art2news:: News and events in the Visual Arts: Upcoming stories

'Blind art' exhibition launched

clairewms510 — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:19:29 GMT

A new exhibition featuring the works of artists suffering from the loss of their vision will be opened this week in Scotland. The artists are all members of classes held by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), and are afflicted by varying degrees of sight loss. To create these works, the artists were forced to rely upon their imagination and memory, limitations which actually allowed them to express themselves to a greater degree, said a tutor at aiding with the classes. Their strong individualism can be seen in the variety of quality work produced. These limitations have also forced them to become "remarkably inventive" with their problem solving skills, the tutor added, and the artists usually only need the "obvious help" with locating their materials and getting set up.

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Vandalism Provides Inspiration for Art Based on Destruction and Decay

ScottH — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:19:29 GMT

The intriguing psychology behind what drives people to destroy artwork for various reasons, ranging from abject vandalism and lunacy to a desire to make an important social statement, has inspired an increasingly prominent form of art based on destruction and decay. Over the years, this form of auto-destructive art has captivated many artists, who use bizarre combinations of artistic media to create their unique works. For example, one artist sprays acid on sheets of nylon, causing beautiful patterns to emerge from the corrosion of the fabric, while other artists have built makeshift sculptures designed specifically to "self-destruct" in public. This is the first I've heard of this form of art and I'm excited to see how it evolves more over time.

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"Wise Warriors, Well Fitted"

EllieRigsby — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:19:29 GMT

A new exhibit on Samurai swords and armor has opened up at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The long-awaited exhibit stresses the contrast between the simplicity of Samurai swords and the Samurai life style and the complexity of the Samurai armor and Samurai beliefs surrounding death and warfare.

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New Da Vinci Found

maccordino — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:19:29 GMT

What appears to be the first Leonardo da Vinci work in over 100 years was found by a Canadian. Valued at approximately $150 million, it is a picture of a young woman.

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2,000 Works by Hélio Oiticica Destroyed In Fire

ichandler — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:19:29 GMT

2,000 pieces of Brazilian artist Hélio Oiticica's artwork was recently destroyed in a fire that rampaged through his brother César Oiticica's home.

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Soldier artist

teragram33 — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:19:29 GMT

This artist, serving in the Territorial Army, speaks on how his art influences his experience in the war surroundings. Through his art, he is distanced with the reality of the surroundings, reflecting on what is happening around him and making connections through history. By studying everyday life in the area, he achieves contrasting emotions through his work. View the link to see his work and hear him speak about his work and experience

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Swamp Art Project

SarahS — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:19:29 GMT

A group of Savannah College of Art and Design students completed a two-part installation that is designed to commemorate slaves who worked on the LeConte-Woodmanston Plantation. The installation includes a series of wooden structures mounted in the same rice fields that slaves once worked in as well as a 231 foot instalation along walkways that go through the plantation. The second part includes a chapel that can house up to 125 people for events.

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Worlds Smallest Sculpture by Willard Wigan

laurenpaul — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:19:29 GMT

Sculptor Willard Wigan makes some of the worlds smallest sculptures. Instead of getting attention for doing something massive, people are amazed by the how tiny they are. Most of Wigan's pieces fit inside the eye of a needle. To create these "micro-sculptures", he mostly uses grains of rice or sand as material and pieces of fly hair to paint. In response to how he does it, Wigan says, "Let me tell you, it's very difficult. Every movement I make is so small. I have to control my breathing and heartbeat - it's not easy! I usually work at night and have to make sure the dog isn't around."

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October is National Arts and Humanities Month!

MaryMarySader — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:19:29 GMT

Coordinated by Americans for the Arts, NAHM is a coast-to-coast collective celebration of culture in America. It is the largest annual celebration of the arts and humanities in the nation. There's a map on the website where they are having events. there are a jillion along the east coast.. :)

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Artists tranform rundown building into art gallery

caavino — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:19:29 GMT

Matthew Bakkom is the curator of the newest (and one of the few) art galleries in downtown Minneapolis. The old Shinders building was transformed into the gallery by artists such as Ralph Burnett. "It's been sitting empty for a year and a half and a group of artists and i thought we should do something," says Bakkom. The art in Bakkom's gallery is not traditional, but contains more contemporary and locally inspired pieces that pushes boundaries and makes politcal statements. Bakkom, Burnet, and the whole team that transformed this old building into an art gallery hope that this will help clean up 8th and Hennepin and the surrounding neighborhoods.

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