The Culture Club

I am a poet. And I do know it.

2010-04-15T09:33:00.000-07:00

Much to my delight

at first morning's light
NPR did cite
that April is National Poetry Month, did I hear that right?

After wiping the sleep from my face
to my computer I raced
And sought from Google my fate
that today I would indeed be in a poetic state!

When I draw circles, they resemble pears
A decent painting of mine is rare
Only thing centered in my photos is the air,
But me, write a rotten poem? Now that's a dare.

A month's worth of vernacular to deliberate
to help pick your fave wordsmiths to celebrate
Or script your own words to dedicate
Practice poetry, it's never too late!

Like Nobody's Watching

2010-04-12T07:30:00.000-07:00

I don't dance.

I just don't do it. I'm not good at dancing, I don't look good doing it, and did I mention that I'm really really bad at it? When I dance, I'm so white it's blinding. I've permanently destroyed the retinas of several otherwise innocent victims, just by dancing in their view. So yeah. I don't dance.

Anyway, that said: let's set the stage. Saturday night, Coconino Center for the Arts, and the Fishtank Ensemble are rocking the place with some dance-alicious vibes the Center hasn't seen since the last Boulder Acoustic show. Fishtank's music is fun, upbeat, different, funky and demands that you move in some way. Even for a white boy like me, I had to move a little to their beats. I bobbed my head around and stuff. Fortunately, no one died.

Given the audience in attendance, the heads bobbin', and some of the folks I knew in attendance that wanted to dance, I expected half of the audience to move into open spaces on the stage and dance. But no one did.

Well, I found this curious. But my good pal, Kim Seiferth, found this downright distasteful and was on a mission to fix it. So she says to me that we need to go down there, on the stage where everybody can see us, and start the dancing. My perfect response: "huh?" She says that we need to get all dramatic, each of us walk down the two flights of stairs to the stage level, simultaneously, and do a quick synchronized dance that will get everyone on their feet and dancing.

To which I responded further and with deeper insight: "say what?"

I put up some very heavy resistance to this idea, enough that Kim went away and I was relieved. Then, a song or two later, Joe Cornett says to me, "That girl is looking for you. She wants you to dance." Oh god, I think, she's not backing off. And I know enough about Kim - her being spunky and uppity and fun and all - that she was not going to let this idea go. So, despite my efforts to hide somewhere that she'd never find me again, she found me and pushed. And pushed and pushed, until I insisted that we add two more people to our plan. (This was my way of stalling so it wouldn't happen, but stalling is all it accomplished.)

Kim, Joe, myself and Diane Immethun all went into the lobby and hatched our plan. Here's how it played out.

Kim and I at the top of one flight of stairs, Joe and Diane at the top of the other flight. We walk down at the same time, get to the bottom and on stage, turn towards each other and have a moment of stare-down. Everyone can see us now. The band is in the middle, playing their song, we are staring at each other at opposite ends of them. So dramatic.

We walk, in tandem, towards one another, all dance-styled. Staring each other down, we circle each other, and play it up for the audience. We are doing this, by the way, right in front of the band. We have stolen their thunder, whether it was appropriate or rude I don't know, but now everyone is cheering us on. The band's singer, Ursula, told us later that she forgot her cue to start singing while we did our theatrics, because, well, we were doing our theatrics.

In a word, we shocked the band. After circling each other twice, we dancers each went into the corners of the stage - I waved at the audience to come down and join us - and began dancing to the tunes. Within seconds, dozens of people were littering the stage and dancing the rest of the night away. Feet stompin', elbows flyin', bodies twirlin'. It was a poetic, flat-out undeniable moment of awesomeness.

So I danced. In front of everyone, with a few dozen people dancing along with me. On the stage in the corners, we were somewhat in the dark, but there was enough glow that everyone could see us dancing. For three songs, until the band finished their set before they came back from a raucous standing ovation demanding an encore, I stayed and danced. And let's repeat: I'm not good at this dancing thing. I probably stunk up the joint and made everyone around me look like dancing all-stars. But I didn't care. I was having fun. I was happy that our scheme worked, that we got people out of their seats and dancing to this amazing show, and created a moment that I know we won't soon forget. And the music was infectious and made me want to move. Did I make a fool of myself? Yup. Did my teenage son, among others, look on and think "Wow, he is one god. awful. dancer. and crap, now I'm blind"? Probably.

Did I care? Nope.

Cheers,
JT

Waking to Beauty

2010-04-02T14:02:00.000-07:00

Someone told me once that when you wake up the first thing you see should be something beautiful.

Each morning when I transition from dream state to morning light, I stare into the dreamiest blue eyes.
Not present but in some faraway place. Wondrous strange. A glimmer of light in the distance.

This is the brilliance of Mathilde Gatinois MacCormack.

Check out Mathilde's new paintings at West of the Moon Gallery during the month of April.

Dust off your french and talk to Mathilde tonight at First Friday Artwalk, 6-9pm.

