Art of This

2010-08-18T00:01:00.004-05:00

Curtis Allen
Kelsey Olson
David Frohlich

at Art of This

Friday August 20 2010
7-11 pm
film screening at 9:30

Talk on photography has been beaten to death as of late, yet the dead-horse of the photograph, or of the process of photographing keeps moving along. That said, photography has always had an intimate connection with death: not withstanding the crisis in painting that corresponded with its uprising (the first instance of its unending death), Bayard's Self Portrait As a Drowned man, the power of the photograph to steal the soul (producing the living dead), as well as many other suggestions one could make here, the traditional conception of photography also marked, through each photograph, the death of the event, but simultaneously its de-temporization, crystallization, and carrying on; its recollection or commemoration (even if, in fact, such an event was encountered first within the photograph). Photography traditionally stood as both genesis and exegesis and it is along these lines of interest that we follow. Photography as the medium of capture par excellence: this is the unspoken motto of turn-of-the-century photography.

This makes photography the proper heir to a society of love, our society perhaps (in so far as love is the force of appropriation, or possession tout court). We have then, in a certain sense, come full circle--in the fact of our contemporary love of the image (the specifically photographic one)--that is, we have come to love the dead, which it could be argued, is already pre-inscribed into the act of love. I guess the question remains: What is one to do with a dead-horse that one loves so well?…We construct new kinds of horses (or donkeys, phoric-machines) each in our own way, to carry our love off into new directions. Some of these various directions, we hope, to put on display for you, yet never in an "instructive" manner. To be short, very short, we have as arrows; materialism as a process, photography as mediation, and the frame, fabrication, and fiction of photography as generative means.

Art of This Improv Comedy Workshop

2010-08-16T23:00:00.000-05:00

A night of improv comedy games and exercises at Art of This? Sam
Hoolihan, Erin Hael and Ben Garthus would like to conduct a comedy
workshop consisting of a variety of improv games that push us out of
our comfort zones (but within the comfort of the basement of Art of
This). No improv experience required, in fact the less experience the
better. This is not a show or performance, this is a workshop. Please
come to participate.
8pm the games begin!

2010-08-16T14:12:00.001-05:00

THE COLONY, Sunday August 15th. By Juana Berrio

2010-08-10T00:02:00.013-05:00

THE COLONY
Sunday August 15th 2010 | Colonization: 3-10pm | BBQ at 7pm
Art of This | 3506 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis MN 55408

Come and colonize Art of This!

Come alone or with other people + Bring physical or non-physical materials to create your colony + Choose a spot at Art of This + Be ready to negotiate your space and defend your colony + Stay for BBQ and drinks (Bring something to grill and share!)

Couple of rules: Any physical intervention in the gallery space should be able to be easily repaired. If your colony is made out of electronic objects, bring them with you!

Contact: Juana Berrio
info@juanaberrio.com

Build, Eat, Repeat: This Thursday at 1419

2010-08-09T11:35:00.002-05:00

Build, Eat, Repeat: New Collaboration by Leslie Kelman and Emily Gastineau

9 a.m. on Thursday, August 12 through 9 p.m. on Friday, August 13

1419 Washington Ave S.

What is the distinction between expendable labor and necessary tasks? What effect can a building have on the daily existence of two people with an excess of time? Sculpture/installation artist Leslie Kelman and dance artist Emily Gastineau will be creating a new collaborative work over the span of 36 hours and five floors at 1419. Using found materials and movements devised on the spot, they will set up and take down multiple shelters throughout the building. Responding to the temporary environments, they will investigate their own labor and process as it runs up against the necessities of food, rest, and waste. Having become acquainted solely for the purpose of collaboration, they will learn from each other over the course of the performance until they share all tasks equally. Visitors are free to drop by 1419 at any point to see what structures we have accumulated. Raw footage from this experiment will be displayed at the final event of the Open Summer Residency at Art of This Gallery on August 28th.

Throwaway Utopia: Tomorrow from 6-9

2010-08-09T10:04:00.004-05:00

The Throwaway Utopia is an environment that can be quickly set up and tore down and made with items found at home and party supply stores. It is a play on the ephemeral nature of our consumer culture where we seek sensations and demand spectacles that are short lived and unfulfilling.

Some Sound Mapping Results:

2010-08-07T18:16:00.005-05:00

Summer Signage

2010-07-30T17:47:00.002-05:00

For my Summer Residency project, I am making sidewalk signs with paintings on them that function as miniature, temporary murals. They will be displayed 24-7 in the front yard of the gallery. The first sign is up now, with more to come in August. The imagery is based on quilt patterns and hand-painted signage. The project overall is inspired by the community-focused art projects that were part of the Federal Art Projects of the Works Progress Administration during the great depression. Other forms of community-focused art production are also inspirations.

Best viewed on foot while on your way somewhere else, you can also bike, ride the bus, or drive past 35th and Nicollet to see the signage. Check it out to see the full paintings!

Trophies - All you need to know

2010-07-30T11:43:00.010-05:00

Random Residency Notes

2010-07-26T20:33:00.003-05:00

Monday, July 26.

Random residency note #1: Whoever spilled the salsa in the fridge, please clean it up. Thanks.

Random residency note #2: Ruben Nusz was spotted on Central at Broadway today, driving and apparently happy.

Random residency note #3: Tonight's band, Red Mountain, described themselves as "Casio Blues."

Random residency note #4: Where did this TV come from?

Random residency note #5: I am having a good time.

Canceled: An Evening with KliKt and Trickery Mimicry

2010-07-26T11:02:00.001-05:00

Due to unforeseen circumstances the screenings of KliKt and Trickery Mimicry with the Painted Saints on August 1, 2010 have been canceled. If anyone would like the spot for one of their projects feel free.

Thanks.

~Garrett

coming this tuesday...

2010-07-25T14:24:00.002-05:00

Sound mapping : : :
A participatory event / workshop attempting to map the physical sensations of sound.

Lead by Julia Kouneski
with guest sound artists:

Bryce Beverlin II
Dubbelboss
Karen Townsend
Isa Gagarin
John Marks

this Tuesday July 27!
beginning at 7pm;
ending at 10pm

GHOST STORY

2010-07-24T10:02:00.007-05:00

Please join us on August 7th for GHOST STORY, a one night exhibition featuring works by:

Elizabeth Jeffries Barnes
TJ Barnes
John Fleischer
Ruben Nusz
Crystal Quinn
Megan Vossler

GHOST STORY - Saturday, August 7th, 7:00-10:00pm

Welcome Red76!

2010-07-20T21:55:00.003-05:00

While we have almost exclusively letting the AOT Open Summer Residents run the show here on the old blog, I would like to take a moment to extend a happy welcome to some old friends, Red76. Specifically to Sam Gould and Mike Wolf, but to all the visitors of the collective that is presenting their Surplus Seminar and Anywhere/Anyplace Academy as part of the Walker Art Center's Open Field: Welcome! We are very excited to have you here for the next 3 weeks.

Ok, so I highly recommend to all artists, activists, educationists, and fun-having-ists to check out the action and activity on the Walker's lawn. There will be projects aplenty, resources abounty and, if tonight's festivities were any indication, cold beverages aflowing. Yummy. And we have any luck, our visitors will make it down to 35th street to check out some of the jams we have going on. Oops, I almost forgot, Sam will be a panelist at the next Recess event, August 2. A special Monday night discussion on alternative and new pedagogies. For real. In the meantime, feel free to give them a visit and let them know what they are missing at AOT.
xoxo aot

Model/Remodel - July 26-31 - Collaborative Work

2010-07-18T11:22:00.003-05:00

In the spirit of remembering for part of Model/Remodel, I want to make a custom measuring stick for the gallery based on your closest guess of the gallery's WIDTH. The stick may be too short, too long or just right. I don't know! I know the floor plan gives it away, so don't look at it and go off your senses. I'll put your name, your guess and the date of your guess on the stick and install it in the gallery.

Email me your guess: sekondsight@yahoo.com. I'll take guesses until this Thursday, July 22.

Thanks! Peter

Model/Remodel - July 26-31

2010-07-18T10:55:00.013-05:00

Model/Remodel

Peter HappelChristian

July 26-July 31, 2010

Soon after buying a house, I discovered a fluorescent light tube in the rafters of my basement saved by a previous owner. Attached to the light tube with a rubber band, on notepad paper titled “God Loves Me,” was a handwritten note that read: “9/9/98… This tube removed from a discarded fixture. Should still be good.” The discovery of this object and the sentiment of the handwritten reminder form the background for the installation and slideshow of Model/Remodel. Part introspection and part survey, the installation explores ideas about ownership, saving, and remembering and includes collections of Polaroids and trophies. Join me in the gallery on Saturday, July 31 at 7pm for a presentation and slideshow. Make the evening special for you - BYOFB (bring your own favorite beverage).

Installation in the gallery will be on view beginning Monday, July 26. Stop by sometime on Sunday, July 25 during the install to say "Hey." A casual presentation and slideshow will be Saturday, July 31 at 7pm. Hope to see you there!

…Presenting…prelude…

2010-07-16T02:17:00.001-05:00

Sunday the 18th 7:00pm to 11:00pm at AOT.

We are about whatever at all into others’ consciousness with things made of our efforts towards this life that is not livable!

