Weekend Edition: Young Artist Profiles: Jennifer Mills

Posted on January 22, 2012 by bonniekate

bk: So, Jennifer,
From whence did you come? Is there a place that you currently associate with ‘home’?
JM: I was born in England which is fun to say, but mostly grew up in Minnesota. My current home is in Chicago.

bk: Is it safe to say that you are part comedian/performance artist and part performative/visual artist?
JM: Saying that is a little risky! I like to think that my work as a comedienne, and my work as a “fine artist” are all part of the same soup. My comedy scratches my art’s back and vice verse.

A good example is a project I just finished in November where I set up a functioning parody of a commercial art gallery. I played a “Mary Boone-esqe” character and sold artwork for $10. The project functioned due to the parody, but also relied very much in the art world context.

bk: What is your relationship to work by these “Relational Aesthetic” artists we’ve been seeing about town recently?
JM: In the recent wave of relational aesthetics- inspired work, I am interested on keeping a critical eye on the motivation and impact of interactive work. I find that humor allows for a more realistic, effective connection in the fleeting moments that exchange based work facilitates. I am however in debt to artists like Rirkrit Tiravanija, and naturally Nicolas Bourriaud who opened my eyes to a new way of making and thinking about work and the viewer.

bk: Do you gain personal fulfillment out of making/enacting your work?
JM: Sure I do! I always hope that it somehow does more than that. I struggle with the possible selfish motivations that are out there in the A world.

bk: Do you have any words of wisdom for us cultural omnivores who may tend to get bored with a lot of the artwork out there?
JM: I make a habit of seeing good comedy. If you are lucky enough to hear the writing a smart and confident comedian, you remember that opening your eyes to something of cultural significance doesn’t need to be dull!
There is a weird fiber supplement called Metamucil which is this unsightly brown powder that turns to a murky mud you mix into a drink. It seams like there are a million other way better ways to get fiber. Is this metaphor landing? I do a million things that I think might have art vitamins hidden in them, like reading about how trees grow, drinking a glass of vinegar*, going ice skating or reading a particularly funny tabloid cover to cover. An accumulation of such things helps me identify what artwork is worth my time.
*This activity may be dangerous

bk: What do you think Art Administrators have to offer you?
JM: EVERYTHING! It is such a huge pillar of support to know there is someone who is willing to help you in securing things that are beyond your jurisdiction. As a scrappy artist, I have gotten so used to doing everything on my own, even things outside of my comfort zone. When I am lucky enough to work with a talented administrator it feels like the whole process of making work looses a hundred pounds.

bk: What was your first memory of art (in any form) that piqued your interest?
JM: I drew a perfect heart in the back seat of my Mom’s Volvo when I was really little. The window was open and it blew out when I was done. Loosing that masterpiece haunted me, I was devastated! I never thought I would ever draw something so perfect again. I don’t think I have yet.

bk: Once you gave me a hand written check – the background image was an illustration you had submitted as a child. Do your parents still order these checks?
JM: Oh yeah. I wrote my rent check on one this month.

bk: What does the world need today, more than ever?
JM: Love sweet love…. It’s the only thing, that there’s just too little of.

bk: Well said Jennifer. Thank you for sharing your time and your gift of entertainment.

–

Jennifer Mills holds an MFA in Studio/Performance Art from the Art Institute of Chicago; was a Summer Resident of the Sullivan Gallery Residency and the Oxbow School of Art; as well as taking part in performances with the Leotard Foundation, Baby Wants Candy, Second City Training Center, and Infinite Sundaes.
For more on Jennifer Mills visit: jennifermills.org

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Bill Jenson @ Cheim & Read -via- James Kalm

Posted on January 20, 2012 by bonniekate

I saw this first on James Kalm’s vlog, and liked it a lot. It’s called “Book of Songs”.

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What DO they have to say?

Posted on January 20, 2012 by bonniekate

Here are 99 portraits of the 99% - many of whom are quoted saying they’d like to lend support to the occupy wall st cause. What exactly does that mean?

I had my own notions and feelings about this movement and about the reactions of others, but here I am attaching the official working draft of their statement – just incase you hadn’t read it yet…

This is still very relevant because it is a new manifestation of democracy, and for better or worse we all have certain rights politically and as a part of humanity which we should be aware of, and aware of how to enact them.

 

 

Principles of solidarity – working draft

Posted on September 24, 2011

What follows is a living document that will be revised through democratic process of General Assembly.

