TEN:This Week in Local Art

Happy New Year all,

Next week we will have a monster blog post of  Top Tens lists by members of the local art communty. Its an editing nightmare….but will be very cool to read when finished, promise.  In the meantime here is the first TEN of 2010.

1. McKnight Artist Fellowships for Photographers 2010-2011 application cycle is now open! 
The mnartists.org/McKnight Artist Fellowships for Photographers supports mid-career artists residing in Minnesota who use photography as a primary means of creative, personal expression. The $25,000 fellowships awarded in June 2010 enable four artists to study, reflect, experiment, and explore over a twelve-month period with the support and assistance from mnartists.org and the McKnight Foundation. Panel decisions are based primarily on the presence and promise of excellence in work samples; a plan of activities for the fellowship year will also be reviewed, along with resume (to determine career status).

Work created during the fellowship year will be featured in a public exhibition and catalog.  Fellows will also participate in a public presentation about their new work, online exhibition on mnartists.org, and opportunities to work with mnartists.org’s educational and outreach programming. Fellows will have additional opportunities to consult with review panelists and local and national curators during the fellowship year.  Its seems like a long way out to apply ….but please don’t wait till the last minute.  The info sessions are also really valuable opportunities if you have questions regarding the program.

For full details, info session dates or to apply please visit www.mcknightphoto.org

2. ART FORM 1040: RE-ARTED at FOX TAX
Opening Reception, Saturday, January 16th, 6-10pm

Hip tax office and gallery Fox Tax takes a second run at an exhibition spanning tax season by asking several local aritsts to “re-art” each other’s work.  Curated by Emma Berg of mplsart.com, the exhibition is full of unique collaborative works, as well as a limited edition 10 print series of each work–made by the talented folks at The Lab Digital–that will be sold for only $40 each.  10…40 get it. 

The particiaption artists include: Nicholas Harper, Ruben Nusz, John Grider, John Alspach, Megan Colleen, Bethany Kalk, John Fleischer, Josie Lewis, Michelle Westmark, Shawn McNulty, Deuce Seven, Rudy Fig, Mike Cina, Isaac Arvold, Jesse Draxler, Kevin Vereeke, Eric Carlson, John Vogt, Caleb Coppock and Hilary Berg. 

3. OFF THE WALL at FORM+CONTENT
Opening Reception
Saturday, Jan. 16, 6-9 pm
with DJ Black Lacquer

Full disclosure…I am in this exhibtion, but I wanted to include it because of the great work of the other artists in the show, ranging from heavily Mason Eubanks heavily textured paintings, to Liz Miller’s gothic felt installations it promises to be a strong exhibition. Artists include Mayumi Amada, Mason Eubanks, David Dick, Jay Isenberg, Chris Larson, Liz Miller, Tom Oliphant, Scott Stulen, Cameron Zebrun.

The exhibition runs through February 20th and there is an artist dialogue/discussion scheduled for February 6th from 7-8:30 pm. Free and open to the public www.formandcontent.org

 4. 2010 Art Shanty Projects
This description from the Art Shanty website sums up what to expect this year  “It started with one shanty on the frozen Medicine Lake. In this feral environment, the project has grown to include 20 art shanties and 15 mobile performances.” Art Shanty Projects 2010 promises an interactive, engaging art community. ASP is free and open to the public on weekends from January 16 through February 7, 2010.

5. Is there a Minnesota Style?  Quinten Skinner asks if Lutheran practicality plus Scandinavian progressiveness, multiplied by snow, and divided by passive-aggressiveness add up to an aesthetic? Minnesota Playlist and mnartists.org have partnered up to explore whether there’s a “Minnesota style.” 

While you are on mnartists.org check out Jazz writer Pamela Espeland new series of features for mnartists.org: conversations with local musicians on the nature and practice of improvisation. First up is Adam Linz, a bassist and composer (Fat Kid Wednesdays) and MacPhail’s Jazz Coordinator.

6. 10,000 Grants:  The Star Tribune recently published an interesting article about arts funding in Minnesota and the impact of the reveue from the new Legacy Ammendment. Worth a read.

7. Get Lucky 2010:
Soo Vac’s annual fundraiser is always a very popular mid-january event.  This year should be no different…expect great food, drinks, entertainment and a silent auction with work by notable local artists. DJ Double Trouble will be spinning tunes throughout the evening.  Come out and hang with the hipsters and support the local art community!

Soo Visual Arts Center
2640 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis
Saturday, January 23, 2010 7pm-11pm
Advance Tickets: $20 for members | $25 Tickets at the door: $35
For tickets call (612) 871-2263 or visit soovac.org

Get Lucky Silent Auction Artists:
Amelia Biewald, Allen Brewer, Andrea Carlson, Eric Carlson, Serena Cole, Erin Currie, Jennifer Davis, Samantha French, Ben Garthus, Greg Gossel, Lindsy Halleckson, Noah Harmon, Bethany Kalk, Keren Kroul, Alex Kuno, Kit Lane, John Largaespada, Chris Larson, Rob McBroom, MouseSaw, Erika Olson, Terrence Payne, Margaret Pezalla-Granlund, Liseli Polivka, Cory Prahl, Amy Rice, Joseph Rizzo, Joe Sinness, Kurtis Skaife, Lindsay Smith, Sean Smuda, Scott Stulen, Angela Strassheim, Sean Tubridy, Deuce Seven, Pamela Valfer and John Vogt

8. Minneapolis Art on Wheels  2010 Artist Residency Program 
The Minneapolis Art on Wheels (MAW) Artist Residency Program (ARP) are seeking groups of innovative artists for an intensive three week creative residencies in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Resident artists will work together at the West Bank Social Center (WBSC) and focus on creating new artworks and open source software tools that leverage cutting-edge interactive, mobile and projection technologies.  While these new technologies are key components of MAW’s work, the ARP does not require applicants to be expert in this field.    Likewise, tech-savvy artists need not be experts in performance.  In addition to demonstrating artistic skill, applicants must propose a project to be completed during their residency. 

While MAW welcomes any creative proposal, applicants are encouraged to first consider proposing public performances and interventions, experimental audio-visual works, interactive mobile media experiences or novel open source software instruments or performance tools.  Work produced by resident artists will be exhibited, performed and shared in Minneapolis throughout the residency periods.  The ARP encourages applicants to propose projects that can become a part of MAW’s repertoire of public projection works for future performances. ONLINE APPLICATION DEADLINE: Feb. 21, 201

 [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdorWE9YyDY[/youtube]

9. mnartists.org hits 5000 facebook friends.  Please consider joining the club, everyone is doing it… or at lease 500o people are.  That is was my sorry attempt at social media peer pressure.

10. United States of Pop: For the last few years DJ Earworm has taken the Billboard top 25 and created a mashup of all 25 tracks into an orginal composition….in both video and audio.  It is a brillant feat and also an indication of the similar sound, structure (and generous use of autotune)within current pop music.  Here is the complete track list if interested in all of the source material. It’s worth checking out 2008 and 2007 too! [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNzrwh2Z2hQ[/youtube]  Enjoy.