I want to attempt with this deictic to convey a sense of an aspiration I’ve acquired to order some items, find some form and on that note understand/create. This, in alliance with friends whom allowed me to put this announcement together on approach of the activities/ presentation/ work that we will try to commit to ‘memory’ predating a further development that will happen sometime in August also at AOT. Actually most of this is from G.H. (the novel, not a person)…so there is this, “My question, if I had one, wasn’t ‘what am I?’ but rather ‘among whom am I?’” Also “I shall have to raise my consciousness of life outside to so high a point that it would amount to a crime against my personal life” …and this last one… “I was about to confront within myself a degree of living so orginary that it bordered on the inanimate.” Approaching our work we wear each other by spending time. Please reply.

D.F.

Coming up next time…details.

Curtis Allen
Kelsey Olson
David Frohlich

Weekend Assistance

2010-07-15T17:27:00.002-05:00

Hey guys I’m back in town this weekend, if you need help with anything, from Open Summer projects to common errands and chores, just contact me (you can either leave a comment on this post or email me).

careyn@my.uwstout.edu

My schedule this weekend doesn’t open up until after 2:00pm on Saturday. After that time, I’m free until 8:00pm on Sunday.

Just so you know, I will be offering my assistance every weekend until the 27th of August. Feel free to schedule help for any upcoming weekends. So far your involvement with this project has been awesome! Thank you to those who have given me responsibilities.

Last weekend, Alexa Horochowski invited me over to pickax a mound of dirt and concrete, which, I have to say, is the most strenuous job I’ve had in this project to date. So don’t think you are being nice by withholding a tough one. By giving me errands you are doing ME a favor.

"Love in the Vision, Gerbil in Incision"

2010-07-12T16:14:00.003-05:00

In violent isolation, one must soak up and finally manufacture pleasure. "Love in the Vision..." will consist of some visuals and pre-recorded audio with intermittent performances.

Featuring Tim Carroll, Natasha Hassett and Eric Joas

Performance Thursday the 15th from 7-9

I can be reached at: lara.ambrose@gmail.com

--Vena Ambrose

VESSEL presents Sight of Impact

2010-07-10T22:09:00.003-05:00

Sight of Impact

Wednesday, July 14th

Sets at 5, 6, & 7 pm.

Come to one.

Come to all.

Runtime: 25 min

Players performing include: Tamin Totzke, Jane Shockley, and Dustin Haug with special guests Emily Gastineau, Blake Nellis, Sharon Picasso, and Taja Will.

Read read read readr eas ead read read reag

2010-07-09T17:01:00.003-05:00

A collection of text erasures from this week's New York Times is ready to be read. A very, very short version of the daily news if you will. No guarantee to be any smarter on any issues though. I will continually add to the stack for all of the month of July.
Hope you enjoy it.
Ute

612.747.8663
utebertog@hotmail.com

Friday Night @ AOT!

2010-07-08T22:30:00.003-05:00

The Sandwich Bar For Peace is pleased to announce in association with Art of This Open Residency Program: Sandwich Bar For Peace Presents Chris Held. For the event, the Sandwich Bar is collaborating on a new signature artist sandwich, The Chris Held, the will be served in an installation of furniture created on-site by the artist. The installation reflects Held's long standing interest in blue ping-pong tables, Credence Clearwater Revival and peanut butter. According to Sandwich Bar director of programs Scott Nedrelow, "This is the first official SBFP event to take place outside the bar and we're excited about spreading the Sandwich Bar mission of sustaining artists to AOT Gallery."

FRIDAY July 9, 5-11pm
Art, cold drinks and BBQ

The Sandwich Bar For Peace is located in Northeast Minneapolis and is open to artists by appointment.
www.sandwichbarforpeace.com

2010-07-08T19:48:00.002-05:00

Join us Monday July 12, 7:00 p.m. at Art of This for a Crit Night. This is open to all Art of This Open Summer Residency artists and the public who are interested in having a conversation about art in the presence of art. All are welcome and encouraged to bring in a piece of their own work they wish to present and discuss, though this is not a requirement for attendance. This initial step in an art school style critique session will be loosely organized according to how much art is presented (10 min per critique if there are many, half an hour or more per critique if there are few). In the future there may be various thematic Crit Nights or sign up sheets in advance for people wanting to secure a spot.

Feel free to reply to this message with any questions you may have regarding this event.
kelsey.a.olson@gmail.com
frohlichw@gmail.com

An Offer to Consider

2010-07-07T21:13:00.004-05:00

My contribution to the Open Summer program is my weekends. Actually, it is my contribution to you and your art-making. Every weekend I will be traveling to the Minneapolis area to assist you with your projects and responsibilities. Just to give you an idea of the kinds of jobs people have given to me, last weekend I cleaned the floor of AOT with Marcus Young, recorded some audio experiments with Megan Vossler (while having way too much fun), and helped Marcus again with organizing his house.

Here’s my upcoming schedule:

Friday, July 9th, 8:00pm – Sunday, July 11th, 8:00pm → OPEN!!!!!!

I really need you guys to help me by filling in my schedule with opportunities to help you. These opportunities can be related to events and projects with Open Summer, or they can just be day-to-day chores and errands that need to be done.

Reserve my services by commenting on this post or by emailing me at

careyn@my.uwstout.edu

Thanks again and I really look forward to working with you!

to: makers of sound

2010-07-07T20:14:00.006-05:00

i'm wondering if there are any makers of sound out there who would like to make a sound for an event on the evening of july 27 (tuesday). a sound/tone that can be sustained or repeated for a couple minutes--digital, instrumental, vocal, or whatever you please.

this will be a remake and variation of an event held last summer in my home that involved trying to map how sound physically feels.

please email me if you're interested in sound-making for this, or pass it along to another who may be... julia.kouneski@gmail.com.

thank you! from: julia

Public (re)reading

2010-07-07T14:36:00.011-05:00

One more person, whose plans have completely changed. Way back when in May I proposed a reading - me in front of people that is. Now I am more geared towards leaving the reading up to - well, the reader - meaning you. My plan is to read the NYT every single day and create a text erasure out of one of the articles. My first thought was to come everyday into the gallery to do all that - my way of doing a public reading - but let's see how it pans out. I won't need much space for it. For the actual reading it will be just me sitting in a corner, paper and pen in my hand. The only space I do need on a continuous basis is a spot on the front ledge in the gallery for a stack of papers and a clipboard with my already completed erasures for you to read. I hope that doesn't interfere with anybody's project. If so, please let me know.
Thanks for reading,
Ute

utebertog@hotmail.com
h 612.929.1081
c 612.747.8663

An Evening with KliKt and Trickery Mimicry

2010-07-06T17:37:00.017-05:00

On August 1, 2010 I will be hosting a full screening of my feature film KliKt at 6pm followed by a presentation of my feature film Trickery Mimicry as a silent film with live accompaniment by the Painted Saints at 7:30pm. It should be an interesting night. I hope you can join me.

Synopsis: '(A) more challenging and forward-looking example of current cinema,' KliKt is about a man, on one particular day, discovering something important. He searches for its return over the course of many days; repeating what he did to the best of his memory. Originally completed in 2006 as a silent short, it was decided in late 2008 to return to the original footage and see what would happen when approached as a sound film. From this came 'a kind of pure land (mind?) scape' that allows the brilliance of Camden Toy’s performance to present itself and for the emergence of a new original score by John Barner to shine a light.

For more information about the film go to:
www.wix.com/cynarpictures/kliktmovie.

For more information about Trickery Mimicry go to:
www.imdb.com/title/tt1316083/

For more information about the band go to: www.myspace.com/paintedsaints.

Tickets are a suggested donation of $3 for one screening and $5 for both screenings.

No "Don't you feel it too?" Tonight!

2010-07-05T13:02:00.002-05:00

Grace Minnesota will not be dancing tonight. Enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend! Feel free to join us on Thursday for dancing or Saturday for a Spiritual Discussion or for one of our upcoming yoga sessions! More info here: http://graceminnesota.blogspot.com/

Help Him Help You

2010-07-03T16:18:00.000-05:00

I just had a great afternoon making some sound recordings at AOT, with the help of Nate Carey. He was a great collaborator and did lots of tapping, sweeping, rummaging, and running in circles. We documented the perimeter of both floors of the building with sound. I recommend you enlist his services for your weekend projects as he is super cool and very helpful! Thanks, Nate, I really appreciated it and had fun!

Studio Visit | Sam Hoolihan

2010-07-03T13:56:00.016-05:00

I've been realizing more and more that having a true sense of balance within work, life, and outward relationships greatly effect ones internal patterns. Photographer Sam Hoolihan creates work that poses a reflection on a process that strives for an equilibrium within his inner and outer circumstances. By doing so, the work achieves in not being a simple personification of the wonderment he might have to what he has gone through in life. Hoolihan's Family Portrait Studio Project demonstrates a process that throughout its entirety a given sense of honesty is provided that couldn't be obtained in any other way.

Using Lifetouch's Family Portrait Studio and their trained photographers at the Edina JCPenny, Hoolihan uses both himself and close friends to comically depict the discrepancy between a family's portrait photos on the mantle and the actuality of their dynamic and sometimes disgruntled relationships. David and I snooped around his studio discussing his feelings about about these complexities found between family portraiture and the realities within human relationships.