FCP April Top 5

2010-04-01T11:44:00.000-07:00

In scenic Northern Arizona, it's easy to understand how the natural, yet beautifully eclectic landscape can compel someone to create. It's hardly a coincidence that the Flagstaff art scene thrives when almost any window in town frames a scene worth seizing. Keeping things local and focused on all-things-art, FCP pooled a list of Northland artists we think best capture the essence of nature near or far, be it with paint, a lens, or even the human body.

Joella Jean Mahoney
Alan Petersen
Shane Knight
Bahe Whitethorne
Human Nature Dance Theatre

Add to our our list! Please comment below on your favorite local nature artists.

Letters From the Creative Bureaucrat, April

2010-03-30T07:04:00.000-07:00

I write a monthly column in Northern Arizona's arts and news monthly publication, The Noise. My column is called "Letters from the Creative Bureaucrat." Here follows "part one" of two part series on the BBB as published in the April issue column... (pick up a copy of The Noise, too).

I love lists. I will make “top five” or “top ten” lists for just about anything: favorite movies, best cocktails at a party, favorite holidays, worst actors of all time… the possibilities are never-ending. In fact, I could create a list of “top ten interesting lists to spur fun debate with your friends.”

Here in this fertile literary world of The Noise, for both this month and in May, I intend to wax on about a little thing called the BBB. And I intend to do so by using lists, regardless of my own inner voice that warns me that lists are a little lazy when it comes to writing a column (you’ll forgive me, I hope).

The first list, here and now, will be to expound upon the benefits and values of the BBB. No, I’m not talking about the Better Business Bureau. I’m talking about the City of Flagstaff’s Bed, Board and Booze tax revenues, which contribute heavily to setting Flagstaff as a shining example of a community in Arizona (one of the few) that is willing to invest in arts and culture, among other things.

So to the task at hand: Just what do the BBB Revenues do for Flagstaff? Here are five important highlights…

1. The BBB Revenues are an investment in the strength of our local economy. “Investment” is the key word. These are not programs that simply make us feel all fuzzy inside (although that does happen). BBB funded programs create jobs in the creative sector (arts, tourism, science, economic development), encourage visitation, and help to attract and retain business and the creative class. BBB funding fortifies our local economy, which is why Flagstaff has not suffered as heavily during this national recession as some other communities.

2. The BBB provides funding for art and cultural programs throughout the Flagstaff area. These are quality programs that make the arts accessible to everyone, such as (watch as I employ the “list within a list” technique):

Free concerts and performances on Heritage Square and elsewhere, Festivals such as the Celtic Heritage Festival and Pickin’ in the Pines,
Youth art and theatre programs that give local youth healthy avenues to express themselves and build confidence,
Dry Creek Arts Fellowship’s program to provide arts workshop to local cancer patients, and the P.E.A.C.E. Project that uses theatre to teach healthy relationships to local youth, and,
Many more arts, culture and science programs that YOU enjoy (like this very publication).

3. The BBB encourages greener living. Did you know that BBB Revenues directly fund the FUTS (Flagstaff Urban Trails System), a city-wide network of non-motorized, shared-use pathways that are used by bicyclists, walkers, hikers, runners, and other users for both recreation and transportation? There are over 50 miles of these awesome trails, with a total of 130 miles planned.

4. The BBB funds tourism attraction. Tourism attraction means a stronger local economy and helps to drive larger audiences to arts and cultural programs locally. Festivals, concerts, art galleries (and thereby local artists), and local businesses all benefit when we have the ability to attract visitors. Especially during a challenging nationwide economic recession.

5. The BBB funds Flagstaff’s beauty. That’s right, BBB supports beautification and public art efforts. Don’t downplay the importance of beauty… it is one of the essential reasons that so many people see Flagstaff as an attractive place to visit and live. Trees and mountains don’t do it on their own – we have built a small city here, and it is important that we work to develop beautiful parks, urban design and public art that serve to fit into the natural surroundings.

I could list another five benefits easily, but space is limited. In short, the BBB is a huge part of what makes Flagstaff so special – and part of what is keeping us afloat during tough times.

And I haven’t forgotten: the second list I will create on the BBB – this is your teaser for next month’s thrilling episode – will be a debate, with myself, about whether or not the BBB should be renewed via election by Flagstaff voters on May 18. Don’t fret about that one – I perform admirably in conversational battle with myself all the time. Just ask my neighbors.

A "tag" of my own...billboard Style

2010-03-23T12:07:00.000-07:00

For those of who have been to San Francisco, you know that there are a lot of wall murals and graffiti all over the city. Some of them are commissioned and legal while others are done by the rogue artists who illegally spray paint where ever it seems fit. The graffiti culture is huge in big cities and many of them consider their medium just as important as other mediums. Artist's like Banksy have made careers out of grafitti installations in London and throughout the world. I noticed a specific space in SF that was asking to be used so I slowly started thinking about creating a "tag" of my own.

There was a billboard in Western Addition that every time I had seen it had either been blank (all white) or tagged by a graffiti artist that made a huge mural out of the blank canvas. I walked or drove past this billboard a few times a week and for months I was itching to make something of it...finally it went down.

