Tell Obama: We Want Warren!

Tell Obama: We Want Warren!

Ai Weiwei released

Chinese legal authorities have released the dissident artist Ai Weiwei after detaining him for nearly three months on suspicion of tax evasion, likely ending a prosecution that had become a focal point of criticism of China’s human rights record, according to a report on Wednesday night by Xinhua, the state news agency.

Museo’s Bienal: The (S) Files 2011

Honest George" (2009), a painting by Lee Quinones

Although the market keeps crowing about how auctions and fairs are booming even in a ruinous economy, the exhibition catalog points out that the average artist is having a tough time, scrounging for the odd job, for a place to show, even for materials — all things that the street has helped provide in hard times past. The show itself also suggests an alternative definition of “average artist.”

ATM Organ at Venice Biennale

But this is no run-of-the-mill A.T.M.  The brainchild of the artist duo Allora & Calzadilla, it is a pipe organ with an A.T.M. embedded in its belly that is computer-programmed to play a tune when a person puts in their pin number. Even when returning customers use it, no two tunes are alike.-Roberta Smith

For more click on link to New York Times article.

Artists and Money

On the whole, money does artists much more good than harm. The idea that one benefits from cold water, crusts and debt collectors is now almost extinct, like belief in the reformatory power of flogging.
 

Song of Loss by William Blake

The idea that money, patronage and trade automatically corrupts the wells of imagination is a pious fiction, believed by some utopian lefties and a few people of genius such as (William) Blake but flatly contradicted by history itself.

-quote from Robert Hughes

Thanks to Artquotes.net. See link above for more. 

I should add that I couldn't agree more. I'm sure most artists who find themselves wrestling with debt collectors and bills and eating crusts would enjoy not having to worry about money. Who, really, wouldn't? The point surely is that the anxiety that comes along with seeking it and the time required to make it thwarts them from the very thing it is they wish to sink their energies into—the making of art. Call it romantic or anarchic or lazy or a stupid waste of time but the truth is there are many in this world saddled with the desire to make profound objects and cannot survive if the pursuit of money does not jive with the pursuit of their dreams. Being truly creative means finding a way to do this. The solution will be different with each and every individual and will not always be noble. I personally like the idea of not feeling ashamed by the approach I choose. I want to be look money in the eye, not be tying its shoe laces. Is that utopian?

Evil Evil

Cut Cut

Depression Era Funnies, July 17, 1927-And Her Name Was Maud

Depression Era Funnies, July 17, 1927-Homeless Hector

Op-Ed Contributor

Your 4-Year-Old Can’t Do That

By NOAH HOROWITZ

Published: June 11, 2011

THE art market has made a remarkable recovery from the depths of the financial crisis, and so perhaps it is not surprising that in this time of optimism a 4-year-old girl would be the latest sensation. An exhibition of work by the wonderkid painter Aelita Andre opened on June 4 at the Agora Gallery in Manhattan for a three-week run. For more of this New York Times article from today's opinion pages go to above link.

What does Art have to say about an artist of four selling her paintings for...lots of money? Having worked at his profession for some thirty years he is a mite jealous and reluctantly has to admit he finds the paintings...quite fresh.

Signs of Protest

Homeowner Forecloses on B of A!!

Sweet justice! As the homeowners foreclosure defense lawyer says in the video: The bank manager was visibly shaken at attempts by law enforcement to repossess the bank. Now he at least understands (perhaps a tiny bit) the pain being felt again and again and again by struggling homeowners throughout America. See video and images above.