Crystal Benavides

back to blogging

noreply@blogger.com (crystalbenavides) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 03:12:00 +0000

I have been incognito from the blogosphere for a small stint, but am now back. A lot has happened over the past year and although I did not get to physically create as much artwork as I would have liked I did get to advocate and reexamine my current perceptions of myself as an artist, an arts administrator and an arts advocate.

I thought photography was behind me, but it always seems to sneak back up on me when I least expect it. I have gone from creating series in a dark room, due to not having access to a darkroom, (Side note: This would be a great project to create a free community dark room) to capturing the world in a casual photographic manner. In the past year from the time I jumped out of the blogosphere, I took 2,060 non-curated photographs (See highlights below). Amidst all of the happenings of life, one of the interesting series that developed has to do with the idea of dreaming and sleep. I have visited it in the past and it has surfaced itself through layered photographic drawings and time sequences, but below it arose to the surface in a much more deliberate manner.

One of my favorite highlights of this past year was Arts Advocacy Day that trailed the Texans for the Arts Convention in Austin. Two sessions that were stood out were Cookie Ruiz, Executive Director of the Ballet Austin’s talk about board development and Maureen M. Patton, Executive Director, of the Galveston Grand Opera House discussing dealing with disaster preparedness after Hurricane Ike.

Detail: Outdoor installation at Mexi-Arte Museum in Austin, TX

Another interesting item that has developed is that I began working towards a Masters of Art in Arts Administration at Goucher College. I will say only this, beyond the phenomenal staff and great grouping of classmates within the first two-week residency a slew of nonprofit “myths” were debunked and historical relevance of our national nonprofit community was brought to light. Catch me offline sometime and I will divulge some great trade secrets and stories!

Goucher Silent Auction and Graduate Student Benefit

5 x 7

noreply@blogger.com (crystalbenavides) — Mon, 24 May 2010 03:27:00 +0000

Arthouse: Everyday I'm Hustlin' Exhibition Detail 2010

I made the quest to Austin for the Arthouse 5x7 where over 1,000 artworks were exhibited. Since Arthouse is currently working on their building the exhibition took place at 301 Brazos Street. The burnt yellow walls were designed as columns to allow works to be displayed on all four sides. In the second image above you can see both of my works Everyday I'm Hustlin' I & II on opposite sides of the wall. I will post a detailed view of these pieces shortly, also see artwork concept in previous post Everyday.

everyday

noreply@blogger.com (crystalbenavides) — Wed, 12 May 2010 05:43:00 +0000

Jay-z ft. Rick Ross - Everyday I'm Hustlin' Remix

I was invited to participate in the Arthouse 5 x 7 and the pieces created for the exhibition spurred from a conversation about individual interpretation and the influence of music. Everyday I'm Hustin' I & II are based on rap songs with a Dirty South flair that examine the contradictions between masculine and feminine ideals. The song is deep, raspy and arduous while the work is light and sweet. Even though the song has moments of hype the story being told has a universal truth and like folklore the words are being adapted into everyday life. Those ideas have been merged in these pieces through there medium and in the choice of using a working object.

Land Art Shenanigans

noreply@blogger.com (crystalbenavides) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:58:00 +0000

Detail of the material for the upcoming Sampler: Land Art Project

So this weekend, I blew all of my lunch money and picked up the supplies for my land art project. With bulk silicone and adhesive I hit my mini patio and got my primary pieces set. This evening I ran through some configurations apparently increasing the scale from thread to rope does not necessarily immediately translate the structure, cohesiveness or vocabulary of my current (regular size) embroidery style. It was actually quite grounding that my first large-scale embroidery project read like learning to embroider in a new material. Ironically I will be cracking out my protractor, ruler, level and redeveloping a style appropriate to this scale.

Hopefully this coming weekend, if it does not rain, I will be hitting the streets sampling the pieces in various locations throughout the city.

FEB - MAR

noreply@blogger.com (crystalbenavides) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:40:00 +0000

I have started to notice a pattern in my embroidery. It seems that the only down time I have to work on projects is between locations. My passenger seat has turned into a pretty good pincushion and my mobile embroidery kit rocks. On a great note I finished two pieces this week and kick-started my land art project.

noreply@blogger.com (crystalbenavides) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:54:00 +0000

J sampling audio tracks, 2010

After an Evening of brainstorming at La Botanica I worked out the espacio-audio technical difficulties. I was approaching the reception issue in the wrong manner and in this case seriously boxed in by my own personal conceptions of the space. I am jumping back on the audio curation track and if you have anything that you would like considered just email an audio sample to icsbenavides@gmail.com.