Before leaving we also had some time to talk about his concerns between the growth of American culture and how it will perceive it self in years to come. In end I felt a unique promotion of the longevity in a life lived more self sustainably to run throughout the gamut of his work - which to me runs parallel to his inward search for a balanced life between himself and the outer circumstances he feels to been dealt personally and socially. Mr. Hoolihan definitely has some interesting things on his plate to present at his Graduate Thesis come next spring.

SAM HOOLIHAN (mnartists.org) | SWITZERLIND (his band)

MFA seminar-Topics in Contemporary Art and Design: Art Objects

2010-07-02T12:07:00.002-05:00

Monday July 12th

Art Of This gallery @ 6pm

for:

First session of MFA seminar Topics in Contemporary Art and Design: Art Objects

We will be discussing the following readings:

What is Enlightenment?-Immanuel Kant

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/kant-whatis.html

and

What is Enlightenment?-Michel Foucault

http://foucault.info/documents/whatIsEnlightenment/foucault.whatIsEnlightenment.en.html

The Seminar is open invitation though it is preferable that one do the readings in order to enhance the quality of discussion and their ability to contribute to the conversation.

I am particularly interested in the participation of post-graduates from MCAD's MFA program as they have taken this class formally and are therefore able to offer a dimension of criticism in regards to the context of the reading (AOT vs. MFA classroom), accreditation vs. none, etc.

I am also interested in the participation of professors (past and present) that teach in the MCAD MFA program.

You can contact me at:

785 341 9437

emilykayatchison@gmail.com

Update: Current work at AOT

2010-07-01T16:26:00.002-05:00

There are some take aways in the gallery. I will drop in from time to time and see what to add and/or subtract.

HELP ME HELP YOU

2010-06-30T22:39:00.002-05:00

I’m offering my assistance again this weekend and I’m glad to help with anything related to Open Summer projects and/or day-to-day errands. Just to give you some ideas, last weekend I babysat for David, took out the trash at AOT, and helped Kevin build some signs.

I will be available to help starting on Friday the 2nd at 8:00pm and will be free throughout Saturday (except for 9:30am-12:00pm).

I will not be available on Sunday unless your errand happens to be grilling out and lighting fireworks. BUT, I will be able to help with anything on Monday until 8:00pm (After that time I will be driving back to Wisconsin).

If you’ve got some chores for me leave a comment on this post or email me at

careyn@my.uwstout.edu

If I’ve got some free time I’ll be checking into AOT to see if anyone’s working in the space.

Again, this is my project for Open Summer, so by giving me errands you are doing ME a favor.

Seeyall this weekend!

Open Audio

2010-06-30T11:48:00.001-05:00

Hi everybody,

I'm another one whose ideas have totally changed since this all started. I realize now that I'm having way more fun with audio than with visual ideas. Even though I have NO idea what I'm doing. So I'd like to make audio recordings in and around AOT, mostly ambient, although maybe more structured? I don't know. I'm planning to show up at random times and make recordings with my spy microphones and am hoping to begin that this Saturday afternoon. So if you see me in the basement or wherever, scratching at the walls or something, that is what I'm doing. I might show up at your event and lurk around recording too: I'm a pretty discreet person but please do let me know if you'd prefer I not do that. Like I said, I'm mostly interested in ambient sounds: scratches, footsteps, creaks, etc.

I am also hoping to reserve a day or more in which anyone can come and use my equipment to collaborate on this recording of the space, or make their own recording. Right now I'm looking at July 12th as a possibility for that.

I love seeing what everyone is planning, it is very inspiring, thanks to all.

xo
Megan

mail [at] meganvossler [dot] com

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: I Love You, I Hate You.

2010-06-29T21:02:00.002-05:00

Hi everyone,

In collaboration with a Danish friend of mine, I am curating a literary reading of love letters and looking for submissions. Be brave of heart and consider sending us something. Details below.

Also, if you know of anyone who might have an interesting letter to share, please send this call along.

With love,

Cecilia Aldarondo (US) and Ida Marie Hede (DK)

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

I love you, I hate you.

A one-night reading of love letters

co-curated by

Ida Marie Hede (Copenhagen, Denmark) and Cecilia Aldarondo (Minneapolis, USA)

Does intimacy only ever exist between two people? Is the love letter, an ancient literary form, inherently dualistic? Is it unethical to share the contents of a love letter in public?

We seek your love letters. Submissions will be considered for inclusion in two one-night literary readings to be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Copenhagen, Denmark. Send us letters that you have either sent or received in your lifetime.

Submission guidelines:

Please do not try to re-write history; send letters in their entirety, as originally written, or not at all.
Also, please include a 2 or 3-sentence statement per letter, with any contextual information about the letter that you wish to provide. If selected, all letters will be presented anonymously.
We are considering love in all its forms. Feel free to send us letters to and from friends, family, strangers, colleagues, cherished pets—and lovers.
Multiple submissions are welcome.

Deadline for submissions: July 15, 2010.

Send all submissions to: lovelettersubmit@gmail.com

You are welcome to either transcribe the letter or scan and send it as a low-res jpeg.

The Colony, by Juana Berrío

2010-06-28T23:16:00.013-05:00

Hello everyone,

Welcome to The Colony. Would you like to be part of it? If so, are you interested or know someone who would like to:

1. Share their knowledge, experience or ideas around any variation of the word colony: ie. Bacteria colonies, colonization, colonial styles, colony collapse dissorder, immigrants colonies, animals colonies, space colonization, artist colonies etc?

2. Want to help colonize the Art of This space?

3. Just come to listen and observe how other people make this happen?

The Colony is an experimental art project that seeks to explore the ambiguous possibilities and variations of the term “colony”. With this project I’m interested in exploring questions about crisis, power, transformation, communication, authority, imposition vs. emergence, invasion vs. integration, paranoia vs. common sense, insider vs. outsider, collaboration vs. paternalism, individual vs. collective, and exploitation vs. sustainability.

The project will have to main components: First, a day long collaborative effort to collect, share and display information and experiences around any variation or conception of the term “colony”. Second, a day long performing experience of colonizing the Art of This gallery space with material and/or immaterial stuff, in other words, objects and/or ideas. Each event will take place in two different days.

The following is a sequence of videos that show some of the different approaches I am hoping "The Colony" will be made out of:

info@juanaberrio.com

juanaberrio.com

Common Room/Art Of This: multi-site opportunities.

2010-06-28T15:24:00.004-05:00

Through the month of August, we (Sergio and Andy) will be programming Wednesday and Friday night events at the Common Room in The Soap Factory. The Common Room (pictured above, in 2009) is located in the former administrative offices of the National Purity Company, the building's tenant before it became The Soap Factory in 1995. It has been restored to closely resemble the midcentury office space it once was.

On Friday, August 27, we plan to set up a satellite Common Room office at AOT, and hold concurrent events at both locations. A bicycle tour will take participants between both spaces, highlighting along the way the economic, social, historical and political ties between South Minneapolis and the Nicollet Avenue commercial corridor where AOT is located, and the old East Bank Mill District where the Common Room is located. We plan to link up the two sites using mid-20th Century technology, as well -- radio, wireless, telegram, courier, Telex, fax machine, carrier pigeon, and/or pneumatic tube. Participants at both sites will have the opportunity to interact remotely in a pre-digital fashion. Experts in mid-century communication techniques are invited to lend their expertise.

We are also still accepting proposals for a few other nights (July 11 and 20), and we encourage all AOT summer residents to submit project proposals for other multi-site events at the Common Room and AOT. A call for work can be found here, or you can email us directly commonroommpls@gmail.com.

Best regards,

Sergio and Andy

CALENDAR UPDATE! GALLERY LONELY!

2010-06-28T15:22:00.002-05:00

Just in case anyone missed the email, the AOT Calendar has been updated with (mostly) tentative dates for artists/projects/events. Hazaa!

Also, just so you know, the gallery is quiet. Too quiet! As it is, their is ample space available in the gallery and basement for anyone with work to do.

Lastly, don't forget about Jabari (AOT intern extraordinaire). He is interested in interviewing residents and making studio visits. Give him a holler if you are game.

xoxo dp

collaborations

2010-06-28T13:41:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone,

I'm Emily Gastineau, and I'm one of the many hoping to collaborate and see what comes out of this open space! The project I originally proposed for this residency has gone in another direction, so I'm back to the drawing board for the summer. I'm wondering who else is still looking for more projects, since we seem to have a lot of "see what happens" people among us.

I like to do research a particular topic or theme, so I'll propose a couple to see if anyone else is would be interested in creating some kind of event working around these broad topics. I'm envisioning several different pieces, installations, performances, etc., by different individuals, but existing in the space together and in dialogue with each other. My suggestions are:

A) Feminisms--huge, broad, yes, but what are you all working on in this field? I've recently been investigating representations of sexuality, among other things.

B) Art and labor--time, value, exchange, bodies, objects, career, legitimacy, etc.

Let me know if you're interested in one of these themes! Or suggest another theme for a collaborative evening!

I am a dance artist and if you want to know more about work I've done, here is my mnartists page: http://mnartists.org/emily_gastineau

Also: I remember hearing something at an info meeting about a reading group forming? I'd be interested in hearing about that if it's happening.

