Walking in L.A.

Someone recently commented that my blog is as much about shows I didn't make it to as ones I did. So true, so true. Quite out of character, than, I went to TWO (read 'em: ONE, TWO) art things this past weekend. Checked out Fatima Hoang at Concrete Wall on Saturday (one clever punch line repeated too many times in too small a space) and then went on the Brewery Art Walk on Sunday. I felt pretty frustrated on the art walk -- a lot of the work felt so contrived, unoriginal and uninspiring. Of course, easy for me to judge when I'm not the one producing work. One thing I have to say for the artists at the Brewery is that they all seemed truly committed to their practices and disciplines, and pretty prolific, too. In the end, their passion and commitment was pretty inspiring. I can see how such an environment would be so conducive to working, working, working. It's supposedly the largest live-work art colony in the world. I did see a couple of works towards the end that I thought was really compelling. Will have to google and see if I can find more info on the artists.

Upcoming: I will be volunteering at VITAL SIGNs, an NAAO (National Association of Artists' Organizations) National Conference. My way of getting in for free. Yay for free! I have a feeling a lot of the content will go over my head, or at least be stuff that I can't really do anything with right now. I just thought it would be good to expose myself to stuff like that, though.

Artists Just Wanna Have Fun

Does anyone want to see his installation at Concrete Walls (@Cafe Back Door in the rear) this Saturday? Yes, he is an artist. The press release below proves it!

================

April 21 – June 16, 2007

Opening Reception & Special Video Projection: Saturday, April 21, 2007, 6-9pm

Concrete Walls is pleased to announce a solo exhibition by Fatima Hoang. Hoang's site specific installation masterfully incorporates video, sculpture and performance to transform Concrete Walls into a space fit for hip hop icons, groupies and rock stars a like.

Hoang aka the "Rockness Monster" is the 2005 National Air Guitar Champion" and developed cult status on websites like youtube.com and usairguitar.com after he performed, what is now his signature song, "Raining Blood" by Slayer.

Fatima Hoang received his MFA from Claremont Graduate University in 2005 and his BFA from the University of Hawaii. He has shown at Conner Contemporary in Washington D.C., Artists Space Project Room in New York, NY, and the Huntington Beach Art Center in Southern California. He has also been featured in ARTnews, the LA Weekly and the San Francisco Chronicle. Hoang is currently ranked #3 in the Air Guitar Hall of Fame and performed at the Air Guitar World Championships in Finland in 2005.

Gallery Hours: M-F 8am - 6pm, SAT 8am – 3pm Free parking in rear

Concrete Walls
@Cafe Back Door
5484 Wilshire Blvd. (rear) Los Angeles, CA 90036
323.933.4020
info@concretewallsgallery.com

www.concretewallsgallery

Unmotivated

Ok, yet again I missed a show I was determined to make it to. Did not get to see Stations of the Cross ... BUT I did get myself over to Barnsdall and see the Multiple Vantage Points show. I also went for a stroll on Chung King Road in Chinatown (this guy Andy Alexander that I went to school with has a show at China Art Objects). Maybe it's because I'm feeling under the weather these days, but I just did not feel compelled by the overall scene at either places. There were a few things that I liked but, on the whole, I felt like I could have done without. I wonder if it's my laziness -- I don't want to put in the effort required of the active viewer. I just want it to be made easy for me. Not surprisingly, it was the visceral works that I liked best. Over at Chung King Road, I think it was the whole gallery vibe that was turning me off more than anything. Not that I was ever really into it, but if I was in any way, I am way over it. Had an interesting talk with a fellow artist-cum-entrepreneur named Brande Jackson about this. I guess I feel that the functionality and relevance of art (whatever that may mean) outside of the context of art has become far more important to me than anything else. Within the structure of commercial galleries and such, the discourse seems limited, even incestuous. I'm sure that's going too far but how I've felt about it for awhile now.

I really wrestled with my artist statement tonight (due for class over a month ago). I don't think I've ever felt so tortured trying to put words on paper. I console myself with the thought that the statement can only get better from here. The main struggle is lack of motivation about going forward (with my design studio, with all this art stuff ... everything?). And, anyway, how does one write about one's art practice when there is no practice to speak of?

Sol LeWitt Passes On

Sol LeWitt passed away last week. He pioneered some amazing ways of thinking and producing art. So many of his ideas, particularly those in which the ego/persona of the artist diminishes for the sake of art, even while art itself is taken down from its usual place of reverance for the sake of the idea, are so inspiring to me. You can read his obit here.

Untitled, Part 2

I was finally able to track down the drawing that I did with Young Mi back in February. You can see the full drawing and the original post here but below are some details. You can click on them for a larger view.