thx

noreply@blogger.com (crystalbenavides) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:09:00 +0000

thx 1:30/ 2:30, Textile, 3" x 3", 2010 csb

Recently I was given an artwork by an acquaintance. It was an extremely nice video work that I in no way thought would have been gifted. So as a thank you to this person I created an embroidery with the comment thx. It was created with a multicolored yellow strand that reminds me of old friendship bracelets & the 80’s. While stitching through this piece it came to mind that there are several people that I would like to gift a thx. I have selected 15 individuals that I will be gifting these to and have an additional 15 that are open to anyone that would like one. I will be disbursing this out into the world on a pay-it-forward type of system and ask that anyone who receives one send in a photograph with the work or gesture that they will be gifting out. If you are interested please contact me via email at icsbenavides@gmail.com

noreply@blogger.com (crystalbenavides) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:27:00 +0000

Over the holiday I will be working on my land art project. I am not sure how all of the technical aspects are going to work out as I have the smallest patio known to man, but I will be ordering supplies and surveying land for my first proposed site this weekend!

seat = pincushion

noreply@blogger.com (crystalbenavides) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:12:00 +0000

I am one of the many commuters that drive into work every morning. I cruise about an hour of traffic at 15 mph from South East Houston into town. On this particular day traffic was not only ridiculously slow, but also at a complete standstill. (Note: there was no danger in taking these pictures, as I was not moving) What better to do than work on some embroidery while stuck in traffic? Interestingly my passenger seat worked out well as a pincushion. I am still sewing away at my embroidery sign in sheet and with the noticeable time lapse you'd think I was working on a Jeanne-Claude & Christo piece, but unfortunately it is just a slow process. I have started working on a new piece for exhibition in February. I haven't worked out a title yet, but it is coming along.

NEW WORK: Mediocre

noreply@blogger.com (crystalbenavides) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 03:53:00 +0000

DETAIL: Mediocre deinstalled, Textile & faux wood, 3" x 3", 2009 csb

I got into an interesting conversation w/ my husband over dinner that sparked this work. Cast into our discussion was a trivial story about complacency to which he noted, “If mediocrity is your ceiling then what is your floor.” It stuck with me & in thinking about a work for the Art Swap it just seemed right. Faux wood grain detailing, strawberry pink thread, an almost comical, extremely kitsch self-reflective comment. Some of the things that draw me to embroidery are its almost too sweet appearance, the level of detail and its ability to surprise.

Stop in to see the work OPENING, TH 10/1 6-8 pm

Historic Eldorado Ballroom (lower level)

2316 Elgin, Houston, TX 77004

While working on this I was listening to Pearl Jam: The Fixer, Old Dirty Bastard: Shimmy Shimmy Ya, New Edition: If This Isn't Love, Sound: Driving at night and Sound: Almost muted background noise.

sew-delicious: Embroidery Sign-In Sheet

noreply@blogger.com (crystalbenavides) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 05:26:00 +0000

In a moment of clarity, genius & no concern for time I decided that it would be a fantastic idea to create an embroidery sign in sheet. Although I am happy with its current aesthetic state, I have been working for 1 "solid" month and am barely scratching the surface of this project. On a positive note, my pace has definitely increased from 3 letters an hour to about 10. I am on a mission to get through the bulk of part I (the existing emails) by the proposed January espacio-audio exhibition The Contagious Properties of Sound. It has been an interesting study of typography and is extremely telling of the individuals that signed in. I have also begun to develop stylized shortcuts.

While working this evening I am listening to Dashboard by Modest Mouse, Cornbread by Anthony Hamilton and Golden Brown by The Stranglers.

DETAIL: embroidery sign-in sheet @gmail a, b & c

new website

noreply@blogger.com (crystalbenavides) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:21:00 +0000

I have been working diligently on my embroidery sign in sheet. It is looking good, but I am going to have to slam through a few redbulls to pick up my current pace of 4 letters an hour. This evening I have also kicked-up a new website for espacio-audio... give it a look www.espacioaudio.weebly.com

SNAP!

noreply@blogger.com (crystalbenavides) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:40:00 +0000

I have worked out the technical issues and am full swing on espacio-audio’s first exhibition. I will post additional details as it gets closer, but will say this it will be a production hence the title The Contagious Properties of Sound.

labotanica grant program

noreply@blogger.com (crystalbenavides) — Wed, 06 May 2009 11:32:00 +0000

Deadline: 7.15.09 / Current Balance: $200

labotanica's grants program offers small support for creative projects that intersect creativity and social transformation. Offered twice a year, grants are supported by ten dollar donations from the public. Grant awards vary depending on total donations contributed by the deadline. To apply, submit an online proposal and make a ten dollar donation via PayPal.