Emily Gastineau

emily.gastineau@gmail.com

mattbenlateblog

2010-06-28T11:42:00.006-05:00

Sit down and play some video-games. or not. Coming soon to AOT ,

This project aims to involve the residency members as a whole while utilizing the space in a direct and digital manner. The basis of the project is to create a 'video game' interpretation of a digitally imposed show in a 3d modeld version of the AOT gallery space. The show will allow for a development of re-presented drawings and interpretations of the physicality of the AOT gallery space; and turn the physical space into a virtual space. This allows the virtual and physical space to intersect at the commonality of the projects presented within both entities. This installation then becomes a field for reflecting and re-staging the AOT space.

matt + ben

√

ben@benmoren.com

matt@matthew-lawler.com

FYI & request for help

2010-06-28T06:28:00.003-05:00

Hi everyone - My project will take place in roughly 10 sq feet in the northwest corner of the gallery, taking up about 2/3 of the front window, from July 18 -- 22.
As the recent email from the gallery tells us, any simultaneous work in the rest of the gallery is very much welcome and appreciated.

ALSO - if anyone has a truck and can give me a lift to Home Depot or some such store so I can get drywall and lumber, on or around July 18, I would be very grateful
AND would reciprocate in whatever manner we work out.

thanks and see some of you soon
Vic Colaizzi
vcolaiz@yahoo.com
(kfvc.blogspot.com)

Weekend Assistance!

2010-06-23T23:32:00.003-05:00

I will be coming to the Minneapolis area this weekend and I’m going to need some help. What I’m looking for are some volunteers who are willing to let me do some chores for them. Here’s how it works: I’ll be arriving at around 8:00pm on Friday with an entirely open schedule until 8:00pm on Sunday. I need you guys to fill in my schedule with opportunities to help you. These opportunities can be related to events and projects with the Open Summer program, or they can just be day-to-day chores and errands that need to be done.

If you’ve got some chores for me leave a comment on this post or email me at

careyn@my.uwstout.edu

If I’m not out assisting someone I’ll check in at AOT and see if anyone’s working in the space. So look for me there!

By the way, I’m not just doing this to be nice; this is my project for Open summer so by giving me chores you are actually doing me a HUGE FAVOR!

Alright, good talk, seeya out there…

2010-06-23T09:43:00.000-05:00

A huge thanks to everyone who contributed or attended the event at 1419 last Friday. It was surely an evening full of positivity, creativity, and sheer will! I have never shut down an event out of fear, only to open it back up in an hour with the confidence that all would return. Thanks to the Brass Messengers, Bruteheart, John Zuma Saint Pelvyn, Skoal Kodiak, The Lungless Ladies, Cara Krippner, all of those who built a stage, erected walls, hung their artwork, worked the door or the bar, sent mass texts, or defied their landlord. We were able to raise a month's rent at AOT!!!

camping trip

2010-06-22T22:23:00.003-05:00

Last time my family came to visit they stayed in a hotel. My younger brother (17 yrs old) met a girl in the hot tub from Thunder Bay, Ontario, and he's dead set on visiting her this summer. I promised him a Canada camping trip, and closest neat campground I found was:

SLEEPING GIANT PROVINCIAL PARK!

which, frankly, looks amazing. It is a giant peninsula that juts out of the north shore of Lake Superior. I plan on going from Monday, July 19 through Thursday, July 22. You all are welcome to come along! If you don't have a current passport, consider applying for a passport card, which is a bit cheaper:

http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card_3926.html

I don't have any plans other than getting up there. Maybe we could do multiple cars and varying days?

Anyone interested?

-Ginny

R.svp

2010-06-21T09:32:00.005-05:00

This summer I would like to bring a few dances to the art of this gallery. And---perhaps meet a few experts of sound and costume along the way.

Looking forward very much to meeting + seeing all in the weeks ahead!

C.ara

Last Night With Dowel Mountain

2010-06-19T00:26:00.005-05:00

Sayonara, Dowel Mountain.

Thanks AOT, Alexa

Living June

2010-06-18T17:30:00.002-05:00

Hi all, sorry for the late blog post - but I hope you can come tomorrow (Saturday) night to see my performance "Living June." I'm going to be re-writing Martha Stewart's June 2009 issue on the walls of the gallery - participation is encouraged! Hope to see everyone there.

Best,
Rosemary

Living June

A Performance by Rosemary Williams

Saturday June 19, 4-10 pm

Reception 7-10 pm

Art of This

3506 Nicollet Avenue

Minneapolis, MN 55408

It's June. What would Martha say? What would you say to Martha? For reasons unknown even to herself, Rosemary Williams typed out the entire text of the June 2009 issue of Martha Stewart’s Living, and had each word printed on a separate card. Come help her rewrite June using Martha’s words on the gallery walls, or just come to view her work in progress. Performance from 4-10 pm, reception from 7-10 (drinks served to help along your inspiration) at Art of This on Saturday June 19.

A New Art, A New Spirituality!

2010-06-18T15:54:00.004-05:00

Grace Minnesota is offering a whole bunch of great activities this summer, all in the name of a new art, a new spirituality! Are you ready?

It's our third year of "Don't you feel it too?"--freeing our spirit through dancing our inner lives in public places. Open to everyone, regular Monday and Thursday sessions start June 21, 5-7pm on Nicollet Mall. To find out more, see our blog.
We're also offering free yoga classes led by the inspiring Helena Raghubir of the Center for Happiness. Classes on select Monday and Thursday mornings will be at Art of This Gallery as part of the Open Summer program. Again, more details on our blog.
We'll hold 10 Saturday morning spirituality discussions based on recorded lectures or MPR Speaking of Faith podcasts that we listen to together. Open to everyone, sessions are Saturdays, 10am to 12 noon. More details on our blog.

If you're interested in any of this, just show up. If you have questions, send email to dyfit@graceminnesota.org.

Yoga is 5000 years old. "Don't you feel it too?" is just 3 years old. Help us create it. Thank you!

With practiced happiness,

Marcus Young and Grace MN

2010-06-17T19:44:00.000-05:00

so im super interested in collaboration for the summer or parts or whatever; i mean, there is 52 of us so if anyone else is thinking the same thing, let me know...

tons of great potential for the summer-
cinnamon

Calling All Barkeeps

2010-06-17T14:39:00.009-05:00

Dear Fellow Residents, I just found out I'm in charge of finding people to tend the bar during my opening. Is anyone available tonight from 7 to 10 pm? I am happy to tend bar for you when you have your event! Approach me at AOT or just take over the bar if you are so inclined.

Thanks, Alexa

installing friday

2010-06-17T07:43:00.002-05:00

Planning to install this apparatus on friday 6/18/2010 in the afternoon. Putting them up on the lawn of AOT. If anyone is interested in helping move this beast contact me: sean.connaughty@gmail.com

You could work for awhile then go to the fundraiser AOT friday night music event and see Skoal Kodiak!

Sneak 'Peak'

2010-06-16T23:49:00.005-05:00

Alexa Horochowski

ART OF THIS

Thursday June, 17th
7:00pm

RSVP | Works Progress

2010-06-15T09:25:00.008-05:00

My name is Shanai Matteson and I work with a group of designers, writers and artists under the name Works Progress. Colin Kloecker & Troy Gallas are also working with WP, along with a few others who I hope you will meet in the coming months. We are excited to be part of the Open Summer. Right now we have a show up at Intermedia Arts that looks at some of the ways that art, economics and community intertwine, both in a tangible, practical sense, and in our imagination. We are interested in continuing this conversation while in residence at AOT. We will be planning a couple of gatherings that we hope will inspire, challenge, and ultimately fortify a network of artists and artist-run spaces and organizations around the Twin Cities. We will also be doing some design work around these ideas, hopefully developing some visual languages that will help us to better communicate and collaborate with other communities.

We are also interested in ecological models for artististic community, and are excited to observe what happens with the experiment that is AOT Open Summer.

Our Website: worksprogress.org
You can reach us by emailing: hello[at]worksprogress.org

2010-06-14T14:41:00.000-05:00

Greetings,

I am John Marks, Founder and Executive Director of Art of This.

First, I want to extend my gratitude to all of the residents (and David and Patty) for the immense positivity that has been circulating, it has been a real inspiration for me personally, as well as affirmation of our efforts and visions.

My summer activity will include a smattering of works including a 3-cassette release of ambient works, a campaign to rename my neighborhood, and an immersive collaborative multimedia performance. And more than likely some experimental rock shows.

My focus is largely on auditory work, as an autonomous medium, as well as a component for other mediums such as installation, film / video, and performance works. If you have a vision for incorporating audio into your work, and want assistance, or want to set up an event focused on sound arts, or just want to listen or create, get in touch. johnmarks@artofthis.net

I will be documenting my activity at: http://alexvada.tumblr.com

2010-06-11T13:24:00.000-05:00

Hi residents! At the moment I don't have any specific project in mind but I'm interested in exporing how my contact with the other residents will impact my work. My previous work has mainly been paintings and drawings on flat surfaces (paper, canvas, etc.) . My only goal for this summer is to work with new media and new people. What the outcome will be I don't know (which is both exciting and a little terrifying). I'm sorry to have missed the first big get-together on Wednesday but hope to meet you all very soon.

