Gottfried Helnwein

Some nice paintings by Gottfried Helnwein

Field Trip: Foundry Visit

Calling all art lovers -- Laura has arranged an amazing opportunity for art department faculty, students, and friends to observe lost-wax casting first hand.



Details: Join us on a visit to Prometheus Foundry. Artists Amanda Matthews and Brad Connell will open their foundry to us on Friday, Sept. 10 at 11 am. Amanda is the artist who designed one of our campus sculptures, the

Boris's 3rd: Flatness, Line and Function (2D mini-project, ART117)

I received a fun gift sometime ago of some bold-colored humanoid and foot-shaped paperclips, still had a sticker from your everyday office supply store, so you may have seen something like it I’m sure. This semester, as one of the pilot mini-projects, I decided to synthesize the topic of continuous line with this paperclip. If you are in ART117, expect to spend some of your class on Wednesday (after Labor day) or Monday giving a paperclip some serious reconsideration. Will be a wide-open activity, but I suggest you eventually (emphasis on eventually) give special attention to the interaction of the following (oft-desired) aspects into a single form: 1. paper rims to be as flat as possible, to avoid bulking. 2. Continuous line with respect to its two-sided view 3. function(s) and functionality. Good luck!

To Curate

This semester, I am teaching Curatorial Studies, an experienced-based seminar course that enables students in our program to work directly with objects in our college's collections: the permanent art collection, the Dr. Donald L. and Dorothy Jacobs Collection of modern art and artifacts, and/or the College's Archives. In addition, I have the good fortune to curate and jury an exhibition, "Reflections on a Louisville Landmark", for the Louisville Visual Arts Association (LVAA). In this blog post, I hope to offer some thoughts on the term "curator" and "curate" and, also, give a few very brief notes about the curatorial opportunity with LVAA.

Curate comes from the Latin cura (“care”), which becomes translated and un-romanticized into the words curator, curate, and cure. If you look online to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first definition for “cure” is simply “Care, charge; spiritual charge." In ancient Rome, however, the related term, curatores, referred to those caretaking bureaucrats, folks who oversaw public works--even such droll things as roads and aqueducts. Fast forward to the 21st century: in essence, today's curator cares FOR works and cares ABOUT them in much the same way that Roman curatores took care of objects under their jurisdiction.

Turning now from the word to its practical use: a single curator or a curatorial team works to bring the story of an object (or objects) to light. The curator relies on the object first and foremost. Then, she considers that which is directly known about it through primary documents. The curator turns to other resources, most likely of a secondary and tertiary nature, and then begins to construct a narrative. Asking key questions, a curator considers the following: what narrative do I want to disclose to the public? How will I tell it? Who is my primary audience? Who is my secondary audience? A different curator or team would certainly tell a different story -- though this does not mean that either story is better or worse. As with so many projects, curators often deal with limitations of space, budget, technology, and resources when bringing together an exhibition. Each of these limitations also points the way toward possibilities.

In terms of my recent work with LVAA, this exhibition is truly a combination of two shows in one. "Reflections on a Louisville Landmark" comprises an exhibition about the Louisville Water Company and a juried show of contemporary works that feature a representation of the Water Tower, the historic first-headquarters of Louisville Water Company. "Reflections" seeks to bring history and the present together into a tightly wrapped matrix, making the Water Tower more than a sum of its parts. It's the site of the first pumping station for Louisville Water Company, a site of scientific discovery, a site of a devastating tornado, and various other facilities. However, today, it serves as a venue for contemporary art, education, and outreach through the work of the LVAA.

I am excited to report that with this exhibition, there is fresh research about a Water Works Park that was on site of the Water Tower in the late 19th century (due to the ever-so-keen eye of historian Jay R. Ferguson) and material discoveries made on-site by HGC construction workers (the steadfast folks undertaking renovation of the Water Tower facade and roof). The on-site discoveries include a saw blade and leather shoes, in situ, presumably tucked away since the 19th century. These objects were unearthed just this week and are making their debut to the public in this exhibition.

Curatorial work can involve fascinating discoveries such as these -- research and its material form that cannot be experienced or mediated in such the same way through other means, such as "Google" or "YouTube". These are the result of diligence and work. The objects unearthed were "curated" into the exhibition and will, I hope, continue to be properly cared for.

I invite everyone to visit the LVAA next Thursday night, September 9, 2010 for an opening reception of "Reflections on a Louisville Landmark"at 5:30 pm. For more information email: mary@louisvillevisualart.org

I'll certainly make another post to address, specifically, this fall's Curatorial Studies Archives project, an exhibition entitled "By the Book: 150 Years of Rules, Regulations, and GC Student Life." I hope the picture at the top of this post suffices for now: it's a photo from Curatorial Studies, Fall 2008 installation in the Cochenour Gallery.

Opportunity: The ArtZone@ArtWorks

Calling all artists!!! I don't want to take up too much space on this page (or detract from the posts and photos below), so I'll be brief. If you're interested in offering your art for sale and/or doing demonstrations, then you need to contact Scott County Art Works regarding the Clothesline Art Sale and The Art Zone. The contact information is: info@scottcountyartworks.org

These are great opportunities for students and friends of the department!

