So I’ve spent the past couple days hanging out with a friend of mine I met while I was adventuring in Turkey back in November. This friend is a professional skateboarder and being around him has seriously made me reconsider my career path. I’m pretty sure these guys are essentially living like low-brow rock stars: constantly traveling, partying, and having new consumer goods be named after them.  But, even while the lifestyle of these professional athletes is quite lavish, I feel like skateboarding itself can often come with negative connotations. I think this is because it has basically evolved out of two different sub-cultures--while skateboarding was born out of surfing, it was heavily adopted by the punk movement and today I think that it is a good representation of both. Because of its stigma though, I think a lot of times people can overlook the sport as a true art form. Not only do skaters have a tremendous amount of physical ability and talent, it takes a LOT of creativity to come up with tricks and series’ of maneuvers to remain fresh and interesting.

With all that being said, it’s no surprise that the art world is every day embraced by the skate world. Some of the most creative individuals are involved in the industry and it’s been a happy marriage. Entire art shows have been based solely around skateboarding, with the skateboard serving as the subject matter and/or the medium. Many skaters are artists as well, producing beautiful work at the upper and lower levels of the art world. Also, many talented photographers, videographers, and designers make up a HUGE part of the industry. I remember watching the 2009 Alien Workshop video “Mind Field” for the first time and being blown away by the art direction and soundtrack. All these artistic elements being coupled with a physical sport was a feast for the eyes (and ears). I was watching this video, forgetting that it was a skateboarding flick, and focusing on all the amazing creativity that was dumping out of the television. I was reminded of all this when I saw my buddy, Matt Haring’s, recent composition for Birdhouse. It’s a beautifully edited short vid of the boys in Europe this past year and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!  

Support your local skateboarder!

  x Carissa

CLICK THIS!

Banksy and Exit Through the Gift Shop

A few weeks ago some of my arty friends and I got together to drink some wine and watch Exit Through the Gift Shop, the new movie/documentary about street art and fame.  Let me just say I love love love Bansky and Shepard Fairey!  But man do I not love MBW.  I have heard rumors that Banksy and MBW are the same person but I REFUSE to even give this thought a slight possibility of existence.  MBW represents all that is wrong in the art world, though he is an interesting science experiment.   

The below is the description of the film on Bansky’s Website:

This is the inside story of Street Art - a brutal and revealing account of what happens when fame, money and vandalism collide. Exit Through the Gift Shop follows an eccentric shop-keeper turned amateur film-maker as he attempts to capture many of the world's most infamous vandals on camera, only to have a British stencil artist named Banksy turn the camcorder back on its owner with wildly unexpected results.

One of the most provocative films about art ever
made, Exit Through the Gift Shop is a fascinating study
of low-level criminality, comradeship and incompetence.
By turns shocking, hilarious and absurd, this is an
enthralling modern-day fairytale... with bolt cutters.

Since the release of this movie I have come across articles about a gentleman that thinks he figured out who Banksy is through his financial records.  [For all you not familiar with Banksy, he is a street artist based in the UK that has been anonymously making art for over a decade.] It has been a few weeks since this article came out and the ebay item has been pulled down.  To my knowledge no one has come out publicly saying they know who he is. 

So I would like to know what you think.  Do you think this is a publicity stunt by Banksy and his people?  Do you ever want to know who he is?  Do you think this is just some ‘not nice guy’ trying to make a buck at someone else’s expense?  I like to believe in the purity of creation and that Banksy is Banksy and not MBW and hope to die not knowing his real name.

To all the street artists out there keep on doing what you are doing!  And to Banksy’s crew and friends, you guys are great.  You are incredible people to have protected his identity for so long.  Google image Banksy and check out the wonderful images of his work!  And watch the movie, though you will want to turn it off at the mid point it is good to watch it all the way through.

Tara

Art Ninja

Patricia Patterson, Here and There, Back and Forth

This post is by guest blogger Danilelle the Awesome.  Danielle is one of our wonderful Museum Security Guards and also volunteers her time to help with other things around the Museum.

