Click on the third image to see Nancy as Michael Heizer at Sun Tunnels published in yesterday's edition of the newspaper.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Press in the Houston Chronicle
"The exuberant art they made in response combines performance, photography, video, writing and sculpture in a just-right mix of silly and smart."
Click on the third image to see Nancy as Michael Heizer at Sun Tunnels published in yesterday's edition of the newspaper.
Click on the third image to see Nancy as Michael Heizer at Sun Tunnels published in yesterday's edition of the newspaper.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
On the road to Austin - One Swallow Doesn't Make a Summer
Our DVD will be screened in Austin the last week in May with a performance bypres Nancy Douthey on the closing weekend of the Art Week Austin festival (28th May). Press release follows.
Cook & Ruud announces One Swallow Doesn’t Make a Summer, an exhibition of new and site-specific work in four vacant commercial spaces and a park in downtown Austin. One swallow doesn’t make a summer
One Swallow Doesn't Make a Summer
April 20 – May 28, 2010
Installation locations: 210 Guadalupe, 416 W Cesar Chavez, 117 Lavaca, 233 W 2nd, Republic Square Park at 4th and Guadalupe
One Swallow Doesn’t Make a Summer, curated by Cook & Ruud, takes its title from a speech given by former Austin mayor Kirk Watson about the development of the 2nd Street District a decade ago as the project had barely begun to take flight. Watson asserted, “One swallow doesn’t make a summer, and not even a dozen [development] projects makes a Great Downtown.” Since then, aggressive development has transformed this neighborhood, once filled with empty warehouses and parking lots, into a new city center replete with wide, tree-lined sidewalks and well-manicured storefronts. An initial burst of economic hope filled these spaces with high-end design shops and restaurants. Although the imminent international economic crisis of 2008 did not leave all these businesses unaffected, ambitious development projects continue to reshape the neighborhood culturally and economically.
The recent history of this newly-minted neighborhood is both unique to Austin and relevant within a national context. Over the past two decades, countless U.S. cities have undertaken similar re-urbanization projects, and the recent economic crisis has left no city completely unchanged. Using vacant storefronts within Austin’s 2nd Street District as a platform, One swallow doesn’t make a summer brings together new and site-specific artworks to offer a variety of perspectives on the shifting cultural and economic landscape of this neighborhood and its relationship to a larger nation-wide experience.
Artists include Justin Boyd, Paul Druecke, Mads Lynnerup , Leslie Mutchler, Carlos Rosales-Silva, Barry Stone, and Jeff Williams, as well as the collaboratives Circulatory System , Nancy Douthey & Jacinda Russell, Michelle Marchesseault & Virginia Yount, and Skote.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Screenplay
Several people have mentioned to us that we should write a screenplay or book about this earthworks experience. We recently applied to a residency where we proposed this idea. Much to my embarrassment, our concluding sentence was:
"Thank you for considering the upcoming action/drama starring Cameron Diaz and Anne Hathaway written by the next Matt Damon and Ben Affleck."
Nancy and I had a serious conversation about who would be Matt Damon and/or Ben Affleck. Fortunately, the answers were obvious. She's Ben and I'm Matt. My rationale was that I have too many cousins that look like Matt so I must be related to him. She feels closer to Ben because of his relationship to J-Lo (we are all waiting to hear why).
Here's a photograph of my cousin Ben as Matt Damon (he prefers Ben Damon).
"Thank you for considering the upcoming action/drama starring Cameron Diaz and Anne Hathaway written by the next Matt Damon and Ben Affleck."
Nancy and I had a serious conversation about who would be Matt Damon and/or Ben Affleck. Fortunately, the answers were obvious. She's Ben and I'm Matt. My rationale was that I have too many cousins that look like Matt so I must be related to him. She feels closer to Ben because of his relationship to J-Lo (we are all waiting to hear why).
Here's a photograph of my cousin Ben as Matt Damon (he prefers Ben Damon).
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Texas Gallery Website
At last all the photographs are up on the Texas Gallery website. You can click on each image and its detail will appear. Thanks Molly! It looks great.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Nancy's MFA Show at the Blaffer Gallery
[the card that keeps on giving...]
