Art Blog Buzz: Recent buzz from the art side of the blogosphere

Showing some support for a few art bloggers I admire. If I missed anyone don't take it personal. Just send me a nasty email or something.

Christopher Reiger discusses the art of Marco Evaristti , worms (kinda), and a number of issues in a post that is by far one of the longest blog entries I’ve ever seen-- even when compared to some of mine. I will read it on the Hungry Hyaena when I have time.

Lisa Mikulski’s ArtLook takes a look at how to increase creativity , shows Americans for the Arts support, and asks the age old question, when can you call yourself an artist?

Dion Archibald’s Art News Blog covers sleep and art, the problem with mass produced paintings from China, and offer yet another example of an art scammer at work.

Edward Winkleman discusses the Maureen Mullarkey Proposition 8 controversy, offers advice for artists seeking gallery representation, and mentions ideas about renewing support for the Arts in the US on the Winkleman Blog .

Paddy Johnson’s Art Fag City discusses some fallacies involving the Brandeis University controversy, mentions Matt Held’s Facebook portrait project , and offers a nice slice of onion .

Take care, Stay true,

Brian Sherwin
Senior Editor
myartspace.com
www.myartspace.com
New York Art Exchange
www.nyaxe.com

The Importance of Art Blogs: Do Art Bloggers Influence Art Criticism and Appreciation?

The idea that art blogging is an important aspect of art writing in general has gained momentum in recent years. The change in attitude has been spearheaded by the actions and influence of several art bloggers. Art in American tackled the subject in the form of an article by Peter Plagens that involved feedback from veteran art bloggers in 2007. The article, titled ‘Report from the Blogosphere: The New Grass Roots’, detailed the importance of art blogs and the role they play within the context of the arts community. Several key figures in the art blogging community participated-- including Edward Winkleman, Roberta Fallon, and Tyler Green.

This momentum of acceptance has continued to advance into 2009. A recent article by art critic Martha Schwendener for The Village Voice suggests that art blogs have helped shape a more laissez-faire climate for art writing. Schwendener states, "Art blogs have created a new, largely unedited, admirably 'unprofessional'—hence, democratic—venue for people to speak their minds, gossip, or theorize about art.”. Thus, it is obvious that mainstream art publications are starting to acknowledge the work of specific art bloggers. However, this acknowledgement is a double-edged sword due to the fact that some individuals view art bloggers as a threat to traditional art media.

One can easily discover individuals who attempt to discredit the validity of art criticism, exhibit reviews, and other art related reporting by art bloggers simply because they are “bloggers“. That attitude enforces the opinion that only a select few are worthy of offering art criticism-- which is exactly why these individuals will inevitably loose the imagined battle they are waging against art bloggers and other forms of alternative press. Today the arrogance of print is ousted at every turn. True, some art bloggers do need to have their validity questioned, but that does not mean that all art bloggers should be lumped together. After all, there have been cases of traditional art publications being discredited. Does that mean they are all bad?

These issues are of interest to me. Thus, I’ve decided to do further research concerning art blogs and the impact they have had on the global art community-- as well as the influence they have played concerning art appreciation in the eyes of the general public-- especially in the United States. This is no easy task. There are many hard line opinions concerning art bloggers and the validity of their art criticism and exhibit reviews. Even within the art blogging community there is division over the importance of art blogs. There are also strong opinions as to which art bloggers are the most valid. Fortunately, I’ve not noticed a strict pecking order yet. In fact, most of the art bloggers who focus on art criticism, exhibit reviews, and opinions are very supportive of the community as a whole.

I’m currently conducting a survey involving over 1,000 art bloggers in order to examine how art bloggers view the importance of their work compared to traditional forms of art media. So far the opinions have been mixed. Some art bloggers-- mostly those with backgrounds in traditional art media-- view art blogs as more of a hobby than anything else. In other words, they question the integrity of art blogging in general. Other art bloggers take a hard line stance against traditional art media by claiming that traditional art media is more apt to report on, critique, and review artists based on who has bought ads and the connections that artists and gallerists have with individuals who are in charge of the publications. However, some art bloggers have had similar opinions concerning specific art blogs based on the research I've conducted so far.

