Resources for artists & art lovers [part 1]
- Hyperallergic: This online publication is dedicated to critical discussions of contemporary art and culture. It features in-depth opinion pieces, exhibition reviews, and interviews with artists, aiming to make art accessible to a wider audience. Visit Hyperallergic
- The Art Newspaper: This publication delivers news regarding the art world, including auction reports, exhibition announcements, and profiles of artists and institutions. It focuses on the economic aspects of art, including market trends. Visit Theartnewspaper
- This Is Colossal: An engaging blog that highlights contemporary art, design, and visual culture. This Is Colossal shares stunning visuals and stories about artists, installations, public art, and innovative projects from around the globe. Visit Thisiscolossal
- Frieze: The website associated with the renowned Frieze Art Fair features articles, news, and interviews with leading artists and curators. It serves as a hub for contemporary art that champions diverse voices within the art community. Visit Frieze
- ArtNews: ArtNews offers breaking news, insightful analysis, and reviews related to contemporary art. The website covers major exhibitions and trends and features profiles of influential artists. Visit Artnews
- Contemporary Art Daily: This website is dedicated to showcasing contemporary art exhibitions worldwide. It features daily updates with photographs and descriptions of current exhibitions in galleries and museums, focusing on the visual aspect of art. Visit Contemporaryartdaily
- The Art Story: The Art Story is an educational resource that provides comprehensive information on modern and contemporary art movements and artists. The site includes timelines, articles on major artworks, and thematic discussions. Visit Theartstory
- BOMB Magazine: Focusing primarily on artist interviews, BOMB Magazine offers profound insights into the thoughts and processes of contemporary artists. It also includes essays and reviews that explore the intersection of art, literature, and culture.Visit Bombmagazine
- Art Babble: This video platform showcases contemporary artists, art movements, and exhibitions. It’s an initiative of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, featuring diverse perspectives from artists and curators through visual storytelling. Visit Artbabble
- Art21: Art21 is a nonprofit organization that produces videos documenting contemporary artists at work, exploring their studios, and their creative processes. The website offers educational resources and insights about contemporary art practices. Visit Art21.org
- e-flux: An online platform and publishing space that serves the contemporary art community through critical discourse, event listings, and exhibition announcements. E-flux also publishes an art journal featuring theoretical articles and essays. Visit E-flux.com
- Artnet: Artnet specializes in the art market, providing auction results, gallery listings, and artist profiles. The site also features news articles and market analysis that help collectors and enthusiasts navigate the contemporary art landscape. Visit Artnet
- Artspace: Artspace is an online platform for buying contemporary art directly from artists and galleries. The website features curated collections and articles about emerging artists and trends in the art market. Visit Artspace
- ArtReview: This magazine provides critical commentary on contemporary art, featuring articles, interviews and reviews. The website highlights influential exhibitions and emerging artists, with a focus on global contemporary art trends. Visit Art Review
- Art Gratis: Thousands of free high quality images that put stock photos in the shade. Whether you require images for artistic or business projects, this ever-growing curated collection of beauties has you covered. You can use these images in your art creations, on your products, websites, blogs etc. and in your videos & presentations. The best part is they're completely free and no attribution is required!. Visit Art Gratis
- Artsy: Artsy is a leading platform for discovering and collecting art. It features profiles of artists, galleries, and institutions and provides extensive articles on current exhibitions and the art market. The site also allows users to buy and sell art securely. Vist Artsy
- Ocula: In their own words, "Ocula is the guiding partner for navigating the global art world. It is created for people who collect art and people who recognise the power of art. Visit Ocula
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How to recognise a professional art gallery
As with the creation of art itself, there are no rules when it comes to exhibiting art, but there are standards that are expected to be met, by gallerists, curators and the art loving public. including buyers and collectors.
A typical professional space is a white room with a grey floor. The space doesn't have to be the perfect white cube but white walls are usually the best option as they allow the viewer to focus on each piece without distraction. Most artworks contain colours so any shade from black matt to white matt works best. Nothing should be visible close to each artwork, such as a hanging cord or string. In fact the most common hanging system in a professional contemporary gallery is a simple nail or a screw in the wall, with the exception of some museums, which are usually more traditional spaces where hanging systems are more practical and might fit better with the overall aesthetic. However when it comes to the contemporary white space, at least from my perspective, those hanging strings are a dealbreaker. Once I see them, my heart sinks and I'm not alone!
It’s important that artworks have sufficient space between them. A set of works may be exhibited in a group close to each other, but if an entire wall is filled with paintings, one on top of the other, then this is not a professional gallery, it’s a shop. The exception being for example, an annual group show - perhaps raising much needed funds for the gallery or a charity etc.
Photocopies of a list of the exhibited artworks, with numbers, titles, mediums, dimensions, and price of each piece [where applicable] should be available upon entry. Lighting should be evenly spread across each artwork and effective and unobtrusive. There should be no music playing, unless it’s part of the exhibit. A visitors book should be easily accessible to optionally collect visitors emails and accept comments. A professional gallery takes a risk with a professional artist when they exhibit their work and vice versa -It's a collaboration. However 'vanity galleries', which should be avoided at all times, charge the artist for wall space and therefore, it's only the artist who takes the risk.
