Art Lies
Issue No. 61, Spring 2009
Second Acts
When Guest Editorial Contributor Stuart Horodner first approached me with his concept for this issue of Art Lies, “Second Acts,” my first thought was that it would be a novel departure from the rigor and density of recent issues. Stuart proposed the commissioning of essays, projects, recipes, images—you name it—by artists, curators and writers who are deeply engaged in “other” acts, be they gardening, cooking, fishing, traveling or collecting. As our discussions continued, it became apparent that his concept was not as straightforward as it first seemed. People generally do not think of creative types—artists in particular—as being in need of respite from their work. This fallacy is either indicative of a romanticized notion of what it means to be an artist (or curator or writer) or systemic underappreciation of what it means to have a real studio practice.
Thus, as it turns out, the premise of Second Acts is a bit deceptive in its simplicity because it addresses the multifarious rituals of assigning value. Being a self-sustaining, full-time artist/curator/writer requires a set of skills not unlike those in other professional arenas. The endeavors chronicled herein may be deemed hobbies by some, but they could also be considered passions, social experiments—even coping mechanisms that counterbalance the often hermetic nature of artistic practice. And, highlighting the wonder, joy, recognition and satisfaction gained by “additional” endeavors offers insight into the complexity and/or contradictions involved in attempting to separate a person’s primary and secondary interests—to dislodge what one does for money from what one does for love, for release, for relief—and what we are willing to risk in the process.
-Anjali Gupta, Editor
Feature Contributors:
Regine Basha
Zoe Crosher
Stuart Horodner
Scott Ingram
Jörg Jakoby
Germaine Koh
Dominic Molon
Chris Riley
Jacinda Russell
Joe Sola
Jack Whitten
With artwork by: Zoe Crosher, Adam Helms, Stuart Horodner, Matthew Lusk, Melaine Manchot, Rachel Owens, Adam Overton, Justin Parr, Lucy Raven, Steve Roden and Stephen Vitiello, Stephen Schofield and Erin Shirreff.
Reviews Include:
Atlanta-Susan Richmond on Avantika Bawa
Austin-Kurt Mueller on Temporary Services
Boston-Evan Garza on Douglas Weathersby
Dallas-Noah Simblist on Olafur Eliasson
Houston-Garland Fielder on Soledad Arias
New Orleans-Erin Starr White on Prospect 1
New York-Riley O’Bryan on Artist as Troublemaker
Philadelphia-John Ewing on Field Reports
San Antonio-Wendy Weil Atwell on Alex Rubio & David Vega
And Alex Jovanovich on Doubt by Richard Shiff
Cover Image: Douglas Weathersby, Negative Chair Shadows, 2003; C-print; 16 x 20 inches; edition of 5; courtesy the artist and judi rotenberg gallery, Boston
Upcoming Art Lies Events:
Issue No. 61 Launch and discussion with Guest Editorial Contributor Stuart Horodner at Lawndale Art Center, Houston, TX
Saturday, May 16, 11 am – 1 pm
Invitational Event for Members of Art Lies and Lawndale Art Center
Issue No. 61 Launch at Goss-Michael Foundation
Thursday, May 28, 6 – 8 pm, Dallas, TX
www.gossmichaelfoundation.org/
LISTE – the Young Art Fair in Basel
June 9–14, Basel, Switzerland
Upcoming Issues:
Issue No. 62—Disruptors with Mary Ellen Carroll, Toby Kamps, Warren Neidich, Manon Slome, Jennifer Teets
Issue No. 63—False Positives with Guest Editorial Contributor Barbara Perea, Independent Curator, Mexico City
Art Lies is available in the United States at independent bookstores, museums and select Barnes & Noble locations, and internationally via the Web at www.artlies.org
Art Lies, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization established in 1993, publishes a contemporary art quarterly that provides a forum for the critical exploration and examination of current art production, practice and theory. Art Lies is funded in part by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, The Houston Endowment, The Brown Foundation, The Tocker Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts, the Texas Commission on the Arts, the Houston Arts Alliance and our members.
Subscribe now at www.artlies.org
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