The start of the summertime art slump
It's very hot in Toronto
I’m in a bit of an art slump—which isn’t a good place to be when your job is art. I think people who work in art full-time can empathize. When you’re surrounded by art constantly, you can start to become numb to it. I’m looking for a SPARK to wake me back up. The art world gets a bit sleepy in the summer, so I might be waiting a while. You’ll be the first to know when I find it!
It could also be the heat in my apartment is slowing down my thoughts :)
In the meantime, do not fret! I will continue my weekly musings and maybe try out some new formats. Send me a message or comment on what you’re excited about in the art world or want to see me cover.
Speaking of lassitude, I completely ignored Art Basel. That feels a bit taboo to admit, but I just had zero interest. I also didn’t see many people posting about it, which could be because my timeline skews North American (which I heard was in short supply at the fairs). I’m sure all the hottest European art advisors posted beautiful shots of art in between pictures of fields.
News!
Barbara Gladstone passed away at 89 years old. I’ve really enjoyed the memories people are sharing of her. Artnet did a nice compilation of some of the messages shared online.
Air Mail reports allegations against Carpenters, including sexual improprieties and discrepancies with payments.
“Several of the sources I spoke to for this story confirmed that figures were manipulated in order to reduce the artists’ commissions. “The practice of the two different invoices was kind of known to everyone [at Carpenters],” says one person who worked at the gallery from 2008 to 2015,” writes Elena Clavarino in Air Mail. This is the second story in recent months that includes claims of galleries underpaying their artists, the first being The Art Newspaper’s reporting on Nino Mier.
Carrie Mae Weems reshot her iconic The Kitchen Table Series for a Bottega Veneta campaign featuring A$AP Rocky. The photographs are striking—she' hits a similar note of intimacy, moroseness, and impishness that the original series has, which is hard to do. While I’ve seen many fashion people praise the campaign (which I agree with—it’s very successful and on brand for Bottega), I’ve also seen criticism in the vein of “selling out” from the art world. I understand where both sides are coming from. But artists do need to make money, and the quality is there.
I’m heading to Upstate Art Weekend next month for a mini-honeymoon. Let me know if you’ll be there and what to see! The program page on their website is very confusing. I’m looking forward to Dike Blair at the Edward Hopper House, visiting Assembly Gallery, and the MFA thesis exhibition at Bard.
Justin Trudeau is insisting the Vatican return Indigenous artifacts. Good!!!!!
Conditions opens in Toronto this week. The gallery has relocated from Paris, adding a much-needed chic factor to the city!
ICYMI: I made a reel! Michael Thompson was generous enough to share thoughts on his practice during his studio visit last month.
fin
How about a feature on an artist on Salt Spring Island that relies on a wheelchair for mobility and is trying to break the long worn out traditional style embedded there?
Please consider covering a group show underway until June29th, Symphony in B major @James Rottman Fine Art 830 St. Clair W. . It will be an opportunity to write about collage, a highly feminized and largely neglected medium.