Heads up - Rant imminent: Opening reception [vernissage] speeches should focus on the artist and their work [no-brainer you'd imagine] and be very short. Preferably less than 10 minutes and ideally less than three - I'm not kidding! There's lots of time for analysis after the viewing and I've lost count of the number of times I wished the ground would swallow me up because a speaker is waffling on about either the blatantly obvious or nothing of relevance and in any case the vast majority of artwoks are visual creations - the hint is in the name 'Visual art' - While there are exceptions, the entire story is on the wall, plinth etc. or in the performance and talks and texts should be kept to a minimum to prevent putting ideas into the viewer's head and to give the work time to breathe. Last but not least, free refreshments including wine, soft drinks and water should be available and guests should not have to climb under tables to find the hidden vino. After all, opening reception times tend to be a short window and guests may have travelled some distance and at a fast pace. As with any profession, what gallerists give is what they get and you'll find that the successful ones give generously. A friendly upbeat and buzzy opening says a lot about a gallery and its management.
So does all this mean that you won’t find great art at a dingy pop up with pink walls and a polka dot floor. No, many great artists start there and no doubt, many end up there too. The clean white space is simply the preferred playground of the art establishment and it makes sense. These white spaces are some of the very few quiet and peaceful places left in our cities and they are less commercially oriented, in the sense that they never push a sale. Probably over 90% of gallery visitors buy absolutely nothing, but they are encouraged to browse the artworks nonetheless and you'll notice that the prices are round figures, such as 300, 2,500, 7,200 etc. You won't find artworks 'ON SALE' in a professional space and certainly not for something like $999. 99 because no one is trying to pull the wool over your eyes. A good art gallery is a no bullshit zone that welcomes everyone regardless of their perceived spending power.
Despite uncertain times, many on street galleries, especially the more established larger ones, 'though not all, continue to thrive. However, due to soaring rents, a number of independent smaller ones are now transferring their business online. But as gallerists love the live connection, it’s likely that less expensive pop ups and art fairs, with less overheads, will increase as a result. As they say - watch this space.
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The deal with teal
Teal is a captivating colour that strikes a harmonious balance between the calming qualities of blue and the invigorating energy of green. This rich, sophisticated hue evokes images of serene ocean waters and lush, tropical landscapes, making it a versatile choice for various applications. In the context of the fashion industry, teal is celebrated for its ability to convey sophistication and modernity. It often appears in collections that aim to blend elegance with a sense of adventure, appealing to fashionistas who seek a funky vibe in their wardrobe - That's funky quirky not funky smelly ok!
Teal's versatility allows it to be paired effortlessly with other colours, enhancing its popularity among designers. Nothing is black and white when it comes to colour matching [see what I did there] but It complements neutral tones like grey, beige, and white while adding a pop of vibrancy when matched with warmer colours such as mustard yellow or orange. This adaptability has made teal a staple in seasonal collections, particularly in spring and fall, where its earthy yet fresh appearance resonates with the ever-changing autumnal palettes. Additionally, teal can evoke a sense of nostalgia, making it a favourite in vintage-inspired fashion, where it often reigns supreme in retro patterns and styles.
As sustainability becomes an increasingly important focus within the fashion industry, teal's connection to nature amplifies its appeal. The color serves as a reminder of the ocean and lush landscapes, which resonate with eco-conscious consumers looking for environmentally-friendly apparel. Designers frequently utilise teal in collections focused on sustainable materials or ethical practices, further establishing the colour as a trendsetter in the modern fashion landscape. Overall, teal embodies a blend of comfort, elegance, and environmental consciousness, making it not only a colour choice but also a representation of the values consumers seek in today's fashion.
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Beasts of Almeria
In the arid expanses of the Tabernas desert, whispers of the Beasts of Almeria can be heard, Known affectionately as the 'BOA', they have woven their way into the fabric of local lore. These wild beasts, with their large sinuous bodies glistening under the unforgiving sun, are a sight to behold. Their skin, reminiscent of polished obsidian, undulates with a fluid grace as they navigate the parched landscape. Emerging from the shadows of ancient rock formations, they brandish numerous tentacles that writhe and curl, ensnaring any unfortunate insect, pest, or human that dares to breech their habitat. It is said that these tentacles have a sentience of their own, almost like an extension of the beasts’ will, capturing and subduing anything that stirs in the dry air.
While the BOA may be daunting, their true purpose transcends intimidation. They are the guardians of this domain, fiercely protecting the sun-scorched land from marauding gangs of washed-up Hollywood actors [yes you read that correctly] who were left behind after the directors and film crews of classics like "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" hung up their sandy boots and abandoned their fading sets - for a few dollars more! These jilted cowboys, now little more than shadows of their former selves, roam the desert in search of fame and fortune, chasing mirages of their illustrious yesterdays. Yet, they inevitably find themselves outmatched by the phenomenal beasts, who descend upon them with a vengeful fury, their tentacles lashing out like whipping winds in a ferocious desert storm.
The BOA, fierce and unyielding, appear to have successfully secured the region, for now at least, ensuring that no wayward soul exploits their adored Andalucian haven. As menacing and destructive as they can be, they seem to actually approve of film industry operations on their territory, or at least of the presence of creatives within the industry, who respect the craft and locations too! While heroes like Indiana Jones and Conan the Barbarian, could never hope to tame, let alone contend with the BOA, the actors who played their parts returned home in one piece to tell the tale. However, as enigmatic shades of fate play out so often in the baking heat, many other lesser mortals, some perhaps with delusions of impending fame, attempted to confront the beasts, only to be met with torturous and hideous retribution. Legends of massacres and subsequent exoduses have been relayed for decades, with locals recounting tales of adventurers who, in the face of such terrifying creatures, often defecated themselves as they stumbled over the desert dunes in panicked retreat, leaving behind forever the ghosts of their glory.
The BOA, timeless and relentless, ensure that the desert remains pure to itself and its filmic heritage, They alone oversee and protect this glorious mystical paradise, where echoes of cinematic dreams fade into the whispers of the desert's wispy wind.
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However, be warned - they bite!
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