Seed Cathedral

I would love to be in Shanghai this weekend for the opening of the World Fair. There will be 230 pavilions and some of them looks just fantastic. Look at this UK pavilion by designer Thomas Heatherwick. The "Seed Cathedral" is named for its seeds on top of the transparent rods.

Here is the Turkish Pavilion

"The Cradle of Civilization"

South Korean Pavilion By Mass Studies:

The Spanish Pavilion by Miralles Tagliabue:

Photos from the fabulous Dezeen Design Magazine.

In New York Times today though, they are saying there are long lines and a shortage of food supply already the first day at the Fair. So maybe it's better to look at these images for now and enjoy the gorgeous weather we are supposed to have in New York this weekend. 

Have a fab weekend, With Love!

A day at Christie´s

I have never actually been at a large Auction House before, so I was kind of nervous going there.
I was wondering if it would be obvious that I am new? Can they smell it? See it in my eyes? Snort at me? Will they know I am only there to check it out and not to buy? I had all this thoughts in my head while I was getting off the Subway at Rockefeller Center and walking into Christie´s.
But, I did not need to worry, it was an extremely relaxed atmosphere. Here they are dealing with millions of dollars on a daily basis, but the staff just walked around calm and friendly and I, I was just one of all the others there.
Luckily I came right when they were holding an Auction session and I got to sit through a "Prints and Multiples" sale. I will here dwell on the Andy Warhol sale. The highest sale was the "Mickey Mouse"(from myths) for $110,500 (182/200). The second most popular was a green version of the Marilyn for $80,500. It had an estimate between $40,000-$60,000.  And then there is the soup can, it never stops surprising.

"

"Tomato" from Campbell´s soup I, numbered 78/250 sold for $74,500. Way over Christie´s estimate of $20,000-$30,000. 

I just wish I could have heard the comment from the Auctioneer. He was saying something like "Oh,wow" and grinned. The Auctioneer actually reminded me of the actor William H. Macy. It was also interesting to look at the big bidders in the room (a lot of the sales happened over the phone or on the internet) they all sat like wallflowers as close to the back wall as possible, like they would be less visible there?

Flowers (Sold for $15,000, one edition out of 300 and within its estimate)

I guess this just proves that Warhol´s popularity just keeps going on....Even for the Prints and the Multiples. I would love to go and check out the original sale next time, then we can talk about "Real" money!

Somewhere else!

(insert) Somewhere else, 38x48, 2010

Eric Zener

At the Henoch Gallery, in Chelsea they are showing a solo exhibit of  Eric Zener´s work. A Californian Artist most known for his underwater oil paintings. I somehow preferred his sleeping "Somewhere else" painting and hopefully that is not because I am so tired... But look at the peace she is in, ahhh.

The stillness in "And the waves keep rolling by" makes me take a breather and think about what a great title that is for this painting. The "Carriage" title though for the empty bed makes you feel, there must be some sadness here.

I thoroughly enjoy the way he plays with the stories in his paintings. An example of how much a title can bring you somehow closer to the object.

(insert) Carriage, 54x66, 2010

And the waves keep rolling by, 2010

Challenge me!

   Challenge me

   STEVE MILLS

True or False?

At the Henoch Gallery

there is this singular 

Photorealistic painting

helping people converse:)

Liquid Door

Bated Breath (from the archival prints)

Isola and Norzi
Art in General

I stumbled my way to this opening on Friday, after a long day studying the business of Appraising Art at NYU. I was so tired I could barely read the pamphlet about the exhibit, which I actually think is imperative for this unique experience. 

Isola and Norzi was inspired by Cousteau´s underwater life in the "Starfish" House. 

(my girfriend reminded me of the hilarious film version by Wes Anderson called "The Life Aquatic" with bill Murray and Steve Zissou.) 

They got a permit to use the documentary that recorded Cousteau living inside "Starfish" for a month. From this they reinterpreted the film and expanded it by exploring the underwater ideas within land-locked aquariums, through a collaboration with the New York Aquarium (Coney Island). They focused on architectural experiments regarding preservation and restoration of this replicated environment.

Relics

My favorites of the show was actually these simple but very imaginative pieces called "Relics", made out of watercolor on compressed sponge.

