October Installation and Field Trips

The September show has been packed up and we are bedecked in paint clothes getting the gallery prepped to hang the October show featuring new works by John Grant and Georgianne Stinnett in the Main Gallery and quirky, Estonian artist, Marko Mäetamm, in the Dové Gallery.

Stay tuned for pictures of the installation but in the meantime let's take a look at a recent visit from Aaron Eichorst's third grade class at Clark Elementary. The kids had a blast interacting with Brown and Scofield's mountaintop removal mining exhibit.  The coal was a big hit, though I'm not sure parents were thrilled to find it lodged in pockets later that day.  Their curiosity was refreshing, rocketing office morale for the rest of the day. Art education my friends...remember, value, and support its continued presence in our schools and at the gallery!

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by, Clark Elementary!

Artist Forum Kickoff

In the spirit of fall, a new season at the gallery, and perhaps the amusing mental image of someone punting a painting today's post features the Artist Forum Series kickoff.  Yesterday, a group of 20 Charlottesvillians - practitioners, admirers, and culture seekers alike - gathered to hear Robert Anderson speak about his latest work, "Green Mansions."

Anderson is a local architect and the former president of the McGuffey Art Center where his new work will be shown in October. He grew up in Hawaii and cites that locale and landscape for his continuing obsession with rain forests, wild animals, and trees.  Bob led the group through the many phases of subject matter, technique, and mediums he has worked with over the years.  Especially fascinating was his presentation of a series of childrens' books he has published like Obo,  a coloring book, and The Boy who was a Black Panther. 

To see Bob's work and talk to him about his very colorful story to date stop by McGuffey on October 2....but only after you've come to SSG to see the October show exhibiting the work of John Grant, Georgianne Stinnett, and Marko Maetamm. Check our website for more details!

Full Schedule 2009-10 Artist Forum Series

October 6

Shelby Fischer
Will be showing at PVCC's art gallery during October

November 10
Lyn Bolen Warren with Russ Warren
Owner of Les Yeux du Monde Gallery

February 9
Sonja Weber Gilkey
Local fiber artist, works with organic materials

March 9
Painter Erin Crowe and Dean Dass, head of Studio Art at UVA

April 13
James Wall
Featuring new works in acrylic

May 12
Studio tour: Visit the studios of all our Artist Forum participants. Learn more about their process, how, and where they work. Plus you'll have an opportunity to purchase original works! Additional $25.

Revisiting Artini...

Shake up a cold, vodka infused something and let's take a trip back. 

Our good friend Jason Lappa put together a stop animation of artist Matt Thomas's mural making and a smash-up of Artini eve highlights to commemorate the event.  Part of the magic of Artini is its ephemeral nature.  In two week's time the IX building is transformed, consumed/enjoyed -- by thirsty party-goers and ambitious dancin'shoes -- and returned to its abandoned-factory-come-event-blank-canvas self.  

But thanks to Jason and Matt we can take a look back, a second look if you will, at Artini 2009...cheers!

Artini III Mural 2009

Artini III Mash Up

Artini III homespot

Inaugural Post & Inaugural Opening of the 36th Season at SSG

Last Friday evening, SSG opened its doors for the first show of the 36th season.  That's right, 36 years of contemporary art in Charlottesville.  Though considered a bit of an institution, we're trying to stay spry and are ready jump into the blogosphere.

While the gallery welcomes a site specific installation by Brown and Scofield, Mountaintop, which addresses the controversial practice of mountaintop removal mining, and a film entitled "Faustus's Children," by Michele O'Marah with David Jones and Tim Jackson, our website welcomes a new voice, A Second Look.

 We hope you'll stop by and see what's happening behind the scenes. Without a doubt, you'll get acquainted with another, even more colorful side of Second Street Gallery.

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So welcome to our first post. Let's rewind to last week's installation and the First Friday's opening.

 

Constructing the entry cabin with artists Jason Brown and Elizabeth Scofield.

Three cheers for Jason's dad, the expert dry-waller. The cabin marked the transition from "clean energy" meaning the invisible nature of electricity to the dirtier side of our power source.  

You may be wondering what mountaintop removal mining is at this point.  Basically, it's the practice of dynamiting entire mountain caps off to gain access to seamline coal. You heard me, no stuttering...entire mountaintops.  A full explanation can be found here.

Soldered forms for the mountaintop shrouds. 

The ridge lines on the wall are made of tar paper. This ridge is imagined from Google Earth specifications of Kayford Mountain as seen from Charlottesville.  Images of mrm sites are mounted at the back of the gallery, taken by activist and friend of the artists, Denny Tyler.

Elizabeth and Jason stretching fabric.

Inside the mountain forms, a single, muted light bulb gives off a haunted, halo effect. Insider note: epoxy and staple guns are our friends, our very, very best friends.

 

Troughs are attached under each ridge line, much like a chalkboard tray, holding 140 lbs of coal.

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, one American burns 140lbs of coal to power their lives each week!

Brown and Scofield want people to see the raw material since many people born in the last thirty years haven't seen or handled coal, aside from a detached understanding of its ties to electricity.

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Installation of the main show ran from Tuesday until a few hours before our members preview on Thursday night, catered by Greenwood Gourmet Grocery and Gabriele Rausse Vineyard.  Throughout the week, we had the help of four fantastic UVA interns and four tireless Cville area volunteers. A million thanks to each of you and to our gracious vendors!*

After many hours of frenzied orchestration, construction, lighting, and curating, SSG welcomed over 360 people to our First Friday opening, catered by Bang! and Gabriele Rausse Vineyard.

Brown and Scofield during the artist's talk

Michele O'Marah and David Jones speaking about their film "Faustus's Children" showing in the Dove Gallery.

The film runs 40 minutes long and includes a range of source material including Whit Stillman’s Metropolitan, Goethe’s version of the Faust legend, Alfred Hitchcock’s Rope, and most notably, Donna Tartt’s The Secret History.

 

Portraits of Ian and Claire. Gallery go-ers experience Faustus's Children.

The film has purposefully amateur sets and the actors are all artist friends of the creators.  Michele and David both spoke to those choices being a direct comment on the the fact that this is a constructed reality that confronts the implausible Hollywood tradition of tidy endings.

 Ian and Claire, er, getting to know one another...

The saturated colors and stereotypical, blue-blooded uniforms are present throughout the work.

First, First Fridays of the 36th Season!

The show runs from September 4-26. Please come by from 11-6pm Monday through Wednesday to see the exhibits for yourself.

from 2nd, ACJ

* see our website for volunteer opportunities and how to become a member today!