ARTISTS
The Hot List
Places to go & things to know in the coming year Where the Crowds Are New arts districts are cropping up in cities across the West. If you`re in
Southwest Art
01 Jan, 2008
Places to go & things to know in the coming year
Where the Crowds Are
New arts districts are cropping up in cities across the West. If you`re in DENVER and are looking for a vibrant, high-energy art scene, head for the First Friday Art Walk on Santa Fe Drive. Urbanites of all ages converge on an eight-block stretch lined with more than a dozen galleries, artists` studios, and restaurants. Sandy Carson Gallery, home to a stable of mosdy established contemporary painters and sculptors, anchors the strip. Other venues such as Remmi Fine Art, Space Gallery, and Limited Addiction host shows for up-and-coming artists. The Santa Fe Art District also features the top-notch Museo de las Americas, which regularly presents provocative exhibitions of works by internationally known artists like Vic Muniz.
Meanwhile in PORTLAND, the Pearl District was once nothing but a cluster of gray industrial buildings. Today the area, adjacent to downtown, is considered the cultural and artistic hub of the city, with more than 30 galleries plus artists` lofts, upscale restaurants, and trendy boutiques dotting the area. Last July, the Museum of Contemporary Craft as well as Froelick Gallery-one of the city`s premier galleries featuring representational and contemporary works-moved to "The Pearl," as it`s known to locals, to take advantage of the hip and happening scene; Augen Gallery opened a second location here last year. Join the parade of Portlanders who flood the streets for the district`s First Thursday Art Walks. Galleries and shops have extended hours, and many bars and restaurants have special happy hours.
It`s hard to imagine that a town with some 250 galleries would have room for yet another arts district. But that`s the case in SANTA FE, where the burgeoning Railyard District, about a half mile from the downtown Plaza, is generating buzz among the contemporary art crowd. Anchored by the minimalist aesthetic of the highly regarded SITE Santa Fe exhibition space, the area is now home to cutting-edge spots such as Box Gallery and Gebert Contemporary. This month Zane Bennett Gallery moves from Canyon Road to die district, joining about 10 other galleries, popular eateries, and home-furnishings stores. In the heyday of railroads, die neighborhood was a booming trade center. The depot is still in service, and the Santa Fe Southern Railway trains whistling through the area add a touch of atmospheric nostalgia.
DENVER`S SANTA FE ART DISTRICT BUSTLES ON A FRIDAY EVENING.
Success on the Block
Auctions throughout the West experienced record-setting successes last year. The annual Coeur d`Alene Art Auction, held in July in Reno, NV, and always one of the strongest sales of the year, brought in an astonishing $35 million in 2007-the highest total ever for an auction of western art. The Scottsdale Art Auction, presented by J.N. Bartfield Galleries of New York, Legacy Gallery of Scottsdale, and Morris & Whiteside Galleries of Hilton Head, exceeded $8.25 million in just its third year. And the first annual Jackson Hole Art Auction, a newcomer to the auction world presented by Trailside Galleries and Gerald Peters Gallery, totaled $8.4 million. Surely the art world will be watching again this year to see if sales figures continue to climb.
ON THE SCENE AT THE INAUGURAL JACKSON HOLE ART AUCTION IN SEPTEMBER.
Welcome to the West
A number of new galleries recently joined the art scene in the West. Here are just a handful of the recent arrivals:
MARK SUBLETTE MODERN, Tucson, AZ, www.marksublettemodern.com
LATIN AMERICAN ART GALLERY, Scottsdale, AZ, www.dielatinamericanartgallery.com
VISIONS WEST, Denver, CO, www.visionswestgallery.com
18 HANDS GALLERY, Houston, TX, www.18handsgallery.com
LIZ HERNANDEZ GALLERY, Scottsdale, AZ, www.hernandez-contemporary.com
ERIC FIRESTONE GALLERY, Scottsdale, AZ, www.ericfirestonegallery.com
MARK SUBLETTE MODERN IN TUCSON, AZ.
Another Tool in the Paint Box
Computers are everywhere in the 21st century, so it`s not surprising that more and more artists are using technology along with their brushes, paints, and palettes. Instead of tacking up photographs for reference, many are setting up laptop computers. "When I mention that I substitute images on my laptop screen for painting en plein air, many artists respond `Oh, I do that, too!`" says Texas landscape painter C.S. (Steve) Talley. Digital images can easily be manipulated to change the color saturation, brightness, and contrast, or to move or add elements to create a stronger composition. "Plus the angle of the sun doesn`t change over time," says Talley. "It`s almost like bringing the outdoors inside."
