Life as an Art Student

So, I shouldn't be sitting here writing this and writing many art criticism papers instead but I needed to post these few links. This is going to be hell week for me, so until after May 8th, I'll be thinking about working and actually drinking (instead of just thinking about doing it). So until then…

Tales From the Crit: For Art Students, May Is the Cruelest Month ~ article from Sunday's New York Times. My final critique is Monday, May 8th, 2 PM Eastern Standard Time. Pray for me.

Art School Confidential ~ The official movie site. Coming soon to a theater near you. Go see it. I will be seeing it (hopefully) this Saturday. I will report how funny and close to the truth it is after May 8th. Especially the part in the trailer where he throws himself covered in paint onto a canvas (hmmm sound familiar?). Also mentioned in the first line of the above article.

Art School Confidential (2006) ~ In case the above link is too slow in loading, here is a page that just describes what the synopsis is and who's in it and a link to a trailer (too funny, watch it even if you don't go to art school you will get a kick out of it… especially if you know me)

I’m Having an Allergic Reaction to the Whitney Biennial

I have allergies.  For some reason, the symptoms seem to be worse whenever I go into the city.  I went to see the Whitney Biennial this week in NYC with my friends and afterwards I was rubbing my eyes, coughing, and sniffling, and my friend asked me if I was okay.  I said it was just allergies… probably all the dogwoods (Dagwood, whatever that tree's name is) in the city.  She said it was probably because I was having allergic reactions to the Biennial.  I'm allergic to the Biennial! I think it's the truth.  The symptoms seem to have started when the show went up, and now it has been worse since I went to actually see the show. 

Let's just say, I was greatly disappointed.  And pretty much leave it at that.  

It was so not worth the $17 I paid on-line to go see this show.

Maybe I'm just some art snob, but seriously… it was bad.  I haven't really heard a good thing about it.  Well, at least from my peers.

The only entertaining thing I saw was this thing called "Trailer for a Remake of Gore Vidal's 'Caligula,' " While sitting there in movie theater like seats, I just watched it and thought… wow, this is pretty much soft porn and it's in an art museum.  Wow.  I'd be a little more descriptive, but I don't think you really want to hear about this from little ol' me.  Go look it up if you're really interested.  It has some big name actors in it too.  

So here are some articles that have been printed about the Whitney Biennial if you're at all interested, but after me saying that it wasn't worth your time, you probably won't read them, but that's okay by me.  There are some pictures of some of the objects in the show, and the things shown are really probably the best things that were in the show.  So go look at the articles if only for that.  Make your own judgement. 

Whitney Biennial 2006 :: Day for Night ~ The official site

The Biennial Question ~ "Have the Curators of This Year's Whitney Biennial Finally Figured Out How to Make the Show Matter?" (My answer is no…)

Odds and Ends ~ "The offbeat pieces in the Whitney's Biennial exhibit 'Day for Night' aren't a pretty sight" (too true!) 

Biennial? Who Needs It? ~ "The Whitney's national survey is dull and insignificant.  Maybe it's time to retire the concept" (yeah. I agree, and sadly this is the first one that I've been to)

Linky Links 4-19-06

As the day is slowly coming to an end, I wanted to post a couple of art related links. I went to Whitney Biennial today and I have several words to say about it… but for some reason some of the articles I wanted to pull up are not responding and I am just still fuming over it, so I'll wait until either tomorrow or the next day for my response on the Biennial. So here are my links.

Hot Art Market Strokes Prices for Artists Barely Out of Teens ~ The article of the day! This article was actually mentioned in my class on Monday by my art critic professor. It was also originally published in Friday's issue of the Wall Street Journal. Then, of course, in typical newspaper fashion, The New York Times published this article that I posted a couple of days ago the following day. As someone mentioned in class, MFAs are getting all this publicity, which means the bottom is going to fall out soon. Great. Just Great.

Trust Your Own Reactions, Don't Seek Enlightenment ~ I really truly enjoyed this article. That's honestly all I have to say about it. Well, okay, I also agree with it and can relate.

