I was moping a bit today thinking I had not done anything much this past year, so I wrote a list up.
After a while, I had to edit the down to the following summary, so the mood has improved seeing as something or another was accomplished…
Curating Art Exhibits:
**Orange County Biennial at the Muckenthaler in Fullerton … (it got a good review behind the curtain)
**Minimalism: Then, Now and In Between …(no reviews but damn if it wasn’t the best looking art show I ever organized)
**Art World Poker … (got a lot of press. Google it and find out. Definitely the biggest success I have had curating in terms of buzz, press and enthusiasm)
**Surviving Kinkade … (great looking show critiquing the Painter of Light where I provided officially licensed Thomas Kinkade frames and 12 interesting artists made work about the phenomena surrounding the artist. Great fun + feedback = Satisfaction)
Speaking Engagements:
**Spoke about art and my art writing as part of the Eminent Speakers Program at Bakersfield College
**Organized and taught a seminar: Art World Bootcamp. This was another big success as far as buzz and enthusiasm.
Blogging:
Organized, administered and co-wrote an exhaustive Top 100 Angels for Halos Heaven in addition to daily blogmaster chores at the site there as Reverend Halofan
Writing:
**Wrote a 2000 word essay in the Edward Colver Restrospective book.
**Wrote the intro to Dave Naz’ book that was supposed to be called Lolitas but here was some legal problems, so it got titled Fresh Girls of Seduction and Amazon caled me “Matthew” Gleason – which only judges, cops and my mom call me.
Was published quite a bit in ArtScene Magazine which wisely –and unlike my publication- archives its issues on the web.
**Examined the legacy of Robert Rauschenberg on the occasion of his retrospective. My biggest disappointment of the year was not getting any feedback on this essay, as I felt it went beyond the limits of conventional art writing.
**Previewed the Dan Douke retrospective
**Covered the latest Rick Monzon solo show
**Wrote a feature on four older Los Angeles Artists.
Published Six issues of Coagula Art Journal.
Travel
Vegas in December and August, Bakersfield in October, Napa in June, San Diego in May and December.
Art Exhibitions
Baird Jones curated a 2-person show at the Paterson Museum in NJ with some collages of mine he owns and the work of actress Sylvia Miles.
Family
Became an Uncle to triplets.
Attended my neice’s wedding.
Attended Leigh’s nehew’s graduation in Northern California
Leigh and I hosted my brother Harry’s 50th Birthday Party.
Administrative
**Administered two (spring and fall) Brewery Artwalks as president of the non-profit Brewery Artwalk Association (a LOT of people volunteer on this so I am not “taking credit” for the event)
**Maintained many other freelance writing jobs to make ends meet here (in case you are looking for a writer…).
…and finally…
Bought a red truck.