Gobble gobble

This hand turkey is too nice to keep to myself, and I thought some art-loving Hankblog readers might like to know – Western Bridge, closed for the Holiday weekend, reopening a week from tomorrow, December 3.

The Henry, however, is closed tomorrow only, and then open for regular old business Friday and through the weekend.

Have a great holiday.
We’re thankful that you’re reading this blog. We’re thankful for the amazing Roosevelt High School docents who led tours this morning for the most adorable group of kindergartners.
We’re thankful for The Gift Shop Presents: Presents – and all the Gift Shop installations.
We’re thankful for each other, our families, and the amazing artists we work with.

So, thanks!
Thank you! Hope your turkey is delicious!!

WESTERN BRIDGE CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAY Western Bridge will be closed this weekend for the Thanksgiving holiday. We will reopen at noon on Thursday December 3, continuing our fall exhibition Parenthesis. Save the evening of December 9 for an evening with Charles Mudede, who will talk about his discovery of hip-hop as a teenager living in Zimbabwe. We wish you safe and happy festivities.

Open Thursday through Saturday Noon to six and by appointment Information and directions at westernbridge.org 206-838-7444 Western Bridge 3412 Fourth Avenue South Seattle, Washington

Yes Men Fix The World @ Northwest Film Forum

We’re showing the first Yes Men movie at the Henry Thursday, December 17.
See the new one this week at NWFF!

Yes Men Fix the World at NWFF – Nov 27 – Dec 03 (Tickets HERE)
(Andy Bichlbaum, Mike Bonanno, 2008, USA, 35mm, 89 min)

Yes Man  Andy Bichlbaum in person opening weekend! Special benefit event with additional guests opening night.

Join the Yes Men, Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno, as they battle the free market mentality with their politically charged hijinks. Their method: select a corporation they don’t like, set up a fake website and wait until they’re invited to speak at an event as a representative of said despised company.  This time around, Andy and Mike take on Dow Chemical, Exxon Mobil, Halliburton and the government’s response to Hurricane Katrina. Incorporating vintage cartoons and archival footage, Bichlbaum and Bonanno construct a fast-paced, highly entertaining look at their unique brand of activism. The absurdity of their actions may amuse, but the Yes Men have a serious point to make: business as usual is no longer acceptable.

On Facebook? Vote HENRY! (Chase is giving away a grillion dollars!!)

Chase Community Giving is a program run by Chase that will allow Facebook users to vote for local charities and non-profits, and help direct Chase corporate philanthropy dollars to eligible organizations in the following focus areas: education, healthcare, housing, the environment, combating hunger, arts and culture, human services, and animal welfare. The grassroots campaign aims to inspire a new way of corporate philanthropy.

The eligible charity receiving the most votes will be awarded $1 million, the top five runners-up will receive $100,000 each and the 100 finalists, including the top winners, will be awarded $25,000 each. Additionally, a special Advisory Board led by prominent national philanthropists will allocate $1 million to the nominated charities of its choice.

GOODIEPAL – Special Performance Today

Radical Computer Music is a performance and talk by Goodiepal, a renowned yet controversial Scandinavian electronic musician and professor of music composition. Goodiepal is currently touring the states, spreading his new theories.   Time: 3:00-4:00pm Place: Lawrimore Project 831 Airport Way S (between 5th and 6th in the International District) Cost: Free and open to the public. GOODIEPAL A former teacher at the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus, Denmark, Goodiepal left his position when they refused to support his radical ideas about modern music. He declared war on the Academy and the stupidity of modern media art in general by opening his own free alternative school, first in London and more recently out of a castle in Norway. The term Radical Computer Music was coined by Goodiepal in relation to his Mort Aux Vaches Ekstra Extra compositional game scenario. It promotes an expanded dialogue between human beings and artificial and alternative intelligences as a way to transgress a condition of stagnation which, according to Goodiepal, is prevailing in contemporary computer music and media art. The game scenario is an exercise in the creation of musical scores to challenge the mindset of “other” intelligences, considering issues such as utopia, time, notation techniques, language, levels of unscannability, and the role of the composer.

