VISUAL ARTISTS NETWORK Exhibitions 2013–2014

138 Pages·2014·5.02 MB·English

VISUAL Exhibitions
ARTISTS 2013-2014
NETWORK

VISUAL Exhibitions
ARTISTS 2013–2014
NETWORK
Contents page 6
Essay:
Momentum in a
Complicated System
Visual Artists Network
Exhibitions 2013–2014
Publication © 2014 National Performance Network.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may
be reproduced in any manner in any media or
transmitted by any means whatsoever, electronic
or mechanical (including photocopy, film or
video recording, internet posting or any other
information storage retrieval system), without the
prior written consent of NPN.
ISBN-13: 978-1501067792
ISBN-10: 1501067796
Design & Production:
Big Tada Inc with Ian Hewitt-Woods
Editor:
Alec De León
Additional copies of this publication may be
downloaded in PDF from www.npnweb.org/
resources/ or printed bound copies ordered from
Amazon.com.
National Performance Network
Visual Artists Network
PO Box 56698
on the front cover
New Orleans, LA 70156
John Hitchcock & Emily Arthur
504.595.8008 // telephone
Chemically Wasted Warhorse, 2011
504.595.8006 // fax
screenprint & drawing
[email protected] 44 x 30 inches
2 VISUAL ARTISTS NETWORK Exhibitions 2013–2014
page 9
Exhibitions page 82
page 46 Wu Tsang
pMaagtet h10e w Mazzotta Epamgiely 5 0A rthur pAallgiseo 8n6 K aufman
page 14 Erika Blumenfeld
Kameelah Janan Rasheed page 54 pSategvee 9 A0. Prince
page 18 Nathalie Pozzi
Lpiazg Me 2a2g ic Laser pEarigce Z 5im4 merman pAangder e9a4 Geyer
Jpoaeg eM 2a6n grum pGaagber i5e8l Brown pVaagrge a9s8- Suarez UNIVERSAL
José Torres-Tama page 61 page 102
page 28 Debra Baxter Ian Etter
Shani Peters page 64 page 106
page 32 Darin Forehand Michael Sieben
Carolyn Castaño page 66 page 110
page 34 Katrina Andry Juana Valdes
Nin Truong page 70 page 114
page 38 Castillo Charles “Chuck” Siler
Steve Lambert page 74 page 116
page 42 Eric Gottesman Bob Snead
Selina Roman page 78 page 118
pJoahgne 4H6it chcock Aaron Noble Akiko Kotani
3
page 123
page 122 VAN Community Fund
VAN Community Fund Projects
Awards 2013 – 2014 page 123
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page 124
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4 VISUAL ARTISTS NETWORK Exhibitions 2013–2014
page 130
page 127 Info
VAN Partners page 130
page 127 About the Visual
516 ARTS Artists Network
Ashé Cultural Arts Center / page 130
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PICA / Portland Institute for
Contemporary Art
page 129
Project Row Houses
Real Art Ways
RedLine
Space One Eleven
Women & Their Work
5
MANaletiocon Daml ePe Lrfeeoórmnna, tnPcureo Ngmertwamo rikn /SVpi seauacl i aACrlitsiostts m Netwporlkicated System
At the time of this writing, the world has been having an ugly year. Russia has invaded
the Crimean Peninsula, perhaps they simply liberated it from Ukrainian rule, depending
on whom you ask, or maybe those Russian soldiers really are just on vacation in fabulous
Donetsk. Racial tensions in Ferguson, MO reached a flash point following the killing of
Michael Brown, an unarmed African American youth, by one of the town’s white police
officers. ISIS has emerged as a terrifying force, reinforcing their ideological goals with
gruesome beheadings, and bloody promises. And, this awful list would be incomplete
without mentioning the Ebola outbreak affecting Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Liberia and Guinea.
Over 2,000 people have already died from the virus and thousands of others have likely
been infected. Is there a way to curb all of this death, destruction, and conflict? The most
definitive answer that can be given is as follows: I don’t know.
But who is to blame? Where is the scapegoat? Everyone It seems that the normal, official powers that are supposed
knows that it’s the other political party’s fault, or the other to be in charge aren’t really doing a great job. The economy is
country’s fault. If it weren’t for their meddling, the people of still shaky, polarizing political rhetoric has never been more
the world would be living in a post-war, post-racial utopia. If prevalent and money seems to be tainting the democratic
it weren’t for Big Oil or Big Pharma, or video games or trashy process of this nation. There are a lot of great ways to botch
reality television everything would be just fine. It is always things, but it is less clear how to improve things, to make
good to have the perfect enemy, someone or something things better. That makes sense, according to the laws of
that everyone can rally against. But sadly, that is never the entropy, which in a nutshell states that disorder and chaos
case. The answer is much more complex: There are no simple is easier to achieve than structured, ordered harmony. If you
answers. Nothing is black and white; instead things are need a concrete example, release a toddler into a room full
varying shades of muddy, dirty gray. of books on a shelf. Many of those books are going to end up
on the floor. But, great change can occur from continuous,
constant action, even if it is miniscule in comparison to
