PBS broadcasting a night of Art & Architecture tonight

Imagining America: Icons of 20th Century American Art

Channel 13 WNET

Wednesday, December 28, 9:00pm
Saturday, December 31, 2:00pm

"This documentary explores the work of Georgia O'Keeffe, Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg, and other notable American artists in the context of the cultural and social transformations that helped define 20th century America. Through the work, ideas and lives of more than 50 leading artists and scholars, the program explores the qualities that make our art and culture distinctly American. (Closed Captioning) (Stereo)"
NYTimes review
Related: Edward Winkleman on Peter Goddard's review of documentary in the Toronto Star..

Tonight at 11pm, after Imagining America, Charlie Rose will be speaking with Jed Perl, Author of New Art City, and NYTimes achitecture critic, Nicolai Ouroussoff.

Tag Sale at Spire Studios

Sat 1/28 - Sun 1/29 11 -5 pm
45 Beekman St 2nd flr.
Shop in comfort - indoors
Click here for a map & directions
Spire Studios will be hosting a two day, multi family tag sale. A percentage of the sales will go toward keeping the artists of Spire warm this winter.
This list of sales items will be added to througout the coming week.

Fiesta ware
Royal Worcester China
Glassware
Cutlery, Utensils
Misc Kitch/restaurant items
Braun Hand Mixer
Coffee maker
Electric burners
George Forman Grill
Hardwar
Tools
Artist paints - assorted colors
Clothing - mens, women's, children's
dress shoes
Children's stuff- Car seats, child carrier, toys, beanie babies
Books
VHS / DVD Movies, incl. children's movies
Handmade ceramics
Vintage suitcases (2)
Household items -
Decorative accessories - figurines, brass candle holders
Antique-style floor lamp
Antique table lamp
Rocking Chair
Linens, Blankets
1 pair of Salomon Skis
Camping mat
Misc electronic equipment, printers. Dell 720 photo printer, like new

bau ornament drive for Vassar Hospital

Angelika Rinnhofer and Jennifer Mackewiecz hosted an ornament party and potluck at bau on Friday, Dec 16. People really came out, brought loads of unique ornaments, and gifts for patients in the Children's Ward at Vassar Hospital.







The next morning, Angelika, Jennifer, and Vivian Altman brought the ornaments, gifts, and the christmas tree provided by Adams Fair Acre Farm over to the hospital in Poughkeepsie.

Angelika said that the nurses were anxious to see the tree and decorations, and that it really was worth the wait.

Angelika and Jennifer both thank everyone that came out to enjoy the company of each other, and share some light and spirit with the children at Vassar Hospital.

Season's Greetings from Flying Swine Theater Company

Happy Holidays!
Many thanks to all who participated in any way shape or form on THE PITCHMEN. For you that couldn't make it, not to worry! There's more where that came from! Here's to a very exciting, very THEATRICAL new year!

Donald Kimmel
Artistic Director
FLYING SWINE
flyingswine@earthlink.net

Images from Spire Studios Art Auction, Dec 10

The total tally has yet to be made, but by all accounts, the art auction at Spire Studios was a success. Some images from the event:

Judy Lombardi, Executive Director of Grace Smith House, speaking about the mission, and activities of the organization.

Todd Spire, Event Co-Organizer and Benjamin Krevolin, Director of the Dutchess County Arts Council.

PumpkinHead Mendes speaking with Molly.

Todd Spire predicting the result of Alexis Elton's next growth spurt.

Event Co-Organizer, Kathy Feighery letting loose in the after event dance party in Jeff Caramagna's studio

Other images of the auction, photographed by Angelika Rinnhofer are at Grace Smith House's website.

Goings on and on

My last post not withstanding, this weekend has a lot going on. I have posted about a couple of them already, but to save space, I'm giving a quick run down.

It looks like there are openings at every single gallery in town this Saturday. I don't know specifics on them all, but you can visit baca's website. They have a complete listing. The event at Zahra's studio sounds like it should be a trip for sure. bau is going through the change, and the bau 12 exhibit opens featuring all 12 ongoing and outgoing members. Para/site has an opening for an exhibit that I'm anxious to see. There is a new photography gallery called Exposures that will have it's grand opening on Saturday.

Of course, Spire is having its Open Studio and Art Auction. There are nearly 100 pieces generously donated from artists from near and not so near. The offering looks good.

World's End Books will be hosting a book release party at 5 pm for Kazim Ali's second book, The Far Mosque. At 8 pm, Kazim will be hosting a fundraiser for the Hidaya Foundation at Chthonic Clash Coffee House, 418 Main St. Indian Classicla Vocalists Sheetal Karhade and Suhas Joshi will be performing.

