Showing posts with label Rabéa Ballin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rabéa Ballin. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

HFAF 2014: The Good Stuff

Robert Boyd

OK, I was pretty harsh on the Houston Fine Art Fair here and here. These things are always a mixture. You have the good and the bad and a lot in between. The problem with HFAF was that the bad was so bad, and there was so much of it, one wonders if good galleries like Shoshana Wayne Gallery and Mark Borghi Fine Art will want to continue their association with the fair. Art fairs need to be curated to an extent, and there was little sense that HFAF was particularly selective.

But even if their inclusion criterion was nothing more than a gallery's willingness to pay the booth fee, some good art sneaked in. Here's some of my favorites.


James Surls at Wade Wilson Gallery


James Surls at Wade Wilson Gallery

I love James Surls and was struck by how nice these large sculptures look inside (I think they are meant to be outdoors sculptures). I was a bit surprised to see Surls associated with Wade Wilson (I though Barbara Davis was his local gallery when he bothered--but a look at the artists page on their website suggests that is no longer true.Wade Wilson Gallery closed their Houston location after opening a Santa Fe gallery. I was a little surprised to see them in Houston--at least one Houston artist had to sue Wade Wilson to get paid in recent years.


Michal Rovner, Yaar (Laila), 2014, LCD screens, paper and video, 46 1/2 x 40 1/2 x 2 3/8 inches at Shoshana Wayne Gallery

Not surprisingly, there wasn't much video art at HFAF. I think there were literally more lenticular artworks than video artworks. But one video piece I liked was this eerie one by Michal Rovner, featuring two lines of people endlessly marching on what looks like the face of a cliff. A group of cypress is in silhouette in the foreground. The latter feature seemed slightly unnecessary--the point of the work was the endless line of marchers. But as I looked closely, I realized that the center tree covered a seam between two video monitors. I guess you have to work with monitors that are actually manufactured, and if you want to have a nearly square image like this, connecting two monitors is the only way to do it. It detracts from the main idea, unfortunately. But I still found Yaar (Laila) to be a rather haunting piece.


Sabrina Gschwandtner, Hearts and Hands Brown and Blue, 2014, 16 mm polyester film, polyester thread, 23 5/8 x 23 1/2 inches at Shoshana Wayne Gallery

I saw Sabrina Gschwandtner's work earlier this year at Pulse. Aside from creating very interesting collages with old bits of 16 mm film, her surname has the highest consonant to vowel ratio of any other artist that I know of. Her pieces require a lightbox to be seen properly. Because the strips of film are sewn together, there is a rather quilt-like quality to her pieces. I find the patterning quite hypnotic.


Sabrina Gschwandtner, Hearts and Hands Brown and Blue (detail), 2014, 16 mm polyester film, polyester thread, 23 5/8 x 23 1/2 inches at Shoshana Wayne Gallery


John Chamberlain, Flywheelsonata, 2007, painted and chromed steel at Mark Borghi Fine Art

This rather antic piece by John Chamberlain exudes a happy feeling not always present in his work, which can be a little anxious in part because the association one may draw from it with car accidents. I know he always claimed to be a formalist, but still his work is from the high tide of the automobile (and thus the auto accident). It's nearly impossible not to think about that. But here, by using narrow strips of brightly painted sheet metal, I get an entirely different feeling.


John Chamberlain prints for sale to benefit the Asia Society

In addition to the John Chamberlain sculpture, HFAF was auctioning off two John Chamberlain prints (and some other artwork) to benefit the Asia Society.


Larry Poons, Untitled #13, 1973, acrylic on canvas, 55 1/2 x 29 inches at Mark Borghi Fine Art

This alarming snot avalanche by Larry Poons was perversely fascinating. 


Luis Jimenez, El Buen Pastor, colored lithograph, 1999 at Redbud Gallery

Redbud Gallery had several Luis Jimenez prints, including this powerful portrait of Esequiel Hernández, Jr., the goat herder killed by U.S. Marines in 1997.