Patricia Patterson, Here and There, Back and Forth

As walls move, paint dries, and the sounds of hammers, drills and soft rock fill the air, we at the museum reflect on the exhibition we are building together. While Here and There, Back and Forth by Patricia Patterson materializes before us, our staff considers what Here and There means to them. To Patterson, the exhibition contemplates the relationship between California (Here) and the Aran Islands (There) as they relate to her own life experiences. To each of us, Here and There holds a different and unique meaning, depending on our own life experiences. Below are the Here and There’s of some of the members of our museum staff.

Mary Johnson, Registrar

            Here: On the Welsh Border

            There: Florence

David Hinchman, Security Officer

            Here: California

            There: The Moon

Beth Kwapis, Museum Coordinator

            Here: California

            There: Denver

Tara Smith, Curator

            Here: San Diego

            There: In my studio

Aja Wood, Preparator

            Here: San Diego

            There: Traveling the World

Jessica Frelund, Preparator

            Here: MN, NM, CA

            There: Oslo and Holland

Joe Paixao, Security Officer

            Here: California

            There: Fire Island

Sean Ward, Preparator

            Here: Socal

            There: Norcal

Carissa Baird, Museum Clerk

            Here: Front Desk

            There: In San Francisco or in the middle of somewhere I have never been with a backpack

Alex Towey, Security Officer

            Here: California

            There: In a Thirteenth Century Finnish Castle

Erika Koga, Preparator

            Here: Meadow Green

There: Neon Orange

-Danielle

Artist Eye Candy

I figure if we are allowed to drool over celebrities, why can’t we do the same with our favorite artists? I mean, I know what’s important is their artwork and that artists generally shy away from the spotlight, unless they’re associated with Andy Warhol, but my sights are NOT set on the terribly, tanned, guidos from the Jersey Shore. I’d rather admire someone a little more refined. Now, with that being said, is it just me or was Delacroix a total fox? Seriously, the two words that describe him as an artist are “French” and “romantic”. . . umm, yes, please! I’m pretty sure "hip" dudes everywhere took a cue from this guy, and that I was obviously born in the wrong era. Ladies. . . you're welcome. Enjoy.

x Carissa

California Center for the Arts, Museum Store

Our Museum Store merchandise gets changed and added to ever time a new exhibition comes around.  Sometimes it has to do with the exhibition’s content and sometimes not.  This round Beth (our Store Manager among many other things) is doing a great job at bringing you – and me – lots of fun things to buy!  I already have a little Tara stack of things that I have purchased, sorry I know you had no chance because we are closed but hey that’s a perk I will take.  Above you can check out some Tara treasures and other things that will be available in the store as soon as we open on the night of February 12^th !

An interesting note about shopping, specifically impulse buying [thanks to 94.1 FM this morning] is that people with last names near the end of the alphabet are more likely to be impulse buyers.  “They” did a study and found that end of the alphabet last namers make up the dominant amount of impulse buyers.  You can thank your elementary and middle school teachers for this as you were the last one called when waiting to: pick partners for a project, leave for a field trip, get up to get supplies etc… Supposedly this gave all of us with last names starting with Q – Z a compulsion to buy things right away so we don’t have to wait.  

Notes from the Front Desk: Alex, David and Beth

Working hard at the front desk. David making leaves, me blogging. 

So, one great thing about turn-around is the chance to get to know your fellow co-workers. Thing’s around here right now are a little more relaxed. Since we don’t have patrons wandering in and out of the museum, we’re all able to hang out and chat while focusing on various projects to get done before the next exhibition. While we already spend a lot of time up here at the front desk together, it’s always nice to be able to know your fellow desk-mate even better especially during an odd time like this. Lucky for you I’ll give you a peek at what’s going on. Here’s a little insight on a few of the people who are up here handling the front of the house!

Name: Alex (The Great)

Age:  22

How long @ Center Museum:  1yr 8mo

Favorite thing about turn around: Seeing all the new art come in”  

Favorite Lunch Break Eats: Subway

Favorite thing to wear during turn around: “Umm. . . clothes? An apron.”

