TAAC "Speed Art Criticism" Nuit Blanche 2010

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Quick Draw Artist Interview #9: Allison Reimus

Quick Draw Artist Interviews is a new series of interviews conducted by Otino Corsano using Facebook's IM Chat feature. Spontaneous conversations with international artists are recorded and documented specifically for publication on this blog.

Quick: Drive safe! Having any regrets? I love my job! Take this light... My head is in the clouds... It's ok, I still get nervous too. It's all real. I'm real. Draw: art about art.

Allison Reimus lives and works in Chicago, Illinois and was born and raised in Michigan. Since receiving her MFA from American University in 2009, Allison has actively exhibited across America

Clear Chat History

10:16pm

Otino

If it isn’t my favorite artist.

Ah - I should clarify:

My favorite engaged artist.

10:16pm

Allison

haha. you're too kind.

perhaps i am the only engaged artist you know?

10:16pm

Otino

Is now a good time?

10:16pm

Allison

sure

15 minutes right?

10:17pm

Otino

of fame?

It may take longer

10:18pm

Allison

ok. i have exactly 25 minutes

10:18pm

Otino

put me on the spot - fine - I'll show you...

10:19pm

Allison

hah

10:19pm

Otino

Is it fine to say your work reminds me of a nostalgic illustration aesthetic?

The likes of Paul Rand...

10:19pm

Allison

yes, that is fine.

it isn't always my intention, but the aesthetic must run through my blood.

10:20pm

Otino

And the work appears to be printmaking disguised as painting?

10:20pm

Allison

ahhh, i have to disagree with that one.

10:21pm

Otino

Yet the stenciling is quite prominent

10:21pm

Allison

they appear as such when reduced to a 4 x 5 in image on a computer screen.

no stencils

10:21pm

Otino

You do not employ vinyl?

10:21pm

Allison

no, never

my paintings are in large part about painting itself

10:21pm

Otino

So all edges are hand rendered?

10:22pm

Allison

for a very hard edge, i will sometimes use tape.

i should clarify:

for a very hard straight edge

10:23pm

Otino

They all seem "hard straight" edges to me.

For example, how are the geometric mazes produced,

like in “Doorway”, 2009

or

“You've Got To Believe In Something, Part 2”, 2009?

10:25pm

Allison is offline.

10:25pm

Allison is online.

10:25pm

Otino

stay with me - keep it alive

10:26pm

Allison

those are drawn with pencil or chalk and then painted

10:26pm

Otino

no source cartoon or reference for the composition?

10:27pm

Allison

“You've Got to Believe In Something” was born from the ‘geometric mazes’ in “Doorway”

10:28pm

Allison

and in “Doorway”, the triangular shapes were meant to double as perspective and decoration

10:29pm

Otino

Why environments absent of figure?

10:30pm

Allison

I used to paint the figure...

and I realized that it wasn't the figure that I was interested in.

I was more concerned with the shapes that made up the shadows on a face, etc…

10:32pm

Allison

and that the work really had nothing to do with the figure. so i dropped it.

10:32pm

Otino

Your painting “Untitled”, 2009 

(the one with the chairs and purple background) strongly reminds me of a work by Kevin Zucker featured in his last Mary Boone show titled 

"A Practical Treatise on Decorum,
 embracing the laws of Sensible Etiquette
in Good Society, and illustrating the
 Arts of making Home Happy, how to make
the Most of Everything, &c."
 2003

Do you know his work?

10:33pm

Allison

oh my god

i know of him but have not seen this work. this is awesome.

although my work is a bit more obnoxious with decoration.

10:34pm

Otino

Early Kevin Appel also comes to mind

10:34pm

Allison

LOVE appel

10:35pm

Otino

so you know him?

10:35pm

Allison

not personally  but yes, i know his work.

always meant to paint my version of a heap. still might. maybe sometime soon.

10:35pm

Otino

So why this tendency to mimic the work of artists only named "Kevin"?

10:35pm

Allison

hahahaha

i think you're on to something.

10:36pm

Otino

Sensing my 25 minutes of your attention is almost up...

I think we should move on to the most important aspect of your practice:

jumping for art.

10:36pm

Allison

i could maybe push it to 30

oh jesus

10:36pm

Otino

addictive huh? Both interviews and leaping in museums

10:37pm

Allison

i'm glad you enjoy the blog!

10:37pm

Otino

http://jumpinginartmuseums.blogspot.com/

It seems more than a blog to me

10:37pm

Allison

although, for the record, my paintings are way more important to me.

10:38pm

Otino

Do you not see this project as central to your art practice?

10:38pm

Allison

no, it really has nothing to do with my practice.

don't get me wrong, i LOVE that people have taken to Art Jumping, and I am really proud

10:39pm

Otino

Have you seen Martin Kersels early "Tossing a Friend" photos?

and Yves Klien is another obvious starting point

10:39pm

Allison

ha, I have not seen that photo.

10:40pm

Allison

i am quasi-retired from Art Jumping myself. I just post the pics from other Art Jumpers around the world. I enjoy doing it, but it has nothing to do with my work.

10:40pm

Otino

Would you be offended if viewers began to jump at your next solo show?

10:40pm

Allison

no way, I would love that!

I am learning a lot about jumping-centric things.

10:41pm

Otino

As well as taking the big leap yourself soon…

10:41pm

Allison

yes, in a few weeks!

10:42pm

Otino

I wish you many soft fluffy pillows

10:42pm

Allison

you're a darling, thank you, otino.

10:43pm

Otino

Thanks A+

Is that 25 minutes?

10:43pm

Allison

i believe so. 

www.allisonreimus.com/

Nuite Blanche's Most "Out of Site 2010" Project

I predict this year's Scotiabank Nuit Blanche Toronto event will be the best in years. 
One example:

An Te Liu's "Ennui Blanc" 

Earl Miller, independent curator and critic, has put together Out of Site 2010 featuring works by key Toronto artists: Ulysses Castellanos, Shannon Griffiths, Laura Kikauka, Matt King, An Te Liu, Tibi Tibi Neuspiel, Roula Partheniou, Blue Republic and Camille Turner

Where else can you find the perfect mix of local Black History, music to altered video games, free "personal guidance", surrealistic platform shoes, feuding celebrity sweat pants, inaccurate maps and book launch?  

A: Out of Site 2010: Contemporary Art Works on Queen St. West

Date: Saturday, October 2 to Sunday, October 3

Time: From 7 pm to 4 am

Location: Queen St. West from University to Bathurst

Find out more about the Queen St. West Business Improvement Area at:

http://queenstwestbia.ca/