Explain Me

The Uncanny Valley of Art World ChatGPT

Even when the A.I. chatbot ChatGPT gets everything wrong, it still sounds right. And that's some uncanny valley right there. In this episode of Art Problems, I talk about ChatGPT and the larger A.I. field, some of the ethical issues involved, and see just how much the bot knows about the art world. Spoiler alert: it still can't write your artist statement. Boo.

Defining Contemporary Kitsch: Part 2 of The New York Art Fairs

What does contemporary kitsch look like? In this episode, Paddy and William use a discussion of the art fairs and New York gallery scene to lead a defining of the term. From its generic definition of objects described to be in poor taste because of excessive garishness or sentimentality, to the current nostalgia driving a tasted for recycled art movements, all kitsch lacks in originality. Listen in for the whole conversation. THE INDEPENDENT Kenny Schachter at Allouche Benias Gallery Renate Druks at The Ranch, Olivia Reavey at Helena Anrather 1-54 CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN ART FAIR Sanaa Gateja at 50 Golborne WonderBuhle at BKhz Gallery VOLTA Michael Foley GALLERIES Judith Linhares at PPOW JTT Gallery Anna-Sophie Berger and Sam McKinniss Sky Hopinka at Broadway Gallery Paul Mpagi Sepuya at Bortalami Nora Turato at 52 Walker Gallery ARTICLES The Downward Spiral: 59th Venice Biennial [https://www.spikeartmagazine.com/?q=articles/downward-spiral-59th-venice-biennale] by Dean Kissick

What The New York Art Fairs Tell Us About Art

Art media does a great job at looking forward to art events, yet rarely looks back to reflect on what these happenings say about the cultural moment. In this episode of Explain Me, co-hosts Paddy Johnson and William Powhida do a deep dive into the fairs to discuss the deeply conservative sales landscape we've been sinking into over the past ten years. ARTISTS DISCUSSED Carlos Jacanamijoy’s 2020 ab ex painting “Carminos de Luz” at Harper’s Laurie Reid’s “Ballast” at Et Al. Gallery The Baboon Chair by  Margaux Valengin at Pact Paul Gabrelli’s “Everyday Objects” at New Discretions Elliot Reed at Anonymous Gallery Dan Colen at Gagosian Al Freeman at 56 Henry Tessa Lynch’s text-based compositions at Patricia Fleming Gallery Scott Lyal at Migeul Abbreu Gallery Aaron Garber-Maikovska Casja von Zeipel’s Celesbian Terrain Kevin McCoy’s corporate-sponsored display of Quantum and some generative artworks by Jennifer and Kevin McCoy. Pedro Reyes, Alex da Corte, Nayland Blake, Alex Katz, Matthew Wong,