Art Institute to Start Charging ~ NOoooooooooooooo!!!! They can't take away free Tuesdays!!! That was my day to go see the few key pieces that I have to see every time I go home to Chicago! Then again, this was actually one museum that I did pay full price ($7) when I did have to pay. Whenever I go to the MET I pay a dollar, but now I get in for free with this Museum card thing I have… but anyway, rambling…

Linky Links 4-17-06

I hope you all had a nice relaxing weekend… and now time to get back to work!! Ugh. Anyway, here are the links for the day. Enjoy!

Art Related

Warhols of Tomorrow Are Dealers' Quarry Today ~ Oh man. Being a MFA candidate… there are the good things and the bad things about it. Sigh.

Emerging Artists: No Room to Grow ~ Then I read this article. Sigh.

Netting the must-have art ~ Philadelphia Museum of Art, good stuff

Where did all the Munchs go? ~ He is constantly in the news! Some idiot stole his paintings, showing at the MoMA, the article above mentions how Philly's acquisition of a Munch is a positive thing (duh), now this. Too bad he's not around to pocket on this publicity.

The Call of the Jungle ~ Disney made the movie Tarzan into a music that is now on Broadway… hm… well, I guess I have to see it since I've seen the other three…

Other Stuff

Trade a paper clip for a house? ~ Submitted by Tom. Pretty cool if the guy can do it.

Animal Related

Cat saves baby's life ~ Whoohoo!!! The cat is a hero!!!

Pigs compete at their own Olympics ~ I can't decide if this is torture or amusing. There's even a video for you to watch.

Linky Links 3-2-06

Why am I awake at 8 in the morning? I wish I knew. I am beginning to miss sleep, but it’s all worth it. Instead of going to bed and try to sleep some more I think I’ll actually get up, eat a little, shower and get my butt to work. It’s time to make art!! (Hopefully I won’t get too distracted and can’t stop giggling all day again which might happen )

Today’s links. Hope you all have as good a day as I will have.

Art Related

Have the Curators of This Year’s Whitney Biennial Finally Figured Out How to Make the Show Matter? ~ I am soooo pumped in seeing this show. This will be an exciting month in art (heck – I’m going to have my own show too!) and in many other things in my life.

Pride, prejudice and happiness: readers choose favourite endings ~ Since I never seem to be able to get my butt to read more I will make this connection with movies, in particular, romantic comedies. If it’s going to end bad, I really don’t like it. I want the romance – the knowledge and hope of a happy ending between the two main characters. It gives me hope about my own life. One of my absolute favorite movies, which was actually a TV mini-series, is A&E’s Pride and Prejudice. (Haven’t seen the new one yet, but I plan on too) I can just watch the ending over and over when Elizabeth finally realized that she wanted to be with Mr. Darcy and Mr. Darcy still declaring his love and him just remembering that look that they shared (or it could be I have the hots for Colin Firth… I dunno). Romance is important, the hope of something better to come, the feeling of being swept off your feet, the surprises, the thoughtfulness that is given without being asked for it, I forgot all of this and hope that’s not going to be the case forever.

Dinner and a movie… ~ Ew. Very fitting title for the article though.

‘West Wing’ Alums to Return for Show’s End ~ West Wing is one of those shows that I surprising really enjoy… mainly because I absolutely nothing about politics and even though I know it’s not real, I feel like it gives me a glimpse, no matter how unrealistic it is, into something I really have no clue about and am curious about. I’ve rented and seen whatever is on DVD now, I think it was season 4, where Zoe was just kidnapped and it begins after that. I don’t remember the number of the season, but that season is where is started going downhill – fast. The first season was so incredibly good and well written that I don’t know what went wrong. Oh well.

Other News

The Origin of Darwin ~ huh. I might have to go see this exhibit in New York.

You can’t force cats to do anything ~ Ha. Poor kittys.