On Sunday, Artist Curry Mendes will be hosting an open studio from 12 to 6. Info is in a previous post below. (It's late, and I'm too lazy to insert many links.)

Also on Sunday, in Peekskill, HVCCA will be hosting a Free Arts Day with free admission day featuring a video presentations by Sara Greenburer Rafferty, and Kate Gilmore. There will also be a musical performance at 4pm.

Back in Beacon at 6 pm, bau will be kicking off it's "take a bau" performance series on the 1st & 2nd Sundays with a solo performance by Marvin Bugalu Smith.

And if all that is not enough, some of us at Spire will be watching 2 episodes of Art 21 Season 3, at 7pm. Everyone is invited to hang out with us in our studio living room.

That's all.

Beacon's quiet nightlife explained?

This item came to my attention via Edward Winkleman's blog. With so many artists in Beacon, and not a whole lot to do in the evening, it's been easy to assume they've all been working late in their studios, but there could be other reasons for artists staying in.. This past Sunday, the NY Times ran a story about a recent survey, the results of which say that while the average individual reports 3 sexual partners in their past, the average artist claims 4 to 10. Be sure to check out the comments on Edward's site; they are an interesting and vital part of his blog.

Charlotte Schulz @ Para/site Opens Dec 10

ParaSite @ The Iron Fish Trading Company Presents:

Charlotte Schulz
Object Lesson: Drawings & Notebooks
Dec 10th - Jan 28th, 2006

Opening Reception Saturday December 10th, 5 - 8pm.
*Music provided by Mr. Roboto.

Please join me for the opening of "Object Lesson: Drawings & Notebooks" by Beacon based artist Charlotte Schulz. On display will be drawings, books, sketchbook pages, photographic references and notebooks the makes evident the complex vocabulary and process that lie behind Schulz beautifully rendered drawings.

Schulz drawings begin with words; seeds of ideas discovered in books and then translated into pictures. From this initial idea, a story develops that weaves these written ideas together with her own thoughts and feelings. Events, memories, transformations, and insights are all set down. Through the careful blending of charcoal and delicate erasure, Schulz knits together diverse images and spaces selected from photographic and art historical references. Evolving into a complex web of vignettes that merge into one another or dissolve into white. A world is created where a plane flies through a room, a sheep stands elevated on a platform, a book gives off vapor, a city lays on a stretched piece of cloth. We view this world as if seen through an inverted telescope-a partial version of the macrocosm on a sheet of paper.

Charlotte Schulz has exhibited her work in a number of galleries and museums including Brooklyn Fireproof gallery, Aljira Center for Contemporary Art, Tampa Museum of Art, The John and Mable Ringling Art Museum, and The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, Connecticut. Honors and awards include a New York Foundation for the Arts, Artists Fellowship, a Pollack-Krasner Foundation Fellowship, a State of Florida Individual Artist Fellowship, The Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture and MacDowell Colony residency programs. Charlotte Schulz has a MFA and BFA from the University of South Florida, in Tampa, Florida.

Curry Mendes - Open Studio, Dec. 11.

www.curry mendes.com

Online bidding now active for Spire Studios Art Auction

Online preview and bidding for the Spire Studios Art Auction to benefit Grace Smith House is now active. Visit Spire Studios to get a sampling of artwork available, and place a bid. All bids begin at $50. This is a great opportunity to pick up a really great piece of work from some very capable artists.

Mechanics of Politics at Collaborative Concepts

opening reception: Dec 10 5-8 pm
211 Fishkill Avenue (entrance on Verplank Ave.) Beacon, NY 12508
Exhibit runs through 1.15.06

Karlos Carcamo in Miami & NYC

Karlos Carcamo will be featured in two upcoming exhibits. First....

Tuesday, November 29, 2005
from 7 to 10 PM

in conjunction with the Art in America Party at MoCA

AMBROSINO GALLERY presents:

Betty Rosado
identity series - the Miami project
in gallery two, and

The Bermuda Triangle
curated by RAUL ZAMUDIO

featuring:
Atelier Morales, Bilk Van der Pol, Karlos Carcamo, Cleverson, Stuart Croft, Andrea Frank, Erika Haarsch, Scott Lifshutz, Emma McCagg, Yasira Nun, Edgar Orlaineta, Dan Perrone, Franco Mondini Ruiz, Rikko Sakkinen and Daniel Zeller
in gallery one and the project room.

Second....