One of the chief advantages in using a computer, artists say, is the ability to change from color to black and white to see values more distinctly. "Digital photography on a computer shows a better range in values overall, especially in the shadows," says Judy Greenan of Boulder, CO. Greenan, who often paints horses and ballet dancers in motion, also takes things one step further by videotaping her subjects. She watches the action over and over again on her computer to observe the kinesiology of a horse`s gait or the twirl of a ballerina`s pirouette. "I can stop the video anywhere and see die exact movement I want to capture. Plus I get to continually reexperience my inspiration," she says.
Using a computer to work out a composition, determine values, or figure out a color palette can save time and frustration. "Technology is just another tool," says Talley. "The artists who benefit the most are those who understand both the benefits and the limitations of computers while still adhering to the fundamentals of painting."
C.S. (STEVE) TALLEY USES DIGITAL IMAGES AS REFERENCE MATERIAL FOR HIS LANDSCAPE PAINTINGS.
Art on the Go
"Coming soon to a community near you" isn`t a phrase often used to describe an art gallery, but it`s more than apt for Si02 Mobile Gallery, a refitted 1971 Airstream travel trailer. "We are trying to unite the emerging artist with the emerging collector by taking artwork out of the traditional gallery setting and bringing it directly to the people," says Joshua Persky, a glass artist in Boulder, CO, who co-founded die gallery with Adam Ostroff of New York. The interior of the 25-foot-long trailer was remodeled with custom display stands and track lighting, just like a bricks-and-mortar gallery. SiO2 (the name refers to the chemical formula for silicon dioxide, the principal component of glass) made its debut tour in 2006, stopping at art centers, schools, and museums in five Midwestern cities. The gallery will hit the road for the Pacific Northwest in the summer of 2008, and plans are in the works for a Southern California tour.
Connecting art and audiences is also the goal of ArtsBusXpress, a nonprofit organization that covers the transportation costs of arts-related field trips for students in San Diego County. "We call it the `missing link,`" says founder Patty Smith, who owns Art Expressions Gallery in San Diego. "Many museums have extensive outreach programs, but they don`t include transportation." ArtsBusXpress pays to rent school buses during off hours, taking students to art museums, dance and theatre performances, and other cultural events. In 2002, its inaugural year, ArtsBusXpress transported just over 1,000 students; by 2007 more than 100,000 students had gone on trips to 170 different venues. "With the cuts in school budgets, especially arts education, many children have little exposure to these types of experiences," says Smith, who designed the program so it can be replicated in other communities. "So we bring students to the arts. It can be a life-changing experience."
SIO2 MOBILE ART GALLERY, A RENOVATED 1971 AIRSTREAM TRAVEL TRAILER, STOPPED IN MEMPHIS, TN, DURING ITS 2006 MIDWEST MELTDOWN TOUR.
The Green Scene
Everyone is thinking about how to save the planet these days, and the art world is no exception. Concerned museums, curators, artists, and architects are all doing their part for the environment. A few examples: The California Association of Museums has developed a Green Museums Initiative to inspire its members to develop green business practices and eco-friendly facility management. Late last year, the new 25,000-square-foot Museum of Contemporary Art Denver opened and is being touted as "green" from roof to basement, using 40 percent less energy than similar buildings its size. In January 2007, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego installed state-of-the-art motion sensors that turn off lights when no one is occupying certain spaces. And to reduce paper waste, the museum is using laminated gallery maps that visitors are asked to return to the front desk.
Architects like Colorado-based Cheryl Spector also are making a difference. Spector designed Denver`s Nine10Arts building, a sprawling space that houses artists` lofts, galleries, and a cafe. The architect re-used wood and doors from the existing structure during the refurbishing process. Spector also used wheatboard, a rapidly renewable material, in the sub flooring, cabinetry, and light shelves. Electricity comes from wind power. Signs are posted throughout the building noting all of the "green" elements, and school children regularly take tours to learn about resource conservation.
Curators are brimming with "green" ideas, too. Last year, renowned art critic Lucy R Lippard curated Weather Report: Art and Climate Change at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art in Colorado. The show asked scientists and artists to collaborate on works that raised public awareness about issues ranging from global warming to reforestation.
Artists are contributing to the effort, too, by creating relevant artworks as well as using environmentally friendly materials. Arizona painter Carrie Marill, for example, depicts endangered flora and fauna. Coloradan Mark Leichliter uses powder-coated steel to weatherproof his large-scale outdoor sculptures; the coating is inert and requires no petrochemicals.
PART OF THE WEATHER REPORT EXHIBIT (LEFT) AND DENVER`S NINE10ARTS BUILDING (RIGHT).
COPYRIGHT: Copyright Active Interest Media Jan 2008. Provided by Proquest- CSA, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Only fair use as provided by the United States copyright law is permitted.
