Monday, December 5, 2016

Married to Art

Girlfriend's Guide to Divorce S2 Ep8

Girlfriend's Guide to Divorce is a tamer Sex in the City. LA instead of NYC. Bravo instead of HBO. Still painfully skinny, lots of money and great shoes. Not my reality, but in S2 E7 Phoebe meets an artist. Legit, since LA's art scene is vibrant. He takes her to sort of a rave art thing. She's hooked. She's a former fashion model so he gets her to pose for him. Only it's not him who does the drawing. An overworked pathetic looking man with some serious eye baggage draws her image. It's as wonderfully sad as the executioner himself. He explains that he does the drawing, then the artist photoshops it for the end product. Phoebe asks if the entire art world is this terrible? The former brush cleaner, now first assistant says "not at all" commenting his arrangement isn't that unusual. The scene at the preview opening of the work is pretty on point. The bullshit language the artist uses to make the work sound more important than it is. The collector who's looking for something in the 40x60 range for his super snotty walk-in. The artist spots Jeff Koons in the fray and disappears into a schmooze haze.

Art is similar to stock in that it's only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. Art is particularly tricky because very few actually know what's worth all that money. Marketing and perception. Blue chip artists' messages get lost, if not completely obliterated, in the pursuit of recognition. Justin Giarla took advantage of that ambition combined with new money's insatiable appetite for just the right bling to cement their status. His Geary Street scam made him rich and the artists he made promises to broke.

So what's a true art lover to do? I'm happy to report integrity in the arts is alive and well. Painters, sculptors and photographers are genuinely trying to show you a different way to look at our world. Every piece I've been given, made or acquired makes me happy. GG2D S2 E8 "One of our buyers has a Picasso displayed with a black light to bring out the colors. Another one has his Basquiat hung upside down."  For the love of god, black lights went out with the '70's. If you don't know what your looking at, find someone you trust to help you. I only buy work I have a visceral reaction to. I still get that sensation when I look at any one piece. I'm perilously close to running out of wall space. I got 99 problems, but my art collection ain't one. 

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

EVOLUTION

Drip and Pitch
20x20
acrylic on canvas
This is the image that started it. Just appeared out of seemingly nowhere. Posted it on Facebook unsure of where it was going and sold it. The buyer said it was dope. He bought a second one. Guess it's ok then. Kept painting. New pieces from this series are included in a four person exhibition at Galerie Camille opening October 14. 

I valiantly attempted to reposition Reel Art Detroit after Governor Snyder pulled the film incentives and killed the industry. I was unsuccessful. Time to call it. Time to call it on a bunch of things. Life is forcing a profound evolution. Stripping me down to the bones. So I can build anew. 

I'm continuing to write the art column for DDEAF magazine (cover story this issue!) I have been approached on another writing assignment, but it's not confirmed yet, so hush hush for now. I am enjoying teaching at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center going into my fourth year. Working with a new collector and helping to curate an impressive collection of local talent. Pretty stoked about earning my living through so many creative avenues. 

As I begin what appears to be my third career incarnation and because I'm passionately involved in Detroit art via several mediums, I needed a brand that covered more than just painting. Presenting "detroit art junkie". Started with an instagram handle and went from there.  In marketing and branding terms, it's great if everything matches. One thought, one name, one purpose. So new domain for the website, email, cards, the works. Detroit is staging a fantastic comeback and I'm thrilled to be riding that wave right along with her. 

There's some crazy lawn equipment harshing my mellow right now, so I'm out before I can really edit/polish this blurg. Y'all understand.