Lyn Bishop : Sharing Secrets

The contemporary art scene in Santa Fe seems to be moving downtown to the new Railyard district. Once construction is finished, it should be a nice alternative to the plethora of galleries on Canyon Road.

We started our walk at the James Kelly Contemporary Gallery where Roy McMakin’s architectural forms are on display. To the average viewer, McMakin’s art may not appear to be art at all, rather more like over-priced average furniture. It wasn’t until I began reading his bio that I started to understand the intent and meaning behind his work. While McMakin’s work is based in architecture, furniture craftsmanship, and design, it is in his role as artist where he finds his work meaningful, exploring both the functionality and non-functionality of things. His architectural sculptures include objects such as functioning houses, partially-functioning chest of drawers, and curio cabinets turned on end. He is able to take simple, everyday objects and presents them within the context of contemporary art.
James Kelly | Contemporary: 1601 Paseo De Peralta, Santa Fe, NM. (more…)

Community art and performance center, Works/San Jose, is reopening with a new show titled re: group that opens on August 1st and runs through September 13. The gala reception is schedule to coincide with the August First Friday event, August 1st, 7pm until late.

This is good news, as Works/San Jose offers local artists and curators a place to exhibit and engage with the community in an effort to expand the scope of cultural and artistic experience in downtown San Jose. Founded in 1977 by local artists to form an alternative non-profit art and performance center, Works/San Jose is an important cultural institution within the fabric of the south bay arts community. It would have been a real shame to see it close for good. (more…)

Recently I spent a few days working with another artist on ideas for a new collaborative project. We brainstormed together and addressed technical issues surrounding the media we wish to use. It was a productive three days and we ended the session with strong jumping off points in which to proceed.

Marriam-Webster defines collaboration as: “ to work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor” For most visual artists, the process of creating art with others doesn’t come naturally. Western society tends to focus on the work of the singular artist. When viewers are confronted with jointly created work they often question the authorship and analyze the precise contributions of the individual rather than take the work in as a whole. This point of view can presents a barrier to what the work is really about, and does not consider the symbiotic relationship of the artists involved. (more…)

Today’s New York Times article on cruise ship art auctions is pretty scary. It discusses big name artwork (mostly prints) being auctioned for many times over their land-based market price. The work is often sold to first-time bidders who may not really know what they are buying until they get home and suffer buyers remorse after doing more research and finding out signatures may be fake or that the print is nothing more than a quality poster.

This is the kind of story that makes everyone uneasy. It worries me, as a printmaker myself, that some unscrupulous art-dealers-turned-snake-oil-salesmen will take advantage of naive clients. Thankfully, there are websites like Fine Art Registry where artists can permanently register their art when they create it and where collectors, museums and galleries can register their collections.

While the big name artwork may be appealing, why not consider collecting artwork directly from living, breathing artist alive today. Not only can you collect some amazing work, you’ll support a living artist in their career. And if you’re lucky, you may, in the process, develop a one-on-one relationship with them, too. Now that’s priceless.

(Art: Missing Threads, by Lyn Bishop)

Here are my del.icio.us links for the first half of July in no particular order – Enjoy:

Frida Kahlo at the SF MOMA
&
Dale Chihuly at the de Young Museum
enjoy an art date in San Francisco this summer!

Robert Rauschenberg in DC
Smithsonian American Art Museum Blog post about Rauschenberg.

Phillips new 3D Displays
Are you ready for a 3D TV set? Now that’s lenticular!

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