http://www.aaronschraeter.com
Saturday, April 25, 2009
This week was the senior seminar show, and frankly I'm proud of it. I was very happy with the quality of most of the work and the placement of everything. Unfortunately, we break the show down on Monday, so if you haven;t seen it and you want to, hurry up. For those who won't have the chance to see me work, the following is what I put into the show (click to enlarge):
Monday, April 20, 2009
So today I got an update- I won honorable mention in the ArtistGrants.org Spring 2009 competition. What that basically entails is that I have a shot to show in one of their sponsored shows (in either Cincinnati or Columbumus). Recently I also entered competition with Artists Wanted as I mentioned in my last post- just wanted to remind all of you tuning in at home to visit http://artistwanted.org/aaronschraeter to rate my work (:-])
Ciao.
Ciao.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
So I've entered a competition held by Artists Wanted, posting as my entries Giapetto's Bastard, My Nintendo, a drawing title Idiot Box, and a new untitled painting. Please show me some support by visiting my profile page at http://artistwanted.org/aaronschraeter (and no I didn't make a typo). I would also like to take this opportunity to thank those who have already gone and shown me some love in the short time that I have been entered into this contest.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
sometimes art makes my head hurt, too.
Lately I've been working really hard on putting together a bunch of work, since in my infinite wisdom I decided to take 4 studio courses this semester. Not that I don't love creating, just wish I could take a weekend to relax and regenerate. Anyway, I've completed a couple of new things, including a painting titled "Family Dinner", the largest non-mural painting I've ever completed (96" x 48"). I'll be adding a pic of it real soon hopefully, at least to this blog section of my site. I'm now working toward completing somewhere in the ball park of another 4 or so large scale works (48" x 60" is the largest of the upcoming group thus far). Not even 100% sure what they'll be yet, but thats 1/2 the fun. Also, I have been working on some printmaking stuff, so that has been pretty exciting as well (some dry point, and some photo-litho stuff as well).
Anyway, I was watching Ovation TV (ch. 157 on dish) and on came a special on Lowbrow art called "The Lowdown on Lowbrow". I watched it, really, because I was so prepared to hate lowbrow stuff but you can't hate what you don't know (I think). So mind wide open, I watched the special and found only that it just made me ask more questions. I understand the concept of going against this ridiculous nature of art that has come up through the decades- basically that for much of it, it either becomes entirely too complex ideologically for the laymen to understand or there is so little there that it actually means nothing (for lack of a better term, fucking minimalism). And, frankly, as someone with a background in graffiti, I also get the pop-art references with cartoons and what have you. What gets me though is what its supposed to be or do. I took some notes during the documentary on what questions I have about Lowbrow, and art in general. Does art require talent- honestly, I think so. Good art, anyway. Ready art is dead, and should have never lived past Duchamp's urinal. I think its like the word "Fuck"- use it too much and it loses punch. Pretty much all of the artsits the documentary showed definitely have picture producing and material using talent. There is absolutely no question about that. But one thing I can't seem to get my head around is the "what you see is what you get" attitude. Isn't that what representational art is for? Is it just supposed to be fun? (nothing wrong with that) I don't think art really needs to say anything. Abstract, pop, expressionist, representational... either the work says something about the artist, something the artist cares about, or nothing at all. What the documentary told me is that the lowbrow movement basically came together for those artsits that "wanted to play too, but had to build their own sandbox to do it". There is something to be said for that, I think. I think if art is too inaccessible, it becomes about status and class instead of a real message (if there is one). In any case, though, I feel that the function of art should be clear, whether its decorative, political, socially driven, or whatever. I'm just not sure what the function of lowbrow art is. I don't mean to put it down (though its not my cup of tea, at all). I'm just trying to understand how these artists answer the whats and whys.
