: Ara Laughlin :  Trilogy of an Automatic Flyswatter; polyester resin, red oak, steel, bone, xmas lights, stone.  1984.

Today, in honor of the fact that links seem to be erasing their type names when I try to insert them (hey, typepad, please bring back the old unimproved version), I am going to make myself crazy by linking to blogs and articles on ArtOMatic.

ArtOMatic is the "un"show that local critics love to hate.  I personally think mostly because they don't want to do the work of browsing through.  But hey, if I could get paid for this you can bet I would.  That said, I have no intention of trying to place the pieces in any particular school…if I can't/don't do the academic thing, does that mean there is no art here?  Let's just say that in my opinion our local critics would have turned their noses up at the Impressionists who had to create their own, ahem, venue for art.

Our very own Blake Gopnik  of the Washington Post may one day take his place in history by Louis Leroy, "19th century engraver, painter, and successful playwrite [now] remembered as the journalist and art critic…who coined the term 'impressionism'to satirise the artists now known by the word."  For the most part neither the Post nor Blake bother with Artomatic anymore, perhaps because of the reaction to his sneering (and lazy – word was he never even came to see the exhibition but merely "reviewed" it from photos brought to him) article.  Perhaps the critic could not take what he was dishing out.  At any rate, it seems that ArtOMatic has since come in for much of the same from many quarters.  If one wants the true flavor of ArtOMatic, one must go to the true delivery vehicles of news these days:  the blogs.

I have gathered some together for your perusal and hope you enjoy the lovely variety, and the diversity of tastes of those who look at ArtOMatic through the eyes of enjoyment of art.

A. Zealand's blog, Install this, is covering the 2008 show on-going.  I've given you the link to her blog and urge you to especially pay attention to her May 18th blogwhich covers a  number of artists who I won't cover because of time/space/inclination.  Lexi is an installation artist at this year's show, and the May 18th post, further down, shows her process and finished product (which isn't really finished because last Sunday Husband and I ran into her sewing more pieces into her installation).

[Diane Elliott: Thermal Vent, right]

Artdc.org has an art forum with athread on reviews that folks post to as they discover the reviews.

Heather Goss:  DCist

Examiner.com in Baltimore

SoMd.com:  the article on Body Politics, the installed collaboration by Heather Bartlett and me.

The Washington City Paper

Lenny Campello's blog– he's considered a major blogger about the DC art scene and is connected with Fraser Gallery

Mark Power's blog– don't know him except for his blog being put up.  It was fascinating to read that the best work he could find at ArtOMatic was, oh, by the way, one of his students. (really.)

The  Daily Render's May 20 post:  A Samp[ling of Art O Matic UTube Videos

Erin A's blog:  Halo in Reverse, May 20:  Artomatic 2008 – Blogger's Night

how now, brownpau?  May 22  lots of links

That should give you a good flavor, lots more to look at, and things to think about in terms of art.  Need I say it?  I LOVE ArtOMatic.  It has amazing energy, great diversity, the adventure of discovery and is just plain fun to go roam around.

thought for the day:  no quote for today.  Instead I'd like you to philosophize in the "comments" about what you think art is.  I'll start:  Art is that to which I respond physically and emotionally.  I am very aware that leaves it wide open…in other words, it is in the eye of the beholder (I googled that to find out who said it and found no quote cite but lots of hits…there's another hour of browsing for those of you so inclined).  Look forward to hearing from you!

Erich Eldritch:  Dragonhead