.carolinecblaker.

Self as Informant

In: Artists, Conceptual Art, Conceptual Art Theory, Studio

Drawing a blank. Once you graduate from self-relecting art, what’s next? Jim Lutes and the Whitney Biennial helped me find the answer.

I am underinformed. Underexposed. Underperforming. Under a rock. No, seriously! There is so little to make art about that I just don’t. its not I don’t want to - but what about? How? If I can do anything, why do anything? But this is unacceptable. I’m a capable professional in other aspects and I can’t even coach my own painting? Ok. ok. Maybe if I start reading..

My first move is to pick up the exhibition catalog from Eye Infection, featuring artists Robert Crumb, Jim Nutt, Peter Saul, H.C. Westerman, and Mike Kelley; five men without permission or collaboration successfully deconstructing perception same as the “rules” of conceptual and fine art. Or at least now that’s what they are known for, without the whole rogue aspect: they are all monumentally celebrated now for breaking a tradition that was redefined as such along the same lineage. Its a surprise to myself that I haven’t looked at this book in years despite schlepping it around and admiring its spine whenever I enter my studio. Its also a surprise, but not entirely, that I had never read the text, only gazed at the …

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One Million Bones on the Washington Mall

In: Artists, Conceptual Art, Conceptual Art Theory

In 2013, one million bones will flood the national mall like a mass grave in protest of our government turning away from genocide in Rwanda, Burma, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on our watch. After the Holocaust, we promised 'never again' yet our lawmakers have continued to turn the other cheek to these contemporary atrocities. What can you do? Its very simple. Read on.

Genocide: a historical event of epic proportions. Mass ethnic cleansing - killing millions of people in the name of .. something. Its far away and its long gone, right? If this were going on now we would hear about it all over the news right?

Actually, this time, the contemporary genocides, while being as lethal as the Holocaust are as secret as the Freemason rituals to the United States and other first world countries: most people do not know, and others are not talking. The facts are that genocide is happening right now. Right NOW. Its happening with our government's knowledge AND with no intervention- we are simply allowing for it to happen without objection, despite the 'never again' promise post WWII. If you feel in any way that this is completely unacceptable, somewhat remotely unacceptable, or otherwise not acceptable, there IS something you can do. Artist Naomi Natale wants you (yes, You! and your hands) to make a bone to represent one victim for display in this massive art installation on the National Mall.

Natale's goal is truly impressive - one thousand bones, every day, for three years. After having met …

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Hoot Hoot!

In: Artists

My latest scheme to get ahead has only landed me the facing of my biggest, longest standing fear.

So when do you know you have a problem?

When the brick wall you hit on your latest strive to make your life better rises to meet you faster than you are running, and it has come from no one other than you, and the things you have not dealt with in your life.

Today this was my fear of balloons. Dumb, I know.

On my latest investigation of ways to come up with some extra cash I visited one of the only restaurants I could see myself potentially waiting tables at, for one reason or another. I was dead set to impress the manager, the staff who waited on me, and find the better side of some of its more negative aspects. What could go wrong? Oh yeah, that. My deathly fear of round floaty latex balls where kids dig their fingers, fans chop at full speed, and drunk guys stretch pull and rub in my hair. Just being around them used to cause panic attacks, now its only the aforementioned events, which unfortunately for this latest plan would be part of a course of five minutes. I barely made …

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