the church studios

Back from MICA

2009-08-05T12:10:00.000-07:00

Back from six weeks at MICA. It was a great first semester. Looking forward to catching up with everyone.

Topic: Andrew Wyeth

2009-01-19T04:45:00.000-08:00

Studio people, close by and far and wide: I have had a long history with the Wyeth family's art legacy, and it's difficult for me to get too far away from it to look at it objectively. I was hoping that we could begin an informal discussion on the question:

Do you consider Andrew Wyeth to be an important 20th century artist, or not? Or simply an important American artist, but not globally? I'd be very curious to hear your opinions...

2009-01-16T20:48:00.001-08:00

Must reads:

Studio Practice, Part 1

Studio Practice, Part 2

Dan Siedell is a friend of mine, and Art History professor at the University of Nebraska Omaha. He kicks so much rear it's not even funny.

His new book "God in the Gallery: A Christian Embrace of Modern Art" is fantastic. Buy it.

Also, if the following quote gets your heart rate up, join Rob Matthews and I, and chime in here:

"This I do believe, as much as some will disagree with me. I do not
think very much if any contemporary art rises to the level of
importance that would be required to warrant condemnation.
Contemporary art is simply too cut off in multiple ways from the broad
public to be that culturally influential. To the extent that some of
it is bad, and bad for us, it is nonetheless very marginal to our
culture. That is my judgment and of course some artists will disagree
(just as some musicians disagree when I say that Boulez, in
particular, represents a dead end in music that is not going to
"reproduce" culturally). And of course I may be wrong—perhaps art is
more dangerous than I think! I almost wish that were true."

The End of The End of the Tunnel

2009-01-13T08:38:00.000-08:00

Hi folks (if anyone checks this thing still).

I need help!!

I will be in Philly on Feb 16 and 17 to de-install my work at Eastern State Penitentiary. If all goes perfectly (it rarely does), I think I can complete the work in a day. It it goes poorly, it could take both days. If it's a disaster, then ESP will have to help a brotha out... Here are a list of my needs, and any help with these things would be HIGHLY, HIGHLY appreciated, if not appropriately compensated. Meals and a some "Victory" beer are on me, as well as a take-home piece of the installation if you'd like... What I know I need right now:

1. people to help on at least the 16th, and possibly the 17th

2. a truck to haul away the pipe to the scrap yard

3. two large pipe-wrenches (I actually think I left mine in the corner of my old studio at the church - so maybe someone could check on that for me!?

4. A high quality reciprocating saw (Sawsall) with a metal cutting blade, or, ideally a good hand-held band saw for metal

5. a socket/box wrench set

Again, any help would be mucho appreciated!! Feb 16th and 17th! Mark your calendars!!

Book Recommendation

2009-01-03T17:47:00.000-08:00

I am currently in the middle of reading The Urban Hermit, which has been amusing and thought provoking for me. Plus it is an easy read! It got a few good reviews, so I thought I would recommend it.

2008-11-24T06:08:00.000-08:00

Greg King is a friend of mine, New York based guy, painter/filmmaker and was a speaker at one of the DIAlogue lectures I put together at the Church Studios. He sent this email and I thought I'd pass it on:

A short experimental film of mine titled 'Manhattan Canyon' is viewable online, and I'd love to share it with you. It was selected as part of a partnership between Rooftop Films and the Independent Film Channel (IFC.com), where shorts that have screened at Rooftop in the past are collected online.

My film just got posted this week, and you can find it at this link.

I made this piece a few years ago, as a structural/poetic portrait of New York. I walked from the furthest point I could reach on the east side of Manhattan, and shot a single frame of film at every street intersection, all the way down to the bottom tip of the island, then repeated the process from a similar starting point on the west side a few days later. This film is the result of that crazy challenge to myself. The accompanying track, 'Reflecting Surfaces', is by rachel's, from the album 'systems/layers'.

There's tons of interesting shorts to watch in the collection, so have fun!

Greg

I have a blog

2008-11-05T15:40:00.000-08:00

I don't think I've ever told anyone about this before, but I started a blog a while ago, just to have a place for some of my small work. To me it makes sense to put experiments on this blog, and then my finished work my website. Anyway, the blog is www.carolinesanta.blogspot.com . And my website is www.carolinesanta.com

Slide Projector

2008-10-05T05:58:00.000-07:00

Hey there.

