FOCA-OC

OPEN STUDIO

2009-11-06T14:52:00.000-08:00

BRET AND GREG PRICE

OPEN STUDIO
Saturday, December 5
1:00 pm -- 5:00 pm
418 S. Montgomery
Orange CA 92868

RSVP by November 11

raelynnprice@earthlink.net or 714 633 7737

Clay, Glass, Metal, Paintings. Bret and Greg Price, who so graciously gave the Fellows an unforgettable studio tour and cast glass demonstration last June, are having an OPEN STUDIO on December 5. Both Bret and Greg will be on site to explain their art works as well as their working techniques. Bring your friends and make it another great day in OC.

COLLECTING CALIFORNIA: Selectings from Laguna Art Museum. November 8, 2009--February 7, 2010

2009-11-06T13:24:00.000-08:00

COLLECTING CALIFORNIA, Laguna Art Museum's current exhibition, looks at 10 of the most significant gifts that have been given by 10 of the most significant donors in the museum's history. Ruth and Murray Gribin are among the donors. The Gribins were among the original members of the Fellows of Contemporary Art, "Mickey" Gribin being the second president of Fellows from 1977-78. Through their collecting and support of many museums including, The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Laguna Art Museum, the Hammer Museum, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles and the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, the Gribins had a considerable influence on contemporary art in Southern California.

John Altoon
Untitled, 1959
Oil on canvas
Laguna Art Museum Collection
Gift of Murray and Ruth Gribin

A DAY IN ORANGE COUNTY, JUNE 6, 2009

2009-06-10T16:11:00.000-07:00

At 10:00, 28 Fellows arrived at the studios of father and son, BRET AND GREG PRICE in downtown Orange. Bret Price talked about bending steel into large, monumental steel sculpture in New Bremen, OH where he has the use of heavy equipment and lots of open space to make these pieces. He also has a long career in ceramics. The studio was filled with his highly colored small steel sculptures as well as his beautiful ceramic pieces. Bret's sculptures and commissions are in many institutions and private collections. His most recent solo exhibition, Out of Shapes, was at the Fort Collins Museum of Contemporary Art from January to March, 2009.

Greg then spoke to us briefly about discovering glass casting at the University of Hawaii and had many examples of his glass sculptures in the studio. After talking about the process of casting glass, we were led to the back of the studio where Greg demonstrated the casting process while Bret assisted. The photo here only begins to show the drama of Greg's demonstration which included pouring molten glass, the use of large blow torches and the quick bending and twisting of the soft, hot glass as it was being formed into a sculpture. Drama is too small a word for this.

Our next stop was at the Orange County Museum of Art where deputy director Karen Moss, led us through the current exhibition, Illumination: the Paintings of Georgia O'Keefe, Agnes Pelton, Agnes Martin and Florence Miller Pierce. Moss was able to speak directly about the painters and the paintings, their differences, their similarities and the biographical details of each of these artists who painted in a desert environment each with her own distinctive spiritual subtext relating to the landscape. It is a fascinating exhibition and the first time these four artists have been exhibited together.

Lunch followed at Brasserie Pascal in Fashion Island.

OCMA ART AUCTION 2009, SATURDAY MARCH 28

2009-03-23T12:02:00.000-07:00

OCMA's annual auction is coming up on March 28th but you can start bidding on the work now. Head over to their auction site and take a look. tickets can be yours for $200 (member price).

CALIFORNIA BIENNIAL REVISITED

2008-12-04T20:45:00.000-08:00

"It has been a rough start to the new millennium, and sadly art survey shows have failed to reflect the context in which art makers and viewers live. Thankfully Lauri Firstenberg of LAXART has remedied the disconnect with the 2008 California Biennial." To read more from this reviewer, see Michael Buitron.
Christopher Knight reviews the exhibition as "Fifty four artists and collectives invoke primarily social and political subjects, positioned against the proliferation of big-ticket, fabricated art."
For another point of view, C-Monster conveniently ranks the Biennial work according to how likely it is to appeal to stoners. I'm sure that is handy for some. Check it out.

ORANGE COUNTY BIENNIAL VISITED

2008-12-02T16:41:00.001-08:00

The Orange County Museum of Art's 2008 California Biennial was curated by Laurie Firstenberg from LAXArt without a specific theme and with exhibitions in a variety of locations throughout California, including Tijuana, Mexico.

A group of 30-35 FOCA members carpooled to see the work of Kelly Barrie at UC Irvine, one of the exhibition's off site locations. Barrie accompanied us to answer questions about his large scale photograph at UCI's Room Gallery. Returning to OCMA, Fellows were walked through the exhibition by Aram Moshyedi, assistant to Biennial curator, Laurie Firstenberg. There were individual themes detected and talked about by Moshyedi such as work involving found objects, immigration and border politics, the war in Iraq, body politics, politics of religious and consciousness of violence, but no one prescribed theme was planned for the exhibition.

