First it was Amazon, now Restoration Hardware, but in a very different way.

I wrote about Amazon expanding its operations into the art market here [Link] back in September 2013. One local gallerist is entering the Amazon network already, and I look forward to seeing how it works for her.

RHCA Gallery

This time it is Restoration Hardware entering the fray in a very different way. Restoration Hardware Contemporary Art has opened a six-story, 28,000 sq. ft. cathedr...er...retail art monument in Chelsea. They will be largely showing commissioned work, meaning they are paying the artists up front. They are currently having five solo shows simultaneously.

The RH CEO, Gary Friedman has plans... “By chasing our hopes and dreams, we inspire others to chase theirs. By being creatively courageous and fearlessly fighting for what we believe in, we inspire others to do the same.” I continued, “By being open and giving of our light, we lift the spirits of others, who then reflect that light to another, and another. It’s a reflection that can be endless, and continue long after we leave this planet, and by doing so, then maybe we never left.” I ended, “It’s about a lot more than just selling furniture.”


 RH explains that they are creating an 'environment'. The works go up to about $30k USD presently. This is putting into practice the trend towards experience, not simply object acquisition. RHCA (and RH in general) is aiming at the Nouveau Age d' Or riche, one of the mainstays of the gallery scene. There are many fascinating questions about how well these new models for art sales will work, and how the current models will weather this onslaught, if they do at all.

How long before major corporate players move in to buy/unseat the major art fairs? Auction houses? Will corporations go into the lower-priced levels of this market? Will we see big box Wal-Arts? It is still much too soon to take the human measure of this.

The artscape is rapidly shifting, and while it doesn't look good for the galleries at the moment, it does for the artists and who knows? Gallerists are savvy enough to evolve rapidly.

From one POV it seems like an oil and water miscegenation, from another, seeing new models, all this interest in art, and its emphasis as a signifier of wealth and taste could bring in a lot of potential buyers.

--- Luis

The Official Suncoast Attractions Map and other brochures...

Sunday I was at Sunken Gardens with my wife and a Tampa friend. After meandering around its flowered mazes and photographing, I retreated for a breather and some coffee in the lobby. As with all other tourist attractions, hotels, etc. there was the ubiquitous wooden box packed with brochures, and tourists steadily stopping and grabbing brochures.

The only things I found on art attractions were MFA cards, a nicely designed Chilhuly/Morean brochure and an Official Suncoast Attractions brochure, perhaps the most comprehensive in the stand.

The Chilhuly/Morean brochure has a map that shows the Chilhuly and Morean, and the MFA and Dali Museums. The Central arts District, and Holocaust Museum are also on the map, and nothing else.

The Official Suncoast Attractions brochure is much larger, and shows the Dali, MFA, Chihuly, and Ringling. Nothing else. 

In other words, no mention of the more than two dozen galleries in the city of Saint Petersburg, the 600 block,  Central Art District or Warehouse District.

--- Luis
 

This Catching Fire Weekend, November 18th - 24th 2013

Monday, November 18th
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A method of spiritual understanding by reflecting energies against one another in order for better projected representation. Understanding there lies an outside of the inside allows you to hold a stronger understanding of reality by faceting the surrealist nightmare accordingly. HERETICAL SYNERGY is a gathering of the selves in celebration of thee, a god without a god, actions from the actors and a full connection of the inner self in form of effervescent sound waves.

FREE
Performances by
DC9V
TERMINUS CURSUS
JUST SATELLITES
SAMMY SATIC 

Fubar Downtown

658 Central Ave., Saint Petersburg, 
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Tuesday, Nov. 19th
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 Drawing by Femily Killer.

Open Figure Drawing @ Soft Water Studios

• Every Tuesday we have Open Figure Drawing at Soft Water Studios. Models are nude or partially draped. 2, 5, and 20 minute poses. Easels, benches and tables are available. Bring your own paper & supplies. $7 Model Fee.

Soft Water Studios

515 22nd Street South, Saint Petersburg____________________________________________________________________

Wednesday, November 20th
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The Warehouse Arts District Association invites members, artists, supporters and the public to our open general meeting on November 20th at Soft Water Studios.

We will tell you what has been happening in the Warehouse Arts District.

Agenda
A. Updates
• What has the Warehouse Arts District been up to in the last 3 months?
• Committee Chair Reports
• Membership Renewals
• Website status
• Trolley News
• Member show update
• First Night update

B. Discussions
• Board nominations
• Open Discussion

Invite your friends and SHARE this event. Find out what all the buzz is about in the Warehouse Arts District!!

Hope to see you there!


