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Thursday, January 22nd
DEMI-GODS
Who were they? Did they fly or have x-ray vision? Could they lift trains or push jets down runways? Were they soothsayers or just truth seekers?
I've been thinking about those DEMI-GODS.
We know them well ... instant, one name recognition first name or last. Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Monet, Picasso. We also have the founding fathers ... Franklin, Jefferson, Washington and Adams. Let's not forget our athletes ... Jordan, Favre, Tiger, Armstrong and Phelps. They leave us spellbound, asking immediately unanswerable questions.
So many DEMI-GODS, so little time.
http://blog.absolutearts.com/cgi-bin/blogs/gm.cgi
Why am I writing this you ask? Well, just a few minutes ago I was watching C-SPAN. They were running a taped lecture from 2005 by author and historian H.W. Brands. He was talking about his book, "Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times." It was a fascinating talk.
Michael Corbin on 01.22.09 @ 01:11 PM EST [more..] [No Comments]
Monday, January 19th
JONATHAN LEVY
 Jonathan Levy is a young, New York City bred artist who I met while visiting "The Artists Fair" at Art Basel Miami Beach in December 2008. I was struck by his style, which he calls "Style of Nature." He's a very talented artist and I asked him if he would consent to an interview. Starting off, I asked him about how he was surviving as an artist in this current economy. He sent me a really great, but long email that not only addressed that question, but several others. So, with his permission, I broke up his answer into the conversation that you see below. In short, I got creative, but this remains true to his voice. I think you'll enjoy his insight and his website at www.styleofnature.com but
first, here's our chat:
MICHAEL: First of all Jonathan, thanks for talking with me. How did you start out as an artist?
JONATHAN: Six years ago when I finished up with school (Pratt Institute), I realized I needed to figure out two very important things. First, I needed to find a painting style that I loved to do and needed to figure out what to do with it once I found it. I was on the first plane to Hawaii in search of these answers. My search led me to Maui because I had heard it was one of the art capitals and I was in search of some serious inspiration.
Michael Corbin on 01.19.09 @ 10:39 AM EST [more..] [5 Comments]
Thursday, January 15th
ArtWorld
 Arthur Danto first gave the notion of the "artworld" a philosophical definition: the artworld provides the theories of art which all members of the artworld tacitly assume in order for there to be objects considered as art (see "The Artworld," Journal of Philosophy (1964)).
For many of us, entering the artworld remains a distant dream. If only there were only a way to sneak our work into a museum. Bansky has accomplished such feats on several occasions by clandestinely hanging his paintings in the Moma and Louvre, only to have them removed by museum staff (albeit days later).
I had the idea to create a Trojan-Horse that I could ride into the artworld. What better than a picture frame, a tableau vivant through which to view the artworld and at the same time be displayed, thereby changing my role from observerto observed. I encapsulated myself within the border of a frame and attempted to create a micronation as a satellite of the artworld.
The piece was performed on the threshold of the RISD museum as a guerrilla installation, and followed these specifications:
Jeffrey Andreoni on 01.15.09 @ 10:25 AM EST [more..] [12 Comments]
Monday, January 12th
JONATHAN STEIN
Jonathan Stein is a young artist who I met at Art Basel Miami Beach 2008. He recalls that we first met at Art Basel Miami Beach 2007. When I saw him one year later, it was his work that jogged my memory. As of this writing, Jonathan is creating cake installations and pop art based on celebrities of the day. His work is fun, satirical and very well done. I asked him for an interview and he agreed. His answer to my first question about how he was surviving as an artist was long and riveting. He answered many of my questions in one fell swoop so with his consent, I turned his single response into an entire conversation that we would’ve had anyway. You can see some of his work on his website at www.steinseye.com However, Stein remains larger than his art. Read on and find out why.
MICHAEL: Hey Jonathan. Thanks for chatting. You seemed to be a hit at Art Basel Miami and I saw your work at a couple of satellite fairs. How do you describe yourself and where exactly do you live in Florida?
JONATHAN: Well ... I am an artist living in Coral Springs, Florida. I describe Coral Springs as a blur on most maps. It is suburbia like most Floridian cities lined with strip malls, 24-hour Walgreens and churches on alternating blocks. Unfortunately, it's 50 or more miles away from Miami, so to save face I say I am an artist working in Miami. Coral Springs just doesn't have that luster.
MICHAEL: How did you end up becoming a full-time artist?
Michael Corbin on 01.12.09 @ 08:08 PM EST [more..] [9 Comments]
Monday, January 5th
ELLEN FISCH'S ARCHITECTURAL VISION
 Ellen Fisch is a fantastic photographer who lives on Long Island, New York. She wrote me a very nice email about my first book, "Art In King Size Beds: A Collector's Journal." Since then, we've become friends and she is one of the best storytellers I've ever met. That's because she has lived a rich life. As of this writing, she's opening a new exhibition called, "Architectural Visions" on Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at the Jadite Galleries in New York City. She told me that her show, which celebrates photography, architecture, the work of artisans and her own architectural vision, brings her full circle. Check out her website at www.ellenfisch.com and then read our conversation and find out why...
MICHAEL: Hi Ellen. First of all, I'm so sorry that I can't make it to the opening of your new show. I have your postcard right here. You've called the exhibition, "Architectural Visions." This is so cool for me because I love your photography and I also love architecture. How did you come up with the idea for this show?
ELLEN: Hello Michael. Thank you for your lovely compliment. I, too, wish that you could be at this particular show, "Architectural Visions," because I believe so passionately in my recent photography. The more I take photographs of architectural details that adorn structures, the more I realize that I am photographing art and history. Thus I am creating art from historical art. It is a unique perspective.
Michael Corbin on 01.05.09 @ 10:08 AM EST [more..] [11 Comments]
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