The posts so far:
And we have a winner. One person got them all right. But before I tell you who it is, take a look at the captions and compare them against your entry, which you'll see in the Comments section. While there was just one clearcut winner, some of you werethisclose.
1. Rubern Verdu at Raul Zamudio, Art Miami
Art professionals, start your engines. In this second annual installment of Art or Trash? I challenge you to guess which of the 25 images above and below depict work on exhibition at the Miami fairs and which just happen to look like it. One hint: Not everything indoors is art, and not everything outdoors isn’t.
I'll post the captions on Friday morning, December 10, at 9:00. Until then if you're game enough, post a comment identifying each number with "art" or "trash." I’m upping the ante for anyone who's brave enough to post under your own name. If you guess all 25 correctly I’ll put your name in a hat and pull out a winning name. Winner gets a 30-minute interview with me and a subsequent blog post that I'll write about you and your work--plus bragging rights that you can distinguish the art-world equivalent of shit from Shinola.
2. Artist unidentified at 3PQ Gallery, ABMB
3. Trash, shot at NADA
4. Artist unidentified at Noero Gallery, ABMB
5. Trash, shot outside the portable restrooms at Red Dot. Everyone got this right
6. Jason Dodger at Casey Kaplan Gallery, ABMB
I found this piece merely interesting until I read the label. It was knitted—by Barbera Stochmolske in Szczecin , Poland
7. Trash. Maybe not actual trash, but these stacked pallets are not meant to be art
8. Trash. I shot this and #16 on Lincoln Road
The folks who had been selling produce all day were stacking up their goods, and the withering look I received from one of the workers heaped the scorn of class and culture upon me one evening after dinner
9. Helen Mirra sculpture at Meyer Riegger Gallery, ABMB
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10. Trash. Caution tape on a corridor rug at ABMB
11. Trash. Tape-covering wires at ABMB
12. Monika Sosnowska at The Modern Institute/Toby Webster, ABMB. How happy was I when I found this piece?
13. Ditto this piece from Elizabeth Neel at Sikkema Jenkins Gallery, ABMB
14. Richard Rigg at Workplace Gallery, NADA
15. Artist unidentified at Parisa Kind Gallery, NADA
16. Trash, shot on Lincoln Road
17. Chris Astley at Bravin Lee Programs, Seven
I really like this low wall of objects and the almost anthropomorphic way the forms flop and and press against one another. My apologies for lumping this work in with the trash for the conceit of this post
18. Trash, shot behind a building in Wynwood
19. Orly Genger’s knitted units, placed around the grounds at Pulse, are both sculpture and seating. Designed to be used by the viewer, they provided a comfortable place to plop down after a day of art viewing. Orly
20. Carlos Bunga at Galerie Elba Benitez, ABMB
21. Trash, shot on the carpet in the ABMB lobby (if you've been to the venue, you'd remember that rug)
22. Not quite trash, but not art: boxes ready for repacking at Aqua Art
23. Joel Grossman at Galerie Christophe Paschall, Art Miami
24. I am not a fan of Cady Noland’s work, and her beer-can-and-trash room at the Rubell Collection did nothing to change my mind. I guess she had to go as far away as possible from the chromatic elegance of her father. But, hey, she’s in the Rubell Family Collection—and we’re not
25. Whichever answer you gave, give yourself credit
The dumpster was in the compound of the Rubell Collection, set squarely in the back yard of the casita in which Jennifer Rubell had her installation of cups, spoons, oatmeal and raisins—the makings for a hearty Northeast breakfast on a lovely warm Miami day. Clearly the stuff had come from the interior, which was empty of pretty much everything but the tables holding the food and the refrigerators holding the milk (I hope to post some pics eventually). I called the Rubell Collection to ask about it.
RC: “It’s not part of the installation but Jennifer wanted you to see what came out of the house.”
Me: “Then it is part of the installation?”
RCl: “Well is it and it isn’t.”
An Anonymous commenter offered this criticism of the whole post: “I think I am ‘normal,’ but I see NO art in any of these. It wouldn't surprise me if some people claimed to see art in a pile of dung. This is just crazy.”
Well, Anon, I don't agree entirely with your assessment, but you have you have come to the right place to test your thesis.
Below: Not Vital's cast bronze of Mongolian Cow Dung, which was shown in the Gallerie Urs Miele, Beijing and Lucerne, at ABMB
And the winner? Gwyneth Leech, come on down! You know your shit. For your prize, you and your work you will be the subject of a blog post here on the Joanne Mattera Art Blog in January. Congratulations.
