There will be an opening reception this Saturday for two new exhibitions. /Angelynn.

Last week was an eye-opening adventure. First day was filled with reading and reading. Second day was all about the physical labour of setting up an exhibition (which will be opening this coming Saturday at 265 S. Church Ave. MOCA!). Third day was of paints and paintbrushes!

A quick recap of my third day:
It started slow, as deflating red beach balls can only contain so much excitement and pleasure. Then Aili came back from her coffee run, and we went through the structures, checking for tidbits. She asked me, "How detailed-oriented are you?" Ignorant of her intentions, I blatantly answered, "Pretty." She passed me a bucket of paint and a brush, and I was set to touch up some of her pieces of styrofoam creatures. Ashley later joined in, along with Moira (another intern), and we enjoyed each other's company with chitchats. Before I knew it, my chauffeur was here, and the deed was done.


Today was the start of my second week with the beautiful people of MOCA. It started with the checking and rechecking of some more remaining auction items from the previous fund-raising Gala. After that, I helped moved some furniture around the building for Jocko's exhibition (...which will be opening this coming Saturday at MOCA!). Lunch time came around and it was decided that everyone would head out to the new HUB restaurant for some chow. I had Roasted Vegetable Tofu, some yummy fries with a kind of pepper-y sauce and feta cheese, and some wonderful ice-cream (salted caramel, blueberry pie, and Girl Scout Mint Chocolate cookies)! MOCA treated; I spewed many happy "Thank you"s. We trotted back with our full bellies and assumed our work. With Christian and Ashley, I cleaned up and organised the supplies room. Once we were done, we were released. I, however, stayed because there was an Art Now! lecture this evening. Also, the professor's name is Paul Ivey (I had forgotten in my second post).

This time, the subject was "Act Up: Art and Activism." We blew through many examples of art activism, talked about how art activists aim to disrupt for attention (media coverage), and discussed a lot about Hans Haacke and his work, which I found very interesting. What caught a hundred and ten percent of my attention was the discussion about the difference in the impressions made between the NAMES quilt project and the general art activist posters. Before I continue, NAMES is a memorial for the AIDS victims in the 80s, which is made up of plethoras of handmade quilts by families and friends, and anyone who wanted to participate, of AIDS victims. One very explicit difference between NAMES and posters is that NAMES is participatory, while posters are self-imposing ("in-your-face-ness" was the word we weaved). Because of the effort and energy that had to be invested into the quilts, and the sheer numbers and span of the quilts, the whole experience become very overwhelming for people. On the other hand, because of the mass prints and distribution of the posters, people become almost desensitised to the message; it may make an impact on first few sights, but after seeing it plastered everywhere in the city, it becomes "Oh, it's a clever poster."

After two sessions of Art Now! lectures, I'm getting back into the intellectually stimulating atmosphere and mindset..which I am glad about! My own independent reading also has aided me more of the background of the Museum. Ultimately, it's been a long, but fulfiilling day (seven hours at the museum today). And before I sign off...

This coming Saturday, March 5th, come to the opening reception for two new exhibitions: Aili Schmeltz's Tomorrowland and Jocko Weyland's The Slanted Broom! 6-7pm for members of MOCA, and 7-8pm for non-members. Where? At MOCA, 265 S. Church Ave. Free of charge. I will be there as well.

Hope to see you there, all.

Axk.