The “Rose Castle” art installation is a temporary exhibit at the top of the ridge overlooking Oslo. It’s dedicated to democracy and anti-fascism as understood through remembering the Norwegian freedom fighters of WWII.
The installation itself is both deeply moving, profound, and kitchy all at the same time. It’s clear that the artists are from a different time where the pace is slower, the thinking is deeper and the design language doesn’t cater to instagram.
There has been some debate about whether to make the monument permanent. the latest scuttlebutt us that it will be removed in 2025.
I’m really glad I went, for a number of reasons, but I also think moving the installation to a more permanent home not in nature would be best.
Of course we’re biased! I mean, that’s why we came. Here’s the acquisition:
Emily Shepardson’s work stands out in the Artomatic chaos, for sure.
This year, Artomatic was spread over 8 floors in the old social security administration building. (Our previous Artomatic run was twelve years earlier in crystal city. We were all so innocent then.)
We found ourselves starting in Emily’s pod on four in the blue quadrant, down a hallway.
But we’re here for the art—well, Emily’s art. We’re here for Emily’s art.
(Cyn bits.)
Look, its the artist.
Buy some Emily for yourself. No really. You think art supports itself?
So anyway, we had to wander the halls for hours. The mix is very mixy. Like a platypus. Who put a duck bill on what?! It lays eggs and has milk? Electric sensory organs?!
The Barbie compass led the way.
There were installations.
There was after before before.
Ant knew immediately that this guy is a real artist. By instinct alone.
There was before after after.
There was too much day-glo. We failed to capture any of it in bits.
You can dance if you want to. Like its the ’20s.
The cookie cutters.
Romey found fabric and lines.
Disco sucks.
It all started melting together.
Sometimes funny.
Sometimes boozy.
Sometimes in need of a good Spring cleaning.
Escape velocity was eventually achieved.
P.S.Mercy Me should be named “Lord Have Mercy Me” or maybe “Just Take It”. Too many hipsters per square inch makes it more of a scene than a restaurant. Gonna flash in that pan. Poof!
The stadium in Campiglia Cervo is scaled to match the interstate highway system that blazes through the center of town. We packed the stadium to the gills with what I am told was 65 people, including the vice mayor who introduced us, but not including the mayor himself who had more important things to do like look at himself in the mirror. Just so you know, this was a much bigger show than the show Metallica put on at the same stadium!
The show was actually very good. Intimate. Interesting. Tight. During the rest of our time in Rialmosso we ran into lots of people who either attended or heard through the grapevine about our performance. That was both really cool and very gratifying.
The road crew set the stage after arriving the day before to check electricity levels and make sure all of the seating was available. We have nothing but admiration for our intrepid road crew. They work so hard so we can do what we do.
The show consisted of three parts as shown on the billboard above.
Here is a stage floor view of the set list for those of you collecting bootlegs.
And a view of the nosebleed seating in the back before anyone was in the house. You can see the dancing props professionally built by our dedicated construction crew.
Publicity was run by our crack PR team who were able to put up a poster with the last of the tape.
Fortunately that poster was all it took to fill the space to the gills. When we started (only 5 minutes late), people were standing because the seating was gone. Even the reserved section for mastiffs and toddlers was full.
We sincerely appreciate the willingness of the locals in the area to support our art with enthusiasm and love!
The stage is set. The weather is perfect.
And we’re off. Sogol and Matt play Bach together.
Dancing to Vivaldi Concerto in G major for Two Mandolins, Strings and Continuo, RV 532 (re-re-arranged for violin, guitar and piano).
Eight of us have convened in Rialmosso, Italia to create some art together. Sadly, three of us were almost immediately infected with COVID from the trip across the ocean. So far, the other five of us are healthy and working together to create, well, something. Here’s how that is going.
We have a movement artist, a painter, and three musicians. For one section of the show we are performing this Sunday we’ve decided on an art form where we pass a token between us, one after another (and sometimes to a group). The idea is for each artist to improvise in their medium given what the artist before them came up with in another medium.
This set of videos shows our second attempt at this performance game.
Who, uh oh, passes the token to me (Gary McGraw). Fortunately, I was unable to film myself playing the violin. (Though you can find some video on Rhine’s blog Blame it on Sally.)
Now that Matt Savage has joined us on the piano, we have five players. This is an interesting experiment that we’re having fun with.
Ready…
Set…
Go…
We are also performing some classical music. Here is some Vivaldi being worked up. Sogol will dance to this once we figure it out.
A more pedantic video of the Vivaldi sessions.
There is Bach being worked up, and Chopin too.
And we’re spicing up some Where’s Aubrey tunes with simultaneous art and dance.
The incredible result of one of our improvisations
Our time together at Villa Emma has been filled with ideas, collaboration, and the joy of creating something together.
For a long time now, the only painting by Megan Caldwell in the collection has been this little painting on a tiny block of wood in the kitchen. We fixed that.
Sad to miss the opening due to Indiana, though we got a preview of the show before everyone invaded. What a fantastic collection of work, not just Megan’s but also great stuff from Winslow McCagg, Anna Billman (whose photography is excellent) and Leigh Henry.
So now we have some Megan in the house. Or we will. Or something.
This one depicts a local stretch of the river very close to home.
The artist and the mini artist
A whole nother artist
Same spot, different time of day.
Because Eli and Romey insisted, the upper left painting now belongs to me. The water is magical.
This is a study for the painting I purchased. Had to get it too.
Winslow and Anna’s work was in another room. The pairings were perfect. An incredibly well-designed show.
Nice to see such great work at Longbranch. Clarke County’s art scene is top notch. (The show will be up through May 8, 2022.)
The Phillips Collection remains one of my favorite art museums. The incredible level of curation at the new Picasso exhibit shows why. Great combinations in addition to world class art. Top notch.
For those who know their picasso, this is early stuff, basically 1901-1904 (including the blue period).
We went to the show as a last birthday present of the 38th year. Thanks Romey. What an excellent present, art with the ones you love.
PICASSO
NOT PICASSO
My favorite painting at the Phillips.
In a new spot.
After art, we were hoping to have brunch at the Bistrot Du Coin, but once again the google hours were wrong. Fortunately, there was La Tomate to fill in admirably. We had lots of cacio et pepe. Ahhhh.
Visting purenkel.no is always a pleasure. One of the owner’s excellent pieces now lives at the Stick. The first post covid lockdown visit to Oslo included some art.
