Category Archives: Art

Academy Awards – Most Experimental Media – Sarah Elise Hall (MFA 2009)

Posted on June 10, 2015

by Claire Cushman (MFA 2015) Ruptured Slab: hydrocal, spray paint transfer, dry pigment, calcite geode (2015) I first met Sarah Elise Hall (MFA 2009) two and a half years ago, in Toronto, where we are both from. I was painting out of a shared studio space, and Sarah happened to stop by to visit the space’s owner. When she mentioned that… Read More

Interview with Ken Johnson

Posted on March 11, 2015

by Claire Cushman, MFA 2015 When I met with Ken Johnson, he had just been to see Jeff Koons’ “Jim Beam – J.B. Turner Engine,” and six individual train cars (toy sized, silvery stainless steel, filled with Jim Beam Bourbon), at Craig F Starr gallery.  He placed the catalogue on the table. I asked him how he chooses what to write about…. Read More

Beautiful Beast

Posted on February 13, 2015

by Claire Cushman, MFA 2015 “Artists have a limited amount of studio time, so we have to be selective about which shows to see,” says Peter Drake, Academy Dean and curator of Beautiful Beast. “I envision going to shows as part of an artist’s studio practice – and seeing shows that don’t inspire you is like losing time in the… Read More

Coming to an end…a short but sweet look at the week: Leipzig Residency – Part 6

Posted on August 8, 2013

By Krista Smith (MFA 2014) The past couple of weeks here have flown by. Between painting, panting in our stifling rooms, and making quick escapes to the lake, we managed to put together a great end of summer show. We all crawled out of our studios to help clean and hang the work alongside Kristina and Mareika (interns of LIA)… Read More

Cospudener & The Bauhaus: Leipzig Residency, Part 5

Posted on July 19, 2013

By  Shangkai (Kevin) Yu (MFA 2014) It is my feeling that it would be important to make a post that reflects our time here accurately. Beer drinking, sausage eating, lake swimming, grass and beach napping, museum visiting, and painting are our life in Leipzig. Before going on to the museums and general art talk, here are two pictures that sum… Read More

The Leipzig Residency is–as we would say in Jamaica–‘irie’ (great!): Leipzig Residency, Part 4

Posted on July 9, 2013

By Alicia Brown (MFA 2014) It has been 34 days since we entered the gates of the Spinnerei, and every day from that moment has been a pinch-me experience. Waking up in the mornings to the sound of Neo Rauch working in his studio (located above the large studio space I share with Krista Smith) is definitely my alarm clock… Read More

Back to Business: China Residency, Part 5

Posted on July 4, 2013

By James Adelman (MFA 2014) So after our action-packed, inspiring, uplifting, perspective-shifting excursion, it’s back to Shanghai and back down to business. We arrived back with six days until opening night and began the final push toward resolution. Of course, being Academy students, we live for this sort of scramble and handle it all with level heads.  The beginning of… Read More

Meet Allegra LaViola, Juror and Host of the Academy’s Seventh Annual Summer Exhibition

Posted on June 27, 2013

By Maggie Mead Images courtesy of Allegra LaViola Gallery   Asked what gave her the confidence to start her own contemporary art gallery in 2008, Allegra LaViola rolled her eyes and smiled. “Naivete,” she said. “Stupidity.” Back in 2007, when she made the decision, selling art seemed easy. The economy was booming, and paintings were flying off the walls of… Read More

Exploring a Historic City: Mexico Residency, Part 1

Posted on June 17, 2013

By Garrett Cook (MFA 2014) Foreign travel is not something I’ve experienced alone before. I’ve been to various locations in Europe with my family and spent three months on an exchange program in France when I was in high school, but this is the first time I’ve ventured to another country by myself. Friday, May 31, I landed in Mexico… Read More

City of the Future: 2013 SHU/CAFA Residency, Part 2

Posted on June 10, 2013

By Elliot Purse (MFA 2014)  Another week in Shanghai and we’re finally beginning to get some traction under our feet! The rainy season in China is here, but we’re not letting that hold us back from getting down to business!    The week began with us being chauffeured by our guide, and burgeoning friend, Wang Yi, to a gallery opening… Read More