New American Paintings

see my interview today on the New American Paintings blog

TOGS

I found unexpected things at Co-Lab. For one, I found TOGS (temporary outdoor gallery space). I hadn't prepared for TOGS, but the little red box was irresistible. I'd like to see Sean, Chris, and Austin strap this thing to a flatbed and drive it down my way.

The other unexpected surprise was an outdoor video screen. I chose to loop a 3 minute Len Lye film, which I'll post later....

Co-Lab Installation

Build: Column (above)

Carapace:Co-Lab (left)
People TV (below)

Buff/Covered (above)
 

Co-Lab recently won an award for their mobile gallery, which I found parked in their yard. I had just enough panels left to make this slump. I've been thinking about this piece for a while now and think I found the perfect spot for it.

 

 and Bella, my love, the gallery's french mastiff...

Co-Lab

I got to Austin this afternoon and thought I might start the install of my show that opens this Saturday, but I'm going to do it all tomorrow. Right now I'm sitting in the cool afternoon light of my gorgeous hotel room feeling grateful to Sean and the Co-Lab board for treating me to such an absolutely comfortable and restful spot. This hotel is amazing -- the coolness of the concrete floors, the gorgeous cotton textiles and the lush gardens appeal to all of my senses. In a few minutes I'm heading off to see the Andy Cooquitt and Nick Cave exhibits at Arthouse before going to my show across the street at Co-Lab N Space.

Check back tomorrow for pics of the install at Co-Lab Project Space...

See you in Austin!

A Co-Lab Projects Personal Invite

Please join us at N Space this Saturday, October 13th from 6-9PM for a Private Opening Reception:   The Secret Social Life of Painting Judy Rushin This exhibition by visiting artist Judy Rushin is an exhibition of works in two parts at both N Space and Project Space with the following dates and times. @ N Space (905 Congress Ave) October 13th - November 24th, 2012 Private Opening Reception: Saturday, October 13th, 2012, 6-9PM Also on view during open hours Wednesdays 5:30-8PM and by appointment @ Project Space (613 Allen St) October 20th - 27th, 2012 Public Opening Reception: Saturday, October 20th, 2012, 7-11PM Also on view by appointment   Statement from Judy Rushin: The Secret Social Life of Painting is an exhibition of works in two parts by Judy Rushin and is simultaneously on view at Co-Lab and N Space. The works at Co-Lab hang on and lean against the walls and stand freely in open spaces, creating an experiential environment that Rushin sees as an extension of themes developed in the 60s by artists like Blinky Palermo, Imi Knoebel, and Helio Oiticica. Like her forerunners, Rushin allows her creative process to be intuitive and her post-creation analyses to be equally fluid. Essentially though, she reduces the elements of discourse to their most basic components to establish a space for larger and more mysterious concepts to emerge. Hanging limp or connected to one another, the paintings look for new ways to be paintings… and that’s it. No neon signs, no climaxes, no imagery, no limelight. The work exists quietly, proceeds at a slow pace, and waits patiently for your attention. While the works on view at Co-Lab create a group dynamic, the works on view at N Space focus on individual pieces.  Their statements are understated – they’re about the rigor of simplicity, not virtuosity for its own sake — but stripped of the anonymity of the group setting, they reveal an ability to speak confidently in their own right. Bio: Judy Rushin believes that being an artist is an industrious job and she has the hands to show it. Her work explores relationships between people and spatial environments through painting, sculpture, and installation. Rushin's work has appeared across the US and in Korea including Aqua Art Miami, Art and Literature Laboratory in Cambridge, MA, Prospect 1-Satellite at Trumpet in New Orleans, Mass MoCA, and Soho20 New York. She is the recipient of numerous grants and her work has been featured twice in New American Paintings. http://swallowawindchime.com/ Beverages provided by Titos Vodka More Projects >>

Twitter        Facebook         Vimeo            Flickr           Tumblr Co-Lab Projects is now actively curating two exhibition spaces. Project Space is our main space located in east Austin and is primarily used for happenings and events, Project Space does not usually maintain open hours however the exhibitions are always available to view by appointment. N Space is our new downtown exhibition site located inside Nelsen Partners Architecture Studio where exhibitions are available for viewing during open hours on Wednesdays from 5:30-8PM or by appointment. Co-Lab Projects is an artist-run nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating public projects and exhibiting contemporary works of art, installation, and performance. By operating on an ambitious programming schedule, the organization provides exposure and opportunities for local and national artists to create new and experimental bodies of work on a frequent and flexible basis. Through collaboration, education, and engagement, Co-Lab encourages artistic exploration and dialogue within the community.   Co-Lab maintains an open and ongoing call for site-specific installations, performances, works in new media, outdoor murals and video/film screenings. We also review proposals for collaborative, educational, and community based workshops and projects. Click here to apply.    Co-Lab Projects 613 Allen St Austin, TX 78702 Add us to your address book N Space 905 Congress Austin, TX 78701 Contact: 512.300.8217 colabspace@gmail.com This project is funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division believing an investment in the Arts is an investment in Austin’s future. Visit Austin at NowPlayingAustin.com   Copyright © 2012 Co-Lab Projects All rights reserved.

(e)merge

I arrived in DC yesterday afternoon and took the shuttle straight to the Capitol Skyline hotel, the site of (e)merge art fair. I was to meet Ekaterina (Kate) Arslambakova, an FSU alumnus, who was going to assist me with the installation of Build:Column, my 14' column of bricks constructed from acrylic paint and canvas. The idea was that the column would burst through the drop ceiling of the exhibition hall reaching to the concrete ceiling above, giving the illusion of endlessness and power.

The bricks of the column, each about 7-8 pounds and 11x14x9",  simply stack without anchors, relying on the floor and ceiling to wedge them in place. The exhibition room has a carpeted floor, which presented a wobbly support to begin with, but I thought I'd overcome it once I reached the concrete ceiling. However, once the tiles were removed, I found pipes going at odd horizontal angles, leaving it impossible to use the ceiling as a wedge.

The upshot is that we had to move the column to a site where we could use the beam from a moveable wall as the upper wedge. The column doesn't burst through the ceiling, but its crooked verticality and height are impressive anyway. I was satisfied with the result and I think the exhibition coordinators were too. The other artists are still installing, so I'll post new photos once the room is complete.

  

 Kate helping with the first try.

Ceiling with obstructive pipes

Second location, reaching up towards that beam

Top is cut off in this shot, but nice photo of Kate.