At 11:30 one morning in the broad daylight I infiltrated the billboard with two friends, Rob and Krissy. Rob was there to help with the installation and Krissy was there to document. That day the billboard was consumed by a large spray painted mural that said something that I couldn't read, probably someone's street alias. Rob and I wore "onzy" painter suites so that it appeared that we worked for Clear Channel (the company that owns the billboard) and headed up the ladder with a bucket of white paint and rollers. This was a front so that no cops would get involved. We then painted over the tag that was there so that we had an all white canvas to work with.

A few interactions happened. While we were painting a man came up and asked how he could get a job painting for us. We told him we were a small company that was independently owned and that he should try Craig's List. He replied "oh that's a good idea" and then walked away.

The second man to talk with us was the owner of a building across the street from the billboard. He was mad that "our" company (Clear Channel) hadn't come to paint the billboard sooner and that he had been calling us for months to take care of the graffiti. Our response was "well, we're here now." The man shrugged, told us in a grumpy tone that it would be tagged again by tomorrow then walked away.

Spray Paint has never been part of my repertoire when it comes to making artwork...photography has. Thinking about how artists are essentially selling themselves and their ideas led me to think of a billboard as doing the same for a product or company and I wanted to combine the two thoughts. I was also thinking about the billboard as a presentation or gallery space for artwork so I decided that my tag would be one of my own 20x24 inch framed photographs.

The image depicts a house in Lake Tahoe that has a garage door carved into a landscape scene with Pine Trees, Eagles flying and an Elk. The subject matter of the image isn't as important, because the installation is more about the interaction of fine art and the billboard space. The frame was screwed into the billboard so that tearing it down would be cumbersome. I included a temporary phone number, in order to receive calls and record any dialogue that might be created around the piece.

Would someone tag over the photo that night? Would people think this was just another Clear Channel add? Not sure what was to come next we left and I decided that I would come back periodically throughout the next few days to see what came of it.

That night we went back to see if anything had changed. While we were driving past the piece we noticed a guy (mid 20's) with take out food in his hand looking up at the image. He quickly looked both ways, put the food down and skimmered up the fence towards the platform of the billboard. Unable to park quickly I drove around the block to find the first addition to the piece, a tag that had been done below the photograph.

As time passed, the space started to transform into other things and I slowly started learning the underground language of the graffiti culture. I had heard that if someone tags over the top of another tag or mural that it is a form of disrespect. In turn, I learned that if someone tags around your piece, then that is a way a showing respect and appreciation towards your work.

A few nights later, another artist who uses stencils to tag his alias, made three tags in red on the left side of the photograph and three tags in black on the right side. At this point I was extremely happy that other artists were essentially adding to the space and complimenting the overall aesthetic of the piece. This billboard space was becoming a collaborative. Another few nights passed and then an artist with the alias "Anti" filled the bottom corners with two tags.

The piece had a mind of it's own and turned into something that was never planned or anticipated. In the end the space turned into a collaboration between 5 artists of different mediums. No one ever met, no discussions between artists were ever made. A total of 3 graffiti artists put their work around the photograph which I think added to the overall aesthetic and impact of the work. As a lot of graffiti often does, this collaboration was finally painted over by an artist with the alias "CEAPS." Although the photograph was painted over, the frame was still embossed off of the billboard surface.

Keep an eye out for billboards that look a bit extraordinary. There is one being prepared as we speak...

The best thing to come out of a fish tank since sushi!

2010-03-17T12:11:00.000-07:00

As I've already blabbed on our facebook page, our Spring line-up at CCA is decorated with electrifying examples of good music and genre-crossing local art (e.g. Solo Duo, live/all local paint-jazz-dance performance at The Recycled Art Opening Reception, Boulder Acoustic Society...and the FISHTANK ENSEMBLE!) The group was a little but of a bugaboo to me a couple months ago; I started to hear about this musical "experience" referred to as "Fishtank" followed by chronicles like "legitimately old-timey gypsy," or "tosses his bass in the air like a circus clown." A few of these recounts were described to me by those who were lucky enough to see Fishtank Ensemble last summer at the Arboretum, when the group proved that local monsoons can't keep a good band down - it merely moved them inside.

Also puzzling is the groups moniker. Here at work, I was aware months ago that I would eventually do press for "Fishtank" and I assumed it to be the name of an event, or some annual occurrence. A great article was passed on to finally bring me into light. In short, the members of Fishtank Ensemble trekked some serious mileage between Eastern Europe and the States to find each other at a studio deemed "the Fishbowl" for its mostly glass exterior. The ensemble had a greater knack for making music and attracting crowds than it did for naming itself. According to history (er, the internet), when pressed for a name at a show, it was only fitting that the band's leading lady-vocalist reportedly "blurted" the alias 'Fishtank.' And it stuck.

In case you're still just as clueless as I was about how Fishtank Ensemble looks, feels and sounds, you're in for a treat. In short, Fishtank plays gypsy music but also restores gypsy fashions, customs and musicianship in modern times and can play a myriad of instruments with only four sets of limbs. They also put on a hell of a show. Still not convinced? Come experience Fishtank for yourself here at CCA on April 10, at 7pm!

