Here's a great little article, complete with audio slideshow (a must-see, but alas, Gina isn't featured), about the Hackneyed Portraits exhibit at MOBA: So bad, it's good
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Gina Unveiled (Part 3 of the Saga)
Erin did a fine job of representing us at the gala opening of “Hackneyed Portraits” at MOBA. She also provided the pix below. I interviewed her about the experience.
M. J.: Set the scene for me. What was the event like? Who was there? What was happening?
Erin: Curator Mike Frank, wearing a tux, Louise Sacco, the Permanent Acting Interim Executive Director, and Garen Daly, Director of Special Events, were there and all were very welcoming. I think there were maybe about 20 other patrons of the bad arts milling about the gallery and looking at the works. Mike had chosen some great background music for the event – instrumental jazz accompanied by loons, and yodeling of the classics. As I made my way around the room, I definitely caught wind of the buzz in the air, “We have a donor here!” Tee hee!
M. J.: What’s this I read about “traditional MOBA snacks”? What did they serve?
Erin: Louise supplied the purple and green Kool-Aid and cheese curls as well as other chips and fruits. It was all very colorful and festive, in a garishly neon way. I stayed away from the cheese curls – I assumed that they weren’t vegan, but come to think about it, they may have been made with a chemical cheese food substance that wasn’t a dairy product at all.
M. J.: What about our painting? How were people reacting to it?
Erin: Well, when I got there, I immediately began searching for Gina, but I didn’t see her hanging among the 20-some other portraits. Turns out she was covered with a burgundy cloth. When the official part of the ceremonies started, Mike called me up and asked me to read the description as he unveiled the painting: "Frightening non-kosher demons haunt this blonde, blue-eyed beauty in a see-through blouse." Some people gasped, others laughed, all applauded. I felt so proud and honored. A woman came up to me later and asked if I’d be putting on my resume that I’m a patron of MOBA. I think I will! Woo hoo! (Blogger’s note: Erin was raised among mild-mannered Midwestern Episcopalians, and she never uses salty language or is the least bit sarcastic. “Tee hee” and “Woo hoo” are genuine indicators of great glee and enthusiasm.)
M. J.: What have you learned about the bad arts as a result of this experience? Do you have any advice to pass along to other would-be patrons?
Erin: This whole saga, from the acquisition to the unveiling, has taught me to trust my taste in bad art. I was telling Curator Mike that, when we first saw the painting at the flea market, we recognized its elements of badness but didn’t know if it was MOBA-worthy. “How could you not know?” he asked me repeatedly. I can now say with confidence that I will truly know bad art when I see it. As Mike says, “I don’t let good technique stand in the way of bad art.”
M. J.: Set the scene for me. What was the event like? Who was there? What was happening?
Erin: Curator Mike Frank, wearing a tux, Louise Sacco, the Permanent Acting Interim Executive Director, and Garen Daly, Director of Special Events, were there and all were very welcoming. I think there were maybe about 20 other patrons of the bad arts milling about the gallery and looking at the works. Mike had chosen some great background music for the event – instrumental jazz accompanied by loons, and yodeling of the classics. As I made my way around the room, I definitely caught wind of the buzz in the air, “We have a donor here!” Tee hee!
M. J.: What’s this I read about “traditional MOBA snacks”? What did they serve?
Erin: Louise supplied the purple and green Kool-Aid and cheese curls as well as other chips and fruits. It was all very colorful and festive, in a garishly neon way. I stayed away from the cheese curls – I assumed that they weren’t vegan, but come to think about it, they may have been made with a chemical cheese food substance that wasn’t a dairy product at all.
M. J.: What about our painting? How were people reacting to it?
Erin: Well, when I got there, I immediately began searching for Gina, but I didn’t see her hanging among the 20-some other portraits. Turns out she was covered with a burgundy cloth. When the official part of the ceremonies started, Mike called me up and asked me to read the description as he unveiled the painting: "Frightening non-kosher demons haunt this blonde, blue-eyed beauty in a see-through blouse." Some people gasped, others laughed, all applauded. I felt so proud and honored. A woman came up to me later and asked if I’d be putting on my resume that I’m a patron of MOBA. I think I will! Woo hoo! (Blogger’s note: Erin was raised among mild-mannered Midwestern Episcopalians, and she never uses salty language or is the least bit sarcastic. “Tee hee” and “Woo hoo” are genuine indicators of great glee and enthusiasm.)
M. J.: What have you learned about the bad arts as a result of this experience? Do you have any advice to pass along to other would-be patrons?
