Alexander Ferrando "Lookin' for Love"

Last night I attended an opening reception of an artist and great friend of mine, Alexander Ferrando. After spending more than a year in the city of Berlin, Alex has returned to Chicago to finish up his last year of school here at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Ferrando's exhibition "Lookin' for Love" Photographs from Berlin was held at the Plaines Project, an alternative art space at 1822 South Des Plaines Street here in Chicago. The series of photographs captured Ferrando in the moment of an embrace with male strangers lingering throughout the streets of Berlin. The upstairs space contained six mounted photographs from this series, while in the basement of the gallery was a quiet projection. The video was slowed in time and the subject matter was of Ferrando and his partner, Clayton Flynn. The two expressed affection in their stance as they stood facing one another with their eyes gently closed and only allowing their noses to touch as they stood apart in bright sunlight. The opening was delightful and I look forward to seeing more of what Alex will be creating. He is recently working on several new projects at a business here in Chicago called "The Bijou". Exciting new work seems to be in the works at this venue that Alex has recently become acquainted with. Congrats Man!



Pilar Tena and Clay Flynn mingle around during the opening of Alexander Ferrando's show "Lookin' for Love" Photographs from Berlin.



A view of the upstairs exhibition.



The video projection downstairs of Flynn and Ferrando.

Museum of Contemporary Art

I recently attended the exhibition "Sympathy for the Devil: Art and Rock and Roll Since 1967" at the MCA with my friends Tamia and Esteban. The show opened on September 29th and will go on till January 6, 2008.


As stated on the website, "Sympathy for the Devil: Art and Rock and Roll Since 1967 examines the dynamic relationship between rock music and contemporary visual art, a relationship that crosses continents, generations, and cultures. Since the late 1950s this unlikely hybrid of rhythm-and-blues and country music has had an undeniable impact on society while drastically changing with the times. "


Some pieces in the exhibition include paintings by Mike Kelley that are based om a band formed by University of Michigan art students Jim Shaw, Niagara, filmmaker Cary Loren and Mike Kelley himself. Filling up a large portion of the exhibiton room in the lower floor of the MCA, is a piece by Rirkrit Tiravanija entitled "Untitled 1996 (Rehearsal Studio No. 6 Silent Version)" this piece offers visitors an hour of free rehearsal time in a makeshift recording studio filled with a number of musical instruments and recording tools.


In the upper part of the museum, one will find pieces from the MCA's permanent collection on view. Chris Burden's powerful piece entitled "The Other Monument" stands strong from floor to ceiling radiating light with a deep orange tone. Inscribed in fine print on the sculpture's panels are the names of all the Vietnamese killed during the Vietnam War.


After a looong time spent at the MCA we took a minute to lay in a sculpture by Vito Acconci that takes the form of a large seashell that has the sounds of an ocean humming in your ear. The exhibitions right now are great and I strongly recommend visiting the MCA before the show ends!



Esteban and Tamia begin to get comfy



Taking a nap in an Acconci sculpture...


For more information please visit http://www.mcachicago.org/