Isola and Norzi´s project will ultimately end in a returned journey to the ruins of Jacques Costeau´s starfish house where they hope to recreate the liquid door inside the wreck reclaimed by the ocean, and perhaps, like Cousteau, smoke a cigarette on the bottom of the ocean.

- Taken from the last paragraph in the pamphlet, which I finally managed to read with clearer senses.

I am not a diver and a bit afraid of water, but I am sure there are many out there that can relate to the dream of a life underwater.

A fun little preview of a new Art Web Series....

THE MADNESS OF ART - Trailer from Jim Kempner on Vimeo.



The Jim Kempner Gallery with great Self-irony!

Reading and thinking....

Girl reading a letter (1996)


GERHARD RICHTER

One should have Earth Day more often!
I took time off to do a lot of of "Reading" both for me and the boys. Everything in the house sort of calmed down and I ended the day with looking through the Book MoMA published in 2002 about Gerhard Richter. The book shows a few of his Seascape paintings that reminds me of where I live right now. Then I fell asleep to the sounds of waves, feeling Harmony!

Hope you had a wonderful Earth day as well:)

Seascape 1969
(The cloudy version is in the book)

..... Now off to NYU to learn more about appraising Art.

Earth Day!

Biloxi, Mississipi, 2005

Mitch Epstein

The fantastic Eco photographer Mitch Epstein travelled around America taking pictures centered on energy production sites and their impact on the surroundings, with a dash of humor and beauty added to them. Homeland Security though does not see him as funny but more of a threat and follows him closely.

The above picture is from an out of of service gas-station. Telling us a a story about the struggle the small businesses has against the large ones. The one bellow is a well manicured lawn close to a power plant and the last one a destroyed oil rig after Hurricane Katrina.

All three pictures are from Mitch Epsteins series "American Power", and they:

question the power of nature, government, corporations, and mass consumption in the United States.
-as it says on his web site.

Amos Coal Power Plant, in Raymond, west Virginia 2004

Ocean Warwick, Dauphine Island, Alabama 2005

Click on the pictures to know their sources.

Here is a simple list of what YOU & I can do on Earth Day!

From the Facebook Earth day event planer:

Start Time:	Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 12:00am
End Time:	Friday, April 23, 2010 at 12:00am
Location:	Worldwide

Take Action by choosing at least 6 actions you’ll commit to.

(1) WATER: Use only the water you need, and reuse when possible

(2) AIR: Commute without polluting - Walk or ride a bike instead

(3) LAND: Learn about composting

(4) ENERGY: Save energy at home!

(5) WASTE: Reduce, Reuse & Recycle

(6) ADVOCACY: RAISE AWARENESS!
Talk to others about the state of the environment!

Another way you can help is by planting a tree!

ONE small change in your Everyday life CAN make a BIG difference!

Earth Artist before Earth Day

Spiral Jetty, 1970

Salt Lake, Utah

ROBERT SMITHSON

Earth day is coming up on Thursday so I will continue focusing on some of the greatest  Earth artists I know. I recently wrote shortly about Richard Long and also Andy Goldsworthy.

Robert Smithson was an American artist born in New Jersey (1938) famous for his land art, and because of the relevance it still has, exhibits are still going on. I was lucky enough to see an exhibit about his work at the Whitney Museum (NY) in 2005. It was then I started thinking there is some sort of symbiotic relationship between these three fantastic artists. Most of their Art is temporarily, it is inspired by nature and only nature is used to make the Art. (except Smithson used tractors and dump trucks. If I am not wrong I think Long and Goldsworthy creates all their work by hand, except transportation and help). 

The Spiral Jetty, 1970 is an Earth work created from mud, salt crystals and rocks, you can still find in Utah, even though there has been attempts to do oil drilling close by. Thanks to the Dia Centers preservation efforts, it is still there. 

Broken Circle, 1971 an Earth work by sand, was built shortly therafter in Emmen, Holland. One part of the broken circle is surrounded by water, the other by land and somehow the parts still work beautifully with each other. It was supposed to be a temporary Art Piece but ended up being voted for as a park. Bellow you can see the 1971 image and a more recent from 2009.

Robert Smithson unfortunately died in a plane crass in 1973 while photographing a site for a new prosject in Texas.

If you want to learn more about Robert Smithson, look into his exciting sculptures with mirrors.

Have a great Earth day!