Yay! Nancy's thesis show at University of Houston's Blaffer Gallery is up through the 24th April. Rachel Hooper, Associate Curator, writes: "In her performances and video installations, Nancy Douthey draws people into her meditations through repetition, interruption, and disobedient action, and with humor prompts them to question their assumptions."
Nine Swimming Pools (= trespassing at its finest). Our love for Ed Ruscha is undying.
Tammy Fay Baker is Nancy's alter ego. Check out all those screen printed fans and that pink rug!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Letting Go
The day after our opening N and I returned to take the balloons down at Texas Gallery. One side had already been removed the night before and we, after a lot of thought, let the other side go too.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Reception Photos Slowly Coming In...
what? i didn't have a camera the entire reception? no minute by minute updates?! i'll slowly add more as they come in but here is the first of Nancy and her family (her sister Amy, her mom, and her sister Carrie).
Of course there was plenty of time to take photographs of "objects sitting around" beforehand but no people.
Here are some of Chris Rauschenberg's photographs of the dinner at Hector's after the opening.
Amanda Shagrin, JR, and Ed Cooper. Yup, that would be a dress I am wearing.
Of course there was plenty of time to take photographs of "objects sitting around" beforehand but no people.
Here are some of Chris Rauschenberg's photographs of the dinner at Hector's after the opening.
Amanda Shagrin, JR, and Ed Cooper. Yup, that would be a dress I am wearing.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Quotes of the Day (by Fredericka & Ian)
"It looks like a baby shower." (FH)
"It looks like a Mary Kay Convention." (FH)
"Squeal Squeal." (IG)
"It looks like a Mary Kay Convention." (FH)
"Squeal Squeal." (IG)
"It's Just Like Christmas" - ND
The DVD has arrived (and just in time). Apologies Nancy for the "doubtful" remark earlier.
From one bad camera/photograph to another (switched from the phone to the laptop).
Nancy's family sent her these orange roses this morning.
We are off to pick up 50 pink balloons for the entry - the first show in this side of the gallery and the first time this door will be open for public entry since it was the wedding store.
From one bad camera/photograph to another (switched from the phone to the laptop).
Nancy's family sent her these orange roses this morning.
We are off to pick up 50 pink balloons for the entry - the first show in this side of the gallery and the first time this door will be open for public entry since it was the wedding store.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Official installation photographs (not taken from the phone)
Ian asked me to be the photographer for the texgal website today and here are some images. It is impossible to photograph all four walls and tables in one composition unfortunately. The first image represents about 2/3rds of the show with details following.
Friday morning
Nancy's relatives are starting to trickle in so we went to the Magnolia Hotel last night. Just in case I forgot what state I was in, this is the decor that greeted us at the front desk.
Since we arrived quite late, sleeping was in order but we did check out the rooftop pool before leaving this morning (we'll be in another hotel tonight with Nancy's sister Amy).
Nancy is working today so I am on my own with the hopes of visiting Amanda at the Menil Collection in a couple hours. In addition... it's opening night of FotoFest! After dinner at the best Mexican restaurant in town... the Original Ninfa's on Navigation, we are off to see Allison Hunter's Zoosphere at Diverseworks, Anthony Goicolea at Houston Center for Photography, and Whatever Was Splendid: New American Photographs at the FotoFest headquarters at Vine Street (and of course their opening party which is always a hit). It's a relief to be done with installation and to have a day of rest. Wow! This is the first day of my spring break even though it's almost OVER!
Since we arrived quite late, sleeping was in order but we did check out the rooftop pool before leaving this morning (we'll be in another hotel tonight with Nancy's sister Amy).
Nancy is working today so I am on my own with the hopes of visiting Amanda at the Menil Collection in a couple hours. In addition... it's opening night of FotoFest! After dinner at the best Mexican restaurant in town... the Original Ninfa's on Navigation, we are off to see Allison Hunter's Zoosphere at Diverseworks, Anthony Goicolea at Houston Center for Photography, and Whatever Was Splendid: New American Photographs at the FotoFest headquarters at Vine Street (and of course their opening party which is always a hit). It's a relief to be done with installation and to have a day of rest. Wow! This is the first day of my spring break even though it's almost OVER!
Almost there....
What did we do Thursday? We both ended up wearing "peasant shirts" today somewhat inadvertently. Nancy had to protect hers with this stylish bib when painting the staircase.
