Daily Loaf

Yasmina Reza’s Art has two subjects, one of them serious and worthy of attention, the other slightly embarrassing and perhaps even philistine. The better theme – and the one that gets most of the stage time – is male friendship and the unspoken agreements that sustain it.

The three men in this case are Marc, Serge and Yvan, whose comradeship is threatened by a disagreement over a painting, and who eventually discover what awkward and never-admitted assumptions have bound them together for over a decade. The painting they disagree about – an all-white canvas by a celebrated modernist named Antrios – is the occasion for the second theme: the imaginative bankruptcy of modern art and the pretentiousness of those who claim to admire it.

From the moment that Serge admits he paid 200,000 francs for the monochromatic rectangle, Reza implicitly makes the case that today’s art world is a den of con men and women supported by suckers who wouldn’t know a masterpiece from a mud puddle. This argument is ridiculous. Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. As tempting as it is to place labels like ‘minimalist’ or ‘landscape’ on Vicky Colombet’s work, such qualifiers don’t do justice to the profound mysteries the French artist creates with a stroke of the pen or brush, which you can see for yourself at the exhibit opening next Friday.

Perpetually exploring the limits of what will read as landscape, Colombet’s unique style of abstraction transcends its link to the natural world, offering ethereal geographies of rumination and respiration instead. Next Friday, Tampa Heights printmaking atelier Bleu Acier debuts an exhibition of recent drawings and small paintings by Colombet, who is currently working with Read the rest of this entry »

Eye candy rubbed elbows with intellectual stimulation last weekend at Madame X, a dimly-lit bar in Greenwich Village. I’ve seen many burlesque shows since I moved to Manhattan, but none as thrilling as this performance by Naked Girls Reading. Lead by burlesque star and NGR creator, Michelle L’amour, the performance featured beautiful, nude women reading selections from banned books.

Doesn’t sound sexy? You’re crazy! But perhaps this clip and some photos* from the show will change your mind… Read the rest of this entry »

The opening prologue to Lars von Trier’s Antichrist is so visually and rhythmically arresting that it lures the viewer into a state of calm that will slowly be smeared over broken glass as the film progresses. The director seems to take great pleasure leading the viewer through a wilderness of both pleasure and horrific despair. He knows he’s about to leave you unsettled — and he likes it.

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Paula Abdul and regret. Ellen DeGeneres and opportunity. Kanye West and unwarranted opinion. Beyonce and PR. Peanut butter and jelly. Jelly and John Goodman.

Spider-Man: art lover.

Some things just go together – like vintage clothing and artwork. Don’t believe me? Just ask those in attendance at St. Pete’s ARTpool’s monthly gallery opening, Heroes & Heroines — or any of the locals who frequent the shop for a must-have creation in fabric or frame.

ARTpool opened in April of 2008 and has been making waves ever since.

Its mission statement is to “partner with the community to form an organic, evolving cooperative of artists that will work together to build a sustainable and a mutually beneficial artistic environment that promotes creativity, originality, and forward thought.” It’s done just that, holding events ranging from fashion shows to children’s installation events.

The latest opening was last Saturday, and, inspired by decades of comic book art, owner Marina Williams and local artists banded together to celebrate the finest fashions and fantasies. Live entertainment and artistry complemented the creation-lined walls as superhero and civilian alike answered the bat signal to enjoy St. Pete’s finest fusion. Read the rest of this entry »

DFAC’s myriad new fall exhibits include The Cabinet of Natural Curiosities, a group exhibit by Shihoko Amano, Lanny Bergner, Deon Blackwell, Ladislav Hanka, Timothy Horn, Adrienne Outlaw, Yuka Saito and Tanja Softic, who “explore the theme of Albertus Seba’s eighteenth century natural history classic by the same name.” It inspired a variety of media, including sculpture, printmaking, painting, wood, ceramics, jewelry and fiber. (on display through Dec. 23.) Then,  Rachel Simmons: Wonders of the Sea explores just that: the beauty and intricacies of coastal life, portrayed in multimedia. (on display through Oct. 18.) Critters God Left on the Drawing Table is a bedazzling array of weird and intriguing creatures created by DFAC jewelry instructor Susan Maxon and her students. (on display through Oct. 18). (Pictured: “Sea Eyes” by Rachel Simmons, part of the Wonders of the Sea exhibit) Dunedin Fine Arts Center, 1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin, 727-298-3322, DFAC.org.

