The annual Soo VAC garage sale fundraiser is this weekend. I took a peek in the window and there are piles and piles of perfectly wearable, ironic tees to be scoured through. Many that will end up being seen at the CC Club later that night, I’m sure. And all for a good cause.

They’ve added a few entertainment goodies to entice you this year too! Here’s the full story…

“Calling all thrifters, scavangers, and treasure hunters. The SooSalvage yard sale fundraiser is this Saturday, June 2nd from 10am-5pm, and Sunday, June 3rd from 10am-4pm.

From oddities to essentials, this sale has it all. A dining set, rollerskates, electronics, a Slayer charm necklace, kid stuff, books, CDs and DVDs, a Master P poncho, sheets of stained glass, jewelery, crafting materials, casting materials, fashion and design magazines, and tons of clothes. Did we mention the Slayer charm necklace?

Come back down Sunday morning for Bingo Brunch and a Bloody Mary Bar sponsored by French Meadow Bakery and Shakers. Then stay late Sunday evening for the Dollar Bag Sale, an evening of performance and great deals sponsored by The Herkimer. Entertainment by Brain Candle Light Orchestra, Thank You, and Bulky Dance. $3 cover. Doors at 7pm.”

www.soovac.org
27th and Lyndale

art-a-whirl often feels like a giant treasure hunt. with so many artists in NE, and that number expanding rapidly, there can be an exhausting amount of work to view in order to find something of your liking.

as you are passing through that 50th artist studio remember that there is often more to be said about the work than “I love it” or “I hate it”. explore the piece, what is the artist trying to say, what compelled them to make it, if the subject is not of your liking, what works in the execution, color scheme or composition…and then if you dare, share.

stop and look,
emma

I received the following from Ms. Monica Sheets…and wanted to pass on. Please do the same:

Call for Artists: Seeking Artists who applied for the 2006 Jerome Emerging Artist
One goal of this project is inclusiveness, and I would love to reach all 260+ applicants.

I am inviting artists who applied for the Fellowship to take part in a show to be presented in the gallery at MCAD during the MCAD/Jerome Emerging Artists show in October. I would like the show to represent the breadth of work being created by the self-identified emerging artists in Minnesota.

Due to the number of artists, it is not practical to hang a physical show, so work would be displayed in digital form. I am currently envisioning a two part system: one part would be a randomized digital slide show projected on the wall; the second part would be a computer station with a digital image archive that can be accessed by visitors. The show would have its own title, brochure, postcard and announcement to local press. It would be open to all artists who applied for the fellowship in fall of 2006.

I have multiple reasons for pursuing this project. As an artist, I generally engage in participatory public art projects. In these projects, I am often dealing with issues about access, examining individuals’ relationships to institutions, and providing a forum for dialogue and expression. After discussions with artists and non-artists about their perceptions of the fellowship, I came to the idea for the parallel show as a way of spreading
the access I have gained as a Jerome fellow to a larger pool of recipients and raising questions about the selection process and how it shapes our interactions as artists and art viewers.

I realize that to some people this may seem like an act of condescension or an attempt to co-opt other artists’ work for my own purposes. All I can do is to assure you that my intent is sincere and that I will do my utmost to keep the focus on the artists and the issues rather than this as “my piece.”

My hope is that you will view it as an opportunity for the exposure of your work and as a move toward defusing the negative competitive aspects of the grants process. If you have questions or would like me to elaborate on any of the ideas, please feel free to contact me without obligation to participate.

If you are interested in participating, please contact me as soon as possible. I’d like to develop a final count of artists by June 15th. Sometime in July, artists will submit a number of images or length of video to be included in the exhibition. If you have input about the final format of the exhibition, I am eager to hear it. I want this to be a showcase for
the artists and know well the limitations of two dimensional images in representing artwork.

I hope to hear from you soon, and wish you the best in your artistic endeavors.

