Angela Wattersprocess and pictures

Interesting conversation always occurs in the comments section of Paddy Johnson’s posts about Bravo’s “Work of Art,” on Art Fag City.  Frequent, impish commentators like  Jesse P. Martin regularly face off against show contestants/artists like Judith Braun, Trong Nguyen, Peregrine Honig, Erik Johnson, and Nicole Naudau with heated and interesting discussions about contemporary art.  Some times these discussions can get a little ridiculous, like when Erik Johnson flipped out on Paddy Johnson in the comments of the review of the Audi episode. I made the photograph below in response to Abdi Farah‘s painting on the show last week, which Martin feels is far too similar to the paintings of Alexander Ross. I see vague similarities, but don’t feel Abdi’s work is either knowingly or unknowingly derivative. Actually, I sort of wonder whether Abdi has ever seen my badass lamp.  I took a picture of it this morning on a red bookshelf in front of an unfinished painting.

Here are links to my collective’s CFE. Check out the first two entries to come in the mail at our Tumblr and Blog.

The Foster Collective, a Chicago based artist collective, seeks visual and written responses to the oil disaster in the Gulf. All entries must be on gas station paper towels. You can draw, paint, collage or write directly on the paper towel. Or, glue or tape your artwork/photograph to the paper towel. Paper towels can be found at any gas station and are usually in the same container as the windshield squeegee. Paper towels can be any color or texture.

Requirements:
1. Leave a 1inch margin at the top for hanging.
2. Please submit the whole paper towel. Do not cut or add to the dimensions, which are typically 9 1/8 x 10 1/8 inches.
3. Write your name, email address, and location on the back.

If you want your piece returned, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) with your entry. The postmark deadline for inclusion in the Landslide Gallery exhibition is July 19. We are currently exploring venues for future exhibitions in other cities. The Foster Collective does not charge an entry fee.

Postmark Deadline for Chicago Exhibition: July 19, 2010
Exhibition: Gulf Oil Disaster Response
Sponsor: The Foster Collective
Location: Landslide Gallery, Chicago, IL
Exhibition Dates: July 23-31, 2010

Mail your paper towels to:
The Foster Collective
C/O A. Watters
2531 N Talman, 1E
Chicago, IL 60647

Questions: fostercollective@gmail.com

I don’t love the show, Work of Art. But, I think it is entertaining. For me it works best when paired with Paddy Johnson’s commentary on Art Fag City.

I cut the top of the heads of the figures off, glued them back on with a glue gun and photographed them from above. I drew the sad face on the read head. It was inspired by an actual person without red hair, who shall remain nameless.  I wanted the face to be a cross between the typical face of one of these little figures and a face from a pain chart in a doctor’s office or hospital.