Quick and Dramatic or Careful and Quiet

July 30th, 2007 admin

What kind of art genius are you?

Last summer while waiting in an airport in Maine I read an article on an economist theory of creativity.

“What he has found is that genius – whether in art or architecture or even business – is not the sole province of 17-year-old Picassos and 22-year-old Andreessens. Instead, it comes in two very different forms, embodied by two very different types of people. “Conceptual innovators,” as Galenson calls them, make bold, dramatic leaps in their disciplines. They do their breakthrough work when they are young. Think Edvard Munch, Herman Melville, and Orson Welles. They make the rest of us feel like also-rans. Then there’s a second character type, someone who’s just as significant but trudging by comparison. Galenson calls this group “experimental innovators.” Geniuses like Auguste Rodin, Mark Twain, and Alfred Hitchcock proceed by a lifetime of trial and error and thus do their important work much later in their careers. Galenson maintains that this duality – conceptualists are from Mars, experimentalists are from Venus – is the core of the creative process. And it applies to virtually every field of intellectual endeavor, from painters and poets to economists.”

The article by Daniel H. Pink appeared in the July 2006 issue of Wired Magazine. You can find the whole article here.

Posted in Art, The Process | No Comments »

Art For Postal Workers

July 29th, 2007 admin

I am a fan of all inclusive art projects. I discovered a nice project called Mail Me Art on the blog Lost At E Minor today.

The project was created by a guy named Darren Di Lieto over in London. The idea is to mail packaging that is art. Or maybe art that is a package. Eventually the submissions will be displayed in a gallery. There are prizes and cash as well being offered.

Check it out here and send some Fort Collins creativity across the pond.

Posted in Art, Projects | 1 Comment »

Watermelon Slices

July 28th, 2007 admin

Have you seen the giant Watermelon Slices out at Cottonwood Glen Park? The sculpture is part of Fort Collins Art in Public Places program. The two large steel pieces almost look lonely sitting by themselves at a distance from the playground. But you got to love their simplicity.

The artist is Christopher Weed and he is from Colorado Springs. This is his statement for the Watermelon Slices:

“After learning about the farming history of Fort Collins, Colorado, I was inspired to create an abstract sculpture that the modern mind can connect with the enduring past. It was important to me that this piece addresses the rich and diligent history of Fort Collins’ farming community while maintaining a light-hearted and uplifting sense of spirit. I was able to take a colossal part of farming history and create a timeless sculpture that the community can reflect upon and enjoy for years to come. The final result is a playful, creative, and thought-provoking sculpture. The choice to place the identical pieces at different angles from one another achieves a precarious balance, adding a sense of perpetual motion to the sculpture and provides a unique sighting of the piece from both entrances. Offering 360-degree viewing, the industrial steel rivets in place of the seeds and is inviting to touch. This creates a tactile relationship between object and viewer. It is important that the artist not fill in all the blanks, thus leaving something to the imagination. The piece I created reflects the spirit and nature of Fort Collins’ history and the strong community- young and old alike.”

If you want to see them for yourself and do not know where Cottonwood Glen Park is just take Overland Trail south until it dead ends into a parking lot. That is the park.

You can see more of Chris’s work at his web site www.chrisweed.com

Posted in Fort Collins, Public Places | No Comments »

Very Short List

July 27th, 2007 admin

Real quick one here gang. Last night I discovered a cool service for those into art. Everyday a web site called Very Short List sends out and email about something in the art world you may have missed. The web site is www.veryshortlist.com. Check it out and sign up if it suits you.

(Today I learned about The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing, a 1955 film that stars Joan Collins.)

Posted in Art on the Web | No Comments »

Your Invited to a Reunion

July 25th, 2007 admin

I got a post card in the mail from the Colorado Coalition of Artists a few days back. CoCOA is have a coast-to-coast regathering of 6 alumni artists from Colorado State University.

The show runs from August 3rd to the 30th at CoCOA’s Gallery, 423 S. Mason St., Fort Collins.

The six artists are: Steve Allen, Steve Smith, Daniel Genova,
John Garretson, Randall Wilson, Randy Yeates.

