Twitter This: Social Media Creates Art

At the intersection of social media, technology, and art, there is The Hello Wall.

In London, a non-profit art organization called Wasted Spaces takes empty buildings and uses them as temporary showcases for art shows and installations. These days, commercial spaces can sit empty for long periods of time, but utilizing them for art exhibitions keeps the surrounding neighborhood from appearing like a wasteland. The ghost-town affect can have grave domino-like consequences for the community, but the art keeps things vibrant (often more successfully than when the building was rented to a business). We have a similar organization in the LA area called Phantom Galleries, and their installations have been a wonderful asset to downtown Long Beach.

The Hello Wall is "an installation that uses Twitter to let the public interact with the huge wall projection. Users can interact with the wall by tweeting to @thehellowall using words such as shapes (triangles, squares, circles), commands (more, less, shake) or just say hello to @thehellowall." The tweeted directives will materialize on The Hello Wall, so the artwork becomes the product of technology, social media and public interaction. I'm not a tweeter (yet), but this might convert me . . .

http://design-milk.com/the-hello-wall/

Sonia

Graffiti art or graffiti "art"?

These articles are particularly well timed, since someone tagged the wall of Studio 1021 yesterday. While we enjoyed their choice of a playful purple instead of the bland neutrals they usually use on our walls, it was still a nuisance. Even though we "erased" the work, it reminds me of discussions I've had in modern art classes, and I'd like to hear what you all think.

Is graffiti art?

Ultimately, this harkens back to the essential question of the definition of art. Even though the graffiti on our studio was upsetting to us, I'm not completely willing to discount all graffiti as a mere nuisance. I remember traveling in Germany and Switzerland and being absolutely blown away (in a good way) by graffiti. It exists on walls (there is/was one rather memorable wall with graffiti in Berlin), on trains . . . and I have to say, some of it was truly beautiful (in my opinion, of course). So, I follow the school of thought that graffiti can be art. However, I'm not compelled to say that, therefore, ALL graffiti is art. I can say that I appreciate the questions it raises about the definition of art, and I think it is always a fascinating discussion.

Think about performance, installation, and public art that has been controversial. What are some of the characteristics of the work that compel the viewer to evaluate or disregard it? In the 60's Ed Ruscha joined the canon of modern art with his "word paintings." He often painted words and sayings on his canvases; how different is this from painting on walls or other objects with a spray can? I'm feeling like stirring things up today. What do you think?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/08/positive-graffiti-the-mos_n_674761.html

http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2010/08/17/129251257/misrach

LONG POSE 9+ HOURS! MUST SIGN UP!!

To all Studio 1021 fellow artists!

To address various requests, we have decided to try to set up a 9 hour pose, broken up into three weekly sessions of three hours each from 6-9 pm. They will be held on the following days in September:

Thursday, September 2nd, 6-9
Thursday, September 9th, 6-9
Thursday, September 16th, 6-9

In order for this to work, you must sign-up by Friday the 20th of August, and there must be a minimum of 6 people signed up by then or it will be canceled. The cost is $50 for the three workshops and will include wine and light snacks. If the minimum attendance registration is reached by Aug 20th, the $50 fee must be pre-paid by August 27th (cash, check or PayPall accepted). I apologize for the “strict due dates,” but it necessary in order to assure Melissa, the model, time enough to book other work if it ends up not happening, for as of now she is holding these three dates for us.

To sign up, please respond with an email to info@studio1021.com and please include all necessary contact information.

As I mentioned above, the model will be Melissa, and there will be a potential fourth session to be held on the 23rd, if we decide as a group that we want and/or need it.

This is a GREAT opportunity to do a refined painting and/or drawing! All levels of ability are of course welcome! Let’s make this happen!! :)

Sincerely,
Patrick and Sonia Farrand

Paris' Art Scene Goes Underground . . . Literally in Caves!

Check out this fascinating article about a totally off-beat art scene in Paris! Tunnels that were constructed in the 17th century and also include catacombs from the era are being used as an unconventional canvas for art. A small but growing group of Parisian's steal away into the caves to explore the history, paint murals or throw a party. Some areas of the tunnels are restricted from public access, but that doesn't stop everyone. One muralist interviewed for the story has just unveiled his third mural in the tunnel, which took him one year to complete.

I love to hear about how artists bring their creativity to unexpected places. I think, when you open up to it, the entire world is a canvas. Yesterday, I was picking up some clay for my next round of sculptures and read this post on the memo board, "Art should not be held captive in museums. It should live among us."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704271804575405283969684798.html?mod=WSJ_ArtsEnt_LifestyleArtEnt_4

Studio 1021 Teams up with Arts Council for LB Arts Month

As the arts community in Long Beach becomes more united and visible in the community, the Arts Council for Long Beach is giving all art-related businesses a fantastic opportunity for creativity in October! October is National Arts and Humanities Month, and the artists of Long Beach want to make it a smashing success. The Arts Council for Long Beach has created GLOBAL, a citywide celebration of the arts. Creative businesses all over Long Beach will be participating with exhibitions and performances, from all branches of the arts! This is so exciting for both our studio and our city, because we are all here to see the creative energy grow and flourish.

As part of GLOBAL, Studio 1021 will be showcasing an exhibition of painting, ceramics, and iron work while celebrating our one-year anniversary in business! Our exhibition's opening night will be Saturday, October 2, 2010 from 7-10 p.m. Come on out and enjoy the food, drinks, and, of course, ART! We are also looking into small-scale musical performance options, so you're ideas are appreciated (we don't have a ton of space, but we'd like to support local musicians and listen to live music).

More to come, but put 10.2.10 on your calendar for Studio 1021!