Do any of you happen to be in the possession of a slide projector? I've been doing some small work drawing on slides, and I really want to project them. I have a carrier, but no machine.

C

Publication

2008-09-19T10:11:00.000-07:00

Woohoo! Okay, not exactly the place where you might expect some art, but I was happy to do it all the same. The publication is PRISM, and this article specifically can be found here. Some points I'm a little iffy on but as a whole the article is well written and has an interesting approach about viewing promiscuity as an injustice. I probably would have never thought of it quite like that.

Just a few sketches.

2008-06-28T19:08:00.000-07:00

Since I haven't been in the studio as much as I would like I wanted to share a few things from my sketchbook (are we allowed to do that on the Blog?). These may or may not turn into anything more elaborate.

le' baton

2008-06-24T01:55:00.000-07:00

Yo everybody as we God willing up ourselves North, is anybody willing to take captainship of the church studios blog. Being that I started the joint bloggerito gave me the helm, so now I gotta pass the mic to y'all. Let me know, email a brother.

paz, ru...

Philly is Hot

2008-05-24T05:15:00.001-07:00

NY Daily News Article

Frieze magazine Writer's Prize

2008-05-08T09:28:00.000-07:00

(...found this on Inliquid; just in case anyone's interested. I'm going to send in a submission.)

Frieze Magazine Writer's Prize

Deadline June 23, 2008 : frieze magazine writer's prize is an annual award to discover and promote new art critics. The award will be judged in 2008 by Tate Triennial curator Nicolas Bourriaud, frieze co-editor Jennifer Higgie and Guardian critic Adrian Searle. Entry details: Entrants must submit one 700 word review of a recent contemporary art exhibition. Entries must be submitted in English, but it may be a translation (this must be acknowledged). Entrants must be over 18 years old. To qualify, entrants may only previously have had a maximum of three pieces of writing published in any national or regional newspaper or magazine. The winning entrant will be commissioned to write a review for the October issue of frieze and be awarded 2000 GBP. Two further awards of 500 GBP will be made for outstanding entries. Entries should be emailed as a word attachment to writersprize@frieze.com. The judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding individual entries.

Great Website Service

2008-05-07T14:00:00.000-07:00

Hey folks... I just wanted to give a heads-up about the website service that I've been using for the last several months: Other People's Pixels

It's extremely easy to use, modify, upload, organize images and text and a resume... It comes in at $160 a year, which is pretty good considering you get your own domain name registered. Here's my site if you want to check it out: daytoncastleman.com

Also you could go to alogongallery.com and Norm Paris' website is with them too...

One thought I had is that you make it a shared Church Studios site. Easy as pie for each person to have their own section by creating folders and then create sub-folders for that artist's work. Share the login info, and BAM! the inter-web tubes are yours.

2008-04-27T07:53:00.000-07:00

Yo crew, about 2 weeks ago David Kessler and Jenny Jaskey were in the studios to do this interview with me. David did a dope job. Massive thanks to both of them! Check it here to watch it:

Wings and workings

2008-04-26T10:55:00.000-07:00

New gierschickwork webpage...

2008-04-21T13:55:00.000-07:00

Keystone Study 4, 2006, (c) P.TGII.

Hi friends! Just wanted to invite you to check out a new webpage I've put together to serve as a short introduction to me as an artist and my work, something more permanent than my blog. Here is the address:

www.gierschickwork.com

Go visit now, and then check back as the News section will be changing periodically, and images of new work will be added.

Tim Gierschick II

Strange Place

2008-04-15T07:24:00.000-07:00

Congratulations on Strange Place, everyone! The pictures that I've seen look like a good show. One question that will not elude me: Why are there no women in the show? This is not the 1960's, people!

Dutch Lovin'

2008-04-11T18:53:00.000-07:00

The Strange Place got some love from an art blog in the Netherlands. Here's the original in Dutch. Here's a "translated" version, although it doesn't really say anything...

The Strange Place

2008-04-11T13:13:00.001-07:00

The Strange Place was ranked as the #4 show to see this week in Newcity, a Chicago A&E weekly.

The Strange Place

2008-03-31T11:35:00.000-07:00

Thanks Fellas!!

"The Strange Place"
Alogon Gallery, Chicago, IL
Opening: Saturday, APRIL 5th 7-10PM
curated by Dayton Castleman

With works by: Rob Matthews, Keith Crowley, Gene Schmidt, Rubens
Ghenov, Alert Pedulla, Wayne Adams, Mark Dixon, Tim Gierschick, and
Ben Volta

Including essays and responses by:
James Elkins, Daniel A. Siedell, and Kevin Hamilton

"The Strange Place"

Alogon Gallery asked Dayton Castleman to curate a show after
witnessing a discussion that took place between him and James Elkins
on the topic of Christianity and art. Elkins' book On the Strange
Place of Religion in Contemporary Art speaks to the difficulty that
contemporary art discourse has in dealing with religious subject
matter and how generally the two are incompatible. We asked Dayton to
curate a show that explores this subject and James Elkins to share his
thoughts about the show in writing. The interest is not to inspire
belief but rather to try and address the issue of belief and ideology
in the wake of the post-modern condition, to try and establish a
language and dialouge around belief that does not need to always
shield itself with either irony or the conceptual aesthetic of
neutrality. Is it possible to use the wisdom gained from decades of
active deconstruction towards a renewed investigation into the realm
of possibility?

In Dayton's words:

The Strange Place is not meant to suggest some kind of final word or
solution to the issue (of religion and art). It is impossible to avoid
the complexities of language, and I'm not presuming to transcend that
difficulty in this show. What this show does is fill a concrete place
in contemporary art—a real, material, dimensional space— with the art
of religious people. I don't intend the show to operate as a polemic
toward some religious end, but as an occurrence that could serve as a
discrete point of reference within an ongoing conversation.

**The opening hours of the show will be from 1-4 on April 6th and April 13th**

Built a new wall for y'all...

Here's the pm club:

2008-03-14T21:32:00.000-07:00

arrival:

think about leaving :

actual departure:

Semi attendance is required for your lapsed membership weekly.

Six-O-Clock Club...

2008-03-14T13:23:00.000-07:00

Caroline joined the studio's official Six-O-Clock Club this morning. Up to this point, there'd only been one full member - me. Ben and Keith had both courted with joining, but never stuck around.

Semi-weekly attendance is required for your membership not to lapse.

Photographing work

2008-03-10T11:21:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys,

I'm going to be taking some photographs of my work in the studios this week. Do any of you have any tips on taking pictures in the building? I am going to try the stairwell with morning light. I haven't checked out the situation yet so I'm not sure.

Works in progress and computer-doodle

2008-03-06T10:51:00.001-08:00

chronologics

2008-03-05T07:06:00.001-08:00

ben volta

caroline santa

rubens ghenov

brendan kinslow

yvonne boudreaux

keith crowley

lynne ghenov

mark dixon

tim gierschick

Finally!

2008-03-04T16:49:00.001-08:00

I was able to get some time in the studio today. Praise the Lord...! I've got some quick snapshots of what I did on my blog, as well as some other things in the entry right before it.

See you all Saturday!

Caroline at urban + city hall and Ben at Nebinger School

2008-02-28T22:52:00.001-08:00

photo by Libby Rosof

Here's a pic of Caroline hanging her work at the Urban Outfitters in West Philly (across the street from the ICA). This picture comes from the artblog via Libby. This will be up until April 24th.

Pieces from the show both made in Colombia:

"They're Like Family, But They're Not Relations"

2007

Gouache on paper

5 ft x 7 ft

"Typical Bodyguard Situation"

2007

Gouache on paper

5ft x 6ft

She will also be in a Philadelphia Emerging Artists show in City Hall from February 28 to May 16. The show is titled "New Faces" located at the 2nd and 4th Floors, NE Corner of City Hall.

And Ben is working on a huge piece with some 8th grade students at Nebinger School in South Philly. I saw part of the piece tonight and it's quite gorgeous. Here's the piece as a smaller entity:

detailI told Ben tonight that it reminded me of this piece:

Hisham Bharoocha's "Cosmic Wonder"

My work at Urban Outfitters . . .