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They say you can see straight through to a movie’s soul when viewing its trailer. OK, nobody says that, but you know they’re thinking it. Movie trailers can be useful promotional tools when done right. Heck, some are even works of art all by themselves. Some too can be life-altering; we almost lost an entire generation of teenage girls to heart attacks when the New Moon trailer hit. So for your pleasure The Rabid One nails you with the best movie trailers of all time.

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What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week:

The Earth Charter: How ethics can change the world (video) – The Earth charter was created by thousands of people representing hundreds of countries aiming at a universal ethical code of conduct for human beings. How do we treat each other? How do we treat the world? These questions were raised and answered.

City of Tampa Green Business Designation Program- As of this week, the City of Tampa became one of just a handful of cities nationwide to start a green business designation program.  Outside of the West Coast (California and Washington state), Tampa will join major metropolitan areas like Philadelphia and Knoxville in rewarding private businesses that have become or want to become more environmentally-friendly.

Why buying recycled, repurposed products is so important- Preserving the Earth’s natural resources is vital to the future of the planet and all of its inhabitants. Buying recycled and repurposed products is a great way to make a positive impact on the environment by cutting back on waste and the resources needed to make new items.
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Thur. July 30. Swingers Karaoke. ALT Pathway restaurant and lounge. 810 E. Skagway, Ave. Tampa.

Fri-Sat. July 31-Aug 1. ABC and Blacklite Swingers Parties. Come dressed as sexy as you want, just so long as you are wearing Anything But Clothes for the Friday night party. On Saturday night, there will be a Blacklite Party with the heated pool open all night. 9pm. $20-$50 plus the cost of renting a room. Couples and single women only. Ramada Inn. Kissimme FL. For more infor check out the Aahz crew. Read the rest of this entry »

This Saturday, August 1 join e-tba (Emerging Tampa Bay Architects) for the third installment of Pecha Kucha.  For those not familiar with the event, designers, activists, artists, advocates and generally creative people are given 20 slides shown for 20 seconds a piece to present an idea, theme, cause, or project.

Pecha Kucha originated in Japan and takes place in over 200 cities worldwide. It was invented by Tokyo-based architects Mark Dytham and Astrid Kleins who turned PowerPoint, fixture of monotonous cubicle life, into both art form and competitive sport. Their innovation, dubbed Pecha Kucha (Japanese for “chatter”), applies a simple set of rules to presentations: exactly 20 slides displayed for 20 seconds each. That’s it. Say what you need to say in six minutes and 40 seconds of exquisitely matched words and images and then sit the hell down. The result, in the hands of masters of this art form, combines business meeting and poetry slam to transform corporate cliché into surprisingly compelling beat-the-clock performance art.
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People never cease to amaze me when pushing their bodies’ artistic boundaries.  I thought I was daring when I got my nose pierced.  I was in Amsterdam at the time, high on mushrooms, and I thought that a piece of metal in my nose was just what I needed. I’m usually too much of a pussy for shit like this, but some people get off on this kind of pain.  Below, I’ve included some of the most piercing pictures of painful piercings. I can’t even imagine how these people felt during their artistic voyage of self discovery!  My own story of getting my face pierced went a something like this:

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What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week:

TRA’shion Fashion and Art Show 2009 (photos) – The fabulous trashionistas were out in force for ARTpool’s annual TRA’shion Show, and photographer Chip Weiner caught all the recycled green glamour.

Letting go of addictions: Using alternative methods to release addictions of any type- Kelly Rothwell gives us alternative methods such as energetic healing, visualizations and affirmations, that can be used to not only cope with such addictions but to understand the reason behind the addiction and let it go for good.