Anyway, I was watching Ovation TV (ch. 157 on dish) and on came a special on Lowbrow art called "The Lowdown on Lowbrow". I watched it, really, because I was so prepared to hate lowbrow stuff but you can't hate what you don't know (I think). So mind wide open, I watched the special and found only that it just made me ask more questions. I understand the concept of going against this ridiculous nature of art that has come up through the decades- basically that for much of it, it either becomes entirely too complex ideologically for the laymen to understand or there is so little there that it actually means nothing (for lack of a better term, fucking minimalism). And, frankly, as someone with a background in graffiti, I also get the pop-art references with cartoons and what have you. What gets me though is what its supposed to be or do. I took some notes during the documentary on what questions I have about Lowbrow, and art in general. Does art require talent- honestly, I think so. Good art, anyway. Ready art is dead, and should have never lived past Duchamp's urinal. I think its like the word "Fuck"- use it too much and it loses punch. Pretty much all of the artsits the documentary showed definitely have picture producing and material using talent. There is absolutely no question about that. But one thing I can't seem to get my head around is the "what you see is what you get" attitude. Isn't that what representational art is for? Is it just supposed to be fun? (nothing wrong with that) I don't think art really needs to say anything. Abstract, pop, expressionist, representational... either the work says something about the artist, something the artist cares about, or nothing at all. What the documentary told me is that the lowbrow movement basically came together for those artsits that "wanted to play too, but had to build their own sandbox to do it". There is something to be said for that, I think. I think if art is too inaccessible, it becomes about status and class instead of a real message (if there is one). In any case, though, I feel that the function of art should be clear, whether its decorative, political, socially driven, or whatever. I'm just not sure what the function of lowbrow art is. I don't mean to put it down (though its not my cup of tea, at all). I'm just trying to understand how these artists answer the whats and whys.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
First Friday aftermath
I just want to say thank you to everyone who came out last night to support me, as well as all the other local artists that were up on display at all the locations open to the public for First Friday. It means a lot to guys like me who are trying to break out and do well.
Anyway, the show at Lucy's Hat Shop went very well. It was a packed house, some people sold some stuff, and it was an all around fun night. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Danielle Nutt, as well as the Lucy's managerial staff, for including me in their event and I hope I will get the opportunity again soon.
As far as the show at APW gallery, I had some correspondents go to the show to check things out. It was reported to me that it was a very full house (with 500 artists it better have been). Hopefully I will get pictures from both very soon to post for you guys to see.
Thanks again for the support.
Anyway, the show at Lucy's Hat Shop went very well. It was a packed house, some people sold some stuff, and it was an all around fun night. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Danielle Nutt, as well as the Lucy's managerial staff, for including me in their event and I hope I will get the opportunity again soon.
As far as the show at APW gallery, I had some correspondents go to the show to check things out. It was reported to me that it was a very full house (with 500 artists it better have been). Hopefully I will get pictures from both very soon to post for you guys to see.
Thanks again for the support.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
First Friday
So this week is pretty busy for me, since i have 2 shows going on today. The first is at APW gallery in Queens, NY (LIC), and the other at Lucy's Top Hate in Philly (Old City).
The APW show is featuring a huge amount of artists- for more information, please visit apwarts.com. The work I have featured at APW is Stack and Pack.
The show at Lucy's Top Hat is actually my first First Friday show, so I'm actually pretty stoked about it. It's going to be a much more intimate type of environment with some decent drink specials, free appetizers, and the work of Danielle Nutt, Becky Reiser, and Kat Gun along with my own. So come out, get booze, and see some art.
I hope to see you there- enjoy the art openings all around Philly and NY.
The APW show is featuring a huge amount of artists- for more information, please visit apwarts.com. The work I have featured at APW is Stack and Pack.
The show at Lucy's Top Hat is actually my first First Friday show, so I'm actually pretty stoked about it. It's going to be a much more intimate type of environment with some decent drink specials, free appetizers, and the work of Danielle Nutt, Becky Reiser, and Kat Gun along with my own. So come out, get booze, and see some art.
I hope to see you there- enjoy the art openings all around Philly and NY.
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