Film: Scrappers

Scrappers Trailer from scrap movie on Vimeo.

If you haven't seen this amazing 2010 documentary yet (given two thumbs up by Roger Ebert), then make it your next movie viewing priority. Driven by a stellar Frank Rosaly score, and winding through classically Chicago alleyways, Scrappers steadfastly follows Oscar and Otis, two men who have made a living by collecting and reselling discarded scrap metal. Among many things, the film touches on the 2008 financial crisis, gendered economic production, class struggles, and immigration rights.

You can see some interesting post-production photos of the people in the film here (from one of the directors, Brian Ashby). Otis recently celebrated his 77th birthday!

Brian Ashby and Ben Kolak leave today on a Southern Circuit Tour, visiting 9 states (including Ohio and Pennsylvania!) for screenings over the next few weeks.

Lit: Catalogue for "Territories"

 Detail, in-progress screencap of Territories: a compendium

I cannot adequately express how excited I am about the progression of the last few weeks. Since the fall of 2010 I have been working on curating a group show called Territories, opening April 1st, 2011 at Marwen in the Untitled Gallery. The artwork is coming together marvelously, and I'm so happy with how the exhibition will look once we install everything in a week or so. All of this could have been enough, but for some reason I got a bee in my bonnett a few weeks ago, and I decided I wanted to do a catalogue as well. (!)



With the enthusiastic and invaluable help of my friends, designer Scott Reinhard and Marwen exhibitions coordinator Arielle Bielak, we are almost done pulling together a fantastic catalogue that was conceived, written, designed, and executed over the course of four short weeks. A few other people had a hand in it as well (an understatement) --- the catalogue not only serves as a document of the exhibition, but it is a compendium of texts on the subject of "territories" as well. In just one week, Territories: a compendium grew to over 130 pages, with forty-two contributors sending forty-six submissions from twenty cities all over the world. I am honored, touched, and proud to present the artists and writers who have contributed to this book. This is just a sneak peek at what's to come. Email me at sendmissiveshere [at] gmail [dot] com  if you'd like to pre-order a copy (we're only able to print a limited edition of 40, unless you order one in the next few days!)

 

Detail, in-progress screencap of Territories: a compendium

Video/ Dance: Amberley Productions & Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker

These are a few dance-related videos that I can't get out of my head of late:


Ah! - Oval from Amberley Productions on Vimeo.

This strangely hypnotic one's from Amberley Productions in Berlin (although the band is on the Thrill Jockey label in Chicago-- a lot of cool videos on Thrill Jockey's Vimeo page), and I sure wish they had a few more projects out in the world, because I'm digging the German dish they're dishing.



This is from Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, (b. 1960, Belgium), originally choreographed in the 1980s. Below is a more recent piece, although you wouldn't know it to see it, given the pastel nursing home costumes and orthopedic shoes.

 

New work: "Increase Circulation"

Collage from Spudnik Press' monthly throwdown this eve. That kid is just so lonesome! And cold. Hoping to roll with this one, could be a cool print.

Guest writing: Bad at Sports

Gallery shots from the current Peter Saul show, Stupid Arguments, at Corbett vs. Dempsey (Photo by Julia V. Hendrickson)

I'm still recovering from the whirlwind writing gig over at Bad at Sports last week. I was so happy to have the forum to share interesting stories about some amazing friends of mine in the Chicago art scene. I'm pretty sure I wrote, typed, and transcribed over 40 pages in five days (while working full-time, too!). Who knew that an hour-long recorded conversation covers about eight pages? It was a great experience in terms of pushing myself as a writer: I'd never formally interviewed anyone before, nor had I tried to write from recorded interviews. I hope that those conversations continue to evolve over the rest of the year, and that they will be of interest in the future.

Take a glimpse into the worlds of some of the people that are part of my daily life here in Chicago, and let me know what you think!

February 25th, 2011        Notes on a Conversation: Arielle Bielak (Marwen)
February 24th, 2011        Notes on a Conversation: John Corbett & Jim Dempsey (Corbett vs. Dempsey)
February 23rd, 2011        Notes on a Conversation: Nadine Nakanishi & Nick Butcher (Sonnenzimmer)
February 22nd, 2011        Notes on a Conversation: Angee Lennard (Spudnik Press)
February 21st, 2011        Notes on a Conversation: Mark Pascale (Prints & Drawings, The Art Institute of Chicago)

Bad at Sports: Notes on a Conversation with Mark Pascale

I was invited to be a guest blogger this week over at the Chicago "contemporary art talk" website Bad at Sports. Take a look at my first post, an interview with a curator in the department of Prints & Drawings at the Art Institute of Chicago, Mark Pascale. We look through some fantastic Edward Gorey illustrated envelopes and letters that are a recent addition to the Art Institute's collection (more photographs of those here).