515 22nd Street South, Saint Petersburg
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Friday, November 22
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Free Art Friday. Prowl Central and 1st Ave N. up to the 600 block for free art given by generous artists to the citizenry. Limit one per person (though you can trade if you find one you like better).
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Lost in the Wilderness: Coralette Damme @ Studio 620.

The Studio@620 presents "Lost in the Wilderness", an exhibit of recent artworks by local artist and printmaker Coralette Damme. You may know Coralette as The Crafty Hag, she has been creating functional hand printed gift-ware and cards for several years. But you may not have seen her larger artworks. This exhibit will feature images created in a variety of media with emphasis on linocut and silkscreen printing techniques. Subject matter is derived from a variety of sources as the artist seeks the answers to questions we all have: Where do I belong? Why is my purpose here? What do I value? Where am I going next?

According to the artist, "It is human nature to search for answers and to assign meaning to our experiences. At certain points in life you enter a crossroads and wonder what is the correct path forward. This show is about finding hidden messages, seeking direction, interpreting personal symbols, accepting cosmic instruction, and the search of self."

We hope you'll find your way to The Studio@620 for the opening reception on Friday Nov 22 from 6-9 PM. Admission is free and open to the public. Artwork will remain on display through December 10, 2013. Additional gallery hours will be posted at a later date and are also available by appointment. Please call 727-895-6620 for additional information.

The Studio@620 is a non profit arts venue located at 620 1st Ave. South, St. Petersburg FL 33701

Visit The Studio@620 online at www.studio620.org.

Through December 10th.
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The Cartography of the Soul @ Soft Water Studios -
Cartography is a mapmaking process that combines science, aesthetics, and technique. A seemingly pedagogic practice, a group of artists at Soft Water Studios are harnessing the power of Cartography to set sail into the innermost depths of a person's psyche. With an abstracted notion of Cartography, these artists visually map the uncharted depths of the soul, and in doing so, model its reality.

Participating Artists:

Carrie Jadus
Mark Aeling
Femily Killer
Joe Coleman
Paul Glass
Salvador Saint Germain
Carolina Cleere
Bask
Mark Levasseur
Sarah Dees
John Gurbacs
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Saturday, November 23rd
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Legally on Board Show @ The Bricks in Ybor.


Kickstart My Art & Skatepark of Tampa presents

Legally On Board Art Show

21 Artists Celebrate 21 Years of SPoT Using Skateboards and Their Imaginations

-Saturday, November 23, 2013
-8PM
-At The Bricks

http://skateparkoftampa.com/
http://thebricksybor.com/

1327 E. 7th Ave., Tampa, Florida 
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Come out Saturday November 23 11am-5pm & Sunday November 24 11am-5pm for a fun outdoor shopping experience and support local artisans! Art, crafts, vintage, jewelry, antiques, and more.

Free to the public to attend. All ages welcome!
Sellers can reserve their space at www.artpoolgallery.com

Shop local, shop indie, shop ARTpool! 
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(post still in progress)


mmm

Journey of Discovery @ Beth Kokol Gallery.

Photo Courtesy of Beth Kokol Arts.

The Beth Kokol Gallery is situated on the S, side of Bay to Bay blvd, in South Tampa (not far from where this is being typed). It is a large, beautiful multitasking space that can accomodate events, art shows and art classes. Beth Kokol told me she has been teaching art privately over a dozen years. At first in a cottage behind her house, a year and a half ago she and her husband bought two adjacent buildings on the boulevard. He works out of one, she the other.

Beth teaches around three-hundred students in her classes, a large portion of them adults, making her and her classes a significant influence in the Bay area arts scene. This show was comprised of sixty works by Beth Kokol, Dawn Hunt, who is no stranger to this blog, George Fuller, Joanne Higbee and Beth's son, Emerson Kokol. 

The building is large enough for three artists to have their own individual spaces. The last was shared between Mss. Higbee and Hunt. Here are a few highlights from the show...

George Fuller showed a roomful of Hipstamatic prints made on watercolor paper. They were taken during a 2011 road trip with a band of 20-somethings on tour. These photographs had a somewhat withdrawn, intensely observant quality about them. 
  

Work by George Fuller

In the work shown above, George breaks with convention by not showing us faces and photographing people from behind, focusing on the tattoo on this woman's neck. There's a man in a bumblebee suit in the background, too. The graphics of the ink and the graceful curve of her face and neck make this image. It is ambiguous enough that it allows the viewer a kernel around which they can accrete their own narrative. The backstory is very strange, but it is best to allow the viewer their own interpretation.

George told me he wished he could have taken his camera with him, but I think the phone was the right tool in his hands in this instance. 