Afterwards, at the salon at the home of Linda Maggard, there was a question and answer period with the curatorial staff of OCMA, Karen Moss, Sarah Bancroft; independent curator, Aram Moshyedi and artist, Kelly Barrie. Among the questions asked included how artists were selected for the exhibition: the process involved a two year exploration of California artists that included studio visits and exhibitions. It was decided early that the artists would all be from California, but they would be artists with international reputations. And, it was decided that the exhibition space would be at various locations throughout California, including Tijuana. The 2008 biennial features artists with a strong history of video and conceptual idea based work which reflects California's long tradition with this media.

Artist Kelly Barrie talked about the photo installation at Queen’s Nails Space in San Francisco, with his mother Mary Kelly, as an example of an intergenerational art piece. This two person merging of subject is concerned with self revelation and “secret agreements between generations”.

Karen Moss urged everyone to visit OCMA's website for a listing of offsite exhibitions, future performances and openings. Fellows barely scratched the surface of 2008 California Biennial and the feeling was strong that, as individuals, we need to return for a longer, closer look at this dense and provocative exhibition.

2008 CALIFORNIA BIENNIAL

2008-10-03T18:09:00.000-07:00

Orange County Museum of Art
Oct 26, 2008 -- Mar 15, 2009
The 2008 California Biennial continues the Orange County Museum of Art's four decade long history of presenting new developments in California art. This year's biennial is guest curated by Lauri Firstenberg, founder and director/curator of LAXART in Los Angeles. The exhibition includes works by more than 50 artists and, for the first time, incorporates off site projects with collaborating venues from Tijuana to Northern California. The exhibition is presented at both the Newport Beach and South Coast Plaza locations.

SUMMERFEST, August 24, 4:00 PM

2008-08-02T17:32:00.000-07:00

Friends! Drinks! Dinner! Music!

Fellow's summer party will be hosted by the Turners. At the party we will meet the new 2008 Fellows' Grant Artists. Transportation will be arranged for Fellow's from Orange County if enough people want it. All OC members have been contacted about this by email or telephone. I will need to know if you are interested in transportation from Orange County--YOU MUST LET ME KNOW BY AUGUST 15.

The summer party is always a special event at a special home and a time to socialize

with friends. You should all have received an invitation to the party by now. If you have not received one or for more information about transportation from OC,
call or email Linda.

AMY CATERINA EXHIBITION AT GCAC

2008-07-07T12:42:00.000-07:00

On April 26, Fellows visited Amy Caterina at her studio in Santa Ana where she was busy constructing her knitted environment, This Used to be Real Estate; Now it's only Fields and Trees. Her opening on July 5, was hugely attended and the finished piece is incredibly beautiful and meaningful as a cautionary tale about the importance of being aware of nature and its fragility. The exhibition was in GCAC's Project Room which Caterina transformed into a terraced grassland inhabited by deer, rabbits, and moose, all of knitted "Fun Fur" and surrounded by Caterina's photograph/wallpaper of California woodlands. On the ceiling was a scrolling video of blue sky and clouds. The installation strongly addressed California's disastrous forest fires with animals in black knitted "singed" fur moving down to the safety of greener grass. Caterina was there sitting among her furry friends with many children somersaulting down the grassy slope along side her. For those who know CSUF director, Mike McGee as well as Amy, you will want to read the following Orange County Register article about an act of dedicated friendship and heroism.
This Used to be Real Estate; Now it's only Fields and Trees will be exhibited at the Project Room, Grand Central Art Center, 125 N. Broadway, Santa Ana through August 24. Go see it!

Huntington Beach Art Center

2008-05-30T15:57:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have not visited The Huntington Beach Art Center please take note. This is a public art center dedicated to showing the work of contemporary artists working in all media. HBAC is nationally known for presenting artists of national and international prominence as well as works of emerging artists. It is a wonderful exhibition space and offers community programs in art education as well as live jazz on Sunday afternoon, blues on Friday nights and classical concerts throughout the year. When I moved here in 1997, HBAC showed Kara Walker in this space. Last year I saw two wonderful shows by painters Sherie Franssen and Mark Dutcher. This month was the HBAC annual art auction fundraiser, and guess what, I got Mark Dutcher's Pansy Rising, shown here. I am thrilled! For their next exhibition, HBAC will be showing three large scale site-specific installations, Ground Us, by Kiel Johnson, Lucrecia Troncoso and P. Williams who will use mixed media to create their ideal utopia. The dates are June 28-August 31. Check the link above for hours and go see the show.

A DAY IN OC UPDATE

2008-05-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth Turk, seen here talking to Fellows in The Chiarini Marble Yard, will be having two solo exhibitions this fall:
Sept 6 - Oct 18, opening reception, Sept 6 at Bandini Art in Culver city. September 25 at Hirschl & Adler Modern, NYC

Jim Lorigan, master printer, is demonstrating printmaking techniques at Watermark Printmaking Workshop located in Grand Central Art Center. His paintings are currently being exhibited at William D. Cannon Art Gallery in Carlsbad, CA.

