Friday, October 19, 2007

Poll Results- Devin Borden Hiram Butler Wins

Devin Borden Hiram Butler Gallery- 37%
Texas Gallery- 25%
Moody Gallery- 10%
Inman Gallery- 7%
Finesilver Gallery- 7%
McClain Gallery- 5%
Sicardi, Barbara Davis and New Gallery- 2%


"Where did the DBHB gallery fan club come from?
Texas was leading the way in your poll until last week, then boom."
"Don't Call Me Melinda" Hovie



Robert Rauschenberg, Autobiography, 3rd panel in a triptych
DBHB Gallery


What is a blue-chip gallery anyway? the use of "blue chip" to indicate well-established, financially sound companies began at the start of the 20th century and came from poker, because blue was the color of the highest-denomination chips.

The connection to poker is ironic, because blue-chips are supposed to be antithetical to gambling. Traditional blue-chip companies were the patricians of the community--conservative, sensible and forthright. While they may have lacked the dynamic potential of their smaller, nimbler brethren, they compensated with reliable growth, regular sales and outstanding management. via CNNMoney


Places like White Cube and Blum & Poe are usually referred to as blue-chip, and while we do not have anything in the city to compare with either their buying power or their stable of artists we do have some reputable places that need a little recognition for their strengths in building collectors and collections in Houston.

The blue-chip gallery is all about the client list, all other facets of the business are in service to that partnering of ascending investments with the appearance of clout. First one sells paintings to their clients, based on friendships and offering them the chance to get in on a good deal. With the money from that, one promotes the remaining artist's works to other collectors, museums and art fairs- driving up the value of the original sale as supply dwindles and (hopefully) the artist's clout grows through association, transparently through inclusion in museum collections.

This is where collectors sitting on museum boards gets a little chummy- convinced months ago by their gallerist friend that an artist's work is not only a good investment but also beautiful, they are in a perfect position to argue for another work to be included in the museum holdings based on excellent aesthetic criteria. His artwork at home will also gain equity in the process- convenient, no?

So who is the best blue-chip gallery in Houston? Looks like it may be DBHB Gallery, with Texas Gallery making a strong showing for good reasons. A poll is always part popularity contest, so take this with a grain of salt, but I'll take the numbers as they are.





Dean Ruck, Pinestraw, 1995
installation view @ DBHB Gallery


With a website that can't keep up with whatever was on view last month and a weird attachment to not giving visitors what they are looking for, most people link to the gallery's ADAA or Saatchi page. Similarly, the gallery itself is confoundingly tough to find in the overgrown West End neighborhood. Add to the file their oblique openings- usually Saturday or Sunday from 11 am to 1 pm- and their service of choice- coffee, orange juice and donuts. Luckily for the Borden-Butler crew their access to the public has nothing to do with their mission. Instead they provide a charming and tranquil space above and beyond any other art space (besides the Artery).

Their gallery shows are ambitiously ephemeral at times; large installation, site-specific work, unsellable or fragile objects. Countering with an emphasis on prints that makes the most of their artists' work their is never a dearth of stuff to sell, and a smart range of prices make the little fish and the tuna feel equally at home.

Who do they show? Currently Laura Lark and Mark Flood split the gallery- these two have paid their dues with other galleries, promising careers and histories extending back to punk rock roots- and these Houston kids should get some good mileage out of this one. Last month was former CORE kids Hilary Wilder and Maya Schindler, reviewed by Bill Davenport HERE. They also show Houstonians William Betts (honored next week at the TALA gala), Christopher French, Joe Havel, James Turrell, Darrell Lauster, Dean Ruck and Terrell James. East Texas native and local collector favorite Robert Rauschenberg leads DBHB into a stable of strong New York artists that also includes Jasper Johns, Sherrie Levine, Kiki Smith and Terry Winters. Recently featured in the documentary Hot Town, Cool City this low-key gallery is a hometown secret, but it works like a machine within its own artworld realm.


Texas Gallery is the only other contender for the crown here; they show Robert Rauschenberg, advertise nationally, and reside in the River Oaks Shopping Center (which doesn't sound so good if you are from not-Houston, but believe me). They also add to the city's exposure to high-quality American postmodern art- exhibiting Lynda Benglis, Chuck Close, Elizabeth Murray, Tony Oursler, Ed Ruscha and H.C. Westermann. Houston artists are well represented by David McGee, Francesca Fuchs, Jeff Elrod, Rachel Hecker and Paul Horn. With a clean space, tall white gallery walls and wood floors it looks as NYC as can be, behind a movie theatre and a delicatessen.