Sometimes you just gotta say, Someday....

2010-03-11T19:44:00.000-08:00

I consider myself a pretty laid back vacationer. I’m not one of those people who plans an agenda and sticks to time slots. In fact, that drives me crazy. If someone wants to go to the beach, an M’s game, visit a great aunt, then great! I’m down. Lately though, I’ve been daydreaming of a completely selfish vacation. An art only vacation (well not only art, but with that purpose in mind).

This is my promise to myself. Someday, I will take a vacation that is purely for the love of art. I will not visit any family members. I will not bring my husband, daughter or dog. Unless of course they want to come, but there will be no compromises in this vacation, and I sure will not feel guilty for wanting to go to just one more gallery before lunch or visit every single exhibit at the Getty. I’ll do what I want and it will be glorious.

I’m about to take off for Los Angeles in the morning, and though I will undoubtedly have a great time with my parents, sisters, grandma and friends, I most likely will not see any art. It will be just out of my reach, as usual, because that’s not what this quick trip is about. This trip is about sharing the new Baby-Love with the family, and I love that, its just not art.

The New Aesthetic

2010-03-10T13:48:00.000-08:00

This weeks Goodness is coming at ya in photo form once again. This time though the Goodness is made up of a handful of artists and one curator that are responsible for one of the most influential photography exhibitions in the history of the medium. The exhibition is called New Topographics and was displayed in 1975 at the George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography and Film. Curated by William Jenkins, the exhibition contained work from Robert Adams, Bearnd and Hilla Becker, Lewis Baltz, Henry Wessel, Frank Gohlke, Stephen Shore, Joe Deal, John Schott and Nicholas Nixon. For me, this exhibition has shaped my vision, approach and style as a photographer and the artists of this collective have influenced my way of thinking more than the majority of work that I have ever viewed or studied.

The original intent of curator Bill Jenkins was to display an exhibition that dealt with architecture. As the gathering of artists and images began, it became apparent that the images weren't just about buildings and structures but also about the land. The concept soon transitioned and what was first going to be called Recent Topographics was now changed to New Topographics.

What's interesting is that the original exhibition didn't see many viewers. In fact very few people visited New Topographics while it was displayed and there is no real reason why this happened. What is incredible is that despite the fact the not many viewers experienced the show, the imagery and artists involved with New Topographics became extremely popular in years to come. Many of the artists made a name in the photography world because of the exhibition. In addition to that, the ideas surrounding the exhibit made an unpredicted impact not only American artists but also artist throughout Europe.

The work in the exhibition doesn't sweep you away by any means. Aside from imagery of Stephen Shore, all of the other images are Black and White. All of the images are carefully composed and just as thought out as most works of art but at first, the images are void of what some call the "wow" factor. To some, they lack the "pop" that is often anticipated or expected in a work of art. This lack of pop lead to a realness that viewers could understand and feel and after spending time with the images you start to "get it." The imagery holds a tempo throughout the each series where in this case the whole is definitely larger than the sum of all its parts. Photography, once having an embellishing affect with idealized visions now seemed to record regular, plain scenes. Telephone polls were kept in the frame. Unfinished housing developments and vacant lots filled the foreground of images. Dull white walls of an office building became the main subject of a photograph. What did all this mean?

New Topographics is the second most googled photography exhibition on the internet behind (this is a guess) Robert Frank's, The American's. New Topographics pushed the envelope for landscape photography and is considered one of the greatest photography exhibitions of all time. It is still to this day studied by artists and art critiques will continue to influence the work of many for years to come.

The Center for Creative Photography (CCP) in Tucson and the George Eastman House have reorganized the exhibition and it is now traveling again. It will be on display at the CCP in Tucson until May 16th then moving onto SFMOMA and various locations throughout Europe. I highly encourage anyone who has ever looked at a photograph to visit this exhibition.

2010 Viola Awards - Rocked the House

2010-03-08T06:03:00.000-08:00

Now THAT was a party.

Flagstaff supports the arts with much love and enthusiasm. At the 2nd Annual Viola Awards for Excellence in the Arts, over 330 people celebrated and honored 108 nominees and 10 award recipients. The audience - made up of nominees, artists, and sponsors / supporters of the arts - was at times raucous, full of spirit, supportive of each other, and downright fun.