Project currently working on: Staining chair legs for the new learning center furniture.

Worst part of turn around: The noise

Book currently reading: Morals and Dogma, by Albert Pike

What are you doing on your 3 day weekend: Disneyland!

Favorite Color: White.

David and Alex, hanging tough at the desk.

Name: David

Age: 19 y/o

How long @ Center Museum: 2 ½ years

Favorite thing about turn around: “Looking around and seeing how everything’s changing, and what people are doing to change the exhibit, and see it progress throughout the weeks.”

Favorite lunch break eats: Subway!!

Favorite thing to wear during turn around: “Skinny Jeans”

Project currently working on: “Cutting out paper leaves.”

Worst part of turn around: “Having nothing to do. . .sometimes. I guess? Or doing repetitive tasks over and over again.. . . like cutting out leaves. ”

Book currently reading: The Black Prism, by Brent Weeks

What are you doing on your 3 day weekend? “Probably yard work. Because I need money.”

Favorite Color: Purple.

David, Alex, and Beth working on various projects.

Name: Beth

Age: 28

How long @ Center Museum: Almost a year

Favorite thing about turn around: “Getting new, unique, unexpected merchandise in the store from consignment artists.”

Favorite lunch break eats: “I’m boring… I like the bagel guy’s Lentil soup.”

Favorite thing to wear during turn around: “Chuck Taylors.”  

Project currently working on: “Re-doing museum store, and scouting for couches around San Diego to use for the new learning center”

Worst part of turn around: “Stressful, last minute preparation for exhibit.”

Book currently reading: “Essays on How to Avoid Dying. I got it from a friend. . .”

What are you doing on your 3 day weekend? “Like, nothing. My husband’s overseas. . .Carissa, do you want to get some pad-thai on Saturday?”

Favorite Color: Black

David, taking a "Man Break".

Thoroughly Modern Mickalene

THE MODERN WINDOW AT THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
LE DeJEUNER SUR L’HERBE: LES TROIS FEMMES NOIRES"Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe: Les Trois Femmes Noires" is a project commissioned by the MoMA for The Modern restaurant window on 53rd Street. The project was executed in two stages: initially, a large format printing of Thomas' "Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe: Les Trois Femmes Noires" photograph occupied the window November 2009 through February 2010. In February, it was replaced by the painting on three panels that is currently on view. 

Not sure if you noticed or not, but as Tara mentioned I took a small holiday to the BIG Apple. That’s right, I left 75 degree weather here in sunny San Diego and headed to the blustering east coast—NYC. Aside from it feeling a lot like Gotham City, I had an amazing time! In between catching up with friends out there, I was pleased to have some alone time to do “arty” things, so I headed to the MoMA. What’s funny, is that one of my favorite parts of the museum was the outside! Upon arrival, was a window on 53rd Street, outside of the restaurant, and in it was a HUGE Mickalene Thomas piece: “LE DeJEUNER SUR L’HERBE: LES TROIS FEMMES NOIRES”. I was so excited because a few days earlier we received our monthly copy of ARTnews Magazine and one of my favorite articles in it was “Rhinestone Odalisques” by Barbara Pollack. I’d never heard of Mickalene Thomas before, but I instantly fell in love with her work. Her images are so strong, empowering, feminine, and modern! I’m such a sucker for mixed media, bright colors, and shiny things, so I was beside myself when I saw that article. You can imagine my surprise coming across one in person so quickly. The thing was giant and so, so beautiful! I wanted to take it home with me.(But instead of becoming a criminal, I guess I'll just settle on making something like it of my own.) My best friend who I was with took a picture of me with her camera looking very excited in front of the piece, but I don’t have it yet so enjoy a few of the photos I do have. Please look up Mickalene Thomas’ work and/or pick up the current ARTnews, you won’t be sorry!

Talk soon. Carissa x

Outside of MoMA. . . Looks cold, doesn’t it?

