In school, I had a professor use the term “Art Gap” a lot during critiques. Not sure if the term was of his own personal art vernacular (Google turned up nothing) as it was the last I ever heard anyone use it in a sentence. Art gap refers (so this professor proclaimed) to the distance between the artist’s intention and the viewer’s perception of a work of art.
“Art gap” is a tricky thing—if the “gap” is close, then your work is deemed “literal.” Too far, and the audience misses the point completely. What makes the alchemy of art gap so difficult to grasp is that it solely relies on the viewer.  Being that (as viewers) we are all different, our mileages (or millimeters) will vary.

When you visit Gallery 31, think about how Artist in Residence Allison Uttley’s work affects you. Make note of what thoughts and memories race through your mind.  Before you leave, read her proposal for the project and see how your art gap measures up.

Allison and Vince, discussing the finer points of metaphysical Mylar.

Last week, Vince Hazen, Head of the Academy Art Center at Linekona, and Shawn Eichman, Curator of Asian Art, visited Uttley and critiqued her work—one of the benefits of the residency. I sat in on the visits and found it fascinating to observe how Vince and Shawn digested and interpreted the work, and how they arrived at their critiques and suggestions. Sorry, I’m not going to go into what was said  (they went deep), but I will say that the distance of perspective from a museum curator (Eichman) to that of an artist (Hazen) is pretty wide. Yet, their views were completely valid and very helpful to Allison; she has a lot to think over as she prepares for her thesis in April.

You have one more weekend to see Allison at work— her last day as Artist in Residence is Oct. 25. Drop by this Saturday and Sunday!

Trees à la Sogetsu opened today at the Academy Art Center at Linekona, and the museum has been buzzing with excitement. “Have you seen the Sogetsu show yet?” everyone asked me. I went over and was blown away by the larger-than-life creations in the main gallery. Flame-red anthuriums arc into space on a scaffold of twigs, a form of palms swirls up to the ceiling. The Consul General of Japan, Yoshi Kamo, and his wife, Etsuko, came by to see the eye-popping structures. The show is up only through Sunday at 4:30—try to make a little time during your weekend to see what members of the Hawaii branch of the prestigious Sogetsu School of Ikebana of Japan have created. Photos by Alan Konishi. More photos after the jump.
continue reading "Larger-than-life ikebana: This weekend only"

There have been great shows of Hawai‘i artists this year, such as The Contemporary Museum’s “20 Going on 21.” Now we have “Existential Pilgrims” at the Academy Art Center, which is getting raves, from people like Theresa Papanikolas, our Curator of European and American Art. So we’re biased, but the fact is that the Existential Pilgrims—Keiko Bonk, Duane Preble, Russell Sunabe and Noe Tanigawa—are, as the British say, bricks. They are foundations of the arts community in many ways, as talented artists, but also as teachers, activists and promoters.
continue reading "Best HNL show of the year?"

Existential Pilgrim (and rock star and artist) Keiko Bonk wrote this about her upcoming group show with HNL art godfather Duane Preble, silky-voiced HPR culture reporter and master of wax painting Noe Tanigawa and Russell Sunabe—painter of the apotheosis of the pig-hunting dog (he’s in Artists of Hawai’i 2009 now on view!). Now enjoy some unadulterated Bonk after the jump.
continue reading "Hey hey we’re the Existential Pilgrims!"

The fifth installation of Pecha Kucha Night Honolulu returns on July 24. Pecha Kucha (which is Japanese for the sound of chit-chat or conversation) is a graphic design, architecture, and art presentation that is low on attitude and high on talent. Presenters at each event are allowed to show 20 images (20 seconds each) of their latest design project. Think of it as 6 minutes and 40 seconds of a speed show-and-tell. A large screen will be set-up in the garden of the Academy Art Center at Linekona. Guests will also be able to enjoy light refreshments. Check out the Pecha Kucha site for updates.

The event will feature presentations by:
Burt Lum
Doug Upp
Patrick Williamson
Evil Genius
Omer Kursat
Pat Walker
Scott Wilson
Gerard Elmore
Graham Black

Pecha Kucha, a night of graphic design, architecture, and art presentations returns to the Academy Art Center at Linekona on March 13, 6:30 – 9p.m. Visitors mingle over free wine in the Art Center’s garden, then sit in front of a big screen for fast-paced visual shows by local creative minds.
Created in Tokyo in 2003 by designers Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham, Pecha Kucha’s formula is simple. Presenters at each event are allowed to show 20 images, each for 20 seconds of their latest design project. Think of it as 6 minutes and 40 seconds of a speed show-and-tell. The event has become so popular that it takes place in over 170 cities worldwide. Pecha Kucha Honolulu goers can also enjoy music by Curtis Kamiya and Matt Snow and complimentary pupu. The event is free.

The presentation lineup:
Dave Pollard – artist, builder, educator
Attila Pohlmann – photographer
Nate Orr – intuitive consultant
Pratisha Budhiraja – artist
Stephen Patrick- director
Peter Fletter – design engineer
Steven Wilson – graphic designer
Mark Little – designer
Russel Cheng – programmer

For more info check out http://www.pecha-kucha.org/cities/honolulu
Check out the Pecha Kucha blog at http://daily.pecha-kucha.org/