Sincerely,
Monica Sheets
ste_haruka@hotmail.com
www.mnartists.org/Monica_Sheets

Ben and I drove to Art Chicago for the preview party on Thursday…and again wandered the floors in amazement on Friday. I had heard that last year the entire event fell to pieces…however, this year everything was perfect. The work we saw was beautiful! I would recommend the event for anyone.

here is just a sampling of what we saw…

Debra Hampton @ Priska C. Juschka Fine Art

Zhou Chunya @ Gallery Artside

Scott Seidman purchased by Howard Tullman, who has 3 of Ben’s works

Zhang Xiaogang @ Gallery Artside

inspired,
emma

The calls for submission have gone out. CDs are being burned. Egos primed.

Check the deadlines, they’re looming…

SooVAC Call for Artists: Untitled 6
Deadline: March 30th
(Postmark by Mar 30th or dropped @ gallery by 6pm)
JURORS: Local Artists Andrea Carlson & Jaron Childs
AWARDS: Best in Show $250 & Runner-up $100
For more info and application: http://soovac.org/untitled6.php

ARTWEAR IN MOTION, Textile Center’s runway fashion event
Submissions deadline: April 2
www.textilecentermn.org
Artists over the age of 18 may submit 5 slides (or electronic images) of 3-5
representative garments for jury consideration. Accessories without
garments are not eligible. Artists may apply as collaboration if each piece
was done in a collaborative effort. There will be cash and purchase awards,
each piece must be for sale. The juror for this event is Laurie Schafer.

Call for Artists: Rosalux Gallery’s third annual Open Door Exhibition
Deadline: April 25, 2007
Juror: Diane Mullin, Associate Curator at the Weisman Art Museum,
For more info about Open Door, photos, entry forms please visit: http://rosaluxgallery.com/juried/juried.html

often asked question…why are the opening pics, for the most part, of people…where is the art?

so let me explain myself…my feeling is there is so much more to a work of art and an exhibit than a photograph can possibly convey. my quick shot cannot possibly show you the emotion in a brush stroke, the grandness of an extreme fighter, photographed perfectly…and displayed larger than life or the delicate nature of a taxidermy rabbit, miraculously breathing it’s last breath. i want you to attend the exhibits…be part of them…gasp, smile, giggle, cry, enjoy…and my photos can only show you so much.

so go…and look,
emma

the idea of the exhibit “Lester Hayes Selected Work 1962- 1975” curated/created by gallery Triple Candie in Harlem is amazing to me…inspiring & curious…

xo,
emma

there are not many art openings that include cake walks, glittered cupcakes, glitzed out bears and parties packed with beauties, of both genders…all clad in pink. Ahhh…an opening @ Density Studios Gallery...now gone.

for those who didn’t already know, Density Studios, as a gallery, has shut it’s doors. Kate Iverson, the owner of the gallery, was unable to sustain the gallery due to all of the costs & time required…I have to say now, with l’etoile no longer in the tyler street space and kate closing density, things are looking a bit dull.

Perhaps a lesson learned should be… support with cold hard cash…

$$$,
emma

ps
Density Studios will remain open as an agency, offering photography, graphic design, creative consulting, etc…

if you haven’t gone to ben olson’s solo exhibit up at rogue buddha…GO!
even city pages says so!

cheers!
emma

Now that the MCAD Art Sale is behind us and everyone has loaded up on ‘affordable’ art, I’m wondering just what good it does for artists in this community. Personally, I felt like the massive marketing effort put on by MCAD this year was a bit exploitive. I know we all need to pay rent, and the school puts the small portion of the sales that they receive to good (the majority of the take going to the artist themselves) but I couldn’t help but think that pushing the sale as a way to get art at a great bargain cheapens it for everyone. It seems that in this midwestern culture of ‘finding a deal’, we’re forced into a garage sale mentality – whether it be at Holiday Art Bazaars or Art Crawls or even coffee shop walls. With this being the main exposure of art to the public (along with the Uptown Art Fair, heaven help us) it makes it difficult to present work on any other level…and at what it should really be worth.

Maybe you disagree. Maybe you’re an artist who relies on First Thursdays at NKB. Maybe you’re one of the artists I know who takes advantage of the system and works it in your favor – without compromise. I’d love to hear your thoughts too.

For sure we’ll see you at the Rosalux Holiday Bazaar tonight. I have some last minute gift shopping to do.