The opening is August 3rd from 6 to 9 PM.

It should also be noted that there are special hours during New West Fest. 2pm to 6pm Saturday August 18th and 1pm to 4pm Sunday August 19th.

Posted in Event, Fort Collins | 1 Comment »

Taggart Goes Back to Work

July 24th, 2007 admin

An observant eye in Old Town Fort Collins might spot a Beverly Hills detective every now and then. Actor John Ashton has made Fort Collins his home for some years now. Sgt. John Taggart in the Beverly Hills Cop movies is probably his most well known role. Also notable is Midnight Run with Ed Harris.

I’ve seen him around and always wondered how and why he ended up in Fort Collins. Guess he was just waiting for the right part to come along. And according to the Rocky Mountain News that happened when Ben Affleck called him for a part in Gone Baby Gone, a movie Affleck wrote (based on a Dennis Lehane novel) and directed. Ashton is quoted as saying he is jaded with the business but not the craft of acting.

The movie is schedule to be released October 19th. It will be good to see Mr. Ashton go from our humble streets of Fort Collins back to the big screen. Now if only I could get an interview with him for ZAF622.com.

Posted in Film, Fort Collins | 2 Comments »

Don’t Lose Your To-Do List

July 22nd, 2007 admin

If you see a scrap of notebook paper on the street are you tempted to pick it up and see if there is anything worth reading? It just may be worth the trouble it takes to pick it up. The discarded To-Do lists and notes from other people can be quite funny out of context.

A guy named Davy found a note on his windshield in Chicago. It was not meant for him, it was a case of mistaken vehicle identity. But the note was so interesting he could not help share it with friends. Friends who also had found notes to share. The eventually led to the creation of the magazine Found.

That was in 2001. Since then there has been many issues published as well as books collecting all things found. Found Magazine has a great website as well. It is easy to get sucked in looking at all the notes and lists and trying to imagine what spurred their creation.

Be careful with your notes and To-Do lists, they may end up published.

Davy’s first find.

Posted in Art on the Web | No Comments »

FoCo LoCo Perfecto!

July 20th, 2007 admin

When: August 1st 2007

Where: Hodi’s Half Note, 167 N. College, Fort Collins

What: A Celebration of Fort Collins Creative Culture presented by Studio Gallery Wright and the Rocky Mountain Chronicle.
Art Opening with Live Music from:

MFA: Loop Lab
Listen & Pretty Lights
Professor Zero One Zero

A three month art show with painting, photography and mixed media.

Featuring 10 Local Artists:

Chris Bates

Adrian Davis

Juruseh Hill

Ryane Hall

Phil Lewis

Brandton Manshel

Jordan Marsh

Justin VanAlstyne

Erin Wright

Jonny Wright

For more information click here.

Posted in Event | No Comments »

The New Home for ZAF622’s Blog

July 19th, 2007 admin

Welcome to the new and improved ZAF622 Blog. I just got it up and running and there is a lot to do still. Some tweaking and defining. But stay tuned and don’t forget to subscribe.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Captain America Is Dead

July 7th, 2007 Daryle Dickens

If you have not heard the news, in Captain America #25(March 7, 2007) the Marvel
Comics Superhero was gunned down by a sniper and killed.  This week is the funeral.

So what is Marvel trying to say?

That seems to be the question people are asking. Captain America who has proudly dressed in the Red, White, and Blue since 1941 has represented the fighting spirit of our nation. He was introduced before the United States military involvement in World War Two to fight Hitler. Cap went to war before we did. And in the pages of comic books he has been fighting our battles ever since.

Now the United States is at war once again and Marvel killed the character that represents our spirit. Is Marvel saying America is dead as well? Captain America has always been a rallying point for the characters in the Marvel Universe. A cause Cap was behind was a cause worthy for everyone on the side of good to be behind. Now they have lost that rally point.

One thing to remember is that rarely does a comic book character stay in the grave. So I am sure one day Captain America will be back. Maybe when…

Posted in Art | 1 Comment »