Curatin’
Posted by David Mazure | Filed under Events, Shows
It is official — I am a curator! This past fall, I sent out a few group show proposals to different venues and two of them have been accepted! One for the New Art Center in Newton, MA (right outside of Boston) and the Lawrence Arts Center in Lawrence, KS (just outside of Kansas City). (I believe I have already mentioned the Lawrence Arts Center exhibition on this blog-post here). Much to my surprise, the dates for the Lawrence Arts Center show are much further in the future than I had expected and it is slated for: January 17th, 2014 to March 1st, 2014 giving me much time to prepare.
At the moment I am much more excited about the New Art Center show because it will be in the upcoming year sometime (final dates to be determined at the end of June). Along with the installation and opening, I (and possibly some of the other artists) will be giving a Gallery Talk, perhaps a lecture (a performance perhaps?) and maybe a few instructional workshops. The New Art Center is very interested in involving and educating the local community in the arts which I think will work well with the exhibit and the artists involved (since may of them are professional educators). The artists on the roster for this show include: Myself, Barbara Blacharczyk (the new addition not on the Lawrence Arts Center roster), Basil El Halwagy, Sara Schneckloth, Greg Fuqua and Doug Russell.
The following is the statement that I prepared for the proposal. This basically describes what the exhibit is about, though keep in mind it may go through some slight alterations (lengthening) before the exhibition:
“M(i)(a)cro”
Group Drawing Exhibition Statement
What is behind the perceived forces of the physical universe? What are the similarities and differences between the micro- and macro- cosmic universes? Can making marks on paper help unravel the conundrums of observed reality? That is what this group of five artists are attempting to uncover — the essence of the invisible mysteries that the universe often allows us to ponder, through the act of drawing.
Though their processes may differ – from the obsessively analytical to the purely expressive – these five artists use the medium of drawing as a source of inquiry into matter, consciousness, and energy; often oscillating between clarity and chaos.
Installinatin’
Posted by David Mazure | Filed under Events, Shows
Here are some shots of me installing my wall painting at the Aljira Center for Contemporary Art. The images are credited to the Installation Technician, Tara Raye Russo, who was nice enough to take these shots and for which I am most appreciative. You can check out Tara’s work here and here. (I really dig The Refinery site-specific installation seen here). I also want to send out a thanks to the chair of the Art Department at East Stroudsburg University, Professor Joni Oye-Benintende, for lending me her projector without which this installation would have taken 5 times longer (it took about 10-12 hours WITH the projector!). Thanks Joni!
Aljira Center for Contemporary Arts
Posted by David Mazure | Filed under Events, Installations, Shows
Where are you going to be on Thursday, June 9th from 6:00-9:00pm? With any luck, you’ll be at the opening of Studio Montclair’s “Viewpoints: A Contemporary Survey” at the Aljira Center for Contemporary Art in the heart of Newark, NJ. Besides the fact that I installed my first wall painting for a juried exhibition, there are going to be many other interesting pieces in the exhibit. According to juror Dr. Rocío Aranda-Alvarado (Associate Curator for Special Projects at El Museo del Barrio in NYC), the exhibit “encompasses a broad spectrum of works that touch on a number of themes relevant to contemporary life. The works in this show reflect the personal and the universal, the organic and the abstract, the mundane and the extraordinary.” I am very excited to see the other work that is included in the exhibit and I hope to see you there! Click on the announcement below to see the other artists included in the exhibition and read below that for the official press release:
Studio Montclair Inc (SMI) announces its 14th annual juried exhibition, View Points: A Contemporary Survey which opens on June 1, through June 25, 2011, at Aljira, a Center for Contemporary Art in Newark, NJ. An opening reception will take place on Thursday, June 9th, 2011 from 6 – 9pm and is free to the public. View Points: A Contemporary Survey features the work of 68 visual artists of international backgrounds who explore how the choice of subject shapes perception.
“Seen together, these works explore a broad scope of abundant conceptual, visual, and expressive themes.” writes Rocío Aranda-Alvarado, Ph.D. who juried the exhibition.
Aranda-Alvarado explains: the exhibition encompasses a broad spectrum of works that touch on a number of themes relevant to contemporary life. Works in this show reflect the personal and the universal, the organic and the abstract, the mundane and the extraordinary. Aranda-Alvarado cites three core themes that inform the personal views embodied in the show: the landscape, human nature and the abstract.
Ever present, the landscape is an important player in the development of the narrative around the idea of a view point. In the works seen here, the landscape is approached as the subject of a botanical project, an object of romantic admiration or a backdrop to the experience of the everyday … Direct and intimate views of plants that fill the picture plane are offered by Gary Paul Stutler, while more playful, conceptual and fantastic views are presented in the paintings of Charles Geiger.