Let's see if I can recap the night with a little bulleted list:

A really touching moment came early in the night when Michael Kabotie was given the Lifetime Contribution to the Arts Viola Award post-humously. Ruth Ann Border, his partner at the time of his death, came to the stage to accept the award. She whispered to me, shakin' with tears, "I don't know if I can make it up there."
After Pickin' in the Pines receives the Viola Award for Outstanding Arts Event, one of our Board members, Darcy Falk approached me. Darcy also works for Pickin' in the Pines, handling their promotion. She was in tears, happy. "You do know how to keep a secret!" she says, since I gave her no indication that this award was coming. I love it.
The folks at Martanne's caught their table on fire! They put it out quickly, but it was funny and a little alarming.
When they were reading the "slow reveal" bio of the winner for Performing Arts, a loud, high pitched and awkward yelp! came from Becky Daggett as she realized that Linda Sutera was going to take the award. Really funny.
The crowd's response to Craig Bowie (pictured) winning Arts in Education was epic. Loudest cheer I've heard from a crowd that size, ever. People love that guy.
The Mayor's Award going to the Museum of Northern Arizona was just awesome. Robert Breunig, their Director, and their whole team deserve the kudos for what they have done over the last five years. MNA was in the midst of its most difficult and challenging crisis - they had lost their accreditation and their entire Board resigned. It was a mess. From that, though, Robert and his crew rebuilt the integrity of the Museum by focusing on their core values, and sticking to them in a way most institutions don't. They earned back their accreditation, and also built the Easton Collections Center through a process that involved and respected the voices of so many who value MNA. This is not only a come-back story, but a story of an institution that knows how to respect the values of the diverse communities it serves.

The full results of the Viola Awards are posted online, along with photos of the event and photos of the amazing awards, crafted by ceramicist, Ellen Tibbetts. She's awesome - you need to see all of these awards.

Thanks to everyone who made the Viola Awards such a rousing success this year!

Cheers,
JT

ps. here's a link to the Arizona Daily Sun article about the Viola Awards event.

Off With A Bang!

2010-03-04T12:13:00.000-08:00

Well everyone, it is my last day with Flagstaff Cultural Partners… (again). I had a last day before—even maybe twice. So, for my third run with FCP, I once again say good-bye.

These last few months have been busy. It feels like it has gone by pretty quickly. Between It’s Elemental, The Fine Crafts Sale, Landscape Interrupted, Youth Celebrate Art & Culture Exhibition, Celebrations of Culture performances, and The Viola Awards, it has been non-stop. I will miss the intense work days, the fun events, and all the people I know in the arts community that I’ve been able to see a lot more.

But I head back to The Arboretum in one week, and face a whole new set of responsibilities. Luckily, working in non-profits in Flagstaff, allows for relationships between organizations. For The Arboretum, I will be working on the Summer Concert Series, where we collaborate with FCP. So this particular relationship will continue!

Tonight, however, we celebrate. We celebrate the artists that we, as a community, work with in Flagstaff. At the Viola Awards, FCP staff can mix and mingle with all the people that we work with through many different respects, but instead of working, we will be recognizing all that hard work and enjoying ourselves and our company. I look forward to seeing you there and hopefully you’ll consider a visit to The Arboretum this summer to see me too!

I never thought this day would come...

2010-03-04T11:48:00.000-08:00

...so quickly!! The Second Annual Viola Awards have arrived. The FCP staff have been working like squirrels collecting nuts and it's time to get the show on the road! While last minute preparations are being made at tonight's venue, Radisson Woodlands Hotel, I'm holding down the fort at the Center until 3pm today when I will lock up the gallery and join the rest of my well-dressed motley crew. Follow us on Twitter tonight to learn who won each Viola as winners are announced. While you're online (via any hand-held or stationary digitally connected device), join our Facebook page to see photos of this year's event (stay tuned for the one and only captured image of our executive director, John "JT" Tannous in a tux and free of a five-o-clock shadow...) This is going to be epic!

Letters From the Creative Bureaucrat, continued

2010-03-01T12:40:00.000-08:00

I write a monthly column in Northern Arizona's arts and news monthly publication, The Noise. My column is called "Letters from the Creative Bureaucrat." Here follows "part two" of the March issue column... Click here for "part one." And be sure to pick thee up a copy of this month's Noise, will ya?

~continued from earlier...

However, “excellence” is not some abstract sense of quality that remains only known to those who work in art galleries or academia. It has to be something that can be appreciated through different eyes and many perspectives. There has to be recognition of that excellence even if you don’t like the work in question. Maybe that’s one of the “markers” I’m hoping to find in determining artistic excellence. If those who do not particularly like the work of an artist can admit to the quality of that same artist’s work, have we not found something important there? And yet…

The more I explore this thought, the more I’m convinced that what I’m seeking is a moving target. As soon as a point of criteria becomes clear, I’m sure an artist’s work will present itself which challenges us to move that criteria. Last month, I wrote, “Rejection is in the eye of the beholder.” Maybe I should have just started there with “excellence” and avoided this column altogether.

Oh, and I never got back to the “what is art?” question. I danced around it like a boxer who fears his opponent. I suppose if I were a better writer, I’d give you some neatly wrapped article that circled around and met the question I posed at the beginning with some kind of insightful and revealing finish. Did you really expect that, after I invoked Andy Kaufman? Ha!