The grants program is developed from a belief that funding should be accessible and reciprocal. labotanica funds small scale projects that have the potential to multiply and be much more. This money is seen as seed money to develop one time projects or projects that could seek more funding in the future. Works of all media and genres are considered, and applicants of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Potential projects could range from community gardens, murals, research, activism, writing, interventions, and workshops, among others. Grant deadlines are twice a year in January and July.

APPLY TO GRANTS PROGRAM
SUPPORT THE GRANTS PROGRAM WITH A DONATION

throwback sketchbook

noreply@blogger.com (crystalbenavides) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 14:34:00 +0000

tribe called quest

I finally finished my sketchbook project (see November post). It took a completely different turn than I originally intended. It's not conceptual or deep. It's this really ____ & _____, but what freakin fun. I decided to take it way back and made this really silly interactive traveling log of mixed tapes. I think I have been missing the mixed tapes. After an ipod syncing mix-up I have been rocking out to ice-t's "I'm your pusher" & not completely hating it.

Guilty pleasure number 4,080 I love old english & old skool rap.

"sugar-lumps"

noreply@blogger.com (crystalbenavides) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:24:00 +0000

Busy working on my FOTCC project. Will put out the details a little later, but I am taking this project way-back think Amish ladies meet sugar-lumps. Also busy finishing the sketchbook projects images to come shortly + working on grants presentation for Saturday, hopefully they don't (maybe better if they do) overlap_

noreply@blogger.com (crystalbenavides) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 03:59:00 +0000

Artcrawl pictures from the film screening of the Last Conquistador at BOX13artspace. see information below

The Sketchbook Project

noreply@blogger.com (crystalbenavides) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:09:00 +0000

I am participating in an interactive traveling exhibitions The Sketchbook Project my work is entitled _____. The piece will be based on some of my favorite pop culture & historical references. It will be a kind of retro, two-dimensional work on paper with a 5th grade science project flair. It will begin traveling in February and will make stops through Atlanta, Washington, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, St. Louis and Brooklyn. More information to come_

noreply@blogger.com (crystalbenavides) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 05:57:00 +0000

Scheduled for March 2009 / espacio-audio

espacio-audio (audio space) is a curated site-specific audio frequency dedicated to the promotion/ experimentation of audio art. It was created to addresses the lack of audio exhibition spaces in Houston, to serve as an outlet for audio experimentation, to promote audio artists within/ outside of the city of Houston and to challenge the physical boundaries of exhibition space through sound.

It is a drive-up/ walk-up audio frequency site-specific transmission. It can be comprised of, but is not limited to, conversations, sound projects, audio clips and various day-to-day sounds.

espacio-audio is not available online it encourages the site-specific environment. The short range of the frequency requires listeners to visit the designated site to fully experience the works. One of the benefits of site-specific or environment works is that they are temporary and even if recreated will never yield the same results.

espacio audio: glasstire

The Last Conquistador: Film Screening

noreply@blogger.com (crystalbenavides) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 07:46:00 +0000

THE LAST CONQUISTADOR
Curated by: Crystal Benavides
November 22, 2008
10:00 am – 6:00 pm

THE LAST CONQUISTADOR, directed by J. Valadez and Cristina Ibarra will be featured at BOX13artspace on November 22, 2008 as a component to artcrawl houston. The first screening will begin at 10:00 a.m. and run continuously in two-hour intervals with the last showing starting at 6:00 p.m.

Exhibition space is an ever-changing traditionally white canvas that can display an array of, but not limited to, social ideologies, automatism, sound, objects and contemporary thought. Exhibition spaces overlapped a full spectrum of mediums and have become an uninhibited exhibition free-for-all. John Valadez and Christina Ibarra's documentary THE LAST CONQUISTADOR is a reflective insight into art, a silent extravaganza of conflict, narcissism and social responsibility.

When the renowned sculptor, John Houser, began creating a monument to the Spanish conquistador Juan de Oñata for the city of El Paso, it was supposed to be a little larger than life size. But he secretly harbored a dream: to build the largest bronze equestrian statue ever created in human history. Cloistered away in a remote and forgotten corner of Mexico City, John and his son Ethan worked endlessly for ten years crafting an exquisite and foreboding icon. To some, it is magnificent, alluring and seductive, a fitting tribute to the extraordinary contribution Hispanic people have made to the building of the American west. It is a history that they felt has often been maligned or ignored by mainstream historians. To others it is a frightful reminder of a time when the sword and the cross were used to decimate those who would defy the will of the Spanish crown.