Human nature and the effect of humans on the landscape are represented by ghostly figures and family snapshots; by race and social class with their effect on modern society’s landscape and by sparing figures and silhouetted forms and how struggle is a powerful, but essential, part of the human condition. Laara Cassells’s whimsical painting is part “Jersey Shore” and part fairy tale. As a young girl leaves behind the fantasy of the white horse, her sullen figure is embellished with early teen concepts of beauty.
Lastly, abstract forms and concepts look at human emotions: Playful shapes and powerful juxtapositions of color beg the viewer to investigate the depth and breadth of a wide range of emotions. Kurt Dyrhaug presents us with enigmatic and suggestive propositions, playful objects that beg our interpretation.
Rocío Aranda-Alvarado is the Associate Curator of Special Projects at El Museo del Barrio in New York City.
Studio Montclair Inc. is a non-profit organization of professional exhibiting artists who promote education, culture and the visual arts.
Aljira, a Center for Contemporary Art is a co-sponsor of View Points: A Contemporary Survey and is open to the public from Wednesday – Friday 12pm – 6pm, Saturday 11am-4pm.
This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts and
administered by the Essex County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs.
Studio Montclair’s 14th Annual Juried Show
“Viewpoints: A Contemporary Survey”
Featuring the work of 68 national and international artists
Exhibition Dates: June 1 to 25, 2011
Opening Reception and Awards: Thursday, June 9, 2011 from 6 – 9pm
Program: Saturday, June 11, 2011 from 1 – 3pm
Juror: Rocio Aranda-Alvarado
Gallery: Aljira, a Center for Contemporary Art
Gallery Hours: Wednesday – Friday 12pm – 6pm, Saturday 11am – 4pm
Address: 591 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102; 973-622-1600
33rd Bradley International Print & Drawing Exhibition
Posted by David Mazure | Filed under Prints, Shows
For those of you who may be in Peoria, IL on March 5th, you can check out the 33rd Bradley International Print & Drawing Exhibition at the Heuser Art Center Gallery in the Contemporary Art Center at Bradley University (there’s an Art Chantry poster exhibit preceding the Bradley International in the same gallery!). The reception will be from 5-7pm. I am excited to be a part of this show because the focus is on experimental prints and drawings. The piece that was accepted into the show is, Jungian Whim (seen here) from 2007, my favorite traditional print that I still continue to get some mileage out of!
M(i)(a)cro
Posted by David Mazure | Filed under Events, Press, Shows
Great news! My first curatorial proposal for the Lawrence Arts Center in Lawrence, KS (right outside Kansas City) has been accepted! I know what you are thinking — Kansas?!? I thought the same thing before applying for this opportunity but if you check out the Lawrence Arts Center’s website, you will discover that the type of art and artists that they seek are those attempting to push the limits of what art is all about, and, simulataneously interacting with, engaging and educating the public. Their vision is: “to show the best in contemporary art in order to educate, engage, and challenge the community.” This is the first show that I have organized of a group of artists working in the same vein as myself. I am very excited about organizing the show, as well as, exhibiting with this group of artists whose work I respect greatly. The artists on the exhibit’s roster are as follows: Myself, Basil El Halwagy, Sara Schneckloth, Greg Fuqua and Doug Russell.
The following is the statement that I prepared for the proposal. This basically describes what the exhibit is about, though keep in mind it may go through some slight alterations (lengthening) before the exhibition:
“M(i)(a)cro”
Group Drawing Exhibition Statement
What is behind the perceived forces of the physical universe? What are the similarities and differences between the micro- and macro- cosmic universes? Can making marks on paper help unravel the conundrums of observed reality? That is what this group of five artists are attempting to uncover — the essence of the invisible mysteries that the universe often allows us to ponder, through the act of drawing.
Though their processes may differ – from the obsessively analytical to the purely expressive – these five artists use the medium of drawing as a source of inquiry into matter, consciousness, and energy; often oscillating between clarity and chaos.
Best in Show!!!
Posted by David Mazure | Filed under Events, Press, Shows
I just found out that I received the Best of Show award for the 25th International Juried Exhibition in Summit, NJ for my graphite drawing Supersymmetry Exists. . . just not here!!! (See previous post here). I was very excited to get accepted to this exhibition initially and now I am overjoyed that my piece was chosen Best in Show. I would like to thank the juror, Joan Young, for choosing my piece! Please feel free to come out for the exhibition’s opening reception on Friday, January 14th from 6-8pm.