Riverlines

Riverlines 2006

At the Hearst Tower

RICHARD LONG

Some of the greatest Earth Artists I can think of is Andy Goldsworthy, Robert Smithson and Richard Long. I would like to dwell on Richard Long today.
It can be hard to find his work, and it is also hard to exhibit his Art. But then again maybe you one day will be so lucky you will just bump into it, not knowing what hit you. Richard Long continues to make Art while walking in Landscapes and he takes pictures of the sculptures on his way.
I think it is fantastic that he now has a permanent exhibition space in New York for us who needs to feel more of the Earth. The "Riverlines" a great ArtEco piece is actually made from mud found at the Hudson River. You can have a peak at "Riverlines" from the entrance of the Hearst Tower even if you don´t have a permit to go further.

Richard Long started his Art Walks as early as 1967 and on his web site says:


I consider my landscape sculptures inhabit the rich territory between two ideological positions, namely that of making 'monuments' or conversely, of 'leaving only footprints'.

The last exhibit I know he had was at the Tate Britain in London last year, called "Heaven and Earth". 

Richard Long

Red slate circle (Tate Britain)

Photographs from his walks:

I think it is incredible how beautifully he integrates his Art into Nature, like this is the way it should be.

Have a wonderful Earth day:)

Bird of Paradise

Bird of Paradise 2005

(Silkscreen on canvas, mercury ball, gold and silver metal)

At the Andrea Rosen Gallery 2

There is an exciting Sculptographs

collaboration:

Inez van Lamsweeerde, Vinoodh Mathadin & Eugene van lamsweerde

A lot of smaller sculptures culiminates

in the middle of the room with

this awe dropping peace

Bird of Paradise

Sparkle Burst!

Camomile Hixon 

Tria Gallery

Last night there was a great happening at the Tria Gallery, lots of fun, hot people looking happy to be right there at that moment.
Yes, there was a lot to be happy about! Because Camomile Hixon creates vibrate upbeat pop Art! & as we know, Art can easily affect our mood one way or the other.

Are you for real 

$2,800

This is Camomile Hixon´s first show and she seemed gigglingly excited. She has background as a musician and a songwriter and from there brings these melodic messages into her Art.

Golden sparks

$1,500

"In her art she seeks to isolate poetry fragments in silence and without the movement of melody. The shimmering quality of the glitter breathes life into the words, and allows for a deeper resonance with subtle meanings and interpretations."  - Tria Gallery

Bellow is my favorite burst, and appropriately it is called "The Grand Finale".

(detail)The Grand Finale

$5,000

I hope they will all sell quickly and keep Camomile giggling!

Inside Out

Saturday night 2007

IN SOOK KIM

Gana Art Gallery

Sook Kim is a Korean Artist living in New York?, exhibiting in a Korean oriented gallery in Chelsea. The C-prints shown here though felt immediately very German to me. Repeatedly I had to look at the name of the artist and the pictures and finally I had to ask. The artist had been studying with Thomas Ruff  (Kunstakademia Dusseldorf) who is famous for his method of conceptual serial photography. Which you can see reflected in these pieces. Saturday night, a fantastic, well put together photography took about three years to arrange.

.

Detail, Saturday night 2007

One room has been styled over and over again into small scenes and then placed together into one building. Here you see two of the rooms, they all have their own special theme. It is really remarkable to be able to live yourself so much into each and every story, probably since the pictures seem completely bare of secrecy.

Detail Saturday night 2007, Room 308


I also want to show you two other photographs from Sook Kim´s solo exhibit, to portray her detailed inventiveness;

Heroin, 2008

Die Auktion, 2006

Notice the wishful mirror on the Heroin picture.....

A small print of Saturday night could possibly be bought for $3,000, which seems kind of strange to me since the large copy (460x300 cm) was priced a lot, lot higher... 

A fantastic buy I would say!

The Buzz is out about....

Jennifer Steinkamp

This picture above is from Orbit 2

a video installation 

at Robert 

the new

Restaurant at MAD Museum

With a fabulous view of Central Park.

This piece is sort of in the back of the restaurant, 

but I dare say it is creating as much attention for itself 

as the park.

Jennifer Steinkamp makes new media art

that explores architectural space, motion and perception

as it says on her site.

It is like sitting in front of a gorgeous timeless

beautiful interpretation of our world.