Cheers,
JT

2010-02-26T11:24:00.001-08:00

~~~~~

If I started this column with the question, “What is Art?” would you immediately turn to another page and never come back? That’s what I would do. I hate that question.

And yet, I feel compelled, just ever so slightly, to go there.

Let me start at the beginning. The organization I work for hosts the Viola Awards. The Violas are like the Oscars, but for the arts in Flagstaff. For the past two years, we have hosted a glamorous gala event (well, glamorous for Flagstaff) to hand out 10 unique awards.

Last month in this space, I talked about art juries and what rejection means to the artist. For the Viola Awards, the Panel that chooses the award recipients works on a different level. Rather than selecting a variety of work for a show, they are pinpointing one artist to celebrate in each of several categories.

For criteria, we tell our Panelists to choose on the basis of excellence, considering both the work of the artist as well as the artist’s service to or impact on the community. The terms “service to community” and “impact on community” are fairly manageable when looking at the accomplishments and work of an artist or organization.

But what is excellence in art? Everyone certainly has different tastes about art. If we attempted to select winners on the basis of “art we like the most,” every Panelist would likely come up with a different name. Popularity cannot be the sole guiding factor in determining excellence, obviously. Commercial success is somewhat similar in notion to popularity. While the work of those who make a living primarily on their art certainly must be of some measure of quality, it does not always equal excellence. Working in the world of the arts every day as I do, it hurts to admit that. I wish many more artists could survive, or thrive, off of their work as their primary or sole income. But most cannot, even though they may be deserving or create excellent work.

The point is: when trying to determine which artist should receive a Viola Award, commercial success is more likely to create a fuzzier picture than to clear up the matter altogether. Sometimes great art is not altogether popular. In fact, some great art expressly has the ability to challenge people’s notions of themselves, of life, or of reality. Remember some of Andy Kaufman’s performance “pranks”? He said that he wanted his audience to have an authentic reaction – or rather, interaction – with his work. And if that meant he was making them angry, at least it was a genuine response and not just the drone of a well-mannered but lifeless – and disconnected – applause.

~to be continued...

Letters From the Creative Bureaucrat

2010-02-26T11:06:00.000-08:00

~~~~~

Jux' Top 100 Galleries/Museums

2010-02-23T16:27:00.000-08:00

It’s no secret, I love a good list. Be it a grocery list, a to-do list, or even better, a list of the 100 Top Galleries/Museums put out by one of my favorite art rags, Juxtapoz. One of the best things about this top 100 is that

it really covers all the bases. You’ve got everything from museums you’d take your grandma to – to dank little hole-in-the-wall-graffiti-covered-entrance-in-the-alley-of-an-asian-marketplace galleries.

Also, as you flip through the list, you may notice that there seems to be a disproportionate number of entries listed in the Los Angeles area. I’m guessing this has less to do with LA snobbery (I can say that, I’m a native Angelino), and more to do with the fact that LA was the birthplace of the art movement that Jux covers…

Juxtapoz (in case you’re not familiar) tends to feature artwork in the realm of pop-surrealism, low brow, underground, or street art. Call it what you will. Everyone has their own P.C. name for this style, and it’s without a doubt one of my favorite genres of art.

Anyway, here are a few highlights of the article:

The award for best quote of the article goes to the description of gallery #92

Michael Koh n Galler y, Los Angeles, California  Any gallery that has shown Mark Ryden is definitely worthy of a Top 100 spot. Ryden’s Tree Show at Michael Kohn in 2007 nearly had the art world in a frenzy. Ryden could probably get the country out the economic crisis.

I’m not sure exactly how Mark Ryden might get the country out of the economic crisis…but it’s an entertaining thought.

The award for best use of space goes to #86

86. MOCAD: Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit  

Detroit has more to offer than old car dealerships and Motown memories. This museum is an innovative addition to Detroit's Cultural Center, and functions as a hub for the exploration of emerging ideas in the contemporary arts. The 22,000 square foot building, a former auto dealership, has been simply renovated to maintain its his

toric character.

Hello city of Flagstaff! Can we say, abandon grocery building on 4^th street! BTW, I’m seeing this all over the country. Out of business “big box” stores turned into cultural art centers…I’m just sayin’…

The award for best vibe/gallery I might most like to visit right now (due in part to its location in the Southern hemisphere) goes to gallery #22

22. Choque Cultural in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Not only is Brazil getting hotter by the day (and no, we’re not just referring to global climate change) but Choque Cultural proves that the world is getting smaller on a rapid basis. Our favorite gallery in Sao Paulo regularly shows off international talent (like Tara McPherson and Gary Basemen) while keeping their street cred with local Brazilian artists (like Titi Freak and Calma).

These are just a few little gems picked from a whole Tiffany & Co. selection…Check it out for yourself.

By the way, special thanks to artist, Jeremy Singer, for posting this article on Facebook. Cause really, where would we all be without Facebook?

Voila!

2010-02-19T10:18:00.000-08:00

Looking for a quick and enriching day trip? The valley of the sun has some interesting art offerings this month.

The Phoenix Art Museum's current exhibits are: an Ansel Adams exhibit, an exhibit of Southeast Asian textiles, an exhibit of contemporary Yixing teapots, and an installation of the late Geoffrey Beene called Trapeze.

