The Struggling Blogger

Mythical and Mystical

2008-10-07T14:43:00.005-04:00

AJ Liberto - Return to Ooze
October 3 - 24, 2008 - Rotch Library @ MIT

Somerville resident AJ Liberto's latest exhibit titled 'Return to Ooze' at the Rotch Library has some great work showcasing many of his new pieces based on mythical, mystical and scientific transformations invloving liquid. All started this past Friday, and is open until October 24, 2008.

Gubicza at SOWA

2008-10-07T13:51:00.004-04:00

Zooguu by The Sweetest Pea
Affordable Local Art

Saw my old typography teacher Jen Gubicza down at the SOWA Open Market this past weekend. I thought she moved to Brooklyn. I guess she did, but she still takes every chance to sell her little handmade stuffed animals. I know they used to sell iPod case monsters, but she didn't have any on her table this past Sunday. I believe she'll be back in SOWA this Sunday, but don't quote me. Great chance to get down to one of the last SOWA Open Market's of the year. I will be making my third trip this Sunday. Also checkout SweetestPea.com

Old Fashion Freak

2008-10-04T11:42:00.003-04:00

Bill Domonko
Lumen Eclipse - October 1 - 30, 2008

Lumen Eclipse is proud to present the solo show of Bill Domonko who has some crazy old fashion feel films, that are very abstract. My favorite has to be 'Lu deux fois' which I recommend you checkout. Also don't forget to attend the LE:60 film festival tonight (after being pushed back a week). All starts around 5:30/6 to 10pm. With live music by Pants Yell!

Exploring Wildness and Excess

2008-10-03T09:27:00.001-04:00

Hairston-Medice, O’Malley, Blatman - Overflow
Oct 3 - Nov 22, 2008 - Laconia Gallery

Starting tonight, the Laconia Gallery opens their newest showing by Hairston-Medice, O'Malley, Blatman, who all have MFA's in painting and from Somerville, yet the show displays a number of different types of work such as painting, ink, and knitting sculpture as well. The show as well as the opening is tonight starting at 5:30 to 8.

Straight Up Colour

2008-10-02T11:13:00.007-04:00

Rose Olson - Just Color, No Curves
Kingston Gallery - Sept 30 - Nov 1, 2008

Rose Olson has some gorgeous work up at the Kingston Gallery. Paint on wood veneer, with the grain of the wood coming through to add to the work. The exhibition's opening is on Friday starting at 5pm to 7:30, open to the public.

Redi Light

2008-10-01T00:20:00.003-04:00

Erwin Redi - A Light Installation
Sept 26 - Nov 30, 2008 - Emerson College

Emerson has an ill show at the Huret and Spector Gallery which you need to go see, and so do I. It just went up a few days ago. Redi uses LED lights, with the combination with the architecture of the rooms to make an amazing impression. Of course he uses red(i) lights.

Q&A with Marquis via Design:Related

2008-09-29T14:11:00.001-04:00

Blake E. Marquis - Interview

While not exactly in Boston, actually it is in LA, the latest show featuring Blake E. Marquis. While the show is on the other side of the country, we did feature Blake way back during the early weeks of The Struggling Blogger, it is great to checkout his latest stuff. We do want to highlight a ten Q&A interview passed to us from the nice people at Design:Related. Be sure to checkout his latest work as well, on his portfolio.

Book-spert

2008-09-29T14:04:00.001-04:00

Jenna Casey - Portfolio

Checkout Jenna Casey who recently graduated from MassArt with a great portfolio, which includes a well tailored collection of books which impressed me.

The Struggling Blogger is making a big effort to display more design and even more student design portfolio sites or AIGA pages, you if your interested, submit.

Ice Ice, Dentyne

2008-09-29T08:07:00.000-04:00

Dentyne Ice - Ad Campaign

It you haven't been taking the MBTA, and you can still afford gas, well your missing some good advertising. Dentyne Ice a few weeks back came out with their 'Original Instant Message' campaign. It is a clever idea since I have seen them, and after writing about the fun Sharks & Rays ads back in July is sparked an idea...

The MBTA is filled with great ads, but is also filled with a bunch of horrible ads. This Winter 'The Struggling Blogger' will present the first ever top and bottom ten of MBTA advertising. We are going to have this twice a season, the end of the Winter and the end of the Summer. Collecting candidates starts... now!

