Writings about art in Brooklyn: June 2007

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Electronic Arts Intermix

I love this place. Go to www.eai.org to check it out for yourself.

I made an appointment to see these films (free!):
Tony Oursler: The Loner 1980, 29:56 min, color, sound

Tony Oursler: Selected Works 1979, 34:20, b&w and color, sound (which contains the following videos:
"Diamond (Head)", "Good Things and Bad Things", and "Life".

Ryan Trecartin: A Family Finds Entertainment 2005, 42 min, color, sound

Shana Moulton: Whispering Pines 1, 2 min.

I saw Tony Oursler's The Loner again (amazing), and only saw Diamond (Head) from the Selected Works... because I got there late. Diamond (Head) was so great. It was right in the tradition of The Loner, but black and white and about a marriage and a woman who gets old. She gets old in the most amazing way. I'm not going to ruin it for anyone else.
I also saw a short video, Shana Moulton's Whispering Pines. I wish I had time to see more of her videos. That was a great intro, but such a tease. It totally left me wanting to see more.
Finally I saw Ryan Trecartin's A Family Finds Entertainment. That was trippy to say the least. More commentary on these videos later. I need to process them. They were great to see together. I have to say that Diamond (Head) and Loner take the cake. They are so mind blowingly good.

Friday, June 15, 2007

Donald Judd essay

I just read the essay that I posted earlier. I should maybe have read the thing first. It was interesting but felt more like a historical document. It was written in 1965 and I feel like he has all these charming ideals that really don't make much sense. Most of what he's talking about I feel like I can understand from a primarily historical context. Not much makes me think, "Yes! You are so right Don. Teach me."
BUT - I do much prefer his style of writing to ArtForum's. I think that ArtForum gets lost in its own anus at times (probably like Derrida but ideas that are less interesting). Judd's writing is direct even when it is abstract. He makes simple statements and doesn't use many $20 words. $20 words don't make your writing any more profound, folks. It just means that you can't write very well or very clearly - and that you are lazy. Not that my writing here is top notch at all. But then again, I'm not publishing this and selling for $10 bucks on the street.
So - good job Don on the writing. But you're not relevant anymore.

Art Review of Neo Rauch at the Met

It's here. Roberta Smith basically says he's done great stuff in the past, but this show is no great shakes. I will have to check it out to see what I think.

Thursday, June 14, 2007

weird weird video

whoah. this is insane.

watch this video.

I want to make one of these

Amazing movies that I'm thinking about now

A Trip to the Moon by Melies

Kylie Fife told me about the following movies to check out:

the homage to "A Trip to the Moon" (and it is so well done! and I love the song...)

Tonight, Tonight video by Smashing Pumpkins.

Danielson Famile music video for "Did I Step on your Trumpet?" is amazing.

Video Data Bank has a page for "The Loner" by Tony Oursler. If you click on the little camcorder icon you can see a small segment of the movie (worth it). The movie is truly grotesque (funny and tragic at the same time). This movie blows my mind and makes me remember why I love art.