Dawn Hunt's work has been featured on this blog. In this show she had a series of feminine figures over the handwritten lyrics of songs. 

Dawn Hunt, "The Gypsy"

In "The Gypsy", a self-portrait  is overlaid with the lyrics to the Fleetwood Mac song. The facial gesture seems one of resolve.




Joanne Higbee's mixed media works consisted mostly of birds perched on what appeared to be tropical plants. Her use of color is eclcctic and incisive. The birds transcend their avian appearance into the spiritual, with plants and in another case dragonflies almost paying hommage.

 Both Emerson and Beth Kokol seem to have had Chinese themes in this show (from staying in China as a student for Emerson and a trip there by Beth). Emerson's photographs included well-executed, oft-seen Chinese themes and memes, like the red lanterns, terraced rice paddies and a dog-eared remnant of the revolution, a red Chairman Mao book. 

Work by Emerson Kokol.

Beth Kokol's paintings in this show also had a Chinese theme. There were paintings based on myths, botanicals and more. The artist's technique is impressive. Her solvency and ensuing fluency in painting allow her to modulate the visual effects in her imagery in a precise manner. In "Lotus", shown below, this control, coupled with passion

 

Beth Kokol "Lotus"

Congratulations to Beth Kokol, George Fuller, Dawn Hunt, Joanne Higbee and Emerson Kokol for a good show.

--- Luis

Is it time for juried art shows?

Recently, an arts maven in Saint Pete held an art show as background to the launch of her book (which wasn't even available at the launch party/exhibit). There was a notable amount of bragging about how the show was to be juried (by anonymous jurors), and endless FB advertising.

The judges incestuously chose a work of the author/curator to be in the show, and it was a photograph of someone else's work of art on a  motorcycle! One of the things Mindy Solomon and I spoke about on several occasions was how local "curators" always manage to include their own work in every show they are associated with. If it's your gallery, of course. Otherwise, it is seriously poor form, not to mention an absurd idea to choose oneself over others. 

To shorten a long and boring story, the show was remarkably inconsistent. Other gallerists and artists present told me they thought it was inconsistent, "juried via Ouija board", and "badly hung". It wasn't a bad show by any means, it just did not come remotely close to living up to the hype. But this is not what I am addressing in this blog post.

 One of the artists in the show just happens to be a blogger, and in an amazing coincidence, he wrote a blog titled: "Is it time for juried art shows?", mimicking the author/curator's exact FB posts.

It is as much time for juried shows as it is time for Dr. Pepper, tea and crumpets or a Bucs game. Art is not about marching in unison. Attempting to enjoin the community into a hive mentality with this person as the drum majorette would set the cause of art back several decades. If you want your art show to be juried, by all means make it so. Is it "time for juried art shows"? No.  Lead by example. If others agree with your wisdom, they will follow.

 --- Luis

Lichtenstein @ Venture Compound.

All work by John Lichtenstein.

At the Venture Compound, one doesn't talk up their credentials or do it by whipping out a card, diploma or clippings, but by performing. Their press releases often good-naturedly taunt their audience and the one for this show is no exception:.  "So, you call yourself an artist? How much work have you finished (not just started or talked about starting) in the past year? How ’bout the past five years? John Lichtenstein has made over 250 paintings this year and he hasn’t stopped yet. I’m sure that BFA in oil painting looks really good framed on your wall, but you know what would look better on your wall? Art that you continued to make after you graduated. And sure, you have those four paintings you cart around to different galleries on Central Ave and they are all really good, but you don’t have shit on John Lichtenstein. Since you’re going to be lazy and complacent, you might as well come and see Lichtenstein’s one man show at the Venture Compound on October 25th. Hell, you could even buy some of his art and hang it next to that exorbitantly expensive degree you have."

All work by Lichtenstein.

Numbers. More than one painting a day so far this year. The art team at the VC is not exactly enslaved to convention. They have crammed a huge number of Lichstensteins into both galleries -- and overflow on the wall behind the stage. The initial effect is sensorial overload. The effect of the quantity of work with tight style is akin to experiencing multiples.

Work by Lichtenstein.

The work consists of pop culture icons, with monsters on the loose, distressed damsels (a few looking reminiscent of outtakes from Sherman's Film Stills), all in a graphic style. They float through vacuous backgrounds, weightless, in either relational or reflective moments.

Work by Lichstentein.

The artist projects images and draws /paints over that on wood panels. The figures get the lion's share of attention. The oft-sparse geometric backgrounds seem like a by-product of inexperience and expediting output, but they may go further.Isolating the central figure(s) seems to be their primary purpose.

