Archive for December, 2011
Peter Held sends Yuletide Greetings from Stockholm!
My first full day in Stockholm was fast-paced, with new experiences abounding.
My first stop was to the studio of a collaborative group of nine artists, all past graduates of Konsfack, Stockholm’s design/craft school. Above, on the left is Linus Errson and right, Jakob Robertsson. They showed a Powerpoint of six past projects, including one at PS 1 and the V & A. Bright group working in a variety of media.
Next stop down the street was the Bonniers Konsthall, a contemporary museum (below).
Then off to visit two premier craft galleries: Konsthantverkarna and Blas & Knada, pictured below. Work was generally functional with a twist and, like all global craftsmen worldwide, currently geared towards the gift-giving season.
Ended the day in the beautiful Gambla Stan neighborhood and after hours of being chilly outside, stopped by to visit my fair glogg barkeeps, below:
On the subway home the graffiti caught my eye.
Tomorrow off to Gustavsberg.
Happy Yuletide greetings from the great north!
–Peter Held, Curator of Ceramics
Magic Fridays at the Museum with Matteo Rubbi
Matteo Rubbi arrived from Italy a few weeks ago to begin his six-month residency at the ASU Art Museum, and he has already changed the way we do things here (in a very good way). Last Friday, Matteo and his girlfriend, French artist Béatrice Bailet, invited the Museum staff to eat lunch with them — mushroom risotto, quiche Lorraine, pasta Bolognese — under unusual circumstances. They called it “Magic Friday,” and there will be more of them in the future. Chris Miller, the Museum’s exhibition specialist, was moved to write about the experience:
Today the ASU Art Museum staff was treated to a delicious lunch prepared by the 2011 Furla Prize winner and visiting Artist in Residence Matteo Rubbi, and his girlfriend, Beatrice Bailet. While it’s not uncommon to find us gathered together in small groups for lunch, or the occasional birthday or going away celebration, today was a bit different. Tables were set up in the lobby and the door to the museum kitchen was open and decorated with lights, and the savory smells from within drifted out into the open spaces of the museum. Music played, laughter and conversation filled the room, and we all wore the smiles of people who were being fed. I understand there was an element of performance involved on our part, in that, while we ate in the lobby, people entering the museum would be immediately aware of our banquet. Any other time we would be doing this behind closed doors, trying to minimize the impact on the museum patrons, but today there we were enjoying a meal out in the lobby for all to see. What’s all this cooking and eating in front of everyone about?
–Chris Miller, Exhibition Specialist
Notes from Art Basel Miami Beach 2011
I’m starting to emerge from the haze of overstimulation and lack of sleep that is the Art Basel Miami Beach experience. This year Lekha Hileman Waitoller and I from the Museum went with a group from the School of Art that included Adriene Jenik, Director; two faculty members, Susan Beiner and Mark Pomilio; and eight graduate students from a variety of media, funded by a local donor. The benefit to all of us — particularly the grad students — is tremendous, as we fanned out all over the city to visit art fairs, private collections, museums, special installations and exhibitions. We noticed a number of trends, in particular painting that utilizes a range of processes and materials, and may not use paint at all, and text-based work diagramming systems and worlds, like the art world or the war.
Here are my highlights:
- De La Cruz Collection, a spectacular building that rivals any museum and was thoughtfully installed with groupings of international contemporary works, dominated by paintings, that explored media and process
- Pulse fair, established international galleries who represent edgier contemporary artists, I took copious notes and photos
- Seven, an offshoot fair/installation by seven New York galleries, with, among other things, a small installation of new drawings and photographs by Anthony Goicolea, who will be in our Performing for the Camera show this spring
- Bass Museum of Art’s perplexing exhibition of sculptor Erwin Wurm, which stays with me
- the chance to spend time with work by two of the most important women artists of the twentieth century: at the Miami Art Museum Faith Ringgold’s paintings from the 1960s and 70s exploring race relations, and several installations in the private collections of Ana Mendieta’s performance videos and photographs
- the main fair, Art Basel, which seemed livelier this year in terms of the art shown and the crowds and had great programs (we saw the Russian installation artists Ilya and Emilia Kabakov, among others)
- the video programs in the pods at the main fair — which I immediately photographed for our installation crew — and projected at night outside on one of the largest screens that I have ever seen
- and, finally, the opportunity to meet and connect with artists, curators, collectors and gallerists from across the country.
–Heather Sealy Lineberry, Senior Curator and Associate Director
Top 10 Reasons to Shop at the ASU Art Museum
Tis the season to shop, among other things, and in that spirit we offer you (drum roll, please…)
…the Top 10 reasons to do your holiday shopping at the ASU Art Museum Store!
#10: Environmental friendly, sustainable, colorful handmade MuiChic jewelry, made from the tagua nut. MuiChic jewelry is fashion forward, bold and playful.
#9: Holiday decorations from vintage inspired ornaments to handmade wreaths and wide selection of holiday greeting cards.
#8: TOYS!!! Our selection of toys has children and adults alike playing with our musical instruments and off –the-wall gadgets.
#7: Our creative home décor selection is sure to add that POW to any room or dinner table.
#6: Oaxacan Wood Carvings are handmade whimsical and enchanting folk art figures. Each carving is an original work.
#5: Made in Carcere bags. These unique Italian bags are made by women in prison using recycled objects, giving prisoners another chance and providing a second life for the materials.
#4: International pieces — from Japanese ceramic dolls to Wounaan Indian baskets from Panama, you can find work from all over the world in our Museum Store.
#3: BUESgENWARE Arts & Jewelry created by our own Tempe-based ceramic artist Mary-Beth Buesgen. These earrings, rings and neckwear are unique.
#2: Nifty Museum Store gift cards!
And the #1 reason for shopping at the ASU Art Museum Store: Your purchase supports the innovative exhibitions, educational programming and exciting community events for which the ASU Art Museum is renowned.
Not that you need any additional incentive, but FYI: We’re having a SALE from Dec. 13 to Dec. 23 — 30% off your entire purchase, or a whopping 40% off for Sun Card holders and Museum members.
Thank you, and happy holidays!
All photos above by Eduardo Rivera.
Dispatches from Peter Held, curator abroad, cont’d…
I took the train today to Humlebaek, about 25 miles north of Copenhagen, to visit the Louisiana Museum. Was excited as they recently opened an Ai Wei Wei exhibition. Here are two photos of the primary installations with many video projects and interviews with the artist. Also a great show of Klee and the CoBrA group. And I saw the sun for the first time in three days!
Dispatches from Peter Held, curator abroad
Peter Held, curator of ceramics for the ASU Art Museum Ceramics Research Center, is on a research trip through Scandinavia (funded by a generous grant for that purpose), and he’ll be sending us periodic updates from the road. Here’s his first, sent a few hours before he took off from New York for Denmark.
“So what do you do with a 2 hour layover in NY before leaving for Europe? As a native New Yorker you get a pastrami sandwich. Katz’s is no Carnegie Deli, no — but good enough to cross the ocean.”
And he even sent a photo of his sandwich:
We are now officially hungry. And a little bit envious.
ASU Art Museum 