1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die

There is a wonderful review of a new book about painting at http://www.thesmartset.com/article/article08200702.aspx.

The primary idea of the book itself is that the most important thing about painting is not to think about what a painting IS or whether painting is still relevant. It is simply to LOOK at paintings. This somewhat radical idea is explained extremely well in the article and offers links to images of paintings from the middle ages to the 20th century. I found it a refreshing discussion of painting and wish the book itself was in my library...
- Beth S.

AGRC: Fall Topics

Possible list of topics for AGRC this fall semester:

- More on grad school issues (how to choose the grad school for you, how to prepare, etc).

- Diagram proper canvas stretching techniques (how to build stretcher frames).

- How to properly box art work for shipping.

- Art? What is it and how does it function today.

- Student art collectives. The why and how of how to start you own art "revolution."


Fell free to hit the comment box with any suggestions regarding topic you would like to have addressed through the AGRC.

AGRC: Fall Call For Bloggers

With the fall '07 semester gearing up it is time for the AGRC to petition interested students to consider participating as an active blogging member on this site. If you are interested in doing so email this site at artgroop@gamail.com. The ultimate goal for this site is to have it become self-sustaining through direct student participation. In other words, a student run blog about art and all of its attendant issues. This could take the shape of opinions regarding exhibitions you have seen, tips or intersting art links you come across, proposals for collective actions and collaborative art investigations. In short, this is an opportunity for interested and active students to engage art in a conversation manner via the nexus of internet technology. Ultimately this could lead to the institution of a more sophisticated internet presence such as a well designed website (which would e a great way to introduce collaboration btween studio and com-des students).

Those who post can do so at their leisure. However, in order to maintain the viability of this project it is necessary that bloggers on this site stay active and informed in the manner in which they post on this site. Anyone volunteering to blog this site must do so recognizing that they are ultimately contributing to the furtherance of the general art dialogue within the context of a university setting. In doing so, attenton must be paid to language and content. This site is designed to be helpful not a simulated free-range for cynicism and malcontentment reagrding art issues.

Keep in mind that blogging this site is different than commenting on this site. The comment box is open to whomever wants to comment about the individual posts. You don't have to blog this site to comment on this site. Bloggers on this site are essentially researchers for his site while commenters are, well, commenters.

AGRC will take up to (4) art student bloggers this semester. Again, email AGRC at artgroop@gmail.com.

Upcoming This Friday 08/03/2007

Last Friday is on First Friday! What does this arcane phrase refer too? This coming Friday morning (August 3, 2007) is the last ArtGroop meeting for the summer. This Friday is also First Friday in San Antonio. If you have never been to a First Friday before i highly recommend it. This is an opportunity to visit all the galleries in the Blue Star complex as well as a few of the independent non-profits like Unit-B and Sala Diaz in one evening. All these galleries stay open until 9PM (some later) while showcasing new exhibits to the public. Usually loads of fun. For directions see Mapquest.

As for the ArtGroop talk this Friday I will be discussing the following topics:

1. Co-authorship of this blog site. This site was set up with the intention that some of you art students would sign up to co-author this blog and update it with information on art topics, exhibits, and opportunities as you come across them. Anyone who is interested in posting on this site can sign up with me on Friday and we'll set those folks up with a password so they can help out with the spread of information.

2. Discuss if and when/where this group will continue to meet in the fall.

3. I'll have a couple of essays I'll be handing out for you to read, digest, and ponder over the remainder of the summer.

Lastly, if you have any questions or suggestions for future ArtGroop activities bring them with you. If we have time I might even show a video documentation from an undergrad art group from UNT called "Good/Bad Art Collective".

ArtGroop will meet in the student lounge from 10:30-11:20AM. Hope to see you there.