Garin Cycholl works as co-editor of Near South, a journal of experimental poetry, fiction, and drama. He is author of the prose collection Nightbirds (moria books, 2006), Blue Mound to 161, a book-length poem on geological and historical displacements in Southern Illinois (Pavement Saw Press 2005) and Rafetown Georgics (
Cracked Slab Books, Chicago, 2008)
Proximity magazine number 2 has just been released. A party for its appearance was held at The Co-Prosperity Sphere. Issue 2 is 208 pages. One of the new features is by your friendly EuroShark. The editors, Rachael, Edmar and Mairead have taken me on as a Corresponding Editor for Theory. I will be contributing short theoretical essays, but perhaps more importantly, I will be soliciting, organizing and editing the same from other active artists. The Proximity editors are also gracious enough to allow me to publish the essays on Sharkforum as well as in the magazine. This is an important new magazine about art and should be supported. Below you will find my introductory article --which is also a call to arms, a request for contributors. Please read it, buy Proximity, and contact me with your theory essay ideas. The next two entries I have scheduled will be the halves of a theoretical essay by New York painter David Reed. After that -- how about you?
Peter Schjeldahl the sharp-eyed and sharp-tongued senior art critic for the New Yorker is much beloved by the Sharkpack. You can see why in this video of excerpts from a speech he gave at Boston University's College of Fine Arts School of Visual Arts 2007--2008 Contemporary Perspectives Lecture Series. He took his hosts -- and the entire university system -- to task for their dysfunctional relationship to the creation of art.
Chicago's own Tony Fitzpatrick has been keeping a New Orleans diary for more than a year. Along with his paintings he sends them to his close circle of friends. They are presented at the website of Prospectus, along with this video interview.
Prospectus is the web publication/blog for the Prospect.1 New Orleans Biennial, directed by Dan Cameron.
From The Guardian, Saturday September 13 2008:
"Amid the controversy surrounding the Sotheby's auction, Robert Hughes explains why he has taken a stand against Damien Hirst's 'simple-minded' works, and an art world where prices bear no relation to talent..."
"After more than three decades as the editor of Art in America magazine, Elizabeth C. Baker, a powerful voice in the contemporary-art world," as Randy Kennedy describes her, has resigned.
Excerpted from the LA Times --- more on Chicago's financial expert with his theory of the two major creative-types, inspiration, development and maturation.
It's Never Too Late to Create
AT 76, CLINT EASTWOOD is making the best films of his career. "Letters from Iwo Jima" has been nominated for four Academy Awards -- including best picture and best director. ("Flags of Our Fathers," which Eastwood also directed last year, received two nominations.) New York Times' film critic A.O. Scott recently named him "the greatest living American filmmaker." Such accolades are the latest development in Eastwood's creative ascension. Two years ago, his "Million Dollar Baby" won best picture and best director, a repeat of his success with "Unforgiven" at age 62 -- his first Oscar after making movies for more than 20 years.