BOX13artspace is located at 6700 Harrisburg, Houston, TX 77011. This film is free open to the public.

For additional information about this event please visit:
box13artspace artcrawlhouston thelastconquistador pbs/pov

space125gallery

noreply@blogger.com (crystalbenavides) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:28:00 +0000

CURRENT EXHIBITION:
December 3 – February 2010
Still
Libbie Masterson

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS:
March 2010
Glow
Monte Large

PREVIOUS EXHIBITIONS:
September 9 – October 5, 2009
Topiary Text Lead
Debbie LeBlanc, Peter Brown, Linda Walsh, Delilah Montoya, Kia Neill, Liana Lopez

July 9 – August 14, 2009
Interconnectivity
Serena Lin Bush, Magsamen + Hillerbrand and Tish Stringer

Interconnectivity is an exhibition themed around human emotion and is a video portrayal of human connection through the body, conversation and ordinary acts of human interaction. This is the first all video exhibition to take place in space125gallery. The exhibition will be on view through August 14, 2009. Opening reception will take place July 9, 2009 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Serena Lin Bush’s work Affinities is inspired by the emotional bond formed between two adopted sisters. Subtle plays of friction caused by the rubbing of skin against skin, cloth and hair project contagious repetitive motion. The dual screens interact with one another creating a visual parallel of events.

Magsamen + Hillerbrand’s Love You to Death approaches connection through the psychological landscape that composes family. A mother and father are holding their son and daughter. The hold starts as a loving traditional portrait and eventually unfolds as forced and uncomfortably controlling. The piece raises questions about love, parenthood and the aging process.

Tish Stringer’s Uprooted/Iqtila' portrays human emotion to its fullest capacity, in all of its forms: fear, love, empathy and uncertainty. It is a portrait of humanity and through Stringer’s keen eye for environments; the tactile elements of life seem to resonate from the screen. Through verbal accounts over tea, artists open up about their artwork, what moves them as artists and how the political climate of their nation impacts their lives.

Serena Lin Bush, Mary Magsamen, Stephan Hillerbrand and Tish Stringer are all Individual Artist Grantees. The Individual Artists Grant program represents just one of the many ways in which HAA supports Houston’s artistic community. The City of Houston annually supports this and more than 200 additional arts grants.

March 26 - May 8, 2009
Nuevas Visiones: Mayan Visions new works by Sergio Santos

The Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) presents the exhibition Nuevas Visiones: Mayan Visions new works by Sergio Santos on view March 26 – May 8, 2009 at space 125gallery.

Nuevas Visiones: Mayan Visions is a selection of new works by Sergio Santos in which the Houston photographer examines the intricate connection of his ancestry rooted in Mayan/ Spanish culture. For Sergio the photographs represent the tension felt through this historical conflict that extends into present day and continues to affect Latin Americans and their descendents. The images are not a historical depiction, but a photographic interpretation of passages from the Mayan creation account, the Popul Vuh.

In the exhibition Sergio uses digital photography as an intentional contrast between technology and pre-Columbian mythology. “Being of Latin American descent is a confounding matter to have ancestry that is so diametrically opposed. We are the fruit of one forefather (the Spanish) and murder of the other forefather (The Mayan),” Sergio notes. The works will be on display through May 8, 2009.

Sergio Santos is an HAA FY08 Individual Artist Grantee.

January 29 - March 6, 2009
Civic Duty: Building Art, Building Houston

The Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) announces a two-part series of exhibits examining processes and methods used to create civic art in Houston beginning January 29 through March 6, 2009 at space 125gallery. The first of the series is entitled Civic Duty: Building Art, Building Houston and will showcase the different artistic processes that lead to some of Houston’s cultural treasures ranging from Hobby Airport to Kashmere Gardens to the revitalized water treatment facility near Lake Houston.

The installation of these new public artworks in Houston neighborhoods is the culmination of a long process that begins with the allocation of funding from the city’s “percent for art” ordinance and the selection of the artist through a request for qualifications. Civic Duty: Building Art, Building Houston is a group exhibition of nine contracted proposals for civic artworks integrated into the operations and neighborhoods of Houston. The exhibition focuses on the connection between artists commissioned through the HAA Civic Art + Design program and City of Houston department leadership.

Each of the artists was commissioned to produce original and site-specific permanent civic art projects in Houston locations. The exhibit will include renderings and material samples of newly installed projects and commissions currently in fabrication, underscoring the range of approaches contemporary artists use to create original artworks in municipal contexts. They worked closely in cooperation with building and facility teams including programming staff as well as architects to create artwork that is exciting for and appropriate to the city-owned facility where it is intended.