Ohio Couple Tie the Knot at McDonald’s ~ I could never get married in a fast food restaurant. That’s just crazy. But it’s amusing hearing about other people…

Linky Links 3-1-06

The beginning of a new month, and a lot going on in the art world

Art Related

How art appreciates – it’s a class act ~ I want to be worth that much.

Idol Thoughts – the glory of Fountain… ~ by Jerry Saltz who I met about a month ago and gave me a pretty good critique in my studio

Truth in Booty ~ all this for an urn

News Corporation to Tap Not Just Its Film Vaults, but Art from the Street ~ I do love my Star Wars ring tone. Makes me actually happy to hear my phone ring.

They may be dead in this town… ~ I really want to go see this exhibit, it’s in Philly now and was in Chicago recently. My brother and sister told me it was pretty cool. I should do that soon…

Two articles on how people need to respect the art

Martinifest leaves art museum shaken and stirred ~ Wow, what a scene that would of been. I probably would of been pissed as all hell. Actually I thought about this for a show that I saw last month. I walked into the gallery where the floor was covered in a reflective mirror like surface. I was wondering what the opening was like – a bunch of drunk people… I mean, I was completely sober and I felt like I was going to fall over how disorienting it was. Also it would of been some cheap views (men are pigs sometimes).

Boy, 12, gums up pricey DIA artwork ~ “…boys will be boys” as this writer concludes, but I’m in such belief about this – it makes me SOOO angry! Ugh. I won’t get into it.

And lastly – something I’ll be doing more

Want to live longer? Think positive thoughts ~ I think the title says it all. I’m thinking pretty positive thoughts for a couple days now.

Linky Links 2-27-06

Definitely groggy this morning. I wonder why… hmmmm

Anyway. Here are some links – if they’re not that interesting it’s because I’m way too tired to full understand and comprehend these articles, but they seem amusing…

Art Related

What Does Islam Look Like? ~ all the controversy about this cartoon, here’s something about the art.

Loot Back in Anger ~ This is an example of an article that I know if I were more awake I could actually comment on…

Are the ready to rock? ~ see above comment.

The Truth about Mamet ~ “‘People hate artists’” yeah, maybe… he is a great playwright though…

Random stuff

The new naughty ~ Don’t get the wrong idea about the title… flipping flick

His lost wedding ring story is no croc… ~ poor guy.

Pyscho Path Voted Wackiest Street Name ~ you know that there’s also a book on what the worst cities in the US are… and Pennsylvania has two, and one of them is called “Intercourse” (I’ve actually driven through it too!) Haha

And lastly – the theme for today

When sleep is just a dream ~ I’m already late for class.

Hope you all have a good day – and have a good night’s sleep!

Linky Links 2-23-06

Once again I’m having problems sleeping. At least this time I wanted to wake up early. Here’s my links for the news I’m reading. Hope you’re sleeping better then I am.

Art Related

French leave ~ This world is huge… and sometimes it’s hard to realize that in the art world when you live so close to New York City. I would love to be able to live somewhere else for a year or two… I think it would be amazing… and then be able to hop on a plane and go back for a weekend just to hang out for art festivals, gosh, I’m a tiny bit jealous…

Villagers claim church fresco is lost Michelangelo ~ Huh. Alright. See – now a days, I think that artists want to be remember and signing everything so years from now, after we’ve become super famous of course, that every piece that we’ve ever made could be traced back to us. This brings to mind something that I think every time I see a retrospective or something similar to that where sketches are framed and possibly their worst work that they’ve ever made is framed and placed on exhibit. I think, and if I’m with a fellow artist I ask, “Would you want what you think your worst work ever to be framed and showed to the world?” I mean, just because Picasso drew on this napkin, doesn’t mean that it is the greatest.

China applies toon taboos ~ This is just bizarre. A good reason never to want to move to China… besides that whole communist thing… I would never be able to freely watch Roger Rabbit… or as a different ban states, Babe.

BBC pledges money for UK movies ~ Actually, this title for this article brings to mind something else… are British keyboards different then American keyboards? I mean, above the 4 is there a pound sign rather then a dollar sign? I dunno, I was just wondering.