Lauren Allshouse

email: lauren_allshouse@hotmail.com

2010-06-10T18:50:00.000-05:00

!

i totally wanted this to show up with the last post but it didnt-

so its here now; late but fabulous.

summer timeeeeeeeeeee

2010-06-10T18:40:00.000-05:00

heyyyyy all!!!

first im SO grateful for and stoked about this opportunity! i just graduated from the U of M a few weeks ago so this is sort of a dream come true thing to do just blasting out of college. im happy to be back and in action with the residency; i just got back yesterday from a three week road trip across the wild west of the US; lots of great camping and driving and hiking and i got some great photos and tried my hand at a few videos so id like to incorporate them somehow into my work for the summer.

in my photography class last semester i was doing some work with jars and they are going to be the basis of the work i make for the summer, i know i definitely want to do an installation type of thing with them that creates some sort of light/playful/whimsical world... something with some really great light. im really fascinated with jars and their potential to contain/be filled/be opened and emptied and also the potential to be creative with their surfaces. im most interested in how they will be displayed (hanging maybe? some of them?) and how people will interact with them based on that.

im in love with good, quality quotes so ill be supplying you guys and my work with some good ones throughout the summer :)!

lets see.... thats about it for now i think. i hope the potluck on wednesday was grand and im really excited to meet you all on saturday as well as work with and be inspired by all of you for the summer!! see you in a few days :)!

peace& love love love-
cinnamon

(ps- im a terrible speller so try not to judge me)

2010-06-10T14:30:00.000-05:00

We are viewing the AOT Summer Residency as an opportunity to expand and refine a conversation the two of us have been engaged in over the last year or so.  The conversation touches on a variety of topics, ranging from an exploration of the limits of language to notions of the ghost story as a metaphor for the exhibition.  We anticipate that this conversation will materialize in an exhibition-like event in the latter part of the summer.  

We are honored to be a part of this program, and look forward to working with all of you throughout the summer.  

John Fleischer & Ruben Nusz

john@johnjfleischer.com
rubennusz@yahoo.com

2010-06-10T00:16:00.000-05:00

RSVP Dowel Mountain

Dear Fellow Residents,

Thanks to all for a great potluck!

I’m slow off the gate here with the blog, but want to let you know I’ll be “in residency” starting soon, June 14 – June 18. My plan is to build a large boulder/mountain out of 1/8” dowels. Both internal and external structure will be visible. Why do this? I am interested in building something large-scale that is simultaneously delicate and fragile. This work will complement other works dealing with landscape that I have been making in my studio. The rapid-pace of the residency forces me into a do-or-die situation where I must commit to work intuitively without the opportunity to question the outcome.

I will host a dual opening at AOT and my studio on Friday, June 18, 7pm to 10 pm. Please tell friends to check out both spaces. Looking forward to all the action at AOT.

The address to my studio is: 3958 Bloomington Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407

Alexa Horochowski dyslexa@comcast.net

Happy Potluck!

2010-06-09T22:41:00.000-05:00

Thanks to everyone who was able to make it out to the potluck tonight, thank you to Alexa and Stephen for being such gracious hosts, thanks to the team of folks who helped put together the Curb Alert, thanks to Patty for figuring out how to upgrade our blogging capability and thanks again to everyone who is participating with AOT this summer.

Hazaa!

hello summer residency

2010-06-08T21:08:00.000-05:00

To be quite honest, there's really no telling what I'll end up with this summer, but there are two projects I have in mind:

*Hungry Ghosts*
30-40ish masks that completely cover the face, offer limited vision and a TINY hole for the mouth
imagine a roommful of people wearing these masks conversing and trying to eat giant cupcakes

*?*
i'm interested in bringing in various groups-not in the art community-to use the AOT space.
quakers, folks from the zen center, sacred harp singers, african dancers, babysitters a babysittin, etc...

I want to spend as much time as possible in the AOT space... reading, talking, working, listening, dancing, napping, eating, etc. I want to force myself to talk to new people (you all!)

Lots of Love,
Jennifer Hedrich

www.jenniferhedrich.com and jenniferhedrich.blogspot.com

RSVP Summer Residence

2010-06-08T13:21:00.000-05:00

At the moment I’m not entirely sure what’s going to happen during the course of this residency but I’m sure that some interesting conversations will occur. As of this moment I have nothing premeditated, no goal in mind, no direction, no body of work, just the promise that something will happen during the course of this residency. I look forward to meeting all of you. Cheers

Christopher Dela Pole

RSVP: Megan Vossler

2010-06-08T12:45:00.001-05:00

Hello fellow residents,

My recent work has been almost exclusively large graphite drawings. I made a vow recently to avoid pencils and large drawings for the rest of 2010, and I'm hoping this residency will help me to stick with it. However, I'm finding it hard to think of things to do that don't involve some form of drawing; maybe you all can help me to figure out expanded ways of thinking about what drawing is.

I just returned a week ago from 2 1/2 weeks traveling around the southwest looking at Land Art sites and gigantic rocks. One of the things that struck me about visiting Spiral Jetty, Lightning Field, Marfa, CLUI, and etc, is the disconnect that seems to exist between the surrounding communities and these sites, which bring in a very particular form of art tourism but seem to barely engage the local community. I started thinking about the particular community in which Art of This exists, and am beginning to imagine some projects that might take place out in the neighborhood rather than inside the gallery itself. I also have some more traditional gallery based ideas. I'm open to anything.

These are rough ideas but some of them include:

--> Constructing a portraiture booth to install in the front lawn periodically, for making portraits of neighborhood folks, which they would then keep, taking a photograph of the person with each portrait before they leave, and then having an exhibition of the photographs with a reception for the neighborhood. Any other residents could also use the portrait booth for drawing/painting portraits so that it could be open often. I'd like to walk to all the neighboring business and invite them to participate. I like meeting people and portraiture can be a very intimate, transformative act.

--> I'm trying to find new ways of drawing from observation and so I'm thinking about doing some micro-drawings in the streets and surrounding neighborhoods (which also includes my own neighborhood). I like the idea of a studio without walls. All the looking at mega-landscapes that I did on my trip has made me think a lot about micro-landscapes. Weeds and rocks and dirt.

--> I would love to experiment with sculpture in the woodshop, but is plaster okay to use?

--> I'm interested in sound recording also, and did a lot of this on the road trip, but I have no idea if it worked because my computer can't open the files! If any residents have audio knowledge I'd be super grateful for some pointers.

--> You mentioned lectures in the welcome packet, and I'm putting together a slide lecture on Land Art and Landscape that I'm going to be giving at a couple of places this fall. I think it would be fun to do a test run of this at AOT sometime this summer, if other residents are up for a show-and-tell night. I have access to a digital projector.

Things I can contribute to others include:

- Short-term access to various media equipment through my job at Macalester.

- I have an overhead transparency projector and a slide projector that I am happy to loan out.

- I live nearby and can be easily on hand to help other residents, even at the last minute, please contact me anytime.

- I have a big garden and would like to give you my excess vegetables.

I'm really excited about this opportunity. I'll be around all summer and am only teaching intermittently, mostly mid-July and early August.

My websites: http://www.meganvossler.com

http://landlandland.wordpress.com

http://seedsandsprouts.wordpress.com

Email: mail [at] meganvossler.com

All best wishes, looking forward to meeting many of you on Wednesday and/or Saturday.

Megan

Summer || | || Intern

2010-06-08T10:46:00.000-05:00

Hello All!

First off, I'd like to express my gratitude to David Petersen for allowing me to be a part of something as exciting and ambitious as AOT's Summer Artist program. This summer I want to help as much as I can to make things run smoothly and give everyone involved an experience that lasts long after the summer's end. I guess you could ascribe the titles Writer, Thinker, Curator, and Entrepreneur to myself. As a student and intern, the experience at AOT means a lot for me due to my desire to open a multifaceted space sometime in the future.

Getting to know both Minneapolis and the art community that shapes this wonderful city is at a top priority for me as well. As I work on various web based projects this summer I hope to make good contribution in building the foundation for AOT's developing web presence.

Selfless energy & peace provides a balanced atmosphere for us all.

Looking forward to meeting everyone in the weeks to come!

From Chicago with Love,

Jabari

RSVP Melissa Loop

2010-06-08T10:11:00.000-05:00

Hello fellow residents. My name is Melissa Loop. I have been developing a body of work loosely around the theme of Utopia. Most of what I make are paintings but I also love glue guns, masking tape, low grade craft materials. This summer I want to use the space to create a Throwaway Utopia. I imagine it to take about a week to execute and I would love it to end with a party and a band, musican, performer, or DJ of some type to complete the experience. I am open to people who want to collaborate in the spirit of this idea plus I need at least one person who would like to perform.

Site: Melissaloop.com

Email: melissaloopartist@yahoo.com

RSVP Vena Ambrose

2010-06-07T15:36:00.000-05:00

Hello,

I am curious about researching the intermittent perception of veils and puzzles soaking things in a way that makes terrific sense: sharps under all, but often nothing pops or even snags. It is mystifying, foul and toothsome.

I'd love to work/collaborate/tolerate with/on/some sound, such as a murmuring environment where the walls sweat giddily. And pupil-size shadows are jumping, chomping, stinking and messing one another. That said...I could be transfixed into something altogether else. Note: in the flesh, I'm quieter than a consumptive mouse. Well then, it's open, AOT summer friends and strangers. !