Projects highlighted in the exhibition include a diverse commission by artists Reginald Adams, Elmgreen/Dragset, Sharon Engelstein, Matthew Geller, Tim Glover, Jim Hirschfield and Sonya Ishii, Gordon Huether, Donald Lipski and Bert L. Long Jr.

November 6, 2008 to January 5, 2009
Sediment
space125gallery at Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) presents Sediment, by sculptors Mark Schatz and Jared Steffensen.

Sediment confronts the notions of both personal and geographical sediment, representing the visceral point at which nature and culture collide. Landscape is a raw material that has been accumulated over time. It is geographically layered and represents an insight into the history and sediment of daily life. Through natural periodical upheavals and societal disruptions it is re-ordered, shaken and resettled. Schatz and Steffensen’s approach to Sediment parallels and transcends sociological boundaries and momentarily collides with viewers.

Mark Schatz is a Houston Arts Alliance Individual Artist Grantee. The Individual Artist Grant program represents just one of the many ways in which HAA supports Houston’s artistic community. The City of Houston annually supports this and more than 200 additional arts grants.

August 21 to October 17, 2008
Heroes Alter Egos
space125gallery at Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) presents Heroes Alter Egos, a multimedia exhibition incorporating painting, photography, collage and installation art.

Artists Robert Hodge, Lovie Olivia, Michael K. Taylor and Lance Flowers comprise the United Underground Painters Association, or UUPA Crust collective. Drawing their inspiration from pop culture, vintage ideals, personal reflection, and community icons, the exhibition is built around each artist’s perception of a hero.Their work has an urban edge, incorporating sharp lines, elements of nostalgia and mixtures of media, creating an eclectic mix of visual story telling.

June 19 to August 08, 2008
Cohesive Discord
Join space125gallery as we host Cohesive Discord, a site-specific installation featuring eleven artists from BOX 13 ArtSpace. Participating artists have created site-specific works that pensively engulf & personify space125gallery. Each artist has individually worked in his or her medium of expertise but within their collaborative teams has articulated his/her work in an unexpected way. This is the first time BOX 13 artists will be exhibiting collectively in Houston. The exhibit opens on June 19 and will remain on view through August 8, 2008.

Participating artists include: Anila Quayyum Agha, Elaine Bradford, Teresa O’Connor, Lisa Marie Godfrey, Woody Golden, Michael Henderson, Kathy Kelley, Jennie Nuttal, Whitney Riley, Mat Wolff and David Waddell

May 1 through May 7, 2008
Fresh Cut: University of Houston Graphic Communications Senior Exhibition.
As their 2-year intensive program in the formulation of visual and typographic studies comes to an end, the students proudly welcome a fresh new beginning in the professional field.

Participating artists include: Robert Alfaro, Nuzi Barkatally, Alberto Capetillo, Juan Esparza, Ozzie Flores, Francisco Hernandez, Hina Hussain, Frances Kim, Lynette Liwanag, Dasha Lukina, Trinidad Munoz, Kelly Musebeck, Lei Nie, Doris Parada, Anja Plachy, Maria Shaikh, Monica So, Kyle Stehling, Christopher Todd, Andrea Trninic, David (Tacheng) Wei

Dreamsicle Ike

noreply@blogger.com (crystalbenavides) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 01:54:00 +0000

I've been working on my piece for Fresh Arts: MADE FROM IKE. (see above) I like to call him Dreamsicle Ike. Interestingly enough I was working on him through discussion of the standing economic impact of Ike on the arts community and pondering ways to help.

Fresh Arts: MADE FROM IKE Happy Hour
Oct. 24, 2008 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
FREE! Meet Fresh Arts organizations, bid on some one-of-a-kind Made From Ike art, enjoy tasty brews from Saint Arnolds and rock out with The Neptones. Learn about what´s coming up on the Houston art scene as we celebrate art and perseverance.

Within Our Gates

noreply@blogger.com (crystalbenavides) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 01:32:00 +0000

I had the pleasure of visiting Atlanta Celebrates Photography Within our Gates a commissioned public art project by artists Bradley McCallum and Jacqueline Tarry. This piece is extremely clever with woven historical content. The online videos do this project no justice. Not pictured the graffiti mural at the bottom of the tower.

HOT-lanta

noreply@blogger.com (crystalbenavides) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 01:25:00 +0000

Leisurely pics from a walking tour of HOT-lanta. above: Peacock, former music haven of James Brown, Ray Charles, etc. below: public art in the Atlanta historic district.

Do I have something in my teeth?

noreply@blogger.com (crystalbenavides) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 01:11:00 +0000

new sponge bob camera. horrible pixelation. lots of fun_