Spotlight: Omar Chacon, Queens International 4

The Queens biennial, QI4 at the Queens Museum of Art will be up until April 26th. I am really proud to be a part of such a well curated show and among such a talented group of artists. If you haven't made it out to the museum yet it is definitely worth the trip. For those of you who are unable to make it, I'll be spotlighting artists throughout the duration of the show. 

Fellow SFAI alum and friend, Omar Chacon's "abstract paintings refer to rich colors and patterns of indigenous Latin American textiles. By carefully exploring the limitations and possibilities of the medium, Chacon painstakingly formulates each gesture into building blocks that collectively construct three-dimensional surfaces with a wide spectrum of optical vibrancy." He is currently exhibiting new work at Greene Contemporary. Join me at the opening reception on Wednesday, February 11 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Americans for the Arts

Please note this important message from Americans for the Arts, Arts Action Fund. The American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 is being considered by Congress right now, and a growing number of media reports have portrayed the arts funding included in the House version of the bill negatively.  Americans for the Arts is calling on all of our members to provide a coordinated public relations response to educate the public and put pressure on Congress.  We ask that you take two minutes to send a short letter to the editor of your local media outlet. As Americans for the Arts has previously reported, the House bill includes a $50 milllion provision for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).  As the legislation states, the NEA "is positioned to use existing mechanisms to allocate lifeline funding quickly to these nonprofit organizations to retain jobs" and there is solid research to demonstrate the stimulus gains that can be provided by this funding.  However, there has been some opposition and negative press received from news media across the country. As Congress spends the next few days completing their work on this legislation, it is the exact time for arts advocates to write to their local media outlets today and fight back against threats to the funding and anti-art amendments.  Visit our new Action Alert which will provide you with helpful information to send a Letter to the Editor to your local media outlets. If you take action today, we expect that this pro-arts message will show up in news reports by early next week, just when Congress is expected to be making final decisions on the legislation. Ask your Member of Congress and Senators to support the arts in this legislation.

A Frame Apart, Queens International 4

Join me this Saturday February 7th at the Queens Museum of Art 3:00-6:00pm for: A Frame Apart: Short Films on Queens followed by Q&A with directors & light refreshments.

There are over 118 nationalities and cultural groups living in Queens. Many are recent immigrants while others have been here for several generations. There are stories from around the world on its streets -- some are visible to the casual visitor, while others unfold more discreetly. Queens is the both a muse and a battleground, simultaneously a node connecting world cities and a patchwork of insular neighborhoods. The advent of digital video technologies, has given rise to numerous documentaries on the complex and fast-evolving cultural phenomena of this borough, as well as playful experimentations with forms and genres that come with the meeting of disparate cultures. With A Frame Apart the Queens Museum of Art showcases these singular visions, which are at once intimately local and inexorably intertwined with the tumultuous forces of global capital.

Tata Jesus is Bangala!

My first book of 2009 was Barbara Kingsolver's, The Poisonwood Bible. The story is about a missionary family that moves to the Congo in the late 1950's. Told from the perspectives of the Preacher's wife and four daughters. A surprisingly, insightful story that describes a country in transition from colonialism to independence and back to neo-colonialism; masked by a puppet dictator after the rise of Patrice Lumumba and his untimely demise orchestrated by Eisenhower and the CIA. This book weaves religion with racial, gender and socio-economic inequity into a beautifully told story that begs the reader to question the repercussions and morality of cultural imperialism.

Resolutions

As January comes to a close I am thinking about the goals I've set for this year. I don't do resolutions anymore since the one I set for 2008 didn't pan out (flossing). Still haven't mastered that one yet and my dentist keeps sending me cheery reminders to make an appointment. So I'll stick to goal setting and to-do lists and leave the resolutions out of it.

One of the things I want to do in 2009 is to make a list of all of the books I read and each year challenge myself to Read More Books.

Read any good books lately? I'm up for suggestions.

Queens International 4

The Queens Museum of Art is proud to open 2009 with Queens International 4, the fourth installment of its biennial, on view January 24- April 26, 2009. The exhibition "aims to present the neo-culturation of Queens as a growing model for society at large. The artist's non-conventional collaborative, interactive and public art practices are an example of this cultural theory at work within the realms of culture, identity politics, geo-political spaces, aesthetics and environmental issues."

I will be showing new work from my Guayabera series. Join me at the opening this Saturday January 24th 6pm- 12am! 

Cash Rules Everything Around Me- C.R.E.A.M.

Don't worry C.R.E.A.M. is not my anthem for 2009. I just couldn't help it cause I went to a financial planning workshop today at the Jersey City Museum and then watched a marathon of Entourage at my friend's house in JC, but I am serious about getting my finances in order this year! Susan Lee was the guest speaker and specializes in tax and financial planning for artists/freelancers. She spoke about cash flow, budgeting, tax preparation and goal setting. It was very informative and her personality and anecdotes kept it interesting. The Jersey City Museum is hosting a series of Professional Development Workshops for artists in 2009 so get on their mailing list and get informed.