Wind in the sails…

Hi folks,

It’s been a few, I know.

Let’s just say it’s been a bit of a whirlwind lately.

…sold some work, got some work in a show, starting a company and still trying to keep up with my teaching. That’s actually not too bad, considering.

Work is work.

The show is coming up this weekend in Chicago and my friend, artist Gene Schmidt, and I are flying down for the opening and to tool around for a couple of days to refresh our memories.

tomorrow = light rain, 51 degrees. Not as bad as I thought.

Saturday, 60 degrees! Finally, some sign of spring.

here’s the lowdown:

For immediate release:

Opening: Saturday, APRIL 5th 7-10PM At Alogon Gallery
“The Strange Place”
curated by Dayton Castleman

With works by: Rob Matthews, Keith Crowley, Gene Schmidt, Rubens
Ghenov, Alert Pedulla, Wayne Adams, Mark Dixon, Tim Gierschick, and
Ben Volta

Including: A dialouge through essays with Dayton Castleman, Jim
Elkins, and Kevin Hamilton. Also, an interview with dealer Rowley
Kennerk - all available online after the show.

“The Strange Place”

Alogon Gallery asked Dayton Castleman to curate a show after
witnessing a discussion that took place between him and James Elkins
on the topic of Christianity and art. Elkins’ book On the Strange
Place of Religion in Contemporary Art speaks to the difficulty that
contemporary art discourse has in dealing with religious subject
matter and how generally the two are incompatible. We asked Dayton to
curate a show that explores this subject and James Elkins to share his
thoughts about the show in writing. The interest is not to inspire
belief but rather to try and address the issue of belief and ideology
in the wake of the post-modern condition, to try and establish a
language and dialouge around belief that does not need to always
shield itself with either irony or the conceptual aesthetic of
neutrality. Is it possible to use the wisdom gained from decades of
active deconstruction towards a renewed investigation into the realm
of possibility?

In Dayton’s words:

The Strange Place is not meant to suggest some kind of final word or
solution to the issue (of religion and art). It is impossible to avoid
the complexities of language, and I’m not presuming to transcend that
difficulty in this show. What this show does is fill a concrete place
in contemporary art—a real, material, dimensional space— with the art
of religious people. I don’t intend the show to operate as a polemic
toward some religious end, but as an occurrence that could serve as a
discrete point of reference within an ongoing conversation.

**The opening hours of the show will be from 1-4 on April 6th and April 13th**

I’ll try to post the essays next week.

Here are some pics:
Gene Schmidt
Rob Matthews
Albert Pedula
Timothy Gierschick
Well, that’s one of mine.

I sent 3 portraits and a couple of videos down.

If you’re in the area, stop by or give a call, I’d love to say hi.

word.

-W

IAM conference 2008…

Howdy folks,

So last weekend saw the coming and going of the 2008 annual IAM (International Arts Movement) conference. Overall, I would have to rate it a success. It wasn’t without its downsides, but I think it managed to succeed despite its shortcomings.

Highlights for me were:

Roberta Green Ahmanson - her presentation this year was another historical tour de force on the topic of the city. I’m actually re-listening to her 2007 address on faces to get more information for my Jesus Portraits series. Ahmanson’s lecture was a freight train of information and a good way to start.

Jeff Speck - one of New Urbanism’s poster children, Speck was witty and informative - an interesting continuation of Ahmanson’s address.

Joyce Robinson from the Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation, who brought Tara Donovan, Barbara Takenaga and Jared Sprecher to present on the program was thoroughly fascinating. I was fortunate enough to meet Sprecher earlier in the conference and enjoyed both his work and getting acquainted with him. The panel discussion with this group was really informative and gave, I think, an interesting glimpse into the processes and stories of how these artists got to where they are in their careers. I was also thoroughly delighted to photograph both Robinson and Sprecher for my Jesus Portraits series (although I doubt it will help me get into the studio program).

Terry Teachout - I was unfamiliar with this acclaimed theater critic, but completely won over by his eloquent and imaginative presentation. I found his unabashed endorsement of beauty in art to be refreshing, if a little heavily anti-post-modernity. Normally, I would agree with this sentiment; but I can’t, of late, rule out the beneficial contribution of Derida and deconstruction to the general discourse.

