 photos by Boyd C. Ogle IISaving Souls Society was a panel, game, discussion and art project conceived by Camille Iemmolo and held at Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art at the Goshka Macuga Nature of the Beast Rountable. Iemmolo, inspired by Macuga's round table brought together a number of disparate creative minds--artists, collectors, musicians, advertising genius-types, comedians, teachers and half-assed sort of once upon a time journalists (cough cough) to talk about war, peace and the need for art and humor in a suffering society.But it wasn't just a discussion.Everyone received, in the mail, an item and a written theme. And they had to be prepared to discuss this theme in conjunction with the item. The discussion ranged from the personal to the historic and beyond. There was also a word jumble based on the first letter of each written theme with the prize being $500 to the winner's favorite charity.
This was the sort of project it was virtually impossible to walk out of not thinking. It was also a place where, after leaving, you wanted to go back and ask the participants questions.
Iemmolo is likely using some of the props from this in an art piece in the future. She collected the cardboard pistols that had to be aimed at whoever was speaking. Thankfully she did not collect the hats.
A list of participants will appear here later.
 SAVING SOULS SOCIETY and the Mystery Members-a creative war GAME takes place at 11 a.m., Saturday April 6 at the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art at the Nature of the Beast Round Table. FREE WITH ENTRY TO Chicago MCA.
SAVING SOULS SOCIETY is the creative brainchild of Chicago-based artist Camille Iemmolo. Iemmolo gathers together 16 creative minds, including such notables as Aaron Freeman (NPR), Terry Spencer Hesser (Chicago film maker), Jon Wyville and Dave Loew (award winning Leo Burnett creative team, and Will Rigby (via phone-drummer of the famed band DB's and a Duke of Steve Earle). The group will discuss themes of war, peace and the importance of art and humor in a suffering society WITHIN artist Goshka Macuga’s installation, the Nature of the Beast Roundtable. The Roundtable installation deals with world politics, art and Picasso's Guernica, one of the most political pieces of art ever made. SAVING SOULS SOCIETY will become part of Macuga's physical work by utilizing her round table in their discussion. But it is more than a typical discussion. The work springs from the mind of Iemmolo, maker of the 101/2ft. Band-Aid House -an installation covered in over 21,000 band-aids and scotch tape, regarding human suffering and how we endure, recently shown with Packer Schopf Gallery and ArtMiami. You know it isn’t just a bland discussion. Iemmolo continues her creative role in this new concept piece/game/panel exploring human suffering and art and the cross roads between the two. The artist aims to show, once again, that humor must exist in the darkest of times. Standing room only. It is an exhibit after all.
“When all alone dying in a locked dark box it may just be the magical key to unlock the door to set your mind free and when one steps outside the box with laughter and art in hand you may just find yourself writing a guide to surviving life. Come, listen, watch.- toy guns and laugh tracks in the house…”
 René Portocarrero, Interior del Cerro Alejandro Anreus pHd, an art/Latin American Studies professor at William Paterson University, is giving two lectures at Cernuda Arte, 3155 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables at 7 p.m. Wednesday, August 29 and 7 p.m.Thursday August 30 on the 100 year anniversary of the births of two Cuban masters; Mariano Rodríguez and René Portocarrero. The lectures will be delivered in English. The first lecture is entitled Mariano: Forms and Identity. Anreus will discuss the life and work of modernist, Mariano, and his use and development of forms; the female body, the rooster signifying identity. The changes in the artist’s work will be discussed in the context of changes in Cuban society. The second lecture is Portocarrero: A Joyous and Tropical Baroque. This lecture will focus on the life and workof Portocarrero, from his early Mexican influence to his later, more mature, work. Many regard the artist to be one of the greatest Cuban painters of his generation. Anreus is a critic, historial and scholar who was born in Havana. He received his BA in Art History from Kean College and his Masters then pHd from City University of New York. He is the author of numerous books and articles and has lectured extensively. To make reservations call Emily Codik 305-461-1050 (or) e-mail emilyc@cernudaarte.com.