The opinions that have been shared with me are between me and each individual art blogger who has participated. So no, I will not publish comments without consent nor will I address specific views that may link the blogger to his or her viewpoint unless the individual desires me to do so. I want to stress that this survey is not about creating division in the art blog community nor is it designed to single anyone out. The goal is simply to address some of the thoughts that art bloggers have about art blogging in general. However, I will consider interviewing art bloggers about their art blog and their opinions of art blogging in general if anyone is interested in taking a more direct approach to the topic. This will be an ongoing project on the Myartspace Blog.

Feel free to comment with your opinion concerning the influence of art blogs in general compared to the influence of traditional art publications. Feel free to comment with your list of favorite art blogs as well.

Link of Interest:
What Crisis? Some Promising Futures for Art Criticism by Martha Schwendener for The Village Voice

Take care, Stay true,

Brian Sherwin
Senior Editor
www.myartspace.com
www.myartspace.com/interviews

Art Blog Buzz: Recent buzz from the art side of the blogosphere

Buzz from the art side of the blogosphere



Interior photograph of Rothko Chapel, Houston, Texas. Completed 1971



Hungry Hyaena
www.hungryhyaena.blogspot.com
Christopher Reiger at Hungry Hyaena explores Mark Rothko’s darkness and the wonderful artifacts of Matthew Day Jackson.

Art Fag City
www.artfagcity.com
Art Fag City takes a jab at the validity of shock-rocker Marilyn Manson’s paintings while the Estate of Helmut Newton takes a jab at Art Fag City with a cease and desist letter. All in a weeks worth for a steadfast art blogger.

Religion and art...

Art News Blog
www.artnewsblog.com
On the Art News Blog there has been discussion about religion & art, Shepard Fairey & wine, with a dash of Jackson Pollock controversy for good measure.

Take care, Stay true,

Brian Sherwin / Senior Editor / www.myartspace.com

Art Blog Buzz: Recent buzz from the art side of the blogosphere

Buzz from the art side of the blogosphere:

Art Fag City
www.artfagcity.com
Paddy Johnson from the Art Fag City blog offers her thoughts on Jason Karolak’s exhibit titled Rivers of the Same Mountain at Massimo Audiello.



Jason Karolak, Untitled (P-0815), 2008, Oil on canvas, 85 x 76 inches

ART VENT
www.artvent.blogspot.com
Carol Diehl, a Contributing Editor for Art in America, offers some insight into art critic etiquette .

ARTLURKER
www.artlurker.com
The team at ARTLURKER takes a look at the Horst Wackerbarth exhibit titled The Red Couch at Wolfgang Roth & Partners Fine Art.

Mark Tambella, Maduros, 2008, oil on linen, 28" x 32", part of his exhibition at the John Davis Gallery in Hudson, New York, November 6-30.

ARTLOOK: A Look at Art & Design
www.artlook.typepad.com
Lisa Mikulski’s ARTLOOK blog has some info about the Day of the Dead Exhibition at The Institute for Community Research.

At the Myartspace Blog: Recent artist interviews include: Richard Mosse , John Westmark , and Saul Chernick . Recent topics include: Do Galleries Need eCommerce? , At Heart Copyright Law is an Issue of Respect , and Sarah Maple: Controversy or Misunderstanding?

Take care, Stay true,

Brian Sherwin
Senior Editor
www.myartspace.com

Art Blog Buzz: Recent buzz from the art side of the blogosphere

Buzz from the art side of the blogosphere:

Edward Winkleman Blog
www.edwardwinkleman.blogspot.com
Edward Winkleman offers a second post about the elusive street artist known as Poster Boy . Ed said, “Poster Boy is still working through a series of ideas, but doing so quickly, on his feet, and with a grand sense of humor. Humor, again, I believe, will be the key to the transitional artwork that leads us out of the current malaise. Humor and, perhaps, anger, but definitely humor.” Poster Boy contacted Winkleman after discovering his first topic about the young artist.

Art Fag City
www.artfagcity.com
Paddy Johnson gives some details about ArtReview’s Seventh Power 100 Edition . Just so you know, Damien Hirst took the top spot. Concerning the list Paddy said, “In case anyone had any question about the authority of this list, let’s be clear: this is no Fortune 500. This isn’t meant to indite the magazine, but rather point out the difficulty of putting together a power list for the art world that is based on more than stock performance. There are simply too many mysterious variables. How does artreview quantifiably determine who takes 70th and 71st place particularly when comparing the achievements of two entirely different professions? What is the nomination process? Which editors are doing the judging? These are questions readers would probably benefit from knowing.”