I’m so pissed off that I missed the TM Sisters‘ performance…but I am completely grateful for a generously willing pose as Jesus.

viva bluegrass (a.k.a. old time)! the Varnish Cooks kicked it old school and well.

Last, but not least, I have to give props to Rob Mathis. Although I generally wouldn’t consider myself a fan of his genre of music, the guy was solid and his music was impressive. It may have also been his huge enthusiasm for Dostoyevsky that sold it, but for some reason I connected with it. If you have the opportunity to hear him, I’d highly recommend it.

Oh, well, I did also shoot almost 60 new Jesus Portraits, so keep an eye peeled for updates.

Well, that’s about it for now.

Later,

-W

I am IAM…

Hi folks,

Short post today.

The 2008 IAM conference (they’re calling it an “encounter,” but I’m not) starts today.

I’m shooting two series over the weekend - my Jesus Portraits and a new campaign for IAM called, I am IAM.

I think this is a good idea for them, if they can pull it off well.

If you’re in town, stop by and say hi.

word.

-W

Upsetting the apple cart.

ok, this is totally off topic, but it had me crying from laughter at my desk.

Hi folks.

I’m knee-deep into John D. Caputo’s first officially theological endeavor, The Weakness of God: A Theology of the Event and it’s having rather significant influence on both my conception of God and my conception of art (in a really indirect way).

My more traditionally orthodox and theologically conservative friends will want to throw me out with the liberal bathwater they might associate with Caputo’s arguments (although I’d urge them not to rely on reviews, but read it for themselves, thank you very much) but I’m really finding the exploration of St. Paul’s writing in I Corinthians to be fascinating. Caputo essentially launches his theology from this:

“but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

1 Corinthians 1:23-25 (New American Standard Bible)

Obviously, my summarizing is drastically simplistic, but the idea of God moving and working in and through human weakness rather than with a sort of “shock and awe” strength is something I’ve heard preached many times and that has really contradicted other notions tauting God’s omnipotence. Red flags go up. He’s messing with God’s omnipotence! Wait, he also argues rather convincingly that said omnipotence is a later, human, metaphysical assertion that isn’t consistent with a hebraic and logical interpretation of the bible. woah. Lest the torches are lit prematurely, I’ll let you know that Caputo neither approaches his argument lightly, nor does he point us away from our faith in God, rather, he seems to be pointing us more directly to the God who moves us to both do and be the good that He created - exemplified in Jesus Christ on the cross (ha! and you thought you could write it off so easily).

But what does my mid-point in a theology tome have to do with paintings in Chelsea?

I’m still working that out, but it seems to have profound implications for the motivation of the artist and the product the artist creates. If a person postures themselves in proximity to a deity that advocates for the weak, the lowly, the poor, then the art that comes out must, at least partially, reflect similar notions.

A theology of weakness begets an aesthetic of weakness.

…and that’s where I’m at - finishing the book and looking for others that might inform a research into an aesthetic of weakness.

Some people have suggested Richard Kearney - who seems to be working on it through the idea of stories.

Let’s see where it goes.

(See you at church)

PAX

-W

Cool Faces in New Spaces…

Last Sunday John asked if I wanted to check out a new space that his friend, Rico Gatson was showing at.

Of course I did.

The new space is Pocket Utopia, located in Bushwick.

Tomorrow–Sun noon–6pm.
Mon–Thu

Ongoing through Feb 24

Address: 1037 Flushing Avenue Bushwick, Brooklyn
Phone: 718-303-2047
Travel: Subway: L to Morgan Ave Plan Route

Time out Gave them a recommendation:

This show navigates identity politics through a series of sculptures, paintings, collage and video. Through Sun 24.

I thought it was a solid show. Not too familiar with Gatson’s work, I liked the formal qualities of the sculptures and how he used them in creating a conversation about identity and politics.

There was a constructed stage that reminded me of a Felix Gonzalez-Torrez performance piece I’ve read about. It was small and silver with blinking lights at the base, really making you want to shout something profound to the audience (whoever was there) or sing karaoke.

A small edition of a Nina Simone print is on display, giving younger (and less wealthy) collectors access to a Gatson piece for a slim $200. This is a deal, considering the sculptures begin around $5K (that’s purely from memory).

Overall, I’m excited for new and interesting spaces popping up around the city.

I hope Pocket Utopia can keep it up.

