Hi Crowd!
What a timeline we’re on amirite? As a non-US resident I often find myself looking at what’s going on in the US and thinking it’s too absurd to be real. I know this isn’t an uncommon perspective as it’s the most common discussion that comes up anytime the US is mentioned in conversations with other non-US residents. Last week I ventured across the border and spent a few days with friends new and old and while it wasn’t the primary conversation, it was certainly a conversation. There’s so much disbelief and utter “how the fuck is this still going on?!” and when I say “this” I’m referring to *waves hands around wildly* because it’s not just one thing, and any one thing on it’s own would be bonkers, but everything in total is just something else. But it’s also interesting to see the perspective, outside the US it’s an almost universal observation and inside the US it’s not. Like you can’t see the thing you are standing in the middle of as well as someone looking from a different perspective. Or it’s denial. Or obliviousness. I don’t really know exactly, but it’s an interesting distinction to think about none the less.
In outside the US news, the entire Venice Biennale jury has resigned just days ahead of the opening of the fair. Art world people understand what a crazy thing that is to have happened to one of the biggest cultural exhibitions in the world, non-art world people might not immediately grasp that but let me assure you this is a crazy thing to happen to one of the biggest cultural exhibitions in the world. While they didn’t issue a single statement about the resignation, the math isn’t hard to do as there’s been weeks of heated discussion around the event, namely the inclusion of countries like Israel and Russia which are currently engaging in what most people recognize to be crimes against humanity. The Biennale is supposed to be a unifying celebration where all are welcome, but a number of jury members and attendees were having serious concerns about welcoming countries doing war crimes, and debating if they could participate outside of that reality, perhaps be excluded from awards, and it seems that ultimately with no good solution they just all quit instead. Each for their own reasons, but all together making a very bold statement.
Speaking of art, while in NYC I had the opportunity to visit HEFT Gallery and was absolutely thrilled to see what they are doing first hand. The current Nancy Burson exhibition is curious and delightful and I enjoyed getting lost in the work, and appreciate that they opened up for me outside of normal business hours since they happened to be closed the few hours I was in town. HEFT is doing something daring and exciting and scary in a moment when that’s not at all safe to do. Not an “nft gallery” explicitly, they try to highlight systems based work with artists who are exploring digital (which often means NFTs are somehow related) and doing it in a really thoughtful and considerate way. As a former gallerist, I know how hard it is to take those chances (and the overhead that comes with them) and I love the idea of the HEFT Circle that they are about to launch to help support and facilitate the next year of exhibitions. Different, but not entirely dissimilar to what 100 Collectors is doing, it’s kind of a moment for patrons who want to not just collect art but also support a community and a growing ecosystem. If I had all of the monies, I would very much be supporting these efforts and I love that these folks are making the effort to make these things happen.
Still speaking about art, in addition to a bunch of artists I was glad to catch up with in NY I swung by Bantam to see what they were up to. As often happens when Bre and I get some coffee in us, schemes were hatched and ideas put into motion. I’m super excited about it and hope to have more to announce and show of in that respect sometime soon.
Speaking of catching up, I just learned about the London Skate Mums which reminded me of our local Late Bloomers Skate Club here in Vancouver. I love everything about these groups, and expect there are others like them popping up in cities all over the world and this is a good thing. While I consider myself a skater at heart, having put in endless hours pushing around since middle school I also know full well that I suck and have regularly gone years between sessions, often feeling like I missed the moment when I should have gotten better or didn’t take advantage of the time and access when I had it, and the simple existence of groups like this makes me smile and think that even in my advanced age there’s always another chance. Actually going and doing it is another thing, but the idea is powerful.
Unrelated, I’ve been running which is something I spent 50 years of my life insisting I’d never do unless being chased. Maybe it’s that perspective thing I mentioned earlier and I’m actually chasing something.
I hope you are all well, as always thanks for reading this far.