PROQUEST-CSA, LLC- MAKES NO WARRANTY REGARDING THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, OR TIMELINESS OF THE LICENSED MATERIALS OR ANY WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.
Where the Crowds Are
New arts districts are cropping up in cities across the West. If you`re in DENVER and are looking for a vibrant, high-energy art scene, head for the First Friday Art Walk on Santa Fe Drive. Urbanites of all ages converge on an eight-block stretch lined with more than a dozen galleries, artists` studios, and restaurants. Sandy Carson Gallery, home to a stable of mosdy established contemporary painters and sculptors, anchors the strip. Other venues such as Remmi Fine Art, Space Gallery, and Limited Addiction host shows for up-and-coming artists. The Santa Fe Art District also features the top-notch Museo de las Americas, which regularly presents provocative exhibitions of works by internationally known artists like Vic Muniz.
Meanwhile in PORTLAND, the Pearl District was once nothing but a cluster of gray industrial buildings. Today the area, adjacent to downtown, is considered the cultural and artistic hub of the city, with more than 30 galleries plus artists` lofts, upscale restaurants, and trendy boutiques dotting the area. Last July, the Museum of Contemporary Craft as well as Froelick Gallery-one of the city`s premier galleries featuring representational and contemporary works-moved to "The Pearl," as it`s known to locals, to take advantage of the hip and happening scene; Augen Gallery opened a second location here last year. Join the parade of Portlanders who flood the streets for the district`s First Thursday Art Walks. Galleries and shops have extended hours, and many bars and restaurants have special happy hours.
It`s hard to imagine that a town with some 250 galleries would have room for yet another arts district. But that`s the case in SANTA FE, where the burgeoning Railyard District, about a half mile from the downtown Plaza, is generating buzz among the contemporary art crowd. Anchored by the minimalist aesthetic of the highly regarded SITE Santa Fe exhibition space, the area is now home to cutting-edge spots such as Box Gallery and Gebert Contemporary. This month Zane Bennett Gallery moves from Canyon Road to die district, joining about 10 other galleries, popular eateries, and home-furnishings stores. In the heyday of railroads, die neighborhood was a booming trade center. The depot is still in service, and the Santa Fe Southern Railway trains whistling through the area add a touch of atmospheric nostalgia.
DENVER`S SANTA FE ART DISTRICT BUSTLES ON A FRIDAY EVENING.
Success on the Block
Auctions throughout the West experienced record-setting successes last year. The annual Coeur d`Alene Art Auction, held in July in Reno, NV, and always one of the strongest sales of the year, brought in an astonishing $35 million in 2007-the highest total ever for an auction of western art. The Scottsdale Art Auction, presented by J.N. Bartfield Galleries of New York, Legacy Gallery of Scottsdale, and Morris & Whiteside Galleries of Hilton Head, exceeded $8.25 million in just its third year. And the first annual Jackson Hole Art Auction, a newcomer to the auction world presented by Trailside Galleries and Gerald Peters Gallery, totaled $8.4 million. Surely the art world will be watching again this year to see if sales figures continue to climb.
ON THE SCENE AT THE INAUGURAL JACKSON HOLE ART AUCTION IN SEPTEMBER.
Welcome to the West
A number of new galleries recently joined the art scene in the West. Here are just a handful of the recent arrivals:
MARK SUBLETTE MODERN, Tucson, AZ, www.marksublettemodern.com
LATIN AMERICAN ART GALLERY, Scottsdale, AZ, www.dielatinamericanartgallery.com
VISIONS WEST, Denver, CO, www.visionswestgallery.com
18 HANDS GALLERY, Houston, TX, www.18handsgallery.com
LIZ HERNANDEZ GALLERY, Scottsdale, AZ, www.hernandez-contemporary.com
ERIC FIRESTONE GALLERY, Scottsdale, AZ, www.ericfirestonegallery.com
MARK SUBLETTE MODERN IN TUCSON, AZ.
Another Tool in the Paint Box
Computers are everywhere in the 21st century, so it`s not surprising that more and more artists are using technology along with their brushes, paints, and palettes. Instead of tacking up photographs for reference, many are setting up laptop computers. "When I mention that I substitute images on my laptop screen for painting en plein air, many artists respond `Oh, I do that, too!`" says Texas landscape painter C.S. (Steve) Talley. Digital images can easily be manipulated to change the color saturation, brightness, and contrast, or to move or add elements to create a stronger composition. "Plus the angle of the sun doesn`t change over time," says Talley. "It`s almost like bringing the outdoors inside."