The work has a strong sense of individuation and theme. There is a great sense of passion and a tremendous work ethic. 

At a time where most galleries are fiercely adopting the generic signifiers of success, the VC is merrily carving out its own path, taking risks, questioning convention and bringing outlier art to the fore.

 Congratulations to John Lichtenstein and the Venture Cmpound for a good show.

--- Luis





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2nd Blog: Optic Nerve

I have opened a second blog, a photo blog called Optic Nerve [Link]. Optic Nerve multitasks as a purely visual annex to Art Taco and as a place to show my own photographic, non-blog art work. Please take a look and let me know what you think in the comments section. I have also put up an Instagram account at: luisgottardi 

All those photos are strictly taken with my phone.

--- Luis

Charlie Parker November - December 2013

Table Top Hop with Charlie Parker Pottery Friday, November 15th, 5pm-8pm (Free) Stop by Craftsman House for the opening reception of our Table Top Art.  Then hop 8 blocks over to Charlie Parker Pottery to see their show, For the Table.   Treats & drinks for the table served at both venues.   Purchase a place setting and receive complimentary food.  Or purchase a $10 food ticket and receive food at Craftsman House & dessert at Charlie Parker Pottery. DECEMBER:  Our Annual Holiday Sale December 7th 10am-5pm Just in time for the holidays Charlie Parker Pottery will be featuring art for your table along with other holiday work. Everything you need to make your holiday table elegantly festive. Charlie and our talented members have created masterpieces for your dining enjoyment.       Second Saturday Gallery Walk  December 14th - 5pm-9pm You are invited to visit our beautiful gallery to see the most recent work of all our talented member artists. Visit us on Second Saturday Art walk to view our handmade functional and sculpural pottery 5pm-9pm.   Ask about fun classes: We offer different styles of classes but the most fun is our Happy Hours. Learn the basics and then try your own!

ASK ABOUT CHARLIES BIG BOWL SPECIAL purchase a gift certificate for that extra special someone.

Kid at Heart @ Blue Lucy Opens Saturday November 16

Femily Killer...so cute!

This Nebraska Week, November 11th-17th, 2013

Tuesday, November 11th, 2013 -
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Open Figure Drawing @ Soft Water Studios -
Every Tuesday we have Open Figure Drawing at Soft Water Studios. Models are nude or partially draped. 2, 5, and 20 minute poses. Easels, benches and tables are available. Bring your own paper & supplies. $7 Model Fee.

• • 6:30pm until 9:00pm in EST
• 

  Chance of Rain 79°F / 68°F

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Circle of Mothers - From preconception to toddlerhood, all moms welcome! This is a structured mother-centered gathering facilitated by an experienced, skilled mentor. Children are welcome.

Bring your wisdom, curiosity and questions. We listen with an open heart and support each woman’s inner wisdom.

Together we explore:
• pre-conception
• pregnancy
• labor and birth
• birth healing
• becoming a mother
• the FOURTH Trimester
• postpartum changes
• the baby-blues
• co-parenting
• changing relationships
• creating life balance & self-care
• new baby care
• breastfeeding
• peaceful parenting
• parenting toddlers
• night time parenting
• nutrition for you and baby
• babywearing
• and whatever is in your mind!

$5 contribution per meeting is requested
cash or paypal (please send PayPal personal to eojedafox@gmail.com)

"Women need to sit in circles, not because we need healing, but because we need replenishment. Women need to go deep. Sitting in circle nourishes the soul." ~Amari Gold

For more information visit http://thepeacefulbirthproject.org/mentoring/circle-of-mothers/

10:00am until 12:00pm in EST

Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater

2470 Nursery Rd., Clearwater, Florida 
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 Our Table, Melanie Graham @ USF Centre Gallery



[The reason I do not review shows at USF is because the parking situation appears to be hostile to visitors. I have found a mere 8 spaces available to guests, and rarely is one open. This is not conducive to my driving from South Tampa hoping I'll be able to park to review your shows]

From Nov. 12 through Nov. 26, the Centre Gallery at the University of South Florida will host Our Table by Melanie Graham. Visitors to the gallery will experience a table of food prepared for the six missing or abducted women and girls featured in the show accompanied by personal pictures provided by the families and original poetry written by Graham.

Inspired by her awareness of violence involving women and girls, Graham created the show to draw attention to this growing issue of social injustice in our culture. Having investigated this issue in depth, she was greatly affected by the annual number of abducted women each year in the state of Florida. She has met with families of abducted women and girls and was overwhelmingly inspired by the resilience, humor, and love shown throughout the formation of the show.

