Robert Mapplethorpe...art aquisition boosts West Coast cultural scene! S & M nudes & sculpted flowers!

Flower series a fave pour moi!



Due to a concerted effort on the part of two prestigious Art Institutes - the J. Paul Getty Trust and the respected Los Angeles Museum of Art - a coveted cache of Robert Mapplethorpe works have been scooped up for a song for permanent exhibit on the West Coast.

A coup - especially when you consider the fact that the controversial artist's haunts (when he was very-much-alive and making waves around the country with startling - at times titillating - images that were primarily rooted deep in tony Gallery environs east of the Rockies.

The two upstart organizations cobbled together approximately 200 unique pieces - with a major thrust on exceptional works featured in the celebrated XYZ Portfolio - which spotlight sculpted flower stills and a select series of erotic (sometimes downright nasty) nudes that reveal Mapplethorpe's healthy lust (and longing) for the male physique.

The flowers - fluttered - and singled out Mapplethorpe's uncanny flair for impeccable uncluttered design.

On the other hand, at the opposite end of the spectrum, arousing S & M nudes devoid of warmth - and clinical in approach, at times - hinted the visionary was a surrealist at heart.

To round out the collection, the curators snapped up an archive emboldened by 120,000 negatives, 3500 Polaroids (used to prep canvasses during the creative process), and a smattering of personal and professional letters that afford insight into Mapplethorpe's complex psyche.

Art lovers - and music fans - are particularly intrigued over the love letters fired back-and-forth between two improbable bedfellows (Mapplethorpe & rocker Patti Smith).

Stay posted for news of an upcoming thought-provoking exhibit surely on the way!

See 'ya there!

http://www.thetattler.biz



Patti Smith & Mapplethorpe rocked!

Yoko Ono...tweets for social & political causes! A call for submissions for Fluxhibition # 3 in Fort Worth...

Yoko is a real whirlwind!

Daily her "tweets" fly into my update box @ Twitter and I am constantly astounded at her involvement in so many worthy causes.

Today, there is a plea for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, for instance.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is the leader of the opposition party in Myanmar - the National League for Democracy - and has been detained for 13 of the past 19 years (house arrest).

Recently, Suu Kyi reignited criticism of the military junta - and ultimately - a call from world leaders for her immediate release.

In March 2009, the U.N. Working Group on arbitrary detention lamented that the detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi violated both international law and Myanmar’s domestic legislation.

My sources say the current order for detention is set to expire on May 27 (2009).

Yoko, and others, have jumped on the bandwagon to ensure the wrongful acts against Suu Kyi come to a peaceful end.

Please pledge your support, if possible!

In another tweet, Yoko invited artists to submit their work for an upcoming exhibition to be held in Fort Worth, Texas.

The show has an intriguing title!

"International Fluxhibition # 3"

The novel show will focus on an exhibition of - Fluxus Boxes, Cases, Kits & Containers - which will be crafted by a handful of contemporary Fluxus Artists.

Yoko noted there won't be any jury selection process.

In fact, all pieces submitted, will be accepted.

Deadline for submissions: June 30th (2009)

Fluxhibition # 3 will consist of Fluxus Boxes, Kits, Cases and/or Fluxus Objects.

The art display will be held in July at The University of Texas in Arlington (TX).

Submitted works will become part of the permanent collection of the FluxMuseum (fluxmuseum.org) and included in future exhibitions as well.

A catalogue will be produced for the show and available for purchase after the exhibit.

A great promotion for the artists, eh?

In addition, images of all the fluxus renderings will go on permanent exhibit at the FluxMuseum web site after the art show closes.

Instructions

1) Create a Fluxus box, case, or kit using a classic theme or one new.
2) Send Fluxboxes, Fluxcases & Fluxobjects by June 30th (2009).
3) Attend the show in person if you can .
4) Write or contribute a related essay for the catalogue.
5) When catalogues go on sale, buy one.
6) Support the cause!

Submissions & Inquiries

FluxMuseum
6955 Pinon Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76116
USA
817-944-4000

http://fluxmuseum.org

When "tweets" of interest pop up out-of-the-blue from Yoko, I'll be sure to pass the fascinating artist's info along!

http://www.julianayrs.com/