hash rank miami reflections and a new years resolution

Let me frame this framing of the #rank story for me by telling you I can be deeply paranoid, especially when tired, stretched to capacity or perhaps hungover and ugly words vomit from my mouth much to my dismay. On the other hand, I am ready to believe you, your good stated intentions, and perhaps as one teacher described me, I really am brilliantly naive and innocently cynical. I am passionate about art, art making, and showing work and community building.. That said, let the reflection of #rank unfold...


The framing of the space with open ended periphery projects like Destineez Child, Guidance Counselor and Identifier Corporation made it easy for the viewer / spectator / passerbyer to engage with the project regardless of what was happening in the center, meaning at the 12 foot table with the chairs around it. For instance when I arrived at the space, some art game or $100 gambling thing was happening (I did interrupt and ask a person at the table what was happening and it was definitely too late to enter AND I wasn't willing to put down $100 at risk – (see my video for more comments coming soon). So off I went and chatted with Destineez Child and viewed their wares, which regretfully I did not invest in souveniring either. We did swap some ideas, and I probably should follow up with them sooner rather than later, because it was about psychoanalysis projects and who wants to miss an opportunity to do something on that. (see video again…) So that was a brilliant kick off to entering and engaging in the space within the first 10 minutes of arrival. (photo)

And much faster than that I was introduced to Mandies which would become the ultimate respite from any uncomfortable moments. Retreat to the bar when all else fails at #rank just like in life. Healthy or not it worked for awhile anyway. Plus it kept me in the game of participation which I appreciated and the regulars – Andrew and his team were particularly welcoming. And really, a drink a day is healthy, and really really, relaxing makes you feel better and therefore more confident and ready to constructively participate rather than falling into the ethers of that yucky, needy paranoid girl that no one wants to be friends with (who I introduced at the beginning of this rant reflection). Fortunately there was help for that girl too with Guidance Counselors Sarada and Boris on Saturday. Lisa Levy's project was diagnostic psychoanalysis as well and perhaps would have been better had it been treated as periphery. Instead it was like entering a high end doctor's office who treats as many patients as possible to earn the most money. But hey it was free consultation and accurate, I scored a 2 for self esteem out of ten, and the advice on my card was to be nice to me.

One of the more provocative projects was Festive Anthropophagy Through Reflected Imagery. Anthropophagy means eating human flesh. A woman of color with minimal cloths initially covering her hip area was gradually covered in mirrors as part of the performance. Pamphlets including a mirrored surface were distributed and offered insights to Brazilian native cultural practice of eating those from a different social rank to gain their traits, and included parallel advice for the art fair goer on scrying.

Let us not forget Lobster Girl. Now the perception I went into #rank miami from emails from Jen and Bill was that it could be this cheesy, hippie dippie, messy chaos of a love in (which ironically appeased my initial doubts about #rank Miami). Upon exiting Mandies, who do I see trotting about and talking about hugs, but Lobster Girl. I cringed. Oh man if ever there was a burning man moment this was it, fake tit inserts exposed and all, or so I had thought at the time, little did I know it was specially choreographed to make people cringe. Despite the misleading title hugs (fucking cheesy right?) that was the aim, to make you feel the cheese. Had this been on the dessert of the playa of Black Rock City, no one would have been uncomfortable and the hugging that might lead to humping at the lobster's invite would have been warmly welcomed.

But we weren't at Burning Man and lobsters aren't really huggable. The claws looked soft but were made of boxing gloves. I remember thinking when reading the description is a hug really going to make the consternation with the art market and art fair experience all better? what is going on here? Ultimately I think Lobster Girl serves as metaphor of #rank’s relationship to the art fair, challenging and uncomfortable.

My initial concerns about participating in #rank Miami included that it might be committing art career suicide. My nagging doubts and worries that it was too much participation in the commercial art world and I was being used for my criticality to make more sales, to be more commercial, hyper commercial if you will. but then people i knew and respected encouraged the participation so i went along. It was my dear professor’s choice of not participating in my project that also contributed to my second guessing it, but he kindly wished me well so perhaps it's ok.

The blog writer from hyperallergic who i met last year at CAA said be polished. He said put your name on things, own it. Rebecca Goyette also said OWN IT. I think those are some words to live by. I think i should refrain from publishing anything until I own it. If I own it then publish it, that's a good way to go.( <--- new year's resolution ) i like to take risks and say how i feel. i am consumed with thinking about this art world and how I fit in. Rebecca said focus. all art. don't take on too much. Michelle Grabner from the Opt Out of Obscurity panel at CAA earlier this year on the other hand said take up any art opportunity that comes your way. Michelle takes on everything and is a faculty member at an art college and an artist. I think like Austin of Bushwick would be the same too. If it weren't for participating in #rank i would never have met so many people outside my current art network circles of philly and VCFA. so in that way, participation went well. While I love CAA for the reunions with friends, its formality makes meeting new friends more challenging. At #rank I connected with people. and it felt good.





#rank got me to miami. a place i'd been thinking would be good to check out. and i got a new t-shirt… with my name on it. i can't believe marta wants one of those t-shirts now. man. i should have made extras haha

My project Building Backbones and many of the other projects were healling.


To close out the year, I’m nearly finished reading a book recommended by Denise Karabinus at a crit at Kat Schneck’s apartment, 7 Days in the Art World to ground everything I experienced at ABMB, satellite fairs, CAA conference, Art in the Open, Vox VI, rejection letters, Philadelphia Underground and 2010.


Good night 2010.