On September 17, 2011, people from all across the United States of America and the world came to protest the blatant injustices of our times perpetuated by the economic and political elites.  On the 17th we as individuals rose up against political disenfranchisement and social and economic injustice.  We spoke out, resisted, and successfully occupied Wall Street.  Today, we proudly remain in Liberty Square constituting ourselves as autonomous political beings engaged in non-violent civil disobedience and building solidarity based on mutual respect, acceptance, and love.  It is from these reclaimed grounds that we say to all Americans and to the world, Enough! How many crises does it take? We are the 99% and we have moved to reclaim our mortgaged future.

Through a direct democratic process, we have come together as individuals and crafted these principles of solidarity, which are points of unity that include but are not limited to:

  • Engaging in direct and transparent participatory democracy;
  • Exercising personal and collective responsibility;
  • Recognizing individuals’ inherent privilege and the influence it has on all interactions;
  • Empowering one another against all forms of oppression;
  • Redefining how labor is valued;
  • The sanctity of individual privacy;
  • The belief that education is human right; and
  • Endeavoring to practice and support wide application of open source.

We are daring to imagine a new socio-political and economic alternative that offers greater possibility of equality.  We are consolidating the other proposed principles of solidarity, after which demands will follow.

1 The Working Group on Principles of Consolidation continues to work through the other proposed principles to be incorporated as soon as possible into this living document.This is an official document crafted by the Working Group on Principles of Consolidation. The New York City General Assembly came to consensus on September 23rd to accept this working draft and post it online for public consumption.

taken from http://www.nycga.net/

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Introducing Mr. bonniekate

Posted on January 18, 2012 by bonniekate

I don’t share too many personal details on here anymore but with the HOT topic of the day being censorship I thought I would go against my regiment and enact my ability to output whatever I want on this blog. This might be a funny way to protest internet censorship/online piracy restrictions – I know most people are editing things out, but – here it is:

I’m engaged and I want the world to know!

Also – I enjoy both downloading stuff with my fiancé for free and purchasing things for him online.

“Two bills before Congress, known as the Protect IP Act (PIPA) in the Senate and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House, would censor the Web and impose harmful regulations on American business. Millions of Internet users and entrepreneurs already oppose SOPA and PIPA.

The Senate will begin voting on January 24th. Please let them know how you feel. Sign the petition urging Congress to vote NO on PIPA and SOPA before it is too late.”

Thank you Laurel Dailey for the lovely photos.

 

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As self-aware as She

Posted on January 18, 2012 by bonniekate

Yesterday I purchased a downloadable version of Miranda July’s book “It Chooses You” which I had seen some stuff about online.

My fiancé then informed me that he had already obtained the hard-cover for me, and went about returning the download to Amazon.

As I read through some preliminary pages this morning I was quickly sucked into her casually deliberate writing that charms me so. I got to a point in her first chapter when something struck a chord.

 

I had already been mulling over Ms. July as an example of a true contemporary artist who is not defined by one medium but rather lives out creative actions that flow in and out of different traditions (writing, film, documentation, action, performance, sculpture, etc.) and she does this with apparent ease and style. However, what if it isn’t easy, and is her style crafted? I mean she is no Lady Gaga but she has her own specific look and persona that is tailored.

Crow and I

Miranda July is someone I look up to and am inspired by along with a handful of other women whom I may or may not know personally. I think, though, that for those women in the arts we should not be disheartened by how shimmery her career seems when we reflect on our own, but rather examine the atributes which communicate her identity and consider what atributes we are also putting out into the world from within our own selves.

All of these thoughts are running into ideas from a conversation I had last night with a Monologuist who is shaping her artistic identity – who is looking for casual and trust worthy banter with her audience. Miranda is someone I feel like I would enjoy and trust in a direct interaction, but this is all based on perceptions which come from crafted communicators. We are all building our personas through costume, documentation, social media, etc. and I do not think this is bad – rather I think it is an opportunity.

The chord that struck me in those first pages of July’s book was a simple narration in the text. It stated what was going on between her and another individual, then described her physical reaction to a comment, and furthermore she also included the sub-text of what that gesture would imply. — “Woah!” I though. “How self-aware! How fully conscious! ”

All this to say – I am learning a new voice through this blog – I am learning my own voice, and learning to hear it played back from the words I put down, and from the font I choose and from the images I place. I am learning the balance between psychotically obsessing over detail, full awareness of being, and conversely the appropriate moments of self-abandon.

May you be at peace with yourself today, and communicate to the world who you are as eloquently as you know how.

And here is just a little taste of Miranda for you from Nowness:

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Young Artist Profiles: Sarah Gregory

Posted on January 17, 2012 by bonniekate

Last weekend I sat down with the singer/songwriter (and all-around breath-taking personality) Sarah Gregory! You may know her from her collaborative works with the Gregory Brothers, or perhaps you are privileged to have seen her LIVE with her “Stanleys“. Part internet-sensation, part soul-diva – I was interested in bringing more of her story to you!