 Scott Wolniak’s current exhibit at Andrew Rafacz Gallery, 835 W. Washington Blvd in Chicago, Connoisseurship of Rubble, will be the subject of a talk by Wolniak at 3 p.m., Saturday March 17, 2012. Wolniak will talk about urban rock collectiong, spastic technique, object aura, integrated painting, carving and color theory. A reception and conversation will follow. Refreshments will be served.
 Civilian Art Projects in Washington D.C. is having a reading combined with visual projections, and a live soundscape THIS Saturday, August 13th at 6 p.m. Danielle de Picciotto, artist and Berlin club scenster will read from her memoir, The Beauty of Transgression. Alexander Hacke of Einstürzende Neubauten (probably the only industrial band that matters) will perform those live electronic soundscapes for your amusement as well. The event will set you back a whopping $5. So be there. They also hint that they just MIGHT play an unreleased Neubauten film collage Picciotto edited for the group’s thirtieth anniversary tour last year. Again. FIVE BUCKS. It is in DC so I am sure there will be lots of members of Congress there too. Civilian is located at 1019 7th Street NW, Washington, DC
Civilian Art Projects are having a talk by Baltimore artist Seth Adelsberger. He will be discussing his exhibit, Bordering on Painting at 4 pm. Saturday, April 9 at 1019 7th St NW, second floor in Washington D.C. If you want to understand an artist listening to them talk about their work (and interacting with them) is probably the best way. You can expect to hear technique, concept and opinion on art to be discussed. We did write something on the opening of this exhibition. While you are there check out the work of Patrick McDonough (entitled Opening Act). This consists of four independent but interconnected projects on the subject of fan behavior (as in music fans). There is art basted on music, sound pieces and a tattoo piece. Sounds pretty marvelous. It will be on exhibit until May 28, 2011. Public hours are Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. You can also make an appointment for other hours if you are in a buying mood. Civilian is a gallery dedicated to both emerging artists and more established folks. They do more than just stuff AT the gallery apparently so if you live in the area, or plan to visit, check their site.
climate, control is an exhibit presented by Civilian Art Projects (and the lower case “c” is on purpose). This is a three-way exhibit by J.J. McCracken, Jan Razauskas & Millicent Young. The name relates to the artists and their response to immediate surroundings and their work. They use different materials—from clay to horsehair—in the works to be displayed. The exhibit was curated by Kristina Bilonick and Karyn Miller. The website says there is an “intense focus on the precision of artistic production, and a sense of significance in the medium they chose to work in.” One would hope that was ALLLWAYS the case! But writing about an exhibit is a bitch. Writing about the art and more than a vague sense of what it is and where it comes from can be elusive and the best thing for you to do is go see it. The Exhibit runs from January 21 through February 19, 2011 There is an opening reception Friday, January 21 from 7 to 9 p.m. An artist talk will take place at 4 p.m. Saturday, February 19, 2011.
Professor and researcher, Anelys Alvarez, will conduct a series of lectures on her specialty, Cuban art history, specifically Cuban Painting at the Turn of the Century. The three lectures are presented by Cernuda Arte in Coral Gables, Florida and begin January 26, 2011, ending February 9, 2011. The lectures will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. at Cernuda Arte, 3155 Ponce de Leon Blvd in Coral Gables. From 1878 to 1927 was a period of innovation and change in Cuban painting built by a group of prominent Cuban artists. The talks will focus on the links between tradition and the new providing a new perspective on these artists and the transformative nature of their work. Alvarez studied Art History at the University of Havana and received a B.A. and M.A., teaching Art History and Letters from 2005-10. Lecture topics will vary and will be in Spanish. Visit the Cernuda website for details.
Toys are art sometimes aren’t they? I know I thought my Star Trek dolls were when I was a kid. Mark Nagata agrees with me. He has the biggest collection of Ultraman toys outside of Japan. Morikami Museum & Gardens are about to be invaded by these kaijū this coming Wednesday and Nagata and Professor James B. Levy, also a collector of these Japanese vinyl toys, will speak about them. The toys, first made in the 60s and 70s, were seen as throwaways but over the years have become collector’s items because of their design and artistry. The cost is $10 or $7 for members. The Consulate General of Japan collaborated on this event as did Tate’s Comics, who are supplying prizes.
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