Remember when we weren’t stuck at home? Remember when we used to go places? Evin Collis does. He’s selected a show of work that “nods towards the allures and trappings of public transit, maps, traffic, cycling as well as leisurely strolls in the neighborhood.” Boy, those were the days. Enjoy.

While museums across the country have chosen to lay off or furlough educators, at the Asian Art Museum the education department is busily at work. From Hyperallergic: “The museum is a site of cultural production for the community, Chen thinks. That is one of the reasons she feels it’s so important to keep education staff, whom she sees as intertwined with the curatorial staff and vital for engaging audiences. “I view the education department in a prominent role and position in art institutions and blending with the curatorial more seamlessly,” Chen said. “Taking action now is way more important than Read More …

Hugs Nonverbal Communication The wall full of messy fabric Hugs from Fifi Creativity Unfiltered unexpected love  Honest caring and nurturing Alan Sounds Stories in the garden Soundscape Silence together in the same space Garden full of folks Felicia’s questions Conversations with artists Daily interactions with artists Movement, music, laughter, comfort of being there Vista looking out at everyone working All of it Seeing art The morning studio Things to do – a sense of purpose Everything Joking around with buddies Walking by people working and seeing what they’re doing

Using a selection of works from our artists, we’re offering a plethora of Zoom backdrops, perfect for a business meeting, social hour or family connection. There is likely one for every taste and preference (with the artist’s name embedded on the image, in case anyone asks you). And they are free! Here’s a step-by-step guide: 1. Download the NIAD background(s) to a folder on your computer. 2. In the Zoom app, click your profile in the top right corner, and click Settings.  3. On the menu to the left, click Virtual Background.  4. You’ll see a few default background options provided by Zoom, including Read More …

Move the furniture out of the living room, roll up the rug and get ready to dance… Gallerist Sammy Kapp (Kapp Kapp) creates a killer mix of hi-energy cuts. Listen here.

From Hyperallergic: “I had always assumed that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was a voice that could be trusted to guide Americans through the present global pandemic, save for its flip-flopping position on the efficacy of wearing face masks in public. After all, I had shared the CDC’s safety guidelines concerning the novel coronavirus with students in my Asian art history classes before we made the transition to virtual learning. Instead, it was with a mixture of shock and disbelief that I saw my colleague Michele Matteini’s Facebook post about a Chinese textile gracing the cover of Read More …

From Artforum: Despite the current shelter-at-home orders in effect in California, a number of businesses across the state are opening their doors, defying measures that were enacted to protect the public from the the novel coronavirus, which had infected more than 60,600 people and caused the death of 2,462 at the time of publication. Among those refusing to stay closed are two Bay Area art galleries who believe that shuttering for six weeks was enough.   “Public officials: know that we’re prepared to risk fines, arrest, or jail,” wrote dealers Quent and Linda Cordair of Quent Cordair Fine Art in Read More …

From Hyperallergic about Marilyn Chase’s new biography of Ruth Osawa: “While raising six children, hosting friends and artists at her home, and spending countless hours making her own art, Asawa also dedicated her career to attending school board meetings and improving children’s experiences of the arts through a grassroots approach. “Where other people might have spent more time in the studio or [might have] given time and thought and energy and resources toward burnishing their image… she was all about just giving it away,” Chase explained in a phone interview with Hyperallergic. Throughout her text, Chase pulls out important milestones Read More …

Number five is a lively selection of songs from artist/ designer/ dee jay Bill Zindel. And they are all songs Bill has spun over the years at various Art Center parties. Enjoy.

During this pandemic, Kate Mothes has selected a show that explores her new sense of home. As she explains, “(M)y family has been more tender to one another; my cat has never been so spoiled; spring wildflowers are popping up in the backyard and I have the time to monitor their daily progress; and a weekly trip to the grocery store becomes an adventure.” Please, check out her exhibition.

