Show and Tell: Narrative in Contemporary Art

Ahmed Alsoudani at Gladstone Gallery
Untitled

 This month’s theme is Show and Tell - you are all invited to bring in your favorite work of art to our next meeting, Monday Dec. 1, to show and tell why you like it and what it means to you.  If you do not own your favorite work of art or it is too large to carry, a digital image is OK.  The point is to have a conversation about an artwork we are really fascinated by and how this intersects with our own story.

In honor of the show and tell theme I have added links about

narrative and storytelling in contemporary art.  The Art 55 link gives an interesting historical overview, while the Artsy link considers this form as a kind of trend that has been in and out.  Both provide a whole bunch of interesting images too.

I have also included images of three contemporary artists

Lynette Yiadom -Boakye at Jack Shainman Gallery
Any Number of Preoccupations

works here for you take a look at.  Each of these artists have shows right now in Chelsea, NY. Can you tell a story just from looking at them here? Does the title give you any extra information? Where does this story take place? Who are the main characters?  What happens?  Can’t wait to hear all of your stories on Monday, Dec. 1, 6:30-7:45pm in the teen room at the Chatham Public library.

Martin Puryear at Matthew Marks Gallery
Phrygian Plot

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

Your stories....about here, and here and there!

The stories are starting to come in...don't you want to add your voice?  You still can!

Next public recording day: 

Chatham Public Library 6:30-7:45 Monday September 15th, in the teen room.

Can't make this date?  Contact me at: melissasarris2@gmail.com to set up an alternate time to record your story.

What do you have to do? Just show up with a story to tell.  Got lots of stories?  Select one that occurs at a particular place in the Village of Chatham, though the story need NOT have anything to do with the location.

Add in as much detail as you can about time of day, the weather, what you were wearing, who you were with, etc to help create the mood.

If this old building could talk...it's Audio Walking Tour of Chatham time!

Ever think about the old adage “if this old building could talk?  Well, with your help that is just want it will do!  How you might ask?  

Tell your personal, funny, outrageous, sad, or ? stories,  that’s how!  The Audio Walking Tour of Chatham invites you to offer your story that took place at a particular location in the village, though the story need not have anything to do with the location.  The stories will be recorded, edited, and ordered to create a self-guide walking tour of our Village.  This tour will lead the listener from place to place listening to your stories!  

Got a story about how one time when you were standing in front of the clock tower and you got a really important phone call about... Or the time you were thrown out of Ralph's when... Or maybe someone once told you about the time they were coming out of the pub and...All stories are welcome. 

Are you shy or simply want some anonymity?  Submit your story as text and we will record it for you.  Simply email to: melissasarris2@gmail.com (or email your pre-recorded mp3 file!)

Participate in telling, recording or editing (no experience necessary!) Come to the Chatham Public Library on Monday, August 18th 6:30-7:45 to share your story or Wednesday, August 20th 6:30-7:45 to learn basic audio editing using garage band and audacity.

Yes, Re-thinking the Facade is over and Berkshire bank looks ordinary again but below are a couple of images from the closing event.  Those two lucky folks got to take home a genuine artifact from the facade!

Find out how the story behind this "brick" from
Re-thinking the Facade will figure into
the Audio Walking Tour!

Marie Claude taking home
"Absence."

Greit taking home "Buddha Man."

All good closing ceremonies deserve cake!

It's Up...and now for the closing party!

Re-thinking the Facade in place, temporarily 

detail with "blocks"
made by Cathi, Leni, and Beth, Thanks

 Take a look at Berkshire Bank at 52 Main Street in Chatham and what will you see?  A kooky, crazy temporary installation:  inspired and sometimes made by you!  THANK YOU ONE MILLION to everyone who participated and helped out!  You put the "engage" in engagement.  Lots of fun was had and I also learned a lot.  Enjoy the beautiful plantings, even after the installation comes down. Special thanks to Joanne for all of her garden maven help!  Speaking of the installation coming down, on Thursday, July 31 from 4-6 pm there will be a closing party right in front of the bank.  The installation will come down (with the very kind assistance of James, Randy, and their tall ladders,) and there will be cake!  Plus take home a piece of the installation as a souvenir!  Spread the word. Hope to see you there!

Parade from SummerFest poses in front of the facade!

What's next?  The Audio Walking Tour of Chatham! An audio tour of the Village of Chatham that surveys history, culture, and contemporary living through local stories. Tell your personal, funny, sad, irreverent, etc., stories that connect to particular locations in the village. Be the voice of someone else’s story.  Stories will be recorded, edited, and ordered into a self guided tour of the village of Chatham. Participate in telling, recording or editing (no experience necessary!) Check back here for more details.

Temporary Installation opening July 12th...with a closing on July 31!

Facades at the Grainery

On Saturday July 12th Re-thinking the Facade will be on view at Berkshire Bank at 52 Main street, Chatham, NY.  This temporary installation was inspired by the architecture of the Village of Chatham in all it’s varieties as a metaphor for the diversity of our community. Participants were asked to re-imagine the brick facade of the bank building.  Their ideas ranged from bringing the personal into the public, conceptual notions of community and more.  (These model facades are in the windows on Main Street.)  I have sampled and synthesized many of these ideas and included them in the

Facades at Banner's

installation.  

Why a closing event?  Why not?! On Thursday, July 31st, from 4-6 pm I will be taking the installation down.  Since it is modular, all of the individual “bricks” will be on offer to the community to take home as a kind of souvenir and a thank you for their support during the project.  Or stop by to learn more about what’s next for Chatham Art Agency.... The Audio Walking Tour of Chatham!  Light refreshments will be served. 

Facades at Brown's Shoe Store

Check the right hand side of the blog for some interesting book titles for summer reading!

Facades at the Chatham Bookstore