Jim Dine, Double Iron Man, woodcut, 68 x 98 inches at Adamar Fine Arts

When I saw these antic woodcuts, I immediately thought, "Wow!" I would have never guessed that they were by Jim Dine. There is something about these two faces that really grabs me--a combination of the crude cartoonish rendering, the intense and unexpected colors and the restless texture.


Donald Sultan, Screen Aug 25, 1987, aquatint with relief print on reverse, 63 x 144 inches flat at Parkerson Gallery

I wish they had displayed this Donald Sultan on the floor so that we could see both sides of the screen. The image on this side is simple, but I love the smudginess.



Bert Long, Search, 1987, mixed media, 26 x 44 1/2 inches at Deborah Colton Gallery

Great colors on this Bert Long at Deborah Colton Gallery, which had one of the more interesting booths at HFAF.


Suzanne Anker, Carbon Collision in the Diamond Mind 33-40, 2013 metallic glazed porcelain at Deborah Colton Gallery

Suzanne Anker's little porcelain statuettes look decidedly dangerous.


Ferhat Özgür, Corps of Honour, 2011, watercolor on paper, 15.75 x 23.62 inches at Deborah Colton Gallery

Ferhat Özgür had a whole series of bizarre, slightly martial watercolors, including this tender moment between two Turkish soldiers.


The Houston Artists Hall of Fame



Jackie Harris, The Fruitmobile, 1967 Ford station wagon modified 1984

The fair devoted a considerable amount of space to the Houston Artists Hall of Fame, an exhibit of artists chosen by Patricia Covo Johnson. The idea is that there will be new artists added each year. In a way, it might have been a bad idea for HFAF to host this because it showed how weak most of the exhibitors were in comparison. It was nice that Johnson included an art car (one of the very first art cars, in fact) , recognizing the importance of this oddball vernacular art form to Houston.


Jesse Lott, Ascension of the Fire God, ca. 1974, wire and other found materials


two Jim Love sculptures


Manual (Ed Hill and Suzanne Bloom), Louis Corinth in Vermont, gelatin silver


Mel Chin, Cross for the Unforgiven, n.d., AK47s and steel


Alabama Song's booth

As they did last year, HFAF comped Alabama Song a booth. Work was hung salon-style and was for sale at all different price points (good idea!). They also had some participatory art happening. Rocky Wang played ping pong with all challengers.


Rocky Wang taking all comers with a shoe

Despite the fact that he handicapped himself by playing with his shoe instead of a paddle, Wang eviscerated every challenger.


Rocky Wang's hat with a tiny ping pong paddle


Rabéa Ballin at Alabama Song


Miguel Amat at Alabama Song

Miguel Amat will be having a show at the Blaffer Gallery later this fall--I'm looking forward to it and so should you.

Fotofest also had a booth which featured an intriguing selection of Arab photographers.


Ahmed Mater, from the series Illumination (Ottoman Waqf), 2014, gold leaf, tea, pomegranate, Dupont prints at Fotofest


Ahmed Mater, from the series Illumination (Ottoman Waqf), 2014, gold leaf, tea, pomegranate, Dupont prints at Fotofest


Hassan Hajjaj, Odd 1 Out, 2000/1421 from the series Kesh Angels, 2009-2012, c-print, walnut wood frame, tomato cans at Fotofest




Lalla Essaydi, Harem #29, 2012, chromogenic print at Fotofest

So it wasn't all bad. But HFAF still has to improve a lot, and their trajectory over the past couple of years has not been in the right direction.



Thursday, June 27, 2013

Pan Recommends for the week of June 27 to July 3

Robert Boyd

There is actually quite a lot of stuff happening in Houston's art world this weekend--a little surprising for the middle of summer. Below are just a few of the events we'll be braving the triple digits to check out this weekend.


THURSDAY


Presumably no paint will be involved in this hand-shaking performance

Shake Hands With The Art Guys in the Tunnel System Beneath The Esperson Building, 7 am – 3 pm.  Press the flesh with Massing and Galbreth downtown Thursday as they continue their year-long celebration of 30 years collaborating.
 