Student Design Scholarship

2008-09-27T11:33:00.002-04:00

Tim Moore Scholarship - Deadline: November 1, 2008

AIGA Boston is honored to offer a scholarship in memory of our colleague, Tim Moore. To be entered you first must be a Junior or Senior design student who is planning to student abroad for any period of time. Also while traveling, and studying you are asked to carry a sketchbook and submit to AIGA when you return. Thirdly you are asked to submit your current transcript and acceptance documents of your program abroad. Finally you must fill out the official scholership applcation PDF. Deadline is Saturday November 1, 2008.

Rain Delay

2008-09-26T10:30:00.003-04:00

LE:60 - Rescheduled
October 4, 2008 - Lumen Eclipse

After what felt like a number of video extension submission deadlines, as well as changing the date of the 1st annual LE:60 festival of 60 second films. The LE:60 festival finally had a set time, with press eating up this new event. Until just an hour ago I got an email saying due to weather, the event will be postponed (again) to next Saturday, October 4th. I'm still going, but damn son, I'll watch it in the rain at this point.

Vidal's Folk Art

2008-09-26T10:11:00.008-04:00

Jacques Louis Vidal - I Make My Own Luck
Sept 12 - Oct 22, 2008 - LaMontagne Gallery

Open Wednesday to Saturday, 11-6pm, the LaMontagne Gallery has some nice and folk inspired work to open the fall season by Jacques Louis Vidal. Also in their project room they got Paul Waddell. The show started back on the twelfth of September, but the show doesn't end until the 22nd of October. Located on 555 East 2nd Street in South Boston.

Big Weekend 4 LE

2008-09-25T16:50:00.004-04:00

Lumen Eclipse: October Exhibit Opening Party
September 26, 2008 - The Middlesex

Lumen Eclipse is one of the more exciting gallery/video... whatever they are, in the Boston area, and this week is a perfect display of that. Tomorrow they are launching their October exhibit with an opening party for Bill Domonko. A sneak peak of his work will be on display tomorrow at the Middlesex (Cambridge 315 Mass Ave.) from 7 to 9pm. The public is encouraged to attend, and its free. All leading up to the big evening of the first annual LE:60 on Saturday. More information later today or early tomorrow.

Download, Print and Vote

2008-09-22T13:12:00.003-04:00

Get Out The Vote 2008
Download, Print, Post - AIGA Boston

Checkout the 24 great posters designed for you to download, print, post and encourage your neighborhood, school, workplace or where-ever to get out the vote this coming November. Some are type, some are illustration, with at least one that will please your eye.

Wall-of-Fame

2008-09-22T12:52:00.002-04:00

Christo & Jeanne-Claude
September 23, 2008 - ICA

Christo and Jeanne-Claude will be honored with the 2008 Great Negotiator Award by the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School. The event is a free event for all to go at the Boston ICA, yet once the event is full, the doors will shut, so go early enough. Best known for their installation in Central Park, 'The Gates' here in the states. I technically am a big fan of 'The Wall' displayed above made of oil barrels. They are also in the big and long stagea of making a huge, and I mean HUGE piece in the United Arab Emirates, as big as a pyramid, also made with oil barrels. All goes down tomorrow night at the ICA.

Made In America

2008-09-17T23:07:00.005-04:00

Made In America
September 15 - November 15, 2008 - IPG

The "good old" American virtues the posters promote - teamwork, attention to detail, optimism and ingenuity - are as relevant today as they were 80 years ago and represent a unique chapter in American advertising and economic history. - IPG

The IPG Summer of Love is over, and now their newest show featuring the striking posters of the 1920's with titled Made in America. The gallery is very open to visitors , so checkout the show.

Interactive Photography

2008-09-12T17:08:00.006-04:00

Arno Rafael Minkkinen
Sept 12 - Nov 15, 2008 - Robert Klien Gallery

Robert Klien delivers once again with some great interactive photography by Arno Rafael Minkkinen. My friend was at the gallery today, and always highly recommends the show. All are black and white photography, which really brings out the strong images. The show started a few days ago, and will be up to November 15th.

Golden Ticket

2008-09-06T22:12:00.003-04:00

Santogold
September 20, 2008 - Paradise Rock Club

Yeah, Santogold is known by everyone today, and has sold her songs to just about every car company. One thing you might not know is her show at The Paradise on September 20th, and stop calling her as another MIA, cause she aint!