PAX

-W

Convincing arguments on Super Tuesday…

Howdy.

This post is for Super-Duper Tuesday-ers.

I’m not sure if I’ll leave it up after tonight, but it impressed me and I thought I’d post it for today, at least.

Keep in mind that this is not a faith-based argument - perhaps then think about how similar a faith-based argument would sound.

I don’t know much about Lawrence Lessig, but I do know a strong, thoughtful, and intelligent argument when I hear one.

“20 minutes or so on why I am 4Barack”

Click To Play

…and this one’s just for fun:

-PAX

Getting it done and Basking in the sun…

Hi everybody!

Upcoming shows: If anyone’s in Grand Rapids, MI next week, I have two pictures going up in their alumni photography show opening Feb. 8. Check local listings for details.

***Note - A short political opinion follows***

Next Tuesday is the super one. Don’t forget to vote. If you’ve participated in my Jesus Portrait series, perhaps that will help you make a decision - vote like you would if you were Jesus (He’s got my official endorsement in every election). What were His concerns and who represents them? How did His kingdom compare with the direction of our country and the candidates?

Also, I highly recommend reading “God’s Politics” by Jim Wallace. Indeed, God is not a Republican or a Democrat and shame on those who ascribe God to one or the other party, exclusively.

***End political opinion***

Back to business…

I happen to be in the extremely fortunate position of being friends with a lot of people who I would easily put in the category of “doers.” People who know how to get things done and prove it to you before talking to you about it. I think I’m more in the category of “people who talk too much about their ideas before actually doing anything,” but I’m working on it.

I’ll give you a few brief examples.

1) My wife gets more done than any of us. Working full-time, writing like madness and freelance editing - she sets the bar high.

2) My friend Matt decides how he wants his life to happen and makes it so. A couple of years ago he told me that he wanted to move out of NYC to a house on a lake, near a college that was in a progressive area where he could ride his bike to work (which would be as a preschool teacher) and have a studio.

My response was basically “go for it and buy me some mouse-ears while you’re there.” Three months later I was helping him move into a house on a lake, in western Massachusetts, near 5 colleges, where he has a studio, a sweet teaching gig (that he rides his bike to) and a farm coop nearby. I ate my (locally-grown, organic) words and drove home.

Matt gets it done.

3) Another artist friend of mine, John, decided that he wasn’t satisfied with how his life was structured. He was working at an unsatisfying job as an art consultant and felt rather stagnant (his art was cruising along steadily, meanwhile). So he decided to change things by starting a school - funded by his alma matter in MN for art students to live and study in New York. 3 or so years later, the school is a huge asset to art students that don’t live in New York or LA and has hosted shows in its gallery that anyone in Chelsea would be jealous of. John gets it done too.

4) My last example is a rather new friend. He is someone I haven’t known very long, but is none-the-less, extremely inspiring in his ability to make things happen.

His name is Thom.

BASK is his company.

Renewable energy solutions.

Dig it.

This is the kind of creativity, ingenuity, and determination I get inspired by. I thought I’d pass it along.

PAX

-W

Bag it 2.0

Hi folks.

Sorry for the hiatus. I got a little overly nerdy about teaching and basically wiped my schedule clean for a while. Well, back in action.

Starting the year a little slow, but hopefully it will ramp up nicely.

Upcoming events:

IAM is having their annual conference (calling it an encounter this year) at the end of February. I have a tendency to be skeptical about these things, but every single time I go I’m really impressed with a lot of what goes on (the keynote speakers have been excellent every time I’ve been there). This year they have some interesting people lined up, including a recent favorite - artist Tara Donovan. It looks like I might be doing a collaborative project with them during the event, so if you’re coming out, drop by and say hi (and participate!). They seem to be moving specifically to re-brand themselves as an organization that’s not specifically evangelistic. I know they’ve technically been a non-religious institution for a while; but, anyone familiar with IAM is also probably familiar with Mako and his ties to college ministry. This seems like a good move for them, as it broadens the scope of the conversations they can have and lends them credibility with those unfamiliar with or unenthusiastic about certain college ministries.

I mean, I like the college students as much as anyone (my first class went relatively well yesterday, btw), but campus ministries have left a lingering bad taste in my mouth and if IAM wants to be serious about its stated mission of encouraging artists in creating “the world that ought to be” well, they need to focus a little more on the artists, because they’ve already targeted the art-students. We’ll see how it goes, but my recent conversation left me hopeful.

word. I’m going.