"Geoffrey Beene: Trapeze, a whimsical exhibition that goes beyond the study of dressmaking into the world of conceptual art."

This exhibition of Geoffrey Beene's work at the Phoenix Art Museum, showing one of a kind garments, draws on inspiration from Beene's love of the circus with the use of dots and stripes.

"Featuring more than 30 garments, Geoffrey Beene: Trapeze profiles the fanciful custom-made wardrobe of Patsy Tarr, a prominent supporter of dance in New York and founder and publisher of the award-winning 2wice magazine."

The world of high fashion as sculpture is only a 2 hour drive! What a great way to spend a rainy day in Phoenix. See you there!

Célébrer Mardi Gras!

2010-02-16T08:41:00.000-08:00

Bonjour! Happy Fat Tuesday, everyone. I have to admit, Mardi Gras season sneaks up on me every year. Born and raised in Flagstaff, it's not exactly on my cultural radar. A quick scan on wikipedia reminds me that Mardi Gras is another one of those Catholic festivities that has evolved into a ball of debauchery best experienced with a pint glass or a shot glass rather than holy wine...

Good news is, Flagstaff is not without its own opportunity to let loose in the name of ancient tradition. The Green Room downtown is hosting what looks to be the best Mardi Gras Northern Arizona has to offer! The Alice in Wonderland themed "Wonderball" has a line-up that is the epitome of not just a lame bar party - but a celebration. Sambatuque, Flagstaff's only Brazilian-themed rhythm group (and Viola Award Performing Arts nominee!) is sure to get your hips to sway and your feet to move "carnival" style. The Flagstaff chapter of UCA Capoeria (a type of brazilian fight-dance) will join! Switching gears from rhythmic to funky, my new Flagstaff-favorite "LowCash" takes stage tonight as well. All for a mere three bucks at the door.

No Mardi Gras is complete without without costume (or so I hear). Green Room's event poster states that Masks are available around the corner and down the block at Incahoots accompanied by drink coupons! Does it get any easier to enjoy yourself on a frigid Tuesday night?? My friend, it does not.

This Freakin' Awesome Town

2010-02-15T09:23:00.000-08:00

Have I mentioned before that I love this town?

To recap an amazing weekend at the Coconino Center for the Arts...

This amazing folk duo performed for our 3rd Annual Valentine's Concert: Anne & Pete Sibley. Its not the kind of music I will listen to on CD or my computer, but live in person, it's the kind of thing I love. They were amazing, totally cute in their chemistry on stage (perfect for the day of love), and Anne is just a deep powerful singer.

For their final song (prior to coming back for an encore - they got a standing ovation from the capacity crowd), they led the entire audience in a sing a long. Usually, those things SUCK. You know, everyone singing out of cadence with each other, various levels of volume, and bad harmony. C'mon, you ask 200 people to sing together and you know it's gonna be awful. This time? Everyone sang together beautifully. It was incredible! Soft, smooth and just sounded awesome - 200 people singing quietly along with their song. At one point, I stopped singing just so I could hear the great sound of the audience over my own crappy voice. I had goosebumps for an hour after. That's Point #1 for why this town is freakin' awesome.

On Saturday at the Center, Tom Sheeley came and performed a concert for six straight hours, playing classical guitar to honor and support his daughter, Cory, who has been diagnosed with leukemia. There was a silent auction, speed photo shoot, tasty tamales, and LOTS of people. Flagstaff came in droves to support Cory and donate money to help with her treatment. I don't know how much they raised, but I know it was a good bit.

That'd be Point #2, obviously.

If you know Cory or Tom or the family, I encourage you help with a donation for Cory's cause: click here for her website. Or help if you don't know them. Either way, it's a worthy place to put some of your dollars.

I could go on, but that's what's fresh in my mind from a lively, powerful and passionate weekend at the Center. Have a great week, everyone!

Cheers,
JT

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

2010-02-12T14:41:00.000-08:00

I'm way to busy to blog...

Arno Minkkinen

2010-02-11T13:27:00.000-08:00

Here's some more Photo Goodness. To start off the spring semester I gave my advanced photography students a self portrait assignment in which they have to photograph themselves 36 times, which in the pre-digital days was the equivalent to 36 exposures in a roll of film. This assignment removes them from behind the lens as they become the subject or concept in there imagery.

With that in mind I bring you the goodness from a photographer named Arno Raphael Minkkinen. Minkkinen has made a career out of creating self portraits, all of which are unique and push the envelope not only in the portrait realm but in photography medium all together. He incorporates himself within nature often mocking or meshing with the forms of the natural world.

I will note that none of his images are digitally manipulated. The manipulation takes place in his body as he contorts his form to created what you see. Minikkinen uses a cable release that is usually in his hands or his mouth to trip the shutter. As you will see, he often goes through great sacrifice to capture an image.

You can check out his images at

http://www.artnet.com

His website is under construction but is below...

http://www.arnorafaelminkkinen.org/

Enjoy!!!

