Author Archive

Tonight I attended the first in a series of lectures and events called Untitled� at Jenny Jaskey Gallery.� The guest speakers talked about their views on contemporary drawing and, most interesting to me, why drawing has become such a sought-after art form today.� One of the obvious reasons being cost for both the artists and the collector.� There were also discussions about digital media, accessibility, and a devotion to the craft of drawing.� The exhibition featured around this discussion, The Drawing Narrative, is another of many shows lately featuring obsessive and beautifully rendered pieces.� Previous to that I went to the opening at the Art Institute of Philadelphia for, Killing Time.� Apparently the President of the school thought it would be a fantastic idea to remove an artists work from the window of the gallery space because he didn’t like guns.� According to the artists he provided no explanation and has avoided discussion on the matter so far.� If I were a student at the AI I would be very worried.� In protest of this censorship all the artists shrouded their pieces in black cloth.� It was nice to see the whole group support each other on this matter and the opening was well attended.� El presidente should be ashamed of himself.� Please read their statement:

We, the artists chosen by students at the Art Institute of Philadelphia to present our work in the group exhibition �Killing Time� have voluntarily shrouded our artwork in protest of the unjustified censoring of fellow artist, Steven Earl Weber�s art by the president of the Art Institute, Dr. William Larkin.

Weber�s installation entitled �Glorification� was installed in the front window of the gallery overlooking Chestnut Street by request of students of the Art Institute.� The work consisted of finely crafted ceramic handguns, left the stark white of fired clay. Steven’s work often addresses issues in society that cause division, forcing people to choose philosophical or sometimes fundamental positions in their lives, whether that is religion or science or in this case the role of handguns.� The piece entitled Glorification was intended to spark discussion and to call attention to the glorification of guns, the plague of urban violence and gun laws as seen from any perspective.� The positioning of the piece, a window in Center City, away from the majority of this city�s gun violence, where it�s reality can often be ignored, makes it all the more relevant.� At a time when the discussion of gun violence as well as our constitutional rights are most crucial, Dr. Larkin made the decision to silence this discussion by forcing Steven to remove the work from the school without explanation or discussion, not only silencing the art and the artist but also the students who curated the show and worked hard to make it come together.

We are staging this protest with the utmost respect for the students and faculty that supported this show.� This action is to show that censorship will not be tolerated nor go unnoticed.� In a school of higher education where the aim is self-expression and critical thinking, this type of censorship should not be taken lightly.

Please sent questions or comments to Dr. William Larkin

President’s Office
Direct 215-405-6373
FAX 215-405-6398
aiphpres@aii.edu

sincerely,
The Artists of �Killing Time�

I first met Justin at the opening for my solo show at Germ in February this year. We talked about EVP, Jennifer Slept Here, and Henry Darger (on a related note check out one of his many music projects The Vivian Girls Experience). Before I met him, I only knew him as the guy who penned these obsessively detailed, large-scale drawings – one of which is displayed at Germ. I’ve heard rumors there is a new one coming soon, yay! I don’t know him well by any means, but he is one of the most genuine people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. I also think he’s probably a secret, alchemical genius. You can find his work here and here.

A friend passed this site on to me – look. I’ve been making short videos so anything miniature is good to me right now. You can download these itty bitty movies to your phone etc. I haven’t been able to look through the site much but the this one is mesmerizing. For some reason watching this reminded me of being in grade school and sitting in the library, staring at a book on the shelf. It was always the same book and I don’t think I ever actually read it, but I would stare at it all the time when I was there. I had somehow convinced myself that it was written by Isaac Asimov but the book is written by Paul Zindel. Why they would shelve Asimov and Zindel together is beyond me but I can picture Asimov’s name right next to the title Pardon Me, You’re Stepping On My Eyeball. Maybe I’m just seriously lusting after him. How can you refuse a man that looks like this?