Collective Chicago

Whats going on with "underground art" in Chicago?

I wanted to be in a collective. I felt that a collective was a great opportunity to learn about other artists' practices, collaborate, try new things, be part of change. But the few art collective exhibits I've been to (both underground collectives and mainstream) look just like gallery exhibits. It seems like the collectives are just mimicking the gallery system they seem to say they rebel against. Why exhibit gallery art in an alternative space?

Maybe these are separate issues, but where is the performance art? Were is the site specific installation. Where are the revolutionaries? Who is planning the next deviation? Who wants to? Is there an avante guarde in Chicago?

On the plus side, I went to an apartment gallery (only once) that shows great promise. Mini Dutch exhibited two interesting pieces this winter. One was an interactive sculpture, and the other was a site specific installation in their "installation room." Not only was the work good, the presentation great, and the gallery director professional, but I didn't feel like I walked into a clique gathering that was accidentally listed in The Reader. Although it was in their home, it had a professional feel, and the party aspect was down played compared to the art.

Three Conversations

Last night at Hilary's annual Festivus party I had two interesting conversations.

Hilary and I talked off and on about consciousness in reaction to another conversation she had. She had recently read the answers to an annual question posed to a community of scientists and mathematicians: "What do you believe in, but can not prove?"

Also, Tesia, George and I talked about the idea of souvenir in relationship to contemporary art. Like when a video artist sells still images from her work. How this is a simplified and thus consumable version her practice. This idea has interested me in my work. But until last night I hadn't thought about the relationship that may exist between the "dumbing down" of work and its saleability. But upon writing the word "souvenir" here in this blog, I realized am very interested in a sovereign and consumable version of my art!

And, I think Brian Gillis an I are starting to really talk about curating and exhibiting in a religious art and topics in contemporary practice show, hopefully for Chicago, but maybe we could even get it to travel? He just sent me a really interesting statement, via email.