Living sustainably in Tampa Bay: Dave Starman’s biodiesel fueled car and green lifestyle – The first in a series of profiles, by Jack B., of individuals who are living sustainably in Tampa Bay. This profiles Tampa Bay resident Dave Starman.
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Customers browse at the Tampa Artist Emporium in South Tampa. Pictured below: Boggs stands behind the Emporium’s front desk.

Two years ago, Tampa photographer Shelby Boggs took a gamble. Inspired by the Kress Emporium, an historic building in Asheville, NC, that serves as a marketplace for more than 80 regional artists and craftspeople, she set out to create something similar (if smaller) in Tampa. Using some money she’d pocketed after flipping a house in the once-hot real estate market, she snagged a favorable lease in Hyde Park Village.

Boggs dubbed the location, once occupied by retailer Ann Taylor, the Tampa Artist Emporium and soon began renting wall and shelf space to local artists, who displayed their work. Monthly mixers and an open-door policy during the shopping district’s popular outdoor art fair led to sales. In relatively short order, Boggs’ pie-in-the-sky idea didn’t look so crazy after all.

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Sheree Rensel. Twingo. Copper and mixed media on wood. 11-3/4″ x 11-3/4″ x 3″. Artist’s statement: “Twingo” is the unique and original tweet language of Twitter Tweople. Bio: BFA, MFA, Detroit artist born, NOW living and loving my art life in the real and virtual Universe.

If you’re following St. Petersburg artist Sheree Rensel on Twitter—that’s to say, if you’ve signed up to read her “tweets” or 140-character updates throughout the day—you can pretty much count on receiving a smile-inducing greeting routinely at around 9 a.m. It goes something like this:

“Good morning ART Tweople!”

(For those not already fluent in Twitterspeak, tweople—or tweeple—is a blend of “Twitter” and “people” used to refer to other users of the service. To learn more Twitterisms, consider consulting a twictionary like this one.)

A self-described “hyperactive” early adopter, Rensel has taught visual art to emotionally and developmentally disabled kids at a public school in Gulfport for 17 years, incorporating digital projects like photo portfolios and basic animation into the curriculum when possible. A mixed media artist by practice, Rensel—who describes her age as 50-something—uses Twitter mainly to keep up with other artists whose work she admires.

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The 2009 TRA’shion Fashion and Art Show was a big hit again this year. Held Saturday night at the ARTpool Co-op Gallerie and Boutique, the fashion was wonderfully trashy, made from recycled and other found objects. The show included over 20 trashionistas working with newspaper, aluminium foil, duct tape, recycled Coke 12-pack packages, and the perennial favorite Skittles dress worn by the host Marina Williams. Recycled inspired fine ARTwork was also featured at this 2nd annual event. More photos after the break. Read the rest of this entry »

Body modification is done for a variety of reasons: art, decoration, enhancement, change, and sometimes necessity. I’m a fan of all types of body art, piercing, and plastic surgery, but any modification can be over done.

(Pics below NSFW) Read the rest of this entry »

Tes One’s spray-paint-on-wood painting measures 10-ft. by 11-ft.

You know what they say: when the going gets tough, the tough get…bigger?

Despite the ongoing economic malaise—which seems to find Florida in a particularly compromising position—St. Petersburg artist and art party impresario John Vitale isn’t giving up. Though the muralist and owner of Vitale Studio recently downsized out of a company warehouse that doubled as an art gallery, his response to tough times is simply to take the show on the road.

All the way downtown to Nova 535, that is.

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Kreative Key sits down with photographer and gallery owner Marina Williams to discuss TRA’shion Fashion, coming to ARTPool Gallery July 11th…

KK – So Marina, ARTPool gallery is gearing up for another TRA’shion Fashion Show.  If you’ve never been to TRA’shion Fashion, what is it and what’s it like?

MW – TRA’shion Fashion is one of the Tampa Bay’s best creative couture fashion shows. It combines ingenuity with recycling and challenges designers to think outside of the box.  Highlighting high-fashion runway attire and the top models in Florida, TRA’shion Fashion took St. Pete by storm last year and is going to top itself with an even more extreme show on July 11th.  A definite event to pencil in and experience if you love fashion, wearable art & support local art, as this show features designers from ages 18 to 80.