Reach me at: lara.ambrose@gmail.com

--Vena

2010-06-06T15:27:00.000-05:00

Kelsey Olson
kelsey.a.olson@gmail.com
David Frohlich
frohlichw@gmail.com

summer endeavors

2010-06-06T10:12:00.000-05:00

This summer I'm planning to create a series of physical and sensory endeavors open to everyone's participation. These will be loosely designed to research and develop our perceptual capacities, and to play with individual and collective experience.

I am much inspired by experiences with somatic practices and Body Mind Centering (excited for ecosomatics below!), and the notion of un-patterning habitual manners of thinking and feeling through deviations in physical experience. Likewise, reading about neurological studies recently has got me thinking about intentionally creating actions or experiences that may alter our own brain/body chemistry.

I'm hoping to play around with this idea both in a participatory series at Art of This, and also in individual implementations/collaborations with other residents that may take place outside of the gallery...

I will be out in the woods for a week and missing the first potluck, but, I'm really looking forward to meeting and playing with you all this summer! I'm happy to help with and/or participate in other projects.
-Julia

julia.kouneski@gmail.com
http://www.mnartists.org/Julia_Kouneski
http://www.itsalab.com/Exhibition_Space.html (online exhibition up until end of June)

Ecosomatics classroom prototype

2010-06-06T06:29:00.000-05:00

Hello all,

I am building a collective of scientists and artists as a mobile experimental project that intertwines the fields of ecology, biology and other sciences along with dance and the somatic practice of Body-Mind Centering®. The project will be developed between my AOT residency, SEEDS Festival and the Walker Art Center's Open Field.

This collaborative classroom will function to implicate our very cells/selves in how we interact with and understand the environment. It will create the conditions for a new model of interdisciplinary learning across systems and as a result imagine alternate futures in relationship to the issue of sustainability through behavioral re-patterning.

For this project I will gather a collective of local scientists and artists who would facilitate sessions that focus on environmental issues through the sciences and somatic movement practices. We would use the micro and macro of lens of the body and world as our container and utilize movement as a way to embody and digest our learnings.

This experiment in social and environmental ecology will be a place for experts and lay persons to share knowledge and experience within the commons in a dynamic and messy ecosystem. A place for meaningful relationship through conversation, embodied knowledge and movement in a context in which everyone can participate. The general public would be welcome to join in at various points within our process.

This project will expand our understanding of systems, from parts to whole, from cells to human and animal bodies, to diverse ecosystems to physical principles of the universe. Systems thinking presents a different lens through which to understand the complexity of the world. Thinking systemically entails a number of shifts in perception, which lead to different ways to behave, educate and to different ways to organize institutions and society. Understanding how a pattern works in one natural or social system helps us to understand other systems that manifest the same pattern.

One key approach we will utilize to embrace systems thinking from an embodied perspective is Body-Mind Centering®. It allows us to holographically explore the human body through movement and hands on study through conscious and unconscious learning. It utilizes developmental movement as a model for learning and allows us to enter the mind of specific tissues and systems of the body (e.g. bones, organs, ligaments, fluids, endocrine, nervous system, senses and perception) to understand behavior, perception and choice making on a physical and physiological level. It is an approach to an understanding of how the mind is expressed through the body and the body through the mind.

Once i figure out the structure for the project there will be an open cal for your participation!

The Polish Pugilist

2010-06-04T13:35:00.000-05:00

Hello All,
My name is Jeremey Catterton, and I'm a director/performer.
This summer, I'm collaborating with various dancers, performers, and designers to create "The Polish Pugilist." It is a performance that will be created over the summer months, that I intend to perform at AOT during the end of August.
The piece uses source material from Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" and Sylvester Stallone's "Rocky" to investigate contemporary instances of exploitative capitalism and the stigma of being an immigrant in America.
Originally, I came to the art world as a classically trained actor, then as a theatre director, but lately my work is focused on multi-media and blurring the lines between Dramatic Theatre and Performance Art. My hope is that Art of This will be the perfect liminal space in-between those art worlds, and may be the best environment to receive my postdramatic performance.
Also, I'm working on possibly having other aspects of this performance exist simultaneously at other TC venues, but more on that later, once I've got green lights...

About me, you can find videos of work with my theatre company Lamb Lays with Lion at:
lamblayswithlion.org

Also, you can see some of my other solo projects and music videos at:
jeremeycatterton.com

I look forward to meeting all of you soon, and my apologies in advance for missing the potluck.
All the best.

X
Jeremey

Pods on the Lawn

2010-06-04T06:58:00.000-05:00

Hey Everyone My name is Sean Connaughty.
This summer I intend to to build constructions on the front lawn of Art of this Gallery. I work with many different materials and enjoy exploring the artistic potential of common, often natural materials. For this project I intend to use freshly cut tree branches, which I have collected from Twin Cities' tree trimming crews. These salvaged materials will be used to build large suspended pods that can hopefully support the weight of humans inside of them. The trickiest part will be to create a support that can hold these objects above the ground. Any Ideas? They must be able to support about 300 pounds (a person and a pod). I have the ropes, but must build the device/mechanism to hold them up. basically all I need is a strong anchor to hang a rope from. I plan to build these throughout the residency period. and also hope to forge a connection between structures at Art of This and similar structures I will be building at the Walker Art Center (July 15, 16 and 17). I am hoping to have some live performances created within these pods. As an example, see the performance I did this past winter:

I am hoping to get some help making these structures and to collaborate with other artists to enrich this idea. Musical artists could perform within or around them visual artists could add to or transform them. Contact me.

looking forward to this very much!
Sean Connaughty

sean.connaughty@gmail.com
Minneapolis, MN
http://www.seanconnaughty.com
http://www.mnartists.org/Sean_Connaughty

Summertime, summertime, sum, sum, summertime

2010-06-03T20:34:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone.
This is Christopher E. Harrison. I will be participating in the Open Residency.

I'm a North Minneapolis resident and am active in the arts community, where I teach Media Arts at Henry High part-time, work as a Graphic Designer/Illustrator at a community newspaper part-time and serve on the Minneapolis Arts Commission. I've done some public art murals around town and fancy myself a abstract painter. Right now I'm taking a financial break from an online MFA program at AAU in San Francisco. In the meantime, I'm looking to nourish my muse with the residency and create something solo or collaborative that will inspire me as I hope to inspire others. Currently I've been making digital collages from found internet photos combined with abstract patterns that talk about power, media influence and social mores. The "Toaster Madonna" piece and other works are on mnartists.org/christopherharrison.

2010-06-03T20:29:00.001-05:00

Hi! My name is Kevin Loecke.
My work most often takes the form of paintings, both individual pieces on salvaged wood and larger mural works. I ground my contemporary art practice in folk art techniques and imagery. My intent is to create artworks that poetically engage with individuals on the nature of the human condition in contemporary society.

I am also interested in populist methods of artistic distribution, whether this involves making a painting on the side of a garage or giving away free chapbooks of drawings. For my summer residency project, I will be building A-frame sidewalk signboards at AOT. Then I am going to make paintings on the signboards in the gallery's front yard. They will be displayed as signage in the front yard. The number of them will increase throughout the summer. I will probably be working in the front yard one weeknight and one weekend day every week. I am thinking about trying to expand the project to make personalized mural/signboards for interested neighbors.

I am also excited to meet all the other artists and see how collaborations might develop as projects get going. I am always willing to help out when I am around. If you have suitable wood scraps, I would like to use them for signboard construction.

I have a flickr site where I document my art. It is also an archive of my obsession with taking snapshots: http://www.flickr.com/photos/midwestnow/

I love potlucks, and it is a personal goal for my summer to make a lot of potato and pasta salads. See you soon, Kevin. kloecke@gmail.com

R.S.V.P. Nate Carey (Attending)

2010-06-03T20:29:00.000-05:00

My name is Nate Carey and I’m an artist working and living in Menomonie, Wisconsin. I initially proposed to continue a recent performance that investigates a migration from physical labor to intellectual labor that is happening in the workforce and how we as workers are coming to terms with our new functions. BUT, after learning more about the Open Summer project I’m excited to do much more than that! I will be making myself readily available every weekend by becoming an assistant/tool/worker to the Open Summer residents or possibly anyone reading the blog. My uses include but are not limited to: developing ideas, fetching supplies, installing work, cleaning spaces, moving objects, counseling, buying coffee, giving haircuts, walking dogs. What ever the chore may be, I look forward to working with and for you this summer.

http://www.mnartists.org/Nathan_Carey

Contact: careyn@my.uwstout.edu

ginny maki, an open summer resident

2010-06-03T11:35:00.001-05:00

Hi There, Everyone,

I’m an artist who works with predominantly traditional materials (drawing, painting, building shoddily-constructed things out of wood) and conceptually explores the human relationship to place. The above image is of the Iron County Field Station, a current project of mine, which is a vehicle to both explore and record a place while sharing the things I make (mostly drawings and photographs) with the community there. Also this summer I’m working on a project of photographing the underwater terrain of a few midwestern lakes. I look to how we have subconscious relationships with areas we are familiar with, but when we explore these places critically and ask ourselves to have interactions with them that we hadn’t before, it brings a new dimension to our perception and interpretation of them.