One Last Mind Fuck

2008-09-05T16:44:00.004-04:00

Anish Kapoor - Past, Present, Future
Ending September 7, 2008 - ICA Boston

Yesterday I finally made it to the ICA to see the Anish Kapoor show, and was I lucky enough see it on the last few days the show is up and, on the last free Thursday night for this showing. What Kapoor does with his work, it fuck with you, making you look like an idiot, and wanting two Advil after your finished. Is it worth it, of course. It ends this Sunday, and I am planning my second trip in only a few days. Heres a youtube video of the showing, you can't experience it as if you were really there. Missing this show would be devastating, and I'll kick you later.

Feel Free to Hire Me!

2008-09-05T00:03:00.002-04:00

John Bogan - Portfolio

Recent graduate of New England School of Art Design, John Bogan, has finally updated his portfolio site, JohnBogan.com. The work is great, the illustrations are fun, and the pieces make a great collection. He designs for his band, as well as worked on Project M. He is looking for work, so hire this man.

Bullet Proof

2008-09-04T23:38:00.004-04:00

Dave Cole - All American
Sept 4 - Oct 12, 2008 - Judi Rotenberg Gallery

The Judi Rotenberg Gallery on the 4th of September put up their newest show by Dave Cole called 'All American'. This US flag is created out of bullets and bullet fragments, which is so awesome. So awesome that this one is already sold, and the show has already been up for two days. The show has such a wide range of pieces, from this, to the clothes made from Gulf War bullet proof vests. Awesome!

Flesh Foto

2008-09-04T23:20:00.004-04:00

Amy Montali - New Work
September 5 - October 11, 2008 - Gallery Kayafas

It is the first Friday of the month, and Gallery Kayafas has a new show of Amy Montali, as well as Jess T. Dugan, and they are some great photography. Both collections a bit PG-13, but all photography looks better with a flesh. The opening is tomorrow.

Tarot, SciFi Twist

2008-08-29T11:58:00.008-04:00

Egypt Urnash - 78 Evasions: The Urnash Tarot
August 29 - September 19, 2008 - Space 242

“Tarot is a fascinating labyrinth of seemingly significant imagery, muddied history, and confusion. It’s a sprawling canvas of images that are just far enough from being something archetypical to be fun to play with.” - Egypt Urnash

Those are the great words by the lady with the sweet name Egypt, talking about her show that opens tonight titled, 78 Evasions: The Urnash Tarot, Space 242's eighth exhibition of the year, and Urnash's first exhibition. Her animations are explained as tarot cards, with a sci-fi flare.

Tarot fans, advised to attend. Remember that RSVP is required to attend the openings, simply visit the gallery website. Sponsored by the Weekly Dig. The TSB also is tagging her as the artist of the month.

Wu-Tang!

2008-08-20T18:00:00.004-04:00

Rza

August 28, 2008 - Middle East Club

I've been waiting a long time to post as my first blog on The Struggling Blogger, but I guess I just wanted it to be special. When I heard Rza (aka Bobby Digital) was coming to Boston, I figured there really wouldn't be a better introduction than this. So, without further ado... Rza, of the Wu-Tang Clan, is playing at the Middle East in a week. To be honest, the entire group is a bit over the hill, and their performances at Rock the Bells have been almost comical, but I can't help but have faith in my first love. Plus, Rza's always had his shit together, he did the soundtracks for Kill Bill Vol. 1, Ghost Dog, and Afro Samurai, and he was recently IN American Gangster. If you're still not convinced, or you're just still mourning about the passing of ODB, go listen to You Can't Stop Me Now.

ICA, I've Missed You

2008-08-20T17:13:00.005-04:00

Nicholas Hlobo - Momentum 11
July 30 - October 26, 2008 - ICA Boston

If I don't get my ass down to the ICA in Boston soon I am going to scream. What I really need to do is go tomorrow night or an upcoming Thursday, because time is running out, and while I still need to see the hyped Anish Kapoor show, as well as the Street Level show, which most likely I could get plenty of shit for, the new Nicholas Hlobo show is here.

My master plan is to hit not two, but three birds with one stone. On top of the two must go shows, the newest Nicholas Hlobo show, while his work scares me a bit, it intrigues me as well, as he just loves to make those huge phallic shapes of who knows what. What I am trying to say, if you are like me, you need to get to these shows which most end in October. So take one your last summer weekend afternoons, or if your a student a Thursday evening, and make your way to the ICA, because by now it's an order.