53 comments:
Art: 1, 2, 4, 6, 9 ,13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24
Trash: 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11 ,12, 16, 18, 21, 21, 22, 25
Art:1,2,4,6,9,12,13,14,15,17(at SEVEN),19(Orly Genger),20,23,24
Trash:3,5,7,8,10,11,16,18,21,22,24,25
I despair. Between these and Obama's capitulations (again), I despair.
Art: 1, 2, 6, 9, 14, 15, 17, 19, 20, 23
Trash: 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 18, 21, 22, 24, 25
I'll take a go at this.
Art: 1,2,4,6,9,12,14,15,17,19,20,23,24
Trash:3,5,7,8,10,11,13,16,21,22,25
Hydeordie and I are differing only by one.
One could argue that the only art presnet in any of this work is the photographic image of it. As an object #17 seems intersting, but it's been done many times over. However, the most compelling image is #4 for its compelling curatotial framing of the art as trash/trash as art aesthetic.
1.the photography is the art!
2.trash as the subjectmatter
3.the photographer is the artist!
A tough quiz. I guess you had to be there. Here's my go although I can't be right.
Art: 1, 2, 6, 14, 17, 19, 20, 24
Trash: 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 21, 22, 23, 25
Art: 6, 14, 17, 19, 20
Trash: 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10,11,12, 13,15,16,18,19
art: 4, 6, 7, 9, 14, 17, 19, 20, 24
trash: 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25
I'm game, but not optimistic.
Art, 4,6,9,11,14,15,17,19,20,22,23
Trash, 1,2,3,5,7,8,10,12,13,16,18,21,24,25
art: 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 14, 17, 19, 20, 24
trash: 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 21, 22, 23, 25
I am one of those people who starts to think, after awhile, that the fire extinguisher is an artwork when I come across it in a contemporary art gallery or a museum. A lot has to do with seeing things in an art context so it is a tough without the usual clues, such as wall labels, but here are my choices:
Art: 1, 2, 6, 4, 9,12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24
Trash: 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 16, 18, 21, 22, 25
If 12 is not deliberately art, then those angles were artfully scattered by an artless individual.
art -- 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24
trash -- 3, 5, 7, 11, 12, 13, 16, 18, 21, 22, 25
I probably cannot tell shit from shinola either;
Trash:1,2,3,5,7,9,10,11,12,12,16,18,19,20,21,22,25
Art: 4,6,8,14,15,17,23,24
Art: 1,2,4, 6, 9, 12, 14, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24
Trash: 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 21, 22, 25
#1 is expensive trash
#6 is comfortable trash
#16 is After Party trash
#19 is trash you can sit on
#20 is trash you can't sit on
#23 and #24 is trying to hard to be trash so it must be Art
and #25 is ART but only if you are Urs Fischer
your great Joanne.
art: 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19 Orly Genger, 20, 23, 24 Cady Noland
trash: 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 16, 18, 21, 22, 25
I'm conflicted about #12 and #13
art: 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 25
trash: 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 16, 21, 22, 24
So easy.
Art: 1,2,3,4,6,9,10,11,12,14,15,17,18,19,20,23,24
Trash:
5,7,8,13,16,21,22,25
I say that it all depends on the context in which it is seen...it might all be trash or it might all be art
It depends entirely on the context in which it is seen
1,2,4,6,7,8,9,11,13,14,17,19,20,23,24
ART
3,5,10,12,15,16,18,21,22,25,
Trash
I think I am "normal," but I see NO art in any of these. It wouldn't surprise me if some people claimed to see art in a pile of dung. This is just crazy.
It's a question of transformation, context and intention. I make artwork from trash - used paper coffee cups - which I transform by drawing on them. Then I display them in an art context (galleries on plinths, special shelves, lighting, labels, etc.), And finally, I intend them to be artworks, and write about them as such at Gwyneth’s full Brew
Some of your photos are clearly of artworks but some not so obvious without the context and intent being known. There are materials we associate with trash - black plastic bags, cardboard, rags, but if they are transformed in some way I accept them as art.
But I have two questions Joanne: did you take photos during art fair set up/break down or only during the regular fair times? And are any of these photos of photographic exhibits? A photo of a dumpster at an art fair, would be an art work.
Or am I over-analyzing?
