Trade Show to Ankara

Got word today that the Trade Show will be exhibited in Ankara in January/February 2010 at Zirrat Bankasi Gallery.
They'll make a catalog. Nice Xmas present.
R. Threat, USA
Z. Akcaogul, Turkey
G. Lombardo, USA
F. Pelit, Turkey
A. Morales, USA

Trade Show Update

I just received word that the "Trade Show" may be exhibited in Ankara! It came down last week in Istanbul. So cross your fingers…
And even more important, many congrats to M on the publication of her dissertation—she’s now Dr. M! Will send the chipotles...

"Trade Show" Opening at Isik University, Istanbul

OK, am in the Madrid airport for a 5-hour layover, and am finally able to catch up on my blogging.
The opening of the Trade Show at Isik University was a great success. The gallery was large and well lit. We hung each piece by wires because the gallery walls can't take nails. That meant many of the works had to be mounted on light stretcher bars, which framers did in one night. The show has grown to over 250 works.
The opening was quite formal, with waiters serving wine and appetizers, everyone dressed up, university t.v. coverage, and speeches by the head of the printmaking department, the dean and the president of the university. I also spoke, with my Turkish partner, about how the exhibition evolved.
Everyone loved the show, and many commented how important it is for students to see art from America mixed in with Turkish work.
The show will be up for a month in Istanbul, and then the Turkish artists will choose their American work, and the Turkish art will be sent back so each American artist can have one. Should be fun!

Bird Project

At a local art fair I photographed this project, which is similar to the Trade Show formally. An artist collective called Paint Night Group sent panels with a robin stenciled on them out to various countries, where artists worked on them, and then sent them back. The PNG then re-worked the panels.
I talked to some of the organizers about presentation. They reported most effective was to have maximum white space around each artwork, not stacking the works, like they had to here in the small art fair booth. They also framed a few of the pieces, and anyone wanting to buy one could choose framed or unframed.
It’s an interesting project, but I was sorry not to see more of a voice (ooh, that pesky voice) from the different countries/cultures. PNG admitted that sometimes the panels got overworked.

Packing Up the Trade Show

Leave for Istanbul in one week. Carrying all the work on the plane in tightly wrapped packets. It’s a lot…

Planning my Return among the Turks

Finally getting excited about my upcoming trip to Turkey. Have started to collect the gifts to bring to my friends there and organize where I’ll be staying. Will start out in Istanbul, then travel to Eskisehir, then maybe Izmir (many artists from the Trade Show are from this city, and I’ve never been), then back to Istanbul for the opening at Isik University on September 23. May have to get over to my gallery in Ankara too, but time will be short for that much bus time.
I imagine walking in my neighborhood, the sounds and smells. It will be hot. The Istanbul Biennial will be in full swing with fantastic shows, I hope. But mostly I’m looking forward to seeing the friends I’ve missed so much.
Image: Trade Show, Edgar Varela Fine Arts, Los Angeles

Second Opening of Trade Show

Was a great success. Everyone really loved the work and I met many of the artists from LA. Thanks to everyone who helped so much.

Re: Kloe is hoping to be the Rachel Ray of drawing…

I heard an interview on “Fresh Air” about the preponderance of cooking shows on television. It seems that the activity of food preparation may be wired into us genetically through thousands of years of human development. We may not do it in the 21st century, but we like to watch it.
Could it be that preparing images is also hard-wired? Is there some fascination about making drawings/paintings/sculpture (or watching others produce art) that started more than 50,000 years ago in caves?
Would you watch a plastic babe draw for 22 minutes?

Trade Show opens tonight in Lalaland!

Trade Show in Los Angeles

Coming Soon to Lalaland

Have been a busy little bunny, hopping here and there. Even up to a rooftop for a garden party high above downtown.
Finally arranged LA showing of the “Trade Show,” on August 13 at Edgar Varela Fine Arts. Hip, hip, hop.

Surprises by Post

One of the best parts of curating the Trade Show has been getting the works in the mail, from both American and Turkish artists. It’s so exciting to open up a fat envelop and fine incredible artworks inside. Nothing has been damaged, although unfortunately, a few things seem to have been lost in transit (my fault).
I’m still accepting works—send me something!

First Opening a Complete Success

The first opening of the Trade Show looked great, and the opening was packed. Am still recovering. Glad all that work will be seen several more times in different cities.
Am barely teaching but busier than I’ve ever been. How is that possible? Is the depression making us manic?

Trade Show Opens Tonight

I’ve been working on this exhibition for about six months. Tonight is the first opening; next month it will move north.
Tonight I’ll be showing about 120 6”x6” 2D works, including paintings, photos, prints and mixed media works. I’m completely satisfied with the work that was submitted--it’s exciting, challenging, beautiful and interesting.
Not to mention, a bitch to hang.
I’ll be adding more works as we go along. As the show grows the main structures will be more apparent, but right now I can see themes of politics, spirituality, the body (especially feminine beauty), connection to nature, and the process of artmaking.
Usually I’m afraid that no one will show up at my art openings, but with so many local artists participating, I think this time there will be bodies.
Above artists:
R. Reiss, USA
T.F. Ucar, Turkey
S. Aksoy, Turkey
M. Guieu, USA
L. Muller, USA

More Trade Show

artists:
M. Tascioglu, Turkey
J. Fabrizio, USA
D. Hill, USA
G. Demir, Turkey
R. Feldman, USA

Trade Show Thrills

OK, I just have to show off some of the amazing work I’m getting for the Trade Show. It keeps coming in and keeps delighting me.
Again, the artists answered the following questions:
“What do I value?
What would I trade?”
artists above:
E.M. Ermis, Turkey
D. Ulker, Turkey
D. Bittar, USA
L. Byrne, USA
B. Iristay, USA

Trade Show Update

Almost every day I get new pieces in the mail for the Trade Show. It’s like Christmas, opening the packages. I’m so pleased at the quality of the work.
However, I have new appreciation of what a curator goes through, so much organization, emails, phone calls, wow.
Artists, there’s still time, send me something to trade.

Trade Show

Bungalow is in its final stages. In only one month most of the renovations have been completed. It’s been my job to oversee the workers, be the cheerleader and check writer.
But I’m also working on another project, and art exhibition that I will take to Turkey in the Fall. “Trade Show, California – Turkey” is a swap of artworks between 100 Californian artists and 100 Turkish artists. The artists use a two-dimensional, 6” x 6” format to address these questions:
“What do I value?
What would I trade?”
The work can be in any media. So far I’ve gotten drawing, painting, photography, collage, digital prints, embroidery, and mixed media.
A colleague asked me, “Kloe, why are you doing all this work?” Because, of course, there’s no profit in it. It’s a cultural exchange. But I’ve run into some minor problems, with the exhibition venues, with making mistakes in the promo material, with stepping on some toes.
Anyway, first show is less than a month away.
Artists: send me your work! (If you’d like to participate, leave a comment or email me directly.)

First exhibition venue:
Garage Gallery
4141 Alabama St.
San Diego
July 1-31
Opening: July 3, 7-9pm