VOL 01 ISSUE 20   December 29, 2002  

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                  -OPPORTUNITIES- 

1/8/03 deadline SEA-TAC INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT HALLWAYS Seeking qualifications (slides) to transform each of two corridors, arrivals & baggage claim areas. $50 & 65,000 portseattle.org/seatac/finding/callartists

1/10/03 deadline SEATTLE PRO PARKS ART PROJECTS Seeking qualifications (slides) to transform each of three public parks. $60-90,000 www.cityofseattle.net/arts

1/16,18,23,30/03 seminars LOS ANGELES  METRO ART COMMISSIONS Workshops to  inform artists about up-coming opportunities and how to apply www.mta.net/metroart

1/28/03 deadline MOA POLARIS K-12 RFQ Seeking qualifications (slides) for $120,000 budget  Contact Jocelyn Young 907-343 6473

1/31/03 deadline CITY OF DENVER RFQ Seeking qualifications (slides) for future Public Art projects  www.denvergov.org/artculturefilm

2/11/03 deadline MOA WENDLER RFQ Seeking qualifications (slides) for $150,000 budget Contact Jocelyn Young youngjh@ci.anchorage.ak.us  

DESIGNING THE NEW MUSEUM: BUILDING A DESTINATION
by James Grayson Trulove ArtSceneAK understands that this book isn't as dull as its cover. Actually it's chock full of color photos of other art museums which have expanded recently.

NEXT:  2003 DELUX

FEEDBACK  Want a No Prize for proving us wrong?! Let us know your opinion or tell us about your upcoming event or opportunity and get a No, Thank YOU.  Tell us about attribution errors you suspect.  SHORTCUTS: Add 6 FREE months to your membership subscription if we use your 100 word reviews of any show you've seen recently, sweet and sour. Form makes it easy.

Coming Back, the robe shown above, is reminiscent of a priestly garment and centers the show. It measures 48"x57"  at $3000.   Flanking it are As Above, which is 24"x36" and has a 3D casting of a niche supporting a small tree and So Below, its inverse. Each work incorporates the use of other items (garnets, beads, glass, etc.). Pulse, the tulip shaped piece at left, has suspended above it a pomegranate rattle made with horse hair and driftwood. More rattles embellish the base. Flanking pieces are Dark Pillar & Light Pillar. The paired pieces were $1000 for both. All the works are made of paper pulp and aqueous dyes at her Contours Studio in Homer. Naden impresses people with her variety of talents she possesses. As shy as she acts, you ought to see her sing old Motown and Aretha Franklin stuff on Karaoke night!

FROZEN ASSET ICE-NOTCarl Nesjar's Ice Fountain has been neither fountain nor ice since shortly after its  installation at the Anchorage Loussac Library in mid-town.   The stainless steel tubing is intended to drip water during the winter to build sheets of ice in a spectacular way.   Problems with plumbing and process in the underground connection between fountain and library have kept this world class sculpture from reaching its intended potential.   A joint project of MOA % for Art and the Silver Anniverary Commission, this piece has a forlorn look about it. In other parts of the country, folks run hoses up a tall pole in their front yard and leave it on into winter, then shine yard lights at the result.   Seems simple enough, and certainly Nesjar's international reputation is not dependent on the use Anchorage makes of his interesting creation. During the summer, flowers are planted. During the winter, shouldn't the sidewalk be shoveled? Nesjar collaborated with Picasso, can't our civic and public entities combine to make Ice Fountain the defiant salute to winter it is meant to be?

The detail at left shows the recent snowfall decorating the spare lines of the fountain, and the crowd control net keeping people from hurting themselves trying to find out what is wrong with this thing.

WYNE WILD LINE IN SNOW Sheila Wyne and Rachelle Dowdy share space at Decker/Morris Gallery this month in works which left very distinct impressions. Dowdy's animal constructions were spontaneous and lively with the artist's hand carving expression into the human faces incorporated. Wyne's work, assembled from various manufactured objects, had less passion, a defiant meaninglessness (expressed in the artist's statement) and a signature style Wyne brings to this sort of sculpture. Although the use of crutches, wig stands, headless baby dolls, etc. has been largely explored ad tediumb, collectors of Wyne's works may find something to love and she has proven herself with new materials time and time again, such as in Wild Line, a percent for art collaboration with Don Mohr installed in 1990 at Chugiak High School shown at left.

GROUP SHOW TO OPEN IGCA Mohr is co director of the International Gallery of Contemporary Art, surviving it's fifth location by moving to a sixth at 427 D Street downtown in January 2003 and opening with a group show. Co-directors Don Decker and Dr Julie Decker recently hosted a fun solstice party at Julie's elegant home as a thank you to the many artists and contractors who volunteered time and effort to make the move.  Donald R Ricker's Lily Pond ABCD will be among the works for sale during the upcoming show. At $400 per panel, one has already found a new owner.

CHUGIAK RENOVATION % >= Artists have been selected by each fresh panel assembled for Anchorage School District capital projects over the past few years. Recent review of information available on-line indicated that nearly two-thirds of the money has been spent on 'Outside' artists with the average amount given to outside artists nearly $20,000 more than awarded  to locals. The impressive new cafeteria and commons area shown above at Chugiak High School resulted in the largest percent for art award to date; $140,000 to Philadelphia artist Ray King.  BTW, anybody get a call-for-artists from the ASCA in 2002? Recently, staffers were unable to provide information about how the state % for art legislation was pursued this year. Concerned career artists want to know.

No, Thank YOU to Peter Gundunas (whose Greek name is Panehyiotis Gundunas) sent in photos and information for the lead article about artist Lynn Marie Naden. Gundunas added "I Thank you for promoting the arts and allowing me a chance to help." Anything right about the article is thanks to him and anything in error falls to the editor.  Need a laugh to start the New Year?   Natxo Zenborain in Spain says: "Feliz Anno" Same for everybody!

Have true fun, look through the back issue Index.

Thanks and a tip of the hat to all those who subscribed to ArtSceneAK during it's first calendar year. And a toast to all who will subscribe in 2003!