One of the chief advantages in using a computer, artists say, is the ability to change from color to black and white to see values more distinctly. "Digital photography on a computer shows a better range in values overall, especially in the shadows," says Judy Greenan of Boulder, CO. Greenan, who often paints horses and ballet dancers in motion, also takes things one step further by videotaping her subjects. She watches the action over and over again on her computer to observe the kinesiology of a horse`s gait or the twirl of a ballerina`s pirouette. "I can stop the video anywhere and see die exact movement I want to capture. Plus I get to continually reexperience my inspiration," she says.
Using a computer to work out a composition, determine values, or figure out a color palette can save time and frustration. "Technology is just another tool," says Talley. "The artists who benefit the most are those who understand both the benefits and the limitations of computers while still adhering to the fundamentals of painting."
C.S. (STEVE) TALLEY USES DIGITAL IMAGES AS REFERENCE MATERIAL FOR HIS LANDSCAPE PAINTINGS.
Art on the Go
"Coming soon to a community near you" isn`t a phrase often used to describe an art gallery, but it`s more than apt for Si02 Mobile Gallery, a refitted 1971 Airstream travel trailer. "We are trying to unite the emerging artist with the emerging collector by taking artwork out of the traditional gallery setting and bringing it directly to the people," says Joshua Persky, a glass artist in Boulder, CO, who co-founded die gallery with Adam Ostroff of New York. The interior of the 25-foot-long trailer was remodeled with custom display stands and track lighting, just like a bricks-and-mortar gallery. SiO2 (the name refers to the chemical formula for silicon dioxide, the principal component of glass) made its debut tour in 2006, stopping at art centers, schools, and museums in five Midwestern cities. The gallery will hit the road for the Pacific Northwest in the summer of 2008, and plans are in the works for a Southern California tour.
Connecting art and audiences is also the goal of ArtsBusXpress, a nonprofit organization that covers the transportation costs of arts-related field trips for students in San Diego County. "We call it the `missing link,`" says founder Patty Smith, who owns Art Expressions Gallery in San Diego. "Many museums have extensive outreach programs, but they don`t include transportation." ArtsBusXpress pays to rent school buses during off hours, taking students to art museums, dance and theatre performances, and other cultural events. In 2002, its inaugural year, ArtsBusXpress transported just over 1,000 students; by 2007 more than 100,000 students had gone on trips to 170 different venues. "With the cuts in school budgets, especially arts education, many children have little exposure to these types of experiences," says Smith, who designed the program so it can be replicated in other communities. "So we bring students to the arts. It can be a life-changing experience."
SIO2 MOBILE ART GALLERY, A RENOVATED 1971 AIRSTREAM TRAVEL TRAILER, STOPPED IN MEMPHIS, TN, DURING ITS 2006 MIDWEST MELTDOWN TOUR.
The Green Scene
Everyone is thinking about how to save the planet these days, and the art world is no exception. Concerned museums, curators, artists, and architects are all doing their part for the environment. A few examples: The California Association of Museums has developed a Green Museums Initiative to inspire its members to develop green business practices and eco-friendly facility management. Late last year, the new 25,000-square-foot Museum of Contemporary Art Denver opened and is being touted as "green" from roof to basement, using 40 percent less energy than similar buildings its size. In January 2007, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego installed state-of-the-art motion sensors that turn off lights when no one is occupying certain spaces. And to reduce paper waste, the museum is using laminated gallery maps that visitors are asked to return to the front desk.
Architects like Colorado-based Cheryl Spector also are making a difference. Spector designed Denver`s Nine10Arts building, a sprawling space that houses artists` lofts, galleries, and a cafe. The architect re-used wood and doors from the existing structure during the refurbishing process. Spector also used wheatboard, a rapidly renewable material, in the sub flooring, cabinetry, and light shelves. Electricity comes from wind power. Signs are posted throughout the building noting all of the "green" elements, and school children regularly take tours to learn about resource conservation.
Curators are brimming with "green" ideas, too. Last year, renowned art critic Lucy R Lippard curated Weather Report: Art and Climate Change at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art in Colorado. The show asked scientists and artists to collaborate on works that raised public awareness about issues ranging from global warming to reforestation.
Artists are contributing to the effort, too, by creating relevant artworks as well as using environmentally friendly materials. Arizona painter Carrie Marill, for example, depicts endangered flora and fauna. Coloradan Mark Leichliter uses powder-coated steel to weatherproof his large-scale outdoor sculptures; the coating is inert and requires no petrochemicals.
PART OF THE WEATHER REPORT EXHIBIT (LEFT) AND DENVER`S NINE10ARTS BUILDING (RIGHT).
COPYRIGHT: Copyright Active Interest Media Jan 2008. Provided by Proquest- CSA, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Only fair use as provided by the United States copyright law is permitted.
PROQUEST-CSA, LLC- MAKES NO WARRANTY REGARDING THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, OR TIMELINESS OF THE LICENSED MATERIALS OR ANY WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.
