The Labeling of Art

Depending on the medium an artist works in, their output isn’t usually questioned.  Painting is a good example of this. Today the artist’s output manifests in a multitude of forms going beyond the traditional mediums of paint or metal to include collaboration and conversation. In a world where social practice and other esoteric forms of conceptual art are now part of the contemporary art cannon, confusion is possible for the layman.  

And what about photography, whether its subtitle is “fine art photography” or “documentary photography?”  If the work is useful, can it also be art?  The contemporary art reading and discussion group will attempt to dig into these ideas, fortified by the readings listed to the left.  So come to the library on Nov. 3, 6:30- 7:45pm, (in the teen room) and be part of the conversation!

Here are a few excellent artists links with work that is either directly mentioned or relevant to this conversation:  Tania Bruguera  Tony Marioni Tim Hetherington Kerry James Marshall

Working Girls, Lemurs, and Balloon Dogs...must be Contemporary Art!

Greetings! As the leaves change it is clear a new season is upon us (good bye summer, I will miss you, dearly.)  That can only mean one thing:  time for the Contemporary Art Reading and Discussion Group to reconvene!

As always there is a lot going on to take note of.  First a few really great local options:  This Saturday, October 4th, a new show titled Search Portrait opens at Thompson Giroux Gallery, 57 Main street, Chatham 4-6 pm.  This is a group show of different takes on the idea of a portrait that I think you all will find interesting.  If you can’t make the opening the show runs until November 16.  Here is a link to the gallery:

http://www.thompsongirouxgallery.com/Exhibit_Upcoming.cfm

Next, a little farther from home (so let’s carpool!) is a very interesting show at the University of Albany museum called Mary Reid Kelley: Working Objects and Videos

On Tuesday, October 7 at 7pm there will be an artist talk.  I am going, hope you will join me!  The show runs until October 18th. Here is a link to the museum:

 http://www.albany.edu/museum/index.shtml

Now as far as those balloon dogs go, I have included just one article to read, published just a few days ago by Jed Perl from the New York Times review of Books.  If you read just one thing from this blog - read this!  This article is more than a review of Jeff Koons retrospective at the Whitney museum.  It lays out some very interesting ideas on art criticism today, where we are in contemporary art today, and how we got here.  Bring your questions and thoughts to the next meeting - Chatham Public Library, Monday October 6th, 6:30 -7:45 in the teen room.

Image info: 1) Lemur - Margot Curran, 2) Balloon Dog - Jeff Koons, 3) The Syphilis of Sisyphus - Mary Reid Kelley