 

*Rather than give you the strait interview text I will be retelling her story here. Scroll down to the bottom to find details of performances to attend THIS WEEK!

–

Sarah grew up in Texas, and stayed in-state to study performing arts in college. Passionate about the theatre arts, Sarah was given the chance to study abroad. She jumped at the opportunity to go to London and see more diverse performance styles and venues. This would be her first experience traveling outside the United States and made a huge impression on her.

Just a month after graduation she moved herself from Texas to New York City (this was in 2004). She did this realizing that New York would be the most international city in the US. After working with various performers in NY she honed her interest onto singing and writing music rather than the more theatrical work that first attracted her. This shift in passion has stuck ever since.

I asked her if there was an early memory of experiencing performance or visual art that ignited her passion for creative work. Sarah recalled that her parents had made a point to give her many diverse experiences – be it sports, arts, or other activities. Without her parents pushing her in any one direction, the creative experiences always stuck with her most. On one occasion a theatrical group performed at her childhood school. The main performer was a woman who was missing an arm. Sarah remembered this fact about the woman but recalled that the her performance was of such a quality that the physical difference that was a new sight for Sarah was completely forgotten as the woman carried-on with her roll. The character’s identity was not tied to the presence or absence of a limb and it was not distracting or even noticeable during the performance. This power of the performer to enchant was what stuck with Sarah.

I first got to know Sarah because of our shared faith through a church that we both attend in Brooklyn. I asked her if/how her spirituality had any influence on her creative practice. Sarah stated that part of what was interesting to her about the Bible is the way it tells stories about the world creatively through a whole spectrum of emotion and literary device. She eloquently went on to relay a resonance between the range of human experience possible, the hues, range of emotion, and expression with those stories found on the pages of scripture. She doesn’t make a habit of using the mic to preach at her attentive crowd, but would make no mystery of her involvement with projects such as the Welcome Wagon or Bifrost Arts.

I consider Sarah to be successful among the performers with whom I am acquainted, so I asked Sarah to define for me what she considered to be the mark of success. “Being able to pay your bills” she said, and continued on to explain that being an artist and being able to make ends meet (particularly in an urban setting filled with creative professionals and hopefuls) is a huge accomplishment. She attributed this particular success in her life to having the fortune to perform with great people who ended up continuing to work with her or recommend her in an ongoing relationship. Beyond Sarah’s vocal talent she also is likable, and knows how to keep friends. Although the resources are not always there for some people, this relational correlation rang true for me as well.

So, what is next for Sarah? …Right now she is in a unique moment – She has just shot a pilot with the Gregory Brothers, and finished a recording in Charlottesville. It’s a moment of anticipation to see what may come of that creative work. In the meantime she continues to perform regularly at local venues. I hope you have the chance to see her soon – maybe even this week…?

 

Sarah can be found:

 

*Many thanks to Sarah for your grace and for sharing your lovely voice so freely.

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ironic update

Posted on December 28, 2011 by bonniekate

I decided to glance over the bill that I had mentioned just a couple posts ago… After looking it over, I found the below excerpts interesting – having not previously read the bill before posting:

…OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, MARINE CORPS

For expenses, not otherwise provided for, necessary for the operation and maintenance of the Marine Corps, as authorized by law, $5,542,937,000.

…NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS GRANTS AND ADMINISTRATION

For necessary expenses to carry out the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965, $146,255,000 shall be available to the National Endowment for the Arts for the support of projects and productions in the arts, including arts education and public outreach activities, through assistance to organizations and individuals pursuant to section 5 of the Act, for program support, and for administering the functions of the Act, to remain available until expended.

-excerpt, full text found here.

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MLE makes things BRIGHT

Posted on December 22, 2011 by bonniekate

The image above is something she has been playing with – her music is something that will make you feel playful and inspired too, I think.

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Let’s Talk MONEY

Posted on December 22, 2011 by bonniekate

Congress just agreed on Bill, ref. H.R. 2055; expected to be signed by President Obama this week, and will provide the following: Update taken from AAM email newsletter…

$30.918 million
for the Office of Museum Services (OMS)
at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
A decrease from the current $31.5 million
$146.255
for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
A $8.435 million decrease from the current (FY11) level
$146.255
for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
A decrease of $8.435 million.
All programs are subject to a .189% across the board reduction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On a similar but “unrelated” note:

“The amount the U.S. military spends annually on air conditioning in Iraq and Afghanistan: $20.2 billion, according to a former Pentagon official.” – NPR

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Adam’s Visit to Beijing (a loose luggage film)

Posted on December 11, 2011 by bonniekate

Click! http://vimeo.com/33263580 Click!

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