-
Repository 160: The Art Olympics’ Theme Revealed | Enwezor’s Venice Biennale
Every two years the art Olympics takes place on the water soaked streets and alleys of Venice – a perfectly discombobulated city that has troubles with the environment (sinking), and is drenched in historic specificity and nostalgia. Venice is a caricature of the world right now indeed – environmental problems breathing heavy down our necks, and the pull of history and push of progress keeping us entirely confused about where our next steps should be. And Venice is gorgeous, it’s…
Continue Reading → -
Repository 158: Hobby Losses | Artists and the IRS
I’ve just completed a call with our tax adviser about the unfortunate teeter totter of reporting losses for a failing business (being an artist), and convincing the IRS that yes indeed I aspire that this career as an artist will be profitable. Any professional artist reading this and living in the US has had this conversation with an adviser at some point. The IRS is very clear that in no way, shape or form must being an artist be pleasurable…if…
Continue Reading → -
Repository 137: The Art of the Joke | The Power of Cartoons
A joke is a very serious thing. Winston Churchill Years ago I attended a figure skating extravaganza – Disney on Ice, or Barnum Brothers on Ice, I can’t remember. However I remember being struck by the performance of the clown who fell all over the place, never hurting himself and always terrifying the audience while making them laugh hysterically. His graceful mash ups were a result of timing and incredible skill. Therein lies the secret of great comedy – a…
Continue Reading → -
Repository 68: Muses, Crayons and Katz
Painting by Alex Katz, image courtesy of Jonathan Novak Contemporary Art Recently I’ve been having long sessions of crayon art with my kids. Besides doing observational studies of their little faces in Lime Green, I’ve been thinking about how to push the boundary with such an unforgiving, plastic medium. I start thinking of fine artists that have excelled with flat, graphic and otherwise plastic effects of their art. Specifically painters. While Warhol of course came to mind, he actually didn’t…
Continue Reading →