Although she has been doing this since the 80´s

she is sort of new to me.

I would like to see a lot more of it,

and I am hearing rumors that is saying 

I am not alone!

The Helsinki School!

 Bryce Wolkowitz Gallery

is currently showing seven photography approaches from

what they call the Helsinki School.

These are taken by the artist

SUSANNA MAJURI

and I fell completely in love with them.

I am not sure if I should tell you the secrets of how these are taken

but you can ask me if you are interested.

Let us keep the mystery for now.

These large glossy photographs goes for about 

$9,000

(there was one more that I was terribly exhibited about but the picture I took was a failure, hard to take pictures when

they are so glossy....the Gallery e-mailed me these above, mine is bellow...ih)

Feeling a bit like....

Matisse

Etude pour Les yeux bleus 

1935

(For sale at the Max Lang Gallery)

this drawing tonight...

time to rest and think.

Queen of Endurance!

Marina Abramovic

The Artist is Present

And yes she really is. Who could ever compete with this woman? Born in 1946 and still gorgeous! Sitting still staring at the individual in front of her for nearly 3 months like a silent woman with a very large loud message.  Self mutilating to the extreme. Screams the longest, jumps naked for ever, drinks wine and oil, beats herself to exhaustion before she goes and lies down on top of a cross of ice and a heater that keeps the blood pippling from the star that she has cut on her belly. To the extent that the audience have to interfere and take her away before they are afraid she will get some serious physical problems. Lives in public view for 12 days and nights, lies with a skeleton over her naked body to get to know death better. Stands naked with another man and asks the audience to pass through. Tells her audience she takes full responsibility for their actions and puts out scissors, knifes, guns, whips, roses..... etc for them to do whatever they want with her. 

This Woman is unbeatable, I would pick her as one of the greatest people to have dinner with, I am just so curious. How can anybody ever be so disciplined, have an endurance that is quite inhuman for the name of ART! 

The exhibit is still going on at the MoMA and you cannot miss it! You can hate it or love it, but you will definitely feel something strong! and that should be the purpose of ART!

Soft Toilet

Claes Oldenburg

Whitney Biennial 

There is not much time for blogging today 

so I thought it could be fun to
 quickly add a picture of this

"Soft Toilet" 

by the Swedish Artist Claes Oldenburg. 

Maybe the pop version of Marcel Duchamps "Fountain"?

Tomorrow I will take classes at NYU about

Art Collecting

So excited!

Have a wonderful evening!

What is Red?

Red on Maroon

RED

Golden Theatre

Last night I was lucky enough to see the new play "RED" written by John Logan on Broadway. 

Mark Rothko and his work will have a completely different place in my heart after this. I always had a feeling that his work was rushed and not thought through. Well, I was completely wrong. This man is a "thinker". He says, that to know Art you need to know Mythology, History, Philosophy, Psychology.... and he goes on and on. 

"the Process of Art is thinking. Did they not tell you that at Art 
school?"

"You need to read to know art"

Alfred Molina, is doing a fabulous job interpreting... being this legendary Artist. I was worried that he would be too much of a Diego Rivera Character for me, since I have seen him in the Frida Kahlo movie. But no, this was a completely different man. It has been questioned if the Artist Assistant played by Eddie Redmayne might be a bit too free spoken for the time. But, I think this guy has lost everything before... what more is there to lose?

Michael Grandage I congratulate you on the direction of especially the "Dancing" paint sequence. Very surprising and exciting!

I will give you a few of the "hit" sentences that I wrote down in the dark, they might not be completely correct but you will hopefully be able to feel the great flow of the play.

"Nature does not work for me, the light is no good"

"There is one thing I fear, that the black will swallow the red"

"Artists should Starve, except me"

"The Artists that grew up with me, we understood the importance of seriousness"

"I am here to make you think. I am not here to paint a pretty picture".

It´s all a very sad story that is being portrayed about an Artist struggling with himself, as History shows repeatedly most of them do. I think if you go as deep into yourself to find the power to create such strong impregnable work, it is unavoidable for any kind of Artist.

Rothko says that Pollock killed himself with his car accident, his assistant says the Four Seasons paintings would be Rothko´s own Suicide...

Alfred Molina & Eddy Redmayne

Click on the pictures to get to know the source.