Local Art Rag

Original Voices

2009-08-26T22:18:00.012-04:00

Last Thursday night, I went to the Vail-Leavitt Music Hall in Riverhead for the monthly open mic, Original Voices at the Vail. (See www.myspace.com/originalvoicesatthevail.)

It's held the third Thursday of every month, year round. I went because my son's band, Golden Zipper, was headlining the evening. They're working on releasing their second recording.

Sitting there, in the small black-box theater, I was struck by the number of familiar faces from the last time I was there, about a year ago. There was no alcohol served--only music. The crowd was supportive, seemed to the enjoy what they heard, and definitely liked being around music lovers.

Strangers and friends chatted while musician after musician set up. Teenagers talked to adults and to each other. Some adults hung in the back while others stayed in the fray of chairs. It felt like I was at a large family reunion where everyone wanted to be there (even if they only tolerated Uncle Frank and his overly-wordy stories).

The Vail-Leavitt is off the beaten path and is not a glam spot. There were no celebrities or 'Beautiful People'. There were plenty of musicians. Some took the stage. Others did not.

It made me wonder about all the other mini-music scenes that were happening elsewhere. Is the East End music scene so underground that live music that creates a community of fans is easy to overlook?

Maybe it's laziness on my part. Or, maybe, increased awareness of musical-listening opportunities is what's needed.
-Pat Rogers

Artist in a Box

2009-08-10T19:49:00.004-04:00

I'm a reporter so I get lots of press releases. Lots and lots of them.

Among the releases was a report of Chinese artist Xing Xin who's protesting China's one child per couple policy by locking himself in an iron box for 49 days on Murano Island. He'll then recreate the experience in a glass box during the upcoming Venice Biennial.

He plans to count the characters in a 150-part set of Chinese school books to symbolically link his concept of loneliness with actions people can see. (There's cameras inside the iron box so people can see what he's up to).

The idea is a smart one. By putting himself in a place of heavy people traffic, his performance art piece will get seen and his point heard. Or, at least, they'll be a lot of finger pointing. People may film videos for YouTube. Since it's linked to an upcoming international art fair, fair goers may talk about him too.

I can't get his staging out of my mind. Even more so, I can't figure out why the Hamptons never has artists locking themselves in boxes here.

We have plenty of people traffic in the summer. Anyone who's tried to drive through Bridgehampton on a Friday afternoon or anytime on Saturday knows that deadlocks are expected.

I've never seen an artist staging a performance piece on the sidewalks of the Hamptons.

I can't help but wonder why not? Is it a permit issue? Are performance artists shunning us? Lack of sponsorship? (Xing Xin has two sponsors, including a new museum).

Every time a film crew stops traffic for a movie or sitcom on our streets, people ask what's going on.

Maybe cities are more logical because it's easier to stage spectacles. Yet again, maybe smaller towns with vacationers seeking beach vistas and celebrity sightings would notice the art more.
-Pat Rogers

Chasing Exhibitions

2009-08-10T19:35:00.003-04:00

Okay, it's summer in the Hamptons. It seems every artist wants to have their exhibition in July and August. And who can blame them? The crowds are here, the weather's perfect for walking around (or sitting in traffic), and money's flowing in the restaurants. Maybe some of the outlay will spill into the galleries.

My question is this: how much art is really getting seen? With no fewer than five openings every Saturday, it's impossible to straddle towns from Amagansett to Sag Harbor to "drop by" for a brief look. The pressure's on because shows change every two weeks and every weekend brings new exhibitions to the East End.

What's an art-lover to do? There's three weekends to go before the final hurrah of summer bring the frantic pace to a full boil (Labor Day weekend).

I'd love to go to every opening that captures my interest or my imagination. It would be great to capture some of the season's highlights.

Facebook is a great tool. Blogs too.

Anyone have a camera?
-Pat Rogers

TV Art Stars?

2009-07-26T19:07:00.008-04:00

ARTINFO (www.artinfo) recently published a story on a new reality show that centers on artists.

DISPATCH | July 20, 2009
Taking a Shot at Reality
By Sarah Douglas

On Saturday, hundreds of artists lined up in New York to take a shot at being
America's next top (reality-TV) art star.

http://www.artinfo.com/articles/story/32066/taking-a-shot-at-reality/

The article reported that a long line of artists turned up for their chance at one of 13 spots on the show. The program is being produced for Bravo by Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex and the City) with Magical Elves, who brought the reality shows Top Chef and Project Runway before the masses, the article reported.

Will a reality show on artists and their art serve the art or the cult of celebrity?

Does it matter if the artwork gets to be viewed by millions?
-Pat Rogers

Is It Art?

