Richard Avedon 1923-2004
Famous photographer Richard Avedon died today in Texas at the age of 81.
News at Reuters, CBC and ABCNews
Avedon’s homepage is blacked out today
Avedon Portraits at Metropolitan Museum of Art (2003)
by Marja-Leena
by Marja-Leena Digitalis: Ethno-Techno exhibition
“Happy new month!” as my youngest child used to say when little. This new month of October is a busy one for me with both family stuff and art happenings.
One event that I’m excited about is participating in Ethno Techno: An Exhibition of Digital Print, to be held October 14 – 28, 2004 in Vancouver, Canada, in collaboration with the New Forms Festival ’04: Technography.
Organized by the Digitalis Digital Art Society, the 12 selected artists include Michael Alstad, Canada; Bill Byrne, USA; Michael Cardinal, USA; Ian M Clothier, New Zealand; Melanie Daniel, Israel; Jaleen Grove, Canada; Maru Ituarte, Mexico; James K-M, Canada; Wynne Palmer, Canada; Marja-Leena Rathje, Canada; Claudio Sotolongo Menandez, Cuba; Alexander Sutulov, Chile.
Our theme Ethno Techno refers to the convergence of ethnology and technology, or the expression of ethnicity or ethnicities in the form of digital print. The artists selected for this exhibition play in their own ethnicity or in the ethnicity of other cultures where subject matter can be related to racial, national, tribal, religious, linguistic, or cultural origin or background. The images in the exhibition will have been manipulated in some way by the computer.
Digitalis: Ethno Techno will be shown in the basement gallery of the Electra Building, 970 Burrard Street (at Nelson), and is open daily from 10 AM to 6 PM. The Festival Opening Night Gala will take place October 14, 6 to 8 PM at the Roundhouse Community Arts Centre, corner of Pacific Blvd and Davie Street. You can also view the artworks in this exhibition as well as a First Nations show in the same venue, by clicking on each name.
This is only one of many exhibitions and events centered around the New Forms Festival 2004, an annual festival forum highlighting emerging forms at the junction of art, culture and technology. I posted about this about a month ago, but wanted to bring your attention to it again closer to the date, and because the site has been updated with new links and information about the various events and their locations around the city (as has that older post).
by Marja-Leena Dream Passage One
Dream Passage One
collagraph & woodcut
96 x 133 cm. (approx. 38″ x 52″)
Edited January 13th, 2013 to show larger image.
by Marja-Leena Writing on the Wall
As part of an occasional series about the printmaking studio that I am happily associated with at Capilano College**, I will be posting about exhibitions that members are involved in.
Robert Jackson is a new artist member this fall. He brings with him an extensive background in digital art work on a variety of media. He is currently participating in a group show, “Writing on the Wall” – a mixed media art exhibition featuring work that incorporates text, symbols, images or a combination of these elements to convey a message.
This is at CityScape Community Art Space, 335 Lonsdale Avenue in North Vancouver, BC, until October 10th, 2004. Hours: Wed-Sat.12-5, Sunday 1-4.
UPDATE: Sept.30.04 Today I was at Opus Framing & Art Supplies on Lonsdale, picking up a frame I’d ordered, so afterwards I walked two blocks up the hill to CityScape to see this show. I was pleased to see Robert’s two digital/mixed media pieces and an acrylic on canvas by Margaret Witzsche, a friend and past Institute member. Other memorable works for me were those by Sharon Christian and Shakun Jhangiani.
** Since this was written, Capilano College has been designated Capilano University.
by Marja-Leena Dream Vessel
Dream Vessel
collagraph
89 x 114 cm. (approx. 35″ x 45″)
Edited January 13th, 2013 to show larger image.
by Marja-Leena Shamans & Storytellers
Back in February, I posted about an event presented by the Vancouver Society of Storytellers. One of these storytellers was Kira Van Deusen, who brings to professional storytelling and music a background which includes a BA in Russian Language and Literature from Cornell University and an MA in Folklore/Ethnography from Antioch University. She has done extensive research with indigenous people in Siberia and the Russian Far East.
Her fascinating website relates her explorations into Siberian folk tales and their storytellers, musicians and shamans. She writes: Storytelling in Siberian societies is very closely linked to shamanism [and] can act as a healing. Kira van Deusen’s site offers many links to explore and learn about this mysterious part of the world.
I enjoyed this online exhibition from the Museum Centre Vapriikki in Tampere, Finland: Shamans – Secret Life of the Peoples of Siberia.*
*Sadly, link has expired.
by Marja-Leena recommended reading
Tonight I’d like to highly recommend you visit two of my favourite bloggers and read their posts:
Charles Downey at ionarts writes about a very thought-provoking lecture he heard presented by Peter Schjeldahl, art critic for The New Yorker, called “What Art Is For Now”. Some points that were made:
1.”those who want [art] will find it”….”the audience for art worldwide may be larger now than it ever has been”…
2.”The function of art in a democratic society is spiritual”…”The word ‘beauty’… is the A-bomb of art criticism.”
3.”Art is rhetorical….it argues.” The universal messages live on.
4. Art will leave the “decorative” and “return to exploring the illustrational, narrative side…”
My points don’t do it justice so read the whole article – lots of food for thought!
Anna Conti has posted some news in her Working Artist’s Journal about the eBay Art Fraud case. She is mentioned in an article on MSNBC in conjunction with a lawsuit by Tiffany. And a reader recommends a safer online sales site.
(Remember I pointed you to her story ….if you aren’t familiar with Anna’s case, read about it at her special page eBay Art Fraud.)
by Marja-Leena Vancouver’s Art Patrons
In today’s Straight, Robin Laurence writes about Vancouver’s “Patron Saints” of the arts: painter Joe Plaskett and real-estate developer Michael Audain. Along with the VIVA (Vancouver Institute for the Visual Arts) awards funded by the Jack and Doris Shadbolt Foundation, now “emerging, mid-career, and senior artists all benefit from cash awards created by extraordinary British Columbians. It’s the best of giving in the visual arts.”
The stories about these new patrons are interesting and inspiring and set an example of giving to the arts and culture in BC.
You may be interested in also reading about the late Shadbolts, who contributed greatly to BC’s art scene: painter Jack Shadbolt, and curator Doris Shadbolt.
And, the Lt. Governor’s speech at the 2004 VIVA Awards and Audain Prize presentation.
by Marja-Leena Rock Art: Siberia and Alps
Erkki Luoma-aho* presents his photographs of petroglyphs at Siberia’s Tom and Jenisei Rivers and at Valcamonica in the Italian Alps, taken during his travels in 2000 and 2001. The site is in Finnish, but it consists mostly of photos.
An interesting point that he makes is that in Scandinavia many of the petroglyphs were painted originally to bring out the details, but these have weathered and worn off with time. Luoma-aho has also “painted” these images, digitally of course, to bring up the details. To view, begin at the list and click at a link. Click on the image so you can compare it with and without the digital enhancement – notice how some of these are barely discernible. (Under the image are three red icons for navigation: the left hunter takes you back one image, the center one back to the list, and the right one forward to the next photo.)
Now that was just an introduction! There’s lots more to explore, such as his fascinating journey to Siberia presented in English.
UPDATE Jan 2014: *Sadly his site is no longer accessible and/or the other links are no longer available, so have been removed. Try a search, if interested as he has published some of his photos.
by Marja-Leena Karen Kain: Chair, Canada Council for Arts
CBC Arts News reports that Karen Kain, one of the most celebrated ballerinas in Canadian history, will be the new chair of the Canada Council for the Arts. I think she will be a great advocate for artists and the arts!