“my mother the nazi” curated by raul zamudio
december 9 – january 7, 2006
opening: friday , december 9, 2006

The:Artist:Network:New York
424 broadway 6th floor
new york, new york 10013
(212) 431 1625

Spire Benefit Auction Details

Spire Studios: Quarterly Open Studios, Auction and Fund Raiser for Grace Smith House Saturday, December 10 - Preview begins at 12pm - Auction 7-9pm Pre-Previews will be held on: Saturdays & Sundays beginning Nov. 26 - 12-5pm Tuesday Evenings at 8pm
Spire Studios - 45 Beekman Street - Beacon, NY 12508 - 845.231.3275 Spire Studios will host a silent auction on Saturday, December 10th, in conjunction with its well known quarterly open studios, to benefit the Grace Smith House of Poughkeepsie. Benjamin Krevolin, Director of the Dutchess County Arts Council, will serve as host and auctioneer to sell over 100 art works donated by local artists. 100% of the proceeds will go to Grace Smith House, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides shelter and social services for victims of domestic violence. Its Executive Director, Judy Lombardi, will be in attendance to introduce visitors to the agency’s benefits. Bidding for the “small works,” which include both emerging and well known artists from throughout the region, will begin at $50. The works will be on view at the studio’s galleries and bidding will begin on Saturday November 26th from 12-5pm. Spaces for artists interested in donating work to the exhibit are still open. Please contact the studio for more information. About Grace Smith House - www.gracesmithhouse.org The mission of Grace Smith House, Inc. is to enable women and their children to live free from domestic violence through: - Providing shelter and apartments, advocacy, counseling and education; - Raising the consciousness of the community regarding the extent, type and seriousness of domestic violence; and - Initiating and taking positions on public policies in order to provide options which empower victims of domestic violence For a list of Participating Artists, please visit www.spirestudios.org

Rinnhofer represented at Pulse Miami

Angelika Rinnhofer's artwork will be represented by Paul Kopeikin Gallery at Pulse Miami from December 1-4.

bau 11: Hudson Paths, featuring Kathy Feighery & Matt Kinney through Dec. 4

bau 11: Highland Paths will comprise of two artists, Kathy Feighery, a founding member of bau and Matthew S. Kinney. Both Kinney and Feighery, through their work, seek to convey a unique interpretation of the Hudson Valley landscape that surrounds them. Kinney’s work derives from the ruminations and discoveries he makes out in nature. Animal tracks and vegetation find their way into his intricate, thoughtful sculptural pieces as well as his paintings and drawings. Kinney purposefully records the ephemeral in his work, asking the viewer to take another look at something nature has wrought that might otherwise have gone unnoticed. Feighery’s paintings and drawings are distillations of the dramatic landscape she has witnessed in the Hudson Valley. Her unpopulated work seeks to describe the berth of sky and vastness that can still be found in a very populated region.

Kathy Feighery

Matt Kinney

11.26.05 Dia Gallery talk: Johanna Burton on John Chamberlain

Saturday, November 26, 2005, 1pm

Johanna Burton, art historian and frequent contributor to Artforum magazine, on John Chamberlain


Dia:Beacon
Riggio Galleries
3 Beekman Street
Beacon, New York 12508

Gallery Talks at Dia:Beacon are a series of presentations that take place the last Saturday of every month at 1 pm and are free with admission to the museum. Focused on the work of the artists in Dia's collection, the one-hour presentations are given by curators, art historians, and writers, and take place in museum's galleries. Reservations are suggested. Please call Dia:Beacon at 845-440-0100 ext 44.

Current hours at Dia:Beacon are 11 am to 4 pm, Thursday through Monday (closed Tuesday and Wednesday). The museum is easily reachable via Metro-North Railroad (the MTA's Hudson Line station in Beacon is within walking distance of the museum). Trains leave Grand Central Terminal for Beacon every hour. Full schedules are available on the MTA’s website at http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/. The museum is also reachable by major roadways. Driving directions are available on Dia's website at http://www.diaart.org/dia/visitor/index.html.

This series is made possible through the generosity of The Dyson Foundation, The Karan-Weiss Foundation, and Jane W. Nuhn Charitable Trust.

A portion of November admissions will be donated to Museums Helping Museums: A National Relief Effort for the Gulf Region.

Happenings @ Chthonic Clash 11.19.05

At The Chthonic Clash on Saturday,
Opening Reception for Protest photographer Adrian
Eisenhower: 6:30-8pm
 Provocative and insiteful photographs on view
documenting various protests in New York and
Washington against the War in Iraq, by Cold Spring
artist and explorer Adrian Eisenhower.
www.foreversafari.smugmug.com. Enjoy refresments and
meet photographer Adrian Eisenhower and perhaps get a
chance to discuss with him his experiences being a
part of the growing anti-war movement as a protestor,
artist, and documentarian.
Music by Trevor Exter 8pm $5 Cover.
Trevor's windswept voice and unusual sidekick, a
beat-up cello, take you on a journey into the
less-traveled corners of roots and rootlessness.  From
Brooklyn to Berlin, Britain, Brazil, Buenos Aires and
back, this runaway visits us with a sexy original
sound and songs. He practically violates the cello as
he sings, whispers and screams an imaginative
repertoire of instant classics.