Calls for Participation: The Gift Shop

Friday, a new installation opened in The Gift Shop. Claire Cowie, Jason Hirata, and Sol Hashemi collaborated on The Gift Shop Presents: Presents.

“Anyone who wants to participate can make a gift, place it in the gallery, and choose one to take home. The gift exchange will continue during the Henry’s regular gallery hours, Friday November 20th through Sunday December 13th.”

A visitor receives a gift from Jenny Zwick!

Jenny Zwick received a REAL Chanel Suit!

Next up in the Gift Shop: Shaw Osha and Heide Heinrichs:

The Atlas of Gifted Ideas. Shaw and Heide need you!

An atlas is usually a collection of maps, charts and tables, most commonly of the earth’s geography, but there are also atlases of the solar system, moons and planets and things further out. In the end, an atlas is a collection of visual material and text on any subject of interest. We are longing for an atlas of gifted ideas.

Atlas is the brother of Prometheus. Prometheus plays with fire and Atlas has to hold up the skies; he creates space and separates the divine from everyday experience; his duty is not to mix up things and to keep the overview. We would encourage you to play with both of them: to burn your fingers and to walk out towards the divine.

We invite you to participate in a collaborative, artist-powered project called “The Gift Shop” at the Henry Art Gallery in Seattle, Washington. We are in charge of the space for three weeks, beginning December 18th. During this time ‘The Atlas of Gifted Ideas’ will unfold, with your gifted ideas illuminating the ceiling and walls. With a spirit of generosity and an openness to the contingency of chance we will bring together ideas in the form of drawings and poems: mingle them and give them away like new fortunes.

Please send us your drawing, image or poem to pass on, to position, to communicate, to travel and join ‘The Atlas of Gifted Ideas’.

For drawings and images: send a .jpg file in a resolution which would allow a black and white print 8 ½ x 11”.

For poems, send a simple word document.

The Atlas of gifted ideas will be a world in black and white.

All images/poems must be received by December 11th at the latest. Please send them to atlasofgiftedideas@gmail.com

The opening date of this constellation is December 18 at 7pm in the Gift Shop at the Henry Art Gallery. We would be happy to see you there.

Shaw Osha
Heide Hinrichs

Blog nepotism for an art/karaoke event that may knock your socks off:

Western Bridge Director, karaoke expert, and loving husband (mine) Eric Fredericksen is rocking the mic tonight at On The Boards.
Call the box office now and get your tickets for this songfest/lecture freak hybrid.

More on SLOG and on Another Bouncing Ball.

“Join Eric Fredericksen (Western Bridge curator and karaoke expert) as he hosts a karaoke party while delivering a lecture on karaoke, the culture industry, and communal popular culture. Come grab a drink and get your songs in early: this lecture requires participation!  Show at 8pm. Karaoke and bar open at 7:30pm.  Note – this is a limited capacity show. Buy your tickets in advance to ensure you get a spot!  A second evening is planned for Mar 17, 2010.”

He’s good at lecturing, and at karaoke. I should know–I didn’t marry him for his looks.  I married him for his mad skills, illustrated here by his performance of “Maybe I’m Amazed” at OTB’s 30th Anniversary Fundraiser.

The Gift Shop Present: Presents

The Gift Shop Presents: Presents
SOL HASHEMI, JASON HIRATA and CLAIRE COWIE

OPENING Friday, November 20th 5 – 8 pm
and continuing through December 13th

The Gift Shop at the Henry Art Gallery
University of Washington, Seattle
Thu – Fri: 11 am – 9 pm
Sat – Sun: 11 am – 4 pm
Closed: Mons, Tues, Weds, & Nov. 26th

Sol, Jason, and Claire are bringing gifts back to the Gift Shop! They’re stocking the Gift Shop with presents they have made together and individually, along with contributions from their friends. During the three weeks of the exhibition anyone is invited to make a gift, bring it in, and exchange it for one they find. In the spirit of “white elephant” and “secret santa” games, this encourages speculation, anticipation, excitement (or disappointment?)—challenging each of us to confront our desires and expectations. What are you willing to give? What do you expect and hope for in return? This project examines the celebratory aspect of making art and giving, the element of surprise in getting presents and in collaborating, and the potential for new relationships and dialogue within our community.

