Material Decision

From: jerry blackman
Date: Sun, Jun 14, 2009 at 5:58 PM
Subject: Re: questions
To: paige damstuhltrager

I had a few questions- so here goes:

For the opening at least, because there is only one confirmed piece- how would you feel about some progress drawings taken from my sketchbook- and mounted on the wall. I think this would go well with the theme of the show; i.e. understanding the process, etc. I could have them scanned and enlarged- even framed- and that might look really cool.

If not, and if for the opening the room looked a little bare- how about an existing piece? say the MLK heads? the light would look really good reflecting in the mirror.

Otherwise I had an aesthetic question: 3/4in or 1 1/4 for the anchor. The difference is over $600. I was going to ask that question yesterday- but- alas- I elected for the thicker of the two. A little credit card debt never killed anybody.

I sent Leah some shots of me working in the studio for the postcard- I'm going to send everybody a link to a flickr page where I'm actually working on THIS piece.

thats all- bye
Jerry

-----------------------------------

From: paige damstuhltrager
Date: Sun, Jun 14, 2009 at 9:43 PM
Subject: Re: questions
To: jerry@jerryblackman.com


Hi Jerry,
Progress drawings are a great idea - including prototypes, brainstorming by-products, "notes to self", and/or magic tricks will help generate and underscore the Summer Session concept. how and when we display them will have to be considered by the "team"... In regards to enlarging/ scanning some of your sketches, i can probably get an answer out of Leah and Rebecca by friday. (Leah's out of town at the moment) Ever sketch large?

good investment on the 1 1/4 ", just careful, my debit/credit card nearly killed me, a few times over.

Re: Re: Postcard

from jerry@jerryblackman.com
to Leah Stuhltrager
date Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 1:08 PM
subject RE: Touching Base

Okay- I think I have some images of me working in the studio- or can take some. I thought my title, "Weight and waiting" did reference the pieces in the show: weight as in Anchor, and waiting as in waiting for (ideas, inspiration, completion of pieces, setting of materials, etc.) waiting is a huge part of my process- also, there is something about the eyes and rope piece that reads as waiting to me- I understand the concept of show, i.e. artist at work and in the process- so I like your idea for a postcard image. I am a little camera shy- so if my face was half hidden it would be preferable.

If you really don't like "weight and waiting", then "summer session" it is. Easy: same page- I'm there. Also, I agree with that it is way to premature for a press release- I did actually just mean updating that little bit of info on the open call page.
I'll try to get some photos to you ASAP.

-Jerry

Re: The Postcard

from Leah Stuhltrager
to jerry@jerryblackman.com
date Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 11:46 AM
subject Touching Base

Jerry,

First, I am very glad that you are excited about Summer Session.

Second, I am very glad to hear your studio visit went well. As I stated when at your studio, the press release was written at your request specifically for the purpose of the open studio. We'll be sure to go public with a glorious press release about you when it is the appropriate time. As policy, it is way too early. (For example, I checked Gavin Brown's site post studio visit. There is no info on your/any show past 6/20.) I will however update the text on the site to indicate "Summer Session" will focus just on you since having Ira still listed is incorrect information.

This is the first and only time we will ever do anything like "Summer Session" at Dam, Stuhltrager. Every year, we choose a different theme and have a Call For Entries. The curators name the exhibit something appropriate to the theme. "Summer Session" was conceived to provide an exciting emerging artist opportunity to learn about the art world from the inside. The gallery would be used as a place to create, where process and progress are visible in both the artwork and artist's developing text, promotional materials, online presence, a portfolio, a project and resources to utilize for long past close of August.

At its core, "Summer Session" stemmed from the gallery administration team unanimously deciding it was very important to offer artists much, much, much more than a summer group show notch on their resume.

I am concerned that the curators intention of is being removed from "Summer Session" and want to realign the focus of this opportunity with its original purpose. In "Summer Session", you will be developing a new work while gaining tools to build yourself as an artist. This show is not about presenting artwork, its about supporting the creation of art and future career of an artist.

While some aspects of this experience for both the gallery team and you are adaptable, the show title and curatorial concept should be steadfast. Any title we promote other than "Summer Session" should be the title of the artwork produced during the duration.

As far as the postcard image sent, I honestly do not understand what you intend a viewer to know about you or your work from it. The front of the card should NOT have text unless the show/work is itself text or it is a group show. I'd like to see a candid, sincere, energized picture of you working in your studio on the front of the card. Leave the information/text on the back to me. There is a specific formula that must be readable within the art world and the postal world. (Its one of those great "tools" every curator picks up after having a thousand postcards returned rubberbanded together.)

I see a lot of great things in you and really want to give you resources. If we get on the same page, this could be great.

With respect and good will,

-L

The Postcard

from jerry@jerryblackman.com to Leah Stuhltrager date Sun, Jun 7, 2009 at 11:01 PM subject RE: Summer Session at Dam, Stuhltrager

Hi! I had a really good turn out for the open studios- and a lot of people seem excited for the show coming up this summer. I've updated the index page of my site with a link to the gallery's home page. I noticed that the "submission/ call for entries" section is still the older press release- perhaps because I gave my card out to so many people this weekend, you can update the gallery's site to include the newer press release- or at least take off Ira's info.