the obstacle. It took approximately 17 million years for the
Colorado River to carve out the Grand Canyon.
6 VISUAL ARTISTS NETWORK Exhibitions 2013–2014
Speaking of large, obstructionist bodies, It appears that this is happening to the Visual Artists
Network (VAN). VAN was established in 2007 because
perhaps it is time to address government.
there was a vacuum in the visual arts world; no one else
There are different schools of thought seemed to be doing the work that needed to be done. The
National Performance Network (NPN) had existed since
about government and how involved it
1984, and it served as a model for what VAN could be. NPN
should be in the lives of its people. On one created a forum where performing artists, curators and
presenters could come together to talk shop, share resources
end of the spectrum, government should
and knowledge. It allowed dancers from the Midwest to
be involved very minimally, providing connect with curators on the West Coast, playwrights
from Appalachia to meet colleagues from New England.
protection from foreign invaders, criminals
A fundamental characteristic of this network was its
and little else. On the other end, the egalitarianism. All were treated as peers.
government should fund the military, VAN was born from NPN. It was hoped that VAN could
replicate what NPN had done for the performing arts
police, firefighters, healthcare, schools,
world. So far, it seems to be working. VAN started out pretty
roads, infrastructure and the arts. Other simply as a pilot project. At first, it consisted of seven arts
organizations or “VAN Partners” and seven artists. Art was
views of government suggest that a moral
exhibited. Artists were paid! The participants were invited to
authority should censor movies, songs and meet and discuss the merits and challenges of the program.
The results of the experiment were positive and encouraged
books. There are so many variations of the
further growth. Beginning with these small steps, and the
ideal; it is no wonder that things get stuck support of dedicated funders, now, eight years later, there
are 17 VAN Partners and over 100 artists have participated in
in the middle, log-jammed. Remember the
the VAN program.
government shutdown of 2013? That was
VAN has also been growing in ways that are not describable
a real hoot. However, in the absence of in quantitative terms. Key goals of the program include:
To help artists expand their careers, to provide a source for
solutions from government, it is up to the
peer relationships to develop and to strengthen the visual
people to act, to chip away at the problems arts field. There are many examples of artists who have
been proactive and use the opportunities that a network
that stand in the way of progress, well, if
can provide. Artists like Jorge Rojas, Steve Lambert, Leticia
they feel like it. Bajuyo, Marina Zurkow, Theodore Harris and the Bridge
Club collective have exhibited their work at multiple VAN
And well, that is exactly what has been happening. Everyone, and NPN Partner sites. Bajuyo was recently elected to the
whether they have money, power, knowledge, skills or NPN/VAN Board of Directors. Artists like Katrina Andry,
none of the above, can help change the status quo, bit by Colette Fu, Castillo, Benjamin Volta and Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle
bit. Compassion, kindness and understanding don’t cost have exhibited their work at recent NPN/VAN Annual
anything, but can go a long way. And then, things start Meetings, which are the main networking events for many
to happen: goals start aligning, solutions gain traction, contemporary artists and arts organizations.
momentum builds and all of a sudden, change occurs. In
fact, it is up to everyone to do what they can.
Essay 7
However, VAN is not just about exhibiting artwork. The artists and organizations that
compose VAN are trying to make changes in society. They are a force for good in a world
that is indifferent and they work to address issues that affect the world outside of their
studios. So, within in the pages of this catalog, you will find artists such as Ian Etter and
Vargas-Suarez Universal, who are trying to inspire future generations to have an interest
in science and technology by using space exploration imagery. Artist Liz Magic Laser
raises awareness about the propaganda and rhetoric that politicians use to forward their
agendas. Steve Lambert takes uncomfortable questions and brings them out into the open
for people of many different backgrounds to discuss, and makes it fun. Shani Peters and
Juana Valdes dive deep into their respective multi-cultural backgrounds and examine how
their heritage is shaping their future.
It would be overly ambitious to say that art will save the
world. But from their corner of the world, the artists in
this catalog are making a difference by creating work that
is intensely personal, yet connects to others. If the Visual
Artists Network continues on that path it has begun, there is
reason to believe its impact will be deep and profound.
8 VISUAL ARTISTS NETWORK Exhibitions 2013–2014