FRIDAY



Jay Giroux

Jay Giroux: Ideas Are Free at Devin Borden Gallery, 6-8 pm, with a talk by the artist on June 29 at noon. From the outstanding 2011 UH MFA class, now in Brooklyn, Giroux returns to Houston with new work.


Erik Shane Swanson, Polychromatic Pentaptych, 2013, enamel and acetone on panel, 19 x 75 inches

Under the Moon Tower at David Shelton Gallery featuring Peter Abrami, Janaye Brown, Georgia Carter, Adriana Corral, Aaron Meyers, James Scheuren and Erik Shane Swanson, 6-8 pm. All right all right all right, party at the moon tower with seven graduates and candidates from the 2013-2015 UT MBA classes. There's a new fiesta in the making as we speak. Everybody's gonna be there--you outta go.


Michael Menchaca, Sweven , 2013

Fahamu Pecou: All Dat Glitters Ain't Goals and Michael Menchaca: SWEVEN at BLUEorange, 6:00 - 9:00 pm. Atlanta artist Fahamu Pecou and San Antonio artist Michael Menchaca each have shows at BLUEorange, one of Houston's newer galleries. I saw the Pecou show in Austin, and it's great. And Menchaca's graphic work looks totally insane.


I think that's a Rabéa Ballin on the left and an Ann Johnson on the right, but I'm not quite sure!

Bās featuring Rabéa Ballin, Ann Johnson, Delita Martin, Lovie Olivia at the Art League Houston, 6 ­ to 9 PM with the artists speaking at 7:00 PM. These four artists have been having joint exhibits for four years. I've been a fan of Ballin's for years, and Johnson's technique of photo printing on surfaces like dried leaves allows her to create some haunting images.


Carter Ernst

Carter Ernst: Fur Bitten, Ken Mazzu: Echoes of Oblivion, and Pat Johnson: Artist Tries to Save the World at the Art Car Museum, 7 to 10 pm. If you missed her show at the Nave Museum, you still have a chance to see Carter Ernst's sculpture show, along with additional shows by Ken Mazzu and Pat Johnson (I wonder if this is the same Pat Johnson who was an art critic here in town for so long?)


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Thursday, October 4, 2012

Pan Recommends for the week of October 4 through October 10

Here's what looks good this week. Let us know if we overlooked something special!

FRIDAY

Paperwork, a group show at Darke Gallery, October 5, 2012 from 6–9 pm. Works on paper by Wendy Wagner, Lillian Warren, Lovie Olivia, Rabéa Ballin, Kia Nell, Steven J. Miller and John Adelman. This is especially notable because it features Wendy Wagner's first new work since her brain surgery in May.

Joey Fauerso: Interior at David Shelton Gallery on October 5, 2012 from 6–8 pm. Fauerso did a funny naked video last year at Box 13, and it looks like the nakedness will continue at David Shelton Gallery. Excellent.

 SATURDAY

Zinefest at Super Happy Fun Land on October 6th, 2012 from 3pm - 8pm. I thought the internet had pretty much killed zines, but I guess their are people who prefer physical objects over electrons and protons. You can meet a bunch of them at Zinefest!

Daniel McFarlane: In Industry at the Galveston Arts Center on October 6, 2012 from 5–9 pm. Tough call! Lots of interesting stuff happening in Houston Saturday night, but this Daniel McFarlane exhibit in Galveston is sure to be a winner. I hate it when that happens.

Winter Street and Spring Street Studios Fall Artist Exhibition at the Winter Street Studios on October 6, 2012 from 5–10 pm. 110 artists will be there showing off their stuff, including the uncategorizable Solomon Kane (the artist, not the vampire-fighting Puritan).

Ariane Roesch: Simple Machines and Simple Dreams at Redbud Gallery on October 6, 2012 from 6–9 pm. Looks like more glowy artwork from Ariane Roesch. And we love glowy art.