That said- I've been thinking about our meeting and I noticed that the previous summer sessions had names- so I did little brain storming and if you're not opposed to it, how does "Weight and Waiting" sound?

I did a rough for a postcard design. It's subtle but striking, and references the show in a good way- what do you think of the attached image?

This week is especially busy for me, but i want to get everything done as soon as possible- so please get back to me, thank you very much.

Jerry

The Post Mtg Follow-up: Dates & PR for Jerry to distribute during the Bushwick Open Studios...

from Leah Stuhltrager
to jerry@jerryblackman.com
date Fri, Jun 5, 2009 at 8:58 PM
subject Re: Summer Session at Dam, Stuhltrager

Dear Jerry,

Here is the first press release.
Over the next three weeks, as your project develops, I will write another press release to promote the actual artworks/exhibit.

I also double checked the calendar. We are on track for the dates originally released in the Call For Entries:
"SUMMER SESSION" install: July 7 - 10
"SUMMER SESSION COMMENCEMENT RECEPTION": July 11, 2009
"SUMMER SESSION": July 11 - Aug 30
"SUMMER SESSION" deinstall: Aug 31 - 3

Please let me know if there are any issues opening the document.

Best luck tomorrow,
-Leah

the pre-mtg, pre-mtg-mtg plan part 2

from Leah Stuhltrager
to paige damstuhltrager ,
rebecca layton
date Wed, Jun 3, 2009 at 9:42 PM
subject jerry notes/ touching base

ok ladies,
i need everyone to do their "no rain" dance for fri!!!

rebecca req printouts.
i agree!
here are the notes so far on jerry and some more thoughts from me. adddd aaawwwwaaaayyy!!!:

1. what areas of his work we thought were strong... (what areas of his work are strongest ladies?)
L: Energy, inquisitiveness & curiosity that sincerely comes thru as the unifying identity of all his work (his body of work).
R: I would say his ability to tackle icons while bringing out the human elements of them. Also the fluidity of his medium, he is a skilled draftsman.
P: glass/mirror/wood.

2. what project we'd like to see developed... (what is feasible and meaningful to help him develop as an artist?)
L: A project that is medium in scale/ production & is big on conceptual clarity... It should be a signature piece. An artwork that can embody/define his body of work. The goal is to have the piece convey the concept in a single picture w/out text needed to explain.
R: When I spoke to Jerry Friday I mentioned him reusing past pieces--bringing them together in new ways, Paige mentioned that he recycles parts of his pieces--perhaps this could be brought together?
P: The immaculate employment of glass/mirror/wood diametrically opposed materials provides the critical symbol with a past, present future narrative, and indicates the cosmology of man's ( emotional/ nostalgic) relationships with one object.

3. our marketing plan... (how/where/to whom do we promote his concept/aesthetic?)
L: depends on the project

4. our presentation / portfolio plan... (how best is his work documented? how is his writing on his work?)
L: part 1. organized series of pics w/correct captions, create cd portfolio, text pdf for each major project on cd
part 1b: bio, statement, cv
part 2. evite of piece for summer series, press text
part 3: look at existing website / give input

5. exposure... how does he begin to generate press buzz... (i can answer this given the answers to the above...)
L: mass mailing, register on search engines, captioning images for searches, tags
registries, 501(c)s, building contact/press list
writing artists/critics he genuinely likes
gallery hitlist, attend openings

sidenotes:
-plan vips to help mt goals set

-stipulate how the space is to be used. bells and whistles are in his studio. as long as the gallery is used in an experimental/learning/developing way ie: not formal exhibition - it would be on point for this show.

- blog???

---------------------------
Hi Leah,

I think you may have misunderstood my question with print-outs/flyer/postcard/etc. about Summer Session. Of course I understand how important taking notes is to facilitate the process but I was inquiring about what Jerry had asked me: if it was possible for us to make some type of print-out that he could have at his open studio, i.e., publicizing his involvement with Summer Session--something with dates, his name, the goal of the show...

Talk to you tomorrow,
Rebecca
----------------------

holy crap! i did misunderstand.
i will whip up something tonight!
what the hell would i do without you?
x
-L

the pre-mtg, pre-mtg-mtg plan part 1

from Leah Stuhltrager
to paige damstuhltrager ,
rebecca layton
date Tue, Jun 2, 2009 at 7:18 PM
subject friday mtg at jerry's

hellloooo ladies!

if it works for everybody, let's mt at 3pm on friday at
olive valley
43 Bogart St
(between Moore St & Grattan St)
(http://www.yelp.com/biz/olive-valley-brooklyn)
take the L train to Morgan...

I'll buy you guys lunch and we can go over our expectations/goals for jerry (and ourselves)
then hop down the street for a studio visit with him at 4.
i have his studio address as:
xxx bogart st
studio xxx
bklyn ny 11206

after the studio visit we've got one hell of a nite to pull off back at the gallery.

whew!
i've had such a long day!!!
can't wait til today / tom is over.
looking forward to friday!!!

-L
------------------
hi leah,

sounds great. i;ll email to confirm with him.
did you get my voicemail? what do you think of having some type of print-out about the show?

rebecca

------------------

3 @ olive valley works for me. looking forward to it. ;)

- P