2009-07-26T18:20:00.010-04:00

The Parrish Art Museum recently screened a documentary called, Who Gets To Call It Art? The film focused on Henry Geldzahler, who the Parrish described as "the most influential and colorful figures in the art world of the 1960s and 1970s." (Who Gets to Call it Art? 2005. Directed by Peter Rosen. Executive producer Beth DeWoody)

I was't able to attend the screening but the film's title has stayed with me.

The question conjures other questions: Who DOES get to call it art? Who decides what's attention-worthy and what isn't? What is art, anyway?

Pose this question to an artist and several responses could happen. The asker could be peppered with attitude and receive a lecture filled with philosphy and art terms on what constitutes art. Sometimes, pure silence and a stare that's meant to freeze the asker in his or her tracks will ensue. Other times, an answer is tentative offered.

Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art) offers this to begin their discussion: "Art is the process or product of deliberately arranging elements in a way that appeals to the senses or emotions. It encompasses a diverse range of human activities, creations, and modes of expression, including music and literature. The meaning of art is explored in a branch of philosophy known as aesthetics."

Encylopaedia Britannica (www.briannica.com) provides the following: "a visual object or experience consciously created through an expression of skill or imagination. The term art encompasses diverse media such as painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, decorative arts, photography, and installation."

I think art is a combination of both plus something else: art makes the viewer think and feel. The best art lets us discover something new about ourselves while saying something about the human condition.

That said, here's a contradition: art can just be a pretty picture and heavy philosphy doesn't always come into play. I go with what speaks to me.

Who gets to decide what is art? Mass public reaction, art critics, gallery owners, museum curators, the artists themselves?

Ultimately, each generation may have to decide what is art, what's to be valued and what is discarded.

What is art? I'd love to discover the answers.
-Pat Rogers

Festival, Anyone?

2009-07-21T12:33:00.009-04:00

I've been in Baltimore, lately, mostly so my teenage sons could attend an anime convention (Japanese animation and manga) called Otakon. Across town, the city was holding its annual Artscape festival. The three-day event brought art, music and performance together in one location where visitors could follow their own muse.

Both events got me thinking about festivals in my backyard. Like the events in Baltimore, art and music fairs draw crowds and talent from inside and outside the Hamptons.

ArtHamptons and the Riverhead Blues Festival just wrapped up their multi-day events. The Music Festival of the Hamptons is holding its final concert on Friday, July 26 (www.musicfestivalofthehamptons.com). The Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival is kicking off on July 29 and will hold concerts through August 23 (www.bcmf.org). Looking far ahead, the Hamptons International Film Festival will have screenings that draw thousands from October 8 to 12, 2009.

Creative events like these have a special type of excitement. There's a unique vibe that swirls among the event when people with common interests draw together to experience something fleeting.

Plus, it's great for the presenting artists and musicians. Yes, competition can be accentuated because of sheer quantity of talent presented. But when there's so much to choose from, people are more likely to take a chance. They might listen to a group or ensemble they don't know or spend time with artwork they might not have gone to a gallery or museum to see.

It's also good for artists and musicians who aren't part of the event. There's value in meeting other artists and supporting people who choose an artistic path.

Consider me a fan of art fairs and music festivals. And, you never know. I might just catch the next anime convention in NYC in September.
-Pat Rogers

Openings Not Just for Saturdays

2009-07-03T13:23:00.012-04:00

There used to be an unspoken understanding in the Hamptons art community: art openings happen on Saturdays.

These days, don't be surprised if you're able to Opening-Hop on Friday nights or Sundays. For instance, Friday night of the July 4th weekend (tonight) has no fewer than four artist receptions. Tulla Booth Gallery and Keyes Art in Sag Harbor are holding openings. So are The Fireplace Project and Ashawagh Hall in Springs.

Okay, so it's a busy weekend. Galleries are hedging their bets. Maybe, but Boltax Gallery on Shelter Island holds Artist Salons on Friday nights for each of their new exhibits. ArtHampton is holding their big soirees on Thursday and Friday night (July 9 & 10). The art fair runs from July 10-12 in Bridgehampton.

Sundays aren't bereft of art openings either. Celdadon Gallery and the Water Mill Museum next door hold simultaneous Sunday Brunch receptions for each opening. (PS Our own Sally Breen has an opening at the museum on July 19. Pass it on!)

Solomon Contemporary in East Hampton has always held its openings on Sundays evenings. Remsenburg Academy is launching their season on Sunday, July 5 from 4 to 6 p.m. The new Benson-Keyes Art collaboration will have performance art happenings on Sundays for each of their three shows (Their first exhibition opens July 11).

For me, I like the hop-scotch uncertainty. I'm no longer able to assume a Saturday opening. This makes me pay closer attention to exhibition announcements.

It also makes it easier to see new shows and meet the exhibiting artists. Saturday nights can make a lot of demands. It's nice to know there's other options.
-Pat Rogers

Spare A Dime?