Graham is currently in a Master’s of Fine Arts program and has a PhD in Creative Writing. Her goals are to complete her MFA and publish her first book about America’s cultural obsession with violence.

DessART, Centre Gallery’s opening reception for this exhibit, will be held on Nov. 12 from 12 – 1 pm. The closing reception will be held from 7 – 9 pm on Thursday, Nov. 21, in the Centre Gallery. The Centre Gallery is located on the second floor of the Marshall Student Center in room 2700, at 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, Fla. It is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are 11 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday.

For more information, please contact the Centre Gallery at 813-974-5464.

USF Centre Gallery

4202 E. Fowler Ave., MSC 2700, Tampa, Florida 33620

View Map · Get Directions

 

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Wednesday, November 12th 2013




USF Contemporary Art Museum presents a screening of Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry at historic Tampa Theatre.

Named by ArtReview as the most powerful artist in the world, Ai Weiwei is China's most celebrated contemporary artist, and its most outspoken domestic critic. First-time director Alison Klayman gained unprecedented access to the charismatic artist, as well as his family and others close to him, while working as a journalist in Beijing. Her compelling documentary is the inside story of a passionate dissident for the digital age who inspires global audiences and blurs the boundaries of art and politics.

This is a ticketed event; Contact the Tampa Theatre Boc Office at 813-274-8286 or visit their website to watch the trailer and purchase tickets in advance: http://tampatheatre.org/ai-weiwei-never-sorry/ 
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 Friday, November 14th, 2013

Two year anniversary Hoffman Porges Gallery.
1907 E. 7th Avenue, Tampa,, 6-11 PM.
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Cette Planete Magnifique Et Noire- This Magnificent and Black Planet

A new body of work by Stoic.

"Cette Planete Magnifique Et Noir" is inspired by the early 70's french political sci-fy animation "Le Planete Sauvage."

The work will display dark tones of psychedelia, tripped out extraterrestrial, inter-dimensional, and other worldly beings created in mixed media on recycled surfaces. These works will portray my love for experimentation, and non-traditional methods of execution. I.E. organic painting material, natural decaying processes, weathered dilapidation, and so on, and so forth.


A few pieces will be raffled off (including a large 4x4 foot piece) throughout the night. The raffle tickets will be $5 for a single ticket or three for $10. Also the first 15 that come through the doors receive one of a kind vinyl stickers.

Neal Mega Stoll will be on the decks for the opening playing that goodness!!

Art show opens at 8 for viewing. Come early so you can take a good look at the art!

-Stoic 

919 1st Avenue N, Saint Petersburg, 8:00pm until 3:00am  

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Coolidge, Oleson and Taormina @ Oleson Gallery - All new works by,
Sebastian Coolidge, James Oleson and John Taormina.
Doors open at 7pm with DJ Earl Grae to greet you.
Saturday November 16th
7pm - 12am
The Oleson Gallery - 685 Central Ave.
After party at the OG!

 
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mmmmmmmmmmmm

Susan Gott Holiday Open House

Where is Susan Gott?

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Hello art lover! You're invited to our HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE & Glassblowing! Black Friday, Nov 29th from 10am-9pm and Small Business Saturday, Nov. 30th from 10am-5pm We're open all day Friday with the opening reception on Friday Night from 6-9pm.  We'll have performance art & glass casting demonstrations, food & drink.   On Saturday, join us for SHOP HOP! with the Business Guild of Seminole Heights 10am-5pm.  Special of the day: Coupon at the door for 10% off any single item of $100 or more plus we’ll be raffling off a basket of hand blown ornaments. In addition, the Business Guild of Seminole Heights is holding a raffle of their own.  Visit a minimum of 6 participating shops to enter to win one of 12 great raffle prizes! November 8-10, 2013 Disney's Festival of the Masters The Festival of the Masters presented by Michaels is centered at Downtown Disney Westside, and features the works of some of today's top artists. November 16-17, 2013 32nd Annual Downtown Festival & Art Show on November 16 & 17 in Gainesville, Florida. A juried fine arts festival featuring 250 artists, three stages of entertainment & a children's free hands on art activity area. Have you seen our new video from WEDU Public Media PBS Arts Plus yet? In it I talk about my blown glass and glass casting work influenced by Native American, spirituality, the Buddha, and healing shakras just to name a few. Take a few moments to watch!

follow on Twitter | LIKE on Facebook | forward to a friend  Copyright © 2013 Phoenix Glass Studio, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted on my website or signed up at the studio. Our mailing address is: Phoenix Glass Studio 811 East Knollwood Street Tampa, Fl 33604 Add us to your address book  unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences