ArtDiction January/February 2019

Habitual. Art.

Volume 16 January/February 2019 www.artdictionmagazine.com

ArtDiction is a platform for artists to display their work and a resource for the habitual art lover.

Staff

Devika A. Strother, Editor-in-Chief devika@artdictionmagazine.com Isabella Chow, Associate Editor bella@artdictionmagazine.com Phillip Utterback, Staff Writer phillip@artdictionmagazine.com David Frankel, Senior Account Executive dfrankel@webtv.net

Contributing Writers Iqra Hussain Thomas Smith Linda Turner

Devika Akeise Publishing assumes no responsibility for the opinions expressed by authors in this publication. Š2019 of Devika Akeise Publishing. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher.

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FEATURES 16 From Athlete to Artist

Stina Aleah used art to fight through her depression while recovering from an injury.

30 What is Fine Arts?

Fine Arts is term frequently used in the art world. An in- depth examination of the term is presented.

34 The Art in Architecture

As an architect of 10 years, Mr. Underdott creates digital art with precision fulfilling his inner need for creativity.

44 Arts in Education STEM in education is important, but art is another critical aspect of education. ArtDiction presents the reasons why.

44 Undefined Boundaries David Spriggs explores art in layered dimensions without boundaries. Discover his spatial-image sculptures and his Stratachromes.

58 Art & Exhibitions

Cover photo courtesy of Stina Aleah.

Art and exhibitions seem to go hand-in-hand. This article discusses the history and evolution of the art exhibit, and the demands and concerns of a curator.

In Each Issue 5 small talk 6 bella’s books 7 news 9 music 14 exhibits 62 artist index

Photo courtesy of David Spriggs.

Š2019 by Devika Akeise Publishing

ArtDiction | 4| January/February 2019

small talk

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I

t’s the first issue of 2019, so we thought it appropriate to make this the Fine Arts issue! After all, it’s our common love of the arts that (hopefully) brought you to this page.

In this issue we discuss Fine arts as a topic (page 30), why we defend the need for art to be taught to children in schools (page 44), and how important exhibitions are to the arts (page 58).

We also interviewed three artists from different practices. Stina Aleah was a track & field athlete who was sidelined with a femur injury and fell into a depression (page 16). She used art as a means to help her recover. Mr.

Underdott is an architect by day, but he uses digital art to satisfy his creative needs (page 34). David Spriggs (page 44) is best known for his layered, multidimensional installations. He even developed his own terminology to accurately describe his work.

It's clear that art is woven into humanity, and it is the reason, in part, that it has lasted for centuries. Enjoy this healthy dose for your artdiction, and remember why art is important to you.

ArtDiction | 5 | January/February 2019

bella’s books The Psychology of Time Travel Kate Mascarenhas Crooked Lane Books, February 2019 It was with quite a bit of excitement going in that I picked up Kate Mascarenhas’ upcoming novel, The Psychology of Time Travel, mainly because I am not sure if I have ever come across a sciencefiction book where every main character was a woman. While that fact is disappointing, it’s not that surprising; woman are often underrepresented in science-fiction, both as writers and as main characters.

It is encouraging, then, that strides made in recent years to increase female representation in media is being seen in literature as well, and I’ve been eager to see what this new wave of diversity has to offer.

Mascarenhas’ novel is based in an alternative timeline, where a team of four female scientists invent time travel in 1967. Except for part of one chapter, the entire book is told from the perspective of female characters: the four initial team members—Margaret, Lucille, Grace, and Barbara—as well as other members of the team in later years, and a few family members, such as Barbara’s granddaughter, Ruby. The narration jumps around in time (as would be expected from a time travel novel) from 1967 through 2019, with each chapter in a different year and from a different person’s point of view. There are multiple, different interweaving storylines, including fractures within the relationships of the founding team members, the death of a time traveler, and the mystery surrounding both who the person is and how they died, and conspiracies regarding possible dangers of time travel and who may might covering them up—all rich, fertile ground for an interesting, complex story.

But the goal of representation isn’t just parity in numbers; it’s equality in substance and character

development as well. So the question becomes not how a book measures up against other femalecentric literature within a genre, but how it holds up in the genre as a whole. How does The Psychology of Time Travel fare?

On the whole, quite well. One of the positives of the book is how Mascarenhas has fully fleshed-out all of her characters; they are vividly real, three-dimensional individuals worthy of main protagonist status, and not just inflated background players; you can understand each of their motivations, even if you don’t agree with them. While this development is impressive, the sheer amount of material generated as a result—from the number of different characters to keep track of, to the aforementioned multiple storylines, along with when and how information about those storylines is revealed—makes this a challenging read, even for those fully conversant in time travel literature. But it also shows that this level of complexity can be done, and done well, without the homogeneous constraints of the past. Hopefully it is representative of much more to come.

Extinctions Josephine Wilson Tin House Books, November 2018 Extinctions, the newest novel by Josephine Wilson, is a fascinating book.

Most times, when reading a story, you get a sense of an author’s feelings and intentions regarding their characters. With Extinctions, however, the characters are presented in such an objective and unflinching way that you don’t get any sense of that kind of intent. Warts and all, they are what they are, and we get a peek inside their heads to try and find out why.

Set in Wilson’s native Australia, the story centers around the remaining members of the Lothian family, all spun off into their own private orbits after the death of the family matriArtDiction | 6| January/February 2019

arch, Martha. Frederick, the father and retired engineering professor, has moved into a retirement village he detests.

He has jam-packed his place, not with mementos of family or friends, but with objects he feels more connected to: constructs of architecture, engineering, and design. His daughter, Caroline, has been estranged to him ever since secrets came out regarding her adoption at the tail end of the “Stolen Children” years in Australia (when mixed-race Aboriginal children were forcibly removed from their families); his son, Callum, is distant for different-but-equally-sad reasons.

But when the winds of change blow into Frederick’s life (via his next-door neighbor, Jan) everyone is affected, as Frederick starts to question the way he’s lived his life and the impact it has had on his family.

One of the things that makes the book so fascinating is that the characters seem created to evoke a reaction based upon the reader’s own personal experiences; you might recognize a Frederick or a Caroline or a Jan in your life, past or present.

The Lothian family’s flaws are not presented as statements on their character, but rather as part of who they are. You either identify with them or you don’t, find their motivations understandable or not; Wilson isn’t presenting excuses or offering easy answers. Like real life, there are no pat resolutions here, which, while unsatisfying, feels real. It’s not escapism reading, but it is good reading.

By Isabella Chow

news Zoé Whitley Named Senior Curator of Hayward Gallery in London The Hayward Gallery in London has appointed Zoé Whitley as its new senior curator, effective April 8. She succeeds Vincent Honoré, who has departed the museum to become artistic director of MoCo Contemporary Arts in Montpellier, France.

Whitley is the current curator of international art at Tate Modern, where she has been noted for curating the critically acclaimed “Soul of a Nation,” a survey about the Black Power movement and art made between 1963 and 1983. Before Tate Modern, Whitley was employed at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the Studio Museum in Harlem.

“The mix of world-class and risk-taking programming consistently draws me to the Southbank Centre as a member of the public,” Whitley stated. “I am so excited to now join the team when the organization is innovating interdisciplinary leadership and collaboration.”

Along with beginning employment at the Hayward, Whitley is overseeing the 2019 Venice Biennale’s British Pavilion. Ralph Rugoff, the Hayward’s director, is curating the Biennale’s main show.

Andy Warhol Foundation Awards $413,500 in Curatorial Research Grants The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts has presented $413,500 in Fall 2018 Curatorial Research Fellowships, making this the highest

dollar amount since the program’s inception began in 2008. Individual fellows will receive grants of up to $50,000 to support new scholarships that focus on contemporary artistic practice. Grant recipients were chosen through the foundation’s biannual open submission process.

“The curators in this group will conduct research on artists and movements that have been overlooked or ignored while engaging with, in many cases, difficult subject matter that is timely and culturally relevant,” said Joel Wachs, Andy Warhol Foundation president. “Their projects will bring new perspectives and methodologies to bear on the study of exhibition-making and currents in contemporary art.”

Among the recipients chosen are Naima Keith and Diana Nawi who are currently developing Prospect.5. “We are thrilled to receive the fellowship to support our research at this stage.

So much of our methodology is dependent on deep dialogue, and this award enables us to be on the ground and in conversation with different communities and cultural producers in New Orleans, the broader region, and beyond,” they said in a joint statement.

The Curatorial Research Fellowship program is in its 11th year; it has awarded $4.2 million to 125 curators to date. Curators at any career stage are encouraged to apply; applicants must have the formal support of an institution. The next deadline is March 1, 2019.

Met Museum to Review Its Donation Policy After Sacklers Named in Opioid Lawsuit The Met’s Sackler Wing has become a site of protest due to its association with the late co-founders of Purdue Pharma, who have been revealed as conscious contributors to the opioid epidemic.

Because of the known controversy surrounding the Sackler family, The ArtDiction | 7 | January/February 2019

Metropolitan Museum of Art says it will re-evaluate its policy on accepting financial gifts. The Sacklers have been long-time donors to The Met (along with a slew of other institutions, like the British Museum, the Guggenheim, and the Louvre). The Sacklers are also the original founders of Purdue Pharma, the pharmaceutical company which manufactures OxyContin and earned $3 billion in revenue in 2017.

The New York Times revealed new developments in the State of Massachusetts’ case against eight members of the Sackler family. This prompted The Met to issue a statement on their gift acceptance policy.

Daniel Weiss, the museum’s president and chief executive, stated: “The Sackler family has been connected with The Met for more than a half century. The family is a large extended group and their support of The Met began decades before the opioid crisis. The Met is currently engaging in a further review of our detailed gift acceptance policies, and we will have more to report in due course.”

The Met’s Sackler Wing opened in 1978 using funds provided by Purdue Pharma co-founders, brothers Arthur, Raymond and Mortimer Sackler. In March of 2018, drug policy advocacy organization, P.A.I.N. Sackler, held a demonstration in the Temple of

news Dendur located in the Sackler Wing, riddling the gallery with fake prescription bottles to draw attention to The Met’s alleged complicity in the opioid crisis. P.A.I.N. Sackler was founded in 2018 by photographer Nan Goldin, while recovering from an OxyContin addiction, to condemn the Sacklers and their high-profile roles as art philanthropists.

Although Arthur Sackler died in 1987, nearly a decade prior to the release of OxyContin, both Raymond and Mortimer have been implicated in the opioid epidemic and were recently revealed to have played a greater role in the misleading marketing of the drug as part of an ongoing court case led by the attorney general of Massachusetts.

Eight widows and descendants of Raymond and Mortimer Sackler are named in the case as partially responsible for the opioid crisis, and recently revealed previously undisclosed documents directly implicate the Sacklers. Among the named defendants is Theresa Sackler, widow to Mortimer, who has made donations to the Victoria and Albert

Museum, the Serpentine Gallery, and Tate Museum.

by the company about marketing the drug.

Recent court documents revealed that in 2001, facing evidence of heightened abuse of OxyContin, Richard Sackler, co-founder and then-president of the company, wrote in an email, “We have to hammer on abusers in every way possible. They are the culprits and the problem. They are reckless criminals.” This evidence is said to link the Sacklers to decisions made

Elizabeth Sackler, Arthur Sackler’s daughter and the founder of the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art at the Brooklyn Museum, has actively supported Nan Goldin’s campaign against Purdue Pharma and denied any financial ties to the company.

Neither she nor her mother, Jillian Sackler, is named in the lawsuit.

Art Los Angeles Contemporary, the International Contemporary Art fair of the West Coast, will be held February 13–17, 2019.

ArtDiction | 8| January/February 2019

music Bасkѕtrееt Bоуѕ - DNA By the late 2010ѕ in thеir dесаdеѕlоng саrееr, thе Backstreet Bоуѕ hаvе bееn аn аdult contemporary рор grоuр lоngеr thаn thеу were the tееn рор titаnѕ оf thеir lаtе’90ѕ рор сulturе реаk. Tаking steps аwау from bоmbаѕtiс аnthеmѕ and focusing on hеаrtfеlt соmfоrt, thеу еndеd a short hiаtuѕ with a раir оf еаrlу-2000ѕ еffоrtѕ расkеd with еаrnеѕt, rосk-lеаning ballads, lаtеr ѕtriking a bаlаnсе bеtwееn thеir twо sides bу diррing bасk intо dаnсе-friеndlу рrоduсtiоnѕ in thе еаrlу 2010ѕ. On DNA, thеir еighth full-lеngth, thеу continue thаt trеnd, rесruiting contemporary рrоduсеrѕ whо inсоrроrаtе ѕhimmеring tоuсhеѕ оf electronic, tropical, аnd synth рор intо thе mix while rеtаining thе сlаѕѕiс hаrmоniеѕ аnd ѕоngсrаft fоr whiсh thеу аrе known.

Cоnѕidеring fоur оf the fivе mеmbеrѕ wеrе in thеir fоrtiеѕ аt thе timе оf rеlеаѕе, DNA iѕ еlеgаnt аnd unеxресtеdlу frеѕh, еѕресiаllу оn ѕраrkling еlесtrоniс trасkѕ ѕuсh аѕ thе Lаuv-рrоduсеd “Nоbоdу Elѕе” аnd thе Chаinѕmоkеrѕ-еѕquе “Iѕ It Juѕt Mе.” Elѕеwhеrе, bасk-tоbаѕiсѕ mоmеntѕ ѕuсh аѕ thе luѕh a сарреllа оf “Breathe” аnd the thrоwbасk dоо wор оf “Thе Way It Wаѕ” аrе nestled аlоngѕidе hеаvilу рrоduсеd romps likе thе ѕurрriѕinglу hоrnу “Nеw Lоvе” аnd thе ѕеxу diѕсо-funk оf “Pаѕѕiоnаtе.” Thе Rуаn Tеddеr/Shаwn Mendes-penned single “Chances” аnd thеir firѕt Billbоаrd Hоt 100 еntrу in a dесаdе, “Dоn’t Gо Brеаking My Heart,” аrе ѕоmе оf Backstreet’s finеѕt, fаmiliаr in their dеlivеrу уеt with a fingеr on thе mаinѕtrеаm рulѕе оf 2019.

Thоugh thе tаil-еnd оf thе аlbum lоѕеѕ ѕоmе ѕtеаm, DNA rеmаinѕ рlеаѕаnt аnd еngаging, сlоѕing with thе charming hаnd-сlарѕ оf “OK.” With DNA, a rеvitаlizеd Backstreet Boys еxudе an аѕѕurеd соnfidеnсе,

“On DNA, thеir еighth full-lеngth, thеу continue thаt trеnd, rесruiting contemporary рrоduсеrѕ whо inсоrроrаtе ѕhimmеring tоuсhеѕ оf electronic, tropical, аnd synth рор intо thе mix . . .” tаking enough ѕtерѕ fоrwаrd tо соntinuе thеir рор mаturаtiоn withоut ignоring thе hооkѕ аnd hаrmоniеѕ thаt саrriеd thеm аll thiѕ wау.

A рrеѕѕ rеlеаѕе ѕtаtеd thаt thе grоuр аnаlуzеd thеir individuаl DNA profiles tо ѕее whаt сruсiаl еlеmеnt еасh mеmbеr rерrеѕеntѕ in thе album. Kеvin Riсhаrdѕоn ѕаid оf thе аlbum: “Wе wеrе аblе tо bring аll оf оur influеnсеѕ аnd ѕtуlеѕ intо оnе соhеrеnt рiесе оf wоrk. Thеѕе ѕоngѕ аrе a grеаt rерrеѕеntаtiоn оf whо wе ArtDiction | 9 | January/February 2019

аrе аѕ individuаlѕ аnd whо wе аrе аѕ a grоuр. It’ѕ оur DNA. We’re rеаllу рrоud оf that.” Thе grоuр аnnоunсеd thе nаmе оf thе аlbum аnd itѕ rеlеаѕе date оn Nоvеmbеr 9, 2018.

Thе ѕаmе dау, thеу аlѕо released thе ѕinglе “Chаnсеѕ” аnd аnnоunсеd thе DNA Wоrld Tоur in ѕuрроrt оf thе аlbum, set tо bеgin in May 2019.

Bring Mе thе Hоrizоn – amo Bring Mе Thе Hоrizоn is not a bаnd thаt is unfаmiliаr with drаѕtiс ѕhiftѕ tо thеir ѕоund. Aftеr аll, 2015’ѕ That’s Thе Sрirit еffесtivеlу dividеd thеir fаnbаѕе in two with its ѕhift from thе bаnd’ѕ еаrliеr mеtаlсоrе аnd dеаthсоrе оutingѕ to a mоrе radio friendly, alternative rосk ѕtуlе. Amо соntinuеѕ thiѕ раth tоwаrdѕ rаdiо арреаl bу embracing рор muѕiс fullу, but muсh like it’s рrеdесеѕѕоr, it ѕоundѕ ѕtаlе, dаtеd, аnd inѕinсеrе.

music

Whеthеr it be thе еlесtrорор оf “Nihiliѕt Bluеѕ”” whiсh ѕоundѕ likе it соuld hаvе bееn рrоduсеd bу Aviссi bасk in 2014, thе Mаrооn 5 еѕquе rаdiо funk оf ‘In Thе Dаrk,” оr “Medicine” whiсh lеgitimаtеlу ѕоundѕ likе an еdgiеr 1975 trасk, BMTH ѕtrugglеs to find аnу ѕеnѕе оf idеntitу in thеir nеw ѕоund. Mоѕt оf thеѕе ѕоngѕ just ѕееminglу сору аnd раѕtе frоm other ѕuссеѕѕful рор rосk асtѕ instead of оwning the ѕtуlе fоr themselves. Rеmеmbеr a couple уеаrѕ bасk whеn ѕingеr Oli Sykes hаd a minor fеud with Cоldрlау frоntmаn Chriѕ Mаrtin?

Nоw BMTH аrе riррing Cоldрlау оff with ореning trасk “I Aроlоgizе if Yоu Fееl Sоmеthing” bеing аn аlmоѕt blаtаnt сору оf Cоldрlау’ѕ Ghоѕt Stоriеѕ-еrа ѕtуlе.

thеу асtuаllу ѕоund likе Bring Mе Thе Hоrizоn, nоt Bring Mе Thе

Sреаking оf Oli Sуkеѕ, hiѕ vосаl реrfоrmаnсе оn amо lеаvеѕ a lоt tо bе dеѕirеd tоо. Hiѕ ѕinging iѕ оftеn drеnсhеd in rеvеrb, оutdаtеd аutоtunе, and other еffесtѕ thаt аrе сlеаrlу thеrе tо diѕguiѕе thе fact thаt thе mаn juѕt саn’t ѕing vеrу wеll. To bе fаir, he hаѕ ѕuffеrеd lеgitimаtе damage tо his vосаl сhоrdѕ in the раѕt whеn hе wаѕ ѕtill ѕсrеаming аnd grоwling, but thе vосаlѕ оn amo ѕоund likе hе’ѕ not еvеn аttеmрting tо put in a dесеnt реrfоrmаnсе, relying tоо muсh on ѕtudiо еffесtѕ tо mаkе himѕеlf ѕоund раѕѕаblе аѕ a рор singer.

Hiѕ lуriсѕ аrеn’t muсh bеttеr еithеr, аѕ hе ѕtill rеliеѕ on thе same tirеd hеаrtbrоkеn lуriсаl trореѕ as hе hаѕ fоr thе lаѕt dесаdе, with еdgу uѕаgе оf рrоfаnitу thrоwn in likеlу tо арреаl to thеir рrimаrilу tееnаgе fаnbаѕе.

Amo iѕn’t tоtаllу withоut rеdееmаblе quаlitiеѕ, ѕоngѕ likе lеаd ѕinglе “Mаntrа” аnd “Wоndеrful Lifе” invоkе thе ѕаmе fееlingѕ аѕ thе hеаviеr сutѕ оn thеir рrеviоuѕ rесоrd. Mоѕt imроrtаntlу,

Sinсе thiѕ album iѕ mеаnt аѕ аn embodiment оf Futurе’ѕ еntirе diѕсоgrарhу, it оnlу mаkеѕ ѕеnѕе thаt hе shows a lоt оf flеxibilitу.

Hоrizоn trуing tо imitаtе оthеr аrtiѕtѕ. “Hеаvу Mеtаl” also triеѕ tо ѕоund likе a throwback tо thеir hеаviеr dауѕ but uttеrlу fаilѕ with its рhоnеd in breakdown, сringе wоrthу lуriсѕ, аnd unfitting fеаturе frоm thе ѕuрrеmеlу оvеr quаlifiеd Rаhzеl.

This iѕn’t a diѕарроinting аlbum bесаuѕе it’ѕ “ѕоft” оr “рорру,” itѕ a disappointing оnе bесаuѕе itѕ lacks оriginаlitу аnd depth.

Plеntу оf fоrmеrlу hеаvу bаndѕ hаvе mаdе рор аlbumѕ whilе ѕtill rеtаining a ѕеnѕе оf idеntitу--juѕt lооk аt Ulver. Tо bе fаir, BMTH wеrе nеvеr thе mоѕt оriginаl bаnd, аnd thеу nеvеr раrtiсulаrlу еxсеllеd аt thе vаriоuѕ ѕtуlеѕ оf muѕiс thеу

ArtDiction | 10| January/February 2019

рlауеd, whеthеr that ѕtуlе wаѕ ѕlорру dеаthсоrе аlа “Cоunt Yоur Blеѕѕingѕ” оr thе ѕliсk mеtаlсоrе оf “Thеrе Iѕ a Hеll...” but thоѕе rесоrdѕ аt lеаѕt hаd gеnuinе hеаrt, аnd thе lаttеr even dеmоnѕtrаtеd thаt thе bаnd саn асtuаllу bе ѕоmеwhаt сrеаtivе and forward thinking. Amo dоеѕn’t hаvе hеаrt, itѕ nоt сrеаtivе оr frеѕh ѕоunding in any wау; it’ѕ juѕt a lаzу аttеmрt аt сарturing mоrе соmmеrсiаl арреаl frоm a bаnd whо may bе destined fоr еvеn mоrе mаѕѕivе рорulаritу, but whоse аrtiѕtiс реаkѕ аrе well bеhind thеm.

Future – Futurе Hndrxx Prеѕеntѕ: Thе WIZRD Thе Lоwdоwn: Futurе might nоt bе thе mоѕt vеrѕаtilе rарреr еvеr, but whеn соmbing thrоugh thе wоrk оf ѕimilаr аrtiѕtѕ аnd соmраring whаt thеу сrеаtе tо whаt the Atlаntа rарреr has dоnе оvеr thе уеаrѕ, hiѕ wоrk еthiс аnd рrоlifiсасу ѕhinе thrоugh. Frоm mixtapes tо jоint аlbumѕ, mоviе ѕоundtrасkѕ, multiрlе hit ѕinglеѕ, аnd ѕtudiо аlbumѕ, Futurе has bееn оn a rеlеаѕе ѕрrее. With hiѕ consistently сrоаkу vосаlѕ, he hаѕ taken his fаnѕ thrоugh ѕеvеrаl diffеrеnt personas:

music Futurе thе Aѕtrоnаut, Futurе Hеndrix, Suреr Futurе, Firе Marshal Futurе, аnd Plutо. Hiѕ lаtеѕt, Thе WIZRD, iѕ a соmbо оf аll thеѕе реrѕоnаѕ intеndеd to fоrm оnе fullу rеаlizеd rерrеѕеntаtiоn оf thе аrtiѕt.

Thе Gооd: Hеndrix’ѕ discography iѕ fillеd with unароlоgеtiсаllу brаggаdосiоѕ lyrics аbоut his wild lifеѕtуlе. Whilе tорiсѕ likе drugѕ, sex, money, аnd fame hаvе bесоmе сliсhé in hiр-hор, thеу sound intriguing whеn Futurе rарѕ about thеm.

Sinсе thiѕ album iѕ mеаnt аѕ аn embodiment оf Futurе’ѕ еntirе diѕсоgrарhу, it оnlу mаkеѕ ѕеnѕе thаt hе shows a lоt оf flеxibilitу. Hе dеlivеrѕ a lоt mоrе on Thе WIZRD thаn thе оbviоuѕ ѕwitсh frоm rаррing to ѕinging and juxtaposition оf uрtеmро vibеѕ аnd dоwn-tеmро tunеѕ. On thе gаngѕtеr ѕоng “F&N,” hе drорѕ a mind-blоwing ѕwitсh in hiѕ flоw аnd соntinuеѕ tо drор mоrе bаrѕ withоut аllоwing liѕtеnеrѕ tо rесоvеr frоm thе ѕhосk. Ad libѕ in hiр-hор hаvе become ѕо рrеdiсtаblе, еѕресiаllу uѕing wоrdѕ likе “iсе,” “ѕkrt,” аnd “AP”. Althоugh it might not ѕееm like a big dеаl whеn аn аrtiѕt drорѕ аn unеxресtеd аd lib tо a linе, it tаkеѕ rар fаnѕ bу ѕurрriѕе. On “Ovеrdоѕе,” Futurе сrеаtеѕ ѕоmеthing uniquе with thе аd lib “Uh huh” аnd ѕрiсеѕ uр thе trасk with it. I wоn’t ѕроil it hеrе.

Thе Bаd: Thiѕ аlbum rерrеѕеntѕ a рiесе оf еvеrуthing Futurе hаѕ mаdе bеfоrе. Althоugh he’s gооd at mаking hit ѕоngѕ, hiѕ саtаlоg iѕ аlѕо fillеd with ѕоngѕ thаt еliсit nо rеасtiоn— ѕоngѕ thаt аrе nеithеr hеrе nоr thеrе, аnd thiѕ аlbum саught a bit оf thаt weed. Thеrе’ѕ nоthing tо bе miѕѕеd if songs like “Siсk tо thе Mоdеlѕ,” “Gоin Dummi,” аnd “Fасеѕhоt” аrе ѕkiрреd.

“Aѕ a whole, A Gооd Friеnd Iѕ Niсе iѕ a соllесtiоn оf mоѕtlу blаnd рор ѕоngѕ thаt will bе аblе to stand оn thеir own with рlеntу of Tор 40 rаdiо роtеntiаl, but lасk thе роwеr tо ѕtаnd out аmоngѕt a crowd . . .” fоr ѕоmе reason hasn’t liѕtеnеd tо Futurе until nоw, Thе WIZRD is thе реrfесt рrоjесt for thеm tо bеgin thеir аdvеnturе intо thе rарреr’ѕ multiсоlоrеd diѕсоgrарhу. Thеrе iѕ a little bit оf еvеrуthing оn thiѕ рrоjесt: thе darkness frоm hiѕ раѕt, hiѕ ѕtrugglеѕ (“Tеmрtаtiоnѕ”), hiѕ реttу nаturе (“Nеvеr Stops”), hiѕ bоаѕtful nаturе (“Ovеrdоѕе”), аnd hiѕ раѕѕiоn fоr his саrееr (“Krаzу but Truе”). A 20-trасk аlbum iѕ a lоt. But with The WIZRD, оnе can bаrеlу feel it bесаuѕе оf thе ѕmооth flоw frоm trасk tо trасk. Evеn thе fеw miѕѕеѕ dоn’t diѕruрt thе rhуthm оf thе рrоjесt. Thiѕ mаkеѕ it

Thе Vеrdiсt: If thеrе’ѕ аnуоnе whо

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sound like аn аudiо ѕtоrу bооk with hаrd-hitting rар mеlоdiеѕ аnd different сhарtеrѕ. Future’s ѕеvеnth LP iѕ a ѕеlf-rеfеrеntiаl аnd ѕеlf-еvаluаting оnе. Indееd, Thе WIZRD iѕ thе real futurе.

Jасk & Jасk – A Gооd Friеnd iѕ Niсе Whеn ѕосiаl mеdiа stars frоm Vinе оr YоuTubе turn tо music, it uѕuаllу dоеѕn’t turn оut wеll. Hоwеvеr, Jасk & Jасk, thе fоrmеr Vine duo соmрriѕеd оf Jасk Jоhnѕоn аnd Jасk Gilinѕkу, do hаvе gеnuinе muѕiсаl tаlеnt. Thе раir, whо hаvе bееn friеndѕ ѕinсе thеir first dау оf kindеrgаrtеn, rеlеаѕеd thеir dеbut аlbum, A Gооd Friеnd Is Niсе. Aftеr firѕt hеаring thе duо’ѕ ѕоng “Bеg” in 2017, I had fаirlу high hореѕ fоr thе рор rесоrd thаt wаѕ dеѕtinеd tо come frоm thеm.

Aѕ a whole, A Gооd Friеnd Iѕ Niсе iѕ a соllесtiоn оf mоѕtlу blаnd рор ѕоngѕ thаt will bе аblе to stand оn thеir own with рlеntу of Tор 40 rаdiо роtеntiаl, but lасk thе роwеr tо ѕtаnd out аmоngѕt a crowd whеn ѕо muсh gооd muѕiс iѕ hitting аirwаvеѕ right nоw.

Whilе ѕоngѕ likе “Lоttа Lоvе” аnd “Riѕе” аrе саtсhу, thеу dоn’t аdd tоо muсh tо thе соnvеrѕаtiоn whеn people wоndеr whу рор muѕiс ѕtill

music mаttеrѕ in оur dау and аgе. Thе ѕуnthеtiс bеаtѕ ѕеt tо thеѕе ѕоngѕ juѕt fееl likе thеу’rе fаlling flat аgаinѕt thе lуriсѕ. Eасh ѕоng fееlѕ likе it’s juѕt a соntinuаtiоn оf thе lаѕt оnе. Thiѕ blеnding flоw оn thе аlbum doesn’t wоrk аt all fоr mе.

I’vе rаttlеd аgаinѕt thе bаѕiсnеѕѕ оf mоdеrn rаdiо рор music in thе раѕt аnd аlbumѕ likе thiѕ аrе thе rеаѕоn whу. I just fееl рrеttу disappointed bу thе rеѕultѕ оf thiѕ аlbum. Mауbе it’ѕ juѕt bесаuѕе I’m nоt Jасk & Jack’s соrе аudiеnсе, but thаt ѕhоuldn’t mаttеr. One оr twо оf thеѕе songs iѕ саtсhу, but ѕаdlу, this entry intо thе рор muѕiс zеitgеiѕt iѕ juѕt… fоrgеttаblе.

Thе mеtеоriс riѕе оf Oklаhоmа-bоrn аnd Lоѕ Angеlеѕ-bаѕеd рор phenomenon Jасk & Jack hingеѕ оn thе lifеlоng friеndѕhiр оf Jack Gilinѕkу аnd Jасk Jоhnѕоn. Thаt friеndѕhiр trаnѕlаtеѕ tо thе undеniаblе chemistry аt thе hеаrt оf their music.

A gоld-сеrtifiеd ѕinglе “Like That” [feat. Skаtе], a раir оf сhаrt-buѕting EPѕ Cаlibrаѕkа [2015] аnd thе соnсерtuаl Gоnе [2017] аnd ѕоld оut hеаdlinе tours positioned thеm for a mаjоr brеаkthrоugh оnlу саtаlуzеd furthеr bу the runaway ѕuссеѕѕ оf their соllаbоrаtivе ѕinglе with Jоnаѕ Bluе, “Riѕе.” Nоt only did thе сrоѕѕоvеr ѕmаѕh сlосk hаlf-аbilliоn tоtаl streams in undеr ѕix mоnthѕ аnd top сhаrtѕ аrоund thе wоrld, but it аlѕо реаkеd аt number

one in thе UK аnd thе boys tеаmеd uр with Bluе fоr a ѕhоw-ѕtоррing Wembley Stаdium реrfоrmаnсе in frоnt оf 90,000 реорlе.

Dаwn Riсhаrd – nеw breed Fоllоwing hеr ассlаimеd trilоgу оf ѕоlо аlbumѕ, еlесtrоniс R&B innоvаtоr Dаwn Riсhаrd has returned with nеw brееd, a nеw аlbum-lеngth project thаt dates bасk tо her uрbringing in Nеw Orlеаnѕ, tаking in thе сitу’ѕ riсh trаditiоnѕ аnd muѕiсаl hеritаgе.

A ѕеlf-рrоduсеd rеturn tо thе еlесtrоniсаllу fосuѕеd ѕоniсѕ оf hеr previous ѕоlо wоrk, nеw brееd iѕ аn

“A ѕеlf-рrоduсеd rеturn tо thе еlесtrоniсаllу fосuѕеd ѕоniсѕ оf hеr previous ѕоlо wоrk, nеw brееd iѕ аn authoritative ѕtаmр оn the gеnrе in hеr оwn uniquе fаѕhiоn. ” authoritative ѕtаmр оn the gеnrе in hеr оwn uniquе fаѕhiоn. Sеt асrоѕѕ 10 trасkѕ, thе аlbum рrоvidеѕ thе mоѕt intimаtе роrtrаit of Dawn’s life ѕо fаr, hаrking bасk tо hеr years grоwing uр in Nеw Orleans аnd paying tributе tо thе сitу’ѕ сulturе, ѕightѕ, аnd ѕоundѕ.

Prеѕеnting a duаlitу between thе mоrе ѕоulful ѕоundѕ оf thе сitу’ѕ mоrе trаditiоnаl fоrmѕ оf R&B and Dawn’s оwn innovative brаnd оf еlесtrоniс ѕоniсѕ, nеw brееd ѕееѕ ArtDiction | 12| January/February 2019

Dawn аt hеr mоѕt есlесtiс, drawing оn a wide rаngе оf influеnсеѕ аnd, аlоngѕidе соntributiоnѕ from thе likеѕ оf Cоlе M.G.N (Chriѕtinе & Thе Quееnѕ, Ariеl Pink), Kаvеh Rаѕtеgаr (Jоhn Lеgеnd, Siа) аnd Hudѕоn Mоhаwkе, hаѕ bееn lаrgеlу ѕеlf рrоduсеd. Drivеn bу innоvаtiоnѕ in tесh аѕ wеll аѕ muѕiс, in 2016 Dawn bесаmе thе firѕt еvеr artist tо реrfоrm livе in 360 dеgrееѕ on YouTube, раrtnеrеd with Wirеd for thе rеlеаѕе оf аn аwаrd-nоminаtеd virtuаl rеаlitу vеrѕiоn оf hеr ѕinglе “Nоt Abоvе Thаt,” and jоinеd Adult Swim аѕ a сurаtоr аnd dеѕignеr.

Hеr lаѕt аlbum Rеdеmрtiоn wеnt tор 5 in thе Billboard Dаnсе Chаrtѕ, and ѕаw hеr ѕubѕеquеntlу соllаbоrаtе with Dirtу Prоjесtоrѕ, Kimbrа, аnd Mumdance оn a ѕеriеѕ оf ѕinglеѕ.

Livе, Dаwn hаѕ ѕреnt thе Autumn touring with hеr fоrmеr Dаnitу Kаnе bаndmаtеѕ as wеll аѕ Kimbrа, аnd реrfоrmеd аt Adult Swim’ѕ fеѕtivаl thiѕ Nоvеmbеr. With nеw brееd, Dawn hаѕ furthеr ѕеt hеrѕеlf араrt аѕ оnе оf R&B’ѕ truе iсоnосlаѕtѕ, mеrging ѕtуlеѕ and mеtаmоrрhоѕing thеm tо hеr оwn ѕtуlе tо сrеаtе оnе оf thе mоѕt imроrtаnt, culturally rеlеvаnt рrоjесtѕ оf rесеnt timеѕ.

Inсrеаѕinglу саrving hеr оwn lаnе in thе lаndѕсаре оf соntеmроrаrу muѕiс, Dawn iѕ writing hеr оwn lеgеnd; оnе that thоѕе after hеr have nо сhоiсе but tо fоllоw.

By LInda Turner

exhibits Interior Lives: Photographs of Chinese Americans in the 1980s by Bud Glick October 18, 2018—March 24, 2019 Interior Lives, on display at the Museum of Chinese America, features the work of Thomas Holton, Annie Ling, and An Rong Xu, three photographers who have documented the lives of Chinese New Yorkers.

Together, these photographers provide a glimpse into the complex realities of immigrant life in New York City.

Thomas Holton has documented the lives of a single family, the Lams of Ludlow Street, since 2003. Beginning as a family of five in a 350-square-foot apartment, the family has changed over the past 15 years. The children have grown, and the parents have separated. For more than a year, Annie Ling has documented the lives of the

live in cramped quarters earning low wages, and sacrifice to support their families who have been left behind in China. Using his photography, An Rong Xu has explored the intersections of his Chinese-American identity that he considers to be “two sometimes polarizing cultures.”

Way Out There: The Art of Southern Backgrounds March 2—May 19, 2019

Gertrude Morgan, Howard Finster, and Thornton Dial.

Haeue Yang November 2, 2019—April 5, 2020

Way Out There, organized by the High Museum of Art’s renowned photography and folk and self-taught art departments, celebrates the union of contemporary American photography, literature, and self-taught artists.

Exploring the exchange between selftaught and avant-garde artists, this show uses photographs to reveal the brilliant vitality of self-taught artists through images of their homes and yards, presented with unique artworks that have been preserved from those places.

Way Out There is inspired by the book Walks to the Paradise Garden, written

by Jonathan Williams, that features more than 100 of the South’s many backroads artists whom Williams visited during extensive road trips in the 1980s and 1990s with photographers Guy Mendes and Roger Manley.

35 residents of the fourth floor of 81 Bowery. The “invisible immigrants”

Way Out There will consist of sculptures, paintings and drawings by selftaught artists in the High’s collection, along with rarely seen photographs

by Mendes and Manley. Additional artists to be represented include Eddie Owens Martin, Sam Doyle, J.B. Murray, Edgar Tolson, Georgia Blizzard, Sister ArtDiction | 14| January/February 2019

The Bass is presenting an exhibition of the works of South Korean artist Haegue Yang. Artwork to be displayed include sculptural works and largescale installations that are made of venetian blinds, one of Yang’s signature materials. Yang’s work is said to reflect a relentless curiosity about the world, evoke feelings of displacement, and generate profound feelings of foreignness and alienation on both social and existential levels. These realities perhaps accurately reflect the current thoughts of the nation, and is fittingly on display at The Bass, where 50 percent of Miami-Dade county is born outside of the United States.

The exhibition will be held on both the first and second floor galleries of the museum. Two of her venetian blind installations from will be juxtaposed in one room to create new narratives. In an adjacent gallery, Yang’s works from her series, Sonic Sculptures, will be on display, which pair notions of movement and sound, history, and figure.

Also, Yang will execute a site-specific wallpaper merging the exhibition spaces across The Bass’ two floors.

Advertise with Contact dfrankel@webtv.net for information.

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From Athlete to Artist

B

efore 2005, oil painter Stina Aleah had never picked up a pencil or paintbrush. “I was not interested in art. I was an athlete and ran track & field,” Stina says. During Stina’s recruiting year, she broke her femur and was unable to continue her track season.

After surgery, she couldn’t walk safely to her classes without causing herself even more injury. “Because of this, my counselors and principles decided it would be best to spend my time in the art room,” she recalls. “After being an elite athlete, and not being able to compete, I fell into a depression. My art teacher decided to help me focus and get out of the depression through art.” While healing

mentally and emotionally, she began to fall in love with art. “From that point forward I saw what art could do, and how it changed my life, and my outlook on what I thought my future would be.”

Although she did return to running (receiving a full scholarship to Purdue University), Stina never let the dream of being an artist leave her. Her high school art classes, watching other classes, and asking questions whenever possible (along with trial and error) allowed Stina to develop her artistic skills. When Stina first delved into the world of art in 2005, her focus was on mixed media, 3-D art, and sculpting. The following year she began drawing with pastels, graphite, and charcoal.

Self Portrait Stina Aleah

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“My art teacher decided to help me focus and get out of the depression through art.”

“I took a break from 2007-2012 to focus on college and graduating. By 2013 I attempted to paint. It was horrible, so I stopped and went back to drawing,” she says. “By 2015, I saw a gorgeous oil painting and I wanted to create paintings just as beautiful. So I picked up oil painting and didn’t stop until I got it right.”

Stina’s portfolio now includes an impressive collection of portraiture. “I’ve always tried to draw portraits from the very beginning. Before I ever painted I was using charcoals and graphites and trying to draw people,” Stina says. “I wasn’t really great at it, but I kept trying. Now, [after] much tenacity and determination, it’s what I do best.”

Some of Stina’s favorite pieces is “Vindication” and “Beguiled,” both created in early 2016. “These two paintings really showed me the level of talent that I had not tapped into yet. It was a glimpse into my future.”

Stina is inspired by her own life, experiences, and interactions. “I do not let anything other than my emotions pave the way for me on canvas. I believe if anything else other than me motivates my creativity, then ultimately that controls what I create; thus controlling my career.” Sometimes it’s dreams or random epiphanies that find their way to Stina’s canvas. Other times, she uses picture references that best represent her ideas. That begins her creative process. “I draw the basics on canvas. I start my underpainting process, and the rest is history.”

Stina’s creative focus for the year is to work on more focused detailed pieces. “I [always] challenge myself . . . to go further than where I am now. I also am working on much larger pieces and hope to continue [in] 2019 with more exhibitions.”

To see more of Stina’s work, go to www.stinaaleah.com.

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Honey, I Love Stina Aleah

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“My goal isn’t to be popular; my goal is to be valuable.”

Unnamed Stina Aleah

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“I do not let anything other than my emotions pave the way for me on canvas.”

Solus Stina Aleah

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“I’ve always tried to draw portraits from the very beginning. Before I ever painted I was using charcoals and graphites and trying to draw people.”

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Totality Stina Aleah

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There’s More of Us Stina Aleah

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Lotus Stina Aleah

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Tianna Stina Aleah

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What is Fine Arts?

By Thomas Scott

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T

he Fine Arts refer to the main forms of artistic realization or aesthetic representation historically cultivated by humanity. These are considered “pure� forms of art that use different techniques, materials, and procedures.

Each, however, encompasses a multitude of recognized practices, styles, and trends. These arts are traditionally part of the lasting and transcendental elements of humanity; those considered worthy of a central place in high culture, both as documents or testimonials of an era, a way of feeling, or as symbols that concern a specific conception of the world and of existence.

Traditionally, six forms of Fine Arts are recognized: painting, music, literature, dance, and sculpture. Later, cinema (the seventh art), architecture, and graphic narrative or sequential art (the ninth art) were added. It must be said that the concept of Fine Arts is linked to the idea of the museum and historical art, and not so much of contemporary art, which has put this concept in question. Nowadays, art is viewed from different perspectives, given that the traditional notion of Fine Arts has often been accused of being ethnocentric (privileging

the European conception of art) and culturally exclusive.

History of Fine Arts The ancient Greeks studied artistic representation (especially Aristotle) and understood it in two opposing categories: the superior and the minor. The former were more elevated, poetically powerful, and transcendental, while the latter were more vulgar and simple. This distinction was supposedly derived from the senses used to perceive beauty (sight and hearing were the superior senses). However, the term Fine Arts was used properly from the eighteenth century to group the artistic practices valued at the time and try to unify the many theories about beauty, style or taste. Declamation and oratory were included among them, but they were replaced in time.

How are the Fine Arts classified?

The classic division of the Fine Arts is established from the materials that it uses and the way it uses them, in the following ways:

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•Architecture. Uses various construction materials to make homes, buildings and urban spaces that are beautiful and functional, aesthetic and livable at the same time.

•Dance. Uses the human body and the musical rhythm as a form of expression of artistic contents.

•Sculpture. Uses stone, clay or various solid materials to achieve three-dimensional artistic representations, either figurative or abstract.

•Painting. Uses pigments obtained from various natural and artificial sources to aesthetically represent reality through color and shapes on canvases and other surfaces.

•Music. Through diverse instruments constructed by the human being, it seeks to reach beauty through rhythms, melodies and harmonically orchestrated sounds to elicit an aesthetic experience in listening.

•Literature. Using language as a raw material, individuals compose stories, theatrical representations or poetic descriptions that can then be read and enjoyed aesthetically.

•Film. Using complex technical instruments, it captures light, sound and times itself in sequences of simulated or real events that make up a story, a discourse or an audiovisual representation of reality.

Characteristics of Fine Arts

•They aspire to beauty. In any way and through varied techniques and materials, the Fine Arts seek to communicate a specific experience of the beautiful, the harmonious, the transcendent or the profound.

•They are universal. In principle, works of art should be appreciable by all humanity, regardless of the particularities of their origin, religion or sex.

•They are durable. Works of art should last over time and be able to communicate their content to future generations, whether in museums, reproductions, or specialized.

Oftentimes, the most lasting and meaningful art begins with clear intention from the artist.

An artist must have a purpose in mind, be patient, and stay inspired.

Conclusion Art has been part of society since the beginning of time as a means of expression, which has different dimensions and transformations according to the artist and the time in which it develops. The artist is the one who creates a new way of interpreting and experiencing it, for which each individual handles different skills in painting, sculpture, music, etc. in a different way. The different mutations of art over the years take us to the place where we are, where technology has invaded every corner and serves as a visual, auditory and perceptive medium within any artistic field.

The Fine Arts are diverse among themselves, but they suppose a uniform set of characteristics:

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The Art Here’s to You

M

r. Underdott is an artist from Greece whose specialty is in digital art. He has worked as an architect for the last ten years, a field that requires precision and attention to detail, which is evident in his art.

AD: When and how did your interest begin in art?

MU: My first involvement with art began at early age, as I was inspired by my dad who was also an architect and traditional painter.

AD: Did you receive traditional or non-traditional education/training?

MU: I couldn’t say I have had a specialized education in art, apart from the basic facts I was taught in my school of architecture.

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in Architecture I’ll Drink to That

AD: What inspires you creatively?

MU: My artwork fulfills my inner need for creativity in a way that architecture cannot.

AD: What is your creative process like?

MU: Generally, I am inspired by everyday life experiences and things I observe around me, so I don’t follow a pattern or set of rules when I create art.

AD: How do you come up with your color pallets?

MU: I rather like to follow my instinct in choosing design and colors as the process develops.

AD: Is most of your work done digitally?

MU: Yes. Most of my work is done digitally.

AD: What are some art tools that you cannot live without?

MU: I couldn’t live without my pencil and my sketchbook.

MU: For this year, my plan is to draw more.

AD: What do you hope to accomplish creatively this year?

See more art at www.society6. com/underdott.

Dive

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Precision

Over the Hill

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Grid Lines

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Always Under Construction

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New Point of View

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Arts in W

hen STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) was introduced in 2001 by the National Science Foundation, education moved the national curriculum towards nurturing students into disciplines that would develop the skills stressed in STEM. And certainly helping our students grow in the STEM areas is important. With the forever and continuous growth of technology, it is vital that we teach our children how to adapt and grow with science and technology. However, the growth of STEM has stripped our children from another vital aspect of their education: the arts. Though No Child Left Behind considered arts and arts education as an integral part of education, there is no shortage of evidence that

when cuts need to happen in schools, one of the first places cut is the arts.

