Category Archives: Visual Art

Gazing towards ‘The Bachelor’ at SECAC

Nov 11, 2011

This week in Savannah, Georgia, SCAD has been host to the Southeastern College Art Conference.

SECAC is a non-profit organization that is all about spreading the visual arts love across the land. Members include anyone interested in promoting the visual arts and range from university faculty and students, museums, scholars and of course, artists.

I’m presenting at one of the sessions for their annual conference tomorrow. I get to talk about The Bachelor. Yes, that one.

So, at these academic conference things, a lot goes on. People present on their work ranging from art history during WWII to the ways new media influences the form. There are lectures, exhibitions and lots of networking. I’ve never seen so many art historians in one place. It’s kind of cool. And strange, even for an art school student. People are making jokes about post-structuralism. You had to be there.

The panel I’m sitting on is discussing the male gaze as it relates to E. Ann Kaplan’s essay about the way female subjects are viewed as objects in cinema. The essay, published about 30 years ago, took from Freud, Lacan and the fabulous Laura Mulvey to craft a new way of dealing with the way we view women in visual media and the impacts of the patriarchal system in which the media was developed. It can get pretty intense. I sometimes feel like I’m over my head. The past few days, tightening up my presentation, I’ve had a lot of reason to believe that is actually the case. But then, how often do you get the chance to talk about the societal ramifications of this:


Season 11, Bachelor Brad Womack (l) discusses his options with host Chris Harrison. Image via ABC.

Looks innocent enough, right? I’m arguing in my paper that even though The Bachelor appears like a female-driven show, it is actually quite patriarchal in its concept and execution. That not only do female viewers get sucked into the male gaze, one that objectifies both the viewer and object, but that the show perpetuates the stereotypical roles women have played since Kaplan first published her essay several decades ago.

I like exploring these kinds of things. Even though all this theory can drive a person nuts, it really does change the way you see the world. This is my first major academic conference and I’ve heard that sometimes, people can get a bit ornery. Academics like to be right. I come in peace, folks. Peace and theory. Should be fun.

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Lend a Ladder

May 04, 2011

Would you take a look at that? Public art installations always make me so happy. It’s like someone is breaking all the rules — but with permission. This is a new project-in-progress at Freedom Park. I drove by the other day, and saw a bunch of men linking ladders together.

The artist is Charlie Brouwer and the concept is inspired by Atlanta’s city seal. Creative Loafing gives an explanation here, along with a photo of the final conceptualization. The work represents peoples’ shared hopes and dreams, framed in a city where we seek to rise up and shine. So precious.

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SCAN is here!

Mar 03, 2011

This is what it’s all about. The Winter 2011 issue of SCAN Magazine drops today and we are so proud! Some major shout-outs to Mark Ziemer, managing editor and Brittany Kron, art director. I get to hang out and work with these amazing artists all the time. Out of this world.

I told Brittany that if she comes home one day and finds her Amélie book missing, she’ll know who nabbed it. And I won’t give it back, either.

There are a lot of cool things about this issue. It looks at vintage-themed, handmade, straight-from-the-source artwork in a way the mag hasn’t done before. We will miss Jennifer Mestre, our outgoing editor-in-chief, who’s done such a fabulous job this past year. I have big shoes to fill!

If you’d like to check out the full issue, you can view it online here. You can also read/download my featured essay “The Vinyl Touch” here.

Cover image courtesy of SCAN Magazine

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This might require an explanation

Feb 26, 2011

…but why bother?

via cabinet of curiosities by way of micaeyes.

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Made by Anonymous

Feb 16, 2011


There are random acts of kindness. And then there are random acts of art. You can find stuff like this all around Atlanta, typically in the form of street art like murals, wheatpasting and the like. Every now and then you can find a little installation — before it gets swept up, kicked over or painted on. In this case, this little treasure was set up at Spring House, one of the residences at SCAD Atlanta, and where the Student Media offices live. It’s just so precious. It lived there for days and no one disturbed it. Then, it was gone. Ah, sweet moments. Such is life.

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Connecting with the AIDS Memorial Quilt

Feb 02, 2011

In my Writing for New Media class this quarter, we are taking on a project.