This is very interesting. I'll take a crack at this, though art is very subjective. There were photos I wanted to say were trash, but I'm sure the creating artist thinks they are art.
Art:1,2,4,6,9,12,14,15,17,19,20,22,23,24
Trash:3,7,8,10,11,13,16,18,21,25
Art: 1,2,4,6,8,13,14,15,17,18,20,23; I even like a few of these.
Not Art: 3,5,7,9-12,16,19, 21, 22, 24, 25
made some changes:
art: 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 14, 17, 19 Orly Genger, 20, 23, 24 Cady Noland (daughter of colorfield painter Kenneth Noland)
trash: 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 21, 22, 25
Zack, no fair. You've got the benefit of everyone else's comments. Plus I have to count these things--and I'm working on the big post.
J
Mike sez: Art 1,4,6,8,9,14,17,19,20,23
Trash 2,3,5,7,10,11,12,13,15,16,18,21,22,24
Art: 24, 23, 19, 17, 16, 14, 1
Trash: 25, 22, 21, 20, 18, 15, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2
1,2,4,6,8 (only because it looks as though it's been carefully placed and lit),9,11,12,13,14,15,17,18(only because they would never leave the trash there),19,20,23,24.art
3,5,7,10,16,21,22,25trash
ok...maybe I'm the boob...I think all should be trash....but...in stretching those artistic eyes, let's call #1-6-14-17-19 art
ART- 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 14, 15, 17, 19, 20, 23.
NOT ART- 3, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 18, 21, 22, 24, 25.
Some of these seemed fairly obvious even though there seemed to be a lot of trash bags photographed in unclear situations. The most confusing was #24 because there appeared to be some kind of wall installation going on behind what appeared to be boxes of prep material.
Art: 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 12, 14, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24
Trash: 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 21, 22, 25
Dear Joanne,
I am taking a break and here are my choices. I haven't read others so this is a pure answer!
art- 1,2,4,6,9,14,15,17,19,23,24
the rest trash.
I am entering because I would love to have a 1/2 hour talk with you as a friend you are so hard to pin down.
Happy holidays,
Susan
Art: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 23, 24
Trash: 3, 5, 8, 16, 18, 20, 21, 22, 25
Art: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Trash: 3, 5, 7, 9, 16, 18, 21, 25
Art:P 1, 4, 6, 8, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24.
Trash: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 18, 21, 22.
Suspect I have too much trash!
Cath Sheard, New Zealand
Art= 1,2,6,9,14,17,19,23,24
Trash= 3,4,5,7,8,10,11,12,13,15,16,18,20,21,22,25
ART: 1,2,6,9,10,11,14,15,17,19,20, 23,24
TRASH:3,4,5,7,8,12,13,16,18,21,22,25
Art: 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24
Trash: 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 13, 16, 18, 21, 22, 25
Art: 1,2,4,6,9,14,15,17,19,20,23
Trash: 3,5,7,8,10,11,12,13,16,18,21,22,24,25
Art:1,3,6,9,12,14,17,19, 20, 23, 24
Trash:2,4,5,7,8,10,11,13,15,16,18,21, 22,25
art: 2 4 6 8 11 12 14 15 17 19 20 23 24
trash: 1 3 5 7 9 10 13 16 18 2 22 25
Now what I perceive as art or trash may not be the intention of the piece.
Marti Plager
art: 2 4 6 8 11 12 14 15 17 19 20 23 24
trash: 1 3 5 7 9 10 13 16 18 2 22 25
Now what I perceive as art or trash may not be the intention of the piece.
Marti Plager
Art, 1.2.4,6,10,11,14,15,17,20,23,24.
Trash,3,5,7,8,9,12,13,16,18,19,21,22,25.
Great post. In a certain way the whole post is a piece of art. Asking the art professionals to make the difference between art and trash. First price / fifteen minutes of fame.....
I saw Orly Genger's installations at Mass MOCA over the Summer and I instantly fell in love. Really wonderful pieces that I just had to keep going back to view & investigate. Couldn't get enough!
-Jamie
Perhaps I am just too old fashioned....it was difficult to know what was art and what was trash?
I thought this contest of yours was brilliant. And most of the so called art, pretty much trash.
Why shucks, Joanne, you make me blush. I can't wait to shoot the breeze with you!
What a brilliant poetic contest - and fun. Cuts right to the chase of many debates - is it art? is it good art? and whose opinion counts?
There is no difference.
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