the art of culture wars

The above video speaks for itself.  In an act of solidarity with those who stand for artistic freedom and against censorship, we present below the video that The National Portrait Gallery removed at the behest of John Boehner.  By the way Mr. Incoming  Speaker, if you are in New York this weekend, The New Museum is currently screening the film in their lobby free of charge.

Da Mayor

Mayor Daley has had an interesting and challenging relationship with the street art community of Chicago, so it is no surprise that said community has taken notice of his announcement that he will not be seeking reelection. After all, Daley's reign has seen the outlawing of spray paint sales within Chicago city limits, the classification of markers as criminal tools, and the creation of "Mayor Daley's Graffiti Busters" whose sole raison d'etre involves the destruction of street art.  What is perhaps most amazing is that even after the installation of these draconian measures, Chicago's street art community continues to thrive.

Reaction to Daley's announcement has taken many forms, and has provided an opening for the launch of at least two mayoral campaigns by artists Swiv and Jagoff.  We will continue to monitor further developments and bring images of the best Daley inspired street work as we become aware of it.

why we love Damien Hirst

It's a universal problem.  You're chilling late at night, wondering what kind of flare you could hit your new, white Range Rover with that would convey the sophistication of contemporary art connoisseurship while at the same time letting everyone know you are a baller with mad stacks back at the crib.  And if only there was some way to acquire this magical car bling on your iphone, while sitting on the couch watching tv at 1 o'clock in the morning.  Well fret no longer, because Damien Hirst has got you covered.

Nobody makes a more luxurious and decadent designer art object than Damien Hirst.  Recent favorites of ours have included his "New Religion" cashmere throw blanket and his silver "Pill Cufflinks".  With the unveiling of the new "4x4 Stainless Steel Wheel Cover", Hirst is moving into new territory, declaring that these ultimate consumption / art items are no longer to be relegated to the confines of one's home.  They are meant to be utilized and flaunted in public.  Art is the new bling.

Paving the way into uncharted marketing opportunities is nothing new for Damien Hirst.  With his 2008 exhibition Beautiful Inside My Head Forever, Hirst redefined the artist's relationship with the art gallery, the art dealer, and the auction market.  Bypassing the tradition of exhibiting new work in a gallery, Hirst realized that he could instead partner with an auction house and stage the exhibition there as a run up to his auctioning off of the work.  Cynics said that by cutting the gallery and the dealer out of the equation, Hirst exercised control over the entire process from creation to sale, and maximized his profitability.  This is true, but the real benefit of this action for Hirst was that it broke his art free of the exclusive, secretive, private confines of the established gallery system.  You no longer need an "in" with a powerful art world mover-and-shaker to buy the first tier of Hirst's output; you simply need tons of cash and a phone.

Hirst has been seeking out well-heeled collectors through the internet as well.  Other Criteria, the gallery that Hirst created to sell his (and some other artist's) work, and their website othercriteria.com has long been the place to go for non-editioned Hirst multiples, books, tshirts, and tchotchkes.  Over the past two years it has been offering more (not to mention pricier) editioned works of art and occasional unique pieces as well.  Current fare on the site ranges in price from £1 for a postcard of to £140,000 (which is roughly $215,000 usd) for a complete set of recent foil block prints.  Aiming for consumers at the top and the bottom of the art market simultaneously requires cunning, skill, and a little bit of madness, and this is why we love Damien Hirst.

CRO: Killing Chicago Soflty

When Ray Noland (aka CRO) heard Mayor Daley's statement "Welcome to America. Americans kill each other every day..." it prompted him to create an image. The resulting print, "Daley Riot", features the scowling Mayor in full riot gear emblazoned with the phrase "Welcome to Chicago" on his chest.


The picture above was taken recently on the street and appears to be Noland riffing on the same theme in the public arena. We love how the menacing face of Mayor Daley perfectly fits the scale of this ad, and how it comically delivers subtle reinforcement of the Mayor's inflammatory and unnerving statement. Killing in America is as ingrained in our society as movie posters are. Welcome to Chicago. Chicagoans kill each other every day.

Ray Noland's upcoming solo show: Sweet Tea & American Values has its official opening on Friday June 11th from 6pm - 11pm at the newly renovated Chicago Urban Art Society in Pilsen. For now you can check out Noland's website Creative Rescue Organization where you can peep his blog, see behind the scenes pics of the show installation in progress and purchase the print "Daley Riot".