2008-02-28T11:57:00.000-08:00

Hello,

I just installed some of my new work (made in Colombia) in one of Urban Outfitter's exhibitions windows, directly opposite from the ICA at 36th and Sansom Streets. It will be up until April 24th, so if you are in the area, stop by!

At first I was like, Urban Outfitters? But then I thought, exhibition space is exhibition space . . .

I hope you can check it out sometime.

I'm in!

2008-02-16T14:48:00.000-08:00

2008-02-16T06:50:00.000-08:00

Brendan Kinslow blog M.I.A.

Where are you son?

More pictures from Work in Progress, 2007

2008-02-15T09:45:00.000-08:00

Here are some more pictures from Work in Progress silent auction/bash last year (again, thanks to Daniela Sessa from BreakThru Studios)...

Art Dixon pushin' up those prices...

...some conversation going on in the packed auction room; Becky Wainwright from CCO in blue:

...the good-lookin' Crowley family:

...and of course Ben's campy tableaux in the stairwell:

...guests hanging out and bidding on the silent auction items:

...and finally two more shots of the action from the balcony, showing the good attendance, and some of the great art installed in the gym (thanks studio people, and Mark McQuilling):

Belated thanks goes to Becky Wainwright, Andy Campbell, et al of the CCO (Coalition for Christian Outreach), as well as all the artists and the congregation for all the really hard work getting this ready, and for all the great people who donated and came!

Stay tuned to this website for details regarding a silent auction this year...

A Work in Progress, 2007

2008-02-14T13:46:00.000-08:00

...and just for fun, some pictures (courtesy of Daniela Sessa of BreakThru Studios) of last April's Church Studio silent auction/bash, A Work in Progress.

below, Rubens mixing some sweetness:

guest checking out Mark (aka Art) Dixon's studio work:

two guests in our "auction" room, perusing the wares:

some of the wonderful auction items gathered by Becky Wainwright of the CCO:

...and more to come.

Church studios statement: 1st draft

2008-02-13T11:35:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone; I am working on a short statement to include in our Fairmount Arts Crawl application, along with any other forms or official what-have-you's come along. PLEASE give any comments, advice or suggestions. The application is due Friday the 15th. Is it too abstract; not focused enough on what it is we "do"? Let me know what you think...
Thanks; Tim.

The Church Studios Artists-in-Residence Statement

We – a group of eight artists with varying experiences, backgrounds and working-styles – exist and practice in community because we believe there is strength and focus in numbers. Not only that, but we also believe the best of what may be found in life and in (art) work is also found in the active fleshing-out of that community. In addition, our common, core statements of faith both hold us together and provide an informing arc of history; a lens with which to view the world, and a spiritual impetus to move forward. We do this intentionally in league with an established church.

The expression and the results of this process of community-building is often messy, complicated and inconclusive; but we celebrate this, and hold on to those numerous moments which are miraculous and life-giving, and which stretch us farther than we’d be able to do on our own. Our chosen visual arts are diverse, as are we, but we search for a true commonality – unfortunately quite uncommon in our culture – in this practice.

Panoramas

2008-02-13T05:41:00.000-08:00

Here are those panoramic shots of the studios (click for a large image):

Church Studios in the Morning

Church Studios in the Evening

Church Studios Images

2008-02-12T08:49:00.000-08:00

There was a request for images of the space layout... I can't seem to track down my panoramic shots of the space, but I'll look for them on a hard drive at home. In the mean time, here are a few images that give a sense of it...

Erratic at U Arts until February 14

2008-02-10T17:51:00.000-08:00

Hey all, I'm currently in a three person show at the 817 gallery (Anderson building of U Arts). You can read a review of it here. Check it out if you're in the vicinity . . .

2008-02-09T22:01:00.000-08:00

Yvonne Boudreaux
Keith Crowley
Mark Dixon
Lynne Ghenov
Rubens Ghenov
Tim Gierschick
Brendan Kinslow
Caroline Santa
Ben Volta

*photo courtesy of Ben Volta

and hopefully we get this bumping like at the Guggenheim (ha ha ha ha):