Thursday, January 29, 2009
Brandeis Auction
About a year ago I made Studies in Digestion to submit to the Museum of Bad Art (MOBA). MOBA ultimately rejected my piece, but I still donated it to be included in the museum's Rejection Collection charity auction.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 29, 2009
FROM: MICHAEL FRANK, CURATOR-IN-CHIEF, MUSEUM OF BAD ART
EMAIL: Curator@MuseumOfBadArt.org
As curator-in-chief of the Museum of Bad Art (MOBA), I, along with most of my colleagues in the art-world, was shocked to learn that the trustees of Brandeis University have decided to close the Rose Art Museum and sell the valuable collection to raise money to cover a deficit in their operating budget. We assume that they have considered and rejected alternatives such as renaming the university "Brandeis Bank" in order to qualify for the federal Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP), digging up and selling the shrubbery that currently decorates the beautiful Waltham campus, and assigning undergraduates to patrol the Mass Pike tollbooths in Weston with collection cans.
It would be irresponsible to stand by and fail to offer assistance to a neighboring institution in such a desperate circumstance.
I would like to assure our patrons that MOBA does not sell items from our Permanent Collection, although we have so far not been tempted with the opportunity to liquidate any of our works into "six figures".
In support of the Rose Museum in crisis, the MOBA Board of Directors have decided to sell a picture from our Rejection Collection; "Studies in Digestion" by Deborah Grumet. Executed with colored pencil on paper, this framed 18"x 24" piece portrays the human digestive system skillfully drawn in the styles of Keith Haring, Georges Serat, Rene Margritte (with mislabeled organs a la the Key of Dreams Series), and a Picasso single line drawing.
"Studies in Digestion" is offered on eBay, with the auction closing February 8, 2009 at 1:37pm PST. The listing address is: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250365321206
An official MOBA Certificate of Rejection will accompany the item.
The proceeds of this auction will be donated to Brandeis University in the hopes that we can help prevent the disintegration and sale of the Rose Art Museum collection.
About a year ago I made Studies in Digestion to submit to the Museum of Bad Art (MOBA). MOBA ultimately rejected my piece, but I still donated it to be included in the museum's Rejection Collection charity auction. Well, the museum's curator notified me today that the museum is using my piece after all. I received a copy of this press release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 29, 2009
FROM: MICHAEL FRANK, CURATOR-IN-CHIEF, MUSEUM OF BAD ART
EMAIL: Curator@MuseumOfBadArt.org
As curator-in-chief of the Museum of Bad Art (MOBA), I, along with most of my colleagues in the art-world, was shocked to learn that the trustees of Brandeis University have decided to close the Rose Art Museum and sell the valuable collection to raise money to cover a deficit in their operating budget. We assume that they have considered and rejected alternatives such as renaming the university "Brandeis Bank" in order to qualify for the federal Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP), digging up and selling the shrubbery that currently decorates the beautiful Waltham campus, and assigning undergraduates to patrol the Mass Pike tollbooths in Weston with collection cans.
It would be irresponsible to stand by and fail to offer assistance to a neighboring institution in such a desperate circumstance.
I would like to assure our patrons that MOBA does not sell items from our Permanent Collection, although we have so far not been tempted with the opportunity to liquidate any of our works into "six figures".
In support of the Rose Museum in crisis, the MOBA Board of Directors have decided to sell a picture from our Rejection Collection; "Studies in Digestion" by Deborah Grumet. Executed with colored pencil on paper, this framed 18"x 24" piece portrays the human digestive system skillfully drawn in the styles of Keith Haring, Georges Serat, Rene Margritte (with mislabeled organs a la the Key of Dreams Series), and a Picasso single line drawing.
"Studies in Digestion" is offered on eBay, with the auction closing February 8, 2009 at 1:37pm PST. The listing address is: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250365321206
An official MOBA Certificate of Rejection will accompany the item.
The proceeds of this auction will be donated to Brandeis University in the hopes that we can help prevent the disintegration and sale of the Rose Art Museum collection.
The auction ends February 8, but if you can also buy it now for $10,000.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Back to Work!