Flow Closing Reception Nov 20

Flow: Navigating the Super Paradigm at Collaborative Concepts closes Nov 20

Closing Reception: Sunday, November 20th, 4 - 7pm
Exhibition walk-through and talk with participating artists.


Performance by Nelsons Electric Chair Cuts - http://chaircut.com

Nelsons "Electric Chair Cuts," satirizes the notion that we are all only a haircut away from possessing a sense of authenticity that distances us from the crowd. He straps a willing accomplice into a chair, and with a pair of amplified scissors attached by wires to a power-pack on his back, attacks the unruly mane of hair. By theatricalizing the "performance" of a haircut, Nelson suggests that the codes of individuality as filtered through fashion, are just that -- theater. In Nelson's knowing hands, the boundary between the external and the internal shed their dichotomous nature, becoming a single route to a reinvestigation of the self.

Call to artists (though not exclusively artists) for ornaments at bau.

Jennifer Mackiewicz and Angelika Rinnhofer invite you to a pot luck and tree decorating party at Beacon Artist Union.

Please help us decorate a Christmas tree for the children’s ward at Vassar Hospital. Create a Christmas ornament, bring it together with a dish or some "Christmas Cheer".
Friday, December 16, 2005 at
bau

161 Main Street in Beacon. The party goes from 7-9.
Make a difference in a child’s life this Christmas. Donate a toy or an ornament. Or both.

Please RSVP by December 10 to arinnhofer@yahoo.com or jmackiewicz@diaart.org
We look forward to seeing you at bau!

Stephanie Diamond at ParaSite

ParaSite @ The Iron Fish Trading Company Presents:

Stephanie Diamond Passing the Baton
Nov 12th - Nov 27th, 2005
*Opening Reception Saturday Nov 12th, 4 - 7pm.

New York City-based photographer Stephanie Diamond's use of photography is unique, as it employs a means to an end, and not an end within itself. Her process is equally as important as her final product. Passing the Baton, opening on Saturday, November 12 from 4 - 7pm, displays Diamond's archive as a sculptural photo installation alongside her mother's massive cookbook collection/archive.
Also on display will be Diamond's on-going photographic series, Food. A family portrait in a sense, the duel archives demonstrate the similarities between Diamond's photo archive (a personalized system that stores over 80,000 photographs that range from images of her grandparents, childhood images, college images, to Diamond's current images), her processes for creating images, and her mother's cookbook archive; which personifies a method of meticulously marking down, in her cookbooks, all the recipes she has ever used. This seemingly inherited tradition of documenting within the Diamond family was only recently discovered by Diamond when her mother began to clean out and store her cookbooks.
The endless parallels are striking between Diamond's own creative process, and her mother's obsession with recording the food that she cooked. Diamond's series Food references this direct correlation between mother and daughter. Food features a diverse range of cuisine and provisions that Diamond has consumed and documented for the past few years. Whether the images convey a half-eaten birthday dinner or a melted, unappealing piece of chocolate, this series displays an ironic reality that is both humorous and disturbing. In the gallery, Food is displayed on walls, alongside both in a large vitrine located in the center of the gallery.


Stephanie Diamond received her BFA from Rhode Island School of Design 1997, and her MA at New York University, 2003. Diamond has had a solo exhibition at Cuchifritos Gallery in New York City in 2005 and Galeria Sin Titulo in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 2004. Her work has been included in group exhibitions at P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center; The Studio Museum in Harlem; Contemporary Art Center in Vilnius, Lithuania; Art in General; and Artists\' Space. Diamond has been an artist-in-residence at M + M Projects in San Juan Puerto Rico; Art Omi; The Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture; and P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center.

Directions:
Train - Metro North Hudson River line to Poughkeepsie. Get off at the Beacon stop (Dia: Beacon). Walk toward north end of platform and up the hill to Main Street. Driving - Route 9D to Beacon, I-84 West to Exit 12 (Beacon), I-84 East to Exit 11 (Beacon).

Passing the Baton will be on view at ParaSite Art Space located at The Iron Fish Trading Company 167 Main Street, Beacon, NY, from November 12th through November 27th, 2005. For further information please contact gallery director Karlos Carcamo at 347-531-6111.