Whitney Biennial Report: Care and Caution

We're baaaaack! After a four month break William and Paddy return with some big news about the podcast and an in depth conversation on The Whitney Biennial. We do the full dive here: What are the themes? How is it organized? Is it worth seeing? Is it too cautious? Who are the notable omissions? Why do these omissions matter? Artist discussed: Cy Gavin [https://whitney.org/exhibitions/2022-biennial?section=25#exhibition-artworks] Rebecca Belmore [https://whitney.org/exhibitions/2022-biennial?section=6#exhibition-artworks] Guadalupe Rosales [https://whitney.org/exhibitions/2022-biennial?section=51#exhibition-artworks] Lucy Raven [https://whitney.org/exhibitions/2022-biennial?section=47#exhibition-artworks] Kandis Williams [https://whitney.org/exhibitions/2022-biennial?section=9#exhibition-artworks] Raven Chacon [https://whitney.org/exhibitions/2022-biennial?section=11#exhibition-artworks] Na Mira [https://whitney.org/exhibitions/2022-biennial?section=40#exhibition-artworks] Alex Da Corte [https://whitney.org/exhibitions/2022-biennial?section=16#exhibition-artworks] Trinh T. Minh-ha [https://whitney.org/exhibitions/2022-biennial?section=59#exhibition-artworks] Coco Fusco [https://whitney.org/exhibitions/2022-biennial?section=22#exhibition-artworks] Dave McKenzie [https://whitney.org/exhibitions/2022-biennial?section=38#exhibition-artworks] Jacky Connolly [https://whitney.org/exhibitions/2022-biennial?section=14#exhibition-artworks] Alfredo Jaar [https://whitney.org/exhibitions/2022-biennial?section=30#exhibition-artworks] WangShui [https://whitney.org/exhibitions/2022-biennial?section=60#exhibition-artworks] Daniel Joseph Martinez [https://whitney.org/exhibitions/2022-biennial?section=37#exhibition-artworks] Jason Rhoades [https://whitney.org/exhibitions/2022-biennial?section=49#exhibition-artworks] Rick Lowe [https://whitney.org/exhibitions/2022-biennial?section=36#exhibition-artworks] Pao Houa Her [https://whitney.org/exhibitions/2022-biennial?section=28#exhibition-artworks] Nayland Blake [https://whitney.org/exhibitions/2022-biennial?section=8#exhibition-artworks] Awilda Sterling-Duprey [https://whitney.org/exhibitions/2022-biennial?section=56#exhibition-artworks] Matt Connors [https://whitney.org/exhibitions/2022-biennial?section=15#exhibition-artworks] Leidy Churchman [https://whitney.org/exhibitions/2022-biennial?section=12#exhibition-artworks] Monica Arreola [https://whitney.org/exhibitions/2022-biennial?section=3#exhibition-artworks] James Little [https://whitney.org/exhibitions/2022-biennial?section=35#exhibition-artworks] Ralph Lemon [https://whitney.org/exhibitions/2022-biennial?section=33#exhibition-artworks] Jane Dickson [https://whitney.org/exhibitions/2022-biennial?section=19#exhibition-artworks]

Flux Factory Buys Building, Retains Soul

How many times have we seen artist-centered communities lose their grass roots identity when they buy property? High profile organizations that have shed their founders vision as they gained visibility such as the New Museum and Meow Wolf serve as cautionary tales. The quality of the work they produce suffers and their poor treatment of employees makes headlines. That's to say nothing of personality-less art complexes like The Shed, which cement the wealth of their funders while meagerly contributing to the city's cultural life. But these types of cultural outcomes are a choice and not an inevitable destiny, a reality made clear in this episode's interview with Flux Factory's Nat Roe. In his role as residency Executive Director, Roe recently secured $5 million from the city to purchase the building the organization has been working out of since 2009. Additionally, the organization will now operate a new satellite location, Flux IV, a the 3000 square foot ground floor gallery space on the ground floor of Gotham Point’s South Tower building. At no point in our discussion did we talk about significant changes that needed to be made to Flux's DNA to make this acquisition happen. Rather we talked about the importance of sound proofing their building so they don't disturb the neighbors. In the midst of LIC, a homogenized tech-enclave for Manhattan commuters, this grass roots artist organization and residency program will now serve as a permanent beacon of creative energy for the community. Can the DCLA support other smaller arts organizations in New York by helping them purchase real estate? Nat Roe gives us the skinny, going full wonk on city policy, while offering a history of Flux Factory and its place in the New York City arts landscape. SHOW LINKSHelp Launch Flux Factory's new venue, Flux IV [https://www.fluxfactory.org/launchfluxiv/]The Western Queens Community Land Trust [https://wqclt.org/about-us]—artist Jenny Dubnau is a co-chair of the board.NY Times Tribeca Art Galleries [https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/15/t-magazine/tribeca-art-galleries.htm], JuneNY Times Tribeca Art Galleries [https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/28/arts/design/tribeca-art-galleries.html], October article    How many times have we seen artist-centered arts organizations lose their NYC Club Scene debt? New York Times [https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/19/nyregion/nyc-clubs-pandemic-debt.html]Secret Project Robot [https://www.secretprojectrobot.org/about]NYC Commercial Rent Law [https://commercialobserver.com/2021/09/commercial-rent-control-bill-comes-under-fire-during-city-council-hearing/]