The NAMES Project, actually. This is the foundation that manages the AIDS Memorial Quilt. They receive the panels that become quilts and send them out as requested — all in the name of celebrating the lives of people who have died from AIDS, educating others on the ongoing impact, and making sure their memories remain firmly in the forefront.

Our class took a field trip the Atlanta office a couple of weeks ago. We were all excited and a bit nervous, I think. The premise is that we’ll be recording podcasts, two to three minute interviews, essays and/or commentary to offer a behind-the-scenes look at the person behind the panel — that is, the person who was memorialized.

The NAMES Project staff was generous and welcoming. They let us wander around, ask questions and take pictures. This is a big moment. Imagine being able to click on a panel image, see who it was for, and hear a little bit about the person being honored. Everyday the staff receives panels from all over, made by friends and family. The packages include photos, letters and sometime mementos. People just want the ones they love to be remembered.

That’s Alex (l) and Max looking for stories in the archives. Our “assignment” this first go round is to try and make contact with a panelmaker, then interview them. We’re finding that many people can’t wait to share about the ones they’ve lost. It’s so moving. I’ll admit it. After reading this touching letter about a man watching his partner die, I kind of lost it for a little while (major snot bubbles).

It’s sad to hear about people dying, one after the other, from a disease we couldn’t even recognize for so long. But it’s so moving to hear the passion in how the family and friends want their loved ones remembered. That’s what got me. How would I honor the people close to me if I had to make that choice?

The individual panels are sewed into quilts. Eight panels per quilt. It’s a striking act — to combine something homey and comfy with an issue that is daunting and often difficult for people to discuss. Launched in the 80s when nobody wanted to touch AIDS (literally) that was exactly the plan. Get people talking — help them realize this is about people, not numbers.

That’s a lot of love.

Another classmate, Sydia, and our professor Darby Sanders.

Rebecca (front) and Angela. I really hope we can honor the amazing work of The NAMES Project, and the commitment from all the millions of people who’ve contributed to their mission over the years. Pretty amazing.

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The new school hallway

Nov 08, 2010

Sometimes I just walk around the main building at 1600 Peachtree and marvel at the work past SCAD students have created.

Fashion


(designers unknown)


Painting

All pieces by Shelli Lane

This Thursday evening, SCAD Atlanta is hosting Open Studio Night. Students, faculty and alumni will have hundreds of pieces on display, all of which are for sale. Hey. You should come.

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Beautiful breathtaking SCAD Ivy Hall

Sep 14, 2010

Yesterday was the first day of classes at the Savannah College of Art and Design! This quarter I have a full load of writing classes, which makes the SCAD Ivy Hall Writing Center my new home way from home. Praise the Lord. The history of Ivy Hall is extensive.

The abridged version is that this mansion was built in 1883 by Edward C. Peters, son of Richard Peters, among the founding fathers of Atlanta. It was designed by famed architect Gottfried L. Norrman, who really had it going on to put it mildly. There’s all kinds of asymmetry and panache around here! The property began as a residence, became a restaurant, had a fire, was deserted and subsequently rescued by the heroes of the SCAD Design Group. Actual SCAD historic preservation students worked with the team to bring this beautiful space back to life. With a little extra mojo, if I do say so myself.

I attended a lecture on the design of this space by Glen Wallace of the SCAD Design Group along with the lovely Anne – found a photo of the lecture which took place at Ivy Hall — where’s Waldo, hmm?

source — photo by Dane Sponberg

Here begins the mini-tour:

This is the sun room…

Which looks out over the garden…

Around the corner from the salon…

Across from the room I don’t know the name of…we’ll just call this the Augusten Burroughs room, author of Running With Scissors. He sat in that white chair when he came last year for the Ivy Hall writers series.

You can read the article published in Paste Magazine. Photo by SCAD Visual Media student Dane Sponberg.

Walk out of Augusten Burrough’s room, and you’ll hit the dining room. This gorgeous chaise lounge sits across from the dining table. And when you sit in it, you should look up:

And if you get lonely, you can make some friends above the fireplace:

Headed upstairs…

We had my class on the publishing process here yesterday evening. Those windows could make a girl cry. And please, did you see that light fixture? In what world?!