The exchange of gifts will begin during the opening party this Friday the 20th from 5 – 8 pm. Anyone who wants to participate can wrap a gift, place it in the gallery, and choose one to take home. The gift exchange will continue during the Henry’s regular gallery hours, Friday November 20th through Sunday December 13th.

________________________________________
The Gift Shop Project # 2 of 6

This is the second in a series of artist-initiated projects which temporarily re-purpose the Henry Art Gallery gift shop. We have created something very much like an autonomous, alternative artist-run exhibition space off of the museum lobby. Goals include: involving a diverse and interesting group of artists; developing means and methods which acknowledge the contingent nature of this particular site; generating new understandings of what an exhibition can be; and enjoying the pleasure and energy generated by working together. Artists! You do not have to accept the context which you are given. Create your own context! gift.shop.project@gmail.com

Tonight, you belong to me.

If you want to see I know, I know, an installation by Jenny Zwick and Joe Park in the Gift Shop, the clock is ticking.
Sunday is the last day. You’re  invited to say a more active, musical goodbye to this installation with the artists on Sunday at 2PM
Please learn this song, bring your (acoustic and portable only, please) instruments, and plan to sing.
Gift Shop reviews here, on Another Bouncing Ball and here, in The Stranger.

I know, I know
Sing-and-Play-Along
2:00 PM on Sunday, November 15

  E
I know (I know)
      E7         A        Am
You belong - to somebody new
     E            B       E      B
But Tonight you belong to me...
  E
Although (Although)
       E7          A          Am
We're apart - your part of my heart..
       E         B        E      B
And tonight you belong to me...
     Am
Way down by the stream..

How sweet it will seem..
     E            F#
Once more just to dream
       B
In the moonlight...
           E
My honey I know...
          E7        A           Am
With the dawn..that you will be gone..

But tonight you belong to me...
Way down way down along the stream..
How very very sweet it will seem..
Once more just to dream in the silvery moonlight...
My honey I know...
With the dawn..that you will be gone..
But tonight you belong to me...
Just to little old me...

Final performance by Stokley Towles tomorrow: Waterlines

Final Waterlines Performance – Saturday, Nov. 14

Photo by Kelly O for the Stranger

From stokelytowles.com:

The October Waterlines performances sold out so I extended the run into November. Final performance–45-minute running time–is at Noodle Works Studios on Saturday, November 14th @ 7 pm. Admission: $11.  Noodleworks is located in Seattle at 802 6th Ave. South (at Dearborn). It’s a red brick building kitty-corner to Uwajimaya’s parking lot. For tickets and directions go to Brown Paper TIckets — Buy tickets for Waterlines.

A review of Waterlines: here. Video excerpt: here.

I am strong (strong), I am invincible (invincible), I am attending a screening next week

This just in, brand new screening series at the Hiawatha Building:

FEMINIST FORM
presents video work by:

Wynne Greenwood and K8 Hardy
Saturday, November 21
Doors open at 7:30pm
Screening begins at 8pm
Hiawatha Artist Lofts Community Room
843 Hiawatha Pl. S
Seattle
$5 – $10 Sliding Scale
Suggested Donation

Chair seating is limited, please come early if you want to sit in a chair. Plenty of floor seating. Feminist Form is a screening series of feminist and queer media from the Pacific Northwest.

Wynne Greenwood and K8 Hardy have been collaborating since 2002. Included in the screening will be TV Lip Sync, 2002, and two videos from their ongoing project New Report, New Report, 2005, and the documentation of the live performance New Report: Morning Edition, in which the reporters hold an intimate deliberation on the objectification of the biological female body. This is the Seattle debut of this project. (This does contain graphic imagery.)