OnTheCusp.org

Andrea Zittel's addition to the IMA's recently opened 100 Acres Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park, an island made of fiberglass and foam that is approximately 20 feet in diameter, is called Indianapolis Island. Zittel received many proposals for artists' projects involving the new island. Jessica Dunn and Michael Runge, both Herron School of Art and Design students, created a proposal entitled "Give and Take" that was selected, and they are inhabiting the island all summer long.

Below is an IMA video about the fabrication of the island:



Dunn and Runge have now been living on Indianapolis Island for about two weeks. They have launched their artistic concept on many levels. Dunn describes the concept:
"Andrea Zittel gave us the island for us to take and use for our own living needs and artistic concept. In return, we want to give back to the public and have them give and take with us as well as leave their own mark on the project. From this general concept, we developed our ideas for trade, messages, and the blog." The physical exchange of objects with visitors recalls a project by artist collective Gelitin that was called Tantamounter 24/7, which occurred in 2005 and saw the artists receiving objects from visitors and then physically recreating them by hand with what materials they had and giving the visitor their newly forged version of whatever object they received. Give and Take has its similarities insofar as being completely open-ended as far as what visitors put in, but here the object that they receive will be far more unpredictable, although it may be bartered for. Runge explains, "It's been fun to see how people interpret it. It's really fun to give no direction and see what people come up with. People interpret island life differently; a lot of people have brought us practical things like sunscreen and bug spray, some people have brought us things to keep us busy like games and books, and others have brought us food."

Runge describes the give and take aspects of the project: "That's still coming into it's own life. All of the things we are doing in this project have a give and take theme; the trades are most obvious. There's a tangible example by the object that people leave behind and the object they take with them. The messages they send are also a give and take; the idea of communication. Our blog is a way for us to communicate, the tours are a way to communicate, the message is a way to communicate. The gardens are growing. They take water, sunlight, nutrients, and design, and they give food. Compromise in the sense of living on the island is also a give and take. When you go to a place, you leave your mark on that place. You are physically changing everything in ways that you cannot see, but you are also changing the energy. It's a little more obvious what you take with you (experience, knowledge, different perspective). The trade idea was just a tangible example of that. The visitors are leaving their mark on their space, but they are also taking a souvenir."

Runge and Dunn are striving to live as simply as they can on Indianapolis Island. The space's physical constraints necessitate it, but it is also a sort of philosophical reduction of the many unnecessary things that surround us in modern life. As a part of this new way of life, they are attempting to grow some of the food that they will consume. Runge already has a garden and raises chickens in his personal home, and the island has a floating garden that the pair designed. The crops will not mature for a couple more weeks, but eventually they will become a sustainable food source.


What Runge and Dunn thought would be a secluded getaway and spiritual retreat has turned out to be quite the opposite. "I could get upset about it, but it allows me to treat it differently. It becomes more of a performance than a retreat," Runge explains. He feels quite a bit like an animal in a zoo not only due to the omnipresence of watchers, but due to their vigilant monitoring of his mundane daily activity and enthusiastic responses. Dunn adds, "It's just kind of surreal. Everytime we walk outside and look out on the porch, there are people, completely around the lake, staring, watching us all the time. One time I went on the porch, and the pier by Kendall Buster was completely full of people and they all yelled out in unison, 'Hi, Jessica!'"

In order to chronicle their experiences, Runge and Dunn are keeping a blog that is located on the IMA website. Besides providing records of physical trades of items that have occurred, photos and writings chronicling the pair's daily life on the island, and images of messages they receive from the floating capsules that they fabricated, the blog has also been an avenue for the pair to respond to questions they receive via message. They have recently completed a FAQ section to avoid redundancy, but unique questions may receive an answer on the blog. This allows the artists to add a "give" component in a situation where a lack of technology previously would have rendered it a mere "take;" by utilizing a publicly viewable blog, the pair is able to respond to often anonymous messages in a way that they never would have been able to before, lacking contact information from the messages' senders.

Stay tuned, as we will be checking back in with Michael and Jessica at different points during their tenure on the island this summer.

coauthored by Scott Grow and Charles Fox

Video of a conversation between Charles Fox, Jessica Dunn and Michael Runge on the opening day of the park

Conversations with Jessica Dunn and Michael Runge from Charles Fox on Vimeo.

BEFORE:


AFTER:


Well with the grand opening tomorrow of the long awaited IMA's Virginia Fairbanks Art and Nature Park, I have struggled to decide what sort of post to publish for this blog. What could I possibly post that would not just be a rehash of all the other press releases and published articles in any of a variety of sources, be it the New York Times, Art Review, NUVO, Indianapolis Business Journal, and many more. We had discussed some thoughts on interviews with different artists, staff and the installers but in short, availability and timing just didn't seem to pan out for us. We do continue to do some further posts in the coming months once we all get the chance to see the park in person (in its completed form) and the anxiety of the grand opening calms a bit. So considering this I thought I would simply post a brief rundown of this weekends events as well as link you to some of the published articles and include a couple of the IMA's video links.