Funky Flagstaff Fun

2010-02-11T10:59:00.000-08:00

With busy schedules and low funds, it is hard to go out to a big name concert very often. We are fortunate in Flagstaff to have a lot of great local musicians that play regularly, so I get to see those concerts. When I heard G. Love and the Special Sauce was coming to town, I decided his show was not to be missed. I have seen them play several times in different cities as I moved across the country, and have always had a great time. The G. Love shows always have a lot of energy, and the music exudes a fun vibe that leaves everyone smiling.

The concert on February 9th at the Orpheum Theatre did not let me down. The venue was packed, G. Love and his crew were playing on point and moving all over the stage, and the audience was dancing and having fun. They played all the favorite songs, which had everyone signing along.

The Orpheum Theatre is such a great venue. They have really been bringing a lot of great acts into Flagstaff, often with the help of Greenhouse Productions, and we are lucky to have a place that will draw artists to our mountain town. I plan on keeping my eye out for other upcoming acts and look forward to having more good times at the Orpheum.

The Amazing Violas

2010-02-08T09:27:00.000-08:00

One month prior the event date, the Viola Awards Gala has sold out.

I'm looking at that sentence, reading it again, trying to figure out what we did right. I've been working in the arts and cultural industry for over a decade - I've been event planning for longer than that. But I've never been part of an event that has drawn the interest, attraction, excitement and power of the Viola Awards.

Now I am aware that we are only talking about a 300-seat venue for this dinner-and-awards-gala event. And our ticket prices are not too high compared to other non-profit fund raiser galas in town (most prices are $75 - $150, and the Violas are priced at $50).

However, there's a certain level of passion for this event that goes beyond just selling out. First and foremost, folks get it. They understand the concept of the event - an awards program to recognize and celebrate the quality art that is happening in and around Flagstaff. They understand that it's a huge value to do this, not only for the nominated and winning artists and organizations, but also for the whole art scene in Flagstaff. It helps to raise the bar.

At last year's event, we weren't sure about this. But quickly, as the room filled up, we realized that the arts community was taking this event as their own. There was a celebratory, party-like atmosphere in the room that night, one that had the aura of support and respect for the nominated artists and organizations, win or lose. There were standing ovations for the winners, hoots and hollers for the nominees, and a lot of hugs, smiles and handshakes. Flagstaff artists respect and support one another ... without the tired sense of competition or jealousy that I see stunt other communities' arts scenes ... and it makes for magic. The Viola Awards have become the place where this magic is in action, real, tangible, touchable.

In short, the Viola Awards had been a long time coming. I know this because while we are only in our second year of producing them, people talk about them as if they have been around for a decade. People want to be there. Supporters want to see the event live in perpetuity.

I'm not writing about all this to self-congratulate FCP or toot our own horn. I'm in awe of the passion for this event, and I'm observing and participating in it. I find it inspiring in a way... to see the arts community here come together and rally around a celebration event like this one. It says a lot about who and what we are as a community. I like what it says.

Cheers,
JT

(Photos from 2009 Viola Awards Gala: at top, Don Bendel receives the Lifetime Contribution to the Arts Award; at bottom, Joe Sorren receives the Visual Arts award from emcees Karen Kinne-Herman and Julie Pastrick.)

Thigh High Freshness

2010-02-05T09:07:00.000-08:00

Spinning Backside 1's In Blue Bird Sun

Tailbone To Ice, Not Too Much Fun

Hike The Inner Bowl Til It Leaves You Breathless

Then Carve Long S's In Thigh High Freshness

Low Visibility, Foggy, Can't See

Well Head To The Woods And Carve Through The Trees

If Groomers Are Icy, Bumped Out Or Flat

Then Head To The Trees To Find A Fresh Stash

When You're Shroppin The Gnar and Shreddin The Rad

A Beard Full Of Icicles Isn't Half Bad

Some Shovel Drives And Wish Snow Away

I Grin Ear To Ear On My Powder Days

Celebrating our Youth!

2010-02-03T13:39:00.000-08:00

Although I’ve been in and out as an FCP staff member, and taken on different roles at the Center, one thing has been consistent: working on the exhibit and activities for Youth Art Month for three years running. And it is such a fun time at CCA. Not only do we feature the Youth Celebrate Art and Culture exhibition, which hosts artwork from K-12 students in the FUSD system, but we host youth performances and art workshops for kids.

When putting together the Art Exhibition, we depend on 100% participation from all FUSD public and private schools, which results in great variety. The artwork is always innovative and often stunning- it truly showcases the talent in our local youth.

Our youth performance day on February 27th, takes place during the opening reception. The reception takes place from 1-4 PM and the performances take place at 2 PM. The performances feature live dance and song from a variety of youth groups. Always lively, this event packs the auditorium.

During Spring Break (week of March 15th), we will offer multiple workshops for kids of different ages. The workshops will be taught by NAU Art Education students and will have several themes and use a variety of materials. Workshop sign up’s will be available soon, so be sure to call in and check if you are interested in having your children attend.

Mark your calendar’s for Youth Art Month (the month of March), with the opening reception of Youth Celebrate Art and Culture exhibition on February 27th, 1-4 PM.