Mary Heilmann
The First Vent, 1972
acrylic with bronze powder on canvas
20" × 32"

I love Elizabeth Peyton and Mary Heilmann as much as anyone, but don't those seem rather un-new-ish choices for big shows at an institution called The New Museum? Perhaps some arrangement could be made to send those to MoMA in place of their upcoming Miró and Van Gogh shows?

Meanwhile, a 20-year survey of the work of Lyle Ashton Harris is only going to appear in Scottsdale, AZ, and Buffalo, NY. Is there really no room at any New York area institution for such an exhibition?

And why does Lyle's website just have a flash slide show and no other information on the artist?

[photo by James Wagner]

The art season is about to start up, and I know people want their shows listed on ArtCal, but sending info to ArtCal, James, me, and Paddy asking to be listed is counterproductive. Very counterproductive. Extra demerits if I receive the email at more than one of my personal addresses. Please just sent it to ArtCal to the proper address with the information we request.

artwork by Tom Sanford

If you find yourself in Seattle in early September, don't miss William Powhida's opening at Platform, our favorite gallery in that city. I hear there will be music, record swapping, and more. To get prepared, check out Bad At Sports's interview with him on their podcast. He starts about 8 or 9 minutes in. You can hear his side of the story on Zach Feuer getting his NYC gallery (Schroeder Romero) kicked out of the NADA Art Fair because of an artwork by William in which he put a hex on Zach.

Kiki and Bubu discuss the problems of the unfettered market and the possibility of planned economies. Go here if you don't see the video above.

Created by monochrom.

Nola House and Lines, 2008, Digital C Print, 15 × 15 inches, edition of 8

Bicycle Riot Cops, 2007, Digital C Print, 12.25 × 8.25 inches, edition of 10

Dead Man (Mississippi Series), 2006, Digital C Print, 12" × 12 inches, edition of 8

Tomorrow (Saturday the 9th) is the last day to see Tod Seelie's show, titled Slowdancing to Slayer, at Cinders Gallery in Williamsburg -- their first photo show. They've had something come up and are not open today, so head on over tomorrow for some great photography at bargain prices. The prints are approximately $200-600, framed. There is something for everyone, from portraits of people along the Mississippi to shots of punk shows in abandoned warehouses.

In addition to really loving this show, I have another connection. Everyone asks about the balsa wood squirrel sculpture in our living room, hanging on an old column. It's by Kim Schifino and James and I bought it a year ago at The Porch Show at Cinders. Tod is currently touring with the band she formed with Matt Johnson, Matt and Kim, and CSS. Check out his blog suckapants.com for photos. You can buy Matt and Kim CDs at Cinders. That's where I got mine.

All images above are from the Cinders Gallery website.

Anonymous Postcard is a new project of Tucker Nichols and Dakin Hart. Their description:

Anonymous Postcard is designed to allow anyone to openly communicate to a third party without the complications of personal contact. After being vetted by our staff of experts, a claim found to reflect the civic spirit of the project will be transformed into a vague and largely indecipherable postcard and mailed toward the intended recipient.

This is my favorite one so far:

See the archives for more.

A1one: mural on the Tehran-Karaj Expressway, Tehran 2007 (image courtesy www.kolahstudio.com)

• Hrag Vartanian has a terrific interview with Iranian street artist A1one on the ArtCal Zine

• The New York Review of Books has just republished Norman Mailer's coverage of the 1968 party conventions for Esquire. I have only ever read "Superman Comes to the Supermarket" from these writings.

Bonus image from sent by, not by Jay Blotcher, of Jay Boy Greetings:

Matthew L. Miller installation view at the New York Academy of Art MFA diploma exhibition

• Visit another day, another word, a web project by the artist Jesse Hamerman. Warning: sound!
• On Wednesday, head to Pocket Utopia in Bushwick for the salon celebrating the current artist-in-residence Matthew L. Miller. I love his modern take on classical painting. The images above are self portraits. Things should start 6ish.
• Go see Utopia / Dystopia at Leslie Tonkonow. We went to see Tracey Baran, Julia Oschatz, and Ian Davis, but the work of Ali Banisadr was the discovery that made it all come together.

Kendrick Mar
Tell Me, 2006
oil on canvas, 34 × 36 inches

I haven't been blogging about art because I find it difficult to look at art when it's this hot outside. The galleries I want to go to (as opposed to the behemoths with retail-quality a/c) can get pretty warm during these weather conditions.

Here are some recommended actions, regardless of the heat. You should also check out what the other Culture Pundits bloggers are posting.

Visit Kendrick Mar's website to check out his art. His artist statement says:

My work is metaphorical self-portraiture that addresses childhood emotions and trauma. Issues surrounding memory, family dysfunction and being adopted manifest strongly in my work. Children's books and television programs present a collective narrative in which grown-ups care for the best interests of their children. The pernicious disparity between this fiction and the brutal reality of childhood is the terrain I am most interested in exploring.

I found him via the Culture Pundits Artists program.

Listen to excellent music from Chiapas and Oaxaca via the widget below, or buy the CD.

Go see the Joao Ribas-curated show at Andrew Kreps before it closes Friday.

Attend Over The Opening on Friday, July 18th, from 7 to 10pm -- new installation by Dana Strasser and Isabella Bruno.

Put it in your calendars. You know any group that honored James and me at the last one has excellent taste.