Juried show in Racine

Here is a juried show I found on craigslist I thought I'd share with everyone (can be sketchy, but other times it's a great resource!):

The Artists of Mitchell Wagon Factory Lofts are sponsoring their first juried show - "Home is Where the Art Is"! The show runs from July 17 through the 24 and is open to all medium. July 12th is the deadline! Very low entry fee! For a prospectus and entry form please email us at artistsofmwfl@gmail.com or visit the lofts at 815 8th Street, Racine, WI.

Masterpieces of American Photography from George Eastman House Collections

I encourage you all to check out this show at the Paine Art Center in Oshkosh! I went a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it. Here is the info found on the gallery website:

The largest exhibition of masterpieces of American photography ever presented in Wisconsin, Seeing Ourselves features over a hundred iconic images from the internationally acclaimed George Eastman House Collections of Rochester, New York. This extraordinary exhibition dramatically illustrates our country’s landscape, people, culture, and historic events through works ranging from vast western scenes to fascinating documentary photographs to intimate celebrity portraits. Artists represented include such masters of the medium as Ansel Adams, Alfred Stieglitz, Paul Strand, Edward Weston, Lewis Hine, Dorothea Lange, and dozens of other accomplished photographers.

Spanning more than 150 years of photography, Seeing Ourselves is organized according to five broad themes: American Masterpieces, American Faces, America at War, America the Beautiful, and American Families. Each section features renowned photographs documenting the American experience. The exhibition begins with “American Masterpieces,” which sheds light on celebrated images like Yosemite Valley, Summer by Ansel Adams, Nautilus by Edward Weston, and The Steerage by Alfred Stieglitz. Other highlights include Oshkosh native Lewis Hine’s Powerhouse Mechanic, a dynamic image symbolizing the arrival of a new Industrial Age, and Dorothea Lange’s unforgettable photograph Migrant Mother, Nipomo, California, which gave a human face to poverty and suffering during the Great Depression.

“American Faces” illustrates the diversity of our nation, including subjects ranging from Native Americans whose ancestors have lived here for thousands of years to immigrants at Ellis Island who had just arrived in America that day. Photographs of everyday people are juxtaposed with portraits of illustrious political and civil rights leaders, artists, celebrities, and athletes, including Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Marilyn Monroe, Babe Ruth, and many other familiar faces. Master photographers who portrayed these individuals include Mathew Brady, Edward S. Curtis, Walker Evans, Richard Avedon, Alfred Stieglitz, and Edward Steichen.

Some of the most famous, memorable, and shocking images in the history of American photography are photographs of war. While photographs of war may be difficult to look at, they serve as an important record of America’s past. “America at War” displays images from the American Civil War, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, as well as contemporary photographs created in response to 9/11.

“America the Beautiful” features timeless photographs that capture the beauty and power of unspoiled nature, as well as scenes of westward expansion, urban America, and the intimate spaces we call home. Dramatic images of Alaskan glaciers, majestic western views, and tranquil dunes are contrasted with big-city skyscrapers, small-town neighborhoods, and backyard gardens. Major works in this section include Alvin Langdon Coburn’s beautifully atmospheric view of New York’s Singer Building and landscapes by Ansel Adams and Edward Weston.

The final section, “American Families,” brings together families from all walks of life, exploring their differences and commonalities. A variety of examples by such notable photographers as Weegee, Lewis Hine, Aaron Siskind, Margaret Bourke-White, and Mary Ellen Mark are included. Some works portray idealized scenes of American life, while others capture a glimpse of everyday life and the serious challenges many families face, such as poverty or illness. Highlights include Hine’s photograph of an Italian family seeking lost luggage at Ellis Island and a tender portrait of a mother and son from the series Black in America by Eli Reed, an award-winning member of Magnum, the prestigious photojournalists’ cooperative.

Seeing Ourselves: Masterpieces of American Photography from George Eastman House Collections is organized by George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film and is made possible through a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts as part of the American Masterpieces program. George Eastman House is the world’s oldest photography museum, founded in 1947 on the estate of Kodak founder George Eastman, the father of popular photography. The museum has unparalleled collections of 400,000 photographs from 14,000 photographers dating from the beginnings of the medium to the present day.

In conjunction with Seeing Ourselves, the Paine’s upstairs Gothic Gallery showcases vintage cameras from the past century. Several cameras exemplify the types of equipment used by some of the master photographers featured in the Main Gallery exhibition.

Art Mail: Milwaukee

Interested in learning about other Wisconsin artists? Sign up for "Art Mail"--sign up and receive samples of art from the area every week in your inbox. I just recently subscribed and have already discovered a lot of work that I love. Here is an example from one of the emails I recently received:

Jason Rohlf :: Bio

New York based artist, Jason Rohlf is known for his densely worked surfaces. His abstract, geometric paintings are very musical in their play with rhythmic patterns. His popular bird series exhibits a more serene side where collaged figures perch quietly on gnarly, exotic branches. The artist's surface work is distinguished in its enigmatic ability to give the allusion of time worn treasures. Elements of collage and drawing are embedded in layers of varnish, obscuring lines and shapes that whisper secrets of their past lives. Click here to read what the press says about Jason's work.

"Curious and reluctant are two of the many words I enjoy using to describe my work. They list underneath others like precarious, delicate, abashed, and recessive. These words have all been lent to the pieces over the years. I couldn't pinpoint where words like hesitant and looking outward overlap, but they do. It is my hope that this body of work continues to gather words that vary as much as the experiences gained in creating each painting." - Jason Rohlf

Rohlf's featured exhibition, Errant Compass, can be seen at the Tory Folliard Gallery from June 5th to July 11th with an opening reception for the artist Friday, June 5 from 5-7:30 pm.

Summer Ideas

Looks like it's finally officially summer now that we've gotten a few 90+ degree days! Hitting the beach is great, but sunburn, not so much--so if you're looking for somewhere to cool off and give your body a break from the sun, stop in the SACC! Work on some summer projects--just because it's summer doesn't mean there aren't plenty of opportunities for artists out there! Don't forget about the classes and workshops, too.

MARN (Milwaukee Artists Resource Network) has a constant stream of postings for artists on it's Yahoo group page including opportunities for you and galleries in the area. Check out the Riverwest Artists Association's (re)cycle (re)visit: an exhibition of found objects and ephemera. The show is held a the Jazz Gallery from June 20-July 11 and the gallery is open Thursdays from 5-8pm and Saturdays from 12-5pm.

Check out this website for artist opportunities around the country--some of the competitions look pretty fun!

Here are a couple good books I recently discovered:

The Art of Promotion by Lisa Cyr
This is actually a book for designers--it gives ideas/examples and how-to instructions on how to create a 'leave behind' for interviews, etc. to set yourself apart from other interviewees. I think it has great ideas for all artists and it's a really cool book!

Printing by Hand: A Modern Guide to Printing with Handmade Stamps, Stencils, and Silk Screens
Great book if you're interested in printing!

Polaroid Transfers: A Complete Visual Guide to Creating Image and Emulsion Transfers
You'd be amazed at the things you can do with Polaroids.

Stencil 101: Make Your Mark with 25 Reusable Stencils and Step-by-Step Instructions

Lotta Prints: How to Print Anything, from Potatoes to Linoleum

There are just a few ideas & suggestions to keep you motivated this summer! If you have any suggestions, feel free to leave a comment!