I have really no plans for this residency, I just wanted to be involved and meet people and see where I can help out and where others might want to help me, more emphasis on the former. I usually travel to northern Wisconsin during the weekdays, and work in south Minneapolis on the weekends, so my involvement here in the cities is limited to only a few evenings a week. (This will vary depending on the week.) However, I’d love to have anyone along on my trips up north, and would love to plan some camping outings around the cities! Okay, thank you! I look forward to meeting you tomorrow at the woodshop.

Ginny Maki

and contact me anytime:

ginnyeileen@yahoo.com

715 862-2092

Grace Minnesota

2010-06-02T21:54:00.000-05:00

Hi, we're Grace Minnesota--Marcus, Aki, Travis, and Kathleen.

We hope you'll help us develop "Don't you feel it too?" A mind-body practice of liberating the spirit through dancing your inner life in public places, it's dancing where dancing does not usually belong, it's purposeful self-embarrassment, and an aspiring spiritual technology.

To that end, we plan to offer free yoga classes that'll also serve to create a warm-up routine for "Don't you feel it too?" Most likely, these will be on select Monday mornings. We'll also hold discussions, probably on many Saturday mornings, on spirituality, after listening to recorded lectures together. Finally, we want to hold two interdisciplinary roundtables--one on 1000-year planning and the other on a creating live art repertory.

You can join us for any of this. Of course, we'll have weekly dancing on Nicollet Mall and downtown Saint Paul, like we've been doing since 2008!

Grace Minnesota is a behavioral art studio whose work attends to the inner, natural, and civic life, creating personal practice and collective experience. Played out in public spaces, within institutions, or across systems of the city, our work invites individual commitment, public involvement, and transdisciplinary collaboration. We practice art as we wish we could live life. Grace MN is a nearby place that promotes artistic unorthodoxy, spiritual experimentation, and Midwestern sensibility. The group was founded in 2009.

www.graceminnesota.org

Summer Residency

2010-06-02T14:56:00.000-05:00

Hi,

My name is John. I am a part of this summer residency. For the most part I make paintings and drawings, but sometimes I make other things. I just finished my masters degree, and so I have this huge cloud of work that I made for it. A lot of them I didn't get to hang up because of space limitations. I was mostly interested in using this time to make installation moves, to make art by installation. I want to hang them up, install them, see them with odd bed fellows and see them just right. I want to see them in really good and in really bad and in really mediocre lights.

This is one of my paintings.

I also have this show at The Bell Museum, so some of those pictures will be preoccupied. I was thinking it would then be neat also to make paintings in real time, or make really really specific paintings. So, first things first, right now I want to talk to everybody and get to know you other participators. I think that I will come to the potluck so hopefully I will meet a bunch of you. But, I mean, contact me anytime!

website: www.johnmartinbell.com
email: jmartinbell@gmail.com

Thank you. I can't wait!

John Bell

Open Summer / Peter HappelChristian

2010-06-02T11:02:00.001-05:00

I am planning a few experimental short events and small installations in AoT that will explore ideas about saving, ownership, remembering and anticipation among other things. In a lot of my work I investigate social relationships with the landscape through the intersection of photography, sculpture, performance and installation and am looking forward to the residency to expand on these ideas and processes. At times, I collaborate with another person, Phillip Andrew Lewis (based in Chattanooga, TN), under the collaborative name Clear As Day. He and I may work on something for Open Summer as well as work with others to connect the dots between the geographies of the upper Midwest and the South.

I am based in Saint Cloud, so my physical presence may be lower than other residents, but I will stay mentally present all summer long. I'm open to a range of collaborative activities that are not necessarily dependent on being in the same location and hope to be actively involved despite the distance.

email: sekondsight@yahoo.com
website: www.peterhappelchristian.com
website: www.clearasday.org

RSVP: Summer Resident Chad Rutter

2010-06-02T10:43:00.000-05:00

During Open Summer

1. I and a friend will be working on an artist publication dealing with land, Americana, history & hypertext. At some point I will give a presentation/ performance on the research and materials involved with my collaborator.

2. I will be looking for ways to collaborate with other residents who share similar themes or processes.

3. I will be present as much as possible to lend assistance in the execution of other projects and to be an audience.

4. We should perhaps organize an art sale toward the end of the residency on the off chance that anyone makes something sellable or we find ways to make physical materials surrounding our activities. Are others amenable to this?

5. My contact is callenrutter@hotmail.com. I am currently working on web materials and will post those when I have them.

RSVP:The Perfect Residency

2010-06-02T02:02:00.000-05:00

How about let's all just have a perfect summer.

A neglected and outdated website: swimunderwater.blogspot.com,

tape-archive.tumblr.com

pmclarnan@gmail.com

To the Perfect Summer,

Pete McLarnan

2010-06-01T17:26:00.000-05:00

My name is Garrett D. Tiedemann and I am a writer, filmmaker, musician/composer, painter and photographer. With this residency program I wish to not only continue developing my thoughts about the experience of art, but to participate with everyone's work either through conversation, active collaboration or as a member of the audience. The ideas for my work are still evolving, but there will be a utilization of film, live musical performance and an arrangement of space for sure. I am looking forward to these upcoming months and the chance to meet all of you in person.

For more information about myself and my work go to http://www.cynarpictures.com/ and you can contact me at gdtiedemann@cynarpictures.com.

Open Summer resident Sandesh Nicol

2010-05-31T22:39:00.000-05:00

My name is Sandesh Nicol and I will be participating in the Open Summer residency at Art of This. The primary idea that I wish to explore during my residency is the way a passage of text and it's meaning can change over time and through people. For instance, one of my inspirations is the 2012 phenomenon. I find it fascinating that a brief passage of text, that has a dubious meaning, has been expanded through people other then the ones who first generated the text to produce movies and conferences today surrounding their particular interpretation.

I would like to create an installation regarding this idea at the gallery. I am excited about possible collaborations with other residents too! Although I am a printmaker by nature, I intend to use this summer residency to expand into the world of installation (using my theatre background to assist me along the way). Samples of my work can be found here:

http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=74497

Feel free to contact me, sandeshnicol-at-gmail.com. I look forward to meeting everyone!

Sandesh

2010-05-31T10:10:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone- my project entails a temporary wall that will stretch across all, or possibly 2/3 of the front window on the inside, so it needs to be up for only a limited time so as not to monopolize the space. I will make some specific date suggestions soon, but I am thinking not more than 2 or 2 and a half weeks - a week or less for installation & painting, and the remainder for display.

What are the absolute beginning and ending dates of the whole summer residency program?

Examples of my work can be found on

kfvc.blogspot.com

but they are all easel paintings, and my AOT project will be mural/installation work that plays with showing and obfuscating, invitation and obstruction, and the instrumentalization of art.

It will be painting, situated.

I look forward to meeting and talking with everyone. Please let me know about any potential problems or interactions between my project as stated and anyone else's plans.

Vic Colaizzi

vcolaiz@yahoo.com

rsvp : emily kay atchison : open summer

2010-05-28T21:14:00.000-05:00

During open summer, I will be on the premises as much as possible reading, writing, making, and speaking with fellow residents. I am entirely open to aiding in the execution of others' projects (i am employed as an assistant technician and wood and metal fabricator for the MCAD 3d shop) as well as engaging in discussion-based reading groups/get togethers/potlucks/screenings. I am pursuing this as an opportunity to produce a handful of specific projects but, more significantly, my work will be semi-organized around beginning to unschool my MFA, loosely connected to the MFA program at MCAD through a (fairly comprehensive) binder of readings I have borrowed from a recent graduate.

website:

http://emily-atchison.com/

email:

emilykayatchison@gmail.com

Time to Cram for Finals!

2010-05-16T16:07:00.000-05:00

Alexa Boesel, 2010

Scattered Light needs you!

As if we all don't have enough to do before Summer 2010 begins, but time is running out to respond to the Assignments of Scattered Light. In fact, Summer 2010 will not even begin until our work has been completed and we are able to bask in the blue glow.

The best part is, your photographic responses, in either digital or printed form, will be on view at Art of This from May 22-June 12. On top of that, visitors to the exhibition will be able to view and print their favorite photos! And, even more, all the photos will be archived by AOT and RO/LU and some will be featured on this very blog. Bloggariffic!

So come on! We implore you to participate. Not only can it be quick and easy, but a heckuva lot of fun too. Get your friends involved, tell your family, make up an alter ego and submit something you would never submit as the real you. Scattered Light is up for anything you are willing to throw its way. It is up to you!

Next Assignment!

2010-04-23T21:34:00.000-05:00

As if we were not already behind with our homework, ASDF has released Assignment #5. So grab your camera/cell phone and hop to. And then email it in using your computer/cell phone to info@ro-lu.com. And then come to AOT on 5/22 to see the image you made with your camera/cell phone and then emailed to ROLU with your computer/cell phone. We hope to see you and your images then!

Scattered Light Homework

2010-04-18T16:29:00.000-05:00

So, it turns out we have all been slacking off this spring, myself included. Who could blame us? the weather has been amazing, absolutely perfect for cutting class and skipping assignments. Well, finals are coming and it's time to get caught up. And since the weather is so ideal for this kind of project, we have no excuse to not participate and take some photos. Plus they will be in the show that is Scattered Light.
Here's what we are talking about:
Assignment #1: "A view of a flat horizon line over land or water."

Assignment #2: "A view of your bedroom lying on your bed."

Assignment #3: "A photo of a wall."

Assignment #4: "Take a photograph of your bed after waking up."

