FRIEZE 2010

PLAY

http://www.youtube.com/play

http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/interact/participate/youtube-play

hmm.... sounds interesting.

Spring Break 2010

While my break may not have been as "wild" as the traditional Cancun drunkfest, I was able to do a little New England museum tour of sorts that was quite satisfying. During the past week I made it to:

• the deCordova sculpture park and museum in Lincoln, MA
• "Nari Ward: LIVESupport" installed at Lehmann Maupin in New York
• "2010 Whitney Biennial" at the Whitney Museum in New York
• the Neuberger Museum at SUNY Purchase
• MASS MoCA in North Adams, MA
• and a whole mess of galleries that opened in Chelsea this past Thursday in New York

Highlights included watching Tania Bruguera eating dirt while only wearing a lamb carcass around her neck at the Neuberger and viewing Pawel Wojtasik's engulfing video elegy for New Orleans entitled 'Bellow Sea Level' and Guy Ben-Ner's humor at MASS MoCA. Disappointments included everything that I saw in Chelsea except for Nari Ward.

After everything, I don't even know where to begin. Well, the 2010 Whitney Biennial is exactly what I expected (trendy, nothing really remarkable), but I have to give it another chance because I moved through the show pretty quickly due to time constraints. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed the Neuberger, despite a rather weak collection of modern art, they have a beautiful permanent installation of traditional African art. And it was rather interesting to see objects from African masquerades and accompanying video in one room and in another Tania Bruguera in action surrounded by props scattered around the gallery from her other various performances.

The deCordova's sculpture park is beautiful and a rather different viewing experience. The museum sits atop a hill overlooking a pond, with the sculptures strategically installed around the central complex. The best part of the park is that you are allowed to touch many of the sculptures, there were even children climbing on some of them. It was a nice departure from the usual separation of viewer and object in the white box. The most memorable piece from the collection was 'Requiem to the 20th Century' by Nam June Paik, which is a 1936 Chrysler Sedan with video monitors in the windows. And I got to watch a couple take wedding photos with a professional photographers in front of the car. how cultured.

I would like to say more than a couple sentences about my visit to MASS Moca, but I think that will require a later post. But I will say that the experience was worth the trip, and the drive through the berkshires was an adventure.

--- All around pretty successful week.

THIS LOVE

THIS LOVE

My most recent video creation/sensation is a Valentines day inspired reflection on our idealized conception of love and how lovers act (established and reinforced by on screen hollywood romances), in comparison to real world couples, whose passionate love ultimately has disastrous consequences.

Soundtrack: 'Moments in Love' by Art of Noise.

Link to My Article in The Daily Free Press

Here is the link to the final version of my article, "Dancing Through the Night", written with Amanda James, for The Daily Free Press about the Alonzo King Lines Ballet, which we attended last weekend at the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston.

Check it out: Dancing Through the Night

Alonzo King Lines Ballet at the ICA Boston

Although the theatre was packed, and the show sold out, our Friday night excursion to the ICA for the Alonzo King Lines Ballet was an energizing and evocative experience. The strikingly unique and surreal performance was the perfect remedy for the monotony of college parties. The welcoming spirit from the much older attendees was refreshing, who seemed impressed that we’d made the effort to try something different. We felt proud to take our seats among the seasoned crowd.

We were immediately mesmerized when the glowing figures took over the empty stage and moved their chiseled, statuesque bodies with incredible vigor. The focus was just movement and light. In a variety of groups, the ten dancers in the company thrust into unexpected poses, even climbing over one another and rolling on the floor.

As their muscles twist and distorted in the dramatic lighting, the dancers transcended traditional notions of grace and beauty. The cast exhibited a sense of total commitment to their craft, fused through their linked arms and flowing out into the audience. It seemed as though Henri Matisse’s painting The Dance had come to life when the dancers pulled and dragged each other across the stage.

In the first act, the heavy African drum beats and shamanistic chanting that accompanied the precise choreography created a chaotic, ritualistic mood. The following act contained similar gestures and moves, however the audio, reminiscent of gothic hymns, serenely transformed the performance. This spiritual presence unified the performance and ignited conversation about the nature of religious ceremonies.

Occasionally, the music would stop short and the dancers’ heavy breath was the only sound that filled the auditorium. This effect reminded viewers that despite the supernatural appearance of the dancers, they are still human.

The intense concentration of the audience was only interrupted once, when two male dancers walked on stage in shimmering silver tutus, eliciting laughter from several audience members. Gender stereotypes were challenged further when two male dancers were paired in a sensuous routine.

Although the location of the ballet—a contemporary art museum was initially surprising, after the performance it became clear that the experimental institution was a more appropriate venue than the Boston Opera House. This contemporary dance company from San Francisco challenged our preconceived ideas about ballet, the limitations of the human body, and definitely made us more aware of the many different, worthwhile ways to spend a Friday night in Boston.

After witnessing the human body be pushed to it physical boundaries, it felt a little pathetic that the only way to show appreciation for the performance was by slapping two hands together.

(Credits: Written with my companion to the ballet, Amanda James)

II Mondo Della Luna

Despite the ambiguous New York Times review about the performance, I would love to see "II Mondo Della Luna" at the Hayden Planetarium just for the visuals. It looks a lot more stimulating than IMax Avatar.

Review: Nine

Well, I think the world would have been a better place had they left it at 8 1/2. When Nine finally came to a close, my mom's boyfriend turned to our party and exclaimed "thank god that's over". The entire section laughed with us. In the lobby, we decided Daniel Day-Lewis should be arrested for cultural terrorism.

It is difficult to find one redeeming aspect of Nine. It was hard to watch. Besides the plot, acting, and Kate Hudson, the most unfortunate thing is the name of Day-Lewis' character--Guido Contini, because every five minutes you are forced to think about the controversy surrounding the juiceheads on MTV's Jersey Shore.

Although, I will admit the costumes are beautiful, Penelope Cruz and Fergie's vulgar antics make you turn from the screen in disgust. Many of these actors are well respected in Hollywood, the recession must really be hitting them, because Nine seems so desperate to bring in the cash $$. And it is official, Daniel Day-Lewis has lost his mind. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

Overall, the premise of Nine--a musical Fellini movie, may seem like a good idea when two stoned film students are sitting in their dorm with a dvd of 8 1/2, but can this please be the last Fellini musical anyone attempts to translate to film?