KK – That sounds amazing!  I’m sure anyone into Project Runway would really enjoy this event.  If you came last year and saw TRA’shion Fashion, do you have any new surprises for those party people? Read the rest of this entry »

Okay, to be clear, the first time I went to this event I had no idea what to expect. We had heard it through the electronic grapevine that the event would be great from an artist’s perspective. My wife, Natalie, is a pastel artist that paints mostly nudes, and it would give us an opportunity to network with potential models and other artists. I had heard about music performances, read about fire breathers, and seen a few video clips of previous performances. Everything looked cool. Well, not everything – the naked part.

As we were driving to the event, I kept thinking, “We don’t do naked.” I had never been to any sort of clothing optional resort and had no idea what I was getting myself into.
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Watch out everybody, Bridget’s unleashed for the summer!

Well, you know, that really is an overstatement ‘cos I’m not much of a late night gal, but the Gorilla Theatre is dark for the summer (which means we don’t have any shows going on and I’m working “normal” hours) so it’s time for me to get out more and …. to see theatre in other places.  This week I went to an All Out Rep show at the Ritz, I visited Arts on 9th, and went to the 5th Annual Night of Alternative Theatre at American Stage in St. Pete.

Oh, and I welcome all your comments on this blog (like “stop writing about yourself already” or “what’s with the strange European punctuation?”) so please chip in, loveys! Read the rest of this entry »

Have you ever heard the Vietnam-era quote, “war is not healthy for children and other living things?” It is a staunchly obvious and painstakingly reasonable appeal that cuts to the ethical core and casualties of war.  I read an article this week that reminded me of it, but instead of war, the murderous culprit in this story is climate change.

A new report by the Global Humanitarian Forum (GHF) says that global warming already kills about 300,000 people a year.  If that projection is not startling enough– or if you have more of an economic mind, and are not much swayed by stacks of human figures—the report also says that climate change costs around $125 billion in economic losses annually.
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His nerves danced like flames.  “Where was she?” he thought.  It had been quite a few minutes since she excused herself to the bathroom to put some clothes on before they….well before they whatever.  He had no idea what to expect and questioned himself whether he was dong the right thing at all. “What the hell are you afraid of?” he kept repeating in his head, not that his brain was listening.  He almost stood up and slipped out quietly into the night, but the thought of being rude quelled his innocent anxiety.  All at once his racing thoughts were suddenly cut silent as the bathroom door finally opened.

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She may have seen his face a million times, but standing there in the mobbed airport terminal, her nerves were getting to her. She was anxious to see the man for whom she’d shared so many amazing words, so much friendship. ”What the hell are you afraid of?” she kept repeating in her head, not that her brain was listening. It was only a wedding date. He simply needed a warm body to sit in the pew with. He wasn’t coming all this way just for her. Right?

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What is it about immortal blood sucking broodaholics that makes women swoon?  Is it the danger?  Is it the biting?  Because trust me girls, I can nibble your neck and I’ve been known to walk fast with a pair of scissors in my hand.  Or perhaps it’s something unattainable to us, the meek mortal man.

Vampire stories such as Twilight and True Blood are currently the hottest things on the market from books, to film/TV and even sex toys.  What gives?  The thought of having my blood removed from the warmth of my veins does not get me wild in the pants.  But the ladies, the ladies do love their undead bad boys.  They want to be taken to the edge and peer over the side.  It drives their juices and makes their heart feel a new sense of life.  The thought that you could be laying with your lover and in the throes of passion and he could take your life must be a mighty intoxicant.  But give me a shot of tequila over a chalice of blood any day.

Edward Cullen does have quite a few more desirable qualities than say Count Dracula.  For one he doesn’t consistently look like he’s heading to the opera.  He’s a moody, anti-social, and more Abercrombie than Hot Topic.  And you’d being lying if you couldn’t admit those eyes are DREAMY. Read the rest of this entry »

I was at a loss for this week’s top 10 list.  A friend of mine suggested a ‘top 10 top 10 lists.’   My wife suggested ‘top 10 local celebrities I’d fuck’.  I liked that idea, but could only think of three locals I’d do (see 1-3 on my list).  With that in mind, I drank several beers and added 7 that are more famous (pardon any typos!!!QW$#$%).