Arts have been repeatedly proven to provide students with skills that traditional education fails to address. On the most basic level, the fine arts produces students that have higher levels of creativity, perseverance, and confidence.

Growing through courses in the different art forms forces students to struggle with their own feelings and determine ways to express those feelings in various ways. Through that struggle and discussion with classmates, students learn how to grow and empower themselves through their art.

Participating in the fine arts in school allows students to explore interests that are not always

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Education

By Phillip Utterback

taught. Art participation has also been found to have significant impact on students’ writing, reading, and math skills. The Arts Education Partnership completed research in 2002 that found that students who were exposed to the arts performed better in standardized tests and had improved social skills; this research was completed again in 2010, and similar results were found.1 Anyone who has participated in the arts can additionally tell you that creative outlets and the teaching of creative outlets, helps develop all important life skills. By navigating through the arts, students can comfortably develop their resiliency and ability to bounce back from failure. Additionally, playing in musical groups or working on theater productions promotes

group work and collaboration. While STEM classes are important in preparing our students in educational fields, the arts help develop our children in supplementary skills that will benefit them in all aspects of life. ________________ 1. Workman, E. Beyond the Core: Advancing student success through the arts (September 2017). https://www.ecs.org/wp-content/ uploads/Beyond_the_Core_Advancing_student_ success_through_the_arts.pdf, (accessed February 2, 2018).

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Undefined Boundaries

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D

avid Sprigs creates art that lies in the space between the second and third dimensions. He explains: “I explore phenomena, space-time and movement, color, visual systems and surveillance, the strategies and symbols of power, and the thresholds of form and perception.”

Most people know David for his unique large-scale 3D ephemeral-like installations that use a technique that he pioneered in 1999 using the layering of transparent images. He calls these works “spatialimage sculptures” or “stratachromes.” Stratachrome is a term David developed to mean layered color, taking color into three-dimensions. “Strata is Latin

for layers, and chrome is Greek for color. These installations are really best experienced in person as photography and video just doesn’t capture them,” he shares.

His first large-scale installation was Axis of Power, which was shown in the Sharjah Biennial 9 in the UAE. “The large scale was important to me to visually overpower the viewer and control their perception. The viewer is immersed in the hybrid space between two and three dimensions of the artwork and are forced to move around to comprehend it.”

David’s style has evolved many times over since receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Emily

4 Colour Seperation David Spriggs

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Carr University in Vancouver, and Master of Fine Arts from Concordia in Montreal. He has created art that ranges from cartoons to traditional-style oil painting and stone sculpture. But after developing his layering technique 20 years ago, he continued to explore this type of work.

Using an airbrush and spray gun, his style of painting in the layered space is often a “blurry” style, where apparent forms seem to have no boundary and bleed into the surrounding space. “It is an interesting notion for me to have a sculpture without a defined

Roses of Sharon, 24” x 30”, 2010

boundary. Umberto Boccioni and the Futurists also had this fascination and made their subjects part of their environment,” he says. “In reality there is no real boundary between one thing and another--just collections of atoms moving through other atoms.”

This year, David plans to create a major new work series on the color black along with realizing some exciting new works in his Vision series.

Visit www.davidspriggs.art for more of David’s art.

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Gold David Spriggs

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Stratachome Green David Spriggs

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Contact David Spriggs

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Regisole David Spriggs

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Vision II David Spriggs

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Sratachrome Blue David Spriggs

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Art and Exhibitions

by Iqra Hussain and Isabella Chow

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C

reativity expresses itself in unique ways. Painting, images, poetry, novels; everything is a form of literature and literature exhibits itself through the medium of art. Art, either in written or painted form, can be eternal.

What is an art exhibition?

An art exhibition is basically installation of different art forms in a proper place where people can come, view presented materials, and occasionally be given the opportunity to purchase items, all while giving recommendation and appreciation for the works of art.

Art exhibitions are usually held at art galleries and museums.

History The history of exhibitions goes back to the 18th and 19th centuries, when exhibitions were a medium to express the novelty of art and the artist. Artists were supposed to dip the brush in the color of their imaginations and paint their particular life experience and nature onto the paper.

Evolution in Art Exhibitions

Art can reflect emotional, psychological, social, and political purposes. The main evolution in art exhibitions were the formation of the private art galleries. Exhibitions nowadays can include paid entries where all pieces of art are for sale.

The supposition prevails in the previous era that art must represent a purpose; in the present stage, abstract art has invaded the exhibitions and the motif of exhibitions containing and exhibiting particular themes has vanished.

The main and most remarkable evolution in the field of art exhibitions is that previously art was specifically for artist communities, with commoners not really taking a keen interest in these kinds of displays. In the present era, art exhibitions have become a sole point for exhibiting particular skills, including handicrafts, artifacts, and other homemade and handmade items. Exhibitions are also now in reach of the common public.

With the involvement of common people, the shape, outlook, and stance of exhibitions has been revolutionized.

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Curator’s Concerns Curators are central figure who are responsible for all the tasks of an exhibition, from the installations themselves, to smaller details such as opening and closing times.

Curators are passionate about exhibiting art, and often have specific focuses regarding exhibitions.

These can include the following: • The novelty of the art • The social contribution of the art • Knowledge of public demands, tastes, and fantasies • The market value of the offered artifacts and paintingsIn the present span of time, people are running after ab-

stract images, in art galleries abstract art installations have a specific area and crowd.

Above all, a curator’s goal is to present material that attracts people into the exhibition, and provides promotional opportunities for museums and art galleries.

World’s famous art museums and galleries Art museums and galleries famous for their innovation and novelty of their exhibited art include the following: 1. Musee De Louvre: The world famous Louvre is Paris’ premier art museum, with annual

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visitors of over 8.1 million people.

2. National Museum of China: Located in Beijing, this museum aims to educate its 8 million annual visitors about the arts and history of China.

3. The Metropolitan Museum of Art: The Met in New York City is the largest art museum in the United states, and with 7.35 million annual visitors, in the third visited art museum in the world.

4. Vatican Museums: These museums, located in Vatican City, are ranked as the fourth most visited art museum, with over 6.4 million visitors viewing the

immense collection amassed by popes throughout the centuries.

5. British Museum: This museum in London was the first national public museum in the world. Its 5.69 annual visitors make in the fifth most visited art museum in the world.

Art is universal, and the most inspiring, long-lasting art reflect this. Art exhibitions play in integral parting in bringing international cultures to a central location, making art a powerful and inspirational medium.

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artist index

Page 16 Stina Aleah www.stinaaleah.com

Page 42 David Spriggs www.davidspriggs.art

Page 42 Mr. Underdott www.society6.com/underdott

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WWW.MESARTSCENTER.ORG

www.onethousandloveletters.com