Erin: This whole saga, from the acquisition to the unveiling, has taught me to trust my taste in bad art. I was telling Curator Mike that, when we first saw the painting at the flea market, we recognized its elements of badness but didn’t know if it was MOBA-worthy. “How could you not know?” he asked me repeatedly. I can now say with confidence that I will truly know bad art when I see it. As Mike says, “I don’t let good technique stand in the way of bad art.”
500 Hits!
I've been on Flickr for almost five months now, and as of today my photostream has been viewed 500 times. The picture with the most views is the one of the factory wall (see 3/13/2006 post below) with 51 hits. This picture of the stairs at the end of Green Street is currently in second place with 26 hits. All of this is small potatoes compared to some people on Flickr, but I'm pretty pleased with myself. I now belong to 10 groups, including ones for Mini Coopers, Roadside America, Found Art Still Life, Northampton, Pioneer Valley, flea markets and factories. I even have a few Flickr contacts who, in addition to my pals who are compelled to say nice things, have left complimentary comments on a few of my pix. Much as I hate to admit it (see previous rant), I am participating in social networking of a sort. But it's for art's sake.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
More Knitting Projects
I've been a busy little knitter lately. These are two wee sweaters I just knit for a pal's new twins. Not knowing how long it would take to get them done, I knit them in 12-month size. I also knit a potato chip scarf that everyone tells me is weird and a dead brilliant present to take to Spooner in London in the fall (Hint: if we go on the Dickens walking tour, I'll make him wear it).
Thursday, June 08, 2006
MOBA report delayed (but on the way)
I know, dear readers, that you've rushed with eager anticipation to my blog this morning to read the full account of the unveiling (yes!) of The Id and Ego of Gina (official title) at MOBA. After the gala reception ended last night, Erin phoned in a gleeful, albeit brief, report. But now she's off to Atlanta for a conference and the full report, with pix, will have to wait a week. If she has decent wifi access where she's staying, we may be able to get some work done on it sooner. In the meantime, you can cool your jets by reading Anju and Rahul's blogs of their summer adventures in India.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
MOBA exhibit opens June 7!
Below is the blurb about the new exhibit at MOBA. Unfortunately, they've scheduled the gala opening for a Wednesday evening -- a bit hard for me to drive to Dedham and back that night. But Erin will go and send me a full report.
******
The other world-famous art museum in Boston, the Museum of Fine Arts, recently closed a popular exhibit, "David Hockney Portraits". As a tribute to our downtown neighbors, and in recognition of the importance of portraits to their collection and ours, MOBA announces the opening of: HACKNEYED PORTRAITS: IT LOOKS JUST LIKE HER!
We'll include many new MOBA acquisitions along with a few of your old favorites. One is:
. . . ASHEN WOMAN RISING
. . . By Anonymous
. . . 12"x15", oil on canvas
. . . purchased in Jamaica Plain by Mike Frank
. . . Rising from the murky depths like Nessie, this mysterious
. . . beauty from the underworld haunts the viewer with her
. . . piercing gaze from eyes both blue and brown.
This show opens with a gala reception at MOBA's permanent gallery on Wednesday, June 7. Please join us at 7:30 pm and bring your friends. Arrive early and enjoy beer or wine in the refurbished lobby of the Dedham Community Theater. Traditional MOBA refreshments* will be offered at the Opening Reception.
If you can't make the opening, then come and see this exciting new exhibit when you can.
* Traditional MOBA refreshments often include brightly colored KoolAid and cheese curls.
******
The other world-famous art museum in Boston, the Museum of Fine Arts, recently closed a popular exhibit, "David Hockney Portraits". As a tribute to our downtown neighbors, and in recognition of the importance of portraits to their collection and ours, MOBA announces the opening of: HACKNEYED PORTRAITS: IT LOOKS JUST LIKE HER!
We'll include many new MOBA acquisitions along with a few of your old favorites. One is:
. . . ASHEN WOMAN RISING
. . . By Anonymous
. . . 12"x15", oil on canvas
. . . purchased in Jamaica Plain by Mike Frank
. . . Rising from the murky depths like Nessie, this mysterious
. . . beauty from the underworld haunts the viewer with her
. . . piercing gaze from eyes both blue and brown.
This show opens with a gala reception at MOBA's permanent gallery on Wednesday, June 7. Please join us at 7:30 pm and bring your friends. Arrive early and enjoy beer or wine in the refurbished lobby of the Dedham Community Theater. Traditional MOBA refreshments* will be offered at the Opening Reception.
If you can't make the opening, then come and see this exciting new exhibit when you can.
* Traditional MOBA refreshments often include brightly colored KoolAid and cheese curls.
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