2009-06-28T15:39:00.007-04:00

Summer's here and 'tis the season...to donate art or money or both.

Artists transforming plates, birdhouses and boxes into art for benefit auctions is nothing new. Artists holding benefits or asking for donations to fund their own art project just might be.

Within the last week, two requests have landed in my in-box.

Manhattan artist, Ula Einstein, held a special open studio and art sale today to fund her attendance at the Edinsburgh Arts Festival in August. Her artwork was accepted and Ula paid for the shipping. That's where her funds ran out. Instead of despairing, she put together some of her reasonable-priced prints and held an event in her studio. All the sales go to help fund her trip to the Arts Festival. (If anyone's interested, see www.galleryartist.com/ulaeinstein). Ula exhibited her work at Surface Library a few years ago.

Two days later, a direct request for cash came from artists exhibiting at Art Sites in Riverhead from July 25 to August 29. Dubbing the effort a "social experiment inspired, in part, by President Obama's successful fundraising strategy," viewers of the exhibit are being asked to purchase $5 raffle tickets. The money will help defray costs of creating the site-specific and community-participatory exhibition. Contributors of $25 receive an exhibition catalog. Those giving $100 become sponsors of the show with printed credit in printed materials. The raffle tickets are also chances to win a found sculpture created by Queens artist Craig Kane. (See www.artsitesgallery.com for details.) The opening is on July 25 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Personally, I like the twist. In this economy, there's plenty of need to go around. Why shouldn't artists reach out to help fund the arts--even if it happens to be their own?
-Pat Rogers

Where Musicians Play

2009-06-18T08:19:00.008-04:00

Finding live music in the Hamptons is easy. The Stephen Talkhouse, The Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center and Guild Hall are obvious places to look.

But what if you're looking for the not-so-obvious? Want to know where musicians go to unwind and unleash? Here's a few places that spring to mind. PS: They're all free or close to it.

Monday nights at Sagg Main Beach in Sagaponack features the Latin/Afro percussion talents of Escola de Samba BOOM (See www.sambaboom.com or www.myspace.com/sambaboom). The gathering starts at 6 p.m.

The new Jam Session at Bay Burger Restaurant in Sag Harbor happens from 7:30 to 9:30 every Thursday night. The session is set up for musicians to try out "works in progress" while accompanied by the house band. This is not an open mic but a chance to jam with other musicians (See www.bayburger.com or www.claesbrondal.com).

A long-established jam session takes place every Sunday at Crossroads Music Store in East Hampton. A favorite among locals, musicians show up for the acoustic jam from 1 to 4 p.m. (See www.crossroadsmusic.vpweb.com).

If open mics are appealing, here's a few: Regular's Music Cafe in North Sea on Wednesdays (WEHM Talent Night) from 7-10 p.m. (http://regularsmusiccafe.com). Original Voices at the Vail is held the third Thursday of every month from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. It's hosted by musician Jessie Haynes and friends at the historic Vail- Leavitt Music Hall in Riverhead. (See www.myspace.com/originalvoicesatthevail or http://vail-leavitt.org).

Open mics and jam sessions give musicians the chance to have fun and try something new (or dust off an old favorite). Audiences get a peek into the musical process and the work behind a rock star life. The music is raw and performances aren't always polished. But no back stage passes are required if you want to connect with your favorite performer.
-Pat Rogers

Annual Events Entice

2009-06-11T08:44:00.010-04:00

It struck me the other day that I'm a big fan of annual events.

"The Big Show" at Silas Marder Gallery in Bridgehampton, the Artists Members Exhibition at Guild Hall and the East End Photographers Group show, the Springs Invitational Exhibition and Vito Sisti Presents at Ashawagh Hall in Springs are just a few that jump to mind.

I like knowing that the third Saturday of almost every month I can ferry it to Greenport and see what the galleries are up to in one fell swoop. I like looking forward to the Birdhouse Auction, Plein Air Peconic's traveling art shows and ArtHamptons. And it's a sure bet that anything Bonic Tonic and/or Arts4 Collective puts on is going to be a blast.

With annual shows, there's an expectation of what the exhibition could be. There's a chance to compare it to others in the past. There's a comforting mix of seeing what artists have done since the last show and the chance to discover someone new.

Of course, I'm not an artist or a curator. Any thoughts on how annual shows feel on the creative side?
-Pat Rogers

Welcome

2009-05-16T13:46:00.004-04:00

Hi all & Welcome to Art Rag's Blogspot!

We hope this will become your place to connect with the local arts and music scene. Tell us what's on your mind and read what your creative neighbors are saying. Discover something new about art in the Hamptons or connect with debates from the larger world of culture.

Summer's nearly here and the Hamptons art scene is roaring into life. Make sure you're part of the fray.

-Pat Rogers