We tried out the heart rock but Jacinda negated it due to it blending into the floor a little too much and not really enough space to look at it and the artwork.
I helped Ian hang the "Jacinda wall" (to the far right) and we tested out the projection one more time (on mute thankfully). Real photographs of the entire installation to come with a good camera soon. All 50 photographs are up! The blog address in vinyl letters above the entry is installed! The objects are complete (though we keep dreaming of additional methods of display)! the books are done! Now we are patiently waiting for the DVD to arrive.
A quick picture of the objects on the floor before they gravitated to the table: Michael Jackson Banner, Peach Can Phones, Amarillo Ramp Rock, Balloons from Roden Crater, red lipstick, Michael Jackson glitter soap, and heisted bell from Amarillo Ramp. We also had our gallery visit with Toby Kamps which went very well.
Then Nancy took me on a dress buying excursion at Katy Mills Outlet Mall. Yikes! Don't worry, we won't be wearing any of these to the opening.
We tried out the heart rock but Jacinda negated it due to it blending into the floor a little too much and not really enough space to look at it and the artwork.
I helped Ian hang the "Jacinda wall" (to the far right) and we tested out the projection one more time (on mute thankfully). Real photographs of the entire installation to come with a good camera soon. All 50 photographs are up! The blog address in vinyl letters above the entry is installed! The objects are complete (though we keep dreaming of additional methods of display)! the books are done! Now we are patiently waiting for the DVD to arrive.
A quick picture of the objects on the floor before they gravitated to the table: Michael Jackson Banner, Peach Can Phones, Amarillo Ramp Rock, Balloons from Roden Crater, red lipstick, Michael Jackson glitter soap, and heisted bell from Amarillo Ramp. We also had our gallery visit with Toby Kamps which went very well.
Then Nancy took me on a dress buying excursion at Katy Mills Outlet Mall. Yikes! Don't worry, we won't be wearing any of these to the opening.
Celebrity Avatars & Animated Video Game
Fredericka suggested that the next step in our project is to create an animated video game in which the following events would occur: we would really drive off the Mormon Mesa in the rental vehicle Thelma and Louise style; we would avoid bullets flying from Michael Heizer and James Turrell; we would parachute into Roden Crater from an airplane. And who were the celebrity avatars that would play the roles of Nancy and Jacinda?
Toby Kamps is vying for the movie rights.
Toby Kamps is vying for the movie rights.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Adding our books to Ian's collection
Finally! A cover for our Blurb books. What color did we choose? Funky Pink Sparkle!
Dear Avid Book Collectors,
You too can enjoy these ten books. They are available for purchase and fit perfectly with any Ed Ruscha collection. Do you need a little sparkle in your library? Please contact 713.524.1593 for further inquiry or payment plans.
Sincerely,
Upper Management
Dear Avid Book Collectors,
You too can enjoy these ten books. They are available for purchase and fit perfectly with any Ed Ruscha collection. Do you need a little sparkle in your library? Please contact 713.524.1593 for further inquiry or payment plans.
Sincerely,
Upper Management
The question of the day
To serve or not to serve glazed doughnuts at the reception? If only Voodoo Doughnut was in Houston. "The Magic is in the Hole." Second best: Stephan Pyles' "Coffee and Doughnuts" dessert in Dallas, Texas.
4 Days Left to Texas Gallery Opening!
EEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!! Note: our exhibition announcement is next to one from the Menil Collection. EEEEEEEEEE!!!!! Next show... the Menil!
The most painful part of installation day was not only seeing ourselves eat peanut butter up close and in person at 9' x 12' but HEARING OURSELVES yack on and on and thinking we are so funny. Oh wait! But we are because we still find ourselves amusing nine months after the fact.
One of the best parts of installation day was seeing Ian's diagram for OUR WORK. EEEEEEEEEE!!!!! Let us preface this with we think that Ian's maps for installation layout are one of the best things ever.
The most painful part of installation day was not only seeing ourselves eat peanut butter up close and in person at 9' x 12' but HEARING OURSELVES yack on and on and thinking we are so funny. Oh wait! But we are because we still find ourselves amusing nine months after the fact.
One of the best parts of installation day was seeing Ian's diagram for OUR WORK. EEEEEEEEEE!!!!! Let us preface this with we think that Ian's maps for installation layout are one of the best things ever.
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