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Wednesday, October 26, 2011

What's the New News - part 1

by Dean Liscum
To a philosopher all news, as it is called, is gossip, and they who edit and read it are old women over their tea.
Henry David Thoreau
I'm not sure that Nathaniel Donnett, the artist and curator of "What's the New News," would completely agree with Thoreau's opinion of the news, but judging from the show I doubt he'd subscribe to Fox New's tag line that insists it's "Fair and Balanced" either.

Donnet has brought together writers Ayanna McCloud, Egie Ighite, Michael K. Taylor, Phillip Pyle II, Tyres Bryant, Robert A. Pruitt and Kenya "Mumbles Medina" Evans, and visual artists Ann "Sole Sister" Johnson, Lovia Olivia, Regina Agu, Gregory M. Carter, William Cordova, Pruitt, Rabe´a Ballin and Robert Hodge. Together in the microcosm that is the Third Ward, they take on the questions of "What is news? Whose news is it? What meanings does it convey? What and whose purpose does it serve?"

The exhibition has two parts. The first one took place at the Community Artists´ Collective (The Collective) in the Midtown Art Center Tea Room, 1413 Holman at LaBranch, from September 16 through October 1, 2011. It consisted of newspaper stands reimagined and examples of the New News. Both of these types of work challenge their traditional rolls. The newsstands are no longer branded boxes meant to convey conventional news. They are unique oracles meant to engage the community. Their exteriors illustrate their ideological foundation. This is not the dispassionate, decontextualized version of the story.

From Rabe'a Ballin's Coloured...

Rabe'a Ballin
Coloured
digital photograph collage, 2011

...to Robert Hodge's piece, which celebrates the rich history of the Third Ward, these news racks announce that this is not your white-washed, sanitize-for-your-protection version of the news.

Robert Hodge
A Lil Bit of 3rd Ward
acrylic, enamel, and conte silk screen on metal, 2011

 Ann Johnson uses the ancient technology of mosiacs to record her message.

Ann Johnson
Collective Community
pebble mosaic, 2011

Whereas Gregory Carter uses the new technology of QR codes to enable viewers to use their phones to scan with their bar code reader apps to learn about the prominent African-Americans that adorn his news rack.
Gregory Carter
House Hold Names
magnets, 2011

Like its subject, the second part engages the community and goes on indefinitely. Donnett invites artists (writers, poets, visual artists, musicians) to reinterpret new stories about events that occurred in the Third Ward. He then places the news racks with the re-presented news at the sites throughout the Third Ward. This enables residents (and non-residents) to experience another facet of an event that occurred in the neighborhood. It's news that questions and even contradicts the official news. That idea may not be new, but in this town at this time, it certainly feels that way.


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Sunday, October 17, 2010

Recent Acquistion: Encomium 1-3 by Rabéa Ballin

Rabéa Ballin
Rabéa Ballin, Encomium 1-3, black prisma color, charcoal, white conte, Galkyd on handmade paper, 2010

I first saw Rabéa Ballin's work in a show at Joan Wich gallery. The pieces were all highly detailed depictions of African-American woman's hairstyles, usually involving complex braids. They were drawn on very big pages with black prisma pencil. The hair was shown with no reference to the human body, except for the curve of the skull from which the hair sprang. Drawn this way, they almost seemed abstract! I really liked them, but I thought the use of the black prisma pencil. This kind of pencil doesn't make a super-dark line, so the resulting drawings didn't have extremely high contrast between light and dark.

After Joan Wich died, the gallery was closed down and its artists were scattered to the winds. Ballin ended up at Linda Darke Gallery, where she was included in the recent group show dedicated to Louise Bourgeois. I saw Encomium 1-3 and was knocked out. Adding charcoal to her drawings gives them a darker, heavier presence. This is amplified by the brown handmade paper. There is a compromise involved in using charcoal. You can't get quite the precise detail you can with most pencils. But in this triptych, it works great. When I saw it, I instantly thought of a rainbow--a rainbow of braided hair. So I bit the bullet and bought it. I look forward to seeing much more work from Ballin, and I'm really proud to have this piece.