous sculptures are usually larger-than-life-sized, and are of course also identifiable by their mirrored surface. Since this bookend has neither of those qualities, is the issue simply the balloon dog itself? Are you also going after the following balloon dog lovers??

Anatomical Chart
How to Make a Balloon Dog
Balloon Dog Birthday Card
Anthropologie window display(scroll to the right)
Balloon Dog necklace
Crocheted balloon dog
Christmas ornaments!

Feel free to comment with your thoughts on the matter.




TAGS: artlaw