Fellows with Amy Caterina's pseudo-sod car. Her exhibition, This Used to be Real Estate, Now it's only Fields and Trees, will open on July 5, 7:00 and run through August 24 in the Project Room at Grand Central Art Center.
photos courtesy Kathleen Schaefer

A DAY IN ORANGE COUNTY, SATURDAY APRIL 26

2008-03-28T19:11:00.001-07:00

On April 26, we will be visiting three outstanding contemporary artists currently working in Santa Ana. Our first stop will be the Chiarini Marble Yard where internationally exhibited artist Elizabeth Turk carves marble. She is working there on a new sculpture series for exhibitions this fall in LA and NYC. She works here thanks to the generosity of the Chiarini brothers who over the years have provided
free space to more than 100 artists who work in marble.

Next we will visit The Watermark Printmaking Workshop located at The Grand Central Art Center, Cal State Fullerton’s graduate facility. Jim Lorigan, master printmaker and owner of Watermark will demonstrate the printing process and Turk will show prints and artist books that she is will be exhibiting at Bandini Art Gallery in LA this fall .

While at the Grand Central Art Center we will visit the studio of Amy Caterina, Cal State Fullerton artist in residence, where she will show us the knitted environmental installation she will be exhibiting at the GCAC project room this summer.

There will be bus transportation from South Coast Plaza
Limited to 24 persons
cost: $45./person (includes lunch)
RSVP by April 15 with a check to:
FOCA, 970 N. Broadway, suite 208, LA, CA 90012

For more information about A Day In Orange County, contact Linda White, lindawhite@roadrunner.com

Las Vegas Diaspora: The Emergence of Contemporary Art from the Neon Homeland March 9 – June 1, 2008

2008-03-12T17:26:00.000-07:00

This exhibit travels to Laguna Art Museum from its recent premiere at the Las Vegas Museum of Art. Organized by Dave Hickey, this exhibition celebrates the work of twenty-six artists who received their degrees from the University of Las Vegas, Nevada (UNLV). All of the featured artists studied with Hickey between 1990 and 2001, when Hickey taught art theory and criticism in the Department of Art at UNLV.

Martin Kersels, FOCA 2008 Fellowship Recipient, Lectures at OCMA

2008-02-25T17:32:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, February 21, Martin Kersels talked about his work as part of a lecture series cosponsored by OCMA and the Studio Art Department at the University of California, Irvine. Kersels, at 6 feet 7 inches and over 300 pounds, describes his work as "an artist at play", the subject of his work being the psychological ramifications of “living large”. The talk included slides of sculptures from his graduate student days at UCLA , many of which are lumbering surrogates for his own body. In his video and photographic performances, he feature himself in comedic forms of slapstick and pratfalls to describe "human vulnerability and the uncertain nature of existence". His large sculpture, Tumble Room, as well as video performances can be seen in the current OCMA exhibition, DISORDERLY CONDUCT:Recent Art in Tumultuous Times. (Scroll down for more information about this exhibition.) Martin Kersels will receive a FOCA Fellowship this year.
In the photo above, Kersels is seen with FOCA member, Mary Chabre.

SAVE THE DATES for the following Fellows programs

2008-02-16T13:44:00.000-08:00

Saturday, March 1--Michael Gold leads a tour at The Brewery featuring artist Roland Reiss and others.
Thursday, March 6, 6:30 PM--Opening reception at the Fellows office in Chinatown for A->B:A Field Guide to Urban Community, the second of our Curator's Laboratory series.
Sunday, March 30 from 2:00-4:00 PM--Salon at the Hancock Park home of Fern and Leon Wallace.
Saturday, April 26, 10:00 AM--A day in Orange County with sculptor Elizabeth Turk. Included will be a visit to the Marble Yard where she makes sculpture, Grand Central Art Center's Watermark printmaking studio to see her prints in progress and her drawing studio at the beach. Bus transportation from OC will be provided to these sites if there are enough people signed up. Watch for the flyer in the mail and respond.
Saturday, May 31--Artist studio visits around La Cienega/Venice Blvds. Including Dora del Larios and Robert Toll. That evening Kori Newkirk: 1997-2007 will open at the Pasadena Museum of California Art.
Sunday, June 22 from 3:00-5:00 PM--Salon at the Beverly Hills home of Joy and Jerry Monkarsh.
And, in May look for our third Curator's Laborarory, The Yellow Book!

Please do not RSVP for these events in advance to receiving the individual events announcements. There will be future notices in this blog as more program dates are set.

DISORDERLY CONDUCT: Recent Art In Tumultuous Times

2008-02-06T12:01:00.000-08:00

Disorderly Conduct is a great new show at Orange County Museum of Art curated by Karen Moss, featuring local and international artists who create art works concerning the general chaos and instability of our times. February 3--May 25. Don't Miss it!
And, if you want additional discussions about this exhibition listen to Peter Clothier's interviews with the curator Karen Moss and artists featured in the exhibition at http://www.artscenevisualradio.com/PClothier.html. Also click on Lectures and Talks for a schedule of lectures at OCMA about the exhibition.

What FOCA activities most interest you?

2008-01-04T15:05:00.000-08:00

--Artist studio visits
--Gallery visits
--Curator led museum tours
--Art travel
--Social gatherings with other Fellows
--Visits to private collections
--Salon events
--Art lectures
--Shared transportation to LA from Orange County
--Other activities you would like to see Fellows offer
--Your opinion about this blog and how you would like to use it

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