A few words on Reverse Pedagogy

I had the opportunity to talk briefly (by cell/mobile... I only mention this as I am terrible at taking notes while one is speaking and the notes I jotted down while Paul was answering my questions are atrocious) with Paul Butler last week about the Reverse Pedagogy (3rd installment) residency up at Model Satellite, in Sligo. Paul was also previous to Sligo just up in Derry at Context Gallery hosting his International Collage Party. Paul has teamed up with Ireland's Mark Garry to head this project, but Paul stated that--

"our job is to pick the people, create the environment and then we step aside and we participate equally along side everybody else."

How did this project come about?

"It started in the Banff art centre responding to the term Reverse Pedagogy. I wanted to create an environment were the students were the teachers. In traditional art schools the students end up in studios by them selves. I wanted a more sort of holistic approach to art-making where everything was done together. Artists working together, bringing each individual talent to the group."

What will Canadians bring to the Irish table?

"Through diversity comes opportunity. It's not necessarily Canadians bringing anything specifically Canadian but artists from different art backgrounds coming together. Possibly in discussion it could be argued two cultures responding to their surroundings, comparing respective art models."

Are there any restrictions?

"No not really, except maybe time"

There was more to this interview but as I mentioned earlier my note taking was not the most comprehensive. Model Arts on the other hand probably keeps great notes and does publish a blog on events at the Castle street space and Niland Gallery and you can check out a youtube interview posted there.

Mark Garry, Being Here Image via www.field.io/

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Went to London for some curry, Koons and Peyton

So Nina and I went off to London for the weekend to visit friends. First time in London and it was an excellent visit. Stopped by the Tate not to see the Futurism or Per Kirkeby exhibit ( I didn't want to pay, although I would have liked to see the Kirkeby show) so we took a gander at the collection displays. Highlights were Gerhard Richter's large abstracts and Joseph Bueys large sculptural works. These two pieces were impressive to say the least. Not sure if they worked so well together in the same room though.


Joseph Bueys, The Pack. 1969 (photo: Tate Modern)

Joseph Beuys installing "The Pack" in the Moderna
Museet, Stockholm, 1971. (photo: Lothar Wolleh)


Joseph Bueys, Lightning with Stag in its Glare.
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
(photo: Erika Barahona-Ede )

Next stop was the Serpentine Gallery. Actually it wasn't the next stop, I'm jumping around here. Anyway we stopped into the Serpentine to catch Jeff Koons show. A master of the spectacle and the show didn't fail. A discussion between friends and I arose after I mentioned that Koons generally didn't paint his own paintings and those that did never received recognition for their contribution. ( aka hired help or more professionally titled, assistants) A common enough practice in many fields other than art but when it comes to artists, credibility seems to come into question. It seems the integrity of the artist who doesnt toil away at his or her own work is lessened when assistants are added. Artists work with ideas and concepts, application and rendering although obviously important are secondary. Regardless, an interesting discussion about accountability. I will have to talk to my team of assistants and see what they think. The Guardian has an interesting article about this very topic here.


Jeff Koons + nameless assistants, photo: Steve Pyke

So to end off we also had the opportunity to see Elizabeth Peyton's show at Whitechapel. Peyton is a good painter just not a great painter and I wonder if it were not for whom she painted and knew, would she be as famous? I have to say that I would be more interested in seeing a show by Canadian artist Constance Maconaghie and her washy and oft times gritty rendering than Peyton's paintings of privilege any day.

C. Maconaghie, Kitchen story 2'x3' Water colour on paper

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Some upcoming Canadian painting shows of interest /or shows I wish I could go and see!

Wil Murray, Baby Ghost From The 1900s Says Beat It With Your Chain, 2009

If you live in the Montreal area, Wil Murray's show at Gallerie PUSH goes up Sept 10th.


Kim Dorland, Lookout 2009

Kim Dorland is showing at Skew in Calgary. OPening Thursday 10th and running till Oct 10th.


Graham Gillmore, Custody and Access Study (Results #2), 2005


And over in Vancouver is Graham Gillmore's Refusalon show at the Monte Clarke Gallery. Sept 10 to Oct 3rd.

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Short update and a Knee-Jerk

So apparently I missed the whole month of August regarding updates here. Shameful if I don't say so myself. I had every intention to write on a number of events, art shows and other random-ness, but the motivation to actually place finger to key failed to appear.

So, anyway, the Galway Arts Festival came and went. When Nina and I moved here last year we had just missed it. So with that I was looking forward to checking it out this time around. I was a little bit disappointed. I think it was generally agreed that the exhibit they put on was rather poor. With the exception of John Brady's very fine large sculptural piece with accompanying paintings and Hockney's prints, it was a wash.
The Galway Arts Centre had an interesting video showcase by Lars Laumann. Sorry I dont have a great link for you but the Galway Arts Centre has a good write up for their exhibition. Again that was a while ago so I wont really go into it, a couple really stand out pieces.

I was fortunate to see the Knee-jerk collective's (they told me they have a website in the works, I'll post a link when its up) show at the thatched cottage, a wonderful little well preserved cottage here in Galway. I ended up bringing some friends by the exhibit as I thought both the venue and the artistic response by the collective was spot on. (Some pics. I will get names and titles up shortly)











I am looking forward to their next project. Ok just had a look around and their next event / exhibit starts this Thursday at Leixlip Library, titled A Novel Landscape.
In their words: 'A Novel Landscape' is a site-specific exhibition in Leixlip Library, Co. Kildare. yep thats all I have on it.
Anyway, I am off to London next weekend! See how many galleries I can fit in without driving those with me mad. Send me suggestions of must see galleries and exhibits.

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