So here it is….

10. Cindy Crawford – In college, there was no other I’d rather smother.

9. Jennifer Lopez – Everyone remembers the dress.  Where’s a sex-tape when you need one? Read the rest of this entry »

I got thrown for a loop the other night.  I was sought out; someone wanted to turn in his fuck-buddy application.  I was reluctant at first. He’s not my normal type of applicant.  He’s not my normal type of anything.  That’s what makes him so unique and alluring.

I went to meet him with the idea of swapping ideas, not body fluids.  We’re colleagues and thought we could stimulate some creative juices–and stimulating juices is exactly what happened. Read the rest of this entry »

Like Clay Aiken, except, you know, cool.

Sex and American Idol may not be synonymous, but this year things are a little different.  Enigmatic performer Adam Lambert is very close to taking the crown.  But sadly it seems many people aren’t as focused on his talent as they are on whether he’ll wear it as king…or queen.

(Video and
intrigue after the jump)

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This is a good weekend if you’re looking for free things to do. Since that’s pretty much what I look for, I’m happy to present two different opportunities to have fun without spending a dime.

The first is the Wesley Chapel Celebration of the Arts, held at 28211 Paseo Drive. Now, to be honest, I didn’t even know that Wesley Chapel had an art event until pretty recently. But apparently a lot of people know, because they’re expecting about 2,000 people this weekend. They’ll have a great deal of art on display from about 60 artists in various booths (the juried show includes a $1,000 grand prize). They also have a student’s art display and an area reserved for children’s activities. There’s a lot to experience, including music. They’ll have jazz performances Saturday evening on the stage. You can buy VIP tickets if you want, but the concerts are absolutely free as well.

The Celebration of the Arts runs all weekend, so you have plenty of time to check it out with friends, family or whoever appreciates art. It should be a fun event. You can check out all the activities on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. (with music afterward) and on Sunday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. For more information, go to www.shopsatwiregrass.com and search under Events.

 The other event is Saturday on Davis Island at Seaplane Basin Park (across from the airport). They also have live entertainment and music, as well as an art show. But they also have free food Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and a British Motor Classic Car Show that will feature nearly 100 different cars. Want to see a Rolls Royce and an Aston Martin? This is the place to go. This is a pretty big British car show, so this is a chance to see plenty of classics up close.

They also have plenty of events for children, including free plane rides. Yes, free plane rides. Last year they took about 150 kids on free trips. That’s pretty cool. They’ll also have static displays featuring fire engines and airplanes, too.

This is the third year of Islands Fest. Last year they had 5,000 people and it should be another good turnout this year. Plus, the whole thing is completely free. The event runs from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. You can find more information at www.islandsfest.com. 

So if you’re looking for something to do this weekend, you have no excuses.

When Creative Loafing puts on a party, it puts on a party! The HoneyPot (1507 E. 7th Avenue in Ybor City, Tampa, Florida) was the host for the fourth annual “Sensory Overload” party, a mix of live music, djs, circuit bending, models, artwork and booze. While not what I expected, it was an excellent collection of elements.

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Working in the art/nightlife scene for six years, I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of really talented people from all areas of the industry. So when I saw that Marissa Alma Nick was back in town from LA working on a project called Peace Piece, I had to get in contact and find out what it was all about. The email I got back was full of energy and a request for me to get involved in the show in a scene called “Disco Town.” Honored to be asked to be a part of the show, I accepted. I was told that RHYMES WITH ORANGEz created the dance opera “Take a walk in my shoes” that was a part of Peace Piece. The project supports world peace, naturally, but also strongly advocates the arts in our school system. Both are great causes, and that is why I wanted to bring the information to the masses, but I was still left a bit confused on the exact details of RHYMES WITH ORANGEz, Peace Piece and “Take a walk in my Shoes.” So I had a sit-down with Marissa Alma Nick to get the DL.