 

Personal photo of “LE DeJEUNER SUR L’HERBE: LES TROIS FEMMES NOIRES”. . . Sorry about the glare. :-/



This is me standing inside MoMA, with a view of the outside. So if you use your imagination you can mind-photoshop me into the front of the Thomas window!

 

 

 

Center Museum, Patricia Patterson Exhibition

Currently we are in installation mode here at the Museum. All Leveled remnants have been taken away and the new exhibition, Patricia Patterson: Here and There Back and Forth is going up.  I would love to know how to build walls from a pile of wood, drywall and shiny parts, but alas I do not. So the crew comes in and makes all this magic happen. And they have it cut out for them big time. There will be three brand new walls to build for this exhibition, two extensions added to existing walls and a height rise on an existing wall.  In addition they are joining many of our pre-existing walls together to make longer walls.  Above is an image of the beginning of this process in gallery 2.  Thank you to the crew! You guys are wonderful.

Tara
Art Ninja

Doing NY

So our favorite blogger Carissa will be adding some extra sparkle to NY this weekend.  I am incredibly jealous that she is jetting off to one of my favorite places.  With that said she asked for some tips on things to do so I thought I would share joy and pass the list on to you all too.  Here is a list of my dear friend Mia's and my favorite things to do in NY.  Carissa, we all expect pictures when you get back! 

Brunch:

Ino:  Cheap, delicious brunch - home of the truffled egg toast and paninis.  The walnut sundried tomato bruschetta is also delish!

Cafe Habana: This place has grilled corn on the cob to die for.  It is topped with paprika and something white [don’t know don’t care] and crumbly white cheese!  Eat your corn with coffee and you will be a happy camper.  Very yummy cuban breakfast foods and drinks. 

Dinner:

Hecho en Dumbo - tacos and Micheladas - YUM!  This place has the best micheladas I have ever had [they put soy sauce in them, I know sounds disgusting but don’t knock it till you try it]

Ippudo - This is a ramen noodle place but shi shi.  Very good and they have the best pork buns I have ever had! They put mustard in them.

La Esquina cafe - also kind of mexicany and delicious 

Bars:

White Star - mixologist cocktails - really good, cash only

Dove - cute, underground 

Shopping:

Soho - but stay off broadway and on West Broadway, as well as the cross streets (Spring, Prince).  There is a store on Elizabeth called Girl Cat that is also really cute

Union Square

(

5th Ave

between 16th and 23rd)  - Anthrologie, Seven Store

Nolita - Funky little boutiques - sometimes can be great, other times nothing

Book Marc – Mark Jacob’s book store, it has great odd artsy books and knick knacks.

 

If you like comedy shows:

Upright Citizens Brigade is awesome - you register on their website and get on the list and tickets are between 10 and 20 dollares depending on the show

And last but not least: THE ART

Ok MOMA has an amazing show up on the Ab Ex painters!

So so good.  The other big one to see is Behind the Camera an exhibition on Norman Rockwell at the Brooklyn Museum.  This blew me away and I learned so much.  The catalogue that goes with the show is great too.  The curator focused on all the photographs that he took in preparation for his paintings as the concept for the exhibition.  There are so many wonderful photos and photo collages and they are pressed smartly against his original works so that you get a peek into this great artists mind.  Brilliant. 

One of my favorite galleries is Andrea Rosen Gallery.  She shows Nigel Cooke who is one of my top ten painter faves. 

Enjoy!

Tara

Student Loans

I have figured out this great trick to get me through all the automated crud when calling The Student Loan people, because no one loves that monotone voice that reads off your list of choices; press one to hear your balance [no thank you!], press two for Spanish, press three if you are awaiting processing…. So when you call your loan people [this works with Citibank not sure who else, as I am trying to not collect more of these things] press the zero button three times fast! 000 and it will forward you to a customer representative, of course he/she will not necessarily be on this continent but hey you got a live one.  I figured this out because I hate hearing my balance and it’s the only way to avoid it. 

