what a bad-ass: Ai Weiwei

An artist with superb craftsmanship, timing and most of all for me, a witty and seemingly constant sense of humor, Ai Weiwei is the biggest bad-ass artist working today. 

detail of Ai Weiwei sculpture installation

It's not just that he critically examines his Chinese government; he critically examines all government and demands accountability. It's his persistent clear voice that cannot be denied. And ultimately, thanks to his poetic images and objects that quietly and relentlessly declare better of humanity, he'll always have the last word. 

Detail of Ai Weiwei installation, Straight, commemorating school children

One Ai Weiwei sculpture is displayed in front of the Sol Lewitt mural on the main wall of museum first floor, making it delightfully easy to consider relationships of minimalism, light and form between the two works.

Ai Weiwei sculpture in front of Sol Lewitt mural

Walk around the works spanning more than 20 years of Ai Weiwei's "According to What?" exhibition and let his insight make you shake your head, nod your head and giggle a few times. 

I did. 

Near that mural is a separate gallery space loaded with thousands of photographs rotating on multiple screens. Be sure to spend a few minutes in there and see some of the ongoing themes in Ai Weiwei's work.

My favorite is the only piece he made when he lived in New York in 1988. It's the most modest in scale but so simple and clever of a sculpture that you have to appreciate it. When you go, look for it and let me know what you think of it.

And let me know if you think he's bad-ass, too. Or if you don't, what artist would you name as a bigger bad-ass?

On view at the Indianapolis Museum of Art through July 21, 2013 (click here to go to IMA website).

Click here for more info and images of the exhibition. Be sure to see the list of events associated with the show, too.

me at the entrance of the IMA

remembering still feathers

Near the end of working on one side of the Good Bones remodeling project, a cedar waxwing crashed into a kitchen window.

It hit the window so hard that some of its feathers stuck to the glass of the window.

feathers left © 2011 Toni Matlock

feathers still © 2011 Toni Matlock

I turned to a fellow artist, Stephanie Frostad, for solace and she made a painting in honor of the sweet bird.

Hapless Waxwing © 2011 Stephanie J. Frostad

Stephanie currently has an exhibition of her art titled 'Natural Circumstances' on view in Seattle, Washington at Davidson Galleries until September 1st.  Be sure to visit the show in person if you can.

creative pollen between Smetanka and Rossellini

As a fan of Isabella Rossellini (especially her green porno series), I'm tickled to post her recent Burt's Bees project that includes animation by a local Missoula artist, Andy Smetanka.  Andy is a delightful, talented and positive artist in this community and the video is a clever and fun tribute to bees.

Enjoy!

good things come about

Today I'm contemplating how sometimes good things just come about.  Opportunities arise.  Projects emerge.  And without even trying, often our role in a project or in the world just presents itself.  You just can't see what all might be coming and there are true rewards in being open to new possibility.  Having some flexibility in your plan can pay off. 

It's inspiring to consider for a moment.  So I am.

This short video of Bill Wallauer explaining how he became a filmmaker with the Jane Goodall Institute is a good example of it.  The smile on this guy's face as he talks about it says a lot.

  

making systems and perceptions for sharing

Being an artist:

From skateboarders to geekery, their collaborations are based in the basic human impulse to play.  An interview with the artists Hellicar & Lewis on their goals and inspirations for interactive media works.  Taking something real, making it virtual and putting it back into reality for others to enjoy.

the artist is present kicks off the Big Sky Doc Film Fest

Remember my post, the body as medium, Abramovic with a clip from the documentary about the artist, Marina Abramovic?

It plays for FREE (sponsored by HBO), TONIGHT at 6:30 PM at the Wilma Theater in Missoula, Montana and blazes the trail for a fantastic line-up of films at this year's Big Sky Documentary Film Festival.

I'll be posting a few of my own picks on salty snack studios' Facebook page and on Twitter (@TonetteTime) as the fest progresses.

See the schedule (click here) and GO.  You won't regret it. 

bravo to freakish success and to falling short of it

Being an artist:

Even though I did not like the book, Eat, Pray, Love, I respect Elizabeth Gilbert's voice, especially when so many women my age connected so deeply with it. In this 2009 TED video, she delivers a wonderful pep talk on nurturing creativity.  The TED blurb: 

"Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses -- and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have" a genius. It's a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk."

artist Collette calls out Lady Gaga for being a rip off

In a previous post on the Lady Gaga phenomenon, I claimed "My only complaint about Gaga so far is that she seems to model herself after others so much." I wondered when, or if, Lady Gaga would find her own voice rather than borrow so heavily from other artists - pop and performance.  Apparently Gaga's really done it now. Her current window installation at Barney's in New York has insulted multimedia artist, Colette, because Gaga's window heavily replicates one of Colette's installations from the 1970s.