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Say “Hello!” to your newest resource for all things fashionable, entertaining, and eye-opening in the great Bay area!

The Fusionistas are made up of three local girls who call themselves the Fusionistas because together they combine the elements of art, fashion, hair,performance, and local life. They have avid appetites for all things interesting, underground and not yet public. they seek out what is not offered and make it their job to create a scene for it, and to give the people a purpose and something different!

It won’t be definable what we will bring you, but know that it will be something you’ve been waiting for. if you’ve ever questioned your surroundings of people and places wanting something more, we are what you’ve been asking for… here is just a sampling of the things in the works… Read the rest of this entry »

When we received Suicide Girls: Beauty Redefined in the mail this morning, I had to fight Leilani for ownership. She saw the “Beauty Redefined” tag and thought it would be an exploration of feminist art. Uhm, no.

The Suicide Girls site has been doing their very own style of highly profitable beauty defining since 2001 by featuring pictures of naked ladies that aren’t your typical porn-tastically plastic adult entertainers. Most look like the girl next door, if the girl next door was into lots of ink and piercings. Many were goth-y, punk-y, or alt-y. Different, but only in relation to other porn models.

And though they were beautiful, Suicide Girls also seemed comfortingly normal. Better yet, many of the girls would actually talk to people who viewed their pictures, either via a blog or through message boards. Like getting a lap dance from an especially talkative stripper, Suicide Girls made it easy for an average Joe to imagine that he actually has a chance.

Its had an impact, sure, and pretty much single-handedly launched the alt-porn movement, but saying that Suicide Girls has redefined beauty is more than a stretch.

More (likely nsfw pics, depending on where you work) after the jump:

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Tes One. Change We Made. 45”x60”, 2008.

Artworks by four Tampa Bay artists—Tes One, Bask and Phillip Clark and Chad Mize of Bluelucy—are headed to Washington, DC, where they will be featured in Manifest Hope, an exhibit celebrating the election of Barack Obama.

Shepard Fairey’s now-iconic, red-and-blue portrait of the president elect will serve as the centerpiece of the show, which includes work by more than 100 artists.

If you’d like to get your hands on a limited edition print of Tes One’s painting, Change We Made (pictured above), visit the artist’s e-commerce site on Inaguration Day (Jan. 20).

Megan Voeller is Creative Loafing’s visual art critic. She teaches at the University of Tampa and The Art Institute of Tampa and blogs at Artsqueeze.com.

Lights Up: Editor David Warner and art critic Megan Voeller welcome artist Will Pappenheimer and the City of Tampa’s Robin Nigh (L to R in the photo above) to talk about Lights On Tampa 2009, the illumination celebration that will transform the Convention Center, the St. Pete Times Forum and other downtown sites starting January 10.

Download.

Martha Whittington, “Nonpareils” (detail), sewn vinyl, 2008. Courtesy C. Emerson Fine Arts.

Truly an insane amount of great art to see this weekend. Please leave a comment if you’d like to have your event included and it’s not here. Unless otherwise noted, events are generally free.

Thursday

4-6 p.m. – Symposium featuring the artists of Lights On Tampa 2009 at Tampa Theatre.

7-9 p.m. – Artist talk and reception for Brody Condon, whose work was featured in a solo exhibition at USF CAM last fall, at FAH 101, USF College of Visual & Performing Arts.

Friday

3 p.m. – Artist talk and discussion for Werner Reiterer: Raw Loop at FAH 290, USF College of Visual & Performing Arts.

6 p.m. – Artist talk and discussion for Radcliffe Bailey: Between Two Worlds at Polk Museum of Art; members free, guests $10. (Read the review in CL here.)

6:30-10 p.m. – Artist talk and opening reception for Nonpareils: a solo exhibition of Martha Whittington’s new work, to include works on paper and installation, at C. Emerson Fine Arts.

7-9 p.m. – Opening reception for Werner Reiterer: Raw Loop at USFCAM.

7-10 p.m. – Opening reception for Fascicles: New Work by Lauren Garber Lake at [5]art.

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