I had been following the goings on with the park since I first heard of it with great excitement. This new venture for the IMA commemorates a new phase in the museums already long and distinguished history with in the community. Having talked a number of times with assorted staff these past few weeks I can say with out a doubt that everyone at the IMA has been busy and working hard everyday leading up to this opening. I can only expect that the kick off event will be a great relief for everyone involved.

Having seen a number of the works at different stages of completion these past months, I can't wait to see them all now finished and with crowds of patrons walking the grounds. I only hope that the weather will be cooperative though the sheer amount of rain we have been getting these past days is bound to make for some muddy walkways. So, don't where your good shoes this weekend and just in case, bring your umbrella.

For those of you who have yet to keep up on who the artists involved are and those of you who are simply interested in knowing more about them, I would highly recommend everyone head out tomorrow to check out the 100 Acres Artist Forum in the Toby Auditorium. It is free to the public but I expect a large turn out so you must reserve your free ticket online. For those of you who are planning on making it out, I will be there with you.

I am very interested in hearing your thoughts on the works being presented this weekend and on the park in general. Please give us your thoughts in the comment section.

So below are the details for this weekends events. [NOTE: The VIP viewing of the park is NOT FREE but for those of you who want to see it and can't afford the ticket price for the VIP event, check out the Sunday public opening ceremony.]

For a full rundown and details of the IMA's Virginia Fairbanks Art and Nature Park opening visit their site here.

Artist Panel
The Toby at the IMA
Saturday, June 19
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Hear from the artists and architects as well as museum staff who planned every detail of the Park.

VIP Opening (Note: this event is not free)
100 Acres: The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park
(Park at the IMA, shuttles available to the Park)
Saturday, June 19
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Park terrain is variable. Please wear appropriate footwear.

Tip Off and Public Opening
Carpark at White River Parkway East
Sunday, June 20
1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Join Senator Richard Lugar and Maxwell L. Anderson for a special opening ceremony involving the first baskets at the soon-to-be iconic sculpture, Free Basket. Festivities continue until 5 p.m. Sunday.


Addition ArtBabble Videos (sorry couldn't get them to embed)
100 Acres Visitors Pavilion
Los Carpinteros, In the Factory
Jeppe Hein, In the Factory

So, on the eve of the newest art world reality tv show, "Work of Art: The Next Great Artist" (which premieres tomorrow, Wednesday, June 9th on Bravo), I thought I would post a few thoughts on the topic. I know I had been following this project for quite a long time now and am anxiously awaiting its initial episode. Do I expect it to be great? Absolutely not. Do I hope it is? Of course. What I expect will take place will be some wonderful train wreck with perhaps some insightful moments. But I shall let the series play itself out and I will be sure to DVR it. This is certainly not the first of the art reality shows. Anyone remember, "Artstar", the Jefferey Deitch project/show? If not, I fully understand why. I have yet to meet anyone who actually did see an episode. More than likely due to its extremely limited availability on some obscure HD channel. I have even spent hours searching for episodes online, all to no avail. Then there is the BBC's, "School of Saatchi" show. This one is new to me. But I did manage to download the first episode. I shall check it out tonight. But then again, it is quite difficult to track down online. You would think in the age of mass communications and digital streaming, being able to watch a show online would not be so hard, even if shown overseas. Region blocking really pisses me off!

So, I would only guess that most of our readers too are interested in seeing what will take place with this take on the Art world reality show. Hearing the following discussion from Mediaweek with the staff of the show doesn't quite help raise my expectations. Then again, perhaps that is what we all need, low expectations. Don't we all seem to have enough of that these days though? I will be sure to say this, any and all preconceived thoughts on the show have nothing to do with the artists, critics, etc. involved but more on the way in which the show appears to be set up. I may very will be wrong. We shall soon see. My concern is that the show expects or slants to search out, or crown only the talented multi-disciplinary artists. While this is becoming more common in the art world, it is in no way a good measure of an artists talent or validity. A great painter may not be in any way a good performance artists. And a great sculptor may simply make a poor painter. Let's hope the show does not go down this path as is the typical play book for other similar reality shows like, Project Runway or Top Chef. Well, that is it for now. But if you want some of the run down on the contestants, check out Art Fag City's post here. You know what I will be watching tomorrow night.

PRIMARY COLOURS

Installation Nation

NW Corner of College and Michigan
500 N. College Ave.


Wander in and out of metal shipping containers that house art installed by visual artists. Each container will be a unique experience with elements ranging from interactive light and sound to environmentally friendly plant machines and living rooms. Outside the containers, hear live music performed by local artists and purchase food and drink from local businesses (including Sun King).