Orchestra, musicians group agree to employ a mediator ~ A shout out to my dear friend Sunny should be put here. Louisville really doesn’t have an art scene does it?

And now for the really bizarre if the toon ban wasn’t bizarre enough

Alleged Kitten Killer goes on trial ~ It’s even stated by the Cook County Public Defender as a “bizarre case”

‘Anti-bird-flu’ water goes on sale in Czech Republic ~ Oh my goodness people.

Linky Links 2-22-06

I just don’t get why I wake up soooo early on those days that I really don’t need to wake up at all. Is it something programed in my mind that those days that I have to wake up for class or something that I have this desire to sleep more? I dunno. Just rambling. Now, for today’s links.

Neither War Nor Bombs Stay These Iraq Couriers ~ This article caught my eye because of a quote that is in it: “‘It’s something wonderful to get a letter,’ said Ibrahim Ismail Zaiden, a postman in Dora. ‘The paper, the stamp, the envelope. It is not just a piece of paper. It is something sacred.’” If anyone knows me, they know that I love writing letters, even though usually I have nothing to say. It just makes me feel good writing and sending a letter or a postcard. It’s so exciting to receive something in the mail and I always hope that a note from me in the mail is always better then an e-mail or something.

Poop Power being sniffed out in San Francisco ~ Whoa. Ew. I know I’m now a dog lover and all, but ew.

How to get disqualified without really trying ~ Hahaha. Wow. So many little things that can screw you over in the Olympics besides your performance, like falling numerous times on the slippery ice.

Theatre Related

Some People Born To Dance ~ This makes me wonder about other traits that we have and how much are genes a part of that. Are we programmed what are we going to like when we were first created? I know when I tell people that my parents work with computers they wonder how did I become an artist, but there are artists in my extended family, so it’s not too far off. Hm.

Too much too young ~ Hmmm… what is too young? I did post that one article awhile back about sexual harassment at the young age of something or other. So what about in plays? Keep in mind that this is a different country that is performing this… but what does that mean? Does it mean that Americans are uptight? Or too wary of everything? I don’t know. I can only speak for myself I guess.

And lastly – Wow, Lion King has been strangley in the news lately, I recently posted an article about the song in Lion King, but now the play itself is popping up in the news… okay, maybe not that much… but more then let’s say, Beauty and the Beast… haven’t heard anything about that in a long awhile…

‘Lion King’ Pounces onto Chinese Stage ~ Performed in English, of course.

The Quest ~ I wish I were smaller and could sing… that would be awesome if I could perform in Lion King…

The Video that is related to the above ~ this is kinda sweet.

Linky Links 2-16/17-06

I can’t sleep. It’s 4:30 AM and I can’t sleep. I should be sleeping because I went to bed at 5:30 AM yesterday morning and woke up at 10:30 AM, several hours later, to go to class, and now… after yesteday being a full day and getting back at 10 PM, I can’t sleep. So here are some links from today and I guess yesterday. I don’t even know what day it is anymore… they are all starting to blend together.

Art Related

Oslo police had chance to recover stolen art ~ So close… How could anyone in their right mind steal The Scream!?!?!? Then again, I always wondered how did these people actually get this art work out of the building without anyone noticing because I sure wouldn’t mind owning a Munch.

Cultural district could draw crowds but not profits ~ Salt Lake City needs some theater and outside culture… that’s what I say.

Disney settles Lion song dispute ~ Disney Disney Disney… they have this protection over images that are created inside the animation studios (if you draw something there it belongs to Disney, or something like that) and they use a line or two from a song without permission? TskTsk.

Random

Man Suffers Injury On “Peter Pan” Attraction in Walt Disney World ~ A couple of days old, and another Disney link. Now… if you ever been on this ride, which I have many many many times – and there is ALWAYS a long line, they really do rush you. The platform is moving, the ride is moving and you really have to jump in the flying boat. This is similar to The Haunted Mansion ride. Poor guy.

Great Wall of China wards off ravers ~ Come On!!! Show a little respect!