This chandelier overlooks the main stairway (with a pulpit — yes Mr. Peters apparently liked to formally address the family, house staff, and guests from time to time).

There are even more treats in the house to show you, like the artist-in-residence space, an Otis elevator, some beautiful visual art moments and the bathrooms are so awesome. Yes, even the bathrooms. I can’t believe I get to STUDY here. Coming soon.

So, enough scampering around for one morning. I sat down outside on the porch with a laptop (the whole space is wireless!) and got down to business. The weather has been so beautiful in Atlanta the past few days, it’s like a dream.

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Treasure Hunt: Atlanta Street Art

Aug 18, 2010

Last week 50 influential street artists from around the world descended on Atlanta. They left behind a piece of themselves for you and me. Isn’t that sweet?

602 Dekalb Ave.

Hosted at Eyedrum’s gallery space in Grant Park, the Living Walls conference coordinated these artists’ amazing work – paintings, wheatpastes, spraypaint, projections – all one after the other. You gotta check it out, they’re open on the weekends.

Obviously, when one thinks of street art, a gallery (even one as fresh as Eyedrum) doesn’t come to mind. The awesomeness comes from seeing the work in its real-life context.

by Swampy

These are at 902 Dekalb Ave. I ran into another guy taking pictures of this piece. There’s something to be said about making friends while pulling over on the side of the road to photograph something inspiring.

This piece by Mark Sueno is located at the Krog Street Tunnel across of 97 Estoria and Nirvana Yoga. It was stopping traffic!

You can find this guy in Castleberry Hill, 165 Walker St. It’s just so boom-boom pow.

There are many others, and a few I haven’t tracked down yet. At the Eyedrum show, they have city maps where each of the pieces is featured. Go find thineself a treasure.

*Note* If you don’t see a credit, it’s because I’m still working on tracking down the artist’s names – that’s one thing about urban art, sometimes it’s hard to find out who is responsible.

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A Getty Center Birthday (part three, final)

Aug 04, 2010

I will concede that viewing arresting images of documentary photography is not exactly what most people have in mind when celebrating their special day. But, I’d been looking forward to seeing this exhibit ever since I knew I’d be in Los Angeles — we checked out Engaged Observers: Documentary Photography since the Sixties, an incredible range of artists and their work.

The Getty did a fine job of putting the show in context:

“In the decades following World War II, an independently minded and critically engaged form of photography began to gather momentum. Its practitioners have combined their skills as artists and reporters, creating extended photographic essays that delve deeply into topics of social concern and present distinct personal visions of the world.”

The pros:

No camera-snapping permitted inside — but I snagged a few shots from the Internet to share some of the pieces that struck me most.

Sebastião Salgado
The Swollen Cities: Brazil, 1996

Babies play on the roof top of a child-welfare center in São Paulo. These children have been abandoned by parents desperate for resources in a city exploding in size and competition. The contrast of these orphans against the backdrop of middle-class apartments says a thing or two.

Laura Greenfield
From the series Girl Culture, 2001

“Danielle, 13, gets measured as Michelle, 13, waits for the final weigh in on the last day of weight loss camp, Catskills, New York.” ©Lauren Greenfield/INSTITUTE

Greenfield’s series takes a look at the impacts of a consumer-driven society on our young girls, especially in big cities. What an exhibitionist world we’ve created for these little ladies.

James Nachtwey
The Sacrifice, 2006-2007

© James Nachtwey

Nachtwey traveled throughout Iraq with emergency medical units. He’s solidifed his place as an anti-war photojournalist documenting the effects such conflicts have on individuals. The sheer size of this display gives you some context for the emotional impact. One after the other, you see photos of wounded soldiers being transferred from battle to emergency sites, people struggling to save them, the injured fighting to hang on. Nachtwey doesn’t shy away from the ones who don’t make it.

Despite the discomfort I had when viewing this piece, I had a strong sense that I would have preferred to see it this way. And in spite of all the reasons and justifications we have for going to war (some of which I agree with) at the end of this piece, I couldn’t help but wonder…why?

Maybe some of the peace you feel while at the Getty Center is that of people reflecting. There certainly is a lot to think about after you leave an exhibit like that. There are some artists whose work pushes just the right button, such that you’ll never be the same. Thank goodness.

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