We have a solution for your weekend. Are you ready? Why not check out out latest playlist on Spotify? We’ve asked our artists, our staff, artists we’ve exhibited or worked with or just people we really like to create playlists (on Spotify) for all of us to enjoy at this moment. Last week, we offered you the first three mixes created in our series. Every few days, we will release a new one. Our latest is selected by Nan Collymore. Nan is an amazing artist and a facilitator for our artists. Oh, and she’s a terrific writer, too. Enjoy!

From Two Coats Of Paint: Plagens writes “While this plague is upon us, however, and students and faculty have been driven from the classroom, necessity must be the mother of pedagogical invention. Several artists I know who also teach are venturing into the breach with different solutions…” Plagens than interviews several educators on their methods, successes and pitfalls. Read it here.

Germano Celant, the towering Italian critic, curator, and scholar whose wide-ranging interpretations and exhibitions altered the trajectory of contemporary art and made him a leading voice in the field, has died in Milan at eighty years old due to complications from Covid-19. The author of hundreds of books, essays, and articles that coincided with as many large-scale exhibitions, Celant is most closely affiliated with arte povera, a term he coined in 1967 for the association of Italian avant-garde artists who made meaning from mundane materials and challenged the role of art itself. (via Artforum)

We’re in a bit of a dystopic moment right now. And it sure would be great to blame some evil robots for it. But, we can’t, right? Well, Miles Rodriguez – a big fan of the Terminator franchise films — has a crafted a superb show that reminds us COVID-19 is not the only thing to fear. View the exhibition. And/ or read Miles’ blog post about his experiences during this pandemic.

Miles Rodriguez, a barista-in-training in Portland Oregon, has selected the next in our weekly series of online exhibition. His show, “EVIL ROBOTS!,” will post in a few days (if you cannot wait, you can see it here, now). Miles is also the son of Amelia Opie, an artist who has had several exhibitions at NIAD. Miles talks about his recent experience with sheltering-in-place: On March 6th I showed up to the coffee cart where I had been working, learning how to make and serve specialty coffee drinks to people. When I got there it was closed, and nobody was there. Read More …

Like us, you’re very likely sheltering-in-place and looking for something to do. And, since, maybe, you’ve already completed our free downloadable coloring books, we have a new project to help you pass the time. We’ve asked our artists, our staff, artists we’ve exhibited or worked with or just people we really like to create playlists (on Spotify) for all of us to enjoy at this moment. Last week, we offered you the first one created by our artists (it was embedded in our newsletter.) Every few days, we will release a new one. Here’s our second mix. It was created Read More …

Hey… It’s Spring and we had a prom! It was a bit different than the usual shindig. Since we’re sheltering-in-place, we held this one on the Internet (via Zoom.) But it was also quite conventional. Everyone in attendance was dressed to the nines (including corsages made from recycled materials). And there was a prom theme (Starry Night), a deejay and dancing! Alycia Cowen, one of our NIAD artists, came up with the whole idea. And it was perfect!

Abel Guzman has selected a perfect means of escape for those of us sheltering-in-place: a galactic fashion show! As Abel explains, “Models fashioned Death Star clutches, Predator masks, numerical and homeomorphic snake patterns, halo forcefield headdresses, and robot cyclone scarfs; hanging from techno exoskeleton cages.” Have a look.

Now that NIAD is heading into week six of offsite services, our work is focused on maintaining and improving supports for artists to continue their contemporary art practices. If you’ve donated to NIAD’s Mobile Art Fund, purchased art, reached out to stay connected with us on social media or in an email, or kept up with our updates, this work is happening thanks to you.  We’re closing the technology gaps in our community, ensuring access to hygiene masks and gloves, and stepping up our learning to support the community through crisis and transition, so that we know artists and their Read More …

From KQED: “NIAD, Creative Growth and Creativity Explored, all rooted in hands-on art-making and face-to-face interactions, are turning to technology in an effort to reach their artists at home. Those “at home” situations vary: artists live in group homes, with family members or alone. Not everyone has access to a phone. Not everyone is verbal. The de facto video conferencing software may be inaccessible. For those able to join, NIAD has instituted a daily 11am check-in via Zoom to maintain the sense of community; some of those meetings are followed by games of bingo. “Twenty to thirty-five people every day Read More …