Art News Blog
www.artnewsblog.com
Dion from Art News Blog investigates a new form of artist scam . For those interest, Dion has kept a list of artist scammers on his blog. Do check it out! There is also some more info about the Banksy pet store .

Art Blog in our Scope:

Roberta Fallon and Libby Rosof's ArtBlog
www.fallonandrosof.blogspot.com
ArtBlog has art reviews, deep thoughts and gossip from Philadelphia and beyond. It was named one of the top art blogs by Art in America . Roberta and Libby also have a series videos. View all the episodes of their wildly popular video series, Look! It's Libby and Roberta. Enjoy.

Take care, Stay true,

Brian Sherwin
Senior Editor
www.myartspace.com

Art Blog Buzz

A look into recent entries in the art blogosphere...

Art News Blog
www.artnewsblog.com
Dion discusses the joy and pain of being an art blogger. Art News Blog also provides more information about the Bill Henson school controversy and gives us an image of Sarah Palin that is a bit over the top .

Edward Winkleman Blog
www.edwardwinkleman.blogspot.com
Winkleman searches for true selflessness in art making by exploring the motives of the street artist known as Poster Boy while hinting at the possibility that Shepard Fairey has sold out to the ruling class’s way of thinking-- meaning that his work is something less than revolutionary now that he is under Obama‘s thumb. The Myartspace Blog has explored this possibility as well.

Art Fag City
www.artfagcity.com
Paddy from Art Fag City has been interviewed by Art 21 . AFC also examines the Golden Age of the Met .

Blog of Note:

ARTLURKER

www.artlurker.com

ARTLURKER is Thomas Hollingworth. Graduating with a BFA from London's Guildhall University in 2003 he has since worked internationally as a freelance writer for artists and dealers of note, and in Miami for institutions such as The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse and Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin. A regular contributor to Whitehot Magazine, MAP magazine, Wynwood magazine, and independent websites too numerous to mention, Thomas now lives and works in Miami, FL.

ARTLURKER is positioned to expand upon contemporary art events with original and discerning text. Splitting the difference between local, national and international content we aim to provide timely previews, comprehensive reviews, interviews, and news on a reliable site from which readers can navigate to other similar and trusted pages.

Take care, Stay true,

Brian Sherwin

Senior Editor

www.myartspace.com

Art Blog Buzz

Buzz from the art side of the blogosphere:
Still Life (Natura morta), 1951, Oil on canvas; 14 1/8 x 15 3/4 in. (36 x 40 cm) by Giorgio Morandi (Italian, 1890–1964). Museo Morandi, Bologna© 2008 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / SIAE Rome

Art News Blog
www.artnewsblog.com
This week Art News Blog focused on the Giorgio Morandi at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Damien Hirst’s Other Criteria . Dion also asked, why do we create art?

Edward Winkleman Blog
www.edwardwinkleman.blogspot.com
This week Edward Winkleman discussed several topics. Including, some advice on
communication between artists and their galleries.

Modern Art Notes
www.artsjournal.com/man/
Tyler Green’s Modern Art Notes explores the preservation of Robert Smithson’s Spiral Jetty in a five part piece along with postscript.

Art Blog Buzz

Buzz from the art side of the blogosphere:

Art Fag City
www.artfagcity.com
The Art Fag City blog featured several exhibit reviews this week. Including Paddy Johnson’s insight into the wrongness of the Ron Amstuz installation titled Right Roads and Wrong Ways and the idea that maybe Rita Ackerman is stuck with her exhibit at Andrea Rosen Gallery.


Rita Ackerman, Installation View, Don’t Give Me Salad (Nurses), Image via: Andrea Rosen Gallery

Edward Winkleman Blog
www.edwardwinkleman.blogspot.com
Edward Winkleman’s blog experienced a wave of political and social commentary this week-- more so than usual in my opinion. Including an inside look at the politics behind Yevgeniy Fiks work and the effects of global warming on art making and collecting.

You can't make this stuff up folks!

Art News Blog
www.artnewsblog.com
There are a few topics of interest on Art News Blog from this week. Including a topic about Being an Artist featuring excerpts from Australian artist Hazel Dooney’s personal journal as well as an entry about an artist that is just a little bit private about his work.

Modern Art Notes
www.artsjournal.com/man/
Tyler Green’s Modern Art Notes gives us the real story of the week