Details:
Friday June 4th, 6pm-1am
Saturday June 5th, 5pm - 11pm
Admission $8, $5 for IDADA members
Kids under 12 get in free

Music & Entertainment:

Friday
• 6 – 9 – DJ Rusty Redenbacher (of the Mudkids)
• 9 – 1am – DJ Kyle Long

Saturday
• 5pm – DJ Rod the Mod
• 7pm – Everything, Now!
• 8pm – Slothpop
• 9pm – Kate Lamont (with full band)

We’re also excited that Phoenix Fire Productions will be lighting things up during the event.

http://primarycolours.org/blog/category/installation-nation/



INDIANAPOLIS MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART

Evans Woollen: The Art of Architecture

at Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art (iMOCA)
Opening Friday, June 4 at 6 p.m.

The Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art (iMOCA) will open a photography exhibition focused on the six-decade career of one of Indianapolis’s most accomplished architects. Evans Woollen: The Art of Architecture will open at 6 p.m. on June 4 in iMOCA’s gallery in the Murphy Art Center.

Woollen is an internationally recognized architect responsible for significant projects around the country. However, Woollen had the most impact shaping the landscape of his native Indianapolis, with buildings ranging from progressively modern homes to notable local landmarks including Clowes Hall, the Minton-Capehart Federal Building and the recent expansion of the Indianapolis-Marion County Central Library. The show, curated by Mary Ellen Gadski and iMOCA board members Brandon Judkins (Board President) and Tom Vriesman (Board Secretary), will feature photographs spanning Woollen’s entire career from world-renowned photographers including Balthazar Korab, Ezra Stoller, and Timothy Hursley – as well as the local talent of Wilbur Montgomery, Craig McCormick, and Serge Melki.

In addition to his architectural work, Woollen has spent a great deal of time developing his skill as a painter. A collection of twelve of Woollen’s abstract paintings, many of which are being exhibited for the first time, will be on display upstairs in Mt. Comfort Gallery.

Evans Woollen: The Art of Architecture will run through July 24th with hours Thursday-Saturday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. The exhibit is part of a series of events that will occur across the city focused on Woollen’s work. The Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA) will begin the events with a lecture by Woollen on June 3rd at 7 p.m. titled “To Build in Context.” Then, the day after iMOCA’s reception, Indiana Landmarks will offer a tour of six of Woollen’s early homes. The tour takes place on June 5th and runs from 1 – 6 p.m., with the tour headquarters at Butler University’s Clowes Hall.




WUG LAKU'S STUDIO AND GARAGE

'Let's All Drown Ourselves Tonight'
Dominic Sansone

at wUG LAKU'S STUDIO & gARAGE
Friday, June 4, 2010
6:00pm - 10:00pm

“So we beat on, boats against the current,
borne back ceaselessly into the past.”
The Great Gatsby

Sansone’s work confronts the seemingingly inescapable violence of human nature on both a personal and mass scale. Exploring how it’s incorporated into our daily lives through materials, objects and symbols, his work examines how thoroughly we construct destruction.

Please join us Friday evening, June 4, from 6-10 p.m. during the IDADA First Friday gallery tour. Dominic will be available to discuss his work, and the rest of the studios at the cIRCLE cENTER iNDUSTRIAL cOMPLEX will be open as well.




BIG CAR GALLERY

No Ceilings

at Big Car Galler
Friday, June 4, 2010
6:00pm - 11:30pm

"No Ceilings" is artist Tom Streit's depiction of the world's first
flying car accident. Filling Big Car Gallery with full sized models of
the not so distant future's flying cars, Tom humorously tackles the
question of "Where's my flying car?" with "What comes up must come down". The show runs through the end of June.



BOXCAR GALLERY

Meditations on Strange Fruit

In Boxcar Gallery
Friday, June 4, 2010
6:00pm - 11:00pm

LaShawnda Crowe Storm is an accidental artist that discovered the world of art after a cross-country hiking journey of personal discovery. During this adventure she examined which path her life should take, art or social services. While she may have chosen the arts, her work continues to be impacted by social justice concerns, both historically and currently.

"For me art is my form of 'social work' and I use it to open doorways to community dialog, which is the first step to healing, which in itself leads to wider social change." Exploring topics such as suicide, misogyny, lynching and slavery, she explores the ramifications of these issues on a broader socio-historical scale, as well as incorporates community-based aspects to the projects, traditional African spiritual practices and black American folklore.

Crowe Storm received her MFA in Sculpture from the Art Institute of Chicago in 2004, and has had work exhibited widely, including in Collaborative Vision Exhibition at Indiana State University in Fall 2009. She has also won numerous awards for both art and community service.



THE CONRAD

Works by Tom Mueller

at The Alcove at the Conrad
Friday, June 4, 2010
6:00pm - 9:00pm

Q7 Associates and Editions Limited Gallery are hosting an art opening experience. The show will feature works by Indianapolis-based photographer Tom Mueller. For over 25 years, Tom has worked his craft, first training under renowned area artist Ted Gelb, before attending the prestigious International Center for Photography in New York City. While selling work to private collectors for years, Tom had his first official gallery show in 2007 and sold nearly all his work during the exhibit.



SAKE GALLERY

New Works by Stacy Novak

at SAKE Gallery, Murphy Arts Building