3rd Annual (and probably last) Melancholy Exhibition Coming Up

Submissions are already starting to roll in for Projekt30's third annual Melancholy Exhibition. The work we're receiving looks outstanding. The original 2009 Melancholy show received more submissions then any other art show in Projekt30's history. It hit a nerve in the art world, so we decided to do it again in 2010.

Ophelia by Kalliope Amorphous

Melancholy: At the Bottom of Everything, 2009 Projekt30

Originally we conceived of the Melancholy Exhibition as the second part of a two part series exploring two of the four temperaments Hippocrates developed. Its sister show, Sanguine: The Temperament of Blood occurred in spring 2009. Sanguine is the boisterous, hedonistic personality type, while Melancholics are introverted and sensitive. The two temperaments seemed a good foil for one another, and made great exhibition themes, but people really latched on to the later.

Wordlessly Watching, She Waits by the Window

by Dave Foss

Melancholy: At the Bottom of Everything... Again, 2010 Projekt30

My hunch is that artists are responding to the melancholy aspect of the prospectus more than the melancholic bit. Perhaps a show about melancholy really resonates right now, given how difficult the past couple of years have been for nearly everyone in the community. I really hope things are finally starting to improve.

New Proximity by Douglas Malone

Melancholy: At the Bottom of Everything, 2009 Projekt30

That optimism is why this will be the final Melancholy exhibition. If you want to participate, this is your last chance. The subtitle we chose (At the Bottom of Everything... Forever) is a bit bleak, but not prophetic. Next year Projekt30 will host Melancholy's spiritual successor "The Road to Recovery", which with any luck, by then will be an idea that reverberates just as well. 

I particularly like the opening paragraph of the "Road to Recovery" description:

"We all could use a little relief. A time without our burdens chaining us to the soil. In a more beautiful world there is always a road to recovery, though even in that winsome world the road is always long."

It's not often you see a prospectus written so lyrically.

~justin

The September 2011 Exhibition (Is for the Birds)

Just a quick post to point out two very novel artists featured in Projekt30's September 2011 show, both of which feature birds in their artwork. I know quite a few artists in New York and South Florida who make prominent use of the avian form, generally as a vehicle for abstraction. I'm not sure it constitutes a trend, but it's interesting to me to see that other artists are doing the same thing, but each with such a unique take on the subject matter.

David Rios Ferreira has produced some whimsical (though also a little unsettling) gouaches. Inspired by Puerto Rican folklore and the literary aesthetic magical realism, he uses silhouettes from early Disney animations to create fanciful compositions which he presents on mylar or drafting film.

What's best for him by David Rios Ferreira

His child-figues lack facial features or any other anatomical detail, with only their skin and hair tone to possibly suggest Hispanic decent. They are often restrained, in the midst of being carried away by humming birds, or weighed down by blossoming flowers.

Gentle and without knowledge of good and evil by David Rios Ferreira

And Someday by David Rios Ferreira

Another artist with birds on the brain is Emi Brady. Her immense print installations of swarming birds and stacked animals are not to be missed. I strongly recommend getting a close look, the thumbnails don't do them justice.

flock/feast by Emi Brady

The level of detail is amazing. It would be easy for a viewer to get lost in the visual maelstrom, but Emi controls the chaos with subtle tonal and color variation; adding visual depth and opening up the space.

flock/feast (detail) by Emi Brady

She also stacks goats, which is awesome.

flock/feast (detail) by Emi Brady

~justin

Deadline Extension

Hurricane Irene left many on the East coast without power and internet access this week. That includes myself. I was visiting Maryland Institute College of Art only to find the school closed and me stranded in Baltimore without power. Even after the electricity was restored, it took a few more days for Comcast to restore internet access.

Because of the disruption, Projekt30 is extending the deadline of the October Exhibition to the night of Sunday September 4, 2011.

Genius is Mysterious

Projekt30's summer show Genius is Mysterious is up and I have to say I'm personally very pleased with the way it turned out. It's one of the strongest exhibitions we've had this year! I want to thank all the artists that participated and everyone who took the time to submit ratings. 


Many artists don't realize just how many people actually take the time to help jury our exhibitions. Over 1,000 people submitted more than 25,000 ratings for Genius is Mysterious.  That's only counting the people who submitted at least the 20 rating minimum, the traffic was actually quite a bit higher. Not too bad, though some of our juries get up to three times those numbers.


I noticed a few interesting trends in the show. First, we had a huge influx of Asian and Asian-influenced art this month. Artists Gogo Yu, Manihoo Chang, and TT Tone to name a few. We got quite a few submissions from artists living in Taipei in particular, which a new and welcome development.

Flying Horse Brings you Wealth by TT Tone

Also interesting are the number of artists working in the medium of photographic collage and montage. My own artwork tends in that direction so it's always exciting for me personally when collage makes it into an exhibition. Artists Jack Bond, Kate MacDonald, and Chris Fowler sent in work that was striking, haunting, and outright bizarre (respectively). All three are Projekt30 members, so it'll be interesting to see what they come up with in the future.

Lobster Burlesque by Chris Fowler

Finally, I'm thrilled to see such a strong sculpture turnout. We are sometimes criticized that Projekt30 doesn't display enough sculpture. The fact is, just not that many sculptors participate most months.  Genius is Mysterious features some of the highest quality sculpture I've ever seen! Richard A. Moore III's gruesome bronzes and Chris Bathgate's futuristic metal-works completely blow me away.

 Kissable Ribcage by Richard A. Moore, III

ST 732232835563624434 by Chris Bathgate

I'm looking forward to the results of the September 2011 public jury and I can't wait to see what people will submit for our fifth annual fear themed show FEAR V.

~justin

We're Still Accepting 2012 Show Theme Ideas

Just a reminder that we are still accepting show theme suggestions until the end of the month. There are a lot of good ones so far, but keep them coming! Email your suggestions to members at projekt30 dot com and if we base a show off yours we'll give you a free three-month membership.

~justin