So let's get going. There are two more poster/assignments coming. And remember, if you take photos they will be part of the show and the Opening of Scattered Light is right around the corner. May 22!

Special Friday Night Opening!

2010-04-12T17:51:00.001-05:00

This Friday, 4/16 @ AOT, we invite you to a special opening event for our latest exhibition, Goodnight, Children. We're in the Arms of the Great Lover. Actually it is not our opening, but that of Molly Roth (MCAD grad) and Sam Scranton. They both live and work in Chicago now so please come down and wish them well. And have a drink. And pat me on the back. And talk about the show. And ask questions about the upcoming summer residency. Yes!

Friday, April 16, 7-11pm
Art of This
oxox

SUNDAY MUSIC MATINEE

2010-03-25T09:02:00.001-05:00

Yo, dig out your protective earwear. This Sunday, 3/28, AOT presents a special afternoon of electroacoustic, experimental black metal funk healing easy-listening and grindcore. Five sets of music featuring:
Sissy Spacek (LA)
Gerritt Wittmer and Paul Knowles (OAK)
Young Quitters (MPLS)
Visions of Christ (MPLS)
+Seth Ryan (ex-cellphone, ex-cop)
2 O'clock PM doors, 3PM Music. $Five Dollars$ $1Earplugs$

SUPER-INJUNCTION

2010-03-24T10:42:00.001-05:00

Super-Injunction Images are here.
Come check it out, gallery hours are Wednesdays 5-8pm and Sautrdays and Sundays 1-5pm. Through April 11, 2010.

Thumbs is Open

2010-02-22T18:36:00.000-06:00

IN case you haven't heard, or were not able to make it over to AOT last weekend, Oppositional Thumbing is open for business. Gallery hours will be staffed as usual, Wednesdays from 5-8 and Saturdays and Sundays 1-5, by a friendly and knowledgeable AOT supporter who can guide you through the very involved and intricate ambience (sic) of video wallpaper, paper wallpaper, sonic wallpaper, and more paper wallpaper (sic). Plus some other sculptural stuff that will blow your mind. Or trip you.

Coming Soon!!! Wallpaper Stripping Party! Woo-hoo, free spray bottles for all!

Opposable Drums

2010-02-07T14:24:00.000-06:00

Yikes, it is almost here! The first ever mano-a-mano collaboration between AOT directors John Marks and David Petersen. Hey, that's us! This show is virtually indescribable, mostly because half the work still doesn't exist. Plus, we have neglected to consider any of the show's conceptual or aesthetic elements with any of amount of sustained thought that is normally required to maybe put the show into words. We have no idea what any of it will mean. We are not even sure if anyone is going to come! But you would have to admit, even we would, that it would be pretty appropriate if it was just the two of us at the opening. And hysterical. We would probably blog about it so you knew just how much.
Come look at wallpaper and a freshly painted floor this coming Saturday, February 13, 7-11pm.
xoxo john and david

This Week Is Huge!!!

2010-01-18T15:09:00.000-06:00

This week has a little something for everyone @ AOT. Come on down!

Tuesday 1/19 8-10pm
Improvised Music Series
Naomi Joy violin / voice
(of the local band Mother of Fire)
http://www.myspace.com/motheroffiremusic
HeatdeatH guitar / electronics / drums?
(Andrew Broder & Tim Glenn)
Charles Gillett guitar
(celebrating a tape-release on Bryce Beverlin II's insidesmusic label)

Wednesday 1/20 7pm Sign-Up, Projecting @ 8pm
Hearing Eyes - Open Projection Film and Video
The first of a new monthly series in which anyone and everyone is invited to come present their (experimental) film/video projects. It's like "open mic" except with a projector. Already signed up are works by artists Philip Shorey and Michael Lord. Please bring works on DVD or provide your own equipment for alternate screening formats.
Presented by Allen Keating-Moore

Friday 1/22 7:30pm
Potter Belmar Labs
Hailing from San Antonio, Texas, Potter Belmar Labs are in town to present Improvised Cinema. For further info and samples of their work, please visit http://www.potterbelmar.org/
Hosted by AOT Board Member David Pitman.

Saturday 1/23 7:30pm
Spiral Joy Band (members of PELT) from VA
Shep & Me
Daughters of the Sun
Our Names (Mark McGee and Casey Deming)

We hope everyone is doing well in 2010 and to see you soon. Thank you for your continued support!

Scattered Light is coming!

2009-12-22T19:15:00.000-06:00

Please visit. Then take a photo.
http://rolu.terapad.com/index.cfm?fa=contentNews.newsDetails&newsID=164915&from=list
Then we will see you soon.

Finally Some Photos! Only One Week Left!

2009-11-28T17:47:00.000-06:00

At long last we are providing images from the opening reception of Au Naturel, Bruce Tapola's exhibition of new work. And just in time, there are only 4 days of gallery hours left, so please head on over, ASAP! Thanks!

Au Yea!

Oh Oh Au Naturel

2009-11-05T16:20:00.001-06:00

I guess we cannot guarantee any birthday suits, but the title of the show opening at AOT this weekend featuring new work by St. Paul cat Bruce Tapola (ta-Poh-la), is Au Naturel. There are even some fun-loving nudists on the front of the show's postcards. And Bruce is presently constructing a wall in the gallery that will obscure the view from the street, obviously to conceal all the naked people involved in his exhibition of sculpture and painting.
So, if you are into all things nudist, you should probably come on down Saturday night for the opening of what should be a very revealing evening.

AU NATUREL - New Work by Bruce Tapola
Oh Oh Opening Reception 11/7 7-11pm

Andy DuCett and Ruben Nusz Infest AOT!

2009-10-05T12:35:00.000-05:00

Andy DuCett - A.O.T. Has Been Here Forever, Except When it Wasn't
Ruben Nusz - Among the Ash Heaps and Millionaires

OPENING RECEPTION - 10/10/09, 7-11pm

For most artists presenting at AOT, we are happy to serve as host for them, their work and their adoring fans. However, AOT is being used as a different kind of host this weekend by artists Andy DuCett and Ruben Nusz - a host for their parasitic work.
Is that too harsh? It is not meant to be pejorative. But their new works that will debut in the gallery this weekend are a couple of bloodsuckers.

Andy DuCett's mixed-media installation will permeate the entire main gallery space, nourishing itself with the histories of AOT, its building and the neighborhood. This piece, entitled AOT Has Been Here Forever, Except When it Wasn't, uses AOT as a source of cartographic fact and fiction by mapping these histories like a landscape of nostalgia. Building upon much of his past installation work employing all things thrift store kitsch, as well as his architectural and illustrative drawings, DuCett seeks to investigate the ways we subjectively interpret and connect with the world around us all.
For the inaugural exhibition in the AOT Project Space, Ruben Nusz infests it with his latest work, Among the Ash Heaps and Millionaires. Determined to create the mis-en-scene of a bathroom, this work takes a shot across the bow of contemporary art, its practitioners and supporters. Nusz challenges viewers to engage in a dialogue of class, taste, and wealth and the dynamic each fosters and/or subverts with art.
Sheesh, talk about a couple of vampires. We are not sure how we will survive this month, so you better come check it out while we still have some life left in us.

Pennant Race!

2009-10-03T10:42:00.000-05:00

I know it's last minute but AOT has a very exciting tribute to the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. Aptly entitled, HHH, this is the final One-Nighter of the year. You don't want to miss it!
xoxo aot

MadKingThomas Brings the Pain with SLEDGEHAMMER #2

2009-09-23T22:55:00.000-05:00

Just because you were not @ AOT the first time Mad King Thomas performed in and pummeled the gallery space doesn't mean you have to be left out of the fun. Even though you missed out on swigging from the gallon jug of Lord Calvert Canadian Whiskey we won't hold it against you. So what you weren't the guy who joined the award-winning trio to uproot the metal post from the sculptural stage, tearing apart the floorboards. And who really cares if you weren't one of the half dozen people who witnessed what has become one of the most legendary 3-hour performances in recent Minneapolis history.
Sometimes life hands you a second chance. This is one of those times.
Saturday night @ AOT, Mad King Thomas return to the scene of their transgressions to continue their investigation into their own control and power - or lack thereof. This new 3-hour performance, entitled Sledgehammer #2, delves further into themes of spectacle, identity and power with their unique brand of satire, subversion and smashing. So come on out and have a hork from the jug. Maybe bring some safety glasses too.

September Sounds from a Silver Shape - Saturday Night

2009-09-15T23:23:00.001-05:00

Did you know that when Dan Graham got going in the art world it was a gallery owner? His space was just like Art of This, so they tell me. How about that? Well, supposedly Dan Graham is gonna be in town early next month, maybe even earlier than that. If only I was in the know. So it goes. However, to get the ball rolling, this weekend's One-Nighter event at AOT is somewhat inspired by the aforementioned artist, as well as 1970's pop stars. Check it out!
Saturday Night! AOT presents September Sounds from a Silver Shape, organized by local artist Isa Gagarin. This event features the sounds of Isa and Rachel Blomgren's band 'Tête à Tête,' plus other musicians like Jackie Becky, Jonathon Kaiser, Tynan Kerr, Aby Wolf and Emily Atchinson, all performing inside the shimmering silver shape. Far out!
Saturday 9/19 from 7-11pm. Come on out and experience the sounds of silver!