DON'T GIVE UP THE HYPE!

Kudos to Zoe Strauss on her show at the PMA. She is one of our great treasures and captures the real Philadelphia. She is honest and hard working and will now be recognized by more than just an arty crowd. She already has been, I think. Her picture, 'Mattress Jump' will be writ large for the whole city to see over the Rocky Steps. (The PMA hates that reference!) But what is it we are seeing? According to the weekly PW (Poorly Worded) she is recognized as one of 'America's top living artists.' Slow down a minute. I appreciate a rags to riches story but that is simple an exaggeration from a dippy journalist. I just checked the top ten and the top one hundred. Photographer, William Eggleston is there and so is Nan Goldin. That makes sense. Maybe the list should say America's top contemporary artists? I'm not sure if I'll review her show because I don't have an outlet. InLiquid doesn't pay anymore (I'm broke) and America's greatest ArtBlog consistantly rejects everything I send.

VOX POP: NOT FINISHED YET!

Apologies for my blustering voice yesterday. I'd been saving it up for a few weeks at the end of last year. Maybe I'm becoming the equivalent of ON THE MEDIA on PBS. Love that show. In any case, my beef today is with Vox Populi Gallery. Specifically, because after reading through their factoid-full, historical catalog from 2010  – with some excellent background on the Philly Art scene of the past 15-20 years – they completely ignore mentioning Rachel Zimmerman's InLiquid.com which has been an "online CO-OP" (and more) since 1999. Of course, I was their art critic for years but I think my umbrage tends to stem from the fact that I notice Philly's selective scene associations; the "IN and OUT" crowds. Of course VOX has been vital to the scene; they also have some pretty good allies. The omission makes their name VP sound like BS.

TWENTY-TWELVE. THANK GOD!

A couple of comments just to get the year rolling for Pocket Intellectuals: I have unfortunately read a recent Philly Weekly story titled, Making the Scene (Sick of the Mainstream, Philly artists revive the alternatives). It was so full of mis-truth and agit-prop that my head exploded on Broad Street. What a mess. Of course there is a picture of someone in the article working on a mural! How bleedin' counter cultural of them! Let me get this straight if I can. Listen carefully. There is no Mainstream Art in Philadelphia! I wish to god there was. There is only a non-profit hierarchic monopoly. And logically, I figure there can't be an alternative to nothing. The legit contemporary galleries that go to art fairs are not snobs as implied by the PW, they are hard working minority. 3 selective galleries to my count. Young people can be so full of shit. Am I being clear enough? Yes, young MFA's co-opted by CO-OPS can be a bit up their own asses and deluded by theory drenched teachers. I should know, eh?

TWENTY-TWELVE!

I've decided that 2012 is going to be better for me. It has a nice ring to it. Of course, I am not going to change a thing. Review the odd local exhibition or one in NY. Still trying to broaden my audience, which shouldn't be too hard. Up to ten or eleven would be great. Joined Reverb-Nation for my song writing. That is totally hip of me! Joined the CAA so I can apply to get (impossible to get) BFA teaching posts. Can I get one last SOLO show before I expire? Also, looking for new Philly outlets in print, but for some reason, people think I'm negative. I know I can write effectively because I keep pissing people off. That is a good sign. Keep taking leaves from Christopher Hitchens. I will try.

WORK SHY SPOOF?

Wow. I thought my book was a spoof on the artworld. But it is too accurate for that. It has become closer to historical fiction. Or in this case, hysterical fiction. The movie will be a riot and I have bought a tux already to accept best adaption from a book. You think I'm kidding?

Qualified Cynic Escapes

I've been sending grumpy emails to WHYY again. There must be something wrong with me. They were lauding the fact that 76 community leaders, "connectors" (ie movers and shakers) are making Philly the place to be. They are so damn cheerful. Bubbling with Enthusiasm. I wrote them to say there were no decent critics on the list and not one contemporary gallery space. It's a non-profit monopoly.

NEW ART PUBLICATION!

Working on a review for the new Philadelphia publication, GOOD GAME. I am reviewing and comparing the Abstraction shows at Crane and the Woodmere Museum! Wow! Something published on paper for a change! Marginal Utility never gets back to me. Or Machete. Cuts Deep. I am pleased, no kidding. No irony. I'm pleased.