Gaga's recent television bits at the Times Square New Years event reinforced my  unease with her lack of authenticity.  I recognize that everything she does is a performance.  She's playing a persona at all times. Like Bowie, like Marilyn Monroe, like Madonna and so on and so on.  I get it.  I haven't done a blow by blow analysis of her costumes compared with artists through out art history, but I can discern the notes of Dadaism and camp 'influence'. Of course, a huge red flag shot up over her appropriation of Jana Sterbak's Meat Dress from 1987 for me.  Even so, I tried giving her the benefit of the doubt.  She's young and will mature, right? 

Looking for Lady Gaga by Josh Gilbert.

I've been hoping that Gaga's imitation of avant-garde artists throughout history would eventually shape her into one.  It's a standard art student task, like copying Degas paintings until you can paint as well on your own. Artistic influence is one thing, but eventually an artist must stand on their own. I appreciate how Gaga has pushed the ideas of performance art further into the main stream as mostly Pop seems to do in our culture, but it's time Gaga found a clearer way to recognize the artists she borrows from plus do something of her own.   In Camille Paglia's critique, "Lady Gaga the Death of Sex," she gives Gaga a righteous spanking that reduces her back to her schoolgirl self, Stefani Germanotta (Gaga's real name).   

It's time for Stefani to try something new. Step back from the artificial identity persona far enough to own something of your own.  She is overdue.  

  

Watch videos of Colette's early performances on the Colette Maison Lumiere YouTube channel and decide for yourself (click here).

Learn more about Colette:
Colette the artist website
Review by Edward Rubin in Sculpture magazine 2008.

My previous posts on Gaga.
Camille Paglia's, Lady Gaga the Death of Sex, The Sunday Times, 2010.
Lady Gaga, meat Jana Sterbak, Christopher Knight, LA Times, 2010.

the body as medium, Abramovic

Being an artist:

Marina Abramovic on The Artist is Present and how she came to working with the body in her art.  Via MoMA videos.

i love ME says Yayoi Kusama

Being an artist:

Refreshingly secure with herself and with a strong unique vision, it only makes sense that apparently there are two feature documentary films about Yayoi Kusama.  "Princess of Dots" by Heather Lenz is slated to finish this year.

!! If you only have time to watch one of these, I recommend the first one for its tone and insight if you are unfamiliar with her work.

This is the trailer for the 2008 Japanese (with English subtitles) movie "I love ME" about Yayoi Kusama by Director Takako Matsumoto.  You can rent this film to watch online for 48 hours through New People Artist Series. Or buy it of course. For more information on this film, visit www.NewPeopleArtistSeries.com or www.viz-pictures.com

For another post with my story of seeing a retrospective of Kusama in Paris, see "conquering the Pompidou."

from bored and lost to being an artist; Sophie Calle

Being an artist:

Sophie Calle explains how she started making art in the 70s.  (Video from EGS, the European Graduate School.)

what makes you free, gaga on abramovic

Being an artist:

Lady Gaga answers a simple question from Marina Abramovic.

cindy sherman goes digital

Being an artist:

Cindy Sherman on one way to get yourself working and crossing from film to digital photography.

Clip from PBS' Art:21.

steve albini on artist's mistake

Being an artist:

Steve Albini in an interview by D.I.Y. or Die.

patti's proud moments

Being an artist:

A quick interview with Patti Smith on recent honors, what she's listening to and what camera she's shooting these days.

- video from PS Photo Video Channel.

woolgathering

Goodreads update:


Woolgathering by Patti Smith

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


They just released a fresh printing of this book that I read years ago. Very much worth reading. (Full disclosure: I'm a Patti Smith fan.)



View all my reviews

gerhard richter

Being an artist:

 

A video from Nowness on Gerhard Richter:

Gerhard Richter Painting on Nowness.com.

elizabeth murray

Being an artist:

Elizabeth Murray spoke at my graduation from the School of Art Institute in Chicago in the early 90s. While I appreciated her work then, I was not particularly a big fan or anything. However, when she spoke at our graduation ceremony, I felt more like I met her personally and found a deeper appreciation for her work.  I find this happens a lot in the arts.  Meeting the artist can - it doesn't always, but it can - give a new connection to the work.  Her positive and grounded attitude stayed with me.

Here is a trailer for the Elizabeth Murray movie by Art:21, a series of movies about artists produced by PBS.

david lynch on being an artist

David Lynch, being an artist:

Video from Álex Hernández-Puertas, dequesi's channel

lick-lipping paintings in Hamilton

Paintings by Linda Stoudt are on view in Hamilton, Montana at The Frame Shop and Gallery until August 3rd.  

All of her paintings have a bold intimacy to them.  Many are deliciously rich with color, too.  "Yellow on Parma," especially, makes me lick my lips.  

Take the drive down the valley to see them.  You won't regret it. We took Dick and Mabel and they enjoyed it very much. The gallery is open from Tuesday through Friday 10 AM to 5 PM and Saturdays 10 AM to 2 PM. 

Epistrophy, ©Linda Stoudt

Hoo Doo, ©Linda Stoudt

Note: Images used with permission of the artist.