Thursday, July 30, 2009

A Survival Show for Artists: Coming Soon from Bravo

From those wonderful folks who dish out “Top Chef” and “Project Runway,” brace yourself for an art-world reality show, as yet unscheduled and unnamed.

Bravo’s “Untitled Art Project” will be an hour-long creative competition series with contemporary “artists” pitted against each other to determine who is supremely artistic. With Sarah Jessica Parker as executive producer, the competitors will battle for a gallery show, a cash prize and a sponsored national tour.

Though the producers have not revealed how much money is at stake or which museums or galleries will participate, it seemed to matter little to the hundreds of contestants who lined up for the recent auditions. Try-outs were held in Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles, and last week in New York over 400 joined the parade of hopefuls.

With fifteen minutes of fame as bait, the cattle calls attracted emerging and mid-career candidates of every description, many toting massive portfolios and even vanloads of their artwork.

This is cable TV, so we anticipate a stereotypical cast of characters to be selected: young to old, over-the-top to conservative, self-taught to academic, graffitist to impressionist. someone with a purple Mohawk, and, of course, someone who throws bucketsful of colorful paint.

“We want voices that believe in their art and want the world to know,” the producers proclaim. “Your medium could be one of many (or several of many) – painting, sculpture, installation, video, photography, mixed-media.”

In each episode “contestants will create unique pieces highlighting art’s role in everyday life, while they compete and create in a range of disciplines including sculpture, painting, photography and industrial design (to name a few). Completed works of art will be appraised by a panel of top art world figures including fellow artists, gallerists, collectors, curators and critics. The finalists’ art work will be showcased in a nation-wide museum tour.”

What kind of competition would the contestants face? The New York Times speculates, “Life drawing with a stopwatch? Found-art scavenger-hunt race? Best post-ironic conceptual gambit in under a minute?”

Art is the last thing the “Untitled Art Project” will provide to American viewers. It might become a popular cable TV show, but will it be art? Or will it further devalue the work of sincere artists everywhere? Besides, what does Sarah Jessica Parker know about art anyway?

We’re okay with reality TV. and we can only hope this show doesn‘t exploit artists, including ourselves. Artists are not chefs, not beauticians, not fashion models, not stunt performers. And even starving artists shouldn’t be made into ridiculous caricatures of themselves.

Tell us what you think. Add your comment to vote “Yes” or “No” to the “Untitled Art Project.”

Visit the BINDERS website at www.bindersart.com!

Monday, July 27, 2009

This Week @ BINDERS - July 27-August 2

ART CLASSES • WORKSHOPS • EXHIBITS

SPECIAL SALE
Bounce-Back Bonanza! $20 OFF & $30 OFF*!
*Spend $100 and get $20 OFF your next purchase, or Spend $200 and get $30 OFF your next purchase.
In store purchases only on art materials only - this promotion is not valid on custom framing or art class purchases. Hurry! Offer ends July 31, 2009.

Monday, July 27:

Guided Open Studio with Kay Powell
10:30am-2pm • Every Monday
Fee: $15/session. No sign up needed. Please pay the instructor.

Guided Open Studio with Kay Powell
6:30-8:30pm - see details above.


Tuesday, July 28:

Painting - Design and Technique with Charles Y. Walls
1-4pm, Tuesdays, July 21-August 25 • Fee: $140 per 6 session series • Open to all levels.

Bookmaking with Anne Elser
6-8:30pm, Tuesdays, July 28-September 1 • Fee: $140 per 6 session
series.

Painting - Design and Technique with Charles Y. Walls
6-8:30pm - see details above.

Wednesday, July 29:
Express Yourself with Allison Smith
1:30-4:30pm, Wednesdays, July 22-August 12 • Fee: $120 per 4
session series.

Italic Calligraphy with Anne Elser
6-8:30pm, Wednesdays, July 29-September 2 • Fee: $140 per 6
session series. • Sign up now!

Painting Without Frustration with Frank Bannock
6-8:30pm, Wednesdays, July 22-August 26 • Fee: $160 per 6 session series.

Thursday, July 30:
Visual Liberation with Pastels with Ryan Doss
6-8:30pm • Every Thursday • Fee: $25/session • Sign up now!

Friday, July 31:

Bounce-Back Bonanza! - Last day of sale!

Dunwoody Fine Art Association - Last day of exhibition in Limelight
Gallery

Paint & Sketch Models - Depicting the Human FigureCharlotte store only
9am-8pm • Every Friday until August 14 during our extended summer Fridays

Saturday, August 1:


Painting With Palette Knives with Frank Bannock
10:30am-5pm, Saturday, Aug. 1 and 11:30am-5:30pm Sunday, Aug. 2 • Fee: $160 • Sign up now!


Chinese Brush Art with Gail Racy
11am-2pm • 8 sessions, Saturdays July 11-August 29 • Fee: $150

KIDS ROCK THIS WORLD!
Weekend Workshop with Miss Em

11am-3pm, Saturday, August 1 • $60 • Supplies included. Sign up now!

Sunday, August 2:
Painting With Palette Knives with Frank Bannock
11:30am-5:30pm - see details above.


See all upcoming Art Classes and Workshops at BINDERS

Please note: Classes on this schedule are in our Atlanta store unless otherwise indicated. For more information please contact: Kristina Breneman at 404.237.6331 ext. 203.

EXHIBITIONS AT THE LIMELIGHT GALLERY

Open to the public during store hours

Showing Through July 31:
Dunwoody Fine Art Association: An exhibition of work by DFAA members. The art is for sale! The public is invited to a Reception on Sunday, July 19, 2-4 PM

Visit the BINDERS website at www.bindersart.com!