Here’s a bag I started just before the Christmas break and finished a couple weeks ago. It’s inspired by this Make Magazine video.

Recycle, yo.

PAX

-W

1$ and an MFA will get you a cup of coffee in New York…

Hi Folks,

New shows opening this week:

My co-worker, Emily Roz, is in a group show at 31 Grand, opening tonight.

Another co-worker, Hans Haacke, has an opening at Paula Cooper tomorrow.  

New work up on my site:

Check out the recently-posted monochrome paintings on waynestead.com.

“So Fresh and So Clean” from the monochrome paintings series  

New…news.   

I’m teaching a class this semester at The New School.  It sort of fell out of the sky, unexpectedly, when I was having lunch with an acquaintance who happens to work there and suddenly asked if I was interested in teaching.  Well, one thing lead to another and I’m signed up to teach a class on critical reading and writing (for design).  Those of you in the academic field may be done groaning over the enormously painful experience I am about to undertake, but it actually seems very interesting how they structure it and incorporate semiotics, formal analysis and art history into a class on writing term papers.  In light of the class, and being that it’s my first time teaching it…and my first class in a while, I’ve got some work to do.  

Sorry for the short post. 

-W 

Everything is changing…

So I add one word to this post and it *($%s up the formatting on the whole thing.

argh.

Hi everybody,Greetings in the new year!  Beth and I are back from our whirlwind tour of northern California and Michigan.  Too much traveling, but it was great to see our families and friends.   

  

I’ve had an aversion to the “What did you get for Christmas?” question for a really long time, but I can say that one of the great things I received this year was a copy of Brian Mclaren’s Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crises, and a Revolution of Hope .

This book took me all of 8 days to chew through. I think that’s a record.

Here’s the skinny:

1) The world (including Christianity) is locked into a (framing) system that’s killing itself.

2) We need to re-think how Jesus’ life and message addresses everything we know about the world, its major problems, and how we figure into them. It all needs to change.

Get it. Read it. Give it to someone else.

Here’s a thought on why:

I’ve been a fan of reading theology for quite a while now and have been recently excited by writers like Rob Bell and Shane Claiborne. I’m a verified nerd when it comes to listening to sermon podcasts and theology lectures - not to mention my uber-enthusiasm for the postmodern philosophy/theology conversation I was recently introduced to through Emergent Village and the writing of John D. Caputo (a review of After the Death of God is on its way).  So in reading Everything Must Change, it was clear to see how Mclaren is putting a more popular face to a theology of deconstruction (via Caputo or Gianni Vattimo). This is theology based on a philosophy (deconstruction - via Derrida) that recognizes our human limits in language systems - that says we should always question the definitive language that has been accepted as “truth” in the past and recognize the fallible nature of our own interpretations. This puts the Christian in an automatically humble and meek position where one is constantly praying for God’s grace and mercy in our lives as we participate in Jesus’ redemption of all things. It keeps us reliant on God and less able to be over-confidant jerks about our religion. It may even keep us from going to war in the name God (or oil) again.

I guess everything would have to change for that to happen.

Some other people have reviewed this also - and are better spoken than I am.

Nicholas Fielder rightly says, “This book is more than a book about religion. It is a call to make things right in the world, but it convicts the religious. If we think that what Jesus had to say was important, than we must see his words in light of changing social machines, we must understand that he wanted a kingdom of justice to rule on the earth, and me must understand that we are peaceful warriors in charge of bringing a kingdom of peace, but also a kingdom of justice. Africa, AIDS, Darfur, Child Prostitution, Hunger, Intolerance, Racism, Social Justice. . . these are problems that should be front in center in every Christian institution. Are they?”

Well, they’re starting to be.

If I was skeptical about Mclaren and the emerging movement before, I can only say that the emerging conversation is one of the most interesting and exciting conversations I’ve come across in a long time - not in part because it’s a conversation of healing and redemption.

Sure, sure, I said that about Rob Bell - well, he’s avoiding labels, and rightly so, but they’re definitely talking to each other, and me.  My question is, how does this work in my context? I don’t know, but so far it’s looking pretty sweet. My Jesus year is kickin ass (mine).

PAX

-W