Shirazeh Houshiary

Artist Shirazeh Houshiary tells of the importance of ambiguity and discovery in art, and the power of perception.

www.shirazehhoushiary.com/

This House

Berlin Six | Auf Wiedersehen

Here are the last few offerings of photo documentation from Berlin.  The city was abound with facades of every color and political proclamation, including the declaration above which translates to "This House Previously Stood in a Different Country", referencing the Berlin Wall.  Other punctuations in the facade narrative were not so politically charged and made statements through color and mural.  However, an old squat tenement found in former East Berlin had the words "Soldiers are Murderers" emblazoned on its facade, only steps away from a military cemetery.  Even buildings that are charged with such history as the Reichstag have taken on a new persona.  Once used for propaganda purposes in World War II, Germany's parliament building now emphasizes the transparency of government and accessibility to its people by means of Sir Norman Foster's glass dome addition.  Whether transparency in the parliamentary government is actually true is yet to be determined...  

Until next time, auf wiedersehen Berlin!

Hamburger Bahnhof

Berlin Four | Museum für Gegenwart

Here, I believe, the images can mostly speak for themselves.  Above is from instillation db by Ryoji Ikeda.  In a stark white room, prints of pi are hung on the walls, as a speaker emits a high toned sound.  Images alone are not able to capture the experience of the space, but the clean, simple arrangements of objects in the room are only complimented by the monotone ring that accompanies them.  The following images are of miniature light models that were only accessable through openings in a wall.  

click through for more photos.  

Simplicity

Simplicity is the glory of expression, originally uploaded by Design.Her.

As best said by Walt Whitman, "Simplicity is the glory of expression." I cannot help but feel that we as a culture and individuals have stepped away from the notion of simplicity. We proceed with much of our functions haphazardly, and disregard the simpler notions of our lives. Expression, in its most straightforward and undemanding form, is wonderful; albeit rare. Lately there has been such a powerful push away from simplicity of expression, and toward a much less charming notion. Artists, designers, architects, and the like have been letting the conviction of their work go to waste as they shamelessly tout themselves. They have no longer become the art that they were once so passionate about, but rather concerned with marketing themselves as a product. Once one steps away from the simplicity of their art and ventures toward capitalistic measures to gain attention, you lose what it was that made you special in the first place. To make a living from your art is one thing, but to compromise your character to make a buck is another. I am by no means saying that the artist can no longer have gallery showings or sell their work; however selling out is another issue entirely.

This once again brings me to think of the artist Ernest Doty, who, until a few weeks ago, was the somewhat anonymous public artist of Albuquerque.  He was not littering the masses with information on how to  make him a wealthy man. Rather, his goal seemed simple; to give our city the gift of art. Is that so bad?

I have a feeling that many of those who have strayed from what brought them to their art began at the most simple and pure idea of their work. Now all we have to do is find the way back.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Last week, a story aired on the local news that a vandal in the Albuquerque area had been apprehended and made to pay to restore the buildings that had been damaged by his colorful graffiti. Albuquerque is no stranger to tagging and street vandals, however this was a different story. Artist Ernest Doty is being accused of unauthorized graffiti on several buildings in the downtown Albuquerque area; a charge I strongly disagree with.

Reflections of an Artist

Reflections of an Artist, originally uploaded by Design.Her.

Eight more days until my 23rd birthday and I have a few things to celebrate today.

1. My first attempt and success at a self portrait

2. Less than 100 degree weather

*and*

3. Lightroom 3 was released today!

However, the third comes at a price. The version of Lightroom 3 beta I have been using is going to expire at the end of the month which means I'm going to have to fork over more money to Adobe. It'll be worth it though, I love that program!

This is also my 8th photo in the June photo-a-day project.  I know, I know, I still have 22 more days left, but it's progress nonetheless.  Off to shoot some more!  

Print Show

 

Anna Reser

 

Chelsea Wrightson

Paul Glover

Guillermo Gomez

Errol Bennet Jr.

The University of New Mexico printmakers put on a gallery showing of some of the students current artwork.  Some of the artists included in the show were Paul Glover, Chelsea Wrightson, Errol Bennet Jr., Guillermo Gomez, Sandy Edwards, Emily McMaster, Anna Reser, and more.  Put on in a mixed used gallery space called Cirq, the show was an impressive presentation of what the UNM Fine Arts Department has to offer.  Brilliant compositions and stories were told through each work, and the talent was enviable.  The closing reception on Friday night not only had great turnout for the artwork, but also for the dance party to follow; beats courtesy of Sandy Edwards.  

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