After a six year hiatus, I returned to work last week at the New York Academy of Medicine. NYAM is located on the corner of 103rd and 5th in Manhattan. I live in Forest Hills, Queens, so to get to NYAM I take the R train to 59th & Lex, and transfer to the Uptown 6. The 6 takes me to 103rd and Lexington, which is just 2 blocks away from NYAM.
I actually enjoy the subway, and for the most part my commute is as I remember it from six years ago. However, a few details have changed:
1) Arts for Transit Posters- For those of you unfamiliar, the MTA commissions two or three artists each year to create a transit-related poster for display in the subways. When I last worked, the Subway Whale and Centennial Game posters were everywhere. The current posters are Fire Escape and In Flight.
After a six year hiatus, I returned to work last week at the New York Academy of Medicine. NYAM is located on the corner of 103rd and 5th in Manhattan. I live in Forest Hills, Queens, so to get to NYAM I take the R train to 59th & Lex, and transfer to the Uptown 6. The 6 takes me to 103rd and Lexington, which is just 2 blocks away from NYAM.I actually enjoy the subway, and for the most part my commute is as I remember it from six years ago. However, a few details have changed:
1) Arts for Transit Posters- For those of you unfamiliar, the MTA commissions two or three artists each year to create a transit-related poster for display in the subways. When I last worked, the Subway Whale and Centennial Game posters were everywhere. The current posters are Fire Escape and In Flight.
2) Dr. Zizmor? Dr. Zizmor's subway ads were a fixture of my commute from 1993-2002. His ads are noticeably absent now. Maybe this is why?
3) SVA Ads- I have always enjoyed the School of Visual Arts subway posters. When I last worked, SVA was still running the Art Is . . . . campaign. I saw this poster in the station yesterday, and I wholeheartedly approve.
4) Make 'Em Laugh Posters - PBS is running a very clever ad campaign for its Make 'Em Laugh series. The posters take up half the subway car, and essentially thank everyone who has been the subject of ridicule over the past few decades: Thank you men with mullets, thank you women with big hair, thank you bald men, thank you shallow men, thank you Dubbya, thank you Monica, thank you Hillary, thank you New Jersey, thank you France, etc. I unfortunately can't find a picture of the posters, but you get the idea. They are a welcome addition to my commute.
So that's what's new in subway advertising. It's good to be back.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
My Favorite Tilleys
The 2009 Eustace Tilley Contest is now closed. The real winners will be announced on February 2nd, but here are my favorites.
The 2009 Eustace Tilley Contest is now closed. The real winners will be announced on February 2nd, but here are my favorites.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Creative Alphabets
Yael Miller of ReubenMiller compiled 22 of the World's Most Creative Alphabets. Alas, my alphabets did not make this list, but she did find some good ones. My favorites are the Beard Alphabet by Tim Yarzhombek (left) and the Meat Alphabet by Robert Bloesta (below). (Via: ohdeedoh.)
Yael Miller of ReubenMiller compiled 22 of the World's Most Creative Alphabets. Alas, my alphabets did not make this list, but she did find some good ones. My favorites are the Beard Alphabet by Tim Yarzhombek (left) and the Meat Alphabet by Robert Bloesta (below). (Via: ohdeedoh.)
Friday, January 09, 2009
Forbidden Planet
Forbidden Planet included our Gothamer entry in a writeup of the 2009 Eustace Tilley contest. Check it out!
Forbidden Planet included our Gothamer entry in a writeup of the 2009 Eustace Tilley contest. Check it out!
Monday, January 05, 2009
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Penguin Tilley
Here is my other entry for the Eustace Tilley contest. This was actually David Marc Fischer's concept - we entered it as a collaboration under the catchy username DAVIDMARCFISCHERANDDEBORAHGRUMET.
Anyway, I think The Penguin makes a perfect Eustace Tilley. Thanks, David!
Here is my other entry for the Eustace Tilley contest. This was actually David Marc Fischer's concept - we entered it as a collaboration under the catchy username DAVIDMARCFISCHERANDDEBORAHGRUMET.
Anyway, I think The Penguin makes a perfect Eustace Tilley. Thanks, David!
