Jon Hall |
Pausing to Wonder |
photo: Golden Hill
In the decent from summer to winter,
Daylight grows shorter,
Shadows grow longer,
And the temperature lowers.
Went to see the Here Not There: San Diego Art Now exhibition at MCASD this past weekend. A nice showing, for sure. I was excited to see work from local artists, people whom MCASD feels are making significant contributions to the narrative of art in San Diego.
Contemporary art usually requires some work in order to engage what's going on. For me, it's a love/hate process. One side of me says SAY WHAT YOU MEAN, make it clear, be a little more obvious. As a graphic designer, who's job it is to express ideas clearly and succinctly, contemporary art can be a frustration. But then, (at least part of) the process of interacting with contemporary art is the process itself. And that, I think, is the true beauty and oft unrealized potential of contemporary art. How well an artist can bring me through that process, guide me, challenge me is a big part of my appreciation for it.
The process too seems often contextual. James Enos' piece that is part of Here Not There is a criticism on the suburban landscape of the city of Claremont, and was particularly powerful for me, due largely to my own very personal experiences growing up in the suburban environment. I'm not sure others, if they haven't grown up/lived in the suburban environment (particularly that of Southern California) would have such a strong reaction/connection to it. I grew up a child of suburbia, in the post-war era where the master-planned community emerged as the modern expression of the American Dream. For many folks, it's only now turning out to be less than a dream. For some, a growing nightmare. I think that's a big part of why I feel so connected to the little old neighborhood I now live in, an old-school, grid-based neighborhood where it's still possible to walk to the market, to see art, to have a beer, to see my friends, without having to negotiate meandering pathways in a car-centric environment. Maybe I need to work out some of tat suburban angst in another post. :-)
All that to say, this is where art can become such powerful medium. Here Not There, consisting of art by locals, is an opportunity for the people of San Diego to see their city through the eyes of artists. Are they seeing all that needs to be seen?... commenting on all the needs to be commented on?... challenging in all the ways we, and our leaders, need to be challenged?
With the amazing series of art events happening right now in San Diego, I didn't want to overlook this gem. Last weekend, MCASD launched Here No There: San Diego Art Now. It's an exhibition of local artists—some emerging, some mid-career—and represents an important experience for anyone following the art scene here in San Diego. I've experienced some of these artists work over the last couple of years here in San Diego, including Agitprop, who has curated some very cool installations in North Park. I especially liked one element of MCASD's criteria for selecting these artists: "The curators also looked into the social networks through which individual artists are coalescing with greater frequency -- not just universities or colleges, but commercial and alternative gallery spaces, collectives, and artists’ groups." That seems to represent a bigger reality that is occurring among emerging artists, and I was glad to see MCASD recognized that.
Can't wait to visit!
He's putting up a huge installation at 29th and Ivy. Pretty cool watching it come together... Amazing what they can accomplish in a single day.
