Spot Obsession, Gigantansim, and Round Things, For a Better World

#66 – Tuesday June 19th

Yayoi Kusama, Self-Obliteration by Dots (detail), 1968, performance, documented with black-and-white photographs by Hal Reif.

I have a thing for spots, more accurately  . . . dots. Most recently I attempted to satiate my dot fetish at Damien Hirst’s dot extravaganza at Gagosian Galleries NYC space, and while enveloped by lots and lots of dots, big, small, and all in colors seemingly possible . . . I walked away unsatisfied. Now the good news for us dot aficionados, the Whitney Museum of Art will be exhibiting the work of  Yayoi Kusama , July 12 – September 30, 2012. Now in her 80’s Kusama has used the dot in her work for over five decades.

As an aside to the idea of art extravaganza, the April issue of Art In America featured an excellent essay by Ossian Ward “Scaling Up: Mega Galleries, supersized installations: has gigantism overtaken the art world?”.

SRAM pArt Project returns! The SRAM pART Project equips a group of selected artists with a box of 100 bike parts. These bike parts are utilized in creating a work of art, which is then put up for auction. All auction proceeds go to the support of World Bicycle Relief (WBR). Readers of It Happens Every Tuesday may remember I was one of the participating artists in the inaugural  SRAM pArt Project (raising over 140k for WBR)   This summer’s 2012 pART Project, features twenty-four artists residing on Salt Spring Island off the coast of British Columbia. Salt Spring is home to both an accomplished artistic community and a vibrant bike culture. The Salt Spring pART project sculptures are now on view and the on-line auction is open . . .

Thanks for reading

Charles

One Final and Very Last Chance

#37 – Tuesday November 29th

Today and tomorrow, Tuesday November 29th, and Wednesday, November 30th, are the two final day of the SRAM pART Project auction, in support of World Bicycle Relief. A quick review of the project, SRAM (a bicycle component manufacturer) sent a box of 100 bicycle parts to a select group of artists, who then utilized these parts to create sculptures. Its these sculptures that are now being auctioned off, with 100% of the funds going to support World Bicycle Relief (WBR) and the Power of Bicycles. In the words of WBR, “Compared to walking, bicycles improve access to education, healthcare and economic opportunity by increasing carrying capacity and accessible travel distance while decreasing the time it takes to commute to and from schools, clinics and markets.” The sculptures can be viewed here. On-line bids can be placed on specific sculptures here, or on my SRAM pART sculpture here. Donations of any amount can be made here ( a donation of $134 = one bike ) and all donations made by December 31st will be matched dollar for dollar by SRAM.

In keeping with this Tuesday’s bicycle theme, last week we stumbled upon this sculpture of a bike, articulated in granite, while hiking the Black Canyon Trail (BCT). The BCT is a multi-use trail system (hike, bike and equestrian) wandering through the Bradshaw Mountains, just north of Phoenix. The Bradshaw’s are both rugged and beautiful. Encompassing  just under one thousand square miles, the Bradshaw Mountains rise from about nineteen hundred feet of elevation, where the Agua Fria River courses through its eastern flanks, to over seventy-nine hundred feet, at the summit of Mount Union, the Bradshaw’s tallest peak. (The Bradshaw Mountain range has eight named peaks, each being in excess of seventy-five hundred feet in elevation). This ecosystem supports an incredible diversity of plant and animal life, making it a pleasure to explore.

Thanks for reading.

Charles

Two for Tuesday – Perimeter Galley / A Virtual Exhibition – SRAM pART Project auction

#36 – Tuesday November 22

It’s always good to be back in Chicago. I spent the week wandering around, getting my “Windy City” groove on, and then on Friday the exhibition of my new paintings opened at Perimeter Gallery.  I posted a short video of the exhibition on my Facebook page, but thought I’d put together a “virtual exhibition” for my blog. . .

The SRAM pART Project auction is now underway. All proceeds from the auction go to support World Bicycle Relief, and one can either participate on line (click here), or in person at the SRAM pART Project gala, being held in Chicago on Wednesday, November 30th.

Thanks for reading.

Charles