A Master Woodworker or How I Spent My Summer, part 2

Project number two for the summer—a rare commissioned piece. I say rare because my dad doesn't usually take on large projects for pay. Typically he's donating his time and skills to church projects or making/building/repairing things for friends and family. However, after some consideration (and me committing to help out as much as possible) he agreed.

This all started with my good friend Ben. Had admired some of the furniture in our home and asked if my dad might consider building a piece for him and his wife. They had been looking for a bed, but anything that was worth while was quite expensive, and affordable beds just didn't seem to have the quality and durability needed to last.

The original idea for the design came from a bed that Ben and his wife had seen at Pottery Barn. In the end, it was a good starting point for the type of designs that my dad typically creates: somewhat modernist, somewhat minimal, straight lines and right angles.

One of the things I enjoyed most about the project were the initial first steps of choosing and surfacing the wood (unfortunately, I don't have pictures). A great deal of the raw lumber came from my dad's own stockpile. The quality of the walnut boards was truly fantastic. It's amazing to see the detail and richness that emerged from what began as rough planks.

So here you can see the final installation of the queen-size, walnut bed.

Two great projects this summer with excellent results, not to mention spending wonderful hours with a master woodworker.

Prof. Darrell Kincer

Looking Back, Looking Forward

Did you catch Leticia Bajuyo while she was here last week?  Thanks to Professor Daniel Graham and Kappa Pi Prez Kelsey who assisted with the de-install!  Note to the pink slinkys:  we will always remember you!

Speaking of Kappa Pi, the club's first meeting is happening TODAY at 12 noon.  Please check it out!  Speaking of checking things out, Art Tigers--they're GRRREAT!--- will be meeting Tuesdays in the Jacobs Gallery, 12:15-12:45, beginning next week.

And, you know you don't want to miss the Closing Reception and Panel Discussion for the Anne Wright Wilson Fine Arts Gallery exhibitions, El Grabado Mexicano: Prints from Mexico and Derechos en Tierra Ajena: Works by Rosa Angelica Gomez Mier, Thursday evening, September 2 from  5-7 p.m. with a panel discussion (NEXUS credit) from 5:30-6:30.  Two distinguished art faculty members are participating:  Professors Daniel Graham and Jamie Ratliff.  

On Sunday, I attended a sort of retrospective event, "DENNIS FEST,"  a party honoring an artist who has spent most of his distinguished career assisting other artists.  Dennis Harrington is a friend and respected advisor of countless numbers of arts professionals.  I encourage you to check out the space he has curated, designed, and directed for around 15 years now, the Alice F. and Harris K. Weston Art Gallery in downtown Cincinnati:  http://westonartgallery.com/   The "Fest" event was full of looking back, at Dennis's contributions to the regional arts community and at artists, young and old, whom he has nurtured throughout all stages of their lives.  Far from being subdued, the crowd was upbeat and positive, for Dennis's future is bright: he's at the midpoint of his career, not the end.  The arts live on, through our mentors and through us!  Keep the arts moving forward, fellow travelers--get involved in your arts community!

New Course Offering This Semester

If you are looking to pick up an extra 2 hrs, or in the need to replace a course please consider adding ART370B Professional Practice.

In this course we will cover the undercurrent practices found in the professional art field. The skills covered in this course will include but not be limited to portfolio design, resume writing, letter writing, self promotion, interview conventions, website design and construction, mat cutting, framing and display, and artist statements/art historical statements. Please refer to the calendar on the flyers in the hallway to see what exactly we will do throughout the semester. If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask Daniel.

Boris's 2nd, 8/27 Re: Departures

That’s the way it goes. Art opens and closes, comes and goes, moves on. I will be another to say I miss Leticia Bajuyo’s “pink slinkies” already (just as I regret missing saying hello to her yesterday). I enjoyed it for many reasons. Yes, they were a perfect set-up for pretend spaceship odyssey with a two-year old, or pleasure of different kind altogether, if you’re up for a colorful dose of pink-on-green every morning. But whatever your conversation comes of it, chances are, it drew you close. It’s the kind of draw that a well-done public piece usually does.

Also, tonight is the last of Becky Alley’s “Creatures Great & Small” at the LAL (5/3rd Fourth Friday reception will start at 6pm). Since I could afford to drop-in a few times over the summer, I didn’t take it in all at once and viewed it incrementally. In this way, taxidermic artfix, freaky animatronics, a mild Frankenstein reflex remained somewhat compartmentalized sensations. In almost all cases, I believe Alley kept “cuteness” in check, and went for the deep-down romance with bringing creatures (still in Herriot’s sense) to life. Unadulterated stuff. Catch it in before it departs.

(That’s tonight 6-9pm w. food from Calistoga, music by Corduroy Sedan, on patio for the outdoor entertainment. Loudoun House, and if you need more info, call 859-254-7024.)

see: Creatures