So why am I going on about student loans?  Well because we all have them.  And not just us non-proffit artsy people who went to really expensive schools with a high weighted name only to graduate and move back in with our parents.  With this said I would still stubbornly do it again.  But that doesn’t mean I can’t complain a bit here and there to blow off some financial steam. 

Yesterday in the New York Times a great article ran about student debt specifically for law students.  It was socking and sad and I highly recommend you read it. 

So for all of you out there that are in the forbearance boat with me feel free to write in and tell me your loan sob stories because everyone needs to have someone to vent to.

Tara

Art Ninja

Buy Someone Flowers

Flowers were delivered to me at work today, this is a first for me.  You would think a young suitor maybe [no, on the contrary I have an excellent man in my life who I think does not believe in giving flowers].  They were from my very sweet friend in NY, Mia.  They are miniature roses, I love things in miniature, and they feel like her.  It’s like a little mini Mia is sitting on my desk making me happier every day.  So thank you Mia.

To the readers,

Send someone you love flowers, they will love you for it and it will make their week.

Tara

Art Ninja

Natural Beauties

So, I don’t know about you guys, but driving is very comforting to me. I have two jobs on opposite parts of town so I’m spending a lot of time in the car constantly leaving one place and going to the other. With that being said, I try to utilize this time as “me” time—time to think, time to breathe, time to listen to music, zone out, pick my nose, whatever. While driving west on the 78 the day after a rain storm around sunset (and rush hour traffic) I looked up and saw the most beautiful sky. It looked like an amazing painting with the richest oil colors, and I couldn’t help but realize how often these types of natural scenes are overlooked. Working in the arts keeps our eyes on the lookout for colors and paintings and artworks that are created by artists, but sometimes we forget that the inspiration behind such works is all around us every day. There is no richer green than that of grass or natural moss or clovers. There is no brighter blue then that of the sky and there is no truer pink than that of my Snapple pink lemonade. What I’m getting at is this—take some time to lift your head up out of the grind and enjoy the natural artwork that is all around you.

Listen to this song while driving, walking, biking, hiking through nature next time. It’ll make everything go slower. J

Arcade Fire- "Suburban War"

x Carissa

Library Thing

After my last post on Steve Martin’s new book, An Object of Beauty, I got to thinking about just how much I love to read.  Life is beautiful but sometimes you just need a little escape, which a good book can always be.  Another one of the books I am currently reading is The Participatory Museum by Nina Simon.  In it, as she is an avid reader [context clues, I do not personally know this fact], when discussing ideas behind personalized experiences through technological engines she mentions LibraryThing. LibraryThing is an online site that catalogues and recommends books to its users, like a facebook only about the books you read.  I recently started a page of my own and am really enjoying entering in all the books I can remember reading.  Each entry is a little trip down my book memory lane.  Become a LiraryThing-er yourself and see what the ‘Unsuggester’ recommends for you!  The ‘Unsuggester’ suggests books to you that based on your book profile, you would never read.   

Tara

Hate to See it Leave, But Love to Watch it Go.

Tara mentioned it before, but we are now in the full throws of turn-around time and it’s an emotional sight to see! I too enjoy this time of year and all the perks that come with it, most important being allowed to dress casually, but along with jeans and sneakers comes the heartbreak of letting go of the exhibition that everyone lived for the past 5 months.  Leveled was the first exhibition I had seen in its entirety, from start to finish, while working here at the Museum; and it was also Tara’s first exhibition as Curator here-- so there is a lot of separation anxiety going on in the museum admin offices! But, alas, Leveled had an amazing run and we are looking forward to the upcoming Patricia Patterson exhibition and all the other promising shows we are already working on for the future. I would like to formally say “Goodbye” to Leveled and “Congratulations” to its artists and Curator for such a touching exhibition. For all you old-schooler’s who came to Leveled looking for traditional paintings but were instead met by a mysterious fort and some oversized vegetables, NEVER FEAR! We have some beautiful, colorful pieces coming your way.

Here are a couple more photos of Leveled getting stripped. Enjoy. . . or be sad about it, like me.

x Carissa

Marisol's avocado, saran-wrapped and ready for the 'fridge. 