Coming in a respectable third is Moody Gallery, who beat out spaces that regularly show national and international artists with their solid stable of Houston and Texas artists. Opening tomorrow is the work of emerging drawer Michael Bise, a collection of detailed death-obsessed images. Also of note in their pocket; Roy Fridge, Ed Hill and Suzanne Bloom (MANUAL), David McManaway, hotshot Al Souza, Randy Twaddle and Joe Wooten.


What happened to the rest?!? Inman and Finesilver, bosom buddies on the block at Alabama and Main, are the two most adventurous galleries in Houston for traveling to art fairs. McClain has the pedigree and a good selection of pop and neo-expressionism in the back, Julian Schnabel and new addition Aaron Parazette. Sicardi keep their chin up with their highbrow South American Modernism. New Gallery made a killing in Chinese art this summer. Barbara Davis has serious clout and international artists. Well I'm ready to crown the champion, and feel free to disagree.


Thursday, October 18, 2007

Bad List


for all your kindling needs

From About.com comes THIS list of the 6 best galleries in Houston, written by Melissa Davenport. I doubt she went to any of them since she says Mackey (the old location) is in the warehouse district (it never was), and that the horrendous Galleria paint pushers Off the Wall are a lofty #2.

From Off the Wall "Mimi Sperber describes their collection as 'urban eclecticism' pieces which blend artistic elements into a unique creation providing nourishment for today's urban souls." Are you urban enough for thisss?!?

A/V Swap 2007 Info

From Michelle Hempton:

Hello Everyone,

It is once again time for the annual A/V Swap!!!!! This year should prove to be the best year yet as the event will premiere at the Angelika Theater in downtown Houston. We will be accepting pieces no longer than 5 minutes from now until 11/9. Films must be in PC-readable format and music should be in MP3 format. There is a $10 submission fee that includes two free tickets to one of the showings. Below are the deadlines and rules for submissions. If you have any questions or comments feel free to email us or check out our new website at: www.theavswap.com

Timeline and Tasks

11/9 (Friday) - Entry and Submission Deadline

All participants will have to enter and submit their work by this date. They can be dropped off to us at the Post Office on West Gray and Dunlavy or mailed to:

The A/V Swap
P.O. Box 130953
Houston TX 77219

11/11 (Sunday) - Swap Day

A panel will randomly match composers with the submitted films and filmmakers with the submitted compositions.

11/11 (Sunday) to 12/2 (Sunday) - Project Development Period

At this time, participants will have three weeks to create their work. Filmmakers will create footage for the music they are given and composers will create compositions for the film they receive.

12/2 (Sunday) - Project Deadline

All projects must be completed by this date in order to ensure that they will be showcased at the Angelika premiere event.

12/3 (Monday) to 12/11 (Tuesday) - Project Collection and Showcase Preparations

At this time, the A/V Swap panel will collect the finished pieces of work, prepare a compilation DVD of all completed works, and prepare for the premiere.

12/13 (Thursday) and 12/14(Friday) - The Main Event:

A/V Swap Premier at Angelika from 7pm-10pm on Thursday and

Special Midnight Showing at Landmark Greenway on Friday

In order to accommodate the expected increased attendance and exposure, there will be 2 nights of viewing.

TBA -After Party- (This is when participants will have the opportunity to meet the people that created compositions or footage for their work, allowing them to expand their networking circle and discuss their work.)

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Performance Friday

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It's Tomorrow!



6 Performance works by young Houston artists, Thursday October 18th 6-9pm. 4411 Leeland, take the Cullen exit off of 45 South and head north over the train tracks. Take a right on Leeland and it will be about a block and a half on your left side.

Sean Carroll

Down on the Block

Over at Alabama and Main, you can get your radical black political conceptualism, gay porn fantasy drawings, and animal fetish objects all in the same block. 3000 Main, Check out these Friday openings:



1971, 2007



Africanismus #022564, 2005


JB's Funky Downhome Mother Popcorn, 2004


Jamal Cyrus @ CTRL in the middle of the block













Tom of Finland: Drawings from the 70s and 80s @ Inman on the north end










various bronze masks 1988


Burn, 1985


Ken Little: Heavy Metal, Glow, Bucks & Dough @ Finsilver at the south


Westheimer Block Party pics


Bobby Hankinson : Chronicle


MyCityRocks Houston


tomatowithbasil


B~Kay


B~Kay


B~Kay


pixeltopia


nadnuk


nadnuk


mr. waldo


mr. waldo


mr. waldo


Rick Bros.


Keith Dotson
Classic- 1982 Westheimer Street Festival


Keith Dotson
Classic- 1982 Westheimer Street Festival

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Allegany

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Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket


Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Out of Range

Where have I been? Cattaraugus County, in the Southern Tier of New York, in a little cabin with a wood stove.