 Look at all the knowledge that was housed in Wes' fort!?

The Fort's guts. Most of its insides now out in the hallway.

Detail from Doris' installation. I think "HEART" is a good word to sum up the show.

Steve Martin, An Object of Beauty

Sitting down to write about a book that the author wrote so well feels pretty silly and is not an easy task.  I give it to the critics for this; I am not a believer of ‘those that can’t do, teach –or- those that can’t do, critique’.  This is less of a critique than an expression of enjoyment and an urging to read.  To read a real critique check out the NYTimes. 

People often ask me, how does one get their art shown in a gallery or museum? -or- How do ‘you’ get in?  Steve Martin’s book, “An Object of Beauty” shows you one version of this answer and gives the reader a secret tour through the art market, auction houses, collectors mind and the ladder of moving up in the art world all through the eyes of a generic ambitious young woman. 

Three and a half years ago when I moved back to San Diego from London [where I did my grad studies], the idea was to move in with my parents and Recover from the happenings of the past three years, but just for a few months.  Then it was off to New York or San Francisco or anywhere but my home town.  This however did not happen; classic story of boy meets girl mixed with the not so classic story, girl finds great job unexpectedly.  So here I am loving life in SD and Curator at one of my true loves, a contemporary art museum.  But don’t we all wonder what could have been, only if….. “An Object of Beauty” documents one of my ‘if only’ paths.  Seeing as how I am not all that special and there are a lot of people out there like me, I think it can do for you what it did for me, and show you your road not taken, or maybe a road you’re thinking of taking.  If you love the art world at all, or hate it, you will love Martin’s newest book.  I have been a fan of his writing for a long time and also highly recommend “Shop Girl.” 

St.Orlan vs. Bridalplasty

CNN breaks down Bridalplasty for you.

 

I don’t have a television. Actually, I have a TV, but no cable. I get only 10 channels that allow me the local news and football games. But after a night at my girlfriend’s house of watching a hilarious Twilight marathon and making moonshine, we flipped to E! and that’s when I realized why only having basic cable is a blessing—Bridalplasty! I can’t explain in words the feeling of nausea that set in, but I will say that it was significant. I couldn’t believe my eyes/ears/stomach/society, and it made me think of artist, Orlan.

Orlan used plastic surgery as a medium for her performance art pieces, and everyone thought she was completely nuts. People were outraged. But then this show comes along, in which women are competing to have this done to them before their weddings (to these men who supposedly love them the way they are) and we glorify and celebritize it? I’m not following. I’m imagining Orlan, smiling smugly at this (or totally frustrated), because I think this was exactly the type of madness she was trying to draw attention to. Anyways, I’ll let you make your own conclusions about the implications of this trainwreck. . . I’ll be at my friend’s house watching Bridalplasty.  . .Don’t judge me!

If you’re interested in further reading about Orlans work, (which you should be) here are a few interviews and articles! 

Orlan's Website 

Interesting Opinion Blog about the subject.

An Interview with Orlan.

x Carissa

I MET JUDY CHICAGO!

Okay, in reality, that’s a lie. But I did get very close! Beth, Museum Coordinator (friend), and I went down to SDMA to see Artist, Judy Chicago give a lecture about the new book she wrote with Art Historian, Frances Borzello called: Frida Kahlo:Face to Face. It was an awesome lecture and very well-attended. I think the most exciting parts were:

1. Seeing Judy in person. I’ve had a total girl-crush on her since college.  
2. Being in the midst of many other art historians who were speaking a lingo that, Beth and I agreed, we don’t hear enough anymore.
3. Viewing such a broad body of Kahlo’s work in one lecture. Chicago had studied many stages of Kahlo’s life, beginning with the most basic portraits, and followed it all the way until the end. Every struggle was represented. And Judy was very good about relating Kahlo’s work back to other women in art, both past and present.
4. Having two of my favorite artists being presented and presenting at the same time was such a treat. I was on overload. Women in art, ROCK!

To read/hear more about the book check it out here and here.

xx Carissa